"I left nothing untried," he proceeded, "to dissuade his majesty from this dangerous decision and unsafe policy. You know I do not pretend to understand politics well--I rely upon your superior knowledge; but I am a soldier, and though I have no right to consider myself a great general, I know perfectly what is needful for an efficient army. Well, gentlemen, the policy which we now pursue must lead to war--for Bismarck is not the man tamely to submit,--but for war an efficient army is needful, and this our opponents possess, and we have it not--utterly and entirely we have it not, according to my military convictions. What then will be our position?" He stopped, exhausted and sad.
"But your excellency must not look at the black side of things," said Herr von Meysenbug, "we have 800,000 men, according to the statements made by the War Department, and----"
"The War Department," interrupted Mensdorff energetically, "may state what it pleases. I am a practical soldier, and care little for the acts of the War Department; I know the condition of the army, and if the half of your 800,000 men can march I shall rejoice. And we shall be forced to operate in two theatres of war at once," he added; "for you must see that at the first cannon shot Italy will begin--I am convinced an alliance has already been formed with Prussia."
Herr von Biegeleben smiled with the air of an experienced picture dealer who hears a dilettante expressing an opinion, and he remarked in his measured tone,--"May I remind your excellency that our ambassadors in Berlin and Florence assure us most positively that there is no question of an alliance between Prussia and Italy; yes, they even say that the slight difficulty which has arisen respecting the recognition of Italy by Prussia still increases. Certainly Italy would not, as the Duke de Gramont has told me to-day, seek so zealously the French mediation respecting the ceding of Venetia, if a Prussian alliance were concluded or likely to be so."
"Yes, yes," said Count Mensdorff thoughtfully, "the ambassadors maintain there is no alliance, I know that well, and yet I am certain of the contrary. I am also certain that the first threads of this treaty were spun in Paris--I feel quite sure of it--though it may not yet be a treaty placed in the archives."
"But," exclaimed Herr von Meysenbug, "the Duke de Gramont would surely not----"
"Gramont!" interrupted Count Mensdorff with still greater energy; "and do you really believe Gramont knows what is going on in Paris? Do you believe that the Emperor Napoleon has the last word of his labyrinthine policy written out in an official despatch and sent off to Gramont? Gramont knows what he is to say, and," he added, speaking more slowly and in a lower voice, "he is certainly not to say anything which might prevent war, for this war will be quite for the advantage of France. Paris has greatly feared lest the Prussian and Austrian arms should be united in Holstein; rather let Germany clash in a bloody struggle! Whichever side is defeated in this war, it is Germany which is defeated, and the conqueror wins for France!"
"Events look blacker and blacker to your excellency," said von Meysenbug with a slight smile. "I, on the other hand, hope that the victory of the Austrian arms will again establish German unity beneath the banners of the empire,--and if Italy moves we shall soon make an end of that impious kingdom which threatens Church and State with annihilation!"
"Would to God I could share your faith," said Count Mensdorff, mournfully; "but I do not believe in the success of the Austrian arms, and if Benedek knows the army and its construction as well as I do, he will say the same. I have told the emperor all this," he continued, in a still lower voice, "and I implored him to take from me the office of prime minister, as it made me responsible for a policy which must lead to heavy catastrophe."
"But your excellency!" cried both the gentlemen in alarm.