"Certainly," said Count Platen, "your majesty must give an answer, but there is always a moyen terme to be found; we may reply that your majesty is willing to conclude a treaty with Prussia; we must avoid the word alliance, but the conditions must first be discussed,--this will give us several days; in the meantime events may happen. Count Ingelheim hourly expects to hear that the Austrians have marched into Saxony, and we can act according to these events."
"My opinion remains fixed!" said the king, with an expression of firm determination on his proud features, and a movement full of dignity as he threw back his head; "the projected reform, on the foundation of which I am to conclude an alliance, curtails the independence and the holiest rights of the crown, which I inherited from my ancestors, which is guaranteed to me by the whole of Europe, and which I am pledged to leave to my son in the same entire independence. Whilst this is my conviction, I can give but one answer to the Prussian proposal, and that answer is, No! But," he added, "I will have no prevarication, no dilatory negotiations; I wish them clearly to understand me in Berlin,--the neutrality I promised I will keep to, and I am ready formally to conclude it; but to this proposal I will never consent!"
Lex was silent.
Count Platen folded Prince Ysenburg's note and unfolded it again,--he seemed trying to find some modification to the king's decided reply.
George V. rose.
"The position," he said, "in which my family and my kingdom are placed is so grave, and what now occurs is of such immense importance in regard to the future, that I wish to hear the opinion of my assembled ministers."
Count Platen gave a sigh of relief, and nodded approval with his head.
"Drive back to town at once, my dear count, and assemble the ministers without delay."
"Your majesty's commands shall be obeyed," said the count hastily.
"We must," added the king, "take immediate measures for concentrating the army, which is scattered over the country. I must prevent all needless bloodshed in our own country, and I shall march with the army into South Germany immediately, there to act in concert with my confederates. Thus my kingdom will at least be spared the horrors of war, though I cannot protect it from being occupied by the enemy."