There was no urgency here, and the king made his agreement with the czar and the king of Denmark without anyone knowing of it.

He certainly obtained a sort of sanction from the diet afterwards, but everyone knows how these things are worked.

He has a strong party, of course, because it is the interest of a great many people to retain him in power, as no one can say who would be chosen to succeed him.
But among the people in general, the traders and the peasants, he is hated, and so are his Saxon soldiers.
"Suppose he had gained a slice of Swedish territory.

It would not have benefited them; while, as it is, all sorts of misfortunes and troubles have come upon the country, and none can say how much greater may ensue.
"Poland is always split up into parties.

They used to unite against the Turk, and they would unite again against the Swedes, if their country was invaded; but as long as King Charles keeps his army beyond the frontier, they are too deeply engaged in their own quarrels to think of anything else." "Then, even if I were known, in the city, to be in the Swedish service, there would be little danger, Stanislas ?" "I do not say that, at all," the man said gravely.