A	»	B	»	C	»	D	»	E
F	»	G	»	H	»	I	»	J
K	»	L	»	M	»	N	»	O
P	»		R	»	S	»		T
U	»		V	»	W	»		Z

D. Armando Palacio Valdes - "La Espuma"

Kate Dickinson Sweetser - "Ten Boys from Dickens"

Various - "The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction"

Dawson Turner - "Account of a Tour in Normandy, Vol. II. (of 2)"

Nicholas Brealey Buys Davies-Black
Moreover Technologies - Premier purveyor of real-time news and RSS feeds from across the Web

Gray Gets New Ingram Role; Lovett Heading Ingram Digital
Ad - Get Info for Book Publishing from 14 search engines in 1.

PW Morning Report, January 6, 2009">The PW Morning Report, January 6, 2009
We have been looking for ways to fuel additional growth, said Chuck Dresner, v-p, associate publisher of NB North America, which has offices in Boston, Mass. Davies-Black has built up an excellent publishing program and a recognized brand in some of the

The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. VII. by Various

V >> Various >> The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. VII.





SCENE IX


_The noise of drums in the distance is no longer heard._ WILHELMINE
_left alone, starts as if to follow the_ PRINCE. _Then she turns back
hesitating, and walks with uncertain steps to the table. She rings the
bell._ SONNSFELD _comes in, looks at the Princess as if surprised,
speaks after a pause._

SONNSFELD.

Your Highness commands?

WILHELMINE (_as if awakening from a dream_).

I? Nothing.

SONNSFELD.

Your Highness rang?

WILHELMINE.

Yes, I did. My mantilla--my fan--the veil.

SONNSFELD.

Your Highness is going out?

WILHELMINE.

I am going out.

SONNSFELD.

Has Your Highness permission?

WILHELMINE.

Permission? Are you beginning to take that tone, too? Fetch the things I
want.

[SONNSFELD _looks at her, astounded, then goes out._]

WILHELMINE (_alone_).

I am tired of all this. I am beginning to be conscious of myself, now
that I know there is some one who recognizes my meagre worth. The
situation here is unbearable. I am weary of this unworthy subordination,
this barrack-room service.

[SONNSFELD _comes back with mantilla, fan and veil._]

WILHELMINE.

You might have chosen the mantilla with the Brussels lace.

SONNSFELD.

Your Highness--what is your purpose?

WILHELMINE.

Throw the veil about my head. Don't question everything I do. Must I
give you an accounting for every trifle?

SONNSFELD.

Good Heavens--have you joined your mother in her revolutionary ideas?

WILHELMINE.

I have joined no one. I want to show the world that a Princess of
Prussia has at least the right to pass from one court of the palace to
another of her own free will. I am tired of being tyrannized in this
way. The Grand Elector lived for me as well as for the others--the
Hohenzollerns are what they are for my sake also. Adieu. [_Holds out her
hand._] You may kiss my hand. And do not forget that I am the daughter
of a king who is forming great and important plans for his child's
future, and that this child, even though she should be stubborn enough
to refuse to acquiesce in his plans, will still be none the less a
Princess of Prussia.

[_She turns to go. The centre door opens and_ ECKHOF _comes in, followed
by three grenadiers. The door remains open._]

ECKHOF.

Halt!

SONNSFELD.

Are you to have a Guard of Honor, Princess?

ECKHOF.

Grenadiers--front!

[_Three more men come in without their muskets. The first carries a
Bible, the second a_ _soup tureen, the third a half-knitted stocking._]

ECKHOF (_comes forward and salutes the_ PRINCESS).

May it please your Royal Highness graciously to forgive me, if by reason
of a special investigation commanded by His Majesty the King, in
consequence of forbidden communication with Castle Rheinsberg, I ask
Your Highness to graciously submit to a strict room-arrest, as ordered
by His Majesty the King.

SONNSFELD.

What's that? Princess!

ECKHOF.

Likewise, His Majesty the King has graciously pleased to make the
following dispositions First grenadier, front! [_The first grenadier
marches forward with the Bible._] Your Royal Highness is to learn
chapters three to five of the Song of Solomon so thoroughly that the
Court Chaplain can examine Your Highness in the same tomorrow morning at
five o'clock. Second grenadier, front! [_The second grenadier comes
forward with the soup tureen._] The food ordered for Your Highness will
be brought up from the garrison kitchen punctually every day.

