"And the burgomasters?"
"They do not dare to take any step for fear of being shot. God is my witness, madam, that I did not put myself forward to come and plead for that unhappy city. It was my dying husband who said to me 'Go!' and I came."
"But what can be done?" said the queen.
"Your Majesty needs no adviser but your heart. But, I repeat, if by ten o'clock to-day, no counter-order comes from the king, Frankfort is lost."
"If only the king were here," said the queen.
"Thanks to the telegraph, Your Majesty knows that there are no distances now. A telegram from Your Majesty can receive an answer in half-an-hour, and in another half-hour that answer can be sent to Frankfort."
"You are right," said Queen Augusta as she went towards a little bureau loaded with papers.
She wrote:
"To His Majesty the King of Prussia.
"BERLIN, July 23rd, 1866.
"Sire, I approach you to entreat humbly and earnestly that the indemnity of twenty-five million florins arbitrarily imposed upon the city of Frankfort, which has already paid fourteen millions in money and in kind, may be withdrawn.
"Your very humble servant and affectionate wife,
"AUGUSTA.
"P.S. Please reply immediately."
She handed the paper to Emma who read and returned it. Herr von Waals was summoned and came instantly.