"But little," replied the prince, whose features, impressed by the moving noisy life around him, were more animated than usual; "I have been talking with many of the officers of the troops who have just arrived."
"There is a glorious spirit in the army, is there not?" cried the king with joyful enthusiasm; "it makes me too happy to be surrounded by such troops."
"Yes," replied the prince with hesitation, "the spirit is excellent; but----"
"But what?" asked the king, surprised and hurt, "have you observed anything that does not accord with this spirit?"
"The spirit is perfectly excellent, my father," replied the prince slowly, pausing as he spoke as if he could not find the right words; "but--but there is no proper confidence in their leaders!"
"No confidence in their leaders!" cried the king energetically, as he stood up; "at the beginning of a campaign that were bad indeed!"
He was silent for a moment.
"Are you quite sure?" he asked. "Who told you so?"
"Several officers of the general staff," replied the prince, "the aides-de-camp, and they begged me to tell you."
"So!" said the king. "And in whom have they no confidence?--did they mention any names?"