is no question of national German enmity against Russia, in educated
circles especially."

"It is possible, but Russia will always consider this aversion as a
factor to be taken into account at critical moments, otherwise the
treaty with France would probably never have been made. I, for one, can
hardly blame your nation for entertaining a certain degree of hostility
towards us. We possess diverse territories geographically belonging more
naturally to Germany. If your country could take eight million peasants
from your superfluous population and settle them in Poland it would be
a grand thing for her. Were I at the head of your Government I should,
first, with Austria's consent, seize Russian Poland, and then crush
Austria, annex Bohemia, Moravia, Carinthia, Styria and the Tyrol as
German territory, and limit the Austrian dynasty to Transleithania."

Heideck could not help smiling.

"Those are bold fancies, Prince! Rest assured that nobody in Germany
seriously entertains such plans."

"Strange, if that is so. I should think it would seem the most natural
thing for you. What, then, do you mean by a German Empire, if the most
German countries do not belong to it? Do you not consider the population
of Austria's German provinces is more closely related to you than that
of North-East Prussia? But possibly you are too conscientious and too
treaty-abiding to carry out a policy of such dimensions."

Heideck, not unintentionally, turned the conversation back to the
original subject of discussion.