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〃At the next audience I will surely find an opportunity to speak of politics；〃 said the duke to himself。 〃The king cannot always be an immovable as to…day。〃
But the second and the third audience came； and the king was as inexplicable as the first time； he conversed with the duke kindly and freely showed him the most marked attention and personal confidence； but so often as the duke sought to introduce the subject of politics and the public interests which had brought him to Berlin； the king interrupted him and led the conversation to indifferent subjects。 This lasted two weeks； and the French court looked with painful anxiety for intelligence from the Duke de Nivernois that the old alliance was renewed and fully ratified； and she had； therefore； nothing to fear from Prussia。 This uncertainty was no longer to be borne； and the duke determined to end it by a coup d'etat。
He wrote； therefore； to the king； and asked for a private audience。 To his great joy his request was granted； the king invited him to come the next day to Sans…Souci。
〃At last！ at last！〃 said the duke； drawing a long breath； and with proud； French assurance； he added； 〃To…morrow； then； we will renew this contract which binds the hands of Prussia； and gives France liberty of action。〃
CHAPTER VI。
THE PRIVATE AUDIENCE。
The king received the French ambassador without ceremony。 There were no guards； no pages； no swarms of curious listening courtiers； only a few of his trusty friends； who welcomed the duke and conversed with him； while Pollnitz entered the adjoining room and informed the king of his arrival。
〃His majesty entreats the duke to enter。〃 said Pollnitz； opening the door of the library。 The king advanced。 He was dressed simply； even the golden star； which was seldom absent from his coat； was now missing。
〃Come； duke；〃 said the king； pleasantly； 〃come into my tusculum。〃 He then entered the library； quickly followed by the duke。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the king； 〃we are now in that room in which I lately told you I was but a republican。 You have crossed the threshold of the republic of letters！〃
〃But I see a king before me；〃 said the duke； bowing reverentially； 〃a king who has vanquished his republic； and surpassed all the great spirits that have gone before him。〃
The king's glance rested upon the shelves filled with books； on whose back glittered in golden letters the most distinguished names of all ages。
〃Homer； Tacitus； Livy； Petrarch！ye great spirits of my republic！ hear how this traitor slanders you。〃
〃How I honor you； sire； for truly it is a great honor to be subdued and vanquished by such a king as Frederick the Second。〃
The king looked at him fixedly。 〃You wish to bewilder me with flattery； duke；〃 said he； 〃well knowing that it is a sweet opiate； acceptable to princes； generally causing their ruin。 But in this chamber； duke； I am safe from this danger； and here in my republic we will both enjoy the Spartan soup of truth。 Believe me； sir； it is at times a wholesome dish； though to the pampered stomach it is bitter and distasteful。 I can digest it； and as you have come to visit me； you will have to partake of it。〃
〃And I crave it； sirecrave it as a man who has fasted for two weeks。〃
〃For two weeks？〃 said the king； laughing。 〃Ah； it is true you have been here just that time。〃
〃For two long weeks has your majesty kept me fasting and longing for this precious soup；〃 said the duke； reproachfully。
〃My broth was not ready；〃 said the king； gayly； 〃it was still bubbling in the pot。 It is now done； and we will consume it together。 Let us be seated； duke。〃
If Frederick had turned at this moment； he would have seen the grand chamberlain Pollnitz advancing on tiptoe to the open door； in order to listen to the conversation。 But the king was looking earnestly at the ambassador。 After a few moments of silence； he turned to the duke。
〃Is my soup still too hot for you？〃 said he； laughingly。
〃No； sire；〃 said the duke； bowing。 〃But I waited for your majesty to take the first spoonful。 Would it not be better to close that door？〃
〃No；〃 said the king； hastily； 〃I left it open； intentionally； so that your eyes； when wearied with the gloom of my republic； could refresh themselves on the glittering costumes of my courtiers。〃
〃He left it open；〃 thought the duke； 〃for these courtiers to hear all that is said。 He wishes the whole world to know how he rejected the friendship of France。〃
〃Well；〃 said the king； 〃I will take my spoonful。 We will commence without further delay。 Duke de Nivernois； you are here because the contract made between France and Prussia is at an end； and because France wishes me to fancy that she is anxious for a renewal of this treaty； and for the friendship of Prussia。〃
〃France wishes to convince you of this； sire；〃 said the duke。
〃Convince me？〃 said the king； ironically。 〃And how？〃
〃King Louis of France not only proposes to renew this contract； she； who he wishes to draw the bonds of friendship much closer between France and Prussia。〃
〃And to what end？〃 said the king。 〃For you well know； duke； that in politics personal inclinations must not be considered。 Were it not so； I would； without further delay； grasp the friendly hand that my brother of France extends toward me； for the whole world knows that I love France； and am proud of the friendship of her great spirits。 But as； unfortunately； there is no talk here of personal inclinations but of politics； I repeat my question。 To what end does France desire the friendship of Prussia？ What am I to pay for it？ You see； duke； I am a bad diplomatistI make no digression； but go to the point at once。〃
〃And that； perhaps； is the nicest diplomacy；〃 said the duke； sighing。
〃But； duke； do tell me； why is France so anxious for the friendship of Prussia？〃
〃To have an ally in you and be your ally。 By the first； France will have a trusty and powerful friend in Germany when her lands are attacked by the King of England； by the last； your majesty will have a trusty and powerful friend when Prussia is attacked by Russia or Austria。〃
〃We will now speak of the first；〃 said the king； quietly。 〃France； then； thinks to transplant this war with England to German ground？〃
〃Everywhere； sire； that the English colors predominate。 England alone will be accountable for this war。〃
〃It is true England has been hard upon you； but still it seems to me you have revenged yourselves sufficiently。 When England made herself supreme ruler of the Ohio； France； by the conquest of the Isle of Minorca； obtained dominion over the Mediterranean Sea； thereby wounding England so deeply； that in her despair she turned her weapons against herself。 Admiral Byng； having been overcome by your admiral Marquis de la Gallissionaire； paid for it with his life。 I think France should be satisfied with this expiation。〃
〃France will wash off her insults in English blood； and Minorca is no compensation for Canada and Ohio。 England owes us satisfaction； and we will obtain it in Hanover。〃
〃In Hanover？〃 repeated the king； angrily。
〃Hanover will be ours； sire； though we had no such ally as Germany； but it will be ours the sooner if we have that help which you can give us。 Standing between two fires； England will have to succumb； there will be no escape for her。 That is another advantage； sire； that France expects from the treaty with Prussia。 But I will now speak of the advantages which your majesty may expect from this alliance。 You are aware that Prussia is surrounded by threatening enemies； that Austria and Russia are approaching her borders with evil intentions； and that a day may soon come when Maria Theresa may wish to reconquer this Silesia which； in her heart； she still calls her own。 When this time comes； your majesty will not be alone； your ally； France； will be at your side； she will repay with faithful； active assistance the services which your majesty rendered her in Hanover。 She will not only render her all the assistance in her power； but she will also allow her to partake of the advantages of this victory。 Hanover is a rich land； not rich only in products； but in many other treasures。 The Electors of Hanover have in their residences not only their chests