Gas would be too bright for such a meeting.
"Well, your Excellency?" said a voice from the leather lounge.
"Who are you?" For this was not the voice the baron expected to hear.
"My name at present does not matter. The news I bring is far more
important. His majesty emphatically declines any alliance with the
House of Ehrenstein."
The ambassador stumbled into a chair, his mind dulled, his shoulders
inert. This was a blow.
"Declines?" he murmured.
"He repudiates his uncle's negotiations absolutely."
"Damnation!" swore the ambassador, coming to life once more.
"The exact word used by the prince; in fact, the word has become common
property in the last forty-eight hours. Now then, what's to be done?
What do you suggest?"
"This means war. The duke will never swallow such an insult."
"War! It looks as if you and I, Baron, shall not accompany the king of
Prussia into Alsace-Lorraine. We shall have entertainment at home."
"This is horrible!"
"The devil of a muddle!"
"But what possessed the prince to blunder like this?"
"The prince really is not to blame. Our king, Baron, is a young colt. A
few months ago he gave his royal uncle carte blanche to seek a wife for
him. Politics demanded an alliance between Jugendheit and Ehrenstein.
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