SONNSFELD (_opens the tureen_).

Dreadful stuff! Boiled beans!

ECKHOF.

Third grenadier, front! [_The third grenadier comes forward with the
half-knitted stocking._] And, finally, His Majesty the King pleases to
command Your Highness to knit, every two days, a pair of woolen
stockings for the worthy Foundling Asylum of Berlin. May it please Your
Royal Highness--this ends my orders.

SONNSFELD (_in a tone of despair_).

Princess, are these the King's plans for your future?

WILHELMINE (_trembling in excitement_).

Calm yourself, dear friend. Yes, this is the beginning of a new life
for me. The battle is on! Go to my father and tell him--

SONNSFELD.

Go to the King and tell him--[_To the_ PRINCESS.] What are they to tell
him?

WILHELMINE (_with tragic decision_).

Tell him that I--

SONNSFELD.

Tell him that we--

WILHELMINE.

That I--[_Her courage begins to fail._] That although we _will_ learn
the chapters--

SONNSFELD.

And although we _will_ eat the beans--

WILHELMINE.

It will not be our fault if [_with renewed courage_] if in the despair
of our hearts--

SONNSFELD (_tragically_).

We let fall the stitches in the orphan's stockings--

WILHELMINE.

And wish that we were merely the Princess of Reuss--

SONNSFELD.

Schleiz--

WILHELMINE.

Greiz and Lobenstein!

[_They go out angrily._]



ACT III



_The_ PRINCESS' _room. Attractive, cozy apartment. An open window to the
right. Doors centre, right and left. A cupboard, a table._


SCENE I


PRINCESS WILHELMINE _leans against the window-casing, deep in thought._
SONNSFELD _sits on the left side of the room, knitting a child's
stocking._

WILHELMINE (_aside_).

Hour after hour passes! What will the Prince think of me? Or can he have
learned my fate already?

SONNSFELD.

Did Your Highness speak?

WILHELMINE.

No, I--I merely sighed.

SONNSFELD.

It seemed as if you were talking to yourself. Don't be too melancholy.
You'll soon learn the Bible verses and I'll relieve you of most of the
knitting.

WILHELMINE.

You are too good--you are kinder to me than I have deserved of you
today. That work is tiring you--give it to me.

SONNSFELD.

No, let me have it. You take the other one that is started. In this way
we will gain time to rest later.

WILHELMINE (_listening toward the door_).

And we aren't even allowed a word with each other in freedom.

SONNSFELD (_rises and looks toward the door_).

It is cruel to let soldiers see a Princess humiliated to the extent of
knitting stockings.

WILHELMINE.

Why complain? It is--of itself, quite nicely domestic. [_She knits._]

SONNSFELD.

What would the Prince of Baireuth say if he could see you now?

WILHELMINE.

The Prince? What made you think of the Prince?

SONNSFELD.

You cannot deny that his attentions to you might be called
almost--tender--

WILHELMINE.

Almost--

SONNSFELD.

Such eyes! Such burning glances! I am very much mistaken or it was Your
Royal brother's intention, in sending this young Prince to you, to send
you at the same time the most ardent lover under the sun.

WILHELMINE.

Lovers hold more with the moon.

SONNSFELD.

And he shows so great an admiration for you that I am again mistaken if
our sentry outside the door there has not already in his pocket a
billet-doux addressed to Your Highness--a billet-doux written by the
Prince.

WILHELMINE.

Sonnsfeld! What power of combination!

SONNSFELD.

Almost worthy of a Seckendorf, isn't it? I'll question the man, in any
case.

WILHELMINE.

Are you crazy?

SONNSFELD (_at the door_).

Hey, there, grenadier!

ECKHOF (_comes in_).

At your service, madam. SONNSFELD. Have you a letter for us?

ECKHOF.

Please Your Honor, yes.

SONNSFELD (_to the_ PRINCESS).

There you are! [_To_ ECKHOF.] From the Prince of Baireuth?

ECKHOF.

Please Your Honor, yes.

WILHELMINE.

Where is it? Did you take it?

ECKHOF.

Please Your Honor, no. [_Wheels and goes out_.]

SONNSFELD.

What a dreadful country! The general heartlessness penetrates even to
the uneducated classes.

