“The dreams of a boy,” replied Aurora.
Count Piper shrugged.
“A boy who will carry out his dreams or perish, Madame.”
“So obstinate?” she smiled, “and has he no weaknesses, this hero?” she added, with an inflection of light scorn.
The minister smiled; he saw her superb confidence in her radiant beauty and brilliant intelligence, in her experience and charm; he thought that her perfections would be wasted on the man who had received without a change of color the news of the death of the only woman in whom he had ever been interested.
“I do not say that I do not wish you good fortune, Madame,” he said, “for myself there are other things besides war. And I should be glad of a peace. As for the King, I know little of him, for all that I have watched him since a child—or else there is little to know. He has no friends, and no favorites, and since the war began I have not known him influenced.”
“He is so young,” remarked Aurora, “do you think this military austerity will last all his life?”
“’Tis a hard race,” replied the Count, “but as you say—he is young.”
“Let me see him,” urged Aurora, “my mission can but move and alter him—if he would play Alexander he must be prepared for the family of Darius.”
“I will do my utmost,” said Count Piper, and with sincerity; but he was soon piqued by finding that he had promised too easily; Karl absolutely refused to see Aurora von Königsmarck.