Petersen, you must say something. At your age, you have second sight and can see what is going to happen.”

The old man smiled gently. “I should like to pass the question on, because what men have when they are eighty or more—and I am not quite that yet—women have from birth; they are born prophets. Certainly the countess must be.”

“And I want to reply, too,” said Christine. “At first, I was only half listening to what Julie was reading, because I only wanted to hear about the dear King and Queen and not about rearmament and such things. But what they were saying was right …”

Arne threw a kiss to his sister while Holk, who was now beginning to feel himself the victim of a certain animosity, began to busy himself with his plate.

“The report in the Hamburger Nachrichten,” continued Christine, “was obviously written by someone who is in close touch with the new ruler and knows his plans. And even if they are not plans as yet, they are at least aspirations. But I must agree whole-heartedly with what Alfred has just said about the power of certain ideas. The world is governed by such things, for good or evil, according to the nature of these things. And with the Prussians everything is based on …”

“Duty,” interpolated Arne.

“Yes, duty and trust in God. And if that is saying too much, then at least it is based on Luther’s catechism. They still have that. Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor anything that is his—yes, such things are still believed in Prussia.”

“And, apart from Prussia, have otherwise entirely disappeared from the world,” laughed Holk.

“No, Helmut, not entirely but from the little corner of the world in which we live. I do not mean from our dear Schleswig-Holstein, because God in his mercy has not let us sink so low, I mean everything that is going on across the water in Denmark where the government is that we have to obey—and which I am prepared to obey as long as law is law. But for me to approve everything that goes on over there, that you cannot expect, that is impossible. In Copenhagen …”

“Your bête noire again. What do you have against them?”

“In Copenhagen everything is worldly pleasure and sensuality and intoxication and that doesn’t give strength. Strength belongs only to those who are sober and self-controlled. Tell me yourself, do you think that can still be called a court and a monarchy over there? A monarchy, if it stays as it should, has something compelling about it, it can make us ready to sacrifice ourselves body and soul and give up everything for it, belongings, family, everything. But a king who is only good at divorcing and is more interested in seeing a low farce or drinking Acquavit than thinking of his country or of justice, a king like that is completely without strength nor can he give any strength, and he will succumb to those who can.”

“And so we shall all become good little Prussians and a spiked helmet will be stuck on a pole and we shall have to bow down and worship it.”

“Heaven forbid. German, not Prussian, that is what we must become. I am a Schleswig-Holsteiner through and through and I ask you gentlemen to drink to it with me. You too, Helmut, if your position as gentleman-in-waiting permits you to. And see over there, Dr. Schwarzkoppen, the moon is rising as if it wanted to bring peace to the whole world. Yes, peace is the best thing of all; ever since I was a child, I have always believed that. My father used to say that we are not merely born under a certain star but, in the book of heaven, against our names, there is always a special sign written, ivy or laurel or palm. I hope there is a palm against mine.”

Old Petersen took her hand and kissed it: “Yes, Christine. Blessed are the peace-makers.”

He had spoken quietly and casually, with no thought that his words might affect the countess in any way deeply, yet this is what in fact occurred. She had been almost boasting of her peacefulness or at least expressing her firm belief in it and yet, at the very moment that old Petersen seemed to be almost promising it to her, suddenly she became aware that she did not possess it.