"The dangers would melt like the morning mist if the Emperor recalled Albrecht von Walstein," she said with great decision.
"It is for the Emperor to choose his captains," the priest rejoined gently. "He is a possible servant, not a friend of the Emperor. When I say 'knit our friends together,' I mean the princes, who are our peers in blood and of our faith."
The Archduchess was for a moment puzzled.
"Is it of France or Spain you speak, Father?" She said it wonderingly, because she knew of no princes of or nearly her own age in either kingdom.
"Of neither, your Highness, but of those houses that are equal with your own in the right to be elected to the empire."
"There are six electors! There are three archbishops—Mainz, Köln, Trier—two are Protestants, the Palatine, the Saxon,... you cannot mean the Wittelsbacher!" The disgust that she felt showed itself unmistakably.
"Who is a greater friend to the Habsburgs than Maximilian of Bavaria?" Father Lamormain dwelt almost affectionately on the syllables.
"Or a greater friend to your order?" the Archduchess asked.
This was a sharp thrust, and showed that the lady was well aware of the terms on which Maximilian and the Jesuits stood.