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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37724-8.txt b/37724-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99f7d06 --- /dev/null +++ b/37724-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15365 @@ +Project Gutenberg's For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II), by Gregor Samarow + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II) + A Romance of the Present Time + +Author: Gregor Samarow + +Release Date: October 11, 2011 [EBook #37724] +[Last updated: May 30, 2015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCEPTRE AND CROWN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/forsceptreandcr01samagoog + + 2. Gregor Samarow is pseudonym of Oskar Meding. + + 3. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN. + + + + + + + NEW NOVELS AT THE LIBRARIES. + + +VANESSA. By the Author of "Thomasina," "Dorothy," &c. 2 vols. crown +8vo. + + +IDOLATRY: A Romance. By Julian Hawthorne, Author of "Bressant." 2 vols. +crown 8vo. + +"A more powerful book than 'Bressant.' ... If the figures are mostly +phantoms, they are phantoms which take a more powerful hold on the mind +than many very real figures.... There are three scenes in this romance, +any one of which would prove true genius."--_Spectator_. + +"The character of the Egyptian, half mad and all wicked, is remarkably +drawn.... Manetho is a really fine conception.... That there are +passages of almost exquisite beauty here and there is only what we +might expect."--_Athenĉum_. + + +WOMAN'S A RIDDLE: or, Baby Warmstrey. By Philip Sheldon. 3 vols. crown +8vo. + +"In the delineation of idiosyncrasy, special and particular, and its +effects on the lives of the personages of the story, the author may, +without exaggeration, be said to be masterly. Whether in the long +drawn-out development of character in the every-day life of the persons +of the drama, or in the description of peculiar qualities in a single +pointed sentence, he is equally skilful; while where pathos is +necessary, he has it at command, and subdued sly humour is not +wanting."--_Morning Post_. + + +AILEEN FERRERS. By Susan Morley. 2 vols. cr. 8vo. + +"Her novel rises to a level far above that which cultivated women with +a facile pen ordinarily attain when they set themselves to write a +story.... Its grammar is faultless, its style is pure, flowing, terse, +and correct, there is not a line of fine writing from beginning to end, +and there is a total absence of anything like moralising, or the +introduction of pretty ineffectual sermons.... It is as a study of +character, worked out in a manner that is free from almost all the +usual faults of lady writers, that 'Aileen Ferrers' merits a place +apart from its innumerable rivals."--_Saturday Review_. + + * * * * * + + HENRY S. KING AND CO. LONDON. + + + + + + + _FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN_ + + A ROMANCE OF THE PRESENT TIME. + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF + + GREGOR SAMAROW. + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. + + + + + HENRY S. KING AND CO. + 65, Cornhill, and 12, Paternoster Row, London. + 1875. + + + + + + + (_All rights reserved_.) + + + + + CONTENTS OF VOL. II. + + Chapter + XIII. Delay. + + XIV. Langensalza. + + XV. Suspense. + + XVI. Intrigue. + + XVII. Defeat. + + XVIII. Diplomacy. + + XIX. Bismarck's Diplomacy. + + XX. The Crisis. + + XXI. Reconciliation. + + XXII. Russia. + + XXIII. The Marshals of France. + + XXIV. The Empress Charlotte. + + XXV. The Sick and Wounded. + + XXVI. Instruments of the Church. + + XXVII. Hietzing. + + XXVIII. Blechow. + + XXIX. "God and the Fatherland!" + + + + + + FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + DELAY. + + +Events did indeed hurry on during those memorable days, and history +took as many forward steps in the annals of the world in hours as she +had formerly done in years. General von Manteuffel marched from the +north; General Vogel von Falckenstein occupied Hanover, and took +possession of the government of the country, the king having commanded +all magistrates to keep in their various positions; General Beyer +concentrated his divided forces in Hesse; General von Seckendorf +occupied the country from Magdeburg to Nordhausen, and from Erfurt a +part of the garrison and a battery of artillery marched to Eisenach, +and there joined the troops of the Duke of Coburg-Gotha, to block the +road to the south against the Hanoverian army. + +Orders flew from Berlin to the different generals in command, and quick +and unanimous movements were made throughout the Prussian army, their +aim being to strengthen every point of a circle they were forming +around the Hanoverian army, which continually grew stronger and drew +closer together. + +Now, only the quickest and most direct road to Fulda remained open. + +And the brave-spirited army still lay in Göttingen and its immediate +neighbourhood. + +The general staff worked day and night to prepare it for the march. +Certainly the younger officers and men boiled with impatience, and +could not understand why the regiments, after making such a sudden +march from their various quarters to Göttingen, were not able to march +on by a perfectly open road to the south. Certainly old General Brandis +shook his head, and said it would be better to break through the enemy +with an army unprepared to march, than to be hemmed in with an army +prepared to march. Certainly he hinted that the soldiers of the great +Wellington had, according to every rule, frequently been unprepared to +march, yet they had marched, fought, and conquered. Truly the king +gnashed his teeth with impatience; he could do nothing, the ruler whose +eyes were deprived of light by the hand of Heaven, but question and +urge, and again urge and question. + +But the general staff in the aula of Georgia Augusta proved to good +General von Arentschildt that, according to all existing rules, the +army was not yet ready to march. The rules lay before them, and the +general staff was right; and General von Arentschildt told the king the +army could not march yet. + +The general staff waited, too, for the advance of the Hessians and +Bavarians, to combine with the Hanoverian army. + +The king was obliged to wait in silent impatience in his rooms at the +Crown Hotel. + +The troops, in their quarters and cantonments, waited, and their +impatience was not silent; on the contrary, the air resounded with good +hearty oaths, and impatience was loudest and liveliest amongst the +cavalry regiments, where the snorting horses pawed the ground, and the +men thought they had but to spring into the saddle to be as ready to +march as any cavalry in the world. + +They all waited. + +Count Platen waited for some relenting on the part of Prince Ysenburg. +He had sent an explanation about the Prussian ultimatum from Göttingen +to the prince, and he hoped it might be the means of recommencing +negotiations; but on the second day the explanation itself came back, +opened, it is true, but with the short and cold remark from Prince +Ysenburg that after the declaration of hostilities all his diplomatic +functions had ceased, and that he was no longer in a position to +receive writings from the Hanoverian minister. + +So they all waited, and impatience waxed hotter in the army still +unprepared to march; but so much had been neglected and left +disorderly--so the new leaders of the army found and maintained--that, +in spite of all this and all that, they still could not march. + +The courier Duve went on his way without meeting a Prussian soldier; he +found the Hessian head-quarters not in Fulda, but in Hanau, and there +General von Lossberg declared he could not alter the disposition +of the army, as Prince Alexander of Hesse had already assumed the +command,--besides the army of Hesse-Cassel was immovable. + +The courier hastened on; and in Frankfort he delivered to Baron Kübeck, +the Austrian presidential ambassador to the confederacy, the despatches +confided to him by Count Ingelheim, and he received from Herr von +Kübeck an urgent memorial to Prince Alexander of Hesse, who was then in +Darmstadt. Duve told the prince all about the position of the +Hanoverian army, which was entirely unknown to him. Prince Alexander +sent a message, that he would request the Bavarians, who were at +Schweinfurth, to march towards the north, and that the eighth corps +d'armée at Fulda should march upon Eschwege immediately, to stretch out +a hand to the Hanoverian army; and finally, that the Hessian brigade +should be pushed forwards from Hanau to Giessen as a demonstration. + +It was expected in Prince Alexander's head-quarters that the Hanoverian +army would march immediately on the road to Fulda, there join the +Hessian brigade, and unite with the eighth army corps. The road to +Fulda was free, and only a portion of General Beyer's divided corps +could have been met with, and it was improbable that it would have +hazarded an encounter. + +This was the way they reckoned in Prince Alexander's head-quarters. + +But the new Hanoverian generals decided otherwise in the aula of +Georgia Augusta. News had arrived partly from travellers, partly from +messengers sent to ascertain, that 60,000, 80,000, yes 100,000 Prussian +troops blocked the way to Fulda; so it was decided not to take that +road, but to march into the midst of the Prussian territory between the +Prussian armies, and to get to Eisenach by Heiligenstadt and Treffurt, +there to cross the road and to fall in with the Bavarians, from whom +they had received no information; but they remained persuaded that they +must be there. + +In vain old General von Brandis shook his head, and remarked in his +curt fashion, that an army who wished to fight must learn to stand up +to the enemy; that if Prussian troops were on the road to Fulda, it was +one of Wellington's practical maxims for conducting war, "to go on;" +that, at any rate, they had a better chance of overthrowing the enemy +and reaching the south that way, than by jumping out of the frying-pan +into the fire, as they seemed determined to do. + +The general staff unanimously determined to march to Heiligenstadt, and +the king consented. + +At last the army was to move on the morning of the 21st of June, at +four o'clock, and a general cry of joy throughout all the quarters and +cantonments greeted the order to march. + +In exemplary order, as on parade, the valiant brigades formed. The king +left Göttingen about five o'clock, the senate of the university and the +civic magistrates assembling to take leave of him. + +It was a brilliant and dazzling procession which in the early morning +light crossed into the Prussian territory. + +A half squadron of the Cambridge dragoons formed the body-guard of +their royal master. + +Mounted on a large and beautiful white horse, which was guided by Major +Schweppe of the Guard Cuirassiers, with an almost imperceptible leading +rein, rode George V., with the proud knightly bearing which always gave +him so imposing and regal an aspect when on horseback; by his side came +the crown prince in his hussar uniform, on a small thorough-bred horse. +They were surrounded by a numerous suite, both civil and military; old +General von Brandis, notwithstanding his seventy-one years, had sent +back his carriage, and Count Ingelheim rode beside the king in a grey +dress and long stable boots. The brilliant cavalcade was followed by +the king's travelling carriage, drawn by six horses, with outriders and +piquers; and then a number of other carriages for the suite, led +horses, the master of the stables, and servants. + +Whenever the royal train passed the troops on the march, a loud, joyful +hurrah burst forth, and every brave soldier's heart beat higher when he +saw his king amongst them. + +The courageous but strategically puzzling march of the Hanoverian army +belongs to history, and is fully related in writings upon the war of +1866. It may perhaps be granted to future times to unriddle the +extraordinary movements made by the army, and perhaps to explain why +the march upon Treffurt was given up when they had reached +Heiligenstadt, and their course turned by Mühlhausen to Langensalza; +from thence right under the cannon of Erfurt they marched to Eisenach, +and then suddenly, when this place was as good as taken, they halted, +because an envoy from the Duke of Coburg-Gotha, without credentials, +appeared at the Hanoverian headquarters. Major von Jacobi was sent by +the Hanoverian general staff to Gotha to clear up this mission; and +there, deceived as to the number of Prussian troops occupying Eisenach, +he telegraphed such an account of the enemy to Colonel von Bülow, the +Hanoverian officer in command, that, misled by the report, he withdrew +his troops from Eisenach, and concluded a provisional armistice with +the enemy. + +When, therefore,--so runs the official report of these events,--General +von Arentschildt arrived on the spot at about eight o'clock in the +evening, expecting to find Eisenach taken, he was opposed to +circumstances that completely defeated his plans, and contradicted all +his majesty's views, but which both the armistice just concluded and +the approaching night prevented him from grappling with. + +Major von Jacobi was brought before a court-martial, the course of +which was rendered impossible by succeeding events. + +The reception of the envoy, the negotiations commenced with him and +with the Duke of Coburg in the midst of military action, combined with +the withdrawal of the troops from Eisenach, caused the idea to gain +ground in Berlin that the king wished to negotiate; and King William of +Prussia, animated by the desire of avoiding a bloody encounter +with the Hanoverians, sent General von Alvensleben to the Hanoverian +head-quarters, situated on the 25th June at Gross-Behringen, on the +road to Eisenach. + +During the previous negotiations with the Duke of Coburg, and the +withdrawal of the Hanoverian troops, the Prussians had seized the +opportunity of reinforcing Eisenach so strongly that it was now very +difficult to take it. + +General von Alvensleben announced himself in Bavaria as empowered by +his majesty the King of Prussia "to receive any commands from the King +of Hanover." The negotiations turned upon the proposition made by the +Hanoverian council of war, that the Hanoverian troops should be granted +a free passage to the south without battle or bloodshed, upon condition +of abstaining for a certain time from fighting against Prussia. Prussia +required that the time named should be a year, and demanded various +guarantees and pledges. The King of Hanover did not accept these +stipulations, yet negotiations were not broken off; on the contrary, a +suspension of hostilities was concluded, and the king promised a +definite answer on the morning of the 26th of June. But when he +despatched Colonel Rudorff, of the general staff, early in the morning +of the 26th, he was turned back by General Vogel von Falckenstein, who +had already arrived in Eisenach and concentrated there nearly two whole +divisions. He declared he know nothing of an armistice, and that he +should certainly attack the enemy. + +The Hanoverian army was thus placed in a most unfavourable position. +The king, who had passed the night in Behringen, removed his +head-quarters early on the morning of the 26th to the Schützhaus[1] in +Langensalza. + +The Schützhaus, a large and handsome building, stands back from the +road leading to Eisenach, at some little distance from the town; before +it is a large open square, and opposite to it rises the spacious +post-house. Behind the house there is a large garden surrounded by high +walls and covered walks, and a broad verandah connects the house with +the garden. + +Double sentries were posted before the Schützhaus; in the square stood +the royal carriages, and officers of every branch of the service +came and went; the aides-de-camp of the general in command, whose +head-quarters were in the town, hurried to and fro, to bring the king +the latest information,--all was movement and military life. + +The army was concentrated around Langensalza, and placed in a defensive +position, for as General Vogel von Falckenstein refused to recognize +the armistice, a Prussian attack was expected at any moment. After +Falckenstein had learnt from General von Alvensleben all particulars, +he declared himself willing to respect the suspension of arms; but the +defensive position of the Hanoverian army was nevertheless maintained. + +The king sat in his room. The expression on his face was very grave. +Old General von Brandis stood near him. + +"My dear Brandis," said the king gloomily, "I fear we are in very evil +case!" + +"Alas! I am quite sure we are, your majesty!" replied the general. + +"I fear," continued the king, "that these unfortunate and involved +negotiations have only served to give the Prussians time to strengthen +the forces opposed to us, and to make our position worse. Without these +negotiations we should have taken Eisenach and perhaps we should by +this time have joined the Bavarians in safety." + +"We should certainly have done so," said the general drily. "Your +majesty will do me the justice to remember I always spoke strongly +against these negotiations," he continued. "According to my opinion +your majesty might negotiate or march; but to attempt both together +would never succeed. I cannot understand what these negotiations were +to lead to. I do not see their aim. To march to the south under the +obligation not to fight against Prussia for a certain time----" + +"For two months," interrupted the king. + +"But what good could it do?" pursued the general; "what reception could +we expect in South Germany if we arrived saying, 'Here we are, we want +maintenance and quarters, but we can't fight'? I really don't know," +said he with some bitterness, "what I should say to such a surprise +were I the general commanding the South German troops. I believe that +it would have been better to have stayed in Hanover." + +A slight look of impatience passed over the king's face, but it +vanished immediately, and he said, kindly but gravely,-- + +"But, my dear Brandis, the commanding general and the general staff +assured me the army was unprepared to undertake any serious military +operation, and that after we reached South Germany eight weeks at least +would be required before it was in a condition to fight! It was for +this reason that I entered upon negotiations,--how could I do +otherwise?" + +"I do not venture," said the general, "to question your majesty's +decision or mode of action, but I must again repeat I do not understand +the theories which govern the general staff. The results of all their +labour are only negative, and their movements continual retreats. Yet, +your majesty," he cried, "we want to go forwards! and to go forwards we +must march. To march straight on invigorates an army, to halt long in +one place wearies it, but aimless marching hither and thither will in +the end demoralize it." + +The king was silent and sighed deeply. + +"Your majesty," said the general with warmth and energy, "there is but +one way now which can save us, and that is a hasty march upon Gotha. +The Prussians expect from our previous operations that we shall work +across the railway near Eisenach, and they have drawn together their +greatest strength in that direction. Let your majesty at once direct +your course by forced marches upon Gotha, we shall find but little +resistance, and we shall break through it. We have nineteen thousand +men; even if we lose four thousand, we shall still reach--and of this I +am certain--South Germany with fifteen thousand men; we shall bring +immediate assistance, and above all things we shall maintain the honour +of your majesty's banner in the field. If we stay here," he added +sorrowfully, "we must end badly." + +"But the negotiations with Alvensleben," said the king +hesitating,--"Count Platen still hopes for a favourable result." + +"What result?" exclaimed General von Brandis; "the results of the +negotiations on either side have not been brilliant." + +"Count Platen!" announced the groom of the chambers. + +The king made a sign, and Count Platen entered. + +"Your majesty," he cried, "the Prussian Colonel von Döring has arrived +as an envoy from Berlin, and brings a despatch from Count Bismarck; it +appears that in Berlin they still wish to negotiate." + +"Let the colonel come immediately," said the king. + +General Brandis shrugged his shoulders and walked to the window. + +Count Platen returned with the Prussian staff-officer. + +"Colonel von Döring!" said the count, introducing him, whilst he +approached the king with a stiff military salute; "he begs permission +to read your majesty a despatch from the minister-president, Count +Bismarck." + +"I am prepared to listen, colonel," replied the king. + +The colonel opened a paper which he held in his hand. + +"I must first remark to your majesty," he said, "that I consider myself +freed from my charge, as I find negotiations are broken off, and +General Vogel von Falckenstein already meditating an attack." + +"Your communication then will be useless?" asked the king coldly. + +"Nevertheless, if your majesty permits, I will carry out my orders." + +"Even yet----" began Count Platen. + +"Read, colonel," said the king. + +The colonel slowly read the despatch. It was an exact repetition of the +ultimatum received through Prince Ysenburg on the 15th, and proposed a +treaty on the foundation of the Prussian project of reform. + +"Does this man believe," cried the king, as the colonel ended, "that I +shall now----" + +"Your majesty," said Colonel von Döring in a firm voice, "I humbly beg +you graciously to consider that I, as a Prussian officer, cannot hear +any derogatory expression applied to the minister-president." + +"Is he not a man like ourselves?" asked the king, with dignity. "Does +Count Bismarck believe," he continued, "that I shall in the field, at +the head of my army, accept conditions which I rejected in my cabinet +at Herrenhausen, and that I shall now allow my army to march against +Austria?" + +"Could not a short time be granted for consideration?" suggested Count +Platen. + +"I have no orders for granting time," said Colonel von Döring. + +"And I do not need it," said the king, "in giving you my answer. It is +the same as before; it is to these propositions simply 'No.' I have +listened to negotiations in the hope of preventing useless bloodshed +and diminishing the burdens of our countrymen, but upon this basis I +cannot negotiate; events must take their course, I can do nothing more +to restrain them. I thank you, colonel, and I wish I had made your +acquaintance on a happier occasion. Take care, gentlemen," he added, +turning to Count Platen and General Brandis, "that the colonel is led +in safety to our outposts." + +Colonel von Döring made a military salute and left the king's room, +accompanied by the two ministers. + +Count Ingelheim walked thoughtfully to and fro before the house, and +looked up from time to time with an anxious expression at the king's +windows. Groups of officers stood around in animated conversation. They +knew that a Prussian envoy was with the king, and all these brave young +officers, thirsting for the battle, feared nothing more than that they +should capitulate without fighting. + +"We could never again be seen in a Hanoverian uniform," cried a young +officer of one of the Guard regiments with a rosy childish face, as he +stamped with his foot, "if we were ensnared without drawing the sword, +as in a mousetrap. We have been marching a fortnight, now here, now +there; now waiting for the Bavarians, then for the Hessians, and never +going forwards. So much was expected from this new commander; and +now ..." + +An eager young officer on a swift horse galloped up in the Guard Jäger +uniform, the star of a commander of the order of Ernest Augustus on his +breast. He threw himself from the saddle, gave his horse to his +servant, who had hastened after him, and walked up to the group of +officers. + +"Well, prince," cried the lieutenant in the Guards, "where do you come +from so hastily?" + +"I have ridden out a little amongst the troops," replied Prince Hermann +von Solms-Braunfels, the king's youngest nephew, as he endeavoured to +seize the down just shading his upper lip with his fingers. "I am in +despair, for in spite of my earnest request the king has commanded me +to be here at head-quarters, but from time to time I must escape into +the free life of the camp, and enjoy a little fresh air. Where are you +stationed, Herr von Landesberg?" he inquired of the young lieutenant. + +"Here in Langensalza," he replied, "fretting over the inactivity +imposed upon us by the general staff. The king should just listen to +us, the young officers of the army; he would soon be convinced that the +army was ready both to march and to fight." + +"God knows it is so," exclaimed an hussar officer, drawing his long +moustache through his fingers; "I cannot comprehend why we have a +general staff only to arrange such marches as we have made. I have +heard an old story of the Crusaders, or some such people," continued +the hussar drily, "who let a goose go before them, and followed the +line of march pursued by the fowl. That was both a simpler and a kinder +course, for now they strip the poor bird of its feathers and write with +them night and day--and nothing more clever comes of it." + +"See, there comes the Prussian envoy back!" cried Herr von Landesberg, +and the officers approached the Schützhaus, at the door of which +Colonel Döring, accompanied by General von Brandis and Count Platen, +appeared. + +Whilst General von Brandis called the carriage and ordered a guard of +four dragoons to accompany it, Count Platen politely took leave of the +Prussian colonel and hastened to Count Ingelheim, who met him full of +anxiety. + +"It was the ultimatum of the 15th over again," cried the minister to +the Austrian ambassador. + +"And...?" asked Count Ingelheim. + +"Of course it was at once declined," exclaimed Count Platen. + +"Then these luckless negotiations are over at last?" asked Count +Ingelheim, watching with secret relief Colonel von Döring's carriage as +it rolled away. + +"Quite at an end," said Count Platen, as he sighed slightly. + +"Do you know, dear count," proceeded the ambassador, "that in my +opinion your position here is a very serious one? You are in a corner +between the Prussian armies, and I see only _one_ way out; that is by a +hasty march upon Gotha." + +"Yes, the king is quite ready to go forward, but the general staff----" + +"Would to heaven!" cried Count Ingelheim energetically, "that his +majesty had retained his old officers; I do not believe that +Tschirschnitz would have allowed these constantly retrograde marches." + +"Yes," said Count Platen, with a slight shrug, "it is so difficult for +me to do anything in military affairs. In Göttingen the wish seemed +universal." + +"The wish is universal to act and to march; do you see that knot of +officers? I am sure they are of my opinion;" and he pointed out a group +in which Lieutenant von Landesberg was just expressing his joy at the +envoy's departure, and his hopes of speedy action. + +Prince Hermann left the officers and joined Platen and Ingelheim. + +"The envoy is not coming back again?" he asked. + +"No, prince," cried Count Ingelheim, "I hope he is the last." + +Four post-horses dashed quickly along the road, drawing a close +carriage with a servant in travelling livery upon the box. + +"Who is this?" cried Count Platen, with surprise, and all eyes turned +upon the carriage as it drew up before the house. The servant sprang +down and opened the door. + +An old gentleman in travelling dress, wrapped in a large Havelock +cloak, his white head covered with a black cap, got out slowly and +looked around as if seeking for something. + +"Persiany!" exclaimed Prince Hermann. + +"Good heavens, Persiany!" cried Count Platen, with amazement; then, +with a pleased look and hasty footstep he met and welcomed the Emperor +of Russia's ambassador at the Hanoverian court. + +"What does he want here?" asked Count Ingelheim; and a dark cloud +passed over his face. + +"It looks well for us, as far as the inclinations of Russia go," said +the prince; "and," he continued, with a smile, "he is at least no +Prussian envoy." + +"Who knows?" murmured Count Ingelheim. And an investigating look +followed Count Platen's meeting with Persiany. + +"At last I have found you, my dear count," cried the Russian +ambassador, an old gentleman with strongly marked features and dark +piercing eyes, which now wore an expression of the greatest anxiety. +"Thank God that this horrible journey is at an end." And he held out a +hand trembling with weakness to the minister. + +"You will never believe what I have gone through," he continued, as he +took off his cloak, "in that dreadful carriage, always delayed by the +movements of the troops, without sleep, without proper nourishment, at +my age." + +"Well," said Count Platen, "you can now rest at least; we cannot offer +you much, our head-quarters are not rich in comforts----" + +"But first," interrupted Monsieur de Persiany, "where is his majesty? I +beg an immediate audience; I come by the command of my gracious master +and emperor." + +Count Platen looked surprised, and listened attentively; then he +exclaimed,-- + +"Come with me, I will at once announce your arrival to his majesty." + +He gave his arm to the old gentleman, who trembled from exhaustion, and +assisted him in mounting the stairs leading to the upper rooms of the +Schützhaus. + +In the ante-room Monsieur de Persiany sank into a chair. Count Platen +entered the king's apartment and found him resting on a sofa. Lex sat +near him, reading aloud. + +"Forgive me for disturbing you, your majesty," said the minister, "but +Monsieur de Persiany is here at the command of the Emperor Alexander, +and he requests an immediate audience." + +George V. rose, an expression of joy shining in his face. + +"How?" he cried, with animation,--"and what does he bring? let him come +in!" + +Count Platen led the Russian ambassador into the room. + +"Welcome to the camp, my dear Monsieur de Persiany!" cried the king, +holding out his hand to him as he entered. + +The old gentleman seized it, and said, in trembling voice,-- + +"Good God, your majesty! what times are these? how painful it is to me +to see you under such circumstances!" + +His hand shook and tears glittered in his eyes. + +"Monsieur de Persiany is much exhausted by his journey, your majesty," +said Count Platen. + +The king seated himself on the sofa, and exclaimed,-- + +"Pray sit down, Monsieur de Persiany, you are in want of refreshment. +Lex, go and find a glass of wine." + +"I thank you, I thank your majesty most humbly," said the old +gentleman, as he sank into a chair as if quite exhausted. "I shall find +something by and by. Now let me impart to your majesty all that the +emperor, my gracious master, has commanded me to say. I was to seek +your head-quarters, and to assure you of his friendly sympathy." + +"The emperor is very good," said the king; "I recognize in this the +friendship he has always shown me, and to which my whole heart +responds." + +"The emperor commanded me," continued Persiany, with labouring breath, +"to place myself at your majesty's disposal, as he understood +negotiations were being carried on with Prussia, and thought the +intervention of a neutral power, friendly alike to both sovereigns----" + +The king's brow clouded. + +"Negotiations have been broken off," he said. + +"Good heavens!" cried Persiany, "I have come too late!" And he sank +back in his chair as if broken down by the thought that his fatiguing +journey had been in vain. + +"Is it then quite impossible to prevent bloodshed?" he asked, folding +his trembling hands; "the emperor firmly believes that the king +of Prussia is desirous of coming to an understanding, and if your +majesty----" + +"My dear Monsieur de Persiany," said the king, "I do not know how I +could again commence negotiations. The Prussians, just before your +arrival, offered me the ultimatum which I could not accept on the 15th, +and I have again refused it." + +"My God! my God!" cried Persiany, "what a misfortune it is at such a +moment to be so old and feeble, no longer master of my nerves. Possibly +through my mediation you might again----" He could add no more, his +voice failed him, he was almost fainting. + +"My dear ambassador," said the king, in a gentle voice, "I thank you +heartily for the rapid and fatiguing journey you have undertaken in +order to prove to me the friendship and amiable wishes of the emperor; +but at present nothing can be done. You stand greatly in need of rest +and refreshment, I beg you to withdraw. Count Platen will take care of +you." + +"I thank you, I thank your majesty," said Persiany, rising with +difficulty; "I stand in need of a little nourishment. I shall soon be +_à mon aise_; under all circumstances I am at your majesty's disposal." + +His strength threatened to fail him, he took Count Platen's arm, and +was led by him into a room in which a bed was prepared, upon which the +exhausted old man immediately fell into a slumber, whilst his servant +repaired to the meagrely supplied kitchen in search of some refreshment +with which to restore his master's strength when he awoke. + +Count Platen sought the Austrian ambassador as he paced up and down the +garden. + +"Well, some new negotiation, is it not so?" asked Count Ingelheim, +casting a penetrating glance at the minister. + +"It appears," he replied, "that in St. Petersburg, either from their +own inclination or the wish of Prussia, they desire to mediate--perhaps +Colonel von Döring's mission was connected--but at all events----" + +"My dear count," interrupted the Austrian ambassador gravely; "I +refrained from any remark whilst negotiations continued; they were, in +form at least, of a military nature; you see the military position into +which these negotiations have led you; you are shut in between the +Prussian armies, crushed--if you do not quickly seize the only way in +which lies safety. Will you give the enemy time to close the only road +now open, that leading to Gotha, by again commencing negotiations? +Besides, this time," he added, "the affair is political, and I must +seriously call your attention to its political results. The former +negotiations have placed your military position in great danger; shall +your political position be also imperilled? What will be said in +Vienna, if even at this moment no reliance can be placed on Hanover; +and if through the mediation of Russia, negotiations are again begun +with Prussia?" + +"But not the smallest negotiation is begun," said Count Platen. + +"Because good old Persiany is asleep," said Count Ingelheim; "because +he has no nerve. But when he wakes, I beg you, Count Platen, send this +Russian mediator away; do you still hope to find any support except in +Austria? or do you wish to be excluded from her sympathy, and from the +benefits to be gained by the great struggle about to take place?" + +"But I ask you, on what excuse?" said Count Platen hesitatingly. + +"On what excuse?" cried Count Ingelheim; "the sickly old man will +accept any excuse with thankfulness that sends him out of this noise, +these hardships, and the near neighbourhood of cannon. Consider," he +continued urgently, "what will be said in Vienna, by the emperor, who +builds so strongly upon Hanover, by all your friends in society, who +count so much upon you, the Schwarzenbergs, the Dietrichsteins, +Countess Mensdorff, Countess Clam-Gallas----" + +"Persiany shall go!" exclaimed Count Platen; "they know in Vienna my +devotion to Austria; in the exposed position of Hanover----" + +"It is best to hold firmly to one side or the other," said Count +Ingelheim, "and to gain a sure friend, even at the twelfth hour." + +"I will go to the king," said Count Platen, and he walked slowly +towards the house. + +Count Ingelheim looked after him, and shook his head slightly. + +"If he only meets no one on the way," he said to himself. "I fear," he +added, continuing his soliloquy, "I fear matters here will not end +well; there is no connecting link between the heroic king and his brave +army; this general staff is ignorant of war, it knows but one maxim, to +get out of the enemy's way whenever he shows himself; and the crown +prince----" + +He sighed deeply. + +"However," he added, "we have always gained something. The Hanoverian +campaign has cost Prussia much time; has absorbed many troops; all this +is clear gain on our side; the occupation of the country absorbs much +of its strength; above all things an understanding, a political +arrangement, must be prevented which would leave the enemy's hands free +here in the north. But here comes my northern colleague!" And he +hastened to meet the Russian ambassador as he came out of the house. + +Monsieur de Persiany had slept a little, had refreshed his toilette a +little, and had eaten a little, and he looked much fresher than before. +But his footsteps were still uncertain as he walked to meet Count +Ingelheim. + +"Welcome to head-quarters, my dear colleague," cried the latter, as he +held out his hand; "the corps diplomatique is well represented--I was +its only member up to this time! You are fatigued by the journey, are +you not?" + +"Tired to death!" cried Persiany, as he sank upon a garden seat, where +Count Ingelheim placed himself at his side; "tired to death, and it +does not appear that they have much to revive one here." + +"No, that there certainly is not," said Count Ingelheim; "the whole day +noise, trumpet calls, bugle sounds----" + +"Horrible!" exclaimed Persiany. + +"And at night no bed, or at best a hard straw mattress." + +Persiany folded his hands and raised his eyes to heaven. + +"These are only slight disagreeables which we scarcely think of," said +Count Ingelheim. + +Persiany looked at him with an expression of great surprise. + +"It will be much more unpleasant when action really begins, when real +fighting commences," said the Austrian diplomatist; "the king is +certain to be in the midst, and we must of course be with him." + +"Do you think we should really be in danger?" asked Persiany, "our +diplomatic character----" + +"Will scarcely preserve me from imprisonment," said Count Ingelheim; +"for we are at war with Prussia. With you it is somewhat different: you +are certain to be treated with consideration, so soon as you have +identified yourself before a commander of troops. But in the mêlée!..." +And he shrugged his shoulders. + +"Should we really have cause to fear?" asked Persiany. + +"My dear colleague," replied Count Ingelheim, sighing slightly, and +casting a penetrating look at the Russian diplomatist, "a cannon ball, +the pistol of an hussar, the sword of a cuirassier, little heed the +diplomatic character." + +"My God!" cried Persiany. "But if fighting begins I scarcely think I +ought to remain here; we are at peace with Prussia." + +"It will come suddenly, I think, and without much warning; there will +be no choice," said Count Ingelheim drily. "I do not believe our lives +will be actually in danger; but really it will be sufficiently +unpleasant to hear the noise of battle--to see the blood--the +corpses----" + +Persiany fell back on the bench, and his white lips trembled as he +thought of such a trial to his nerves. + +"I wonder if they have some soda-water here?" he asked. + +"I do not think so," said Count Ingelheim; "we do not find such things, +and the small store they have is carefully put aside for the wounded in +the approaching engagement. At the king's table we have thin beer, cold +beef, and baked potatoes." + +"Impossible!" cried Persiany. + +Count Ingelheim shrugged his shoulders. + +"What would you have?" said he; "you cannot expect good dinners in the +midst of war; besides, we sportsmen are accustomed----" + +"But I am not a sportsman!" cried Persiany. + +"Here comes Count Platen," exclaimed the Austrian ambassador; "perhaps +he will bring us some news." + +Count Platen came and begged the Russian ambassador, who was greatly +shaken by Count Ingelheim's descriptions, to accompany him to the king. + +"You do not believe further negotiations are possible?" asked Persiany, +as he ascended the steps. + +"I do not think the king will permit anything to be attempted," replied +Count Platen, after a short hesitation. + +"Then----" said M. de Persiany--but he could not express his thoughts, +for they had reached the door of the king's room. + +"My dear Monsieur de Persiany," said George V., "I sent for you in +order----I hope, though, you are somewhat rested." + +"I thank your majesty," said Persiany, sighing; "I am a little +stronger." + +"I sent for you," said the king, "to thank you for the zeal which +caused you to undertake a journey, doubly fatiguing to one of your +years, and in your weak health, for the purpose of expressing to me the +emperor's friendly regard, and his hearty desire to mediate. I would +also beg you to remain longer at my head-quarters----" + +A slight flush passed over Persiany's face; he gasped. + +"If," continued the king, "there were the least possibility of +negotiating, after Colonel von Döring had been the bearer of a proposal +again based on the Prussian project of reform, which I had already +declined. Also the envoy considered his commission actually annulled +before he delivered it. I should therefore only torment you, and injure +your health uselessly, by exposing you to the tumult and fatigues of +war, if I kept you with me. I beg you therefore to return to Hanover. +Your advice will be useful to the queen. Pray thank the emperor most +heartily and sincerely for his sympathy and friendship." + +"If your majesty is really of opinion that all hope of negotiation is +over, that I should be useless to you, and that I might perhaps be of +service to her majesty the queen in Hanover----" + +"That is quite my opinion," said the king. + +"If it were possible," said Persiany, "that perhaps the course of +events,--opposed to a superior power,--still the moment for negotiation +might come,--it would be my duty to remain,--and only your majesty's +distinct command----" + +"If it must be so," said the king, "I give this command; set out +immediately, and tell the queen how you found me and the army." + +"Then I must obey," cried Persiany. "I pray God to bless your majesty, +and to guide things to a happy termination." + +With great emotion the old gentleman seized the hand the king offered +him, and a tear fell upon it. + +The king smiled good-humouredly. + +"I know what a true affection you bear towards me and my family. God +protect you--and your emperor!" he added heartily. + +Persiany returned with Count Platen to the garden, where Count +Ingelheim awaited them. + +"Well, my dear colleague," he cried, "you look much more cheerful. Are +you growing reconciled to camp life?" + +"The king has dismissed me," said Persiany; "he sends me back to +Hanover; my old carcass will no longer undergo such trials. But," he +added, turning to Count Platen, "by the way that I came, by the same +will I not return; send me to Gotha. I will get to Frankfort, from +there perhaps to Umwegen, but yet it will be the quickest and safest +road. I must set out at once. I may be of use in Hanover." + +The old gentlemen pressed Count Ingelheim's hand, and tripped hastily +to the house, leaning on Count Platen's arm. His carriage and a guard +were soon ready. + +"The storm has blown over," said Count Ingelheim, rubbing his hands, +and laughing as he looked after the Russian ambassador; "yes, if they +wish to succeed in diplomacy in these times, they must send people with +strong muscles and firm nerves." + +And he walked with youthful elasticity towards the house. + +An hour later the king hold a council of war. He assembled the general +in command, the general staff, the adjutant-general, and General von +Brandis. He also requested Count Platen, Count Ingelheim, and Herr +Meding to be present. + +The king urged an immediate advance upon Gotha. General von Brandis, +Colonel Dammers, and all the non-military gentlemen strongly supported +the king's opinion. + +Colonel Cordemann, the chief of the general staff, insisted strongly +that the army, in consequence of its exhausting marches and scanty +food, could not possibly undertake offensive movements, and that their +course was to take up a defensive position, and make a courageous +defence if attacked. The whole of the general staff agreed with the +chief, and the general in command stated that under existing +circumstances he could not be responsible for the consequences of an +onward march. + +The king gave his consent to the dispositions agreed upon with a sigh, +but he declared that he would pass the night amongst his troops, and +about midnight, accompanied by the whole of his suite, their royal +master established himself amongst his soldiers for the night. + +The royal bivouac was in a corn-field near to Merxleben, and everyone +listened with anxious expectation until the morning dawned. + +All was quiet. The outposts sent in no news of any movement on the part +of the enemy. + +About four o'clock in the morning one of the emissaries sent out +several days before towards the south, returned with the intelligence +that the Bavarians had been seen advancing in several detachments, and +that even on the 25th they had reached Bacha. The complete inactivity +of the enemy seemed to support this information, and it was believed +the Prussian forces were drawn away in that direction. + +This idea gave great satisfaction in head-quarters, and it was +determined to wait in a strong position for the confirmation of the +intelligence and the approach of the Bavarians. General von Brandis +alone shook his head, and opined that if the Bavarians were advancing +and the Prussians occupied in the south, it was a stronger reason for +hastening as quickly as possible to meet them, and stretching towards +them a helping hand, before the overwhelming Prussian forces could come +down upon them from the north. + +The order was given to erect batteries, and the king and his suite, +exhausted by a sleepless night, repaired to Thamsbrück, a small village +on the banks of the Unstrut, and there the king took up his quarters in +the Pfarrhaus. + +Clear and brilliant rose the sun on the 27th of June, and his first +rays lighted up the varied changing picture of the Hanoverian army +encamped around Langensalza. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + LANGENSALZA. + + +At about five in the morning the king withdrew to the quiet Pfarrhaus +on the hill at Thamsbrück, and retired to rest. From the dispositions +made by the general staff a delay of several days was expected, with +probably some defensive fighting, whilst tidings were awaited of a more +certain nature from the Bavarians. + +Beneath a large and ancient linden-tree in front of the pastor's house +the king's suite were assembled, discussing an extremely simple but +much-relished breakfast. + +A large table covered with a white cloth bore a coffee service of +blue and white pottery, such as is traditional in all primitive old +country-houses in North Germany, and the perfume which arose from the +large pot standing on an ancient-looking chafing-dish was certainly not +from Mocha. + +A ham, a few sausages, a large black loaf, and a small piece of butter +completed the provisions, over which Count Erhardt Wedel presided with +the strictest impartiality. + +The whole party did honour to the breakfast, with appetites rarely seen +at the chamberlain's table at Herrenhausen. + +"There seems to be an immense proportion of water in this beverage," +said General von Brandis, gazing with curiosity at the brown fluid in +his blue cup. + +"If the coffee has too much water, it makes up for the dryness of the +sausage," remarked Count Ingelheim, as he attempted to cut a slice with +his pocket-knife, but the stony nature of the sausage successfully +resisted all his efforts. + +"At least the drink is warm," said Count Platen, as pale and shivering +he sipped the smoking coffee. + +"I don't know that warm water is much better than cold," grumbled +General Brandis, without making up his mind to put his cup to his lips. +"It has its merits as an outward application, but to drink it without a +prudent admixture of some stimulating body is unpleasant, especially so +early in the morning." + +"Your excellency shares the prejudices of the ancient legions against +water," said Count Wedel, laughing. "They used to say, as water was so +unpleasant when it got into their boots, how much more disagreeable it +would be if it got into their stomachs!" + +"Wellington's veterans lived before the discovery of hydropathy," said +little Herr Lex, as he busied himself in overcoming a large piece of +ham. + +"They were right!" cried General Brandis, with comic gravity. "Fire was +their element," he added, setting his cup down untasted upon the table; +"they did not carry on war with sugared water, as seems the present +fashion." + +"Perhaps I can offer your excellency a better drink for this chilly +morning," said Prince Hermann Solms, drawing out a field flask covered +with plaited straw. "I have a little excellent cognac left." + +"You are a help in need, my dear prince," cried the old gentleman, +smiling. "I will repay you some day!" + +The prince, hastening into the house, came back with a kettle full of +hot water, and he soon mixed the old general a glass of grog, with such +a homoeopathic allowance of water that his cheerfulness quite returned. + +A loud hurrah resounded from the stable-like buildings at one side of +the house, and the Crown Prince Ernest Augustus hurried from them and +joined the breakfast party. + +He carried his handkerchief carefully tied together in one hand, and +his cap in the other. + +"Guess what I have here, gentlemen!" he cried, raising both hands above +his head. "Fresh eggs--just laid. Is it not a glorious find?" And he +emptied the cap and the handkerchief upon the table. "Now, shall we +boil them, or shall we make an omelette?" + +"Why any preparation?" said General Brandis, seizing an egg, +decapitating it with his sword, and hastily drinking the contents. "It +is easy to see that the present generation are unaccustomed to the +rigours of war." + +Count Ingelheim followed his example. + +"It would be great fun, though, to make an omelette!" cried the crown +prince, holding his hands over the rest of his spoil. + +"Alas! we have plenty of time," murmured General Brandis. + +"Listen!" cried Meding, springing to his feet. + +"A cannon shot," said Count Ingelheim, putting his hand to his car. + +"Impossible!" remarked the adjutant-general; "where should it come +from? The general staff does not expect an attack." + +A short, heavy, distant sound was heard. + +"Those are certainly guns!" cried Count Wedel. + +"I think they are beginning to growl," said General Brandis, rising and +drinking off the rest of his grog with a look of satisfaction. "It +would be as well to mount!" + +"Shall his majesty be awakened?" asked Count Wedel. + +"It will be time enough to call him if anything serious really +appears," said Colonel Dammers. "I will go up to the top of the house, +from whence one can overlook the whole plain." + +He entered the house; Prince Hermann followed him, and the others +listened anxiously to the sound of firing, which grew louder and more +distinct every moment. + +"After all, an omelette would be too much trouble," said the crown +prince, putting his eggs into the kettle, the contents of which had not +been much diminished by the general's grog. He placed it on the +chafing-dish and blew the charcoal, listening attentively for the water +to boil. + +After a short time Colonel Dammers returned. + +"Some strong columns are visible on the distant horizon; I can see +their arms glittering through the dust!" he cried. "His majesty must be +called." + +Count Wedel hurried into the house. + +Signals were heard from the plain. A general march was beginning in +various parts of the camp. + +George V. came out of the Pfarrhaus. They all approached the king. + +"Your majesty," cried General Brandis, "I hear with joy the well-known +voice of cannon; it makes my old heart young again." + +The king's face expressed high courage and calm determination. He held +out his hand to the general. + +"I hear this voice in earnest for the first time," he said; "but, my +dear general, my heart, too, beats higher at the sound. Now +negotiations are impossible. God be with us!" + +He folded his hands and raised his head silently to heaven. All those +around him involuntarily followed his example. + +The sound of horse's hoofs was heard. An officer of the garde du corps, +springing from the saddle, informed the king, from the general in +command, that the enemy were drawing up in strong columns upon the road +from Gotha, and that the general begged his majesty to leave Thamsbrück +immediately, and to go to the hills behind Merxleben. + +Count Wedel hurried away; the horses were saddled and the carriages +prepared. + +"General von Arentschildt further begs your majesty's commands and +instructions as to the capitulation which may be needful during the +action," said the aide-de-camp. + +General Brandis bit his moustache. Count Ingelheim stamped upon the +ground. + +"What does he mean?" asked the king quietly. + +"The general staff," continued the officer, "has represented to the +general that the troops are so worn out and badly fed that they may be +unable to endure the fatigue of battle; he therefore begs permission to +capitulate should he deem it needful. He has drawn up an instruction on +this point, and he begs your majesty to send it back to him signed." He +handed the king a paper. + +The king had closed his teeth firmly, and he drew his breath with a +sharp, almost hissing sound. + +Without the slightest movement of haste or anger he took the paper and +tore it through. + +"Ride back to General Arentschildt," he said in a calm ringing voice, +"and tell him my commands, to resist to the last man!" + +The officer's face brightened. With a military salute he turned sharply +round, sprang into the saddle, and galloped off. + +"And now forwards! gentlemen," cried the king. + +"Father, have a new-laid egg!" And the crown prince, hurrying up, +offered the king a plate, on which was a specimen of his cooking. + +"Eat it, your majesty," said General Brandis; "there is no saying when +or where you may get anything else." And he handed the king an egg, +after breaking the shell with the hilt of his sword. + +The king ate it and turned to the horses. + +They mounted and set out; dragoons preceded them and acted as a guard; +the carriages and the led horses followed. + +As the king rode out of the village of Thamsbrück, the artillery duel +had already fully commenced. + +From the hill above they saw the lines of the enemy's skirmishers +before the town of Langensalza. The enemy's batteries were on the +farther side of the Unstrut, and kept up an energetic fire, to which +the Hanoverian artillery replied from the opposite bank. The infantry +were engaged before the town, and the Hanoverian cavalry were seen on +one side slowly withdrawing. + +"Where shall we ride?" asked the king. + +"To a hill behind Merxleben, from whence we can overlook the whole +battle-field, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general. + +"We are going away from the thunder of the cannon!" said the king. + +"There is a turn in the road to the left," replied Colonel Dammers. + +"Then we must ride to the right to keep near the fighting," said the +king calmly, turning his head in the direction whence came the sound of +firing. "Schweppe," he said to the major of guard cuirassiers who held +his leading rein, "I command you to ride in that direction." + +"There is no road, your majesty," he replied. + +"Then we will ride through the fields." And the royal procession moved +on, in the direction the king had indicated. + +The sound of the cannon was heard nearer and nearer, mingled with the +rattle of small arms. + +The king and his suite rode to an eminence where the plain was bounded +by a chain of hills; the party being rendered conspicuous to both sides +from the dragoons, and the brilliant uniforms of the suite. + +A few balls flew over their heads and the horses began to be uneasy. + +Suddenly the enemy's artillery appeared to choose the king's party as +their mark, and shells flew thicker and thicker over them, striking the +ground now before them, now behind them. + +The adjutant-general sprang to the king's side. + +"Your majesty!" he cried, "we are under a heavy fire, I conjure your +majesty--" + +Count Platen and General von Brandis also implored the king to withdraw +from such imminent peril. + +The king reined in his horse. + +The whole escort stood still. + +"Can my troops see me here?" asked George V. + +"Certainly, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general, "your +majesty's position is visible from the whole of the plain." + +"Good," said the king, simply. And he quietly remained on the spot. + +The shells flew hissing through the air, the bullets of the small arms +whistled through the valley, and the frightened horses throwing up +their heads snorted and trembled; the blind king, the Guelphic prince, +who was ready to give his life for what his proud heart told him was +the right, halted upon the brow of the hill, motionless as a marble +statue, that his soldiers might see him. + +With a maddening hurrah the Hanoverian columns greeted the king as they +marched past him, and sank their waving banners low before their royal +master, who returned their greeting calmly and quietly each time it was +announced to him. + +"If we stand here much longer," said Count Ingelheim to General +Brandis, "a ball will sooner or later solve the Hanoverian question in +a very simple manner." + +"Yes, indeed!" replied Count Platen, looking at a shell that had fallen +unpleasantly near the king, "they are improving in their practice; but +if we venture to tell him so we shall have to stay here all the +longer." + +"Your majesty," said General Brandis, riding up to the king, "there is +a turn in the fighting, and I think your majesty would be more visible +upon the hill which was first selected for your position." + +"Are you quite sure, Brandis?" said the king. + +"I am sure your majesty would be in a better position there," replied +the general. + +"Let us go then!" cried the king, touching his horse with the spur; it +bounded forwards so rapidly that Major Schweppe had some difficulty in +holding the guiding rein. + +Their rapid pace soon brought them to the hill, near which the reserve +cavalry were placed. + +The king rode on to the highest point. His suite surrounded him, some +dismounted, and followed the movements of the troops with field-glasses +and telescopes. + +The carriages were drawn up in a large semicircle. + +The king stood motionless. Not a feature of his pale, noble face +changed. The adjutant-general informed him of the course of the +fighting as far as it could be made out, the gentlemen of the suite +sometimes expressed by loud shouts the result of their observations, +but generally they imparted to each other in low tones their hopes and +fears. + +Whilst this was going on at head-quarters, the Duke of Cambridge's +dragoon regiment had been employed since the early morning in outpost +duty near the village of Hemingsleben, on the road leading from +Langensalza to Gotha. + +Before the village was the toll-house with its black and white bar +raised, and beside it stood the most advanced outpost. + +Lieutenant von Stolzenberg commanded the outpost, and with him was his +somewhat younger comrade Lieutenant von Wendenstein. + +The morning sun shone brightly, and the two young officers stood near +their horses, gazing over the plain, which spread far around them, and +which was crossed by the grey band of the high road. Some straw lay on +the ground, but none of the provisions appeared which, on the evening +of their march into Göttingen, the young men had obtained for their +supper. + +With a weary, half-sleepy look, Wendenstein drew out his pocket flask, +took a good drink and handed it to his companion. Then taking a piece +of black bread from his pocket, and breaking it up, he slowly swallowed +one morsel after another. + +"Do you know, Stolzenberg," he said, with a slight shiver, "this sort +of warfare in the chill of dawn makes one feel far from courageous. We +did not think of such campaigning as this when we started." + +He gave his horse a piece of bread moistened with brandy. + +"No, indeed!" said Stolzenberg with a sigh, as he took a sip from the +flask. "But where the devil did you get that horrid liquor from?" + +"I found it at the inn in the village. What can you do? When your +cognac is at an end, you must put up with potato spirit. It is a shame +that we have nothing to eat and drink; there is plenty, but the +provision column never comes up, and when one has a hope of getting +something, the alarm is given; it is 'forwards!' again." + +"Forwards!" cried Stolzenberg, "I think we have not been going forwards +for long enough. And the beautiful flocks of sheep we saw on both sides +of the roads, and which we dare not touch for our lives! Donnerwetter!" +he cried, stamping his foot; "to be in an enemy's country and not to be +allowed to requisition the necessaries of life is too much!" + +"Don't you know," said Wendenstein, laughing, "that the general staff +has so much to do in getting out of the enemy's way, that it has no +time to remember that people must eat; and besides, it would really be +difficult for the provision columns to follow our very eccentric +march!" + +"I cannot imagine how the king is satisfied with such a method of +conducting a campaign," said Stolzenberg; "he wishes to go forwards, +and these changes hither and thither do not accord with his character." + +"Our poor king!" said Wendenstein, sighing; "what can he do? If indeed +he could see--but as it is! It is really wonderful that he should go +through the fatigue of the campaign with us." + +"What is that?" exclaimed Stolzenberg, raising his glass to his eyes, +and looking attentively across the plain. "Look over there, +Wendenstein, just behind the bend in the road. Do you not see a long +cloud of dust?" + +Wendenstein looked through his glass in the direction pointed out. + +"I see bayonets glittering through the dust!" he cried, energetically; +"Stolzenberg, old man, I believe it is the enemy!" + +"I believe it is!" he replied, still gazing at the distant cloud +of dust. "There is no doubt of it! A column of infantry, and +there!--artillery, too! Wendenstein, ride back at once, and say a +column of infantry and artillery are advancing on the road from Gotha!" + +"Hurrah!" cried Wendenstein, as he sprang into the saddle and galloped +back to the village. + +Stolzenberg and his dragoons were in the saddle in a moment. Drawn up +in order upon the road, they looked anxiously over the plain. The cloud +of dust slowly grew nearer, and they could see more plainly the bright +flashing of the bayonets. + +After a short time horsemen from the village joined the outpost. The +colonel in command of the regiment, Count Kielmansegge, came, +accompanied by his staff with Lieutenant von Wendenstein. + +"Look there, sir!" cried Stolzenberg, and pointed to the enemy's +approaching columns. + +The colonel looked earnestly for a moment through his glass. + +"It is certainly the enemy!" he cried, "and see! there is a battery +being posted upon yonder hill. All outposts to fall back on their +squadrons!" cried he to his staff, who galloped off immediately. + +Stolzenberg recalled his vedettes. + +"And what will the regiment do, if I may be allowed to ask?" he said, +turning to his colonel. + +"Slowly retire, whilst skirmishing with the enemy, such is the order," +he replied, sighing and shrugging his shoulders; and he hastened back +to the village to which the other outposts had already withdrawn. + +"Retire, always retire!" cried Wendenstein, passionately. "Well! some +time or other they will reckon on these tactics without the troops!" + +There was a sudden flash from the hill, followed by an explosion, and a +cannon ball splintered the bar of the toll-house on the high road. + +"The overture begins!" cried Stolzenberg; and with his few men he +trotted quickly back to the village. + +This was the shot they heard at head-quarters in Thamsbrück. + +The regiment withdrew, constantly skirmishing with the enemy, and fell +back slowly upon Langensalza. + +In the meantime the town was abandoned, the order of the general in +command ran, "that the army whilst fighting should retreat." + +At Langensalza the dragoons fell in with the infantry of the Knesebeck +Brigade, which had received orders to retire behind the Unstrut. The +troops obeyed this order with gnashing of teeth, and gave up one +position after the other, for the enemy forthwith to seize upon; the +enemy's riflemen harassed them, and the artillery advancing along the +heights opened a nearer and more murderous fire. + +The dragoons crossed the bridge over the Unstrut, and made a stand +before the village of Merxleben, on the slope of the Kirchberg hill, +from whose summit a Hanoverian battery maintained a fire, which, though +less rapid than the Prussian, was so well directed that it did great +execution in the hostile ranks. + +To the right of the dragoons, General Knesebeck's brigade was massed, +he having followed the command he had received to retire. On the other +side of the Unstrut stood a mill, upon a small stream called the +Salzabach; immediately after the retreat of the Hanoverians it was +occupied by the Prussians, and from it they kept up a heavy fire. + +Two battalions of the guards marched past the dragoons. At the head of +the first rode Lieutenant-Colonel von Landesberg; the second was led by +Colonel von Alten. + +The battalions had crossed the Unstrut, and were following the order +received to retire to the brigade stationed on the hill. + +Colonel von Landesberg rode thoughtfully in front of his battalion, the +grenadiers followed him in solemn silence. + +The battalion had the Unstrut on the left, and had just reached a spot +where it was forced to turn to the right, to take up the prescribed +position. + +At this place the banks of the river are very low, and it is so shallow +that it is easy to cross it. + +A level terrace surrounds the hill, upon the slope of which lies the +village of Merxleben. The enemy's most advanced chain of skirmishers +was approaching the opposite bank of the river. + +Colonel von Landesberg gave a searching look at the situation. + +"If this spot remains undefended," he said to his adjutant, "the enemy +will penetrate our position, and divide our forces." + +"So it seems to me, colonel," replied the adjutant. "I cannot see why +it is to be abandoned,--however, the general staff--" + +The colonel gnawed his moustache. + +"It is impossible to give up this position to the enemy," he said, half +to himself. + +His eyes flashed, and he pulled in his horse suddenly. + +"Battalion, halt!" he shouted. + +The command was repeated along the ranks; the battalion halted. With +excited faces the grenadiers awaited further orders from their leader. + +"Right about turn!" he cried. + +A thundering shout of joy broke as from one mouth along the ranks, and +in an instant the grenadiers had fronted. + +The enemy's sharpshooters appeared on the other side of the river. + +"Skirmishers, forward!" cried Colonel von Landesberg. + +The lines opened out with exemplary precision, and in a short time the +Hanoverian skirmishers were close to the river, received by the fire of +the enemy. + +Several grenadiers fell; but the firing from the Hanoverian lines was +so certain and regular, that the most advanced of the enemy's +sharpshooters soon sought cover, and replied but feebly. + +The second battalion of guards had come up in the meantime. Colonel von +Alten galloped up to Colonel von Landesberg, who had ridden down to the +river, and was in the midst of his men. + +"What is going on here?" asked Alten; "is the plan for the day +changed?" + +"You see this spot," said Colonel von Landesberg,--"it must not be +taken, and I mean to hold it." + +"Have you received an order?" asked Colonel von Alten. + +"I do not want an order, for I see that the fate of the day and of the +army depends on its being kept," cried Landesberg. "Fire!" + +The report of fire-arms rolled along the line. + +Colonel von Alten gave a scrutinizing look around, then he rode back to +his battalion, which was about a hundred paces off. + +"Right about turn!" he cried. + +The battalion replied, like the first, with an echoing "Hurrah!" A few +moments afterwards his sharpshooters were drawn up along the bank of +the Unstrut, and the advancing enemy found itself opposed by a steady +fire. + +Although the grenadiers fell, the lines filled up silently and +regularly, and not an inch of ground was yielded. Colonel von +Landesberg placed himself in the front ranks, cool and calm as if on +parade. + +The battalions of the enemy which had advanced to the river halted. An +uneasy movement appeared amongst them. An aide-de-camp galloped up. + +"Colonel," he cried, "the general expects you in the prescribed +position!" + +"Tell him I am engaged by the enemy!" replied von Landesberg curtly. + +The aide-de-camp glanced at what was going on, saluted, turned his +horse, and galloped back without a word. + +The enemy's fire grew weaker. After a short time, bugle calls were +heard on the opposite bank, and the enemy was withdrawn out of reach of +fire. Colonel von Landesberg put up his sword. "So," said he, "the +first thing is done; do you think the river is fordable?" + +"Certainly!" replied the adjutant, riding down close to it; "I can see +the bottom almost everywhere." + +"We can swim if needful," said Landesberg, calmly. "They shall rest ten +minutes, then I will go first." + +Colonel de Vaux's brigade stood at some little distance, close to the +village of Merxleben; the Cambridge dragoons were halted near the banks +of the Unstrut. The officers looked anxiously at the movements of the +troops, who were retiring on the two wings, the centre keeping up an +energetic artillery fire. + +"We have crossed the Unstrut," exclaimed von Wendenstein; "it is really +scandalous--where will this retreat end? We shall go back and back, +until we march into the jaws of the enemy coming down upon us from the +north, and then--" + +"Then at last we shall capitulate," said von Stolzenberg, bitterly; +"this kind of war can have no other end." + +Lieutenant-Colonel Kielmansegge trotted quickly up to the troop in +which the young officers rode. + +"Look there, gentlemen," he cried, and pointed to the river bank at +some distance along the plain. "What is that?--active firing is going +on there." + +"They are exchanging shots as they retreat--the Knesebeck Brigade it +must be," said von Wendenstein. + +"We shall soon have the enemy on our flank," said Stolzenberg; and both +the officers took their glasses and looked in the direction in which +Count Kielmansegge was still gazing attentively. + +"It is the guards," said von Stolzenberg, "and actually they are not +retreating, they have made a stand on the bank!" + +"The enemy's sharpshooters are retreating!" exclaimed Wendenstein +joyfully. + +"They halt," said Count Kielmansegge, still looking through his +glass,--"our battalions form,--they are going down to the river--into +it--hurrah!" he cried, "they are advancing to the attack." + +"And we are standing still here," cried von Wendenstein, whilst he drew +his sword half out of the scabbard, and put it back with a clang. + +At this moment Colonel de Vaux galloped up with the brigade staff. + +"The guards are crossing the Unstrut," cried Count Kielmansegge, as +they came up. + +"So I see!" exclaimed Colonel de Vaux, "and devil take me if I stand +still here; now the die must be cast. It is bad enough that we shall +have to retake all the positions we have so quietly abandoned to the +enemy! What regiments are close here?" he enquired of his adjutant. + +"The first battalion of the second regiment, and the first Jäger +battalion," he replied. + +"Bring them here at once." + +The adjutant galloped to the columns close by, and led them at quick +march up to the colonel. + +He dismounted and placed himself at their head. + +"And what shall I do?" asked Count Kielmansegge. + +"Ride down by the river," replied de Vaux, "cross where you can, and +act according to circumstances; if possible fall on the right flank of +the enemy, and silence that hostile battery." + +"At your command, colonel!" cried Kielmansegge. In a few moments the +regiments formed and rode at a sharp trot along the river. + +From the place where the two battalions of guards had crossed the +stream, a heavy fire had commenced. The first battalion under the +gallant Landesberg advanced slowly in a straight line upon Langensalza, +the second battalion turned to the left towards the mill which formed +the central point of the enemy's position, and which was in a diagonal +line from Colonel de Vaux. + +"Now is the time!" he cried, and commanding his adjutant to give the +order to advance, he at the same time ordered the assault to be +sounded. + +Before him lay an even plain without any cover for about five hundred +yards, part of it being thickly planted with rape. The whole of this +plain was exposed to the fire of the enemy's lines, and of the +artillery from the hill behind. + +The drums beat, the colonel raised his sword, and in as perfect order +as on the parade ground the battalions marched across the dangerous +plain. + +The enemy's fire tore great gaps in the ranks, for the soldiers could +not advance quickly on account of the rape, but they were quietly +filled up; and in a short time the battalion gained the bank of the +river, and in its turn opened a murderous fire upon the enemy, who +withdrew his skirmishers, and concentrated his whole force around the +mill. + +The whole army saw the guards cross the Unstrut and the bold advance of +Colonel de Vaux, and a general offensive movement commenced. + +No officer would wait for orders. With a loud "Hurrah!" the troops +broke from their positions, and advanced to the points where they might +most quickly meet the enemy, and where they thought they could take the +most active part in the fighting. + +The infantry crossed the Unstrut at all points, sometimes even by +swimming, and pressed on towards the enemy's positions. The batteries +which had already retired, advanced and supported the attack by an +incessant fire, and the cavalry crossed the river wherever it was +possible, and advanced to the scene of combat. + +The enemy were concentrated in force around the mill already mentioned, +which formed the key of the central position of the Prussian army. It +was surrounded by a deep moat. + +Against this mill the guards advanced; two bridges over the river were +before them, closed by barricades and strongly defended. + +A company advanced without halting from the hill, led by their captain; +they took the bridge by storm, and from this side also pressed on +towards the mill; single lieutenants led small detachments everywhere, +wading or swimming across the river, and advanced on every side to +storm the enemy's strong position. + +By this time desperate fighting was going on before the mill. Companies +of different regiments, sometimes in small detachments, united to storm +the buildings. + +Three times Lieutenants Köring, Leue, and Schneider with exemplary +courage led a storming party, Lieutenant Leue falling riddled with +bullets, at the head of his detachment. Their numbers were too small, +the moat around the mill was too deep, the fire too overwhelming. + +Just then Colonel Dammers appeared to inspect the state of the battle +and to report the news to the king. Prince Herman Solms rode beside +him, for the young prince, devoured with impatience, had obtained +permission to accompany the colonel. + +The sadly diminished ranks were just closing, again to attempt the +storming of the mill. + +A Prussian battery had been brought forward and the shells suddenly +fell amongst the storming party, whilst a fresh and tremendous fire +from the needle-guns opened upon them from the mill. + +They hesitated under this murderous hail of balls. + +The prince touched his horse with the spur, and bounded between the +storming party and the mill. + +"They are not so bad as they look!" he cried cheerfully, turning to the +soldiers; and reining in his horse, he took off his cap and jokingly +saluted a shell which flew over his head and buried itself in the +ground. + +"Hurrah!" cried the soldiers, and again rushed to the attack, led on by +their brave lieutenants. + +At this moment two companies advanced from the bridges, and immediately +behind them Colonel Flökher's battalion, and at the same time guns +opened behind the storming party from the hill of Merxleben, and a +heavy fire from a hastily advanced Hanoverian battery fell on the mill, +splintering the roof and shattering the walls. + +The gallant defenders of the building evidently about to become a heap +of ruins, broke through on the other side, and retreated in strong +parties along the high road. But they were checked by the second +battalion of guards, which had now come up, and which opened a +murderous fire upon their flank, whilst two squadrons of hussars who +had burst over the bridges galloped down upon them with upraised +swords. + +Some of the fugitives fled over the fields, and were fortunate enough +to gain the reserve Prussian division; the hindmost returned to the +ruined building, and a white handkerchief soon waved from one of the +windows. + +The firing ceased immediately. Colonel Flökher rode up to the battered +door, which was quickly opened, and the last of the brave defenders, +about a hundred men, laid down their arms. + +The courtyard was full of dead and wounded, and just outside lay the +Hanoverian soldiers who had fallen. The ruin looked ghastly with its +shattered windows and broken walls in the bright sunshine, a picture of +destruction, horror, and death. + +The adjutant-general rode up to Prince Herman. + +"I compliment you, prince," he said: "you received your baptism of fire +gloriously, but you exposed yourself uselessly. What should I have said +to the king if any misfortune had befallen you?" + +"What could I do?" said the prince, laughing, and plucking at the down +on his upper lip; "the king has ordered me to head-quarters: ought I to +let them say I am afraid of fire?" + +"They would not have said that," said the colonel, looking kindly at +the almost boyish face. + +"It is better that they cannot say it!" cried the prince, and galloped +off with the adjutant-general. + +A retreat on the part of the enemy was decided upon from this moment. +Slowly and in perfect order, under a continuous fire, the Prussian +troops formed in squares, and retired in the direction of Gotha covered +by their batteries, which kept up a constant fire upon the advancing +Hanoverians. + +At last General Arentschildt had ordered a general attack, but this +command only affected a few of the troops, and was indeed superfluous, +for the attack had commenced, and no order would have prevented it. + +Whilst the centre of the Prussian position was pierced, Count +Kielmansegge with his dragoons had ridden along the side of the +Unstrut, endeavouring to find a ford. But he could not discover one, +the banks of the river in this part being very steep and overgrown with +bushes. They were obliged to ride down stream to the village of +Nagelstedt, where at last they found a bridge, over which they crossed +into an open field on the other side. + +The dragoons hurried at a sharp trot closer and closer to the sound of +the guns; already the enemy was driven back, and the battle had surged +to the south of Langensalza. + +A gentle eminence rose before the dragoons, the regiment rode up it, +and found itself opposite the enemy's exposed flank. Two Prussian +squares were slowly retreating, still keeping up a constant fire, and +on a hill near the dragoons was a Prussian battery, which sent its +shell into the centre of the advancing Hanoverians. The dragoons were +alone; between them and the Hanoverian army were the Prussian +battalions. + +"The time has come at last!" said Wendenstein, who was with the troop +of which Stolzenberg was first lieutenant. "Thank God! we have +something to do. At such a moment it is better to be in love," he +added, as he tried whether his sword was firm in his hand; "you see I +know what to think of, and--" + +"There, again it spoke," said Stolzenberg, shuddering slightly; +"farewell, old fellow, if we do not meet again." + +"Madness!" cried von Wendenstein, "but look out, we are to charge." + +The command was given that the fourth squadron should take the enemy's +battery, and that the second and third should attack the Prussian +squares. + +The two squadrons slowly advanced towards the distant squares, who +stood still to receive them, whilst Rittmeister von Einem at the head +of his dragoons galloped up the hill on which stood the battery. + +The guns were turned upon the attacking dragoons, a storm of shell +received the squadron. The horsemen fell in numbers, down went both the +trumpeters, but unchecked, the squadron galloped onwards, the +Rittmeister far before them waving high his sword. + +Quicker and quicker grew the pace, the battery was almost reached, when +once again the guns opened fire, and sent their case-shot into the very +midst of the gallant riders. + +The Rittmeister escaped as by a miracle. He was the first to spring +between the hostile cannon, and he smote down a gunner with a mighty +cut from his sword; the dragoons followed him through the heavy fire of +the infantry support to the battery. + +A bullet hit the Rittmeister's horse, which fell, rolling over upon +him. He quickly disengaged himself from the quivering animal, and his +sword flow round swift as lightning to defend himself from the +threatening bayonets of the infantry. The dragoons were now engaged in +a fierce hand-to-hand fight. + +"Forwards! forwards!" cried the Rittmeister, as with his sword he +parried a bayonet thrust against his breast; but a shot fired close to +him struck him, his arm sank down, and whilst with his left hand he +seized the wheel of the cannon he had taken, to support himself, +several of the enemy's bayonets were plunged deep into his breast. + +His strength failed, and he fell upon a heap of slain; his hand +clenched in death, held fast the wheel of the conquered gun. The +dragoons pressed forwards over him, and soon the last defenders of the +battery fled over the field. + +The battery was silenced, but the greater number of the dragoons lay +around their fallen leader. + +This attack had been watched with the greatest interest by the two +squadrons as they advanced slowly towards the Prussian squares, and as +the defenders of the battery fled, loud cheers burst forth. + +When the two squadrons had come near enough to the squares to charge, +suddenly from behind the hill on which the battery stood, galloped the +garde du corps, followed by the cuirassier guards. The garde du corps +dashed against the square next them. Two volleys, discharged when they +were close to the enemy, did not check them, but the brave square stood +unbroken, and the squadron of garde du corps retired from the enemy's +fire, preparing to charge afresh. + +The commander of the second square nearest to the dragoons came forward +and waved a handkerchief. Major von Hammerstein, with his adjutant and +a trumpeter, advanced to meet him. + +"My soldiers are ready to sink from exhaustion," said the Prussian +staff-officer; "I am willing to surrender." + +"I must then beg for your sword, my comrade," replied Major von +Hammerstein, "and that you will lay down your arms." + +"I agree to the last," said the Prussian officer; "to give up my sword +is too hard a condition. But," he cried, "here come the cuirassiers." + +And indeed the cuirassiers, who had followed the garde du corps, and +passing by the first square had formed to charge, were galloping down +upon them. + +"Ride to the cuirassiers and stop them!" cried Major von Hammerstein to +his adjutant. + +He galloped off to meet the charging regiment, but their rapid movement +and the noise around prevented him from making himself heard. They +rushed onwards. + +"Too late!" cried the Prussian commander. "Stand to your arms! Fire!" +he cried, as he returned to the square, and a tremendous volley mowed +down the cuirassiers just as they approached. The foremost ranks fell, +and the direction of the charge being somewhat oblique, the shock came +on the flank of the square, and it remained unbroken. + +Major von Hammerstein had ridden back, and "Charge! charge!" resounded +down the ranks of the dragoons. + +The two squadrons charged the square at a gallop. + +They were received by a frightful fire. The major fell, just in front +of the foe, but Lieutenant von Stolzenberg urged on his horse, reined +him in for a moment when close to the lowered bayonets of the enemy, +drove the spurs into his horse's flanks, so that he reared upright, and +then, with one mighty leap, bore his young master, as he raised his +sword and gave a ringing cheer, right into the hostile square, where, +like his rider, he fell, pierced through with bayonets. + +But his fall tore a large opening in the ranks, and the squadron +pressed in after them. + +"Well done, old fellow!" cried Wendenstein, and at the same moment he +fell beside his comrade, and the dragoons rushed over him. + +The square was broken, and those who yet survived fled madly across the +field. + +But when the dragoon squadrons reassembled, not one officer was left, +and one-third of the men were wanting. + +The cuirassiers had rallied meanwhile, and hastened to the scene of +this brilliant struggle. + +A young soldier rode with the first squadron in an old coat that had +evidently not been made for him, and in plain grey trousers stuffed +into military boots. On his head he wore a military cap, and a wound on +his brow was bound up with a white handkerchief. + +"Where is Lieutenant von Wendenstein?" he asked of a dragoon, as the +remains of the second squadron rode up. + +"All our officers lie there!" replied the dragoon, pointing to a heap +of men and horses which marked the spot where the square had stood. + +"Dead!" cried the cuirassier. "But I cannot leave him there; I promised +to take care of him, and no one shall ever say Fritz Deyke broke his +word. My poor lieutenant!" + +He hastily quitted the ranks and rode up to the commanding officer. + +"Sir," he said, saluting him, "I overtook the army at Langensalza and +joined the cuirassiers, that I might take my share in the war. I hope, +sir, you can say I have done my duty?" + +"You have done bravely," replied the officer. + +"Well, sir," continued the young man, "the day's work seems over, and, +besides, I have a scratch from which the blood runs into my eyes, so I +came to ask leave for the day." + +The officer looked at him with amazement. A deep blush spread over the +young soldier's face. + +"Sir," he cried, "I was brought up at Blechow with our president's son, +Lieutenant von Wendenstein, of the Cambridge dragoons; and when I left +home to join the army, his mother said to me, 'Fritz, take care of my +son if you can,' and I promised her I would, sir; and now there lies +the young gentleman amongst the dead. Shall I leave him there?" + +The officer looked kindly at him. + +"Go, my brave lad," he said, "and come back when the lieutenant no +longer needs you." + +"Thank you, sir," cried Fritz. + +The cuirassiers advanced in pursuit of the enemy. + +Meanwhile the other square had been broken by the charge of the garde +du corps. The cavalry had moved forward, and in a short time the scene +of all this carnage, of all this noise, was only an empty plain, where +piles of corpses lay one on another in lakes of blood--men and horses, +friend and foe, mingled together. + +Fritz Deyke was alone in this scene of horror. + +He dismounted, led his horse by the bridle, and walked to the place +where the dragoons had broken the square. His horse snorted and +struggled to run back. He led it a little way off and tied it to the +trunk of a tree which grew near the high road; then he again approached +the heaps of slain. + +Some wounded men raised their heads and begged gaspingly for a drop of +water. + +"I cannot help all, but you shall not perish," he said. + +There was a deep ditch near the high road; it might have water in it. +He seized two helmets lying on the ground, and hurried to the ditch. +There was actually some water--a little, and dirty, for the continuous +heat had sucked up the moisture. + +With some difficulty he filled the helmets with the muddy, lukewarm +fluid, and carrying them like two buckets, he returned to the wounded +men, who were watching for him with unspeakable longing. He drew out +his flask, poured some of its contents into each helmet, and gave some +of the liquid to the sufferers, impartially succouring both Prussians +and Hanoverians. + +"So, be patient," he said, kindly; "the first ambulance I see, I will +send to you." And he began to search amongst the dead. + +They lay heaped on one another, the brave dragoons and the brave +Prussian infantry, some with a calm, peaceful expression on their +faces, some with a look of wild horror, many so frightfully disfigured +with bullets and stabs that the soldier's brave heart quailed, and he +had to close his eyes for a moment to gain strength to continue his +dreadful employment. + +But he went on undeterred. He laid the dead bodies aside, and exerting +all his strength, he dragged at the dead horses. + +"Here is Herr von Stolzenberg!" he cried, as he turned over the body of +the young officer, which lay with its face on the ground, bathed in +blood. "Handsome, brave gentleman! and to die so young! It is all over +with him," he said, mournfully. A bullet had carried away part of the +skull, and countless stabs still oozed with blood. + +Fritz Deyke bowed his head over the corpse, folded his hands, and +repeated "Our Father." + +"But here," he then cried, "lies poor Roland, stone dead. Good, +faithful creature; and under him, alas! there is my lieutenant!" He +pushed the dead horse aside. + +Beneath lay Lieutenant von Wendenstein, pale and stark, his left hand +pressed on his breast, his sword still in his right hand, his eyes wide +open, and staring glassily at the sky. + +"Dead!" said poor Fritz, with a cry of grief; "he is really dead!" and +he bent sorrowfully over the body of the fallen officer. + +"But I must take him away!" he cried, with decision. "He must not stay +here; at least I must be able to lead his poor old father and mother to +his grave. How frightful to see his kind, beautiful eyes staring thus!" +he said, shuddering; "but where is he wounded? The head is unhurt. Ah! +here in the breast. His hand is pressed upon it; the blood still +trickles. But I cannot look at his eyes!" he cried; "those dead, glassy +eyes, which in life were so kind and merry!" + +He bent down and laid his hand on the head of the slain, that he might +gently close the eyes of his former playmate. + +"God in heaven!" he cried, suddenly. "He lives, his eyelids moved!" + +He folded his hands and gazed anxiously at the face before him. + +The eyes really moved, they closed slowly, then they opened again; for +one moment a ray of light seemed to light them up, then they grew +staring and glassy as before. + +Fritz Deyke sank upon his knees. + +"Great God in heaven!" he said in a trembling voice; "if Thou wilt +never in my whole life hear a prayer from me again, yet help me now to +save my poor master!" + +He seized his flask, opened the mouth of the wounded man, and poured +into it a little brandy. + +Then he anxiously awaited the result. + +An almost imperceptible shiver passed through the young officer's +limbs; his eyes lived for a moment, and looked inquiringly at the young +peasant; his lips were slightly parted; a red foam appeared upon them, +and a deep sigh heaved his breast. + +Then the eyelids closed, and the face lost the horrible starkness of +death. But no further sign of life appeared. + +"Now to get him to the town!" cried Fritz, raising the young officer in +his strong arms and bearing him to his horse. + +He climbed with difficulty into the saddle, still holding the +motionless form; then he supported it before him with his right hand, +whilst he held the bridle with the other. + +He rode quickly across the fields to the town. + +The squares broken by the dragoons, garde du corps, and cuirassiers, +and the battery taken by Rittmeister von Einem made the last resistance +on the side of the Prussians before they retreated entirely. + +The Hanoverian central brigade pressed onwards, and soon the whole +battle-field almost to Gotha was in possession of the Hanoverian +troops. + +The army, unfit to march, had made the most surprising, though alas! +aimless advances--the army unfit to fight, had fought--and won! + +During the whole day the king and his suite had remained on the hill +near Merxleben. He had not left the saddle for a moment. He had asked +short questions about the fighting, which the gentlemen of his suite +had answered; no information had come from the general in command, for +the battle was fought by individual officers and their divisions, who +would no longer retreat, and who had seized on the offensive, each +where he thought he could act most decisively and effectively. + +The king saw nothing; he heard the bullets hiss past him, the thunder +of the cannon around him; but the varied living picture was wanting +that enchains the mind with trembling excitement. + +He was as motionless as a bronze statue; his face betrayed no trace of +his inward emotion; his only inquiry was, could his soldiers see him? + +At last the adjutant-general galloped up the hill, and brought the news +that the enemy's centre was pierced, and the cuirassier guards who had +been held in reserve behind the king's position, rushed past with a +loud "Hurrah!" to their royal leader, as they started across the plain +in pursuit of the enemy. Finally, a staff officer arrived from the +commanding general, announcing that the victory was decided in favour +of the Hanoverian arms. Then the king drew a deep breath and said, "I +will dismount." + +A groom hastened to him; the king got off his horse. All the gentlemen +around drew near him to express their congratulations. + +"Many brave and faithful hearts have ceased to beat! God grant them +eternal peace!" said the king, solemnly. + +He stood for a moment in silent thought. + +"I am somewhat exhausted," he then said; "is there anything to drink?" + +Those nearest to him seized their flasks; they were empty. + +"There is some sherry in our carriage," said Meding. + +"And I have a travelling cup," cried Count Platen, taking a silver cup +from a case. + +Meding ran to the carriage, and soon returned with half a bottle of +sherry and a little wheaten bread. He poured some wine into the small +cup, and handed it to the king. He drank it, and ate a morsel of bread. + +"Now I am strong again," he cried; "would to God that each one of my +soldiers could say the same." + +"I will move about a little," he then said, and taking Meding's arm he +paced slowly to and fro, on the top of the hill. + +"God has given our arms the victory," he said with emotion; "what is +next to be done?" + +"Your majesty," said Meding, "this noble blood will all have been shed +in vain, if we do not march at once to Gotha, cross the railway, and +endeavour to reach Bavaria." + +The king sighed. + +"Oh! that I could place myself at the head of my army and lead it +onwards! They will make difficulties, raise obstacles. You know how +many obstacles the general staff has already raised in the council of +war." + +He stood still, thinking deeply. + +"Your majesty must command a protocol to be drawn up, that these +obstacles may at least be stated in black and white," said Meding. + +"It shall be done!" cried the king with energy. "You shall draw it up. +I am answerable to history for what occurs, and for what is neglected." + +An aide-de-camp from the general in command galloped up. + +"General von Arentschildt begs your majesty at once to take up your +head-quarters in Langensalza." + +"To horse!" cried the king. + +The aide-de-camp hurried away, the horses were brought, and the royal +party moved down from the hill across the battle-field. + +The king was grave and calm as he rode towards the town. Heaps of dead +bodies lay on the road near the mill, and the horses' hoofs were +reddened by the blood which stood on the ground in great pools. The +king saw it not. He heard the "hurrahs" of the soldiers he met, and the +loud cheers with which they greeted him; no pride of victory kindled in +his noble face; he sat on his horse cold and silent; he thought of the +slain, who had bought him this victory with their lives, he thought of +the future, and with anxious care he asked himself whether this victory +would yield the fruit desired, and extricate the army from the +dangerous position into which it had been led. + +The royal head-quarters were established in the Schützhaus at +Langensalza. + +Scarcely was the king a little refreshed, when he ordered the general +in command, and the chief of the general staff to be summoned, and he +invited General von Brandis, Count Platen, Count Ingelheim, with Lex +and Meding, to be present at the council of war. + +At about nine in the evening the officers assembled in the king's room. + +The king urged an immediate march upon Gotha, but the general in +command and the chief of the staff declared that the army was in such a +state of exhaustion it could not march. In vain General Brandis pointed +out that even for a tired army a short march of two hours and then +excellent quarters in Gotha, was better than a bivouac in the fields +without proper food; the chief of the general staff declared the march +to be absolutely impossible, and the general in command refused to be +responsible for its consequences. Both these gentlemen asked earnestly +for permission to leave the council, as their presence with the troops +was absolutely necessary. + +The council of war broke up without any result, and the king retired to +rest after the fatigues of the day. + +The bivouac fires of the troops shone all around the town; and such +merry songs, such cheerful voices rose on every side, it was hard to +believe these were the exhausted soldiers who could not possibly +undertake a two hours' march to Gotha, there to find rest and food. + +Fritz Deyke meanwhile had ridden to the town, carrying Lieutenant von +Wendenstein before him, without knowing whether he was alive or dead. +The young man lay heavily in his arms, his limbs hung helplessly down, +and the wound in his breast bled afresh from the quick ride. + +The young peasant reached the town, but there had been fighting in the +streets, and it seemed deserted by its inhabitants, who had shut +themselves into the back rooms of their houses. + +"Where shall I find the best quarters?" he asked himself. "Perhaps they +will take the greatest care of him in the hotel," he thought, after a +moment's consideration, and he rode on in search of an inn. At a turn +in the street he saw a large white house standing a little back, with a +well-kept garden in front of it, and with various outbuildings beside +it. Green jalousie blinds were closed over the windows. + +As the cuirassier rode past with the lifeless body in his arms, a fresh +young voice cried, half in fear, half in compassion: + +"Ah! the poor young officer!" + +Fritz was touched by the sound of the voice, as well as by this mark of +sympathy for his dear lieutenant, and looked up at the house. + +A young girl's pretty blonde head peeped from a half-opened shutter, +but bashfully withdrew as the soldier looked up; the blind, however, +was not entirely closed. + +Either the expressive voice, or the sympathy in the bright blue eyes +still looking down through the small opening upon the strange and +melancholy spectacle, caused the young man to conclude, that in this +comfortable and well-to-do looking house he should find good quarters +for his beloved officer: it was enough, he reined in his horse, and +cried out-- + +"Yes, the poor young officer needs rest and care, and I demand quarters +for him in this house." + +The words were short and commanding, for he belonged to the army who +entered the town as victors; but the tone of voice was gentle and +imploring, and it caused the young girl to open the shutter entirely, +and to stretch out her head. At the same moment, a stout, elderly man, +with a full red face and short grey hair, appeared, and looked down +with displeasure at the Hanoverian soldier. + +"Quarters can be had in this house, if so it must be," he said, curtly +and uncivilly; "but as to care, we have nothing to do with that, and +there is nothing much to eat!" + +"I will see to that!" cried Fritz Deyke, "only come down and help me to +carry in my lieutenant!" + +The old man withdrew from the window grumbling, whilst the young girl +called out kindly, "I will get a bed ready at once for the poor wounded +man, then we shall see what must be done next." + +And she disappeared from the window. + +The old man had opened the house door, and advanced towards the +horseman. + +"I cannot bid you welcome to my house," he said, gloomily and harshly, +"for you belong to the enemies of my king and country, but I am bound +to give you quarters; and," he continued, looking compassionately at +the pale young officer, "I would rather give quarters to the wounded +than to the sound." + +"It is no question of friend or foe!" replied Fritz, in a conciliatory +voice; "it is a question of Christian charity to a poor wounded man!" + +"Come then!" said the old man, simply, and walked up to the horse. + +Fritz Deyke let the lifeless form slide gently into the old man's arms; +then dismounting, he tied his horse to the low garden railings, and +together they bore the lifeless form to the house. + +"Up here," said the old man, pointing to the stairs which led from the +hall to the comfortable rooms above. + +Fritz Deyke went up first, carefully supporting the lieutenant's head, +whilst the old man followed, bearing him. + +They entered a long passage with doors on each side. + +The young girl stood waiting for them, and hastened forwards to open +the door of a large room, with two windows looking towards the +courtyard; it was furnished plainly but with some elegance, and a +snow-white bed was prepared for the sufferer. + +Fritz Deyke, with the help of the old man, laid the wounded officer +gently down upon it. + +"Now, young man!" said his host, looking gravely at the cuirassier, +"your officer is safe, and he shall want for nothing that my house can +afford,--the house of the Brewer Lohmeier," he added, with a look of +dignified satisfaction, "that you may know whose guest you are. Come +now, we will take your horse into the stable; and," he continued +somewhat confidentially, "whilst you are here, keep others away if you +can." + +They went down stairs, leaving the young girl in the room with the +wounded man. She smoothed the pillows, and looked with melancholy +interest at the handsome face, pale as death. + +Some infantry came down the street. + +"We will find quarters in this street," cried one of them; "see, here +is a nice-looking house,--let us go in,--there will be room for us +all!" + +Fritz Deyke came to the door at this moment with the brewer. + +"Ah! there are cuirassiers here already," cried the infantry man; "is +there still room, comrade?" + +Fritz put his finger to his lips. + +"A dangerously-wounded officer here," he said; "you must not talk so +loud, nor make such a noise in marching." + +"Then we must go further," said the infantry soldiers; they cast +sympathizing looks at the upper windows, and walked on. + +"Thank you!" said the old brewer, in a friendly voice. + +Fritz Deyke led his horse through the yard gate to the stable, where he +put him with the brewer's four horses. He then asked for a piece of +chalk, and wrote in large letters upon the house door: "Dangerously +wounded officers." + +"Now," he cried, "I must go and find a surgeon; take care of my +lieutenant, but do not move him!" He was about to hurry away. + +"Stop," said the brewer, "your surgeons will all be busy at the field +hospitals; our surgeon lives close here, he is a clever man, I will +fetch him." + +He went out, and soon returned with a fresh-faced, grey-headed old +gentleman, with a very kind expression. + +He stepped up to the bed, whilst Fritz studied his looks with the +greatest anxiety. + +The surgeon shook his head, he opened one of the closed eye-lids, +looked at the eye of the wounded man, and said, + +"Life is not extinct, whether we can retain it is in God's hand! I must +look at the wounds, we must undress him, and you, dear Margaret, get us +some warm water and some wine." + +The young girl hastened away. Fritz carefully cut off the wounded man's +clothes and boots. + +There was a wound in the left breast, another in the shoulder. + +"This is nothing," said the surgeon, pointing to the shoulder, "a +bayonet wound, which will get well of itself; but here--" drawing a +probe from a case, he examined the wound in the breast. + +"The bullet has lodged upon the rib," he said; "if he does not die from +loss of blood and exhaustion he may recover. For the present he must +have perfect rest; I cannot attempt to extract the bullet until he has +in some measure recovered his strength." + +Margaret returned with warm water, linen, and a sponge. She then placed +a small lamp upon the table, for it began to grow dark. + +The surgeon washed the wound, and poured some wine into his patient's +mouth. A deep breath parted his lips, a faint tinge of colour came to +his cheeks, and he opened his eyes. He looked with surprise at +everything around him; his eyes closed again, and scarcely audibly he +murmured "Auf Wiedersehn!" + +The young girl folded her hands, and raised her eyes, shining through +tears to heaven. + +Fritz took off his cap, waved it in the air and opened his mouth wide, +as if to shout the Hurrah! with which the lusty young peasants made the +meadows near Blechow or the large room in the inn echo again, but this +Hurrah! did not come; the mouth closed again, the cap flew into a +corner, only a thankful, happy expression replaced the melancholy look +his face had hitherto worn. He had heard a sound of life from the lips +of his dear lieutenant, he now hoped to save him. + +"Well, well," said the surgeon cheerfully, "for the present you can +only keep him quiet, and give him some red wine as often as possible, +to repair the loss of blood; to-morrow I will try to extract the +bullet." + +He departed, accompanied by old Lohmeier. + +Fritz, Deyke, and Margaret remained with the patient, and watched his +breathing; with the greatest punctuality the young girl handed a +spoonful of wine to the cuirassier, who poured it carefully into the +officer's mouth. + +Old Lohmeier brought Fritz some cold supper and a draught of his own +beer. The young man hastily despatched the supper, his appetite was as +good as ever, the beer he declined. + +"I could not keep awake," he said. + +"Now go to bed, Margaret," said her father, "we will tend the wounded +man; sitting up at night will tire you." + +"What is the loss of one night's sleep, father," said Margaret, "when a +man's life is in danger? Let me stay, he might want something." + +Her father did not gainsay her, and his look of satisfaction +acknowledged she was right. Fritz Deyke said nothing, but he raised his +large true-hearted blue eyes with an expression of gratitude to the +young girl's face. + +Lohmeier seated himself in an armchair and soon nodded; the young +people remained near the bed, and scrupulously carried out the +surgeon's orders, watching with pleasure every fresh sign of life in +their patient, sometimes a deep breath, sometimes a slight flush +passing over his pale face. + +For a long time they sat in silence. + +"You are a good girl," Fritz said at last, when she had just handed him +a spoonful of wine, and he held out his hand to her in hearty +friendship; "how thankful my lieutenant's mother will be to you, for +what you have done for her son." + +"Ah! his poor mother!" she said with emotion, responding to the warm +pressure of his hand, whilst a tear shone in her clear eyes; "is she a +great lady?" + +Fritz Deyke imparted to her in low whispers all about the lieutenant's +family, and the old house in Blechow, and he told her of beautiful +Wendland, with its rich pastures and dark fir woods, and then of his +own home, of his father, and the farm and acres; and the young girl +listened silently and attentively to the soldier's words. The pictures +they presented were so natural, so clear and so bright, and they were +all gilded by the poetic shimmer surrounding the brave cuirassier, who +had saved his playmate in the bloody battle-field, and who now watched +so anxiously over the life still so precarious. + +The night passed quietly in old Lohmeier's house. Loud, merry voices +rang without, from the soldiers quartered in the town, and from the +bivouacs, and when the old brewer sometimes woke he glanced +benevolently at the young soldier and the wounded officer, whose +presence prevented his house from being otherwise occupied, for all the +troops had respected the words Fritz had written on the door. No one +had knocked, but all had passed it in silence. + +The morning of the 28th June dawned brilliantly, as if to greet the +victorious soldiers in their cantonments. Already all was movement at +head-quarters. The king in a proclamation to the army had expressed in +a few affectionate words his thanks for their exertions and courage. + +Then the burial of the dead took place. They were interred, so far as +they could be found on the battle-field, in the churchyard of +Langensalza. + +The king with his suite stood near the open graves, whilst the +clergyman of the little town, in a few simple words, commended to +eternal rest the warriors united in death, Prussians and Hanoverians; +and the king, who could not see the brave men who lay at his feet, true +soldiers of duty and of their rightful lord, stooped down in silence, +seized a handful of earth, and with his own royal hand strewed the +first dust upon the loyal dead. + +"May the earth lay lightly on you!" whispered the king, and in a still +lower voice he added, "Happy are they who rest in peace!" + +Then he folded his hands, repeated the Lord's Prayer, and taking the +arm of the crown prince, returned to the Schützhaus. + +On his way back, groups of soldiers who stood about greeted him with +loud "Hurrahs!" and cries of "Forwards! forwards!" + +The king bent down his head, a sorrowful expression appeared in his +face. + +As soon as he reached his room, he sent for the general in command. He +was with the troops, and an hour passed before he entered the king's +apartment. + +"Are the troops ready to march?" asked the king. + +"No, your majesty! The army is done for, quite done for!" cried the +general, striking his hand on his breast. "There are no provisions +forthcoming, and the ammunition is scarcely sufficient for the first +round." + +"Then in your opinion, what is to be done?" asked the king, calmly and +coldly. + +"Your majesty!" cried Arentschildt, "the general staff is unanimous in +declaring a capitulation to be unavoidable." + +"Wherefore?" asked the king. + +"The general staff is of opinion that the army cannot march," cried the +general; "besides, overwhelming forces are drawing up on every side; +from the north the outposts have sent in word that General Manteuffel +is surrounding us; in the south General Vogel von Falckenstein has +collected troops from Eisenach, and has cut off the road to Gotha." + +"That would have been impossible had we marched on yesterday evening," +said the king. + +"An advance was impossible, as the general staff declared!" cried +General von Arentschildt. + +The king was silent. + +"Your majesty!" cried the general, striking his breast; "it is hard for +me to say the word--capitulate! but there is nothing else to be done. I +beg your majesty's permission to commence arrangements with General von +Falckenstein." + +"I will send you my orders in an hour," said the king; "leave your +adjutant here." + +And he turned away. + +The general left the room. + +"It must be so!" cried the king sorrowfully. "The blood of all these +brave men has flowed in vain. In vain has been all the pain, the +anguish, and the toil--and why in vain? Because my eyes are dark; +because I cannot lead my valiant troops as my forefathers have done, as +the brave Brunswick--oh! it is hard, very hard!" + +The king's face had a dark expression, he clenched his teeth, and +raised his sightless eyes to heaven. + +Then the anger vanished from his countenance, peace took its place, a +sorrowful but gentle smile came to his lips. He folded his hands, and +said in a low tone: + +"My God and Saviour bore for me the crown of thorns; for me He shed His +blood upon the cross. O Lord, not my will but Thine be done!" + +He touched the golden bell which had been brought from his cabinet at +Herrenhausen. + +The groom of the chambers entered. + +"I beg Count Platen, General Brandis, Count Ingelheim, with Herr Lex +and Herr Meding, to come to me at once." + +In a short time these gentlemen entered the room. + +"You know the position in which we are placed, gentlemen," said the +king; "we are surrounded by the enemy in superior numbers, and the +general in command declares that the troops cannot march from +exhaustion, that they are without either provisions or ammunition. He +considers a capitulation unavoidable. Before I decide, I wish to hear +your views. What do you think, Count Ingelheim?" + +Gravely and with painful emotion, the Austrian ambassador replied: "It +is most melancholy, your majesty, after such a day as yesterday to +speak of capitulation; but if we are really surrounded by superior +forces, brought up since yesterday evening," this he said with +emphasis, "it would be a useless sacrifice of many brave soldiers to +resist, and no one could thus advise your majesty." + +"If we could only send to Berlin," said Count Platen, "it might +yet----" + +"Your majesty," interrupted General Brandis, in a trembling voice, "if +it were possible that like the Duke of Brunswick you could draw your +sword, and ride yourself at the head of your army, I would still cry +'Forwards!' I believe we should cut our way through; but as it is----" +he stamped with his foot, and turned away to hide the tears that +blinded his eyes. + +The state-councillor Meding came close to the king. + +"Your majesty," he said, in a husky voice, "the unavoidable must be +endured; the sun shines even on the darkest day! Your majesty must not +uselessly sacrifice the lives of your subjects, but," he continued, +"you are answerable to history, and it must be clearly stated that a +further march is impossible. If I may presume to advise your majesty, +cause the general in command, and each commander of a brigade, upon his +military honour and the oath given to his sovereign, to declare before +God and his conscience that the troops can neither march nor fight, and +that they have neither food nor ammunition. Thus will your majesty be +freed from all reproach from your army, your country, and history." + +The king bent his head in approval. + +"So shall it be," he said. "Draw up such a document with the assistance +of Lex, and send it to General Arentschildt." + +"And permit me, your majesty," cried Count Ingelheim, "at this solemn +moment to express my conviction that notwithstanding the heavy trial it +has pleased God to lay upon you, you will return in triumph to your +capital, as surely as Austria and my emperor will, to the last man, +maintain the rights of Germany." + +The king held out his hand to him. + +"You too have borne the fatigues of the campaign in vain," he said, +with a melancholy smile. + +"Not in vain, your majesty," cried Count Ingelheim. "I have seen a king +and an army without fear and without reproach." + +An hour later the king received the declaration he had demanded, signed +by the general in command, the chief of the general staff, and all the +brigadiers. A capitulation was concluded with General Vogel von +Falckenstein, but soon afterwards General von Manteuffel arrived, and +at the command of the King of Prussia granted other conditions, which +were highly favourable to the Hanoverian army. + +The officers retained their arms, their baggage, their horses, and all +their privileges; and even the sub-officers retained their rank. The +privates gave up their arms and horses to officers appointed by the +King of Hanover, and they delivered them to Prussian commissioners; +they were then dismissed to their homes. + +But first General Manteuffel, at the express command of the King of +Prussia, publicly acknowledged the brave conduct of the Hanoverian +soldiers. + +The King of Hanover sent Count Platen, General von Brandis, and Herr +Meding before him to Linz, there to await him; he himself rested for a +short time in the castle of the Duke of Altenburg, from whence he +proceeded to Vienna to await further events. + +The Hanoverian soldiers, who were smitten as by a thunderbolt from the +seventh heaven by the capitulation, laid down their arms with bitter +grief, and with dust on their heads returned to the homes they had left +so confident of victory. + +But they could return unhumiliated, for they had done what was +possible. The brave and faithful army, on the last battle-field where +the ancient banner of their country was unfurled, had raised a monument +of honour and glory which the chivalrous commander of the Prussian +troops was the first to adorn with the laurels of his praise. + +But who, that knows the history of that day and its important results, +can avoid asking the question, "Why was it not possible that two such +noble, chivalrous, and pious princes, whose warriors stood opposed in +deadly fight, should not have known and understood each other?" + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + SUSPENSE. + + +The sultry heat of summer was extremely oppressive in the plain +surrounding the quiet village of Blechow; the sky looked dark and +heavy, not that it was covered with clouds, but it was grey from the +heavy atmosphere, and although the sun was still high above the +horizon, his rays were of a dark blood-red colour. Deep stillness +prevailed. Almost all the young men had left the village; as soon as +the news came that the troops were concentrated at Göttingen they had +set out to join the army there, or to overtake it on its march. But the +stillness was the most complete in the old castle, where the president, +with gloomy wrinkles on his brow, paced up and down the great hall, and +gazed from time to time across the garden at the broad plain beyond. He +had obeyed the king's command, that all magistrates should remain at +their posts; he had, through the Landrostei, received a decree from the +ministry whereby the government of the country was delivered to the +Prussian Civil Commissioner, Herr von Hardenburg, and he had given up +all business to the Auditor von Bergfeld, saying, "Your knowledge is +quite sufficient to enable you to understand and execute all the orders +which may be issued by the government; do everything, and when you want +my signature bring me the papers. I will remain at my post, and will +sign them, since the king has so commanded; but do not consult me, for +I will hear nothing of all this misery, and my old heart, which is sad +enough already, shall not be pricked to death with pins. But if there +is any oppression which I could by any possibility avert, then tell me +the whole matter, and the Prussian Civil Commissioner shall hear old +Wendenstein's voice as plainly as the Hanoverian board have ever heard +it!" With that he left the office; he signed his name when needful, and +he seldom opened his lips after the foreign occupation was completed. + +Madame von Wendenstein went silently and quietly about the house,--she +looked after the house keeping, and arranged everything as punctually +as ever,--but sometimes the old lady would pause suddenly, her dreamy +eyes fixed on the far-off distance, as if they sought to follow her +thoughts beyond the wood-encircled horizon,--then she would hastily +resume her occupation, and hurry restlessly through the well-known +rooms, and the more she ordered and arranged the more she seemed to +become mistress of her heavy trouble. + +It was very quiet too in the Pfarrhaus. No one had left it, all went on +as usual, but the general depression seemed to weigh down the humble +roof, and even the roses in the garden hung their heads exhausted by +the burning heat of the sun. + +The pastor had gone out, as was his custom, to visit some of his +people, for he did not consider the Sunday services his only duty, but +thought that he who would really be a shepherd and bishop of souls must +carry the word of God in friendly converse into the daily life of his +flock and know its joys and sorrows. + +Helena sat at the window, and mechanically plied her needle, but her +eyes were often thoughtfully turned to the far distance, and her hands +sank wearily into her lap. + +Candidate Behrmann sat opposite to her; he was as neatly dressed and as +smoothly brushed as ever, and his expressionless and composed +countenance looked happier and more cheerful than usual. + +His sharp observing eyes followed the looks the young girl fixed on the +distant horizon, and that the languishing conversation might not +entirely fail, he said,-- + +"It is strange what a sultry oppression hangs over all nature; we feel +the actual weight of this thick heavy atmosphere." + +"Our poor soldiers---what they must suffer from marching in this heat!" +cried Helena, sighing. + +"In those days I feel how doubly happy I am," said the candidate, "when +I think of my peaceful and spiritual calling, and contrast it with the +useless and really reprehensible employment of the soldiers, and all +they must now undergo." + +"Useless and reprehensible!" cried Helena, gazing at him with her great +eyes; "do you call it useless to fight for your king and your country?" + +"Not according to the views of the world," he said sanctimoniously; +"all these people are doing their duty according to their lights; but +the king himself is reprehensible, and the sacrifices they make for him +are useless, for what will they gain? Oh! it is a nobler fight, and +more pleasing to God, to struggle with spiritual weapons against sin +and unbelief, and to benefit mankind--as your father does, Helena," he +added, "and as I hope to emulate him in doing." + +"Certainly it is a nobler calling, beautiful and holy, but a soldier +also serves God when he fights on the side of right," said the young +girl warmly. + +"Which side is right?" asked the candidate; "both sides call on the God +of battles, and very often what is evidently the wrong side conquers." + +"For a soldier," cried Helena, "that side is the right which his duty +and the oath plighted to his sovereign calls upon him to defend." + +"Certainly, certainly," said the candidate, as if agreeing with her; +"but women should feel greater interest in peaceful and beneficial +usefulness,--what help, for instance, can a soldier be to his wife and +children? at any moment he may be called away to do battle for the +great ones of the earth,--he gives his life for a cause for which he +does not care, and his family are left in need and misery." + +"And they bear in their hearts the proud consciousness that he for whom +they weep is worthy to be called a hero," cried Helena with kindling +eyes. + +The candidate gave his cousin a reproving look, and said, in a solemn +voice,-- + +"I believe the conflict in God's service has also its heroes." + +"Certainly," said Helena, without embarrassment; "every calling has its +own round of duty to fulfil, and we," she added with a smile, "are here +to comfort and to help those who are wounded in the battle of life." + +And again she dreamily turned her eyes to the distance. After a moment +she rose hastily. + +"I think," she said, "the heat will be less oppressive out of doors. I +will walk to meet my father; he must now be returning." As she put on +her straw hat she asked, "Will you come with me, cousin?" + +"With the greatest pleasure," he replied eagerly; and they left the +parsonage together, taking the road which led to the village. + +"I have so greatly enjoyed my life here," said the candidate, after +they had walked for a short time in silence, "that I already quite +understand the charm of this quiet, peaceful seclusion, and I own +myself ready to forego all larger circles of society." + +"You see," said Helena merrily, "a short time ago you shuddered at our +solitude, as I did at the restless, crowded city. At a time like this," +she added, with a sigh, "it is hard to be so completely cut off from +the world; we literally hear nothing--what has happened to the army and +the king?" she said with energy. "Our poor sovereign!" + +The candidate was silent. + +"Really," he said, after a short pause, continuing his own flow of +thought, as if he had not heard his cousin's last words, "really one. +cannot feel solitary here. Your father's conversation, so simple, yet +so rich in thoughts, offers greater variety than many an assembly in +the great world; and your society, dear Helena," he added warmly. + +She looked at him with astonishment. "My society," she interrupted, +with a smile, "cannot compensate for your friends in town; my +learning----" + +"Your learning!" he exclaimed hastily; "is it learning that charms us +in a woman?" + +"A certain amount must be needful," said she, half jokingly, "when +conversing with a learned man." + +"Not for me," he cried. "Natural simplicity of heart and intellect has +a charm for me. A man wishes to form, to educate his wife, not to find +her opinions already fixed," he cried, his voice assuming a sudden +tenderness of expression. + +Her eyes were raised to his for a moment, and then lowered. They walked +on for a time in silence. + +"Helena," he said, "it is true that the idea of quiet, simple +usefulness in the country attracts me more and more; and it is also +true that your society has greatly influenced me." + +She walked on in silence. + +"When a man relinquishes the intellectual pleasures of the great +world," he added, "he naturally seeks some equivalent; and this +equivalent I find in my family, my home. I shall remain here to assist +your father in his spiritual office. I shall experience double +happiness in my labours, if my own heart finds a lovely flower to +reward my unassuming industry. Helena," he continued, with animation, +"shall you find no satisfaction in uniting with me to support and cheer +the evening of your father's life, and in assisting me in my holy +calling? Will you not stand at my side as a help-mate, such as your +mother was to your father?" + +The young girl walked on, her eyes fixed on the ground. A deep sigh +heaved her breast. + +"Cousin----" + +"It does not become me, a servant of the Church," he interrupted, "to +speak to you in the manner and the tone in which a man of the world +might declare his love; pure and bright must be the flame which holds a +place in the heart of a minister. But such a flame my heart offers you, +Helena; and I ask you, plainly and candidly, will you accept what my +heart can give, and do you believe you can thus find the quiet +happiness of your life?" + +She stood still, and looked at him calmly and honestly. + +"Your words surprise me, cousin. I did not expect to hear this, and so +suddenly----" + +"The relations between us must be made clear," he said. "For this +reason I have told you the feelings of my heart. A minister cannot woo +as a man of the world; you cannot be surprised at that, being yourself +the daughter of a minister." + +"But consider," she said hesitatingly, "we scarcely know each other." + +"Have you no confidence in me?" he asked. "Could you not accept me as +your support through life?" + +She looked on the ground. A deep blush spread over her face. + +"But one must also----" + +"Well, what?" he asked, and with piercing glance he gazed at her +anxiously. + +"Love," she whispered. + +"And that you believe you could not feel for me?" he enquired. + +Again she looked up at him. Again she sighed deeply, and her eyes were +for a moment turned dreamily to the distance. Then a slight, half +roguish smile came to her lips, and she whispered,-- + +"One cannot tell beforehand!" + +"Beforehand?" he said, and a darker expression passed over his face. + +"Cousin," she said, with sweetness and candour, as she held out her +hand to him, "your words mean well, and it is flattering to me that you +should think I can be anything to your life. Let me then tell you +honestly, I think you are mistaken. Perhaps," she added kindly, "it is +not needful to pursue this conversation, that has so surprised me, just +now. Give me time. I promise to think of what you have said; and when +we know each other better, I will tell you." + +He looked down gloomily. + +"Oh," he said bitterly, "your heart answers already; it does not +respond to the simple language of my feelings. I truly do not know how +to raise excitement and restless emotion. The servant of the Church +cannot hope to cause the fiery passion that a--young officer----" + +She stood still. Her face was very pale, and her eyes were fixed upon +him with a proud look. + +He stopped suddenly, as if displeased with himself, and his excited +features resumed their usual smooth and calm expression. + +"Cousin," she said coldly, "I must beg you not to continue this +conversation now. Examine your own feelings, and give me time. My +father----" + +"Your father's wishes are my own," he said. + +She bent her head, and a melancholy look passed over her face. + +"My father," she then said, "cannot wish me to make any promise without +examining my own heart." + +"And you will tell me your decision, when you have made this +examination?" + +"Yes," said she. "Now leave me, I beg." + +A deep breath passed through his thin lips; he cast his eyes to the +ground, and walked by her silently and gravely. + +"Here comes my father," cried Helena, and hastened to meet the pastor, +who was returning by a side road leading to some of the scattered +cottages of the village. + +The candidate followed in silence. + +"This is well," said the old gentlemen, "my children, that you come +together to meet me; it is better in these troubled times not to be +alone. Throughout the village there is sorrow and anxiety about the +absent, the more so that a rumour is flying through the country of a +most exciting nature." + +"What is the rumour, papa?" cried Helena; "nothing disastrous?" + +"Glorious, yet disastrous," said the pastor; "there has been a great +battle, so it is said from village to village, from house to house. Our +army has won a great victory; but much, much blood has been shed." + +"Oh, how horrible!" cried Helena, with great emotion, as she folded her +hands. The candidate's quick eyes regarded her with curiosity; but she +did not remark it, her looks were fixed on space. + +"People scarcely know which they feel," continued the pastor quietly, +"joy at the victory, or anxiety lost sons and brothers should have +fallen." + +"How happy are those," said the candidate, "who have no relative in the +army; then there is no anxiety, no care." + +"You have not, like myself, lived here for years," replied the pastor +gravely. "Every member of my flock is as dear to me as if he were my +relation. I feel each grief that affects them as if I myself were +smitten." + +Helena involuntarily caught her father's hand with a hasty movement, +and pressed it to her lips. The old gentleman felt a tear upon his +hand. With a gentle smile, he said,-- + +"You too, my good child, feel for the sorrows of our friends. I know it +must be so; you have grown up amongst them." + +Helena covered her face for a moment with her handkerchief and sobbed. + +The candidate flashed an evil, malicious side glance upon her, whilst a +cold, scornful smile played around his lips. + +"I am going to the president," said the pastor; "there they must have +the earliest reliable news, and they will be most anxious about the +lieutenant. Poor Madame von Wendenstein! Come with me to the castle, +children." + +And they took the road to the hill upon which the old house stood +amidst high dark woods. + +Helena took her father's arm, and involuntarily hastened her steps. + +They climbed the hill and entered the hall by the open door. The great +oak chests stood there as still and solemn as ever, and the old +paintings looked down from their frames as gravely and quietly as if +there were no changes, no cares nor sorrows in the world of living men. + +In the large garden drawing-room Herr von Wendenstein paced up and down +with measured step, Madame von Wendenstein sat in her accustomed place +before the large round table, and her daughters were beside her; all +was as usual, yet a heavy cloud of care weighed on each brow, on each +heart. + +The president held out his hand to the pastor in silence, silently +Madame von Wendenstein greeted her visitors, and the young girls +embraced without speaking a word. + +"A rumour is abroad of a great battle, and of a great victory," said +the pastor; "I hoped here to learn something reliable." + +"I have had no news," said the president gloomily. "I only know what +has been brought from mouth to mouth; some part will be true; let us +hope the news of the victory may be confirmed." + +He said nothing of the care and anxiety of his heart for the son who +was on the distant battle-field, but an affectionate and sympathizing +look flew from beneath his contracted brows towards his wife. + +"What a wonderful thing the world is!" she said in a low tone, as she +shook her head. "In peaceful times, steam and the telegraph seemed to +have annihilated time and space, and news of the most unimportant +trifles flew from one end of the earth to the other; and now, when so +many hearts are tormented by restless anxiety, news travels slowly and +uncertainly from mouth to mouth, as in the days that are long passed +away." + +"So it is with the proud achievements of human intellect," said the +pastor; "when the hand of God seizes the history of a nation, man grows +weak and powerless, and all the progress the world has made becomes as +nothing. But that it is God's hand must be our consolation, He has +power to raise up and to protect, He has power to heal the wounds His +hands have made." + +With a pious look of resignation, Madame von Wendenstein listened to +the pastor's words, but tears trickled down her cheeks, and proved how +hard her heart found this anxious suspense. + +"I have no news from the army," said the president, "but I have +received a letter from my son in Hanover. He tells me of the Prussian +government, and praises its order and punctuality highly," said the old +gentleman with some bitterness. + +"Public men must be in great and painful difficulties in Hanover," said +the pastor; "there, political views are much more in the foreground +than here in the country, and it must be extremely hard to reconcile +the duties of a servant of Hanover with the necessities of the +situation." + +"It appears as if the gentlemen in office found them easy to +reconcile," said the president gloomily. "It is certainly good that the +Prussian government should be excellent, prompt, and punctual, but it +would never come into my head in these days to feel any particular +enthusiasm about it. Well, youth is different to what it was in my +day." + +The auditor Bergfeld entered the room with a hasty step and an excited +look. + +"What news do you bring from Lüchow?" cried the president, hastening +towards him: and all eyes were fixed on him in mute anxiety. + +"It is true!" he cried; "there has been a battle--at Langensalza, and +our army is victorious!" + +"Thank God!" cried the president; "and have they succeeded in pressing +on to the south?" + +"Alas, no," said Bergfeld, mournfully, "the day after the battle our +brave soldiers were surrounded by overwhelming forces and obliged to +capitulate." The president gazed gloomily before him. "Is the king a +prisoner?" he asked. "No," said Bergfeld, "the king is free, the +capitulation is very honourable, the officers return home with their +arms and horses. But," he continued, "there are many wounded; in +Hanover committees have been formed, nourishment is wanted, they beg +for linen, for bread and meat." + +"Everything in the house shall be packed up at once," cried the +president, energetically, "the wounded must have the best of +everything; my cellar shall be emptied." + +Madame von Wendenstein had risen and approached her husband. + +"Let me take the things," she said, imploringly. "Why?" cried the +president, "you can do no good, and if Karl comes back, it--" + +"_If_ he comes back!" cried the old lady, bursting into tears. + +"We shall soon hear news of him," said the president, "and until +then--" + +The sound of voices was heard in the hall. Johann entered and said, +"Old Deyke is here; he wishes to speak to the president." + +"Bring him in, bring him in!" cried the old gentleman, and the old +peasant Deyke came in amongst the excited group, looking as calm and +dignified as usual, but with a deep and gloomy gravity spread over his +sharp features. + +"Well, dear Deyke," cried the president, "have you heard the news; do +you come to consult with us how to send in the quickest way all that +our brave soldiers need?" + +"I have received a letter from my Fritz," said the peasant solemnly, +whilst he respectfully took the hand held out to him by the president. + +"Well, and how does the brave young fellow get on? cried the old +gentleman. + +"Has he seen my son?" asked Madame von Wendenstein, gazing at the +peasant with anxious eyes. + +"He has found the lieutenant," he replied, laconically. + +"And my son lives?" cried the poor lady with hesitation. She feared to +hear the answer which must touch the inmost string of her heart. + +"He lives," said old Deyke. "I wish to say a couple of words to the +president alone," he stammered. + +"No!" cried Madame von Wendenstein, vehemently, "no, not alone. Deyke, +you have some bad news, but I will hear it; I am strong enough to hear +anything, but I cannot bear suspense. I beg you," she continued, +looking affectionately at her husband, "to let me hear what he has to +tell." + +The president looked undecided. The pastor came forward slowly. + +"Permit your wife to hear the tidings, whatever they may be, my old +friend," he said, gravely and quietly. "Your son lives, that is the +first and most important point; whatever may be to come, cannot be too +hard for a true and pious heart, like our friend's, to bear." + +Madame von Wendenstein looked gratefully at the clergyman. + +Old Deyke slowly drew out a paper. + +"The president will perhaps look at my son's letter?" + +"Give it to me," said the pastor; "it belongs to God's servant, an old +friend of this house, to impart this message." + +He took the paper and walked to the window, through which the last +light of the waning day entered the room. + +Madame von Wendenstein with widely opened eyes hung on his lips. Helena +sat at the table with her head resting on her hand, calm and apparently +indifferent; her eyes were cast down; it seemed doubtful whether she +saw or heard anything passing around her. + +Slowly the pastor read,-- + + +"My dear Father, + +"I write at once that you may have news of me, and, thank God, I am +well and cheerful; I fell in with the army at Langensalza, and enlisted +in the cuirassier guards, and took part in the great battle, and went +under a hot fire, but I came out safe and sound. We were victorious, +and took two cannon and many prisoners, but to-day we are surrounded by +superior numbers, and the generals have said we could not march. So the +king capitulated, and we are all coming home. My heart is almost broken +when I look at all our brave soldiers going back with the white staff +in their hands, and they don't look such cowardly creatures either. + +"Now, dear father, I must tell you of Lieutenant von Wendenstein, with +whom I must remain, for he is badly wounded, and I cannot leave him +here alone. I found him on the battle-field and thought he was dead, +but, thank God, it was not so bad as that; and the doctor has extracted +the ball, and says he will live if he only has strength to hold out +through the fever. I am with him at the brewer Lohmeier's, a good man +though he is a Prussian, and the lieutenant is well cared for. My host +sends off this letter for me through an acquaintance in the field post. +Go at once to the president and tell him all, and have no anxiety about +me for I am all right. + + "Your son, + + "Fritz. + +"Written the 28th July, 1866." + + +The pastor was silent. + +The president came up to his wife, put his arm round her shoulders, +kissed her grey hair, and said,-- + +"He lives! my God, I thank thee!" + +"And now I may go to him?" asked Madame von Wendenstein. + +"And I?" cried her daughter. + +"Yes," said the old gentleman, "and I wish I could go with you, but I +should be of no use there." + +Helena rose; she walked slowly but with a firm step towards Madame von +Wendenstein and said, while her eyes shone brilliantly,-- + +"May I accompany you? If my father will permit it?" + +"You, Helena?" cried the pastor. + +"Our brave soldiers want nursing," said the young girl, looking firmly +at her father, "and you have taught me to help the suffering. Will you +not allow me at such a time as this to do my duty?" + +The pastor looked kindly at his daughter. "Go, my child, and God be +with you;" and turning to Madame von Wendenstein, he added, "Will you +take my daughter under your protection?" + +"With all my heart," cried the old lady, and folded the pastor's +daughter in her arms. + +Candidate Behrmann had watched the whole of this scene in silence. + +He bit his lips, when Helena announced her intention of accompanying +Madame von Wendenstein, and a pale ray shot from his eyes, but his face +immediately resumed its smooth smiling expression, he stepped forward +and said in a gentle voice,-- + +"I shall also beg permission, madame, to accompany you on your journey; +it will be desirable for you to have a male protector, and I think on +the site of the bloody battle-field spiritual consolation will be +needed and welcomed. I believe I can be more useful there than here, +where until I return my uncle can so well fulfil all the duties of his +sacred office alone." + +He looked humbly and modestly at his uncle and the president, awaiting +their reply. + +"That is a good and right thought, my dear nephew," said the pastor, +holding out his hand to him; "on yonder battle-field there is grave and +blessed work to be done, and I can get on here in the meantime quite +well alone." + +The president was glad that the ladies should have a protector, and +Madame von Wendenstein thanked the candidate heartily for facilitating +her journey to her suffering son. + +Helena had looked up, startled for a moment when her cousin said he +would accompany the ladies; then in silence, with downcast eyes, she +listened to the rest of the conversation, neither word nor look +betraying the least interest in it. + +The greatest movement and activity suddenly began in the old castle. + +Madame von Wendenstein hastened through the well-known rooms ordering +and arranging, here showing her daughters what must be packed in the +travelling trunks, there sorting out wine, sugar, and nourishment of +all kinds, then again giving the servants instructions as to what they +were to do in her absence: all the silent abstraction which had altered +the old lady during the last few days had vanished, with active step +and shining eyes she hurried about, and anyone so seeing her might have +thought she was preparing for some great festival. + +Helena had returned to the Pfarrhaus with her father and the candidate +to make her rapid preparations for the journey, and not quite two hours +after the journey had been decided on the president's comfortable +carriage, with its well-bred powerful horses, stood before the large +hall door of the castle. + +Madame von Wendenstein gave her husband a long and affectionate +embrace, it was the first time for years that they had been separated. +He laid his hand on her head and said, "God bless you! and bring you +back with our son!" + +Old Deyke was there, and a crowd of villagers were there too, with +their wives and daughters, for the news had spread like wild-fire that +the president's wife and daughter were going to nurse the wounded +lieutenant, and that the pastor's daughter and the new candidate were +to accompany them. They all came to take leave, and Madame von +Wendenstein shook hands with all, and promised each to gain news of +this or that relative who was with the army. What the carriage could +still hold was taken up with love offerings that all had brought for +their relations, and every head was uncovered when at last the carriage +rolled away; but there was no shouting, no loud word was heard, and +they all went back quietly to their homes, in great anxiety as to what +the next few days must bring, whether the life or death of those dear +to them. + +The president went quietly back into the castle with the pastor, and +the two old gentlemen sat together for a long time. They said but +little, and yet each found in these weary times consolation in +the society of the other. The president cast his eyes round the +drawing-room, which was as quiet and comfortable as ever, but when he +looked at the place where his wife usually sat, and thought of the +cheerful voices which used to sound through the room, and then turned +his thoughts to the distant town where his son lay threatened by death, +a mist came before his eyes, he pressed his eyelids together and a hot +drop fell on his hand. He stood up quickly, and walked several times up +and down the room. + +The pastor arose. + +"My honoured old friend," he said, "at such a moment as this a man like +yourself need not be ashamed of a tear! It is late, let us go to rest, +and these days will pass away!" + +The president stood still, held out his hand to the pastor, and looked +at him through the blinding tears which ran down his cheeks. + +"Pray to God," he said in a low voice, "to give me back my son." + +The pastor went home. All was quiet in the castle and the darkness of +night brooded over it, but a light still burned in the president's +window, and the servants heard, even until morning dawned, the firm +regular step of their old master as he paced up and down in the lonely +castle. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + INTRIGUE. + + +Whilst in North Germany the catastrophe so disastrous to the House of +Guelph was completed, in Vienna everything was expected from the battle +which all foresaw must take place in Bohemia almost immediately. The +Austrian arms had been successful in Italy, that drill ground for the +Austrian general staff officers, the battle of Custozza had been won, +and new confidence filled the Viennese, as to their success in Germany. + +The Viennese placed full confidence in Field-Marshal Benedek, the man +of the people, and from him they expected, in their light-hearted, +sanguine fashion, complete success. Those anxious doubts had vanished +which a short time before had filled them with uneasiness; the arms of +Austria were victorious in Italy, fortune was favourable to the empire, +and with excited but joyful confidence they awaited news from Bohemia. +A great victory was certainly expected. + +Things were looked at differently, and not with such confidence in the +state offices in the Ballhaus Platz, and in the Hofburg. + +Count Mensdorff was sad and downcast; the Italian success had not +removed his gloomy forebodings, and he could only reply with a feeble +smile to the congratulations he received on the victory of Custozza. +The emperor alternated between fear and joyful hope; the victory in +Italy awakened in his heart the proud recollection of Novara, and a +wide and brilliant future spread before his gaze. But when the doubts, +the warnings of Field-Marshal Benedek occurred to him--the plain, +straightforward general, who troubled himself little about strategic +operations, and only knew how to lead his soldiers against the enemy +and to fight; but who continually maintained that with these troops, in +the condition in which he found them, he could not beat the enemy--the +emperor's heart had deep misgivings, and he waited for the future with +great anxiety. + +Whilst all Vienna felt the most restless, feverish excitement; whilst +everyone wished that time had wings to hasten the events of the future, +Madame Antonia Balzer lay on her luxurious couch in her quiet boudoir. +The curtains were closed, notwithstanding the great heat; a soft +twilight prevailed, and a mysterious and varied perfume pervaded the +room, that perfume which fills the immediate neighbourhood of an +elegant and beautiful woman; one cannot tell of what it consists, but +it gives the invisible air a magnetic, sympathetic charm. + +The young lady lay there as if she courted sleep, and on her features +neither the passionate _abandon_ appeared with which she had welcomed +Herr von Stielow, nor the icy coldness which she had shown to her +husband. + +Her large eyes gazed gloomily into space, and her face expressed +anxious, mournful weariness. + +A number of sealed letters and telegrams lay on a small table near her. + +Her pearly hand played carelessly with a small poodle dog which lay +curled up in her lap. + +"I thought I was strong," she whispered to herself; "and yet I cannot +forget him!" + +She sprang up, placed the little dog upon the pillow, and walked slowly +up and down the room. + +"What a wonderful organization is our human nature!" she cried +scornfully. "I thought I was strong. I had set it before me as a means +to rule, to rise on the aspiring ladder of life, without permitting +myself to be kept back by the emotions and motives of the common herd; +and now, when my feet touch the very first step of the ladder I look +back, my heart weeps; I am sick with love and regret, like any +milliner's girl," she added, with an angry look, as she stamped her +small foot upon the carpet. + +She gazed before her. + +"And why," she asked thoughtfully, "why cannot my heart forget one who +so scornfully turned from me, who so contemptuously gave me up? This +Count Rivero--he offers me what I long for; he is a man who occupies a +high place in the world, and guides with powerful hand the threads that +weave the fate of men; why do I not love him? I might be happy. And +he," she continued, while a soft mist came over her eyes, and her arms +were slightly raised, "he, for whom every pulse in my heart beats, he +whom I call back in the still hours of the night, whom my arms seek in +empty space, who is he? A boy,--in intellect far beneath me; yet oh! he +is so beautiful, so pure!" she cried, stretching out her hands to the +picture her mind had called up; "I love him, and I am the slave of my +love!" + +She sank wearily into a luxurious chair, and covered her face with her +hands. + +She sat for a long time motionless, and only the panting breath of her +heaving bosom interrupted the silence of the darkened room. + +Then again she sprang up, and with trembling lips and vehement voice +she cried,-- + +"But she--who tore him from me--that fine lady, who from her cradle has +enjoyed every happiness life can afford, who basks in the golden +sunshine of an admiring world, who has all--all, that is denied +me--shall she enjoy the love that I have lost?" + +She hastily opened a small casket of incrusted ebony, and took out a +photograph in the form of a _carte-de-visite_. + +She regarded it long with glowing looks. + +"What foolish, inexpressive features!" she cried; "how lukewarm, how +wearisome must be her love. Can she make him happy--he, who has known +the passion of my heart--who has learnt what love is?" + +And she spasmodically seized the likeness and crushed it together. + +The bell of the entrance hall aroused her from her stormy dreams; she +threw the crumpled photograph hastily back into the casket, and her +face resumed its usual calm expression. + +The servant announced Count Rivero, who immediately entered, +faultlessly elegant as ever, cold, calm, and friendly; the smile of the +man of the world upon his lips. + +With light elastic steps he approached the lady and pressed his lips +lightly on her hand--not with the fiery warmth of a lover--still less +with the respectful courtesy of a man of distinction towards a lady of +the great world. In the count's greeting there was a certain negligent +familiarity, which only his extreme elegance, and the courteous bearing +which marked his every movement preserved from rudeness. + +She seemed to feel this, and regarded her visitor coldly, almost with +enmity. + +"What? have you slept, my fair friend?" said the count, smiling: "truly +it is hard to believe that the whole world is trembling with anxiety +when one enters this darkened and quiet apartment." + +"A number of letters and despatches have arrived!" she said, pointing +to the small table near her couch. + +"Are you sure," asked the count, "that this large correspondence does +not arouse curiosity?" + +She smiled coldly. + +"They are accustomed to my receiving many letters, and I do not think +they will seek here for the clue of important political events." + +The count walked to the window, and drew back one of the curtains, +admitting the bright light into the room. He then pushed the table with +the letters to the window, and opened them one after another, whilst +the young lady watched him from her easy-chair in silence. + +The count drew a portfolio from his pocket, took out a small volume +containing various ciphers, and with its help began to decipher the +letters. The contents appeared in the highest degree satisfactory, for +an expression of joy beamed from his face, and he rose with a proud +look when he had ended the perusal. + +"I see the work approaches its completion," he said, half to himself, +half to Madame Balzer; "soon will the building of lies and wickedness +fall in ruins, and truth and right will again triumph." + +"And what will it be to me?" asked the young lady, slightly turning her +head towards the count. + +He came up to her, seated himself near her couch, and spoke with +extreme courtesy, as he kissed the hand she negligently abandoned to +him. + +"You have assisted in a great and noble work, my lovely friend, and you +have rendered very important assistance by taking charge of a secret +correspondence, which has enabled me to preserve the appearance of a +man of the world and ordinary traveller. I promise you an independent +and brilliant position. The _how_ you must leave to me. I hope you +trust my words." + +She gave him a quick look and said,-- + +"I do not doubt that you can keep your promise, or that you will keep +it." + +"But," he continued, "much remains still to be done, and I believe I +can open out greater and nobler spheres to your genius and industry: +will you continue to be my confederate?" + +"I will," she replied; then a deep sigh heaved her breast, a rapid +blush tinged her cheeks, and whilst a trembling fire sparkled in her +eyes she said, "I have one wish." + +"Express it!" he said with the gallantry of a man of the world; "if it +be in my power to fulfil it--" + +"I believe it is, for I have seen so many proofs of your power that I +have unbounded confidence in it." + +"Well?" he asked, gazing at her enquiringly. + +She cast down her eyes, interlaced her fingers, and said in a low and +timid voice,-- + +"Give me back Stielow." + +Immense surprise, and a shade of displeasure appeared on his face. + +"I certainly did not expect this wish," he said, "I thought you had +forgotten this caprice. To fulfil it exceeds my power." + +"I do not believe it," she replied, raising her eyes and gazing full at +the count, "he is a boy, and you know how to lead earnest men of ripe +years." + +"But you forget," said he, "that--" + +"That he, in a fit of ill-temper, out of spite, has thrown himself at +the feet of a _fade_, insipid girl, who finds a place in the almanach +de Gotha, where her heart is also," she cried, rising hastily from her +recumbent position, with flashing eyes. "No, I do not forget it, but +just for that reason I will have him back. I will help you in +everything," she continued, speaking more slowly, "I will employ all +the powers of my intellect and of my will, on behalf of your plans; but +I will have something in return for myself, and I say therefore, 'Give +me back Stielow.'" + +"You shall certainly," said the count, "have for yourself whatever you +wish. I impose no restraints on your little personal divertissements," +he added, with a smile; "but what do you want with this boy--as you +yourself call him?--can you not rule men with your genius, and by a +glance from those eyes?" + +"I love him!" she whispered. + +The count looked at her with amazement. + +"Forgive me!" he said, smiling, "this boy--" + +"Because he is a boy," she cried, and a stream of passionate feeling +gushed from her large widely-opened eyes,--"because he is so pure, so +good, and so beautiful," she whispered, and her eyes were veiled with +mist. + +The count looked at her very gravely. + +"Do you know," he said, "that the love which rules you will take from +you the power of ruling others, and of being my ally?" + +"No," she cried, "no, it will strengthen me; but the vain longing in my +heart makes me gloomy and weak,--oh! give him back to me again. I own +my weakness, let me in this one point be weak, and I promise in every +other you shall find me strong and immovable." + +"Had you told me before what you now tell me," said he thoughtfully, +"it might have been possible, perhaps, but now it is out of my power, +and--I may not use it; this young man shall not be the plaything of +your caprice," he said gravely and decidedly, "shake off this weakness, +be strong, and forget this fancy!" + +She rose cold and calm. + +"Let us speak of it no more," she said in her accustomed tone. + +The count examined her attentively. + +"You own I am right?" he asked. + +"I will forget this fancy," she replied without a muscle of her face +changing. + +At this moment the door-bell was heard. + +"It is Galotti," said the count, and opened the door of the boudoir. + +A strongly-made man entered, of middle height with a full face. His +thin hair left a lofty arched brow completely free, the bright eyes +were quick and observing, and the full lips denoted an energetic +temperament and brilliant eloquence. + +"Things are going on excellently," cried the count, advancing to meet +him. "Everything is prepared for the decisive blow. The Sardinian party +have lost courage; they are disorganized by the Austrian victory, and +with one stroke the contemptible government they call Italian will +crumble to pieces." + +"Glorious! glorious!" cried Galotti, as he pressed Count Rivero's hand, +and approached the lady, whom he greeted with all the grace of one +accustomed to good society. "I bring good news too," he said, "they are +ready at the Farnese Palace, and Count Montebello has, in answer to a +confidential enquiry, made it clearly understood that he will take no +steps to prevent Italy from becoming what was intended at the peace of +Zurich." + +"I will leave you, gentlemen," said Madame Balzer. "I will have +breakfast prepared in the dining-room, and shall be at your disposal +when your interview is ended." + +Count Rivero kissed her hand, Signer Galotti bowed, and she withdrew +through the door leading to her sleeping apartment. + +"The king will go to Naples?" asked the count as soon as she had left +the room. + +"At the very first sign from us," replied Galotti, "a troop of +brigands, formed of old soldiers of the Neapolitan guards, will await +him on the coast, the Sardinian garrisons are always weak, and at the +first signal the whole people will rise!" + +"Do you think the moment has come for placing the match to our +well-laid train?" asked the count. + +"Certainly," replied Galotti; "what should we wait for? The Sardinian +army is completely demoralized by the battle of Custozza, and is held +in check by the Grand Duke Albert, so that it cannot be employed in the +interior. The most rapid action is needful; in a few weeks Italy can be +freed from the heavy yoke which weighs her down. Everyone is waiting +longingly for the word, the giving of which is in your hand." + +The count walked thoughtfully to the window. + +"Everything has been prepared so long, thought over so carefully," said +he, "and yet now the decisive moment approaches, now the eventful +word--'Act!'--must be spoken, giving life and motion to our quiet +preparations,--the doubt arises whether all is well organized. Yet we +can no longer hesitate. We must send the watchword to Rome and Naples, +and to Tuscany," he said, turning to Galotti; "here are three +addresses," he added, taking from his portfolio three cards and +carefully perusing them. "The text of the telegram is written below, +the names, like the contents of the despatches, are perfectly +unimportant, they will disclose nothing." + +And with a trembling hand he held out the cards to Signor Galotti. + +Madame Balzer rushed into the boudoir. + +"Do you know, Count Rivero," she cried, "that the army in Bohemia is +completely defeated? The news is spreading like wild-fire through +Vienna, my maid has just heard it in the house." + +The count gazed at her in blank dismay. His eyes opened wide with +horror, a nervous movement convulsed his lips, and he hastily snatched +up his hat. + +"Impossible!" cried Galotti. "General Gablenz has been victorious in +several skirmishes; a great battle was not expected." + +"We must hear what has happened," said the count, in a low voice, "it +would be horrible if this intelligence were true." + +He was about to hasten away. A violent peal at the bell was heard, and +almost immediately a young man in the dress of a priest entered the +room. + +"Thank God! that I find you here, Count Rivero," he cried, "nothing +must be done, the disaster is immense, Benedek is totally beaten, the +whole army is in wild flight and confusion." + +The count was dumb. His dark eyes were raised to heaven with a burning +look, deep grief was painted on his features. + +"We must act so much the more rapidly and energetically," cried +Galotti; "if this news reaches Italy our confederates will be +frightened and confused, the enemy will gain courage, and the lukewarm +will become foes." + +He stretched out his hand to take the cards which Rivero still held. + +The count made a movement of refusal. + +"How did you gain your information, Abbé Rosti?" he asked quietly. + +"It has just been brought from the Hofburg to the Nuncio," replied the +abbé. "Unhappily there is no doubt of its truth." + +"Then the work of years is lost!" said Count Rivero, in a grave and +melancholy voice. + +"Let us use the present moment!" cried Galotti, "let us act quickly; +then, let what will happen in Germany, we shall at least have restored +Italy to her ancient rights, and Austria must be grateful to us if we +give her in Italy the influence she has lost in Germany." + +"No!" said the count, calmly, "we must not venture upon action before +the situation is perfectly plain. Our whole force in Italy is quite +strong enough to break the Piedmontese rule if the regular army is +engaged and defeated by the victorious Austrian troops, but we are not +in a position to effect anything against the army of Piedmont if it is +free to act against us. We should uselessly sacrifice all our faithful +friends, and we should destroy the organization we have formed with +such toil, which will be useful to us in the future, and which we could +never again bring to such perfection if it were now broken up. And I +fear Victor Emanuel's army will be free, I fear Vienna will give up +Italy." + +"Give up Italy, after the victory of Custozza!" cried the Abbé Rosti, +"it is impossible,--wherefore?" + +"For Germany! which she will also lose!" + +"But, my God!" cried Galotti, "that would have been done before the +campaign, if done at all. Austria's forces in Germany would have been +doubled--but now--" + +"My dear friend," said the count, sighing, "remember the words of the +First Napoleon: 'Austria is always too late--by one year, one army, and +one idea!'" + +"I cannot make up my mind to sit still," cried Galotti, energetically, +"now that everything is prepared, and we seem almost to hold success in +our hands." + +"I do not desire that we should indifferently sit still," said Count +Rivero; "we will never sit still," he added, with flashing eyes, "but +we must perhaps begin again a long and toilsome work from the +beginning. For the present we must not act hastily, and compromise +individuals and events, risking the future before we see our way +clearly. Do you know," he enquired of the abbé, "how the emperor +received the intelligence and what he did?" + +"The emperor was much cast down, as was natural," said the abbé; "he +sent Count Mensdorff immediately to the army, that he might ascertain +its condition. That is all we have yet heard." + +"Mensdorff was right," said Count Rivero, thoughtfully; then, raising +himself with an energetic movement, he said: "Once more, gentlemen, we +must see clearly before we act; and our courage must not fail, even if +we perceive long years of toil before us. Above all, I wish to be fully +informed as to the present, then we will speak of the future." + +He approached the lady, who had remained during the conversation gazing +before her as if completely indifferent, and said, as he kissed her +hand: "Auf Wiedersehn! chère amie!" then he added in a somewhat lower +voice, "Perhaps the moment will soon come for opening so wide a field +to your skilful industry, that all minor wishes will be forgotten!" + +She looked up at him quickly for a moment, but she did not reply. + +The two other gentlemen took leave, and left the room with the count. + +The young lady remained alone. + +A flashing look followed them as they withdrew. + +"You wish to use me for your plans," she cried, "you seek to charm me +with hopes of freedom and dominion, and you would prepare for me a +gilded slavery? You forbid my heart to beat, because it cannot be so +serviceable as your tool? Ah! you deceive yourself, Count Rivero! I +need you, but I am not your servant, your slave! Well then, let war +begin between us," she said, with determination; "not war to the death, +but a war for rule; I will try to make your proud shoulders bear me up +to power and independence. Independence!" said she, sighing, after a +short silence, "how much I am short of it, yet let me go carefully and +prudently onwards; first, I will see whether I cannot win back the +unfaithful friend to whom my heart still clings, without the aid of my +master." + +She threw herself on the sofa, and looked thoughtfully before her. + +"But, my God!" she cried, with anguish in her eyes, as she pressed her +tender hand to her forehead, "I wish to win him back, and he is before +the enemy, the great battle has been fought, perhaps he lies dead +already upon the bloody field." And her eyes gazed into space as if she +actually saw the horrible picture her fancy had painted. + +Then she leant back and a dark expression passed over her face. + +"And if it were so?" she said, gloomily, "perhaps it would be better +for me, and I might then be free from the burning thorn I cannot tear +from my heart. The count is right! such love is weakness, and I will +not be weak! perhaps I should again be strong. But to know that he is +living, to think that he belongs to me no longer, that he, in his +beauty, is at the feet of another--" + +She sprang up, a wild glow kindled in her eyes, her breast heaved high, +her beautiful features were distorted by the vehemence of her emotion. + +"Never, never!" she said, in a low, hissing voice. "If he were dead, I +could forget him; but that picture will pursue me everywhere--will +poison my life. Poison!" she repeated, and an evil flash passed across +her face. "How easy it was in days gone by," she whispered, "to destroy +an enemy! Now--" Again she stared blankly before her. "But is it +needful to poison the body to conquer difficulties?" + +A wicked smile played around her beautiful mouth; her eyes flashed, and +for a long time she sat thinking deeply. + +She rose and went to her rosewood writing-table. She took a packet of +letters from one compartment and began to read them attentively. +Several she threw back; at last she seemed to have found what she +sought. It was a short note only, written on a single sheet. + +"He wrote me this during the man[oe]uvres," said she; "this will serve +me." + +She read:-- + + +"My sweet queen, + +"I must tell you in a few words how my heart longs for you, and how +much I feel this separation. All day I am interested, and hard at work +at my duty, but when at night I lie down in bivouac, the stars above +me, and the soft breath of night sighing around, then your sweet image +dwells in my heart; I seem to feel your breath; I open my arms seeking +to embrace you; and when at last sleep weighs down my eyelids, you are +with me in my dreams. Oh, that the unmelodious trumpet must destroy +such heavenly visions! I would ever dream until I am again with you, +and find with you a sweeter reality. I kiss this paper, so soon to +touch your lovely hands." + + +While she read her voice was soft, and she gazed at the letter lost in +recollections. + +Then again her features grew cold and hard. + +"This will do perfectly," said she; "and no date; excellent!" + +She seized a pen, and after considering the handwriting for a few +moments, she wrote at the commencement of the letter--"June 30th, +1866." + +She looked attentively at her writing. + +"Yes," she said, "it will pass capitally." + +She rang a small silver bell. Her maid entered. + +"Find my husband," said Madame Balzer, "and tell him I wish to speak to +him immediately." + +The maid withdrew, and the young lady walked thoughtfully to the +window, carelessly looking down on the excited crowds below, whilst a +slight smile of satisfaction played on her lips. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + DEFEAT. + + +Gloomy silence prevailed in the Hofburg. In the midst of the rejoicings +at the Italian victory the annihilating thunderbolt had fallen, ruining +all hopes of success in Bohemia, and destroying in a moment the blind +confidence that had been placed in Field-Marshal Benedek and his +operations. It was as if a sudden stupefaction had come on everyone. +The attendants glided slowly and sadly through the long corridors, and +scarcely said the few words necessary for the fulfilment of their +duties. Immediately after receiving the intelligence of the lost +battle, the emperor had sent Count Mensdorff to Benedek's +head-quarters, that, being himself a soldier, he might judge of the +condition of affairs; he then withdrew into his own apartments, and +only the adjutant-general had access to him. + +Deep silence reigned in the imperial ante-room. The life guardsman +stood quietly before the emperor's door; the equerry on duty, Baron +Fejérváry de Komlos, leant silently against the window and looked at +the groups below, as they formed and again dispersed after grave +whispered converse. There were often looks cast upwards to the windows +of the castle, as though they longed for fresh news--for something +decided, to remove their load of anxiety. + +The regular ticking of the great old clock was heard, marking as calmly +these saddest moments to the House of Hapsburg as it had proclaimed +during its greatest splendour that all yielded to the inexorable scythe +of Time. For Time goes on with equal pace during the flying moments of +happiness and during the creeping hours of the blackest day, only in +the rush of happiness his iron footstep is unheard, whilst in the sad +stillness of misfortune "_memento mori_" sounds on every ear, and calls +to each one of us from the bosom of the solemn vanished past. + +Thus was it here. The guardsman and the equerry had often performed +their duty in this very room, with their hearts full of joyful thoughts +of the world without; and all those hours had vanished from their +recollection, or had melted together in a blurred picture; but these +hours, these still, dark hours, with the slow stroke of the heavy +pendulum marking their lingering seconds, were buried deep in their +memory for ever. + +The Adjutant-General Count Crenneville entered. He was accompanied by +the Hanoverian ambassador, General von Knesebeck, dressed in the full +uniform of a Hanoverian general, and followed by the King of Hanover's +equerry, Major von Kohlrausch, a simple soldier-like man, with a short +black moustache and a bald head. + +General von Knesebeck, the tall, stately man who had moved with so firm +and proud a step through Count Mensdorff's salons, now stooped in his +walk. Sorrow and mourning lay on his grave regular features, and +without speaking a word he saluted the equerry on duty. + +"Will you announce me, dear baron?" said Count Crenneville to Baron von +Fejérváry. + +He entered the imperial apartment, and returning immediately, signified +to the adjutant-general by a respectful movement that the emperor +awaited him. + +Count Crenneville entered the cabinet of Francis Joseph. + +The emperor again wore a large grey military cloak. He sat bending over +his writing-table; pens, papers, and letters lay untouched before him; +there were no signs of the restless industry of a sovereign who never +allowed an hour to pass idly. It was not grief which the excited, +wearied countenance of the emperor wore, it was comfortless, dull +despair. + +Crenneville looked sadly at his sovereign thus weighed down with +sorrow, and said, with deep emotion,-- + +"I beg your imperial majesty not to yield to the sad impression of this +disastrous news. We all--all Austria looks to her emperor. No +misfortune is so great that a strong will and a resolute courage cannot +amend it; and if your majesty despairs, what will the army--what will +the people do?" + +The emperor slowly raised his wearied eyes and passed his hand over his +brow as if to ease it of a load of thought. + +"You are right," he answered mournfully. "Austria expects from me +courage and decision, and truly," he cried, raising his head, whilst an +angry flash darted from his eyes, "courage I have, might I but face the +enemy's fire, and if my personal courage could procure success, victory +should not fail the banners of Austria! But must I not believe that I +am ordained to misfortune, that my sceptre must bring destruction upon +Austria? Have I not done everything to procure success? have I not +placed at the head of the troops a man whom the army and the nation +considered the most competent? And now?--beaten!" cried he vehemently, +with tears in his eyes, "beaten after so haughty, so bold an attack, +beaten by this enemy who during the last century has seized on my +ancestral inheritance in Germany, an enemy whom I hoped to overthrow +for ever. What avails me the victory in Italy, if I lose Germany? oh! +it is hard!" + +And the emperor supported his head in both his hands whilst a deep sigh +heaved his breast. + +Count Crenneville came a step nearer. + +"Your majesty!" said he, "all is not yet lost. Mensdorff will perhaps +bring us good news; the battle must have cost the enemy much, perhaps +all may still be well." + +The emperor let his hands sink down and looked at the count for some +time. + +"My dear Crenneville!" he then said, gravely and slowly, "I will tell +you something which has never been so clear to me as at this moment. Do +you know," he said dreamily, "what great characteristic of my family +carried Hapsburg and Austria through all the hardest times? It was its +tenacity, its tough indestructible tenacity, that bent beneath the +blows of misfortune, without for a moment losing sight of the aim for +which to suffer, to wait, to conquer. Go to past history, look up the +darkest, heaviest times, you will find in all my ancestors proofs of +unconquerable endurance, and you will find too that this characteristic +was their salvation. This tenacity," he continued after a short +silence, "this Hapsburg endurance, in me is wanting, and that is my +misfortune. Joy bears me on his light pinions high as the heavens, +large views of life fill me with mighty inspiration, but even so the +heavy hand of misfortune dashes me to the ground. I can fight, I can +sacrifice myself, but I cannot bear, I cannot wait--oh! I cannot wait!" +he cried, with a look of horror. + +Then suddenly he raised his head, he pressed his beautiful teeth +lightly on the full under lip and said, the princely pride of the +Hapsburg kindling in his eyes,-- + +"You are right, Count Crenneville, I must not yield to weakness; forget +that you have seen me weak so long; is the misfortune great?--we must +be greater than misfortune!" + +"The heavier the blow, the more deeply it affects your heart, so much +the more I admire the bold courage which your majesty now, as ever, +regains. I rejoice the more," added the count, "that your imperial +majesty is superior to disaster, as the Ambassador General Knesebeck +has just requested an audience; he bears the heavy blow which has +fallen on his master well and chivalrously!" + +"The poor king," cried the emperor, "he has bravely defended his +rights, and he now expects from me help and protection! All those +princes," he continued gloomily, "who assembled around me in the old +imperial hall at Frankfort, how shall I appear before them after this +shameful defeat!" And again he sank into brooding thought. + +"Your majesty!" cried Count Crenneville in a low, imploring tone. + +The emperor stood up. + +"Bring General von Knesebeck in!" + +The adjutant-general hastened to the door, and a moment afterwards +returned with General von Knesebeck, and Major von Kohlrausch. + +The emperor walked towards the general and held out his hand with much +emotion. + +"You bring sad news, my dear general; I am filled with admiration for +your royal master, and I deeply deplore that such great heroism could +not command a happier result. Alas! you have found little to console +you here," he added with a visible effort; and then as if unwilling to +pursue the painful subject, he turned a look of enquiry towards Major +von Kohlrausch. + +"Your majesty," said General von Knesebeck, "I mast first beg +permission to introduce to you Major von Kohlrausch, equerry to my +royal master. He begs the honour of presenting a letter from our +sovereign." + +The emperor bowed kindly to the major, who stepped forward in a +soldier-like manner and placed a writing in the emperor's hand. + +He opened it quickly and looked through its brief contents. + +"His majesty imparts the melancholy catastrophe to me in a few words, +and refers me to you for a personal communication, major." + +"My gracious master," said Major von Kohlrausch, as if repeating a +military order, "commanded me to tell your imperial majesty, that after +the great efforts made by his army to preserve the independence of his +crown, and victoriously to defend his kingdom, and after these efforts +and the successful battle of Langensalza were rendered useless by the +superior numbers of the enemy, his majesty deemed his most dignified +and worthy course would be to repair to your imperial majesty, his +illustrious confederate." + +"And his true friend!" cried the emperor warmly. + +The major bowed and proceeded. + +"May I ask your imperial majesty whether the visit of the king and his +reception in Vienna will be agreeable to you?" + +"Agreeable!" cried the emperor with animation, "I long to embrace the +heroic monarch who has given us all so high an example of princely +stedfastness. Truly," he proceeded with a sigh, "the king will no +longer find here a powerful ally; he will find a broken power needing +the greatest courage and every exertion to avert the worst +consequences." + +"I believe I am speaking the mind of my royal master," said Major von +Kohlrausch, "when I assure your imperial majesty the king is ready and +resolved to share fortune and misfortune with his illustrious ally, +whose cause is his own and that of right." + +The emperor looked on the ground for a moment. Then he raised his eyes +with a brilliant expression, and said, his countenance glowing with +courage and happy pride,-- + +"The friendship and the trust of so noble and heroic a heart as your +king's must give courage to all, and fresh confidence in our cause. +Tell your royal master I await him with impatience, and that he will +find me worthy to defend the cause of right and of Germany to the +uttermost. My answer to the king shall be given to you as soon as +possible." + +The emperor ceased. The major silently awaited a sign of dismissal. + +After a few moments Francis Joseph said, in a voice of emotion,-- + +"The king has given us an unparalleled example of heroism. I am anxious +to express my admiration for his courage and that of the crown prince +during the last few days by an outward sign. I will immediately summon +the chapter of the Order of Maria Theresa, and my army will be proud if +the king and his son will wear upon their breasts the noblest and +highest sign of honour to an Austrian soldier--wait until I can send +you the insignia." + +"I know my master well enough," said the major, with a joyful +expression, "to be sure that such a sign will fill him with the highest +satisfaction, and that the whole Hanoverian army will receive it with +proud joy." + +"I have been much pleased, my dear major," said the emperor, +gracefully, "to receive you on this occasion as an envoy from the king. +I will, with the other things, send you the cross of the Order of +Leopold, and I beg you to wear it in memory of this moment, and of my +friendly remembrance." + +The major bowed deeply. "Without this gracious sign," he said, "I +should never forget this moment." + +"Now rest yourself," said the emperor, kindly, "that you may have +strength when all is ready for your return." + +He bowed his head as a dismissal. The major with a quick military +salute left the cabinet. + +"You have been in the Bavarian head-quarters," said the emperor to +General von Knesebeck. + +"I have, your majesty," replied he. "When, in consequence of despatches +received from Count Ingelheim, your majesty commanded me to go at once +to Prince Karl, and urgently to beg him, in your all-powerful name, to +hasten to the assistance of the Hanoverian army, I set out immediately, +and found the Bavarian head-quarters, which the day before had been at +Bamberg, at Neustadt. I represented to Prince Karl the pressing danger +of the Hanoverian army, and I implored him, in your majesty's name and +in that of my king, to make a rapid advance towards Eisenach and Gotha, +that a union might be effected, and a favourable and important change +possibly be made in the whole campaign." + +"And Prince Karl?" asked the emperor, anxiously. + +"The prince, as well as General von der Tann, who was with him, fully +acknowledged the importance of a union of the Bavarian with the +Hanoverian army--they were ready to do everything in their power--as +indeed had been intended at the outset of the march. At the same time +his royal highness, as well as the chief of the general staff, +expressed great dissatisfaction at the march of the Hanoverian army; it +was then really not known where it was, and, according to information +brought in, the greatest strategical faults had been committed. The +prince asked me about the strength of our army, and when I replied +that, according to my estimation and to the intelligence I had heard, +about nineteen thousand men were under arms, he replied, 'With nineteen +thousand men you should cut your way through the enemy, and not march +hither and thither into positions where you must be surrounded.' +General von der Tann nodded approval." + +The emperor bent his head and sighed. + +"I heard this with great sorrow," added the general, "and my grief was +greater since I could not deny the truth of the judgment pronounced at +the Bavarian headquarters. I am a general staff officer, your majesty," +he said, with a sigh, "but I must own the marches which our army have +made are to me quite incomprehensible, and that it would have been much +easier on our part to reach the Bavarians by a hasty march, than to +await their advance with these apparently aimless runnings to and fro." + +"The poor king!" cried the emperor, in a sorrowful voice. + +"Naturally," continued von Knesebeck, "I did not utter these ideas in +the Bavarian head-quarters; on the contrary, I urged a hasty advance +for the relief of the Hanoverian army--the only course as matters then +were which could possibly save it. Prince Karl, in spite of his +displeasure, was quite ready to comply; he immediately commanded an +advance by the forest of Thuringia upon Gotha, and informed Prince +Alexander of his movements, that the eighth army corps might march at +the same time. But," he added, with a sigh, "the Bavarian army had been +reduced to a peace footing." + +"Impossible!" cried the emperor. "Bavaria urged upon the confederation +so strongly the policy that led to war." + +General von Knesebeck slightly shrugged his shoulders. + +"Under the circumstances," he said, "the Bavarian army was not in a +condition to act rapidly and forcibly. However, they set out. Prince +Karl removed his headquarters to Meiningen, and with a heavy heart full +of misgivings I accompanied him thither. The following day we were to +proceed; then Count Ingelheim arrived, and brought the news of the +catastrophe of Langensalza!" + +"What a melancholy combination of disastrous events!" cried the +emperor. + +"Under these circumstances," continued the general, "Prince Karl was +quite right in abandoning his onward march and ordering flank +movements, through which to join the eighth army corps at Friedberg, +seventeen miles from Meiningen. I returned here with a sorrowful heart, +and found, alas! the news of the still heavier blow which has smitten +your majesty and our cause." + +"The blow is heavy," cried the emperor, "but I have courage, and hope +all may yet be favourable. I am glad that your king's message came +to-day, and that I have seen you, my dear general; it has given me +fresh courage to strive to the utmost to do my duty towards Germany. Do +you think," he asked, after a moment's thought, "that we may expect an +energetic campaign from Bavaria? You have seen the condition of the +army--you have the quick eye of a soldier--tell me candidly your +opinion!" + +"Your majesty," said General von Knesebeck, "Bavaria will doubtless +absorb Prussian troops, and that is an advantage. As to an energetic +campaign, Prince Karl is a very old gentleman, and at his years energy +is unusual, especially at the head of an army unfit to fight." + +"But General von der Tann?" asked the emperor. + +"General von der Tann has great military capacity; whether he will be +responsible for any exploit not purely Bavarian in its aim, whether +with the prince's character he can effect anything, I doubt." + +"You expect then--?" asked the emperor anxiously. + +"Very little!" said the general. + +"And from the other German corps?" asked the emperor. + +"The eighth corps can do nothing without Bavaria; and before my +departure extraordinary news had arrived from Baden." + +"Will Baden fall off from us?" cried the emperor. + +"I do not know," said Knesebeck, "the impression made by the defeat of +Königgrätz, which will perhaps be exaggerated--" He shrugged his +shoulders. + +"The Reichs-armee!" cried the emperor, stamping his foot upon the +ground. "Do you believe," he exclaimed vehemently, "that the Austrian +sun is setting? It is indeed evening," he said gloomily--"perhaps +night; but," he cried, with flaming eyes, "after night comes morning!" + +"The sun does not set upon the realms of Austria; your majesty must +have faith in the brilliant star of your house!" cried General von +Knesebeck. + +"And by God!" cried the emperor, "if the star of day will once more +shine favourably upon the House of Austria during this campaign, then +shall your king in the full splendour of power and happiness stand next +to myself in Germany!" And he held out his hand to the general with a +movement of indescribable nobility. + +The equerry entered. + +"Count Mensdorff, your imperial majesty, has just returned, and +requests an audience." + +"Ah!" cried the emperor, drawing a deep breath; "at once--at once. I +await him with impatience!" + +And he walked forward to meet Count Mensdorff, who, at a sign from +Major von Fejérvári, appeared on the threshold of the royal cabinet. + +"Has your imperial majesty any further commands for me?" asked General +von Knesebeck. + +"Remain! remain! dear general," cried the emperor. "Count Mensdorff's +intelligence will have the greatest interest for you, as well as for +me!" + +The general bowed. + +"And now, Count Mensdorff," cried the emperor, with a trembling voice, +"speak! The fate of Austria hangs on your lips!" + +Count Mensdorff stood before his monarch looking quite broken down; the +fatigues of the journey to headquarters had exhausted his feeble frame, +nervous anxiety had drawn deep lines upon his countenance, a sorrowful +expression lay around his lips, and only his dark eyes shone with +feverish brilliance. + +"You are exhausted!" cried the emperor; "seat yourselves, gentlemen." + +And he seated himself before his writing-table. Crenneville, Count +Mensdorff, and General Knesebeck placed themselves near the table. + +"Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, in his low voice, "the tidings I +bring are sad,--very sad, but not hopeless." + +The emperor folded his hands and looked upwards. + +"The army has suffered a frightful defeat," said Count Mensdorff, +"ending in a wild flight, in which all order was lost. To assemble and +re-form the masses will require several days." + +"But how is this possible?" cried the emperor, "how could Benedek--" + +"The field-marshal," said Count Mensdorff, "was quite right when he +told your majesty he could not fight with that army,--events have been +unparalleled. Your majesty knows that Benedek is a good, brave general, +who is quite capable of forestalling the plans and defeating the troops +who operate against him. Your majesty,--I must say it,--he has in no +way been supported. The general staff drew up a plan, the excellence of +which I will not judge, but which the rapid, unexpected, and +wonderfully combined movements of the Prussian army, the sudden and +unforeseen arrival of the crown prince's forces, ought to have +modified. With inconceivable blindness the general staff refused to +make any modification,--to listen to any warning. Added to this, they +were so little prepared for a retreat, or so incomprehensibly careless, +that the officers were unacquainted with the line of retreat, and not +one commandant of a regiment knew the bridges by means of which the +march must be effected; thus the retreat became a flight, the flight +became the dissolution of the army." + +"Terrible!" cried the emperor; "Benedek must be brought before a +court-martial." + +"Not Benedek, your majesty," said Count Mensdorff; "he has done what he +could do; he stood at the post which had been given him, he exposed +himself personally in a way seldom done by a general; and with +unequalled courage he, with his whole staff, charged the enemy as if at +the head of a squadron,--of course in vain. Tears came into my eyes, +your majesty," proceeded Count Mensdorff, in a voice slightly trembling +with emotion, "when I saw the brave general, broken down with grief, +and when he said to me in his simple, soldier-like way: 'I have lost +everything, except, alas! my life!' Your majesty, we must deeply regret +that the field-marshal was placed in a position to which he was +unequal; but to be angry with him, to blame him, is impossible." + +The emperor looked silently and gloomily down before him. + +"But," continued Count Mensdorff, "the general staff must be made to +answer for their conduct. I am far from pronouncing a judgment; the +moment has not yet come, and an impartial and calm examination is now +impossible. I hope that the accused may be able to justify themselves; +but a strict reckoning must be required, it is demanded by the voice of +the whole army, whose heroic courage has been sacrificed in vain,--in a +few days it will be demanded by the voice of the people." + +"And who are the guilty?" asked the emperor. + +"Lieutenant Field-Marshal von Henikstein and Major-General von +Krismanic are the _accused_," said the count with emphasis; "whether +they are guilty justice must decide." + +"They shall be removed from their positions, and recalled here to +justify themselves. Count Crenneville," cried the emperor. + +"At your majesty's command," replied the adjutant-general. + +"I must not conceal from your imperial majesty," continued Count +Mensdorff in a calm voice, "that several parties in the army severely +blame Count Clam-Gallas; they say he did not conduct his operations at +the right time nor obey the orders that were given him." + +"Count Clam!" exclaimed the emperor. "I do not believe it." + +"I thank your imperial majesty for that word," said Count Mensdorff, +"and I venture to add that I believe from his devotion to your majesty +and to Austria, Count Clam-Gallas would be incapable of military +negligence; nevertheless, he is my relative, he belongs to the great +aristocracy of the empire--the public voice accuses him, and will +condemn him the more easily if his justification is not brilliant and +complete. I beg your majesty to call him to account." + +"It shall be done," said the emperor, "he shall be invited here; I can +then take further steps. But now," he continued, "what is to be done? +is the situation hopeless?" + +"Your majesty," replied Count Mensdorff, "the army still numbers +180,000 men; at the present moment they are certainly in no condition +to carry on any military operation; but only time and re-formation are +required to enable them to offer fresh resistance to the enemy. The +fortified camp of Olmütz affords rest and safety, and the field-marshal +is withdrawing his head-quarters there, to draw the enemy away from +Vienna." + +"To draw them away from Vienna!" repeated the emperor; "it is terrible; +this enemy whom I hoped to overthrow for ever, already threatens me in +my capital!" + +"It is to be hoped," said Count Mensdorff, "that the Prussian army will +follow the field-marshal, and be detained before Olmütz; in the +meantime Vienna must be covered to provide for every contingency, and +to enable us to attack the enemy on two sides when we can resume +offensive measures." + +General Knesebeck nodded approval, the emperor cast a look of +excitement on his minister. + +"And to obtain this," added Count Mensdorff, "we need Hungary and the +Italian army." + +The emperor rose. + +"Do you believe," he cried vehemently, "that from the mouth of Hungary +the words that saved Austria will again resound: _Moriamur pro rege +nostro?_" + +"_Pro rege nostro_," said Count Mensdorff, clearly pronouncing each +word, "yes, I do believe it--if your majesty will be _rex Hungariĉ!_" + +"Am I not?" cried the emperor. "What shall I do to make Hungary draw +the sword for me?" + +"Forget and forgive," said Count Mensdorff, "and restore to Hungary her +independence beneath the crown of St. Stephen." + +The emperor was silent. + +"And the Italian army?" he then asked. + +"Must be recalled as quickly as possible, to cover Vienna, and to march +against the enemy!" + +"And what will become of Italy?" asked the emperor. + +"Italy must be given up," said Count Mensdorff, sighing. + +The emperor gave him a penetrating look. + +"Give up Italy?" he asked, hesitatingly, and cast down his eyes. + +"Italy or Germany," said Count Mensdorff, "and in my opinion the choice +cannot be difficult." + +"It is hard enough to have to make the choice," whispered the emperor. + +"Your majesty, permit me to speak plainly and to express my thoughts +clearly. Your imperial majesty will remember before the commencement of +the war my deep anxiety at two different campaigns being carried on at +the same moment. I was of the opinion that Italy ought to be +sacrificed, that our position in Germany might be recovered and +strengthened by an alliance with France. One might then indeed hope +that without this sacrifice the war on both sides would be successfully +carried on, and your majesty's great and courageous heart held firmly +to this hope. Now this is no longer possible, now the sorrowful choice +must be made--if we are to gain anything in Germany--if we are to +maintain what we possess--the whole strength of Austria must be +concentrated upon one point, the whole strength of the Italian army +must be brought here, and the Arch-Duke Albert with his eagle eye must +take the entire command of both armies. Thus alone is recovery +possible; thus alone is it possible to keep Germany for Austria. For," +he added, mournfully, "your majesty must not be deceived, the disaster +of Königgrätz will have a great effect on all the lukewarm and +hesitating members of the German Confederation. Baden has already +fallen away." + +"Baden fallen away?" cried the emperor vehemently. + +"Just now, since my return, as I was preparing to come here," said +Count Mensdorff, "intelligence came to the Office of State from +Frankfort, that Prince William of Baden had declared on the 6th, that +under existing circumstances he must refuse for the troops of Baden to +co-operate with the army of the confederation." + +"Such, then, is the first result of Königgrätz," said the emperor, +bitterly. "But," he cried, with sparkling eyes, as he threw back his +head, "they may be mistaken, these princes, whose forefathers humbly +surrounded the throne of my ancestors. The power of Austria is shaken, +but not destroyed; and yet again the time may come when Hapsburg will +sit in judgment in Germany, to punish and reward! Count Mensdorff," he +cried, with decision, "my choice is made. I give up all for Germany. +But," he continued, sinking again into gloomy thought, "how can I--I, +the victor, bow down before this king of Italy--implore a peace which +may, perhaps, be refused?" + +"Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, "the solution of that difficulty +is very simple, if you cast your eye over the political situation as it +was at the beginning of the war. The Emperor Napoleon ardently desires +the evacuation of Italy. He offered an alliance before the commencement +of the war, of which Venetia was the price; cannot the same still be +obtained? My advice, your majesty, is that we should cede Venice to the +emperor of the French, who, on his part, can deliver it over to Victor +Emanuel, and by this means an alliance with Napoleon will be obtained, +or at least, under unfavourable circumstances, his powerful +intervention. Thus the dignity of Austria will be preserved towards +Italy, all direct negotiation avoided, and the whole of our force will +be available for the struggle in Germany. If your majesty commands it, +I will immediately speak on the subject to the Duke de Gramont, and +send instructions to Prince Metternich." + +The emperor was silent for some time, lost in thought. The three +gentlemen sat round him motionless: it was so quiet in the cabinet that +their breathing was perceptible, and in the distance was heard the +echoing movement of great Vienna. + +At last the emperor rose. The three gentlemen stood up. + +"So be it, then," cried Francis Joseph, very gravely; "neither Spain +nor Italy have brought a blessing to my house. In Germany was their +cradle, in Germany grew their strength, in Germany shall lie their +future!" + +"Speak to Gramont immediately," he proceeded. "And you, Count +Crenneville, make all the necessary arrangements for my uncle to assume +the general command of all my armies, and also for bringing the army of +the south hither. General Knesebeck," he said, turning towards him, +"you are here as the representative of the bravest princes in Germany. +You see that the heir of the German emperors sacrifices all for +Germany!" + +"I would that all Germany witnessed your majesty's noble decision," +said the general with emotion. + +"And Hungary, your majesty?" asked Count Mensdorff. + +"Speak to Count Andrassy," said the emperor, with a little hesitation. +"Tell him what may happen, and hear what they expect." + +He made a sign with his hand, and bent his head with a friendly smile. + +Bowing deeply, the three gentlemen left the cabinet. + +The emperor walked to and fro several times with hasty steps. + +"Thus all that the sword of Radetzky won, is lost," he said, with a +deep sigh, as he stood still before the window. "That land is lost for +which so much German blood has flowed! Be it so," he cried, drawing a +deep breath, "if I may only retain Germany." + +He looked thoughtfully down on the ground. + +"But if I give up Italy," he whispered, "how can Rome, how can the +Church withstand the waves which will then hurl themselves against St. +Peter's rock?" + +A darker gloom lay on his brow. + +With a slight knock, the groom of the chambers entered by the door +leading from the inner apartment. + +"Count Rivero," he said, "begs for an audience, and as your majesty +commanded me to announce him at once, I----" + +"Is this a warning?" said the emperor, in a low tone; and he made a +movement as if to decline the interview. + +He then stepped back from the window, and said,-- + +"Let him come." + +The groom of the chambers withdrew. + +"I will hear him," said the emperor; "he has at least the right to +candour and truth." + +The door of the inner apartment was again opened, and Count Rivero +entered the cabinet, looking grave and melancholy. + +"You come in a heavy hour, count," said the emperor, addressing him; +"the events of this day have buried many hopes." + +"Just and holy hopes should never be buried, your majesty," replied the +count; "yes, even if we go down to the grave, we must look with trust +to the future." + +The emperor gave him a scrutinizing look. + +"I will not quite give up hope," he said, with a certain amount of +embarrassment. + +"Your majesty," said the count, after a short pause, during which the +emperor expressed nothing more, "I have only heard the outlines of the +great disaster; I do not yet know what its results will be, or what +your majesty has determined to do. But I do know well that all is +prepared in Italy for an insurrection in favour of our Holy Faith, and +for the right. The Austrian victories have deeply shaken both the +military and moral power of the King of Sardinia, and the moment has +come to pronounce the decisive word which will set the country in +flames. I beg your majesty's commands to do this, and above all I ask +whether the rising in Italy will have the full and powerful support of +the Austrian army. Without this, the sacrifice of many lives would be +useless, and we should but injure our holy cause." + +The count spoke in a calm, low voice, and in the respectful tone of a +courtier, but at the same time with grave firmness, and a certain proud +conviction. + +The emperor cast down his eyes for a moment, then he came a step nearer +to the count, and said,-- + +"My dear count, the enemy in Bohemia threatens the capital; the +defeated army cannot operate without rest and reorganization. I need +the whole strength of Austria to counteract the consequences of this +defeat, to parry this threatened blow; the army of the south must cover +Vienna, and give the Bohemian army time to reassemble, and strength to +reassume offensive measures." + +"Then your majesty will give up Italy?" said the count, with a deep +sigh, but without a sign of excitement, as he fixed his dark eyes full +on the emperor. + +"I must," said the emperor,--"I must, unless I yield Germany, and +annihilate the position of Austria; there is no escape." + +"Your majesty will thus," continued the count, calmly, in his deep +metallic voice, "your majesty will thus yield the iron crown of the +House of Hapsburg, for ever, to the House of Savoy, yield Venice, the +proud Queen of the Adriatic, to Victor Emanuel, whose army has been +smitten down by the sword of Austria?" + +"Not to him," cried the emperor warmly, "not to him." + +"And to whom, your majesty?" + +"I need the help of France," said the emperor. "I must buy the alliance +of Napoleon at a price I would not pay before the commencement of the +war." + +"Must his cold demon-like hand again grasp the fate of Italy?" cried +the count, hotly; "must Rome and the Holy See be given up for ever to +the arbitrary pleasure of the earlier Carbonari?" + +"Not for ever," said the emperor; "if my power is re-established in +Germany, if I succeed in overcoming the danger now threatening me, the +Holy See will have a more powerful protector than I now could be,--and +who knows?" he continued, with animation, "Germany won Lombardy in +centuries gone by." + +"Then all is lost!" cried the count involuntarily, in a sorrowful +voice. He quickly overcame his feelings, and said, in his usual calm +voice, "Is your majesty's decision irrevocable, or may I be permitted +to urge some reasons against it?" + +The emperor was silent for a moment. + +"Speak!" he then said. + +"Your majesty hopes," said the count, "to recover your defeat by the +recall of the southern army; and by ceding Venetia--that is to say, +Italy--to buy the alliance of France. According to my convictions both +these hopes are deceitful." + +The emperor looked at him with amazement and with great attention. + +"The army of the south," continued the count, "will come much too late +to be of any assistance; for your majesty has to oppose a foe who will +never stand still and wait; the lamentable events from which we now +suffer fully prove this. The French alliance, even if your majesty +purchased it, will not be worth the price you give for it, for, as I +before had the honour of assuring your majesty, France is unfit to +undertake any military action." + +The emperor was silent. + +"At the same time," added the count, "in giving up Italy your majesty +gives up a great principle, you recognize revolution--revolution +against legitimate right, and against the Church. You withdraw the +imperial house of Hapsburg from that mighty Ally who sits in judgment +high above all earthly battle-fields and cabinets, and who orders the +fate of prince and people after his Eternal will. Your majesty gives up +the Church, your majesty gives up the Almighty Lord, whose fortress and +weapon upon earth the Holy Church is." + +The emperor sighed. + +"But what shall I do?" he asked sorrowfully, "shall I permit the +haughty foe to enter my capital? Can a fugitive prince be a protector +of the Church?" + +"Your imperial majesty's ancestors," said the count, "have flown from +Vienna, and because they held firmly to the right and to the Eternal +and All-powerful Ally of their house, they have been gloriously +restored to their capital! Besides," he continued, "much lies between +the enemy and Vienna. The enemy's army has suffered greatly, and Europe +will guarantee that Vienna shall not be Prussian. France must resist, +even without being bought--England--at this time even Russia. Let your +majesty permit the victorious army in Italy under the illustrious +archduke to press onwards, and in a short time Italy will be yours. +Prussia's ally is annihilated, and Holy Church will raise her powerful +voice for Austria and Hapsburg; this voice must be obeyed, in Bavaria, +in Germany, yes, even in France it must be obeyed, and your majesty +will rise with renewed strength. Let not your majesty leave your work +uncompleted, that the other side may reap the benefit of what has been +done; pursue your victory to the end, then its effects will repair this +misfortune; do not sacrifice victory to defeat, but heal defeat by the +brilliancy of your victory!" + +The count spoke more warmly than before. + +He had slightly raised his hand, and he stood in his wonderful beauty +an image of convincing eloquence. + +The emperor was much affected, his features showed a great struggle. + +"And, upon the other side," proceeded the count, "if your majesty gives +up Italy, if you throw all your strength towards the north, and if this +sacrifice does not bring forth the fruit expected, where will you then +find help and support?--enduring support and strong help? When you have +once left the one road, when you have once parted from the One +everlasting and unchanging Ally, the separation will grow greater and +greater, it will become a cleft, and the power of the Church will no +longer be employed on behalf of backsliding Austria. And let not the +statesmen of the world despise this power," he cried, proudly drawing +himself up; "if the chastening excommunication of the Vatican no longer +hurls crowns from the heads of princes, and brings them in sackcloth +and in tears to stand before the doors of the temple, the spirit and +the words of the Church are still mighty and all-powerful in the world; +and if its thunderbolt no longer shatters the rock, its rain-drops wear +away the stone! Let your majesty ponder deeply before you separate from +the Church." + +The emperor's excited face flushed slightly; he raised his head, a +proud flash gleamed in his eyes, and his lip was somewhat raised. + +"Your majesty's imperial brother in Mexico," continued the count with +energy, "wanders upon that dangerous path, he seeks his power in +worldly aids, he has separated from the Church, he is but a plaything +in the hand of Napoleon, and the path he has taken will lead him down +deeper and deeper." + +The emperor drew himself up to his full height. + +"I thank you, Count Rivero," he said coldly, "for so plainly expressing +your opinion. My resolution is made, and irrevocable! I can change +nothing. I hope the way I am now taking may enable me to be useful to +the Church, and to serve it as my heart desires." + +The inspired excitement vanished from the count's face. His features +resumed their accustomed calmness, and his eyes their still, clear +look. + +He waited for a few moments; and as the emperor was silent, he said, +without the least trace of emotion in his voice,-- + +"Has your majesty any further commands?" + +The emperor replied graciously: + +"Farewell, count; be assured of the uprightness of my intentions, and +hope with me for the future,--what you desire God may bring to pass in +days to come." + +"My hope never fails," replied the count calmly, "for the future +belongs to the Ruler of the Universe!" + +And with a deep bow he left the cabinet. + +The emperor looked after him thoughtfully. + +"They want to renew the days of Canossa!" he said to himself; "they +deceive themselves. I will not be a servant to the Church; I will +struggle and fight for the power to be her protector. And now, to +work!" + +He rang, the groom of the chambers appeared. + +"Let States-Chancellor Klindworth be sent for without delay!" + +"At your majesty's command!" + +The emperor seated himself at his writing-table, and looked through +various papers. But this occupation was merely mechanical. His thoughts +often wandered, and the paper in his hand sank slowly down, while his +eyes gazed thoughtfully into space. + +Klindworth entered. His face, with its downcast eyes, was as unmoved +and impenetrable as ever. His hands were folded on his breast, he bowed +deeply, and remained standing near the door. + +The emperor looked up as he entered, and returned his respectful +greeting by a slight inclination of the head. + +"Do you know what I have decided to do, my dear Klindworth?" he asked, +with a piercing glance at the old man's face. + +"I do know it, your imperial majesty!" + +"And what do you say to it?" + +"I rejoice at your majesty's decision." + +The emperor appeared surprised. + +"You applaud me," he asked, "for sacrificing Italy?" + +"To keep Germany--yes," replied Klindworth; "your majesty can reconquer +Italy by Germany--never Germany by Italy." + +"But you were against my giving up Italy before the commencement of the +war," said the emperor. + +"Certainly, your imperial majesty," replied Klindworth, "because I +learnt from the great Metternich 'that you should never give up +anything that you can possibly keep; but should you be compelled by +necessity to sacrifice something, always sacrifice that which you can +most easily regain.'" + +"But," said the emperor, looking up with a quick piercing glance, "Rome +will take this very ill, perhaps become my enemy." + +"Take it ill--yes, your majesty," replied the states-chancellor: +"become your enemy, that will not much matter, for Rome will always +need Austria. The Church and her influence is a mighty power in +political life, and we must use political powers, but we must not +permit them to rule us--that was one of Metternich's first principles." + +The emperor was thoughtfully silent. + +"If I give up Italy, I must win the price of this sacrifice. Do you +believe I shall gain an alliance with France?" + +"I hope so," said Klindworth, a piercing glance appearing for a moment +beneath his half-closed eyelids, "if the diplomatists do their duty." + +"If they do their duty," said the emperor pondering. "My dear +Klindworth," he continued, "you must go at once to Paris and use all +your talents to induce Napoleon to undertake active measures." + +"I will set off with the next courier, your majesty," said Klindworth, +without the least change in his expression. + +"You know the situation well, and will do the best you can with it?" +asked the emperor. + +"Your majesty may rely upon me," said Klindworth. + +The emperor was silent for some time, and passed his fingers lightly +over the table. + +"What do they say in Vienna?" he asked at last, in a tone of +indifference. + +"I trouble myself very little about what they say," replied the +states-chancellor, with a quiet, searching glance at the emperor; "but +I have heard enough to know that public opinion is courageous, and +expects much from the Archduke Albert and the army of Italy." + +"Do they speak of my brother Maximilian?" asked the emperor, in a +slightly constrained voice. + +Again a quick glance shot from Klindworth's eyes. + +"I have heard nothing; what should they say about him?" + +"There are people," returned the emperor, in a low tone, "who pronounce +my brother's name in conjunction with this unhappy catastrophe." And +again he was silent, a dark cloud gathering on his brow. + +"The best means for making Vienna pronounce one name," said Klindworth, +"is for your majesty to show yourself." + +"How? Would you have me drive in the Prater?" asked the emperor, with +the same gloomy look. + +"Your majesty," said Klindworth, "a number of Austrian and Saxon +officers, who have been wounded, have just arrived, and have come to +the Golden Lamb in the Leopoldstadt. May I humbly suggest that your +majesty should visit these wounded soldiers? It would make an excellent +impression." + +"Immediately," cried the emperor; "and not to make an impression. My +heart urges me at once to welcome these brave men, and to thank them." + +He rose. + +"Does your imperial majesty," said Klindworth, in a humble voice, "wish +that the money for my journey should be paid by the government?" + +"No," said the emperor. He opened a small casket standing upon the +table, and took out two rouleaux, which he gave to Klindworth. + +"Is it enough?" he asked. + +"Quite," he replied, whilst his eyes sparkled for a moment. He seized +the rouleaux, and they vanished in the pocket of his brown great-coat. + +"Now," said the emperor, "start at once, and come back soon. If +it is needful, send me information in the way you know. Above all, +obtain--what is possible." + +He slightly bent his head. Klindworth bowed, and quickly vanished, +without opening the door wider than was absolutely necessary, and +without making the least sound. + +The emperor rang, and ordered his carriage and his equerries. + +Then he drove to the Golden Lamb, and visited the wounded officers. + +The Viennese, who saw him drive through the streets in his open +carriage, looking proud and cheerful, said, "Things cannot be so bad +after all, for the emperor is well and happy." + +When he left the hotel, a dense crowd had collected before the house, +and the emperor was greeted with loud, enthusiastic cheers. + +Far and near, loud cries resounded of "Eljen! Eljen!" + +The emperor listened with mingled feelings, and sank again into deep +thought, whilst the carriage slowly parted the thick crowd, and then at +a quick trot bore him back to the Hofburg. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + DIPLOMACY. + + +Napoleon III. sat in his cabinet in the Tuileries. The heavy curtains +were drawn back from the windows, and the bright rays of morning +entered the room. + +The emperor wore a light morning dress; his hair and his long moustache +were carefully arranged, and his aged, wearied, and anxious face had +the look of freshness which a night's rest and a carefully-arranged +toilette give even to an invalid. + +Beside him, on a small table, stood a lighted wax taper, and the simple +service of silver and Sevres china in which he prepared his own tea. He +was smoking a large dark-brown Havannah, and a blue cloud of fine smoke +filled the cabinet, and mingling with the aroma of the tea, and the eau +de lavande with which the room had been prepared before the emperor's +entrance, and the fresh air, shed an agreeable fragrance through the +apartment. + +The emperor held some papers and telegrams in his hand, and his face +wore a cheerful and satisfied expression. + +Before him stood his confidential secretary, Piétri. + +"Everything falls to those who know how to wait," said the emperor, +with a smile. "I was urged to interfere in this German war--to rash and +hasty action--and now? I think I have gained more and done better than +if I--quite against my conviction and inclinations--had interfered with +the natural course of events. + +"The emperor of Austria," he continued, "yields me Venetia, and calls +for my mediation to stay the advance of the victorious foe. Thus I have +Italy in my hand to oppose to the situation. The defeated Italians will +have to thank me for the restoration of their last province, and my +promise, 'Free to the Adriatic,' will be kept!" He gave a sigh of +relief. "Then I have won much influence and prestige," he added, +laughing, "and prestige avails me more than power or influence. The +king of Prussia accepts my mediation to begin with, only for a +suspension of arms, but the rest will follow, and I am thus the +arbitrator of Germany! Could I have gained more?" he asked, with a long +breath at his cigar, whilst he contentedly regarded the white ashes, +and slowly puffed away the blue smoke in small clouds; "could I have +done more if the armies of France had taken the field?" + +"Certainly not," returned Piétri; "and I admire your majesty's +quick-sightedness. I must own I was not without anxiety at France being +withheld from taking any part in these great events. Nevertheless, may +I call your majesty's attention to the fact that the situation is much +clearer on the side of Italy even if there is a slight disinclination +on the part of the king to receive Venice as a gift, than it is with +regard to the German powers. Accepting your mediation as a principle--" + +"Will lead to further negotiations and to practical results," +interrupted the emperor. "I know well that both sides have their own +plans in the background. Well," he said, smiling, "I have mine." + +"It is certainly a great thing," he continued, after a short pause, +"that the cannon should be silenced by my first word of reconciliation, +and that the gentle and friendly voice of France should force both +mighty foes to lower their arms, at least for a moment, whilst they +listen respectfully to my words. Such is my position as mediator in +Germany. And thus it must be represented to public opinion," he added; +"it is very important that this should not interfere with my calm and +prudent action." + +"This has been done, sire," said Piétri. "The 'Moniteur' has +represented your majesty's mediation quite in this spirit, and all the +leading newspapers have thus described the situation." + +"Good, good," said the emperor. "And how does the sovereign public +opinion of my good Paris regard the affair?" + +"Excellently," replied Piétri; "all the organs of the press describe +the position of France in this conflict as highly flattering to the +national dignity." + +The emperor nodded his head with an air of satisfaction. + +"I cannot, however, conceal from your majesty," continued Piétri, "that +I have observed a strong Prussian tendency in the journals; the +Prussian Consul Bamberg, who as your majesty knows takes charge of +these affairs at the embassy, has for some time been strongly and +cleverly supported by 'le Temps,' 'le Siècle,' and other newspapers." + +The emperor was thoughtfully silent. + +"The question is," continued Piétri, "whether this agitation shall be +counteracted?" + +"No," said the emperor decidedly, "it would be far from my wish for +public opinion strongly to take up the side of Austria; it would be +inconvenient. I must tell you honestly," he proceeded after thinking +deeply for a moment, "that I have very little confidence in Austria, +she seems to me to be in the process of dissolution and near her fall. +The great emperor had this same thought," he added half speaking to +himself, "they did not understand him in Berlin, and were punished for +it at Jena--Count Bismarck is no Haugwitz, and--but," he said, suddenly +interrupting himself, "does Austria make no effort to work on public +opinion here?" + +Piétri shrugged his shoulders. + +"Prince Metternich," he said, "is too much a grand seigneur to trouble +himself to descend from the heights of Olympus into the dark and murky +atmosphere of journalism, for which in Austria they maintain a most +sovereign contempt." + +"Yes, yes," said the emperor, "these legitimate diplomatists breathe +and move upon their Olympian heights without regarding what takes place +on earthly dust, and yet it comes from below that public opinion, that +Proteus-like power who weaves the threads upon the loom of eternal +Fate, that mysterious power, before whose sentence the proud gods of +Olympus and of Tartarus tremble." + +"Something," said Piétri, laughing, "has been done by Austria to +influence public opinion--in very long, correct, and diplomatic +articles the 'Mémorial diplomatique' explains--" + +"Debraux de Saldapenda?" asked the emperor, smiling. + +"Your majesty is right!" + +"Certainly," said Napoleon, as he brushed the ashes of his cigar from +his trousers, "a small counter influence can do no harm. Let an article +appear here and there, calling attention to the necessity of not +allowing Austria's position in Europe to be too much weakened. You +understand, in Europe, not a word about Germany, and the articles must +bear the stamp of official Austrian origin, the journalists themselves +must believe they come from thence. You will know how to arrange this?" + +"Perfectly, sire," replied Piétri. + +"Laguerronière told me," continued the emperor, "of a very clever +little journalist--Escudier--he has relations in Austria; make use of +him, we must certainly strengthen our newspaper contingent," he +proceeded, "our cadres are very small, and we must make a campaign. +Think over this." + +Piétri bowed. + +The groom of the chambers announced: "His Excellency Monsieur Drouyn de +Lhuys." + +The emperor bent his head, took a last whiff from his cigar, and said +to his secretary, "Stay near me, I may need you." + +Piétri withdrew through the large and heavy portière, which concealed +the steps leading to his own room. + +Scarcely had the folds of the curtain closed behind him, when Drouyn de +Lhuys entered the emperor's cabinet. He looked as calm and grave as +ever, and had his portfolio under his arm. + +"Good morning, my dear minister," cried Napoleon, rising slowly and +holding out his hand, "well, are you satisfied with the course of +events, and the position which the policy of waiting has procured for +us?" + +"Not entirely, sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys gravely and quietly. A +cloud passed over the emperor's brow. Then he said in a friendly +voice,-- + +"You are an incorrigible pessimist, my dear minister; what could you +require more? Are we not at this moment the umpire of Europe?" + +"An umpire, sire," said Drouyn de Lhuys inexorably, "who does not yet +know whether the contending parties will accept his award. The best +umpire is he who throws his sword into the balance, of which Brennus +the ancestor of the Gauls has given us an example." + +"I might be listening to the most fiery of my marshals, and not to my +Secretary of State and of Foreign Affairs," said the emperor, laughing, +"but to speak gravely, why are you not satisfied? I know that we have +before us many involved and difficult negotiations, but," he added +courteously, "can that alarm you, the experienced statesman, so capable +of finding Ariadne's clue in all such labyrinths? I believe that we +have won the game if we can only bring matters upon the field of long +negotiations. Sudden events are what I most fear. They exclude logic, +combination, and the weapons of the mind." + +Drouyn de Lhuys was silent for a moment, and his eyes rested on the +emperor's face, so much more animated than usual. + +"I know," he then said, "that your majesty loves to tie Gordian knots, +but you forget that we have to do with a man who is apt to hew through +such works of art with his sword, and who has a very sharp sword in his +hand!" + +"But, my dear minister," said the emperor, "you would not have me at +this moment, when my mediation is accepted, step between the two +combatants with my weapon in my hand?" + +"Not in your hand, your majesty," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "but with a +sharp sword by your side. Sire, the moment is grave, the French +mediation cannot be Platonic; your majesty must clearly perceive what +may arise through your intervention." + +"In the first place, that this unpleasant din of cannon in Germany will +cease,--it makes all calm and skilful diplomacy impossible! _Cedant +arma togĉ!_ And, then--but what is your opinion of the situation, and +what do you think we ought to do?" he said, interrupting himself, +whilst his half-closed eyes opened and a full glance from his brilliant +phosphorescent pupils fell upon his minister. + +He seated himself, pointing with his hand to an easy-chair for Drouyn +de Lhuys to occupy. + +"Sire," said the latter, as he sat down, "your majesty must be clear as +to the influence you wish to exercise upon the events that have already +taken place in Germany. Two courses are possible, and with your +permission I will analyze them before your majesty. After the +information we have received from Benedetti, after what Goltz has +imparted to us, it is impossible to imagine that Prussia will entirely +give up the advantages she has procured by the amazing success of her +arms--upon which we must remember the monarchy of Hohenzollern had +staked--perhaps its existence." + +The emperor nodded acquiescence. + +"According to my information, and my conception of Count Bismarck's +character, he will require not only the exclusion of Austria from +German affairs, not only the leadership of Germany at least to the +Main, for Prussia, he will also require an increase of territory, the +annexation of Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony." + +The emperor raised his head. + +"Hesse," he said, "that touches me not. Hanover, I have a great +esteem for King George and sympathise with him, since I knew him at +Baden-Baden; but Hanover is England's affair. Saxony," he said, +slightly twirling the point of his moustache, "that is different; that +touches the traditions of my house. But," he interrupted himself, "go +on." + +"Austria," said Drouyn de Lhuys, calmly continuing the subject, "will +be forced to yield to these demands, for it is in no condition to +continue the war. The army of the south will not return in time, and +upon Hungary, so my agents assure me, there is no reliance to be +placed; it will therefore depend upon the influence of France whether +Prussia obtains what she demands." + +The emperor was silent. + +"Two paths are possible to your majesty in this position of affairs." + +The emperor listened with the greatest interest. + +"One course," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "is for your majesty to say: 'The +German Confederation, as guaranteed by Europe, is dissolved, and all +the German princes have simply become European sovereigns, who are +allies of France. France refuses that the balance of power in Germany +and in Europe should be disturbed, by any change in their possessions +or their sovereign rights.' Your majesty can divide the German +Confederation into a North German and a South German group, the first +to be under the leadership of Prussia, the second under Austria, and +you can forbid all other change. This is the course," added the +minister, "that I should advise your majesty to pursue." + +The emperor bent himself down thoughtfully. + +"And if Prussia rejects this proposal, or rather this award?" he asked. + +"Then your majesty must march to the Rhine and follow the example of +Brennus," said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"What should I gain?" asked Napoleon. "Would not divided Germany be as +ready to unite against France, perhaps more strongly organized in two +parts, as was ever the old German Confederation? And the other course?" +he then asked. + +"If your majesty will not follow the path I have pointed out," said +Drouyn de Lhuys, "then, in my opinion, France must act towards Germany +as she acted towards Italy. She must allow events to take their natural +course, she must consent to an entire or partial national union beneath +Prussia, and to the territorial acquisitions of Prussia,--and she must +demand on her part compensation." + +The eyes of the emperor lighted up. + +"And what compensation would you demand?" he asked. + +"Benedetti maintains," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that in Berlin they are +much inclined to give us possession of Belgium." + +The emperor nodded approval. + +"I do not," added the minister, "approve this policy; we shall gain +little as far as military position is concerned, and we shall be +burdened with great complications towards England." + +The emperor shrugged his shoulders slightly. + +"But Belgium is French," he said. + +"Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "by the same right Alsace is German." + +"Ah! bah!" exclaimed the emperor, involuntarily. "But," said he, "where +would you seek compensation?" + +"Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "if the military and political unity +of Germany is consolidated under the leadership of Prussia its new +power will be very dangerous to France, dangerous to our influence, +yes, even to our safety. We must therefore on our side demand +guarantees against an aggressive policy from newly constituted Germany. +In the next place," he added, as the emperor remained silent, "we must +demand, as is only right and moderate, the extension of the French +boundaries as established by the Congress of 1814." + +The emperor bowed his head with animation. + +"Then, sire," continued Drouyn de Lhuys, as he fixed his keen eyes upon +the emperor, "we must demand Luxembourg and Mayence." + +"That is much," said the emperor, without looking up. + +"But not too much!" returned Drouyn de Lhuys. "Luxembourg too is only a +question between us and Holland, and only the silent consent of Prussia +will be needed. Mayence--well, they may demur about that, but it is +better to ask more than you positively intend to take. That is my idea +of compensation," he added after a short pause. + +"And it is mine," said the emperor, rising; and with his slow halting +gait he took several turns about the room. + +He stood still before Drouyn do Lhuys, who had also risen, and said,-- + +"I regret, my dear minister, that I cannot decide upon following the +first course you pointed out; since you consider it the right one." + +"I pointed out the second as the best alternative," said Drouyn de +Lhuys; "and although I should have preferred the former, I fully +approve of the second." + +"Give me the second," said the emperor, "let Herr von Bismarck unite +Germany as well as he can, and let us strengthen the power of France as +much as possible. Write to Benedetti at once, order him to go to +head-quarters and to negotiate at first a simple suspension of arms; +let us first quiet those cannon and make room for calm diplomacy. Let +him then raise the question of compensation in a confidential +conversation with Herr von Bismarck, and suggest Luxembourg and +Mayence." + +Drouyn de Lhuys bowed. + +"But without engaging himself too much, without stating any ultimatum. +I will keep my hand free," said the emperor with animation. + +"Our interests can only be preserved, sire," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "if +our attitude is decided, and our speech firm." + +"They shall be so," cried the emperor; "but we must not begin with the +ultimatum. Let Benedetti sound, and skilfully discover how his +proposals are received." + +"And what will your majesty say to Austria?" asked Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"That we are taking the greatest pains to make the peace as favourable +as possible, and to preserve the territorial possessions and the +European position of Austria. We must," he added, "advise Vienna to be +ready to continue the war in case we are unsuccessful, for who knows +what turn affairs may take, and, besides, a firm attitude on the part +of Austria, and an increase of the difficulties Prussia finds on that +side, can only be favourable to us." + +"I am quite of your majesty's opinion, and I shall write in this spirit +to the Duke de Gramont immediately. I must now mention to your majesty +that Herr von Beust has arrived and requests an audience." + +"Beust, the Saxon minister?" asked the emperor with surprise. + +"He arrived in Paris this morning, and was with me before I came here," +said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"And what does he want?" enquired Napoleon. + +"To call upon your majesty to protect Saxony." + +"I will see him," said Napoleon after a short pause; "but without +ceremonial." + +"That is also the wish of Herr von Beust, your majesty." + +"Beg him to announce himself through Colonel Favé, who is on duty. I +will instruct the colonel to bring him without exciting observation." + +"Very well, sire. To-day or to-morrow I expect Prince Reuss, who is +sent by the King of Prussia with letters to your majesty from +head-quarters at Pardubitz." + +"From where?" asked the emperor. + +"Pardubitz, sire," repeated Drouyn de Lhuys, pronouncing the word very +distinctly. + +"What a name!" cried Napoleon. "And do you know what he brings?" + +"The conditions of peace," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "without their +previous acceptance the King of Prussia will conclude no armistice. So +says Count Goltz, who informed me of the prince's coming by a +telegram." + +"And were these conditions known to Count Goltz?" asked the emperor +further. + +"From his previous and general instructions I take it they were the +same as I have already imparted to your majesty,--Austria's exclusion +from Germany, the leadership of Prussia, and the annexation of the +territory lying between the separate portions of Prussia," returned +Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"Then his arrival will alter nothing in our policy," said the emperor. +"We will await him." + +"Permit me once more to draw your majesty's attention to the fact," +said Drouyn de Lhuys, in an impressive tone, as he fixed his +penetrating eyes upon the emperor, "that whatever policy France may +adopt, our interests cannot be preserved unless our language is very +firm, and our attitude decided." + +"It shall be so," said the emperor, "in the groundwork of the plan; the +form of negotiation must nevertheless be circumspect. Impress this upon +Benedetti." + +"We have the greater reason to be firm," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "because +a new difficulty is arising for Prussia, which will make the court at +Berlin all the more anxious to arrange affairs with us. An article from +the official journal of St. Petersburg has been sent to me, in which it +is stated that the suspension of arms would lead to a definite +reconciliation, if there was not someone in Germany who thought himself +strong enough to compel Europe to consent to his German conquests, +forgetting that there still existed sovereigns in Europe whose united +forces could prevent the balance of power from being an idle word." + +And Drouyn de Lhuys drew a newspaper from his portfolio, and handed it +to the emperor. + +He took it, glanced through it hastily, and laid it on the table. + +"That is plain," he said, laughing; "and the address of the warning +cannot be doubtful." + +"Baron Talleyrand maintains this article is the expression of the +opinion of the court party," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "and that, although +the emperor and Prince Gortschakoff are reserved, they regard the +catastrophe now taking place in Germany with the greatest interest." + +"Excellent, excellent!" cried the emperor. "Instruct Talleyrand to +foster this feeling as much as possible. He must," said he, after a +thoughtful pause, "point out especially that the interests of Russia +and France are identical in preventing Germany from concentrating her +military power in the hand of Prussia." + +"I have prepared an instruction to that effect, sire," said Drouyn de +Lhuys, "since I thought I foresaw such an intention on the part of your +majesty." + +"And," said the emperor, as if seized by a sudden thought; but he broke +off quickly, and said, laughingly,-- + +"You see, my dear minister, how everything unites in placing the +threads of the European situation again in our hands: we have all the +advantages of a victorious battle, without a shot having been fired, or +one Frenchman having been sent out of the world." + +"I shall be glad if all comes to a favourable end," replied Drouyn de +Lhuys, as he closed his portfolio. + +"And do not forget," said the emperor, in a gracious tone, repeating +his minister's words, "that our language must be firm, and our attitude +decided." + +He held out his hand to his minister. + +"I may then send Herr von Beust here immediately?" said Drouyn de +Lhuys, preparing to go. + +"Do so," said the emperor; "and as soon as anything fresh arises, I +expect you." + +With an engaging smile, he made one step towards the door, through +which, with a low bow, Drouyn de Lhuys withdrew. + +The emperor walked thoughtfully several times up and down his cabinet. +Then he went to the portière, which concealed the private stairs, and +called,-- + +"Piétri." + +He appeared immediately. + +"Have you seen this article from the 'Journal de St.-Pétersbourg'?" +asked the emperor, handing his secretary the paper he had received from +Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"I have," replied Piétri, after glancing at it hastily; "I had it ready +to present to your majesty." + +"All goes on excellently," said the emperor, rubbing his hands. "We +must increase this difficulty arising for the victor of Königgrätz in +the East as much as possible. I have ordered Talleyrand to dwell upon +the identity of the French and Russian interests." + +Piétri bowed. + +The emperor slightly turned the points of his moustache. + +"You might write to him quite confidentially," he proceeded, "saying +that there is no intention of allowing the idea to transpire hastily; +but that since 1854 and 1856, the European situation has much changed, +and that now an understanding between France and Russia upon the +Eastern question would, perhaps, be possible and desirable. Should a +common policy facilitate the arrangement of the German difficulty, a +revision of the Treaty of Paris would probably not be refused here. But +this must be quite private," he said, with emphasis, "engaging us to +nothing, and in the strictest confidence." + +"Very good, it shall be done at once," said Piétri. + +"Sire," he said, after waiting for a moment, during which the emperor +was silent, "Herr Klindworth is here, and wishes to see your majesty." + +"Klindworth?" cried the emperor, laughing, "that old stormy petrel +could not keep out of a crisis which has raised such a tempest in +European policy. What does he want?" + +"He comes from Vienna, and wants to impart to your majesty much that is +interesting." + +"He is always interesting, and he often has clever ideas," cried the +emperor. "Bring him here at once." + +Piétri ran down the steps, and returned in a few moments with +States-Chancellor Klindworth, who appeared from behind the dark, heavy +portière, which the private secretary closed again after his entrance. + +The emperor and Klindworth were alone. The latter stood in the same +attitude, the same brown coat, and the same white cravat as in the +cabinet of Francis Joseph. With downcast eyes he waited, after a low +bow, for the emperor to speak. + +"Welcome, dear Herr Klindworth," said Napoleon, in his peculiarly +winning and fascinating way, "come and sit near me, that we may talk of +these wonderful and stormy events which have so disturbed the peace of +the whole world." + +He sank again into his arm-chair, and Klindworth, taking in the +expression of the emperor's countenance with a hasty glance, seated +himself opposite. + +Napoleon opened a small étui, twirled up a large cigarette of Turkish +tobacco with great dexterity, and lighted it at the wax taper on the +table beside him. + +"I am glad," said Klindworth, "to see your majesty looking so well and +cheerful, in the midst of these great catastrophes. His majesty Francis +Joseph will be much rejoiced when I tell him of your majesty's +excellent health.'' + +"You come from the Emperor Francis Joseph?" said Napoleon, with aroused +attention. + +"You know, sire," said Klindworth, folding his hands over his breast, +"I am no ambassador; I represent nothing. I am only old Klindworth, who +has the good fortune to be honoured by the confidence of those in the +very highest positions, and who uses his healthy old wits in the +diplomatic world, endeavouring to set straight what inexperienced folly +has set crooked." + +The emperor laughed, whilst he blew a thick cloud from his cigarette. + +"And do you come to correct a little of the folly that goes on in the +Tuileries?" he then asked. + +"If your majesty speaks of the Tuileries I must be silent," said +Klindworth, "but if you speak of the Quai d'Orsay, I shall not say no; +there they can always do with a little good advice." + +The emperor laughed still more. "Well," he said, "what advice would you +give to the Quai d'Orsay? Perhaps I can support it." + +A rapid glance shot from the eyes of the states-chancellor. He lightly +tapped the fingers of the right hand upon the back of the left, and +said,-- + +"I would recall to your majesty's ministers and diplomatists the old +formula: Videant consoles ne quid detrimenti capiat respublica!" + +The emperor immediately grew grave; his quick, brilliant eyes were +suddenly raised from beneath their drooping lids, and fixed with a +burning expression upon Klindworth, who sat before him without moving a +muscle. Then he leant back in his arm-chair, blew from him a thick +cloud of smoke, and asked in a quiet tone,-- + +"Do you think, then, that things are so bad? Now that the emperor has +determined to evacuate Venetia all his forces will be free, and the +fortune of war may change." + +"I do not believe it will change, sire," said Klindworth, calmly, "and +according to my opinion, your majesty must take heed lest your defeat +should bring upon you still worse consequences." + +"My defeat?" inquired Napoleon, drawing himself up proudly, whilst his +moustache glided through his fingers. + +"Sire, Königgrätz was as great a defeat to France as to Austria." + +The emperor was silent. + +"Does your majesty think," continued Klindworth, "it added to the +prestige of France--and to imperial France prestige is needful--that +without her concurrence all European affairs should be turned upside +down, that a great Prusso-German military monarchy should arise, +without France's interference? The cabinets of Europe will thus learn +to arrange their own matters without heeding France, and your majesty +can conceive better than I, what effect this will produce upon the +French nation." + +The emperor considered. Then he said, calmly and gravely: "What does +the Emperor Francis Joseph intend to do, and what does he expect of +me?" + +Klindworth showed not the least surprise at this suddenly direct +question, and at the different tone it gave to the conversation. + +"The emperor," said he, "is determined to fight to the last. He hopes, +by the withdrawal of the southern army, to gain the necessary strength +to resume action; he hopes Hungary----" + +The emperor slightly shook his head. + +"He hopes," continued Klindworth, "that the armistice will give him +time to reassemble his forces, and that the Prussian demands will be so +exorbitant as to render peace impossible. He expects that your majesty +will march to the Rhine, that Austria will be freed from her +difficulties, and Prussia hurled from the height upon which the victory +of Königgrätz has placed her." + +The emperor was silent for a moment. + +"Will there not be difficulties," he then said, without looking up, "in +the fulfilment of these numerous hopes?" + +"If your majesty sees them," returned Klindworth, "they are certainly +there." + +"And do you not see them?" asked the emperor. + +"Sire," replied Klindworth, "I received orders to urge your majesty to +hasty action with an armed hand. That is my commission; if your majesty +will give me an answer, I will, if you command me, tell you my +opinion." + +"You define sharply," said the emperor, laughing. "Well," he proceeded +slowly, turning his cigarette between his fingers, "I will speak +without reserve. The emperor may rest assured that I regard a strong +Austria absolutely necessary to peace and the balance of power in +Europe, and that I will prevent Austria's displacement from her +European position with the whole force of France, if needful. I do not, +however, believe that this supreme moment has yet come, and I might do +more harm than good by an armed interference, for at this moment there +is no reason for pushing the German question into a European crisis." + +Klindworth listened attentively, accompanying with an inclination of +the head each word, as it was slowly uttered by the emperor. + +"Your majesty wishes to wait," he then said, "and to keep your hand +free as long as possible, but you will prevent any alienation of +territory from Austria itself." + +The emperor slightly bent his head. + +"But one circumstance must by no means be excluded from our +arrangements," he said; "every effort must be made in Vienna to alter +the military position in Austria's favour." + +"I understand perfectly, sire," said the states-chancellor. + +"Well, now, my dear Herr Klindworth," said the emperor, throwing away +the remains of his cigarette into a small china vase, and preparing a +fresh one with the greatest care and attention, "you will tell me your +opinion, since you have heard my intentions." + +And he bent his head slightly to one side, and looked at Klindworth +attentively. + +"My opinion, sire, is that you are perfectly right." + +Surprise was seen on the emperor's countenance. + +"Your majesty is perfectly right," repeated Klindworth, looking up with +a quick, watchful glance, "for in the first place," he continued, in a +matter-of-fact tone, "waiting gives you a chance of demanding +compensation for France." + +The emperor's eyelids were almost entirely closed; he had completed his +cigarette, and blew a thick cloud into the air before him. + +"And besides," continued Klindworth, quitting his former remark +completely, and somewhat raising his voice, "your majesty has a double +reason for avoiding a brusque interference, you would benefit France as +well as Austria very little." + +The emperor listened with interest. + +"If your majesty now interferes with an armed hand in the affairs of +Germany," said Klindworth, drumming with his fingers, "two courses are +possible. Prussia may yield, in which case things will remain as they +are. Prussia will only be regarded as the President of the +Confederation, and obtain some small territorial accession; in material +matters she will remain as she was, but an immense moral weapon will +have been placed in her hand. The German people will be told that the +union of Germany has been prevented by France, that Austria has called +in the national enemy, and as in Germany they may now write, read, and +sing what they please, and as the newspapers and books and songs are +made in Berlin, Austria's position amongst the German people would be +morally annihilated, and on some future occasion--perhaps when France +was engaged in some contrary direction--the perfectly ripened fruit +would fall into the hands of the Hohenzollerns." + +The emperor turned his moustache, and nodded approval. + +"But," continued Klindworth, "and the character of her leaders renders +this supposition the most probable, Prussia may not yield, but may +undertake the war notwithstanding its enormous proportions. I fear +then, Herr von Bismarck would succeed in inflaming a national war, and +would lead united Germany against France." + +"Would this be possible with the present feeling of Germany?" asked the +emperor. + +"Sire," said Klindworth, "if moving water will not freeze in winter an +iron bar is thrown in, and the ice-rind forms at once. The sword of +France thrown into the German movement would act like that iron bar, +the waves would be still, and would form into a solid mass." + +"But the South Germans?" asked the emperor--"both the people and the +governments?" + +"They have now lost all hope in Austria," said Klindworth; "they feel +themselves in the power of Prussia; with a few promises, a few kind +words, and a few threats it will not be difficult to gain them over to +her side, for of this I am certain, they only want some reasonable and +honourable excuse to join her." + +The emperor was silent. + +"If, however," said Klindworth with animation, "Prussia at once obtains +what she desires, namely immediate and important accessions of +territory, the complete annexation of Hanover, Hesse, &c.,--if only +sufficient pressure is applied as to enable South Germany to retain its +sovereign independence--the result will not be the union of Germany, +that popular idea of all poets, singers, and beer-drinkers; on the +contrary, it will be its separation, and all the blood that has been +shed will only have been for the aggrandizement of Prussia. Domestic +nationality, that feeling so dear to the German, will be directed +against Prussia, and the national sympathy will turn towards Austria." + +"Will this be possible?" asked the emperor. + +"Certain," replied Klindworth; "if Austria, penetrated by another +spirit, uses with prudent policy those powers which are now once more +so active and potent--alas! that it should be so; but we must work with +what will effect most." + +"That is?" asked the emperor. + +"Sire," said Klindworth, "if Prussia is increased in size by these +annexations, and obtains the leadership in North Germany, she will be +compelled to adopt a strict, unbending government, for the German races +do not easily assimilate. One iron hand will be laid on North Germany, +and the other constantly raised to menace South Germany. Then Austria +must arise with fresh strength, as the shield of individual government, +of independence, and of Liberty." + +Napoleon smiled. + +"Of liberty?" + +"Why not?" cried Klindworth; "severe sicknesses are healed by means of +dangerous poisons." + +"But where is the skilful physician?" asked the emperor, laughing, "who +can administer to sick Austria the proper dose of this poison? Count +Mensdorff or Metternich?" + +"I think I have found this physician," said Klindworth, gravely, +without appearing perplexed. + +The groom of the chambers entered. + +"Colonel Favé is in the ante-room, sire." + +The emperor rose. + +"In one moment," he said. + +Klindworth stood up and came nearer to the emperor. + +"This physician," he said, in a low voice, "is von Beust." + +Puzzled and amazed, the emperor gazed at him. + +"Beust!" he cried, "the Protestant! Do you believe that the +emperor----" + +"I do believe it," said Klindworth; "but at all events, Herr von Beust +is here; your majesty can sound him for yourself, and see whether my +opinion is well founded." + +He fixed his sharp eyes longer and more firmly than before upon the +emperor, with a penetrating glance. + +Napoleon smiled. + +"He who plays with you," he said, "must lay his cards upon the table. +Wait with Piétri; I will see you again after I have spoken with your +physician upon the future of Austria." + +A smile of contentment played round the states-chancellor's thick lips, +as with a low bow he withdrew through the portière. + +The emperor rang. + +"Colonel Favé!" + +The colonel, a thin man of middle height, with short black hair, and a +small moustache, dressed in a black overcoat, half soldier, half +courtier in manner, appeared at the door. He held it open for the +minister of Saxony to enter, and he then withdrew. + +Herr von Beust wore a grey overcoat, of some light summer material, +thrown back from over his black coat, upon which sparkled the white +star of the Legion of Honour. His slightly grey hair was carefully +curled and arranged; his wide black trousers almost concealed the small +foot in its well-fitting boot. His fine intellectual countenance, with +its almost transparent complexion, eloquent mouth, and lively bright +eyes, was paler than usual, and the amiable, winning smile was entirely +gone. A melancholy expression was seen on his lips, and his whole face +showed nervous anxiety. + +He approached the emperor with the grace of a distinguished courtier, +and bowed in silence. + +Napoleon went to meet him with his fascinating smile, and held out his +hand to him. + +"However sorrowful may be the occasion," he said in a gentle voice, "I +rejoice to see the most reliable and talented statesman in Germany." + +"The most unhappy, sire," said von Beust sadly. + +"They only are unhappy who have lost hope," replied the emperor, +seating himself, and pointing out a chair to Herr von Beust, with a +movement full of graceful courtesy. + +"Sire, I have come to hear from your majesty's lips if I may still +hope, and bid my sovereign do the same?" + +The emperor's fingers glided over the points of his moustache. + +"Tell me," he then said, "your views on events in Germany. I am anxious +to have them pictured by your mouth, the mouth of a master of narrative +and description," he added, with a gracious smile and a slight +inclination of the head. + +Beust's pale face grew animated. + +"Sire," he said, "I have lost my game! I hoped to have created a new +federal form of national life in Germany; to have repressed within +definite boundaries the ambition of Prussia, and to have established +the German Confederation in renewed power and authority, by enabling it +to carry out freely the developments required by the present times. I +deceived myself; I reckoned without considering the divisions in +Germany, the weakness of Austria. The game is lost," he repeated, +sighing; "but at least Saxony did all in her power to win." + +"And is no lucky change in the game possible?" asked the emperor. + +"I believe not," said von Beust; "in Vienna they still hope much from +the southern army--from resuming the offensive. I do not believe in all +that. A state does not easily recover from such a blow as Königgrätz, +even if its inner life has not the stagnation, and has not fallen into +the indolence, of Austria. Prussia is the victor in Germany, and will +seize a victor's rights with an iron hand, if not restrained by a +powerful veto." + +His keen eyes were raised inquiringly to the emperor. + +"And you think that I ought to pronounce this veto--that I can?" asked +Napoleon. + +"Sire," replied von Beust, "I speak to your majesty as minister of +Saxony, as servant to my unhappy monarch, who is threatened with the +loss of the inheritance of his ancestors, as far as it still remains to +him." + +"Do you think," interrupted the emperor, "that in Prussian +head-quarters they mean seriously to disinherit the German princes?" + +"The incorporation of Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony is determined upon, +sire," said Herr von Beust with decision; "and," he continued, slightly +shrugging his shoulders, "they laid high stakes upon the game in +Berlin--it is perhaps natural that they should not be satisfied with +the stakes alone, but make use of the advantage with regard to the +future. But," he added after a moment's pause, "Hanover and Hesse +divide the Prussian dominions, Saxony, on the contrary, separates +Prussia from Austria and prevents continual friction; above all, +Hanover and Hesse pursued a path of their own; with regard to the real +interests of Germany they remained coldly passive; even when war was +unavoidable they concluded no alliance with Austria--if fate overtakes +them, they must in great measure ascribe it to themselves. To uphold +Saxony, however, is a question of honour for Austria, and," he +proceeded, looking full at the emperor, "perhaps for France also, for +imperial France, for the heir to Napoleon the First's power and glory." + +The emperor bent his head and slowly stroked his moustache. + +"Sire," continued von Beust, whilst a tinge of red flushed his pale +face, and with his eyes still fixed upon the emperor, "when the power +of your great-uncle was shattered by the hand of fate at Leipsic--when +so many whom he had raised up and made great forsook him, the King of +Saxony stood beside him, a true friend, an ally in misfortune. And +heavy penance he had to do for his truth, with half his lands he paid +for his allegiance to his imperial friend. The emperor never forgot it, +and even in St. Helena he remembered his noble confederate with emotion +and grief." + +The emperor bent his head lower and lower. Herr von Beust continued in +a louder voice:-- + +"Now, sire, the heir of that prince who was true to your great +predecessor in his misfortunes[2] is in danger of losing those +possessions of his house that he still retains; King John, who has +always been your majesty's sincere friend, is in danger of being driven +from the inheritance of his forefathers: and not he, sire, I, his +servant--who need not like himself regard royal delicacy of feeling--I +ask your majesty, will the heir of the power, the glory, and the name +of that great Titan, silently suffer the descendant of his last and +truest friend, his friend in need and danger, to be dethroned and +banished?" + +Herr von Beust ceased and gazed in breathless anxiety at the emperor. + +Napoleon raised his head. His eyes were open. His pupils shone large +and clear in dazzling brightness, a peculiar expression of pride and +dignity was on his brow, a soft melancholy smile upon his lips. + +"Sir," he said, in a low, metallic voice, "the friends of my uncle are +my friends, to the third and fourth generation, and no prince shall +repent having stood by the emperor's side in misfortune whilst I grasp +the sword of France! You have saved Saxony," he added, with his +gracious smile. "Tell the king your master that he shall return to his +dwelling and his kingdom. I give you my word as an emperor." + +With a movement in which the dignity of the sovereign was combined with +the graceful courtesy of the man of the world, he held out his hand to +Herr von Beust. + +He seized it with veneration, whilst he rose quickly and exclaimed,-- + +"If the spirit of the great emperor can look down upon earth, sire, at +this moment he must smile, well pleased, upon your majesty. You prove +that his friendship still weighs heavily in the scale of the fate of +Europe." + +A short pause ensued. The emperor was thoughtful. Beust had again +seated himself, and waited. + +"You believe, then," said the emperor at last, "that success is +impossible for Austria?" + +"I have urged them strongly in Vienna," said von Beust, sighing, "to do +all that they can--to make the utmost exertions, but I fear it will be +in vain. The state machinery of Austria has grown rusty, and it would +be hard even for a master spirit to set it in motion. The master spirit +is not there, and," he added sadly, "is no longer to be found in the +home of Kaunitz and Metternich." + +"Then he must be imported," said the emperor. + +The eyes of the Saxon minister, full of surprise and admiration, were +fixed enquiringly upon the emperor's face, which had resumed its usual +calm and reserved expression. + +"Do you believe," said Napoleon, "that it would be impossible to +regenerate Austria if the master spirit who is wanted were found?" + +"Impossible!" cried von Beust; "certainly not. Austria has immense +interior power, only the nerve is wanting to move it." + +"You have during your political life thought out so much, and with such +great success," said the emperor kindly, with a slight inclination of +the head, "that you must have considered how best this slumbering power +might be aroused--inspired with life?" + +A sudden brilliancy shone in the eyes of Herr von Beust. + +"Sire," he said with animation, "the first and deepest cause of +Austria's weakness lies in this--her own strength binds her, one half +of the monarchy watches the other half, and holds it in check. Hungary, +with her great military power, with her rich, inexhaustible +productiveness, lies dead; and instead of inspiring her with life, +Vienna carefully excludes all political life from that country. In this +crisis, for example, Hungary alone could save all that is lost; but +they will not speak the inspiring word, for this word is, 'Freedom and +National Independence;' and at this word all the dusty old acts in the +state repositories tremble, and the dusty men tremble still more! And +in the interior of the monarchy, in Austria itself, a stiff bureaucracy +represses every sign of life amongst the people; and where the people +do not feel, do not think, do not co-operate in public life, they are +incapable of making great sacrifices and heroic efforts to uphold and +to save the state. Oh!" he went on, with still greater animation, "if +Austria could arise in renewed life, if her rich powers could be +developed and strengthened by natural movement, then all would be won +back for Austria and for Germany. If Austria would maintain her moral +place in Germany, if she would undertake the sphere of intellectual +progress, and through this progress allow her material power to arise +afresh, then--and not too late--the day would come when this defeat +would be brilliantly avenged. The formulary to obtain this is simple, +it is this: freedom and independence for Hungary; freedom and public +life for the whole monarchy, the reform of the government, and the +reform of the army! But to adopt and carry out this formulary," he +added, with a melancholy smile, and a slight bend of the head, "a +genius and a will is needed, such as your majesty possesses." + +"You flatter," said the emperor, smiling, and slightly raising his +finger. "At this moment I learn----After the completion of these +events, you will perhaps not continue minister of Saxony?" he then +said. + +"I shall remain at my king's side during the present crisis," said Herr +von Beust. "But then, I think an unsuccessful statesman had better +vanish from the stage." + +"Or," said the emperor, "try his powers in a wider sphere than that +whose narrow boundaries have denied him success." + +He rose. + +Beust stood up, and seized his hat. + +"I hope," said the emperor, "that your views on the regeneration of +Austria may some day be brought to life. In any case, I beg you will +remember that you have a friend here, and that the interests of France +and Austria are one in encouraging the free development of the German +nation, and guaranteeing its national life. Greet your king from me, +and ask him to trust to my word." + +With great emotion, Herr von Beust seized the emperor's proffered hand. + +"Thanks, sire, my warmest thanks," he cried. "Whatever the future may +bring forth, I shall never forget this hour." + +And bowing deeply, he left the cabinet. + +The emperor called Piétri. + +"Is Klindworth there?" he asked. + +"At your command, sire." + +"I beg him to come to me." + +The states-chancellor appeared. + +The emperor advanced towards him with a smile. + +"You are right," he said; "the physician is found who can heal the +sickness of Austria." + +Klindworth bowed. + +"I knew," he said, "that your majesty would agree with me." + +"Try to have the treatment of the case confided to him. You may rely +upon my entire support." + +He thought deeply. + +"And tell the emperor," he then said, "that I will do all in my power +to assist him, as energetically as circumstances permit. Material help, +however, Austria must gain from herself and from the regeneration of +her resources." + +"I understand perfectly, sire," said Klindworth. + +"Keep me _au fait_ as to Herr von Beust." + +Klindworth bowed. + +"May I return?" he asked. + +"You must set to work at once," said the emperor, "for your task is not +an easy one. _Au revoir:_" and he made a friendly movement with his +hand. + +Klindworth vanished behind the portière. + +"The cards are shuffled more and more," said the emperor, as he sank +back comfortably into his arm-chair; "and it is only needful to hold +them with a strong hand, and to look firmly at them, to rule the game. +It will do," he added, supporting his head on his hand, "and at the +same time a wide perspective is opened for the future. If Austria can +truly arise in renewed life--Italy enclosed on both sides--the alliance +is given--Hungary--Poland holds Russia in check----" + +His eyes shone. + +"Well," he said, with a slight smile, "we will wait, in waiting lies my +strength. But a little help prepared beforehand may be useful. Above +all things, I must not forget Saxony." + +He stood up, and called Piétri. + +"Drive to Drouyn de Lhuys," he said, "and desire him, in the +instructions to Benedetti, to give him distinct orders to forbid the +annexation of Saxony in the most decided manner--in the most decided +manner," he repeated with emphasis. + +"At your command, sire." + +"And," asked the emperor, "do you know where General Türr is at this +moment?" + +"With the army in Italy," replied Piétri; "but I can ascertain +precisely immediately." + +"Write to him," said the emperor. "No," interrupting himself, "send a +confidential person. I want to beg him to come here at once." + +Piétri bowed. + +"Through him," said the emperor, speaking half to himself, "I shall +keep my hand a little in Turin and Pesth; that may be important." + +"Has your majesty any other commands?" asked Piétri. + +"No, I thank you," said the emperor; and his private secretary +withdrew. Napoleon leant back comfortably in his arm-chair, and +carefully rolling a fresh cigarette, smoked thick clouds, lost in deep +thought. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + BISMARCK'S DIPLOMACY. + + +The King of Prussia had taken up his head-quarters in the old castle +belonging to the Princes of Dietrichstein at Nickolsburg. A brilliant +and changing picture was displayed in this little town, which from its +quiet seclusion seemed scarcely destined to become the centre of events +so important in the history of the world. + +The king's guard kept watch before the castle, the troops quartered in +the little town moved about the streets in changing groups, marching +columns pushed in between, artillery rattled over the rough pavement, +the varied sounds of the bivouac echoed from without; and all around +there was life and movement. + +The inhabitants stood shyly before the doors, and at the windows which +they had opened again. The fear of the enemy oppressed them, but it +began to be mingled with confidence; these troops belonging to the foe +were not so fearful as they had imagined. Here and there a Prussian +soldier was seen in his weather-stained uniform, with his great wild +beard, talking to a group of peasants who had been driven into the town +for shelter from the burned and wasted villages; he was giving the shy +and frightened children bread or other food, or goodnaturedly offering +to some weak old man, some sick or weary woman, an invigorating sip +from his flask. + +War was here displayed in all its brilliance, in all its dazzling +grandeur; the remembrance of long days and quiet years of peace filling +in the background of the picture. War was here in all its horror, +destroying in one frightful moment the happiness of years, and amidst +the clash of national rights and interests, unchaining the savage +instincts of human nature; but here too bloomed the noblest and purest +flowers of heroism and self-sacrifice. + +If the good-natured cordiality of the enemy's soldiers had done much to +restore the confidence of the inhabitants, it was still more confirmed +by a rumour passing from mouth to mouth, that negotiations for peace +had commenced. Amongst the generals and staff officers who hurried in +and out of the castle, diplomatists were seen in civilian dress; it was +known that the French ambassador had arrived, and that after a short +reception he had travelled on to Vienna. An armistice of five days had +been concluded, and peace hovered in the air, longed for by none more +ardently and sincerely than by the unhappy inhabitants of the countries +where the bloody drama of war was being enacted. + +In the midst of all this noise, of these echoing voices, of all these +signals from drums and trumpets, sat the Prussian minister-president, +Count Bismarck, in the spacious room in which he was quartered. + +In the middle of the room stood a table covered with a dark green +cloth, and piled with heaps of letters and papers. On the floor lay +opened and torn envelopes in wild confusion. A large map of the country +lay spread out upon the table, and before it sat the minister-president +on a plain rush-bottomed chair; on a small table beside him stood a +bottle of bright golden Bohemian beer and a large glass. The window was +open and let in the fresh morning air. + +Count Bismarck wore the uniform of a major of his cuirassier regiment +comfortably unbuttoned, long riding boots, and his sword at his side. + +Baron von Keudell sat opposite to him in the uniform of the Landwehr +cavalry; he was occupied in looking through some letters. + +"Benedetti is long in coming," said the minister, looking up from the +map, in the contemplation of which he had been engrossed for some time; +"they must still be very hopeful in Vienna, or perhaps they wish to +play a double game! Well! they shall not keep us halted here much +longer!" he cried vehemently, filling his glass and emptying it at a +single draught, "standing still here can only injure our position. +Though slow, like everything else in Austria, the army of the south is +advancing nearer and nearer, the cholera too begins to be troublesome. +I regret," he said, after a short silence, "that the king with his +usual moderation gave up the entry into Vienna; there was nothing to +stop us, and Austrian arrogance might have been humbled in the capital +itself. Well! if they do not soon conclude peace, I hope the patience +of our most gracious sovereign will be exhausted!" + +"Is there a despatch from St. Petersburg?" he inquired of Keudell, +suddenly breaking off his reflections. + +"I have just opened a despatch from Count Redern, your excellency," +said Herr von Keudell. + +"Give it to me," cried Count Bismarck; and with a hasty movement he +snatched the paper Herr von Keudell handed him across the table. + +He read it attentively, and the deep silence within the room, where the +breathing of the two men could be plainly heard, made a curious +contrast to the confused noise from without. + +The count threw the writing on the table. + +"It is so," he cried, "a cloud is arising which may cause us painful +embarrassment. Will they do anything there?" he said, half speaking to +himself; "will their displeasure lead to action? I think not; but still +it is very disagreeable. If Austria finds any point of support, she +will apply every lever. St. Petersburg will do nothing for the sake of +Austria; but the necessary alterations in Germany, and this French +mediation with its plans in the background--the situation is difficult +enough, and it will probably give us as much trouble to tear asunder +this spider's web of diplomatic threads as it did to carry the Austrian +lines. At all events this Russian cloud must be dispersed for the +present and the future! For the future will bring us plenty to do," he +said thoughtfully. + +He stood up and paced the room with long strides, thinking deeply and +sometimes moving his lips. The working of his features showed the +mighty struggle of the labouring thoughts that oppressed him. + +At last the force of his will appeared to have brought these +contradictory ideas to order and peace. He gave a sigh of satisfaction, +and walking to the window inhaled long draughts of the fresh air, +widely expanding his broad, powerful chest. + +A secretary of foreign affairs entered. + +The count turned towards him. + +"The Bavarian minister von der Pfordten has arrived, and requests an +interview with your excellency. Here is his letter." + +Count Bismarck hastily seized the small sealed note, opened it and read +the short contents. + +"They all come," he said, with a proud look, "all these mighty hunters, +who had already divided the bear's skin, and now feel his claws. But +they shall not escape from them so easily. Besides, I do not yet see my +way clearly. Tell Herr von der Pfordten," he called out to the +secretary who was waiting, "that you have given me his letter, and that +I will send him my answer." + +The secretary withdrew. + +A few minutes afterwards he returned and said: + +"The French ambassador!