Aurora bit her lip.
“But you have the Polish army.”
“There are only 18,000 men—not paid, not armed—and their generals uncertain whether to fight for me or Sweden!”
“And every one knows this?”
“I fear that my weakness is but too apparent—see how they have forced my hand in the matter of the Diet!”
“And you dare not bring back the Saxon troops?”
“It would be the excuse and the signal for a general revolt in Poland,” replied the King-Elector.
Aurora von Königsmarck mentally cursed Poland; she had been perfectly content in Dresden before ambition had urged Augustus into this troublesome glory.
“What will the Diet do?” she asked, suppressing her irritation and speaking with gentleness.
Augustus began pacing up and down the room.