be proud to call our son.  You know, George, that during these three years of his sojourn in Holland, we have ever had good and complimentary accounts of him.  His tutor, von Kalkhun, has often reported to us with what diligence our son applied himself to his studies at Leyden, and that he had become quite a learned Prince, in whom even the professors themselves took peculiar delight.  Then when he had finished his course of studies at Leyden and went to Arnheim, where he met with the Princes William of Orange and Maurice of Nassau, they could not sufficiently laud the handsome appearance, lofty spirit, and noble heart of our young Electoral Prince.”

“Truly,” muttered the Elector, “one could infer from your discourse that you are the mother of this highly praised lad.  It is an old experience that mothers always find something remarkable in their sons, and if they were to be believed, then would the son of every mother be no ordinary specimen of mankind, but a phoenix among all other men.”

“But, my well-beloved Elector, I have nevertheless told nothing but the truth.  Our son has been very successful in his studies these last three years in Holland, and has become a very learned and accomplished young man, who is well skilled in Latin and Greek, besides speaking German, French, and Italian in a masterly way.  But most especially has he cultivated himself in a knowledge of the science of war, and the Princes of Orange and Nassau certify that he will assuredly become hereafter a great general and warrior, so learnedly and wisely does he even now discourse upon the subject.”

“Why do you say all this, Elizabeth?” asked the Elector.  “Why do you praise our son, but that you are conscious that he is deserving of censure, and has sinned grievously against us in not having so hastened his return home as to be here now instead of his letters?  But that he has already set out on the journey home I can not for a moment doubt, and bitterly should he experience my fatherly wrath if it were not so.  Just tell me in short, concise words, when does my son, the Electoral Prince, come?”

“My dear lord and husband,” said the Electress with reluctance and visible embarrassment, “would it not be best for you to speak on this subject with the chamberlain, Balthazar von Schlieben—­”

“What!” cried the Elector, springing from his seat—­“what!  Is Schlieben here again—­Schlieben, whom we sent to The Hague in order that he might conduct our son hither?  He has come back without the Electoral Prince?”

“Yes, my husband, he has come back,” replied the Electress, winding her arms tenderly around her husband’s neck.  “I entreat you most earnestly not to be angry before you have heard the reasons why the Electoral Prince does not come.  I entreat you to admit Balthazar von Schlieben, and have an account rendered to you by him.”

“Yes!” exclaimed the Elector, vehemently—­“yes, I will see him.  He shall render me an account.  Where is he?  They must send for him directly; he must be summoned to me immediately!”