"Just imagine, dear boys, such a speech in such a company, for to such effect were the words spoken by that noble old soldier of the Cross. Ah! it is comparatively easy to stand up for the truth in our day and country, because religion is now universally respected by all people of good sense and refinement, even by those who do not follow it; and anything like an open attack upon Christianity, in a mixed company, would be frowned upon by society as being ungentlemanly and in bad taste.  But it was not so in Frederick's court, where a profession of infidel opinions was almost held to be an essential in one who would make any pretension to intellectual acuteness.  And the old officer knew this well.  He knew the scorn which would glare upon him from the eyes of the other guests.  He expected nothing but sneering pity, where such sentiments as his own could not be visited with a severer penalty.  But he did not hang back through fear of man.  He could say, as David says in the Psalms, `I will speak of thy testimonies even before kings, and will not be ashamed.'  Was he not a true moral hero, dear Walter?"