For Sceptre and Crown Volume I Part 46

But a fresh regiment streamed in, and shortly before it reached the hotel struck up the air of "G.o.d save the king;" the window was opened, and the king appeared in a general's uniform and military cap, grave and quiet; he affectionately greeted the troops who came at his summons to follow him to the field, and their banners were lowered to their royal leader. The old Hanoverian Hurrah! burst out so loudly and joyfully that it made the windows clatter, and the king's heart beat higher, for he could hear that the shout came from the hearts of soldiers who were ready cheerfully to pour out their blood in his defence.

About nine o'clock the Senate of the University appeared, headed by the pro-rector, the famous professor of state law, Zacharia; the black robes adorned with the colours of the different faculties, and the almost priestly appearance of the professors of wisdom, who came to greet their king in the midst of the tumult of war, lent a new charm to the animated changing picture, as they mingled with the brilliant uniforms of the soldiers.

The king had received the professors, had worked with the adjutant-generals, and with General Gebser, whom he had appointed commander-in-chief of the army, and he now sat alone in his room.

His face was pale and weary from the distress and excitement of the last few days, and from a sleepless night, but indomitable courage and firm determination shone in his eyes.

The groom of the chambers opened the door and announced the crown prince.

The king held out his hand affectionately to his son, who kissed it reverently.

"Have you slept?" asked the king.

"But little," replied the prince, whose features, impressed by the moving noisy life around him, were more animated than usual; "I have been talking with many of the officers of the troops who have just arrived."

"There is a glorious spirit in the army, is there not?" cried the king with joyful enthusiasm; "it makes me too happy to be surrounded by such troops."

"Yes," replied the prince with hesitation, "the spirit is excellent; but----"

"But what?" asked the king, surprised and hurt, "have you observed anything that does not accord with this spirit?"

"The spirit is perfectly excellent, my father," replied the prince slowly, pausing as he spoke as if he could not find the right words; "but--but there is no proper confidence in their leaders!"

"No confidence in their leaders!" cried the king energetically, as he stood up; "at the beginning of a campaign that were bad indeed!"

He was silent for a moment.

"Are you quite sure?" he asked. "Who told you so?"

"Several officers of the general staff," replied the prince, "the aides-de-camp, and they begged me to tell you."

"So!" said the king. "And in whom have they no confidence?--did they mention any names?"

"They do not think," replied the prince, "that General Gebser has energy enough to command in the field, and his name is not popular amongst the soldiers, and General Tschirschnitz is too old to bear the fatigues of war, and too much accustomed to office life----"

With a hasty movement the king pa.s.sed his hand over the table before him and rang the bell that stood upon it.

"The equerry on duty!" exclaimed the king to the attendant who came at the summons.

Immediately afterwards Count Wedel, the brother of the commander of the castle, entered.

"Your majesty sent for me?"

"My dear Wedel," said the king, "the crown prince has just told me, as was his duty, that the officers and the troops have no confidence in General Gebser, whom I have appointed to the command of the army, and that they also have not the confidence needful in the adjutant-general.

The moment is grave. Tell me, as my equerry and my officer, on your oath and your duty, what you know on the subject."

Count Wedel, a handsome powerfully made man, with short black hair and a black beard, fixed his large dark eyes upon the king, and said firmly in a clear voice:

"What his royal highness has told your majesty is, so far as I have had the opportunity of judging of the general opinion, perfectly true!"

The king sat still for a moment in deep thought.

"And you have heard it from good and clever officers?" he asked.

"From the officers of the general staff," replied Count Wedel, "and from several other officers with whom I have conversed."

"And whom would the army trust as their leader?" asked the king.

"General von Arentschildt!" replied Count Wedel without a moment's hesitation.

"I thank you," replied the king gravely; "beg General von Brandis and Count Platen to come to me."

"At your command, your majesty."

And Count Wedel left the room.

"This is bad, very bad!" said the king sorrowfully, "for an army that has no confidence in its leaders is already half beaten; but it is well I learnt it whilst there is still time."

The crown prince had stepped to the window and was looking at the various groups in the street below.

The two ministers entered, General von Brandis calm and cheerful as ever, Count Platen pale and excited.

"Gentlemen," said the king, "I hear that the adjutant-general, and the general I have chosen to command the army, do not possess the confidence of the troops."

He was silent.

"Alas! it is so, your majesty; I have heard it on all sides," said Count Platen.

"And you, General Brandis?"

"Your majesty," said the general in his calm voice, "I have heard many such expressions here, I cannot deny, but if every expression uttered in a time of excitement were attended to, the command would be continually changed. The chief thing seems to me that we should be well commanded, and get on quickly."

"I do not think much of what is said here and there," said the king, "but this appears to me serious, and truly I would not send my army into the field without confidence in its leaders."

"Certainly, your majesty, the matter is serious," said Count Platen.

"It is most painful to me," he continued, "to express my opinion on military affairs, as they by no means belong to my department, and as your majesty knows I am never in any degree influenced by the opinions I hear casually----"

General Brandis smiled slightly.

"But here," added Count Platen, "is evidently an occasion on which the general opinion must be right."

"Have you, too, heard General von Arentschildt named?"

"He is named universally, your majesty," replied Count Platen.

General Brandis was silent.

"I know so little of Arentschildt," said the king, thoughtfully; "what do you think of him, General Brandis?"