"I hope so," said Klindworth, a piercing glance appearing for a moment beneath his half-closed eyelids, "if the diplomatists do their duty."
"If they do their duty," said the emperor pondering. "My dear Klindworth," he continued, "you must go at once to Paris and use all your talents to induce Napoleon to undertake active measures."
"I will set off with the next courier, your majesty," said Klindworth, without the least change in his expression.
"You know the situation well, and will do the best you can with it?" asked the emperor.
"Your majesty may rely upon me," said Klindworth.
The emperor was silent for some time, and passed his fingers lightly over the table.
"What do they say in Vienna?" he asked at last, in a tone of indifference.
"I trouble myself very little about what they say," replied the states-chancellor, with a quiet, searching glance at the emperor; "but I have heard enough to know that public opinion is courageous, and expects much from the Archduke Albert and the army of Italy."
"Do they speak of my brother Maximilian?" asked the emperor, in a slightly constrained voice.
Again a quick glance shot from Klindworth's eyes.