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Count Bismarck. + +"Have the goodness, dear Keudell," said Bismarck, after a moment's +thought, "to go to Herr von der Pfordten, and to tell him that I cannot +receive the Bavarian minister, as we are still at war with his country, +but that personally I shall be glad to see him, and to have an +ex-official conversation with him, and that I will soon appoint an hour +for that purpose." + +Herr von Keudell bowed and went out. + +A moment afterwards, at a sign from Bismarck, the secretary opened the +door for the French ambassador. + +Count Bismarck's expression had completely changed. Calm repose and +courtesy were in his face. He stepped forwards to receive the +representative of the Emperor Napoleon, and shook hands with him. + +Monsieur Benedetti presented a remarkable contrast to the powerful form +and firm soldier-like bearing of the Prussian minister. He was somewhat +past fifty, his thin hair had receded from his forehead, and only +sparingly covered the upper part of his head. His smooth beardless face +was one of those physiognomies whose age it is difficult to discover, +as when young they look older, when old, younger, than they really are. +It would have been difficult to say what characteristic, what +individuality, such features could express, nothing was seen beyond a +calm expression of receptive and intelligent sensibility to every +impression; what lay behind this gentle courteous exterior it was +impossible to discover. His eyes were bright and candid, apparently +careless and indifferent, it was only by the rapid and keen glance with +which he occasionally took in every circumstance around him, that he +betrayed the lively interest that really actuated him. His face told +nothing, expressed nothing, and yet one perceived involuntarily that +behind this nothing lay something, carefully concealed. + +He was of middle height, and the bearing of his slender figure was +elegant, in his movements he was as animated as an Italian, as pliant +and elastic as an Oriental, his light summer clothes were extremely +simple, but notwithstanding the journey from which he had just +returned, they were of spotless freshness. + +"I have been expecting you with impatience," said Count Bismarck, +fixing his penetrating steel-grey eyes upon the ambassador's calm face. +"What did you find in Vienna? do you bring peace?" + +"At least I bring the beginning. I bring the acceptance of the +preliminaries as proposed by the emperor." + +"Ah! they decided thus in Vienna?" cried Count Bismarck. + +"I have had a difficult job," said Benedetti, "for it was far from easy +to gain Austria's consent." + +Count Bismarck shrugged his shoulders. + +"What can they hope for?" he cried; "do they prefer to await us in +Vienna?" + +"They hope much from the southern army, from a great military rising in +Hungary," said the ambassador. + +"Perhaps too for a new John Sobieski?" asked Bismarck, with a slight +smile. + +"And I must really own," continued Benedetti calmly, "that I was not in +a position to deny the justice of these hopes." + +Count Bismarck looked at him amazed and enquiringly. + +"Two-thirds of the southern army," said Benedetti, "stand in the +immediate vicinity of Vienna, the Prater is turned into a bivouac, and +the fortified camp at Floridsdorf could make a strong resistance; the +troops of the southern army are full of confidence from recent victory, +and are inspired with the best dispositions, the Arch-Duke Albert is a +general of great determination, and the chief of his general staff, +Lieutenant Field-Marshal von John, an officer of fine and quick +intelligence." + +Count Bismarck listened in silence. A scarcely perceptible smile played +round his lips. + +"And Hungary?" he asked negligently. + +"Negotiations have been carried on with Count Andrassy and the Deak +party, and if they will but grant a self-constituted government, and +agree to the arming of the Honveds, a mighty rising may be expected in +Hungary." + +"_If_ they grant it," said Count Bismarck. "Hungary has been often +deceived, besides our troops have been before Presburg ever since the +battle of Blumenau, and have only _not_ taken it on account of the +armistice. The key of Hungary is in our hands." + +"They are persuaded in Vienna," proceeded Benedetti, "that the Prussian +army has suffered greatly in the various engagements, and also from +sickness." + +"We suffer most from standing still," cried Bismarck vehemently. + +"For all these reasons," said the ambassador quietly, "it was not easy +to gain Austria's consent to the peace programme drawn up by my +sovereign. It was very hard to the emperor Francis Joseph to agree to +the exclusion of Austria from Germany. At last he yielded to the urgent +representations I made in the name of the emperor, and that he might no +longer expose Austria to the chances and burdens of war, and no longer +endanger the peace of Europe, the emperor of Austria at last accepted +the programme." + +Count Bismarck bit his moustache. + +"This programme is now definite, with the consent of Austria?" he +asked. He invited the ambassador to be seated by a movement of the +hand, and took a chair opposite to him. + +"Nothing has been altered," replied Monsieur Benedetti, "the integrity +of Austria, but its exclusion from Germany as newly constituted; the +formation of a North German Union under the military leadership of +Prussia; the right of the southern states to form an independent +confederated union, but the maintenance of a national connexion between +North and South Germany, which connexion is to be determined by a free +and general consent of the various states." + +As the ambassador slowly and distinctly repeated this programme Count +Bismarck accompanied each phrase with a quick nod of approval, whilst +he slightly clasped the fingers of both his hands. + +"Those are the rules laid down for the position of Austria, and for our +own position in Germany," he said, "as we before agreed. As the +foundation of the negotiations, since Austria accepts them, they +suffice, but as the basis of a definite peace a further understanding +is needful. Peace with Austria does not affect and must not affect our +proceedings with regard to the other German states with whom we are at +war." + +"Austria leaves each of these states to conclude its own peace," said +Benedetti. + +"To conclude peace!" cried Count Bismarck. "These governments would be +willing enough to conclude peace now, and on the first opportunity to +begin the game afresh!" + +After a short pause he continued in a calm voice: + +"Some days ago the king imparted to the emperor your sovereign by +telegraph, that a certain addition to the power of Prussia through +acquisitions of territory had become needful. You have lived among +us," he continued, "and you well know the stake Prussia had placed on +this war, the sacrifices that have been made to carry it on, the +wounds which war has inflicted on the country. The Prussian people +expect--demand, a reward for their sacrifices, since victory has +decided in our favour: they demand, and rightly, that the blood of +Prussian soldiers, the sons of the people, shall not have been shed in +vain, and that the state of things shall be definitely done away with, +which always has caused and always would engender strife. Those +vexatious boundaries which make Prussia's geographical position, and +her unity, so difficult, which neither natural nor political +considerations permit, must be removed--removed for ever. Prussia, +rightly to fulfil and powerfully to carry out the position assigned to +her in Germany by the peace basis, must before all things be thoroughly +strong and more homogeneous. The incorporation of Hanover, Hesse, and +Saxony is needful, firmly and indissolubly to connect the two halves of +the monarchy, and to secure it against Austria in a military point of +view." + +Not a feature of the ambassador's smooth face changed. + +"I find it only natural that the Prussian people should wish to pluck +the richest fruits of a war in which _their whole force_," he said, +with a slight emphasis, "was sent to the battle-field. But the wishes +of the people are often different from the views of princes and +governments. You are as much convinced as myself," he continued, in a +lower voice, "that every period has its peculiar political maxims and +views. To-day, for example, they are different from what they were in +the time of Frederick the Great; it was then held right to keep what +you had taken. At that time interests and demands were not so moderate +as at present." + +A slight frown appeared between Count Bismarck's eyebrows. + +"Well," he said, with a smile, and in a calm voice, "I think Frederick +the Great found it not so easy to keep what he had taken; that +political maxim was practised on a large scale in the beginning of the +present century by Napoleon I." + +"That was the great fault of the founder of our imperial dynasty," said +Benedetti, "at last it armed the whole of Europe against him; I am able +to say this candidly, when I reflect on the wise moderation the +emperor, my sovereign, has ever shown, when at the head of victorious +armies, and the care with which he has avoided this mistake of his +great uncle." + +Count Bismarck looked for a moment thoughtfully before him. + +"You know," he then said, with perfect frankness, "how important I deem +our good understanding with France; the emperor knows it too, and +particularly at this moment I would on no account even _appear_ to have +neglected the wishes or interests of France, or to have refused her +advice. The good understanding of Prussia,--of Germany with France, the +adjustment of the political requirements and necessities on both sides, +the peaceful and friendly intercourse between the two countries, is in +my opinion the first condition, for the peace and balance of power in +Europe. Let us then discuss the situation calmly and with perfect +candour. I can only repeat to you," he said, raising his piercing eyes +and fixing them upon the ambassador, "that the increase of Prussia's +power by the acquisition of the hostile states appears to me an +absolute necessity. Do you think," he proceeded, "that the emperor will +deem it needful for the interests of France to oppose these +acquisitions?" + +Benedetti hesitated for a moment before answering this direct question. + +"The emperor has already," he then said, "recognized the necessity of +arrangements for uniting the two separate halves of the Prussian +monarchy, and this necessity I feel convinced he would now be less +inclined than ever to deny. Whether the complete annexation of German +states, whose rights were guaranteed by the rest of Europe, is +absolutely needful, must be a matter of opinion, but I do not think the +emperor will have any other view than for you to carry out your own +ideas, and if he does not share, he will not contradict them." + +Count Bismarck bowed his head approvingly. + +"As to Saxony," added Benedetti. + +The Prussian minister looked at him anxiously and expectantly. + +"With regard to Saxony," said the ambassador, "I found a strong +determination in Austria to maintain its territorial integrity; it is +held to be a duty to a confederate who has fought with Austria on the +same battlefields." + +Bismarck bit his lip. + +"I believe," added Benedetti, "that the Emperor Francis Joseph is +resolved to carry on the war to the last gasp rather than yield to this +condition." + +Count Bismarck was silent for a moment. + +"And how does France, how does the emperor Napoleon regard this +resolution on the part of--Austria?" he asked, with a firm look and a +slight smile. + +"I believe I may affirm that the emperor entirely shares the wishes of +Austria with regard to Saxony," said Benedetti. + +"Seriously?" asked Count Bismarck. + +"Most seriously," replied the ambassador calmly. + +"Very good!" exclaimed Bismarck; "the incorporation of Saxony is not so +absolute a necessity to us, as those states are which divide our +territory. I will inform the king of the wishes of the Emperor +Napoleon, and Austria, with regard to Saxony, and I will support them. +Saxony will of course be added to the independent states in the North +German Union." + +"That is an interior affair belonging to the new organization of +Germany," said Benedetti, "in which the emperor has not the slightest +wish to intermeddle." + +"So then the programme as you have just repeated it may be looked upon +as a definite peace basis, with this addition, that Austria agrees to +accept all the alterations in North Germany which the territorial +acquisitions may necessitate, namely, the incorporation of Hanover, +Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, and Frankfort." + +The calm face of the ambassador showed some surprise. + +"I do not remember that we ever spoke of Nassau and Frankfort." + +"They are needful for the complete adjustment of our frontier, that is +to say, if we give up Saxony," said Bismarck. + +Benedetti was silent. + +"Negotiations for peace may then be begun upon this basis?" asked the +Prussian minister, with an enquiring glance at the ambassador. + +"I see no further difficulty," said the latter, "and," he added, +without any particular emphasis, "the adjustment of the interests of +new Germany and of France will be easily arranged through the spirit of +moderation and _prévenance_ shown by our emperor, and with which you +too and your sovereign have proved you are inspired." + +Count Bismarck gazed deeply and searchingly into the expressionless +eyes of the French diplomatist; he appeared carefully to weigh every +word. + +"And how do you think that these interests will be affected by the new +arrangements? how do you think they can be adjusted?" + +Benedetti leant back a little in his chair, and then said,-- + +"I think you will acknowledge the readiness with which the Emperor +Napoleon has accepted the incorporation of the German states by +Prussia, although--I must repeat this--it was not in accordance with +his ideas, and perhaps might occasion serious misconceptions in other +European cabinets." + +"What power would find anything against it," cried Bismarck, "if France +agreed?" + +"England, perhaps, with regard to Hanover," said Benedetti. + +Bismarck shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps Russia," continued the ambassador. "The Emperor Alexander, +with his views on legitimacy and monarchical rights, would hardly +approve of the disinheriting of dynasties." + +Count Bismarck was silent. + +"I mention this only incidentally," said Benedetti; "nevertheless I +think it is greatly to your interest to act completely in accordance +with France, and I believe that you will not be unwilling to +acknowledge the Emperor Napoleon's friendship, nor to own that on our +side certain territorial modifications are needful on our frontier, to +maintain the balance of power and thus cement a lasting friendship." + +The slight cloud which at the ambassador's first words had appeared on +Count Bismarck's brow, not unobserved by the speaker, quickly vanished; +his countenance assumed calm indifference, and with obliging courtesy +he asked,-- + +"And can you impart to me the emperor's views as to these territorial +modifications?" + +"_My_ views," replied Benedetti, with a slight emphasis, "are, that in +consequence of the important alterations in Germany it will be needful +for France, entirely from military considerations, to demand certain +compensations. You will not deny that the boundaries given to France in +1815 are neither in accordance with her natural nor her military +requirements, nor that the restoration of the frontier given in 1814 by +victorious Europe to defeated France, is a moderate and just demand +from a powerful France who has just consented in so ready and friendly +a spirit to immense accessions of strength for victorious Prussia." + +Count Bismarck remained silent, and the courteous, smiling expression +of his face did not change for a moment. + +"You will," pursued Benedetti, "find it only reasonable that the +emperor should wish to include in the extended or rather restored +frontier of France, Luxembourg, which from its natural position and +language belongs to as, and which in a military point of view is so +needful, to secure us from the increased power of Germany threatening +us from the Rhine fortresses. You must forgive me," he said, smiling; +"we must remember that a time may come when the respective governments +of Paris and Berlin are not so peaceful and friendly as at present. +These arrangements will not be difficult; the King of Holland, who +cannot set great store upon this loosely-bound province, will be +doubtless willing to part with it for an indemnification." + +Still Count Bismarck was silent, smiling, and cheerful. + +"Finally," said Benedetti--Count Bismarck raised his head and listened +attentively--"finally, as a key to her defensive position, France must +demand--I speak of possible disputes, doubtless far distant--France +must demand possession of Mayence." + +The count's eyes flashed. He rose quickly and drew himself up to his +full height, his gigantic form panting with indignation. Benedetti +slowly followed his example. + +"I would rather vanish for ever from the political arena," cried the +Prussian minister, "than yield Mayence." + +He paced the room with hasty strides. + +Benedetti stood motionless. His calm eyes followed the count's vehement +movements. + +"If my views," he said, as if simply continuing the conversation, "do +not accord with yours, we----" + +Bismarck had turned his face to the window for a moment, and had +pressed his lips together as if with a violent struggle. + +"We shall certainly understand one another perfectly if we discuss +the subject more fully," he said, in his calmest and most courteous +tone, as he turned again towards Benedetti with completely regained +self-command. His face expressed only politeness and friendship. + +"But we should not anticipate these discussions just now," he +continued. "Have you instructions to express these wishes in the +emperor's name, and to demand an answer, or do they in any way bear +upon our negotiations for peace with Austria?" + +"I had the honour," said Monsieur Benedetti, "of remarking at the +beginning of this conversation that I was expressing _my own_ ideas; I +have no instructions to demand anything, nor to request a distinct +answer; still less does this conversation in any way affect the +negotiations for peace." + +"Let us agree then," replied Bismarck, "to defer this conversation +until we have finished what lies immediately before us, and until after +the peace with Austria is signed. You fully comprehend that deep and +calm reflection is needed completely to satisfy the interests of both +sides; and then," he added, smiling, "it is not easy to discuss the +equivalent compensation of objects not yet in our hands. I do not doubt +that we shall perfectly understand each other when we discuss the +matter in earnest, and when you have received definite instructions. +You know how much I desire, not only the present friendship of France, +but that the feeling should be enduring, and so firmly consolidated +that the relations between France and Prussia may form the basis of a +European peace. Everything then to be done at present is arranged?" he +asked, after a short pause. + +"Completely," replied Monsieur Benedetti. + +"The Austrian plenipotentiaries--?" + +"Will arrive to-morrow or the day after. I will rest a little after my +fatiguing journey." And he seized his hat. + +Count Bismarck held out his hand to him, and accompanied him to the +door of the room. + +Scarcely had the door closed behind the ambassador, before the +expression of Bismarck's face changed completely. The courteous amiable +smile vanished from his lips. Burning anger flashed from his eyes. + +"They think they hold a good hand," he cried, "these skilful players; +but they deceive themselves; they are mistaken in me--Germany shall not +pay for her unity, like Italy, with her own flesh and blood; at least, +not so long as I influence the fate of the nation. Let them advance to +the Rhine, if it must be so, I will not retreat; the only concession I +will make is, to go forwards slowly. I should not be sorry if they +determined to fight," he cried with sparkling eyes; "I am ready to say +once more, 'I dare it;' and this time the king would not hesitate and +wait. Yet," he continued more calmly, "much has been gained already, +and what has been gained should not be rashly risked; they think the +game is in their hands,--well! I will shuffle the cards a little on my +side." + +He rang a small bell. An orderly entered. + +"Find Herr von Keudell, and beg him to bring me Herr von der Pfordten." + +The orderly withdrew. + +Count Bismarck seated himself before the table covered with maps, and +studied them attentively; sometimes he passed the fore-finger of his +right hand over certain parts, sometimes his lips moved in a low +whisper, and sometimes his eyes were thoughtfully raised to the +ceiling. + +After about a quarter of an hour, Herr von Keudell brought the Bavarian +minister to the cabinet. + +The full tall form of this statesman was bent, and showed signs of +bodily weakness. His large gentle face, surrounded with dark hair, was +pale and exhausted, his eyes gazed mournfully through the glasses of +his spectacles. + +Count Bismarck was standing perfectly upright, his features expressed +icy coldness; with the stiffest military bearing, but with formal +politeness, he advanced towards the Bavarian minister and returned his +greeting. He then with an equally cold and courteous movement invited +him to be seated on the chair Benedetti had just left, and placing +himself opposite to him he waited for him to speak. + +"I come," said Herr von der Pfordten, in a voice of some emotion, and +in the southern dialect, "to prevent further bloodshed and misery from +this war. The campaign is really decided, and decided in your favour, +and Bavaria cannot hesitate to conclude a war, which," he said in a low +voice, "it would, perhaps, have been better never to have commenced." + +Count Bismarck looked at him severely for a moment with his hard clear +eyes. + +"Do you know," he said, "that I have a perfect right to treat you as a +prisoner of war?" + +Herr von der Pfordten started. For a moment he was speechless, gazing +at the Prussian minister in amazement. + +"Bavaria is at war with Prussia, negotiations are impossible," said +Count Bismarck; "a Bavarian minister can only be a prisoner at the +Prussian head-quarters,--intercourse can only be carried on by the +bearer of a flag of truce." + +Herr von der Pfordten sorrowfully bowed his head. "I am in your power," +he said calmly, "and this proves how greatly I desire peace. What would +you gain by arresting me?" + +Count Bismarck was silent. + +"I am amazed at your boldness in coming here," he said after a pause; +"you prove indeed that you desire peace." + +Herr von der Pfordten shook his head slightly. + +"I fear," he said, "that my step has been in vain." + +"A step in the right path is never in vain, even though it should be +too late," said Count Bismarck, with a slight tone of friendship in his +voice; "what a position might Bavaria have held, had you taken this +step four weeks ago--if you had come to me four weeks ago in Berlin!" + +"I held firmly to the German Confederation which had been sanctioned by +all Europe," replied the Bavarian minister, "and I believed I was doing +my duty towards Germany and Bavaria; I was wrong; the past has gone for +ever; I come to speak to you of the future." + +"The future lies in _our_ hands," cried Count Bismarck. "Austria makes +her own peace, and troubles herself neither about the Confederation, +nor her allies." + +"I know it," said Herr von der Pfordten faintly. + +"Germany now sees," continued Bismarck, "where Austria has dragged her. +I am especially sorry for Bavaria, for I always thought that Bavaria +would have taken an important part in the national development of +Germany, and, united with Prussia, would have stood at the head of the +nation." + +"If Bavaria took a false step under my guidance," said Herr von der +Pfordten,--"and the result has shown it _was_ a false step--let us now +amend the fault, even though late. My decision is made. I have but +_one_ duty to fulfil, to make every effort to avert from my country and +my young king the evil results of my fault. To fulfil this duty I am +here, and because I expect and desire nothing for myself in the future, +I believe I can the more freely and impartially discuss it with you, +count." + +Count Bismarck was silent for a moment, and his fingers tapped the +table slightly. + +"I am not in a position," he then said, "to speak as Prussian minister +to the minister of Bavaria; the situation forbids it, the king's +permission is wanting. But this hour shall not be unfruitful," he +continued in a milder tone; "I will prove to you how much I personally +regret that we could not understand each other, that we could not work +together; your advice, your experience would have been so useful to +Germany. Let us speak as Baron von der Pfordten and Count Bismarck, a +Bavarian and a Prussian patriot, on the present position of affairs; +perhaps," he continued laughingly, "both the Prussian and the Bavarian +minister may learn something from us." + +Herr von der Pfordten's face brightened up. He looked at the count +through his spectacles with a happy expression. + +"What do you think," said Bismarck, "will become of Bavaria? What can +Prussia do with Bavaria?" + +"I suppose," said Herr von der Pfordten, "that Prussia will have +undivided authority in North Germany." + +"Who can dispute it?" asked Count Bismarck. + +"I may then remark that an annexation of South German territory, so +entirely heterogeneous, would hardly be to Prussia's interest, and that +it would be a greater advantage to come to an understanding on the +future of Germany, with an independent and unweakened Bavaria." + +"And on the first opportunity to find ourselves in fresh difficulties?" +asked Count Bismarck. + +"After the experience of this day--" began the Bavarian minister. + +"My dear baron," interrupted Bismarck, "I will speak quite openly to +you. The future belongs neither to you nor to me. Words and promises, +however much in earnest, cannot be the foundation upon which the future +peace and strength of Prussia and of Germany must rest. We must have +guarantees. Prussia cannot again be exposed to the danger she has just +overcome, nor again be called upon to make the sacrifice she has just +made. Bavaria has been, very much to her own disadvantage, as I always +knew, our foe. We must have full security that this cannot happen in +the future. To attain this there are two ways." + +Herr von der Pfordten listened anxiously. + +"Either," proceeded Count Bismarck, "to take so much of your territory +as will prevent Bavaria from being able to hurt us in the future----" + +"Have you thought of the difficulties of assimilating Bavarian +territory and the Bavarian people?" asked Herr von der Pfordten. + +"They would be great," said Bismarck calmly, "I own it; but we should +overcome them, and for the safety of Prussia I despise difficulties." + +The Bavarian minister sighed. + +"The complications that such a course would cause!" he said in a low +voice, and with a penetrating glance at Bismarck's face. + +Count Bismarck looked at him firmly. + +"From whence are they to come?" he asked. "From Austria? In the quarter +where complications might arise," he continued, looking proudly at the +Bavarian minister, "they would not refuse a share in the spoil." + +Von der Pfordten bowed his head. + +"Let us not speak of it," said Bismarck. "We are Germans; let us manage +the affairs of Germany without our neighbours." + +"And the other way?" asked Herr von der Pfordten, with hesitation. + +"The inner life of Bavaria is foreign to us," said Count Bismarck +thoughtfully, "and we would rather not interfere with it. What Germany +needs for strength and power--what Prussia needs for safety, is that +the supreme direction of the national forces should be placed in the +hands of the most powerful military state of the German nation--her +natural leader in war. If Bavaria will acknowledge this national +necessity--if, in short, she will agree, by a binding treaty, in the +event of a national war, to give up the command of her army to the king +of Prussia, the needful guarantee for Germany's defence and power, for +Prussia's safety, will be obtained." + +The face of the Bavarian minister cleared up more and more. + +"The command of the army in a national war?" he asked. + +"Of course, with certain conditions, which would make a common command, +an incorporation of the Bavarian army with the Prussian forces, +possible," said Count Bismarck. + +"Without prejudice to the king's command of the army?" asked Herr von +der Pfordten. + +"I should consider any further curtailment of his powers unnecessary," +replied the Count. + +Herr von der Pfordten drew a deep breath. + +"These, then, would be your conditions of peace?" he asked. + +"Not the conditions of peace, but the preliminaries of peace," replied +Bismarck. + +"How am I to understand this?" asked von der Pfordten. + +"Very easily," said the Count. "If a treaty such as I have sketched, +and which I will immediately have drawn out in detail by the military +department, is concluded--a treaty which, for the present, had better +be kept secret--yes," he added thoughtfully, "it had much better be +kept secret; it will save you so much trouble from the anti-Prussian +party--if such a treaty, I say, is agreed to, peace can easily be +concluded. This treaty would be a guarantee to Prussia that Bavaria +would really and uprightly labour with her at the work of national +union, and that all the former faults in her policy were laid aside. +With this guarantee we could easily negotiate peace. It would then be +to our interest to maintain Bavaria's power and complete independence +in Germany. We shall then only have the expenses of the war to +consider, which we shall expect to have paid in full, and perhaps some +very unimportant cession of territory, for the sake of the symmetry of +our frontier." + +"Count," said Herr von der Pfordten, with emotion, "I thank you. You +have shown me a way by which, with honour to herself and benefit to +Germany, Bavaria may extricate herself from her present melancholy +position. I thank you in the name of my king." + +"I feel the deepest sympathy for your young king," said Count Bismarck, +"and I hope that Bavaria, as Prussia's ally, may yet take the place, +which hitherto _she would not_ take. But, my dear baron," he added, +rising, "we must not forget that this is only a conversation between +two private individuals. Hasten back to your king, and bring his +consent to this treaty as soon as possible. When it is signed, +hostilities will cease, and I promise the negotiations for peace shall +not be difficult nor prolonged; and," he added courteously, "be assured +I do not wish you to retire from public life." + +"I know," said Herr von der Pfordten, "what I must do. A new hand must +guide Bavaria in new paths; but my good wishes will be as hearty for +new Germany as they ever have been for the old." + +"One thing more," said Bismarck. "Since we have come to so good an +understanding, you might do your allies in Stuttgardt and Darmstadt a +service--perhaps to me also; for I wish to treat with Würtemberg and +Hesse in a conciliatory spirit. If these courts are willing to conclude +a treaty similar to that of which we have been speaking, I think a +reconciliation would be possible. If Herr von Varnbüler and Herr von +Dalwigk should come here empowered to conclude such a treaty, the +secrecy of which I willingly promise, they would be welcome, and would +find moderate and easy terms of peace." + +"I do not doubt that they will shortly appear," said Herr von der +Pfordten. + +"Now, my dear baron, hasten away," cried Count Bismarck, "and return +quickly, and so act that Count Bismarck may soon welcome the Bavarian +minister fully empowered to conclude peace." + +He held out his hand to Herr von der Pfordten, who pressed it heartily +and with much feeling, and he accompanied him to the door. + +In the ante-room they found von Keudell, and Bismarck begged him to +facilitate the Bavarian minister's journey as much as possible. + +When Count Bismarck returned to his room, he rubbed his hands with +satisfaction, whilst he paced the room with long strides. + +"So, messieurs in Paris!" he cried with a laugh, "you wish to split up +and divide Germany, and help yourselves to compensation. The skilful +engineers are blown up with their own mine. And their compensation? Let +them flatter themselves with that hope a little longer. Now to the +king!" + +He buttoned up his uniform, took his military cap, and left the room to +go to King William's quarters. + +In the ante-room he saw an elderly gentleman, with grey hair and a grey +beard, in the uniform of a Hanoverian equerry. A Prussian officer had +brought him, and now approached the president minister, saying:-- + +"Lieutenant-Colonel von Heimbruch, the king of Hanover's equerry, +wishes to speak to your excellency. I have brought him here, and was +about to announce him." + +Bismarck turned towards von Heimbruch, touched his cap slightly with +his hand, and looked at him inquiringly. + +The colonel approached him, and said: + +"His majesty the king, my most gracious master, arrived in Vienna a +short time ago, and, as negotiations for peace have begun, he sends me +to his majesty the King of Prussia with a letter. At the same time, +Count Platen sends this note to your excellency." + +He handed the Prussian minister a sealed letter. + +He opened it, and read through the contents quickly. + +He turned gravely to Colonel von Heimbruch. + +"Will you have the goodness to wait for me here. I am going to his +majesty, and I shall shortly return." + +With a military salute he walked on. + +In the king's ante-room there were several generals and other officers. +They all rose as Count Bismarck entered and saluted the generals. + +The equerry on duty, Baron von Loë, advanced towards the minister +president. + +"Is his majesty alone?" asked Count Bismarck. + +"General von Moltke is with the king," replied Baron von Loë, "but his +majesty commanded me to announce your excellency at once." + +He entered the king's cabinet, after knocking at the door, and returned +almost immediately to open it to the president. + +King William stood before a large table, spread over with maps, on +which long arrows of various colours marked the position of the armies. +He wore a campaigning overcoat, the Iron Cross in his button-hole, and +the Order of Merit around his neck. + +The king's eyes were attentively following the lines which General von +Moltke drew in the air above the map with the pencil in his hand, +sometimes pointing out a line here, sometimes there, for the +elucidation of his dispositions. The tall, slender form of the general +was bent slightly forwards as he gazed at the maps, his calm face, with +its grave and noble features, recalling Sharnhorst's portraits, was +somewhat animated, whilst he unfolded his ideas to the king, who +listened in silence, from time to time signifying his approval by +slightly bowing his head. + +"I am glad you have come," cried the king, as his minister entered. +"You can explain everything. Moltke has just told me that General +Manteuffel has sent in word that Prince Karl of Bavaria proposes a +week's suspension of hostilities, and that Würzburg, now threatened by +Manteuffel, should be spared, since a treaty for the cessation of +hostilities and negotiations for peace with Bavaria are about to +commence immediately. General Manteuffel, who knows nothing of all +this, does not refuse to treat, but demands that Würzburg should be +given up to him in return for the suspension of arms, and he has sent +to us to know what he is to do. What are these negotiations with +Bavaria?" + +Count Bismarck smiled. + +"Herr von der Pfordten has just left me, your majesty," he replied. + +"Ah!" cried the king; "do they beg for peace? What did you say?" + +"Your majesty," replied Bismarck, "this is all part of the present +situation upon which I am most desirous of consulting your majesty, and +of receiving your supreme decision." + +General von Moltke stuck his pencil into a large notebook which he held +in his hand, and said: + +"Your majesty has no further commands for me at this moment?" + +"May I beg your majesty," said Count Bismarck quickly, "to ask the +general to stay,--his opinion is important upon the question before +us." + +The king bowed approval. The general turned his grave eyes inquiringly +upon the president. + +"Your majesty," said Count Bismarck, "Benedetti has returned, and +brings Austria's consent to the Emperor Napoleon's programme of peace." + +"The negotiations can then begin?" asked the king. + +"Without delay, your majesty," said Count Bismarck. "Benedetti," he +proceeded, "wished to take great credit to himself for having persuaded +Austria to accept the programme; he spoke of the great resistance they +had made in Vienna, and described Austria's condition as by no means +hopeless." + +Moltke smiled. + +"They can do nothing in Vienna," said the king calmly. "They intended +to entice us to Olmütz, and there to hold us fast, to cover Vienna, and +to prevail on Hungary to rise. All that is over. By Moltke's advice, we +left them alone at Olmütz, and marched straight on. We are before +Vienna, and it cannot hold out--the fortifications they have made at +Floridsdorf cannot delay us; besides this, we hold the key of Hungary +in our hands, and the Hungarians do not seem desirous of assisting +Austria in her difficulties." + +"I know all this, your majesty," said Count Bismarck; "I know too what +these representations of Benedetti mean,--his tactics are to show us +difficulties that we may feel the more indebted to France for her +mediation, and more willing to pay a high price for it." + +"And have they named their price?" asked the king, with increased +attention. + +"I told the ambassador plainly," replied Count Bismarck, "what your +majesty had already telegraphed to the Emperor Napoleon from Brünn, on +the 18th instant, that a large territorial acquisition would be needful +to Prussia, and I pointed out those possessions of the enemy lying +between the two halves of our kingdom and Saxony." + +"And did he raise any objection?" asked the king. + +"He used a few phrases about treaties and the balance of power in +Europe, which, in the mouth of a diplomatist of the Napoleon dynasty, +sounded rather absurd; but he made no real objection, except as regards +Saxony." + +"Well?" asked the king. + +"As regards Saxony," continued Count Bismarck, "the Emperor Napoleon +has, so Benedetti expressed it, identified himself unconditionally with +the Austrian demand, that the territorial integrity of Saxony should be +maintained." + +The king looked on the ground thoughtfully. + +"The truth is," added Bismarck, "in Paris they push Austria forward, +but nevertheless they seriously mean to support Saxony. Your majesty +must therefore decide; will you make a concession on this point or +not?" + +"What is your opinion?" asked the king. + +"To abandon the incorporation of Saxony, your majesty, rather than +complicate the present position. Saxony is not absolutely necessary to +us, I believe, in a military point of view?" And he looked inquiringly +at General von Moltke. + +"If Saxony joins the military league of the North German Confederation, +and does its duty in earnest----no!" said the general. + +"King John's word is inviolable," said the king, with a warm light in +his eyes, "so let the independence of Saxony be agreed to. I am very +glad in this instance to be able to lighten the heavy consequences of +war for a very estimable prince." + +Count Bismarck bowed. + +"France," he continued, "as well as Austria, accepts all the +alterations of territory in North Germany; but now begin the +extraordinary negotiations for compensation." + +The king's countenance clouded. + +"Were their demands stated?" he asked. + +"No; but Benedetti pointed out very plainly what they would be; and I +had guessed them beforehand," said Count Bismarck. + +"What were they?" asked the king. + +Calmly and smiling Count Bismarck replied-- + +"The frontier of 1814--Luxembourg and Mayence." + +The king started as if from an electric shock. A dark red flush passed +over General Moltke's pale, handsome face, and a sarcastic smile came +to his lips. + +"And what did you reply?" asked the king, closing his teeth firmly. + +"I put off the negotiations on this point, until after the conclusion +of peace with Austria; it was the more easy, as Benedetti only +mentioned them as his own views. I was not, therefore, obliged to give +a distinct answer." + +"But you know," said the king, with a severe look and voice, "that I +would never cede a foot of German soil." + +"As surely," replied Count Bismarck, "as your majesty I hope is +convinced, that my hand would never sign such a treaty! But," he added, +"I thought it useless to make a breach and to have difficulties and +embarrassments too soon. If France commenced a war now--" + +"We should march to Paris," said General Moltke carelessly; "Napoleon +has no army!" + +"Count Goltz does not believe that," said the president-minister, "if I +could only be sure; but at all events it is better to conclude a peace +with Austria, and not to provoke discussions of compensations not yet +officially demanded by France. When we have done here, those gentlemen +in Paris shall get the answer I have prepared for them, and a little +surprise into the bargain. I now come to Herr von der Pfordten, your +majesty." + +The king looked at him enquiringly. + +"Your majesty recollects," said Count Bismarck, "the position which the +peace programme gives to the South German states?" + +"Certainly," said the king, "and this position has caused me great +doubts for the future." + +"The intention is plain," said Bismarck; "in Paris they wish to split +Germany in two, and to hold one half in check with the other; in Vienna +they wish to begin afresh the game they have now lost, at some future +time. I hope they will find themselves mistaken. I offered von der +Pfordten very easy terms of peace, provided Bavaria entered into a +secret treaty accepting your majesty as commander-in-chief of her army +in case of war." + +The king's eyes sparkled. + +"Then would Germany indeed be one!" he cried. "Did he accept these +terms?" + +"With thankfulness and joy," replied Count Bismarck, "and Würtemberg +and Hesse will follow the example, he assures me. I must now request +General Moltke to have the goodness to draw up the proposed military +arrangement, so that when the Bavarian minister returns with the king's +consent, everything may be settled as quickly as possible, and also for +Würtemberg and Hesse. Until then General Manteuffel must avoid any +definite explanation about the armistice, and produce a wholesome +pressure. I hope," he said laughing; "the Emperor Napoleon will +observe after peace has been concluded, that all the trumps in his +well-shuffled game are in our hand, and then the compensation question +shall also be settled." + +"You see, Moltke," said the king smiling, and with a gracious look at +the president, "these diplomatists are all alike, even when they wear +uniform! But," he added gravely, "Benedetti must not speak to me about +compensation; I should not be able to delay my answer!" + +Count Bismarck bowed. + +"I must, however, direct your majesty's attention," he said, "to +another subject. The disposition of the Russian court is unfavourable, +and I fear our new acquisitions will cause increased displeasure." + +"I feared this," said the king. + +"It is important," proceeded Count Bismarck, "that the sky should be +clear in that quarter. We must paralyze the influence exerted against +us, and call Russia's attention to the interest she has in preserving +the friendship of Prussia and Germany, both now and in the future. It +will be needful to send a skilful person to St. Petersburg. I will lay +before your majesty a sketch of my views in this direction, and if you +graciously approve, it will serve as the ambassador's instructions." + +"Do so," said the king, with animation, "not only politically but +personally I am most anxious to preserve the undisturbed friendship of +Russia. I will send Manteuffel," he said after a little consideration, +"he is quite the man for it, as soon as the war in Bavaria is ended." + +Count Bismarck bowed in silence. He then said: + +"Your majesty, a Hanoverian equerry has just arrived here with a letter +from the king. He has brought me a note from Count Platen." + +A sorrowful expression came into the king's face. + +"What does he write?" he asked. + +"The king acknowledges your majesty as the victor in Germany, and is +ready to accept such terms of peace as your majesty will grant." + +For a long time the king was silent. + +"Oh!" he cried, "if I could but help him. Poor George! Could not a +curtailed Hanover without military independence be permitted?" + +Count Bismarck's eyes looked with icy calmness and complete firmness on +the king's excited face. + +"Your majesty has decided that the incorporation of Hanover is +necessary for the safety and power of Prussia. What good would a sham +monarchy, a simple principality do to the Guelphs? But to us, such a +hiatus inhabited by a hostile population would be dangerous. Your +majesty must remember what mischief the Hanoverians would have done us, +had they retained Gablenz, or had the general staff ordered less +incomprehensible marches. Such a danger must be rendered impossible for +the future!" + +"Queen Frederika was the sister of my mother," said the king in a voice +that trembled slightly. + +"I venerate the ties of royal blood that unite your majesty to King +George," said Count Bismarck, "and I have personally the highest +sympathy for that unhappy prince; but," he said, raising his voice, +"your majesty's nearest and dearest relation is the Prussian people, +whose blood has flowed on these battle-fields--the people of Frederick +the Great, the people of 1813. Your majesty must pay them the price of +their blood. Forgive me, your majesty, if I am bold when speaking in +the name of your people. I know my words only express feelings your +royal heart deeply and loudly echoes. If your majesty receives the +king's letter," he added, "you bind your hands, you commence +negotiations, which ought not to be begun!" + +The king sighed deeply. + +"God is my witness," he said, "that I did all I could to avoid a breach +with Hanover, and to save the king from the hard fate which now falls +upon him. Believe me," he added, "my heart could make no greater +sacrifice to Prussia, her greatness, and her calling in Germany, than +in yielding to this necessity." + +A moisture clouded the king's clear eyes. + +"Decline to receive the letter!" he said with emotion, sorrowfully +bending his head. + +"God bless your majesty," cried Bismarck with kindling eyes, "for the +sake of Prussia and of Germany!" + +General von Moltke looked gravely at his royal commander with an +expression of earnest love and admiration. + +Silently the king motioned with his hand and turned to the window. + +Count Bismarck and the general left the cabinet. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + THE CRISIS. + + +Langensalza had grown very quiet after its days of storm and +excitement. The Hanoverian army was disbanded, and had returned home. +The Prussian troops had advanced upon other enemies in the south and +west, and the little town was now as placid and still as it had been +for long years before, until Fate chose it for the theatre of so bloody +a struggle. + +But although the streets were as quiet and monotonous as ever in the +hot sunshine of midsummer, within the houses a quiet life went on of +inexhaustible love and mercy, that love and mercy which the tempest of +war always calls forth so abundantly, and which is so lovely a witness +of the eternal and indestructible connection between man's heart and +the God of unconquerable love, of inexhaustible compassion. + +Many of the severely wounded Prussians and Hanoverians could not be +moved, and numerous hospitals were formed. All the private houses had +received the poor sacrifices of war, and from Prussia and Hanover, +besides the sisters of mercy and deaconesses, numerous relatives of the +wounded had arrived, to undertake the care of those they loved. + +When the sun was setting, and the twilight brought the coolness of +evening, many women and girls in dark, simple dresses, with grave +faces, walked silently through the streets, hastily breathing in a +little fresh air, to obtain strength to continue their work of loving +self-sacrifice; and the looks of the inhabitants followed them with +quiet sympathy, as they sat before their doors after their day's work +was over, talking in whispers about one group after another as it +passed. + +Madame von Wendenstein, with her daughter and Helena, had been most +kindly received into old Lohmeier's house, Margaret preparing two rooms +in the well-to-do burgher house with every possible comfort, whilst the +candidate found a lodging in a neighbouring hotel. + +Trembling with anxiety, Madame von Wendenstein approached her son's +bed, repressing by a powerful effort the convulsive sobs that +threatened to choke her. The young lieutenant lay rigid and quiet, his +low, regular breathing the only sign of life. + +The mother took his hand, bent over him, and gently breathed a kiss +upon his brow; and under the magnetic influence of a mother's kiss, the +young man slowly opened his eyes, and gazed around with a vacant look. +But then a happy ray of recognition animated the senseless eyes, a +smile came to his lips, and the mother felt an almost imperceptible +pressure on her fingers. + +The old lady sank on her knees beside the bed, laid her head on her +son's hand, and, in silent unspoken prayer, besought God to preserve +this life, dearer to her than her own. + +The two young girls stood behind Madame von Wendenstein. Helena's large +burning eyes were fixed on the image of the man, now so weak and +fragile, who had left her so fresh and strong. His sister concealed her +tears with her handkerchief; but Helena's eyes were dry and bright, her +pale features composed and motionless. She stood with folded hands, and +her lips trembled slightly. + +Lieutenant von Wendenstein's widely-opened eyes fell on the young girl, +when his mother sank down beside his bed. A gleam of happiness passed +over his face, his eyes brightened with a look of delight, his lips +opened slightly, but a hard, rattling breath came from his mouth, and a +red foam appeared on his lips. His eyelids closed again, and the face +lay deadly pale and rigid on the white pillow. + +Then the surgeon arrived, and brought uncertain comfort, and a time +commenced of unwearied watching--that quiet work, so difficult in its +simplicity and on which so rich a blessing rests, which raises the +heart so high above all earthly things, to the Fount of love, the +Eternal Lord of human life and human fate. How easy it seems to sit in +a comfortable chair, and watch the sleep of the sick; how small the +trouble of laying a cooling bandage on a wound, of placing a nourishing +drink, a composing medicine to the lips! + +But who can weigh the anguish and anxiety with which the loving eye +hangs on each movement of the eyelash, on each quiver of the lip, on +every breath! The life of the sick may be endangered by a minute's +sleep, a forgotten order. Oh! how great these small, unimportant +services are through the long nights, when the seconds, wont to fly so +quickly, roll heavily, drearily into the sea of eternity; how small and +colourless all the changing brilliant doings of the outer world appear, +compared with the quiet sick-room and its holy work of preserving a +human life, and staying the Fates' cold hands, with their pitiless +shears, from severing a tender thread, on which hang joy and hope, love +and happiness, work and success! + +And when recovery slowly, slowly approaches the bed of pain, like a +tender spring flower coyly raising its head, ever threatened by the +rough hand of a wintry death, who hesitatingly and unwillingly gives up +his prey, and with his cold flakes strives to stifle the bloom so +unweariedly tended day and night; how the loving heart bows down in +humble thanksgiving before the Almighty, in whose hand human life is +but a breath, which in a moment can fail, and which yet is so carefully +preserved, and adorned with such rich blessing. How small appear human +wishes, human will; how resignedly the heart learns to pray, "Lord, not +my will, but Thine be done!" with what trust and faith the soul rises +to the Father beyond the stars, who says, "Ask, and it shall be given +you." + +Madame von Wendenstein passed through all these phases of inner life +beside the bed of her son; hoping and fearing, doubting and trusting, +she always maintained her outward calmness, and performed all the +duties of a nurse, assisted by the two young girls. Pale and quiet, +Helena took her share of the work, her large, dreamy eyes, quickened by +anxiety, watching every feature of the wounded man. + +And hope had come, rejoicing every heart. The patient had passed +through the first fever from the wound. The ball had been +satisfactorily extracted; only one crisis more had to be feared--the +flow of blood which had filled the deep wound; then there was only the +recovery of strength to the much-shaken nervous system. + +The most complete quiet was ordered by the surgeon; no loud sound must +be permitted to reach the patient's ear; no question must be answered, +and smiling lips and friendly glances must be the only language between +the sufferer and his nurses. + +And how expressive was this language! + +What pure, warm light flowed from Helena's eyes when they rested on the +pale face of the sleeper; how they hung on every breath, how thankfully +were they raised above when the regular breathing told of soft and +gentle sleep! + +And when the sufferer opened his eyes, and saw those glances, what +bright, expressive looks, though weak from illness, replied. How +wonderful is it that the eye can express so much, that small circle +which yet can comprehend and mirror back the firmament, with its stars, +the everlasting mountains, and the boundless sea; what no words can +utter, what the most glowing poetry cannot express, is all said by the +eye, with its fine shades of varied expression; and above all by the +eyes of the sick, because, banished from the changing and distracting +pictures of the world, they have grown clearer and more transparent, +revealing more plainly all that passes in the self-contained soul. + +When the eyes of the wounded officer rested on the young girl, their +deep eloquence telling whole volumes of poetry, recollections of the +past, hopeful dreams for the future, her eyes fell, and a slight blush +passed over her brow, and yet she raised them again, and her answer +sparkled through a veil of tears. + +Once when Helena offered him some cooling drink, his long, thin, white +hand, with its dark blue veins, was stretched out towards her, she gave +him hers, and he clasped it, and held it for a long time, and his eyes +rested on her so thankfully, so enquiringly, so longingly, that, with a +sudden crimson blush, she withdrew her hand; but her look had answered +his, and, smiling, he closed his eyes, to dream again in light and +happy slumber. + +And often since then, with an imploring look, he had held out his hand, +and she had given him hers,--and then her hand had been gently pressed +to his lips, and a kiss had been breathed on it with the hot breath of +sickness, and again tremblingly she had withdrawn her hand, and again +their eyes had met, and a happy smile had appeared upon her lips. And +the dumb language between them had grown richer and clearer, and he had +often opened his lips as if to make his feeble voice enforce the words +his eyes had spoken; but with a sweet smile she had laid her finger on +her lips, and his mouth had remained silent. At last his lips moved as +she sat by his bed, and in the lowest whisper he said, "Dear Helena." + +Then with a quick movement and a brilliant look she had held out her +hand to him, and had not withdrawn it when he had pressed it long and +fervently to his lips. + +Madame von Wendenstein had seen much of this dumb language, and had +understood it;--for what woman does not understand it? and what mother +is indifferent when the heart of a beloved son turns with tender +feelings to her who through the warfare of daily life may carry on a +gentle woman's work, begun by the mother herself during the quiet years +of childhood, that work of mild, consoling, gentle, forgiving love, +without which man's strength is hard and unfruitful; without which +man's work is without charm and graceful inspiration? Lost in these +reflections she had often sat watching the movements of the two young +hearts; whether it was pleasing to her, whether she saw with joy or +grief that which was unfolded to her, and which she could not prevent, +was hard to read in her pale, but calm and cheerful features; +nevertheless she was deeply moved by the sight of this flower of love +springing up from her son's bed of pain. And when one day the wounded +man put out both hands, and taking her hand and Helena's at the same +moment, silently implored that a mother's love might be given to his +beloved, without speaking she passed her arms round Helena, and +imprinted a kiss upon her brow; then her daughter came, and tenderly +pressed Helena to her heart; and the sick man with a look of happiness +folded his pale hands together in thankfulness. + +Thus in the chamber of sickness a rich, eventful life went on, a link +between two hearts was formed, so pure, so tender, so delicate, so +holy, that it scarcely could have been thus perfected amidst the +distractions of the world; no words had been exchanged, but all was +understood--all knew what had sprung up on the border land that divides +life from death; they knew it had taken root strongly, and would grow +up in the future life. Thus God, whilst ruling the terrible tempests +that convulsed the world, and bringing forth a new order of things from +the mighty struggle of the nations of Germany--seized with a gentle, +tender hand the inner life of these two human hearts, imprinting deep +and silent feelings as indelibly, as the gigantic characters in which +His eternal judgments were graven on the tablets of history. + +Fritz Deyke, with his clear, true eyes, saw plainly enough what was +going on beside the sick-bed of his lieutenant; he had not said a word, +but he had managed to express that he understood, and was perfectly +satisfied, by his respectful attentions and hearty sympathy to the +pastor's daughter, and when he saw Helena sitting beside the +lieutenant's bed, he looked with a smile from one to the other, and +gave an approving nod, as if applauding some satisfactory thought. + +Since the ladies' arrival he only came to and fro to the sick room, +bringing everything needful, and at night he insisted on undertaking +the last and most weary hours of watching, driving away the ladies with +good-natured brusqueness. + +But he was unwearied in assisting the pretty Margaret in all her +occupations, in her endeavour to make their quiet monotonous life as +agreeable as possible to her guests, and in her efforts to provide them +with every comfort; then he had almost taken old Lohmeier's place out +of doors, in the stable and garden, assisting everywhere with skilful +hand, lightening much of the old man's work, and relieving him entirely +of the rest. And in the evening he sat before the door with his host +and his daughter; the father listened well pleased and smiled +approvingly at his daughter when the sturdy son of Wendland, who had +long before thrown aside his soldier's coat, told stories of his home; +the old man gave a nod of satisfaction when it appeared from these +histories that old Deyke was a well-to-do man, and that a rich +inheritance must one day descend to his only son and heir. + +The candidate came several times daily to see the ladies. Sometimes in +a quiet manner he helped a little in nursing. Sometimes he spoke a few +well-chosen words of comfort to the old lady. He went in and out of all +the houses where there were sick and wounded, offered spiritual +consolation, and was unwearied in assisting and directing in the +hospitals, so that he won the general respect and gratitude of all the +inhabitants of Langensalza, and all the relatives of the wounded. +Madame von Wendenstein was full of his praise, and took every +opportunity of showing her esteem and gratitude to the young clergyman. + +Helena kept aloof from her cousin, and he did not seek her more than +every-day intercourse required. But his eyes often rested on her with a +strange expression, and an evil glance darted from them when he saw the +young girl sitting beside the bed of the wounded officer, when her +whole soul lay in her eyes, and the feelings of her heart were warmly +reflected in her features; but no word, no sign betrayed that he +guessed what had taken place in solitude and silence. + +Late in the afternoon of one of the last days of July Madame von +Wendenstein sat, with her daughter, in her room. The window was wide +open to admit the cooler air that streamed in as the day declined. The +door of the sick-room stood open, and Helena sat by the bedside, +attentively watching the quiet slumberer as he lay with a smiling +expression of happiness on his pale features. + +The candidate sat with the ladies in his faultless black dress, a white +necktie of dazzling purity carefully arranged around his neck, and his +hair brushed smoothly down on each side of his forehead. + +He spoke in a low voice as he told Madame von Wendenstein of the other +sufferers whom he had visited. + +"You have chosen a beautiful calling," said the old lady, smiling +kindly on the young clergyman; "in such times as these especially, it +must be a glorious satisfaction to bear the divine words of comfort to +sufferers, and to raise and refresh their souls amidst bodily pain." + +"But in such times as these," said the candidate, in a humble voice, +casting his eyes to the ground, "I feel doubly what an unworthy +instrument I am in the hand of Providence; when I speak to sufferers +who have already stretched out their hands to eternity, who already +behold the glories of a future world, I often ask myself whether I am +worthy to tell them of their Lord, and I tremble beneath the weight of +my office. But," he continued, folding his hands together, "the power +of the divine word gives strength even to an unworthy instrument to +work mightily; and I can say with joy that many a heart in health +devoted to the world, has through my means, on the brink of eternity, +received the faith, and obtained salvation." + +"How many families will be grateful to you!" said Madame von +Wendenstein warmly, as she held out her hand to him. + +"They must not be grateful to me, but to Him who is mighty through me," +replied the candidate, in a low voice, bowing his head. + +And at the same moment he turned a quick glance towards the sick-room, +in which a slight sound was heard. + +The surgeon had entered softly; he approached the bed, watched his +sleeping patient attentively for some little time, then he bent over +him, gently removed the covering of the wound, and examined it +carefully. + +After a few minutes he joined the ladies in the other room. + +Madame von Wendenstein looked at him anxiously. Helena followed him, +and remained standing at the door. + +"Everything is progressing excellently," said the surgeon; "and though +I cannot say all danger is over, I can assure you that every day my +hopes of a complete recovery increase." + +Madame von Wendenstein thanked him for this good news with emotion, and +Helena's eyes smiled through tears. + +"For some time to come absolute quiet will be needful. Any shock to the +much shaken nervous system might bring on fever of an inflammatory or +typhoid character, and in the present state of weakness this would be +fatal. The deep wound is still filled with blood; this can only be +slowly absorbed and dispersed. Any sudden flow of blood from a violent +effort might be fatal; therefore, I repeat it, absolute quiet is the +first essential in the recovery of our patient, and nature will assist +his youthful strength to repair the injury he has received. Nothing can +be done beyond a slight compress to the wound, a little cooling +medicine, and the maintenance of the strength by light nourishment. But +now, ladies, I must exercise my medical authority upon you," he +continued. "It is a long time since you have been in the open air, and +to-day it is deliciously cool. You must go out!" + +Madame von Wendenstein hesitated. + +"It is needful for our patient's sake," said the surgeon, "that you +should keep up your strength. What would become of him if you were to +be ill? You must take a real walk. Fritz can take care of the patient, +who wants nothing but sleep." + +"Oh, I will stay here," cried Helena; but suddenly recollecting +herself, she was silent, and looked down with a blush. + +"I beg, my dear lady," said the candidate, "that you will follow our +friend's prescription without any anxiety. I will remain with Herr von +Wendenstein. I have learned what to do beside a sick bed. Go, for you +all need this refreshment." + +"Quick, then," said the doctor. "I will take you to a beautiful shady +walk, and you will see what wonderful good you feel from that medicine +which nature prescribes for all--fresh air." + +Madame von Wendenstein put on her bonnet and mantle, and the young +ladies followed her example. Helena looked anxiously at the wounded +officer, and then hesitatingly followed the other ladies, who with the +surgeon had already left the room. + +The candidate, with downcast eyes and a gentle smile, accompanied her +to the door. He then turned back, entered the sick-room, and seated +himself in the armchair near the bed. + +From his pale face the gentle smile and the expression of spiritual +peace and priestly dignity vanished. His half-closed, downcast eyes +opened widely, and were fixed upon the sleeper with a look of hatred, +and his thin lips were pressed firmly together. + +There was a wonderful contrast between the wounded officer--who lay +stretched on his couch in light slumber, his eyes closed, the +reflection of sweet and pure dreams shining in his face, whilst on his +brow appeared a glimpse of heaven, a spark of the Divine breath--and +the man who sat near him in the garments of a priest, a horrible +expression of low, earthly passion and demoniacal hatred upon his +countenance. + +The wounded man tossed his head a little to and fro, as if he felt +disturbed by the look the candidate fixed upon him, then with a deep +sigh he opened his eyes and turned them joyfully towards the place +where he hoped to see the beloved form that had filled his dreams. With +large, surprised, almost frightened eyes, he saw the clergyman beside +him. The candidate compelled his countenance suddenly to resume its +usual calm expression, lowering his eyes to conceal their hatred, for +he knew that even his strong powers of will could not at once banish +this expression. + +"Do you want anything, Herr von Wendenstein?" asked the candidate, in a +low, gentle voice. "The ladies have gone out, and they have left me +here to take care of you." + +Lieutenant von Wendenstein raised his finger a little and pointed to a +small table near the bed, on which stood a carafe of fresh water and a +small vial filled with a red fluid. + +The candidate poured a few drops of the medicine into a glass of water, +and held it to the lieutenant's lips, who raised his head with some +little difficulty and drank it. + +The eyes of the wounded man said as plainly as possible, "I thank you." + +The candidate put down the glass, folded his hands together, and said, +as he cast down his eyes,-- + +"Did you think, Herr von Wendenstein, when your body craved earthly +refreshment that your soul needed a spiritual medicine to strengthen +and refresh it in the valley of the shadow of death, that if Providence +sees fit to call it hence, it may be prepared to stand before the +Judge, and to give an account of the deeds done in the flesh?" + +The wounded man's eyes, which after the cooling drink, were closing +again in slumbrous weariness, opened widely, and gazed upon the +candidate with astonishment and fear. He was accustomed to be spoken to +by looks, by signs, by single words whispered low, and his wearied +nerves shuddered at this unusual mode of speech. Then, too, the loving +care that had watched him in sickness and encouraged with fostering +hand the seed of convalescence, had surrounded him with pictures of +hope, with assurances of a new life blooming in the future, so that the +sharp and sudden mention of death, with his threatening hand still +stretched over him, affected him as if on a sunny, flower-scented day +he had suddenly felt the ice-cold breath of a newly-opened vault. A +slight shudder ran through his frame, and he feebly shook his head, as +if to free himself from the gloomy picture so suddenly called up. + +"Have you thought," continued the candidate, suddenly raising his voice +and speaking sharply and impressively, "how you will pass through those +black, dreadful hours, those hours now perhaps very near you, when your +soul, with convulsive shudders, will tear itself free from the cold +body--when your heart must leave every earthly joy, every earthly hope, +and lay them in the dark depths of the grave, where the body, born of +dust, must return to the dust of which it is formed?" + +The eyes of the wounded man grew larger, a feverish glow burned on his +cheeks, and there was an imploring expression in the look he turned +upon the candidate. + +He fixed his eyes upon the young officer with the electric fascinating +gaze with which the rattlesnake turns its prey to stone. + +"Have you thought," continued the candidate, and his sharp voice seemed +to cut deep down into the sick man's soul, as his looks glared into his +horror-stricken eyes, "have you thought, that then, at the trumpet +blast of eternity, you must stand before the throne of a righteous and +severe Judge and give an account of your life? Your last act was +murder; the shedding of a brother's blood in a struggle justified by +earthly laws; but must it not appear a deadly sin in the eyes of +Eternal Justice?" + +The features of the wounded man quivered, the feverish flush increased, +and his eyelids sank and rose with a quick involuntary movement. + +"Heaven has shown you great mercy," said the candidate, "you have been +granted time for preparation here on a bed of sickness, for eternity, +whilst many were called away in the midst of mortal sin. Have you +worthily used the time so graciously granted you? Have you turned your +thoughts and desires away from all worldly things, and fixed them on +things eternal? Have you banished from your heart every earthly wish, +every earthly hope? Does it not still cling to earth? Judge yourself, +and let not the short time of grace be in vain!" + +The candidate bent down lower and lower, and fixed his glaring eyes on +those of the lieutenant, whose violent nervous agitation greatly +increased. His pale hands trembled even to the tips of the fingers, he +raised them with a repelling movement, and pointed to the table, whilst +with difficulty in a feeble voice, he gasped "Water!" + +The candidate brought the green fire of his sparkling eyes still closer +to the sick man's face, he stretched his right hand over his head +whilst with the fingers of the left he pointed to his heart, and he +said in a low voice: + +"Think of the Water of Life, try to become worthy of the Well-spring of +Grace that alone can cool the torturing flames of eternal damnation. +They are ready for you, if you do not use this short time of grace, and +rend every earthly thought from your heart! The time that remains to +you is brief, and if your soul still clings to the past, it will fall +into the abyss already yawning before you!" + +A slight red foam appeared on the wounded man's lips, his eyes opened +widely, and stared unconsciously around. His out-stretched fingers were +stiff, and his whole frame terribly convulsed. + +The clergyman bent down closer over him, and in a harsh rough whisper +muttered in his ear: + +"The pit opens, the sulphurous flames ascend, you hear the lamentations +of endless torment, the supplications of the damned that can no longer +reach the Ear of Mercy; the light of heaven goes out, and the outcast +soul sinks into the dreadful horror, which no living spirit can +conceive, no living heart can imagine,--sinks, deeper, deeper,--ever +deeper." + +A sudden shudder passed through the wounded man's frame, a rattling +breath forced itself from his labouring breast, his lips opened and a +stream of thick black blood flowed from his mouth. His face grew deadly +pale. + +The candidate was silent, he rose slowly, his eyes firmly fixed on the +face trembling in its death struggle; he drew back his hands and stood +with a cruel smile, calm and motionless. + +The door of the next room was softly opened and a careful footstep was +heard. + +The candidate started. With a great effort he compelled his features to +resume their usual expression of pious dignity; he folded his hands on +his breast, and turned his head towards the door. + +Fritz Deyke appeared and cautiously popped in his head. + +"Ah! you are here, sir?" he said in a whisper, "I was busy in the +stable, but I heard the ladies had gone out, so I thought I would come +and look at my lieutenant. Lord God in heaven!" he cried, suddenly +rushing to the bed, "what is this? my lieutenant is dying!" + +He seized the stiff hand of the sick man, and bent over the apparently +lifeless body. + +"I fear the worst," said the candidate calmly, in a mild voice, full of +melancholy sympathy. "A violent cramp seized the poor young man, and +the breaking of a blood-vessel seems to have ended our hopes. It was +quick and sudden, whilst I was endeavouring to cheer him by friendly +converse, and spiritual consolation!" + +"My God! my God!" cried Fritz, "this is too horrible--what will become +of his poor mother, of Miss Helena?" + +And hastening to the door he called loudly, in an accent of grief and +despair,-- + +"Margaret! Margaret!" + +The young girl rushed upstairs; the sound of Fritz's voice as he called +her had alarmed her, and she looked anxiously in at the door of the +sick-room. + +"My lieutenant is dying! for God's sake fetch the doctor quickly!" +cried Fritz Deyke as he went to meet her. + +Margaret glanced hastily at the bed, saw the pale face and streaming +blood, and wringing her hands together, with a low outcry hastened +away. + +Fritz Deyke knelt before the bed, and with a handkerchief wiped away +the blood from the lieutenant's mouth, repeating again and again, "My +God! my God! his poor mother!" + +The candidate went into the adjoining room, and seized his hat; then he +suddenly determined to remain; he stood still for a moment, and then +seated himself so that he could see into the sick-room. + +Margaret had hastened out; she knew the way that the surgeon had taken +with the ladies, and flew after him. She soon saw him near the first +houses of the little town. He had led the ladies to a shady alley, and +was taking leave of them, as he wished to return to his other patients. + +The young maiden was quite breathless when she reached him. The surgeon +looked at her with amazement, Helena's eyes were fixed upon her in +anxious fear. + +"For God's sake, sir!" cried Margaret, struggling for breath enough to +bring out her words, "I think--I fear--the poor lieutenant--" + +"What has happened?" cried the surgeon, in alarm. + +"I fear he is dead," gasped Margaret. "Come, quick! quick!" + +Madame von Wendenstein seized the surgeon's arm, as if seeking a +support, but she hastened along in silence, really hurrying the doctor +with her; he was endeavouring to gain from Margaret some particulars of +this unexpected seizure. + +Helena rushed on first, and her flying feet scarcely touched the +ground. She uttered one cry when Margaret gave her terrible message, +then she fled with vacant eyes through the streets, until she came to +old Lohmeier's house, and flying up the stairs, reached the +lieutenant's room. + +She paused for a moment at the threshold, sighed deeply, and pressed +both her hands against her breast. Then she opened the door, and stood +gazing on the young man's deathlike face. Nothing had changed, and +Fritz Deyke stood before him, carefully removing the blood that +streamed from his lips with a white handkerchief. + +Fritz raised his head and turned round. When he saw Helena standing +there an image of silent despair, he comprehended that her sorrow was +greater than his own. He rose slowly, and said, in a low, trembling +voice,-- + +"I think the good God has called him; come, Miss Helena, if anyone can +awake him, you can!" + +And gently seizing her hand he led her to the bed. + +She sank upon her knees, and taking the lieutenant's hand pressed it to +her lips, breathing on it with her warm breath; her sad, tearless eyes +were fixed upon his face, and her lips sometimes moved, repeating the +same whispered words, "Oh! my God! let me follow him!" + +Thus they continued motionless for some time--Helena crouched beside +the bed, Fritz Deyke standing near her, and regarding her with great +emotion, as he brushed away the tears with the back of his hand. The +candidate sat in the adjoining room, with an expression of deep +sympathy upon his features, his hands folded, and his lips moving as if +in silent prayer. + +Then came the surgeon and the two ladies. + +Madame von Wendenstein was about to hasten to her son's bedside, but +the surgeon held her back gravely, almost roughly. + +"No one can be of any use here but myself," he said energetically; "the +sick belong to me. Ladies must leave the room; if they are wanted, I +will call them." + +Fritz gently pushed Madame von Wendenstein and her daughter into the +adjoining room; Helena rose quietly, and seated herself at some +distance. + +The surgeon approached the bed; he carefully examined the sick man's +face, looked at the wound, and held his hand for a long time upon his +heart, gazing at his watch at the same time. + +The candidate went up to Madame von Wendenstein, who had sunk upon a +chair, her face covered with her hands. + +"Compose yourself, much honoured lady," he said in his gentlest voice; +"all hope is not yet over, and if it is the will of Providence to put a +period to your son's life, you must think how many, many parents have +to bear the same, and often even greater sorrow." + +Madame von Wendenstein only replied by her sobs. + +The old surgeon now returned to the ladies. Scarcely had he left the +bed, when Helena returned to her place, and again taking the hand +strove to warm it with her breath. + +"It is a frightful crisis," said the doctor; "I cannot understand its +cause, but alas! it leaves us little hope. We must be prepared for the +worst; but the heart still beats, and as long as there is a spark of +life a physician does not despair. There is really nothing to be done; +if nature does not help herself, our knowledge is powerless. But how," +he continued, turning to the candidate, "did this alarming crisis come +on? My patient was perfectly quiet when I last saw him." + +"He continued so," said the candidate, "for some time after I had taken +my place beside his bed; he awoke from a deep sleep, I gave him some +drink, and he appeared quite well; whilst I was endeavouring to refresh +his soul with spiritual consolation, a convulsive movement came on, +followed by this gush of blood. It was quick and sudden." + +"Well, well," said the surgeon, "what I hoped might proceed gently and +gradually has taken place suddenly, from a violent nervous crisis +setting free the blood collected in the vessels. It is scarcely +possible that this can have happened without causing serious mischief, +besides the frightful effect upon the nerves. Did you talk to him +much?" he asked, looking firmly at the candidate. + +"I said," he replied, folding his hands, "what my calling requires me +to say to the sick, I hardly know whether he understood me." + +"Forgive me, sir," said the surgeon, in a brusque voice, shaking his +head, "I am not one of those who despise religion, and from my heart I +believe that all help comes from God; but in this case it really would +have been better to let him sleep." + +"The word of God, with its wondrous power, is never out of place," +replied the candidate in a cold tone of conviction, raising his eyes +with a pious expression. + +"My God! my God!" cried Helena from the next room, in a loud, +half-frightened, half-joyful voice, "he lives, he wakes!" + +They all hastened into the room; the physician went to the head of the +bed, whilst Helena still knelt and pressed the lieutenant's hand to her +lips. + +He had opened his eyes, and turned a wondering look from one face to +another, as if surprised at the excitement he saw on every countenance. + +"What has happened?" he asked in a low, but perfectly clear voice, +whilst a slight flow of blood still came from his lips. "I have had a +bad, bad dream,--I thought I was dying." + +His eyes closed again. + +The surgeon raised the pillows that supported his head, gently took his +hand from Helena, and examined his pulse. + +"A glass of wine," he cried. + +Fritz Deyke hurried away, and returned in a moment with a glass of old +dark red wine. + +The surgeon held it to his patient's lips. He drank it eagerly to the +last drop. + +In trembling anxiety they all awaited the result. Helena's face was as +pale as marble; her soul lay in her eyes. + +After a short time a tinge of colour came to von Wendenstein's cheek, a +deep sigh heaved his breast, and he opened his eyes. + +They rested on Helena, and a smile passed over his face. + +"Draw a deep breath," said the doctor. + +He did so immediately. + +"Does it hurt you?" + +The young officer shook his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on +Helena. + +The doctor again felt his pulse, laid his hand on his brow, and +listened attentively to his breathing. + +He then went up to Madame von Wendenstein, and said, as he held out his +hand to her with a joyful smile, "Nature has conquered this violent +crisis, now only rest and nourishment are needed; thank God, your son +is saved!" + +The old lady approached the bed, pressed an affectionate kiss upon her +son's brow, and gazed long into his eyes. + +Then she left the room, and sank upon the sofa in the adjoining +apartment: the frightful excitement and the long, anxious suspense had +so exhausted her strength that her whole soul sought relief in a storm +of tears. + +Helena remained sitting near the bed, still holding the hand of her +beloved, still gazing upon him calm and motionless, the brilliancy of +perfect happiness on her pale features. + +The candidate remained standing, with folded hands; he retained the +gentle smile unchanged upon his lips, whilst his eyes never moved from +the scene at the lieutenant's bedside. + +After a little consideration the doctor wrote a prescription, and, +rising with the paper in his hand, joined the others. + +"Our patient must take this every hour," he said. "I hope he may sleep +quietly during the night; to-morrow, or the next day, we can begin a +strengthening diet, and if God continues to help us, we may soon look +for a rapid recovery." + +He turned to the Candidate Behrmann. + +"Forgive my hasty words," he said gravely. "You were right when you +spoke of the divine power of God's word. God has indeed performed a +wonder; not one case in a hundred would have passed through such a +crisis favourably. I bow before this wonder, and with you I look up +with thankfulness and adoration to the Day-spring who sends down +knowledge and faith to us, as rays of light from an eternal centre." + +He spoke warmly and feelingly as he held out his hand to the candidate. +An indescribable expression appeared on Behrmann's face. He cast down +his eyes, bent his head, and was silent. + +Then he remembered that many sick friends were wanting him, and he took +leave of Madame von Wendenstein with a few words of sympathy. He went +up to Helena and took her hand. + +Why did she withdraw it with a hasty movement of fear? Why did an icy +coldness stream from his fingers to her heart? Did she see the +involuntary look which flashed from his eyes when he approached the +bed, or was it that secret instinct which causes unexplained sympathy +and antipathy, often judging more truly than the longest experience, +the deepest knowledge of mankind, or the most prudent reflection? + +The physician and the candidate departed, and the ladies were left +alone with the invalid, who fell into a calm sleep. + +Fritz Deyke, whose strong nerves soon recovered from the excitement of +the last hour, gave himself up completely to joy. After he had fetched +the lieutenant's medicine he hastened into the little garden, where +Margaret was watering her flowers, whose drooping heads told of the +excessive heat of the last few days. + +He said very little. He hurried to and fro, filling her watering-pot +again and again; and then he made little channels in the ground to the +roots of the plants, that the water might penetrate more quickly. He +admired the quickness and grace with which Margaret watered her plants; +how lightly and cleverly she raised the drooping flowers and tied them +to sticks, and he saw that sometimes she looked kindly at him, and that +she blushed a little when he observed it. + +Then he seated himself with old Lohmeier and his daughter at their +simple but excellent supper, and again he admired Margaret's adroitness +and attention to her household duties, and the cheerful comfort she +shed around her. + +And he thought to himself how pretty she would look in the rich old +farmhouse at Blechow, and how the elder Deyke would rejoice at having +such a housekeeper and daughter-in-law. What Margaret thought was her +own secret, but she looked supremely happy as she served her father and +his guest, and performed all the duties of an attentive housewife, with +the skill of an experienced hostess and the grace of a lovely girl. + +Thus quiet joy and hopeful happiness prevailed throughout the good +burgher house in Langensalza. + +The candidate Behrmann visited many of the sick and wounded, and +unweariedly spoke eloquent and impressive words of comfort, and he +refused all thanks with humility. He advised and ordered in the +hospitals; and praises of the pious, gifted, and exemplary young +clergyman resounded from every lip. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + RECONCILIATION. + + +Countess Frankenstein sat in the reception-room of her house in the +Herrengasse, in Vienna. Nothing had altered in this salon; the +prodigious events and the mighty storms that had shaken the power of +the House of Hapsburg to its very foundations could not have been +suspected from the aspect of this room when unoccupied, so complete was +its stamp of aristocratic immutability and perfect repose. There was +the same old furniture which had already served several generations, +now looking down from their faintly gleaming frames of tarnished +gilding upon the doings of their children and grand-children; there was +the high, wide chimney-piece, the flames from which had been reflected +in the bright, youthful eyes of those who long ago had become staid +grandmothers; there was the same clock with its groups of shepherds and +shepherdesses which had marked the moment of birth and the moment of +death of many a member of the family, and with equal calmness had added +second to second in hours of joy or hours of sorrow. Amongst all these +objects, lifeless indeed but full of memories, and accustomed to look +calmly on the happiness or sadness of generations passed away, sat the +living beings of the present, deeply moved and distressed by the +terrible and unexpected blow which had fallen on the House of Hapsburg +and on Austria. + +The old Countess Frankenstein was grave and dignified as ever, but +there was a sorrowful expression on her proud, calm face as she sat on +the large sofa; beside her, dressed in black, sat the Countess Clam +Gallas, whoso tearful eyes were often covered with her embroidered +handkerchief. Opposite the ladies sat General von Reischach; his fresh, +healthy face glowed brightly as ever, the dark eyes looked out keen and +lively beneath his short white hair, but though this expression of +jovial cheerfulness could not be banished, there was beyond it a look +of melancholy grief. Countess Clara sat beside her mother, leaning back +in an arm-chair, and on her young and beautiful face lay a breath of +deep sorrow, for she was a true daughter of the proud Austrian +aristocracy, and she felt deeply and keenly the humiliation which the +ancient banners of the empire had suffered at Königgrätz, but her +melancholy was spread but as a light veil over the joy and happiness +that filled her dreamy eyes. Notwithstanding all the dangers of +Trautenau and Königgrätz, Lieutenant von Stielow had returned +unwounded; the war was now as good as ended, she feared no fresh perils +for him, and when the war was concluded, preparations for the marriage +were to be commenced. + +The young countess sat in a dreamy reverie, pursuing the charming +pictures unrolled for the future, and hearing little of the +conversation carried on around her. + +"This disaster is the effect of the incomprehensible regard shown to +the clamour of the lower classes," cried Countess Clam Gallas, in a +voice trembling with grief and anger. "Benedek received the chief +command because he was 'a man of the people;' the officers of noble +birth were thus hurt, injured, and passed over; we now see what all +this has led to. I have nothing to say against the rights of merit and +talent," she continued, "history teaches us that great field marshals +have been found among common soldiers, but people should not be pushed +forward who have no talent and whose only merit is courage, simply +because they are not of distinguished birth! And now they make the +aristocracy answerable for the defeat. Count Clam's treatment is an +insult to the whole of the Austrian aristocracy." + +"You must not look upon it in that light, countess," said General von +Reischach; "on the contrary, I think the proceedings against Count Clam +Gallas will stop all evil mouths, for it will be an excellent +opportunity for stating the real causes of our defeat. When public +opinion, led on by a couple of journalists, had loaded the count with +reproaches, he was right in demanding a strict investigation, and it +was Mensdorff's duty to urge it upon the emperor. Let us wait the +result, it will show that the Austrian nobility is above reproach." + +"It is very hard," cried the countess, "to be so personally affected +by the common misfortune!" And she wiped the tears that had again +flowed, with her handkerchief. + +"Tell us, Baron Reischach," said Countess Frankenstein, after a short +pause, wishing to give the conversation a different turn; "tell us +about the King of Hanover, you once held a command in his service. I +have the greatest admiration for that heroic prince, and the deepest +commiseration for his unhappy fate." + +"It is wonderful," said the general, "with what resignation and +cheerfulness the king bears his evil fortune, and the difficult +position he is now placed in. He is still full of hope; I fear it +deceives him!" + +"Do you believe they will really venture to dethrone him?" cried the +Countess Frankenstein. + +"Alas! I am quite sure of it," said General von Reischach. + +"And I, alas! cannot doubt it, from what Mensdorff has told me," said +Countess Clam Gallas. + +"And must Austria bear this?" cried Countess Frankenstein, a bright +flush of auger upon her usually calm face, and her eyes sparkling with +excitement. + +"Austria bears everything, and will have to bear still more!" said the +general, shrugging his shoulders. "I see before us a long course of +misfortune, they will again experiment, and every fresh experiment will +pluck a jewel from our crown and a leaf from our laurels; I fear they +will pursue the path of Joseph II." + +"God protect Austria!" cried Countess Frankenstein, folding her hands. +"Will the King of Hanover remain here?" she asked, after a short pause. + +"It seems so," replied General von Reischach, "he lives in Baron +Knesebeck's house, in the Wallnerstrasse, Countess Wilezek has given +him up her apartments; but I have heard he will soon retire to the Duke +of Brunswick's villa at Hietzing. It would be much better for the king +to go to England, he is by birth an English prince, and if he succeeded +in interesting public opinion there in his behalf, which with his charm +of manner would not be difficult, England would perhaps help him, and +she is the only power who could help him; but he is disinclined, and +Count Platen appears very incapable of persuading the king to take any +decided course." + +"Count Platen visited me," said Countess Clam Gallas; "he does not +believe in the annexation of Hanover." + +"There are people who never believe in the devil, until he has got them +by the throat," cried Baron von Reischach: "there is General Brandis, a +plain old soldier, with a quick clear understanding, he would be much +the best counsellor for the king in a position in which rapid and firm +decision can alone avail, but he is not supported by Platen." + +"How many disasters a few days have brought forth!" cried Countess +Frankenstein. + +"Well," said General von Reischach, as he rose, "you must console +yourself with the happiness that blooms in your family; I would bet +anything," he added, laughing, "that Countess Clara's thoughts are +filled with pleasant pictures." + +The young countess started from her dreams, a flying blush passed over +her face, and she said, laughingly,-- + +"What can you know about young ladies' thoughts?" + +"I know so much about them," replied the general, "that I should not +venture now to bring my little countess a doll, she must have one in a +green uniform with a red plume." + +"I want neither dolls nor anything else from you," replied the young +countess, pretending to pout. + +General von Reischach and Countess Clam Gallas took leave. + +Countess Frankenstein and her daughter accompanied them to the door, +and had only been a few moments alone when a servant entered and said: + +"There is a gentleman here, who asks very pressingly for an interview +with the countess." + +"Who is it?" she asked, with surprise, for she had few visitors except +those belonging to her own exclusive circle of society. + +"Here is his card," said the servant, handing a visiting card to the +countess. "He assures me it is greatly to your ladyship's interest to +hear what he has to say." + +Countess Frankenstein took the card, and read, with a look of +astonishment--"E. Balzer, Exchange Agent." + +A deep flush passed over Countess Clara's face, she looked anxiously at +her mother and pressed her handkerchief to her lips. + +"I cannot understand," said the countess, "what a person so entirely +unknown to me can want; however, let him come in!" + +In a few moments Herr Balzer entered the salon. He was dressed in +black, and his common-looking face bore an expression of grave dignity +which did not appear to belong to it. + +He approached the ladies with a manner in which the boldness of the +habitué of a coffee-house was mingled with the embarrassment of a man +who, accustomed only to low society, suddenly finds himself amongst +persons of distinction. + +Countess Frankenstein looked at him with a cold, proud gaze, whilst +Clara, after her large eyes had taken in his vulgar appearance with a +hasty glance, cast them down and waited in trembling expectation for +the reason of this unexpected visit. + +"I have consented to receive you, sir," said the countess, with easy +calmness, "and I beg you to tell me the important matter you have to +impart." + +Herr Balzer bowed with affected dignity and said: + +"A most melancholy affair, gracious countess, brings me to you,--an +affair in which we, you and I, or rather your daughter and I, have a +common interest." + +Clara fixed her eyes upon him with great surprise and painful suspense; +the haughty look of the countess asked plainer than words, "What +interest can I have in common with this man?" + +Herr Balzer saw this look, and an almost imperceptible smile appeared +on his lips. + +"A very painful and distressing circumstance," he said slowly and +hesitatingly, "obliges me, your ladyship, to confide my honour to you, +and to consult with you, as to what is best to be done." + +"I pray you, sir," said the countess, in an icy voice, "to come to the +fact you have to communicate. My time is much engaged." + +Without paying any attention to this intimation, Herr Balzer proceeded, +apparently with some embarrassment, whilst twirling his hat in his +hands: + +"Your daughter is engaged to Lieutenant von Stielow?" + +The countess looked at him, almost rigid with amazement. She began to +fear she had admitted a madman. A slight shiver passed through Clara's +tender form; deep paleness overspread her features, and she did not +dare to lift her eyes to this man, for an instinctive suspicion warned +her he must be the bearer of something evil. + +Herr Balzer drew a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his eyes. +In a theatrical manner he walked towards the countess, exclaiming, +whilst he stretched out his hand: + +"Countess, you will understand me at once, you must understand me; I +trust my fate to your discretion,--only in common with yourself can +this melancholy transaction--" + +"I must really beg you, sir," said Countess Frankenstein, looking +anxiously at the bell, from which she was separated by Herr Balzer, "I +must really beg you to state the facts." + +"Herr von Stielow," said Balzer, again covering his eyes with his large +yellow silk pocket-handkerchief. + +Clara folded her hands in breathless suspense. + +"Herr von Stielow," repeated Herr Balzer, in a voice that appeared to +struggle for composure, "that volatile young man who is so happy in the +possession of so lovely, so worthy a fiancée," he bowed to Clara, who +turned from him with disgust, "this volatile young man dares to rob me +of my happiness, to destroy my peace--he keeps up a criminal +correspondence with my wife." + +With a low cry, Clara sank down upon the chair before which she stood, +and wept silently. + +Countess Frankenstein remained standing upright. Her eyes rested +fiercely and proudly upon this detestable messenger of evil, and in a +voice in which no emotion was perceptible, she asked: + +"And how do you know this, sir? Are you quite sure?" + +"Alas! only too sure," cried Herr Balzer, pathetically, again applying +his handkerchief to his eyes, which were quite red with repeated +rubbing. + +"Some time ago," he said, "my friends warned me; but my confidence in +my wife--I love my wife, gracious countess: ah! she was my whole +happiness--prevented my heeding these warnings; then, too, Baron von +Stielow's engagement with the lovely countess"--he again bowed to +Clara--"was well known in Vienna; I felt quite safe, since I was +simple-hearted enough,"--he laid his hand on his black satin +waistcoat--"to believe such an error impossible." + +"Well?" asked the countess. + +"At last, by chance--oh! my heart will break when I think of +it--yesterday I discovered the frightful truth." + +The countess made a movement of impatience. + +He threw a side glance at the easy-chair, in which the younger lady sat +motionless, her face covered with her handkerchief, and with the malice +of vulgar natures who instinctively hate those of a higher grade, he +seemed disposed to prolong her torture. + +"Amongst the letters brought to me," he continued, after some +hesitation, "there was one intended for my wife. I did not observe the +address, and I opened it, believing it directed to myself. It contained +the horrible, too certain proof of my misfortune." + +Clara gave a low sob. + +The countess asked with cold severity,-- + +"Where is this letter?" + +Herr Balzer, with a deep, strongly marked sigh, felt in the breast +pocket of his coat, pulled out a folded letter, and gave it to the +countess. She took it, opened it, and read the contents slowly. Then +throwing it on the table, she said: + +"What have you done?" + +"Countess," cried Herr Balzer, in the same pathetic voice, "I love my +wife; she has greatly erred, it is true, but I love her still, and I +cannot give up the hope of reclaiming her." + +The countess shrugged her shoulders, almost imperceptibly, and cast a +look full of contempt upon the exchange agent. + +"I do not wish for a separation,--I would rather forgive her," he +continued, in a tearful voice; "and I have come, therefore, to speak to +you, countess, to consult with you,--to implore you to--" + +"What?" asked the countess. + +"You see, I thought," said Herr Balzer, turning his hat round and +round more quickly, "if you,--Vienna is now a very sad place to reside +in,--if you would go to your country estates, or into Switzerland, or +to the Italian lakes, far away from here, and if you would take +Lieutenant von Stielow with you, he would leave Vienna, and could not +continue to have any intercourse with my wife: I too would take her +away somewhere for a time. After his marriage with the lovely countess, +the young couple would naturally visit Baron von Stielow's family for a +time; he would forget my wife,--all would come straight, if we only +work together at the same plan!" + +He spoke slowly, and with much hesitation, often interrupting himself, +and casting stolen looks now at the mother, now at the daughter. Before +he had finished speaking, Clara had sprung to her feet, her eyes, red +with weeping, were fixed on him with burning anger; and as he +concluded, she looked at her mother with anxious suspense, her lips +half opened, as if she almost feared her mother might not give the +right reply. + +Countess Frankenstein drew herself up, with a movement full of pride, +and said in a tone of cold contempt: + +"I thank you for your communication, sir; it has opened my eyes in +time. I regret I cannot assist you in the way you wish, to re-establish +your domestic happiness. You must understand it cannot be the task of a +Countess Frankenstein to cure the Baron Stielow of an unworthy passion, +nor can she consent to continue an engagement which the baron has not +respected. You must find some other means of reclaiming your wife." + +Clara's eyes expressed her perfect approval of her mother's words; with +a proud movement she turned her back upon Herr Balzer, and, suppressing +her tears with a great effort, she looked out of one of the large panes +of glass in the high window of the salon. + +Herr Balzer wrung his hands, as if in despair, and cried with +well-acted emotion: + +"My God! countess, forgive me, if I thought only of my own sorrow and +grief, only of myself and my wife, and did not consider that +difficulty. I thought, too, you wished so much for this _parti_, which +is so excellent, and I hoped you would act in concert with me to bring +everything to a good end." + +"A Countess Frankenstein is not in a position to wish for a _parti_ +unworthy of her, and one her heart cannot approve," said the countess, +the cold calmness of her manner unchanged. "I believe, sir," she +continued, bowing very slightly, "that it is scarcely necessary to +continue this conversation." + +Herr Balzer wrung his hands, and cried in a tone of despair: + +"Oh, my God! my God! countess, what have I done! I now understand +perfectly that your daughter, under the circumstances, cannot continue +her engagement,--that I was foolish to hope to re-establish peace +through your assistance. Oh, my God, I had better have remained +silent!" + +The countess looked at him inquiringly. + +"Then," he continued, in the same tone, "everything might have gone on +well; now, oh, God! all that is over! You will break off the engagement +with Baron von Stielow, the whole world will hear of my misfortune, +there will be a dreadful scandal in Vienna, and I shall have to +separate from my wife. Ah! and I love my wife; I wish so to forgive +her, to reclaim her,--and I shall love her for ever!" + +He paused for a moment, and cast a cunning look at the countess, whose +features had assumed an expression of deep thought. + +Then he added still louder, and wringing his hands still more: + +"Oh! my gracious countess, have compassion on me. I came to you in +perfect confidence to confide to you the frightful secret of my +misfortune. I see you cannot help me, as I hoped; be merciful to me, +and do not make it impossible for me to think of a way in which the +worst may be averted. Keep my secret. Herr von Stielow in his rage and +anger would revenge himself on me,--there would be nothing to restrain +him,--then there would be a dreadful scandal; that may be a matter of +indifference to you and your daughter, but to me and my wife--Oh! have +compassion on me!" and he made a movement, as if about to throw himself +at the feet of the countess. She still continued thoughtful. + +"Sir," she said, "it is certainly neither my wish, nor my daughter's, +to discuss this disagreeable affair with Baron Stielow." + +Clara turned her head towards her mother, and thanked her with a look. + +"I shall break off Countess Clara's engagement with Herr von Stielow in +the quietest manner possible, and it will remain for you to do the best +you can for yourself--your secret is safe with me. Again I thank you +for your communication, however painful it was necessary, and has +preserved us from much worse pain in the future." + +And she bowed her head in a way that showed Herr Balzer unmistakeably +he was dismissed. + +He again held his handkerchief before his eyes, and said, in a whining +voice: + +"I thank you, countess, I shall be eternally grateful to you; forgive +me. I beg the young lady's forgiveness, too, for being the messenger of +such evil tidings. But my lot is the worst. Oh! if you did but know how +I loved my wife!" + +And as if overcome by the immensity of his grief, he bowed in silence, +and left the room. + +He hastily brushed past the servant in the ante-room, and ran down the +stairs; as soon as he had left the room the grave and sorrowful +expression vanished from his face, a vulgar smile of triumph appeared +upon his lips, and he said to himself, with great satisfaction,-- + +"Well, I think I did my business very well, and richly earned the +thousand guldens my dearly beloved wife promised me, if I would free +her dear Stielow. Now she can catch him again in her net; she will +succeed, for she understands all that well, and then," he said, with a +broader grin of satisfaction, "I shall have the right of grasping +handfuls of the gold which this young millionaire will pour into her +lap." + +With quick steps, he hastened to his wife, to tell her of the success +of his negotiation. + +As soon as he left the room, Clara, without speaking a word, threw +herself into her mother's arms, sobbing aloud. After the restraint she +had put upon her feelings in the presence of a repulsive stranger, her +tears flowed freely, and relieved the oppression of her heart. + +"Be strong, my daughter," said the countess, gently stroking her +shining hair. "God sends you a hard trial; but it is better to tear +yourself free from an unworthy engagement, than that this blow should +fall upon you later." + +"Oh! my mother," cried the young countess, with the greatest grief, +"this love made me so happy; he assured me so strongly he was quite +free; I believed him so implicitly." + +Suddenly raising herself from her mother's arms, she rushed to the +table where the letter lay which Herr Balzer had given the countess. + +With a slight shudder, she seized the fatal letter, and read the +contents with large, dilated eyes. + +Then she threw it from her with a look of horror, and sinking into a +chair, wept bitterly. + +"Go to your room, my child," said the countess, "you need rest. I will +consider how matters can be arranged in the best and quietest way. The +baron's absence makes it easier. We will go into the country; I will +give the needful orders. Calm and compose yourself, that the world may +perceive nothing. It is our duty to bear our sorrows alone: only vulgar +souls show their troubles to the world. God will comfort you, and on +the heart of your mother you will always find a place to weep." + +And gently raising her daughter, she led her from the salon to the +inner apartments, belonging exclusively to the ladies. + +The regular strokes of the old clock's pendulum echoed through the +silence of the large, empty room, and the ancestors' portraits looked +down from their frames with their unchanging well-bred smile; their +eyes too, though they looked so calm and cheerful, had wept in days +long past, and with proud strength they had forced their tears back +into their hearts, to avoid the pity or the spiteful joy of the world, +and time as it rolled on, after hours of sorrow and pain, had brought +the moment of happiness. There was nothing now in this old home of an +old race. + +The loud clatter of a sword was heard in the ante-room. The servant +opened the door, and Lieutenant von Stielow entered, fresh and +cheerful. He looked round the room with sparkling eyes. He turned with +disappointment to the servant. + +"The ladies were here a moment ago," he said. "The countess had just +received a person on business; they must have gone to their own +apartments. I will send, and mention that Baron--" + +"No, my friend," cried the young officer, "do not announce me; the +ladies will soon return, and I shall surprise them. Say nothing." + +The servant bowed, and left the room. + +The young officer walked several times up and down the room. A smile of +happiness rested on his face--the joy of reunion, after an eventful +separation, during which he had been threatened by death in many forms; +the anticipation of the joyful surprise he should behold in the eyes of +his beloved, all combined to fill his young, fresh heart with joy and +enchantment. + +He went up to the low fauteuil, in which Countess Clara usually sat +beside her mother, and he pressed his lips against the back, where he +knew her head had rested. + +Then he seated himself in the chair, half closed his eyes, and gave +himself up to a sweet, soft reverie, and the old clock's pendulum +measured the time the young man spent in happy dreams, with the same +regular stroke as it had numbered the moments of torture that had wrung +the heart of her who filled his dreams. + +Whilst the young baron sat awaiting his happiness, Clara had gone to +her own apartment. It was a square room, with a large window, decorated +with grey silk. Before the window stood a writing table, and near it a +high pyramidal stand of blooming flowers, whose fragrance filled the +room. Upon the writing-table, on an elegant bronze easel, stood a large +photograph of her fiancé; he had given it to her just before his +departure to join the army. In a niche in one corner of the room was a +_prie-dieu_ chair, and a beautiful crucifix in ebony and ivory, with a +small shell, containing holy water, hung upon the wall. + +This room contained everything calculated to please a faultless taste, +and to enrich and embellish life. This room had been so full of +happiness and hope when the young countess left it,--and now? The +perfume of the flowers was as sweet as an hour ago; the sunshine fell +as brightly through the windows; but where was the happiness? where was +the hope? + +Clara threw herself on her knees before the image of the crucified +Saviour, where she had often found comfort in the childish sorrows of +her early life. She clasped her beautiful hands in fervent prayer, her +tearful eyes hung on the image of the Redeemer, her lips moved in +half-uttered, imploring words; but not as before did peace and rest +sink into her soul. + +A wild storm of various emotions raged within her. There was deep +sorrow for her lost happiness, there was defiant anger at the deceit +that had played upon her love, there was swelling pride at the contempt +shown to her feelings, and finally there was bitter, jealous hatred of +the unworthy being to whom she had been sacrificed. All these emotions +surged and raged in her head, in her heart, in her veins; and the +prayer her lips pronounced would not arise to heaven, the peaceful +light of believing self-sacrifice would not kindle within her. + +She stood up and sighed deeply. Not grief, but anger flashed in her +eyes. Her white teeth bit into her lip, she paced up and down the room, +her hands pressed upon her bosom, as if to still the raging storm +threatening to break her heart. + +Then she stood still before her writing-table, and looked angrily at +von Stielow's portrait. + +"Why did you come into my life," she cried, "to rob me of my peace, and +to make me purchase a few hours' happiness with such frightful +tortures?" + +Her looks rested long on the portrait. Slowly and gradually the angry +expression passed from her features; a mild, sorrowful light shone in +her eyes. + +"And my short happiness was so fair," she whispered. "Is it then +possible that those true eyes could lie? Is it possible that at the +very time---" + +She sank into a chair near her table, and half involuntarily following +the sweet habit of the last short time, she opened an ebony casket, +enriched with mother-o'-pearl and gold. + +In this casket were the letters her lover had written to her from the +camp. They were all short, hurried notes, many of them very dirty from +the numerous hands they had passed through before they reached her. She +knew them all by heart, those love greetings that said so little and +yet so much, that she had waited for with such longing, that she had +received with such exulting joy, that she had read and read again with +such happiness. + +Mechanically she took one of the letters, and allowed her eyes slowly +to follow the lines. + +Then she threw away the paper with a movement of horror. + +"And with the same hand," she cried, "with which he wrote these +words--" She did not finish the sentence, but gazed gloomily before +her. + +"But is it true?" she cried, suddenly; "can it not be malice, envy? Oh, +I knew that this woman was once no stranger to him. I have not seen the +writings side by side to compare them. Good heavens!" she cried, with +horror, "that wretched letter lies in the drawing-room; if one of the +servants----" And hastily springing up, she hurried from the room, +glided swiftly through the intervening apartments, reached the +drawing-room, and advanced at once to the table where the fatal letter +lay between two vases of flowers upon some tapestry work. + +The sound of her footsteps aroused the young officer from his reverie. +He rose hastily from his half-recumbent position, in which he had been +completely concealed by the high back of the chair, and he saw her his +dreams had pictured standing really before him, her face expressing +indescribable agitation. + +It would be impossible to find words to tell the feelings that passed +through the young girl's mind in one moment. Her heart beat high with +joyful surprise when she saw her lover so unexpectedly; but the next +instant bitter sorrow rushed upon her as she remembered she was for +ever separated from the happiness that had been hers. Her thoughts grew +indistinct, she had neither the strength to speak nor to withdraw, she +stood motionless, her large dilated eyes fixed upon him whom she so +unexpectedly beheld. + +With one bound the young man was beside her, he opened his arms as if +about to embrace her, but quickly recollecting himself, he sank down on +one knee, seized her hand, which she yielded involuntarily, and +impressed upon it a long, warm, and affectionate kiss. + +"Here, sweet joy of my heart, star of my love," he cried, "here is your +true knight again; your talisman has been my protection; the holy light +of my star was stronger than all the threatening clouds that surrounded +me." + +And with bright eyes, filled with happiness, love, and adoring +admiration, he looked up at her. + +She gazed at him, but there was no expression in her widely opened +eyes, it seemed as if all her blood had flowed back to her heart, as if +all her ideas, all her powers of will, were banished by the +overwhelming feelings of the last few moments. + +He was rejoiced at this motionless silence, which he ascribed to +surprise at his sudden return, and he said: + +"General Gablenz has been sent for by the emperor, and he brought me +here, so that I greet my darling sooner than I expected!" And taking +from his uniform a gold case set with a C in brilliants, he added with +a happy smile, "here is the talisman from my lady's hand, which +preserved me through every danger; it has rested on my heart, and it +can tell you that its every beat has been true to my love." + +He opened the case, and in the interior, upon blue velvet beneath a +glass setting, lay a faded rose. + +"Now," he cried, "I need the dead talisman no longer, I see my living +rose blooming before me!" + +He stood up, gently laid his arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss +upon her brow. + +A slight shudder passed through her, her eyes sparkled with anger and +contempt, a brilliant red glowed on her cheeks. + +With a hasty movement she tore herself free. + +"Baron," she cried, "I must beg--you surprise me!" + +She stammered; her lips trembled, she could not find words to express +what she thought and felt, she could not say what she wished to say. + +After a moment's silence she turned to leave the room. + +The young officer stood as if struck by lightning, her strange words, +the expression on her face, told him that something must have taken +place to cause a breach between him and his love, but it was impossible +for him to form any clear idea as to what it could be, and he looked at +her in blank amazement. But when she turned to leave him and had +actually reached the door, he stretched out both his arms towards her, +and cried in a voice so full of love and regret, of grief and inquiry, +that it could only proceed from the deepest and truest feeling, +"Clara!" + +She started at this voice, which found an echo in her heart, she stood +still, her strength left her, she tottered. + +He was beside her in a moment, he supported her, and led her to an +easy-chair, in which he gently placed her. + +Then he knelt before her and cried in an imploring tone, "For God's +sake, Clara, what has happened, what distresses you?" + +She held her handkerchief before her eyes and wept, struggling +violently for composure. + +The door opened, and Countess Frankenstein entered. + +She looked at the scene before her in utter amazement. + +Herr von Stielow sprang to his feet. + +"Countess!" he cried, "can you explain the riddle I find here--what has +happened to Clara?" The countess looked at him with grave severity. + +"I did not expect you to-day, Herr von Stielow," she said, "or I should +have given orders for you to be told at once that my daughter is +suffering, and very unwell. We must leave Vienna for a long time; and I +think under the circumstances it would be better to annul the plans we +had formed for the future. My child," she said, turning to her daughter +who sat still, weeping quietly, "go to your room." + +"Clara ill?" cried the young man in the greatest alarm. "My God, how +long has this been so? but no, no, something else has happened. I beg +you----" + +Suddenly the young countess stood up. She raised her head proudly, +fixing her eyes firmly on Herr von Stielow, then turning to her mother +she said,-- + +"Chance, or rather Providence has brought him here, there shall be +truth between us; I at least will not be guilty of the sin of +falsehood." And before the countess could say a word she had walked to +the table with a firm step, seized the letter still lying there, and +with a movement full of proud dignity handed it to the young officer. +Then she again burst into tears and threw herself into her mother's +arms. + +Herr von Stielow glanced at the paper. + +A deep blush overspread his face. + +He ran his eyes hastily over the writing, then casting his eyes on the +ground, he said: + +"I do not know how this letter came here, yet I thought, from a few +words Clara once said, that she knew of an error into which I fell: I +thought that in spite of the past she gave me her heart, and I cannot +understand----" + +Clara rose and looked at him with flaming eyes. + +"In spite of the past!" she cried; "yes, because I believed your word, +that all this past was at an end; I did not know that this past was to +share my present!" + +"But, my God!" exclaimed Herr von Stielow, looking at her with great +surprise, "I do not understand; how can this old letter----" + +"An old letter?" said the Countess Frankenstein severely, "it is a week +old." + +"It bears the date of your last letter to me!" cried Clara. + +Herr von Stielow looked at the paper with amazement. + +His eyes opened widely. He stared blankly at the letter which he held +motionless before him. + +At last he turned to the ladies with sparkling eyes, and a face much +heightened in colour. + +"I know not what demon has been at work--I know not who desires to tear +asunder two hearts that God destined for each other. Countess," he +said, "you owe me the truth, I demand who gave you this paper?" + +Clara's eyes were fixed anxiously on the young man's face, her bosom +rose and fell. + +The face of the countess expressed the repugnance she had felt during +the whole conversation; she replied coldly: + +"Your word of honour to be silent!" + +"I give it," said Herr von Stielow. + +"Then," said the countess, "this letter accidentally fell into the +hands of this lady's husband, and he----" + +"Deceit! shameful deceit!" cried von Stielow, half angrily, half +joyfully, "I do not yet quite see through it, but be it as it may, +countess--Clara--this letter is a year old; see, if you look closely, +the date is freshly written. This is a scandalous intrigue!" + +He handed the letter to the countess. + +She did not hold out her hand to take it. She looked at the young man +coldly. In Clara's eyes gleamed a ray of hope; it is so easy to a +loving heart to believe and to trust. + +Herr von Stielow threw down the paper. + +"You are right, countess," he cried, drawing himself up proudly; "such +proofs are for lawyers!" + +Then he approached Clara, knelt on one knee before her, drew the case +with the faded rose from his uniform, and placed his hand upon it. + +"Clara," he said in an earnest loving voice that came from the depth of +his soul, "by the holy remembrance of the first hours of our love, by +this talisman, which has been with me through all the dangers of +battle, I swear;--this letter was written a year ago, before I ever saw +you." He raised his hand and lightly touched her breast with his finger +point. "By your own pure noble heart I swear that no thought of this +erring meteor, whose rays once led me astray, has ever dwelt within me, +since your love arose to be the pure star of my life--your love to +which I will be true to death!" + +He stood up. + +"Countess," he said in a calm grave voice, "I give you my word of +honour as a nobleman; by the name which my ancestors have borne with +honour from generation to generation for centuries, by my sword which I +used in those dreadful days without reproach, against the enemies of +Austria--the date of this letter is false. Since Clara gave me her love +I have never exchanged a syllable with this woman, I have never thought +of her, except in repentant remembrance of a past error! I do not ask +if you believe my word," he proceeded, "a Countess Frankenstein cannot +doubt the word of an Austrian nobleman, nor think he would purchase a +life's happiness by a lie. But I ask you," he said in a warmer tone, +turning to Countess Clara, whose eyes were beaming with happiness, "I +ask you if you believe my heart is yours without reserve or doubt? if +now that the past is unveiled between us, and we have spoken of it, you +will continue to be the star of my life, or whether in darkness I must +pursue a solitary path, which my hopes once promised should be full of +sunshine and flowers?" + +With downcast eyes he waited in silence. + +The young countess looked at him with the deepest love. A smile of +happiness hovered on her lips. With a light step she glided towards +him; stood still before him, and with a charming movement held out her +hand. + +He raised his eyes, and saw her gentle sparkling looks, her lovely +smile, her slight blush. He opened his arms quickly and she leaned +against him, and hid her face on his breast. + +The countess looked at the beautiful pair with a mild and happy smile, +and a long silence prevailed in the lofty room. + +But the old clock measured these moments with its calm pendulum, the +moments follow each other with eternal regularity, and never change for +the short joys and long sorrows which form the life of man on earth. + +When Clara returned to her room late in the evening, she laid the +golden case with the faded rose at the foot of the crucifix, and now +her prayers went up as lightly winged to heaven as the perfume of +spring flowers, and in her heart as pure and wondrous melodies arose, +as the song of praise of the angels who surround the throne of eternal +love. