When summoned to dinner, I found Mrs. Schwellenberg and a German
officer, Colonel Polier, who is now an attendant of Prince Charles of
Mecklenburg, the queen's brother, who is on a visit to their majesties.
I was introduced to him and we took our places. I was offered the seat
of Mrs. Haggerdorn, which was at the head of the table; but that was an
undertaking I could not bear. I begged leave to decline it; and as Mrs.
Schwellenberg left me at my own choice, I planted myself quietly at one
side.
Colonel Polier, though a German officer, is of a Swiss family.
He is a fat, good-humoured man, excessively fond Of eating and drinking.
His enjoyment of some of the fare, and especially of the dessert, was
really laughable; he could never finish a speech he had begun, if a new
dish made its appearance, without stopping to feast his eyes upon it,
exclaim something in German, and suck the inside of his mouth; but all
so openly, and with such perfect good-humour, that it was diverting
without anything distasteful.
After dinner we went upstairs into Mrs. Schwellenberg's room, to drink
coffee. This is a daily practice. Her rooms are exactly over mine; they
are the same size, and have the same prospect, but they are much more
sumptuously fitted up.