my father took leave of him with the words: j'espére de vous revoir bientot; and (Katte) replied: Non, mon ami, le Tyran demande du sang.

:( I know you'd summarized this for us before, but really: :(

reminded him of stories of their shared youth, but did not mention the year 1730 with one word; which is why General von Spaen used to joke that the King had an excellent memory right up to 1730.

Okay, this breaks my heart. :((((((((((((((

I am sort of simultaneously charmed and saddened by the story of Keith being betrayed by his habit of reading late at night!