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + RUSSIA. + + +In a large well-lighted cabinet of his palace in St. Petersburg, +before an enormous table covered with heaps of papers, which, +notwithstanding their number, were evidently in exemplary order, sat +the vice-chancellor of the Russian empire, Prince Alexander +Gortschakoff. + +Although it was still early morning, the prince was carefully dressed. +He wore a black frock coat, unbuttoned and thrown back on account of +the heat, over under-clothes of some white summer material. The fine +intelligent face, with its expression of suppressed irony about the +mouth, and with short, grey hair, was buried behind a high black cravat +and tall linen collar, and the eyes that usually looked out so keenly, +so prudently, with such good-tempered, almost roguish humour, through +their gold-rimmed spectacles, gazed into the young day displeased and +discontented. + +Before the prince stood his confidential secretary, Monsieur von +Hamburger; a slender man, of the middle height, with an open, +intelligent expression, and lively, clever eyes. + +He was in the act of bringing before the prince various personal +affairs, without any connexion to diplomacy. Before him, on the +prince's table, lay a large packet of acts and papers. + +He had just ended a report, and with a pencil he held in his hand he +noted down the minister's resolution on its contents. Then he laid the +paper on the large pile of acts, took it up from the table and bowed, +to show that his business was concluded. + +The prince looked at him with some surprise. + +"Have you finished?" he asked shortly. + +"At your command, Excellency." + +"You have a heap of things you are taking away again?" said the prince, +glancing at the thick packet von Hamburger held beneath his arm. + +"I shall have the honour of bringing these matters before you on some +future day," said the secretary. + +"Why not to-day? You have been here but a quarter of an hour, and we +have still time!" said the minister, with a slight accent of impatience +in his voice. + +Monsieur von Hamburger allowed his quick eyes to rest for a moment on +the prince's face in silence, then he said calmly, with a slight +smile,-- + +"Your Excellency must, I fear, have passed a bad night, and you feel in +no gracious mood. I have, besides these reports, various matters which, +on the ground of justice and courtesy, it is very desirable to consider +in a friendly spirit before presenting them to his majesty the emperor. +I think your Excellency will be angry with me by-and-bye if I expose +these affairs to the reception that at the present moment seems +probable." + +The prince looked at him for a moment firmly through his gold +spectacles without his secretary's casting down his eyes, or at all +changing the smiling, cheerful expression of his countenance. + +"Hamburger," he then said, still in a peevish voice, though the first +appearance of returning good humour was seen in the corners of his +eyes, "I shall make you my doctor! Alas! you don't know how to find the +remedy, but as far as the diagnosis is concerned, you are a born +physician. I shall no longer have the right of being in a bad temper +before you." + +"Your Excellency will certainly never state," said von Hamburger, +smiling and bowing, "that I took the liberty of remarking upon your +temper; I only begged permission to defer my business until this +temper--your Excellency yourself used the expression--had passed away." + +"Ought I not to be in a bad temper?" cried the prince, half laughing, +half impatient, "when the whole world is departing from its old orderly +course, when the balance of European power, already severely shaken, +kicks the beam,--and when all this takes place without Russia having +any part in it, without gaining anything for itself in the new +arrangement of affairs! I am glad," he added thoughtfully, "that +Austria is beaten, Austria, who with unheard-of ingratitude forsook us +in the hour of need, and with false friendship injured us more than our +open foes; but that victory should go so far as to enable Prussia to +dethrone the legitimate princes in Germany, and that the German nation +should be close to us, able to threaten our frontier, causes me heavy +anxiety. Prussia," he said, after a short pause, "was our friend--it +was, it must be so; but what now arises is not Prussia, it is Germany; +and I remember with what hatred against Russia the German nation was +saturated in 1848. In Paris they will do nothing, except ask for +compensation, which I think they will not get. Yes, if Napoleon could +have determined to act, then the moment would have come in which we +could have interfered; but to act alone is to us impossible." + +"Your Excellency will hear what General Manteuffel brings; he will soon +be here," said von Hamburger, drawing out his watch. + +"What will he bring?" cried the prince, impatiently; "forms of speech, +declarations--nothing more; and what shall we reply? we shall put a +good face on a bad game--_voilà tout_." + +Hamburger gave a meaning smile. + +"Your Excellency must permit me to say," said he, "that personally I am +convinced it is not right to regard the new formation of Germany with +enmity; to prevent it is impossible; the old European balance of power +has long been out of joint, and Russia is weighty enough," he added +proudly, "not to fear any fresh distribution of power. Russia, that +great and mighty nation, must not hang on to old traditions; she must +go forth to meet the future free and unprejudiced; if the possessions +of other states are increased, so be it--the power of Russia is not +curtailed by an unalterable frontier." + +He took from a portfolio he had brought with him a folded parchment, +and laid it on the table beside the prince. He had listened +attentively, and his quick eyes looked thoughtfully before him. + +"What are you placing on the table?" he asked. + +"The Treaty of Paris, your Excellency," replied Hamburger. + +A fine smile appeared on the lips of the prince, a flashing glance flew +from his eyes towards his secretary. + +"Hamburger," he said, "you are a very remarkable man; I think we must +be careful in your company." + +"Why, Excellency?" asked the secretary, in a calm, naïve tone. + +"I think you can read people's thoughts," replied the prince, whose ill +humour had gradually vanished. + +"In your Excellency's school one must learn a little of everything," +said von Hamburger, laughing and bowing. + +The prince took the Treaty of Paris and turned it over. + +For a short time he pursued his thoughts in silence. + +Then he looked up and asked,-- + +"Is General von Knesebeck, whom the King of Hanover has sent here, +already at Zarskoë Selo?" + +"He went there immediately after your Excellency had given him an +audience; his imperial majesty had commanded apartments to be prepared +for him." + +"Has the emperor seen him yet?" asked the prince. + +"No, your Excellency," replied von Hamburger; "you requested the +emperor not to receive him until you had spoken to General Manteuffel." + +"True," replied the prince, thoughtfully; "the emperor feels great +sympathy for the King of Hanover, but I would rather that he did not +enter into any engagement. We could do little alone; the only thing +would be for the emperor to use his personal influence with the King of +Prussia to dissuade him from a policy of annexation. It is, however, +highly important to proceed most cautiously in this affair; before +taking each step his majesty must be perfectly clear as to its results +and consequences." + +A groom of the chambers entered and announced,-- + +"General von Manteuffel." + +The secretary rose, and withdrew by a side door leading from the +cabinet. + +The prince stood up. + +Every trace of displeasure had vanished from his countenance, there was +nothing to be seen but calm and complete courtesy. + +General von Manteuffel entered. He wore the full uniform of an +adjutant-general of the King of Prussia, the blue enamelled cross of +the Order of Merit around his neck, upon his breast the stars of the +Russian orders of Alexander Nevsky and of the White Eagle, with the +broad ribbon of the first, and the star of the Prussian Order of the +Red Eagle. + +The general's sharply-marked features, with the thick bushy hair +growing low down upon the forehead, and the full beard only slightly +cut away at the chin, had not the severe, almost gloomy expression +which they were accustomed to wear. He approached the Russian minister +with great cordiality and easy politeness, as if he were about to pay a +simple visit of courtesy; but the quick, animated grey eyes glanced +searchingly from beneath their thick brows, and were fixed with an +expression of restless expectation upon the prince. + +The prince held out his hand to the general, and invited him by a +courteous movement to place himself in an easy chair near the +writing-table. + +"I rejoice," he said, "to welcome your Excellency to St. Petersburg, +and I beg you to excuse me," he added, with a hasty glance at the +general's full uniform, "for receiving you in my morning dress. I +expected a private and friendly conversation." + +"I have to deliver a letter from my gracious sovereign to his majesty +the emperor," replied the general, "and I wished to be ready to appear +before his majesty at any moment, of course after I have spoken with +your Excellency upon the object of my mission." + +The prince bowed slightly. + +"The object of your mission is explained in the royal letter?" he +inquired. + +"It simply accredits me," replied the general, "and refers to my +personal explanations of its contents. The political situation is so +peculiar that it is impossible for an ambassador to proceed entirely by +written instructions." + +"Count Redern imparted this to me," said Prince Gortschakoff, "when he +informed me of the honour of your visit." + +And leaning lightly on the arm of his chair, he looked at the general +with an expression of polite attention. + +"The king has commanded me," said General Manteuffel, "to lay before +your Excellency and his majesty the emperor the principles that must at +the present moment govern the Prussian policy in Germany and in Europe, +with the perfect candour and the complete confidence demanded by the +close connection between the two royal families, and the friendly +relations between the governments." + +The prince bowed. + +"The success of the Prussian arms," proceeded the general, "the +sacrifices which the government and the people have made to attain this +success, impose upon Prussia the duty of providing for its own +advantage, and also of securing on a firm and lasting basis the new +formation of Germany and its national unity. Before all things the +recurrence of those difficulties which have just been overcome must be +rendered impossible." + +The prince was silent, his eyes only expressed courteous attention. + +"The king," continued General von Manteuffel, "has accepted the +conditions of peace proposed by the French mediation; they are already +known to your Excellency, at the same time he has declared that one of +the principles which I just now mentioned renders the increase of +Prussia's power by territorial acquisitions absolutely imperative, and +Austria has already consented to such extension of Prussia in the +north." + +A half compassionate, half contemptuous smile appeared for a moment on +the prince's lips, then his features resumed their expression of calm +attention. + +"The king," added General Manteuffel, fixing his gaze immoveably upon +the eyes of the prince, "the king has now decided that the extension of +power necessary for Prussia and Germany will be obtained by the +incorporation of Hanover, Hesse Cassel, Nassau, and the town of +Frankfort." + +The general was silent, as if awaiting a remark from the minister. + +Not a feature of the prince's face moved. His eyes looked cordially at +the general through his gold spectacles, and those eyes plainly said: +"I hear." + +General von Manteuffel calmly proceeded. + +"The king is deeply and painfully touched by this necessity of causing +princely families related to him to undergo the hard lot of the +vanquished; his majesty would have struggled against it longer, had not +his duty to Prussia and to Germany been victorious in his royal heart +over his natural clemency and his regard to family ties." + +Again the general appeared to expect an answer, or at least a remark +from the prince, but his countenance remained as quiet and unchanged as +a portrait, and there was still only one expression visible in it--a +firm determination to listen with the most respectful and polite +attention to everything that might be said to him. + +General von Manteuffel continued: + +"The events which have just taken place necessitate various alterations +in the European relations prescribed by the treaty of Vienna, and the +king therefore holds it needful to lay before his majesty the emperor +the constraining principles upon which he acted, and upon which he must +continue to act; he especially desires that these principles should +find full and complete justification from this government, who in +common with Prussia is almost alone in Europe in adhering to the +intentions of that treaty." + +The prince bowed slightly. + +"The treaty of Vienna," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "is scarcely +ever spoken of in modern diplomacy." + +"His majesty the king," proceeded General von Manteuffel, "is so +penetrated by the justice of the principles laid down by that treaty +and by the Holy Alliance; he has so deeply complained of Austria's +renunciation of that treaty and that alliance, the Prussian policy in +the year 1855 testified so strongly to her faithfulness to that treaty, +that my most gracious sovereign most ardently desires his majesty the +emperor should be convinced that only absolute necessity could induce +him to decide on the approaching alterations in Germany, or to permit +royal families related to him to feel the hard consequences of war." + +"We are acquainted with the consequences that war brings upon the +vanquished," said the prince, with quiet courtesy, "for ten years we +have borne those consequences on the shores of the Black Sea." + +"A misfortune in which Prussia is free from blame," replied General von +Manteuffel, "which we have always deeply deplored, the removal of which +we should welcome with joy." + +The prince was silent, but a slight gleam in his eye showed the +watchful general that his words were well received. + +He continued:-- + +"His majesty would deeply regret that the necessities of German policy +should in any way alter the bands of friendship, and the perfect +confidence subsisting between the courts of Berlin and St. Petersburg. +He rather hopes, not only that these will continue to unite Prussia and +the newly constituted Germany with Russia, but also that a new, and +politically a still stronger basis of alliance between these two powers +may in the nature of things be formed." + +The prince cast down his eyes for a moment. Then he said in a calm +conversational tone:-- + +"Here we feel--and I assure you the emperor, my most gracious +sovereign, feels most of all, the great importance of close and true +friendship with Prussia--and I do not doubt," he added, courteously, +"that under any circumstances this friendship would ensure an active +alliance. Only at the present moment I can scarcely discover its basis. +Russia is recovering and collecting herself," he continued, with a +shade of greater animation in his voice; "and has no intention of +mixing herself up in the affairs of European policy, or in the +reconstruction of national groups, so long as Russian interests are not +directly and unmistakeably injured. We might," he said, with an +expressive look, "complain of alterations in Germany by which royal +families, nearly related both to your king and to the emperor, are +disinherited; in this circumstance I find it impossible to perceive a +motive for more friendly policy, or the foundations for a more +practical alliance. Besides, to speak candidly, I think that the new +state of affairs in Germany is not calculated to strengthen the +political friendship of the court of Berlin with us. You best know how +inimical the German movement of 1848 was towards Russia--Germany will +scarcely accept entirely the political guidance of Prussia." + +"I think your Excellency is mistaken on this point," said General von +Manteuffel, with some animation; "the democratic movement of 1848 only +used the national ideas as its banner; it beheld in Russia the +principle of reaction, and following the lead of its orators, it +used hatred to Russia as one of those catch words which move the +masses--true national feeling in Germany has no enmity to Russia, and +would welcome any accession to her national strength, or to her +powerful position in Europe!" + +The prince was silent. His features expressed doubt. + +General von Manteuffel continued:-- + +"Permit me, your Excellency, to explain the views which his majesty the +king, my master, entertains on this matter, and which, as I need hardly +say, are thoroughly shared by the Minister President Count Bismarck." + +The prince slightly inclined his head, and listened with the utmost +attention. + +The general's features kindled, and he spoke in a voice full of +conviction. + +"History teaches us that all alliances arising from momentary and +fleeting political combinations, even though sealed by the most solemn +treaties, pass away as quickly as the circumstances that have created +them. When, on the contrary, firm political relations between two +nations and governments have arisen in the natural course of events, +the alliance remains firm through every change of time, and reappears +on every practical opportunity, whether founded on treaties or not. The +first and most important condition of such a natural combination is a +negative one, namely, that the interests of the two states should in no +way cross each other, in no way clash. This first and indispensable +condition exists in an eminent way in the relations between Prussia and +Russia. I am sure your Excellency will agree with me. It is Prussia's +mission to act towards the west. The German nation longs for unity, +longs for a strong and powerful leader; Prussia's calling, Prussia's +noblest ambition is and must ever be, to place this leadership in the +strong hand of her king. Prussia must struggle to command the whole of +Germany; she cannot rest until she has attained this high aim for +herself and the whole nation. What is now gained is a step--an +important step--on the great path which Prussia's German policy must +pursue--but it is not its completion. But this completion will come; +for its greatest hindrance, Austria's power and influence in Germany, +is broken--broken for long enough--as I believe, for ever. The path +upon which Prussia has entered, which she must pursue to the end, may +be crossed by the interests of France, of Italy, of England, but never +by those of the grand Russian nation, ever increasing in preponderance +and strength. For what is the aim, the legitimate aim, of Russian +policy?" + +Prince Gortschakoff's keen eyes looked inquiringly at the general's +animated countenance; the conversation now approached its most +important point. + +The general looked down for a moment; then he continued with some +slight hesitation:-- + +"Your Excellency must forgive me, if to you, whose genius inspires and +guides the policy of Russia, I venture to describe the aim and object +of this policy; nevertheless perfect candour is the foundation of +friendship, and in proportion to our comprehension of opposing +political problems, we see the reason, the necessity for this +friendship." + +The prince bowed again in silence, and waited. + +"The problem of the great founder of the present Russian monarchy," +proceeded General von Manteuffel slowly, as if he sought carefully for +the most correct expressions for his thoughts, "Peter the Great's +problem, was the creation of a state possessing European culture, and +in order to solve this mighty problem he was forced to establish the +seat of his government as near as possible to cultured Europe; he +formed canals through which civilization poured in through the veins of +his vast kingdom, and made it live and bear fruit. So I understand the +choice of St. Petersburg as a capital for new Russia, for with regard +to the interior affairs and the resources of the great nation, this +spot could never have risen to be its capital. Russia's resources lie, +not in the north, not in this distant corner of the empire, they lie in +the south, they lie there, where the great national powers of +productiveness stream in rich abundance from the soil, they lie there, +where the natural course of the world's commerce unites Asia to Europe, +those continents to which Russia stretches out her two hands; these +resources," he added, after a moment's silence, during which he gazed +firmly at the prince, "lie near the Black Sea!" + +Some slight emotion passed rapidly over the features of the Russian +statesman; involuntarily his eyes turned towards the parchment which +von Hamburger had laid before him on the table. + +Manteuffel continued:-- + +"The first great problem which Peter the Great proposed to himself is +solved--Russia's broad, gigantic and national organization is saturated +with European cultivation, and we must own with some shame that in one +century you have outrun the whole of Europe." + +"We had only to acquire what Europe had laboriously created," said +Prince Gortschakoff politely. + +"The last great measure of the Emperor Alexander," continued +Manteuffel, "completed the work, and opened even the lowest strata of +the people to the living spirit of civilization--in short, the first +phase of Russian policy is completed, St. Petersburg has fulfilled its +mission. In my opinion the problem of the future is this--to use +Russia's internal productiveness as a centre-point for the fruitful +development of her national strength, to inspire the organization +already created, and to urge it to greater activity. For this you +require the Black Sea and its rich basin; there lies the real centre of +Russia, there must she develop her future, as the far-seeing eye of the +Emperor Nicholas rightly discerned, when he endeavoured to secure the +future of Russia in that direction." + +Again the prince's eyes glided towards the parchment containing the +document so important to Russia. + +"But upon this path," said the general, with emphasis, "which I am +convinced Russia ought to take, and to pursue to the very end, as we +must continue our path in Germany, the Russian interests will never +clash with those of Germany; rather shall we rejoice to see our +powerful neighbour as fortunately accomplishing her national mission as +we hope to accomplish our own." + +He was silent, and looked at the prince inquiringly. + +He said in a calm tone, with a slight sigh: + +"Alas! the sad result of the Crimean war has placed an insurmountable +barrier in the path, which your Excellency so brilliantly describes; +and----" + +"We too," cried Manteuffel, "have been often and long delayed upon our +path; nevertheless we never forsook it,--we never gave up the hope of +reaching the goal." + +The prince was silent a moment. Then he said slowly: + +"I agree with your Excellency, that the interests of Prussia, even of +the new Prussia and Germany, will not jostle those of Russia. I will +not doubt, too, what your Excellency tells me, that the national +movement in the Germany of to-day does not inherit the hatred to Russia +by which the democratic movement of 1848 was actuated. I regard these +assurances with satisfaction, as a guarantee that no cloud will arise +between us. Yet with the same candour with which your Excellency has +spoken to me, I must say that I cannot perceive how the present +situation and (if the lawful claims of treaties are regarded, the +lamentable) alterations in the European balance of power can form a +stronger political connection--can offer a firmer basis of eventual +alliance in the future. You pursue your path with victorious +success,--our own is closed for a long time, perhaps for ever." + +"Permit me, your Excellency," said General von Manteuffel quickly, "to +express myself on this point with the reckless freedom which," he +added, laughingly, "you must expect in a soldier fresh from the camp, +who only dabbles in diplomacy." + +The prince's eyes half closed, and he looked at the general with an +expression of good-natured satire. + +Manteuffel passed his hand lightly over his moustache, and said: + +"The Emperor Napoleon desires compensation for his consent to the new +acquisitions of Prussia and the new constitution of Germany." + +"Ah!" cried the prince. + +"And," proceeded Manteuffel, "they are far from bashful in Paris in +pointing out what they shall require as compensation." + +"I have not been initiated in this bargaining," said the prince, with a +look of great interest and lively anxiety. + +"I can inform your Excellency fully," returned General Manteuffel; +"they will demand the frontier of 1814, Luxemburg and Mayence." + +The prince's face grew still more animated. + +"_Will_ demand?" he asked. + +"The demand is not yet stated officially," replied the general; +"Benedetti has only named it in confidence." + +"And what did Count Bismarck reply?" asked the prince. + +"He put off the discussion of the question and its answer until after +the conclusion of peace with Austria." + +The prince gave a fine smile and a slight nod with his head. + +"I can, however, tell your Excellency the answer beforehand," said the +general. + +"And it will be?" asked the prince. + +"Not a foot's breadth of land, not a fortress,--no compensation," said +General Manteuffel, in a firm, clear voice. + +Prince Gortschakoff looked at him with surprise, as if he had not +expected this short and simple answer. + +"And what will France do?" he asked. + +The general shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps declare war," he replied,--"perhaps be prudently silent, wait, +and arm; any way, it will be a sharp disappointment, and war must be +the final result." + +The prince looked at this man with astonishment, who had just discussed +with such fine intellect all the aims and threads of political +interests, and who now, with soldier-like bluntness, spoke as of an +ordinary event, of a war whose thunders must shake Europe to its very +foundations. + +"That is the situation," said Manteuffel; "I beg your Excellency's +permission to express my views on its consequences, and the position of +Russia with regard to them." + +"I am most curious to hear!" said the prince. + +"The situation I have just described," proceeded the general, "gives +Russia the power of deciding for all future time the relations +that shall exist between that empire and Germany. If the Russian +policy uses adverse circumstances to make difficulties for us, this +policy,--forgive me, your Excellency, I must touch on every possibility +to make my views clear,--this policy, even though it secures success to +France for a time, will not prevent the regeneration of Germany; and +under all future circumstances--for ever--Prussia and Germany will +regard Russia as a foe, who is ready to come to an understanding with +the western powers upon the affairs of Europe, and to make their +interests her own." + +General von Manteuffel spoke in a firm and decided voice, and fixed his +eyes firmly on the vice-chancellor. + +The prince's eyes fell, and he bit his lips. + +"I beg your Excellency to forgive me," said the general, "for having +touched upon an eventuality, which is doubtless far removed from your +enlightened policy. I now come to the other course--namely, that +Russia, according to the old traditions of the two courts, shall regard +the enlargement of Prussia with friendly and favourable eyes, and shall +make use of the present opportunity to arrange with new Germany the +foundations of that close connection which, according to my +convictions, ought to exist in future, and which will so greatly +further the interests of both nations. The compensation being refused," +he proceeded, "France will probably declare war immediately,--we do not +fear her; at this moment the whole of Germany would unite and accept +war without hesitation, especially if we had Russia as a well-wisher to +back us. But Russia can have no more favourable opportunity for +breaking the bann which the treaty of 1856 laid upon her development +and her natural and needful aims. Whilst we hold France in check, no +one will prevent you from bursting asunder the unnatural chains with +which the western allied powers, in conjunction with ungrateful +Austria, fettered you upon the Black Sea, that spot where lies the +future of Russia." + +The prince's eyes brightened, his features expressed a smiling consent +to the ideas so forcibly and convincingly unfolded by General von +Manteuffel. + +He continued: + +"If, however, as I personally believe will be the case, France, who has +already let the right moment go by----" + +Prince Gortschakoff several times nodded his head. + +"If France," said the general, "is silent for the present, assembles +her forces, and arms, our position is even better, because it is more +certain. During the period of suspense which will precede the +inevitable war, we gain time to bind the national strength of Germany +more strongly and closely together, and you have time to complete your +preparations in the south and west, and to form ties across the ocean +which will, under any circumstances, secure to you your natural +confederates." + +"General," said the prince, smiling; "you have comprehensively and +successfully studied the affairs of Russia." + +"Because I love Russia," replied the general, with perfect frankness; +"and because I regard a close and indissoluble friendship between +Russia and Germany as the salvation of Europe in the future. But I am +coming to a conclusion. When, after a longer or a shorter interval from +the reconstruction of Germany, a decisive war breaks out with France, +then that alliance of the western powers so prejudicial to you falls to +pieces; you will have nothing to do, except to hold in check Austria's +desire for revenge, and you will obtain perfect freedom again to open +the Black Sea to your national interests, and your national progress. +We, as we press onwards on the path leading to our national aims, shall +behold with joy the swift and mighty strides which Russia will make in +the fulfilment of her national destiny. Yes," he continued, "we will at +all times and in every way support you. Could I for a moment doubt what +decision would be made by so enlightened a policy as your own, I would +say,--'Choose, your Excellency, whether two states, whose interests can +never be inimical, shall mutually harass each other--or whether by a +perfect and close understanding they shall support each other in +gaining the powerful position that nature assigns them--whether hand in +hand they shall guide the fate of Europe?'" + +He ceased and looked at the prince in suspense. + +From his face all trace of the cold reserve he had assumed at the +commencement of the interview had completely vanished. A deep +earnestness appeared on his features. His gaze rested on the Prussian +ambassador. + +"My dear general," he said, in a firm, clear voice, "if the principles +and the views which you have so candidly, so warmly, and so +convincingly stated are those of your government----" + +"They are in every respect those of my gracious sovereign, and of his +ministers," said Manteuffel, calmly and decidedly. + +"Then," replied the prince, "I will tell you with the same frankness, +that in all fundamental principles our judgment on the present state of +affairs perfectly coincides with your own." + +A flash of joy shone in the general's deep grave eyes. + +"It only remains," said the prince, "to use these common principles and +views in practical arrangements, and to make them the firm basis of +common action in the future." + +"I am ready to do this at any moment," said the general. + +"But first of all," continued the prince, "we must gain the consent of +his majesty the emperor to, our agreement; if it is agreeable to you, +let us drive at once to Zarskoë Selo. You will have the trouble," he +said, smiling, "of repeating to the emperor what you have just said to +me." + +General von Manteuffel bowed. + +"I hope," he said, "that my devotion to my country, and my honest love +to Russia, will give my words clearness and conviction." + +Prince Gortschakoff rang. + +"Order the carriage," he said to the groom of the chambers. + +"Will you excuse me for a moment," said he to General von Manteuffel, +"I shall be ready to accompany you immediately." + +He withdrew by a side door. Manteuffel walked to the window and looked +thoughtfully through the panes. + +After five minutes the prince returned. He wore his ministerial undress +uniform, the broad orange ribbon of the Black Eagle beneath his coat, +and upon his breast the star of this highest Prussian Order, above the +star of the Order of Andreas. + +The groom of the chambers opened the door. + +"Precede me, I beg," said the minister, with a courteous movement, "I +am at home." + +General von Manteuffel left the room and awaited the prince who +followed him. + + * * * * * + +Late in the afternoon of the same day the splendour of the evening sun +flooded the magically beautiful park surrounding the imperial palace of +Zarskoë Selo; that park of which it is said, that a fallen leaf is +never allowed to remain on the well-kept roads, that magnificent +creation of the first Catharine, which a succession of mighty autocrats +have embellished until it has attained the charms of Fairyland. + +General von Knesebeck appeared from one of the side doors of the +enormous castle, which with its ornaments of gilded bronze, and its +colossal caryatides glittered in the rays of the setting sun from +amidst dark masses of lofty trees. He had arrived that morning at +Zarskoë Selo at the emperor's command, and he awaited an audience, +during which he was to deliver a letter to the emperor from his king, +who had sent the general to beg Alexander II. to interfere on his +behalf. + +Grave and sad, the general walked through the glorious alleys, lost in +gloomy thought. The distinguished attention with which he had been +received, the equipages and servants placed at his disposal, had not +removed the impression made on him, both from his conversation with +Prince Gortschakoff, and from the remarks of gentlemen about the court, +that there was little hope for his king. They had all expressed +sympathy and interest; but in the atmosphere of a court there is a +certain fluid, always perceptible to those accustomed to such circles, +from which they can almost always tell beforehand whether or no a +mission will be successful. + +The general had not approved of the policy of the Hanoverian court, his +quick eyes had perceived the weakness of Austria, and he had deeply +deplored the unaccountable command of the Hanoverian army during its +short campaign. Many ties bound him to Prussia, and with his whole +heart he grasped the thought of a United Germany; but he was a true +servant to his king, and deep grief overwhelmed him when he thought of +the future that was now inevitable, unless his mission attained +success. + +He walked slowly on, farther and farther, lost in thought. + +Suddenly an artistically contrived ruin, producing an excellent effect, +arose before him in the solitude, amongst lofty trees. He went up to +it, a doorkeeper in the imperial livery obsequiously opened the door +after glancing at the general's uniform, and he entered a lofty +circular space lighted only from above, dark, severe, and simple, an +English chapel. Before him in exquisite Carara marble rose a figure of +Christ, Dannecker's marvellously beautiful creation. The Saviour with +one hand points to his breast, the other is raised with inexpressible +grandeur towards heaven. + +The general stood still for a long time before this affecting figure. + +"We must lay our sorrows on the Saviour's divine breast, and humbly +await wisdom from heaven," he whispered, "does a secret warning draw me +hither now, and lead me to this beautiful and holy image?" + +Overcome by the powerful impression made upon him by this work of +genius, he folded his hands and stood before it for some time. + +He slightly moved his lips as he said: + +"If the wheel of fate, as it rolls along unceasingly, must crush so +much in its path, grant at least that the German Fatherland may gain +might and greatness, and the German people happiness, from the +struggles and the sufferings of the days that are gone!" + +With a long look at the sculptured figure he turned away, and passing +by the door-keeper, he returned to the park. + +He walked again towards the palace, and stood still before the large +lake, compelled by art to flow out from between the two halves of the +castle, and to fall down in waterfalls with many cascades. Here is the +so-called Admiralty, where the grand dukes exercise themselves in +building the models of ships; near the pretty landing place boats are +crowded from all the five divisions of the world; the Turkish kaik, the +Chinese junk, the Russian tschelónok, and the whaling boat of the +Greenlander, lie side by side, and skilful sailors in the emperor's +employment are at the disposal of those who wish to embark. + +The general was looking at this interesting and varied picture, when a +servant approached him hurriedly, and informed him that an equerry had +just come to his rooms to lead him to the emperor. + +With quick footsteps and hastily drawn breath, the general went back to +his apartments, and after donning scarf and plumed hat, hurried with +the equerry along the large and magnificent terrace leading to the part +of the palace inhabited by the emperor. + +In the ante-chamber there was only a groom of the chambers, who +immediately opened the door of the emperor's room. The equerry after +simply announcing him, requested General Knesebeck to enter. + +In the brightly lighted apartment, with large windows leading out upon +the terrace, and the mild aromatic summer air streaming in through +them, stood the lofty form of Alexander the Second. He wore the uniform +of a Russian general, his perfect features, always grave and even +melancholy, showed emotion, and his large expressive eyes gazed at the +general with a look of deep sorrow. He advanced a step towards +Knesebeck and said in his full, melodious voice, in the purest German: + +"You come late, general; nevertheless, I rejoice to see you here, a +true servant to your king." + +And he held out his hand to the general, who seized it respectfully, +and with deep feeling. + +"If it might be possible," he said, "for me to be of service to my +master so severely smitten by fate! But first of all I must discharge +my commission;" he drew a sealed letter from his uniform; "and place +this communication from my king in the mighty hands of your imperial +majesty." + +Alexander took the letter, seated himself in an easy, chair, and +pointed to a seat near, where the general placed himself. + +The emperor opened the letter and read its contents slowly and +attentively. + +For a moment he looked down sorrowfully, then he fixed his penetrating +eyes upon the general and spoke. + +"Have you anything more to say to me?" + +"I have to add," said von Knesebeck, "that his majesty the king my +gracious master, fully acknowledging the completeness of events that +have made the King of Prussia the conqueror in Germany, is ready to +conclude peace with his Prussian majesty and to accept the conditions +made unavoidable by necessity. My gracious sovereign expressed this in +a letter he wrote to his majesty King William, but the letter was +refused. The king hopes, well knowing your majesty's tried friendship, +that you will undertake to mediate, and to preserve him from the hard +measures already spoken of by the public newspapers." + +The emperor sighed deeply and looked on the ground. + +"My dear General," he then said, "you have come too late. I have indeed +the most affectionate and honest friendship for the king, and from my +soul I wished to see the sad conflict avoided whose unhappy +consequences are now being accomplished. I have endeavoured to work in +this spirit, it has been in vain. I must be quite frank with you," he +continued, "the position of affairs demands it. The wish of my heart to +be useful to your king is opposed by an unalterable political +necessity, which King William, my uncle, deplores as deeply as I do +myself." + +The general sighed. His face quivered with pain and tears shone in his +eyes. + +The emperor looked at him for some time with an expression of deep +sorrow and affectionate sympathy. + +"I scarcely venture," he then said in a gentle voice, "to make the only +proposition to you that the circumstances permit, and which if the king +accepts it, I am sure I can prevail upon the King of Prussia to grant; +if the king will abdicate," he proceeded with hesitation, "the +Brunswick succession shall be secured to the Crown Prince Ernest +Augustus." + +The general was silent for a moment. + +"Thus," said he, "must the house of Guelph be reduced to its cradle and +its oldest inheritance! Will your majesty permit me to lay this +proposition to which I am not in a position to reply, before my king at +once?" + +"I request you will do so," said the emperor, "you will," he added, +"have no cipher at hand, send the despatch to Count Stackelberg, he can +also receive the answer under his cipher." + +"At your majesty's command," said General von Knesebeck. + +"Be convinced," said the emperor in a hearty tone, "that I feel the +deepest and warmest sympathy for your king; may God make the future of +his family as happy as possible, and if I can help him in any way, I am +ready to do so. Though the occasion is sad, I am glad that I have had +the opportunity of making your acquaintance, my dear general." + +He took his hand and pressed it heartily. + +Then he rang and called his equerry. + +"Take the despatch which the general will give you to Prince +Gortschakoff at once. It must be sent in cipher to my ambassador in +Vienna immediately. The answer must be sent here to the general without +delay." + +With a low bow General von Knesebeck left the cabinet. + +An hour later the electric wire bore his despatch to Vienna. + +The night fell; restless and sleepless the general watched the sun +which only at midnight sank for a short time below the horizon, and +soon reappeared, mingling the twilight of evening with the morning +dawn. + +At noon a secretary arrived from Prince Gortschakoff and brought him a +sealed letter. + +The general hastily broke the seal with its large double eagles, and in +the neatest handwriting saw the reply to his despatch. + +It ran thus: + +"The king cannot trade upon the succession to Brunswick, which will +devolve upon himself and his heirs, by right of family inheritance, and +the lawful transmission of land. He is however ready to abdicate +immediately, provided the government of the kingdom of Hanover is +guaranteed to the Crown Prince." + +"I expected this," said the general with a sigh. + +And sticking the paper into his uniform, he seized his plumed hat, and +descended the stairs to the carriage already waiting to convey him to +the Emperor Alexander. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + THE MARSHALS OF FRANCE. + + +Again the Emperor Napoleon sat in his cabinet at the Tuileries, but his +wearied and anxious features no longer expressed content and calm +security. A short sojourn at the baths of Vichy had not strengthened +his health, and the political situation had not answered his +expectations. Gloom and gravity overspread his face, he supported his +elbows on his knees and bent down his head, slightly twisting the +points of his moustache with his left hand, whilst listening to the +report of the minister of foreign affairs, who sat before him. + +Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys was extremely excited, a pale flush was upon +his usually quiet countenance, and in his keen and brilliant eyes shone +a fire only repressed by a strong effort of will. + +"Sire," he said, "your majesty beholds the result of the uncertain and +vacillating policy I have so long implored you to abandon. Had your +majesty prevented the war between Prussia and Austria, or had you +marched the army to the Rhine a month ago, either the present difficult +position could not have arisen, or France would have gained that which, +from the new constitution of Germany, she _must have_. Our situation +now is most painful, and it will cost us double the effort successfully +to uphold the interests of France." + +The emperor raised his head a little, and from beneath his drooping +eyelashes stole a look at the excited face of his minister. + +"Do you think," he said, "that in Berlin they will really refuse our +demands for compensation? Mayence we might perhaps abandon, if it +ceases to be a fortress, or is reduced to a fortress of the second +rank, but would they dare--?" + +He paused. + +"I am convinced," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that they will give us +_nothing_ of their own free-will. Peace with Austria is concluded, the +Prussian army is free to march where it lists, and as it is prepared +for war it has a great advantage over us; from Russia too the reports +are very unfavourable, the feeling of displeasure in St. Petersburg has +given place to extreme reserve, and during the last few days all Baron +Talleyrand's remarks upon the dangers of a united military Germany have +been met with evasive answers. Benedetti's short announcement leaves us +in no doubt as to how his propositions were received in Berlin. We must +make the greatest exertions." + +Again the emperor looked up with a thoughtful gaze. He drew out his +watch. + +"Benedetti must have returned this morning, I am anxious to hear his +report myself," he said. + +"He will have gone to the Quai d'Orsay," returned Drouyn de Lhuys. + +The curtain which hung over the door leading to the private secretary's +room moved, and Piétri's fine intelligent head appeared from behind the +portière. + +"Sire," he said, "Monsieur Benedetti is here, and asks whether your +majesty is inclined to receive him?" + +"Immediately!" said the emperor with animation, "bring him here!" + +A minute afterwards the portière opened and the ambassador entered the +cabinet. + +He was in black morning dress, his pale features showed traces of +fatigue from his journey, his eyes shone with nervous excitement. + +He bowed deeply to the emperor, and shook hands with Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"I have expected you with impatience," said Napoleon, "be seated, and +tell me how matters stand in Berlin." + +"Sire," said Benedetti, as he took a chair, and placed himself opposite +to the emperor and Drouyn de Lhuys, "I had driven to the Quai d'Orsay +to announce myself to the minister, and as I heard he was here, I took +the liberty of coming at once." + +"You were right," said the emperor, "you now find the whole apparatus +of the constitutional government together," he added laughingly; +"relate,--I listen with impatience." + +Monsieur Benedetti drew a deep breath and said: + +"As your majesty is aware, I laid the sketch of the treaty which I +received from Vichy before Count Bismarck, in a confidential +conversation, immediately after his return to Berlin." + +"And--?" asked the emperor. + +"Any compensation, but above all the cession of Mayence, he plainly and +roundly--refused." + +"Your majesty perceives," said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +The emperor twisted his moustache and his head sank. + +"I produced," continued Benedetti, "all the reasons which make it our +imperative duty at this moment to demand compensation for France, I +laid before him the regard we must have to public opinion in France, I +insisted how small was the compensation demanded, in comparison to the +large acquisitions of Prussia, how militarily concentrated Germany owed +France a guarantee of peace for the future: all was in vain,--the +minister president was obstinate in his refusal, and only repeated +again and again, that the national feeling in Germany would not bear +such compensation." + +The emperor was silent. + +"Two days afterwards," proceeded Benedetti, "I had a second interview +with Count Bismarck--it had the same result. I pointed out in the most +careful way that the refusal of our just demands might endanger the +future good understanding between Prussia and France, and the only +result of this intimation was that Count Bismarck as carefully, yet in +a manner not to be misunderstood, hinted that though he perceived this +danger he must persist in his refusal, and that he was not to be +frightened from his determination even by the most extreme measures. I +must however remark," added the ambassador, "that our conversation +never for a moment overstepped the bounds of courtesy or even of +friendship, and that Count Bismarck repeatedly told me how greatly he +desired a continuance of a good understanding with France, and how +convinced he was that in the new state of affairs the interests of +France and Germany in Europe would have so many points in common, that +a friendly policy on each side would be determined upon by both +governments after due consideration. I considered it better under these +circumstances," said Benedetti after a short pause, during which the +emperor remained silent, "not to carry on the discussion any farther, +but to return here at once, and to make a personal report upon the +negotiation, and the position of affairs in Berlin." + +Drouyn de Lhuys bit his lips. The emperor raised his eyes slowly, and +looked at Monsieur Benedetti enquiringly. + +"And do you think," he asked, "that public opinion in Prussia and in +Germany, will take Count Bismarck's part, if he dares to provoke a war +with France--do you think that the king?--" + +"Sire," said Benedetti with energy, "that is what I especially desired +personally to impart to your majesty, in order that you may make no +decision without a perfect knowledge of the situation. The war with +Austria," he proceeded, "was unpopular in Prussia itself, and had it +been disastrous, serious commotions would have arisen in the interior; +nevertheless, I cannot conceal from your majesty, that success has +borne its accustomed fruit. The Prussian people feel as if aroused from +slumber; the aims of the minister president, now clearly revealed to +all eyes, the firmness and daring energy with which he politically +followed up their military success, find not only approval, they call +forth general enthusiasm. Count Bismarck is the popular idol in +Prussia, and if anything could raise his popularity to a higher +pinnacle, it would be a war caused by his refusal to alienate German +soil. The army, the generals, and the princes of the royal family fully +share these views; in military circles, indeed, they are expressed more +vehemently and more decidedly. The king would not for a moment flinch +from such a war. Such is the state of affairs which regard to truth +compels me to divulge to your majesty." + +"But Germany--vanquished, but not annihilated Germany?" asked Drouyn de +Lhuys, as the emperor still remained silent. + +"Of course I cannot be so perfectly acquainted with the opinions of the +rest of Germany as I am with those of Berlin," said Benedetti; "but I +have attentively perused the newspapers, and I have spoken of the +feeling in Germany to persons certain to be well informed: the result +of my observations is, that at this moment not a single German +government would dare to side with France against Prussia, and the +German people (of this I am sure) would--with some few exceptions, +which are certain to be instantly suppressed,--place themselves on the +side of Prussia. We should have all Germany against us." + +"France must fear no enemy, when her honour and her interests are at +stake!" cried Drouyn de Lhuys proudly. + +Benedetti looked on the ground, and said, with some hesitation,-- + +"I must also impart to your majesty, that I hear from a source which +for a long time past has supplied me with true and important +intelligence, and which is known to your majesty,--I hear that a secret +treaty is concluded between Prussia and the South German states, which +in case of war delivers the armies of these states to the King of +Prussia as their Commander-in-Chief." + +"Impossible!" cried the emperor vehemently as he rose, "it would make +the Treaty of Peace an illusion!" + +"Our representatives at the South German courts tell us nothing about +this," said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"I believe my information is true," said Benedetti, calmly. + +The emperor stood up. Both the gentlemen rose at the same moment. +Drouyn de Lhuys looked at his sovereign in anxious suspense. + +"My dear Benedetti," said Napoleon with charming kindness, "you are +tired after your exhausting journey, I beg you will rest yourself +thoroughly. I thank you for your communications, and for the zeal you +have shown in making them to me personally. To-morrow I will see you +again and will give you further instructions." + +And with engaging courtesy he held out his hand to Benedetti. + +The ambassador bowed deeply and withdrew by the door leading to +Piétri's room. + +"Your majesty is now convinced," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that our +propositions are refused." + +Napoleon drew himself up proudly, his features expressed energy and +determination, his eyes were widely opened, and courage flashed in his +clear glance. + +"Now for action," said he. + +The minister's face shone with joy. + +"France will thank your majesty for this decision," he cried. + +The emperor rang. + +"General Fleury," he cried to the groom of the chambers as he entered. + +The general's strong lean form, with his animated, expressive +countenance, large moustache, and Henri Quatre beard, appeared a moment +afterwards in the cabinet. + +"Are the marshals assembled?" asked Napoleon. + +"At your majesty's command." + +Drouyn de Lhuys gazed with surprise at the emperor. + +He responded with a smile. + +"You shall be convinced, my dear minister," said he, "that I have not +been idle, and that I have thought of preparing for the action you hold +to be needful. You will, I hope, be satisfied with me. I beg you to +accompany me." + +And leaving the cabinet, followed by the minister, he walked through an +anteroom, and entered a large salon richly yet simply decorated, in the +midst of which stood a table surrounded by fauteuils. + +Here were assembled the highest dignitaries of the French army, the +bearers of that honour, so highly prized for centuries, wrestled for +with so much blood--the marshal's baton of France. + +There was the grey-haired Marshal Vaillant, looking more like a +courtier than a soldier; the snow-white, brave, and military-looking +Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely; Canrobert, with his long hair, +resembling a philosopher rather than a warrior; Count Baraguay +d'Hilliers, elegant and chivalrous, notwithstanding his age; the +minister of war, Count Randon; the slender MacMahon, all muscle and +nerve, with his gentle face and quick bright eyes; there was Niel, with +his earnest, intelligent countenance, showing signs of sickness and +suffering, but bearing also the stamp of unyielding energy and of an +iron will; there was Marshal Forey, with his stiff, military carriage. + +The youngest of the marshals, Bazaine, was wanting: he was in Mexico, +preparing to leave the unhappy Emperor Maximilian to his tragic fate. +All the marshals were in plain black civilian dress. + +The emperor returned the low bow of the assembly by a greeting full of +graceful dignity. With a firm step he walked towards the head of the +table, and placed himself in the arm-chair which stood there, +commanding the marshals, by a sign with his hand, also to be seated. + +Drouyn de Lhuys sat opposite to the emperor; on his right hand, Marshal +Vaillant; on his left, Count Baraguay d'Hilliers; the others according +to their seniority. + +"I have assembled you here, messieurs mes maréchals," began Napoleon, +in a firm voice, "even the gentlemen who hold foreign commands, even +you, Duc de Magenta, I have called hither, because, at the present +grave moment, I desire to receive the advice, and to hear the views of +the trusty leaders of the French army." + +The marshals looked at the emperor full of expectation. + +"You all know," said Napoleon, "the events which have just been +accomplished in Germany. Prussia, misusing her victory at Sadowa, is +creating a German military state, continually to threaten the frontiers +of France. I did not consider myself justified in interfering in the +inner development of Germany. The German nation has the same right +freely to reconstitute itself as France claims, and as all foreign +nations allow to her; but as the sovereign of France, it was my +duty to care for the safety of her frontier, menaced by the increased +strength of Germany. For this cause, I opened negotiations to obtain +for France that frontier which would secure her natural and strategical +defence--the frontier of 1814--Mayence and Luxemburg." + +The emperor allowed his eyes to glide over the assembly. He seemed to +expect joyful and animated applause. + +But grave and silent the marshals sat, with downcast looks; even +MacMahon's bright eyes did not kindle with joy at the prospect of war +expressed in the emperor's words. + +Napoleon proceeded: + +"I have sounded them in Berlin, and it appears that they are not +disposed to accede to the just claims I thought it needful to make in +the name of France. Before I go further, and bring matters to an +ultimatum, I wish to hear your views upon a war with Prussia, the +greatest and the gravest war that France could undertake." + +Drouyn de Lhuys looked up impatiently. This was not the turn he wished +matters to take. + +"I know," said the emperor, whose quick eyes had perceived the gloomy +looks of his marshals, and whose natural moderation inclined him to +prudence; "I know that France is always armed, and strong enough to +repel every attack; but before we begin a war of such immense +importance, we must be quite clear as to our strength, and readiness +for battle. I therefore pray you, gentlemen, to give me your opinions +as to the probable result of a war with Germany, and upon the way in +which such a war must be carried out." + +Old Marshal Vaillant looked down before him thoughtfully. + +"Sire," he then said, with grave calmness, "twenty years ago my heart +would have beat high at the thought of such a war--revenge for +Waterloo!--now the prudence of old age is victorious over the fire of +youth, over the throbs of my French heart. Before we decide so grave, +so important a question, it will be needful to ascertain by a +commission, the state of the army and the means at our disposal for +offensive war, and for the defence of the country, to consider the +influence of Prussia's new weapon upon tactics, and thus to form a +well-grounded judgment. I cannot venture at once to decide a question +so deeply affecting the fate of France. If I am too prudent," he added, +"I beg your majesty to blame not me, but my years." + +Count Baraguay d'Hilliers and Marshal Canrobert signified their assent +to the views expressed by Vaillant. + +The minister of war, Count Randon, said:-- + +"I believe that the condition of the army, to which I have devoted all +my care, is excellent, and that the means of defence throughout the +country are in the best possible state; nevertheless, I am the last +person in the world to disapprove of an examination, which will to a +certain extent control my administration as minister of war--a careful +examination upon the influence of the needle-gun I most urgently +advise." + +The grey-haired Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely said, in a firm +voice,-- + +"Sire, I have the great honour of commanding your majesty's guards. +This corps is in perfect readiness to march against the enemies of +France. If your majesty declared war to-day, the guards could start for +the frontier to-morrow, full of zeal to twine fresh laurels round our +ancient eagle. But we cannot carry on a war with the guards alone. I +must therefore entirely agree with the views of Marshal Vaillant." + +Drouyn de Lhuys shrugged his shoulders with impatience, which he +scarcely troubled himself to conceal. The emperor looked thoughtfully +before him. + +"Sire," said MacMahon, in his voice so gentle in conversation, +but which in front of his troops resounded metallic as a trumpet +blast--"Sire, your majesty knows I would rather see my sword flash in +the sunshine against the enemies of France than wear it in its +scabbard, yet I must fully concur in the wise view of Marshal Vaillant. +Let us examine--let us examine quickly, and then as quickly do that +which is needful." + +Slowly Marshal Niel raised his eyes, so full of genius, to the emperor. +He hesitated for a moment, then he spoke in a calm, firm tone:-- + +"I must beg our honoured _doyen's_ forgiveness if I, so much younger +than himself, am of a different opinion." + +The marshals all looked at the speaker with astonishment. Drouyn de +Lhuys, with joyful expectation, hung on his lips. The emperor raised +his head and looked at him in the greatest suspense. + +"Sire," he added, his features growing animated, "I do not consider a +commission needful, because without an examination my opinion is +formed." + +"And your opinion is?" asked Napoleon. + +"My opinion is that your majesty is not in a position to fight." + +Drouyn de Lhuys looked at Niel with horror. The emperor showed no +emotion, only he cast down his eyes and bent his head a little to one +side, as was his custom when he listened with unusual attention. + +"Sire," proceeded Kiel, "if one who wears the marshal's baton of +France, in such an assemblage, before his monarch, expresses such an +opinion as my own, it is his duty to give the reasons upon which it is +founded. Allow me to do this on their principal points. I am ready +hereafter to lay my reasons before your majesty in a special memorial. +Firstly," he continued, "a war against Prussia and Germany--for I +believe in this case Germany would stand beside Prussia--needs the +whole and entire force of the French nation. At the present moment this +is not at our command. The expedition to Mexico draws away both men and +money which we could not spare, and I should not wish that, following +the example of Austria, we engaged upon two wars at once, when opposed +to a foe whose dangerous strength we must, above all things, duly +estimate if we hope for success. Secondly," he added, "according to my +opinion, no examination is necessary to convince us that we must oppose +to the Prussian needle-gun a weapon at least as good, if not superior. +I venture to doubt whether, as they now affirm in Austria, it was +entirely the needle-gun that Prussia must thank for her great and +astonishing success. I doubt it; nevertheless, apart from the undoubted +efficacy of this weapon, it is absolutely necessary for the _morale_ +and self-confidence of our soldiers, to give them a needle-gun of an +equally good or superior kind, especially now that the newspapers and +common rumour have surrounded this gun with the nimbus of a magic +weapon. I should hold it to be extremely dangerous to lead the +army, as it is at present equipped, against Prussian regiments. A new +weapon, sire, necessitates new tactics. I will only allude to the +completely altered functions of cavalry in war, and the new problem of +artillery,--on which your majesty's views will be clearer than my own," +he added, bowing to the emperor. "Then," he proceeded, "without any +commission, it is perfectly clear that the strongholds on our frontier +have neither the fortifications, the provisions, nor the ammunition +needful to make them really effective in war. This is no reflection +upon the military administration," he said, turning to Count Randon; +"it is a fact whose full explanation is found in the circumstance that +the state of politics during the last few years has directed our +military attention to other points. Finally," he said in a convincing +tone, "there is one point to consider, which I believe to be the most +important of all. We have opposed to us in Prussia a nation whose +military organization causes every man up to a great age to be a +soldier. In case of need Prussia can, after a lost battle, after the +annihilation even of an army upon the field, produce another army in an +effective condition, with all the discipline and all the requisites of +well-trained soldiers. I will not speak of the influence such an +excessive expenditure of strength must have on home affairs--on the +welfare of the country, but in a military point of view its success is +immense. We have but our regular army, and were it broken, defeated--in +the quiet contemplation of affairs it is the duty even of a French +mouth to pronounce this hard word--we have nothing--except perhaps, +undisciplined masses with a good courage, who would be sacrificed +without result. I will not maintain that it would be advisable, or, +indeed, with our national peculiarities, that it would be possible to +imitate the Prussian system, nevertheless we must create something +which will be a true national reserve. I wish to express that we must +have, to back up our regular army, material sufficiently trained to +form another army in case of need, if we would avoid entering on the +war with unequal forces. I will shortly recapitulate my opinion. We +must, in the first place, be completely freed from Mexico, that we may +be able to concentrate the whole power of France upon one point. We +must then supply the whole army with an excellent breach-loader; we +must modify our drill to our new weapon; our fortresses must be in +perfect readiness for war. Finally, we must create a mobile and +efficient national reserve. I consider all these preparations +indispensable before commencing so grave and decisive a war." + +Deep silence reigned for a moment throughout the apartment. + +The emperor fixed his eyes upon Marshal Forey, the youngest in the +assembly. + +"I perfectly coincide in the views that Marshal Niel has so clearly and +convincingly expressed," he said. + +The other marshals were silent, but their looks plainly showed that +they had nothing to say against the views Niel had advanced. + +"Sire," cried Drouyn de Lhuys, vehemently, "I am not a soldier, and I +am convinced that from a military point of view the gallant marshal is +perfectly right; but the completion of the preparations he deems +needful for a successful campaign requires time, much time, and I think +we have none to lose if we are to guard the honour and the interests of +France. The favourable moment will go by, Prussia will grow stronger +and stronger, the military strength of Germany will become more and +more organized and concentrated, and if all is carried out that the +marshal desires, the increase to our strength, however important, will +perhaps be met by a still more considerable increase of strength on the +part of the enemy. Sire," he proceeded, with extreme excitement and +with flashing eyes, "I implore your majesty that two men and one +officer with the banner of France, may stand at the frontier and +support the needful demands which we must make upon Prussia; if they +see we are in earnest in Berlin they will yield, and if they do not, in +a few days all France would be formed into battalions to strengthen our +armies. It was with such battalions, sire, that your illustrious uncle +conquered the world; from these he formed those mighty armies, educated +not in the barrack-yard but on the battle-field, with which he subdued +Europe." + +A deeply pained expression appeared for a moment on the emperor's face. + +Then he raised his eyes enquiringly to Marshal Niel. + +"What do you say to this, Monsieur le Maréchal?" he asked. + +"Sire," replied Niel, "your minister's words must find an echo in every +French heart, and my strong conviction of my duty towards your majesty +and France alone prevents me from agreeing with him. Immediately after +the battle of Sadowa, whilst Germany was still armed, when Austria had +not yet concluded peace, when the Prussian army was still much +exhausted by the hard blows it had received during a severe struggle, +it might have been possible to do what the minister counsels. To-day it +would be too dangerous a game for France's glory and greatness; it +would be," he added, with a meaning look at the emperor, "a game which +your majesty might perhaps dare to play, but which no conscientious +general would dare to advise." + +"And if I dare to play this game," cried the emperor, a brilliant flash +sparkling in his eyes, "which of you gentlemen would stand at my side +and lead the armies of France?" + +A deep silence replied to the emperor's question. + +"Sire," at last cried Marshal MacMahon, fixing his bright blue eyes +firmly on the emperor, "we are all ready, if you command, to march at +the head of the armies of France, and to die; but first we beg your +majesty to listen to Marshal Niel, and not to hazard the fate of +France, of imperial France, to such uncertain success." + +All the marshals bent their heads, and their countenances expressed +their full approval of the Duke of Magenta's words. + +Drouyn de Lhuys allowed his head to sink sorrowfully upon his breast. + +The emperor fixed his eyes upon Marshal Niel without a sign of emotion. + +"How long a time should you require to carry out what you have asserted +to be needful?" + +"Two years, sire," replied the marshal, in a calm, clear voice. + +"My best wishes will accompany the marshal in his work, if your majesty +deputes him to carry it out," said Count Randon, bowing to the emperor. + +After a few moments of deep silence Napoleon rose. + +"I thank you, gentlemen," he said, quietly, "for your opinions, and the +frankness with which you have expressed them. It will make it easier to +me to form a decision at this important moment. I shall see you all +again to-day at dinner." + +And with his own peculiar courtesy he greeted them, and returned to his +cabinet alone. + +He looked thoughtfully and gravely before him, and several times paced +slowly up and down the room. + +"Rash indeed would it be to decide on action under these +circumstances," said he; "and wherefore, if time can ripen the fruit, +if waiting can make our aim more sure? Drouyn de Lhuys, that quiet +prudent man, talks like a Jacobin of 1793! He holds intercourse with +Orleans," he said, gloomily, as he stood still and fixed his eyes on +the ground. + +Then he went to his writing-table, seated himself and wrote. His hand +hurried over the paper; sometimes he looked up as if seeking for a +word, then he wrote again, filling one page after another. + +When he had finished he called Piétri. + +"Make me a copy of this," said the emperor, holding out the written +sheets; "yet," he added, "read it first and tell me what you think of +it." + +Piétri read slowly and attentively, whilst the emperor made a +cigarette, lighted it at the taper always burning on his table, and +then walked leisurely up and down the room, from time to time casting a +look of enquiry at his secretary's countenance. + +When he saw that he had finished reading he said: + +"Well, have you any remark to make?" + +"Sire," said Piétri, "your majesty will not then act?" + +"Perhaps it is better to wait," said the emperor. + +"But this programme," said Piétri,--"for, what your majesty has just +sketched out is a political programme for the future--accepts the +alterations in Germany." + +"Accepts them," said the emperor; and half speaking to himself he +added, "to accept is not to acknowledge--to accept indicates a +fictitious position which we permit to continue as long as we will." + +"I admire, as I have often done before, the dexterity with which your +majesty chooses your words," said Piétri. "But," he proceeded, "this +theory of nonintervention, this declaration that the three portions +into which Germany is dividing completely reassure us as to the +interests of France, will not accord with the views of M. Drouyn de +Lhuys. I do not believe he will accept this programme without +discussion." + +The emperor looked steadfastly at his secretary. + +"I cannot compel him to do so," he then said. + +"And your majesty is firmly determined to abide by this programme." + +"Firmly determined?" said the emperor, thoughtfully. "How difficult it +is to decide at such a time. Do you know, Piétri," he said, as he laid +his hand upon his shoulder, "determination is something that hurts my +nerves; I do not know fear,--danger makes me cold and calm; but I am +always thankful to those who compel me by an impulse to do what is +needful to be done. Make me the copy,--I will drive out." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + THE EMPRESS CHARLOTTE. + + +Monsieur Piétri finished his business with Napoleon the next morning, +and rose to withdraw to his own room. + +The emperor looked down gravely. + +"I must visit the Empress Charlotte," he said in a low tone. + +"The poor empress! she is indeed to be pitied," remarked Piétri. + +"Why does she cling so madly to that absurd Mexican crown?" cried +Napoleon. "Can I uphold the Emperor Maximilian on a throne which he has +himself undermined with his liberal ideas? He has estranged himself +from the Church party, and has deeply offended the clergy, the only +power that can lead the masses out there, and above all, that can get +him money, which he needs so greatly; for without money he will soon +have neither troops, nor generals, nor ministers, nor friends. Ought +I," he continued after a pause, "ought I to continue pouring into this +Mexican abyss streams of French blood and French money, without being +able to fill it, now, when this German danger, which I must bear in +smiling silence because I cannot act, threatens the frontier of +France?" He clenched his teeth firmly together, a look of anger crossed +his face. "This Mexican expedition was a great idea," he then said, +"the establishment of the monarchical principle on the other hemisphere +opposed to threatening North America; the rule of the Latin races. With +the subjugation of the Southern States these plans became impossible; +the Emperor Maximilian has not known how to find supporters for his +throne; I have no longer any interest in upholding him, and I cannot do +it." + +"If your majesty had supported the Southern States vigorously?" +suggested Piétri, with some diffidence. + +"How could I alone?" cried the emperor with animation. "Did not England +leave me in the lurch? England, who had a much greater interest than I, +in opposing the growth and consolidation of this American Republic? who +sheathed the sword that should have cut through those cotton threads, +which are threads of life to proud Great Britain. Shall I draw down +upon myself alone the hatred and enmity of that nation for the future, +without being sure of victory, that I may maintain an emperor upon a +throne where he wishes to rule with constitutional theories, joined to +wild experimental politics? I am sorry for Maximilian," he continued, +taking a few steps about the room; "there is something noble, something +great in him; but also much mistiness; he has something of his +predecessor, of Joseph II., who came into the world a hundred years too +soon, and of that other Maximilian, who was born as much too late, whom +the German poet called the last of the knights, forgetting Francis I. I +pity him," he said, sighing; "but I cannot help him. After all, it is +not so bad after this expedition again to become an archduke of +Austria; there are princes who have no such line of retreat if their +thrones are wrecked! I wish the Empress Charlotte had gone," he said in +a gloomy voice; "she was much excited yesterday--it will be a painful +visit!" + +He caused the equerry on duty to be summoned, ordered his carriage, and +withdrew into his dressing-room. + + * * * * * + +In a salon, on the _bel étage_ of the Grand Hôtel in the Boulevard des +Italiens, sat the Empress Charlotte of Mexico, dressed entirely in +black. Her face once so lovely, fresh, and charming, was pale and sad; +it was already marked with deep lines which gave her the appearance of +premature old age, her hair was entirely concealed beneath the black +lace handkerchief which came low down on her forehead, her mouth had a +restless nervous movement, and her wearied eyes shone at times with an +unsteady feverish brilliancy. + +Before the empress stood General Almonte, the Mexican ambassador in +Paris, a pleasing-looking man of the southern type. He gazed sadly at +the princess, who not long before had crossed the sea to ascend the +dazzling throne of Montezuma, in fabulous splendour, and who now sat +before him broken down by the deepest sorrow; instead of Montezuma's +diadem, she had found Guatimozin's crown of martyrdom. + +"You do not believe then, general," asked the empress in a trembling +voice, "that anything is to be hoped from France?" + +"I do not believe it," replied the general gravely; "according to all +that I have seen and heard here, the emperor is quite determined to +withdraw quickly and definitely from the whole affair. If his majesty +the Emperor Maximilian wishes to maintain his throne, (which I ardently +desire for the sake of an unhappy country robbed by one adventurer +after another)--he must not rely on France--he must find supporters in +the country itself. Before all, he must endeavour to win back the +firmest and mightiest support, which he has lost--the Church and the +clergy; they will procure him both money and soldiers. Not here," added +the general, "is help to be found; if your majesty takes my advice you +will go to Rome--the pope alone can restore to the emperor the mighty +power of the Mexican clergy--certainly he would require conditions, but +quick action is needful, before it is too late," he added in a gloomy +voice. + +"Oh!" cried the empress, standing up and walking up and down the room +with hasty footsteps, "oh! that my noble, unhappy husband should have +listened to the enticing words of that fiend, whom men call Napoleon; +that he should have forsaken our beautiful Miramar, to hurl himself +into this abyss, in which we sink deeper and deeper. If you knew," she +cried, with sparkling eyes, as she stood still before the general, "how +I entreated him, this man--he went to St.-Cloud, to avoid me," she +cried, speaking quicker and with still greater excitement; "I followed +him there, I pressed myself upon him, I begged and implored him, I +repressed all the anger in my heart, I prayed to him as we pray to God, +I threw myself at his feet, I, the grand-daughter of Louis Philippe, +threw myself at the feet of the son of that Hortense--oh! my God!" + +She sank back exhausted on the sofa. + +"And what did the emperor reply?" asked the general, looking with deep +compassion at the unhappy lady, whose diadem weighed so heavily upon +her brow. + +"Nothing," sighed the empress; "phrases of regret, cold words of +comfort, which sounded like scorn from his mouth. General," she cried, +rising suddenly, and fixing a tragic look upon him, "general, I fear +that my reason will give way. So much sorrow no human soul can bear, so +many tears no eyes can shed, without falling a prey to the powers of +darkness. At night," she cried, gazing into space as if her mind +pursued a vision, "at night, if after long tearful watching an uneasy +slumber falls upon me, I see him creep up towards me, this demon--this +demon brought forth by hell; he holds out a goblet, green flames dart +from it! I shudder to my heart's core, but he holds the goblet to +my lips, the flames beat on my brow with frightful pain; I must +quaff,--quaff the terrible drink he offers me, and this drink is +blood!--the blood of my husband!" she cried, shrieking aloud, and +stretching out her hands with a movement of convulsive horror. + +"Your majesty! for God's sake, calm yourself!" cried the general, +dismayed. + +A sound was heard in the antechamber. + +A lacquey entered. + +"His majesty the emperor has just driven into the _porte cochère_," he +cried, and threw open the folding door leading to the anteroom. + +The Empress Charlotte rose quickly. She passed her handkerchief across +her brow, the bewildered look vanished from her features, and she said +with a calm and sorrowful smile: + +"Leave me alone with him, general, perhaps God has softened his heart." + +Napoleon appeared in the antechamber, he wore a black coat with the +star and ribbon of the Order of Our Lady of Guadaloupe. Colonel Favé +accompanied him. + +The empress met him at the threshold of her room. + +General Almonte with a deep bow withdrew into the antechamber. The +servants closed the door. + +Napoleon kissed the hand of the empress, led her to the sofa and placed +himself in an arm-chair beside her. The empress looked at him in +breathless suspense, his veiled eyes were cast on the ground. + +"Is your majesty comfortable here?" he asked in a courteous tone. "I +should have been happier if you would have accepted hospitality at one +of my palaces." + +"I want nothing," said the empress with slight impatience, "I have come +to hear my fate. I implore your majesty to say if it is pronounced, and +what I have to hope." + +"I think I told your majesty yesterday my determination, and the +political reasons upon which it was founded," said the emperor in a +calm voice. "I can only regret that circumstances forbid, absolutely +forbid my compliance with your majesty's wishes, as I should so much +have wished," he added, with a polite bow. + +The Empress Charlotte's lips trembled convulsively. + +"Sire," said she in a repressed voice, "it is not a question of my +wishes, they have never been directed to that distant throne. It is a +question of the honour, perhaps of the life of my husband, for he will +sacrifice his life to his honour." + +"But madame," said the emperor, slightly twirling his moustache, "I +cannot see how honour can require him madly to bury himself beneath the +ruins of a throne that cannot be upheld. Your husband undertook a great +and good cause; that it cannot be carried out is the fault, not of +himself, but of circumstances,--no one could reproach him." + +A bitter smile curved the lips of the empress. + +"My husband does not thus regard it," said she, "he will not pass +through life as a dethroned prince,--in his opinion a prince who has +once ascended a throne should only abandon it with his life." + +"The Emperor Maximilian will not drive this opinion, which really does +not apply to present circumstances, to extremes," replied Napoleon. "I +will send General Castelnau to him, he shall lay before him in my name +a full explanation of the circumstances to which I am forced to yield, +the emperor will understand them, he will return, and I heartily beg +you, madame, to support the general's mission by your persuasions." + +A flush passed quickly over the empress's face, her eyes sparkled, her +lips quivered, and she said in a hoarse voice: + +"The mission will be in vain, and I will never advise my husband to do +anything he holds to be at variance with his honour and his noble +chivalrous heart." + +The emperor slightly bit his lips, his veiled eyes opened for a moment, +and a hard, almost an inimical look, flashed upon the empress. + +She saw this look, a shudder passed through her, in violent excitement +she pressed her hand to her heart, and she said with a deep breath, +fixing her burning eyes upon the emperor: + +"Sire, it is not a question of my husband's honour alone; to care for +this is certainly our own affair, but something else is staked upon +this, something that touches your majesty more nearly,--and that is the +honour of France." + +The emperor gave a cold smile. + +"My armies only withdraw from Mexico at my command, and they bring rich +laurels with them," he said. + +"Laurels?" cried the empress with flashing eyes, "yes, the soldiers who +have bravely fought bring laurels with them, and laurels grow on the +graves of the fallen, but the banners of France, who now desert the +throne raised by France's emperor, the prince who went thither +at the call of France, and who is rewarded by humiliation and +desertion,--these banners should be veiled in crape, for they have +forsaken France's honour! Oh! sire," she exclaimed, restraining herself +with a great effort, "I beg you once more--I conjure you--recall your +hard decision!" + +The emperor's brow wore a gloomy frown, an icy smile was on his lips. + +"Madame," he said, "your majesty will allow that I am the best, the +only competent judge of what the honour of France demands." + +The eyes of the empress flashed, a look of proud contempt appeared on +her face. + +"Your majesty is the _judge_," she said, "then let me be the _advocate_ +of the honour of France, my blood gives me this right, the blood of +Henri Quatre flows in my veins, and my grandfather was the French +king!" + +The emperor's long eyelashes were raised, and his angry eyes gazed on +the excited woman who sat trembling before him. + +He stood up. + +The empress also rose. + +She pressed both hands upon her heart, her whole form swayed to and fro +with the violent effort she made to recover her calmness. + +"Sire," she said in a low soft voice, "forgive the wife who pleads for +the honour and the life of her husband, if her zeal has made her speak +too boldly in a cause which must ever be to her the highest and the +holiest on earth. Sire, I implore you for God's sake, for the sake of +eternal mercy,--have pity on us, give us your protection one year +longer, or give us money, if the blood of France is too precious." + +And with an imploring look of indescribable anguish she gazed up at +this man, from whose mouth the words of hope could come, which she +might bear back to the husband longing for her with such weary anxiety, +refreshing his harassed soul with new strength. + +Napoleon spoke in a cold voice. + +"Madame, the greatest service at this grave moment is perfect truth and +openness. I should sin against your majesty, if I allowed you to +entertain vain hopes. My decision is as unalterable as the necessity +that dictates it. I have nothing more for Mexico--not a man, not a +franc!" + +The features of the empress grew frightfully distorted, the whites of +her eyes grew red as blood, a flaming brightness glowed in her gaze, +her lips receded and showed her gloaming white teeth; with outstretched +arms she walked close up to the emperor, and with hissing breath that +seemed to drive the words from her breast, she cried in a voice which +no longer sounded human: + +"Yes! it is true, the image of my dream, the horrible apparition +of my sleep! there he stands with his goblet of blood!--demon of +hell!--executioner of my family!--murderer of my husband!--laughing +devil!--murder me, the grand-daughter of Louis Philippe,--of that king +who rescued you from misery, and saved you from the scaffold." + +As if before some supernatural appearance the emperor slowly stepped +backwards to the door. The empress stood still, and stretching out her +hand towards him she cried, whilst her features grew more frightfully +convulsed, and her eyes glowed more wildly: + +"Hence, fiend! but take with thee my curse. The curse which God hurled +at the head of the first murderer shall destroy thy throne! flames +shall blot out thy house! and when thou liest in the dust from whence +thou hast risen, expiring in shame and weakness, the avenging angel +shall shake the depths of thy despairing soul with the cry of +'Charlotte and Maximilian!'" + +Seized with horror the emperor turned round, covering his eyes with his +hands. He hurried to the door, and rushed into the anteroom, where he +found his equerry, and General Almonte much shocked at the dreadful +sound of the empress's voice. He cried scarcely audibly--"Come, Favé, +come quickly, the empress is ill." + +He hurried down the steps, looking anxiously back; the equerry rushed +after him. + +General Almonte hastened back into the empress's room. + +The unhappy princess had sunk on her knees in the middle of the salon, +her left hand was pressed to her heart, her right stretched upwards, +and with upturned eyes she stared vacantly at the ceiling--a statue of +despair. + +The general hastened to her. + +"For God's sake," he cried, bending over her, "I conjure your majesty, +calm, collect yourself! What has happened?" + +A slight shiver passed through her limbs, she slowly turned her eyes +towards the general, she looked at him with surprise, passed her hand +over her brow, and allowed him to raise her, and lead her to the sofa. +A lady in waiting had entered in great anxiety, and assisted the +general, the lacquey stood with a frightened face at the door of the +ante-room. + +Suddenly the empress rose, her eyes wandered round the room. "Where is +he?" she cried in a hoarse voice, "he has gone, he must not go. I will +dog his heels, day and night my shrieks for revenge shall pierce his +ears!" + +"Your majesty!" cried the general. + +"Away!" screamed the empress, "leave me: my carriage, my carriage; +after him, the traitor, my husband's murderer!" + +And she tore herself free from the general, and the lady in attendance, +rushed through the anteroom and down the stairs, still crying, "My +carriage! my carriage!" + +The general hastened after her. The servant followed. + +In the large court of the Grand Hôtel there was a concourse of +inquisitive people, attracted by the arrival of the imperial carriage. +On the large balcony sat foreigners reading newspapers and chatting. + +Suddenly they heard the loud out-cry of a woman clad in black, with +distorted features and blood-shot starting eyes. She appeared at the +foot of the large staircase, and shrieked incessantly: "My carriage, my +carriage!" + +General Almonte overtook the empress. He sought to calm her, it was +impossible. All eyes were fixed on the surprising apparition. + +The general in great distress wishing to bring the dreadful scene to an +end, desired the lacquey who was in the empress's service, to bring a +carriage into the court of the hotel. + +The equipage drove round. + +With one spring the empress threw herself in. The general seized the +door to follow her. Then her strength failed her--she collapsed, her +eyes closed, white foam appeared on her lips; unconscious, with +convulsive shudders, she fell back on the cushions. + +Several servants hastily appeared. They carried her gently upstairs to +her own room. + +"What a tragedy begins," said General Almonte, shuddering, as he +followed slowly; "and what a conclusion lies in the lap of the future!" + + * * * * * + +Late in the afternoon, the brilliant carriages belonging to the +aristocracy, the _haute finance_, and the foreign diplomacy, drove +slowly round the Bois de Boulogne. The whole Paris world had remained +in town, the universal interest in the European crisis chained them to +the capital; and the whole world took its accustomed slow drive before +dinner, along the beautiful shores of the two lakes, in the charming, +wonderfully-kept Bois de Boulogne. Between the imposing heavy-looking +carriages with their powdered servants, drove the carriages belonging +to the 'demi-monde,' light and graceful, with spirited prancing steeds; +and the young gentlemen, without regarding the displeased looks of the +ladies of the 'grande monde,' rode close to these carriages, laughingly +and jestingly replying to the piquant remarks made by the ladies of the +avant-scène and the Café anglais. + +In an open caleche drawn by four beautiful brown horses, preceded by +two piqueurs in green and gold, with an officer riding near the door, +drove the emperor amongst the lively varied throng. Beside him sat +General Fleury. Napoleon's face beamed with good humour, he conversed +with animation to the general, responding with gracious empressement, +right and left, to the salutes he received, whilst the brilliant +equipage drove slowly three times round the lake. An hour later all +Paris knew that the emperor was in excellent health, and that affairs +must be going on well, since his majesty showed such remarkable +cheerfulness. + +The emperor was in the same good spirits at the dinner to which the +marshals and several distinguished officers were invited. The _cercle_ +was over, the sun had set, and the warm darkness of evening was spread +over the gigantic city. + +The emperor entered his cabinet. He laid aside the uniform he had worn +at dinner, and put on a plain black frock coat. + +As soon as his valet had gone he called Piétri. + +"Is my carriage without livery ready?" he asked. + +"It is waiting at the side door as your majesty commanded." + +"You have told me of that remarkable pupil of Lenormand," said the +emperor. "Morny, too, has spoken to me of her, Madame Moreau, is she +not?" + +Piétri smiled. + +"She has really foretold things in a wonderful way; I once visited her +myself, and I was much struck by her prophecies." + +"And were they fulfilled?" asked the emperor. + +"Much, sire, that she foretold happened." + +"I will hear her," said Napoleon; "come with me." + +And he went down the staircase leading to his room; followed by his +secretary. + +They walked along a corridor, and passed through a side door into an +inner court of the Tuileries; here stood a plain carriage with two +black horses, a coachman, not in livery, sat on the box; it looked like +a doctor's carriage. + +The emperor stepped in. + +Piétri followed him and cried to the coachman, "5, Rue Tournon." + +The carriage started at a brisk trot, and drove down the Rue de Rivoli. + +A second carriage, equally unremarkable, followed at a little distance. + +It contained the chief of the palace police, and one of his officers. + +In the old part of Paris, near the palace of the Luxembourg, is the Rue +Tournon, one of those ancient streets bearing the stamp of past times, +with low houses, old sashes, and small windows. The emperor's carriage +stopped before No. 5; Piétri went first through a large open doorway +leading into a small _porte-cochère_. The emperor followed him. The +second carriage stopped at the corner of the street, its occupants got +out, and began smoking and chatting as they slowly paced the trottoir. + +Napoleon followed his secretary through the _porte-cochère_, and at the +end of it walked up some high dark steps leading to a door. A small +landing at the top of the first flight was lighted by a plain but +elegant lamp, and a white china door-plate bore the name of Madame +Moreau. + +"It is the same house and the same apartment that Lenormand occupied," +said Piétri, as he rang the bell near the door-plate. + +The emperor looked round with great interest. + +"Here then came Napoleon the First," said he, thoughtfully, "and here +the crown was prophesied which he afterwards obtained." + +The door opened. A young woman dressed like a Parisian housemaid +appeared. The emperor pulled up the collar of his coat, and held his +handkerchief before the lower part of his face. + +Piétri stepped forwards and concealed him. + +"Madame Moreau?" he asked. + +"I do not know whether madame still receives," replied the girl; "it is +very late." + +"We are friends," said Piétri. "Madame will admit us." + +"Walk into the salon, gentlemen; I will announce you." + +She led the emperor and his secretary to a small, but richly and +elegantly furnished room. Thick carpets covered the floor, large +fauteuils stood around a table, on which lay several illustrated +journals, a large lamp hung from the ceiling, and brightly lighted up +the room. + +"Your majesty must learn to wait in the ante-room," said Piétri, +jestingly, as he wheeled a chair towards Napoleon. + +He only placed his hand lightly on the back, and looked round the room +with great interest. On the wall hung a large engraving, his own +likeness in his coronation robes. With a slight sigh the emperor +glanced at the slender, youthful figure represented; then he said, +pointing it out laughingly to Piétri: + +"This lady appears well disposed." + +"She is a scholar of Lenormand, sire," replied Piétri, "and holds to +the traditions of her mistress; also she was an especial favourite of +the Duke de Morny." + +A small door concealed by a very thick dark _portière_ opened, the +curtain was pushed aside, and a short, rather stout lady in a plain +black dress appeared in the doorway. She was about fifty years of age, +with dark smooth hair and lively black eyes, so keen and piercing, that +they were an almost startling contrast to the somewhat puffy and very +commonplace face to which they belonged. + +Piétri advanced. + +"I thank you, madame," he said, "for receiving us at this late hour. +You have already given me such brilliant proofs of your art, that I +have brought a friend who is travelling through Paris, and who begs you +to unveil his future." + +"Walk this way, messieurs," said Madame Moreau quietly, in an agreeable +voice and with the manner of a lady of good society. + +And she returned to her cabinet. Piétri and the emperor followed her. + +This cabinet was a small square room, which had besides the door +leading into the salon, a second door, through which visitors could +depart who did not care to face those who might be waiting in the other +apartment. This cabinet had a dark carpet. The window looking towards +the courtyard was concealed by ample thick green curtains. A tall old +chest stood against the wall, near to the window was a somewhat small +table covered with a green cloth, and before it a large chair in which +the prophetess generally sat. Upon the table stood a lamp with a dark +green shade, which lighted up the surface of the table, and left the +rest of the room in deep shadow. Upon the other side of the table stood +a few dark green chairs and a small divan of the same colour. + +The emperor seated himself in an arm-chair in the shadow, and put his +handkerchief to his face. + +Madame Moreau took no notice. She was accustomed to guests who desired +to preserve a strict incognito. + +She took her place at the table and asked, "Do you wish the _grand +jeu?_" + +"Certainly," replied Piétri, who stood close to Napoleon's chair. + +"Will monsieur then show me his hand? The left if he pleases." + +Napoleon rose and walked to the table, so that the shadow of the dark +lamp shade fell on his face, and he held out his hand to the +soothsayer; long, slender, and soft it looked much younger than his +face or figure. + +Madame Moreau seized this hand, turned the palm upwards, and opened the +line between the thumb and forefinger to its utmost extent. + +"What a tenacious, enduring will," she said, without raising her eyes +from the emperor's hand; "yet there is a weakness here, a hesitating +delay; this hand is formed to draw the bow with care and skill, but it +will hesitate before letting the arrow fly; it wishes to remain lord of +the arrow in its flight, but the arrow then belongs to fate. This hand +will not quickly loose the string even when the aim is taken, and the +eye perceives that the right moment has come; it will launch the arrow +from the concussion of a sudden doubt,--but the arrow obeys the eternal +might of Providence," she added, in a low voice. She then continued her +attentive examination of the palm. "Broken soon after its beginning, +the line of life winds in entwining curves, often crossed and stopped +by opposing lines, then it rises in a bold, broad arch, higher and +higher, until--" + +She gazed with a vacant, dreamy look upon the hand, and remained +silent. + +"You have a remarkable hand, monsieur," she said, without looking up; +"the great Fabius Cunctator must have had a hand like yours--yet here +are lines which must have been found in the hand of Catiline, though +without the restless haste of that conspirator, and here are the lines +of Cĉsar--no, of Augustus. Sir," she said, "your hand is very +remarkable, it is formed slowly and carefully to knot the threads of +fate, it is made to build up and to collect, to uphold and to foster, +and yet fate often compels it to destroy." + +"And whither does the line of life lead?" asked the emperor, in so low +a voice that the sound was scarcely heard. + +Madame Moreau said slowly and thoughtfully: + +"It turns back to whence it came." + +Napoleon looked at Piétri. + +"Uncertain as the Pythia," he whispered. + +Madame Moreau might have heard and understood these words or not. She +said: + +"The riddle which the line of life does not reveal, will perhaps be +read by my cards." + +She let go the emperor's hand, and taking from a drawer in her table +some large cards, beautifully painted with strange figures and +characters, she handed them to the emperor to shuffle. + +He did so, still keeping his face in the shadow from the lamp, and gave +her back the pack. + +"Monsieur," she then said, "this is a combination that seldom occurs. I +see you surrounded by the brightest splendour of the highest on earth, +your hand links the fate of numbers. My God!" she cried, "for One only +have I seen this constellation--it is so, it must be so, here is the +eagle above your head; the star in the diagonal, the golden bees,--it +would be unworthy to remain silent, it would lower my art." + +She rose hastily and bowing deeply, with a movement possessing a +certain grace and dignity, notwithstanding her short and corpulent +figure, she said: + +"My poor house has the happiness of beholding the monarch of France +beneath its roof; sire, with the deepest respect I greet my great and +beloved emperor!" + +Napoleon started with surprise, then he moved out of the shadow and +said laughingly: + +"I must compliment you, madame, on the penetration of your cards. Since +my great uncle visited your mistress, his nephew and successor may well +visit the pupil. But now that we are without mask," he continued, "tell +me more of the fate inscribed on your cards." + +Madame Moreau returned to her chair, and seated herself at a sign from +the emperor--who on his part came close to the table and sat down, +looking at the out-spread cards attentively. + +"Sire," said the lady, "your majesty will believe that I, who love +France, and whose whole heart hangs upon your great race, have often +tried in solitude to read by my art the fate of the empire; wonderful +to say, this very constellation has each time appeared, the very same +which now lies unchanged before me, in the cards your imperial hand has +shuffled. I cannot be deceived. It would be absurd of me to tell of +your majesty's past, from the cards now lying before me; one thing only +I would say,"--she added with hesitation, "may I speak?" and she +glanced at Piétri. + +"I have no secrets from this gentleman," said Napoleon. + +"Sire," proceeded Madame Moreau, still gazing on the cards, "your +majesty is happy in a noble consort possessing every virtue--and yet--" + +"And yet?" asked the emperor in a voice in which surprise mingled with +slight impatience. + +"Sire," said she slowly and solemnly, "the life of your majesty lies on +the border land of the powers of light and darkness, a bright and +glittering star beams down upon it, but the deep shadow of a demon-like +fate often threatens to obscure its pure light. Beneath the brilliance +of that star, beneath the influence of its blessed rays, the young +heart of your majesty first opened to the warm breath of youthful +poetry, and an absorbing love: the great emperor's blessing, the noble +martyr of St. Helena, rested on this love; it would have lighted and +warmed your majesty's heart; and this love was responded to by a heart +in whose veins flowed the blood of your great predecessor." + +The emperor looked down with emotion, a melancholy expression appeared +on his face. + +"Sire," continued Madame Moreau, "the dark shadow prevailed, the night +of fate closed over that love and its hopes. The heart that beat for +you has grieved during a sad and solitary life, and you have missed the +guide, the good genius of your youth, who would have led you onwards +beneath the rays of your star, and who would often have strengthened +your doubting heart." + +The emperor was silent. A sigh heaved his breast. + +"Go on," he then said. + +"Even now, sire," said Madame Moreau, "your heart is in doubt, to-day +two opposing spirits wrestle in your soul, you balance between war and +peace,--oh! wonderful," she proceeded, gazing attentively at the cards +and pointing to some of the pictures, "the men of the sword urge +peace." + +The emperor listened with surprise. + +"Sire," she said, "you have broken the pride of Russia, you have led +England's queen to the grave of your uncle, you have revenged upon the +house of Hapsburg the humiliations of the King of Rome. Sire, your +star's bright beams have lighted you brilliantly on your course; beware +of Germany," she said in a hoarse tone, "there the demon-like shadow of +your evil fate prevails. Beware! beware!" she cried vehemently, lifting +up her hands as if to conjure him, "pause, before you throw the iron +dice of war!" + +The emperor gazed before him. A slight shudder passed through his +limbs. + +"And you will pause," continued she, perusing the pictures on her +cards, and drawing long lines over the out-spread pack, "for I see you +surrounded by the smiling images of peace, and only in the back-ground +the god of war zealously whets his sword for future days." + +"And shall France thus humble herself?" said Napoleon in a low voice, +as if expressing his thoughts aloud, "shall she yield, draw back!" + +"I see no humiliation," said Madame Moreau, with sparkling eyes gazing +at the cards; "I see dazzling splendour, brighter even than that which +surrounded your uncle's throne, I see all the nations of the world +assembled around the steps of your imperial throne, I see emperors and +kings, all the princes of Europe,--almost of the earth,--surrounding +you in a brilliant circle; the Sultan greets the imperial lord of +France, the successor of Peter the Great, ah! what is this!" she cried. +"Sire, watch, watch over the duty sacred to a guest, murder lurks for +Alexander on the soil of France, yet God averts the blow. I see new +splendour, brilliant splendour and proud joy, all the people of Europe, +Asia, and America, even the swarthy Nubians of Africa, uniting in +astonished admiration at the glory of imperial France." + +The emperor's eyes were fully opened, they flashed with pride. + +"And then?" he asked. + +"Sire," said Madame Moreau, "your conquering star has reached the +zenith, then clouds arise, bloody lightning flashes through them, I see +the points of lances sparkle, I see the war-god in tempestuous thunder +stride over the earth, I see your majesty at the head of a moving army, +I see you in Germany,"--she covered her eyes with her hands. "Ah! that +is far away!" she said slowly; "my eyes are dazzled, I have not powers +like the great Lenormand to see into the distant future, later on it +will be clear, but to enduring peace fate has not destined you sire, +see here!" And in prophetic tones she said: "If the olive tree +overshadows France, her laurels must fade!" + +The emperor looked at her thoughtfully. + +"For the present, then, peace will bring me happiness and glory, but I +must not let the olive trees overpower the laurels?" + +She slightly nodded her head, still gazing at the cards. Her face +quivered, she opened her lips as if to speak, but she was silent. + +Napoleon stood up. Once more his eyes looked searchingly round the +room. + +"In this room, then, Madame Lenormand entertained the emperor?" he +asked. + +"In this very room, sire," said Madame Moreau, rising, "only the +arrangement of the furniture has been slightly changed." + +"I thank you, madame," said Napoleon, "follow my horoscope, I shall be +glad to hear more from you!" + +And with a friendly smile, he walked to the door, which Madame Moreau +opened for him, the lamp in her hand. + +On the stairs he took Piétri's arm and said: + +"Stay, madame, I do not wish to be recognized. I rely on your +discretion. Adieu!" + +The quiet-looking carriage drove quickly back to the Tuileries. + +When he re-entered his cabinet, the emperor seated himself at his +writing-table. Piétri stood beside him: + +Napoleon wrote: + +"My dear Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys,-- + +"I herewith send you an explanation of the reasons which, according to +my unalterable decision, render a moderate policy necessary on the part +of France, with regard to recent events in Germany. I do not doubt that +you will entirely share my views, and I beg you to believe in my +sincere friendship." + +And he signed it, "Napoleon." + +He handed the paper silently to Piétri. + +"Sire," he said, after reading it, "who does your majesty destine to be +the successor of Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys?" + +"Moustiers knows the state of affairs in Berlin well," said the +emperor; "prepare a letter to him beforehand, to inquire if he will +undertake the guidance of foreign affairs." + +Piétri bowed. + +"One thing more," said Napoleon, "let Hansen come to me early to-morrow +morning, we will make _one_ more effort." + +"At your majesty's command." + +"What do you think of Madame Moreau?" asked the emperor, who had +already turned towards the door leading to his private apartments, as +he paused for a moment. "How could she know that episode of my youth?" +he whispered in a low voice. + +"Sire," replied Piétri, "it is difficult to say." + +"'There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our +philosophy,'" said Napoleon in perfect English; and with a friendly nod +he dismissed his secretary. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + THE SICK AND WOUNDED. + + +In a somewhat large salon adjoining the bedroom of his comfortable +bachelor apartments, in one of the old-fashioned houses of a quiet part +of the town, Lieutenant von Stielow, the morning after his return, lay +upon a large sofa covered with dark red silk. + +Half-closed curtains of the same colour hung before the window, +admitting a subdued light into the room, where complete quiet +prevailed, only broken from time to time by a carriage belonging to one +of the aristocracy rolling swiftly past. + +The young man wore a wide morning wrapping coat of black silk, with +scarlet collar and facings; beside him stood a small table with a +beautiful silver tea service; he slowly smoked a short chibouk, from +which the fragrant clouds of Turkish tobacco floated about the room, +and his features expressed perfect happiness and calm content. After +the long privations and fatigues of camp life, the young officer for +the first time enjoyed the quiet and rich comfort around him, and with +happy looks he greeted everything; the numerous objects which his room +contained, the paintings, the engravings, the curious arms, the bits of +old Dresden china, in short all the thousand things which the good +taste or passing fancy of a wealthy and cultivated young man collects +in his rooms. + +All this, which he had formerly been so accustomed to that he scarcely +deemed it worthy of a glance, now smiled upon him with the charm of +novelty; for so long his eyes had only seen pictures of privation, of +horror, and of death, that the surroundings of his previous life met +him with a greeting full of charm; then he thought of his love, of the +dangers which had surrounded him upon the battle-fields, of the +frightful peril which had threatened his young pure love from wicked +machinations, of his happy preservation amidst the bullets and swords +of the enemy, of the good fortune that had brought him back at the +right moment to destroy those machinations, finally, of the hopes which +were now his own without an obstacle. No wonder that his eyes beamed, +that his lips smiled, and that the world looked as fair, as bright, and +as charming as it only can appear to a young heart who sees itself +possessed of everything that can make life one sweet enjoyment. + +He had promised the Countess Frankenstein to take no step against the +person who had made the low attempt on her daughter and himself. "Let +us never again speak of those creatures, or remember anything of the +affair, except to thank God who brought their wickedness to shame," +said Clara, with a gentle smile; and so great is the elasticity of a +heart of one-and-twenty, so great the conciliatory power of happiness, +that he scarcely remembered the circumstance which had threatened the +holiest feelings of his heart, except from the sweet feeling of higher +enjoyment which lies in the full possession of that which you feared to +lose. + +The door opened quickly and a servant entered with a disturbed and +frightened face. + +"My lord baron," he said with some hesitation, "I must--" + +The young officer turned his head and looked at him inquiringly; but he +could not finish his sentence, for a slender female form in a light +morning dress hastily advanced through the half-open door, and with a +quick and decided movement pushed the servant aside. Her face was +concealed by a thick veil hanging from her small round hat. + +Herr von Stielow rose and walked towards his visitor with an expression +of great surprise, whilst he dismissed the servant by a sign, and he, +by shrugging his shoulders endeavoured to signify that he had not been +able to announce this visitor to his master in the usual way. + +Scarcely had the door closed than the lady threw back her veil. Herr +von Stielow beheld the beautiful features of Madame Balzer. She was +pale, but her cheeks were tinged with a light rosy hue, her large eyes +glowed with deep passionate fire, upon her slightly parted lips lay an +expression of bashful shame, mingled with a look of firm and energetic +decision. She was wonderfully beautiful, more charming in this plain, +almost grisette-like toilette, than in the rich and recherché elegance +which usually surrounded her. + +The young man looked at the well-known face before him with blank +amazement, almost with fear; for it was the last thing he expected to +see. + +"Antonia!" he exclaimed in a low voice. + +"Your lips, then, have not forgotten that name," she said, fixing her +sorrowful eyes upon him; "I feared that all, all remembrance, had +vanished from your heart, even the name of her whom once you loved, and +whom you now despise,--condemn unheard." + +Stielow was so amazed, so discomposed by this visit, that he still +stood opposite to her without uttering a word: a flash of anger, of +defiance had shone in his eyes, but it had disappeared--how could anger +be maintained against this gentle humility, this look so full of +entreaty and of sorrow? He gazed at her vacantly, contradictory +feelings struggling in his breast. + +"You have condemned me," she continued in that soft melting voice, only +bestowed upon a few women, and which touches the heart of the listener +like a caress, "you have turned from me without asking a word of +explanation, and yet you loved me once, and yet," she whispered +hesitatingly, as she cast down her eyes, and a rosy blush passed over +her face, "yet, you must have known that I loved you!" + +Herr von Stielow still found not a word to oppose to these looks, this +language; he almost felt he was really hard and cruel, and it needed +the full recollection of the evening before, to enable him to maintain +calm composure before this woman. + +Antonia came one step nearer, and fixed her eyes upon him, with a +melancholy expression of unutterable tenderness. "My love," she said in +her soft voice, "was as pure, as confiding as a young maiden's, yet +fiery and glowing as the wine of the south, and it filled my whole +soul, it had enchained my pride. I lay at your feet, as a slave at the +feet of her lord!" + +Tears glittered in her lovely eyes. + +"I beg you--" said von Stielow, feeling quite distracted. "Why these +declarations about the past, now? Why this painful scene?" + +"You are right," she replied, and a proud flash shone in her eyes +without dispersing the melancholy that veiled them, "you are right. I +ought not to touch upon that past, but there is a nearer past of which +I must speak, which leads me hither." + +"But--" said von Stielow. + +Without heeding him she continued: + +"Before you, I had no longer pride, no longer a will, it is true; but +you coldly and cruelly forsook me"--she placed her hand upon her heart, +and pressed her lips together. "You humiliated me, and my pride again +arose. I wished to hate you, to forget you," she added in a hoarse +voice: "but all the nobler feelings of my heart rebelled against it. I +could not do it," she said in trembling tones; "and my pride said, +'Though he no longer loves, he shall not despise!'" + +Herr von Stielow's face had grown calm. He looked at her coldly, a +scarcely perceptible smile upon his lips. + +"You had a right," she added, "it is true, to think me false, and to +believe yourself the toy of a coquettish whim, perhaps even worse; you +shall believe it no more, the memory of me shall not be mingled with +contempt." + +"Let us leave the past," said he; "I assure you--" + +"No," she cried vehemently, "you shall hear me,--if the past gives me +no other right, it gives me this, to demand a hearing!" + +He was silent. + +"You know," she proceeded, "what my life was; with a heart full of +love, with a spirit that craved and strove for higher things, I was in +early life fettered to the husband with whom you are acquainted. He +himself encouraged a crowd of young men around me. Count Rivero came +near me, I found in him the richest genius,--the satisfying of all my +wishes, I believed I loved him," she added, casting down her eyes, "at +least he brought light and interest to my life. Is that a crime?" + +Without waiting for an answer she went on passionately:-- + +"Then I learned to know you, I discovered my mistake, my heart told me +that before only my mind had been satisfied. I now felt how this new +feeling had taken deep root in my inmost life. Let me be silent about +that time," she said with quivering lips, "recollections that I cannot +stifle would unnerve me. I struggled long and severely," she continued +in a calm voice, as if subduing her emotion by a mighty effort; "ought +I to have spoken to you of the past? I did not dare, my love made me +cowardly; I feared to lose you. I feared to see a cloud upon the brow I +loved. I was silent; I was silent because I feared. Rivero was away. I +ought to have broken with him. Oh!" she cried in a voice of pain, +whilst her whole form trembled, "you know the humiliating position in +which I was placed; the man whose name I bear, my husband, was under +heavy obligations to him; under the circumstances I could not venture +suddenly and quickly to cease our correspondence. I awaited his return. +I knew him to be noble and generous. I wished to tell him all, to +explain,--then there was that unhappy meeting, the intercourse which I +wished quietly and prudently to drop, was torn asunder--oh! what I have +suffered!" + +Herr von Stielow was moved, and looked at her with compassion. + +"If I have erred," she proceeded, "I am still not so guilty as I seem, +my heart has never sinned against the truth of my love. I swear to you, +since the day I said, 'I love you'"--she pronounced the words with a +strange melting charm--"every throb of my heart, every feeling of my +soul has been yours; my first conversation with the count was an +explanation with regard to you." + +She stepped nearer to him, she lifted her folded hands and gazed up at +him with a look of inexpressible love, and said: + +"I have not betrayed my love. I have not forgotten it. I cannot forget +it. I have come because I must make this explanation, because I cannot +bear"--and here her voice seemed choked with tears--"that you should +despise me, that you should quite forget me," she added lower still, "I +cannot believe, that all, all has vanished from your heart. I cannot +part from you without telling you that if ever your heart should feel +lonely you have a friend who never, never can deny her first love." + +She looked unspeakably lovely as she stood there before him, so humble, +so gentle, her lips slightly parted, her eyes, though suffused with +tears, still glowing with a tender fire, her figure languidly bent +forward. + +The young man looked at her with great compassion, the sound of her +voice, the magnetic brightness of her eyes, had aroused within him +memories of the past. But the mild gentle expression vanished from his +face, his eyes flashed and a scornful smile appeared on his lips. + +"Let us leave the past," he said coldly and politely. "I have not +reproached you, and I will not reproach you, I wish you----" + +She looked at him sorrowfully. + +"Then my words have been in vain," she said, sadly, "you do not believe +me----" + +An angry flash passed over his face. + +"I believe you," he said, "and I do not want your words, for thank God! +I know everything. I think this conversation upon the earlier past will +come to an end when I give you a proof that I am acquainted with your +last proceeding." + +And with a quick angry movement he turned to a casket standing upon a +console table before a mirror, opened it and held towards her the +letter she had sent by her husband to the Countess Frankenstein. + +"You see," he said, "I know the way in which you use the souvenirs of +the past against the present." + +She shrank back, as if struck by lightning. The paleness of death +overspread her face--her features were convulsed, her eyes fixed +immovably upon the paper. + +"I think this will bring our conversation to an end," he said, with a +bitter smile. + +A deep crimson flush spread over her face, her limbs trembled, burning +passion shone in her eyes. + +"No," she cried in a wild voice, "no, it is not at an end--it shall not +be at an end!" + +Herr von Stielow slightly shrugged his shoulders. + +"It shall not be at an end," she cried in trembling excitement, +"because I love you, because I cannot leave you, because you cannot be +happy with that woman, to whom you will give your name, but whose cold +heart will never feel for you the fiery glow that streams through +mine." + +"Madam, you go too far," said Stielow, and an expression of repugnance +and contempt appeared upon his face. + +"You deceive yourself," she said, whilst her lips burned a rich carmine +and her feverish eyes lighted up her pale face. "I know how warmly your +heart has beaten for me, it cannot be happy in a conventional love, in +lukewarm kisses meted out by custom." + +He half turned from her. + +"You go too far," he said again. + +"Hear me, my own, my love," and she sank down at his feet stretching +out her arms towards him; "hear me, and do not despise me, I cannot +live without you. Give your hand," she cried in a voice full of +passion, "to that woman, give her your name, but leave me your heart: +the time will come when you will long for happiness, then come +back to me, to dream, to love; I ask for nothing,--nothing, I will wait +humbly, I will live upon the remembrance of the quiet happiness of the +past during the long days when I do not see you,--do all that you +will,--only love me." + +She seized his hand and pressed it to her glowing lips, then her head +fell back a little, her half-closed eyes looked at him imploringly, the +warm breath from her mouth seemed to surround him with an enchanted +atmosphere of love and passion. + +A slight shudder passed through him; he closed his eyes for a moment. + +Then he looked at her with calm friendship, and holding her hand firmly +he gently raised her. + +"Antonia," he said quietly, "I should be unworthy to wear a sword if I +gave you any answer but this; let everything be forgotten and forgiven +that belongs to the past, no other remembrance will abide with me but +that of friendship, and if you need a friend, you will find one in me." + +And he let go her hand after pressing it gently. + +Was it the tone of his voice, was it the quiet pressure of his hand, +that convinced her quick womanly perceptions that she had lost his love +for ever? She stood motionless, the passionate tears left her eyes, a +flash of hatred gleamed in her look, but she hastily concealed it +beneath her downcast eyelids. + +With a quiet movement she drew down her veil, and said in a voice that +retained no traces of its former emotion: + +"Farewell; may you be happy!" + +She turned to the door. + +Stielow accompanied her silently and gravely through the ante-room to +the outer door of his apartments, which a servant hurried forwards to +open. + +She went out with hasty footsteps. + +The young man returned and sank into an arm-chair as if exhausted. + +"Was it real, or was it acting?" he whispered thoughtfully. + +"No matter," he cried after a short consideration, "it does not become +me to judge her--may she find happiness!" + +And quickly springing up he said, whilst his face cleared up: + +"This was the last cloud that threatened to veil my star." + +He rang for his servant, made a hasty toilette, and drove in his cab to +the house of the Countess Frankenstein. + +In the afternoon the most varied life filled the wide alleys of the +Prater. Upon the broad turf beneath the trees of this enormous park +some of the cavalry regiments recalled to Vienna were still encamped, +and the different scenes of camp life were picturesquely displayed. +There stood the horses picketed, as if on actual service, neighing and +whinnying with impatience, here lay a circle of soldiers around a +smouldering fire, on which, in the field kettle, their meal was +cooking; booths were erected in which food and drink, the Vienna +sausage, and camp beer, were offered for sale; and the Viennese +streamed in and out in countless numbers. Now that the real war was +over with its fears and anguish, they liked to gaze here on the last +picture of it, which only offered to the eye its romantic charm, and +not its dreadful earnest. But the groups of lookers-on were the +thickest around an open space girt in by tall trees, where the brown +sons of Hungary were displaying their fantastic national dance--the +Czardas. A man played, upon an old violin, one of those peculiar +melodies, half wailing, half wild dithyrambic movements, which even +when thus executed sounds upon the ear with a strange mysterious charm; +the others pursued a peculiar dance, with its strange pantomimic +evolutions, sometimes jingling their spurs together, sometimes stamping +on the ground with their feet, sometimes twisting the body into strange +but always graceful attitudes. + +Amongst one of these groups stood old Grois, the comic actor Knaak, and +the ever-merry Josephine Gallmeyer. + +"Pepi's" beautiful eyes sparkling with fun and mirth attentively +followed all the movements of the Czardas. She slightly nodded her +head, and beat time with her hand, to the sharply accentuated music. + +"Look, old Grois," she then said, turning to her companion, who watched +the moving picture with sad and doleful eyes, "those are capital +fellows; I should like to choose a sweetheart from amongst them, they +please me better than all our _fade_ cavaliers put together." + +"Yes," said the old actor gloomily, "there they dance, and when it came +to fighting for Austria they let them stay behind, eighty regiments of +our glorious cavalry have never been in action; it almost breaks one's +heart to think of it all." + +"Fie! old blood-thirsty tiger," cried the Gallmeyer; "let us be glad +they are still left to dance, and that they have not been under those +cursed needle-guns--there would not have been many of them left!" + +"Bah! needle-guns!" cried old Grois. "Now it is to be the needle-guns +that have done everything; at first everyone said it was the generals' +fault, and now the generals say it was the needle-guns. I hold to it +they were right at first, and that if the Prussians had had our +generals, their needle-guns would not have helped them much." + +"Happy is he who forgets what cannot be mended," cried Fräulein +Gallmeyer; "nothing can be done against the Prussians, they surpass the +gods!" + +"Why this sudden admiration for the Prussians?" asked Knaak. + +"Well, you know," said the Gallmeyer, "it is true they do surpass the +gods, for one of our poets who has written such lovely rôles for my +friend the Wolter says," and here she placed herself in a comically +pathetic attitude, and imitating exactly the voice and manner of the +great actress of the Burg Theatre, repeated: "'Against folly even the +gods strive in vain!' Well, the Prussians have not striven against +folly in vain!" she cried, laughing. + +"Pepi," said old Grois in a grave voice, "you can say what you please +about me, and the rest of the world; but if you make the misfortunes of +my dear Austria the subject of your wit, we shall quarrel!" + +"That would be frightful!" cried the Gallmeyer, "for I should then in +the end be forced"--and she looked at him with a roguish smile. + +"Well, what?" he asked, already pacified. + +"To strive in vain with old Grois," she cried, and let just the tip of +her tongue appear between her fresh lips, whilst she twirled round on +the point of her toe. + +"And did I speak sensibly to such a creature?" cried the old actor, +half displeased, half laughing. + +The Czardas was at an end, and the different groups moved on. + +"See," said Knaak, "there is our friend Stielow and his beautiful +fiancée." + +And he pointed out an elegant open carriage which drove slowly along +the broad alley. Countess Frankenstein and her daughter sat facing the +horses, Lieutenant von Stielow in his rich Uhlan uniform opposite to +them. His face beamed with happiness as he talked to the young +countess, and pointed out to her the different encampments in the park. + +"A handsome pair," said old Grois benevolently, as he looked at the two +smiling young creatures. + +"Oh! that it may remain green for ever! the lovely period of youthful +love!" exclaimed the Gallmeyer. "That is what my friend Wolter would +say," she added laughingly; "but I am very angry with him, for I made +him a declaration of love, and he despised me; but I shall console +myself!" + +They passed on. + +The countess's carriage, when it had left the thick throng of +pedestrians behind it, drove rapidly towards the town. + +At that time long trains, filled with sick and wounded, arrived daily +at the northern station; they were brought from the bandaging sheds and +field hospitals, to Vienna and other places more in the interior, that +they might receive more regular nursing. + +The rooms belonging to the station were fitted up for the reception of +the wounded; many arrived in so weak a condition that they could not be +moved immediately, nearly all required to rest for a time, and the +further transport had to be arranged. + +It was the regular custom of the ladies of Vienna in every grade, from +the highest aristocracy to the simple shopkeeper's wife, to go to the +railway station when such a train arrived, to refresh the wounded with +cooling drinks and light nourishment, to have linen and lint ready, and +to assist the surgeons as far as they could in any needful operation, +or fresh bandaging. Here was richly shown that beautiful, truly +patriotic spirit of self-denial, so abundant in the Austrian people, +that spirit which the imperial government so frequently misunderstood, +so frequently repressed; but which it scarcely ever directed aright in +its lively desire to benefit the whole nation. + +"Some wounded soldiers are coming in," said the young Countess +Frankenstein to her mother, as the carriage arrived at the end of the +Prater, and drew near the northern railway station; "shall we not go? I +have brought some bandages, some raspberry vinegar, and some wine. I +want," she said, turning to her lover with a charming smile, "to help +all the poor wounded soldiers that I can, to show my gratitude to God +for helping me so graciously in my own trouble and sorrow." + +Stielow affectionately pressed her hand and looked with admiration at +her lovely, blushing face. + +"I thank you for recollecting it," said the countess; "we can never do +enough for those who fight and suffer for their country, and we ought +to set an example to the classes beneath us." + +"I must beg you to excuse me," said von Stielow, looking at his watch, +"I must wait on General Gablenz and hear if he has any commands for +me." + +Clara looked disappointed. + +"But in the evening you will be free?" she asked. + +"I certainly hope so," said the young man, "for there is now little for +the aides-de-camp to do." + +The carriage had reached the railway station. At a sign from the +lieutenant it drew up at the entrance. + +"We shall meet again then," said Countess Frankenstein to Herr von +Stielow, who took leave of the ladies, and Clara's looks said plainer +than words: "We shall soon meet again." + +The footman sprang from the box, opened the carriage-door, took a +basket from the boot, and followed the ladies into the interior of the +station. + +It presented a touching, grave, and melancholy picture; but at the same +time much that was pleasing and affecting. + +Field-beds and litters stood close together in long rows, on which lay +wounded, sick, and dying soldiers belonging to every branch of the +service, Prussian as well as Austrian. Some bore their sufferings in +mute resignation, others sighed and groaned from the horrible tortures +that they endured. + +The surgeons walked amongst them, examining into the condition of the +new arrivals, giving orders where they were to be taken, according to +the nature of their wounds, and the hopes they entertained of their +recovery. The bandages were renewed before further transport, medicine +and refreshment were administered, and operations immediately needful +were performed in cabinets erected for the purpose and prepared +beforehand. All this was sad and distressing; those who had seen the +proud regiments set out, the eyes of the soldiers flashing at the blast +of the trumpet, and who now saw the broken suffering forms brought back +from the battle-field, where the sacrifice of their blood had not +obtained victory for the banners of their country, might indeed sigh +sorrowfully, as they thought that the boasted civilization of the human +race, with all its progress, had not as yet banished cruel and +murderous war from the face of the earth; war, that scourge of mankind, +as cruel now as in the grey ages of antiquity, only with this +difference, that the inventive powers of man have discovered more +certain and annihilating weapons. + +Beside the surgeons who examined the wounds with the cold looks of +science, were seen the sisters of mercy, those unwearied priestesses of +Christian love: calmly and without a sound they glided between the +beds, sometimes with gentle hand assisting in the placing of a bandage, +sometimes with a kind consoling word putting to the pale dry lips some +cooling drink, or strengthening medicine. + +And everywhere amongst the busy groups were seen the beautiful and +graceful ladies of Vienna, especially the ladies of the higher +aristocracy, offering the sick refreshments, handing the surgeons linen +bandages, and calling up a smile upon some sad suffering face. + +They did not assist much, it is true, these self-constituted +Samaritans, whom the love of their country moved to aid in the care of +her wounded soldiers, but the sight of them did endless good to the +sick and suffering; they felt that in their tenderness there was an +acknowledgment of their pain and sacrifices; many of the eyes, misled +by fever, believed they saw in the forms around them a sister or a +sweetheart, and the vacant weary looks lighted up, the pale quivering +lip gently smiled at the kind hands which thus performed the noblest +work of woman--alleviating pain and soothing suffering. + +So they brought pleasure and consolation to the poor wounded men, these +willing nurses; though the surgeons sometimes said they were in the +way; but surgeons reckon without that muscle of the heart which drives +the blood streaming through the veins, not to be found by the scalpel +in an anatomical examination of the human heart, with all its abysses +of grief, and its tender fragrant flowers of joy; they know not its +power and yet it often puts their art to shame. + +The Countess Frankenstein and her daughter were soon surrounded by +several ladies of the first society, and with them they began their +round amongst the wounded. + +Amongst the numerous women who were assembled here, and who it might +almost be said followed the fashion of nursing the sick, if indeed such +a word ought to be applied to so good and blessed an employment, which +was generally engaged in from the noblest motives, was the beautiful +Madame Balzer. + +Dressed in the plainest dark grey toilette, a small basket containing +bandages and nourishment upon her arm, she had followed one of the +surgeons and assisted him with such skill that he had thanked her, +surprised that it was apparently a lady of distinction and not a sister +of mercy who had aided him so efficiently. She looked wonderfully +beautiful in her simple dress, with her pale perfect features; from the +unusual gracefulness of her movements, and the gentle self-possession +with which she approached the beds of the sufferers, a stranger would +have thought that amongst all these distinguished ladies of Vienna she +was the most distinguished. These ladies, however, did not know her; +several of them enquired who that lovely graceful person was, but no +one could reply, for in Vienna there is not that public life which in +Paris gives to the ladies of the great world the opportunity of knowing +perfectly well by sight, their imitators or their models in doubtful +society. The name of Madame Balzer was known to many of these ladies, +she was frequently the subject of conversation in the _salons_ of +Vienna; but only a few of them had seen her, for she went out of doors +but little and always rigorously observed _les convenances_. + +She passed along by the beds of the wounded soldiers administering +comfort and refreshment; at last she reached the end of a long row, and +saw a litter standing at some little distance, on which a soldier lay +stretched. + +She went up to him and bent slowly over him, his expressionless eyes +startled her, the blue corpse-like colour was spread over his pale thin +face, a large gaping wound was seen on his bare breast. The wounded man +had died during the journey, he must have expired quite an hour before. +Involuntarily she laid her hand upon his brow, it was cold as ice. + +She was gazing horrified upon this dreadful sight, when animated voices +met her ear. + +She looked up, and saw at a little distance a group of several ladies +standing near the litter of a soldier in the Uhlan uniform; the bandage +round his head had slipped and with a feeble hand he was endeavouring +to replace it. + +Amongst these ladies stood the lovely and graceful young countess +Frankenstein. The deepest compassion shone in her eyes, but it did not +banish the brilliant happiness that she felt. With a smile she said: + +"This uniform must always be first with me, I almost belong to it +myself!" and with a light elastic step she went up to the litter, and +drawing off her gloves, and throwing back her lace sleeves, she began +with her beautiful white hands to arrange the bandage for the wounded +man. Over her arms hung a long strip of fine white linen, which she +used to retain the bandage in its place until the surgeon should +arrive. + +Antonia Balzer started when she heard this voice; from her dark corner +she watched the charming and beautiful young girl as she stood in the +strong light with her smiling lips and brilliant eyes. + +A deadly paleness spread over her face, her complexion grew as ghastly +as that of the poor man who lay before her; a burning flash of which no +human eyes seemed capable darted from her, wild hatred distorted her +lovely features. + +She gazed for one moment on the charming figure near her, then her face +assumed a gloomy, dreadful expression; an indescribable smile appeared +on her lips. + +"Here is death, there is life!" she whispered hoarsely, and bent down +over the corpse until her face was hidden, and could be recognized by +no one. + +She took a small pair of scissors with golden handles from her basket, +and stooping over the dead man she plunged the points of the scissors +deep into the wound upon his breast, then she pressed her fine cambric +handkerchief upon it, and saturated it with the bloody fluid that +exuded. + +She sprang up hastily; her face expressed anxious excitement. + +She hastened to the knot of ladies surrounding Clara Frankenstein, who +was still occupied in holding the strip of linen which she had placed +around the forehead of the wounded man. + +"For heaven's sake!" cried Madame Balzer, "give me a strip of linen, a +drop of eau de cologne! I have exhausted everything; a poor wounded man +is dying!" + +And hastily approaching Clara she seized her outstretched arm with both +hands, as if imploring her for a piece of the linen which hung over it. + +Clara uttered a cry and hastily drew back her hand. A drop of blood +appeared just above her wrist and trickled slowly down her white arm. + +"Oh, how clumsy of me!" cried Madame Balzer. "I have hurt you with my +scissors; I beg a thousand pardons!" + +And she quickly pressed the handkerchief she had applied to the wound +upon the wrist of the young countess. + +"Pray do not mind about it," said Clara kindly; "do not let us lose our +time over this little scratch when there are so many serious wounds to +think of." + +And she slowly withdrew her arm, which Madame Balzer was still rubbing +with her handkerchief as if to remove the blood. + +Clara held out the strip of linen which she had in her hand and said: + +"Pray take some." + +Madame Balzer quickly cut a piece off with her scissors, returned +graceful thanks, and after again apologizing for her awkwardness, +returned to the corpse. + +Several ladies who had witnessed the little scene hastened to the +litter. + +"The man is dead!" they cried, "nothing can be done here!" + +Madame Balzer gazed sorrowfully on the corpse. + +"Yes, he is dead!" she said, "we were too late!" + +And folding her hands she bowed her head and moved her lips in +whispered prayer. Deep devotion appeared on her features. The ladies +around followed her example, and uttered a short prayer for the soul of +the deceased, whose return was perhaps ardently desired in some distant +home. + +Then they all went on to other beds. + +One of the few gentlemen dispersed amongst the numerous and +compassionate nurses, assisting and advising, was Count Rivero. + +He was not far off when Madame Balzer hurried to Clara to beg for some +linen. + +His large dark eyes rested thoughtfully on the two beautiful women +during their short conversation; then he turned slowly away and walked +in a contrary direction. + +A few hours later the station was empty; the ladies had all returned +either to their luxurious palaces or quiet family circles; the poor +wounded soldiers had been conveyed to hospitals, to struggle to +convalescence, after long days of suffering, or to die. