"So far well.—And England?"
"England is confessedly Saxon; and, as such, the greater portion of her territory must be annexed to Germany."
"While Northumberland and the Orkney islands are handed over to Scandinavia! I'll tell you what, professor—you'll excuse my freedom; but, although I have heard a good deal of nonsense in the course of my life, this idea of yours is the most preposterous that was ever started."
"We are acting upon it, however," replied Klingemann; "for it is upon that principle we are claiming Schleswig from Denmark, and Limburg from the crown of Holland. But for that principle we should be clearly wrong, since it is admitted that, in all past time, the Eyder has been the boundary of Germany. All territorial limits, however, must yield to unity of race."
"May I ask if there are many members of the German parliament who favour the same theory?"
"A good many—at least of the left section."
"They must be an enlightened set of legislators! Take my word for it, professor, you will have enough to do in settling the affairs of Germany Proper, without meddling with any of your neighbours."
"It must be owned," said the professor, "that we still require a good deal of internal arrangement. We have our fleet to build."
"A fleet!—what can you possibly want with a fleet? And if you had one, where are your harbours?"
"That is a point for after consideration," replied Klingemann. "I am not much acquainted with maritime matters, because I never have seen the sea; but we consider a fleet as quite essential, and are determined to build one. Then there is the settlement of religious differences. That, I own, gives me some anxiety."