WILHELMINE.

But how dare the Prince imagine that our sentry could forget all--all
sense of propriety in this way?

SONNSFELD.

Would you not have accepted it?

WILHELMINE.

Never!

[_A letter, attached to a little stone, is thrown in at the window_.]

SONNSFELD.

A letter? Through the window! Oh, how it frightened me!

WILHELMINE.

Pick it up.

SONNSFELD (_doing so_).

But you won't accept it, you say. It can only be from the Prince--and it
is addressed to Your Highness.

[_Gives her the letter_.]

WILHELMINE.

To me? Why, then--why shouldn't I accept it? [_She opens the letter_.]
It is--it is from the Prince. [_She reads, aside_.] "Adored one! Is
there to be no end to these cruelties? Have they begun to torture you
with England yet? They will come to you and will try to force you into
this marriage. But Baronet Hotham, the English Envoy, is my friend and
your friend, and will work for you while he seems to be working against
you. It is a dangerous game, but it means your freedom and my life. Love
comprehends--Love."

SONNSFELD.

May I hear?

WILHELMINE.

It is a little message of sympathy--from--from one of our faithful
servants.

SONNSFELD.

The good people are all so fond of you. You must answer it, I suppose?

WILHELMINE. Just a word or two-it is really of no importance whatever.

SONNSFELD. But we need not offend any one. [_Aside_.] What clever
pretending! [_Aloud_.] Let me try if our grenadier is still as stubborn
as before.

WILHELMINE.

What are you thinking of?

SONNSFELD.

We'll make the trial. [_She goes to the door_.] Here you--stern
warrior--

ECKHOF (_in the door_).

At your service.

SONNSFELD.

Why didn't you take the letter?

ECKHOF.

It would mean running the gauntlet for me.

SONNSFELD.

We would compensate you for any such punishment.

ECKHOF.

You could not.

SONNSFELD.

Would money be no compensation?

ECKHOF.

Even if shame could be healed by money, that would be the one remedy you
couldn't apply.

WILHELMINE.

And why?

ECKHOF.

Because Your Highness hasn't any money.

SONNSFELD.

Dreadful creature!

WILHELMINE (_aside_).

He knows our situation only too well. We must give up all thought of
sending an answer.

ECKHOF.

May I go now?

SONNSFELD.

Impertinent creature! What is your name?

ECKHOF.

Eckhof.

SONNSFELD.

Where were you born?

ECKHOF. Hamburg.

SONNSFELD.

What have you learned?

ECKHOF. Nothing.

WILHELMINE.

Nothing? That is little enough.

SONNSFELD.

What did you want to make of yourself?

ECKHOF.

Everything.

WILHELMINE (_aside_).

A strange man! Let us cross-examine him. It will afford us a little
amusement at least.

SONNSFELD (_to_ ECKHOF).

We are not clever enough to understand such witty answers. How do you
reconcile nothing with everything.

ECKHOF.

I grew up in a theatre, but all I ever learned there was to clean the
lamps. Our manager discharged his company and I was compelled to take
service with a secretary in the post office. But when my new master's
wife demanded that I should climb up behind her carriage, as her
footman, I took to wandering again. I begged my way to Schwerin and a
learned man of the law made me his clerk. The post office and the
courtroom were just two new sorts of theatre for me. The addresses on
the letters excited my imagination, the lawsuits gave my brain exercise.
The desire to create, upon the stage, true pictures of human greatness
and human degradation, to depict vice and virtue in reality's own
colors, still inspired me, but I saw no opportunity to satisfy it. Then,
in a reckless moment, when I had sought to drown my melancholy in drink,
fate threw me into the hands of the Prussian recruiting officers. I was
dazzled by the handful of silver they offered me; for its sake I
bartered away my golden freedom. Since that day I carry the musket. The
noisy drums drown the longing that awakens a thousand times a day, the
longing for an Art that still calls me as to a sacred mission; the
uniform smothers the impulse to create human nobility; and in these
drilled, unnatural motions of my limbs, my free will and my sense
of personal dignity will perish at last. From such a fate there is no
release for the poor bought soldier--no release but death.

WILHELMINE (_aside, sadly_).

It is a picture of my own sorrow.

SONNSFELD.

That is all very well, but you really should be glad that now you are
_something_--as you were nothing before and had not learned any trade.

