ing to his
minister, "c'est tout comme chez nous. It will now be your task to find
out these conditions, which too closely affect the honor of one or the
other. For this purpose you will find the adjacent Cloister Braunau more
convenient than my poor cabin. At the conferences of diplomats much time
is consumed, while we military people have little time to spare. I shall
move on with my army."

"How, then! will your majesty break up here?" cried Thugut, with evident
surprise.

The king smiled. "Yes, I shall advance, as my remaining might be
construed equal to a retreat. The arts of diplomacy may drag on until
the imperialists have assembled all their foreign subjects to the
so-called civil war. Then hasten the negotiations, Baron von Thugut,
for every day of diplomatic peace is one day more of foraging war, and I
know not that you count the Bohemians in the German brotherhood, to whom
the calamity of war is ruinous. You have now to deal with the Baron
von Thugut, my dear Herzberg, and I hope the baron will accept some
diplomatic campaigns with you in Cloister Braunau."

"Sire, I accept, and if your majesty will dismiss me, I will go at once
to the cloister," answered Baron von Thugut, whose manner had become
graver and more serious since the king's announcement of the intended
advance.

"You are at liberty to withdraw. The good and hospitable monks have
already been apprised of your arrival by an express courier, and have
doubtless a good supper and a soft bed awaiting you."

"Had your majesty the grace to be convinced of my return?" asked Thugut.

"I was convinced of the tender heart of the empress-queen, and that she
would graciously try once more, in her Christian mercy, to convert such
an old barbarian and heretic as I am. Go now to the cloister, and when I
pass by in the morning, with my army, I will not fail to have them play
a pious air for the edification of the diplomats--such as, 'My soul,
like the young deer, cries unto Thee,' or, 'Oh, master, I am thy old
dog,' or some such heavenly song to excite the diplomats to pious
thoughts, and therewith I commend you to God's care, Baron von Thugut."

The king charged Herr von Herzberg to play the role of
grand-chamberlain, and accompany the ambassador to his carriage,
smiling, and slightly nodding a farewell.

The baron was on the point of leaving, when the king called to him.

"Had your majesty the grace to call me?" asked Thugut, hastily turning.

"Yes!"