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Report to me early in the morning. You will then return with dispatches to the army. Good-by!" "Well, M. Chancellor," said the king, when Thile had left the room, "tell me your opinion the best way by which we may counteract this senseless and rash step, and succeed in preserving our country from the disastrous consequences."
Yet, for some weeks, Frederick William waited on events; and these events decided for war, not against Russia, but against France. The Prussian Chancellor, Hardenberg, did his best to hoodwink the French at Berlin, and quietly to play into the hands of the ardent German patriots. After publishing an official rebuke to Yorck, he secretly sent Major Thile to reassure him.
I would not be at liberty to accept it even though it should secure me new provinces. Major Thile!" "Your majesty!" said the major, advancing a few steps with stiff, military bearing. "Were you present at the negotiations preceding this convention? Are you familiar with the circumstances that led to it?"
If we succeed, the king may, perhaps, pardon me for what I have done; if we are unsuccessful, then I must lose my head. In that case, I pray my friends to take care of my wife and children. Your majesty," said Major Thile, closing his memorandum-book, "that was the whole speech." "And what did the officers reply to it?" asked the king. "Mind! the truth! I want to know the truth!"
"No," he said, "it does not behoove a king to receive letters from a traitorous subject a rebellious soldier. Take this dispatch, M. Chancellor; open and read it to me. Give it to his excellency." Major Thile handed Hardenberg the letter, and, while he was doing so, the eyes of the two men met.
Yet, for some weeks, Frederick William waited on events; and these events decided for war, not against Russia, but against France. The Prussian Chancellor, Hardenberg, did his best to hoodwink the French at Berlin, and quietly to play into the hands of the ardent German patriots. After publishing an official rebuke to Yorck, he secretly sent Major Thile to reassure him.
He communicated it to the chancellor of state at one of the conferences held every evening at Breslau, at Hardenberg's rooms, in presence of Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, Thile, and a few others. Hardenberg and all the rest approved it, and so did the king, when it was laid before him on the following day. A pause ensued when Leonora ceased reading.
"The general's aide-de-camp, Major Thile." "Let him come in," said the king. The jingle of spurs, and heavy, weary footsteps were heard approaching; Major von Thile entered. His uniform was covered with dust and mud; his hair hung in wet locks upon his forehead, and there shone in his mustache the snow-flakes with which the stormy night had adorned it.
As I could not ride across the French camp, I had to take a roundabout road by way of Gumbinnen. This caused a delay of four hours." "Give me your dispatches," said the king. Major Thile handed him a large sealed paper. The king extended his hand to take it, but suddenly withdrew it again and started back.
"Have you your memorandum-book here?" "I have, your majesty." "Read!" Major Thile drew his memorandum-book from his breast-pocket, and read as follows: "'Gentlemen, the French army has been annihilated by Heaven's avenging hand; the time has come for us to recover our independence by uniting with the Russian army.
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