"Benedek, your majesty, finds himself for the first time in a position of great responsibility, without having yet acted; this depresses him."
"But he says the army is unfit to fight," said the emperor, most unwillingly.
"It will certainly never improve by lying still in Bohemia; if your majesty fights with it, it will become fit to fight," returned Klindworth, positively.
The emperor paced up and down the room; the states-chancellor stood perfectly still, but his grey eyes watched every movement of the emperor, who stopped suddenly before him, and asked,--
"Are you aware of the French proposal?"
"An alliance, provided you yield Venetia," said Klindworth.
"What do you think of it?"
"I think it revolts every feeling of your majesty's heart--and with justice."
"It is not a question of inclination, or disinclination, but of policy," said the emperor.
"Policy is entirely against such an alliance," said Klindworth.