"Your majesty," said the general with warmth and energy, "there is but one way now which can save us, and that is a hasty march upon Gotha. The Prussians expect from our previous operations that we shall work across the railway near Eisenach, and they have drawn together their greatest strength in that direction. Let your majesty at once direct your course by forced marches upon Gotha, we shall find but little resistance, and we shall break through it. We have nineteen thousand men; even if we lose four thousand, we shall still reach--and of this I am certain--South Germany with fifteen thousand men; we shall bring immediate assistance, and above all things we shall maintain the honour of your majesty's banner in the field. If we stay here," he added sorrowfully, "we must end badly."
"But the negotiations with Alvensleben," said the king hesitating,--"Count Platen still hopes for a favourable result."
"What result?" exclaimed General von Brandis; "the results of the negotiations on either side have not been brilliant."
"Count Platen!" announced the groom of the chambers.
The king made a sign, and Count Platen entered.
"Your majesty," he cried, "the Prussian Colonel von Döring has arrived as an envoy from Berlin, and brings a despatch from Count Bismarck; it appears that in Berlin they still wish to negotiate."
"Let the colonel come immediately," said the king.
General Brandis shrugged his shoulders and walked to the window.
Count Platen returned with the Prussian staff-officer.
"Colonel von Döring!" said the count, introducing him, whilst he approached the king with a stiff military salute; "he begs permission to read your majesty a despatch from the minister-president, Count Bismarck."