come immediately, on account of the bad condition of our hereditary estates and manifold business pertaining to the Roman Empire, which just now prevent us from undertaking the journey.  Then petition for a gracious dispensation from personal attendance, and request his Majesty to grant a written order for the feoffment.  Should the King make known to you through his counselors that he will not grant this written order, then desire a private audience of the King, and represent to him that we have been forced to assume the government, and deprecate his displeasure.  Wait also upon the most prominent ministers, and represent the same thing to them.  By your eloquence and zeal I hope that you will accomplish your purpose, and bring me the investiture.  To this end spare neither flattery nor fair words.”

“Most gracious sir,” asked John von Kospoth, with a meaning smile, “but if, unfortunately, flattery and fair words prove of no avail, what must we do then?”

“You answer that question for me, Wolfgang von Kreytz,” said the Elector.

“Most gracious sir,” exclaimed the young baron spiritedly, “if all entreaties and persuasions fail to move, I think it will be time to assert your Electoral dignity, and to have recourse to a little threatening.  We should give the King of Poland to understand that you claim the succession in Prussia by virtue of your own good right; that your father, the Elector George William, undertook the government before the investiture, and that you will defend your duchy of Prussia with all the means at your command, and will never give it up.”

“Very good,” said a deep voice from behind the window curtain.

“Do you mean to speak so too, John von Kospoth?” asked the Elector.

“If flattery and persuasions bring forth no fruit,” replied Kospoth, “it would be a satisfaction to me, too, to threaten.”

“A poor satisfaction!” cried the Elector, “unless we could forthwith follow up our threat by action, and send out our regiments to declare war!  No, sirs, if you try in vain to bribe with fair words, then we must resort to money!  Money is also a weapon, and, if report speak truly, an effective one among the Polish lords, their King himself respecting it.  In extremity, therefore, if you can not go forward at all, then have their Majesties, the King as well as Queen, notified, by means of some trusty person, that if we obtain the grant of the government on the spot, and have no difficulty with regard to investiture, we shall pay to both their Majesties, as a bonus, the sum of sixty thousand Polish florins, and afterward wait upon the great chancellor, vice chancellor, and lord high chancellor, salute these gentlemen from me, and promise each one of them ten thousand Polish florins.  Take care, though, to stipulate for some time to be allowed us for the fulfillment of these promises, for where the money is to come from is as yet a riddle to ourselves.  Such is my commission, gentlemen.  Hasten to execute it.”