The king started as if from an electric shock. A dark red flush passed over General Moltke's pale, handsome face, and a sarcastic smile came to his lips.
"And what did you reply?" asked the king, closing his teeth firmly.
"I put off the negotiations on this point, until after the conclusion of peace with Austria; it was the more easy, as Benedetti only mentioned them as his own views. I was not, therefore, obliged to give a distinct answer."
"But you know," said the king, with a severe look and voice, "that I would never cede a foot of German soil."
"As surely," replied Count Bismarck, "as your majesty I hope is convinced, that my hand would never sign such a treaty! But," he added, "I thought it useless to make a breach and to have difficulties and embarrassments too soon. If France commenced a war now--"
"We should march to Paris," said General Moltke carelessly; "Napoleon has no army!"
"Count Goltz does not believe that," said the president-minister, "if I could only be sure; but at all events it is better to conclude a peace with Austria, and not to provoke discussions of compensations not yet officially demanded by France. When we have done here, those gentlemen in Paris shall get the answer I have prepared for them, and a little surprise into the bargain. I now come to Herr von der Pfordten, your majesty."
The king looked at him enquiringly.
"Your majesty recollects," said Count Bismarck, "the position which the peace programme gives to the South German states?"
"Certainly," said the king, "and this position has caused me great doubts for the future."