"If your majesty will not follow the path I have pointed out," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "then, in my opinion, France must act towards Germany as she acted towards Italy. She must allow events to take their natural course, she must consent to an entire or partial national union beneath Prussia, and to the territorial acquisitions of Prussia,--and she must demand on her part compensation." The eyes of the emperor lighted up. "And what compensation would you demand?" he asked. "Benedetti maintains," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that in Berlin they are much inclined to give us possession of Belgium." The emperor nodded approval. "I do not," added the minister, "approve this policy; we shall gain little as far as military position is concerned, and we shall be burdened with great complications towards England." The emperor shrugged his shoulders slightly. "But Belgium is French," he said. "Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "by the same right Alsace is German." "Ah! bah!" exclaimed the emperor, involuntarily. "But," said he, "where would you seek compensation?" "Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "if the military and political unity of Germany is consolidated under the leadership of Prussia its new power will be very dangerous to France, dangerous to our influence, yes, even to our safety. We must therefore on our side demand guarantees against an aggressive policy from newly constituted Germany. In the next place," he added, as the emperor remained silent, "we must demand, as is only right and moderate, the extension of the French boundaries as established by the Congress of 1814." The emperor bowed his head with animation. "Then, sire," continued Drouyn de Lhuys, as he fixed his keen eyes upon the emperor, "we must demand Luxembourg and Mayence." "That is much," said the emperor, without looking up. "But not too much!" returned Drouyn de Lhuys. "Luxembourg too is only a question between us and Holland, and only the silent consent of Prussia will be needed. Mayence--well, they may demur about that, but it is better to ask more than you positively intend to take. That is my idea of compensation," he added after a short pause. "And it is mine," said the emperor, rising; and with his slow halting gait he took several turns about the room. He stood still before Drouyn do Lhuys, who had also risen, and said,-- "I regret, my dear minister, that I cannot decide upon following the first course you pointed out; since you consider it the right one." "I pointed out the second as the best alternative," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "and although I should have preferred the former, I fully approve of the second."