Itwasexactlyforthepurposeofdispellingtheanxietywithwhichthisunpleasantintelligencehadfilledhim,that。Francisbadlaidasidethereportandrecommencedhisworkonthecup;andbythisoccupationhebadsucceededinforgettingtheburdensomedutiesofhisimperialoffice。
Hewasjusttryingveryhardtoplaneonesideofhiscup,whenalowrapatthesmalldoorleadingtothenarrowcorridor,andthencetotheapartmentsoftheempress,interruptedhim。Theemperorgaveastartandlookedtowardthedoor,listeningandhoping,perhaps,thathisearmighthavedeceivedhim。Butno,therappingwasheardoncemore:therecouldnolongerbeadoubtofit——somebodysoughtadmittance,andintendedtodisturbthepeacefulsolitudeoftheemperor。
"Whatdoestheempresswant?"murmuredFrancis。"Whatdoesshecomeherefor?Iamafraidsomethingunpleasanthashappenedagain。"
Herosewithashrugfromhischair,puthisminiaturecuphastilyintothedrawerofhistable,andhurriedtoopenthedoor。
Francishadnotbeenmistaken。ItreallywastheEmpressLudovica,thethirdconsortoftheemperor,whohadmarriedheronlyafewmonthsago。Sheworeahandsomedishabilleofembroideredwhitemuslin,closelysurroundingherdelicateandslenderform,andtrimmedwithbeautifullaces。Thewhitedressreacheduptotheneck,wherearose—coloredtiefastenedit。Herbeautifulblackhair,whichfelldowninheavyringletsonbothsidesofherface,wasadornedwithacostlylacecap,fromwhichwideribbonsofrose—
coloredsatinfloweddownonhershoulders。Butthecountenanceoftheempressdidnotcorrespondtothiscoquettishandyouthfuldress。Shewasyoungandbeautiful,butanexpressionofprofoundmelancholyoverspreadherfeatures。Hercheeksweretransparentlywhite,andasad,touchingsmilequiveredroundherfinely—
chiselled,narrowlips;herhigh,expansiveforeheadwasshaded,asitwere,byacloudofsadness;andherlargeblackeyesshot,fromtimetotime,gloomyflasheswhichseemedtoissuefromagulfoffierytorture。Butwhateverpassionsmightanimateherdelicate,etherealform,theempresshadlearnedtocoverherheartwithaveil,andherlipsnevergaveutterancetothesufferingsofhersoul。Onlyherconfidanteswereallowedtodivinethem;theyaloneknewthat,twofoldtortureswererackingLudovica'sfierysoul,thoseofhatredandwoundedpride。Napoleon!itwashewhomtheempresshatedwithindescribablebitterness;andtheneglectwithwhichherconsort,theEmperorFrancis,treatedhercutherproudhearttothequick。Thankstotheintriguesandimmenserichesofhermother,BeatrixofEste,DuchessofModena,shehadbecomethewifeofanemperor,andherselfanempress;butshehadtherebyobtainedonlyanaugustposition,notahusbandandpartner。Shewasanempressinnameonly,butnotinreality。Francishadgivenherhishand,butnothisheartandhislove。Hedisdainedhisbeautiful,lovelywife;heavoidedanyfamiliarintercoursewithherwithanxioustimidity;onlyinthepresenceofthecourtandthepublicdidhetreattheempressashisconsort,andtoleratehernearhisperson。AtfirstLudovicahadsubmittedtothisstrangeconductonthepartofherhusbandwithproudindifference,andnottheslightestmurmur,notthemildestreproach,hadescapedherlips。Foritwasnotfromlovethatshehadchosenthishusband,butfromambitionandpride。ShehadtoldherselfthatitwouldbebetterforhertobeEmpressofAustriathanPrincessofModenaandEste;andeventheprospectofbeingthethirdwifeofFrancisofAustria,andthestepmotherofthetenchildrenwhomhissecondwifehadbornetohim,hadnotdeterredher。Shemeanttomarrytheemperor,andnottheman;shewishedtoplayaprominentpart,andexertapowerfulinfluenceonthedestiniesoftheworld。Butthesehopesweresoontoproveutterlyfutile。Theemperorgrantedherpubliclyalltheprivilegesofherexaltedpositionbyhisside;butintheprivacyofherapartmentshenevermadeherhisconfidante;
herefusedtoletherhaveanyinfluenceoverhisdecisions;heneverconsultedherastothemeasuresofhisadministration:nay,heavoidedalludingtosuchtopicsinherpresence。
Suchwasthegriefthatwasgnawingattheheartoftheyoungempress——thewoundfromwhichherproudandloftysoulwasbleeding。
