“It is seven years since you left your capital, sire.”
“Well?”
“Sweden needs her ruler.”
“Sweden is well governed.”
“Not by her monarch.”
“I do better things than govern Sweden,” replied the King haughtily.
“Ah, sire—these conquests cannot, will not, benefit Sweden. The scope of the war was attained years ago.”
Karl was silent; he narrowed his cold blue eyes and stared at the grave face and commonplace figure of his minister.
“And now you would risk all in a campaign against Russia.”
“Risk?” exclaimed Karl.