He at once sat down and wrote to the King a letter full of ardent expressions of loyalty and affection, that he might know there still were men on whom he could rely.

It is said that for months after, through all this terrible year, the King kept it open by him on his writing-table.

Then he hurried to Berlin, if necessary to defend him with the sword.

This was not necessary, but the situation was almost worse than he feared; the King was safe, but he was safe because he had surrendered to the revolution; he had proclaimed the fatal words that _Prussia was to be dissolved in Germany_.
At Potsdam Bismarck found his old friends of the Guard and the Court; they were all in silent despair.

What could they do to save the monarchy when the King himself had deserted their cause?
Some there were who even talked of seeking help from the Czar of Russia, who had offered to come to the help of the monarchy in Prussia and place himself at the head of the Prussian army, even if necessary against their own King.