KINGS AND EMPERORS PRAYING. 355 



with cushions — the sort of background a painter would 

 have chosen for her. Always two or three crowned 

 heads in attendance : — Alexander on one side, dressed to 

 effect in black and diamonds ; the King of Prussia, 

 nowise remarkable except by contrast, on the other. On 

 a low stool at the feet of the prophetess, sat her disciple, 

 Bergasse, and her high priest, Jung Stilling.' 



" ' Ecoutez done !' said Madame de Houchien, nudging 

 me ; ' est-il artiste, notre Denon ? Quelle groupe !' 



" ' Attendez, attendez !' said Denon. ' In the midst 

 of a solemn silence she .rose, and extending her arms, 

 exclaimed, with a strange and penetrating tone, ' Prions P 

 Down on his knees went the Emperor of all the Russias, 

 followed by everybody present, kings, aides-de-camp, 

 and valets included.' 



" ' And this,' said Segur, starting up, ' was the grand- 

 son of my great Catherine !' 



"'You may well *say your great Catherine,' said 

 Denon. ' What must the Prince de Ligne have thought 

 on the occasion ? He was present.' 



" ( Madame de Krudener must have had great talent,' 

 said Madame de Houchien. 



" ' Pas le moins du monde,' said Denon. ' She had 

 art, the genius of mediocrity.' 



11 ' Yes,' ventured I, * she had religion for her aid ; but 

 she fought with the arms of St. Therese, who legislated 

 for popes, and made princes do her bidding. Once you 

 get into the spiritual, you have nothing to go by but 

 faith ; and Madame de Krudener had the greatest faith 

 in Jung Stilling, as the Emperor Alexander had in 

 her.' 



"Here Humboldt was announced. I never hear his 



