When he left the room he seems to have been fairly satisfied with what had been said.

If so he deceived himself grievously.

Scarcely had he gone (it was already midnight) when Bismarck sent off despatches to St.Petersburg, Paris, and London, explaining that he was not inclined to support Augustenburg any longer, and instructing the Ambassadors to act accordingly.

Not content with this he at once brought forward an alternative candidate.

Among the many claimants to the Duchies had been the Duke of Oldenburg and the Czar, who both belonged to the same branch of the family.