"I cannot understand it," said Schneider; "personal aversion cannot possibly be the cause, for I assure your majesty, the king delights in recollections of his youth at Berlin, he feels a deep and filial veneration for his late majesty Frederick William III., and he drew from his wonderful memory numerous little traits and anecdotes of old times, of Count Neale, and old Princess Wittgenstein----"
"For whom we princes felt such immense respect," said the king laughing.
"And," continued Schneider, "I could see what pleasure the king felt in these reminiscences, and how much he was interested by my own recollections of the same times."
"And did you speak of the present political position?" asked the king.
"The conversation could not fail to touch upon that," said Schneider. "I took the liberty of expressing my hopes that the king, from his friendly remembrance of the Berlin court, would take your majesty's side in the present sharp conflict, and that the old bond which united Hanover and Prussia in the past, might be strengthened afresh."
"And what was his majesty's reply?" asked King William anxiously.
"The king spoke most candidly and openly," replied Schneider, "displaying the chivalrous character I have always admired, when I have had the honour of any intercourse with him. He assured me he had not the smallest animosity against Prussia, though he is so often accused of it; that he considered a German war would be the greatest of misfortunes, and that from the laws of the Confederation, he should consider it an impossibility, until it actually commenced. In such wickedness and misery he would never take part."
"Why then did he not conclude a treaty of neutrality?" asked the king.
"But his Hanoverian majesty believes himself to be completely neutral," replied Schneider.
"Then I cannot understand it!" exclaimed King William; "Count Platen always denied the conclusion which I so greatly desired."