“_Thirdly._--The Princes Sobieski and other prisoners of war are to be sent with honor to my Camp.
“_Fourthly._--He is not to seek to punish any one of his following who have joined me, and he is to deliver to me all these deserters whom he has with him, and especially John Patkul.”
As Count Piper finished the two Saxons cried out in startled tones against the hardness of these terms.
“Did you expect,” he asked dryly, “other terms? Think, gentlemen, what Augustus would have exacted had he been at the gates of Stockholm as I am at those of Dresden.”
“Sire,” returned M. D’Imhof, in great agitation, “my master is honorable and merciful--he would never have propounded such a condition as that last.”
“You question these terms?” demanded the terrible young conqueror, with a cold and disdainful look.
“I say, sire,” replied the Saxon firmly, “that my master can never in honor surrender General Patkul.”
The sound of the name seemed to anger Karl; his blue eyes darkened and flashed.
“I do not argue,” he said. “These are my terms.”
“But General Patkul,” urged M. Pfingsten anxiously, “is an envoy of the Czar, and as such sacred----”
“Since when,” interrupted Karl, with a biting contempt, “has the Muscovite claimed the privileges of civilized rulers? Patkul is my subject, a deserter and a traitor.”
“The conditions are very bitter,” said Baron D’Imhof. “Let your Majesty reflect if they are such as a Christian Prince can accept.”
“Well,” replied Karl, with his cold air of stubborn hardihood, “no doubt I can find another Elector for Saxony as I found another King for Poland.”
“We may, sire, discuss these terms with Count Piper?” asked M. Pfingsten, clutching at straws.
“As much as you wish,” said Karl, with a stern smile. “Count Piper knows my mind and if I am likely to change it.”
“I have already warned these gentlemen,” remarked the minister.
Karl now turned and with a rude coldness was leaving the chamber.
Count Piper gave the piece of paper that had so tremendous a meaning to the confused and humiliated deputies of Augustus.
“Our master can never surrender the crown of Poland or General Patkul.”
Karl paused on the threshold of the inner room.
“Why was John Patkul arrested in Dresden the other day, as soon as his protector, the Muscovite, had left for Astrakan?”