It was not, however, the Ministers and Diplomats present,
but a Danish roue, a professor of Physics, who gave this turn to the
talk. He related anecdotes that would have made a sailor blush. Neither
Count Manderstroem, nor any of the other Ministers, neither Malmgren, nor
the dignified and handsome Norwegian Minister Bretteville, seemed to be
offended. Manderstroem's expression, however, changed very noticeably
when the professor ventured to make some pointed insinuations regarding
the Swedish attitude, and his personal attitude in particular, previous
to the Dano-German war and during its course. He suddenly pretended not
to understand, and changed the subject of conversation.
It produced an extremely painful impression upon me that not only the
Danish Charge d'Affaires, but apparently several of these fine
gentlemen, had determined on the additional amusement of making me
drunk. Everybody at table vied one with the other to drink my health,
and they informed me that etiquette demanded I should each time empty my
glass to the bottom; the contrary would be a breach of good form. As I
very quickly saw through their intention, I escaped from the difficulty
by asking the waiter to bring me a very small glass. By emptying this I
could, without my manners being affected, hold my own against them all.
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