"It was the ultimatum of the 15th over again," cried the minister to the Austrian ambassador. "And...?" asked Count Ingelheim. "Of course it was at once declined," exclaimed Count Platen. "Then these luckless negotiations are over at last?" asked Count Ingelheim, watching with secret relief Colonel von Döring's carriage as it rolled away. "Quite at an end," said Count Platen, as he sighed slightly. "Do you know, dear count," proceeded the ambassador, "that in my opinion your position here is a very serious one? You are in a corner between the Prussian armies, and I see only _one_ way out; that is by a hasty march upon Gotha." "Yes, the king is quite ready to go forward, but the general staff----" "Would to heaven!" cried Count Ingelheim energetically, "that his majesty had retained his old officers; I do not believe that Tschirschnitz would have allowed these constantly retrograde marches." "Yes," said Count Platen, with a slight shrug, "it is so difficult for me to do anything in military affairs. In Göttingen the wish seemed universal." "The wish is universal to act and to march; do you see that knot of officers? I am sure they are of my opinion;" and he pointed out a group in which Lieutenant von Landesberg was just expressing his joy at the envoy's departure, and his hopes of speedy action. Prince Hermann left the officers and joined Platen and Ingelheim. "The envoy is not coming back again?" he asked. "No, prince," cried Count Ingelheim, "I hope he is the last." Four post-horses dashed quickly along the road, drawing a close carriage with a servant in travelling livery upon the box. "Who is this?" cried Count Platen, with surprise, and all eyes turned upon the carriage as it drew up before the house. The servant sprang down and opened the door. An old gentleman in travelling dress, wrapped in a large Havelock cloak, his white head covered with a black cap, got out slowly and looked around as if seeking for something. "Persiany!" exclaimed Prince Hermann. "Good heavens, Persiany!" cried Count Platen, with amazement; then, with a pleased look and hasty footstep he met and welcomed the Emperor of Russia's ambassador at the Hanoverian court. "What does he want here?" asked Count Ingelheim; and a dark cloud passed over his face. "It looks well for us, as far as the inclinations of Russia go," said the prince; "and," he continued, with a smile, "he is at least no Prussian envoy." "Who knows?" murmured Count Ingelheim. And an investigating look followed Count Platen's meeting with Persiany. "At last I have found you, my dear count," cried the Russian ambassador, an old gentleman with strongly marked features and dark piercing eyes, which now wore an expression of the greatest anxiety. "Thank God that this horrible journey is at an end." And he held out a hand trembling with weakness to the minister.