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + INSTRUMENTS OF THE CHURCH. + + +The morning sun shone brightly into Lieutenant von Stielow's room. But +not as yesterday did he lie stretched upon his couch in happy dreams; +he paced to and fro, with quick and restless footsteps, his pale face +looked painfully anxious, and it was evident he had passed a sleepless +night. + +He had spent the evening before with Clara, in the sweet and charming +converse of two loving hearts, who say so much, yet never can say +enough; an hour had flown rapidly, then she had complained of violent +pain from the small wound in her arm; they had applied cooling lotions, +but the pain had increased, and the arm had swelled considerably. They +sent for their usual medical attendant, and he had tried various +remedies; but the poor girl said that the pain became still more +violent; the wound was greatly inflamed and the swelling grew larger. +Stielow remained at the Countess Frankenstein's house until the small +hours of the morning; at last the doctor, after hearing how the injury +had been received, tried a different ointment, and gave the young +countess a sleeping draught. + +Countess Frankenstein had insisted upon Herr von Stielow's returning +home and resting a little, and she promised him early in the morning to +call in the celebrated Oppolzer. No one thought there was any real +danger; but the young man had passed the night in great anxiety, +possessed by forebodings he could not overcome. + +In the morning he sent his servant to make inquiries, and heard in +reply that the countess had slept, and that Oppolzer was expected every +moment. He dressed, and prepared to hasten to the countess's house. + +He had on his uniform, and was just buckling his sword, when his +servant announced Count Rivero. + +Stielow made an impatient movement; but at the same time he gave his +servant a sign to admit the visitor. + +The count entered the room, looking grave, though fresh and elegant. + +With a graceful bow he held out his hand to the young baron and said in +his resonant voice, whilst his eyes beamed with an expression of warm +friendship: + +"I heard that you were here with Field-Marshal Gablenz, and I hastened +to visit you before you perhaps left us again, to express my joy that +you have so happily escaped the dangers of war." + +"You are very kind, count," replied von Stielow in a slightly +constrained tone; "I'm heartily glad to see you again." + +The count seemed to expect an invitation to sit down. + +Herr von Stielow looked on the ground with some embarrassment. + +Then he raised his candid eyes and said: + +"Count, you will forgive me if I speak quite openly to you. I beg you +urgently, to repeat the honour of your visit at some other time, that I +may have the happiness of increasing our acquaintance, which I hope," +he added politely, "will become much more intimate; at this moment I +must own I am pressingly engaged, and in great anxiety." + +"Anxiety?" asked the count, "it is not idle curiosity that urges me to +inquire the cause." + +"Oh! I hope it is nothing very serious," said von Stielow, "the young +Countess Frankenstein--you know I am engaged?" + +"I have heard so," replied the count, "and I wished to offer you my +hearty congratulations." + +Herr von Stielow bowed slightly, and said: + +"She is unwell; an extraordinary accident has happened to her, which +makes me excessively uneasy; and I was just about to hasten to hear how +she was going on, and what Oppolzer, who was to meet her regular +attendant this morning, had said." + +"Oppolzer consulted?" cried the count with a look of alarm; "my God! is +the countess then seriously ill?" + +"We can scarcely think so," said von Stielow, "and yet the symptoms are +very distressing; a slight wound on her wrist has become rapidly bad, +and has caused her to feel so extremely ill." + +"A wound!" cried the count: his face grew very grave and expressed the +greatest attention. + +"She was visiting the wounded soldiers at the northern railway +station," said the young officer, "and another lady slightly hurt her +wrist with a small pair of scissors in cutting off a piece of linen; it +could scarcely be called a wound; but in the course of the evening the +arm swelled and grew stiff, and became violently painful. Fever came +on, and the doctor fears that there must have been some drug upon the +scissors, what, he cannot ascertain. Under these circumstances," he +said, pressing the count's hand, "you will forgive me, if I beg you to +excuse me." + +The count had listened very gravely, his face had turned pale, and his +large dark eyes looked thoughtfully at the young man's excited face. + +"My dear baron," he said slowly, "honestly from my heart I feel the +liveliest interest in you; perhaps I can be useful to you. In former +years I studied medicine deeply, especially the knowledge of poisons +and their antidotes; they once," he added with a slight sigh, "played +so important and frightful a part in my country, that the subject +interested me deeply. If by an unhappy accident there was anything +pernicious or dangerous on the scissors, I may be of some assistance. +Will you allow me to see the young countess?" + +And in a deep voice that seemed to command conviction, he added, + +"Believe me, I would not propose my help if I did not believe that if +serious danger has arisen, and help is possible, my remedy is certain." + +Herr von Stielow had at first listened to the count's proposal in +silent surprise, then a look of thankfulness beamed from his eyes, and +stretching out his hand he cried hastily,-- + +"Come!" + +"We must drive to my house to obtain the necessary apparatus," said the +count; "if it is really a case of poisoning, recovery may depend upon +moments." + +Instead of replying, the young man seized the count's arm and drew him +to the door. + +They jumped into a cab that stood ready, driven by one of the best and +quickest drivers in Vienna, and in a few minutes they had reached the +count's rooms, which were only at a little distance. He got out, and +soon returned with a small black casket. They then drove rapidly to +Countess Frankenstein's and entered the reception room. + +In the ante-room a servant had received them with a sorrowful look, and +had replied almost weeping to Herr von Stielow's hasty question, + +"Ah! my God! Herr Baron, it is terrible, the poor countess is +dreadfully bad, they have sent for the father-confessor, and also for +you, sir:" and he then hastened away to let the countess know of +Stielow's arrival. + +He walked up and down the room with large strides, grief and despair +upon his face. + +The count stood calm and motionless, his hand supported on the back of +a chair. + +After a few moments Countess Frankenstein appeared, she was pale and +exhausted, her eyes wearied with watching and red with weeping. + +She glanced with surprise at the count, whom she had seen once or twice +in society, and whose presence at that moment was inexplicable to her. + +Stielow hastened up to her, seized her hand impatiently, and exclaimed +in a trembling voice, + +"For God's sake! how is she? How is Clara?" + +"Compose yourself, my dear Stielow," said the countess calmly, though +with a slight sob in her voice, "the hand of the Lord has smitten us +heavily; if He does not work a miracle, we must lose her!" + +And she broke down and wept quietly. + +"But my God! how can it be? what did the doctor say?" cried the young +man, with a look of bewildered horror. "What is this wound?" + +"Clara must have touched some dead soldier, the poison from some deadly +wound has got into her blood, there is scarcely a hope of saving her," +she said in a low voice. + +"I must go to her, I must see her!" cried von Stielow wildly. + +"Her confessor is with her," said the countess, "telling her of comfort +and resignation; let her first be reconciled to God!" + +And raising her head, she regained her composure with a violent effort, +and cast an inquiring look at the count, who stood by in silence. His +eyes had flashed with anger when the countess had explained the medical +opinion of the nature of Clara's illness, but he had then raised them +in joyful thankfulness to heaven. + +As the looks of the countess rested upon him he came forward with the +self-possession of a man of the world, and after bowing slightly he +said:-- + +"You will recollect me, countess, though I have only had the honour of +meeting you once or twice. I think Herr von Stielow will permit me to +call myself his friend; he told me of the alarming illness that has +attacked the young countess, and I offered to use the medical knowledge +I acquired in earlier years on her behalf, before I knew the nature of +her injury. I have now heard the dreadful danger she is in, and if you +can trust me so far, I beg your permission to apply a remedy which I +promise shall, God willing, be successful." + +The countess listened in the greatest surprise. + +"You, count, a physician?" she enquired. + +"A physician from inclination," he replied, "but not a worse one than +many who make it their profession." + +The countess looked at him and hesitated. + +"I implore you, for God's sake, let the count make the attempt," cried +von Stielow, "we must accept any help,--my God, my God, I cannot lose +her!" + +"Count," said the Countess Frankenstein, "I thank you from my heart for +your sympathy and your offer. Forgive me if I consider it," she added +with hesitation, "the life of my child--" + +"Consideration and hesitation may be fatal," said the count quietly. + +The countess looked down thoughtfully, von Stielow's eyes hung on her +face with an expression of deadly anguish. + +The door leading to the inner apartments opened and Father Ignatius, +the confessor to the countess and her daughter, entered. + +He wore the black dress of a priest, his manner was simple, graceful, +and dignified, his pale and regular features, surrounded by short black +hair, expressed spiritual repose, firmness, and great self-knowledge, +his dark eyes looked full of intelligence beneath the strongly marked +eyebrows. + +"The countess is resigned to God's will, and desirous of receiving the +holy sacrament, that she may be prepared, should it please God not to +hear our prayers for her recovery," he said slowly in a low and +impressive voice. + +"Oh! my God! my God!" cried von Stielow, in despair, "I conjure you, +countess, seize on the means that heaven has sent you!" + +"Count Rivero," said Countess Frankenstein, indicating the count to her +confessor, "offers to save my daughter by means of a remedy which his +study of medicine has caused him to discover; you will understand--I +beg your forgiveness, count--that I must act cautiously where the life +of my child is at stake. I expect the doctor every moment, Oppolzer too +will come again,--he has indeed little hope." + +Father Ignatius cast a quick searching glance at the count, who replied +to it with a look of calm dignity, almost of proud superiority. + +"It is certainly a grave and difficult question," said the father +hesitatingly. + +"Every moment makes recovery more doubtful," cried the count with some +vehemence. "I believe," he then continued calmly, "that the father will +be of my opinion, that in this unusual and extreme case we must try +everything, and place confidence in most unusual means." + +As he spoke he looked firmly at the confessor, and raising his hand +slightly he made the sign of the cross in a peculiar way, over his brow +and his breast. + +Amazed, almost alarmed, the father gazed at him, and casting down his +eyes before the count's large, brilliant orbs, he said: + +"It would be sinning against Providence if we did not thankfully seize +on the means which God has so visibly sent us in our urgent need. Your +conscience will reproach you, countess, if you do not accept the help +now offered." + +Countess Frankenstein looked at the priest with some surprise. + +"Come then," she said, turning to Count Rivero, after a moment's +silence. + +And they all went to the apartments of the young countess. The flowers +still bloomed in her room, the crucifix stood in the niche, and at its +feet lay the case which held the withered rose. + +The portière that divided this room from her bedroom was drawn back. It +was a spacious apartment hung entirely with grey silk even to the +curtains of the bed, upon which lay the countess in a white négligé, +supported by pillows. The sleeve of her right arm was thrown back, and +the dreadfully inflamed arm was covered with a wet compress, which a +maid who sat near the bed moistened constantly with some strongly +smelling fluid from a medicine bottle. + +Clara's face was much flushed, her eyes had the brilliance of fever, +but they looked calmly resigned, as her friends entered with their +sorrowful faces. + +As soon as he saw the poor suffering girl, von Stielow rushed past the +others, and falling on his knees beside the bed and folding his hands, +cried in a stifled voice, "Clara, my Clara!" + +"My own friend," she said gently, and stretched out her soft left hand +towards him, "how beautiful life is, how sad to think of the death that +is so near me,--God will be gracious, He will not part us!" + +Stielow bent his head down upon her hand, and touched it lightly with +his lips. He could not say a word. Only a deep sob broke from him. + +Count Rivero approached the bed with a quick step and a commanding +movement. + +"Hope! countess," he said in a firm, clear voice, "God will bless my +hand! And now, baron, give up your place to me, moments are precious!" +He slightly touched the shoulder of the young man as he knelt. + +He rose hastily and stepped aside. + +The count removed the compress, and calmly examined the wound. It was +much swollen, of a bluish colour, and long streaks of inflammation +extended to the shoulder. + +All eyes rested on the count's face with the most earnest anxiety; he +looked at the wound attentively and lightly followed the swelling with +his finger. Clara gazed with surprise mingled with hopeful confidence, +at this man who was quite unknown to her, but who stood so quietly +beside her and who had so confidently said to her, "hope!" + +The count concluded his examination. + +"It is quite true," he said; "corrupted matter has got into the wound, +the poison has spread greatly, it is almost too late!" + +He opened the black casket he had brought with him, and which he had +placed beside him on the table. + +It contained a small surgical apparatus, and several little cut glass +bottles. + +The count took a knife with a golden handle and a highly-polished +shining blade. + +"I beg your pardon, countess," he said in the tone of a man of the +world, "I must hurt you, it is necessary." + +The young countess smiled. + +The count took firm hold of the suffering arm, and quick as lightning +cut two deep gashes crossing each other into the wound. + +Thick blood mixed with matter flowed from it. + +"A handkerchief!" cried the count. + +They gave him a cambric handkerchief; he quickly removed the blood, +seized a glass bottle, opened the wound widely and poured into it a +portion of the contents. + +Clara's face grew deadly pale; she closed her eyes, her lips quivered +convulsively. + +"Does it hurt?" asked the count. + +"Horribly!" replied the young girl in a voice that was scarcely +audible. + +The count took from the casket a small syringe with a sharp steel +point, filled it with fluid from the bottle, and injected the contents +into the flesh of the arm, following the direction of the swelling. + +Clara's face showed even greater agony, the Countess Frankenstein +watched the count's manipulations with the deepest anxiety, Stielow +wrung his hands in silent grief, and Father Ignatius moved his lips in +prayer. + +The count took another bottle, half filled a glass with pure water, and +slowly and carefully counted the drops as he let them fall from the +fluid in the phial. + +The water grew blood red, a strong, peculiar odour spread through the +room. + +The count touched the patient's brow lightly with his finger. + +She opened her eyes; her countenance still expressed burning pain. + +"Drink this!" said the count in a gentle but commanding tone. At the +same time he carefully raised her head and placed the glass to her +lips. + +She took the contents. His eyes watched her attentively. + +After a short time her face grew calmer, the contraction from the +violence of the pain became less. She opened her eyes, and drew in a +deep breath as if relieved. + +"Ah! what good that does me!" she whispered. + +An expression of satisfaction appeared on the count's face, then he +said in a grave, solemn voice: + +"I have done all that is possible to human art and knowledge, let us +hope God's hand will shed a blessing upon my work. Pray to God, +countess, fervently and with all your soul, that He may give my remedy +strength to overcome the poison." + +"Yes, yes," said the young girl ardently, and her eyes sought her +lover; "come to me, my beloved friend!" + +Herr von Stielow hastened to the bed and sank down before it with +folded hands. + +"I cannot put my hands together," she said in a low voice, looking at +him affectionately, "so let me lay my hand in yours, and our united +prayer shall ascend to heaven, that eternal mercy may permit us to +remain together." + +And she began whisperingly to pray, whilst the young officer's eyes +were raised upwards with a look of the deepest devotion. + +Suddenly a shudder passed through the form of the young countess, she +withdrew her hand with a look of pain, and gazed with horror at her +lover. + +"Oh!" she cried in a trembling voice, "our prayers cannot really be +united; what a dreadful thought, we do not pray to the same God!" + +"Clara!" cried the young man, "what an idea! there is but one God in +heaven, and He will hear us!" + +"Ah!" she cried, without heeding his words, "there is but one God in +heaven, but you do not walk in the paths that lead to Him, you are not +in the bosom of the Church! Oh! I often thought of it amidst the +pleasures and distractions of life; but now in this dire necessity, at +the very gate of eternity, the thought fills me with horror! God cannot +hear us, and," she added, with a bewildered look, "if I must die, if no +help is possible, I must pass into eternity, knowing that his soul is +lost! Horrible! oh, horrible!" + +"Clara! Clara!" cried von Stielow in a tone of the greatest anguish, +gazing in despair upon her painfully excited face, "God is the same for +all those who worship Him with a pure heart, and no prayer can be more +pure, more earnest than mine is now!" + +Countess Frankenstein had sunk upon a chair, and covered her face with +her hands, the father looked thoughtfully at the affecting scene, and +the calm, perfect features of Count Rivero were lighted up as by a +sudden inspiration. + +Clara gazed sorrowfully at her lover, and gently shook her head. + +"You do not worship at the altars of my Church," she said; "we are apart +in the highest and holiest feelings that touch the human heart!" + +"Clara, my own beloved!" cried the young man, raising his folded hands, +"the altar on which your pure heart worships God must be the holiest, +the best. Oh! that this altar were here, that I might throw myself +before it, and pray to God for your recovery!" And raising his eyes +with a look of inspiration, he took the hand of his betrothed and +placed it on his own. A look of unutterable delight shone in the eyes +of the young countess. + +"The altar of God is here!" said Count Rivero, in a tone of deep +emotion. He drew from beneath his waistcoat a golden cross, upon which +a marvellously beautiful figure of the Saviour was chiselled in silver. +"And his priest stands beside you!" + +He unfastened the crucifix from a small golden chain to which it was +attached. + +"There can be no higher nor holier altar than this," said he, touching +the crucifix adoringly with his lips; "the Holy Father in Rome has +consecrated it with his apostolic blessing. Young man," he said, +turning to Stielow, who was still kneeling, but whose eyes were raised +with a look half of inquiry, half of enlightened inspiration, "young +man, God has indeed blessed you, in so wonderfully opening to you the +way of salvation. Hear the voice of God, speaking to you through the +pure lips of her you love; seize on the mercy that beckons you to the +bosom of the true Church, and acknowledge God in the confession which +perhaps may shortly arise from the dying lips of your betrothed to the +throne of the Eternal Father. You supplicate Heaven for a miracle, the +recovery of her you love, open your soul to the miraculous stream of +mercy that flows towards you." + +"I will!" cried Stielow, his face glowing with ardent enthusiasm. + +Clara closed her eyes and pressed her hand firmly upon her lover's. + +"Thou hearest it, my God," she whispered; "I thank Thee! Thy ways of +mercy are holy, and above all our thoughts and hopes." + +"Father," said the count with dignity, "do your duty as a priest, and +receive this soul, awakened to eternal salvation, into the bosom of the +one true Church!" + +Father Ignatius had stood by in great emotion, his eyes beaming with +satisfaction; but he replied with hesitation: + +"Is it possible? Here, without preparation?" + +The count slightly raised his hand. + +"I undertake the responsibility," he said proudly; "the forms can be +complied with hereafter," and he handed the crucifix to the father, who +kissed it with veneration. + +"Lay your hand upon the image of the Redeemer, and repeat what the +priest of God tells you to say," said the count. + +Stielow turned to the father, who approached him, and did as the count +had commanded. + +Steadily and solemnly the priest repeated the words of the Catholic +confession of faith; the young officer repeated them after him with the +greatest devotion, and Clara whispered them in a low voice; the count +stood upright, his brilliant eyes raised to heaven, a smile of inspired +triumph on his lips. + +Countess Frankenstein had sunk upon her knees, and laid her head upon +her folded hands. + +The confession of faith was ended; with a humble gesture the father +returned the count the crucifix, he kissed it, and again attaching it +to his chain, he concealed it in his breast. + +"Now unite in prayer," he said with unspeakable sympathy; "no +dissonance will part you, in pure harmony your petitions will rise to +the throne of eternal love and compassion." + +Stielow placed his folded hands upon the bed; Clara pressed her left +hand upon them, and the lips of both these young and loving creatures +moved in earnest prayer to God, imploring Him to permit them to walk +along the path of life together. + +Thus they prayed for a long time earnestly and unitedly; their friends +looked at this affecting picture without speaking. Deep silence +prevailed in the room. + +At last Stielow rose from his knees after lightly touching the hand of +the young countess with his lips. Countess Frankenstein approached him +and kissed him upon the brow. "God's blessing be upon you, my son," she +said affectionately. The young man looked around him with dreamy, +glistening eyes; he felt as if descending from a strange world which +was suddenly closed upon him when he looked at the objects around him, +and as if he needed to recover his composure after the excitement which +had shaken his inmost soul. + +The count approached the bed, and examined the injured arm. + +The wound was very red, and surrounded by a wreath of blisters. + +Similar blisters appeared all up the arm. + +"The remedy is taking effect," he said; "the poison is beginning to +work out, I have a certain hope of recovery." + +Herr von Stielow threw himself upon the count's breast. + +"My friend for ever!" he cried, and tears flowed from his eyes. + +"How shall I thank you, count?" cried Countess Frankenstein, with great +emotion. + +"Thank God, countess," he replied. "But," he added in the easy tone of +general conversation, "I reckon upon your discretion, you must not +betray me to the doctors." + +He gave instructions about the further treatment of the wound, and a +remedy to be used in his absence, he again administered a medicine, and +left the house promising to return in a few hours. + +With rapid footsteps he hastened to Madame Balzer's house; his face +assumed a grave and severe expression as he ascended the steps leading +to the young lady's apartments. + +In the salon he found the Abbé Rosti awaiting him. The young priest sat +opposite the _chaise-longue_ of the mistress of the house, who was +conversing gaily with him, dressed in a charming pale blue morning +toilette. + +The abbé rose as the count entered, and the young lady welcomed him +with a graceful smile as she offered him her hand. + +"We have expected you for some time," she said. "The poor abbé has been +wearied with his efforts to continue a conversation with me," she added +in a roguish tone. "Where were you?" + +"I have been preventing the completion of a great crime," replied the +count gloomily, fixing his eyes firmly upon the lady's face. + +She trembled involuntarily beneath his gaze. + +"A crime?" she asked, "and where was it committed?" + +"It was committed," said the count quietly, without removing his eyes, +"it was committed upon a pure and noble creature whom a ruthless hand +had destined to a horrible death, upon the Countess Clara +Frankenstein." + +Madame Balzer stood stiff and motionless. A deep pallor spread over her +face, her lips trembled, her eyes sank before the firm and immovable +gaze of the count. Her breast heaved, she tried to speak; but only a +broken hissing breath came from her lips. "Abbé", said the count +raising his hand and pointing to her, "you see this woman now standing +before you, who was talking to you with smiling lips, whose eyes seemed +to reflect the feelings of a good and noble heart--this woman is a +murderess, who with cold cruelty has poisoned the warm pure blood of an +innocent human being, a being who never harmed her except that she +possessed the love of a young man, for whom this woman felt a wicked +passion. God willed it otherwise," he added, "and gave me the power of +saving this victim of her wickedness!" + +Amazed, horrified, the abbé listened to the count's words; he looked +enquiringly at the beautiful and elegant woman against whom such a +frightful accusation was brought. + +She had pressed her hand upon her breast, as if to calm its powerful +emotion. Her eyes were raised at the count's last word with an +expression of fear, and raging hatred; but she could not bear his gaze, +and her eyes fell again to the ground. + +"Count," she said with a great effort, but in a calm and sharp voice, +"you bring strange accusations against me, you speak in the voice of a +judge. I do not understand you, nor do I recognize your right." + +And exerting all her powers of will, she raised her eyes and gazed +firmly into the count's face. + +He drew himself to his full height, and stepping close up to her, and +raising his hand, he said in a low voice which vibrated through the +room: + +"I do not speak from suspicion, I bring an accusation against you which +it would be easy for me to prove; I speak as a judge, because if I +would, I might be your judge, Antonia von Steinfeld." + +She gazed at him with horror, all her composure left her; and broken +down she sank into a chair. + +"I might," proceeded the count, "be the judge of that unnatural +daughter who forsook her old sick mother, a worthy lady who had +educated her, by making great sacrifices, to follow the adventurous +life of an actress, who stole her mother's last treasure, the +title-deeds of her small estate, and whilst she lived in wild +dissipation left that unhappy mother, who would not face the shame and +publicity of bringing her to justice, to suffer from want, until sorrow +broke her heart. I might be the judge of the worthless creature who +sank deeper and deeper, until she was punished for a fresh robbery, +upon a young man whom she had ensnared, by two years' imprisonment; who +then as an actress travelled through most of the little towns of +Bohemia and Galicia, until she succeeded in finding a man but little +better than herself, who gave her his name, and placed her in a +position that enabled her to continue on a large scale the course she +had before commenced. I might be the judge of the murderess who +planned in cold blood a horrible death for a pure and innocent girl. Do +you think, wretch!" he added--and his voice sounded like distant +thunder--"do you think it would cost me more than a word to strip the +false spangled veil from the hideousness of your past life and give you +up to the abhorrence and scorn of the world? Do you think," he cried, +standing close before her, with flashing eyes, "that it would burden my +conscience, by a drop of surer poison than that you placed in the veins +of an innocent creature, to free the world from your sin-laden +existence?" + +As the count spoke, the young woman had sunk down lower and lower; as +he ended she lay at his feet, her eyes stared at him as at some +supernatural appearance, horror and hopeless anguish were depicted in +her face. + +The abbé looked with a mixture of pity and abhorrence at the +broken-down creature. + +The count gazed at her in silence. + +"Thank God," he then said, "that the object of your murderous hate was +saved by my hand, or my hand would have slain you without mercy. Try," +he said after a short silence, during which, panting, and with anguish +in her eyes, she had hung on his lips, "try to gain heaven's +forgiveness, use the gifts nature has given you, and which you have +hitherto misused in sin, in the holy service of God and his Church. You +shall serve me as a tool; and for the sake of the cause to which you +shall be dedicated, perhaps it may be possible for you to gain +forgiveness of the past." + +She looked at him enquiringly; life and hope returned to her face. + +"I demand no promises from you, I shall see what you do, and whether +your obedience stands the test,--remember that even when I am far away, +my eyes will be upon you, that my hand can always reach you, and that +vengeance will fall upon your head if you deviate one hair's breadth +from the path which I lay down for you. I shall free you from every +chain that fetters you here, you shall be free in my service, to use +your powers under my direction; but once more: Take heed not to follow +your own way, it will lead you to hopeless destruction." + +She rose slowly and stood before him, with downcast eyes, her hands +crossed upon her breast; it was hard to say what was in her mind, but +her features expressed only deep humility and submission. + +The count looked at her for a moment in silence. + +"I have spoken," he said; "I shall not warn, but punish, if my words +are forgotten." + +She bent her head in silence. + +Then the solemn earnestness vanished from his face, and his features +resumed their usual easy repose. + +"Is Herr Balzer at home?" he asked. + +"I think so," she replied in a low voice; "he asked to see me a short +time ago." + +"I wish to speak to him," said the count. + +She bowed in silence and left the room. + +"What a scene!" cried the young abbé, shuddering, "and what a dreadful +woman!" + +The count looked thoughtfully before him. + +"Do you believe," asked the abbé, "that she will heed your warning? +that she will repent and amend?" + +"I do not know," said the count calmly, "we must hope her heart may at +last be opened to grace, in that case she would be an instrument of +priceless worth." + +"What are your views?" asked the young priest with surprise. + +The count slowly placed himself in an arm-chair and signed to the abbé +to seat himself beside him. + +"My young friend," he said in a grave mild voice, "you belong to the +Holy League, you are a soldier of the Church militant, you have genius, +courage, and faith; you are called to labour with me in the erection of +God's kingdom upon earth, to build up the temple of promise, upon the +rock of St. Peter; I tell you a great battle, a great work, is before +you, a work upon a new foundation." + +He was silent--lost in thought. + +"What we have done hitherto has crumbled to pieces," he said after a +time; "a new phase begins--Austria has denied the very ground-work of +her existence, she has denied the Church, upon whose soil the empire +has grown up; through which alone it could have been maintained, and +guided safely through the future. The first step upon this path will +swiftly be followed by others, according to the merciless law of +logical consequences; we must strike Austria out of our reckoning. +Whether we can rely upon France is not clear to me, it might appear so +from the first glance, but the present government of France affords no +guarantee, a hellish power prevails there, and this power has been the +first to lay hands upon the ancient and holy rights of the Church. I +see," he continued, as if lost in the contemplation of the picture +presented to his mind, "the world forming itself anew. I see the German +nation slowly arising to supreme eminence. Is it the will of Providence +that the realm of Germany, once the foremost backslider, shall now be +the firm foundation-stone of the kingdom of God? The future will show," +he said after a pause, "but we must be upon the watch, we must regard +these new times with a sharp glance, that we may lay the foundation of +our power, and be able to guide events with a firm hand. What we may +have to do does not yet appear,--here at least _nothing_ can be done, +here are only ruins tottering to their fall. I am going to Paris," he +added, raising his head, "that is the centre of coming events, there we +shall discover the threads which will bind the world. You will +accompany me?" he asked, half as a question, half as a command. + +The abbé bowed. + +"I am prepared," he replied, "to follow your guidance, and it fills me +with joy and pride to labour under such a master." + +"I shall take this woman with me," said the count, "I shall free her +from her present connexion, and place her in a position where her +eminent talents may be developed: she will, now that she knows she is +in my power, do us great service." + +The abbé looked amazed. + +"This woman?" he said; "ought we to defile our holy cause with such a +tool?" + +The count fixed his large expressive eyes firmly upon the young priest. + +"Are you then assailed by that doubt of weak souls," he said slowly, +"who desire the end, but fear to use the means?" + +"Can sin serve heaven?" asked the abbé with hesitation. + +The count rose, and spoke in a tone of firm and full conviction. + +"Does not the tempest-flash, that slays and burns the huts of poverty, +serve the eternal councils of God? are not all the destructive powers +of nature wonderful instruments in the hand of God? This is the +almighty power of God, that the evil should serve the good, and lead to +a good end. Even that great German poet who did not belong to the +faith, painted his devil more truly and more rightly than the world +believes; as a power who wills evil, yet must do good! Well," he cried, +"we desire to be soldiers of the Church militant, we wish to overcome +her enemies, and to help on the triumph of the Cross; and shall we like +cowards shrink back before the devil? Shall we acknowledge and fear his +power? No, we must have strength in ourselves to compel the hellish +powers of darkness to the service of heaven; that is the true victory +over sin; not the victory of the fearful schoolboy, who flies, that he +may not be overcome, but the victory of our Master and our Lord, who in +the name of God subdued the fallen angels, and fought against the +powers of the world." + +"Forgive me," said the abbé in a tone of doubt, "but is it not +presumption in us, who are but weak sinful creatures, to try to govern +the powers of darkness as the hand of Almighty God does, and can? may +we not become their prey, whilst we think we rule them?" + +The count looked at him severely, almost angrily. + +"The world," he said, "fights against us with every means she +possesses, she loves to choose the best and sharpest weapons; shall we +pursue our holy war unequally armed, and thus prepare for ourselves +certainty of defeat? No! a thousand times No! our hand must bear the +sharpest and the surest weapons, sharper and surer than our enemies'! +The sword slays," he added, "and it is written: 'Thou shalt not kill!' +Yet behold the thousands who wear the sword and spend their lives in +learning most scientifically the art of slaying! Why are they not +condemned, these armies? Why are they crowned with laurels, when they +return victorious after slaying thousands and thousands of innocent +men? Because they draw their swords to serve a good and a true +principle, to defend their hearths, to defend the glory and the +greatness of their country. And their country belongs to this world, +belongs to this fleeting earth! Yet shall we hesitate to draw the sword +in defence of our spiritual home? in defence of the glory, the power, +and the greatness of the eternal country of the human race, the +invisible, most holy kingdom of God? Truly, my young friend, those who +for the things of this world draw the sword, and shed the blood of +their fellow-men, have no right to fetter us in the choice of the +weapons with which we strive for the eternal and imperishable good. But +it is above all our enemies who would place only blunt weapons in our +hands, that their victory may be certain; and if they succeed in +casting doubts into our souls, the battle is gained beforehand. Banish +doubt from your heart, strengthen your soul, or your hand will bear the +sword for the warring Church of Christ in vain!" + +The abbé bowed his head. + +"Forgive the hesitation of a youthful heart," he said in a low voice, +"I will wrestle and pray that I may be girded with the strong panoply +of faithful obedience." + +The count looked at him kindly. + +"Pray to God," he said, "that your heart may be nerved and steeled, +without having to pass through the pain and despair mine suffered +before it attained to calm firmness and clear conviction." + +He stepped closer to him, and laid his hand upon his shoulder. + +"I too," he said in a gentle voice, "was young like yourself, I was +cheerful and happy as you are, I had a wife whom my soul adored, I had +a daughter two years old whose pure eyes seemed to me a greeting from +heaven. I was a surgeon in Rome, my hand was skilful, riches streamed +down upon me. I loved all mankind, when I put my arm around my wife and +held my sweet child upon my knee. To help all who were suffering was my +most holy endeavour, my thank-offering for all the happiness that God +had bestowed upon me. And I had a brother," he added, with a dreamy +look, searching amongst the memories of the past; "I loved him from his +tenderest childhood, I was older than he, and I had formed his mind, +and educated his heart. He was a disciple of the noble art of painting, +that fair flower of my lovely country, and I saw with pride the +creations of his pencil, in which the breath of genius lived, and which +approached nearer and nearer to the great works of the ancients. It was +a good and happy time. My brother wished to try his pencil on the +highest and holiest subject art can create, the divinely blessed Virgin +with the Child Jesus. My wife sat to him as a model, my child upon her +lap was to represent the Divine Child. Was it a sin, a presumptuous +crime? The great Raphael had painted the forms of earthly women for his +madonnas, and yet the wonderful spirit of divinity had enlightened his +eyes. I rejoiced, and was happy in the thought that by the hand of my +brother all that I loved on earth might be united to do God service. I +was absent long hours in the exercise of my profession," he continued +in a gloomy voice, "and one day when I returned, they had vanished! My +brother had tempted my wife away, or she him, I know not which--I know +nothing except that they were gone, and that they had taken my innocent +child with them, that her pure eyes might bring me no comfort in my +loneliness!" + +He said the last words lower and lower, his eyes seemed far away, his +features trembled with painful emotion. + +He sank down into an arm-chair as if exhausted, the abbé looked at him +with much sympathy. + +"It is long since I have spoken of this," said the count after a +moment, in a calm and melancholy voice, "since I have probed my wound +with words. You see," he said, with an indescribably sad smile, "the +wound is not yet healed.--All my inquiries were in vain," he then +proceeded; "I could find no trace of the fugitives. Shall I describe my +feelings? It would be hard to find human language to express them. I +despaired of God, my soul revolted wildly against heaven; I wished to +put an end to my life, and only a slight hope of recovering my child, +my poor, innocent child, made me delay my resolution from day to day. I +abhorred mankind, I withheld the help of my knowledge from the sick, +from the dying; I rejoiced with cold malice when fathers died, when +children were torn from their parents, whilst an operation from my +skilful hand would have saved them. I hated and despised governments +and communities; could their laws, and their institutions, punish or +prevent such crimes as had been committed against me? If I could have +destroyed the whole human race with one word, I would have spoken that +word with a scornful smile, and have reduced every living creature to +eternal nothingness! Oh! my young friend," he said, with a heavy sigh, +"those were frightful days and nights that I passed through; my spirit +went down into hell, and I felt what seethes and ferments in its +depths! In my breast its horrible, yelling voices resounded; I, too, +pronounced that 'No' against the decrees of the Creator, against the +God of mercy and of love! An old worthy priest, a valiant warrior of +the Church, came to me; he forced himself upon me, and the fiery rays +of his eloquence aroused an angry tempest in the midnight of my soul, +every fibre of my being shuddered. But after the storm came light. I +learned from my wise teacher and guide, that no decree of government or +of society, however well-founded, however wise, can banish sin. That +power belongs to the Holy Church alone, that community ordained of God, +and when at last she possesses the world in her all-powerful grasp, sin +will be vanquished, and crime will vanish from the earth. I learned to +know that there is no higher, no holier calling than this, to strive +that all things may be committed to the power of the Church, that the +work of our Saviour's redemption may be completed, that the blood of +Christ may flow down upon all mankind; there is no prouder, no more +glorious deed possible, than to compel sin itself to the service of +heaven. But," he continued, and his eyes glowed with energy and +indomitable will, "I also saw the frightful weapons of the Church's +foes, and I learnt that victory can only be obtained by seizing with a +firm, relentless hand all the weapons of the will and the mind; above +all, by grasping with an iron hand all the evil powers of the sinful +world, and compelling them to serve the Holy Cause, by an annihilating +warfare against each other. I dedicated my life to the cause of the +Church militant, and God strengthened my heart and enlightened my mind, +and he gave me power over men to guide the threads of their fate. I +have often held a fearful and demoniacal power; but my good angel has +not failed me, the hellish power has served heaven, as the gigantic +power of steam obeys the pressure of the human hand. And ought I to +hesitate and doubt," he cried passionately, "in the choice of the +weapons whereby the victory, the great and holy victory, may be won? +ought I to throw away the power I have gained over the enemy, and make +myself and the cause I serve the laughing-stock of the world? Oh! I +fear not the powers of hell, this hand is strong enough to bend them to +my will, and in the name of God to compel the evil ones to work his +good pleasure!" + +The abbé looked with admiration at the count's perfect and animated +face. + +"Forgive me, my master," he said humbly, "if I doubted; and do not +withdraw your strong hand from me, to guide and to support." + +The count held out his hand. + +"Your powers, too, will be steeled in the battle," he said, "but never +forget that though man, the weak and sinful creature, may venture to +wield these weapons, only he has a right to seize them who renounces +all, that he may live and die an instrument to increase the glory of +God!" + +The door opened, Herr Balzer entered. + +He saluted the count with his usual vulgar familiarity, and the +shameless confidence habitual to him. + +The count responded by a proud inclination of the head, and looked at +him coldly. + +"You wished to speak to me, count," said Herr Balzer, "how can I serve +you?" + +"I hope our conversation will be short," replied the count, "I have a +proposal to make to you which you will accept, as it will free you from +a very bad position." + +Herr Balzer was alarmed at the severe, decided tone in which the count +spoke to him. His confidence seemed to give way a little. + +"A proposal?" he said with surprise; then he added with a vulgar laugh, +"I always like to hear proposals, especially if acceptable." + +"I wish your wife to be perfectly free," said the count shortly. + +"That will be a little difficult!" cried Herr Balzer with a look +of satisfaction, "a separation--she must turn Protestant, and the +scandal----" + +"She would be free--as a widow," said the count. + +Herr Balzer sprang backwards from the speaker. + +He looked round anxiously, then he gazed into the count's calm face, +and said, with a constrained smile: + +"You jest, sir?" + +"Certainly not," said the count; "you will have the goodness to listen +to me quietly and without interruption, and I do not doubt that you +will perfectly agree with me." + +Herr Balzer seemed not to know what he thought of this strange calm +man, but he bent his head as an intimation that he was willing to hear. + +In the simplest way in the world the count proceeded: + +"Your affairs, sir, are in a desperate state; you are not only a +bankrupt, but you have almost from the commencement of your financial +existence only concealed your old debts by incurring larger ones, a +course which necessarily would bring you to complete ruin in the end." + +Herr Balzer looked at the count in great surprise. + +"The moment of unavoidable ruin has come," he said, "I am in possession +of a number of demands upon you, which if presented must infallibly +overthrow your credit. Beside this, your position is most unhappily +compromised, since you have, to save yourself, or rather to stave off +the time of inevitable ruin, pursued the plan of forging various bills +of exchange." + +"Count," cried Herr Balzer in a voice whose impudence ill concealed his +fear, "I----" + +With a proud movement the count imposed silence. + +He drew from his pocket several bills of exchange. + +"You see," he said, turning them over, "the forged bills are in my +hands, a prison will be your destination if I give these into the hands +of a magistrate." + +Every trace of self-confidence had disappeared from Herr Balzer's +common-looking face. "With bewildered fear he looked at the count +without speaking a word. + +"You are a lost man," he said coldly, "and if you have a spark of +honour left, you will prefer death to the future before you." + +Herr Balzer raised his hands in speechless agony, as if imploring the +count for mercy. + +He looked at him severely and proceeded: + +"I will not, however, destroy you, I will give you the opportunity of +beginning a new life." + +A ray of joy shone in the exchange-agent's eyes; he did not yet +understand, but he began to hope. + +"Count," he cried, "command----" + +"Hear first what I demand; upon your implicit obedience your future +will depend." + +Herr Balzer listened anxiously. + +"You will go at once to Gmünden," said the count, "from thence you will +write a letter to your wife, in which you will say that you cannot bear +the disgrace of bankruptcy, and that you prefer death; you will then +take care that your hat, your stick, and a glove or pocket-handkerchief +are found floating on the water, where the lake is the deepest. After +this is accomplished, you will cut off your beard, put on a wig, and go +to Salzburg, where at this address a certain person will provide you +with a passport and the sum of five thousand gulden." + +He gave Herr Balzer a card with some writing upon it. + +"You will then," he continued, "proceed to Hamburg, and embark in the +first ship for New York, and there you will go to those who will be +pointed out to you by the person in Salzburg. They will give you every +information, and assist you in commencing a new life, if you forget +your name and the past. Remember that you are watched, and that you +will be destroyed if you are not perfectly obedient!" + +Herr Balzer's face had at first only expressed utter amazement, then a +look of scorn and wicked satisfaction passed over his features, finally +he gazed thoughtfully before him. + +"Do you accept my proposals of safety?" asked the count. + +"And my bills of exchange?" asked Balzer, looking ashamed. + +"I have bought them, they will stay in my pocketbook," replied the +count. + +"I accept," said Herr Balzer, "you shall be satisfied with me. But," he +added, with an extremely repulsive smile, "five thousand gulden is not +much--you value my wife at very little." + +"You shall receive the same sum when you arrive in New York," said the +count coldly, "if you obey me implicitly." + +"I will go," said Herr Balzer. "May I not," he added with a look of +grief that was badly acted, "bid my wife farewell?" + +"No," replied the count, "she shall believe you are really dead, that +is my express will; she shall be free, even in her conscience." + +Herr Balzer turned to go. + +"I shall expect news of you from Salzburg in three days!" said the +count. "And now," he added solemnly and earnestly, "thank heaven, and +make use of the mercy that offers you a new life!" + +He held out his hand to him, and mildness and kindness shone in his +eyes. + +Herr Balzer bowed and left the room. + +"We are now ready," said the count, as soon as he was alone with the +abbé; "be prepared to start in a week's time." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + HIETZING. + + +The large and extensive Castle of Schönbrunn is beautifully situated, +it is surrounded by an enormous and ancient park with artistically +arranged ruins, with allegorical fountains, with deep shady groves, and +sunny level lawns; behind the castle, airily perched on the summit of +the height, is the triumphal arch called the Gloriette, from whence the +great Empress Maria Theresa could behold Vienna, which with the lofty +tower of St. Stephen appears upon the horizon. + +Near to this imperial residence, full of remembrances of the Empress +Queen and of Napoleon I., (whose eagles may still be seen upon the two +obelisks at the principal entrance,) and around the spacious park, lies +pretty Hietzing, that favourite summer retreat of the Viennese. Villa +adjoins villa, and in the beautiful summer afternoons all the +fashionable world of Vienna streams out to hear the concerts in the +large gardens of the "Neue Welt," or of "Dommayer's Casino," and to +walk in the shady alleys of the park of Schönbrunn, which is always +open to the public. + +Since the time when Napoleon I. fixed his head-quarters in Maria +Theresa's favourite residence, and caused the "old guard" to parade in +the spacious court of the castle, Hietzing had not been so animated or +so full as in the autumn of 1866. + +The Saxon army was encamped in and around Hietzing; King John inhabited +the Stöckl, that small palace at the entrance of the park which Maria +Theresa had built for her celebrated physician van Swieten; and the +King of Hanover, who on his first arrival in Vienna had resided at the +house of his ambassador, General von Knesebeck, had now retired to the +Duke of Brunswick's villa at the farther end of the pretty village, +from which it was separated by a long high wall, which concealed the +wonderful art treasures and whimsical arrangements in the park and the +interior of the house. + +The Saxon troops, the suites of the two princes, the equipages of the +arch-dukes and of the Austrian aristocracy, who vied with each other in +attentions to the kings who were now suffering from the effects of the +Austrian policy, filled the streets of Hietzing in a varied and +brilliant manner; the inhabitants of Vienna streamed out more +numerously than ever, and if anyone had cause to be satisfied with the +catastrophe of 1866 it was certainly the possessors of the "Neue Welt," +and "Dommayer's Casino." + +One morning in that remarkable and eventful time, two persons met in +the large central salon of the Brunswick villa. + +The walls of this apartment were hung with Chinese tapestry, the +embroidered figures of the inhabitants of that great empire, with faces +exactly resembling those painted on their china, looked down +complacently from the walls, the whole of the furniture was of costly +Chinese work, life-sized pagodas stood in the corners, Chinese mats of +the finest rice-straw covered the floors; the large glass doors were +open and let the mild air blow in from the well-kept park. All the +curiosities in this salon, which gave it rather the appearance of a +museum than of a dwelling-room, did not attract one look from the two +men who paced up and down, with sad and mournful faces. + +One of these persons was Count Alfred Wedel, whom we met with before in +Hanover during the catastrophe of the month of June. He wore his +undress court uniform, a blue coat with a scarlet collar; beside him +was a small and delicate-looking man of about thirty-six years of age, +with thin fair hair and a long light moustache; his features expressed +great energy, and quick lively intelligence. He wore the uniform of a +captain of infantry in the Hanoverian army. + +"Yes, my dear Düring," said Count Wedel, in a melancholy voice, "all is +over,--Hanover exists no more,--you are the last man who waved our +banner; would to God," he added with a sigh, "that our generals had +been as energetic as you were, it would have been better for us." + +"I cannot indeed understand," said Captain von Düring, "how everything +happened; I have only been able to follow the campaign from vague +reports; but I can comprehend neither the military nor the political +operations!" + +"Who can understand them?" cried Count Wedel with bitterness, "least of +all, I believe, those who conceived them." + +"Do you believe the annexation of Hanover will really take place?" +asked von Düring. + +"I believe it is certain," said Count Wedel; "the expressions used by +the Prussian magistrates in Hanover leave us in no doubt about it, it +is no use ignoring the sad fact; but," he said, "we are called!" + +A bell sounded from the adjoining room. + +A moment afterwards the king's groom of the chambers appeared. + +"His majesty requests you, gentlemen, to go to him." + +He opened the door into the king's cabinet. + +Count Wedel and Captain von Düring entered. + +The cabinet that George V. inhabited was hung with silken tartan, +beautiful specimens of Scotch weapons, and masterly paintings +representing scenes from Sir Walter Scott's novels, adorned the walls. +Before a large table in the midst of the room stood the king; his +beautiful, expressive countenance was very sad. He wore the loose grey +overcoat belonging to the uniform of his Austrian regiment. + +"God bless you, gentlemen," said King George with a gracious smile, as +he held out his hand, which Count Wedel and Captain von Düring pressed +to their lips; "much has happened since we parted, my dear Alfred." + +"Your majesty," said Count Wedel in a trembling voice, "whatever has +happened, or whatever may happen, my heart remains ever the same." + +"You bring me news of the queen?" asked the king. + +"Certainly, your majesty," replied the count, producing several letters +and handing them to the king; "a letter from her majesty, notes from +the princesses, and a report from Herr von Malortie upon your private +estates." + +The king laid the letters before him on the table. + +"How is the queen?" he asked, "how does she bear these sorrowful +times?" + +"Her majesty is calm and dignified," said the count, "but very unhappy, +the queen desires most earnestly to join your majesty as soon as +possible." + +A deep shadow passed over the king's brow. + +"Whether God will bring us together again," he said, "lies in the dark +womb of the future; at present the queen must remain where she is, and +represent the government; such is my will." + +Count Wedel was silent. + +"How is the countess?" asked the king. + +"I thank your majesty, she is arranging the house, and will soon follow +me." + +"Follow you?" asked King George. + +"Your majesty," said Count Wedel with emotion, "I have not come to +bring you intelligence and to return. I have come to remain, if you do +not send me away!" + +The king looked at him inquiringly. + +"Your majesty," said the count, "from all I see and hear, you will not +return, at least not for a long time, to Hanover. Your majesty made me +your chamberlain, and I have performed my duty about your person with +pride. Your majesty is now in exile," he continued, his voice almost +failing him: "I beg for the great honour of sharing your exile, and +retaining my office!" + +The king was silent for a moment. He slightly bit his moustache, a +sorrowful expression appeared on his face. + +"My dear Alfred," he then said in a gentle voice, "you have just built +a house and newly furnished it. The countess is delicate, I am sure of +your faithfulness and devotion, but you must think of your family. You +would make too great a sacrifice; leave my service and this court,--the +court of banishment," he said sadly, "to those who are alone in life, +and have only themselves to think of." + +"Your majesty," cried Count Wedel hastily, interrupting the king, "you +will hurt me much if you do not accept my service, if you forbid me the +honour of standing beside you in misfortune; I shall not leave you," he +added with blunt frankness, "and if you do not allow me to be your +chamberlain, at least I will be the courtier of misfortune." + +A joyful smile passed over the king's face. + +"Misfortune has its charms," he said, "it teaches us to know our true +friends. We will speak more of this hereafter. And now, my dear Captain +von Düring," he said, turning towards him, "I have heard of your +wonderful march, tell me about it, I wish to hear how you found it +possible to wave the banner of Hanover to the very end, after I had +been forced to lower it," he added, with a sorrowful sigh. + +"Your majesty," said Captain von Düring, "I was at Emden with my +company, an overwhelming force of the enemy desired me to capitulate, I +declared that I would rather be buried beneath the ruins of the town +than lay down my arms; they then granted me a free retreat. I +withdrew," he continued, "with my company towards Holland. A large +number of young men from every district joined me. I procured a number +of passports partly by persuasion, partly from a list of pass +formularies, I filled them in and distributed them amongst my soldiers. +They had to pack up their arms and their uniform and thus they took +them with them to the Hague. Here I found your majesty's resident +minister, Count George Platen." + +"An excellent young man!" cried the king. + +"A true servant of your majesty, full of energy and zeal," said Captain +Düring; "I received from him a hearty reception and the warmest +support. Here I heard of the battle of Langensalza, and we celebrated +the victory with the greatest joy, for we were then convinced that the +army had cut its way through to the south." + +"It ought to have done so!" said the king gloomily. + +"We considered," proceeded Captain von Düring, "how it was possible for +my company to reach the army,--there was but one way, through France--" + +"Through France!" cried the king. + +"Yes, your majesty," said Captain von Düring, "it was a risk but I +ventured it. We got into the railway train as simple passengers, and +happily we all succeeded in avoiding the notice of the French +authorities, and in detached parties by the roundabout way of +Thionville, Metz, and Karlsruhe, we reached Frankfort. The order, +prudence, and punctuality of the soldiers was exemplary." + +"What a marvellous march!" said the king. + +"In Frankfort," continued Captain von Düring, "I applied to the +president of the Confederation, who supplied me with means for +purchasing fresh uniforms for my soldiers; the Duke of Nassau gave us +arms, a committee of the citizens provided us with linen and other +equipments, and in a fortnight I had 350 men armed and ready for the +field. I made the best non-commissioned officers into officers, and we +were about to join the garrison of Mayence, there to educate my quickly +organized troops by active service. In Frankfort I heard of the +capitulation of Langensalza,--forgive me, your majesty, I cannot +understand it." + +"I was surrounded by superior forces," said the king, "I could not +uselessly sacrifice my troops to certain destruction." + +"I perfectly understand that _your majesty_ was forced thus to act," +said Captain von Düring, "but I do not understand the operations that +placed the army in such a position." + +The king was silent. + +"The capitulation did not affect me," continued Captain von Düring, "it +only concerned the army actually at Langensalza, and I had received no +intelligence, no commands. I remained under arms until the end." + +He then added in a low sad voice: + +"When all was at an end I disbanded my corps and sent my soldiers back +to their homes, but I came here to announce myself to your majesty, and +to report to you my useless attempts." + +"Not useless, my dear Captain von Düring," said the king kindly, "you +could no longer obtain victory for my cause, circumstances made that +impossible, but under the greatest difficulties, to the very bounds of +possibility, you did your duty, and you set all the officers of my army +a fine example, that cannot be lost." + +The king was silent for a moment. + +"What are your views for the future?" he then asked. + +"Your majesty," said Captain von Düring sadly, "I will not enter the +Prussian service; they want officers in Turkey, so does the Viceroy of +Egypt. I know Eastern affairs from the permission your majesty gave me +to serve for two years with the French army in Algeria, I think of +seeking a career in the East." + +"Will you stay with me?" he then asked. + +"Your majesty," cried Captain von Düring, "my wishes are nothing, you +have but to command,--it would be my greatest happiness; yet," he added +with some hesitation, "I must tell your majesty plainly, that idleness +is contrary to my whole nature." + +"You shall not be unemployed, my dear Düring," said the king, proudly +raising his head. "I have every intention of again obtaining my +inheritance, and when the political situation permits the attempt I +shall require men capable of forming an army, and of leading it." + +Captain von Düring's face brightened. + +"Your majesty," he cried, "I can only lay my sword, my life, and my +future at the feet of my king." + +"I appoint you my equerry," said the king, "remain here, you shall do +no court duty," he added, laughing. "Au revoir, I shall expect you to +dinner at five o'clock." + +Captain von Düring bowed low. + +"I cannot express to your majesty the gratitude I feel," he said; "may +I have the opportunity of proving it by my deeds!" + +And he left the cabinet. + +"Has your majesty any commands for me?" asked Count Wedel. + +"Did the queen give you no commission to me?" asked the king in a +penetrating voice. + +"Commission?" said the count, "no, only to deliver the letters which I +have had the honour of presenting to your majesty, but--" + +"But?" asked the king anxiously. + +"I perceived," said the count, "that the queen ardently wishes your +majesty could follow the advice given you by so many well-wishers, +and--" + +"And that I should abdicate?" said the king passionately. + +"Her majesty believes that thus the crown would be preserved in the +royal family," said the count, "and she regrets that your majesty does +not seize upon this sad and deplorable means of safety; the queen +thinks you might still be in time; but that your majesty is withheld by +those around you." + +"And what do you think? I wish to hear your honest opinion," asked King +George. + +"Your majesty," said Count Wedel slowly, "is convinced of my entire +devotion to your person; but since you ask the question, I must reply +uprightly and honestly, that if by your majesty's abdication the crown +could be saved for the house of Guelph--" + +"_If_ it could!" said the king earnestly. + +He came a few steps nearer, feeling his way with his hand, and seized +the count's arm. + +"I wish," he said, "that this point should be perfectly plain to you; +for no accusation could pain me more, than that I had sacrificed the +future of my family to my personal inclinations. I do not know by whom, +or with what views the queen and the country have been told that my +abdication would preserve the independence of Hanover, and prevent her +annexation to Prussia; that it is only with me that Prussia refuses to +conclude peace; I will not try to discover what motives have induced +various persons to speak in this manner." + +"Counts Münster, Windthorst," said Count Wedel, "they certainly hope to +be all-powerful ministers under the rule of the crown prince." + +"No matter who it is," proceeded the king; "I can understand how the +queen, how several of the most important members of my family, may +credit these assurances; only it hurts me to think that they can +believe I should not long ago have seized upon this means of saving the +crown, if it would have saved it. When this opinion was urged upon me +from every side; when the queen telegraphed begging me to abdicate," +continued the king more slowly, "I determined to take a step which +should make my duty upon this point plain. If my abdication could +preserve my crown for my descendants," he said with emphasis, "it was +my duty to abdicate, if not, it was my duty to refuse all such +propositions. I sent the minister for education, von Hodenburg, who was +here, to Berlin, to ask Count Bismarck plainly, whether my abdication +would preserve the crown for my son." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Count Wedel. + +"Late one evening," added the king, "Herr von Hodenburg had a long +interview with Count Bismarck. He declared with a candour and honesty +that did him honour, that the incorporation of Hanover was quite +resolved upon, that for the interests and the safety of Prussia the +step was absolutely necessary, and that my abdication would not affect +it in the least. Hodenburg told the count that the people of Hanover +would greatly resent an incorporation with Prussia, and that it would +create endless difficulties; the count replied that he knew well it +would be so, but that he could not be in error in doing what he +believed to be his duty towards his king and his country. But," he +said, interrupting himself, "this is only hearsay; through Lex, I will +give you Herr von Hodenburg's report, read it all through, it is very +interesting; but, you now know the answer I received to my direct +question,--tell me, what do you think?" + +"Your majesty is right,--right a thousand times," cried Count Wedel; "I +see afresh how easy it is to judge falsely when you do not know all the +circumstances." + +The groom of the chambers opened both the folding doors and exclaimed: + +"His majesty the King of Saxony!" + +King George took the count's arm. Supported by his chamberlain he +walked quickly through the Chinese anteroom. + +At the further door of this apartment appeared the somewhat bent and +slender form of King John, with his sharply-cut profile, his bright +eyes full of genius, and his grey hair. Behind him walked his equerry, +Colonel von Thielau. The king wore the uniform of a Saxon general. He +hastened to meet King George and seized his hand. Count Wedel stepped +back. + +King George took the King of Saxony's arm, and guided by him returned +to his cabinet. The groom of the chambers shut the doors. + +King John led the King of Hanover to the chair before his table, and +drew forward one of the arm-chairs standing near for himself. They both +seated themselves. + +"I wished to come to you at once," said the King of Saxony, "to tell +you that the foundations of my peace with Prussia were concluded." + +"You will then return?" asked King George. + +"Not yet," replied the King of Saxony, "the completion of the +conditions requires some time, and the troops cannot return until all +the new arrangements are definitely made." + +"And you are satisfied?" asked the King of Hanover. + +King John sighed. + +"I am satisfied," he said, "thus far,--Saxony will not be taken from my +family; for the rest, the cause for which I fought is defeated,--the +vanquished must accept their fate." + +"My fate too is that of the vanquished," said King George in a sad +voice. + +The King of Saxony seized his hand, in great emotion. + +"Believe me," he said affectionately, "that no one feels for you more +deeply, more heartily than I do; but," he added, "believe me also when +I say, that as far as my personal feelings go, I would far rather be in +your position than in my own. Rather, far rather would I abandon public +life, withdraw into seclusion, and devote the remainder of my days to +philosophy and the arts, than begin life afresh under new and strange, +oppressive and humiliating conditions." + +King George bowed his head with a sorrowful look. + +"And," added King John passionately, "Germany will be divided; instead +of one united, federal Germany, we shall be split into two warring +halves. Oh!" he cried, "for Germany, for her greatness and her power, I +would make any sacrifice; but will the end be reached by this path?" + +And thoughtfully he gazed before him. + +"What do the Saxons themselves say to this new state of affairs? will +it not create great difficulties?" asked the King of Hanover. + +"The Saxon people, as well as myself, will have to go through many +sorrowful experiences," replied King John gravely; "but when I have +once signed my name beneath the Treaty of Peace, my word must be +respected and held sacred under all circumstances, and my people will +support me. I have but one wish," he added, with a deep sigh, "that the +painful sacrifices I make may give to Germany unity and greatness." + +"Germany will not in this way attain to real safety, or to true +greatness!" cried the King of Hanover. + +King John was silent. + +"I must give up my minister von Beust," he said after a pause. + +"Do they demand this at Berlin?" asked the King of Hanover. + +"Not exactly, but it comes almost to the same thing; besides, his +position would be almost an impossible one. I am sorry, for his talents +would have assisted me greatly in the difficulties arising from the new +arrangements. Perhaps," continued the king, "a wider field will be +opened to his genius. The emperor gave me an intimation from which it +appears the idea has occurred to him of employing Beust, instead of +Mensdorff, who neither can nor will remain in office." + +"Herr von Beust here in Austria?" exclaimed the king in great surprise. + +"Yes," said the King of Saxony thoughtfully, "he would meet with +difficulties; the Archduke Albert and the Archduchess Sophia feel a +great repugnance to the plan; it is, of course, a matter of profound +secrecy during the present uncertain state of affairs." + +"Certainly," said King George. "What does Beust think he can do with +Austria? he is taking a difficult position, the more difficult from the +many inimical elements he would have to encounter at home." + +"One important element he thinks he can overcome, and reconcile to the +House of Hapsburg: Hungary, who has so long been discontented, will +find it impossible to continue her displeasure, as he will at once +restore to her the self-government she demands." + +"Remove the centre of gravity to Pesth," said King George with some +bitterness, "as Bismarck advised." + +"A second centre of gravity will remain in Vienna," returned the King +of Saxony, "and the balance of power between the two will create the +future strength of Austria." + +"But the Church," asked the King of Hanover, "will she regard Beust +favourably?" + +"I avoid speaking upon Church questions," said King John gravely, +"happily, from the constitution of Saxony, I have never been placed in +the painful position of deciding between political necessity and my +religions convictions. Have you good news of the queen?" he said, +changing the subject. + +"I thank you," replied King George, "she is as well as painful +circumstances permit." + +"I admire her heroic courage and her dignified bearing," said the King +of Saxony; after a short pause he added-- + +"Shall you remain here, or go to England?" + +"To England?" cried King George, "to England, who moved not a finger to +assist me, or to defend the country that had given her a glorious race +of kings, the country whose sons had shed their blood in England's +wars? No! I will remain here, here in the house my cousin has so kindly +placed at my disposal. Here, at least, I am upon Guelphic soil," he +tapped his foot on the ground, "here I will remain until the tide of +misfortune turns." + +"You believe a change is possible in our present fate?" asked King John +with some surprise. + +"I do believe it," said the King of Hanover firmly. + +"But," said King John, "we shall embarrass Austria, about whose power +we were so much deceived, if we stay here; our position will be +painful." + +"Here in quiet Hietzing," replied King George, "I shall not embarrass +the political world of Vienna, though perhaps," he added with dignity, +"I may be a living reminiscence of duties that cannot be stripped off." + +The King of Saxony stood up. King George also rose. + +"I expect my son," said King John, "he will pay his respects to you." + +"I shall be delighted to see the crown prince," said King George. + +The King of Saxony pressed the King of Hanover's hand,--he rang, the +folding doors were thrown open, and arm in arm the two princes walked +through the reception room. King George accompanied his guest to the +door of the house, and then returned, guided by Count Wedel who had +followed him, to his cabinet. + +Count Platen and Herr Meding had in the meantime arrived in the +ante-room. + +The groom of the chambers announced them to the king. + +"Call the crown prince and the privy councillor," said King George. + +After a few minutes Prince Ernest Augustus and Herr Lex entered the +king's cabinet, Count Platen and Herr Meding followed them. At a sign +from the king they all seated themselves around the table. + +The king began in a grave voice: + +"The incorporation of Hanover with Prussia is determined upon +irrevocably; I am in a great difficulty, gentlemen, and I wish to hear +your advice. As you are aware, the English government has offered to +mediate for the recovery of the property belonging to my family; it has +also expressed a wish that my army should be released from its oath of +fealty, by which means the negotiations as to my property would be made +much easier. My personal inclination prompts me simply to decline the +negotiations, and to await a change in our unhappy fortunes; but this +is a question which concerns not only the interests of my family, but +those of many of my officers. What do you think ought to be done, Count +Platen?" + +"Your majesty," replied the count, bowing slightly, "my opinion is that +your present position requires as much money as possible, for the means +at your disposal are very limited. If then, as I believe is the case, +the Prussian government sets great value upon the release of the army +from its oath, much may be gained by your consent. I think your majesty +cannot hesitate to engage in negotiations; nevertheless, the oath of +fealty must not be released until a favourable result is gained." + +"Above all things," said the crown prince, "our family domains and the +hunting grounds must be preserved." + +"And what do you think?" said the king, turning his head towards +Meding, with marked attention. + +"Your majesty," he replied, "I am quite of the opinion that you must +enter upon these negotiations, yet I do not share the views either of +his royal highness the crown prince or of Count Platen. From what your +majesty has always firmly expressed, I believe you will not accept the +fate that war has brought upon Hanover, but that you will make every +effort in your power to recover your rights." + +"That I will," cried the king, slightly striking the table with his +hand; "should my exile endure twenty or thirty years, I will never +cease to struggle for my rights!" + +"Your majesty is perfectly justified in this resolution," said Meding. +"War has been declared against you, and no peace concluded with you. +Your majesty is a recognized enemy, and you can act accordingly; but +you must then expect the other side to proceed in a similar way. For +us, your majesty's servants, duty is clearly defined. Since your +majesty has willed to continue the struggle, all our opinions must be +governed by this determination. The possession of domains in the +kingdom of Hanover would make you completely dependent upon the +Prussian government. Every landowner, in concluding arrangements, must +recognize almost daily the authority of the present possessors of the +country. All this does not accord with the attitude your majesty +desires to maintain. Besides--forgive me, your majesty, but I cannot +forget a maxim taught me by my great master in politics, Herr von +Manteuffel----" + +"A Prussian maxim," said the crown prince, laughing. + +"Your royal highness," replied Meding gravely, "the maxims I learnt and +followed in the Prussian service, I will never deny. From following +these maxims implicitly, I have now the honour of standing beside my +king in his misfortunes. Circumstances,--my love and my duty to my +royal master,--may make me the enemy of the land of my birth, but deny +and scoff at it I never will." + +The crown prince was silent. + +"You are perfectly right," cried the king energetically. "You would be +no true servant to me if you denied your former masters. Well, then, +Herr von Manteuffel--?" + +"Herr von Manteuffel," continued Meding, "used to say, 'A good general +thinks first of a retreat.' In the struggle which your majesty +undertakes, I think anxiously of a retreat; and it appears to me +unworthy of the Guelphs to continue to be landowners in the country +where they wore the crown. An independent capital will be the basis of +obtaining fresh possessions in a country which, after the loss of the +throne of Hanover, opens a great and glorious future to princes of the +house of Guelph--in England." + +"But shall we then give up all the possessions of our family, so full +of remembrances?" cried the crown prince. + +"If his majesty recovers the crown of Hanover," said Meding, "he will +also recover possession of the royal domains; if not, these +remembrances can only be painful. I certainly believe, too," he added, +"that Prussia will grant no domains without an express recognition of +her sovereignty." + +The king was thoughtfully silent. + +"Your majesty," said Count Platen, "the remarks of Herr Meding are +certainly worthy of attention. But the wish of his royal highness is +also very right. We might reconcile these views, and demand a portion +of your possessions in the domains--say a third part, especially in the +capital." + +"That would place the whole negotiation on a difficult basis, and draw +it out to a tremendous length," said Meding. + +"Let us seize this method of escaping from the difficulty," said the +king. "What do you think, my dear Lex?" + +"I am quite of Count Platen's opinion," he replied. + +Meding was silent. + +"You still have some idea?" said the king, turning to him. + +"Your majesty," said Meding, "my second and most serious remark is upon +the connection Count Platen is inclined to establish between the +property and the release of the oath of fealty. Such a connection may +be advantageous. I think, however, it would compromise your majesty's +dignity." + +The king raised his head proudly. + +"You forestall me," he cried vehemently. "Never, never shall the fate +of my officers, of my true and brave army, depend upon the estates of +my family. I desire that the two questions should be kept completely +apart, and that this should be made perfectly clear to the English +government. With regard to the army," he added, after a pause, "my +decision is made. I will never release the army from its oath, but I +will give them permission to leave the service. I shall never blame any +of my officers who are compelled by circumstances to use this +permission; but I will not free those who can and will remain. I will +send military commissioners to Berlin, that they may obtain the most +favourable terms they can for these officers who refuse to enter the +Prussian service. Draw out instructions in this spirit, gentlemen, and +lay them before me. Above all things, however, avoid mixing up my +private affairs with the fate of the army. It will be needful," he +added, after some consideration, "to draw up a protest against the +incorporation of Hanover, and to have it ready to send to all the +European courts, as soon as the annexation is proclaimed. We must also +draw up a plan for diligent and energetic action in the struggle for +the recovery of my rights." + +"I have already employed the minister of legation, Lumé de Luine, in +drawing up this protest in the French language," said Count Platen. +"The facts may be found in the memorial upon the Hanoverian policy +already prepared. As to our activity," he continued, "it can only be +exercised at present in causing internal agitations in the country, and +in keeping up a sharp observation upon European politics. The only +chance of regaining the crown of Hanover lies in the goodwill and +support of those powers who may possibly go to war with Prussia." + +"I certainly think, your majesty," said Meding, "that the plan of our +future operations, though it cannot be definitely drawn up at the +present moment, should be framed on larger principles, and founded on a +broader basis. As to agitations in Hanover itself, they must be +conducted with great prudence, lest we should urge our unhappy country +to destruction, from which we should have no power to save her. The +point of support appears to me to lie elsewhere. The restoration of +your majesty's rights and of the crown of Hanover will only be possible +if those principles which are now defeated, namely, the federative +unity of Germany, and the self-government and independence of its +various races, renew the war, and are victorious. This, however, can +only take place if the monarchical principle joins the spirit of +progress--the democracy." + +"You would restore the king to the throne by democracy?" cried Count +Platen. + +"His majesty's restoration is only possible," replied Meding, "through +the support of the true spirit of pure democracy: not of that democracy +that drags everything high and noble down into the filthy mud of the +masses, but that democracy which, uniting with the spirit of progress +and development now abroad, elevates the people more and more, and +excites their sympathy and interest in public affairs. Permit me, your +majesty," he continued after a short pause, "to express myself more +plainly. Simple legitimacy, however sacred and venerable to me, is no +longer a power in public life, it no longer moves the feelings of the +people, it no longer influences the politics of the cabinet. Monarchy, +if she wishes her rule, so wise, so beneficial, sanctioned by the right +of centuries, to endure through the developments of the future, must +progress with the living movement around her, must espouse herself to +freedom. The foundations of her right must be upon the ancient soil, +established upon the granite rock, the growth of centuries; but upon +this soil the fruits of freedom must ripen. Thus only can monarchy gain +permanence and recognition in the future. This is the case throughout +the whole world. But in Germany, in addition to the universal love of +freedom, there is the love of individual government, and the desire to +preserve the various races distinct. These two principles, both +forcible powers, will rise against what has just taken place, as soon +as the present development is fully understood. The first result of +recent events will be a great diminution of freedom and individual +government. If, then, a change in the present state of affairs is ever +brought about, it will be caused by the spirit of the German nation +revolting against the oppression of forced military centralization. If +your majesty would strive successfully, you must make yourself and +Hanover the incorporation of the German national principles; you must +draw around you all those elements which move the nation's noblest +feelings; you must fight against temporal weapons with spiritual +weapons. Should a moment come when a storm assails the unfinished +edifice of to-day, then must your majesty raise the national banner, +and call upon the German people to fight for federative government and +for freedom. Though, however, our work must be chiefly mental, it is +also needful to prepare for actual war, not by agitations and +demonstrations, but by careful organization. The cadres of the army +must be formed and ready, the threads that guide the policy of Europe +must be carefully watched, that your majesty may choose the right +moment for action, and also influence the course of events as much as +possible. I am convinced that agitations and demonstrations alone would +be objectless and useless, and complete devotion to the policy of any +cabinet highly dangerous, for your majesty would never wish to regain +your crown through the Emperor of Austria, nor Napoleon III. Perfect +independence of action, both mental and material, is needful. We must +endeavour to gain the sympathy of all the European cabinets, but we +must be dependent on none. In independence alone lies your majesty's +hope of success even should certain circumstances arise, not utterly +beyond the bounds of possibility, permitting you to conclude a +favourable peace with the enemy. Without independence and a firm +alliance with the mental needs of the German nation, all your majesty's +efforts would be vain, they would compromise your dignity, and," he +added, in a low but firm voice, "you would find no organ for them." + +There was a moment's silence. + +"In one word," continued Meding, "your majesty must undertake the +combat with weapons that are sharp and powerful, but at the same time +noble and dignified, that even our enemies may respect us; then even +should all be in vain, the house of Guelph after the records of a +thousand years may have this inscribed in history:--They fell, they did +not sink. I have only sketched out the outlines of what I conceive +should be the course of our future work. I must, however, state I am +ready to recall anything at your majesty's command." + +"Such a work would cost a great deal of money," said the crown prince. + +"A great deal may be done with moderate means, your royal highness," +replied Meding, "as I know by experience; nevertheless, when we play +for crowns, we must not narrowly count the stakes." + +The king raised his head. + +"I quite agree with you, my dear Meding," he said, "that legitimate +right should unite with freedom, with real and wholesome freedom; I +truly do not fear the influence of the mind, and it shall not fail +either my work, or my will. We will speak of these things again, I +desire to consider them more closely." + +"It would certainly be advantageous to enter into relations with the +leaders of the people," said Count Platen, "and Herr Meding might enter +into negotiations of a personal nature: your majesty should retain the +power of disavowing them if needful." + +Meding replied with some animation: + +"When negotiations are carried on between two governments every +diplomatist must be prepared beforehand to have his proposals disavowed +under certain conditions, but should I negotiate with the people, at +the first disavowal, my honour and convictions would impel me to take +their side, and make their cause my own. But," he said, turning to the +king, with a bow, "I know that this would never occur in your majesty's +service." + +The king drew out his repeater. + +"It is time to dine," he said, "all the gentlemen will have arrived +already. Prepare the instructions, and we will then form our plan of +action." + +He rose. All present also stood up. Count Platen, Lex, and Meding left +the cabinet and returned to the Chinese salon. + +Here the king's guests had already assembled. Besides the equerries on +duty, Field-Marshal von Rorschach, Prince Hermann von Solms and Captain +von Düring were present. + +Count Wedel had resumed his duties and carried the chamberlain's staff. + +Baron Reischach was talking to Prince Hermann. + +"How proud our good prince is," he said goodnaturedly, "at having smelt +powder for the first time! Yes, yes," he said, with a sigh, "those +were happy days, they will never return,--an old cripple like myself +will never again hear the cannon's music." + +"But to look at you," said the prince, "so fresh, so rosy, one can +hardly believe those times were long ago, were it not for the white +hair we should take you for a young man." + +"The ladies of Vienna call my head a sugared strawberry," said the +general, laughing, "but the fruit tempts them no longer, the days of +war and love are over for me, but my old heart keeps young, and +rejoices that my dear young prince should have fought so bravely." + +And the old general patted the prince on the shoulder. + +Count Platen entered and greeted General von Reischach. + +"What news do you bring us from Vienna?" + +"Very little," said the general, shrugging his shoulders, "yet stay, a +half countryman of yours, a native of Mecklenburg, is about to carry +off one of our fairest young ladies." + +"Whom?" asked Count Platen. + +"Baron Stielow will marry the young Countess Frankenstein in a +fortnight." + +"Ah!" said Count Platen, "Herr von Stielow, one of Gablenz's staff?" + +"The same." + +"He is converted, I hear," said Prince Hermann. + +"Through love of his bride," replied the general, "and from gratitude +for her recovery from a severe illness; she was hurt in nursing the +wounded, and suffered from poisoning of the blood. They will travel for +some time after the wedding." + +The dining-room doors were thrown open. + +Count Wedel entered the king's cabinet. + +Immediately both the folding doors were opened, Count Wedel raised his +staff, the king appeared in the colonel's uniform of his Austrian +regiment, the star of the Order of St. Stephen upon his breast, the +cross of Maria Theresa around his neck. He leant on the arm of the +crown prince. + +He greeted his guests by a slight inclination of the head, and entered +the dining-room. They all followed him. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + BLECHOW. + + +Lieutenant von Wendenstein slowly recovered after the crisis was +happily passed; and though at times he suffered from great weakness +there was no serious drawback in his convalescence, and the physician +gave his friends good hopes that his health in the future would not be +impaired. + +But no sooner did he really progress, no sooner did his strength really +return, his eyes grow bright, and a slight colour tinge his cheek, than +Helena withdrew from her office of nurse, and left the care of the +invalid entirely to the charge of Madame von Wendenstein and his +sister, whilst she bestowed all her attentions upon the old lady, as if +anxious lest she should miss any of her home comforts. + +It was very unnecessary, for Madame von Wendenstein wanted nothing more +than the sight of her son's improvement day by day. + +With beaming eyes and radiant smile she watched the progress of his +recovery, and with the quick perceptions of a mother's love she noted +every shade of colour and of expression on the face of her son +betokening the return of life and youthful strength. + +She grew lively and cheerful, and showed much interest in the +arrangements of the Lohmeier household; she had often expressed her +surprise and great satisfaction at the orderly way in which everything +was arranged; at the beautiful house linen, the excellent cooking, and +the order in the house work, and she was amazed that so young a girl as +Margaret should be so good a manager. She had kindly bestowed the rich +treasures of her experience upon her young hostess, for whom she felt +great affection, and old Lohmeier regarded this distinguished lady, who +yet was so well acquainted with all household details, with the +greatest veneration, especially when he saw the interest his daughter, +the pride of his heart, had excited in her mind. + +The lieutenant remarked that Helena no longer appeared at his bed-side; +his eyes often rested upon her enquiringly when he was able to rise and +go into his mother's room, but he said very little, he was not quite +sure whether the sweet and charming picture which filled his mind was +the result of a feverish imagination or the truth. + +Helena was quiet and dreamy; she seldom looked at Wendenstein, the +feelings she had so plainly shown in the days of anguish and danger +were now most carefully concealed. + +Madame von Wendenstein often turned her mild eyes sympathizingly upon +the young girl; but she did not say a word, for she held that every +true woman's heart is a tender flower, which must bud and blossom in +its own way, shrinking back and closing at a rough touch. In her quiet +pious way she had committed both these young hearts into God's hand, +and she trusted that in His good time they would come to a happy +understanding. + +The candidate came very little. He was unwearied in consoling and +exhorting the sick, and the whole town spoke of him with esteem and +admiration. He said a few kind and hearty words to Lieutenant von +Wendenstein when he first saw him, after his recovery appeared certain, +reminding him of the gratitude he ought to feel for the life restored +to him when on the threshold of death; but Wendenstein felt a strange +shudder pass through him as he spoke, and he sat still afterwards for +some time in deep thought, pursuing the frightful and alarming +recollections which arose in his mind, but which he could not +completely recall. Whenever he saw the candidate the same feeling of +cold and deadly fear returned, and again his memory refused to recall +the reason. He blamed himself greatly for his aversion to so excellent +a man, and the more his recovery progressed and his nerves +strengthened, the more he struggled to feel kindness and friendship for +the young clergyman. + +After some time of this quiet life, the day came when the ladies and +the lieutenant, who could now walk slowly, determined to return home. +Notwithstanding her joy at her son's recovery Madame von Wendenstein +had a new and deep cause for grief. The incorporation of Hanover with +Prussia was quite decided upon, and the president had told his wife in +a short and mournful letter that he should resign, as he could not at +his age change his masters. He should go to Hanover for a time, and +then he would buy an estate for his son the lieutenant, as he no longer +wished him to remain in the army under present circumstances. The whole +family could reside with him. + +This letter Madame von Wendenstein received the evening before her +journey. As she read it large tears ran slowly down her cheeks. She was +then to return, only to leave the old house that for so many years had +sheltered her, the home filled with so many remembrances of her quiet +happy life. But she was accustomed always to conform to her husband's +will without questioning it, and when she thought of leaving the old +house at Blechow, which after all belonged to the office the president +was about to resign, and of going to an estate which would really be +her son's, and of the pleasure of arranging and founding a house for +him, she dried her tears. She thought of the children and grandchildren +who would always live there, and a smile played round her lips as she +again read the president's letter. + +The lieutenant's eyes sparkled with joy. + +"Oh! how I thank my father!" he cried; "how grateful I am to him for +allowing me to leave the service. It would have been too painful to +forget the old flag for which I shed my blood." + +And holding out his hand to his mother with a smile he said-- + +"And how beautiful my dear mother will make our new home; oh! it will +be charming!" + +He gazed at Helena who sat opposite to him, bending over her work. She +did not raise her eyes; but she felt his look, and a deep blush passed +over her face, and Madame von Wendenstein saw it with a quiet smile; +from the sorrowful present she foresaw a bright and happy future. + +Whilst this went on in the apartments upstairs, Margaret sat with her +father and Fritz Deyke at their simple evening meal. + +The young girl turned the new potatoes skilfully out of their brown +coats, they were first-fruits of the year, and she prepared them for +her father and the guest who had become like one of themselves. + +They were all three silent, and the young peasant looked very mournful. + +"You do not eat," said the old man, looking at his guest's plate, +though he himself showed but little appetite. + +"Perhaps I have not done them well," said Margaret, trying to make a +little joke; but her voice was dismal. + +Fritz Deyke gave a quick glance at her pale face and downcast eyes. + +"I cannot!" he cried, as he threw down his knife and fork upon the +plate. "When I think that I am to go to-morrow, I really wish I had +never come; when I sit at home and think of how happy we used to be, +especially how beautifully Margaret did everything at dinner time--no +wonder I cannot eat!" + +Old Lohmeier looked at him sympathetically, it was plain that he was +sorry to part with the kind, goodhearted young fellow. + +"Stay here," he said simply, "you know we should like to keep you." + +Margaret looked at him with bright eyes swimming with tears. + +"I cannot help it," he said, "I must go some time, and the longer I +stay the worse it will be." + +He sighed deeply, and his eyes met those of the young girl. + +Margaret put down her head and sobbed aloud. Then she sprang up, +covered her face with her hands, and leaned her head against a large +chest that stood in the corner, weeping bitterly. + +Fritz Deyke rushed to her. + +"My God!" he cried, and tried to withdraw her hands from her face, "I +cannot bear it, you will break my heart!" + +He stood still for a moment before the weeping girl with his eyes fixed +thoughtfully upon the ground. Then he walked quickly back to the table +and stood before the old man. + +"Herr Lohmeier," he said in a firm tone, "I can no longer restrain my +feelings. I intended to go home first and come to an understanding with +my father, and then to come back here, but I cannot do it. I cannot see +her cry, I must speak, and as to my father, I know beforehand quite +well what he will say. Herr Lohmeier, I cannot be happy without +Margaret, I have enough, much more than enough to keep a wife. I know +you think me an honest fellow--give me your daughter!" + +Margaret did not move, she kept her hands over her face, the low sound +of her weeping was heard throughout the room, whilst Fritz Deyke looked +at her father in breathless suspense. + +He gazed gravely before him. He did not look much surprised, perhaps he +had expected something of the kind, but for a time he was silent and +thoughtful. + +"It is all right as far as I am concerned," he said at last, "I have +grown very fond of you, and I can trust my daughter's happiness to you, +but there are two persons to ask about it--in the first place, my +daughter." + +With one bound Fritz was by Margaret's side. + +"Margaret," he cried, "will you go with me?" And putting his arm round +her, he drew her gently to the table opposite to her father. + +She let her hands glide down from her face; her eyes were full of +tears, but they beamed with affection and confidence, and whilst she +gazed at her young lover, she said in a loud firm voice: + +"Yes!" + +"Well, that is one person," said old Lohmeier, laughing, "but the +consent of the second is a graver matter, I mean your father. These are +sad times, and your father, a thorough-going Hanoverian, will scarcely +welcome a Prussian daughter-in-law to his house; she is the daughter of +a stiff true Prussian, and I would disinherit her if she ever forgot +the love she owes her king." + +Fritz Deyke was silent for a moment. + +"Herr Lohmeier," he then said, "you know I am a Hanoverian with all my +heart and soul, and that it is a great grief to me that we are now to +be Prussian, but what can I do, or how can Margaret help it? We did not +make the politics and we can't change them; would to God Prussia and +Hanover could come to as good an understanding as we have done. +However," he added more warmly, "I cannot complain, for if Prussia +takes my country at least it gives me the best thing it has, and my +annexation is a peaceful one, of heart to heart." + +He embraced Margaret, and looked imploringly at the old man. + +But he continued grave and thoughtful-- + +"Will your father think so?" he asked. + +Fritz considered a moment, then he cried suddenly, + +"Wait a moment!" and rushed from the room. + +Lohmeier looked after him with surprise. "Where is he going?" he asked. + +"I think I know," said Margaret; "he has often told me what a great +respect his father has for Madame von Wendenstein, and how he will do +anything at a word from her." + +Fritz soon came back. + +"Madame von Wendenstein begs you to go to her," said he to old Lohmeier +with a look of delight. + +He stood up at once, brushed his sleeve with the tips of his fingers, +stroked his grey hair with the palm of his hand and went upstairs. + +Fritz and Margaret remained alone. + +He seated himself and gently drew the young girl into a chair beside +him. + +What did they say? So little and yet so much, their speech was so old +and yet so new, one more variation on the eternal melody of love, that +rings in the human heart from the cradle to the grave, and whose +endearing tones pass with the soul into the great harmony of Eternity. + +Madame von Wendenstein led old Lohmeier into her son's sick room, and +there they remained together for half an hour, and the result of their +conversation was, that he consented to his daughter's betrothal to +Fritz, upon condition that old Deyke's approval was gained; and that he +might learn to know his future daughter-in-law, Madame von Wendenstein +invited Margaret to go home with her. She undertook to introduce her +lover's father to her, and to instruct her in the house-keeping +arrangements of her own country. Old Lohmeier accepted the invitation +with much pride, for his veneration for this lady who had passed many +weeks in his house, was immense. He informed the young people with +great dignity and importance, "that he had talked the matter over with +his much honoured friend Madame von Wendenstein," and they both felt +extremely happy, though Margaret was rather alarmed at the prospect of +meeting with the stern old Bauermeister, of whom Fritz always spoke in +terms of the greatest respect. + +Thus their departure drew near. Some time before, Madame von +Wendenstein had endeavoured to propose some remuneration for all the +trouble and expense her son's illness had occasioned, but it had been +so decidedly refused by the old brewer, and he had appeared so hurt at +the proposal, that she had never again renewed it. On the day of her +departure she gave Margaret a beautiful cross of rubies and diamonds, +on a string of large pearls. + +"I have wept many tears here," she said gently. "Let the pearls remind +you of this, my child; but the sacred love we adore in the Cross, the +sign of the Holy Passion and of our redemption, has dried my tears, and +raised and comforted my heart. Let the cross remind you of this; and if +you, too, shed tears of grief, look at this cross, with firm faith and +loving resignation." + +Tears were in Margaret's eyes as she received the cross; and old +Lohmeier took Madame von Wendenstein's fine white hand in his own with +emotion, and pressed his lips upon it. He carefully locked up the pearl +necklace and the cross in an old oaken chest, in which he kept the +simple but massive ornaments of his late wife; they were all to be +Margaret's when she married, and entered the large old farmhouse as its +mistress. + +And then they set out, accompanied by a thousand good wishes from old +Lohmeier, who promised, when all was arranged, to think of retiring +from his business, and of spending the last years of his life quietly +near his daughter's new home. + +Thus in the spot where so bloody a battle had raged between Hanover and +Prussia, Christian compassion had caused two young hearts to reap a +harvest of love from the seeds of hatred. Thus was the will of the +Eternal accomplished, who turns evil into good; and where demons have +led men into strife and hatred, His unwearied care removes their gloomy +traces by that bright child of heaven--Reconciliation. + +Their return to Blechow was grave and sad. The president silently +strained to his breast the son restored to him from the gates of death; +silently, too, he kissed the brow of his wife. The days that followed +were calm and melancholy. + +The president worked hard with Auditor von Bergfeld, that he might +leave everything in the most perfect order for his successor. Madame +von Wendenstein went quietly about the house, occupied in the +melancholy task of displacing the treasures collected during more than +twenty years of house-keeping, and the remembrances they awakened were +known only to her eye and her heart. All those treasures had to be +packed in huge coffers, and conveyed to the new house. And the enormous +oaken chests looked so sad, with their opened doors and their empty +trays, and throughout the house sighed the gloomy spirit of departure +and separation, the spirit that moves through human life like a +messenger of death, touching the heart with a shrinking foreboding of +the last great farewell of eternity. Every farewell breaks a flower +from the wreath adorning the spring-time of our lives, until the last +blooms are buried beneath the wintry snows of death. But every blossom +leaves a fruit behind, whose seed is in itself; and these will bear +purer, fairer flowers, and spring up into imperishable beauty beneath +the life-breath of eternal spring. + +Fritz Deyke had a long conversation with his father, who looked very +black at first, when he heard what his son had to say. He loved his +son, he had unbounded confidence in him, and he knew he would make no +unworthy choice; but to have a town young lady for his daughter-in-law, +to have a Prussian mistress in Hanoverian Wendland was not at all to +his mind. But he said nothing, and, at his son's request, he went to +the castle to see Madame von Wendenstein. + +The old lady he had always regarded as a model of womanly perfection, +and she told him of all the attention and kindness her son had received +in old Lohmeier's house, taking care to describe the excellent burgher +position held by Margaret's father. Then she kindly and warmly urged +him not to visit the misfortunes of the times upon innocent heads; and +he held out his hand to her, and said,-- + +"It shall be as my son wishes. He is good and true: the wife he brings +to my house shall be welcome, and my blessing shall rest upon her." + +Then Madame von Wendenstein opened the door into the next room, and +Margaret, blushing deeply, and trembling from agitation, entered; but +her eyes were bright and candid. She was dressed in the costume of the +rich peasant women of Wendland. She went up quickly to the old man, and +kissed his hand, and a warm tear fell upon the hand hardened with toil. + +A gentle smile passed over the stern, furrowed face of the old peasant; +his eyes looked milder than they had done for many a day, as he gazed +down upon the young girl's strong, yet slender form. He stroked her +glossy hair, and said, in a low voice,-- + +"God bless you, my daughter!" + +Then everything was said, and everything was settled. Old Deyke was a +man of few words; but his words were like a rock--you might have built +a house upon them when they were spoken. + +He took Margaret to his farm, and as she walked at his side, and told +him artlessly how amazed she had been at the wonderful treasures of the +old castle, and as she let a word fall showing every now and then, how +much she knew about housekeeping, his face grew brighter and brighter. +But when she sent the maidservants out of the kitchen, and lighted the +fire, and cooked the dinner herself with skilful hands; when she laid +the cloth, arranging everything so quickly and prettily, whilst Fritz +watched her with delighted eyes; when at last she brought the old man's +pipe, and lighted it for him, and then looked up at him with loving, +imploring eyes, he looked at her through tears: the image of his dead +wife rose before him, and he held out his hand to his son, saying,-- + +"I thank you for bringing me such a daughter." + +The young people knelt down before him, and he said, in a low half +choking voice: + +"God bless and keep you, my dear, dear children!" + +The lieutenant was very quiet and thoughtful. His wound was quite +healed, his nerves were grown strong again, and the wonderful +reparatory powers of youth sent his blood through his veins as quickly +as before. He seldom saw Helena: when she came up from the Vicarage she +was surrounded by the others, and he could only exchange a few words +with her. The old merry confidence between the two friends from +childhood would not return; there was something new and strange between +them, which closed their lips when it sought expression in words. + +One afternoon, when the president was hard at work with Auditor von +Bergfeld, and Madame von Wendenstein, her daughters and Margaret were +busy in the melancholy occupation of dismantling the house, the +lieutenant walked slowly and thoughtfully towards the pastor's. + +The roses had withered in the pretty little garden, and the autumnal +asters raised their many-coloured heads, overtopped by the tall and +brilliant sunflowers. + +Helena sat at the open window, and often raised her eyes from her work +to look dreamily over the cornfields; her father and the candidate had +gone out to make some visits in the village; she was alone with her +thoughts. + +Suddenly she trembled slightly, a blush spread hastily over her +delicate face, she let her work fall into her lap; Lieutenant von +Wendenstein had entered the garden, and was approaching the house. + +A moment later he knocked at the door of the sitting-room; she made an +effort to cry "Come in," and he entered. + +He looked delighted when he saw that Helena was alone. + +He came to her quickly and took her hand. + +"My father is out," she said, with downcast eyes and trembling voice, +"will you take a chair?" + +The lieutenant remained standing before her, and looked at her long and +affectionately. Then he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss +upon it. + +Blushing deeply, she tried to draw her hand away; he held it with +gentle force. + +"I am so very glad to find you alone," he said; "I have wanted so long +to ask you something I am not quite sure about." + +She raised her eyes to his with surprise and enquiry, she wished to +speak, but she found no words. + +"Helena," he said, in a low voice, "when I was wounded and ill in +Langensalza, without strength enough to think clearly, dizzy with +fever, a sweet image was always before me,--I saw a consoling angel +looking at me so kindly, so lovingly,--I held her helping hand in mine, +I pressed it to my lips, and from the depths of my heart I said, 'dear +Helena.'" + +She withdrew her hand quickly, and seated herself on the chair near the +window; pale and trembling, her eyes sought the ground. + +He went up to her and continued in urgent terms: + +"Tell me,--for sometimes a gloomy veil comes over my memory,--tell me, +this image that never leaves my heart, that follows me everywhere--was +it real?" + +She gave no answer, but sat still and motionless. + +"Helena," he said imploringly, "I saw eyes that told me such good and +loving things in a mute language,--those eyes are near me night and +day. Helena, look at me once more, that I may see whether the image in +my heart was the dream of fever, or the truth." + +He sank on his knees before her, and seized her hand as it hung beside +her, looking up at her with an earnest loving gaze. + +Then she slowly raised her eyes, and in her eyes lay her answer; those +eyes again spoke the mute language that found an echo in his heart. +Again he pressed her hand to his lips, and again she permitted it with +a loving smile, and in a soft voice, happy and triumphant, he +whispered, "Dear, dear Helena!" + +They sat for a long time in silence; he was never weary of gazing on +the beloved features which in the days of his deadly peril were graven +so deeply in his soul. + +Then he sprang up, bent over her and held her in his arms. + +The door opened, the pastor and candidate entered. + +The old gentleman looked much surprised at this unexpected scene, an +evil flash of hatred darted from the candidate's sharp eyes, but he +quickly fixed them on the ground and an oily smile played around his +mouth. + +Helena bent down her head in charming confusion. The lieutenant +hastened to the pastor and seized his hand energetically. + +"Dear sir," he said, in a decided voice, "my dear playmate, Helena, +watched over my life, and saved it when it hung on the feeblest +thread,--I have implored her to watch over it henceforth,--for +ever,--and--she will." He looked at the young girl with eyes full of +happiness and continued, "Will you unite our hands before the altar of +our dear old church, where we made our vows at our confirmation?" + +And he looked the old clergyman honestly in the face. + +He was still lost in astonishment at the turn affairs had taken, and +which he had never perceived. + +He looked at his daughter. Her deep blushes, and the bashful, yet +imploring expression of her eyes, convinced him that God had joined two +hearts together, and that it would ill beseem him to part them. He +loved von Wendenstein, and could only rejoice at the prospect of being +more closely connected with him; but his intentions and plans for his +daughter had been so different, he could not accommodate himself at +once to the change. + +Helena sprang to her feet, she hurried to her father and threw herself +upon his breast. + +The old gentleman looked gravely at his nephew, he stood with downcast +eyes, and gentle smiles. + +"My dear Herr von Wendenstein," said the pastor, "you well know the +great esteem I have ever entertained for you and your family, and if my +daughter has given you her heart, as a father and as a priest I must +lay my hand upon your heads and bless you. I must own, however, that +all this has greatly surprised me. I had quite different ideas as to my +daughter's future life," and he again looked enquiringly at the +candidate. + +But he came up to the pastor, and said in a calm voice, though without +raising his eyes: + +"Let there be no discord in the friendly harmony of this hour, my dear +uncle. You know I am devoted above all things to my sacred calling; +earthly wishes, however dear to my heart, cannot disturb the spiritual +calm of my soul, and if heaven has decreed that my hopes and desires +are to be denied, I shall only see a gracious dispensation of +Providence, intended to turn away my soul from earthly things, that all +its powers may be devoted to the accomplishment of my sacred office. I +shall pray for my cousin's happiness with my whole soul! I congratulate +you most heartily, Herr von Wendenstein," he added, holding out his +hand to the young officer. He seized it and looked at the young +clergyman with emotion. But the hand was cold as ice, and a deep +shudder passed through his nerves, as he felt its smooth serpent-like +pressure. + +The last time that all the family friends assembled around the +hospitable board of the old Castle of Blechow, was at the celebration +of the lieutenant's betrothal with Helena. The president had thus +willed it, and he also insisted that old Deyke, Fritz, and Margaret, as +well as Lohmeier, who was with them, should take part in the family +festivity, which was also a day of farewell. The president wished to +make a sad farewell less melancholy, by thus solemnizing the union of +two hearts. + +He wished that all should carry away a happy recollection of their last +day at Blechow, and that the last rays of the old times should sink +brightly into the ocean of the past. + +Everything was packed up, and ready to start; only the dinner service +and the heavy old plate was still used, and displayed its glories for +the last time. + +The president's eldest son had arrived early in the morning, and had +had a long and serious conversation with his father. + +He told him he had been offered the assistant-secretaryship in the +Ministry of the Interior in Berlin, and he expressed a wish to accept +the appointment, since he hoped by this means to alleviate the +condition of his native country, under its new circumstances. Yet he +left the decision entirely to his father. + +The president stood for a long time in grave thought + +"You are young, my son," he said, at last, in a gentle voice; "your +life belongs to the future--you must go forth and work in the +present--you ought not to bury yourself in the past. The king has +released all his civil servants from their oath; you are therefore +free,--seize the opportunity of making a career for yourself, and of +labouring for the general good. But never forget that good and faithful +Hanover is your fatherland,--keep that remembrance sacredly in your +heart, and when you can, work that it may be treated lovingly, for the +sake of it; fair and honourable history in the past. My blessing be +upon you in your new path!" + +The son kissed his father's hand in silence, and nothing more was said +by either of them on the subject. + +The guests sat around the table in the dining-room of the old castle +with grave emotion. Old Deyke took his place beside the president with +great dignity. Fritz and Margaret sat beside each other embarrassed, +but happy,--the lieutenant's eyes sparkled with joy. Helena's fair face +expressed thoughtful happiness; and though a tear sometimes shone in +Madame von Wendenstein's soft eyes, when she looked at her son and his +lovely bride, such a happy smile came to her lips, that it was hard to +say whether the pearly drop came from the bitter cup of grief or the +pure spring of joy. + +"Do you remember, dearest Helena," said the lieutenant, "how you showed +me the dark cloud, which was driven away from the silver beams of the +moon? You see it has returned, and now rests in its pure, full light; +but it brings no storm, no tempest, but blessing and happiness to the +garden of our lives!" + +She looked at him with her loving eyes, smilingly. + +"I think," she whispered, "you have found the magic key of the kingdom +of dreams and fancies, which you once thought you could only have from +my hands." + +"And did I not have it from your hands?" he said; "you gave it to me +when I was on the borders of death, and I will guard it truly in the +golden light of life!" + +The dessert was brought. A post-horn was heard. + +The old servant in a few minutes announced Baron von Klentzin. + +"The successor to your office in Blechow, my dear father," said the +assessor; "the civil commissioner von Hardenberg has desired him to +release you." + +They all rose gravely. + +The Prussian entered; he was a tall, slender young man, elegant in his +appearance, graceful in his movements. + +The president advanced towards him with calm dignity. + +"You are welcome, Baron von Klentzin, to my house,--the house that is +still mine, and that to-morrow will be yours. We are celebrating a +family festivity,--the betrothal of my son,--and I beg you will join +us." + +He introduced the young man to his wife, and to the others, and then +requested him to be seated beside Madame von Wendenstein. He signed to +the servant to fill his guest's glass with champagne. + +"To-morrow I shall resign my office to you, and I hope you will find +everything in order," said the old gentleman,--"to-day allow me to +treat you as my guest." + +Baron von Klentzin bowed. + +"I enter your circle as a stranger," he said, "and I feel I can +scarcely be welcome. But I beg you, sir, and all here present, to +believe that I deeply respect your feelings,--we know what love to the +Fatherland is,--and," he added warmly, "we come to you with open hands +and hearts. May the future unite us all, without grief or bitterness, +in one glorious Germany! Now, permit me to empty my glass to the +happiness of the youthful pair!" + +"Sir," said the president, with deep melancholy in his voice, "it has +ever been the unalterable custom at my table to drink to the health of +our king and commander-in-chief. He is no longer sovereign of this +country. You will understand how I wish this last day not to deviate +from the old custom of my house. A new time arises, but let us think of +the old with thankfulness and love!" + +Baron von Klentzin seized his glass. + +"Only from love of the past can bloom a blessing on the future," he +said feelingly; "and far be it from me to prevent, by my presence, the +last farewell to such a past." + +They all rose. + +The president said, solemnly-- + +"'The King!' who was our lord, and to whom the service of my life +belongs. May God's blessing be upon him!" + +They all repeated the toast. + +Herr von Klentzin, deeply moved, touched his glass against his host's, +and the slight sound reverberated through the room. + +They all emptied their glasses silently. + +That was the last toast to George V. in the old castle of Blechow. +Klentzin looked down thoughtfully. + +"We have won a fair country," he said to himself; "God grant that we +may win these hearts to true brotherhood." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + "GOD AND THE FATHERLAND!" + + +King William had returned to Berlin. The nation received him with the +wildest joy, scarcely knowing how to express its delight and enthusiasm +at this unparalleled seven days' campaign, the wonderful success of +which had placed Prussia so high amongst the first-class powers of +Europe, and had so completely consolidated the unity of Germany. The +first wild burst of delight was over in Berlin. Everything began to +return to its accustomed course, at least outwardly, for every heart +still swelled high with the proud feeling of victory. + +Early one morning King William entered his cabinet. He was dressed, as +always, in uniform, with the iron cross and the Order of Merit. + +"Is Schneider here?" he enquired of the attendant on duty. + +"At your majesty's command. He waits in the anteroom." + +At a sign from the king, Louis Schneider entered, with a large +portfolio under his arm. + +"Good morning, Schneider," cried the king. "Everything has returned to +its accustomed order, and we can begin regular work. What is there in +the way of literature? What have you got in that great portfolio?" + +"Allow me first, your majesty, to offer you my most hearty +congratulations on the successful termination of the war. Here, +on the very spot," said Schneider, with emotion, "where I stood last +time--that day when your majesty regarded the future so anxiously, and +found yourself so completely without allies,--your majesty has again +experienced that the King of Prussia is not weak when he stands alone!" + +"If he has those two Allies who gave us our device," said the king, +with a calm smile, "God and the Fatherland!" + +He was silent for a moment. Schneider opened his portfolio. + +"Well, what have you in the newspapers?" asked the king. + +"Nothing, your majesty, but variations upon one theme--joy at our +victories, gratitude to our royal conqueror, his soldiers, and his +ministers. The whole press is one great dithyrambus, expressing its +emotions now majestically, now pathetically, now comically. But good +advice to Prussia and the North-German Confederacy is not wanting. It +is incredible how much didactic writing is produced on the future +well-being of Germany. Would your majesty like an example?" + +The king was silent, and looked thoughtfully before him. + +"Schneider," he said, "how ungrateful men are!" + +Schneider gazed at the king in amazement. + +"Your majesty," he cried, "I cannot, alas! deny that ingratitude is a +characteristic of the human race; but I thought the present time was +really an exception, everyone is so anxious to express gratitude to +your majesty, to the generals." + +"It is just at the present time," said the king gravely, "that I think +the world, and Berlin especially, so very ungrateful. They thank me, in +the most exaggerated words, my Fritz too, all my generals; but _One_ +Man they forget, and yet that man had a great share in the success that +God has given us." + +Schneider still looked at the king enquiringly. + +"No one thinks of my brother, the late king," said King William, in a +voice that trembled slightly. + +Deep emotion appeared on Schneider's animated face, a tear shone on his +eyelashes. + +"Yes, by God!" he cried, in his sonorous voice, "your majesty is right; +we are ungrateful." + +"How deep, how true," said the king, "was his devotion to Germany's +greatness, and to Prussia's destiny; how much he did to strengthen the +army, and to organize the government of Prussia, that she might be +ready to fulfil her high calling. Prussia's future greatness was clear +to his enlightened mind; and if the rough hand of revolution had not +interfered in the carrying-out of his plans and views----" + +The king paused suddenly, and pursued his thoughts in silence. + +Schneider's eyes rested with warm affection upon the thoughtful +features of his generous and simple-minded sovereign. + +"If God has granted to us to pluck the fruit," continued the king, "yet +ought we not to forget whose careful hand planted the tree and watered +its roots in time of drought; truly he has not deserved it of us." + +The king turned to his writing-table, and took up a sheet of paper. + +"I have written down a few of my thoughts," said he with some +hesitation, "but chiefly facts, as to what the late king did for +Prussia, how he strengthened the army, and the nation, and laboured for +the unity of Germany. I should like a leading article to be written +from this and published in the 'Spener Gazette,' that all Berlin may +read it. Will you see to this?" + +He held out the paper to Schneider, who took it respectfully, his eyes +resting on the king's face with admiration and surprise. + +"I will attend to it at once,--does your majesty wish for an especial +title?" + +"It must be made rather striking," said the king, "that every one may +read it. Let it be called 'A Royal Brother,'" he added after a moment's +thought; "if all forget him, his brother must not forget him." + +"I will carry out your majesty's wishes at once," said Schneider, +"and," he added with much emotion, "I shall henceforth look upon what +has passed to-day as the most beautiful incident of my life. The victor +of Königgrätz amidst the rejoicing of his people places half his +laurels on his brother's grave." + +"It hurts me to find how little they thought of my brother in their +rejoicings," said the king, with a gentle smile, "for I have only built +upon the foundation he laid. Now go, and take care that the article +appears shortly, we will do nothing else to-day. This you will do with +your whole heart. I know your faithfulness to your late king." + +He offered his hand to Schneider, but would not permit him to press it +to his lips. + +The king turned away and walked silently to his writing-table, and in +silence Schneider left the cabinet. + +Count Bismarck too had returned, and was devoting himself with +resistless energy to the work before him of organizing and arranging +the new state of affairs. + +Late one evening the count again sat in his cabinet before his large +writing-table, piled with papers, busily occupied in reading +despatches, and in thinking over what was laid before him. There was a +sharp knock at the door leading from the ante-room. + +The count looked up. His confidant only would come in that manner. + +"Come in!" he exclaimed. Baron von Keudell entered. The minister nodded +to him with a smile. + +"What brings you here, dear Keudell?" he asked, laying aside a paper +which he had just looked through, "has anything happened?" + +"Something decidedly strange has happened, your excellency, which I +must at once impart to you. Monsieur Hansen is here, and has just been +with me." + +"Hansen, the Danish agitator?" asked Bismarck. + +"The same," said Keudell, "only this time he is not the Danish +agitator, but the French agent." + +A cloud gathered on Count Bismarck's brow. + +"What do they still want in Paris?" he cried. "Are they not yet +satisfied? Benedetti must have understood me perfectly." + +"I think they wish to make one more secret effort," said von Keudell. +"I beg you to hear Monsieur Hansen yourself, he is to a certain extent +accredited by Drouyn de Lhuys, and he can really tell us much that it +interests us to know." + +"Drouyn de Lhuys is no longer minister," said Count Bismarck. + +"He has resigned, certainly," replied Keudell, "and Lavalette is in his +place until Moustier arrives, but his credentials prove that Hansen has +something to propose, which is not to follow the usual course of +diplomacy until it is known how we shall receive it." + +"Well," said Bismarck, after a short pause, "why should I not hear him? +My mind, though, is made up as to all these proposals, direct or +indirect. Where is Monsieur Hansen?" + +"I brought him with me; he is waiting down stairs, and if your +excellency desires----" + +"Be so kind as to bring him here," said the minister; "I shall find you +when I join the countess?" + +Keudell bowed, a minute afterwards he took Monsieur Hansen to +the cabinet and withdrew as soon as Bismarck had received the +unimportant-looking little man with great cordiality, and had requested +him to be seated at his writing-table. + +The count's keen grey eyes rested enquiringly on the clever face of the +Dane. + +"Your excellency," said Hansen, "I thank you in the name of my country +for your generosity to Denmark, after your complete success, expressed +in Article V. of the peace stipulations." + +Count Bismarck bowed slightly. + +"I have nothing against Denmark," he said; "on the contrary I esteem +and respect that sturdy little nation, and I heartily wish Prussia and +Denmark to live together on friendly terms. I rely upon your countrymen +not to throw difficulties in the practical fulfilment of the principles +which must guide us in regard to Denmark." + +"I wish to be of use to your excellency," said Hansen. "I have come to +impart my ideas upon the delicate relations existing between newly +constituted Germany and France." + +Count Bismarck made a slight movement intimating that he was willing to +listen. + +"I ought to impart to your excellency that I have been initiated into +the negociations that have already taken place." + +Bismarck remained silent. + +"The emperor," continued Hansen, "is in a very painful position. He has +the greatest repugnance to interrupting in any way the right of a great +people to national development, by being inimical to the great events +just accomplished in Germany." + +A scarcely perceptible smile passed over the minister's grave face. + +"On the other hand," added Hansen, "it is impossible to deny that the +great increase in the political and military strength of Prussia, has +greatly troubled public opinion in France. Napoleon is less able to +neglect public opinion than any other sovereign in Europe, since his +government is based on the free will of the people, and founded on the +votes of public opinion in France. At one time," said he as Bismarck +still looked at him calmly and remained silent, "the emperor believed +France would be satisfied by compensations which would increase her +defensive power, and form some balance to the great additions in the +offensive strength of Germany. He is, however, very unwilling to urge +this question in any way that can disturb or endanger the present +friendship between France and Germany." + +Again a slight smile passed over Bismarck's face. + +"The emperor," pursued Hansen, "thinks there is a way which might for +ever prevent disagreement. It is founded on the principle that friction +can best be prevented between two powerful military nations, not by +fortified frontiers, but by neutral territory. His idea is to form a +state in imitation of Belgium upon the Rhine, as an excellent means of +maintaining peaceful relations between France and Germany. The King of +Saxony would appear to be a suitable head to this Roman Catholic +country." + +"Peace is concluded with Saxony," said Count Bismarck. + +"And I did not intend to suggest this idea," replied Hansen; "it would +be better on many accounts to bestow this kingdom of the Rhine upon the +Prince of Hohenzollern, and thus to found a dynasty whose connection +with the Prussian royal family would prevent any mistrust in Germany." + +"The princes of Hohenzollern are not related to our royal family," said +Count Bismarck. + +"They are a branch of the same family," replied Monsieur Hansen. "I +believe I may assure your excellency that if this suggestion meets with +your approval, the affair may quickly be arranged in the usual +diplomatic way." + +He was silent. + +For a moment Count Bismarck looked down thoughtfully, then he raised +his eyes, and fixing them calmly on Hanson's expectant face, he said in +a firm voice: + +"I will not ask who has empowered you to make this proposal. I shall +regard this idea as your private and personal notion, and in return I +will plainly and candidly express my own opinion on the subject. +Germany, by her success in a great war, has made a vast step forwards +in her national constitution. The German nation is not obliged to +account for this to any one, she need not trouble herself as to whether +other nations are pleased or displeased by the exercise of her national +rights, but above all she is not called upon to pay a bribe to any +other country, and thus to purchase the Unity of Germany. As long as I +am the Prussian minister, as long as I influence the fate of Germany," +he cried, "such a bribe shall not be paid, under whatever form it may +be disguised! That is my private opinion," he added, "you thus see it +would be quite superfluous to express the ideas you proposed to me in +any official way; the answer of the Prussian Government would be +exactly the same as that I have just given you." + +"Your excellency," said Monsieur Hansen, who was evidently disconcerted +at the count's decided refusal to continue the discussion, "I am really +grateful to you for the regard you have shown to the national feeling's +of Denmark, and I honestly desire to do you a service in this matter. I +wish you to understand," he continued gravely, "that from what I know +of the state of affairs, and the popular displeasure in Paris, war will +sooner or later be unavoidable, if this last basis of a favourable +understanding with France is refused. I may affirm, with the fullest +conviction, war can then be only a question of time." + +Count Bismarck stood up, his eyes flashed proudly. + +"Then let war come," he cried firmly; "I fear it not, and never will I +avoid it by sacrificing the honour of Germany! The valiant armies of +Prussia and of her allies, who smote Austria, will take the field +against France with far greater enthusiasm, if we are forced to do so. +You may tell that to anyone who is interested in knowing my views; but +you may also add, that no one prizes more highly than I do the good +understanding between France and Germany. The French and German nations +are formed rather to progress hand in hand, than to wrestle with each +other in deadly strife. I will do all in my power to maintain peace and +friendship,--all, except sacrificing the honour and dignity of +Germany." + +"I beg your excellency at least to believe that I have been actuated +only by the purest motives, in making a proposal I believed conducive +to the interests of both nations." + +"I thank you for it," said Bismarck politely; "it has served to clear +up the situation perfectly." + +Monsieur Hansen left the cabinet with a low bow. + +"He would play the same game with Germany that he did with Italy," +cried the count as soon as he was alone; "but from me he shall gain +neither a Savoy nor a Nice!" + +He left his cabinet, and repaired to his wife's drawing-room. + +The ladies with Baron von Keudell sat around the tea-table. + +The count entered, and greeted them affectionately. + +"Have you seen the new 'Kladderadatsch?'" asked the countess, pointing +to the well-known comic face upon a newspaper that lay on the table. + +The count seized it, and turned to the large picture on the last page. + +It represented an infirm old beggar, with the features of the Emperor +Napoleon, standing before the door of a house, hat in hand, asking an +alms. A window was open, and the minister-president was represented +looking from it with a movement of refusal, and beneath was printed, +"Nothing given away here." + +With a merry laugh, the count threw the paper on the table. + +"It is strange," he said, "how cleverly they often describe the +situation by a drawing. There is more told in this picture than in many +a long leading article." + +At one draught he emptied the crystal goblet of foaming beer which was +handed to him. + +"I must ask you a favour, Keudell," he said gravely: "will you play me +that Funeral March of Beethoven. You remember it. You played it one +evening before the war." + +Keudell rose with alacrity, and seated himself at the piano. + +Again the impressive chords of the mighty Hymn of Death arose,--the +ladies listened breathlessly. + +Count Bismarck drew himself to his full height; his grave, +strongly-marked features shone with enthusiasm. + +He drew a deep breath as Herr von Keudell ended. + +"Many heroes have fallen," he said, in a deep voice, "but the prize is +won,--their blood has not flowed in vain. Time has brought many +sorrows,--discords will still echo in the future. May the Almighty +resolve them into the glorious harmony of a great United Germany!" + +His voice swelled through the room,--the countess looked at him with +tearful eyes. Solemnly, and as if involuntarily, Keudell raised his +hands, and let them sink upon the keys. Then that War-cry of the Faith +arose, in the glorious tones in which the great Reformer expressed his +rooted confidence in the God of Battles. + +Count Bismarck raised his eyes upwards, a look of happiness passed over +his excited features, and, following the melody, his lips whispered +softly-- + + + "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, + Ein' starke Wehr und Waffen!" + + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Where the rifle-club holds its meetings.] + +[Footnote 2: The King of Saxony remained true to Napoleon, although +part of the Saxon troops went over to the Allies during the battle of +Leipsic.