nd 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."

"And now," exclaimed the Elector, when the two gentlemen had left the
cabinet, "now, Colonel von Burgsdorf, you have received your first lesson,
and have learned to wait a little. Come forward now; I have something to
say to you."

"And I, sir," called out Burgsdorf, as he rushed forth from the bay window
and threw himself on his knees before the Elector, "first of all, I have
something to say to you. Your highness, above all things I must beg your
pardon from the bottom of my heart, and confess to you the evil thoughts
that led me to suppose that the Elector at twenty years of age did not
understand government and was only a timid young gentleman. I see now that
you are far wiser and more prudent than the old fool Burgsdorf, and that
you have learned more in your twenty years than wi