He had, indeed, been some time expected, and his retarded arrival had been a matter of vexation to the stern King.
“I most strongly beseech your Majesty to consider this advice,” added General Gyllenburg, with an earnest glance at the King.
Karl turned over the maps and papers without looking up.
His full mouth was set in an obstinate curve; to this arrogant conqueror, now face to face with his first check, any council of moderation was displeasing.
“We cannot, sire,” urged Gyllenburg, “advance on Moscow with barely fifteen days’ food.” For he, in common with the entire army, believed this mad project to be the one Karl had really at heart.
“There is nothing we cannot do,” replied Karl, who had indeed often achieved what had seemed to others the impossible.
“If your Majesty advances on Moscow, you advance on disaster!” he exclaimed.
“Are you not yet convinced that I never take advice?”
His bitter rebuke caused the minister’s worn cheeks to flush.
It was long since he had given Karl any cause to silence him, so utterly had he refrained from counsels that were useless.
Karl took his face in his right gloved hand, with his elbow on the table, and looked up and round his little council.
“I propose,”, he said, in a manner that left no loophole for argument or suggestion, “to neither march on Moscow nor wait for Lewenhaupt.” What third alternative there could be no one knew.
“I intend,” added the King dryly, “to advance into the Ukraine, to pass the winter there, and continue the route to Moscow in the spring.”
The haughtiness with which he made this announcement covered an inner mortification; he had thought to dethrone the Czar in a year; he had never meant to turn back once on the road to Moscow.
But having reviewed his army and taken stock of his provisions, even his daring could not advance to what was certain destruction. To his listeners the present project seemed as mad as an advance on the Russian capital, but they did not venture on any comment.
With the fewest and barest words Karl proceeded to explain that he had made an alliance with Mazeppa, Prince of the Ukraine, the country of the Cossacks, who was in revolt against the Czar, and hoped to profit by the alliance of the Swede to defeat Peter.