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + * * * * * + + CHISWICK PRESS:--PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS, + TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II), by +Gregor Samarow + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCEPTRE AND CROWN *** + +***** This file should be named 37724-8.txt or 37724-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/2/37724/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II) + A Romance of the Present Time + +Author: Gregor Samarow + +Release Date: October 11, 2011 [EBook #37724] +[Last updated: May 30, 2015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCEPTRE AND CROWN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/forsceptreandcr01samagoog<br> +<br> +2. Gregor Samarow is pseudonym of Johann Ferdinand Martin Oskar Meding.<br> +<br> +3. Translator of this work is Fanny Wormald. This is per an advertisement for +this book given on page xii. in "The Academy and literature, Volume 10," +December 16, 1876.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="20" style="border: 4px solid black; width:80%; margin-left:10%"> +<tr> +<td> +<h3>NEW NOVELS AT THE LIBRARIES.</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><b>VANESSA.</b> By the Author of "Thomasina," "Dorothy," &c. 2 vols. crown +8vo.</p> + + +<p class="hang1"><b>IDOLATRY:</b> A Romance. By <span class="sc">Julian Hawthorne</span>, Author of "Bressant." 2 vols. +crown 8vo.</p> +<div style="margin-left:1em"> +<p class="normal">"A more powerful book than 'Bressant.' ... If the figures are mostly +phantoms, they are phantoms which take a more powerful hold on the mind +than many very real figures.... There are three scenes in this romance, +any one of which would prove true genius."--<i>Spectator</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The character of the Egyptian, half mad and all wicked, is remarkably +drawn.... Manetho is a really fine conception.... That there are +passages of almost exquisite beauty here and there is only what we +might expect."--<i>Athenĉum</i>.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="hang1"><b>WOMAN'S A RIDDLE:</b> or, Baby Warmstrey. By <span class="sc">Philip Sheldon</span>. 3 vols. crown +8vo.</p> +<div style="margin-left:1em"> +<p class="normal">"In the delineation of idiosyncrasy, special and particular, and its +effects on the lives of the personages of the story, the author may, +without exaggeration, be said to be masterly. Whether in the long +drawn-out development of character in the every-day life of the persons +of the drama, or in the description of peculiar qualities in a single +pointed sentence, he is equally skilful; while where pathos is +necessary, he has it at command, and subdued sly humour is not +wanting."--<i>Morning Post</i>.</p> +</div> + +<p class="hang1"><b>AILEEN FERRERS.</b> By Susan Morley. 2 vols. cr. 8vo.</p> +<div style="margin-left:1em"> +<p class="normal">"Her novel rises to a level far above that which cultivated women with +a facile pen ordinarily attain when they set themselves to write a +story.... Its grammar is faultless, its style is pure, flowing, terse, +and correct, there is not a line of fine writing from beginning to end, +and there is a total absence of anything like moralising, or the +introduction of pretty ineffectual sermons.... It is as a study of +character, worked out in a manner that is free from almost all the +usual faults of lady writers, that 'Aileen Ferrers' merits a place +apart from its innumerable rivals."--<i>Saturday Review</i>.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="W20"> + +<h3>HENRY S. KING <span class="sc">and</span> CO. LONDON.</h3></td> +</tr></table> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="line-height:400%"> +<h1><i>FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN</i></h1> + +<h2>A ROMANCE OF THE PRESENT TIME.</h2> + +<h3>TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF</h3> +</div> + +<h3>GREGOR SAMAROW.</h3> + +<br> +<br> +<h4>IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3 style="line-height:200%">HENRY S. KING AND CO.<br> +<span class="sc">65, Cornhill, and 12, Paternoster Row, London</span>.<br> +1875.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center">(<i>All rights reserved</i>.)</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="20" style="width:80%; margin-left:10%"> +<colgroup><col style="width:15%; text-align:right"><col style="width:85%"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><h2>CONTENTS OF VOL. II.</h2></td> +<td>Chapter</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">Delay</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">Langensalza</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15">Suspense</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XVI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16">Intrigue</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XVII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17">Defeat</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XVIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18">Diplomacy</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19">Bismarck's Diplomacy</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_20" href="#div1_20">The Crisis</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_21" href="#div1_21">Reconciliation</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_22" href="#div1_22">Russia</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_23" href="#div1_23">The Marshals of France</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_24" href="#div1_24">The Empress Charlotte</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_25" href="#div1_25">The Sick and Wounded</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_26" href="#div1_26">Instruments of the Church</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_27" href="#div1_27">Hietzing</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_28" href="#div1_28">Blechow</a>.</td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_29" href="#div1_29">"God and the Fatherland!"</a> +</td></tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">DELAY</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Events did indeed hurry on during those memorable days, and +history +took as many forward steps in the annals of the world in hours as she +had formerly done in years. General von Manteuffel marched from the +north; General Vogel von Falckenstein occupied Hanover, and took +possession of the government of the country, the king having commanded +all magistrates to keep in their various positions; General Beyer +concentrated his divided forces in Hesse; General von Seckendorf +occupied the country from Magdeburg to Nordhausen, and from Erfurt a +part of the garrison and a battery of artillery marched to Eisenach, +and there joined the troops of the Duke of Coburg-Gotha, to block the +road to the south against the Hanoverian army.</p> + +<p class="normal">Orders flew from Berlin to the different generals in command, and quick +and unanimous movements were made throughout the Prussian army, their +aim being to strengthen every point of a circle they were forming +around the Hanoverian army, which continually grew stronger and drew +closer together.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, only the quickest and most direct road to Fulda remained open.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the brave-spirited army still lay in Göttingen and its immediate +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general staff worked day and night to prepare it for the march. +Certainly the younger officers and men boiled with impatience, and +could not understand why the regiments, after making such a sudden +march from their various quarters to Göttingen, were not able to march +on by a perfectly open road to the south. Certainly old General Brandis +shook his head, and said it would be better to break through the enemy +with an army unprepared to march, than to be hemmed in with an army +prepared to march. Certainly he hinted that the soldiers of the great +Wellington had, according to every rule, frequently been unprepared to +march, yet they had marched, fought, and conquered. Truly the king +gnashed his teeth with impatience; he could do nothing, the ruler whose +eyes were deprived of light by the hand of Heaven, but question and +urge, and again urge and question.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the general staff in the aula of Georgia Augusta proved to good +General von Arentschildt that, according to all existing rules, the +army was not yet ready to march. The rules lay before them, and the +general staff was right; and General von Arentschildt told the king the +army could not march yet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general staff waited, too, for the advance of the Hessians and +Bavarians, to combine with the Hanoverian army.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was obliged to wait in silent impatience in his rooms at the +Crown Hotel.</p> + +<p class="normal">The troops, in their quarters and cantonments, waited, and their +impatience was not silent; on the contrary, the air resounded with good +hearty oaths, and impatience was loudest and liveliest amongst the +cavalry regiments, where the snorting horses pawed the ground, and the +men thought they had but to spring into the saddle to be as ready to +march as any cavalry in the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">They all waited.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen waited for some relenting on the part of Prince Ysenburg. +He had sent an explanation about the Prussian ultimatum from Göttingen +to the prince, and he hoped it might be the means of recommencing +negotiations; but on the second day the explanation itself came back, +opened, it is true, but with the short and cold remark from Prince +Ysenburg that after the declaration of hostilities all his diplomatic +functions had ceased, and that he was no longer in a position to +receive writings from the Hanoverian minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">So they all waited, and impatience waxed hotter in the army still +unprepared to march; but so much had been neglected and left +disorderly--so the new leaders of the army found and maintained--that, +in spite of all this and all that, they still could not march.</p> + +<p class="normal">The courier Duve went on his way without meeting a Prussian soldier; he +found the Hessian head-quarters not in Fulda, but in Hanau, and there +General von Lossberg declared he could not alter the disposition +of the army, as Prince Alexander of Hesse had already assumed the +command,--besides the army of Hesse-Cassel was immovable.</p> + +<p class="normal">The courier hastened on; and in Frankfort he delivered to Baron Kübeck, +the Austrian presidential ambassador to the confederacy, the despatches +confided to him by Count Ingelheim, and he received from Herr von +Kübeck an urgent memorial to Prince Alexander of Hesse, who was then in +Darmstadt. Duve told the prince all about the position of the +Hanoverian army, which was entirely unknown to him. Prince Alexander +sent a message, that he would request the Bavarians, who were at +Schweinfurth, to march towards the north, and that the eighth corps +d'armée at Fulda should march upon Eschwege immediately, to stretch out +a hand to the Hanoverian army; and finally, that the Hessian brigade +should be pushed forwards from Hanau to Giessen as a demonstration.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was expected in Prince Alexander's head-quarters that the Hanoverian +army would march immediately on the road to Fulda, there join the +Hessian brigade, and unite with the eighth army corps. The road to +Fulda was free, and only a portion of General Beyer's divided corps +could have been met with, and it was improbable that it would have +hazarded an encounter.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was the way they reckoned in Prince Alexander's head-quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the new Hanoverian generals decided otherwise in the aula of +Georgia Augusta. News had arrived partly from travellers, partly from +messengers sent to ascertain, that 60,000, 80,000, yes 100,000 Prussian +troops blocked the way to Fulda; so it was decided not to take that +road, but to march into the midst of the Prussian territory between the +Prussian armies, and to get to Eisenach by Heiligenstadt and Treffurt, +there to cross the road and to fall in with the Bavarians, from whom +they had received no information; but they remained persuaded that they +must be there.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain old General von Brandis shook his head, and remarked in his +curt fashion, that an army who wished to fight must learn to stand up +to the enemy; that if Prussian troops were on the road to Fulda, it was +one of Wellington's practical maxims for conducting war, "to go on;" +that, at any rate, they had a better chance of overthrowing the enemy +and reaching the south that way, than by jumping out of the frying-pan +into the fire, as they seemed determined to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general staff unanimously determined to march to Heiligenstadt, and +the king consented.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the army was to move on the morning of the 21st of June, at +four o'clock, and a general cry of joy throughout all the quarters and +cantonments greeted the order to march.</p> + +<p class="normal">In exemplary order, as on parade, the valiant brigades formed. The king +left Göttingen about five o'clock, the senate of the university and the +civic magistrates assembling to take leave of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a brilliant and dazzling procession which in the early morning +light crossed into the Prussian territory.</p> + +<p class="normal">A half squadron of the Cambridge dragoons formed the body-guard of +their royal master.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mounted on a large and beautiful white horse, which was guided by Major +Schweppe of the Guard Cuirassiers, with an almost imperceptible leading +rein, rode George V., with the proud knightly bearing which always gave +him so imposing and regal an aspect when on horseback; by his side came +the crown prince in his hussar uniform, on a small thorough-bred horse. +They were surrounded by a numerous suite, both civil and military; old +General von Brandis, notwithstanding his seventy-one years, had sent +back his carriage, and Count Ingelheim rode beside the king in a grey +dress and long stable boots. The brilliant cavalcade was followed by +the king's travelling carriage, drawn by six horses, with outriders and +piquers; and then a number of other carriages for the suite, led +horses, the master of the stables, and servants.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whenever the royal train passed the troops on the march, a loud, joyful +hurrah burst forth, and every brave soldier's heart beat higher when he +saw his king amongst them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The courageous but strategically puzzling march of the Hanoverian army +belongs to history, and is fully related in writings upon the war of +1866. It may perhaps be granted to future times to unriddle the +extraordinary movements made by the army, and perhaps to explain why +the march upon Treffurt was given up when they had reached +Heiligenstadt, and their course turned by Mühlhausen to Langensalza; +from thence right under the cannon of Erfurt they marched to Eisenach, +and then suddenly, when this place was as good as taken, they halted, +because an envoy from the Duke of Coburg-Gotha, without credentials, +appeared at the Hanoverian headquarters. Major von Jacobi was sent by +the Hanoverian general staff to Gotha to clear up this mission; and +there, deceived as to the number of Prussian troops occupying Eisenach, +he telegraphed such an account of the enemy to Colonel von Bülow, the +Hanoverian officer in command, that, misled by the report, he withdrew +his troops from Eisenach, and concluded a provisional armistice with +the enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, therefore,--so runs the official report of these events,--General +von Arentschildt arrived on the spot at about eight o'clock in the +evening, expecting to find Eisenach taken, he was opposed to +circumstances that completely defeated his plans, and contradicted all +his majesty's views, but which both the armistice just concluded and +the approaching night prevented him from grappling with.</p> + +<p class="normal">Major von Jacobi was brought before a court-martial, the course of +which was rendered impossible by succeeding events.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reception of the envoy, the negotiations commenced with him and +with the Duke of Coburg in the midst of military action, combined with +the withdrawal of the troops from Eisenach, caused the idea to gain +ground in Berlin that the king wished to negotiate; and King William of +Prussia, animated by the desire of avoiding a bloody encounter +with the Hanoverians, sent General von Alvensleben to the Hanoverian +head-quarters, situated on the 25th June at Gross-Behringen, on the +road to Eisenach.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the previous negotiations with the Duke of Coburg, and the +withdrawal of the Hanoverian troops, the Prussians had seized the +opportunity of reinforcing Eisenach so strongly that it was now very +difficult to take it.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Alvensleben announced himself in Bavaria as empowered by +his majesty the King of Prussia "to receive any commands from the King +of Hanover." The negotiations turned upon the proposition made by the +Hanoverian council of war, that the Hanoverian troops should be granted +a free passage to the south without battle or bloodshed, upon condition +of abstaining for a certain time from fighting against Prussia. Prussia +required that the time named should be a year, and demanded various +guarantees and pledges. The King of Hanover did not accept these +stipulations, yet negotiations were not broken off; on the contrary, a +suspension of hostilities was concluded, and the king promised a +definite answer on the morning of the 26th of June. But when he +despatched Colonel Rudorff, of the general staff, early in the morning +of the 26th, he was turned back by General Vogel von Falckenstein, who +had already arrived in Eisenach and concentrated there nearly two whole +divisions. He declared he know nothing of an armistice, and that he +should certainly attack the enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Hanoverian army was thus placed in a most unfavourable position. +The king, who had passed the night in Behringen, removed his +head-quarters early on the morning of the 26th to the Schützhaus<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> +in +Langensalza.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Schützhaus, a large and handsome building, stands back from the +road leading to Eisenach, at some little distance from the town; before +it is a large open square, and opposite to it rises the spacious +post-house. Behind the house there is a large garden surrounded by high +walls and covered walks, and a broad verandah connects the house with +the garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">Double sentries were posted before the Schützhaus; in the square stood +the royal carriages, and officers of every branch of the service +came and went; the aides-de-camp of the general in command, whose +head-quarters were in the town, hurried to and fro, to bring the king +the latest information,--all was movement and military life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The army was concentrated around Langensalza, and placed in a defensive +position, for as General Vogel von Falckenstein refused to recognize +the armistice, a Prussian attack was expected at any moment. After +Falckenstein had learnt from General von Alvensleben all particulars, +he declared himself willing to respect the suspension of arms; but the +defensive position of the Hanoverian army was nevertheless maintained.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king sat in his room. The expression on his face was very grave. +Old General von Brandis stood near him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Brandis," said the king gloomily, "I fear we are in very evil +case!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! I am quite sure we are, your majesty!" replied the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear," continued the king, "that these unfortunate and involved +negotiations have only served to give the Prussians time to strengthen +the forces opposed to us, and to make our position worse. Without these +negotiations we should have taken Eisenach and perhaps we should by +this time have joined the Bavarians in safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We should certainly have done so," said the general drily. "Your +majesty will do me the justice to remember I always spoke strongly +against these negotiations," he continued. "According to my opinion +your majesty might negotiate or march; but to attempt both together +would never succeed. I cannot understand what these negotiations were +to lead to. I do not see their aim. To march to the south under the +obligation not to fight against Prussia for a certain time----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For two months," interrupted the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what good could it do?" pursued the general; "what reception could +we expect in South Germany if we arrived saying, 'Here we are, we want +maintenance and quarters, but we can't fight'? I really don't know," +said he with some bitterness, "what I should say to such a surprise +were I the general commanding the South German troops. I believe that +it would have been better to have stayed in Hanover."</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight look of impatience passed over the king's face, but it +vanished immediately, and he said, kindly but gravely,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my dear Brandis, the commanding general and the general staff +assured me the army was unprepared to undertake any serious military +operation, and that after we reached South Germany eight weeks at least +would be required before it was in a condition to fight! It was for +this reason that I entered upon negotiations,--how could I do +otherwise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not venture," said the general, "to question your majesty's +decision or mode of action, but I must again repeat I do not understand +the theories which govern the general staff. The results of all their +labour are only negative, and their movements continual retreats. Yet, +your majesty," he cried, "we want to go forwards! and to go forwards we +must march. To march straight on invigorates an army, to halt long in +one place wearies it, but aimless marching hither and thither will in +the end demoralize it."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was silent and sighed deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said the general with warmth and energy, "there is but +one way now which can save us, and that is a hasty march upon Gotha. +The Prussians expect from our previous operations that we shall work +across the railway near Eisenach, and they have drawn together their +greatest strength in that direction. Let your majesty at once direct +your course by forced marches upon Gotha, we shall find but little +resistance, and we shall break through it. We have nineteen thousand +men; even if we lose four thousand, we shall still reach--and of this I +am certain--South Germany with fifteen thousand men; we shall bring +immediate assistance, and above all things we shall maintain the honour +of your majesty's banner in the field. If we stay here," he added +sorrowfully, "we must end badly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the negotiations with Alvensleben," said the king +hesitating,--"Count Platen still hopes for a favourable result."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What result?" exclaimed General von Brandis; "the results of the +negotiations on either side have not been brilliant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Platen!" announced the groom of the chambers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king made a sign, and Count Platen entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," he cried, "the Prussian Colonel von Döring has arrived +as an envoy from Berlin, and brings a despatch from Count Bismarck; it +appears that in Berlin they still wish to negotiate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the colonel come immediately," said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">General Brandis shrugged his shoulders and walked to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen returned with the Prussian staff-officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Colonel von Döring!" said the count, introducing him, whilst he +approached the king with a stiff military salute; "he begs permission +to read your majesty a despatch from the minister-president, Count +Bismarck."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am prepared to listen, colonel," replied the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel opened a paper which he held in his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must first remark to your majesty," he said, "that I consider myself +freed from my charge, as I find negotiations are broken off, and +General Vogel von Falckenstein already meditating an attack."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your communication then will be useless?" asked the king coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, if your majesty permits, I will carry out my orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even yet----" began Count Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Read, colonel," said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel slowly read the despatch. It was an exact repetition of the +ultimatum received through Prince Ysenburg on the 15th, and proposed a +treaty on the foundation of the Prussian project of reform.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does this man believe," cried the king, as the colonel ended, "that I +shall now----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Colonel von Döring in a firm voice, "I humbly beg +you graciously to consider that I, as a Prussian officer, cannot hear +any derogatory expression applied to the minister-president."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he not a man like ourselves?" asked the king, with dignity. "Does +Count Bismarck believe," he continued, "that I shall in the field, at +the head of my army, accept conditions which I rejected in my cabinet +at Herrenhausen, and that I shall now allow my army to march against +Austria?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could not a short time be granted for consideration?" suggested Count +Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no orders for granting time," said Colonel von Döring.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I do not need it," said the king, "in giving you my answer. It is +the same as before; it is to these propositions simply 'No.' I have +listened to negotiations in the hope of preventing useless bloodshed +and diminishing the burdens of our countrymen, but upon this basis I +cannot negotiate; events must take their course, I can do nothing more +to restrain them. I thank you, colonel, and I wish I had made your +acquaintance on a happier occasion. Take care, gentlemen," he added, +turning to Count Platen and General Brandis, "that the colonel is led +in safety to our outposts."</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel von Döring made a military salute and left the king's room, +accompanied by the two ministers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Ingelheim walked thoughtfully to and fro before the house, and +looked up from time to time with an anxious expression at the king's +windows. Groups of officers stood around in animated conversation. They +knew that a Prussian envoy was with the king, and all these brave young +officers, thirsting for the battle, feared nothing more than that they +should capitulate without fighting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We could never again be seen in a Hanoverian uniform," cried a young +officer of one of the Guard regiments with a rosy childish face, as he +stamped with his foot, "if we were ensnared without drawing the sword, +as in a mousetrap. We have been marching a fortnight, now here, now +there; now waiting for the Bavarians, then for the Hessians, and never +going forwards. So much was expected from this new commander; and +now ..."</p> + +<p class="normal">An eager young officer on a swift horse galloped up in the Guard Jäger +uniform, the star of a commander of the order of Ernest Augustus on his +breast. He threw himself from the saddle, gave his horse to his +servant, who had hastened after him, and walked up to the group of +officers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, prince," cried the lieutenant in the Guards, "where do you come +from so hastily?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have ridden out a little amongst the troops," replied Prince Hermann +von Solms-Braunfels, the king's youngest nephew, as he endeavoured to +seize the down just shading his upper lip with his fingers. "I am in +despair, for in spite of my earnest request the king has commanded me +to be here at head-quarters, but from time to time I must escape into +the free life of the camp, and enjoy a little fresh air. Where are you +stationed, Herr von Landesberg?" he inquired of the young lieutenant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here in Langensalza," he replied, "fretting over the inactivity +imposed upon us by the general staff. The king should just listen to +us, the young officers of the army; he would soon be convinced that the +army was ready both to march and to fight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God knows it is so," exclaimed an hussar officer, drawing his long +moustache through his fingers; "I cannot comprehend why we have a +general staff only to arrange such marches as we have made. I have +heard an old story of the Crusaders, or some such people," continued +the hussar drily, "who let a goose go before them, and followed the +line of march pursued by the fowl. That was both a simpler and a kinder +course, for now they strip the poor bird of its feathers and write with +them night and day--and nothing more clever comes of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, there comes the Prussian envoy back!" cried Herr von Landesberg, +and the officers approached the Schützhaus, at the door of which +Colonel Döring, accompanied by General von Brandis and Count Platen, +appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst General von Brandis called the carriage and ordered a guard of +four dragoons to accompany it, Count Platen politely took leave of the +Prussian colonel and hastened to Count Ingelheim, who met him full of +anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was the ultimatum of the 15th over again," cried the minister to +the Austrian ambassador.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And...?" asked Count Ingelheim.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it was at once declined," exclaimed Count Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then these luckless negotiations are over at last?" asked Count +Ingelheim, watching with secret relief Colonel von Döring's carriage as +it rolled away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite at an end," said Count Platen, as he sighed slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, dear count," proceeded the ambassador, "that in my +opinion your position here is a very serious one? You are in a corner +between the Prussian armies, and I see only <i>one</i> way out; that is by a +hasty march upon Gotha."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, the king is quite ready to go forward, but the general staff----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would to heaven!" cried Count Ingelheim energetically, "that his +majesty had retained his old officers; I do not believe that +Tschirschnitz would have allowed these constantly retrograde marches."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said Count Platen, with a slight shrug, "it is so difficult for +me to do anything in military affairs. In Göttingen the wish seemed +universal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The wish is universal to act and to march; do you see that knot of +officers? I am sure they are of my opinion;" and he pointed out a group +in which Lieutenant von Landesberg was just expressing his joy at the +envoy's departure, and his hopes of speedy action.</p> + +<p class="normal">Prince Hermann left the officers and joined Platen and Ingelheim.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The envoy is not coming back again?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, prince," cried Count Ingelheim, "I hope he is the last."</p> + +<p class="normal">Four post-horses dashed quickly along the road, drawing a close +carriage with a servant in travelling livery upon the box.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is this?" cried Count Platen, with surprise, and all eyes turned +upon the carriage as it drew up before the house. The servant sprang +down and opened the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">An old gentleman in travelling dress, wrapped in a large Havelock +cloak, his white head covered with a black cap, got out slowly and +looked around as if seeking for something.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Persiany!" exclaimed Prince Hermann.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens, Persiany!" cried Count Platen, with amazement; then, +with a pleased look and hasty footstep he met and welcomed the Emperor +of Russia's ambassador at the Hanoverian court.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does he want here?" asked Count Ingelheim; and a dark cloud +passed over his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It looks well for us, as far as the inclinations of Russia go," said +the prince; "and," he continued, with a smile, "he is at least no +Prussian envoy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knows?" murmured Count Ingelheim. And an investigating look +followed Count Platen's meeting with Persiany.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At last I have found you, my dear count," cried the Russian +ambassador, an old gentleman with strongly marked features and dark +piercing eyes, which now wore an expression of the greatest anxiety. +"Thank God that this horrible journey is at an end." And he held out a +hand trembling with weakness to the minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will never believe what I have gone through," he continued, as he +took off his cloak, "in that dreadful carriage, always delayed by the +movements of the troops, without sleep, without proper nourishment, at +my age."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said Count Platen, "you can now rest at least; we cannot offer +you much, our head-quarters are not rich in comforts----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But first," interrupted Monsieur de Persiany, "where is his majesty? I +beg an immediate audience; I come by the command of my gracious master +and emperor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen looked surprised, and listened attentively; then he +exclaimed,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come with me, I will at once announce your arrival to his majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave his arm to the old gentleman, who trembled from exhaustion, and +assisted him in mounting the stairs leading to the upper rooms of the +Schützhaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the ante-room Monsieur de Persiany sank into a chair. Count Platen +entered the king's apartment and found him resting on a sofa. Lex sat +near him, reading aloud.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me for disturbing you, your majesty," said the minister, "but +Monsieur de Persiany is here at the command of the Emperor Alexander, +and he requests an immediate audience."</p> + +<p class="normal">George V. rose, an expression of joy shining in his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?" he cried, with animation,--"and what does he bring? let him come +in!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen led the Russian ambassador into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Welcome to the camp, my dear Monsieur de Persiany!" cried the king, +holding out his hand to him as he entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentleman seized it, and said, in trembling voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good God, your majesty! what times are these? how painful it is to me +to see you under such circumstances!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His hand shook and tears glittered in his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur de Persiany is much exhausted by his journey, your majesty," +said Count Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king seated himself on the sofa, and exclaimed,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray sit down, Monsieur de Persiany, you are in want of refreshment. +Lex, go and find a glass of wine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, I thank your majesty most humbly," said the old +gentleman, as he sank into a chair as if quite exhausted. "I shall find +something by and by. Now let me impart to your majesty all that the +emperor, my gracious master, has commanded me to say. I was to seek +your head-quarters, and to assure you of his friendly sympathy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor is very good," said the king; "I recognize in this the +friendship he has always shown me, and to which my whole heart +responds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor commanded me," continued Persiany, with labouring breath, +"to place myself at your majesty's disposal, as he understood +negotiations were being carried on with Prussia, and thought the +intervention of a neutral power, friendly alike to both sovereigns----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's brow clouded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Negotiations have been broken off," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens!" cried Persiany, "I have come too late!" And he sank +back in his chair as if broken down by the thought that his fatiguing +journey had been in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it then quite impossible to prevent bloodshed?" he asked, folding +his trembling hands; "the emperor firmly believes that the king +of Prussia is desirous of coming to an understanding, and if your +majesty----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Monsieur de Persiany," said the king, "I do not know how I +could again commence negotiations. The Prussians, just before your +arrival, offered me the ultimatum which I could not accept on the 15th, +and I have again refused it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God! my God!" cried Persiany, "what a misfortune it is at such a +moment to be so old and feeble, no longer master of my nerves. Possibly +through my mediation you might again----" He could add no more, his +voice failed him, he was almost fainting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear ambassador," said the king, in a gentle voice, "I thank you +heartily for the rapid and fatiguing journey you have undertaken in +order to prove to me the friendship and amiable wishes of the emperor; +but at present nothing can be done. You stand greatly in need of rest +and refreshment, I beg you to withdraw. Count Platen will take care of +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, I thank your majesty," said Persiany, rising with +difficulty; "I stand in need of a little nourishment. I shall soon be +<i>à mon aise</i>; under all circumstances I am at your majesty's disposal."</p> + +<p class="normal">His strength threatened to fail him, he took Count Platen's arm, and +was led by him into a room in which a bed was prepared, upon which the +exhausted old man immediately fell into a slumber, whilst his servant +repaired to the meagrely supplied kitchen in search of some refreshment +with which to restore his master's strength when he awoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen sought the Austrian ambassador as he paced up and down the +garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, some new negotiation, is it not so?" asked Count Ingelheim, +casting a penetrating glance at the minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It appears," he replied, "that in St. Petersburg, either from their +own inclination or the wish of Prussia, they desire to mediate--perhaps +Colonel von Döring's mission was connected--but at all events----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear count," interrupted the Austrian ambassador gravely; "I +refrained from any remark whilst negotiations continued; they were, in +form at least, of a military nature; you see the military position into +which these negotiations have led you; you are shut in between the +Prussian armies, crushed--if you do not quickly seize the only way in +which lies safety. Will you give the enemy time to close the only road +now open, that leading to Gotha, by again commencing negotiations? +Besides, this time," he added, "the affair is political, and I must +seriously call your attention to its political results. The former +negotiations have placed your military position in great danger; shall +your political position be also imperilled? What will be said in +Vienna, if even at this moment no reliance can be placed on Hanover; +and if through the mediation of Russia, negotiations are again begun +with Prussia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But not the smallest negotiation is begun," said Count Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because good old Persiany is asleep," said Count Ingelheim; "because +he has no nerve. But when he wakes, I beg you, Count Platen, send this +Russian mediator away; do you still hope to find any support except in +Austria? or do you wish to be excluded from her sympathy, and from the +benefits to be gained by the great struggle about to take place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I ask you, on what excuse?" said Count Platen hesitatingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"On what excuse?" cried Count Ingelheim; "the sickly old man will +accept any excuse with thankfulness that sends him out of this noise, +these hardships, and the near neighbourhood of cannon. Consider," he +continued urgently, "what will be said in Vienna, by the emperor, who +builds so strongly upon Hanover, by all your friends in society, who +count so much upon you, the Schwarzenbergs, the Dietrichsteins, +Countess Mensdorff, Countess Clam-Gallas----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Persiany shall go!" exclaimed Count Platen; "they know in Vienna my +devotion to Austria; in the exposed position of Hanover----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is best to hold firmly to one side or the other," said Count +Ingelheim, "and to gain a sure friend, even at the twelfth hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go to the king," said Count Platen, and he walked slowly +towards the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Ingelheim looked after him, and shook his head slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he only meets no one on the way," he said to himself. "I fear," he +added, continuing his soliloquy, "I fear matters here will not end +well; there is no connecting link between the heroic king and his brave +army; this general staff is ignorant of war, it knows but one maxim, to +get out of the enemy's way whenever he shows himself; and the crown +prince----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He sighed deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"However," he added, "we have always gained something. The Hanoverian +campaign has cost Prussia much time; has absorbed many troops; all this +is clear gain on our side; the occupation of the country absorbs much +of its strength; above all things an understanding, a political +arrangement, must be prevented which would leave the enemy's hands free +here in the north. But here comes my northern colleague!" And he +hastened to meet the Russian ambassador as he came out of the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur de Persiany had slept a little, had refreshed his toilette a +little, and had eaten a little, and he looked much fresher than before. +But his footsteps were still uncertain as he walked to meet Count +Ingelheim.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Welcome to head-quarters, my dear colleague," cried the latter, as he +held out his hand; "the corps diplomatique is well represented--I was +its only member up to this time! You are fatigued by the journey, are +you not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tired to death!" cried Persiany, as he sank upon a garden seat, where +Count Ingelheim placed himself at his side; "tired to death, and it +does not appear that they have much to revive one here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, that there certainly is not," said Count Ingelheim; "the whole day +noise, trumpet calls, bugle sounds----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Horrible!" exclaimed Persiany.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And at night no bed, or at best a hard straw mattress."</p> + +<p class="normal">Persiany folded his hands and raised his eyes to heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are only slight disagreeables which we scarcely think of," said +Count Ingelheim.</p> + +<p class="normal">Persiany looked at him with an expression of great surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be much more unpleasant when action really begins, when real +fighting commences," said the Austrian diplomatist; "the king is +certain to be in the midst, and we must of course be with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think we should really be in danger?" asked Persiany, "our +diplomatic character----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will scarcely preserve me from imprisonment," said Count Ingelheim; +"for we are at war with Prussia. With you it is somewhat different: you +are certain to be treated with consideration, so soon as you have +identified yourself before a commander of troops. But in the mêlée!..." +And he shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Should we really have cause to fear?" asked Persiany.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear colleague," replied Count Ingelheim, sighing slightly, and +casting a penetrating look at the Russian diplomatist, "a cannon ball, +the pistol of an hussar, the sword of a cuirassier, little heed the +diplomatic character."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" cried Persiany. "But if fighting begins I scarcely think I +ought to remain here; we are at peace with Prussia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will come suddenly, I think, and without much warning; there will +be no choice," said Count Ingelheim drily. "I do not believe our lives +will be actually in danger; but really it will be sufficiently +unpleasant to hear the noise of battle--to see the blood--the +corpses----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Persiany fell back on the bench, and his white lips trembled as he +thought of such a trial to his nerves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder if they have some soda-water here?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not think so," said Count Ingelheim; "we do not find such things, +and the small store they have is carefully put aside for the wounded in +the approaching engagement. At the king's table we have thin beer, cold +beef, and baked potatoes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" cried Persiany.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Ingelheim shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would you have?" said he; "you cannot expect good dinners in the +midst of war; besides, we sportsmen are accustomed----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I am not a sportsman!" cried Persiany.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here comes Count Platen," exclaimed the Austrian ambassador; "perhaps +he will bring us some news."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen came and begged the Russian ambassador, who was greatly +shaken by Count Ingelheim's descriptions, to accompany him to the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not believe further negotiations are possible?" asked Persiany, +as he ascended the steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not think the king will permit anything to be attempted," replied +Count Platen, after a short hesitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then----" said M. de Persiany--but he could not express his thoughts, +for they had reached the door of the king's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Monsieur de Persiany," said George V., "I sent for you in +order----I hope, though, you are somewhat rested."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank your majesty," said Persiany, sighing; "I am a little +stronger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I sent for you," said the king, "to thank you for the zeal which +caused you to undertake a journey, doubly fatiguing to one of your +years, and in your weak health, for the purpose of expressing to me the +emperor's friendly regard, and his hearty desire to mediate. I would +also beg you to remain longer at my head-quarters----"</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight flush passed over Persiany's face; he gasped.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If," continued the king, "there were the least possibility of +negotiating, after Colonel von Döring had been the bearer of a proposal +again based on the Prussian project of reform, which I had already +declined. Also the envoy considered his commission actually annulled +before he delivered it. I should therefore only torment you, and injure +your health uselessly, by exposing you to the tumult and fatigues of +war, if I kept you with me. I beg you therefore to return to Hanover. +Your advice will be useful to the queen. Pray thank the emperor most +heartily and sincerely for his sympathy and friendship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your majesty is really of opinion that all hope of negotiation is +over, that I should be useless to you, and that I might perhaps be of +service to her majesty the queen in Hanover----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is quite my opinion," said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it were possible," said Persiany, "that perhaps the course of +events,--opposed to a superior power,--still the moment for negotiation +might come,--it would be my duty to remain,--and only your majesty's +distinct command----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it must be so," said the king, "I give this command; set out +immediately, and tell the queen how you found me and the army."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must obey," cried Persiany. "I pray God to bless your majesty, +and to guide things to a happy termination."</p> + +<p class="normal">With great emotion the old gentleman seized the hand the king offered +him, and a tear fell upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king smiled good-humouredly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what a true affection you bear towards me and my family. God +protect you--and your emperor!" he added heartily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Persiany returned with Count Platen to the garden, where Count +Ingelheim awaited them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, my dear colleague," he cried, "you look much more cheerful. Are +you growing reconciled to camp life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king has dismissed me," said Persiany; "he sends me back to +Hanover; my old carcass will no longer undergo such trials. But," he +added, turning to Count Platen, "by the way that I came, by the same +will I not return; send me to Gotha. I will get to Frankfort, from +there perhaps to Umwegen, but yet it will be the quickest and safest +road. I must set out at once. I may be of use in Hanover."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentlemen pressed Count Ingelheim's hand, and tripped hastily +to the house, leaning on Count Platen's arm. His carriage and a guard +were soon ready.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The storm has blown over," said Count Ingelheim, rubbing his hands, +and laughing as he looked after the Russian ambassador; "yes, if they +wish to succeed in diplomacy in these times, they must send people with +strong muscles and firm nerves."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he walked with youthful elasticity towards the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later the king hold a council of war. He assembled the general +in command, the general staff, the adjutant-general, and General von +Brandis. He also requested Count Platen, Count Ingelheim, and Herr +Meding to be present.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king urged an immediate advance upon Gotha. General von Brandis, +Colonel Dammers, and all the non-military gentlemen strongly supported +the king's opinion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel Cordemann, the chief of the general staff, insisted strongly +that the army, in consequence of its exhausting marches and scanty +food, could not possibly undertake offensive movements, and that their +course was to take up a defensive position, and make a courageous +defence if attacked. The whole of the general staff agreed with the +chief, and the general in command stated that under existing +circumstances he could not be responsible for the consequences of an +onward march.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king gave his consent to the dispositions agreed upon with a sigh, +but he declared that he would pass the night amongst his troops, and +about midnight, accompanied by the whole of his suite, their royal +master established himself amongst his soldiers for the night.</p> + +<p class="normal">The royal bivouac was in a corn-field near to Merxleben, and everyone +listened with anxious expectation until the morning dawned.</p> + +<p class="normal">All was quiet. The outposts sent in no news of any movement on the part +of the enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">About four o'clock in the morning one of the emissaries sent out +several days before towards the south, returned with the intelligence +that the Bavarians had been seen advancing in several detachments, and +that even on the 25th they had reached Bacha. The complete inactivity +of the enemy seemed to support this information, and it was believed +the Prussian forces were drawn away in that direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">This idea gave great satisfaction in head-quarters, and it was +determined to wait in a strong position for the confirmation of the +intelligence and the approach of the Bavarians. General von Brandis +alone shook his head, and opined that if the Bavarians were advancing +and the Prussians occupied in the south, it was a stronger reason for +hastening as quickly as possible to meet them, and stretching towards +them a helping hand, before the overwhelming Prussian forces could come +down upon them from the north.</p> + +<p class="normal">The order was given to erect batteries, and the king and his suite, +exhausted by a sleepless night, repaired to Thamsbrück, a small village +on the banks of the Unstrut, and there the king took up his quarters in +the Pfarrhaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clear and brilliant rose the sun on the 27th of June, and his first +rays lighted up the varied changing picture of the Hanoverian army +encamped around Langensalza.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">LANGENSALZA</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">At about five in the morning the king withdrew to the quiet +Pfarrhaus +on the hill at Thamsbrück, and retired to rest. From the dispositions +made by the general staff a delay of several days was expected, with +probably some defensive fighting, whilst tidings were awaited of a more +certain nature from the Bavarians.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beneath a large and ancient linden-tree in front of the pastor's house +the king's suite were assembled, discussing an extremely simple but +much-relished breakfast.</p> + +<p class="normal">A large table covered with a white cloth bore a coffee service of +blue and white pottery, such as is traditional in all primitive old +country-houses in North Germany, and the perfume which arose from the +large pot standing on an ancient-looking chafing-dish was certainly not +from Mocha.</p> + +<p class="normal">A ham, a few sausages, a large black loaf, and a small piece of butter +completed the provisions, over which Count Erhardt Wedel presided with +the strictest impartiality.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole party did honour to the breakfast, with appetites rarely seen +at the chamberlain's table at Herrenhausen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There seems to be an immense proportion of water in this beverage," +said General von Brandis, gazing with curiosity at the brown fluid in +his blue cup.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the coffee has too much water, it makes up for the dryness of the +sausage," remarked Count Ingelheim, as he attempted to cut a slice with +his pocket-knife, but the stony nature of the sausage successfully +resisted all his efforts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least the drink is warm," said Count Platen, as pale and shivering +he sipped the smoking coffee.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know that warm water is much better than cold," grumbled +General Brandis, without making up his mind to put his cup to his lips. +"It has its merits as an outward application, but to drink it without a +prudent admixture of some stimulating body is unpleasant, especially so +early in the morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency shares the prejudices of the ancient legions against +water," said Count Wedel, laughing. "They used to say, as water was so +unpleasant when it got into their boots, how much more disagreeable it +would be if it got into their stomachs!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wellington's veterans lived before the discovery of hydropathy," said +little Herr Lex, as he busied himself in overcoming a large piece of +ham.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were right!" cried General Brandis, with comic gravity. "Fire was +their element," he added, setting his cup down untasted upon the table; +"they did not carry on war with sugared water, as seems the present +fashion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I can offer your excellency a better drink for this chilly +morning," said Prince Hermann Solms, drawing out a field flask covered +with plaited straw. "I have a little excellent cognac left."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a help in need, my dear prince," cried the old gentleman, +smiling. "I will repay you some day!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince, hastening into the house, came back with a kettle full of +hot water, and he soon mixed the old general a glass of grog, with such +a homoeopathic allowance of water that his cheerfulness quite returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">A loud hurrah resounded from the stable-like buildings at one side of +the house, and the Crown Prince Ernest Augustus hurried from them and +joined the breakfast party.</p> + +<p class="normal">He carried his handkerchief carefully tied together in one hand, and +his cap in the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guess what I have here, gentlemen!" he cried, raising both hands above +his head. "Fresh eggs--just laid. Is it not a glorious find?" And he +emptied the cap and the handkerchief upon the table. "Now, shall we +boil them, or shall we make an omelette?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why any preparation?" said General Brandis, seizing an egg, +decapitating it with his sword, and hastily drinking the contents. "It +is easy to see that the present generation are unaccustomed to the +rigours of war."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Ingelheim followed his example.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be great fun, though, to make an omelette!" cried the crown +prince, holding his hands over the rest of his spoil.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! we have plenty of time," murmured General Brandis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen!" cried Meding, springing to his feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A cannon shot," said Count Ingelheim, putting his hand to his car.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" remarked the adjutant-general; "where should it come +from? The general staff does not expect an attack."</p> + +<p class="normal">A short, heavy, distant sound was heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are certainly guns!" cried Count Wedel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think they are beginning to growl," said General Brandis, rising and +drinking off the rest of his grog with a look of satisfaction. "It +would be as well to mount!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall his majesty be awakened?" asked Count Wedel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be time enough to call him if anything serious really +appears," said Colonel Dammers. "I will go up to the top of the house, +from whence one can overlook the whole plain."</p> + +<p class="normal">He entered the house; Prince Hermann followed him, and the others +listened anxiously to the sound of firing, which grew louder and more +distinct every moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After all, an omelette would be too much trouble," said the crown +prince, putting his eggs into the kettle, the contents of which had not +been much diminished by the general's grog. He placed it on the +chafing-dish and blew the charcoal, listening attentively for the water +to boil.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short time Colonel Dammers returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some strong columns are visible on the distant horizon; I can see +their arms glittering through the dust!" he cried. "His majesty must be +called."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Wedel hurried into the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Signals were heard from the plain. A general march was beginning in +various parts of the camp.</p> + +<p class="normal">George V. came out of the Pfarrhaus. They all approached the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," cried General Brandis, "I hear with joy the well-known +voice of cannon; it makes my old heart young again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's face expressed high courage and calm determination. He held +out his hand to the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hear this voice in earnest for the first time," he said; "but, my +dear general, my heart, too, beats higher at the sound. Now +negotiations are impossible. God be with us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He folded his hands and raised his head silently to heaven. All those +around him involuntarily followed his example.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sound of horse's hoofs was heard. An officer of the garde du corps, +springing from the saddle, informed the king, from the general in +command, that the enemy were drawing up in strong columns upon the road +from Gotha, and that the general begged his majesty to leave Thamsbrück +immediately, and to go to the hills behind Merxleben.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Wedel hurried away; the horses were saddled and the carriages +prepared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"General von Arentschildt further begs your majesty's commands and +instructions as to the capitulation which may be needful during the +action," said the aide-de-camp.</p> + +<p class="normal">General Brandis bit his moustache. Count Ingelheim stamped upon the +ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does he mean?" asked the king quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The general staff," continued the officer, "has represented to the +general that the troops are so worn out and badly fed that they may be +unable to endure the fatigue of battle; he therefore begs permission to +capitulate should he deem it needful. He has drawn up an instruction on +this point, and he begs your majesty to send it back to him signed." He +handed the king a paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king had closed his teeth firmly, and he drew his breath with a +sharp, almost hissing sound.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without the slightest movement of haste or anger he took the paper and +tore it through.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ride back to General Arentschildt," he said in a calm ringing voice, +"and tell him my commands, to resist to the last man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The officer's face brightened. With a military salute he turned sharply +round, sprang into the saddle, and galloped off.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now forwards! gentlemen," cried the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, have a new-laid egg!" And the crown prince, hurrying up, +offered the king a plate, on which was a specimen of his cooking.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eat it, your majesty," said General Brandis; "there is no saying when +or where you may get anything else." And he handed the king an egg, +after breaking the shell with the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king ate it and turned to the horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">They mounted and set out; dragoons preceded them and acted as a guard; +the carriages and the led horses followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the king rode out of the village of Thamsbrück, the artillery duel +had already fully commenced.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the hill above they saw the lines of the enemy's skirmishers +before the town of Langensalza. The enemy's batteries were on the +farther side of the Unstrut, and kept up an energetic fire, to which +the Hanoverian artillery replied from the opposite bank. The infantry +were engaged before the town, and the Hanoverian cavalry were seen on +one side slowly withdrawing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where shall we ride?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To a hill behind Merxleben, from whence we can overlook the whole +battle-field, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are going away from the thunder of the cannon!" said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a turn in the road to the left," replied Colonel Dammers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we must ride to the right to keep near the fighting," said the +king calmly, turning his head in the direction whence came the sound of +firing. "Schweppe," he said to the major of guard cuirassiers who held +his leading rein, "I command you to ride in that direction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no road, your majesty," he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we will ride through the fields." And the royal procession moved +on, in the direction the king had indicated.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sound of the cannon was heard nearer and nearer, mingled with the +rattle of small arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king and his suite rode to an eminence where the plain was bounded +by a chain of hills; the party being rendered conspicuous to both sides +from the dragoons, and the brilliant uniforms of the suite.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few balls flew over their heads and the horses began to be uneasy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly the enemy's artillery appeared to choose the king's party as +their mark, and shells flew thicker and thicker over them, striking the +ground now before them, now behind them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The adjutant-general sprang to the king's side.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty!" he cried, "we are under a heavy fire, I conjure your +majesty--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen and General von Brandis also implored the king to withdraw +from such imminent peril.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king reined in his horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole escort stood still.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can my troops see me here?" asked George V.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general, "your +majesty's position is visible from the whole of the plain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good," said the king, simply. And he quietly remained on the spot.</p> + +<p class="normal">The shells flew hissing through the air, the bullets of the small arms +whistled through the valley, and the frightened horses throwing up +their heads snorted and trembled; the blind king, the Guelphic prince, +who was ready to give his life for what his proud heart told him was +the right, halted upon the brow of the hill, motionless as a marble +statue, that his soldiers might see him.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a maddening hurrah the Hanoverian columns greeted the king as they +marched past him, and sank their waving banners low before their royal +master, who returned their greeting calmly and quietly each time it was +announced to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we stand here much longer," said Count Ingelheim to General +Brandis, "a ball will sooner or later solve the Hanoverian question in +a very simple manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, indeed!" replied Count Platen, looking at a shell that had fallen +unpleasantly near the king, "they are improving in their practice; but +if we venture to tell him so we shall have to stay here all the +longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said General Brandis, riding up to the king, "there is +a turn in the fighting, and I think your majesty would be more visible +upon the hill which was first selected for your position."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you quite sure, Brandis?" said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure your majesty would be in a better position there," replied +the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us go then!" cried the king, touching his horse with the spur; it +bounded forwards so rapidly that Major Schweppe had some difficulty in +holding the guiding rein.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their rapid pace soon brought them to the hill, near which the reserve +cavalry were placed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king rode on to the highest point. His suite surrounded him, some +dismounted, and followed the movements of the troops with field-glasses +and telescopes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriages were drawn up in a large semicircle.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king stood motionless. Not a feature of his pale, noble face +changed. The adjutant-general informed him of the course of the +fighting as far as it could be made out, the gentlemen of the suite +sometimes expressed by loud shouts the result of their observations, +but generally they imparted to each other in low tones their hopes and +fears.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst this was going on at head-quarters, the Duke of Cambridge's +dragoon regiment had been employed since the early morning in outpost +duty near the village of Hemingsleben, on the road leading from +Langensalza to Gotha.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before the village was the toll-house with its black and white bar +raised, and beside it stood the most advanced outpost.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lieutenant von Stolzenberg commanded the outpost, and with him was his +somewhat younger comrade Lieutenant von Wendenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">The morning sun shone brightly, and the two young officers stood near +their horses, gazing over the plain, which spread far around them, and +which was crossed by the grey band of the high road. Some straw lay on +the ground, but none of the provisions appeared which, on the evening +of their march into Göttingen, the young men had obtained for their +supper.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a weary, half-sleepy look, Wendenstein drew out his pocket flask, +took a good drink and handed it to his companion. Then taking a piece +of black bread from his pocket, and breaking it up, he slowly swallowed +one morsel after another.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, Stolzenberg," he said, with a slight shiver, "this sort +of warfare in the chill of dawn makes one feel far from courageous. We +did not think of such campaigning as this when we started."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave his horse a piece of bread moistened with brandy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, indeed!" said Stolzenberg with a sigh, as he took a sip from the +flask. "But where the devil did you get that horrid liquor from?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I found it at the inn in the village. What can you do? When your +cognac is at an end, you must put up with potato spirit. It is a shame +that we have nothing to eat and drink; there is plenty, but the +provision column never comes up, and when one has a hope of getting +something, the alarm is given; it is 'forwards!' again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forwards!" cried Stolzenberg, "I think we have not been going forwards +for long enough. And the beautiful flocks of sheep we saw on both sides +of the roads, and which we dare not touch for our lives! Donnerwetter!" +he cried, stamping his foot; "to be in an enemy's country and not to be +allowed to requisition the necessaries of life is too much!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you know," said Wendenstein, laughing, "that the general staff +has so much to do in getting out of the enemy's way, that it has no +time to remember that people must eat; and besides, it would really be +difficult for the provision columns to follow our very eccentric +march!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot imagine how the king is satisfied with such a method of +conducting a campaign," said Stolzenberg; "he wishes to go forwards, +and these changes hither and thither do not accord with his character."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our poor king!" said Wendenstein, sighing; "what can he do? If indeed +he could see--but as it is! It is really wonderful that he should go +through the fatigue of the campaign with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is that?" exclaimed Stolzenberg, raising his glass to his eyes, +and looking attentively across the plain. "Look over there, +Wendenstein, just behind the bend in the road. Do you not see a long +cloud of dust?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Wendenstein looked through his glass in the direction pointed out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see bayonets glittering through the dust!" he cried, energetically; +"Stolzenberg, old man, I believe it is the enemy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe it is!" he replied, still gazing at the distant cloud +of dust. "There is no doubt of it! A column of infantry, and +there!--artillery, too! Wendenstein, ride back at once, and say a +column of infantry and artillery are advancing on the road from Gotha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hurrah!" cried Wendenstein, as he sprang into the saddle and galloped +back to the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stolzenberg and his dragoons were in the saddle in a moment. Drawn up +in order upon the road, they looked anxiously over the plain. The cloud +of dust slowly grew nearer, and they could see more plainly the bright +flashing of the bayonets.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short time horsemen from the village joined the outpost. The +colonel in command of the regiment, Count Kielmansegge, came, +accompanied by his staff with Lieutenant von Wendenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look there, sir!" cried Stolzenberg, and pointed to the enemy's +approaching columns.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel looked earnestly for a moment through his glass.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is certainly the enemy!" he cried, "and see! there is a battery +being posted upon yonder hill. All outposts to fall back on their +squadrons!" cried he to his staff, who galloped off immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stolzenberg recalled his vedettes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will the regiment do, if I may be allowed to ask?" he said, +turning to his colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Slowly retire, whilst skirmishing with the enemy, such is the order," +he replied, sighing and shrugging his shoulders; and he hastened back +to the village to which the other outposts had already withdrawn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Retire, always retire!" cried Wendenstein, passionately. "Well! some +time or other they will reckon on these tactics without the troops!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a sudden flash from the hill, followed by an explosion, and a +cannon ball splintered the bar of the toll-house on the high road.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The overture begins!" cried Stolzenberg; and with his few men he +trotted quickly back to the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was the shot they heard at head-quarters in Thamsbrück.</p> + +<p class="normal">The regiment withdrew, constantly skirmishing with the enemy, and fell +back slowly upon Langensalza.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the town was abandoned, the order of the general in +command ran, "that the army whilst fighting should retreat."</p> + +<p class="normal">At Langensalza the dragoons fell in with the infantry of the Knesebeck +Brigade, which had received orders to retire behind the Unstrut. The +troops obeyed this order with gnashing of teeth, and gave up one +position after the other, for the enemy forthwith to seize upon; the +enemy's riflemen harassed them, and the artillery advancing along the +heights opened a nearer and more murderous fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">The dragoons crossed the bridge over the Unstrut, and made a stand +before the village of Merxleben, on the slope of the Kirchberg hill, +from whose summit a Hanoverian battery maintained a fire, which, though +less rapid than the Prussian, was so well directed that it did great +execution in the hostile ranks.</p> + +<p class="normal">To the right of the dragoons, General Knesebeck's brigade was massed, +he having followed the command he had received to retire. On the other +side of the Unstrut stood a mill, upon a small stream called the +Salzabach; immediately after the retreat of the Hanoverians it was +occupied by the Prussians, and from it they kept up a heavy fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two battalions of the guards marched past the dragoons. At the head of +the first rode Lieutenant-Colonel von Landesberg; the second was led by +Colonel von Alten.</p> + +<p class="normal">The battalions had crossed the Unstrut, and were following the order +received to retire to the brigade stationed on the hill.</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel von Landesberg rode thoughtfully in front of his battalion, the +grenadiers followed him in solemn silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The battalion had the Unstrut on the left, and had just reached a spot +where it was forced to turn to the right, to take up the prescribed +position.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this place the banks of the river are very low, and it is so shallow +that it is easy to cross it.</p> + +<p class="normal">A level terrace surrounds the hill, upon the slope of which lies the +village of Merxleben. The enemy's most advanced chain of skirmishers +was approaching the opposite bank of the river.</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel von Landesberg gave a searching look at the situation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If this spot remains undefended," he said to his adjutant, "the enemy +will penetrate our position, and divide our forces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it seems to me, colonel," replied the adjutant. "I cannot see why +it is to be abandoned,--however, the general staff--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel gnawed his moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is impossible to give up this position to the enemy," he said, half +to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">His eyes flashed, and he pulled in his horse suddenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Battalion, halt!" he shouted.</p> + +<p class="normal">The command was repeated along the ranks; the battalion halted. With +excited faces the grenadiers awaited further orders from their leader.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Right about turn!" he cried.</p> + +<p class="normal">A thundering shout of joy broke as from one mouth along the ranks, and +in an instant the grenadiers had fronted.</p> + +<p class="normal">The enemy's sharpshooters appeared on the other side of the river.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Skirmishers, forward!" cried Colonel von Landesberg.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lines opened out with exemplary precision, and in a short time the +Hanoverian skirmishers were close to the river, received by the fire of +the enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several grenadiers fell; but the firing from the Hanoverian lines was +so certain and regular, that the most advanced of the enemy's +sharpshooters soon sought cover, and replied but feebly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The second battalion of guards had come up in the meantime. Colonel von +Alten galloped up to Colonel von Landesberg, who had ridden down to the +river, and was in the midst of his men.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is going on here?" asked Alten; "is the plan for the day +changed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see this spot," said Colonel von Landesberg,--"it must not be +taken, and I mean to hold it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you received an order?" asked Colonel von Alten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not want an order, for I see that the fate of the day and of the +army depends on its being kept," cried Landesberg. "Fire!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The report of fire-arms rolled along the line.</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel von Alten gave a scrutinizing look around, then he rode back to +his battalion, which was about a hundred paces off.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Right about turn!" he cried.</p> + +<p class="normal">The battalion replied, like the first, with an echoing "Hurrah!" A few +moments afterwards his sharpshooters were drawn up along the bank of +the Unstrut, and the advancing enemy found itself opposed by a steady +fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although the grenadiers fell, the lines filled up silently and +regularly, and not an inch of ground was yielded. Colonel von +Landesberg placed himself in the front ranks, cool and calm as if on +parade.</p> + +<p class="normal">The battalions of the enemy which had advanced to the river halted. An +uneasy movement appeared amongst them. An aide-de-camp galloped up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Colonel," he cried, "the general expects you in the prescribed +position!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell him I am engaged by the enemy!" replied von Landesberg curtly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The aide-de-camp glanced at what was going on, saluted, turned his +horse, and galloped back without a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">The enemy's fire grew weaker. After a short time, bugle calls were +heard on the opposite bank, and the enemy was withdrawn out of reach of +fire. Colonel von Landesberg put up his sword. "So," said he, "the +first thing is done; do you think the river is fordable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly!" replied the adjutant, riding down close to it; "I can see +the bottom almost everywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can swim if needful," said Landesberg, calmly. "They shall rest ten +minutes, then I will go first."</p> + +<p class="normal">Colonel de Vaux's brigade stood at some little distance, close to the +village of Merxleben; the Cambridge dragoons were halted near the banks +of the Unstrut. The officers looked anxiously at the movements of the +troops, who were retiring on the two wings, the centre keeping up an +energetic artillery fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have crossed the Unstrut," exclaimed von Wendenstein; "it is really +scandalous--where will this retreat end? We shall go back and back, +until we march into the jaws of the enemy coming down upon us from the +north, and then--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then at last we shall capitulate," said von Stolzenberg, bitterly; +"this kind of war can have no other end."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lieutenant-Colonel Kielmansegge trotted quickly up to the troop in +which the young officers rode.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look there, gentlemen," he cried, and pointed to the river bank at +some distance along the plain. "What is that?--active firing is going +on there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are exchanging shots as they retreat--the Knesebeck Brigade it +must be," said von Wendenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall soon have the enemy on our flank," said Stolzenberg; and both +the officers took their glasses and looked in the direction in which +Count Kielmansegge was still gazing attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is the guards," said von Stolzenberg, "and actually they are not +retreating, they have made a stand on the bank!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The enemy's sharpshooters are retreating!" exclaimed Wendenstein +joyfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They halt," said Count Kielmansegge, still looking through his +glass,--"our battalions form,--they are going down to the river--into +it--hurrah!" he cried, "they are advancing to the attack."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And we are standing still here," cried von Wendenstein, whilst he drew +his sword half out of the scabbard, and put it back with a clang.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment Colonel de Vaux galloped up with the brigade staff.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The guards are crossing the Unstrut," cried Count Kielmansegge, as +they came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I see!" exclaimed Colonel de Vaux, "and devil take me if I stand +still here; now the die must be cast. It is bad enough that we shall +have to retake all the positions we have so quietly abandoned to the +enemy! What regiments are close here?" he enquired of his adjutant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The first battalion of the second regiment, and the first Jäger +battalion," he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bring them here at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">The adjutant galloped to the columns close by, and led them at quick +march up to the colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">He dismounted and placed himself at their head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what shall I do?" asked Count Kielmansegge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ride down by the river," replied de Vaux, "cross where you can, and +act according to circumstances; if possible fall on the right flank of +the enemy, and silence that hostile battery."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your command, colonel!" cried Kielmansegge. In a few moments the +regiments formed and rode at a sharp trot along the river.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the place where the two battalions of guards had crossed the +stream, a heavy fire had commenced. The first battalion under the +gallant Landesberg advanced slowly in a straight line upon Langensalza, +the second battalion turned to the left towards the mill which formed +the central point of the enemy's position, and which was in a diagonal +line from Colonel de Vaux.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now is the time!" he cried, and commanding his adjutant to give the +order to advance, he at the same time ordered the assault to be +sounded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before him lay an even plain without any cover for about five hundred +yards, part of it being thickly planted with rape. The whole of this +plain was exposed to the fire of the enemy's lines, and of the +artillery from the hill behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">The drums beat, the colonel raised his sword, and in as perfect order +as on the parade ground the battalions marched across the dangerous +plain.</p> + +<p class="normal">The enemy's fire tore great gaps in the ranks, for the soldiers could +not advance quickly on account of the rape, but they were quietly +filled up; and in a short time the battalion gained the bank of the +river, and in its turn opened a murderous fire upon the enemy, who +withdrew his skirmishers, and concentrated his whole force around the +mill.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole army saw the guards cross the Unstrut and the bold advance of +Colonel de Vaux, and a general offensive movement commenced.</p> + +<p class="normal">No officer would wait for orders. With a loud "Hurrah!" the troops +broke from their positions, and advanced to the points where they might +most quickly meet the enemy, and where they thought they could take the +most active part in the fighting.</p> + +<p class="normal">The infantry crossed the Unstrut at all points, sometimes even by +swimming, and pressed on towards the enemy's positions. The batteries +which had already retired, advanced and supported the attack by an +incessant fire, and the cavalry crossed the river wherever it was +possible, and advanced to the scene of combat.</p> + +<p class="normal">The enemy were concentrated in force around the mill already mentioned, +which formed the key of the central position of the Prussian army. It +was surrounded by a deep moat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Against this mill the guards advanced; two bridges over the river were +before them, closed by barricades and strongly defended.</p> + +<p class="normal">A company advanced without halting from the hill, led by their captain; +they took the bridge by storm, and from this side also pressed on +towards the mill; single lieutenants led small detachments everywhere, +wading or swimming across the river, and advanced on every side to +storm the enemy's strong position.</p> + +<p class="normal">By this time desperate fighting was going on before the mill. Companies +of different regiments, sometimes in small detachments, united to storm +the buildings.</p> + +<p class="normal">Three times Lieutenants Köring, Leue, and Schneider with exemplary +courage led a storming party, Lieutenant Leue falling riddled with +bullets, at the head of his detachment. Their numbers were too small, +the moat around the mill was too deep, the fire too overwhelming.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then Colonel Dammers appeared to inspect the state of the battle +and to report the news to the king. Prince Herman Solms rode beside +him, for the young prince, devoured with impatience, had obtained +permission to accompany the colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sadly diminished ranks were just closing, again to attempt the +storming of the mill.</p> + +<p class="normal">A Prussian battery had been brought forward and the shells suddenly +fell amongst the storming party, whilst a fresh and tremendous fire +from the needle-guns opened upon them from the mill.</p> + +<p class="normal">They hesitated under this murderous hail of balls.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince touched his horse with the spur, and bounded between the +storming party and the mill.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are not so bad as they look!" he cried cheerfully, turning to the +soldiers; and reining in his horse, he took off his cap and jokingly +saluted a shell which flew over his head and buried itself in the +ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hurrah!" cried the soldiers, and again rushed to the attack, led on by +their brave lieutenants.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment two companies advanced from the bridges, and immediately +behind them Colonel Flökher's battalion, and at the same time guns +opened behind the storming party from the hill of Merxleben, and a +heavy fire from a hastily advanced Hanoverian battery fell on the mill, +splintering the roof and shattering the walls.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gallant defenders of the building evidently about to become a heap +of ruins, broke through on the other side, and retreated in strong +parties along the high road. But they were checked by the second +battalion of guards, which had now come up, and which opened a +murderous fire upon their flank, whilst two squadrons of hussars who +had burst over the bridges galloped down upon them with upraised +swords.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some of the fugitives fled over the fields, and were fortunate enough +to gain the reserve Prussian division; the hindmost returned to the +ruined building, and a white handkerchief soon waved from one of the +windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">The firing ceased immediately. Colonel Flökher rode up to the battered +door, which was quickly opened, and the last of the brave defenders, +about a hundred men, laid down their arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">The courtyard was full of dead and wounded, and just outside lay the +Hanoverian soldiers who had fallen. The ruin looked ghastly with its +shattered windows and broken walls in the bright sunshine, a picture of +destruction, horror, and death.</p> + +<p class="normal">The adjutant-general rode up to Prince Herman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I compliment you, prince," he said: "you received your baptism of fire +gloriously, but you exposed yourself uselessly. What should I have said +to the king if any misfortune had befallen you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What could I do?" said the prince, laughing, and plucking at the down +on his upper lip; "the king has ordered me to head-quarters: ought I to +let them say I am afraid of fire?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They would not have said that," said the colonel, looking kindly at +the almost boyish face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is better that they cannot say it!" cried the prince, and galloped +off with the adjutant-general.</p> + +<p class="normal">A retreat on the part of the enemy was decided upon from this moment. +Slowly and in perfect order, under a continuous fire, the Prussian +troops formed in squares, and retired in the direction of Gotha covered +by their batteries, which kept up a constant fire upon the advancing +Hanoverians.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last General Arentschildt had ordered a general attack, but this +command only affected a few of the troops, and was indeed superfluous, +for the attack had commenced, and no order would have prevented it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst the centre of the Prussian position was pierced, Count +Kielmansegge with his dragoons had ridden along the side of the +Unstrut, endeavouring to find a ford. But he could not discover one, +the banks of the river in this part being very steep and overgrown with +bushes. They were obliged to ride down stream to the village of +Nagelstedt, where at last they found a bridge, over which they crossed +into an open field on the other side.</p> + +<p class="normal">The dragoons hurried at a sharp trot closer and closer to the sound of +the guns; already the enemy was driven back, and the battle had surged +to the south of Langensalza.</p> + +<p class="normal">A gentle eminence rose before the dragoons, the regiment rode up it, +and found itself opposite the enemy's exposed flank. Two Prussian +squares were slowly retreating, still keeping up a constant fire, and +on a hill near the dragoons was a Prussian battery, which sent its +shell into the centre of the advancing Hanoverians. The dragoons were +alone; between them and the Hanoverian army were the Prussian +battalions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The time has come at last!" said Wendenstein, who was with the troop +of which Stolzenberg was first lieutenant. "Thank God! we have +something to do. At such a moment it is better to be in love," he +added, as he tried whether his sword was firm in his hand; "you see I +know what to think of, and--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, again it spoke," said Stolzenberg, shuddering slightly; +"farewell, old fellow, if we do not meet again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madness!" cried von Wendenstein, "but look out, we are to charge."</p> + +<p class="normal">The command was given that the fourth squadron should take the enemy's +battery, and that the second and third should attack the Prussian +squares.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two squadrons slowly advanced towards the distant squares, who +stood still to receive them, whilst Rittmeister von Einem at the head +of his dragoons galloped up the hill on which stood the battery.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guns were turned upon the attacking dragoons, a storm of shell +received the squadron. The horsemen fell in numbers, down went both the +trumpeters, but unchecked, the squadron galloped onwards, the +Rittmeister far before them waving high his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">Quicker and quicker grew the pace, the battery was almost reached, when +once again the guns opened fire, and sent their case-shot into the very +midst of the gallant riders.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Rittmeister escaped as by a miracle. He was the first to spring +between the hostile cannon, and he smote down a gunner with a mighty +cut from his sword; the dragoons followed him through the heavy fire of +the infantry support to the battery.</p> + +<p class="normal">A bullet hit the Rittmeister's horse, which fell, rolling over upon +him. He quickly disengaged himself from the quivering animal, and his +sword flow round swift as lightning to defend himself from the +threatening bayonets of the infantry. The dragoons were now engaged in +a fierce hand-to-hand fight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forwards! forwards!" cried the Rittmeister, as with his sword he +parried a bayonet thrust against his breast; but a shot fired close to +him struck him, his arm sank down, and whilst with his left hand he +seized the wheel of the cannon he had taken, to support himself, +several of the enemy's bayonets were plunged deep into his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">His strength failed, and he fell upon a heap of slain; his hand +clenched in death, held fast the wheel of the conquered gun. The +dragoons pressed forwards over him, and soon the last defenders of the +battery fled over the field.</p> + +<p class="normal">The battery was silenced, but the greater number of the dragoons lay +around their fallen leader.</p> + +<p class="normal">This attack had been watched with the greatest interest by the two +squadrons as they advanced slowly towards the Prussian squares, and as +the defenders of the battery fled, loud cheers burst forth.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the two squadrons had come near enough to the squares to charge, +suddenly from behind the hill on which the battery stood, galloped the +garde du corps, followed by the cuirassier guards. The garde du corps +dashed against the square next them. Two volleys, discharged when they +were close to the enemy, did not check them, but the brave square stood +unbroken, and the squadron of garde du corps retired from the enemy's +fire, preparing to charge afresh.</p> + +<p class="normal">The commander of the second square nearest to the dragoons came forward +and waved a handkerchief. Major von Hammerstein, with his adjutant and +a trumpeter, advanced to meet him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My soldiers are ready to sink from exhaustion," said the Prussian +staff-officer; "I am willing to surrender."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must then beg for your sword, my comrade," replied Major von +Hammerstein, "and that you will lay down your arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree to the last," said the Prussian officer; "to give up my sword +is too hard a condition. But," he cried, "here come the cuirassiers."</p> + +<p class="normal">And indeed the cuirassiers, who had followed the garde du corps, and +passing by the first square had formed to charge, were galloping down +upon them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ride to the cuirassiers and stop them!" cried Major von Hammerstein to +his adjutant.</p> + +<p class="normal">He galloped off to meet the charging regiment, but their rapid movement +and the noise around prevented him from making himself heard. They +rushed onwards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too late!" cried the Prussian commander. "Stand to your arms! Fire!" +he cried, as he returned to the square, and a tremendous volley mowed +down the cuirassiers just as they approached. The foremost ranks fell, +and the direction of the charge being somewhat oblique, the shock came +on the flank of the square, and it remained unbroken.</p> + +<p class="normal">Major von Hammerstein had ridden back, and "Charge! charge!" resounded +down the ranks of the dragoons.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two squadrons charged the square at a gallop.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were received by a frightful fire. The major fell, just in front +of the foe, but Lieutenant von Stolzenberg urged on his horse, reined +him in for a moment when close to the lowered bayonets of the enemy, +drove the spurs into his horse's flanks, so that he reared upright, and +then, with one mighty leap, bore his young master, as he raised his +sword and gave a ringing cheer, right into the hostile square, where, +like his rider, he fell, pierced through with bayonets.</p> + +<p class="normal">But his fall tore a large opening in the ranks, and the squadron +pressed in after them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well done, old fellow!" cried Wendenstein, and at the same moment he +fell beside his comrade, and the dragoons rushed over him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The square was broken, and those who yet survived fled madly across the +field.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when the dragoon squadrons reassembled, not one officer was left, +and one-third of the men were wanting.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cuirassiers had rallied meanwhile, and hastened to the scene of +this brilliant struggle.</p> + +<p class="normal">A young soldier rode with the first squadron in an old coat that had +evidently not been made for him, and in plain grey trousers stuffed +into military boots. On his head he wore a military cap, and a wound on +his brow was bound up with a white handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Lieutenant von Wendenstein?" he asked of a dragoon, as the +remains of the second squadron rode up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All our officers lie there!" replied the dragoon, pointing to a heap +of men and horses which marked the spot where the square had stood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dead!" cried the cuirassier. "But I cannot leave him there; I promised +to take care of him, and no one shall ever say Fritz Deyke broke his +word. My poor lieutenant!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He hastily quitted the ranks and rode up to the commanding officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," he said, saluting him, "I overtook the army at Langensalza and +joined the cuirassiers, that I might take my share in the war. I hope, +sir, you can say I have done my duty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have done bravely," replied the officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir," continued the young man, "the day's work seems over, and, +besides, I have a scratch from which the blood runs into my eyes, so I +came to ask leave for the day."</p> + +<p class="normal">The officer looked at him with amazement. A deep blush spread over the +young soldier's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," he cried, "I was brought up at Blechow with our president's son, +Lieutenant von Wendenstein, of the Cambridge dragoons; and when I left +home to join the army, his mother said to me, 'Fritz, take care of my +son if you can,' and I promised her I would, sir; and now there lies +the young gentleman amongst the dead. Shall I leave him there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The officer looked kindly at him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go, my brave lad," he said, "and come back when the lieutenant no +longer needs you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir," cried Fritz.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cuirassiers advanced in pursuit of the enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the other square had been broken by the charge of the garde +du corps. The cavalry had moved forward, and in a short time the scene +of all this carnage, of all this noise, was only an empty plain, where +piles of corpses lay one on another in lakes of blood--men and horses, +friend and foe, mingled together.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke was alone in this scene of horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">He dismounted, led his horse by the bridle, and walked to the place +where the dragoons had broken the square. His horse snorted and +struggled to run back. He led it a little way off and tied it to the +trunk of a tree which grew near the high road; then he again approached +the heaps of slain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some wounded men raised their heads and begged gaspingly for a drop of +water.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot help all, but you shall not perish," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a deep ditch near the high road; it might have water in it. +He seized two helmets lying on the ground, and hurried to the ditch. +There was actually some water--a little, and dirty, for the continuous +heat had sucked up the moisture.</p> + +<p class="normal">With some difficulty he filled the helmets with the muddy, lukewarm +fluid, and carrying them like two buckets, he returned to the wounded +men, who were watching for him with unspeakable longing. He drew out +his flask, poured some of its contents into each helmet, and gave some +of the liquid to the sufferers, impartially succouring both Prussians +and Hanoverians.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, be patient," he said, kindly; "the first ambulance I see, I will +send to you." And he began to search amongst the dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">They lay heaped on one another, the brave dragoons and the brave +Prussian infantry, some with a calm, peaceful expression on their +faces, some with a look of wild horror, many so frightfully disfigured +with bullets and stabs that the soldier's brave heart quailed, and he +had to close his eyes for a moment to gain strength to continue his +dreadful employment.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he went on undeterred. He laid the dead bodies aside, and exerting +all his strength, he dragged at the dead horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is Herr von Stolzenberg!" he cried, as he turned over the body of +the young officer, which lay with its face on the ground, bathed in +blood. "Handsome, brave gentleman! and to die so young! It is all over +with him," he said, mournfully. A bullet had carried away part of the +skull, and countless stabs still oozed with blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke bowed his head over the corpse, folded his hands, and +repeated "Our Father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But here," he then cried, "lies poor Roland, stone dead. Good, +faithful creature; and under him, alas! there is my lieutenant!" He +pushed the dead horse aside.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beneath lay Lieutenant von Wendenstein, pale and stark, his left hand +pressed on his breast, his sword still in his right hand, his eyes wide +open, and staring glassily at the sky.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dead!" said poor Fritz, with a cry of grief; "he is really dead!" and +he bent sorrowfully over the body of the fallen officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I must take him away!" he cried, with decision. "He must not stay +here; at least I must be able to lead his poor old father and mother to +his grave. How frightful to see his kind, beautiful eyes staring thus!" +he said, shuddering; "but where is he wounded? The head is unhurt. Ah! +here in the breast. His hand is pressed upon it; the blood still +trickles. But I cannot look at his eyes!" he cried; "those dead, glassy +eyes, which in life were so kind and merry!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He bent down and laid his hand on the head of the slain, that he might +gently close the eyes of his former playmate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God in heaven!" he cried, suddenly. "He lives, his eyelids moved!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He folded his hands and gazed anxiously at the face before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes really moved, they closed slowly, then they opened again; for +one moment a ray of light seemed to light them up, then they grew +staring and glassy as before.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke sank upon his knees.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Great God in heaven!" he said in a trembling voice; "if Thou wilt +never in my whole life hear a prayer from me again, yet help me now to +save my poor master!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He seized his flask, opened the mouth of the wounded man, and poured +into it a little brandy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he anxiously awaited the result.</p> + +<p class="normal">An almost imperceptible shiver passed through the young officer's +limbs; his eyes lived for a moment, and looked inquiringly at the young +peasant; his lips were slightly parted; a red foam appeared upon them, +and a deep sigh heaved his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the eyelids closed, and the face lost the horrible starkness of +death. But no further sign of life appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now to get him to the town!" cried Fritz, raising the young officer in +his strong arms and bearing him to his horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">He climbed with difficulty into the saddle, still holding the +motionless form; then he supported it before him with his right hand, +whilst he held the bridle with the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">He rode quickly across the fields to the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">The squares broken by the dragoons, garde du corps, and cuirassiers, +and the battery taken by Rittmeister von Einem made the last resistance +on the side of the Prussians before they retreated entirely.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Hanoverian central brigade pressed onwards, and soon the whole +battle-field almost to Gotha was in possession of the Hanoverian +troops.</p> + +<p class="normal">The army, unfit to march, had made the most surprising, though alas! +aimless advances--the army unfit to fight, had fought--and won!</p> + +<p class="normal">During the whole day the king and his suite had remained on the hill +near Merxleben. He had not left the saddle for a moment. He had asked +short questions about the fighting, which the gentlemen of his suite +had answered; no information had come from the general in command, for +the battle was fought by individual officers and their divisions, who +would no longer retreat, and who had seized on the offensive, each +where he thought he could act most decisively and effectively.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king saw nothing; he heard the bullets hiss past him, the thunder +of the cannon around him; but the varied living picture was wanting +that enchains the mind with trembling excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was as motionless as a bronze statue; his face betrayed no trace of +his inward emotion; his only inquiry was, could his soldiers see him?</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the adjutant-general galloped up the hill, and brought the news +that the enemy's centre was pierced, and the cuirassier guards who had +been held in reserve behind the king's position, rushed past with a +loud "Hurrah!" to their royal leader, as they started across the plain +in pursuit of the enemy. Finally, a staff officer arrived from the +commanding general, announcing that the victory was decided in favour +of the Hanoverian arms. Then the king drew a deep breath and said, "I +will dismount."</p> + +<p class="normal">A groom hastened to him; the king got off his horse. All the gentlemen +around drew near him to express their congratulations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Many brave and faithful hearts have ceased to beat! God grant them +eternal peace!" said the king, solemnly.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood for a moment in silent thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am somewhat exhausted," he then said; "is there anything to drink?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Those nearest to him seized their flasks; they were empty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is some sherry in our carriage," said Meding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I have a travelling cup," cried Count Platen, taking a silver cup +from a case.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meding ran to the carriage, and soon returned with half a bottle of +sherry and a little wheaten bread. He poured some wine into the small +cup, and handed it to the king. He drank it, and ate a morsel of bread.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I am strong again," he cried; "would to God that each one of my +soldiers could say the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will move about a little," he then said, and taking Meding's arm he +paced slowly to and fro, on the top of the hill.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God has given our arms the victory," he said with emotion; "what is +next to be done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Meding, "this noble blood will all have been shed +in vain, if we do not march at once to Gotha, cross the railway, and +endeavour to reach Bavaria."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! that I could place myself at the head of my army and lead it +onwards! They will make difficulties, raise obstacles. You know how +many obstacles the general staff has already raised in the council of +war."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood still, thinking deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty must command a protocol to be drawn up, that these +obstacles may at least be stated in black and white," said Meding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be done!" cried the king with energy. "You shall draw it up. +I am answerable to history for what occurs, and for what is neglected."</p> + +<p class="normal">An aide-de-camp from the general in command galloped up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"General von Arentschildt begs your majesty at once to take up your +head-quarters in Langensalza."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To horse!" cried the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">The aide-de-camp hurried away, the horses were brought, and the royal +party moved down from the hill across the battle-field.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was grave and calm as he rode towards the town. Heaps of dead +bodies lay on the road near the mill, and the horses' hoofs were +reddened by the blood which stood on the ground in great pools. The +king saw it not. He heard the "hurrahs" of the soldiers he met, and the +loud cheers with which they greeted him; no pride of victory kindled in +his noble face; he sat on his horse cold and silent; he thought of the +slain, who had bought him this victory with their lives, he thought of +the future, and with anxious care he asked himself whether this victory +would yield the fruit desired, and extricate the army from the +dangerous position into which it had been led.</p> + +<p class="normal">The royal head-quarters were established in the Schützhaus at +Langensalza.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely was the king a little refreshed, when he ordered the general +in command, and the chief of the general staff to be summoned, and he +invited General von Brandis, Count Platen, Count Ingelheim, with Lex +and Meding, to be present at the council of war.</p> + +<p class="normal">At about nine in the evening the officers assembled in the king's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king urged an immediate march upon Gotha, but the general in +command and the chief of the staff declared that the army was in such a +state of exhaustion it could not march. In vain General Brandis pointed +out that even for a tired army a short march of two hours and then +excellent quarters in Gotha, was better than a bivouac in the fields +without proper food; the chief of the general staff declared the march +to be absolutely impossible, and the general in command refused to be +responsible for its consequences. Both these gentlemen asked earnestly +for permission to leave the council, as their presence with the troops +was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">The council of war broke up without any result, and the king retired to +rest after the fatigues of the day.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bivouac fires of the troops shone all around the town; and such +merry songs, such cheerful voices rose on every side, it was hard to +believe these were the exhausted soldiers who could not possibly +undertake a two hours' march to Gotha, there to find rest and food.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke meanwhile had ridden to the town, carrying Lieutenant von +Wendenstein before him, without knowing whether he was alive or dead. +The young man lay heavily in his arms, his limbs hung helplessly down, +and the wound in his breast bled afresh from the quick ride.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young peasant reached the town, but there had been fighting in the +streets, and it seemed deserted by its inhabitants, who had shut +themselves into the back rooms of their houses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where shall I find the best quarters?" he asked himself. "Perhaps they +will take the greatest care of him in the hotel," he thought, after a +moment's consideration, and he rode on in search of an inn. At a turn +in the street he saw a large white house standing a little back, with a +well-kept garden in front of it, and with various outbuildings beside +it. Green jalousie blinds were closed over the windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the cuirassier rode past with the lifeless body in his arms, a fresh +young voice cried, half in fear, half in compassion:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! the poor young officer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz was touched by the sound of the voice, as well as by this mark of +sympathy for his dear lieutenant, and looked up at the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">A young girl's pretty blonde head peeped from a half-opened shutter, +but bashfully withdrew as the soldier looked up; the blind, however, +was not entirely closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Either the expressive voice, or the sympathy in the bright blue eyes +still looking down through the small opening upon the strange and +melancholy spectacle, caused the young man to conclude, that in this +comfortable and well-to-do looking house he should find good quarters +for his beloved officer: it was enough, he reined in his horse, and +cried out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, the poor young officer needs rest and care, and I demand quarters +for him in this house."</p> + +<p class="normal">The words were short and commanding, for he belonged to the army who +entered the town as victors; but the tone of voice was gentle and +imploring, and it caused the young girl to open the shutter entirely, +and to stretch out her head. At the same moment, a stout, elderly man, +with a full red face and short grey hair, appeared, and looked down +with displeasure at the Hanoverian soldier.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quarters can be had in this house, if so it must be," he said, curtly +and uncivilly; "but as to care, we have nothing to do with that, and +there is nothing much to eat!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will see to that!" cried Fritz Deyke, "only come down and help me to +carry in my lieutenant!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man withdrew from the window grumbling, whilst the young girl +called out kindly, "I will get a bed ready at once for the poor wounded +man, then we shall see what must be done next."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she disappeared from the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man had opened the house door, and advanced towards the +horseman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot bid you welcome to my house," he said, gloomily and harshly, +"for you belong to the enemies of my king and country, but I am bound +to give you quarters; and," he continued, looking compassionately at +the pale young officer, "I would rather give quarters to the wounded +than to the sound."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is no question of friend or foe!" replied Fritz, in a conciliatory +voice; "it is a question of Christian charity to a poor wounded man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come then!" said the old man, simply, and walked up to the horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke let the lifeless form slide gently into the old man's arms; +then dismounting, he tied his horse to the low garden railings, and +together they bore the lifeless form to the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Up here," said the old man, pointing to the stairs which led from the +hall to the comfortable rooms above.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke went up first, carefully supporting the lieutenant's head, +whilst the old man followed, bearing him.</p> + +<p class="normal">They entered a long passage with doors on each side.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl stood waiting for them, and hastened forwards to open +the door of a large room, with two windows looking towards the +courtyard; it was furnished plainly but with some elegance, and a +snow-white bed was prepared for the sufferer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke, with the help of the old man, laid the wounded officer +gently down upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, young man!" said his host, looking gravely at the cuirassier, +"your officer is safe, and he shall want for nothing that my house can +afford,--the house of the Brewer Lohmeier," he added, with a look of +dignified satisfaction, "that you may know whose guest you are. Come +now, we will take your horse into the stable; and," he continued +somewhat confidentially, "whilst you are here, keep others away if you +can."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went down stairs, leaving the young girl in the room with the +wounded man. She smoothed the pillows, and looked with melancholy +interest at the handsome face, pale as death.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some infantry came down the street.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will find quarters in this street," cried one of them; "see, here +is a nice-looking house,--let us go in,--there will be room for us +all!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke came to the door at this moment with the brewer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! there are cuirassiers here already," cried the infantry man; "is +there still room, comrade?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz put his finger to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A dangerously-wounded officer here," he said; "you must not talk so +loud, nor make such a noise in marching."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we must go further," said the infantry soldiers; they cast +sympathizing looks at the upper windows, and walked on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you!" said the old brewer, in a friendly voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke led his horse through the yard gate to the stable, where he +put him with the brewer's four horses. He then asked for a piece of +chalk, and wrote in large letters upon the house door: "Dangerously +wounded officers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now," he cried, "I must go and find a surgeon; take care of my +lieutenant, but do not move him!" He was about to hurry away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop," said the brewer, "your surgeons will all be busy at the field +hospitals; our surgeon lives close here, he is a clever man, I will +fetch him."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went out, and soon returned with a fresh-faced, grey-headed old +gentleman, with a very kind expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stepped up to the bed, whilst Fritz studied his looks with the +greatest anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeon shook his head, he opened one of the closed eye-lids, +looked at the eye of the wounded man, and said,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Life is not extinct, whether we can retain it is in God's hand! I must +look at the wounds, we must undress him, and you, dear Margaret, get us +some warm water and some wine."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl hastened away. Fritz carefully cut off the wounded man's +clothes and boots.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a wound in the left breast, another in the shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is nothing," said the surgeon, pointing to the shoulder, "a +bayonet wound, which will get well of itself; but here--" drawing a +probe from a case, he examined the wound in the breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The bullet has lodged upon the rib," he said; "if he does not die from +loss of blood and exhaustion he may recover. For the present he must +have perfect rest; I cannot attempt to extract the bullet until he has +in some measure recovered his strength."</p> + +<p class="normal">Margaret returned with warm water, linen, and a sponge. She then placed +a small lamp upon the table, for it began to grow dark.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeon washed the wound, and poured some wine into his patient's +mouth. A deep breath parted his lips, a faint tinge of colour came to +his cheeks, and he opened his eyes. He looked with surprise at +everything around him; his eyes closed again, and scarcely audibly he +murmured "Auf Wiedersehn!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl folded her hands, and raised her eyes, shining through +tears to heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz took off his cap, waved it in the air and opened his mouth wide, +as if to shout the Hurrah! with which the lusty young peasants made the +meadows near Blechow or the large room in the inn echo again, but this +Hurrah! did not come; the mouth closed again, the cap flew into a +corner, only a thankful, happy expression replaced the melancholy look +his face had hitherto worn. He had heard a sound of life from the lips +of his dear lieutenant, he now hoped to save him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well," said the surgeon cheerfully, "for the present you can +only keep him quiet, and give him some red wine as often as possible, +to repair the loss of blood; to-morrow I will try to extract the +bullet."