ALOYSIUS VON G*** WAS THE ENNOBLED SON of a burgher in the service of the Prince of ***; early on, the seeds of his felicitous genius were encouraged by a liberal education. Young, but armed with a broad range of knowledge, he entered the military service of the Prince, who could not long remain unaware of the young man's great talents and even greater aspirations. G*** was in the full bloom of his youth, as was the Prince; G*** was quick and enterprising, and the similarly endowed Prince deeply admired such traits. With his prolific wit and comprehensive knowledge, G*** was able to inspire those around him; through his invariable good cheer he delighted the circles in which he moved; he brought zest and life to every situation that arose. The Prince had an eye for just these virtues, which he himself possessed to a great extent. Everything that G*** undertook, even his lighter pursuits, had a touch of grandeur; obstacles did not deter him, and failure could not shake his perseverance. The value of these virtues was heightened by a pleasing stature; the picture of his good health and his Herculean strength were ennobled by the expressive playfulness of his active mind. His countenance, his gait, and his being exuded an innate, natural majesty, which was tempered by a noble modesty. If the Prince was enchanted by his young companion's intellect, G***'s winning appearance appealed even more irresistibly to his sensual nature.