Butforafewweekspastshehadovercomehersilentgrief,andthepresenceofhermother,theshrewdandintriguingDuchessofModena,seemedtohaveimpartedfreshstrengthtotheempress,andconfirmedherinherdeterminationtoconquertheheartandconfidenceofherhusband。Whereasshehadhithertomethisindifferencebyproudreticence,andfeignednottonoticeit,shewaskindandevenaffectionatetowardhim;anditoftenhappenedthat,availingherselfoftheprivilegeofherposition,shetraversedtheprivatecorridorseparatingherroomsfromthoseofherhusband,and,withoutbeingsummonedtohim,enteredhiscabinettotalkpoliticswithhiminspiteofhisundisguisedaversiontodoingso。Theemperorhatedtheseinterviewsfromthebottomofhisheart;ashudderpervadedhissoul,andacloudcoveredhisbrow,wheneverheheardthelowrapoftheempressathisprivatedoor。To—day,too,thedarkcloudcoveredhisforeheadevenaftertheempresshadenteredhiscabinet。Ludovicanoticedit,andamournfulsmileoverspreadherpalefaceforamoment。
"Asyourmajestydidnotcometometobidmegood—morning,Ihavecometoyou,"shesaid,inagentle,kindvoice,holdingoutherbeautifulwhitehandtotheemperor。
Francistookitandpressedittohislips。"Itistrue,"hesaid,evidentlyembarrassed,"Ididnotcomethismorningtopaymyrespectstoyou,buttimewaswantingtome。Ihadtogoatoncetomycabinetandwork;Iamverybusy。"
"Isee,"saidLudovica;"yourmajesty'sdressstillbearsthetracesofyouroccupation。"
Theemperorhastenedtobrushawaywithhishandsthesmallparticlesofthepeach—stonethathadremainedonhisshirt—bosomandhissleeve;butwhilehewasdoingthishisbrowdarkenedstillmore,andhecastagloomyanddefiantglanceontheempress。
"Look,empress,"hesaid;"perhapsyoubelongtothesecretpolice,andhavebeenemployedtowatchmeinordertofindoutwhatIamdoingwhenIamaloneinmycabinet。Why,ifIfoundoutthatthatwasso,Ishouldbeobligedtobeonmyguardandhavethisdoorwalledup,sothatmyesteemedconsortmightnolongerbeabletosurpriseandwatchme。"
"Yourmajestywillassuredlynotdothat,"saidLudovica,whosevoicewastremulous,andwhosecheekshadturnedevenpalerthanbefore。"No,yourmajestywillnotmakemeundergothehumiliationofmakingknowntotheworldthedeplorablesecretwithwhichwealonehavehithertobeenacquainted。YourmajestywillnotdeprivemeoftheonlyprivilegewhichIenjoyincommonwithyourformerconsorts,andtherebyproclaimtotheworldthatIaminthispalaceastrangerwhohasnotevenaccesstotheroomsofherhusband。"
"IdonotsaythatIintendtodoit,"saidFrancis,shrugginghisshoulders;"Isayonlythatitishighlyrepugnanttometohavemystepsdoggedandwatchedinanymanner。Itistrue,myformerconsorthadalsothekeysofthisprivatecorridor,but——pardonmeforthisremark,yourmajesty——theempressneverusedthesekeys,butalwayswaitedformetoopenthedoor。"
"Andshedidnotwaitinvain,"saidtheempress,quickly;"yourmajestyneverfailedtocome,foryoulovedyourconsort,andIhavebeentoldyouneversufferedevenafewhourstopassbywithoutleavingyourcabinetandcrossingthesecretcorridortorepairtotheroomsoftheempress。"
"ButthegoodEmpressTheresa,"exclaimedtheemperor,"whenIwaswithher,neverendeavoredtotalktomeaboutpoliticsandstateaffairs。"
"Iunderstandthat,"saidLudovica;"youhadbothsomanymutualintereststoconverseabout。Youhadyourmutuallove,yourchildren,totalkabout。I,whoamsounhappyasnottobeabletotalkwithyouaboutsuchmatters,howintenselyso—evermyheartlongsforit,mustcontentmyselfwithconversingwithmyhusbandondifferentsubjects;andIdesiretoshareatleasthiscareswhenI
cannotsharehislove。Myhusband,Ibeseechyou,donotdisdainmyfriendship;acceptafriend'shand,whichIoffertoyouhonestlyanddevotedly。"
"MyGod,thatispreciselywhatIlongfor!"exclaimedtheemperorfervently,againpressingtohislipsthehandwhichtheempressheldouttohim。"Myfondestwishisfulfilledwhenyourmajestywillgivemeyourfriendship,andconfideinmeasyourbest,mostdevoted,andfaithfulfriend!"