</p> + +<p class="normal">He departed, accompanied by old Lohmeier.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz, Deyke, and Margaret remained with the patient, and watched his +breathing; with the greatest punctuality the young girl handed a +spoonful of wine to the cuirassier, who poured it carefully into the +officer's mouth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Lohmeier brought Fritz some cold supper and a draught of his own +beer. The young man hastily despatched the supper, his appetite was as +good as ever, the beer he declined.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not keep awake," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now go to bed, Margaret," said her father, "we will tend the wounded +man; sitting up at night will tire you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the loss of one night's sleep, father," said Margaret, "when a +man's life is in danger? Let me stay, he might want something."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her father did not gainsay her, and his look of satisfaction +acknowledged she was right. Fritz Deyke said nothing, but he raised his +large true-hearted blue eyes with an expression of gratitude to the +young girl's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lohmeier seated himself in an armchair and soon nodded; the young +people remained near the bed, and scrupulously carried out the +surgeon's orders, watching with pleasure every fresh sign of life in +their patient, sometimes a deep breath, sometimes a slight flush +passing over his pale face.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a long time they sat in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a good girl," Fritz said at last, when she had just handed him +a spoonful of wine, and he held out his hand to her in hearty +friendship; "how thankful my lieutenant's mother will be to you, for +what you have done for her son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! his poor mother!" she said with emotion, responding to the warm +pressure of his hand, whilst a tear shone in her clear eyes; "is she a +great lady?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke imparted to her in low whispers all about the lieutenant's +family, and the old house in Blechow, and he told her of beautiful +Wendland, with its rich pastures and dark fir woods, and then of his +own home, of his father, and the farm and acres; and the young girl +listened silently and attentively to the soldier's words. The pictures +they presented were so natural, so clear and so bright, and they were +all gilded by the poetic shimmer surrounding the brave cuirassier, who +had saved his playmate in the bloody battle-field, and who now watched +so anxiously over the life still so precarious.</p> + +<p class="normal">The night passed quietly in old Lohmeier's house. Loud, merry voices +rang without, from the soldiers quartered in the town, and from the +bivouacs, and when the old brewer sometimes woke he glanced +benevolently at the young soldier and the wounded officer, whose +presence prevented his house from being otherwise occupied, for all the +troops had respected the words Fritz had written on the door. No one +had knocked, but all had passed it in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The morning of the 28th June dawned brilliantly, as if to greet the +victorious soldiers in their cantonments. Already all was movement at +head-quarters. The king in a proclamation to the army had expressed in +a few affectionate words his thanks for their exertions and courage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the burial of the dead took place. They were interred, so far as +they could be found on the battle-field, in the churchyard of +Langensalza.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king with his suite stood near the open graves, whilst the +clergyman of the little town, in a few simple words, commended to +eternal rest the warriors united in death, Prussians and Hanoverians; +and the king, who could not see the brave men who lay at his feet, true +soldiers of duty and of their rightful lord, stooped down in silence, +seized a handful of earth, and with his own royal hand strewed the +first dust upon the loyal dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the earth lay lightly on you!" whispered the king, and in a still +lower voice he added, "Happy are they who rest in peace!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he folded his hands, repeated the Lord's Prayer, and taking the +arm of the crown prince, returned to the Schützhaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">On his way back, groups of soldiers who stood about greeted him with +loud "Hurrahs!" and cries of "Forwards! forwards!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king bent down his head, a sorrowful expression appeared in his +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as he reached his room, he sent for the general in command. He +was with the troops, and an hour passed before he entered the king's +apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are the troops ready to march?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, your majesty! The army is done for, quite done for!" cried the +general, striking his hand on his breast. "There are no provisions +forthcoming, and the ammunition is scarcely sufficient for the first +round."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then in your opinion, what is to be done?" asked the king, calmly and +coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty!" cried Arentschildt, "the general staff is unanimous in +declaring a capitulation to be unavoidable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wherefore?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The general staff is of opinion that the army cannot march," cried the +general; "besides, overwhelming forces are drawing up on every side; +from the north the outposts have sent in word that General Manteuffel +is surrounding us; in the south General Vogel von Falckenstein has +collected troops from Eisenach, and has cut off the road to Gotha."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would have been impossible had we marched on yesterday evening," +said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An advance was impossible, as the general staff declared!" cried +General von Arentschildt.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty!" cried the general, striking his breast; "it is hard for +me to say the word--capitulate! but there is nothing else to be done. I +beg your majesty's permission to commence arrangements with General von +Falckenstein."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will send you my orders in an hour," said the king; "leave your +adjutant here."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he turned away.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be so!" cried the king sorrowfully. "The blood of all these +brave men has flowed in vain. In vain has been all the pain, the +anguish, and the toil--and why in vain? Because my eyes are dark; +because I cannot lead my valiant troops as my forefathers have done, as +the brave Brunswick--oh! it is hard, very hard!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's face had a dark expression, he clenched his teeth, and +raised his sightless eyes to heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the anger vanished from his countenance, peace took its place, a +sorrowful but gentle smile came to his lips. He folded his hands, and +said in a low tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God and Saviour bore for me the crown of thorns; for me He shed His +blood upon the cross. O Lord, not my will but Thine be done!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He touched the golden bell which had been brought from his cabinet at +Herrenhausen.</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg Count Platen, General Brandis, Count Ingelheim, with Herr Lex +and Herr Meding, to come to me at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">In a short time these gentlemen entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know the position in which we are placed, gentlemen," said the +king; "we are surrounded by the enemy in superior numbers, and the +general in command declares that the troops cannot march from +exhaustion, that they are without either provisions or ammunition. He +considers a capitulation unavoidable. Before I decide, I wish to hear +your views. What do you think, Count Ingelheim?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gravely and with painful emotion, the Austrian ambassador replied: "It +is most melancholy, your majesty, after such a day as yesterday to +speak of capitulation; but if we are really surrounded by superior +forces, brought up since yesterday evening," this he said with +emphasis, "it would be a useless sacrifice of many brave soldiers to +resist, and no one could thus advise your majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we could only send to Berlin," said Count Platen, "it might +yet----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," interrupted General Brandis, in a trembling voice, "if +it were possible that like the Duke of Brunswick you could draw your +sword, and ride yourself at the head of your army, I would still cry +'Forwards!' I believe we should cut our way through; but as it is----" +he stamped with his foot, and turned away to hide the tears that +blinded his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The state-councillor Meding came close to the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," he said, in a husky voice, "the unavoidable must be +endured; the sun shines even on the darkest day! Your majesty must not +uselessly sacrifice the lives of your subjects, but," he continued, +"you are answerable to history, and it must be clearly stated that a +further march is impossible. If I may presume to advise your majesty, +cause the general in command, and each commander of a brigade, upon his +military honour and the oath given to his sovereign, to declare before +God and his conscience that the troops can neither march nor fight, and +that they have neither food nor ammunition. Thus will your majesty be +freed from all reproach from your army, your country, and history."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king bent his head in approval.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So shall it be," he said. "Draw up such a document with the assistance +of Lex, and send it to General Arentschildt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And permit me, your majesty," cried Count Ingelheim, "at this solemn +moment to express my conviction that notwithstanding the heavy trial it +has pleased God to lay upon you, you will return in triumph to your +capital, as surely as Austria and my emperor will, to the last man, +maintain the rights of Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king held out his hand to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You too have borne the fatigues of the campaign in vain," he said, +with a melancholy smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in vain, your majesty," cried Count Ingelheim. "I have seen a king +and an army without fear and without reproach."</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later the king received the declaration he had demanded, signed +by the general in command, the chief of the general staff, and all the +brigadiers. A capitulation was concluded with General Vogel von +Falckenstein, but soon afterwards General von Manteuffel arrived, and +at the command of the King of Prussia granted other conditions, which +were highly favourable to the Hanoverian army.</p> + +<p class="normal">The officers retained their arms, their baggage, their horses, and all +their privileges; and even the sub-officers retained their rank. The +privates gave up their arms and horses to officers appointed by the +King of Hanover, and they delivered them to Prussian commissioners; +they were then dismissed to their homes.</p> + +<p class="normal">But first General Manteuffel, at the express command of the King of +Prussia, publicly acknowledged the brave conduct of the Hanoverian +soldiers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The King of Hanover sent Count Platen, General von Brandis, and Herr +Meding before him to Linz, there to await him; he himself rested for a +short time in the castle of the Duke of Altenburg, from whence he +proceeded to Vienna to await further events.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Hanoverian soldiers, who were smitten as by a thunderbolt from the +seventh heaven by the capitulation, laid down their arms with bitter +grief, and with dust on their heads returned to the homes they had left +so confident of victory.</p> + +<p class="normal">But they could return unhumiliated, for they had done what was +possible. The brave and faithful army, on the last battle-field where +the ancient banner of their country was unfurled, had raised a monument +of honour and glory which the chivalrous commander of the Prussian +troops was the first to adorn with the laurels of his praise.</p> + +<p class="normal">But who, that knows the history of that day and its important results, +can avoid asking the question, "Why was it not possible that two such +noble, chivalrous, and pious princes, whose warriors stood opposed in +deadly fight, should not have known and understood each other?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">SUSPENSE</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">The sultry heat of summer was extremely oppressive in the +plain +surrounding the quiet village of Blechow; the sky looked dark and +heavy, not that it was covered with clouds, but it was grey from the +heavy atmosphere, and although the sun was still high above the +horizon, his rays were of a dark blood-red colour. Deep stillness +prevailed. Almost all the young men had left the village; as soon as +the news came that the troops were concentrated at Göttingen they had +set out to join the army there, or to overtake it on its march. But the +stillness was the most complete in the old castle, where the president, +with gloomy wrinkles on his brow, paced up and down the great hall, and +gazed from time to time across the garden at the broad plain beyond. He +had obeyed the king's command, that all magistrates should remain at +their posts; he had, through the Landrostei, received a decree from the +ministry whereby the government of the country was delivered to the +Prussian Civil Commissioner, Herr von Hardenburg, and he had given up +all business to the Auditor von Bergfeld, saying, "Your knowledge is +quite sufficient to enable you to understand and execute all the orders +which may be issued by the government; do everything, and when you want +my signature bring me the papers. I will remain at my post, and will +sign them, since the king has so commanded; but do not consult me, for +I will hear nothing of all this misery, and my old heart, which is sad +enough already, shall not be pricked to death with pins. But if there +is any oppression which I could by any possibility avert, then tell me +the whole matter, and the Prussian Civil Commissioner shall hear old +Wendenstein's voice as plainly as the Hanoverian board have ever heard +it!" With that he left the office; he signed his name when needful, and +he seldom opened his lips after the foreign occupation was completed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein went silently and quietly about the house,--she +looked after the house keeping, and arranged everything as punctually +as ever,--but sometimes the old lady would pause suddenly, her dreamy +eyes fixed on the far-off distance, as if they sought to follow her +thoughts beyond the wood-encircled horizon,--then she would hastily +resume her occupation, and hurry restlessly through the well-known +rooms, and the more she ordered and arranged the more she seemed to +become mistress of her heavy trouble.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was very quiet too in the Pfarrhaus. No one had left it, all went on +as usual, but the general depression seemed to weigh down the humble +roof, and even the roses in the garden hung their heads exhausted by +the burning heat of the sun.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pastor had gone out, as was his custom, to visit some of his +people, for he did not consider the Sunday services his only duty, but +thought that he who would really be a shepherd and bishop of souls must +carry the word of God in friendly converse into the daily life of his +flock and know its joys and sorrows.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena sat at the window, and mechanically plied her needle, but her +eyes were often thoughtfully turned to the far distance, and her hands +sank wearily into her lap.</p> + +<p class="normal">Candidate Behrmann sat opposite to her; he was as neatly dressed and as +smoothly brushed as ever, and his expressionless and composed +countenance looked happier and more cheerful than usual.</p> + +<p class="normal">His sharp observing eyes followed the looks the young girl fixed on the +distant horizon, and that the languishing conversation might not +entirely fail, he said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is strange what a sultry oppression hangs over all nature; we feel +the actual weight of this thick heavy atmosphere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our poor soldiers---what they must suffer from marching in this heat!" +cried Helena, sighing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In those days I feel how doubly happy I am," said the candidate, "when +I think of my peaceful and spiritual calling, and contrast it with the +useless and really reprehensible employment of the soldiers, and all +they must now undergo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Useless and reprehensible!" cried Helena, gazing at him with her great +eyes; "do you call it useless to fight for your king and your country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not according to the views of the world," he said sanctimoniously; +"all these people are doing their duty according to their lights; but +the king himself is reprehensible, and the sacrifices they make for him +are useless, for what will they gain? Oh! it is a nobler fight, and +more pleasing to God, to struggle with spiritual weapons against sin +and unbelief, and to benefit mankind--as your father does, Helena," he +added, "and as I hope to emulate him in doing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly it is a nobler calling, beautiful and holy, but a soldier +also serves God when he fights on the side of right," said the young +girl warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which side is right?" asked the candidate; "both sides call on the God +of battles, and very often what is evidently the wrong side conquers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For a soldier," cried Helena, "that side is the right which his duty +and the oath plighted to his sovereign calls upon him to defend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, certainly," said the candidate, as if agreeing with her; +"but women should feel greater interest in peaceful and beneficial +usefulness,--what help, for instance, can a soldier be to his wife and +children? at any moment he may be called away to do battle for the +great ones of the earth,--he gives his life for a cause for which he +does not care, and his family are left in need and misery."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And they bear in their hearts the proud consciousness that he for whom +they weep is worthy to be called a hero," cried Helena with kindling +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate gave his cousin a reproving look, and said, in a solemn +voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe the conflict in God's service has also its heroes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said Helena, without embarrassment; "every calling has its +own round of duty to fulfil, and we," she added with a smile, "are here +to comfort and to help those who are wounded in the battle of life."</p> + +<p class="normal">And again she dreamily turned her eyes to the distance. After a moment +she rose hastily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think," she said, "the heat will be less oppressive out of doors. I +will walk to meet my father; he must now be returning." As she put on +her straw hat she asked, "Will you come with me, cousin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the greatest pleasure," he replied eagerly; and they left the +parsonage together, taking the road which led to the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have so greatly enjoyed my life here," said the candidate, after +they had walked for a short time in silence, "that I already quite +understand the charm of this quiet, peaceful seclusion, and I own +myself ready to forego all larger circles of society."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see," said Helena merrily, "a short time ago you shuddered at our +solitude, as I did at the restless, crowded city. At a time like this," +she added, with a sigh, "it is hard to be so completely cut off from +the world; we literally hear nothing--what has happened to the army and +the king?" she said with energy. "Our poor sovereign!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really," he said, after a short pause, continuing his own flow of +thought, as if he had not heard his cousin's last words, "really one. +cannot feel solitary here. Your father's conversation, so simple, yet +so rich in thoughts, offers greater variety than many an assembly in +the great world; and your society, dear Helena," he added warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him with astonishment. "My society," she interrupted, +with a smile, "cannot compensate for your friends in town; my +learning----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your learning!" he exclaimed hastily; "is it learning that charms us +in a woman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A certain amount must be needful," said she, half jokingly, "when +conversing with a learned man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for me," he cried. "Natural simplicity of heart and intellect has +a charm for me. A man wishes to form, to educate his wife, not to find +her opinions already fixed," he cried, his voice assuming a sudden +tenderness of expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her eyes were raised to his for a moment, and then lowered. They walked +on for a time in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Helena," he said, "it is true that the idea of quiet, simple +usefulness in the country attracts me more and more; and it is also +true that your society has greatly influenced me."</p> + +<p class="normal">She walked on in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When a man relinquishes the intellectual pleasures of the great +world," he added, "he naturally seeks some equivalent; and this +equivalent I find in my family, my home. I shall remain here to assist +your father in his spiritual office. I shall experience double +happiness in my labours, if my own heart finds a lovely flower to +reward my unassuming industry. Helena," he continued, with animation, +"shall you find no satisfaction in uniting with me to support and cheer +the evening of your father's life, and in assisting me in my holy +calling? Will you not stand at my side as a help-mate, such as your +mother was to your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl walked on, her eyes fixed on the ground. A deep sigh +heaved her breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cousin----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does not become me, a servant of the Church," he interrupted, "to +speak to you in the manner and the tone in which a man of the world +might declare his love; pure and bright must be the flame which holds a +place in the heart of a minister. But such a flame my heart offers you, +Helena; and I ask you, plainly and candidly, will you accept what my +heart can give, and do you believe you can thus find the quiet +happiness of your life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She stood still, and looked at him calmly and honestly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your words surprise me, cousin. I did not expect to hear this, and so +suddenly----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The relations between us must be made clear," he said. "For this +reason I have told you the feelings of my heart. A minister cannot woo +as a man of the world; you cannot be surprised at that, being yourself +the daughter of a minister."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But consider," she said hesitatingly, "we scarcely know each other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you no confidence in me?" he asked. "Could you not accept me as +your support through life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked on the ground. A deep blush spread over her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But one must also----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what?" he asked, and with piercing glance he gazed at her +anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Love," she whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that you believe you could not feel for me?" he enquired.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again she looked up at him. Again she sighed deeply, and her eyes were +for a moment turned dreamily to the distance. Then a slight, half +roguish smile came to her lips, and she whispered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"One cannot tell beforehand!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beforehand?" he said, and a darker expression passed over his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cousin," she said, with sweetness and candour, as she held out her +hand to him, "your words mean well, and it is flattering to me that you +should think I can be anything to your life. Let me then tell you +honestly, I think you are mistaken. Perhaps," she added kindly, "it is +not needful to pursue this conversation, that has so surprised me, just +now. Give me time. I promise to think of what you have said; and when +we know each other better, I will tell you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked down gloomily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh," he said bitterly, "your heart answers already; it does not +respond to the simple language of my feelings. I truly do not know how +to raise excitement and restless emotion. The servant of the Church +cannot hope to cause the fiery passion that a--young officer----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She stood still. Her face was very pale, and her eyes were fixed upon +him with a proud look.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped suddenly, as if displeased with himself, and his excited +features resumed their usual smooth and calm expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cousin," she said coldly, "I must beg you not to continue this +conversation now. Examine your own feelings, and give me time. My +father----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your father's wishes are my own," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">She bent her head, and a melancholy look passed over her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father," she then said, "cannot wish me to make any promise without +examining my own heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you will tell me your decision, when you have made this +examination?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said she. "Now leave me, I beg."</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep breath passed through his thin lips; he cast his eyes to the +ground, and walked by her silently and gravely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here comes my father," cried Helena, and hastened to meet the pastor, +who was returning by a side road leading to some of the scattered +cottages of the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate followed in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is well," said the old gentlemen, "my children, that you come +together to meet me; it is better in these troubled times not to be +alone. Throughout the village there is sorrow and anxiety about the +absent, the more so that a rumour is flying through the country of a +most exciting nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the rumour, papa?" cried Helena; "nothing disastrous?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glorious, yet disastrous," said the pastor; "there has been a great +battle, so it is said from village to village, from house to house. Our +army has won a great victory; but much, much blood has been shed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how horrible!" cried Helena, with great emotion, as she folded her +hands. The candidate's quick eyes regarded her with curiosity; but she +did not remark it, her looks were fixed on space.</p> + +<p class="normal">"People scarcely know which they feel," continued the pastor quietly, +"joy at the victory, or anxiety lost sons and brothers should have +fallen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How happy are those," said the candidate, "who have no relative in the +army; then there is no anxiety, no care."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not, like myself, lived here for years," replied the pastor +gravely. "Every member of my flock is as dear to me as if he were my +relation. I feel each grief that affects them as if I myself were +smitten."</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena involuntarily caught her father's hand with a hasty movement, +and pressed it to her lips. The old gentleman felt a tear upon his +hand. With a gentle smile, he said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You too, my good child, feel for the sorrows of our friends. I know it +must be so; you have grown up amongst them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena covered her face for a moment with her handkerchief and sobbed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate flashed an evil, malicious side glance upon her, whilst a +cold, scornful smile played around his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going to the president," said the pastor; "there they must have +the earliest reliable news, and they will be most anxious about the +lieutenant. Poor Madame von Wendenstein! Come with me to the castle, +children."</p> + +<p class="normal">And they took the road to the hill upon which the old house stood +amidst high dark woods.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena took her father's arm, and involuntarily hastened her steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">They climbed the hill and entered the hall by the open door. The great +oak chests stood there as still and solemn as ever, and the old +paintings looked down from their frames as gravely and quietly as if +there were no changes, no cares nor sorrows in the world of living men.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the large garden drawing-room Herr von Wendenstein paced up and down +with measured step, Madame von Wendenstein sat in her accustomed place +before the large round table, and her daughters were beside her; all +was as usual, yet a heavy cloud of care weighed on each brow, on each +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president held out his hand to the pastor in silence, silently +Madame von Wendenstein greeted her visitors, and the young girls +embraced without speaking a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A rumour is abroad of a great battle, and of a great victory," said +the pastor; "I hoped here to learn something reliable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have had no news," said the president gloomily. "I only know what +has been brought from mouth to mouth; some part will be true; let us +hope the news of the victory may be confirmed."</p> + +<p class="normal">He said nothing of the care and anxiety of his heart for the son who +was on the distant battle-field, but an affectionate and sympathizing +look flew from beneath his contracted brows towards his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a wonderful thing the world is!" she said in a low tone, as she +shook her head. "In peaceful times, steam and the telegraph seemed to +have annihilated time and space, and news of the most unimportant +trifles flew from one end of the earth to the other; and now, when so +many hearts are tormented by restless anxiety, news travels slowly and +uncertainly from mouth to mouth, as in the days that are long passed +away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it is with the proud achievements of human intellect," said the +pastor; "when the hand of God seizes the history of a nation, man grows +weak and powerless, and all the progress the world has made becomes as +nothing. But that it is God's hand must be our consolation, He has +power to raise up and to protect, He has power to heal the wounds His +hands have made."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a pious look of resignation, Madame von Wendenstein listened to +the pastor's words, but tears trickled down her cheeks, and proved how +hard her heart found this anxious suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no news from the army," said the president, "but I have +received a letter from my son in Hanover. He tells me of the Prussian +government, and praises its order and punctuality highly," said the old +gentleman with some bitterness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Public men must be in great and painful difficulties in Hanover," said +the pastor; "there, political views are much more in the foreground +than here in the country, and it must be extremely hard to reconcile +the duties of a servant of Hanover with the necessities of the +situation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It appears as if the gentlemen in office found them easy to +reconcile," said the president gloomily. "It is certainly good that the +Prussian government should be excellent, prompt, and punctual, but it +would never come into my head in these days to feel any particular +enthusiasm about it. Well, youth is different to what it was in my +day."</p> + +<p class="normal">The auditor Bergfeld entered the room with a hasty step and an excited +look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What news do you bring from Lüchow?" cried the president, hastening +towards him: and all eyes were fixed on him in mute anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true!" he cried; "there has been a battle--at Langensalza, and +our army is victorious!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God!" cried the president; "and have they succeeded in pressing +on to the south?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, no," said Bergfeld, mournfully, "the day after the battle our +brave soldiers were surrounded by overwhelming forces and obliged to +capitulate." The president gazed gloomily before him. "Is the king a +prisoner?" he asked. "No," said Bergfeld, "the king is free, the +capitulation is very honourable, the officers return home with their +arms and horses. But," he continued, "there are many wounded; in +Hanover committees have been formed, nourishment is wanted, they beg +for linen, for bread and meat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything in the house shall be packed up at once," cried the +president, energetically, "the wounded must have the best of +everything; my cellar shall be emptied."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein had risen and approached her husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me take the things," she said, imploringly. "Why?" cried the +president, "you can do no good, and if Karl comes back, it--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>If</i> he comes back!" cried the old lady, bursting into tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall soon hear news of him," said the president, "and until +then--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The sound of voices was heard in the hall. Johann entered and said, +"Old Deyke is here; he wishes to speak to the president."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bring him in, bring him in!" cried the old gentleman, and the old +peasant Deyke came in amongst the excited group, looking as calm and +dignified as usual, but with a deep and gloomy gravity spread over his +sharp features.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, dear Deyke," cried the president, "have you heard the news; do +you come to consult with us how to send in the quickest way all that +our brave soldiers need?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have received a letter from my Fritz," said the peasant solemnly, +whilst he respectfully took the hand held out to him by the president.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, and how does the brave young fellow get on? cried the old +gentleman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has he seen my son?" asked Madame von Wendenstein, gazing at the +peasant with anxious eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has found the lieutenant," he replied, laconically.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my son lives?" cried the poor lady with hesitation. She feared to +hear the answer which must touch the inmost string of her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He lives," said old Deyke. "I wish to say a couple of words to the +president alone," he stammered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!" cried Madame von Wendenstein, vehemently, "no, not alone. Deyke, +you have some bad news, but I will hear it; I am strong enough to hear +anything, but I cannot bear suspense. I beg you," she continued, +looking affectionately at her husband, "to let me hear what he has to +tell."</p> + +<p class="normal">The president looked undecided. The pastor came forward slowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit your wife to hear the tidings, whatever they may be, my old +friend," he said, gravely and quietly. "Your son lives, that is the +first and most important point; whatever may be to come, cannot be too +hard for a true and pious heart, like our friend's, to bear."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein looked gratefully at the clergyman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Deyke slowly drew out a paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The president will perhaps look at my son's letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give it to me," said the pastor; "it belongs to God's servant, an old +friend of this house, to impart this message."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took the paper and walked to the window, through which the last +light of the waning day entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein with widely opened eyes hung on his lips. Helena +sat at the table with her head resting on her hand, calm and apparently +indifferent; her eyes were cast down; it seemed doubtful whether she +saw or heard anything passing around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Slowly the pastor read,--</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Father,</p> + +<p class="normal" style="text-indent:5%">"I write at once that you may have news of me, and, thank God, I am +well and cheerful; I fell in with the army at Langensalza, and enlisted +in the cuirassier guards, and took part in the great battle, and went +under a hot fire, but I came out safe and sound. We were victorious, +and took two cannon and many prisoners, but to-day we are surrounded by +superior numbers, and the generals have said we could not march. So the +king capitulated, and we are all coming home. My heart is almost broken +when I look at all our brave soldiers going back with the white staff +in their hands, and they don't look such cowardly creatures either.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, dear father, I must tell you of Lieutenant von Wendenstein, with +whom I must remain, for he is badly wounded, and I cannot leave him +here alone. I found him on the battle-field and thought he was dead, +but, thank God, it was not so bad as that; and the doctor has extracted +the ball, and says he will live if he only has strength to hold out +through the fever. I am with him at the brewer Lohmeier's, a good man +though he is a Prussian, and the lieutenant is well cared for. My host +sends off this letter for me through an acquaintance in the field post. +Go at once to the president and tell him all, and have no anxiety about +me for I am all right.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:70%">"Your son,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:80%">"Fritz. + +<p class="normal">"Written the 28th July, 1866."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The pastor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president came up to his wife, put his arm round her shoulders, +kissed her grey hair, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He lives! my God, I thank thee!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now I may go to him?" asked Madame von Wendenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I?" cried her daughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said the old gentleman, "and I wish I could go with you, but I +should be of no use there."</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena rose; she walked slowly but with a firm step towards Madame von +Wendenstein and said, while her eyes shone brilliantly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I accompany you? If my father will permit it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, Helena?" cried the pastor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our brave soldiers want nursing," said the young girl, looking firmly +at her father, "and you have taught me to help the suffering. Will you +not allow me at such a time as this to do my duty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The pastor looked kindly at his daughter. "Go, my child, and God be +with you;" and turning to Madame von Wendenstein, he added, "Will you +take my daughter under your protection?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With all my heart," cried the old lady, and folded the pastor's +daughter in her arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Candidate Behrmann had watched the whole of this scene in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">He bit his lips, when Helena announced her intention of accompanying +Madame von Wendenstein, and a pale ray shot from his eyes, but his face +immediately resumed its smooth smiling expression, he stepped forward +and said in a gentle voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall also beg permission, madame, to accompany you on your journey; +it will be desirable for you to have a male protector, and I think on +the site of the bloody battle-field spiritual consolation will be +needed and welcomed. I believe I can be more useful there than here, +where until I return my uncle can so well fulfil all the duties of his +sacred office alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked humbly and modestly at his uncle and the president, awaiting +their reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a good and right thought, my dear nephew," said the pastor, +holding out his hand to him; "on yonder battle-field there is grave and +blessed work to be done, and I can get on here in the meantime quite +well alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">The president was glad that the ladies should have a protector, and +Madame von Wendenstein thanked the candidate heartily for facilitating +her journey to her suffering son.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena had looked up, startled for a moment when her cousin said he +would accompany the ladies; then in silence, with downcast eyes, she +listened to the rest of the conversation, neither word nor look +betraying the least interest in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The greatest movement and activity suddenly began in the old castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein hastened through the well-known rooms ordering +and arranging, here showing her daughters what must be packed in the +travelling trunks, there sorting out wine, sugar, and nourishment of +all kinds, then again giving the servants instructions as to what they +were to do in her absence: all the silent abstraction which had altered +the old lady during the last few days had vanished, with active step +and shining eyes she hurried about, and anyone so seeing her might have +thought she was preparing for some great festival.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena had returned to the Pfarrhaus with her father and the candidate +to make her rapid preparations for the journey, and not quite two hours +after the journey had been decided on the president's comfortable +carriage, with its well-bred powerful horses, stood before the large +hall door of the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein gave her husband a long and affectionate +embrace, it was the first time for years that they had been separated. +He laid his hand on her head and said, "God bless you! and bring you +back with our son!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Deyke was there, and a crowd of villagers were there too, with +their wives and daughters, for the news had spread like wild-fire that +the president's wife and daughter were going to nurse the wounded +lieutenant, and that the pastor's daughter and the new candidate were +to accompany them. They all came to take leave, and Madame von +Wendenstein shook hands with all, and promised each to gain news of +this or that relative who was with the army. What the carriage could +still hold was taken up with love offerings that all had brought for +their relations, and every head was uncovered when at last the carriage +rolled away; but there was no shouting, no loud word was heard, and +they all went back quietly to their homes, in great anxiety as to what +the next few days must bring, whether the life or death of those dear +to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president went quietly back into the castle with the pastor, and +the two old gentlemen sat together for a long time. They said but +little, and yet each found in these weary times consolation in +the society of the other. The president cast his eyes round the +drawing-room, which was as quiet and comfortable as ever, but when he +looked at the place where his wife usually sat, and thought of the +cheerful voices which used to sound through the room, and then turned +his thoughts to the distant town where his son lay threatened by death, +a mist came before his eyes, he pressed his eyelids together and a hot +drop fell on his hand. He stood up quickly, and walked several times up +and down the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pastor arose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My honoured old friend," he said, "at such a moment as this a man like +yourself need not be ashamed of a tear! It is late, let us go to rest, +and these days will pass away!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The president stood still, held out his hand to the pastor, and looked +at him through the blinding tears which ran down his cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray to God," he said in a low voice, "to give me back my son."</p> + +<p class="normal">The pastor went home. All was quiet in the castle and the darkness of +night brooded over it, but a light still burned in the president's +window, and the servants heard, even until morning dawned, the firm +regular step of their old master as he paced up and down in the lonely +castle.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">INTRIGUE</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Whilst in North Germany the catastrophe so disastrous to the +House of +Guelph was completed, in Vienna everything was expected from the battle +which all foresaw must take place in Bohemia almost immediately. The +Austrian arms had been successful in Italy, that drill ground for the +Austrian general staff officers, the battle of Custozza had been won, +and new confidence filled the Viennese, as to their success in Germany.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Viennese placed full confidence in Field-Marshal Benedek, the man +of the people, and from him they expected, in their light-hearted, +sanguine fashion, complete success. Those anxious doubts had vanished +which a short time before had filled them with uneasiness; the arms of +Austria were victorious in Italy, fortune was favourable to the empire, +and with excited but joyful confidence they awaited news from Bohemia. +A great victory was certainly expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">Things were looked at differently, and not with such confidence in the +state offices in the Ballhaus Platz, and in the Hofburg.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Mensdorff was sad and downcast; the Italian success had not +removed his gloomy forebodings, and he could only reply with a feeble +smile to the congratulations he received on the victory of Custozza. +The emperor alternated between fear and joyful hope; the victory in +Italy awakened in his heart the proud recollection of Novara, and a +wide and brilliant future spread before his gaze. But when the doubts, +the warnings of Field-Marshal Benedek occurred to him--the plain, +straightforward general, who troubled himself little about strategic +operations, and only knew how to lead his soldiers against the enemy +and to fight; but who continually maintained that with these troops, in +the condition in which he found them, he could not beat the enemy--the +emperor's heart had deep misgivings, and he waited for the future with +great anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst all Vienna felt the most restless, feverish excitement; whilst +everyone wished that time had wings to hasten the events of the future, +Madame Antonia Balzer lay on her luxurious couch in her quiet boudoir. +The curtains were closed, notwithstanding the great heat; a soft +twilight prevailed, and a mysterious and varied perfume pervaded the +room, that perfume which fills the immediate neighbourhood of an +elegant and beautiful woman; one cannot tell of what it consists, but +it gives the invisible air a magnetic, sympathetic charm.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young lady lay there as if she courted sleep, and on her features +neither the passionate <i>abandon</i> appeared with which she had welcomed +Herr von Stielow, nor the icy coldness which she had shown to her +husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her large eyes gazed gloomily into space, and her face expressed +anxious, mournful weariness.</p> + +<p class="normal">A number of sealed letters and telegrams lay on a small table near her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her pearly hand played carelessly with a small poodle dog which lay +curled up in her lap.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought I was strong," she whispered to herself; "and yet I cannot +forget him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She sprang up, placed the little dog upon the pillow, and walked slowly +up and down the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a wonderful organization is our human nature!" she cried +scornfully. "I thought I was strong. I had set it before me as a means +to rule, to rise on the aspiring ladder of life, without permitting +myself to be kept back by the emotions and motives of the common herd; +and now, when my feet touch the very first step of the ladder I look +back, my heart weeps; I am sick with love and regret, like any +milliner's girl," she added, with an angry look, as she stamped her +small foot upon the carpet.</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why," she asked thoughtfully, "why cannot my heart forget one who +so scornfully turned from me, who so contemptuously gave me up? This +Count Rivero--he offers me what I long for; he is a man who occupies a +high place in the world, and guides with powerful hand the threads that +weave the fate of men; why do I not love him? I might be happy. And +he," she continued, while a soft mist came over her eyes, and her arms +were slightly raised, "he, for whom every pulse in my heart beats, he +whom I call back in the still hours of the night, whom my arms seek in +empty space, who is he? A boy,--in intellect far beneath me; yet oh! he +is so beautiful, so pure!" she cried, stretching out her hands to the +picture her mind had called up; "I love him, and I am the slave of my +love!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She sank wearily into a luxurious chair, and covered her face with her +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sat for a long time motionless, and only the panting breath of her +heaving bosom interrupted the silence of the darkened room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then again she sprang up, and with trembling lips and vehement voice +she cried,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But she--who tore him from me--that fine lady, who from her cradle has +enjoyed every happiness life can afford, who basks in the golden +sunshine of an admiring world, who has all--all, that is denied +me--shall she enjoy the love that I have lost?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She hastily opened a small casket of incrusted ebony, and took out a +photograph in the form of a <i>carte-de-visite</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">She regarded it long with glowing looks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What foolish, inexpressive features!" she cried; "how lukewarm, how +wearisome must be her love. Can she make him happy--he, who has known +the passion of my heart--who has learnt what love is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she spasmodically seized the likeness and crushed it together.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bell of the entrance hall aroused her from her stormy dreams; she +threw the crumpled photograph hastily back into the casket, and her +face resumed its usual calm expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant announced Count Rivero, who immediately entered, +faultlessly elegant as ever, cold, calm, and friendly; the smile of the +man of the world upon his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">With light elastic steps he approached the lady and pressed his lips +lightly on her hand--not with the fiery warmth of a lover--still less +with the respectful courtesy of a man of distinction towards a lady of +the great world. In the count's greeting there was a certain negligent +familiarity, which only his extreme elegance, and the courteous bearing +which marked his every movement preserved from rudeness.</p> + +<p class="normal">She seemed to feel this, and regarded her visitor coldly, almost with +enmity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? have you slept, my fair friend?" said the count, smiling: "truly +it is hard to believe that the whole world is trembling with anxiety +when one enters this darkened and quiet apartment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A number of letters and despatches have arrived!" she said, pointing +to the small table near her couch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure," asked the count, "that this large correspondence does +not arouse curiosity?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She smiled coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are accustomed to my receiving many letters, and I do not think +they will seek here for the clue of important political events."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count walked to the window, and drew back one of the curtains, +admitting the bright light into the room. He then pushed the table with +the letters to the window, and opened them one after another, whilst +the young lady watched him from her easy-chair in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count drew a portfolio from his pocket, took out a small volume +containing various ciphers, and with its help began to decipher the +letters. The contents appeared in the highest degree satisfactory, for +an expression of joy beamed from his face, and he rose with a proud +look when he had ended the perusal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see the work approaches its completion," he said, half to himself, +half to Madame Balzer; "soon will the building of lies and wickedness +fall in ruins, and truth and right will again triumph."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will it be to me?" asked the young lady, slightly turning her +head towards the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">He came up to her, seated himself near her couch, and spoke with +extreme courtesy, as he kissed the hand she negligently abandoned to +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have assisted in a great and noble work, my lovely friend, and you +have rendered very important assistance by taking charge of a secret +correspondence, which has enabled me to preserve the appearance of a +man of the world and ordinary traveller. I promise you an independent +and brilliant position. The <i>how</i> you must leave to me. I hope you +trust my words."</p> + +<p class="normal">She gave him a quick look and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not doubt that you can keep your promise, or that you will keep +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," he continued, "much remains still to be done, and I believe I +can open out greater and nobler spheres to your genius and industry: +will you continue to be my confederate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will," she replied; then a deep sigh heaved her breast, a rapid +blush tinged her cheeks, and whilst a trembling fire sparkled in her +eyes she said, "I have one wish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Express it!" he said with the gallantry of a man of the world; "if it +be in my power to fulfil it--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe it is, for I have seen so many proofs of your power that I +have unbounded confidence in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?" he asked, gazing at her enquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">She cast down her eyes, interlaced her fingers, and said in a low and +timid voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me back Stielow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Immense surprise, and a shade of displeasure appeared on his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly did not expect this wish," he said, "I thought you had +forgotten this caprice. To fulfil it exceeds my power."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not believe it," she replied, raising her eyes and gazing full at +the count, "he is a boy, and you know how to lead earnest men of ripe +years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you forget," said he, "that--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That he, in a fit of ill-temper, out of spite, has thrown himself at +the feet of a <i>fade</i>, insipid girl, who finds a place in the almanach +de Gotha, where her heart is also," she cried, rising hastily from her +recumbent position, with flashing eyes. "No, I do not forget it, but +just for that reason I will have him back. I will help you in +everything," she continued, speaking more slowly, "I will employ all +the powers of my intellect and of my will, on behalf of your plans; but +I will have something in return for myself, and I say therefore, 'Give +me back Stielow.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall certainly," said the count, "have for yourself whatever you +wish. I impose no restraints on your little personal divertissements," +he added, with a smile; "but what do you want with this boy--as you +yourself call him?--can you not rule men with your genius, and by a +glance from those eyes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I love him!" she whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked at her with amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me!" he said, smiling, "this boy--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because he is a boy," she cried, and a stream of passionate feeling +gushed from her large widely-opened eyes,--"because he is so pure, so +good, and so beautiful," she whispered, and her eyes were veiled with +mist.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked at her very gravely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know," he said, "that the love which rules you will take from +you the power of ruling others, and of being my ally?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," she cried, "no, it will strengthen me; but the vain longing in my +heart makes me gloomy and weak,--oh! give him back to me again. I own +my weakness, let me in this one point be weak, and I promise in every +other you shall find me strong and immovable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had you told me before what you now tell me," said he thoughtfully, +"it might have been possible, perhaps, but now it is out of my power, +and--I may not use it; this young man shall not be the plaything of +your caprice," he said gravely and decidedly, "shake off this weakness, +be strong, and forget this fancy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose cold and calm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us speak of it no more," she said in her accustomed tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count examined her attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You own I am right?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will forget this fancy," she replied without a muscle of her face +changing.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment the door-bell was heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is Galotti," said the count, and opened the door of the boudoir.</p> + +<p class="normal">A strongly-made man entered, of middle height with a full face. His +thin hair left a lofty arched brow completely free, the bright eyes +were quick and observing, and the full lips denoted an energetic +temperament and brilliant eloquence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Things are going on excellently," cried the count, advancing to meet +him. "Everything is prepared for the decisive blow. The Sardinian party +have lost courage; they are disorganized by the Austrian victory, and +with one stroke the contemptible government they call Italian will +crumble to pieces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glorious! glorious!" cried Galotti, as he pressed Count Rivero's hand, +and approached the lady, whom he greeted with all the grace of one +accustomed to good society. "I bring good news too," he said, "they are +ready at the Farnese Palace, and Count Montebello has, in answer to a +confidential enquiry, made it clearly understood that he will take no +steps to prevent Italy from becoming what was intended at the peace of +Zurich."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will leave you, gentlemen," said Madame Balzer. "I will have +breakfast prepared in the dining-room, and shall be at your disposal +when your interview is ended."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Rivero kissed her hand, Signer Galotti bowed, and she withdrew +through the door leading to her sleeping apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king will go to Naples?" asked the count as soon as she had left +the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the very first sign from us," replied Galotti, "a troop of +brigands, formed of old soldiers of the Neapolitan guards, will await +him on the coast, the Sardinian garrisons are always weak, and at the +first signal the whole people will rise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think the moment has come for placing the match to our +well-laid train?" asked the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied Galotti; "what should we wait for? The Sardinian +army is completely demoralized by the battle of Custozza, and is held +in check by the Grand Duke Albert, so that it cannot be employed in the +interior. The most rapid action is needful; in a few weeks Italy can be +freed from the heavy yoke which weighs her down. Everyone is waiting +longingly for the word, the giving of which is in your hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count walked thoughtfully to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything has been prepared so long, thought over so carefully," said +he, "and yet now the decisive moment approaches, now the eventful +word--'Act!'--must be spoken, giving life and motion to our quiet +preparations,--the doubt arises whether all is well organized. Yet we +can no longer hesitate. We must send the watchword to Rome and Naples, +and to Tuscany," he said, turning to Galotti; "here are three +addresses," he added, taking from his portfolio three cards and +carefully perusing them. "The text of the telegram is written below, +the names, like the contents of the despatches, are perfectly +unimportant, they will disclose nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with a trembling hand he held out the cards to Signor Galotti.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Balzer rushed into the boudoir.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, Count Rivero," she cried, "that the army in Bohemia is +completely defeated? The news is spreading like wild-fire through +Vienna, my maid has just heard it in the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count gazed at her in blank dismay. His eyes opened wide with +horror, a nervous movement convulsed his lips, and he hastily snatched +up his hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" cried Galotti. "General Gablenz has been victorious in +several skirmishes; a great battle was not expected."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must hear what has happened," said the count, in a low voice, "it +would be horrible if this intelligence were true."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was about to hasten away. A violent peal at the bell was heard, and +almost immediately a young man in the dress of a priest entered the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God! that I find you here, Count Rivero," he cried, "nothing +must be done, the disaster is immense, Benedek is totally beaten, the +whole army is in wild flight and confusion."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count was dumb. His dark eyes were raised to heaven with a burning +look, deep grief was painted on his features.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must act so much the more rapidly and energetically," cried +Galotti; "if this news reaches Italy our confederates will be +frightened and confused, the enemy will gain courage, and the lukewarm +will become foes."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stretched out his hand to take the cards which Rivero still held.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count made a movement of refusal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you gain your information, Abbé Rosti?" he asked quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has just been brought from the Hofburg to the Nuncio," replied the +abbé. "Unhappily there is no doubt of its truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then the work of years is lost!" said Count Rivero, in a grave and +melancholy voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us use the present moment!" cried Galotti, "let us act quickly; +then, let what will happen in Germany, we shall at least have restored +Italy to her ancient rights, and Austria must be grateful to us if we +give her in Italy the influence she has lost in Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!" said the count, calmly, "we must not venture upon action before +the situation is perfectly plain. Our whole force in Italy is quite +strong enough to break the Piedmontese rule if the regular army is +engaged and defeated by the victorious Austrian troops, but we are not +in a position to effect anything against the army of Piedmont if it is +free to act against us. We should uselessly sacrifice all our faithful +friends, and we should destroy the organization we have formed with +such toil, which will be useful to us in the future, and which we could +never again bring to such perfection if it were now broken up. And I +fear Victor Emanuel's army will be free, I fear Vienna will give up +Italy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give up Italy, after the victory of Custozza!" cried the Abbé Rosti, +"it is impossible,--wherefore?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Germany! which she will also lose!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my God!" cried Galotti, "that would have been done before the +campaign, if done at all. Austria's forces in Germany would have been +doubled--but now--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear friend," said the count, sighing, "remember the words of the +First Napoleon: 'Austria is always too late--by one year, one army, and +one idea!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot make up my mind to sit still," cried Galotti, energetically, +"now that everything is prepared, and we seem almost to hold success in +our hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not desire that we should indifferently sit still," said Count +Rivero; "we will never sit still," he added, with flashing eyes, "but +we must perhaps begin again a long and toilsome work from the +beginning. For the present we must not act hastily, and compromise +individuals and events, risking the future before we see our way +clearly. Do you know," he enquired of the abbé, "how the emperor +received the intelligence and what he did?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor was much cast down, as was natural," said the abbé; "he +sent Count Mensdorff immediately to the army, that he might ascertain +its condition. That is all we have yet heard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mensdorff was right," said Count Rivero, thoughtfully; then, raising +himself with an energetic movement, he said: "Once more, gentlemen, we +must see clearly before we act; and our courage must not fail, even if +we perceive long years of toil before us. Above all, I wish to be fully +informed as to the present, then we will speak of the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">He approached the lady, who had remained during the conversation gazing +before her as if completely indifferent, and said, as he kissed her +hand: "Auf Wiedersehn! chère amie!" then he added in a somewhat lower +voice, "Perhaps the moment will soon come for opening so wide a field +to your skilful industry, that all minor wishes will be forgotten!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked up at him quickly for a moment, but she did not reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two other gentlemen took leave, and left the room with the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young lady remained alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">A flashing look followed them as they withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wish to use me for your plans," she cried, "you seek to charm me +with hopes of freedom and dominion, and you would prepare for me a +gilded slavery? You forbid my heart to beat, because it cannot be so +serviceable as your tool? Ah! you deceive yourself, Count Rivero! I +need you, but I am not your servant, your slave! Well then, let war +begin between us," she said, with determination; "not war to the death, +but a war for rule; I will try to make your proud shoulders bear me up +to power and independence. Independence!" said she, sighing, after a +short silence, "how much I am short of it, yet let me go carefully and +prudently onwards; first, I will see whether I cannot win back the +unfaithful friend to whom my heart still clings, without the aid of my +master."</p> + +<p class="normal">She threw herself on the sofa, and looked thoughtfully before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my God!" she cried, with anguish in her eyes, as she pressed her +tender hand to her forehead, "I wish to win him back, and he is before +the enemy, the great battle has been fought, perhaps he lies dead +already upon the bloody field." And her eyes gazed into space as if she +actually saw the horrible picture her fancy had painted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she leant back and a dark expression passed over her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if it were so?" she said, gloomily, "perhaps it would be better +for me, and I might then be free from the burning thorn I cannot tear +from my heart. The count is right! such love is weakness, and I will +not be weak! perhaps I should again be strong. But to know that he is +living, to think that he belongs to me no longer, that he, in his +beauty, is at the feet of another--"</p> + +<p class="normal">She sprang up, a wild glow kindled in her eyes, her breast heaved high, +her beautiful features were distorted by the vehemence of her emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never, never!" she said, in a low, hissing voice. "If he were dead, I +could forget him; but that picture will pursue me everywhere--will +poison my life. Poison!" she repeated, and an evil flash passed across +her face. "How easy it was in days gone by," she whispered, "to destroy +an enemy! Now--" Again she stared blankly before her. "But is it +needful to poison the body to conquer difficulties?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A wicked smile played around her beautiful mouth; her eyes flashed, and +for a long time she sat thinking deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose and went to her rosewood writing-table. She took a packet of +letters from one compartment and began to read them attentively. +Several she threw back; at last she seemed to have found what she +sought. It was a short note only, written on a single sheet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He wrote me this during the manœ +uvres," said she; "this will serve +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">She read:--</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"My sweet queen,</p> + +<p class="normal" style="text-indent:5%">"I must tell you in a few words how my heart longs for you, and how +much I feel this separation. All day I am interested, and hard at work +at my duty, but when at night I lie down in bivouac, the stars above +me, and the soft breath of night sighing around, then your sweet image +dwells in my heart; I seem to feel your breath; I open my arms seeking +to embrace you; and when at last sleep weighs down my eyelids, you are +with me in my dreams. Oh, that the unmelodious trumpet must destroy +such heavenly visions! I would ever dream until I am again with you, +and find with you a sweeter reality. I kiss this paper, so soon to +touch your lovely hands."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">While she read her voice was soft, and she gazed at the letter lost in +recollections.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then again her features grew cold and hard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This will do perfectly," said she; "and no date; excellent!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She seized a pen, and after considering the handwriting for a few +moments, she wrote at the commencement of the letter--"June 30th, +1866."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked attentively at her writing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," she said, "it will pass capitally."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rang a small silver bell. Her maid entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Find my husband," said Madame Balzer, "and tell him I wish to speak to +him immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">The maid withdrew, and the young lady walked thoughtfully to the +window, carelessly looking down on the excited crowds below, whilst a +slight smile of satisfaction played on her lips.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">DEFEAT</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Gloomy silence prevailed in the Hofburg. In the midst of the +rejoicings +at the Italian victory the annihilating thunderbolt had fallen, ruining +all hopes of success in Bohemia, and destroying in a moment the blind +confidence that had been placed in Field-Marshal Benedek and his +operations. It was as if a sudden stupefaction had come on everyone. +The attendants glided slowly and sadly through the long corridors, and +scarcely said the few words necessary for the fulfilment of their +duties. Immediately after receiving the intelligence of the lost +battle, the emperor had sent Count Mensdorff to Benedek's +head-quarters, that, being himself a soldier, he might judge of the +condition of affairs; he then withdrew into his own apartments, and +only the adjutant-general had access to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Deep silence reigned in the imperial ante-room. The life guardsman +stood quietly before the emperor's door; the equerry on duty, Baron +Fejérváry de Komlos, leant silently against the window and looked at +the groups below, as they formed and again dispersed after grave +whispered converse. There were often looks cast upwards to the windows +of the castle, as though they longed for fresh news--for something +decided, to remove their load of anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">The regular ticking of the great old clock was heard, marking as calmly +these saddest moments to the House of Hapsburg as it had proclaimed +during its greatest splendour that all yielded to the inexorable scythe +of Time. For Time goes on with equal pace during the flying moments of +happiness and during the creeping hours of the blackest day, only in +the rush of happiness his iron footstep is unheard, whilst in the sad +stillness of misfortune "<i>memento mori</i>" sounds on every ear, and calls +to each one of us from the bosom of the solemn vanished past.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus was it here. The guardsman and the equerry had often performed +their duty in this very room, with their hearts full of joyful thoughts +of the world without; and all those hours had vanished from their +recollection, or had melted together in a blurred picture; but these +hours, these still, dark hours, with the slow stroke of the heavy +pendulum marking their lingering seconds, were buried deep in their +memory for ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Adjutant-General Count Crenneville entered. He was accompanied by +the Hanoverian ambassador, General von Knesebeck, dressed in the full +uniform of a Hanoverian general, and followed by the King of Hanover's +equerry, Major von Kohlrausch, a simple soldier-like man, with a short +black moustache and a bald head.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Knesebeck, the tall, stately man who had moved with so firm +and proud a step through Count Mensdorff's salons, now stooped in his +walk. Sorrow and mourning lay on his grave regular features, and +without speaking a word he saluted the equerry on duty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you announce me, dear baron?" said Count Crenneville to Baron von +Fejérváry.</p> + +<p class="normal">He entered the imperial apartment, and returning immediately, signified +to the adjutant-general by a respectful movement that the emperor +awaited him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Crenneville entered the cabinet of Francis Joseph.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor again wore a large grey military cloak. He sat bending over +his writing-table; pens, papers, and letters lay untouched before him; +there were no signs of the restless industry of a sovereign who never +allowed an hour to pass idly. It was not grief which the excited, +wearied countenance of the emperor wore, it was comfortless, dull +despair.</p> + +<p class="normal">Crenneville looked sadly at his sovereign thus weighed down with +sorrow, and said, with deep emotion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your imperial majesty not to yield to the sad impression of this +disastrous news. We all--all Austria looks to her emperor. No +misfortune is so great that a strong will and a resolute courage cannot +amend it; and if your majesty despairs, what will the army--what will +the people do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor slowly raised his wearied eyes and passed his hand over his +brow as if to ease it of a load of thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," he answered mournfully. "Austria expects from me +courage and decision, and truly," he cried, raising his head, whilst an +angry flash darted from his eyes, "courage I have, might I but face the +enemy's fire, and if my personal courage could procure success, victory +should not fail the banners of Austria! But must I not believe that I +am ordained to misfortune, that my sceptre must bring destruction upon +Austria? Have I not done everything to procure success? have I not +placed at the head of the troops a man whom the army and the nation +considered the most competent? And now?--beaten!" cried he vehemently, +with tears in his eyes, "beaten after so haughty, so bold an attack, +beaten by this enemy who during the last century has seized on my +ancestral inheritance in Germany, an enemy whom I hoped to overthrow +for ever. What avails me the victory in Italy, if I lose Germany? oh! +it is hard!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the emperor supported his head in both his hands whilst a deep sigh +heaved his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Crenneville came a step nearer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty!" said he, "all is not yet lost. Mensdorff will perhaps +bring us good news; the battle must have cost the enemy much, perhaps +all may still be well."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor let his hands sink down and looked at the count for some +time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Crenneville!" he then said, gravely and slowly, "I will tell +you something which has never been so clear to me as at this moment. Do +you know," he said dreamily, "what great characteristic of my family +carried Hapsburg and Austria through all the hardest times? It was its +tenacity, its tough indestructible tenacity, that bent beneath the +blows of misfortune, without for a moment losing sight of the aim for +which to suffer, to wait, to conquer. Go to past history, look up the +darkest, heaviest times, you will find in all my ancestors proofs of +unconquerable endurance, and you will find too that this characteristic +was their salvation. This tenacity," he continued after a short +silence, "this Hapsburg endurance, in me is wanting, and that is my +misfortune. Joy bears me on his light pinions high as the heavens, +large views of life fill me with mighty inspiration, but even so the +heavy hand of misfortune dashes me to the ground. I can fight, I can +sacrifice myself, but I cannot bear, I cannot wait--oh! I cannot wait!" +he cried, with a look of horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then suddenly he raised his head, he pressed his beautiful teeth +lightly on the full under lip and said, the princely pride of the +Hapsburg kindling in his eyes,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, Count Crenneville, I must not yield to weakness; forget +that you have seen me weak so long; is the misfortune great?--we must +be greater than misfortune!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The heavier the blow, the more deeply it affects your heart, so much +the more I admire the bold courage which your majesty now, as ever, +regains. I rejoice the more," added the count, "that your imperial +majesty is superior to disaster, as the Ambassador General Knesebeck +has just requested an audience; he bears the heavy blow which has +fallen on his master well and chivalrously!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poor king," cried the emperor, "he has bravely defended his +rights, and he now expects from me help and protection! All those +princes," he continued gloomily, "who assembled around me in the old +imperial hall at Frankfort, how shall I appear before them after this +shameful defeat!" And again he sank into brooding thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty!" cried Count Crenneville in a low, imploring tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor stood up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bring General von Knesebeck in!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The adjutant-general hastened to the door, and a moment afterwards +returned with General von Knesebeck, and Major von Kohlrausch.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor walked towards the general and held out his hand with much +emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You bring sad news, my dear general; I am filled with admiration for +your royal master, and I deeply deplore that such great heroism could +not command a happier result. Alas! you have found little to console +you here," he added with a visible effort; and then as if unwilling to +pursue the painful subject, he turned a look of enquiry towards Major +von Kohlrausch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said General von Knesebeck, "I mast first beg +permission to introduce to you Major von Kohlrausch, equerry to my +royal master. He begs the honour of presenting a letter from our +sovereign."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bowed kindly to the major, who stepped forward in a +soldier-like manner and placed a writing in the emperor's hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened it quickly and looked through its brief contents.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty imparts the melancholy catastrophe to me in a few words, +and refers me to you for a personal communication, major."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My gracious master," said Major von Kohlrausch, as if repeating a +military order, "commanded me to tell your imperial majesty, that after +the great efforts made by his army to preserve the independence of his +crown, and victoriously to defend his kingdom, and after these efforts +and the successful battle of Langensalza were rendered useless by the +superior numbers of the enemy, his majesty deemed his most dignified +and worthy course would be to repair to your imperial majesty, his +illustrious confederate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And his true friend!" cried the emperor warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The major bowed and proceeded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask your imperial majesty whether the visit of the king and his +reception in Vienna will be agreeable to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agreeable!" cried the emperor with animation, "I long to embrace the +heroic monarch who has given us all so high an example of princely +stedfastness. Truly," he proceeded with a sigh, "the king will no +longer find here a powerful ally; he will find a broken power needing +the greatest courage and every exertion to avert the worst +consequences."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe I am speaking the mind of my royal master," said Major von +Kohlrausch, "when I assure your imperial majesty the king is ready and +resolved to share fortune and misfortune with his illustrious ally, +whose cause is his own and that of right."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked on the ground for a moment. Then he raised his eyes +with a brilliant expression, and said, his countenance glowing with +courage and happy pride,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The friendship and the trust of so noble and heroic a heart as your +king's must give courage to all, and fresh confidence in our cause. +Tell your royal master I await him with impatience, and that he will +find me worthy to defend the cause of right and of Germany to the +uttermost. My answer to the king shall be given to you as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor ceased. The major silently awaited a sign of dismissal.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few moments Francis Joseph said, in a voice of emotion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king has given us an unparalleled example of heroism. I am anxious +to express my admiration for his courage and that of the crown prince +during the last few days by an outward sign. I will immediately summon +the chapter of the Order of Maria Theresa, and my army will be proud if +the king and his son will wear upon their breasts the noblest and +highest sign of honour to an Austrian soldier--wait until I can send +you the insignia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know my master well enough," said the major, with a joyful +expression, "to be sure that such a sign will fill him with the highest +satisfaction, and that the whole Hanoverian army will receive it with +proud joy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been much pleased, my dear major," said the emperor, +gracefully, "to receive you on this occasion as an envoy from the king. +I will, with the other things, send you the cross of the Order of +Leopold, and I beg you to wear it in memory of this moment, and of my +friendly remembrance."</p> + +<p class="normal">The major bowed deeply. "Without this gracious sign," he said, "I +should never forget this moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now rest yourself," said the emperor, kindly, "that you may have +strength when all is ready for your return."</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed his head as a dismissal. The major with a quick military +salute left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have been in the Bavarian head-quarters," said the emperor to +General von Knesebeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have, your majesty," replied he. "When, in consequence of despatches +received from Count Ingelheim, your majesty commanded me to go at once +to Prince Karl, and urgently to beg him, in your all-powerful name, to +hasten to the assistance of the Hanoverian army, I set out immediately, +and found the Bavarian head-quarters, which the day before had been at +Bamberg, at Neustadt. I represented to Prince Karl the pressing danger +of the Hanoverian army, and I implored him, in your majesty's name and +in that of my king, to make a rapid advance towards Eisenach and Gotha, +that a union might be effected, and a favourable and important change +possibly be made in the whole campaign."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Prince Karl?" asked the emperor, anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The prince, as well as General von der Tann, who was with him, fully +acknowledged the importance of a union of the Bavarian with the +Hanoverian army--they were ready to do everything in their power--as +indeed had been intended at the outset of the march. At the same time +his royal highness, as well as the chief of the general staff, +expressed great dissatisfaction at the march of the Hanoverian army; it +was then really not known where it was, and, according to information +brought in, the greatest strategical faults had been committed. The +prince asked me about the strength of our army, and when I replied +that, according to my estimation and to the intelligence I had heard, +about nineteen thousand men were under arms, he replied, 'With nineteen +thousand men you should cut your way through the enemy, and not march +hither and thither into positions where you must be surrounded.' +General von der Tann nodded approval."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bent his head and sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard this with great sorrow," added the general, "and my grief was +greater since I could not deny the truth of the judgment pronounced at +the Bavarian headquarters. I am a general staff officer, your majesty," +he said, with a sigh, "but I must own the marches which our army have +made are to me quite incomprehensible, and that it would have been much +easier on our part to reach the Bavarians by a hasty march, than to +await their advance with these apparently aimless runnings to and fro."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poor king!" cried the emperor, in a sorrowful voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Naturally," continued von Knesebeck, "I did not utter these ideas in +the Bavarian head-quarters; on the contrary, I urged a hasty advance +for the relief of the Hanoverian army--the only course as matters then +were which could possibly save it. Prince Karl, in spite of his +displeasure, was quite ready to comply; he immediately commanded an +advance by the forest of Thuringia upon Gotha, and informed Prince +Alexander of his movements, that the eighth army corps might march at +the same time. But," he added, with a sigh, "the Bavarian army had been +reduced to a peace footing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" cried the emperor. "Bavaria urged upon the confederation +so strongly the policy that led to war."</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Knesebeck slightly shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under the circumstances," he said, "the Bavarian army was not in a +condition to act rapidly and forcibly. However, they set out. Prince +Karl removed his headquarters to Meiningen, and with a heavy heart full +of misgivings I accompanied him thither. The following day we were to +proceed; then Count Ingelheim arrived, and brought the news of the +catastrophe of Langensalza!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a melancholy combination of disastrous events!" cried the +emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under these circumstances," continued the general, "Prince Karl was +quite right in abandoning his onward march and ordering flank +movements, through which to join the eighth army corps at Friedberg, +seventeen miles from Meiningen. I returned here with a sorrowful heart, +and found, alas! the news of the still heavier blow which has smitten +your majesty and our cause."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The blow is heavy," cried the emperor, "but I have courage, and hope +all may yet be favourable. I am glad that your king's message came +to-day, and that I have seen you, my dear general; it has given me +fresh courage to strive to the utmost to do my duty towards Germany. Do +you think," he asked, after a moment's thought, "that we may expect an +energetic campaign from Bavaria? You have seen the condition of the +army--you have the quick eye of a soldier--tell me candidly your +opinion!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said General von Knesebeck, "Bavaria will doubtless +absorb Prussian troops, and that is an advantage. As to an energetic +campaign, Prince Karl is a very old gentleman, and at his years energy +is unusual, especially at the head of an army unfit to fight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But General von der Tann?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"General von der Tann has great military capacity; whether he will be +responsible for any exploit not purely Bavarian in its aim, whether +with the prince's character he can effect anything, I doubt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You expect then--?" asked the emperor anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very little!" said the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And from the other German corps?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The eighth corps can do nothing without Bavaria; and before my +departure extraordinary news had arrived from Baden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will Baden fall off from us?" cried the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know," said Knesebeck, "the impression made by the defeat of +Königgrätz, which will perhaps be exaggerated--" He shrugged his +shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Reichs-armee!" cried the emperor, stamping his foot upon the +ground. "Do you believe," he exclaimed vehemently, "that the Austrian +sun is setting? It is indeed evening," he said gloomily--"perhaps +night; but," he cried, with flaming eyes, "after night comes morning!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The sun does not set upon the realms of Austria; your majesty must +have faith in the brilliant star of your house!" cried General von +Knesebeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And by God!" cried the emperor, "if the star of day will once more +shine favourably upon the House of Austria during this campaign, then +shall your king in the full splendour of power and happiness stand next +to myself in Germany!" And he held out his hand to the general with a +movement of indescribable nobility.</p> + +<p class="normal">The equerry entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Mensdorff, your imperial majesty, has just returned, and +requests an audience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" cried the emperor, drawing a deep breath; "at once--at once. I +await him with impatience!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he walked forward to meet Count Mensdorff, who, at a sign from +Major von Fejérvári, appeared on the threshold of the royal cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has your imperial majesty any further commands for me?" asked General +von Knesebeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Remain! remain! dear general," cried the emperor. "Count Mensdorff's +intelligence will have the greatest interest for you, as well as for +me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The general bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, Count Mensdorff," cried the emperor, with a trembling voice, +"speak! The fate of Austria hangs on your lips!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Mensdorff stood before his monarch looking quite broken down; the +fatigues of the journey to headquarters had exhausted his feeble frame, +nervous anxiety had drawn deep lines upon his countenance, a sorrowful +expression lay around his lips, and only his dark eyes shone with +feverish brilliance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are exhausted!" cried the emperor; "seat yourselves, gentlemen."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he seated himself before his writing-table. Crenneville, Count +Mensdorff, and General Knesebeck placed themselves near the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, in his low voice, "the tidings I +bring are sad,--very sad, but not hopeless."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor folded his hands and looked upwards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The army has suffered a frightful defeat," said Count Mensdorff, +"ending in a wild flight, in which all order was lost. To assemble and +re-form the masses will require several days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how is this possible?" cried the emperor, "how could Benedek--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The field-marshal," said Count Mensdorff, "was quite right when he +told your majesty he could not fight with that army,--events have been +unparalleled. Your majesty knows that Benedek is a good, brave general, +who is quite capable of forestalling the plans and defeating the troops +who operate against him. Your majesty,--I must say it,--he has in no +way been supported. The general staff drew up a plan, the excellence of +which I will not judge, but which the rapid, unexpected, and +wonderfully combined movements of the Prussian army, the sudden and +unforeseen arrival of the crown prince's forces, ought to have +modified. With inconceivable blindness the general staff refused to +make any modification,--to listen to any warning. Added to this, they +were so little prepared for a retreat, or so incomprehensibly careless, +that the officers were unacquainted with the line of retreat, and not +one commandant of a regiment knew the bridges by means of which the +march must be effected; thus the retreat became a flight, the flight +became the dissolution of the army."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Terrible!" cried the emperor; "Benedek must be brought before a +court-martial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not Benedek, your majesty," said Count Mensdorff; "he has done what he +could do; he stood at the post which had been given him, he exposed +himself personally in a way seldom done by a general; and with +unequalled courage he, with his whole staff, charged the enemy as if at +the head of a squadron,--of course in vain. Tears came into my eyes, +your majesty," proceeded Count Mensdorff, in a voice slightly trembling +with emotion, "when I saw the brave general, broken down with grief, +and when he said to me in his simple, soldier-like way: 'I have lost +everything, except, alas! my life!' Your majesty, we must deeply regret +that the field-marshal was placed in a position to which he was +unequal; but to be angry with him, to blame him, is impossible."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked silently and gloomily down before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," continued Count Mensdorff, "the general staff must be made to +answer for their conduct. I am far from pronouncing a judgment; the +moment has not yet come, and an impartial and calm examination is now +impossible. I hope that the accused may be able to justify themselves; +but a strict reckoning must be required, it is demanded by the voice of +the whole army, whose heroic courage has been sacrificed in vain,--in a +few days it will be demanded by the voice of the people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And who are the guilty?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lieutenant Field-Marshal von Henikstein and Major-General von +Krismanic are the <i>accused</i>," said the count with emphasis; "whether +they are guilty justice must decide."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They shall be removed from their positions, and recalled here to +justify themselves. Count Crenneville," cried the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your majesty's command," replied the adjutant-general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must not conceal from your imperial majesty," continued Count +Mensdorff in a calm voice, "that several parties in the army severely +blame Count Clam-Gallas; they say he did not conduct his operations at +the right time nor obey the orders that were given him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Clam!" exclaimed the emperor. "I do not believe it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank your imperial majesty for that word," said Count Mensdorff, +"and I venture to add that I believe from his devotion to your majesty +and to Austria, Count Clam-Gallas would be incapable of military +negligence; nevertheless, he is my relative, he belongs to the great +aristocracy of the empire--the public voice accuses him, and will +condemn him the more easily if his justification is not brilliant and +complete. I beg your majesty to call him to account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be done," said the emperor, "he shall be invited here; I can +then take further steps. But now," he continued, "what is to be done? +is the situation hopeless?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," replied Count Mensdorff, "the army still numbers +180,000 men; at the present moment they are certainly in no condition +to carry on any military operation; but only time and re-formation are +required to enable them to offer fresh resistance to the enemy. The +fortified camp of Olmütz affords rest and safety, and the field-marshal +is withdrawing his head-quarters there, to draw the enemy away from +Vienna."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To draw them away from Vienna!" repeated the emperor; "it is terrible; +this enemy whom I hoped to overthrow for ever, already threatens me in +my capital!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is to be hoped," said Count Mensdorff, "that the Prussian army will +follow the field-marshal, and be detained before Olmütz; in the +meantime Vienna must be covered to provide for every contingency, and +to enable us to attack the enemy on two sides when we can resume +offensive measures."</p> + +<p class="normal">General Knesebeck nodded approval, the emperor cast a look of +excitement on his minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And to obtain this," added Count Mensdorff, "we need Hungary and the +Italian army."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe," he cried vehemently, "that from the mouth of Hungary +the words that saved Austria will again resound: <i>Moriamur pro rege +nostro?</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Pro rege nostro</i>," said Count Mensdorff, clearly pronouncing each +word, "yes, I do believe it--if your majesty will be <i>rex Hungariĉ!</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I not?" cried the emperor. "What shall I do to make Hungary draw +the sword for me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forget and forgive," said Count Mensdorff, "and restore to Hungary her +independence beneath the crown of St. Stephen."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the Italian army?" he then asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must be recalled as quickly as possible, to cover Vienna, and to march +against the enemy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will become of Italy?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Italy must be given up," said Count Mensdorff, sighing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor gave him a penetrating look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give up Italy?" he asked, hesitatingly, and cast down his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Italy or Germany," said Count Mensdorff, "and in my opinion the choice +cannot be difficult."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is hard enough to have to make the choice," whispered the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty, permit me to speak plainly and to express my thoughts +clearly. Your imperial majesty will remember before the commencement of +the war my deep anxiety at two different campaigns being carried on at +the same moment. I was of the opinion that Italy ought to be +sacrificed, that our position in Germany might be recovered and +strengthened by an alliance with France. One might then indeed hope +that without this sacrifice the war on both sides would be successfully +carried on, and your majesty's great and courageous heart held firmly +to this hope. Now this is no longer possible, now the sorrowful choice +must be made--if we are to gain anything in Germany--if we are to +maintain what we possess--the whole strength of Austria must be +concentrated upon one point, the whole strength of the Italian army +must be brought here, and the Arch-Duke Albert with his eagle eye must +take the entire command of both armies. Thus alone is recovery +possible; thus alone is it possible to keep Germany for Austria. For," +he added, mournfully, "your majesty must not be deceived, the disaster +of Königgrätz will have a great effect on all the lukewarm and +hesitating members of the German Confederation. Baden has already +fallen away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Baden fallen away?" cried the emperor vehemently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just now, since my return, as I was preparing to come here," said +Count Mensdorff, "intelligence came to the Office of State from +Frankfort, that Prince William of Baden had declared on the 6th, that +under existing circumstances he must refuse for the troops of Baden to +co-operate with the army of the confederation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such, then, is the first result of Königgrätz," said the emperor, +bitterly. "But," he cried, with sparkling eyes, as he threw back his +head, "they may be mistaken, these princes, whose forefathers humbly +surrounded the throne of my ancestors. The power of Austria is shaken, +but not destroyed; and yet again the time may come when Hapsburg will +sit in judgment in Germany, to punish and reward! Count Mensdorff," he +cried, with decision, "my choice is made. I give up all for Germany. +But," he continued, sinking again into gloomy thought, "how can I--I, +the victor, bow down before this king of Italy--implore a peace which +may, perhaps, be refused?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, "the solution of that difficulty +is very simple, if you cast your eye over the political situation as it +was at the beginning of the war. The Emperor Napoleon ardently desires +the evacuation of Italy. He offered an alliance before the commencement +of the war, of which Venetia was the price; cannot the same still be +obtained? My advice, your majesty, is that we should cede Venice to the +emperor of the French, who, on his part, can deliver it over to Victor +Emanuel, and by this means an alliance with Napoleon will be obtained, +or at least, under unfavourable circumstances, his powerful +intervention. Thus the dignity of Austria will be preserved towards +Italy, all direct negotiation avoided, and the whole of our force will +be available for the struggle in Germany. If your majesty commands it, +I will immediately speak on the subject to the Duke de Gramont, and +send instructions to Prince Metternich."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent for some time, lost in thought. The three +gentlemen sat round him motionless: it was so quiet in the cabinet that +their breathing was perceptible, and in the distance was heard the +echoing movement of great Vienna.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the emperor rose. The three gentlemen stood up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So be it, then," cried Francis Joseph, very gravely; "neither Spain +nor Italy have brought a blessing to my house. In Germany was their +cradle, in Germany grew their strength, in Germany shall lie their +future!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak to Gramont immediately," he proceeded. "And you, Count +Crenneville, make all the necessary arrangements for my uncle to assume +the general command of all my armies, and also for bringing the army of +the south hither. General Knesebeck," he said, turning towards him, +"you are here as the representative of the bravest princes in Germany. +You see that the heir of the German emperors sacrifices all for +Germany!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would that all Germany witnessed your majesty's noble decision," +said the general with emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Hungary, your majesty?" asked Count Mensdorff.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak to Count Andrassy," said the emperor, with a little hesitation. +"Tell him what may happen, and hear what they expect."</p> + +<p class="normal">He made a sign with his hand, and bent his head with a friendly smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bowing deeply, the three gentlemen left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor walked to and fro several times with hasty steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus all that the sword of Radetzky won, is lost," he said, with a +deep sigh, as he stood still before the window. "That land is lost for +which so much German blood has flowed! Be it so," he cried, drawing a +deep breath, "if I may only retain Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked thoughtfully down on the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if I give up Italy," he whispered, "how can Rome, how can the +Church withstand the waves which will then hurl themselves against St. +Peter's rock?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A darker gloom lay on his brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a slight knock, the groom of the chambers entered by the door +leading from the inner apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Rivero," he said, "begs for an audience, and as your majesty +commanded me to announce him at once, I----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this a warning?" said the emperor, in a low tone; and he made a +movement as if to decline the interview.</p> + +<p class="normal">He then stepped back from the window, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him come."</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will hear him," said the emperor; "he has at least the right to +candour and truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door of the inner apartment was again opened, and Count Rivero +entered the cabinet, looking grave and melancholy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You come in a heavy hour, count," said the emperor, addressing him; +"the events of this day have buried many hopes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just and holy hopes should never be buried, your majesty," replied the +count; "yes, even if we go down to the grave, we must look with trust +to the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor gave him a scrutinizing look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not quite give up hope," he said, with a certain amount of +embarrassment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said the count, after a short pause, during which the +emperor expressed nothing more, "I have only heard the outlines of the +great disaster; I do not yet know what its results will be, or what +your majesty has determined to do. But I do know well that all is +prepared in Italy for an insurrection in favour of our Holy Faith, and +for the right. The Austrian victories have deeply shaken both the +military and moral power of the King of Sardinia, and the moment has +come to pronounce the decisive word which will set the country in +flames. I beg your majesty's commands to do this, and above all I ask +whether the rising in Italy will have the full and powerful support of +the Austrian army. Without this, the sacrifice of many lives would be +useless, and we should but injure our holy cause."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count spoke in a calm, low voice, and in the respectful tone of a +courtier, but at the same time with grave firmness, and a certain proud +conviction.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor cast down his eyes for a moment, then he came a step nearer +to the count, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear count, the enemy in Bohemia threatens the capital; the +defeated army cannot operate without rest and reorganization. I need +the whole strength of Austria to counteract the consequences of this +defeat, to parry this threatened blow; the army of the south must cover +Vienna, and give the Bohemian army time to reassemble, and strength to +reassume offensive measures."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then your majesty will give up Italy?" said the count, with a deep +sigh, but without a sign of excitement, as he fixed his dark eyes full +on the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must," said the emperor,--"I must, unless I yield Germany, and +annihilate the position of Austria; there is no escape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty will thus," continued the count, calmly, in his deep +metallic voice, "your majesty will thus yield the iron crown of the +House of Hapsburg, for ever, to the House of Savoy, yield Venice, the +proud Queen of the Adriatic, to Victor Emanuel, whose army has been +smitten down by the sword of Austria?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not to him," cried the emperor warmly, "not to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And to whom, your majesty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I need the help of France," said the emperor. "I must buy the alliance +of Napoleon at a price I would not pay before the commencement of the +war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must his cold demon-like hand again grasp the fate of Italy?" cried +the count, hotly; "must Rome and the Holy See be given up for ever to +the arbitrary pleasure of the earlier Carbonari?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for ever," said the emperor; "if my power is re-established in +Germany, if I succeed in overcoming the danger now threatening me, the +Holy See will have a more powerful protector than I now could be,--and +who knows?" he continued, with animation, "Germany won Lombardy in +centuries gone by."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then all is lost!" cried the count involuntarily, in a sorrowful +voice. He quickly overcame his feelings, and said, in his usual calm +voice, "Is your majesty's decision irrevocable, or may I be permitted +to urge some reasons against it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak!" he then said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty hopes," said the count, "to recover your defeat by the +recall of the southern army; and by ceding Venetia--that is to say, +Italy--to buy the alliance of France. According to my convictions both +these hopes are deceitful."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked at him with amazement and with great attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The army of the south," continued the count, "will come much too late +to be of any assistance; for your majesty has to oppose a foe who will +never stand still and wait; the lamentable events from which we now +suffer fully prove this. The French alliance, even if your majesty +purchased it, will not be worth the price you give for it, for, as I +before had the honour of assuring your majesty, France is unfit to +undertake any military action."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the same time," added the count, "in giving up Italy your majesty +gives up a great principle, you recognize revolution--revolution +against legitimate right, and against the Church. You withdraw the +imperial house of Hapsburg from that mighty Ally who sits in judgment +high above all earthly battle-fields and cabinets, and who orders the +fate of prince and people after his Eternal will. Your majesty gives up +the Church, your majesty gives up the Almighty Lord, whose fortress and +weapon upon earth the Holy Church is."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what shall I do?" he asked sorrowfully, "shall I permit the +haughty foe to enter my capital? Can a fugitive prince be a protector +of the Church?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your imperial majesty's ancestors," said the count, "have flown from +Vienna, and because they held firmly to the right and to the Eternal +and All-powerful Ally of their house, they have been gloriously +restored to their capital! Besides," he continued, "much lies between +the enemy and Vienna. The enemy's army has suffered greatly, and Europe +will guarantee that Vienna shall not be Prussian. France must resist, +even without being bought--England--at this time even Russia. Let your +majesty permit the victorious army in Italy under the illustrious +archduke to press onwards, and in a short time Italy will be yours. +Prussia's ally is annihilated, and Holy Church will raise her powerful +voice for Austria and Hapsburg; this voice must be obeyed, in Bavaria, +in Germany, yes, even in France it must be obeyed, and your majesty +will rise with renewed strength. Let not your majesty leave your work +uncompleted, that the other side may reap the benefit of what has been +done; pursue your victory to the end, then its effects will repair this +misfortune; do not sacrifice victory to defeat, but heal defeat by the +brilliancy of your victory!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The count spoke more warmly than before.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had slightly raised his hand, and he stood in his wonderful beauty +an image of convincing eloquence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was much affected, his features showed a great struggle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And, upon the other side," proceeded the count, "if your majesty gives +up Italy, if you throw all your strength towards the north, and if this +sacrifice does not bring forth the fruit expected, where will you then +find help and support?--enduring support and strong help? When you have +once left the one road, when you have once parted from the One +everlasting and unchanging Ally, the separation will grow greater and +greater, it will become a cleft, and the power of the Church will no +longer be employed on behalf of backsliding Austria. And let not the +statesmen of the world despise this power," he cried, proudly drawing +himself up; "if the chastening excommunication of the Vatican no longer +hurls crowns from the heads of princes, and brings them in sackcloth +and in tears to stand before the doors of the temple, the spirit and +the words of the Church are still mighty and all-powerful in the world; +and if its thunderbolt no longer shatters the rock, its rain-drops wear +away the stone! Let your majesty ponder deeply before you separate from +the Church."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor's excited face flushed slightly; he raised his head, a +proud flash gleamed in his eyes, and his lip was somewhat raised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty's imperial brother in Mexico," continued the count with +energy, "wanders upon that dangerous path, he seeks his power in +worldly aids, he has separated from the Church, he is but a plaything +in the hand of Napoleon, and the path he has taken will lead him down +deeper and deeper."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor drew himself up to his full height.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, Count Rivero," he said coldly, "for so plainly expressing +your opinion. My resolution is made, and irrevocable! I can change +nothing. I hope the way I am now taking may enable me to be useful to +the Church, and to serve it as my heart desires."</p> + +<p class="normal">The inspired excitement vanished from the count's face. His features +resumed their accustomed calmness, and his eyes their still, clear +look.</p> + +<p class="normal">He waited for a few moments; and as the emperor was silent, he said, +without the least trace of emotion in his voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has your majesty any further commands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor replied graciously:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell, count; be assured of the uprightness of my intentions, and +hope with me for the future,--what you desire God may bring to pass in +days to come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My hope never fails," replied the count calmly, "for the future +belongs to the Ruler of the Universe!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And with a deep bow he left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked after him thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They want to renew the days of Canossa!" he said to himself; "they +deceive themselves. I will not be a servant to the Church; I will +struggle and fight for the power to be her protector. And now, to +work!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He rang, the groom of the chambers appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let States-Chancellor Klindworth be sent for without delay!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your majesty's command!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor seated himself at his writing-table, and looked through +various papers. But this occupation was merely mechanical. His thoughts +often wandered, and the paper in his hand sank slowly down, while his +eyes gazed thoughtfully into space.</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth entered. His face, with its downcast eyes, was as unmoved +and impenetrable as ever. His hands were folded on his breast, he bowed +deeply, and remained standing near the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked up as he entered, and returned his respectful +greeting by a slight inclination of the head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know what I have decided to do, my dear Klindworth?" he asked, +with a piercing glance at the old man's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do know it, your imperial majesty!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what do you say to it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rejoice at your majesty's decision."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor appeared surprised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You applaud me," he asked, "for sacrificing Italy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To keep Germany--yes," replied Klindworth; "your majesty can reconquer +Italy by Germany--never Germany by Italy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you were against my giving up Italy before the commencement of the +war," said the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, your imperial majesty," replied Klindworth, "because I +learnt from the great Metternich 'that you should never give up +anything that you can possibly keep; but should you be compelled by +necessity to sacrifice something, always sacrifice that which you can +most easily regain.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," said the emperor, looking up with a quick piercing glance, "Rome +will take this very ill, perhaps become my enemy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take it ill--yes, your majesty," replied the states-chancellor: +"become your enemy, that will not much matter, for Rome will always +need Austria. The Church and her influence is a mighty power in +political life, and we must use political powers, but we must not +permit them to rule us--that was one of Metternich's first principles."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was thoughtfully silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I give up Italy, I must win the price of this sacrifice. Do you +believe I shall gain an alliance with France?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope so," said Klindworth, a piercing glance appearing for a moment +beneath his half-closed eyelids, "if the diplomatists do their duty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they do their duty," said the emperor pondering. "My dear +Klindworth," he continued, "you must go at once to Paris and use all +your talents to induce Napoleon to undertake active measures."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will set off with the next courier, your majesty," said Klindworth, +without the least change in his expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know the situation well, and will do the best you can with it?" +asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty may rely upon me," said Klindworth.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent for some time, and passed his fingers lightly +over the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do they say in Vienna?" he asked at last, in a tone of +indifference.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trouble myself very little about what they say," replied the +states-chancellor, with a quiet, searching glance at the emperor; "but +I have heard enough to know that public opinion is courageous, and +expects much from the Archduke Albert and the army of Italy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do they speak of my brother Maximilian?" asked the emperor, in a +slightly constrained voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again a quick glance shot from Klindworth's eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard nothing; what should they say about him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are people," returned the emperor, in a low tone, "who pronounce +my brother's name in conjunction with this unhappy catastrophe." And +again he was silent, a dark cloud gathering on his brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The best means for making Vienna pronounce one name," said Klindworth, +"is for your majesty to show yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How? Would you have me drive in the Prater?" asked the emperor, with +the same gloomy look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Klindworth, "a number of Austrian and Saxon +officers, who have been wounded, have just arrived, and have come to +the Golden Lamb in the Leopoldstadt. May I humbly suggest that your +majesty should visit these wounded soldiers? It would make an excellent +impression."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Immediately," cried the emperor; "and not to make an impression. My +heart urges me at once to welcome these brave men, and to thank them."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does your imperial majesty," said Klindworth, in a humble voice, "wish +that the money for my journey should be paid by the government?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said the emperor. He opened a small casket standing upon the +table, and took out two rouleaux, which he gave to Klindworth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it enough?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite," he replied, whilst his eyes sparkled for a moment. He seized +the rouleaux, and they vanished in the pocket of his brown great-coat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now," said the emperor, "start at once, and come back soon. If +it is needful, send me information in the way you know. Above all, +obtain--what is possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">He slightly bent his head. Klindworth bowed, and quickly vanished, +without opening the door wider than was absolutely necessary, and +without making the least sound.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor rang, and ordered his carriage and his equerries.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he drove to the Golden Lamb, and visited the wounded officers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Viennese, who saw him drive through the streets in his open +carriage, looking proud and cheerful, said, "Things cannot be so bad +after all, for the emperor is well and happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">When he left the hotel, a dense crowd had collected before the house, +and the emperor was greeted with loud, enthusiastic cheers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Far and near, loud cries resounded of "Eljen! Eljen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor listened with mingled feelings, and sank again into deep +thought, whilst the carriage slowly parted the thick crowd, and then at +a quick trot bore him back to the Hofburg.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">DIPLOMACY</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon III. sat in his cabinet in the Tuileries. The heavy +curtains +were drawn back from the windows, and the bright rays of morning +entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor wore a light morning dress; his hair and his long moustache +were carefully arranged, and his aged, wearied, and anxious face had +the look of freshness which a night's rest and a carefully-arranged +toilette give even to an invalid.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beside him, on a small table, stood a lighted wax taper, and the simple +service of silver and Sevres china in which he prepared his own tea. He +was smoking a large dark-brown Havannah, and a blue cloud of fine smoke +filled the cabinet, and mingling with the aroma of the tea, and the eau +de lavande with which the room had been prepared before the emperor's +entrance, and the fresh air, shed an agreeable fragrance through the +apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor held some papers and telegrams in his hand, and his face +wore a cheerful and satisfied expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before him stood his confidential secretary, Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything falls to those who know how to wait," said the emperor, +with a smile. "I was urged to interfere in this German war--to rash and +hasty action--and now? I think I have gained more and done better than +if I--quite against my conviction and inclinations--had interfered with +the natural course of events.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor of Austria," he continued, "yields me Venetia, and calls +for my mediation to stay the advance of the victorious foe. Thus I have +Italy in my hand to oppose to the situation. The defeated Italians will +have to thank me for the restoration of their last province, and my +promise, 'Free to the Adriatic,' will be kept!" He gave a sigh of +relief. "Then I have won much influence and prestige," he added, +laughing, "and prestige avails me more than power or influence. The +king of Prussia accepts my mediation to begin with, only for a +suspension of arms, but the rest will follow, and I am thus the +arbitrator of Germany! Could I have gained more?" he asked, with a long +breath at his cigar, whilst he contentedly regarded the white ashes, +and slowly puffed away the blue smoke in small clouds; "could I have +done more if the armies of France had taken the field?