The states-chancellor clasped his hands over his breast, and tapped the back of his left hand lightly with the fingers of his right. Then he spoke very slowly, and with long pauses, during which he watched the impression made by his words through his half-closed eyelids:
"I cannot, according to my humble views, share your imperial majesty's opinion that the moment for decision has only just come."
The emperor gazed at him with surprise.
"According to your views, when was that moment?" he asked.
"It was," returned Klindworth, "before Prussia and Italy had concluded a treaty; before Italy was armed; and before Prussia had completed her preparations. Your majesty wished to decide the great German quarrel; your majesty wished to set up the imperial throne in Frankfort after Count Rechberg had, somewhat prematurely, roasted the bœ uf historique."
The emperor frowned, but without altering his tone Klindworth continued,--
"Your majesty unveiled your designs too soon, and therefore the best moment was lost; a blow should fall heavily, and the opponent be unprepared. A long exchange of despatches reminds me of the Trojan heroes, who made long speeches and related their genealogy before hurling their spears. A dispute, an ultimatum, and your majesty's army in Saxony at once! so should I have conceived the affair. Now the Saxon army approaches Bohemia; it is impossible to fight except in Bohemia, that is to say, the burden of war is brought into our own territory. That, your imperial majesty, I call indecision; we feel its evil consequences already, and they will increase every day."
"Do you not think," said the emperor, thoughtfully, "that Prussia dreads war, and will give way rather than appeal to arms?"
"No, your majesty, that will not happen; Count Bismarck is incapable of such a course."
"But the king," said the emperor, "he is against the war. They speak of a difference with Bismarck quite recently."