"Too late!" said Lex softly to himself, as he bent his head.
"This reform project," said the king with animation, "takes from me the largest and most essential part of my sovereignty. I have once and for all refused it, and I will never accept it. What sovereignty would be left to guarantee, after I had yielded the most essential conditions of sovereignty? Tell Prince Ysenburg----"
"Will your majesty," said Count Platen, "be pleased to listen to Prince Ysenburg's note? The situation is grave--he will wait for your answer until this evening, and if it is not satisfactory, viz. if your majesty does not accept the alliance, Prussia will regard it as a declaration of war from Hanover."
The king stood up.
"Have we come to that?" cried he; "but read!"
He covered his face with his hands, and leant back in his chair. Count Platen unfolded the paper he held in his hand, and read the Prussian ultimatum, dated the same day.
Whilst he read the king neither spoke nor moved. As Count Platen ended he raised his head--his features expressing deep earnestness.
"What is your opinion?" he asked calmly.
"Your majesty," said Count Platen, in a somewhat hesitating and uncertain voice, "I think matters have hardly gone as far as this note would imply,--they wish to exercise severe pressure; and I believe if we could only gain time----"
"But the reply must be given this evening!" interrupted Lex, with a slight tone of impatience in his voice.