“But our armies remain inactive,” said the queen, sadly, “while General Knobelsdorf is negotiating for peace with Bonaparte in Paris.”
“He is to negotiate until I am fully prepared,” said Frederick William—“until I know what German princes will be for and against me. Above all, it is necessary to know our forces in order to mature our plans. Hence, I must know who is on my side.”
“God is on your side, and so is Germany’s honor,” exclaimed the queen; “moreover, you may safely rely at least on one faithful friend.”
“You refer to the Emperor of Russia?” asked the king. “True, I received yesterday a letter from the emperor, in which he announced ‘that he would come to my assistance with an army of seventy thousand men under his personal command, as a faithful friend and neighbor, and appear in time on the battle-field, no matter whether it be on the Rhine or beyond it.’”
“Oh, the noble and faithful friend!” exclaimed the queen, joyfully.
“Yes,” said the king, thoughtfully, “he promises a great deal, but Russian promises march more rapidly than Russian armies. I am afraid events will carry us along so resistlessly that we cannot wait until the Emperor of Russia has arrived with his army. As soon as Napoleon suspects that my preparations are meant for him, he will himself declare war against me. He is always prepared; his army is always ready for war. Whatever he may be, we cannot deny that he is a brave and great general; and I do not know,” added the king, in a low voice, “I do not know whether we have got a general able to cope with him. Oh, Louisa, I envy your courage, your reliance on our cause. Do you feel then, no uneasiness whatever?”
“Uneasiness?” exclaimed the queen, with a proud smile. “I believe and feel convinced that now only one thing remains to be done. We must struggle with the monster, we must crush it, and then only will we be allowed to speak of uneasiness! [Footnote: The queen’s own words—Vide Gentz’s “Writings,” vol. iv., p. 169.] I believe, besides, in divine Providence—I believe in you, my noble, high-minded, and brave king and husband, and I believe in your splendid army, which is eager for war! I believe in the lucky star of Prussia!”
“Oh, it seems to me that many clouds are veiling that star,” said the king, mournfully.
“The thunder of battle will dispel them!” exclaimed Louisa, enthusiastically. “The smoke of powder purifies the air and destroys its noxious vapors.”
Just then the door opened, and the king’s valet de chambre entered.