ECKHOF.

I learned little from books but much from life. I understand something
of music.

SONNSFELD.

Of music? Ah, then you can entertain this poor imprisoned Princess. Your
Highness, where is the Crown Prince's flute?

ECKHOF.

I play the violin.

SONNSFELD.

We have a violin, too. We have the Crown Prince's entire orchestra
hidden here. [_She goes to the cupboard and brings out a violin._] Here,
now play something for us and we will dance.

WILHELMINE.

What are you thinking of? With the Queen's room over there? And the King
may surprise us at any moment from the other side.

SONNSFELD.

Just a little _Francaise_ shall be a rehearsal for the torchlight dance
at your wedding.

WILHELMINE.

You know the King's aversion toward music and dancing.

SONNSFELD.

Here, Eckhof, take the violin-and now begin.

ECKHOF (_looks about timidly_).

But if I--[_much moved_] Heavens--it is three years since I have touched
that noble, that magical instrument.

SONNSFELD.

Come now! I'm the cavalier, Princess, and you are the lady.

[ECKHOF _plays one of the simple naive dance tunes of the day. The two
ladies dance._]

SONNSFELD.

Bravo, Eckhof! This is going nicely--ah, what joy to dance once more!
This way now la--la--la! [_She hums the melody._]


SCENE II


_During the dance the_ KING _comes in softly through the door to the
right. He starts when he sees the dancers and the grenadier playing the
violin. They do not notice him. He comes-nearer and attempts to join the
dance unobserved._

WILHELMINE.

Sonnsfeld, that's not right! Now it's the gentleman's turn. [_Holds her
hand out behind her back_]--Like this.

[_The_ KING _takes her hand gently with one finger and dances a few
steps._]

WILHELMINE.

How clumsy, dear friend. [_Dancing._] And your hand is strangely rough
today.

[_She turns and sees the_ KING, _who had begun to hum the tune in a
gruff voice. The three start in alarm_. ECKHOF _salutes with the
violin._]

KING (_angry_).

Very nice--very pretty indeed! Are these the sayings of Solomon? Music
and dancing in my castle by broad daylight? And a Prussian grenadier
playing the violin to the prisoner he is set to watch?

SONNSFELD.

Pardon, Your Majesty--it was we who forced him.

KING.

Forced him? Forced a soldier? Forced him to violate his duty in this
devilish manner? I'll have to invent a punishment for him such as the
Prussian army has never yet seen.

WILHELMINE.

Have mercy, Your Majesty--have mercy!

KING.

I'll talk to you later. As for you, Conrad Eckhof, I know that is your
name--I will tell you what your punishment shall be. You are discharged
from the army that serves under my glorious flag, discharged in disgrace.
But you are not to be honored by being sent to a convict company or into
the worthy station of a subject. Listen to the fate I have decreed for
you. A troop of German comedians has taken quarters in the Warehouse in
the Cloister street. These mountebanks--_histriones_--are in straits
because their clown--for whom they sent to Leipzig, has not arrived. You
are to take off the honorable Prussian uniform and to join this group of
mountebanks, sent there by me, as a warning to every one. You are to
become an actor, a clown of clowns-and henceforth amuse the German nation
with your foolish and criminal jokes and quips. Shame upon you!

ECKHOF (_with a grateful glance to heaven, trying to conceal his joyful
excitement_).

An actor! Oh, I thank Your Majesty for this most gracious sentence.
Conrad Eckhof will endeavor to do honor to himself and his despised new
profession.

[_Goes out_.]

KING.

And as for you, my Lady Sonnsfeld, you may, the sooner the better, pack
up your belongings and be off to Dresden where my cousin, the Elector of
Saxony, has need of just such nymphs and graces for his court fireworks
and his ballets.

SONNSFELD (_going out, speaks aside_).

In his anger he chooses punishments that can only delight any person of
refinement. [_She goes out_.]

KING.

Wilhelmine!

WILHELMINE.

Your Majesty, what have I done that I am so unhappy as always to arouse
your displeasure?

KING.

You call me "Majesty" because you lack a daughter's heart for your
father. I have brought up my children in the good old German fashion; I
have tried to keep all French vanities and French follies far from their
childish hearts; on my throne I have tried to prove that Kings may set
an example to their subjects, an example of how the simplest honest
household may be ruled. Have I succeeded in this?

