“Yes,” murmured the Elector, with dejected mien, “so low are we reduced that if they even acknowledge our natural rights, it strikes us in the light of a concession, a grant, and we must esteem ourselves happy in having obtained it!  Ah!  Leuchtmar, when will the time come when I can take my revenge for these humiliations, the time when they will bow to me, and when it will be for me to concede and grant favors?  Hush, ambitious heart, be soft and still!  Go on, tell me what further settlements you concluded with the Swedes.”

“Gracious sir, I have no other concessions to mention, except that something has been done for the protection of our mutual traffic by sea and land.  But that is as much to the advantage of the Swedes as of ourselves.  The demands of the Swedes are truly far greater than their concessions!”

“What do they demand?”

“They demand in advance that they be left in undisturbed possession of the fortresses they are now masters of.”

“I have not the power to take them by force of arms!” cried the Elector, shrugging his shoulders.  “Let them keep what I can not force from them!  What else?”

“They demand, besides, that the Werben fortress be delivered up to them.”

“I will not deliver it up to them!” cried the Elector; “but I will have it destroyed, that it be not seized by the Imperialists.  What else?”

“The Swedes further desire that the Kuestrin Pass be closed to imperial troops.”

“To that I willingly consent, for it is in accordance with my own interests,” said Frederick William, smiling.  “By Kuestrin is the road to Stettin, and it is important for us, too, that this way be closed to the Imperialists.  Methinks a time will come when it shall be closed to the Swedes as well, and once closed, I shall not open it again.  What else?”

“The Swedes crave the privilege of having a resident at Kuestrin, who shall attend to carrying out this article.”

“That I shall never consent to!” cried the Elector passionately.  “No, that can not be, for such a permission would involve degradation, and the concessions which I am willing to make for the welfare of my torn and bleeding land need not go to the extent of degradation.  I must have an armistice, that my subjects may recover from the effects of these bloody, trying times, and gather strength for renewed existence.  I must have an armistice, in order to gain time for the re-establishment of law and order.  But there need be no armistice tending to dishonor me, and place me under Swedish surveillance in the midst of my own land.  No, no Swedish spy, no resident at Kuestrin—­that is the condition of my agreeing to the armistice.  All else I acquiesce in.”

“And I hope to prevail upon the Swedish lords to recede from this claim yet,” said Leuchtmar.  “Rest is very essential to them also just at this time, for they have enough to do to contend with the Imperialists, and the Danes are threatening them with war.  They will not desire to be embroiled with Brandenburg at the same time.  I will guarantee the conclusion of the armistice, and, if it meets your highness’s approbation, will travel again to Sweden to effect this alteration and then bring the articles to your highness for your signature.”