“First, because it is you want a boon that he will grant no one.”
The Elector could not refrain from a bitter retort to this brusque statement.
“Is then the King of Sweden so cruel?”
“Sir,” said the Swede, “he is just. Patkul is a traitor.”
“Will not an easier death content your master?” asked Augustus.
“You will find that he will alter nothing,” smiled General Hord.
The Elector, however, could not believe that Karl could be so deaf to all promptings of clemency, chivalry, and courtesy.
“He is my guest,” he urged.
“For that very reason he will refuse you more certainly. The fact that he is nominally in your power will make him scornful of any concession to you. He will also disdain to accord any favor to you that he would not give to anyone else.”
But Augustus was not convinced, and if he had been, possessed sufficient nobleness to persist in his endeavor to save Patkul.