“You know that he has made a league with the Prussian towns?”
“I know.”
“But they do not trust him greatly. Dantzig will not receive his garrisons. The Germans have a good sniff.”
“I know that too. But have you not written to him? What are his plans touching us?”
“Touching us?” repeated Boguslav, inattentively.
He cast his eyes around the room, then rose. Prince Yanush thought that he was looking for something; but he hurried to a mirror in the corner, and withdrawing a proper distance, rubbed his whole face with a finger of his right hand; at last he said,—
“My skin is chapped a little from the journey, but before morning it will be healed. What are the elector’s plans touching us? Nothing; he wrote to me that he will not forget us.”
“What does that mean?”
“I have the letter with me; I will show it to you. He writes that whatever may happen he will not forget us; and I believe him, for his interests enjoin that. The elector cares as much for the Commonwealth as I do for an old wig, and would be glad to give it to Sweden if he could seize Prussia; but the power of Sweden begins to alarm him, therefore he would be glad to have an ally ready for the future; and he will have one if you mount the throne of Lithuania.”
“Would that had happened! Not for myself do I wish that throne!”