"Marshal, will you take the word not of the minister, but of the
von Wallenstein, that whatever my reward shall be for my humble
services, yours shall not be less?"

"Thanks, but I have asked for no reward. If I accepted gain for
what I do, I should not be too old to blush."

"I do not understand."

"Self-interest blinds us. I have nothing but pity for this king
whose only crime is an archbishop; and I can not accept gain at
his expense; I should blush for shame. Had I my way, he should
die in peace. He has not long to live. The archbishop--well, we
can not make kings, they are born. But there is one thing more:
Over all your schemes is the shadow of Austria."

"Austria?"

"Yes. The Colonel speaks of a power behind him. Bismarck looks
hungrily toward Schleswig-Holstein. Austria casts amorous eyes
at us. A protectorate? We did not need it. It was forced on us.
When Austria assumed to dictate to us as to who should be king,
she also robbed us of our true independence. Twenty years ago
there was no duchy; it was all one kingdom. Who created this
duchy when Albrecht came on the throne? Austria. Why? If we
live we shall read." He rose, shook his lean legs. "I have been
for the most part neutral. I shall remain neutral. There is an
undercurrent on which you have failed to reckon. Austria,
mistress of the confederation. There are two men whom you must