WhenFranzpresidesovertheGermanLeague,BismatrckarriveslatewithagreatDane,astatueoftheemperoriturinatedonandtheclaimthathisPrussiankingshouldtakeoverthepresidency.Franzfeelsthat'sa casusbelli,butrealizeshecan'twinawar,whoeverstartsit,withoutamuchstrongerarmy,whichcostsanobscenefortune.HeintendstogetaloanforitfromnapoleonIII,whowouldceasetobeanenemytosafeguardhis'invetsment'.Tothatend,theimperialcoupletravelstoBiarritz,wherehefeelshumiliated,butAndrassysuggestsSsicanwinovertheempressbyshowingtrustbyapersonalrequestforalovenest.KItnearlybackfires,buttheloanisawarded,yetNapoleonconvincesFranzthatAndrassymustbeinleaguewithBismarck.SisimustagaininterrupttheirblisssincethebirthoftheirheirtofindoutinHungaryifthatcountryremainsloyal.