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smile； 〃I am only the bearer of a verbal reply。 I believe the king
thought a written answer too dangerous； or he was afraid lest he
should thereby compromise himself。 But after every interview I had
with the king or the queen； I noted down every word their majesties
spoke to me； and if your majesty permits； I shall avail myself of my
diary in replying to you。〃
〃Do so；〃 said Francis； 〃let us hear what you noted down in your
diary。〃
Colonel Steigentesch drew a memorandum…book from his bosom and
opened it。
〃Well； then； how did the king receive you？〃 inquired Francis； after
a pause。
〃The king received me rather coldly and stiffly；〃 read Colonel
Steigentesch from his diary； 〃he asked me what was the object of my
mission。 I replied that my emperor's letter stated this in a
sufficiently lucid manner。 The king was silent for a while； then he
said rather morosely： 'The emperor asks for succor now； but
hereafter he will； perhaps； conclude a separate peace and sacrifice
me。' I replied； 'The Emperor Francis； my august master； does not ask
for succor。 The battle of Aspern has proved that means of defence
are not wanting to Austria。 But as it is the avowed object of this
war that the powers should recover their former possessions； it is
but just and equitable that they should take an active part in the
contest； whose only object can be attained by seizing the favorable
moment。 I have not been sent to you to argue a question which should
be settled already； but to make the arrangements necessary for
carrying it into effect。'〃
〃An expedient reply；〃 exclaimed the emperor； nodding his head
eagerly。 〃And what did the King of Prussia answer to you？〃
〃The king was silent a while； and paced his room repeatedly； his
hands clasped on his back。 Then he stood still in front of me； and
said in a loud； firm voice： 'Despite the fear which I might have of
being deserted by Austria； I am determined to ally myself ONE DAY
with your court； but it is not yet time。 Continue the war； in the
mean time I will gradually strengthen my forces； only then shall I
be able to take a useful part in the contest。 I lack powder；
muskets； and money； my artillerists are all young and inexperienced
soldiers。 It is painful to me to avow the whole wretchedness of my
position to an Austrian officer； but I must do so to prove to your
master what it is that keeps me back at this juncture。 You will
easily convince yourself that I am striving to be useful to you by
all means。 Your sick soldiers are nursed at my hospitals and sent to
their homes； I give leave of absence to all my officers who wish to
serve in your army。 But to ask me to declare now in your favor； is
to call upon me to sign my own ruin。 Deal the enemy another blow；
and I will send an officer out of uniform to your emperor's
headquarters to make all necessary arrangements。' ＇Footnote： The
king's own words。See 〃Lebensbilder；〃 vol。 iii。； p。 262。＇ After
these words the king bowed to me and dismissed me。〃
〃Ah； indeed； the King of Prussia gives very wise advice；〃 exclaimed
the emperor； 〃we are to deal Bonaparte another blow； and then
Prussia will negotiate with us。 After we have gained another
victory； the cautious King of Prussia will enter into secret
negotiations with me； and send to my headquarters an officer； but；
do you hear； out of uniform； in order not to compromise himself。 Did
you not wear your uniform； then； colonel？〃
〃Pardon me； your majesty； I did。 But this seemed to be disagreeable
to the king； and he asked me to doff my uniform at Koenigsberg； but
I replied； that I was； since the battle of Aspern； so proud of my
uniform that I could not doff it。 ＇Footnote： Ibid＇ The king
thereupon requested me to state publicly that I had come to Prussia
only for the purpose of asking of the king permission to buy corn in
Silesia and horses in Prussia。〃
〃And you complied with this request； colonel！〃
〃I did not； your majesty。 I replied that I could not even state
this； for it was repugnant to my sense of honor； however； I would
not contradict such a rumor if it were circulated。〃
〃Very well； colonel；〃 said the emperor； smiling； 〃you have acted in
a manner worthy of a true Austrian。 And now tell me； did you see the
queen also？〃
〃I did； your majesty。 Her majesty sent for me on the day of my
arrival。 The queen looked pale and feeble； but she seemed to take
pains to conceal her sufferings under a smile which illuminated her
face like a sunbeam。〃
〃See； see。〃 exclaimed the emperor； sarcastically； 〃our colonel talks
in the enthusiastic strain of a poet now that he refers to the
queen。 Is she so very beautiful； then？〃
〃Your majesty； she is more than beautiful； she is at the same time a
noble； high…spirited woman； and an august queen。 Her misfortunes and
humiliations have not bent her neck； but this noble lady seems even
more august and majestic in the days of adversity than in those of
splendor and prosperity。〃
〃And what did the queen say to you？ Was she of her husband's opinion
that Austria should not be succored at this juncture； and that
Prussia； before declaring in our favor； ought to wait and see if
Austria can defeat France single…handed？〃
〃Your majesty； the queen was more unreserved and frank in her
utterances than the king。 She openly avowed her hatred against
Napoleon； and it is her opinion that Prussia should take a decided
stand against France。 ‘For；' she said； 'I am convinced that the
hatred of the French emperor against Austria； and his intention to
overthrow all dynasties； leave no hope of peace。 I am the mother of
nine children； to whom I am anxious to preserve their inheritance；
you may； therefore； judge of the wishes which I entertain。'〃
＇Footnote： The queen's own words。 See 〃Lebensbilder；〃 vol。 iii。； p。
280。＇
〃If such were the queen's sentiments； I suppose she profited by the
great influence which she is said to have over her husband； to
prevail upon him to take a bold stand； and you bring me the news of
it as the final result of your mission； do you not？〃
〃Pardon me； your majesty； I do not。 It seems the influence of the
queen does not go far enough to induce the king to change his mind
after he has once made it up。 Now； the king has resolved not to ally
himself with Austria at this juncture； but to wait until Austria； as
he says； ‘has dealt the Emperor of the French another blow。' All my
interviews with the king were； as it were； only variations of this
theme。 In the last interview which I had with the king； he did not
express any thing but what he had already told me in the first。 He
repeated that he would； as soon as Austria had dealt France another
decisive blow； send an officer out of uniform to the headquarters of
your majesty； but then； he added； ‘I hope to come myself； and not
alone。' When I took leave of the queen； she was even sadder than
usual； and her voice was tremulous； and her eyes filled with tears；
when she said to me she hoped to meet me soon again under more
favorable circumstances。〃
〃And what did the other persons at the Prussian court say？ How did
the princes； the generals； and ministers express themselves？〃
〃Prince William； the king's brother； said