Tell me, Sire, I conjure you, if I may hope that your troops will be within reach of succour for me, and if I may count on them in case of aggression." Alexander wrote a cheering response, advising him to settle his differences with England and Sweden, and assuring him of help.
Whereupon the King replied (September 6th) that he had reopened the North Sea rivers to British ships and hoped for peace and pecuniary help from London.

He concluded thus: "Meanwhile, Bonaparte has left me at my ease: for not only does he not enter into any explanation about my armaments, but he has even forbidden his Ministers to give and receive any explanations whatever.

It appears, then, that it is I who am to take the initiative.

My troops are marching on all sides to hasten that moment."[97] These last sentences are the handwriting on the wall for the _ancien regime_ in Prussia.

Taking the bland assurances of Talleyrand and the studied indifference of Laforest as signs that Napoleon might be caught off his guard, Prussia continued her warlike preparations; and in order to gain time Lucchesini was recalled and replaced by an envoy who was to enter into lengthy explanations.