Schneider still looked at the king enquiringly.
"No one thinks of my brother, the late king," said King William, in a voice that trembled slightly.
Deep emotion appeared on Schneider's animated face, a tear shone on his eyelashes.
"Yes, by God!" he cried, in his sonorous voice, "your majesty is right; we are ungrateful."
"How deep, how true," said the king, "was his devotion to Germany's greatness, and to Prussia's destiny; how much he did to strengthen the army, and to organize the government of Prussia, that she might be ready to fulfil her high calling. Prussia's future greatness was clear to his enlightened mind; and if the rough hand of revolution had not interfered in the carrying-out of his plans and views----"
The king paused suddenly, and pursued his thoughts in silence.
Schneider's eyes rested with warm affection upon the thoughtful features of his generous and simple-minded sovereign.
"If God has granted to us to pluck the fruit," continued the king, "yet ought we not to forget whose careful hand planted the tree and watered its roots in time of drought; truly he has not deserved it of us."
The king turned to his writing-table, and took up a sheet of paper.
"I have written down a few of my thoughts," said he with some hesitation, "but chiefly facts, as to what the late king did for Prussia, how he strengthened the army, and the nation, and laboured for the unity of Germany. I should like a leading article to be written from this and published in the 'Spener Gazette,' that all Berlin may read it. Will you see to this?"