“Indeed it is an original,” the king murmured to himself. “Do you know what the man wants?” he asked aloud. “No, your majesty; he said that his business concerned the happiness of two human beings, and that he could only open his heart to his God and his king.” “Where is your protege?” “He stands outside, and it is my humble request that your majesty will grant him an audience, and permit me to call him.” “It is granted, and--” Just at that moment the door opened, and the footman announced that the private secretary of his highness Prince von Galitzin had arrived, and most respectfully begged an audience. “It is he--it is the baron,” said the king. “Tell your protege he must wait, and come again. Bid the Prince von Galitzin enter.” As the Minister von Herzberg withdrew, the Baron von Thugut appeared, the extraordinary and secret ambassador of the Empress Maria Theresa. “Well, Herr Baron, you are already returned,” said the king, as he scarcely nodded to the profoundly respectful bows of the ambassador. “I infer, therefore, that your instructions are not from the empress, but from the co-regent, the Emperor Joseph, who has betaken himself to the Austrian camp.” “Sire,” answered Thugut, laconically, “I have driven day and night, and have received my instructions directly from the empress.” The king slowly shook his head, and an imperceptible smile played around his lips. “Does the young emperor approve of these instructions?” “Sire, his majesty, the emperor, is only the co-regent,” answered Thugut, hastily. “It is not therefore necessary, that my sovereign should make her decisions dependent upon her son’s concordance.” “The empress will negotiate for peace,” said the king to himself, “but the emperor desires to win laurels in the war, and will try to cut off the negotiations of his mother by a coup de main. One must be on his guard!” Just then the door opened and Herzberg returned. “You perceive I expected you, Baron von Thugut,” said the king, “and I ordered here my minister of state, Herr von Herzberg. This is the Baron von Thugut, my dear minister, the ambassador of the empress-queen, who carries in his pocket peace or war, as it may be.” “Sire, I must protest against being so important a personage, as peace and war alone depend upon your majesty. It alone depends upon the lofty King of Prussia whether he will give peace and tranquillity to Germany, or suffer the guilt of permitting the bloody scourge of civil war again to tear in pieces the unhappy German nation.”