within a short two weeks or so, Karl Albert quits Munchen, as
no safe place for him; comes across to Mannheim to his Cousin Philip,
old Kur-Pfalz, whom we used to know, now extremely old, but who has
marriages of Grand-daughters, and other gayeties, on hand; which a
Cousin and prospective Kaiser--especially if in peril of his life--might
as well come and witness. This is the excuse Karl Albert makes to an
indulgent Public; and would fain make to himself, but cannot. Barenklau
and Khevenhuller are too indisputable. Nay this rumor of Friedrich's
"Peace with Austria," divulged Bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf, if this
also (horrible to think) were true--! Which Friedrich assures him it is
not. Karl Albert writes to Friedrich, and again writes; conjuring him,
for the love of God, To make some thrust, then, some inroad or other,
on those man-devouring Khevenhullers; and take them from his, Karl
Albert's, throat and his poor Country's. Which Friedrich, on his own
score, is already purposing to do.

Chapter VIII. -- FRIEDRICH STARTS FOR MORAVIA, ON A NEW SCHEME HE HAS.

The Austrian Court had not kept Friedrich's secret of
Klein-Schnellendorf, hardly even for a day. It was whispered to the
Dowager Empress, or Empresses; who whispered it, or wrote it, to some
other high party; by whom again as usual:--in fact, the Austrian Court,
having once got their Neipperg safe to hand, took no pains to keep the
secret; but had probably an interest rather in letting it filter out, to
set Friedrich and his Allies at variance. At all events, in the space of
a few weeks, as we have seen, the rumor of a Treaty between Austria and
Friedrich was everywhere rife; Friedrich, as he had engaged, everywhere
denying it, and indeed clearly perceiving that there was like to be no
ground for acknowledging it. The Austrian Court, instead of "completing
the Treaty before Newyear's-day," had broken the previous bargain;
evidently not meaning to complete; intent rather to wait upon their
Hungarian Insurrection, and the luck of War.

There is now, therefore, a new turn in the game. And for this also
Friedrich has been getting the fit card ready; and is not slow to play
it. Some time ago, November 4th,--properly November 1st, hardly three
weeks since that of Klein-Schnellendorf,--finding the secret already out
("whispered of at Breslau, 28th October," casually testifies Hyndford),
he had tightened his bands with France; had, on November 4th, formally
acc