“And your other proposals?”
“That a law should be passed rendering it penal to belong to any political association the objects of which are not reconcilable with loyalty to the throne. If that did not prove sufficient I should ask your Majesty for permission to declare Mannhausen in a state of siege, and try any revolters by martial law.”
“I see. And am I to take it, Count, that you endorse Herr Moritz’s recommendations?”
“Most decidedly so, Sire. In my humble opinion nothing else can save us from a dangerous rebellion.”
“Very good. Now listen. I positively forbid the arrest of any of the ringleaders, as you term them, of this agitation. If they proceed to open breaches of the law, of course you are at liberty to bring them before the ordinary tribunals. But I will consent to no new legislation, nor to the adoption of the other repressive measures which have been mentioned. The only true remedy for the discontent which exists is to take away the grievances from which the people are suffering, and bring the government into touch with the popular will. Those are the lines on which I intend to proceed. At our last interview,” he turned to the Chancellor, who sat listening in hardly veiled consternation, “a policy was suggested to which you objected. Now I require you to submit to me a programme of your own, embodying measures for the removal of distress, and meeting the principal demands of the people.”
The Chancellor sat helpless, unable to make any reply to this speech, in which he recognised a tone of authority wholly new in his experience of the young monarch. It was again left to the younger Minister to answer for both.
“Your Majesty’s commands are, of course, binding on your Ministers,” he said, in tones of deep respect. “But you will perhaps permit us to confess our ignorance of some of the points which your Majesty has, as it were, taken for granted. You have spoken of distress, as if there were some generally recognised distress prevailing in the country at present. If there be anything of the kind it should be within my province to hear of it, and of course to apply remedies. I can only say, with the greatest deference to your Majesty’s better knowledge, that no hint of any such distress has reached me.”
The King moved, and opened his mouth as if to interrupt. But he remained silent, regarding the Minister with a puzzled air.
Herr Moritz saw that he had made an impression and pursued his advantage.
“You have also spoken of demands on the part of the people. The elected representatives of the people, composing the Lower Chamber of the Legislature, have made no demands, so far as I am aware, which have not been granted, wholly or partly. The only demands to which I can suppose your Majesty to refer are those of the Socialists, whose numbers, taking the figures supplied to you, are only three thousand.”