"All that remains to be told you now, is that I agree with Marshal
Schwerin. We will commence the attack in Saxony. To Saxony, then,
gentlemen! But, until the day before the attack, let us keep even
the question of war a secret."

Then, with the paper under his arm, he passed through the saloon and
entered his library.

There was a long pause after he left. The Prince of Prussia,
exhausted by the storm which had swept over his soul, had withdrawn
to one of the windows, where he was hid from view by the heavy satin
damask curtains.

Prince Henry, standing alone in the middle of the room, gazed after
his brother, and a deep sigh escaped him. Then turning to Retzow, he
said:

"You would not, then, fulfil my brother's and my own wishes?"

"I did all that was in my power, prince," said the general, sighing.
"Your highness did not wish this war to take place; you desired me,
if the king asked for my advice, to tell him that we were too weak,
and should therefore keep the peace. Well, I said this, not only
because you desired it, but because it was also my own opinion. But
the king's will was unalterable. He has meditated this war for
years. Years ago, with Winterfeldt's aid, he drew all the plans and
made every other arrangement."

"Winterfeldt!" murmured the prince to himself, "yes, Winterfeldt is
the fiend whose whispers have misled the king. We suspected this