He was still waiting there, when Flemming arrived foaming with rage. "Your Majesty," said he, "doubtless thinks that Europe will admire your magnanimity, but if you imagine that it will counterbalance the imprisonment at Patkul, you are greatly mistaken. The people will laugh at such heroism."
"Silence, Flemming," cried the King threateningly, then turning his steed, he galloped away alone in the direction of the city.
He dismounted at the Palace of the Four Seasons, where he found Cosel even more indignant than Flemming.
"Do not come near me!" she exclaimed, sobbing. "You have made a grievous mistake. I do not wish to see you any more. Twenty millions of money, hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the death of your officers, your own shame, all this you might have avenged, and you would not. You were afraid!"
The King threw himself on the sofa, and allowed the Countess to storm as she pleased--he did not utter a word. Only when, exhausted by passion, she sank into an arm-chair, he remarked coldly,--
"I had no wish to stain my honour with such a revenge!"
The next day, seeing that every one reproached him for his lenity, he summoned a council of war, which being presided over by Flemming, declared that it would have been right to imprison the Swedish King, and force him to sign a fresh treaty, seeing he had so frequently violated all the laws of nations.
The King heard them in silence.
The Swedish envoy at Vienna, having heard of the council, remarked contemptuously,--
"These people decide on the second day what they should have done the day before."