_The Emperor_. It is strange, but in Austria the conditions are said to be
even worse.
_Tisza_. You are right, Sire, they are worse, much worse.
_The Emperor_. Well, we must lose no time then. We must buy great stocks of
food. More money must be spent.
_Tisza_. More money? But where is it to come from? Not from Hungary, where
we are within a narrow margin of financial collapse, and not in Austria,
where there is already to all intents and purposes a state of bankruptcy.
More money is not to be got, for we have none ourselves and nobody will
lend us any.
_The Emperor_. You paint the situation in dark colours, my friend TISZA.
_Tisza_. I paint it as it is, Sire, at any rate as I see it. It is not the
part of a Royal Counsellor to act otherwise.
_The Emperor_. Yes, but there might be others who would take a different
view, and support their belief with equally good reasons.
_Tisza_. Not if they know the facts and are faithful to their duty as
Ministers of the State. Here and there, no doubt, might be found foolish
and ambitious men who would be willing to deceive, first themselves and
then their Emperor, as to the true condition of affairs. But, if your
Majesty trusted them and allowed them to guide you, you would learn too
late how ill they had understood their duty. I myself, though determined to
do everything in my power to promote the welfare of Hungary and its King,
would willingly stand aside if you think that others would give you greater
strength.
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