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The Reich is a talking entity: King Friedrich is bound rather to silence, so long as possible. His thoughts on these matters are not given; but sure enough they were continual, too intense they could hardly be. "Compensation;" "The Reich as good as mine:" Whither is all this tending? Walrave and those Silesian Fortifyings, let Walrave mind his work, and get it perfected!
Accordingly, the peace-party in Brussels had cautiously put forth its tentacles late in 1606, and again in the early days of the new year. Walrave van Wittenhorst and Doctor Gevaerts had been allowed to come to the Hague, ostensibly on private business, but with secret commission from the archdukes to feel and report concerning the political atmosphere.
Accordingly, the peace-party in Brussels had cautiously put forth its tentacles late in 1606, and again in the early days of the new year. Walrave van Wittenhorst and Doctor Gevaerts had been allowed to come to the Hague, ostensibly on private business, but with secret commission from the archdukes to feel and report concerning the political atmosphere.
These were intricate strange scenes, much talked of at the time: Rothenburg, ugly Walrave, Hacke, and other known figures, concerned in them. Scenes in which Friedrich is not well informed; who much blames Einsiedel, as he is apt to do the unsuccessful. Accounts exist, both from the Prussian and from the Saxon side, decipherable with industry; not now worth deciphering to English readers.
It was this Mistress, one is happy to know, that ultimately betrayed the unbeautiful Walrave, and brought him to Magdeburg for the rest of his life. And now let us over the Mountains, to Chrudim again; a hundred and fifty miles at one step. It was before the middle of May, not of June as Friedrich had expected, that serious news reached Chrudim.
Friedrich, the Austrian Garrison once out, set instantly about repairing the works, and improving them into impregnability, our ugly friend Walrave presiding over that operation too. Belleisle, we may believe, so long as he continued, was full of polite wonder over these things; perhaps had critical advices here and there, which would be politely received.
Ugly Walrave is not now chief Engineer; one Balbi, a much prettier man, is. Dietrich of Dessau is now "Guardian to his Nephew," who is a Child left Heir there. Death has been busy with the Dessauers: but here is Prince Moritz, "the youngest, more like his Father than any of them."
But it was the bedroom itself which Nussler looked at with a shudder," Nussler and we: "in the middle of it stood Walrave's own bed, on his right hand that of his Wife, and on his left that of his Mistress:" a brutish polygamous Walrave! "This Mistress was a certain Quarter-Master's Wife," Quarter-Master willing, it is probable, to get rid of such an article gratis, much more on terms of profit.
His thoughts are wholly pacific; of Life to Minerva and the Arts, not to Bellona and the Battles: and yet he knows well, this latter too is an inexorable element. About his Army, he is quietly busy; augmenting, improving it; the staff of life to Prussia and him. Silesian Fortress-building, under ugly Walrave, goes on at a steadily swift rate.
"They had Roman-Catholic victual for Walrave and others of that faith, on the meagre-days; but Walrave eat right before him, evidently nothing but the name of Catholic. Indeed, he was a man hated by the Catholics, for his special rapacity on them.
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