"Butthisconfidencemustbereciprocated,mydearestfriend,"saidLudovica,puttingherhandontheemperor'sshoulder。andgazinglongandardentlyintohiseyes。"Yourmajestymustconfideinmetoo,andcountimplicitlyonmyfidelity。"
"ThatiswhatIdo,"saidFrancis,hastily;"nevershouldIdaretodoubtthefidelityofthepurest,chastest,andmostvirtuousempressandlady——thefidelityofmywife。"
"Ididnotrefertothewife'sfidelity,"saidLudovica,sighing,"buttothefidelityofmyfriendship,whichisjoyouslyreadytoshareallyourcaresandafflictions。"
"Wellthen,"saidtheemperor,noddingtohersmilingly,"Iwillgiveyouaproofofmyfaithinyourfriendship。Yes,youshallsharemycaresandafflictions。"
"Oh,myhusband,howhappyyoumakemebythesewords!"exclaimedLudovica,andafaintblushbeautifiedhernobleface。
"Iwillletyouparticipateinmyworkto—day,andyoushallgivemeyouradvice,"saidtheemperor,noddingtotheempress,andsteppingtothewriting—table,fromwhosedrawerhetookthelittlecup。
"Look,mydearfriend,"addedtheemperor,handingthecuptohisconsort,"Iwishedtomakealittlecupfromthispeach—stoneandgiveittoMariaLouisa,whodelightsinsuchthings;butwhenIhadnearlyfinishedit,Idiscoveredsuddenlythatthepeach—stonewascrookedandnotequallyroundonbothsides。Nowgivemeyouradvice,myfairfriend;tellmewhatIamtodoinordertostraightenthecup。Lookatit,andtellmehowtofixit。Itwouldbeaneverlastingdisgraceforanemperortobeunabletostraightenathingwhichhehimselfmadecrooked。"
Theempresshadturnedpaleagain;herdarkeyesshotfireforamoment,andshecompressedherlipsasiftostifleacryofindignation。Butsheovercameheragitationquickly,andhastilytookthelittlecupwhichtheemperorstillheldouttoher。
"Yourmajestyisright,"shesaid;the"cupisreallycrooked,andwillnotstanderectwhenyouputitonthetable。Asyourmajestyhasaskedmewhatoughttobedoneaboutit,Iadviseyoutogetridofthething,declarewaragainstthelittlecup,andremoveitforeverbytouchingitinthismannerwithyourlittlefinger。"
Sheupsettheminiaturecupwithherslenderlittlefinger,sothatitrolledtotheotherendofthetable。
"Thatisveryenergeticadvice,indeed,"saidFrancis,smiling,"butIdonotlikeit。Toupsetathingthatisnotwelldoneisnowayofimprovingit。"
"Yes,yourmajesty,todestroywhatisnotwelldoneispavingthewayforsomethingbetter,"exclaimedLudovica。
"Youyourselfsaidjustnowitwouldbeaneverlastingdisgraceforanemperortobeunabletostraightenanythingwhichliehimselfmadecrooked。Itseemstome,now,anemperorshouldextricatehimselffromanypositionimposingonhimthenecessityofdoinganythingcrookedandunworthyofhisimperialdignity。Ifsuchishisdutyinregardtoathingsoinsignificantasapeach—stone,howmuchmoreurgentisthisduty,whenthereisatstakesomethingsogreatandsacredastheindependenceandhonorofyourempireandpolicy!"
