The Chancellor was silenced. His colleague tried to come to his assistance.
“Perhaps I could give you some information about Herr Mark, Sire. I have heard of him before.”
“Sir,” retorted Maximilian, “he came here, as he told me plainly enough, to assassinate me. I dare say you may have heard of similar events in his past career, but have you heard of anything worse than that?”
“Heaven forbid, Sire!”
“Then it seems to me that it is useless to discuss Herr Mark’s antecedents.”
There was an awkward pause. Both the Ministers felt that they were getting the worst of it. The King was the first to renew the conversation.
“But now let us understand each other. You admit that the present state of affairs cannot continue, that something must be done. Pray what do you propose?”
“My suggestion, Sire,” said Herr Moritz, taking it on himself to reply, “is that, in the first place, we should paralyse the movement by at once arresting the ringleaders.”
“Including, I presume, the one who is at present residing in the Castle?” broke in the King, sarcastically.
“I look upon him as the most dangerous man in Franconia,” returned the Minister, firmly; “but, of course, it is for your Majesty to decide how he shall be dealt with.”