He held out his hand to Herr von der Pfordten, who pressed it heartily and with much feeling, and he accompanied him to the door. In the ante-room they found von Keudell, and Bismarck begged him to facilitate the Bavarian minister's journey as much as possible. When Count Bismarck returned to his room, he rubbed his hands with satisfaction, whilst he paced the room with long strides. "So, messieurs in Paris!" he cried with a laugh, "you wish to split up and divide Germany, and help yourselves to compensation. The skilful engineers are blown up with their own mine. And their compensation? Let them flatter themselves with that hope a little longer. Now to the king!" He buttoned up his uniform, took his military cap, and left the room to go to King William's quarters. In the ante-room he saw an elderly gentleman, with grey hair and a grey beard, in the uniform of a Hanoverian equerry. A Prussian officer had brought him, and now approached the president minister, saying:-- "Lieutenant-Colonel von Heimbruch, the king of Hanover's equerry, wishes to speak to your excellency. I have brought him here, and was about to announce him." Bismarck turned towards von Heimbruch, touched his cap slightly with his hand, and looked at him inquiringly. The colonel approached him, and said: "His majesty the king, my most gracious master, arrived in Vienna a short time ago, and, as negotiations for peace have begun, he sends me to his majesty the King of Prussia with a letter. At the same time, Count Platen sends this note to your excellency." He handed the Prussian minister a sealed letter. He opened it, and read through the contents quickly. He turned gravely to Colonel von Heimbruch. "Will you have the goodness to wait for me here. I am going to his majesty, and I shall shortly return." With a military salute he walked on. In the king's ante-room there were several generals and other officers. They all rose as Count Bismarck entered and saluted the generals. The equerry on duty, Baron von Loë, advanced towards the minister president. "Is his majesty alone?" asked Count Bismarck. "General von Moltke is with the king," replied Baron von Loë, "but his majesty commanded me to announce your excellency at once." He entered the king's cabinet, after knocking at the door, and returned almost immediately to open it to the president. King William stood before a large table, spread over with maps, on which long arrows of various colours marked the position of the armies. He wore a campaigning overcoat, the Iron Cross in his button-hole, and the Order of Merit around his neck.