"I saw from my window Count Platen come and go hastily, and in this time of anxiety and difficulty I always fear some evil tidings. Is it anything important?" she asked in her strangely beautiful and flexible voice, whilst she looked anxiously at the grave, almost solemn countenance of the king.
George V. replied:
"It would be foolish to say it is nothing; you would soon discover the truth, and a queen will know how to face great perils."
He laid his hand gently on her head.
"Yes, it is important," he said; "this evening we shall be at war with Prussia."
"Oh! my God!" cried the queen, shuddering, "how is that possible? you had determined to remain neutral!"
"They offer me conditions which I cannot accept, without injuring the honour and dignity of my crown. I must refuse--and then war is declared!" said the king in a gentle voice, as if he wished to make the hard tidings easier to bear.
"Horrible!" exclaimed the queen. "Is no escape possible, can I not perhaps mediate?" she cried, as if seized by a sudden inspiration. "Queen Augusta will recoil as I do from such a fratricidal war."
"Yes, it is indeed a fratricidal war," said the king, "for in many a family, whilst one brother fights for me, another will be in the Prussian service; but nothing can be done, believe me it is so. I am sure the only thing I can do now is to prevent, as far as possible, bloodshed in my own country. Count Platen believes he can still negotiate."
"Oh! that he had not negotiated so long," cried the queen impetuously, "then we should not have been in this dreadful position, no help on either side; at least we should not have been without Gablenz and his troops. Believe me, my own dear husband," she cried affectionately, "Platen's ridiculous indecision has plunged us all into misfortune."