"See,see!"saidtheemperor,scratchinghisheadwithanexpressionofludicroussurprise;"thenwehavereallygotbackfromthepeach—
stonetopoliticalaffairsandthewar—question。Now,thiswar—
questionisahardpeach—stonetocrack,andthemerethoughtofitsetsmyteethonedge。"
"Ah,"saidLudovica,"yourteetharefirmandstrong,fortheyarecomposedofthreehundredthousandswords,andthousandsofcannonandmuskets。Ifthelionisdeterminedtousehisteeth,liewilleasilysucceedindestroyingthewere—wolf;forthisrapaciousandbloodthirstywere—wolfisbraveandinvincibleonlywhenhehastodealwithlambs;onlythefeebleanddisarmedhavereasontofearhim。"
"Inspeakingofawere—wolf,IsupposeyourefertotheEmperorNapoleon?"askedtheemperor,smiling。"Imusttellyou,however,that,inyourwarlikeenthusiasm,youdohiminjustice。Itseemstomeheisbravenotalonewherehehastodealwithlambs,aridnotalonethefeebleanddisarmedhavereasontofearhim。IthinkIdidnotmarchlambsagainsthimatAusterlitz,butbravemen,whowerenotfeebleanddisarmed,butstrongandwell—armed。Nevertheless,Bonaparteoverpoweredthem;hegainedthebattleofAusterlitzoverus,andwehadtosubmittohim,andacceptthetermsofpeacewhichheimposedonus。"
"Yes,yourmajestyhadtosubmittohim。"criedtheempress,ardently;"youwereobligedtorepairtotheproudusurper'scampandbeseechhimtograntyoupeace!"
"Iwasnotobligedtogotohim,butIdidsoinordertorestorepeacetomypeople,andpreventallAustriafromsinkingintoruin。
Itistrue,itwasadreadfulwalkforme,andwhenIsawtheEmperoroftheFrenchathiscamp—fire,hebecameutterlydistastefultome。[Footnote:Theemperor'sownwords。——See"LebensbilderausdemBefreiungekriege,"vol。i。]Nevertheless,thetruthcannotbegainsaid,andthetruthisthattheEmperorNapoleonismorethanawere—wolfkillingonlylambs;heisalionwhosefuriousroarcausesallthronestotremble,andwho,whenheshakeshismane,shakesallEuropetoitsfoundations。"
"Themoreisitincumbentonusthentoputanendtothisunnaturalstateofaffairs,"exclaimedtheempress,vehemently;"tostrengthenthethrones,andrestoreatlengthtranquillitytoEurope。Andthereisonlyonewayofdoingthis,mylordandemperor,andthatiswar!
Wemustdestroythelioninordertorestoretranquillitytothepeaceablenations。"
"Butwhatif,insteadofdestroyingthelion,weshouldbedestroyedbyhim?"askedtheemperor,withashrug。"Whatifthelionshouldasecondtimeplacehisfootonourneck,trampleusinthedust,anddictatetousagainadisgracefulandhumiliatingpeace?DoyouthinkthatthepresentpositionoftheKingofPrussiaisapleasantandhonorableone,andthatIamanxioustoincurasimilarfate?
