Manteuffel passed his hand lightly over his moustache, and said: "The Emperor Napoleon desires compensation for his consent to the new acquisitions of Prussia and the new constitution of Germany." "Ah!" cried the prince. "And," proceeded Manteuffel, "they are far from bashful in Paris in pointing out what they shall require as compensation." "I have not been initiated in this bargaining," said the prince, with a look of great interest and lively anxiety. "I can inform your Excellency fully," returned General Manteuffel; "they will demand the frontier of 1814, Luxemburg and Mayence." The prince's face grew still more animated. "_Will_ demand?" he asked. "The demand is not yet stated officially," replied the general; "Benedetti has only named it in confidence." "And what did Count Bismarck reply?" asked the prince. "He put off the discussion of the question and its answer until after the conclusion of peace with Austria." The prince gave a fine smile and a slight nod with his head. "I can, however, tell your Excellency the answer beforehand," said the general. "And it will be?" asked the prince. "Not a foot's breadth of land, not a fortress,--no compensation," said General Manteuffel, in a firm, clear voice. Prince Gortschakoff looked at him with surprise, as if he had not expected this short and simple answer. "And what will France do?" he asked. The general shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps declare war," he replied,--"perhaps be prudently silent, wait, and arm; any way, it will be a sharp disappointment, and war must be the final result." The prince looked at this man with astonishment, who had just discussed with such fine intellect all the aims and threads of political interests, and who now, with soldier-like bluntness, spoke as of an ordinary event, of a war whose thunders must shake Europe to its very foundations. "That is the situation," said Manteuffel; "I beg your Excellency's permission to express my views on its consequences, and the position of Russia with regard to them." "I am most curious to hear!" said the prince. "The situation I have just described," proceeded the general, "gives Russia the power of deciding for all future time the relations that shall exist between that empire and Germany. If the Russian policy uses adverse circumstances to make difficulties for us, this policy,--forgive me, your Excellency, I must touch on every possibility to make my views clear,--this policy, even though it secures success to France for a time, will not prevent the regeneration of Germany; and under all future circumstances--for ever--Prussia and Germany will regard Russia as a foe, who is ready to come to an understanding with the western powers upon the affairs of Europe, and to make their interests her own." General von Manteuffel spoke in a firm and decided voice, and fixed his eyes firmly on the vice-chancellor. The prince's eyes fell, and he bit his lips.