“Your majesty,” Sir Thomas rejoined, “by a little engineering art, could render Limburg impregnable to the French or any others.” “I have not the least desire,” the king replied, “to aggrandize myself in those parts, or to spend money in fortifying there. It would be useless to me. Am I not fortifying Brieg and Glogau? These are enough for one who wishes to live well with his neighbors. Neither the Dutch nor the French have offended me, nor will I offend them by acquisitions in the Netherlands. Besides, who would guarantee them?” “The proposal,” Sir Thomas replied, “is to give guarantees at once.” “Guarantees!” exclaimed the king, scornfully. “Who minds or keeps guarantees in this age? Has not France guaranteed the Pragmatic Sanction? Has not England? Why do you not all fly to the queen’s succor?” Sir Thomas, who was not aware of the engagement into which the allies had entered to keep Russia busy by a war with Sweden, intimated that there were powers which might yet come to the rescue of the queen, and mentioned Russia as one. The king, with a very complaisant smile, said, “Russia, my good sir--It is not proper for me to explain myself, but I have means to keep the Russians employed.” “Russia,” added Sir Thomas, with some stateliness of utterance, “is not the only power which has engagements with Austria, and which must keep them too; so that, however averse to a breach--” Here the king interrupted him, and with scornful gesture, “laying his finger on his nose,” and in loud tones, exclaimed, “No threats, sir, if you please, no threats.” Lord Hyndford here came to the rescue of his colleague, and said, meekly, “I am sure his excellency had no such meaning, sire. His excellency will advance nothing so very contrary to his instructions.” Sir Thomas Robinson added, “Sire, I am not talking of what this power or that means to do, but of what will come of itself. To prophesy is not to threaten, sire. It is my zeal for the public good which brought me here, and--” Again the king interrupted him, saying, “The public will be much obliged to you, sir! But hear me. With respect to Russia, you know how matters stand. From the King of Poland I have nothing to fear. As for the King of England, he is my relation. If he do not attack me, I shall not him. If he do attack me, the Prince of Anhalt, with my army at Götten, will take care of him.” “It is the common rumor now,” Sir Thomas replied, “that your majesty, after the 12th of August, will join the French. Sire, I venture to hope not. Austria prefers your friendship; but if your majesty disdain Austria’s advances, what is it to do? Austria must throw itself entirely into the hands of France, and endeavor to outbid your majesty.”