Frederick the Great and His Family [78]
your majesty will not be alone; your ally, France, will be at your side; she will repay with faithful, active assistance the services which your majesty rendered her in Hanover. She will not only render her all the assistance in her power, but she will also allow her to partake of the advantages of this victory. Hanover is a rich land, not rich only in products, but in many other treasures. The Electors of Hanover have in their residences not only their chests filled with gold and precious jewels, but also the most magnificent paintings. It is but natural that we should pay ourselves in Hanover for the expenses of this war of which England is the cause. You, then, will share with us these treasures. And still this is not all. France is grateful; she offers you, therefore, one of her colonies, the Isle of Tobago, as a pledge of friendship and love."
"Where is this isle?" said the king, quietly.
"In the West Indies, sire."
"And where is Hanover?"
The duke looked at the king in amazement, and remained silent.
The king repeated his question.
"Well," said the duke, hesitatingly, "Hanover is in Germany."
"And for this German land which, with my aid, France is to conquer, I am to receive as a reward the little Isle of Tobago in the West Indies! Have you finished, dyke, or have you other propositions to make?"
"Sire, I have finished, and await your answer."
"And this answer, duke, shall be clearer and franker than your questions. I will begin by answering the latter part of your speech. Small and insignificant as the King of Prussia may appear in your eyes, I would have you know he is no robber, no highwayman; he leaves these brilliant amusements without envy to France. And now, my dear duke, I must inform you, that since this morning it has been placed out of my power to accept this alliance; for this morning a treaty was signed, by which I became the ally of England!"
"It is impossible, sire," cried the duke; "this cannot be!"
"Not possible, sir!" said the king, "and still it is true. I have formed a treaty with England--this matter is settled! I have been an ally of Louis XV.; I have nothing to complain of in him. I love him; well, am I now his enemy? I hope that there may be a time when I may again approach the King of France. Pray tell him how anxiously I look forward to this time. Tell him I am much attached to him."
"Ah, sire," said the duke, sighing, "it is a great misfortune. I dare not go to my monarch with this sad, unexpected news; my monarch who loves you so tenderly, whose most earnest wish it is for France to be allied to Prussia."
"Ah, duke, "said Frederick, laughing, "France wishes for ships as allies. I have none to offer--England has. With her help I shall keep the Russians from Prussia, and with the aid she will keep the French from Hanover."
"We are to be enemies, then?" said the duke, sadly.
"It is a necessary evil, for which there is no remedy. But Louis XV. can form other alliances," said Frederick, ironically. "It may be for his interest to unite with the house of Austria!"
The duke was much embarrassed.
"Your majesty is not in earnest," said he, anxiously.
"Why not, duke?" said Frederick; "an alliance between France and Austria--it sounds very natural. If I were in your place, I would propose this to my court."
He now rose, which was a sign to the duke that the audience was at an end.
"I must now send a courier at once to my court," said the duke, "and I will not fail to state that your majesty advises us to unite with Austria."
"You will do well; that is," said the king, with a meaning smile-- "that is, if you think your court is in need of such advice, and has not already acted without it. When do you leave, duke?"
"To-morrow morning, sire."
"Farewell, duke, and do not forget that in my heart I am the friend of France, though we meet as enemies on the battle-field."
The duke bowed reverentially, and, sighing deeply, left the royal library, "the republic of letters," to hasten to Berlin.
The king looked after him thoughtfully.
"Where is this isle?" said the king, quietly.
"In the West Indies, sire."
"And where is Hanover?"
The duke looked at the king in amazement, and remained silent.
The king repeated his question.
"Well," said the duke, hesitatingly, "Hanover is in Germany."
"And for this German land which, with my aid, France is to conquer, I am to receive as a reward the little Isle of Tobago in the West Indies! Have you finished, dyke, or have you other propositions to make?"
"Sire, I have finished, and await your answer."
"And this answer, duke, shall be clearer and franker than your questions. I will begin by answering the latter part of your speech. Small and insignificant as the King of Prussia may appear in your eyes, I would have you know he is no robber, no highwayman; he leaves these brilliant amusements without envy to France. And now, my dear duke, I must inform you, that since this morning it has been placed out of my power to accept this alliance; for this morning a treaty was signed, by which I became the ally of England!"
"It is impossible, sire," cried the duke; "this cannot be!"
"Not possible, sir!" said the king, "and still it is true. I have formed a treaty with England--this matter is settled! I have been an ally of Louis XV.; I have nothing to complain of in him. I love him; well, am I now his enemy? I hope that there may be a time when I may again approach the King of France. Pray tell him how anxiously I look forward to this time. Tell him I am much attached to him."
"Ah, sire," said the duke, sighing, "it is a great misfortune. I dare not go to my monarch with this sad, unexpected news; my monarch who loves you so tenderly, whose most earnest wish it is for France to be allied to Prussia."
"Ah, duke, "said Frederick, laughing, "France wishes for ships as allies. I have none to offer--England has. With her help I shall keep the Russians from Prussia, and with the aid she will keep the French from Hanover."
"We are to be enemies, then?" said the duke, sadly.
"It is a necessary evil, for which there is no remedy. But Louis XV. can form other alliances," said Frederick, ironically. "It may be for his interest to unite with the house of Austria!"
The duke was much embarrassed.
"Your majesty is not in earnest," said he, anxiously.
"Why not, duke?" said Frederick; "an alliance between France and Austria--it sounds very natural. If I were in your place, I would propose this to my court."
He now rose, which was a sign to the duke that the audience was at an end.
"I must now send a courier at once to my court," said the duke, "and I will not fail to state that your majesty advises us to unite with Austria."
"You will do well; that is," said the king, with a meaning smile-- "that is, if you think your court is in need of such advice, and has not already acted without it. When do you leave, duke?"
"To-morrow morning, sire."
"Farewell, duke, and do not forget that in my heart I am the friend of France, though we meet as enemies on the battle-field."
The duke bowed reverentially, and, sighing deeply, left the royal library, "the republic of letters," to hasten to Berlin.
The king looked after him thoughtfully.