"Hum!" said the king; "yet let us put aside these considerations, or you will believe me to be swayed entirely by interested motives, and I assure you it is not so. In this crisis there is a higher principle than success, and by this principle alone will I be guided."
"I humbly beg you," said the prince, "to consider the future advantage and greatness to be gained for your country, and not to forget that Prussia, with her power and her present political tendencies, is a dangerous and threatening neighbour to Hanover."
The king remained for some little time silent and thoughtful.
"My dear Karl," he then said, "be assured that everything that comes from the emperor shall receive my gravest consideration and hearty respect, and that, by giving me the happiness of seeing you as his messenger, he has strengthened still more my feelings of regard. I am always ready to show my enduring friendship to Austria and to the house of Hapsburg. But here--I must say it at once--principles enter into the question, which as the ruler of my country and a member of the German confederacy stand higher than all. At this moment I will give you no definite answer. You can remain here a few days?"
"A few days certainly," replied the prince; "the emperor awaits my return with anxiety, and I cannot stay long."
"I will not detain you long, and your proposals shall at once be laid before my ministers."
The king rang, and said to the attendant who appeared,
"If the gentlemen have breakfasted, beg them to come here."
Shortly afterwards Count Platen, General Brandis, and Bacmeister entered the room.
Prince Karl greeted them separately with great heartiness, and they all seated themselves around the king's writing-table.