"Do you not believe," suggested Keudell, "that the Austrian policy will also work upon the press, and that they will do all they can to turn public opinion in France in favour of Austria? They will not scruple as to means. Prince Metternich----"
"Ah! bah!" cried Beckmann. "Prince Metternich will do nothing; he is trop grand seigneur to work on the press. He has the Chevalier Debraux de Saldapenha at his side, who will write him an article in his Mémorial Diplomatique, very fine, very diplomatic, very elevated, and which no one will read. Enfin," he added, "true public opinion will be for you. Ollivier too--Emile Ollivier, the Roman citizen, with a longing in his heart for the portfolio," he said, with a laugh, "is quite Prussian, and will do more with his conversation than any newspaper."
"You think the portfolio has charms for Emile Ollivier?" asked Keudell, with surprise.
"He will be minister one day," replied Herr Beckmann, confidently, "on fera cette bêtise. For the present he is the man of the opposition, and his voice is powerful. He is out and out the partizan of Prussian supremacy in Germany; that suffices. There are still," he continued, "the 'Revues hebdomadaires;' they have as much influence as the daily papers, as they are read quietly and digested. But we are fortunate in occupying the territory beforehand. I know all the editors, and I think I can easily work upon them in your favour. You remember how favourably my pamphlet, 'Le Traité de Gastein,' was received? I wrote it after I had had the honour of talking to the minister-president at Wiesbaden."
"Certainly," said Keudell. "I was surprised at the support we received from the French press; and we are still thankful to you for it."
"Pas de quoi," said Herr Beckmann, "I acted from conviction. I wished Count Bismarck's ideas on a newly-constituted Germany to have a favourable hearing in France, and I will still work for the same cause, because I consider his plans just and right. Apropos, did you know that Hansen is here?"
"Ah!" exclaimed Herr von Keudell.
"I bet he will stay some time," said Beckmann, with a quick side glance, "to watch the situation. You can work through him. What you impart to him will go to the right place, and will reach the press."
Keudell slightly bowed his head.
"Now," said Beckmann, "I think I had better go back as fast as I can to Paris, and open the campaign."