“Your Eminence represents Poland?” added Karl.
“All save that portion that remains with King Augustus,” replied the cautious priest.
“You are of the Sobieski party?” demanded the King.
“Sire, I have striven to be of no party, but the servant of Poland.”
Karl smiled; he was tolerably well acquainted with the intrigues and factions of the Republic, and, though he disdained politics, on this occasion he had allowed Count Piper to meddle in the affairs of Poland, greatly to his own advantage. He glanced at the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.
“We have not come to impose terms on Poland, have we?” he said briefly, then turned again to the Cardinal without waiting for the young Duke’s assent. “My quarrel is not with Poland.”
“We are, indeed,” replied the Cardinal, with some dignity, “unconscious of any offense towards your Majesty.”
“But your King,” said Karl, “waged on me a most unjust and aggressive war. He must make reparation.”
“Sire,” answered the Cardinal, with secret exultation, “he is in no condition to refuse your Majesty’s terms.”
“We have not yet come to the discussion of my terms,” responded the King, with an increase of his freezing hauteur. “If your Eminence is the mouthpiece of your country—I have only this to say—that I will give Poland peace when she has elected another King.”