No,madame!Iambynomeanseagertowearamartyr'scrowninsteadofmyimperialcrown,andIwillratherstrivetokeepmycrownonmyhead,regardlessoftheclamoroftheGermanwar—party。TheseGermanshriekersarenicefellows。Theyrefusetodoanything,butthinkitisenoughforthemtocry,'War!war!'andthatthatwillbesufficienttoconquerBonaparte。But,empress,agreatdealmoreisrequiredforthatpurposethanthefanaticalwar—clamorofthearistocraticsaloons,andthescribblingsofthejournalistsandpatrioticpoets;inordertoattainsograndanobject,itisindispensablethatallGermanyshouldrise,takeuparms,andattacktheenemywithunitedforces。"
"Itisasyourmajestysays,"exclaimedLudovica,enthusiastically;
"allGermanyisreadyforthestruggleagainsttheenemy。ThenationisonlywaitingforAustriatogivethesignal,drawthesword,andadvanceuponFrance,whenallGermanywillfollowher。"
"Iknowthesefinephrases,"saidFrancis,shrugginghisshoulders;
"Ihearthemeverydayfrommybrothers,whoareeagerforwar,andwhomanagetogainagreatdealofpopularityinsocomfortableamanner。Butafterall,theyarephraseswithverylittlesenseinthem。Forjusttellme,empress,whereistheGermanywhich,yousay,isonlywaitingforAustriatogivethesignal?WherearetheGermanarmieswhich,yousay,areonlywaitingforAustriatoadvance,whentheywillfollowher?Ihavegoodsoundeyes,butI
cannotseesucharmiesanywhere。IamquitefamiliarwiththegeographyofGermany,Iknowallthestatesthatbelongtoit,butamongthemIvainlylookforthosewhicharewaitingforustogivesuchasignal。Prussiaisutterlypowerless,andcannotdoanything。TheprincesoftheRhenishConfederacy,itistrue,arewaitingforthesignal,butBonapartewillgiveittothem,andwhentheymarch,theywillmarchagainstAustriaandstrivetofightusbravelyinordertoobtainfromtheFrenchEmperorpraise,honors,titles,andgrantsofadditionalterritories。No,no,Icannotbeblindedbybravewordsandbombasticphrases;IknowthatAustria,incaseawarshouldbreakout,wouldstandallalone,andthatshemusteitherconquerorberuined。In1805,when,inconsequenceofthedisastrousbattleofAusterlitz,Ilosthalfmystates,Iwasnotalone,Russiawasmyally。ButRussiahasrecentlydeclaredthat,incaseawarshouldbreakout,shewouldnotassistusagainstNapoleon,butobserveastrictneutralityaslongaspossible;ifsheshould,however,beobligedtotakeadecidedstand,shewouldbeonthesideofFranceandagainstus。
Consequently,Iamentirelyisolated,andNapoleonhasnumerousallies。"
"ButyourmajestyhasapowerfulallyintheuniversalenthusiasmoftheAustriansandGermans,intheuniversalindignationofthenationsagainstNapoleon。Youhavepublicopiniononyourside,andthatisthemostpowerfulally。"
"Ah,letmealonewiththatabominableally,"criedtheemperor,vehemently;"Idonotwanttohearofitnortohaveanythingtodowithit。Publicopinionisthehobbywhichmybrother,thepopularArchdukeJohn,isridingallthetime;butitwillthrowhimonedayintothemire,andthenhewillfindoutwhatitreallyamountsto。
Pray,neverspeaktomeagainofpublicopinion,forIdetestit。Itsmellsofrevolutionandinsurrection,and,likeapatientdonkey,suffersitselftobeledbywhosoeveroffersitathistleasabait。
Irenounceonceforalltheallianceofpublicopinion,andIdonotcarewhetheritblessesorcrucifiesme,whetheritcallsmeemperororblockhead。Youseenow,empress,thatIamentirelyisolated,fortheallywhichyouoffertomewilldomenogood;Idonotwantit,andIhavenootherallies。Ithoughtitnecessarytoarm,inviewoftheformidablearmamentsofFrance,andshowouradversarythatI
amnotafraidofhim,butampreparedforeverything。Ithereforeputmyarmyonthewarfooting,andshowedBonapartethatAustriaisabletocopewithhim,andthatmoneyandwell—disciplinedarmiesarenotwantingtoher。ButjustnowIshallnotproceedanyfurther,and,unlesssomethingimportantshouldoccur,allthiswar—
clamorandallimportunitieswillmakenoimpressiononme。TheimportanteventtowhichIalludedwouldbeNapoleon'sdefeatinSpain,wherebyhewouldbecompelledtokeephisarmiesthere。Inthatevent,Ishouldnolongerbeisolated,butSpainwouldbemyally,andIshouldprobablydeclarewar。Butifmattersshouldturnoutotherwise,iffortuneshouldfavorNapoleonthereaseverywhereelse,necessityalonewilldeterminemycourse。Ishallnotattack,andtherebychallengefateofmyownaccord;butIshallwait,swordinhand,forNapoleontoattackme。Ifhedoes,Godandmygoodrightwillbeonmyside,andwhatevermaybetheresultofthestruggle,peoplewillbeunabletosaythatIrashlyplungedintowarandbrokethepeace。Ifwesuccumb,itisthewillofGodandtheHolyVirgin,andnot,ourfault。Andnow,empress,"saidtheemperor,drawingadeepbreath,"Ihavecompliedwithyourwishesandtalkedpoliticswithyou。Ithinkitwillbeenoughonceforall,andyouandyoupoliticalfriendswillperceivethatyoucannotdoanythingwithme,andthatitwillbebestforyoutoletmeentirelyalone;forIamsostubbornasnottoallowotherstoleadme,butpursuemyowncourse。Youhavepromisedme,empress,tobeafaithfulfriendtome。Iaskyounowtogivemeaproofofyourfriendship。Letusspeakofsomethingelsethanpolities;thatisallthatIaskofyourfriendship。"
"Well,then,letusdropthesubject,"saidtheempress,withadeepsigh。"Yourmajestywillbekindenoughtopermitmenowtoaskafavorofyou?"
