The King and Benedetti. 299 



Adjutant-General. His Majesty looked sad, and his conver- 

 sation seemed of an important character. After having break- 

 fasted in company with Prince Albrecht and several other 

 ladies and gentlemen, I attended to some trifling business and 

 made some calls. During my absence Prince Albrecht came 

 to see me, I suppose to invite me to supper, which he did 

 afterwards together with the rest of our clique, when he met us 

 in the evening on the Promenade. 



Felix and Mr. and Mrs. von C had arrived and were 



invited also. We supped in the Kurgarten — about twenty- five 

 persons. I was sitting between Count Eulenburg (who had 

 arrived from Berlin, instead of Count Bismarck, who was 

 expected) and Count Furstemberg. The King looked per- 

 fectly calm and serene, and nobody could have seen in his 

 face that he expected a declaration of war. [ said to him that 

 I, in case of war, would go with the army to nurse the wounded, 

 and that I fortunately had learnt how to do so already in the 

 hospitals at Bonn. 



*Then really you think there will be war?' his Majesty said ; 

 * well, if there should be one, I am sure you would do good 

 service ; but do not cut off too many ears.' 



I was in earnest, and wrote next morning to the Queen to 

 ask permission to go in case of war with the army as a nurse. 

 Everybody in Ems was much excited ; nothing was known yet 

 for certain, but it was generally believed that there would be a 

 war with France, and this belief was confirmed when it became 

 known that his Majesty would return to Berlin. 



In the afternoon I went with a party to Coblentz, to the 

 concert at the Swiss House in the Queen's Promenade. The 

 concert was much crowded, and all the ladies of our regiment 

 and their friends were present and sitting together. When the 

 King and Queen appeared they were received with great en- 

 thusiasm, the ladies waiving their handkerchiefs and crying at 

 the same time. This token of our love seemed to please his 

 Majesty, as well it miglit, for it came from the inmost of loyal 

 hearts ; the Queen was much affected and had tears in her 

 eyes. 



The King came and shook hands with me, and when we, 

 with Count and Countess Waldersee, had gone after the con- 

 cert to Ems, we promenaded^ with his Majesty and accom- 

 panied him to his door. 



