"The same," said Keudell, "only this time he is not the Danish agitator, but the French agent." A cloud gathered on Count Bismarck's brow. "What do they still want in Paris?" he cried. "Are they not yet satisfied? Benedetti must have understood me perfectly." "I think they wish to make one more secret effort," said von Keudell. "I beg you to hear Monsieur Hansen yourself, he is to a certain extent accredited by Drouyn de Lhuys, and he can really tell us much that it interests us to know." "Drouyn de Lhuys is no longer minister," said Count Bismarck. "He has resigned, certainly," replied Keudell, "and Lavalette is in his place until Moustier arrives, but his credentials prove that Hansen has something to propose, which is not to follow the usual course of diplomacy until it is known how we shall receive it." "Well," said Bismarck, after a short pause, "why should I not hear him? My mind, though, is made up as to all these proposals, direct or indirect. Where is Monsieur Hansen?" "I brought him with me; he is waiting down stairs, and if your excellency desires----" "Be so kind as to bring him here," said the minister; "I shall find you when I join the countess?" Keudell bowed, a minute afterwards he took Monsieur Hansen to the cabinet and withdrew as soon as Bismarck had received the unimportant-looking little man with great cordiality, and had requested him to be seated at his writing-table. The count's keen grey eyes rested enquiringly on the clever face of the Dane. "Your excellency," said Hansen, "I thank you in the name of my country for your generosity to Denmark, after your complete success, expressed in Article V. of the peace stipulations." Count Bismarck bowed slightly. "I have nothing against Denmark," he said; "on the contrary I esteem and respect that sturdy little nation, and I heartily wish Prussia and Denmark to live together on friendly terms. I rely upon your countrymen not to throw difficulties in the practical fulfilment of the principles which must guide us in regard to Denmark." "I wish to be of use to your excellency," said Hansen. "I have come to impart my ideas upon the delicate relations existing between newly constituted Germany and France." Count Bismarck made a slight movement intimating that he was willing to listen. "I ought to impart to your excellency that I have been initiated into the negociations that have already taken place." Bismarck remained silent. "The emperor," continued Hansen, "is in a very painful position. He has the greatest repugnance to interrupting in any way the right of a great people to national development, by being inimical to the great events just accomplished in Germany." A scarcely perceptible smile passed over the minister's grave face.