WILHELMINE.

You have punished us severely enough for our faults.

KING.

This wigmaker--who was to instruct you in all the ambiguities of the
French language--

WILHELMINE.

He was not a wigmaker.

KING. He was.

WILHELMINE.

Well, if he was, then you dislike him simply because you are so fond of
your horrid pigtail.

KING.

The pigtail is a man's best adornment. In that braided hair lies
concentrated power. A pigtail is not a wild fluttering mass of disorder
about one's head--the seat of the human soul--such as our Hottentot
dandies of today show in their long untidy hair. It expresses, instead,
a simple, pious and well-brushed order, entwined obedience, falling
gently down over the shoulders, fit symbol for a Christian gentleman.
But I am tired of this eternal quarreling with you. This present arrest
shall be the last proof of my fatherly affection. You will soon be free
and mistress of your own actions. I announce herewith that you will
shortly be able to come and go at your own discretion.

WILHELMINE.

Father!

KING.

Is that tone sincere?

WILHELMINE.

It comes from a heart that will never cease to revere the best of men.

KING.

Then you realize that I desire only your happiness? Yes, Wilhelmine, you
will soon be able to do whatever you like, you may read French books,
dance the minuet, keep an entire orchestra of musicians. I have arranged
all things for your happiness and for your freedom.

[Illustration: KING FREDERICK WILLIAM I OF PRUSSIA R. SIEMERING]

WILHELMINE. How may I understand this, father?

KING.

You will have horses and carriages, and footmen, as becomes a future
Queen.

WILHELMINE.

Queen?

KING.

You will see that I do in very truth deserve the name you gave me, the
name of the best of fathers. But still--I hear your mother.

WILHELMINE.

What--what is going to happen--

KING.

Prepare yourself for a weighty moment--the moment of your betrothal.


SCENE III


_The_ QUEEN _comes in, leaning on the arm of the_ PRINCE OF BAIREUTH.
HOTHAM _and several lackeys follow_.

WILHELMINE (_aside, surprised_).

The Prince!

[_The_ QUEEN _bows coldly to the_ KING.]

KING (_equally coldly_).

Good morning.

QUEEN (_to the_ PRINCESS).

My dear child, I here present to you the Envoy of the King of England,
Baronet Hotham.

WILHELMINE (_bows, speaks aside_).

The Prince's friend? How am I to understand all this?

KING.

Pardon me, wife, the Prince of Baireuth should take precedence. My dear
child, I present to you here the Prince Hereditary of Baireuth.

PRINCE (_bows, speaks aside to_ WILHELMINE).

Do not lose courage. It will all work out for the best.

QUEEN.

Have you good news from Ansbach, dear Prince?

PRINCE. (_aside_).

This eternal mistake of hers. [_Aloud_.] Your Majesty, I hear there is a
plan on foot to transplant Ansbach to Baireuth.

KING. (_has been only half listening_).

Hush! Let us cast aside all these earthly thoughts and plans and
prepare ourselves for a work of sacred import. Sit down by your mother,
Wilhelmine.

WILHELMINE.

What is going to happen?

KING.

You, Prince, as my natural aide--here! Baronet Hotham, you are in the
centre.

[_The lackeys place the table in the centre of the room and then go
off._]

PRINCE (_aside_).

Hotham--the commercial treaties--

[HOTHAM _sits down at the centre of the table, opens the portfolio which
he has brought with him, lays out sheets of paper, and examines his
pen._]

KING (_folding his hands_).

In God's name--[_After a pause_] If I should ask you, my faithful
spouse, companion of my life, what a happy marriage is--

QUEEN.

Has that anything to do with our daughter's wedding-contract?

KING.

Do not interrupt me. _You_ may not be conscious of it--but I am fully
aware of how much this solemn moment imports.

HOTHAM.

Please Your Majesty--I have already written "In God's name."

KING (_looks surprised and pleased_).

Did you really write that?

HOTHAM.

It is customary to print it at the head of these and similar contracts.

KING.

Printing is not as good--the letter killeth, saith the Scriptures; but
you may begin now.

HOTHAM.

We are concerned here with an affiliation between two nations which,
although differing in language, manners, and customs, still have so many
points of contact that they should seize every opportunity to come
closer to each other.

