ustav Wasa.

"My name is Erich Jedvardson, and I never was a saint. May I be allowed
to ask Swede what became of my Finland?"

"Finland belongs to Russia, by its own wish, after the peace of
Fredrikshamn in 1809, when the Finnish nation sore allegiance to the
Czar."

Gustavus II., Adolfus, asked permission to speak.

"Where are the Baltic provinces?" he asked.

"Reclaimed by their rightful owner," answered Swede.

"And the emperor? Is there still an emperor?"

"There are two; one in Berlin. and one in Vienna."

"Two of the House of Habsburg?"

"No, one of the House of Habsburg and the other of the House of
Hohenzollern."

"Incredible! And the Catholics in North Germany--are they converted?"

"No, the Catholics form the majority in the German Parliament, and the
emperor at Berlin is trying to put pressure on the College of Cardinals,
with a view to influencing the choice of the next Pope."

"There is still a Pope, then?"

"Oh! yes, although one of them has just died."

"And what does the Hohenzollern want in Rome?"

"No one knows; some say that it is his ambition to become Roman-German
emperor of the Evangelical Confession."

"A syncretistic emperor dreamt of by John George of Saxony! I don't want
to hear anymore. The ways of Providence are strange, and we mortals,
what are we? Dust and ashes!"

Charles XII. asked permission to speak.

"Can Swede tell me what has become of Poland?"

"Poland is no more. It has been split up."

"Split up? And Russia?"

"Russia recently celebrated the foundation of Petersburg, and the Lord
Mavor of Stockholm walked in the procession."

"As a prisoner?"

"No, as a guest. All nations are on friendly terms now, and not very
long ago a French army, commanded by a German field-marshall, invaded
China."

"Delicious! Are people now the friends of their enemies?"

"Yes, they are all penetrated by a Christian spirit, and there is a
permanent Committee for the Preservation of Peace established at the
Hague."

"A what?"

"A permanent Committee for the Preservation of Peace."

"Then my time is over! God's will be done!"

The king closed his visor and remained silent.

Charles, XI. claimed attention.

"Well, Swede, what about the finances of the old country?"

"It's difficult to answer your question, for I'm afraid they know
nothing of keeping accounts. But one or two things are certain: that
quite half kingdom has been pledged to the foreigner for about three