"Ah,youspeakasiftherewereanythingthatIcouldrefuseyou,"
exclaimedtheemperor,smiling。
Ludovicabowedslightly。"Iprayyou,therefore,"shesaid,"tobekindenoughtoaccompanymetotheconcertwhichistobegivenattheuniversityhall。Haydn's'Creation'willbeperformedthere,andIbelievetheoldmaestrohimselfwillbepresenttoreceivethehomageofhisadmirers。"
"H'm,h'm!Iamafraidthereissomethingelsebehindit,"saidtheemperor,thoughtfully,"andtheaudiencewillnotcontentitselfwithmerelyofferinghomagetooldHaydn。Butnomatter,yourmajestywishestogototheconcert,anditwillaffordmepleasuretoaccompanymyempress。"
Atthismomenttheyheardalowrapatthedoorleadingfromtheemperor'scabinetintotheconference—room,wheretheofficersoftheprivateimperialchancerywereworking。
"Well,whatisit?"exclaimedtheemperor。"Comein。"
Theemperor'sprivatechamberlainslippedsoftlythroughthehalf—
openeddoor,and,onbeholdingtheempress,bestoodstillwithoututteringaword。
"Nevermind,theempresswillexcuseyou,"saidFrancis。
"Justtellmewhatyouhavecomeinfor。"
"Yourmajesty,"saidthechamberlain,"theFrenchambassador,CountAndreossi,hasjustarrived,andrequestsyourmajestytogranthimanaudience。Hesayshewishestocommunicateinformationofgreatimportancetoyou。"
"Whydidhenotapplytomyministerofforeignaffairs?"askedtheemperor,indignantly。
"Yourmajesty,theambassadorbegsyourpardon,buthesaystheEmperorNapoleongavehimexpressorderstoendeavorifpossibletospeakwithyourmajesty。"
"Andheisalreadyintheanteroom,andwaitsforanimmediateaudience?"
"Yes,yourmajesty。"
"Well,then,Iwillreceivehim,"saidtheemperor,rising。"Conducttheambassadortothesmallaudience—room。——Well?"askedtheemperor,wonderingly,whenthechamberlaindidnotwithdraw。"Youdonotgo?Doyouwishtotellmeanythingelse?"
"Ido,yourmajesty。AcourierhasjustarrivedfromPariswithpressingdispatchesfromCountMetternichtoyourmajesty。"
"Ah,thatchangesthematter!"exclaimedtheemperor。"TelltheambassadorthatIcannotreceivehimnow,butthatheistocomebackinanhour,atelevenprecisely,whenIshallbereadytoreceivehim。Tellthecouriertocometomeatonce。"
Thechamberlainslippednoiselesslyoutofthedoor,andtheemperorturnedagaintotheempress:
"Empress,"hesaid,"domethehonorofpermittingmetoofferyoumyarm,andconductyoubacktoyourrooms。YouseeIamapoor,tormentedman,whoissooverwhelmedwithbusinessthathecannotevenchatanhourwithhiswifewithoutbeingdisturbed。Pitymealittle,andproveittomebypermittingmehenceforthtorestinyourpresencefromthecaresofbusiness,andnottalkpolitics。"
"Thewishofmylordandemperorshallbefulfilled,"saidtheempress,mournfully,takingthearmwhichtheemperorofferedtohertoconductherbacktoherrooms。
Justasshecrossedthethresholdoftheimperialcabinet,andsteppedintothecorridor,sheheardthevoiceofthechamberlain,whoannounced:"ThecourierfromParis,CounsellorvonHudelist。"
"Allright,Ishallbebackdirectly!"exclaimedtheemperor,andheconductedtheempresswithasomewhatacceleratedstepthroughthecorridor。Infrontofthedooratitsendhestoodstillandbowedtotheempresswithapleasantsmile。
"Ihaveconductedyounowtothefrontierofyourrealm,"saidFrancis;"permitme,therefore,toreturntomine。Farewell!Weshallgototheconcertto—night。Farewell!"