KING.

Couldn't you weave in something there about the English being really
descended from the Germans?

HOTHAM.

That would lead us too far afield.

KING.

Oh, very well, as you say. It was a good beginning.

HOTHAM.

Such an opportunity now offers in the mutually expressed wish of the
dynasties of England and Prussia, to unite in the bonds of holy
matrimony two of their illustrious scions. The Prince of Wales sues for
the hand of Princess Wilhelmine.

WILHELMINE.

The Prince of Wales?

HOTHAM.

His suit is accepted attendant upon the conditions here following.

WILHELMINE. _Accepted?_

KING.

Hush! Do not disturb this solemn procedure by idle chatter.

WILHELMINE.

But--but how is this possible--

PRINCE (_to the_ PRINCESS).

Your Highness, the conditions are but just being drawn up.

QUEEN (_aside to the_ PRINCESS).

Do not interrupt. What must the envoy of the elegant court of St. James
think of the manners of our Prussian Princesses!

KING.

These chattering women! Very good, Baronet Hotham; the beginning was
excellent. Don't you think so, Prince?

PRINCE.

Certainly, Your Majesty. [_Aside_] It was odious.

QUEEN.

And the conditions? [_Aside_] I am eager to hear about the dowry.

HOTHAM.

First paragraph--

KING.

Pardon me, I can tell you that in fewer words. I give my daughter as
dowry, forty thousand thalers, and a yearly pin-money of two thousand
thalers. I will bear the expense of the wedding. But that is all.

QUEEN (_rising_).

I trust that this is not Your Majesty's real intention. Baronet Hotham,
I beg you will not include such a declaration in the protocol.

KING (_seated_).

Not include it in the protocol? H'm--h'm--forty thousand thalers in
cash--too little?

HOTHAM.

The question of dowry will offer but little difficulty to a country as
rich as England. Far more important are the political matters which, in
the case of so intimate an alliance, must come up for especial
consideration.

KING.

Political matters?

HOTHAM.

I mean--certain questions and points of discussion which, with your
gracious permission, I would now like to present to you.

KING.

Questions? Points of discussion? Do you see anything to object to in my
daughter? [_He rises._]

HOTHAM.

Your Majesty, there are certain--advantages for both nations--

KING.

Advantages for Prussia? [_He sits down again._] You may speak then.

HOTHAM.

To take up one point. For this marriage England will confirm without
hindrance Your Majesty's investiture of the Duchies Juelich and Berg.

KING.

Very decent; thanks.

PRINCE (_aside_).

Hotham, you fox!

HOTHAM.

And furthermore Parliament declares itself willing--

KING.

Declares itself willing--

WILHELMINE.

What has Parliament to do with it? Am I marrying the two houses of
Parliament?

QUEEN (_half aloud_).

Be quiet. You don't understand. In England, all political parties have
something to say in such matters.

KING (_half aside_). Yes, child, that would be the country for your
mother, wouldn't it? Well?

HOTHAM.

Parliament declares itself willing, in case Your Majesty wishes to
complete the conquest of Swedish Pommerania, to let the matter pass
without an interpellation.

QUEEN (_pleased and excited_).

Very polite indeed. I should not have believed Parliament would be so
amiable. Just think, Wilhelmine, Parliament promises not to
interpellate.

WILHELMINE.

What sort of a new political torture is that?

KING (_to the_ PRINCESS).

To interpellate means to harass and embarrass the government by
continual contradictions, interruptions, and objections. That's why your
mother understood it at once. Much obliged, my gear Hotham. My kindest
greetings to Parliament. But continue--continue!

PRINCE (_aside_).

I am on tenter-hooks.

HOTHAM.

For these many tokens of unselfish cordiality, for further manifold
proofs of political complaisance, to be reviewed by me in detail later,
proofs of a sincere desire to be enduringly united with a brother
nation--

KING.

Well?

HOTHAM.

For all this we ask but one little concession, which would make this
marriage a true blessing for both countries.

KING.

Out with it!

HOTHAM.

Prussian industry has now reached a standard which renders England
desirous of testing its products under certain conditions of
importation. For this--

KING.

For this?

HOTHAM.

England would feel grateful if the former friendly understanding,
interrupted somewhat since Your Majesty's illustrious accession to the
throne, if the former friendly commercial understanding--