He took from a portfolio he had brought with him a folded parchment, and laid it on the table beside the prince. He had listened attentively, and his quick eyes looked thoughtfully before him. "What are you placing on the table?" he asked. "The Treaty of Paris, your Excellency," replied Hamburger. A fine smile appeared on the lips of the prince, a flashing glance flew from his eyes towards his secretary. "Hamburger," he said, "you are a very remarkable man; I think we must be careful in your company." "Why, Excellency?" asked the secretary, in a calm, naïve tone. "I think you can read people's thoughts," replied the prince, whose ill humour had gradually vanished. "In your Excellency's school one must learn a little of everything," said von Hamburger, laughing and bowing. The prince took the Treaty of Paris and turned it over. For a short time he pursued his thoughts in silence. Then he looked up and asked,-- "Is General von Knesebeck, whom the King of Hanover has sent here, already at Zarskoë Selo?" "He went there immediately after your Excellency had given him an audience; his imperial majesty had commanded apartments to be prepared for him." "Has the emperor seen him yet?" asked the prince. "No, your Excellency," replied von Hamburger; "you requested the emperor not to receive him until you had spoken to General Manteuffel." "True," replied the prince, thoughtfully; "the emperor feels great sympathy for the King of Hanover, but I would rather that he did not enter into any engagement. We could do little alone; the only thing would be for the emperor to use his personal influence with the King of Prussia to dissuade him from a policy of annexation. It is, however, highly important to proceed most cautiously in this affair; before taking each step his majesty must be perfectly clear as to its results and consequences." A groom of the chambers entered and announced,-- "General von Manteuffel." The secretary rose, and withdrew by a side door leading from the cabinet. The prince stood up. Every trace of displeasure had vanished from his countenance, there was nothing to be seen but calm and complete courtesy. General von Manteuffel entered. He wore the full uniform of an adjutant-general of the King of Prussia, the blue enamelled cross of the Order of Merit around his neck, upon his breast the stars of the Russian orders of Alexander Nevsky and of the White Eagle, with the broad ribbon of the first, and the star of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle.