“But only consider, my dear husband,” said the Electress persuasively—­“only consider that it is not from high-mindedness or disobedience that the Electoral Prince tarries in Holland.  Indeed, he can not get away while he has no money, and on that very account most urgently appeals to the kindest of all fathers, through the Chamberlain von Schlieben, reverentially begging and beseeching him to extricate him from his difficulties by sending him money enough to pay his debts, and to enable him to travel as becomes his rank.”

“Money, and always money!” cried the Elector, almost in a tone of despair.  “O God! what a tormented, unhappy man I am!  Every one has something to crave of me, and no one anything to give me!  When I demand of the states, provinces, cities, citizens, and peasants funds to defray my expenses, then from all sides I hear:  ’We have no money; we are so reduced that we can pay no taxes.’  And still all these states, provinces, cities, citizens, and peasants demand of me money and support, succor and alms, although they know that I have nothing, for they give me nothing.  Money! money!  That word has been my tormentor and enemy ever since I began to rule; sleeping and waking that word has pursued me.  From all officers, from all subalterns I have heard it, as often as they came near me, and now comes my dear son, too, afflicting and harassing his poor, unfortunate father with this dreaded word.  But I shall not suffer him to employ this hated word in his own behalf and turn it against me for his own advantage.  I shall not allow him to remain longer at The Hague under pretext that he lacks money to bring him home.  He shall have money, yes, he shall have it.  I shall see to procuring it.  It must be done.”

“My dear lord and husband,” besought the Electress, “I entreat you not to be so much excited, for it might injure you.”

“And I entreat you to leave me now, Lady Electress,” said George William impatiently.  “It is useless to exhort one to tranquillity and composure, who has so much reason to be roused and provoked.  But this fine son of ours shall pay for the vexation and torture that he has prepared for me.  He may reckon upon my setting it down to his account, and not allowing myself to be cheated by empty speeches and by fine actions in word alone.  You are dismissed, Sir Chamberlain von Schlieben!  Badly enough have you fulfilled my commission, and you may be sure that never again shall you be selected as our messenger and legate!”

“Permit me, my husband, to put in a good word for poor Schlieben!” cried the Electress.  “He had no power to bring the Electoral Prince away by force, just as the Electoral Prince himself has no power to leave of his own free will.  The whole difficulty consists in our son’s having no money.”

“Yes, and right welcome is it to him, this time,” said the Elector with a bitter laugh.  “As he has no money, he continually contracts more and more debts, thereby rendering the payment more difficult, and the longer the delay the longer can the Prince remain in Holland, leading a merry life there.  But I shall make an end of it, an end!  Schwarzenberg shall come, and he must and will procure me the means.  Excuse me, Lady Electress, I have business—­pressing business.”