And he gave the king the note which he held in his hand. The king took it and passed his fingers lightly over the seal, then he laid it on the table before him.
"Do you know the contents; is there anything important in it?" he asked.
"Nothing important; only my credentials. My mission is personal."
"Speak then. I am anxious to hear."
"The emperor has determined," said the prince, "to commence a war, and to carry it on with all his power for the future formation of Germany, since he is convinced that by such a war, and by a decided Austrian victory alone, can lasting peace be procured, and lasting safety and independence for the princes of Germany."
"Then I was not mistaken," said the king, "war is decreed."
"It is," replied the prince, "and the emperor ardently desires to be surrounded in this war by the German princes, as he was at the Fürstentag at Frankfort."
"When they tried to catch me," said the king; "but go on."
"The emperor," added the prince, "prizes the alliance of Hanover above all things. He commanded me to say that he considered the interests of the Houses of Guelph and Hapsburg identical in Germany."
"The Guelphs have always fought against the imperial family," said the king.