What we can well say is, that pity also ought not to be wanting.

The next six months were undoubtedly by far the wretchedest of Friedrich Wilhelm's life.

The poor King, except that he was not conscious of intending wrong, but much the reverse, walked in the hollow night of Gehenna, all that while, and was often like to be driven mad by the turn things had taken.
Here is scene first: Wilhelmina reports his Majesty's arrival that Sunday afternoon, to the following effect; she was present in the adventure, and not a spectatress only:-- "The Queen was alone in his Majesty's Apartment, waiting for him as he approached.

At sight of her, in the distance, he called out: 'Your losel of a Son (VOTRE INDIGNE FILS) has ended at last; you have done with HIM,' or words to that effect.

'What,' cried the Queen, 'you have had the barbarity to kill him ?' 'Yes, I tell you,--but where is the sealed Desk ?' The Queen went to her own Apartment to fetch it; I ran in to her there for a moment: she was out of herself, wringing her hands, crying incessantly, and said without ceasing: 'MON DIEU, MON FILS (O God, my Son)!' Breath failed me; I fell fainting into the arms of Madame de Sonsfeld."-- The Queen took away the Writing-case; King tore out the letters, and went off; upon which the Queen came down again to us.
"We learned from some attendant that, at least, my Brother was not dead.