"I rejoice at your majesty's decision."
The emperor appeared surprised.
"You applaud me," he asked, "for sacrificing Italy?"
"To keep Germany--yes," replied Klindworth; "your majesty can reconquer Italy by Germany--never Germany by Italy."
"But you were against my giving up Italy before the commencement of the war," said the emperor.
"Certainly, your imperial majesty," replied Klindworth, "because I learnt from the great Metternich 'that you should never give up anything that you can possibly keep; but should you be compelled by necessity to sacrifice something, always sacrifice that which you can most easily regain.'"
"But," said the emperor, looking up with a quick piercing glance, "Rome will take this very ill, perhaps become my enemy."
"Take it ill--yes, your majesty," replied the states-chancellor: "become your enemy, that will not much matter, for Rome will always need Austria. The Church and her influence is a mighty power in political life, and we must use political powers, but we must not permit them to rule us--that was one of Metternich's first principles."
The emperor was thoughtfully silent.
"If I give up Italy, I must win the price of this sacrifice. Do you believe I shall gain an alliance with France?"