Withoutwaitingforthereplyoftheempress,heturnedandhastilyre—enteredhiscabinet。
Ludovicaenteredherroomandlockedthedoorbehindher。"Closedforever!"shesaid,withasigh。"AtleastIshallnottryagaintoavailmyselfofthisdoor,andshallnotexposemyselfagaintothesneersoftheemperor。Imust,then,bearthisdisgrace;Imustsubmittobeingdisdainedandrepudiatedbymyhusband;I——Buthush!"theempressinterruptedherself,"thisisnotimeforbewailingmypersonalfate,forthefateofallAustriaisatstakeatthisjuncture。HighlyimportanteventsmusthaveoccurredatParis,elseMetternichwouldnothavesenthisconfidantandassistantHudelist,norwouldAndreossidemandanaudienceinsoimpetuousamanner。Perhapsthisintelligencemayatlengthleadtoadecisionto—day,orwemayatleastcontributetosucharesult。I
willwritetotheArchdukeJohn,andaskhimtoseetheemperor。
PerhapshewillsucceedbetterthanIdidinpersuadingmyhusbandtotakeadeterminedstand。"
Shehastenedtoherwriting—desk,andpennedthatmysteriouslittlenotewhichshesenttotheArchdukeJohninthebookwhichshepretendedhehadlenttoher。
CHAPTERIII。
THECOURIERANDTHEAMBASSADOR。
Theemperor,inreturningtohiscabinet,liketheempress,carefullylockedthedoorbehindhim。Hethenturnedhastilytothecourier,whowasstandingneartheoppositedoor,andwasjustbowingmostceremoniouslytohismajesty。
"Hudelist,itisreallyyou,then?"askedtheemperor。"YouleftyourpostbythesideofMetternichwithoutobtainingmypermissiontocometoVienna?Couldyounotfindanyothermantobringyourdispatches?IhadcommissionedyoutoremainalwaysbythesideofMetternich,watchhimcarefully,andinformmeofwhathewasdoingandthinking。"
"Yourmajesty,Ihavebroughtmyreportwithme,"saidHudelist;"
andasforyourmajesty'sorderthatIshouldalwaysremainbythesideofCountMetternich,IhavehardlyviolateditbycorningtoVienna,forIbelievetheCountwillfollowmeinthecourseofafewdays。UnlessyourmajestyrecallshimtoVienna,theEmperorNapoleon,Ithink,willexpelhimfromParis。"
"Youdonotsayso!"exclaimedFrancis,shrugginghisshoulders。
"YouthinkhewillissueamanifestoagainstMetternich,ashedidagainstthePrussianministerVonStein?Well,letmehearthenews。
Whathaveyoutotellme?"
"Somanyimportantthings,yourmajesty,thatthecountandmyselfdeemeditexpedienttoreporttoyourmajestyverbally,ratherthansendadispatchwhichmightgiveyouonlyanunsatisfactoryideaofwhathasoccurred。HenceIcamepost—hastetoVienna,andarrivedhereonlyaquarterofanhoursince;Iprayyourmajestythereforetopardonmeforappearingbeforeyouinmytravelling—dress。"
"Sitdown,youmustbetired,"saidtheemperor,good—naturedly,seatinghimselfinanarm—chair,andpointingtotheoppositechair。
"Nowtellmeall!"
