“I believe that he will, and we all believe so.  And with the Stadtholder to will is to do, for he carries through all that he undertakes.  But we will not suffer it, Prince, we will not be turned into Imperialists and Catholics.  We will hold to our Elector and our religion; we will not suffer and submit to our Elector’s being any longer in dependence upon Emperor and empire, and nothing at all but a powerless tool in Schwarzenberg’s hands.  We want a free Elector, who has courage and power to defy the Emperor himself, and league himself with the Swedes against him.  For the Swedes are our rightful allies, not merely because the mother of the little Queen Christina is sister to our Elector, but also because we are neighbors, and of one religion and one faith.  Oh, my gracious young sir, do not allow Schwarzenberg to make us Catholics and Imperialists!  Free your country, your subjects, and yourself from this man, who weighs upon us like a scourge from God!”

“But, Burgsdorf, just consider what you say there.  I, who have but just returned from a three years’ absence, I, who am almost a stranger to these combinations and circumstances, I am to free you from this most mighty and influential man, the Stadtholder in the Mark!  I should like to know how to go about it.”

“Gracious sir, I will tell you,” replied Burgsdorf, with smothered voice and coming close up to the Prince.  “Only say that you will place yourself at our head; give me only a couple of words in your own handwriting to give assurance to your friends and adherents that you will at their head battle for your good rights and for the faith and law of the land.  Do this, and then just wait eight days.”

“And what will happen after these eight days?”

“Then will happen that you shall see an army assembled about you, my Prince, in eight days.  We have all been long making our preparations in secret, and putting everything in position, to be able to break forth as soon as you should appear and place yourself at our head.  Every nobleman belonging to our party has procured arms and ammunition for the equipment of his people, and a brave, well-appointed host will be ready to execute your orders.  You will take Schwarzenberg prisoner in his proud palace; you will be able by persistency to drive the Elector to dismiss the hated minister and his hated son from their offices and dignities, and to banish them forever from the country.  You will be able to force the Elector to nominate you Schwarzenberg’s successor, and then, having the power in your own hands, it only depends upon yourself to break, with the Emperor, to recognize the peace of Prague no longer, but to renew the alliance with the Swedes, and united with them to battle against the encroachments of the Emperor, and in behalf of religion!”

“Just see, colonel, you have your plan already cut and dried!” cried the Prince.  “If I should accede to it I would have nothing further to do than to execute what you have previously determined and arranged, and I should be nothing more than a tool in your hands.  Now, I must confess to you that such a part would not at all suit me, even if I were ready to fall in with your plans.  But I am not ready to do so, and am thoroughly indisposed to accept your proposition.”