On the 7th of November negotiations took place between the Ministers of Würtemberg, Hesse, and Baden. The Bavarian Minister was not invited to take part in it, no agreement having been come to with Bavaria. This annoyed Ludwig. "Why do they conclude agreements with Würtemberg, Baden, and Hesse and not till later with my Government?" he exclaimed in anger. He was tired of the throne, tired of European politics. His nerves were overstrung, and he demanded that Prince Otto should at once leave the seat of war; he awaited his arrival at Hohenschwangau with impatience. "I look upon my brother as the King," he said to those about him. "Matters hang on a single thin thread, and then it will be, 'Le roi Louis II. est mort. Vive le roi Othon I.!'" On the 5th of November the Prince arrived; not without danger had he travelled day and night to fulfil his brother's wish. The King talked much and excitedly to him of abdicating the throne. Otto dissuaded him from such a step in the most affectionate manner. He asked permission to return to Versailles; but it was not until peace was all but concluded that he obtained the Monarch's consent to this step. Ludwig soon changed his mind with regard to his abdication. "Fancy," he said shortly afterwards to a gentleman of his entourage, "Count B. really believes that I am seriously thinking of abdicating." He enforced the necessity on several influential personages, "of using every effort in order that these rumours should be definitely put a stop to." [22] By the 15th of November an agreement had been come to with Baden and Hesse. Accord with Würtemberg seemed likewise near at hand. But suddenly steps were taken from Munich which caused the Government in Stuttgart to assume a waiting position; the Würtembergian delegates received a telegraphic message to the effect "that they were to go hand in hand with their Bavarian colleagues." [23] It became known that this later change of front was owing to the intrigues of the Austrian Chancellor, Count von Beust, who was at this time a visitor at Munich, and who had always been the enemy of Prussia. Ludwig made strenuous attempts to preserve the independence of his country, demanding during the negotiations not only independent sovereignty with regard to home affairs, but also that Bavaria should continue to have an independent army and her own foreign policy. As he would not give way an inch in the matter, the question of the German Empire stood for some time on an exceedingly critical footing.