"Yourmajesty,"saidHudelist,mysteriously,whileastrangeexpressionofmischievousjoyoverspreadhisugly,paleface,"theEmperorNapoleonhasreturnedfromSpaintoFrance。"
TheEmperorFrancisgaveastartandfrowned。"Why?"heasked。
"BecauseheintendstodeclarewaragainstAustria,"saidHudelist,whosefacebrightenedmoreandmore。"BecauseNapoleonisdistrustfulofus,andconvincedthatAustriaisintentonattackinghim。Besides,hefeltnolongerateaseinpain,andallsortsofconspiracieshadbeenenteredintoinParis,wherebyhisreturnmighthavebeenrenderedimpossibleifhehadhesitatedanylonger。"
"Whoweretheconspirators?"
"TalleyrandandFouche,thedearfriendsandobedientservantsoftheEmperorNapoleon。Heknowsfullwellwhattheirfriendshipanddevotednessamountto。Hencebehadthetwogentlemenwellwatched,anditseemshisspiessenthimcorrectreports,for,afterreturningfromSpain,herebukedthemunmercifully;betoldthem,withtherageofatrueCorsican,andregardlessofetiquette,whatmiserablefellowstheywere,andhowhighhestoodabovethem。"
"Andyethewouldlikesomuchtobeanemperorinstrict。
accordancewithcourtetiquette,"saidtheemperor,laughing。"HeisanxioustohavesuchacourtabouthimasLouisXIV。had。Butthelawyer'ssonalwaysreappearsintheemperor,and,ifitpleaseGod,Hewillonedaydeprivehimofallhispowerandsplendor。"
"And,ifitpleaseGod,yourmajestywillbeHisinstrumentinputtinganendtoNapoleon'spowerandsplendor,"criedHudelist,withasmilewhichdistortedhisfacestrangely,andcausedtworowsoflargeyellowteethtoappearbetweenthepalelipsofhisenormousmouth。"Itistruehestandsfirmasyet,andrebukeshisministersasNerodidhisfreedmen。Talleyrandwasstillthunderstruckatwhattheemperorhadtoldhim,whenhehadaninterviewwithCountMetternichandmyselfinFouche'sgreen—house。
Tobesure,thephraseswhichherepeatedtouswerewellcalculatedtomakeeventhebloodofapatientministerboil。Napoleonsentforthetwoministersimmediatelyafterhisarrival:whentheycametohim,heletthemstandatthedoorofhiscabinetlikehumblesuppliants,and,runningupanddownbeforethem,andcastingfieryglancesofangeruponthem,heupbraidedthemwiththeirconduct,andtoldthemhewasawareofalltheirintrigues,andknewthattheywereconspiringwithAustria,Spain,and,throughSpain,withEngland。Thenhesuddenlystoodstillinfrontofthem,hishandsfoldedonhisback,andhisglanceswouldhavecrushedthetwoministersiftheyhadnothadsuchathickskin'Youareimpudentenoughtoconspireagainstme!'heshouted,inathunderingvoice。
'Towhomareyouindebtedforeverything——foryourhonors,rank,andwealth?Tomealone!Howcanyoupreservethem?Bymealone!
Lookbackward,examineyourpast。IftheBourbonshadreascendedthethrone,bothofyouwouldhavebeenhangedasregicidesandtraitors。Andyouplotagainstme?Youmustbeasstupidasyouareungrateful,ifyoubelievethatanybodyelsecouldpromoteyourinterestaswellasIhavedone。Hadanotherrevolutionbrokenout,onwhateversideyoumighthaveplacedyourselves,youwouldcertainlyhavebeenthefirsttobecrushedbyit!'"[Footnote:
Napoleon'sownwords——SeeSchlosser,"HistoryoftheEighteenthCentury,"vol。viii。,p。488。]
"Thatisveryplaintalk,indeed,"saidFrancis,laughing。"ButTalleyrandandFouchehavesoundstomachs;theywilldigestit,andnotgetcongestionsinconsequenceofitprovidedtheemperordoesnotpunishtheminadifferentmanner。"
"Forthetimebeing,heonlypunishedTalleyrand,whomhedeprivedofthepositionandsalaryoflordchamberlain。Foucheremainedpoliceminister,butbotharecloselywatchedbyNapoleon'ssecretpolice。Nevertheless,theysucceededinholdingafewunobservedinterviewswithus。CountMetternichlearnedalsofromanotherverywell—informedquartermanyaccuratedetailsregardingtheplansandintentionsoftheEmperorNapoleon。"