retired to his study, and was walking up and down in deep thought.
His countenance was stern and sorrowful--a dark cloud was upon his
brow--his lips were tightly pressed together--powerful emotions were
disturbing his whole being. He stopped suddenly, and raising his
head proudly, seemed to be listening to the thoughts and suggestions
of his soul.

"Yes," said he, "these were his very words: 'I protest against this
war in the name of my rights, my children, and my country!' Ah, it
is a pleasant thought to him that he is to be heir to my throne. He
imagines that he has rights beyond those that I grant him, and that
he can protest against an action of mine! He is a rebel, a traitor.
He dares to think of the time when I will be gone--of the time when
he or his children will wear this crown! I feel that I hate him as
my father hated me because I was his heir, and because the sight of
me always reminded him of his death! Yes, I hate him! The effeminate
boy will disturb the great work which I am endeavoring to perform.
Under his weak hands, this Prussia, which I would make great and
powerful, will fail to pieces, and all my battles and conquests will
be in vain. He will not know how to make use of them. I will make of
my Prussia a mighty and much-feared nation. And if I succeed, by
giving up my every thought to this one object, then my brother will
come and destroy this work which has cost me such pain and trouble.
Prussia needs a strong, active king, not an effeminate boy who
passes his life in sighing for his lost love and in grumbling at
fate for making him the son of a king. Yes, I feel that I hate him,
for I foresee that he will be the destroyer of my great work. But
no, no--I do him wrong," said the king, "and my suspicious heart
sees, perhaps, things that are not. Ah, has it gone so far? Must I,
also, pay the tribute which princes give for their pitiful splendor?