“Now, Pruckmann, give me, as far as you can, an exact account of what has occurred. Have you the news by word of mouth or by letter?” “I received this letter two hours ago.” “Leave it with me. I will read it later. Now tell me what you know.” “Gracious Princess, I should not merit your confidence did I not tell you the whole truth.” “Pruckmann, tell me everything, in the fewest words.” “Your princely brother lost the devotion of the Bohemians in many ways: he showed himself too fond of splendor; he offended the Bohemian leaders in the army by disregarding the movements of the German general; and, worse still, he embittered the Bohemian Lutherans by his unmistakable expressions of contempt for their faith. I have known these things for several weeks, and you know that as far as it was my duty, I gave you intimations of them.” “Yes; and I have not failed to communicate my opinions about these things to my brother freely, but as now appears in vain.” “Your princely brother deemed himself too secure. His advisers must have failed in their duty. He soon discovered, however, the weakness of his situation. The Catholic princes rallied promptly at the call of the Emperor, but none of the princes who had joined the Protestant Union came at the King’s summons. The Elector of Saxony—he belongs, you know, to the Lutheran confession—sent word: ‘I would rather unite with the Turks than with you.’” The Electoress was growing impatient. Pruckmann—and this was a frequent failing of his—dwelt upon matters which she knew already as well as he. “The result of all these acts was the failure of the Bohemian army to meet the emergency when the decisive hour approached.” “At last you are coming to the point, Pruckmann. Tell me when and where the battle occurred.” “The battle took place fourteen days ago, on the eighth of November, at White Mountain, near Prague.” “Did Maximilian of Bavaria lead his army against my brother in the battle?” “He led the army of the Catholics in person. But your brother was not there.” “Not there! Where was he, then?” “The news of the defeat reached him at dinner, in Prague. He hurried to the ramparts and beheld his army in full retreat.” “And now?” “Your princely brother asked for an armistice of twenty-four hours. Only eight was granted. He took advantage of the armistice to fly, his wife and children and the leaders following him.” The Electoress breathed heavily. “Is everything, then, lost?” she said, after a pause. “What does the black raven say about it? [She meant Schwarzenberg.] Ah! he has a keen scent.” Pruckmann replied: “I spoke with him just before I came here. God grant his words do not come true. He says with the crown of Bohemia stands and falls the Electorate of the Palatinate.”