"That is also the wish of Herr von Beust, your majesty."
"Beg him to announce himself through Colonel Favé, who is on duty. I will instruct the colonel to bring him without exciting observation."
"Very well, sire. To-day or to-morrow I expect Prince Reuss, who is sent by the King of Prussia with letters to your majesty from head-quarters at Pardubitz."
"From where?" asked the emperor.
"Pardubitz, sire," repeated Drouyn de Lhuys, pronouncing the word very distinctly.
"What a name!" cried Napoleon. "And do you know what he brings?"
"The conditions of peace," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "without their previous acceptance the King of Prussia will conclude no armistice. So says Count Goltz, who informed me of the prince's coming by a telegram."
"And were these conditions known to Count Goltz?" asked the emperor further.
"From his previous and general instructions I take it they were the same as I have already imparted to your majesty,--Austria's exclusion from Germany, the leadership of Prussia, and the annexation of the territory lying between the separate portions of Prussia," returned Drouyn de Lhuys.
"Then his arrival will alter nothing in our policy," said the emperor. "We will await him."