“So it would seem,” replied the King dryly, “since they talk of peace.”
“And they will make peace, sire,” said Count Liewin boldly, “unless your Majesty returns.” Karl, standing now, overtopping all of them, eyed the speaker with a rising anger.
But Count Liewin, who knew that the very existence of his country depended on his firmness, stood his ground.
“Yes,” he continued, “if your Majesty does not return to defend us, we have no resource but to throw ourselves on the mercy of our enemies.”
The King turned aside with a swelling heart; these enemies were those who had attacked him fifteen years ago, those whom he had put under his feet so splendidly and gloriously.
He thought now of Count Piper, if, instead of acting according to his code of chivalry and justice, and refusing any advantage to himself from his victories, he had taken the political advantage of his success that his minister had wished him to, if he had refrained from the mad enterprise of endeavoring to dethrone the Czar, if he had never undertaken the reckless expedition into the Ukraine, the results of Narva would not have proved such Dead Sea fruits, nor he and his country be in such peril now.
“If Count Piper had been alive he would have smiled at me now,” remarked the King to Grothusen.
“Sire! He has been very loyal to your Majesty.”
Karl smiled; he had never been deceived in those about him.
“If Piper had had the power he would have thwarted me in all I did, Grothusen.”