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly not," returned Piétri; "and I admire your majesty's +quick-sightedness. I must own I was not without anxiety at France being +withheld from taking any part in these great events. Nevertheless, may +I call your majesty's attention to the fact that the situation is much +clearer on the side of Italy even if there is a slight disinclination +on the part of the king to receive Venice as a gift, than it is with +regard to the German powers. Accepting your mediation as a principle--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will lead to further negotiations and to practical results," +interrupted the emperor. "I know well that both sides have their own +plans in the background. Well," he said, smiling, "I have mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is certainly a great thing," he continued, after a short pause, +"that the cannon should be silenced by my first word of reconciliation, +and that the gentle and friendly voice of France should force both +mighty foes to lower their arms, at least for a moment, whilst they +listen respectfully to my words. Such is my position as mediator in +Germany. And thus it must be represented to public opinion," he added; +"it is very important that this should not interfere with my calm and +prudent action."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This has been done, sire," said Piétri. "The 'Moniteur' has +represented your majesty's mediation quite in this spirit, and all the +leading newspapers have thus described the situation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good, good," said the emperor. "And how does the sovereign public +opinion of my good Paris regard the affair?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellently," replied Piétri; "all the organs of the press describe +the position of France in this conflict as highly flattering to the +national dignity."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor nodded his head with an air of satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot, however, conceal from your majesty," continued Piétri, "that +I have observed a strong Prussian tendency in the journals; the +Prussian Consul Bamberg, who as your majesty knows takes charge of +these affairs at the embassy, has for some time been strongly and +cleverly supported by 'le Temps,' 'le Siècle,' and other newspapers."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was thoughtfully silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The question is," continued Piétri, "whether this agitation shall be +counteracted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said the emperor decidedly, "it would be far from my wish for +public opinion strongly to take up the side of Austria; it would be +inconvenient. I must tell you honestly," he proceeded after thinking +deeply for a moment, "that I have very little confidence in Austria, +she seems to me to be in the process of dissolution and near her fall. +The great emperor had this same thought," he added half speaking to +himself, "they did not understand him in Berlin, and were punished for +it at Jena--Count Bismarck is no Haugwitz, and--but," he said, suddenly +interrupting himself, "does Austria make no effort to work on public +opinion here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prince Metternich," he said, "is too much a grand seigneur to trouble +himself to descend from the heights of Olympus into the dark and murky +atmosphere of journalism, for which in Austria they maintain a most +sovereign contempt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," said the emperor, "these legitimate diplomatists breathe +and move upon their Olympian heights without regarding what takes place +on earthly dust, and yet it comes from below that public opinion, that +Proteus-like power who weaves the threads upon the loom of eternal +Fate, that mysterious power, before whose sentence the proud gods of +Olympus and of Tartarus tremble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something," said Piétri, laughing, "has been done by Austria to +influence public opinion--in very long, correct, and diplomatic +articles the 'Mémorial diplomatique' explains--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Debraux de Saldapenda?" asked the emperor, smiling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty is right!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said Napoleon, as he brushed the ashes of his cigar from +his trousers, "a small counter influence can do no harm. Let an article +appear here and there, calling attention to the necessity of not +allowing Austria's position in Europe to be too much weakened. You +understand, in Europe, not a word about Germany, and the articles must +bear the stamp of official Austrian origin, the journalists themselves +must believe they come from thence. You will know how to arrange this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly, sire," replied Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Laguerronière told me," continued the emperor, "of a very clever +little journalist--Escudier--he has relations in Austria; make use of +him, we must certainly strengthen our newspaper contingent," he +proceeded, "our cadres are very small, and we must make a campaign. +Think over this."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers announced: "His Excellency Monsieur Drouyn de +Lhuys."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bent his head, took a last whiff from his cigar, and said +to his secretary, "Stay near me, I may need you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri withdrew through the large and heavy portière, which concealed +the steps leading to his own room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had the folds of the curtain closed behind him, when Drouyn de +Lhuys entered the emperor's cabinet. He looked as calm and grave as +ever, and had his portfolio under his arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, my dear minister," cried Napoleon, rising slowly and +holding out his hand, "well, are you satisfied with the course of +events, and the position which the policy of waiting has procured for +us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not entirely, sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys gravely and quietly. A +cloud passed over the emperor's brow. Then he said in a friendly +voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are an incorrigible pessimist, my dear minister; what could you +require more? Are we not at this moment the umpire of Europe?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"An umpire, sire," said Drouyn de Lhuys inexorably, "who does not yet +know whether the contending parties will accept his award. The best +umpire is he who throws his sword into the balance, of which Brennus +the ancestor of the Gauls has given us an example."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I might be listening to the most fiery of my marshals, and not to my +Secretary of State and of Foreign Affairs," said the emperor, laughing, +"but to speak gravely, why are you not satisfied? I know that we have +before us many involved and difficult negotiations, but," he added +courteously, "can that alarm you, the experienced statesman, so capable +of finding Ariadne's clue in all such labyrinths? I believe that we +have won the game if we can only bring matters upon the field of long +negotiations. Sudden events are what I most fear. They exclude logic, +combination, and the weapons of the mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys was silent for a moment, and his eyes rested on the +emperor's face, so much more animated than usual.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," he then said, "that your majesty loves to tie Gordian knots, +but you forget that we have to do with a man who is apt to hew through +such works of art with his sword, and who has a very sharp sword in his +hand!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my dear minister," said the emperor, "you would not have me at +this moment, when my mediation is accepted, step between the two +combatants with my weapon in my hand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in your hand, your majesty," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "but with a +sharp sword by your side. Sire, the moment is grave, the French +mediation cannot be Platonic; your majesty must clearly perceive what +may arise through your intervention."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the first place, that this unpleasant din of cannon in Germany will +cease,--it makes all calm and skilful diplomacy impossible! <i>Cedant +arma togĉ!</i> And, then--but what is your opinion of the situation, and +what do you think we ought to do?" he said, interrupting himself, +whilst his half-closed eyes opened and a full glance from his brilliant +phosphorescent pupils fell upon his minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">He seated himself, pointing with his hand to an easy-chair for Drouyn +de Lhuys to occupy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said the latter, as he sat down, "your majesty must be clear as +to the influence you wish to exercise upon the events that have already +taken place in Germany. Two courses are possible, and with your +permission I will analyze them before your majesty. After the +information we have received from Benedetti, after what Goltz has +imparted to us, it is impossible to imagine that Prussia will entirely +give up the advantages she has procured by the amazing success of her +arms--upon which we must remember the monarchy of Hohenzollern had +staked--perhaps its existence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor nodded acquiescence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"According to my information, and my conception of Count Bismarck's +character, he will require not only the exclusion of Austria from +German affairs, not only the leadership of Germany at least to the +Main, for Prussia, he will also require an increase of territory, the +annexation of Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor raised his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hesse," he said, "that touches me not. Hanover, I have a great +esteem for King George and sympathise with him, since I knew him at +Baden-Baden; but Hanover is England's affair. Saxony," he said, +slightly twirling the point of his moustache, "that is different; that +touches the traditions of my house. But," he interrupted himself, "go +on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Austria," said Drouyn de Lhuys, calmly continuing the subject, "will +be forced to yield to these demands, for it is in no condition to +continue the war. The army of the south will not return in time, and +upon Hungary, so my agents assure me, there is no reliance to be +placed; it will therefore depend upon the influence of France whether +Prussia obtains what she demands."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two paths are possible to your majesty in this position of affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor listened with the greatest interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One course," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "is for your majesty to say: 'The +German Confederation, as guaranteed by Europe, is dissolved, and all +the German princes have simply become European sovereigns, who are +allies of France. France refuses that the balance of power in Germany +and in Europe should be disturbed, by any change in their possessions +or their sovereign rights.' Your majesty can divide the German +Confederation into a North German and a South German group, the first +to be under the leadership of Prussia, the second under Austria, and +you can forbid all other change. This is the course," added the +minister, "that I should advise your majesty to pursue."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bent himself down thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if Prussia rejects this proposal, or rather this award?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then your majesty must march to the Rhine and follow the example of +Brennus," said Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What should I gain?" asked Napoleon. "Would not divided Germany be as +ready to unite against France, perhaps more strongly organized in two +parts, as was ever the old German Confederation? And the other course?" +he then asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your majesty will not follow the path I have pointed out," said +Drouyn de Lhuys, "then, in my opinion, France must act towards Germany +as she acted towards Italy. She must allow events to take their natural +course, she must consent to an entire or partial national union beneath +Prussia, and to the territorial acquisitions of Prussia,--and she must +demand on her part compensation."</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of the emperor lighted up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what compensation would you demand?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benedetti maintains," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that in Berlin they are +much inclined to give us possession of Belgium."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor nodded approval.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not," added the minister, "approve this policy; we shall gain +little as far as military position is concerned, and we shall be +burdened with great complications towards England."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor shrugged his shoulders slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Belgium is French," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "by the same right Alsace is German."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! bah!" exclaimed the emperor, involuntarily. "But," said he, "where +would you seek compensation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "if the military and political unity +of Germany is consolidated under the leadership of Prussia its new +power will be very dangerous to France, dangerous to our influence, +yes, even to our safety. We must therefore on our side demand +guarantees against an aggressive policy from newly constituted Germany. +In the next place," he added, as the emperor remained silent, "we must +demand, as is only right and moderate, the extension of the French +boundaries as established by the Congress of 1814."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bowed his head with animation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, sire," continued Drouyn de Lhuys, as he fixed his keen eyes upon +the emperor, "we must demand Luxembourg and Mayence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is much," said the emperor, without looking up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But not too much!" returned Drouyn de Lhuys. "Luxembourg too is only a +question between us and Holland, and only the silent consent of Prussia +will be needed. Mayence--well, they may demur about that, but it is +better to ask more than you positively intend to take. That is my idea +of compensation," he added after a short pause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And it is mine," said the emperor, rising; and with his slow halting +gait he took several turns about the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood still before Drouyn do Lhuys, who had also risen, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I regret, my dear minister, that I cannot decide upon following the +first course you pointed out; since you consider it the right one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pointed out the second as the best alternative," said Drouyn de +Lhuys; "and although I should have preferred the former, I fully +approve of the second."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me the second," said the emperor, "let Herr von Bismarck unite +Germany as well as he can, and let us strengthen the power of France as +much as possible. Write to Benedetti at once, order him to go to +head-quarters and to negotiate at first a simple suspension of arms; +let us first quiet those cannon and make room for calm diplomacy. Let +him then raise the question of compensation in a confidential +conversation with Herr von Bismarck, and suggest Luxembourg and +Mayence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But without engaging himself too much, without stating any ultimatum. +I will keep my hand free," said the emperor with animation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our interests can only be preserved, sire," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "if +our attitude is decided, and our speech firm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They shall be so," cried the emperor; "but we must not begin with the +ultimatum. Let Benedetti sound, and skilfully discover how his +proposals are received."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will your majesty say to Austria?" asked Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That we are taking the greatest pains to make the peace as favourable +as possible, and to preserve the territorial possessions and the +European position of Austria. We must," he added, "advise Vienna to be +ready to continue the war in case we are unsuccessful, for who knows +what turn affairs may take, and, besides, a firm attitude on the part +of Austria, and an increase of the difficulties Prussia finds on that +side, can only be favourable to us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quite of your majesty's opinion, and I shall write in this spirit +to the Duke de Gramont immediately. I must now mention to your majesty +that Herr von Beust has arrived and requests an audience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beust, the Saxon minister?" asked the emperor with surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He arrived in Paris this morning, and was with me before I came here," +said Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what does he want?" enquired Napoleon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To call upon your majesty to protect Saxony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will see him," said Napoleon after a short pause; "but without +ceremonial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is also the wish of Herr von Beust, your majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beg him to announce himself through Colonel Favé, who is on duty. I +will instruct the colonel to bring him without exciting observation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, sire. To-day or to-morrow I expect Prince Reuss, who is +sent by the King of Prussia with letters to your majesty from +head-quarters at Pardubitz."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From where?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardubitz, sire," repeated Drouyn de Lhuys, pronouncing the word very +distinctly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a name!" cried Napoleon. "And do you know what he brings?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The conditions of peace," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "without their +previous acceptance the King of Prussia will conclude no armistice. So +says Count Goltz, who informed me of the prince's coming by a +telegram."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And were these conditions known to Count Goltz?" asked the emperor +further.</p> + +<p class="normal">"From his previous and general instructions I take it they were the +same as I have already imparted to your majesty,--Austria's exclusion +from Germany, the leadership of Prussia, and the annexation of the +territory lying between the separate portions of Prussia," returned +Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then his arrival will alter nothing in our policy," said the emperor. +"We will await him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me once more to draw your majesty's attention to the fact," +said Drouyn de Lhuys, in an impressive tone, as he fixed his +penetrating eyes upon the emperor, "that whatever policy France may +adopt, our interests cannot be preserved unless our language is very +firm, and our attitude decided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be so," said the emperor, "in the groundwork of the plan; the +form of negotiation must nevertheless be circumspect. Impress this upon +Benedetti."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have the greater reason to be firm," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "because +a new difficulty is arising for Prussia, which will make the court at +Berlin all the more anxious to arrange affairs with us. An article from +the official journal of St. Petersburg has been sent to me, in which it +is stated that the suspension of arms would lead to a definite +reconciliation, if there was not someone in Germany who thought himself +strong enough to compel Europe to consent to his German conquests, +forgetting that there still existed sovereigns in Europe whose united +forces could prevent the balance of power from being an idle word."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Drouyn de Lhuys drew a newspaper from his portfolio, and handed it +to the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">He took it, glanced through it hastily, and laid it on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is plain," he said, laughing; "and the address of the warning +cannot be doubtful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Baron Talleyrand maintains this article is the expression of the +opinion of the court party," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "and that, although +the emperor and Prince Gortschakoff are reserved, they regard the +catastrophe now taking place in Germany with the greatest interest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent, excellent!" cried the emperor. "Instruct Talleyrand to +foster this feeling as much as possible. He must," said he, after a +thoughtful pause, "point out especially that the interests of Russia +and France are identical in preventing Germany from concentrating her +military power in the hand of Prussia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have prepared an instruction to that effect, sire," said Drouyn de +Lhuys, "since I thought I foresaw such an intention on the part of your +majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And," said the emperor, as if seized by a sudden thought; but he broke +off quickly, and said, laughingly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, my dear minister, how everything unites in placing the +threads of the European situation again in our hands: we have all the +advantages of a victorious battle, without a shot having been fired, or +one Frenchman having been sent out of the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall be glad if all comes to a favourable end," replied Drouyn de +Lhuys, as he closed his portfolio.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do not forget," said the emperor, in a gracious tone, repeating +his minister's words, "that our language must be firm, and our attitude +decided."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand to his minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I may then send Herr von Beust here immediately?" said Drouyn de +Lhuys, preparing to go.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so," said the emperor; "and as soon as anything fresh arises, I +expect you."</p> + +<p class="normal">With an engaging smile, he made one step towards the door, through +which, with a low bow, Drouyn de Lhuys withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor walked thoughtfully several times up and down his cabinet. +Then he went to the portière, which concealed the private stairs, and +called,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Piétri."</p> + +<p class="normal">He appeared immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you seen this article from the 'Journal de St.-Pétersbourg'?" +asked the emperor, handing his secretary the paper he had received from +Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have," replied Piétri, after glancing at it hastily; "I had it ready +to present to your majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All goes on excellently," said the emperor, rubbing his hands. "We +must increase this difficulty arising for the victor of Königgrätz in +the East as much as possible. I have ordered Talleyrand to dwell upon +the identity of the French and Russian interests."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor slightly turned the points of his moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You might write to him quite confidentially," he proceeded, "saying +that there is no intention of allowing the idea to transpire hastily; +but that since 1854 and 1856, the European situation has much changed, +and that now an understanding between France and Russia upon the +Eastern question would, perhaps, be possible and desirable. Should a +common policy facilitate the arrangement of the German difficulty, a +revision of the Treaty of Paris would probably not be refused here. But +this must be quite private," he said, with emphasis, "engaging us to +nothing, and in the strictest confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very good, it shall be done at once," said Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he said, after waiting for a moment, during which the emperor +was silent, "Herr Klindworth is here, and wishes to see your majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Klindworth?" cried the emperor, laughing, "that old stormy petrel +could not keep out of a crisis which has raised such a tempest in +European policy. What does he want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He comes from Vienna, and wants to impart to your majesty much that is +interesting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is always interesting, and he often has clever ideas," cried the +emperor. "Bring him here at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri ran down the steps, and returned in a few moments with +States-Chancellor Klindworth, who appeared from behind the dark, heavy +portière, which the private secretary closed again after his entrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor and Klindworth were alone. The latter stood in the same +attitude, the same brown coat, and the same white cravat as in the +cabinet of Francis Joseph. With downcast eyes he waited, after a low +bow, for the emperor to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Welcome, dear Herr Klindworth," said Napoleon, in his peculiarly +winning and fascinating way, "come and sit near me, that we may talk of +these wonderful and stormy events which have so disturbed the peace of +the whole world."</p> + +<p class="normal">He sank again into his arm-chair, and Klindworth, taking in the +expression of the emperor's countenance with a hasty glance, seated +himself opposite.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon opened a small étui, twirled up a large cigarette of Turkish +tobacco with great dexterity, and lighted it at the wax taper on the +table beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am glad," said Klindworth, "to see your majesty looking so well and +cheerful, in the midst of these great catastrophes. His majesty Francis +Joseph will be much rejoiced when I tell him of your majesty's +excellent health.''</p> + +<p class="normal">"You come from the Emperor Francis Joseph?" said Napoleon, with aroused +attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know, sire," said Klindworth, folding his hands over his breast, +"I am no ambassador; I represent nothing. I am only old Klindworth, who +has the good fortune to be honoured by the confidence of those in the +very highest positions, and who uses his healthy old wits in the +diplomatic world, endeavouring to set straight what inexperienced folly +has set crooked."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor laughed, whilst he blew a thick cloud from his cigarette.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you come to correct a little of the folly that goes on in the +Tuileries?" he then asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your majesty speaks of the Tuileries I must be silent," said +Klindworth, "but if you speak of the Quai d'Orsay, I shall not say no; +there they can always do with a little good advice."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor laughed still more. "Well," he said, "what advice would you +give to the Quai d'Orsay? Perhaps I can support it."</p> + +<p class="normal">A rapid glance shot from the eyes of the states-chancellor. He lightly +tapped the fingers of the right hand upon the back of the left, and +said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would recall to your majesty's ministers and diplomatists the old +formula: Videant consoles ne quid detrimenti capiat respublica!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor immediately grew grave; his quick, brilliant eyes were +suddenly raised from beneath their drooping lids, and fixed with a +burning expression upon Klindworth, who sat before him without moving a +muscle. Then he leant back in his arm-chair, blew from him a thick +cloud of smoke, and asked in a quiet tone,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think, then, that things are so bad? Now that the emperor has +determined to evacuate Venetia all his forces will be free, and the +fortune of war may change."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not believe it will change, sire," said Klindworth, calmly, "and +according to my opinion, your majesty must take heed lest your defeat +should bring upon you still worse consequences."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My defeat?" inquired Napoleon, drawing himself up proudly, whilst his +moustache glided through his fingers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire, Königgrätz was as great a defeat to France as to Austria."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does your majesty think," continued Klindworth, "it added to the +prestige of France--and to imperial France prestige is needful--that +without her concurrence all European affairs should be turned upside +down, that a great Prusso-German military monarchy should arise, +without France's interference? The cabinets of Europe will thus learn +to arrange their own matters without heeding France, and your majesty +can conceive better than I, what effect this will produce upon the +French nation."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor considered. Then he said, calmly and gravely: "What does +the Emperor Francis Joseph intend to do, and what does he expect of +me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth showed not the least surprise at this suddenly direct +question, and at the different tone it gave to the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor," said he, "is determined to fight to the last. He hopes, +by the withdrawal of the southern army, to gain the necessary strength +to resume action; he hopes Hungary----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor slightly shook his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He hopes," continued Klindworth, "that the armistice will give him +time to reassemble his forces, and that the Prussian demands will be so +exorbitant as to render peace impossible. He expects that your majesty +will march to the Rhine, that Austria will be freed from her +difficulties, and Prussia hurled from the height upon which the victory +of Königgrätz has placed her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will there not be difficulties," he then said, without looking up, "in +the fulfilment of these numerous hopes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your majesty sees them," returned Klindworth, "they are certainly +there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you not see them?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Klindworth, "I received orders to urge your majesty to +hasty action with an armed hand. That is my commission; if your majesty +will give me an answer, I will, if you command me, tell you my +opinion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You define sharply," said the emperor, laughing. "Well," he proceeded +slowly, turning his cigarette between his fingers, "I will speak +without reserve. The emperor may rest assured that I regard a strong +Austria absolutely necessary to peace and the balance of power in +Europe, and that I will prevent Austria's displacement from her +European position with the whole force of France, if needful. I do not, +however, believe that this supreme moment has yet come, and I might do +more harm than good by an armed interference, for at this moment there +is no reason for pushing the German question into a European crisis."</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth listened attentively, accompanying with an inclination of +the head each word, as it was slowly uttered by the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty wishes to wait," he then said, "and to keep your hand +free as long as possible, but you will prevent any alienation of +territory from Austria itself."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor slightly bent his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But one circumstance must by no means be excluded from our +arrangements," he said; "every effort must be made in Vienna to alter +the military position in Austria's favour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand perfectly, sire," said the states-chancellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, now, my dear Herr Klindworth," said the emperor, throwing away +the remains of his cigarette into a small china vase, and preparing a +fresh one with the greatest care and attention, "you will tell me your +opinion, since you have heard my intentions."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he bent his head slightly to one side, and looked at Klindworth +attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My opinion, sire, is that you are perfectly right."</p> + +<p class="normal">Surprise was seen on the emperor's countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty is perfectly right," repeated Klindworth, looking up with +a quick, watchful glance, "for in the first place," he continued, in a +matter-of-fact tone, "waiting gives you a chance of demanding +compensation for France."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor's eyelids were almost entirely closed; he had completed his +cigarette, and blew a thick cloud into the air before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And besides," continued Klindworth, quitting his former remark +completely, and somewhat raising his voice, "your majesty has a double +reason for avoiding a brusque interference, you would benefit France as +well as Austria very little."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor listened with interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your majesty now interferes with an armed hand in the affairs of +Germany," said Klindworth, drumming with his fingers, "two courses are +possible. Prussia may yield, in which case things will remain as they +are. Prussia will only be regarded as the President of the +Confederation, and obtain some small territorial accession; in material +matters she will remain as she was, but an immense moral weapon will +have been placed in her hand. The German people will be told that the +union of Germany has been prevented by France, that Austria has called +in the national enemy, and as in Germany they may now write, read, and +sing what they please, and as the newspapers and books and songs are +made in Berlin, Austria's position amongst the German people would be +morally annihilated, and on some future occasion--perhaps when France +was engaged in some contrary direction--the perfectly ripened fruit +would fall into the hands of the Hohenzollerns."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor turned his moustache, and nodded approval.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," continued Klindworth, "and the character of her leaders renders +this supposition the most probable, Prussia may not yield, but may +undertake the war notwithstanding its enormous proportions. I fear +then, Herr von Bismarck would succeed in inflaming a national war, and +would lead united Germany against France."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would this be possible with the present feeling of Germany?" asked the +emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said Klindworth, "if moving water will not freeze in winter an +iron bar is thrown in, and the ice-rind forms at once. The sword of +France thrown into the German movement would act like that iron bar, +the waves would be still, and would form into a solid mass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the South Germans?" asked the emperor--"both the people and the +governments?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have now lost all hope in Austria," said Klindworth; "they feel +themselves in the power of Prussia; with a few promises, a few kind +words, and a few threats it will not be difficult to gain them over to +her side, for of this I am certain, they only want some reasonable and +honourable excuse to join her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If, however," said Klindworth with animation, "Prussia at once obtains +what she desires, namely immediate and important accessions of +territory, the complete annexation of Hanover, Hesse, &c.,--if only +sufficient pressure is applied as to enable South Germany to retain its +sovereign independence--the result will not be the union of Germany, +that popular idea of all poets, singers, and beer-drinkers; on the +contrary, it will be its separation, and all the blood that has been +shed will only have been for the aggrandizement of Prussia. Domestic +nationality, that feeling so dear to the German, will be directed +against Prussia, and the national sympathy will turn towards Austria."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will this be possible?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certain," replied Klindworth; "if Austria, penetrated by another +spirit, uses with prudent policy those powers which are now once more +so active and potent--alas! that it should be so; but we must work with +what will effect most."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said Klindworth, "if Prussia is increased in size by these +annexations, and obtains the leadership in North Germany, she will be +compelled to adopt a strict, unbending government, for the German races +do not easily assimilate. One iron hand will be laid on North Germany, +and the other constantly raised to menace South Germany. Then Austria +must arise with fresh strength, as the shield of individual government, +of independence, and of Liberty."</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of liberty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not?" cried Klindworth; "severe sicknesses are healed by means of +dangerous poisons."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where is the skilful physician?" asked the emperor, laughing, "who +can administer to sick Austria the proper dose of this poison? Count +Mensdorff or Metternich?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I have found this physician," said Klindworth, gravely, +without appearing perplexed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Colonel Favé is in the ante-room, sire."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In one moment," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth stood up and came nearer to the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This physician," he said, in a low voice, "is von Beust."</p> + +<p class="normal">Puzzled and amazed, the emperor gazed at him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beust!" he cried, "the Protestant! Do you believe that the +emperor----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do believe it," said Klindworth; "but at all events, Herr von Beust +is here; your majesty can sound him for yourself, and see whether my +opinion is well founded."</p> + +<p class="normal">He fixed his sharp eyes longer and more firmly than before upon the +emperor, with a penetrating glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He who plays with you," he said, "must lay his cards upon the table. +Wait with Piétri; I will see you again after I have spoken with your +physician upon the future of Austria."</p> + +<p class="normal">A smile of contentment played round the states-chancellor's thick lips, +as with a low bow he withdrew through the portière.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor rang.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Colonel Favé!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel, a thin man of middle height, with short black hair, and a +small moustache, dressed in a black overcoat, half soldier, half +courtier in manner, appeared at the door. He held it open for the +minister of Saxony to enter, and he then withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Beust wore a grey overcoat, of some light summer material, +thrown back from over his black coat, upon which sparkled the white +star of the Legion of Honour. His slightly grey hair was carefully +curled and arranged; his wide black trousers almost concealed the small +foot in its well-fitting boot. His fine intellectual countenance, with +its almost transparent complexion, eloquent mouth, and lively bright +eyes, was paler than usual, and the amiable, winning smile was entirely +gone. A melancholy expression was seen on his lips, and his whole face +showed nervous anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">He approached the emperor with the grace of a distinguished courtier, +and bowed in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon went to meet him with his fascinating smile, and held out his +hand to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"However sorrowful may be the occasion," he said in a gentle voice, "I +rejoice to see the most reliable and talented statesman in Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The most unhappy, sire," said von Beust sadly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They only are unhappy who have lost hope," replied the emperor, +seating himself, and pointing out a chair to Herr von Beust, with a +movement full of graceful courtesy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire, I have come to hear from your majesty's lips if I may still +hope, and bid my sovereign do the same?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor's fingers glided over the points of his moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me," he then said, "your views on events in Germany. I am anxious +to have them pictured by your mouth, the mouth of a master of narrative +and description," he added, with a gracious smile and a slight +inclination of the head.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beust's pale face grew animated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he said, "I have lost my game! I hoped to have created a new +federal form of national life in Germany; to have repressed within +definite boundaries the ambition of Prussia, and to have established +the German Confederation in renewed power and authority, by enabling it +to carry out freely the developments required by the present times. I +deceived myself; I reckoned without considering the divisions in +Germany, the weakness of Austria. The game is lost," he repeated, +sighing; "but at least Saxony did all in her power to win."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And is no lucky change in the game possible?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe not," said von Beust; "in Vienna they still hope much from +the southern army--from resuming the offensive. I do not believe in all +that. A state does not easily recover from such a blow as Königgrätz, +even if its inner life has not the stagnation, and has not fallen into +the indolence, of Austria. Prussia is the victor in Germany, and will +seize a victor's rights with an iron hand, if not restrained by a +powerful veto."</p> + +<p class="normal">His keen eyes were raised inquiringly to the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you think that I ought to pronounce this veto--that I can?" asked +Napoleon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied von Beust, "I speak to your majesty as minister of +Saxony, as servant to my unhappy monarch, who is threatened with the +loss of the inheritance of his ancestors, as far as it still remains to +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think," interrupted the emperor, "that in Prussian +head-quarters they mean seriously to disinherit the German princes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The incorporation of Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony is determined upon, +sire," said Herr von Beust with decision; "and," he continued, slightly +shrugging his shoulders, "they laid high stakes upon the game in +Berlin--it is perhaps natural that they should not be satisfied with +the stakes alone, but make use of the advantage with regard to the +future. But," he added after a moment's pause, "Hanover and Hesse +divide the Prussian dominions, Saxony, on the contrary, separates +Prussia from Austria and prevents continual friction; above all, +Hanover and Hesse pursued a path of their own; with regard to the real +interests of Germany they remained coldly passive; even when war was +unavoidable they concluded no alliance with Austria--if fate overtakes +them, they must in great measure ascribe it to themselves. To uphold +Saxony, however, is a question of honour for Austria, and," he +proceeded, looking full at the emperor, "perhaps for France also, for +imperial France, for the heir to Napoleon the First's power and glory."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bent his head and slowly stroked his moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," continued von Beust, whilst a tinge of red flushed his pale +face, and with his eyes still fixed upon the emperor, "when the power +of your great-uncle was shattered by the hand of fate at Leipsic--when +so many whom he had raised up and made great forsook him, the King of +Saxony stood beside him, a true friend, an ally in misfortune. And +heavy penance he had to do for his truth, with half his lands he paid +for his allegiance to his imperial friend. The emperor never forgot it, +and even in St. Helena he remembered his noble confederate with emotion +and grief."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor bent his head lower and lower. Herr von Beust continued in +a louder voice:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, sire, the heir of that prince who was true to your great +predecessor in his misfortunes<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> +is in danger of losing those +possessions of his house that he still retains; King John, who has +always been your majesty's sincere friend, is in danger of being driven +from the inheritance of his forefathers: and not he, sire, I, his +servant--who need not like himself regard royal delicacy of feeling--I +ask your majesty, will the heir of the power, the glory, and the name +of that great Titan, silently suffer the descendant of his last and +truest friend, his friend in need and danger, to be dethroned and +banished?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Beust ceased and gazed in breathless anxiety at the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon raised his head. His eyes were open. His pupils shone large +and clear in dazzling brightness, a peculiar expression of pride and +dignity was on his brow, a soft melancholy smile upon his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," he said, in a low, metallic voice, "the friends of my uncle are +my friends, to the third and fourth generation, and no prince shall +repent having stood by the emperor's side in misfortune whilst I grasp +the sword of France! You have saved Saxony," he added, with his +gracious smile. "Tell the king your master that he shall return to his +dwelling and his kingdom. I give you my word as an emperor."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a movement in which the dignity of the sovereign was combined with +the graceful courtesy of the man of the world, he held out his hand to +Herr von Beust.</p> + +<p class="normal">He seized it with veneration, whilst he rose quickly and exclaimed,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the spirit of the great emperor can look down upon earth, sire, at +this moment he must smile, well pleased, upon your majesty. You prove +that his friendship still weighs heavily in the scale of the fate of +Europe."</p> + +<p class="normal">A short pause ensued. The emperor was thoughtful. Beust had again +seated himself, and waited.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You believe, then," said the emperor at last, "that success is +impossible for Austria?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have urged them strongly in Vienna," said von Beust, sighing, "to do +all that they can--to make the utmost exertions, but I fear it will be +in vain. The state machinery of Austria has grown rusty, and it would +be hard even for a master spirit to set it in motion. The master spirit +is not there, and," he added sadly, "is no longer to be found in the +home of Kaunitz and Metternich."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he must be imported," said the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of the Saxon minister, full of surprise and admiration, were +fixed enquiringly upon the emperor's face, which had resumed its usual +calm and reserved expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe," said Napoleon, "that it would be impossible to +regenerate Austria if the master spirit who is wanted were found?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" cried von Beust; "certainly not. Austria has immense +interior power, only the nerve is wanting to move it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have during your political life thought out so much, and with such +great success," said the emperor kindly, with a slight inclination of +the head, "that you must have considered how best this slumbering power +might be aroused--inspired with life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden brilliancy shone in the eyes of Herr von Beust.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he said with animation, "the first and deepest cause of +Austria's weakness lies in this--her own strength binds her, one half +of the monarchy watches the other half, and holds it in check. Hungary, +with her great military power, with her rich, inexhaustible +productiveness, lies dead; and instead of inspiring her with life, +Vienna carefully excludes all political life from that country. In this +crisis, for example, Hungary alone could save all that is lost; but +they will not speak the inspiring word, for this word is, 'Freedom and +National Independence;' and at this word all the dusty old acts in the +state repositories tremble, and the dusty men tremble still more! And +in the interior of the monarchy, in Austria itself, a stiff bureaucracy +represses every sign of life amongst the people; and where the people +do not feel, do not think, do not co-operate in public life, they are +incapable of making great sacrifices and heroic efforts to uphold and +to save the state. Oh!" he went on, with still greater animation, "if +Austria could arise in renewed life, if her rich powers could be +developed and strengthened by natural movement, then all would be won +back for Austria and for Germany. If Austria would maintain her moral +place in Germany, if she would undertake the sphere of intellectual +progress, and through this progress allow her material power to arise +afresh, then--and not too late--the day would come when this defeat +would be brilliantly avenged. The formulary to obtain this is simple, +it is this: freedom and independence for Hungary; freedom and public +life for the whole monarchy, the reform of the government, and the +reform of the army! But to adopt and carry out this formulary," he +added, with a melancholy smile, and a slight bend of the head, "a +genius and a will is needed, such as your majesty possesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You flatter," said the emperor, smiling, and slightly raising his +finger. "At this moment I learn----After the completion of these +events, you will perhaps not continue minister of Saxony?" he then +said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall remain at my king's side during the present crisis," said Herr +von Beust. "But then, I think an unsuccessful statesman had better +vanish from the stage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or," said the emperor, "try his powers in a wider sphere than that +whose narrow boundaries have denied him success."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beust stood up, and seized his hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope," said the emperor, "that your views on the regeneration of +Austria may some day be brought to life. In any case, I beg you will +remember that you have a friend here, and that the interests of France +and Austria are one in encouraging the free development of the German +nation, and guaranteeing its national life. Greet your king from me, +and ask him to trust to my word."</p> + +<p class="normal">With great emotion, Herr von Beust seized the emperor's proffered hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, sire, my warmest thanks," he cried. "Whatever the future may +bring forth, I shall never forget this hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">And bowing deeply, he left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor called Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Klindworth there?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your command, sire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg him to come to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The states-chancellor appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor advanced towards him with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," he said; "the physician is found who can heal the +sickness of Austria."</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew," he said, "that your majesty would agree with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Try to have the treatment of the case confided to him. You may rely +upon my entire support."</p> + +<p class="normal">He thought deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And tell the emperor," he then said, "that I will do all in my power +to assist him, as energetically as circumstances permit. Material help, +however, Austria must gain from herself and from the regeneration of +her resources."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand perfectly, sire," said Klindworth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep me <i>au fait</i> as to Herr von Beust."</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I return?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must set to work at once," said the emperor, "for your task is not +an easy one. <i>Au revoir:</i>" and he made a friendly movement with his +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">Klindworth vanished behind the portière.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The cards are shuffled more and more," said the emperor, as he sank +back comfortably into his arm-chair; "and it is only needful to hold +them with a strong hand, and to look firmly at them, to rule the game. +It will do," he added, supporting his head on his hand, "and at the +same time a wide perspective is opened for the future. If Austria can +truly arise in renewed life--Italy enclosed on both sides--the alliance +is given--Hungary--Poland holds Russia in check----"</p> + +<p class="normal">His eyes shone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," he said, with a slight smile, "we will wait, in waiting lies my +strength. But a little help prepared beforehand may be useful. Above +all things, I must not forget Saxony."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up, and called Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drive to Drouyn de Lhuys," he said, "and desire him, in the +instructions to Benedetti, to give him distinct orders to forbid the +annexation of Saxony in the most decided manner--in the most decided +manner," he repeated with emphasis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your command, sire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And," asked the emperor, "do you know where General Türr is at this +moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the army in Italy," replied Piétri; "but I can ascertain +precisely immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Write to him," said the emperor. "No," interrupting himself, "send a +confidential person. I want to beg him to come here at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through him," said the emperor, speaking half to himself, "I shall +keep my hand a little in Turin and Pesth; that may be important."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has your majesty any other commands?" asked Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I thank you," said the emperor; and his private secretary +withdrew. Napoleon leant back comfortably in his arm-chair, and +carefully rolling a fresh cigarette, smoked thick clouds, lost in deep +thought.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">BISMARCK'S DIPLOMACY</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">The King of Prussia had taken up his head-quarters in the old +castle +belonging to the Princes of Dietrichstein at Nickolsburg. A brilliant +and changing picture was displayed in this little town, which from its +quiet seclusion seemed scarcely destined to become the centre of events +so important in the history of the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's guard kept watch before the castle, the troops quartered in +the little town moved about the streets in changing groups, marching +columns pushed in between, artillery rattled over the rough pavement, +the varied sounds of the bivouac echoed from without; and all around +there was life and movement.</p> + +<p class="normal">The inhabitants stood shyly before the doors, and at the windows which +they had opened again. The fear of the enemy oppressed them, but it +began to be mingled with confidence; these troops belonging to the foe +were not so fearful as they had imagined. Here and there a Prussian +soldier was seen in his weather-stained uniform, with his great wild +beard, talking to a group of peasants who had been driven into the town +for shelter from the burned and wasted villages; he was giving the shy +and frightened children bread or other food, or goodnaturedly offering +to some weak old man, some sick or weary woman, an invigorating sip +from his flask.</p> + +<p class="normal">War was here displayed in all its brilliance, in all its dazzling +grandeur; the remembrance of long days and quiet years of peace filling +in the background of the picture. War was here in all its horror, +destroying in one frightful moment the happiness of years, and amidst +the clash of national rights and interests, unchaining the savage +instincts of human nature; but here too bloomed the noblest and purest +flowers of heroism and self-sacrifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">If the good-natured cordiality of the enemy's soldiers had done much to +restore the confidence of the inhabitants, it was still more confirmed +by a rumour passing from mouth to mouth, that negotiations for peace +had commenced. Amongst the generals and staff officers who hurried in +and out of the castle, diplomatists were seen in civilian dress; it was +known that the French ambassador had arrived, and that after a short +reception he had travelled on to Vienna. An armistice of five days had +been concluded, and peace hovered in the air, longed for by none more +ardently and sincerely than by the unhappy inhabitants of the countries +where the bloody drama of war was being enacted.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of all this noise, of these echoing voices, of all these +signals from drums and trumpets, sat the Prussian minister-president, +Count Bismarck, in the spacious room in which he was quartered.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the middle of the room stood a table covered with a dark green +cloth, and piled with heaps of letters and papers. On the floor lay +opened and torn envelopes in wild confusion. A large map of the country +lay spread out upon the table, and before it sat the minister-president +on a plain rush-bottomed chair; on a small table beside him stood a +bottle of bright golden Bohemian beer and a large glass. The window was +open and let in the fresh morning air.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck wore the uniform of a major of his cuirassier regiment +comfortably unbuttoned, long riding boots, and his sword at his side.</p> + +<p class="normal">Baron von Keudell sat opposite to him in the uniform of the Landwehr +cavalry; he was occupied in looking through some letters.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benedetti is long in coming," said the minister, looking up from the +map, in the contemplation of which he had been engrossed for some time; +"they must still be very hopeful in Vienna, or perhaps they wish to +play a double game! Well! they shall not keep us halted here much +longer!" he cried vehemently, filling his glass and emptying it at a +single draught, "standing still here can only injure our position. +Though slow, like everything else in Austria, the army of the south is +advancing nearer and nearer, the cholera too begins to be troublesome. +I regret," he said, after a short silence, "that the king with his +usual moderation gave up the entry into Vienna; there was nothing to +stop us, and Austrian arrogance might have been humbled in the capital +itself. Well! if they do not soon conclude peace, I hope the patience +of our most gracious sovereign will be exhausted!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there a despatch from St. Petersburg?" he inquired of Keudell, +suddenly breaking off his reflections.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have just opened a despatch from Count Redern, your excellency," +said Herr von Keudell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give it to me," cried Count Bismarck; and with a hasty movement he +snatched the paper Herr von Keudell handed him across the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">He read it attentively, and the deep silence within the room, where the +breathing of the two men could be plainly heard, made a curious +contrast to the confused noise from without.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count threw the writing on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is so," he cried, "a cloud is arising which may cause us painful +embarrassment. Will they do anything there?" he said, half speaking to +himself; "will their displeasure lead to action? I think not; but still +it is very disagreeable. If Austria finds any point of support, she +will apply every lever. St. Petersburg will do nothing for the sake of +Austria; but the necessary alterations in Germany, and this French +mediation with its plans in the background--the situation is difficult +enough, and it will probably give us as much trouble to tear asunder +this spider's web of diplomatic threads as it did to carry the Austrian +lines. At all events this Russian cloud must be dispersed for the +present and the future! For the future will bring us plenty to do," he +said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up and paced the room with long strides, thinking deeply and +sometimes moving his lips. The working of his features showed the +mighty struggle of the labouring thoughts that oppressed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the force of his will appeared to have brought these +contradictory ideas to order and peace. He gave a sigh of satisfaction, +and walking to the window inhaled long draughts of the fresh air, +widely expanding his broad, powerful chest.</p> + +<p class="normal">A secretary of foreign affairs entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count turned towards him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Bavarian minister von der Pfordten has arrived, and requests an +interview with your excellency. Here is his letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck hastily seized the small sealed note, opened it and read +the short contents.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They all come," he said, with a proud look, "all these mighty hunters, +who had already divided the bear's skin, and now feel his claws. But +they shall not escape from them so easily. Besides, I do not yet see my +way clearly. Tell Herr von der Pfordten," he called out to the +secretary who was waiting, "that you have given me his letter, and that +I will send him my answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">The secretary withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few minutes afterwards he returned and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The French ambassador!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" exclaimed Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have the goodness, dear Keudell," said Bismarck, after a moment's +thought, "to go to Herr von der Pfordten, and to tell him that I cannot +receive the Bavarian minister, as we are still at war with his country, +but that personally I shall be glad to see him, and to have an +ex-official conversation with him, and that I will soon appoint an hour +for that purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Keudell bowed and went out.</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment afterwards, at a sign from Bismarck, the secretary opened the +door for the French ambassador.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck's expression had completely changed. Calm repose and +courtesy were in his face. He stepped forwards to receive the +representative of the Emperor Napoleon, and shook hands with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur Benedetti presented a remarkable contrast to the powerful form +and firm soldier-like bearing of the Prussian minister. He was somewhat +past fifty, his thin hair had receded from his forehead, and only +sparingly covered the upper part of his head. His smooth beardless face +was one of those physiognomies whose age it is difficult to discover, +as when young they look older, when old, younger, than they really are. +It would have been difficult to say what characteristic, what +individuality, such features could express, nothing was seen beyond a +calm expression of receptive and intelligent sensibility to every +impression; what lay behind this gentle courteous exterior it was +impossible to discover. His eyes were bright and candid, apparently +careless and indifferent, it was only by the rapid and keen glance with +which he occasionally took in every circumstance around him, that he +betrayed the lively interest that really actuated him. His face told +nothing, expressed nothing, and yet one perceived involuntarily that +behind this nothing lay something, carefully concealed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was of middle height, and the bearing of his slender figure was +elegant, in his movements he was as animated as an Italian, as pliant +and elastic as an Oriental, his light summer clothes were extremely +simple, but notwithstanding the journey from which he had just +returned, they were of spotless freshness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been expecting you with impatience," said Count Bismarck, +fixing his penetrating steel-grey eyes upon the ambassador's calm face. +"What did you find in Vienna? do you bring peace?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least I bring the beginning. I bring the acceptance of the +preliminaries as proposed by the emperor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! they decided thus in Vienna?" cried Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have had a difficult job," said Benedetti, "for it was far from easy +to gain Austria's consent."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can they hope for?" he cried; "do they prefer to await us in +Vienna?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They hope much from the southern army, from a great military rising in +Hungary," said the ambassador.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps too for a new John Sobieski?" asked Bismarck, with a slight +smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I must really own," continued Benedetti calmly, "that I was not in +a position to deny the justice of these hopes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck looked at him amazed and enquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two-thirds of the southern army," said Benedetti, "stand in the +immediate vicinity of Vienna, the Prater is turned into a bivouac, and +the fortified camp at Floridsdorf could make a strong resistance; the +troops of the southern army are full of confidence from recent victory, +and are inspired with the best dispositions, the Arch-Duke Albert is a +general of great determination, and the chief of his general staff, +Lieutenant Field-Marshal von John, an officer of fine and quick +intelligence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck listened in silence. A scarcely perceptible smile played +round his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Hungary?" he asked negligently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Negotiations have been carried on with Count Andrassy and the Deak +party, and if they will but grant a self-constituted government, and +agree to the arming of the Honveds, a mighty rising may be expected in +Hungary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>If</i> they grant it," said Count Bismarck. "Hungary has been often +deceived, besides our troops have been before Presburg ever since the +battle of Blumenau, and have only <i>not</i> taken it on account of the +armistice. The key of Hungary is in our hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are persuaded in Vienna," proceeded Benedetti, "that the Prussian +army has suffered greatly in the various engagements, and also from +sickness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We suffer most from standing still," cried Bismarck vehemently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For all these reasons," said the ambassador quietly, "it was not easy +to gain Austria's consent to the peace programme drawn up by my +sovereign. It was very hard to the emperor Francis Joseph to agree to +the exclusion of Austria from Germany. At last he yielded to the urgent +representations I made in the name of the emperor, and that he might no +longer expose Austria to the chances and burdens of war, and no longer +endanger the peace of Europe, the emperor of Austria at last accepted +the programme."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck bit his moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This programme is now definite, with the consent of Austria?" he +asked. He invited the ambassador to be seated by a movement of the +hand, and took a chair opposite to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing has been altered," replied Monsieur Benedetti, "the integrity +of Austria, but its exclusion from Germany as newly constituted; the +formation of a North German Union under the military leadership of +Prussia; the right of the southern states to form an independent +confederated union, but the maintenance of a national connexion between +North and South Germany, which connexion is to be determined by a free +and general consent of the various states."</p> + +<p class="normal">As the ambassador slowly and distinctly repeated this programme Count +Bismarck accompanied each phrase with a quick nod of approval, whilst +he slightly clasped the fingers of both his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are the rules laid down for the position of Austria, and for our +own position in Germany," he said, "as we before agreed. As the +foundation of the negotiations, since Austria accepts them, they +suffice, but as the basis of a definite peace a further understanding +is needful. Peace with Austria does not affect and must not affect our +proceedings with regard to the other German states with whom we are at +war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Austria leaves each of these states to conclude its own peace," said +Benedetti.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To conclude peace!" cried Count Bismarck. "These governments would be +willing enough to conclude peace now, and on the first opportunity to +begin the game afresh!"</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short pause he continued in a calm voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some days ago the king imparted to the emperor your sovereign by +telegraph, that a certain addition to the power of Prussia through +acquisitions of territory had become needful. You have lived among +us," he continued, "and you well know the stake Prussia had placed on +this war, the sacrifices that have been made to carry it on, the +wounds which war has inflicted on the country. The Prussian people +expect--demand, a reward for their sacrifices, since victory has +decided in our favour: they demand, and rightly, that the blood of +Prussian soldiers, the sons of the people, shall not have been shed in +vain, and that the state of things shall be definitely done away with, +which always has caused and always would engender strife. Those +vexatious boundaries which make Prussia's geographical position, and +her unity, so difficult, which neither natural nor political +considerations permit, must be removed--removed for ever. Prussia, +rightly to fulfil and powerfully to carry out the position assigned to +her in Germany by the peace basis, must before all things be thoroughly +strong and more homogeneous. The incorporation of Hanover, Hesse, and +Saxony is needful, firmly and indissolubly to connect the two halves of +the monarchy, and to secure it against Austria in a military point of +view."</p> + +<p class="normal">Not a feature of the ambassador's smooth face changed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I find it only natural that the Prussian people should wish to pluck +the richest fruits of a war in which <i>their whole force</i>," he said, +with a slight emphasis, "was sent to the battle-field. But the wishes +of the people are often different from the views of princes and +governments. You are as much convinced as myself," he continued, in a +lower voice, "that every period has its peculiar political maxims and +views. To-day, for example, they are different from what they were in +the time of Frederick the Great; it was then held right to keep what +you had taken. At that time interests and demands were not so moderate +as at present."</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight frown appeared between Count Bismarck's eyebrows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," he said, with a smile, and in a calm voice, "I think Frederick +the Great found it not so easy to keep what he had taken; that +political maxim was practised on a large scale in the beginning of the +present century by Napoleon I."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was the great fault of the founder of our imperial dynasty," said +Benedetti, "at last it armed the whole of Europe against him; I am able +to say this candidly, when I reflect on the wise moderation the +emperor, my sovereign, has ever shown, when at the head of victorious +armies, and the care with which he has avoided this mistake of his +great uncle."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck looked for a moment thoughtfully before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know," he then said, with perfect frankness, "how important I deem +our good understanding with France; the emperor knows it too, and +particularly at this moment I would on no account even <i>appear</i> to have +neglected the wishes or interests of France, or to have refused her +advice. The good understanding of Prussia,--of Germany with France, the +adjustment of the political requirements and necessities on both sides, +the peaceful and friendly intercourse between the two countries, is in +my opinion the first condition, for the peace and balance of power in +Europe. Let us then discuss the situation calmly and with perfect +candour. I can only repeat to you," he said, raising his piercing eyes +and fixing them upon the ambassador, "that the increase of Prussia's +power by the acquisition of the hostile states appears to me an +absolute necessity. Do you think," he proceeded, "that the emperor will +deem it needful for the interests of France to oppose these +acquisitions?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Benedetti hesitated for a moment before answering this direct question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor has already," he then said, "recognized the necessity of +arrangements for uniting the two separate halves of the Prussian +monarchy, and this necessity I feel convinced he would now be less +inclined than ever to deny. Whether the complete annexation of German +states, whose rights were guaranteed by the rest of Europe, is +absolutely needful, must be a matter of opinion, but I do not think the +emperor will have any other view than for you to carry out your own +ideas, and if he does not share, he will not contradict them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck bowed his head approvingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to Saxony," added Benedetti.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Prussian minister looked at him anxiously and expectantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With regard to Saxony," said the ambassador, "I found a strong +determination in Austria to maintain its territorial integrity; it is +held to be a duty to a confederate who has fought with Austria on the +same battlefields."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bismarck bit his lip.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe," added Benedetti, "that the Emperor Francis Joseph is +resolved to carry on the war to the last gasp rather than yield to this +condition."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how does France, how does the emperor Napoleon regard this +resolution on the part of--Austria?" he asked, with a firm look and a +slight smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe I may affirm that the emperor entirely shares the wishes of +Austria with regard to Saxony," said Benedetti.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Seriously?" asked Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most seriously," replied the ambassador calmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very good!" exclaimed Bismarck; "the incorporation of Saxony is not so +absolute a necessity to us, as those states are which divide our +territory. I will inform the king of the wishes of the Emperor +Napoleon, and Austria, with regard to Saxony, and I will support them. +Saxony will of course be added to the independent states in the North +German Union."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is an interior affair belonging to the new organization of +Germany," said Benedetti, "in which the emperor has not the slightest +wish to intermeddle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So then the programme as you have just repeated it may be looked upon +as a definite peace basis, with this addition, that Austria agrees to +accept all the alterations in North Germany which the territorial +acquisitions may necessitate, namely, the incorporation of Hanover, +Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, and Frankfort."</p> + +<p class="normal">The calm face of the ambassador showed some surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not remember that we ever spoke of Nassau and Frankfort."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are needful for the complete adjustment of our frontier, that is +to say, if we give up Saxony," said Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">Benedetti was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Negotiations for peace may then be begun upon this basis?" asked the +Prussian minister, with an enquiring glance at the ambassador.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see no further difficulty," said the latter, "and," he added, +without any particular emphasis, "the adjustment of the interests of +new Germany and of France will be easily arranged through the spirit of +moderation and <i>prévenance</i> shown by our emperor, and with which you +too and your sovereign have proved you are inspired."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck gazed deeply and searchingly into the expressionless +eyes of the French diplomatist; he appeared carefully to weigh every +word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how do you think that these interests will be affected by the new +arrangements? how do you think they can be adjusted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Benedetti leant back a little in his chair, and then said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you will acknowledge the readiness with which the Emperor +Napoleon has accepted the incorporation of the German states by +Prussia, although--I must repeat this--it was not in accordance with +his ideas, and perhaps might occasion serious misconceptions in other +European cabinets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What power would find anything against it," cried Bismarck, "if France +agreed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"England, perhaps, with regard to Hanover," said Benedetti.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bismarck shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps Russia," continued the ambassador. "The Emperor Alexander, +with his views on legitimacy and monarchical rights, would hardly +approve of the disinheriting of dynasties."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mention this only incidentally," said Benedetti; "nevertheless I +think it is greatly to your interest to act completely in accordance +with France, and I believe that you will not be unwilling to +acknowledge the Emperor Napoleon's friendship, nor to own that on our +side certain territorial modifications are needful on our frontier, to +maintain the balance of power and thus cement a lasting friendship."</p> + +<p class="normal">The slight cloud which at the ambassador's first words had appeared on +Count Bismarck's brow, not unobserved by the speaker, quickly vanished; +his countenance assumed calm indifference, and with obliging courtesy +he asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"And can you impart to me the emperor's views as to these territorial +modifications?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>My</i> views," replied Benedetti, with a slight emphasis, "are, that in +consequence of the important alterations in Germany it will be needful +for France, entirely from military considerations, to demand certain +compensations. You will not deny that the boundaries given to France in +1815 are neither in accordance with her natural nor her military +requirements, nor that the restoration of the frontier given in 1814 by +victorious Europe to defeated France, is a moderate and just demand +from a powerful France who has just consented in so ready and friendly +a spirit to immense accessions of strength for victorious Prussia."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck remained silent, and the courteous, smiling expression +of his face did not change for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will," pursued Benedetti, "find it only reasonable that the +emperor should wish to include in the extended or rather restored +frontier of France, Luxembourg, which from its natural position and +language belongs to as, and which in a military point of view is so +needful, to secure us from the increased power of Germany threatening +us from the Rhine fortresses. You must forgive me," he said, smiling; +"we must remember that a time may come when the respective governments +of Paris and Berlin are not so peaceful and friendly as at present. +These arrangements will not be difficult; the King of Holland, who +cannot set great store upon this loosely-bound province, will be +doubtless willing to part with it for an indemnification."</p> + +<p class="normal">Still Count Bismarck was silent, smiling, and cheerful.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Finally," said Benedetti--Count Bismarck raised his head and listened +attentively--"finally, as a key to her defensive position, France must +demand--I speak of possible disputes, doubtless far distant--France +must demand possession of Mayence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count's eyes flashed. He rose quickly and drew himself up to his +full height, his gigantic form panting with indignation. Benedetti +slowly followed his example.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would rather vanish for ever from the political arena," cried the +Prussian minister, "than yield Mayence."</p> + +<p class="normal">He paced the room with hasty strides.</p> + +<p class="normal">Benedetti stood motionless. His calm eyes followed the count's vehement +movements.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If my views," he said, as if simply continuing the conversation, "do +not accord with yours, we----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bismarck had turned his face to the window for a moment, and had +pressed his lips together as if with a violent struggle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall certainly understand one another perfectly if we discuss +the subject more fully," he said, in his calmest and most courteous +tone, as he turned again towards Benedetti with completely regained +self-command. His face expressed only politeness and friendship.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But we should not anticipate these discussions just now," he +continued. "Have you instructions to express these wishes in the +emperor's name, and to demand an answer, or do they in any way bear +upon our negotiations for peace with Austria?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had the honour," said Monsieur Benedetti, "of remarking at the +beginning of this conversation that I was expressing <i>my own</i> ideas; I +have no instructions to demand anything, nor to request a distinct +answer; still less does this conversation in any way affect the +negotiations for peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us agree then," replied Bismarck, "to defer this conversation +until we have finished what lies immediately before us, and until after +the peace with Austria is signed. You fully comprehend that deep and +calm reflection is needed completely to satisfy the interests of both +sides; and then," he added, smiling, "it is not easy to discuss the +equivalent compensation of objects not yet in our hands. I do not doubt +that we shall perfectly understand each other when we discuss the +matter in earnest, and when you have received definite instructions. +You know how much I desire, not only the present friendship of France, +but that the feeling should be enduring, and so firmly consolidated +that the relations between France and Prussia may form the basis of a +European peace. Everything then to be done at present is arranged?" he +asked, after a short pause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Completely," replied Monsieur Benedetti.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Austrian plenipotentiaries--?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will arrive to-morrow or the day after. I will rest a little after my +fatiguing journey." And he seized his hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck held out his hand to him, and accompanied him to the +door of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had the door closed behind the ambassador, before the +expression of Bismarck's face changed completely. The courteous amiable +smile vanished from his lips. Burning anger flashed from his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They think they hold a good hand," he cried, "these skilful players; +but they deceive themselves; they are mistaken in me--Germany shall not +pay for her unity, like Italy, with her own flesh and blood; at least, +not so long as I influence the fate of the nation. Let them advance to +the Rhine, if it must be so, I will not retreat; the only concession I +will make is, to go forwards slowly. I should not be sorry if they +determined to fight," he cried with sparkling eyes; "I am ready to say +once more, 'I dare it;' and this time the king would not hesitate and +wait. Yet," he continued more calmly, "much has been gained already, +and what has been gained should not be rashly risked; they think the +game is in their hands,--well! I will shuffle the cards a little on my +side."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rang a small bell. An orderly entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Find Herr von Keudell, and beg him to bring me Herr von der Pfordten."</p> + +<p class="normal">The orderly withdrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck seated himself before the table covered with maps, and +studied them attentively; sometimes he passed the fore-finger of his +right hand over certain parts, sometimes his lips moved in a low +whisper, and sometimes his eyes were thoughtfully raised to the +ceiling.</p> + +<p class="normal">After about a quarter of an hour, Herr von Keudell brought the Bavarian +minister to the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The full tall form of this statesman was bent, and showed signs of +bodily weakness. His large gentle face, surrounded with dark hair, was +pale and exhausted, his eyes gazed mournfully through the glasses of +his spectacles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck was standing perfectly upright, his features expressed +icy coldness; with the stiffest military bearing, but with formal +politeness, he advanced towards the Bavarian minister and returned his +greeting. He then with an equally cold and courteous movement invited +him to be seated on the chair Benedetti had just left, and placing +himself opposite to him he waited for him to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I come," said Herr von der Pfordten, in a voice of some emotion, and +in the southern dialect, "to prevent further bloodshed and misery from +this war. The campaign is really decided, and decided in your favour, +and Bavaria cannot hesitate to conclude a war, which," he said in a low +voice, "it would, perhaps, have been better never to have commenced."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck looked at him severely for a moment with his hard clear +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know," he said, "that I have a perfect right to treat you as a +prisoner of war?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von der Pfordten started. For a moment he was speechless, gazing +at the Prussian minister in amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bavaria is at war with Prussia, negotiations are impossible," said +Count Bismarck; "a Bavarian minister can only be a prisoner at the +Prussian head-quarters,--intercourse can only be carried on by the +bearer of a flag of truce."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von der Pfordten sorrowfully bowed his head. "I am in your power," +he said calmly, "and this proves how greatly I desire peace. What would +you gain by arresting me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am amazed at your boldness in coming here," he said after a pause; +"you prove indeed that you desire peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von der Pfordten shook his head slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear," he said, "that my step has been in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A step in the right path is never in vain, even though it should be +too late," said Count Bismarck, with a slight tone of friendship in his +voice; "what a position might Bavaria have held, had you taken this +step four weeks ago--if you had come to me four weeks ago in Berlin!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I held firmly to the German Confederation which had been sanctioned by +all Europe," replied the Bavarian minister, "and I believed I was doing +my duty towards Germany and Bavaria; I was wrong; the past has gone for +ever; I come to speak to you of the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The future lies in <i>our</i> hands," cried Count Bismarck. "Austria makes +her own peace, and troubles herself neither about the Confederation, +nor her allies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it," said Herr von der Pfordten faintly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Germany now sees," continued Bismarck, "where Austria has dragged her. +I am especially sorry for Bavaria, for I always thought that Bavaria +would have taken an important part in the national development of +Germany, and, united with Prussia, would have stood at the head of the +nation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If Bavaria took a false step under my guidance," said Herr von der +Pfordten,--"and the result has shown it <i>was</i> a false step--let us now +amend the fault, even though late. My decision is made. I have but +<i>one</i> duty to fulfil, to make every effort to avert from my country and +my young king the evil results of my fault. To fulfil this duty I am +here, and because I expect and desire nothing for myself in the future, +I believe I can the more freely and impartially discuss it with you, +count."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck was silent for a moment, and his fingers tapped the +table slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not in a position," he then said, "to speak as Prussian minister +to the minister of Bavaria; the situation forbids it, the king's +permission is wanting. But this hour shall not be unfruitful," he +continued in a milder tone; "I will prove to you how much I personally +regret that we could not understand each other, that we could not work +together; your advice, your experience would have been so useful to +Germany. Let us speak as Baron von der Pfordten and Count Bismarck, a +Bavarian and a Prussian patriot, on the present position of affairs; +perhaps," he continued laughingly, "both the Prussian and the Bavarian +minister may learn something from us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von der Pfordten's face brightened up. He looked at the count +through his spectacles with a happy expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you think," said Bismarck, "will become of Bavaria? What can +Prussia do with Bavaria?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose," said Herr von der Pfordten, "that Prussia will have +undivided authority in North Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who can dispute it?" asked Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I may then remark that an annexation of South German territory, so +entirely heterogeneous, would hardly be to Prussia's interest, and that +it would be a greater advantage to come to an understanding on the +future of Germany, with an independent and unweakened Bavaria."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And on the first opportunity to find ourselves in fresh difficulties?" +asked Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After the experience of this day--" began the Bavarian minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear baron," interrupted Bismarck, "I will speak quite openly to +you. The future belongs neither to you nor to me. Words and promises, +however much in earnest, cannot be the foundation upon which the future +peace and strength of Prussia and of Germany must rest. We must have +guarantees. Prussia cannot again be exposed to the danger she has just +overcome, nor again be called upon to make the sacrifice she has just +made. Bavaria has been, very much to her own disadvantage, as I always +knew, our foe. We must have full security that this cannot happen in +the future. To attain this there are two ways."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von der Pfordten listened anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Either," proceeded Count Bismarck, "to take so much of your territory +as will prevent Bavaria from being able to hurt us in the future----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you thought of the difficulties of assimilating Bavarian +territory and the Bavarian people?" asked Herr von der Pfordten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They would be great," said Bismarck calmly, "I own it; but we should +overcome them, and for the safety of Prussia I despise difficulties."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bavarian minister sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The complications that such a course would cause!" he said in a low +voice, and with a penetrating glance at Bismarck's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck looked at him firmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"From whence are they to come?" he asked. "From Austria? In the quarter +where complications might arise," he continued, looking proudly at the +Bavarian minister, "they would not refuse a share in the spoil."</p> + +<p class="normal">Von der Pfordten bowed his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us not speak of it," said Bismarck. "We are Germans; let us manage +the affairs of Germany without our neighbours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the other way?" asked Herr von der Pfordten, with hesitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The inner life of Bavaria is foreign to us," said Count Bismarck +thoughtfully, "and we would rather not interfere with it. What Germany +needs for strength and power--what Prussia needs for safety, is that +the supreme direction of the national forces should be placed in the +hands of the most powerful military state of the German nation--her +natural leader in war. If Bavaria will acknowledge this national +necessity--if, in short, she will agree, by a binding treaty, in the +event of a national war, to give up the command of her army to the king +of Prussia, the needful guarantee for Germany's defence and power, for +Prussia's safety, will be obtained."</p> + +<p class="normal">The face of the Bavarian minister cleared up more and more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The command of the army in a national war?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, with certain conditions, which would make a common command, +an incorporation of the Bavarian army with the Prussian forces, +possible," said Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Without prejudice to the king's command of the army?" asked Herr von +der Pfordten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should consider any further curtailment of his powers unnecessary," +replied the Count.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von der Pfordten drew a deep breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These, then, would be your conditions of peace?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not the conditions of peace, but the preliminaries of peace," replied +Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How am I to understand this?" asked von der Pfordten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very easily," said the Count. "If a treaty such as I have sketched, +and which I will immediately have drawn out in detail by the military +department, is concluded--a treaty which, for the present, had better +be kept secret--yes," he added thoughtfully, "it had much better be +kept secret; it will save you so much trouble from the anti-Prussian +party--if such a treaty, I say, is agreed to, peace can easily be +concluded. This treaty would be a guarantee to Prussia that Bavaria +would really and uprightly labour with her at the work of national +union, and that all the former faults in her policy were laid aside. +With this guarantee we could easily negotiate peace. It would then be +to our interest to maintain Bavaria's power and complete independence +in Germany. We shall then only have the expenses of the war to +consider, which we shall expect to have paid in full, and perhaps some +very unimportant cession of territory, for the sake of the symmetry of +our frontier."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count," said Herr von der Pfordten, with emotion, "I thank you. You +have shown me a way by which, with honour to herself and benefit to +Germany, Bavaria may extricate herself from her present melancholy +position. I thank you in the name of my king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feel the deepest sympathy for your young king," said Count Bismarck, +"and I hope that Bavaria, as Prussia's ally, may yet take the place, +which hitherto <i>she would not</i> take. But, my dear baron," he added, +rising, "we must not forget that this is only a conversation between +two private individuals. Hasten back to your king, and bring his +consent to this treaty as soon as possible. When it is signed, +hostilities will cease, and I promise the negotiations for peace shall +not be difficult nor prolonged; and," he added courteously, "be assured +I do not wish you to retire from public life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," said Herr von der Pfordten, "what I must do. A new hand must +guide Bavaria in new paths; but my good wishes will be as hearty for +new Germany as they ever have been for the old."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing more," said Bismarck. "Since we have come to so good an +understanding, you might do your allies in Stuttgardt and Darmstadt a +service--perhaps to me also; for I wish to treat with Würtemberg and +Hesse in a conciliatory spirit. If these courts are willing to conclude +a treaty similar to that of which we have been speaking, I think a +reconciliation would be possible. If Herr von Varnbüler and Herr von +Dalwigk should come here empowered to conclude such a treaty, the +secrecy of which I willingly promise, they would be welcome, and would +find moderate and easy terms of peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not doubt that they will shortly appear," said Herr von der +Pfordten.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, my dear baron, hasten away," cried Count Bismarck, "and return +quickly, and so act that Count Bismarck may soon welcome the Bavarian +minister fully empowered to conclude peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand to Herr von der Pfordten, who pressed it heartily +and with much feeling, and he accompanied him to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the ante-room they found von Keudell, and Bismarck begged him to +facilitate the Bavarian minister's journey as much as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Count Bismarck returned to his room, he rubbed his hands with +satisfaction, whilst he paced the room with long strides.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, messieurs in Paris!" he cried with a laugh, "you wish to split up +and divide Germany, and help yourselves to compensation. The skilful +engineers are blown up with their own mine. And their compensation? Let +them flatter themselves with that hope a little longer. Now to the +king!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He buttoned up his uniform, took his military cap, and left the room to +go to King William's quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the ante-room he saw an elderly gentleman, with grey hair and a grey +beard, in the uniform of a Hanoverian equerry. A Prussian officer had +brought him, and now approached the president minister, saying:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lieutenant-Colonel von Heimbruch, the king of Hanover's equerry, +wishes to speak to your excellency. I have brought him here, and was +about to announce him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bismarck turned towards von Heimbruch, touched his cap slightly with +his hand, and looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The colonel approached him, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty the king, my most gracious master, arrived in Vienna a +short time ago, and, as negotiations for peace have begun, he sends me +to his majesty the King of Prussia with a letter. At the same time, +Count Platen sends this note to your excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">He handed the Prussian minister a sealed letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened it, and read through the contents quickly.</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned gravely to Colonel von Heimbruch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you have the goodness to wait for me here. I am going to his +majesty, and I shall shortly return."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a military salute he walked on.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the king's ante-room there were several generals and other officers. +They all rose as Count Bismarck entered and saluted the generals.</p> + +<p class="normal">The equerry on duty, Baron von Loë, advanced towards the minister +president.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is his majesty alone?" asked Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"General von Moltke is with the king," replied Baron von Loë, "but his +majesty commanded me to announce your excellency at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">He entered the king's cabinet, after knocking at the door, and returned +almost immediately to open it to the president.</p> + +<p class="normal">King William stood before a large table, spread over with maps, on +which long arrows of various colours marked the position of the armies. +He wore a campaigning overcoat, the Iron Cross in his button-hole, and +the Order of Merit around his neck.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's eyes were attentively following the lines which General von +Moltke drew in the air above the map with the pencil in his hand, +sometimes pointing out a line here, sometimes there, for the +elucidation of his dispositions. The tall, slender form of the general +was bent slightly forwards as he gazed at the maps, his calm face, with +its grave and noble features, recalling Sharnhorst's portraits, was +somewhat animated, whilst he unfolded his ideas to the king, who +listened in silence, from time to time signifying his approval by +slightly bowing his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am glad you have come," cried the king, as his minister entered. +"You can explain everything. Moltke has just told me that General +Manteuffel has sent in word that Prince Karl of Bavaria proposes a +week's suspension of hostilities, and that Würzburg, now threatened by +Manteuffel, should be spared, since a treaty for the cessation of +hostilities and negotiations for peace with Bavaria are about to +commence immediately. General Manteuffel, who knows nothing of all +this, does not refuse to treat, but demands that Würzburg should be +given up to him in return for the suspension of arms, and he has sent +to us to know what he is to do. What are these negotiations with +Bavaria?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von der Pfordten has just left me, your majesty," he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" cried the king; "do they beg for peace? What did you say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," replied Bismarck, "this is all part of the present +situation upon which I am most desirous of consulting your majesty, and +of receiving your supreme decision."</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Moltke stuck his pencil into a large notebook which he held +in his hand, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty has no further commands for me at this moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I beg your majesty," said Count Bismarck quickly, "to ask the +general to stay,--his opinion is important upon the question before +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king bowed approval. The general turned his grave eyes inquiringly +upon the president.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Bismarck, "Benedetti has returned, and +brings Austria's consent to the Emperor Napoleon's programme of peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The negotiations can then begin?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Without delay, your majesty," said Count Bismarck. "Benedetti," he +proceeded, "wished to take great credit to himself for having persuaded +Austria to accept the programme; he spoke of the great resistance they +had made in Vienna, and described Austria's condition as by no means +hopeless."</p> + +<p class="normal">Moltke smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They can do nothing in Vienna," said the king calmly. "They intended +to entice us to Olmütz, and there to hold us fast, to cover Vienna, and +to prevail on Hungary to rise. All that is over. By Moltke's advice, we +left them alone at Olmütz, and marched straight on. We are before +Vienna, and it cannot hold out--the fortifications they have made at +Floridsdorf cannot delay us; besides this, we hold the key of Hungary +in our hands, and the Hungarians do not seem desirous of assisting +Austria in her difficulties."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know all this, your majesty," said Count Bismarck; "I know too what +these representations of Benedetti mean,--his tactics are to show us +difficulties that we may feel the more indebted to France for her +mediation, and more willing to pay a high price for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And have they named their price?" asked the king, with increased +attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told the ambassador plainly," replied Count Bismarck, "what your +majesty had already telegraphed to the Emperor Napoleon from Brünn, on +the 18th instant, that a large territorial acquisition would be needful +to Prussia, and I pointed out those possessions of the enemy lying +between the two halves of our kingdom and Saxony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did he raise any objection?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He used a few phrases about treaties and the balance of power in +Europe, which, in the mouth of a diplomatist of the Napoleon dynasty, +sounded rather absurd; but he made no real objection, except as regards +Saxony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As regards Saxony," continued Count Bismarck, "the Emperor Napoleon +has, so Benedetti expressed it, identified himself unconditionally with +the Austrian demand, that the territorial integrity of Saxony should be +maintained."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king looked on the ground thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The truth is," added Bismarck, "in Paris they push Austria forward, +but nevertheless they seriously mean to support Saxony. Your majesty +must therefore decide; will you make a concession on this point or +not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is your opinion?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To abandon the incorporation of Saxony, your majesty, rather than +complicate the present position. Saxony is not absolutely necessary to +us, I believe, in a military point of view?" And he looked inquiringly +at General von Moltke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If Saxony joins the military league of the North German Confederation, +and does its duty in earnest----no!" said the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"King John's word is inviolable," said the king, with a warm light in +his eyes, "so let the independence of Saxony be agreed to. I am very +glad in this instance to be able to lighten the heavy consequences of +war for a very estimable prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"France," he continued, "as well as Austria, accepts all the +alterations of territory in North Germany; but now begin the +extraordinary negotiations for compensation."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's countenance clouded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Were their demands stated?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; but Benedetti pointed out very plainly what they would be; and I +had guessed them beforehand," said Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What were they?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">Calmly and smiling Count Bismarck replied--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The frontier of 1814--Luxembourg and Mayence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king started as if from an electric shock. A dark red flush passed +over General Moltke's pale, handsome face, and a sarcastic smile came +to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what did you reply?" asked the king, closing his teeth firmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I put off the negotiations on this point, until after the conclusion +of peace with Austria; it was the more easy, as Benedetti only +mentioned them as his own views. I was not, therefore, obliged to give +a distinct answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you know," said the king, with a severe look and voice, "that I +would never cede a foot of German soil."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As surely," replied Count Bismarck, "as your majesty I hope is +convinced, that my hand would never sign such a treaty! But," he added, +"I thought it useless to make a breach and to have difficulties and +embarrassments too soon. If France commenced a war now--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We should march to Paris," said General Moltke carelessly; "Napoleon +has no army!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Goltz does not believe that," said the president-minister, "if I +could only be sure; but at all events it is better to conclude a peace +with Austria, and not to provoke discussions of compensations not yet +officially demanded by France. When we have done here, those gentlemen +in Paris shall get the answer I have prepared for them, and a little +surprise into the bargain. I now come to Herr von der Pfordten, your +majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king looked at him enquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty recollects," said Count Bismarck, "the position which the +peace programme gives to the South German states?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said the king, "and this position has caused me great +doubts for the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The intention is plain," said Bismarck; "in Paris they wish to split +Germany in two, and to hold one half in check with the other; in Vienna +they wish to begin afresh the game they have now lost, at some future +time. I hope they will find themselves mistaken. I offered von der +Pfordten very easy terms of peace, provided Bavaria entered into a +secret treaty accepting your majesty as commander-in-chief of her army +in case of war."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then would Germany indeed be one!" he cried. "Did he accept these +terms?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With thankfulness and joy," replied Count Bismarck, "and Würtemberg +and Hesse will follow the example, he assures me. I must now request +General Moltke to have the goodness to draw up the proposed military +arrangement, so that when the Bavarian minister returns with the king's +consent, everything may be settled as quickly as possible, and also for +Würtemberg and Hesse. Until then General Manteuffel must avoid any +definite explanation about the armistice, and produce a wholesome +pressure. I hope," he said laughing; "the Emperor Napoleon will +observe after peace has been concluded, that all the trumps in his +well-shuffled game are in our hand, and then the compensation question +shall also be settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, Moltke," said the king smiling, and with a gracious look at +the president, "these diplomatists are all alike, even when they wear +uniform! But," he added gravely, "Benedetti must not speak to me about +compensation; I should not be able to delay my answer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must, however, direct your majesty's attention," he said, "to +another subject. The disposition of the Russian court is unfavourable, +and I fear our new acquisitions will cause increased displeasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feared this," said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is important," proceeded Count Bismarck, "that the sky should be +clear in that quarter. We must paralyze the influence exerted against +us, and call Russia's attention to the interest she has in preserving +the friendship of Prussia and Germany, both now and in the future. It +will be needful to send a skilful person to St. Petersburg. I will lay +before your majesty a sketch of my views in this direction, and if you +graciously approve, it will serve as the ambassador's instructions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so," said the king, with animation, "not only politically but +personally I am most anxious to preserve the undisturbed friendship of +Russia. I will send Manteuffel," he said after a little consideration, +"he is quite the man for it, as soon as the war in Bavaria is ended."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck bowed in silence. He then said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty, a Hanoverian equerry has just arrived here with a letter +from the king. He has brought me a note from Count Platen."</p> + +<p class="normal">A sorrowful expression came into the king's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does he write?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king acknowledges your majesty as the victor in Germany, and is +ready to accept such terms of peace as your majesty will grant."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a long time the king was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh!" he cried, "if I could but help him. Poor George! Could not a +curtailed Hanover without military independence be permitted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck's eyes looked with icy calmness and complete firmness on +the king's excited face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty has decided that the incorporation of Hanover is +necessary for the safety and power of Prussia. What good would a sham +monarchy, a simple principality do to the Guelphs? But to us, such a +hiatus inhabited by a hostile population would be dangerous. Your +majesty must remember what mischief the Hanoverians would have done us, +had they retained Gablenz, or had the general staff ordered less +incomprehensible marches. Such a danger must be rendered impossible for +the future!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Queen Frederika was the sister of my mother," said the king in a voice +that trembled slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I venerate the ties of royal blood that unite your majesty to King +George," said Count Bismarck, "and I have personally the highest +sympathy for that unhappy prince; but," he said, raising his voice, +"your majesty's nearest and dearest relation is the Prussian people, +whose blood has flowed on these battle-fields--the people of Frederick +the Great, the people of 1813. Your majesty must pay them the price of +their blood. Forgive me, your majesty, if I am bold when speaking in +the name of your people. I know my words only express feelings your +royal heart deeply and loudly echoes. If your majesty receives the +king's letter," he added, "you bind your hands, you commence +negotiations, which ought not to be begun!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king sighed deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God is my witness," he said, "that I did all I could to avoid a breach +with Hanover, and to save the king from the hard fate which now falls +upon him. Believe me," he added, "my heart could make no greater +sacrifice to Prussia, her greatness, and her calling in Germany, than +in yielding to this necessity."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moisture clouded the king's clear eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Decline to receive the letter!" he said with emotion, sorrowfully +bending his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless your majesty," cried Bismarck with kindling eyes, "for the +sake of Prussia and of Germany!"</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Moltke looked gravely at his royal commander with an +expression of earnest love and admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">Silently the king motioned with his hand and turned to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck and the general left the cabinet.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_20" href="#div1Ref_20">THE CRISIS</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Langensalza had grown very quiet after its days of storm and +excitement. The Hanoverian army was disbanded, and had returned home. +The Prussian troops had advanced upon other enemies in the south and +west, and the little town was now as placid and still as it had been +for long years before, until Fate chose it for the theatre of so bloody +a struggle.</p> + +<p class="normal">But although the streets were as quiet and monotonous as ever in the +hot sunshine of midsummer, within the houses a quiet life went on of +inexhaustible love and mercy, that love and mercy which the tempest of +war always calls forth so abundantly, and which is so lovely a witness +of the eternal and indestructible connection between man's heart and +the God of unconquerable love, of inexhaustible compassion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Many of the severely wounded Prussians and Hanoverians could not be +moved, and numerous hospitals were formed. All the private houses had +received the poor sacrifices of war, and from Prussia and Hanover, +besides the sisters of mercy and deaconesses, numerous relatives of the +wounded had arrived, to undertake the care of those they loved.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the sun was setting, and the twilight brought the coolness of +evening, many women and girls in dark, simple dresses, with grave +faces, walked silently through the streets, hastily breathing in a +little fresh air, to obtain strength to continue their work of loving +self-sacrifice; and the looks of the inhabitants followed them with +quiet sympathy, as they sat before their doors after their day's work +was over, talking in whispers about one group after another as it +passed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein, with her daughter and Helena, had been most +kindly received into old Lohmeier's house, Margaret preparing two rooms +in the well-to-do burgher house with every possible comfort, whilst the +candidate found a lodging in a neighbouring hotel.</p> + +<p class="normal">Trembling with anxiety, Madame von Wendenstein approached her son's +bed, repressing by a powerful effort the convulsive sobs that +threatened to choke her. The young lieutenant lay rigid and quiet, his +low, regular breathing the only sign of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother took his hand, bent over him, and gently breathed a kiss +upon his brow; and under the magnetic influence of a mother's kiss, the +young man slowly opened his eyes, and gazed around with a vacant look. +But then a happy ray of recognition animated the senseless eyes, a +smile came to his lips, and the mother felt an almost imperceptible +pressure on her fingers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady sank on her knees beside the bed, laid her head on her +son's hand, and, in silent unspoken prayer, besought God to preserve +this life, dearer to her than her own.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two young girls stood behind Madame von Wendenstein. Helena's large +burning eyes were fixed on the image of the man, now so weak and +fragile, who had left her so fresh and strong. His sister concealed her +tears with her handkerchief; but Helena's eyes were dry and bright, her +pale features composed and motionless. She stood with folded hands, and +her lips trembled slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lieutenant von Wendenstein's widely-opened eyes fell on the young girl, +when his mother sank down beside his bed. A gleam of happiness passed +over his face, his eyes brightened with a look of delight, his lips +opened slightly, but a hard, rattling breath came from his mouth, and a +red foam appeared on his lips. His eyelids closed again, and the face +lay deadly pale and rigid on the white pillow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the surgeon arrived, and brought uncertain comfort, and a time +commenced of unwearied watching--that quiet work, so difficult in its +simplicity and on which so rich a blessing rests, which raises the +heart so high above all earthly things, to the Fount of love, the +Eternal Lord of human life and human fate. How easy it seems to sit in +a comfortable chair, and watch the sleep of the sick; how small the +trouble of laying a cooling bandage on a wound, of placing a nourishing +drink, a composing medicine to the lips!</p> + +<p class="normal">But who can weigh the anguish and anxiety with which the loving eye +hangs on each movement of the eyelash, on each quiver of the lip, on +every breath! The life of the sick may be endangered by a minute's +sleep, a forgotten order. Oh! how great these small, unimportant +services are through the long nights, when the seconds, wont to fly so +quickly, roll heavily, drearily into the sea of eternity; how small and +colourless all the changing brilliant doings of the outer world appear, +compared with the quiet sick-room and its holy work of preserving a +human life, and staying the Fates' cold hands, with their pitiless +shears, from severing a tender thread, on which hang joy and hope, love +and happiness, work and success!</p> + +<p class="normal">And when recovery slowly, slowly approaches the bed of pain, like a +tender spring flower coyly raising its head, ever threatened by the +rough hand of a wintry death, who hesitatingly and unwillingly gives up +his prey, and with his cold flakes strives to stifle the bloom so +unweariedly tended day and night; how the loving heart bows down in +humble thanksgiving before the Almighty, in whose hand human life is +but a breath, which in a moment can fail, and which yet is so carefully +preserved, and adorned with such rich blessing. How small appear human +wishes, human will; how resignedly the heart learns to pray, "Lord, not +my will, but Thine be done!" with what trust and faith the soul rises +to the Father beyond the stars, who says, "Ask, and it shall be given +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein passed through all these phases of inner life +beside the bed of her son; hoping and fearing, doubting and trusting, +she always maintained her outward calmness, and performed all the +duties of a nurse, assisted by the two young girls. Pale and quiet, +Helena took her share of the work, her large, dreamy eyes, quickened by +anxiety, watching every feature of the wounded man.</p> + +<p class="normal">And hope had come, rejoicing every heart. The patient had passed +through the first fever from the wound. The ball had been +satisfactorily extracted; only one crisis more had to be feared--the +flow of blood which had filled the deep wound; then there was only the +recovery of strength to the much-shaken nervous system.</p> + +<p class="normal">The most complete quiet was ordered by the surgeon; no loud sound must +be permitted to reach the patient's ear; no question must be answered, +and smiling lips and friendly glances must be the only language between +the sufferer and his nurses.</p> + +<p class="normal">And how expressive was this language!</p> + +<p class="normal">What pure, warm light flowed from Helena's eyes when they rested on the +pale face of the sleeper; how they hung on every breath, how thankfully +were they raised above when the regular breathing told of soft and +gentle sleep!</p> + +<p class="normal">And when the sufferer opened his eyes, and saw those glances, what +bright, expressive looks, though weak from illness, replied. How +wonderful is it that the eye can express so much, that small circle +which yet can comprehend and mirror back the firmament, with its stars, +the everlasting mountains, and the boundless sea; what no words can +utter, what the most glowing poetry cannot express, is all said by the +eye, with its fine shades of varied expression; and above all by the +eyes of the sick, because, banished from the changing and distracting +pictures of the world, they have grown clearer and more transparent, +revealing more plainly all that passes in the self-contained soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the eyes of the wounded officer rested on the young girl, their +deep eloquence telling whole volumes of poetry, recollections of the +past, hopeful dreams for the future, her eyes fell, and a slight blush +passed over her brow, and yet she raised them again, and her answer +sparkled through a veil of tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once when Helena offered him some cooling drink, his long, thin, white +hand, with its dark blue veins, was stretched out towards her, she gave +him hers, and he clasped it, and held it for a long time, and his eyes +rested on her so thankfully, so enquiringly, so longingly, that, with a +sudden crimson blush, she withdrew her hand; but her look had answered +his, and, smiling, he closed his eyes, to dream again in light and +happy slumber.</p> + +<p class="normal">And often since then, with an imploring look, he had held out his hand, +and she had given him hers,--and then her hand had been gently pressed +to his lips, and a kiss had been breathed on it with the hot breath of +sickness, and again tremblingly she had withdrawn her hand, and again +their eyes had met, and a happy smile had appeared upon her lips. And +the dumb language between them had grown richer and clearer, and he had +often opened his lips as if to make his feeble voice enforce the words +his eyes had spoken; but with a sweet smile she had laid her finger on +her lips, and his mouth had remained silent. At last his lips moved as +she sat by his bed, and in the lowest whisper he said, "Dear Helena."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then with a quick movement and a brilliant look she had held out her +hand to him, and had not withdrawn it when he had pressed it long and +fervently to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein had seen much of this dumb language, and had +understood it;--for what woman does not understand it? and what mother +is indifferent when the heart of a beloved son turns with tender +feelings to her who through the warfare of daily life may carry on a +gentle woman's work, begun by the mother herself during the quiet years +of childhood, that work of mild, consoling, gentle, forgiving love, +without which man's strength is hard and unfruitful; without which +man's work is without charm and graceful inspiration? Lost in these +reflections she had often sat watching the movements of the two young +hearts; whether it was pleasing to her, whether she saw with joy or +grief that which was unfolded to her, and which she could not prevent, +was hard to read in her pale, but calm and cheerful features; +nevertheless she was deeply moved by the sight of this flower of love +springing up from her son's bed of pain. And when one day the wounded +man put out both hands, and taking her hand and Helena's at the same +moment, silently implored that a mother's love might be given to his +beloved, without speaking she passed her arms round Helena, and +imprinted a kiss upon her brow; then her daughter came, and tenderly +pressed Helena to her heart; and the sick man with a look of happiness +folded his pale hands together in thankfulness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus in the chamber of sickness a rich, eventful life went on, a link +between two hearts was formed, so pure, so tender, so delicate, so +holy, that it scarcely could have been thus perfected amidst the +distractions of the world; no words had been exchanged, but all was +understood--all knew what had sprung up on the border land that divides +life from death; they knew it had taken root strongly, and would grow +up in the future life. Thus God, whilst ruling the terrible tempests +that convulsed the world, and bringing forth a new order of things from +the mighty struggle of the nations of Germany--seized with a gentle, +tender hand the inner life of these two human hearts, imprinting deep +and silent feelings as indelibly, as the gigantic characters in which +His eternal judgments were graven on the tablets of history.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke, with his clear, true eyes, saw plainly enough what was +going on beside the sick-bed of his lieutenant; he had not said a word, +but he had managed to express that he understood, and was perfectly +satisfied, by his respectful attentions and hearty sympathy to the +pastor's daughter, and when he saw Helena sitting beside the +lieutenant's bed, he looked with a smile from one to the other, and +gave an approving nod, as if applauding some satisfactory thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since the ladies' arrival he only came to and fro to the sick room, +bringing everything needful, and at night he insisted on undertaking +the last and most weary hours of watching, driving away the ladies with +good-natured brusqueness.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was unwearied in assisting the pretty Margaret in all her +occupations, in her endeavour to make their quiet monotonous life as +agreeable as possible to her guests, and in her efforts to provide them +with every comfort; then he had almost taken old Lohmeier's place out +of doors, in the stable and garden, assisting everywhere with skilful +hand, lightening much of the old man's work, and relieving him entirely +of the rest. And in the evening he sat before the door with his host +and his daughter; the father listened well pleased and smiled +approvingly at his daughter when the sturdy son of Wendland, who had +long before thrown aside his soldier's coat, told stories of his home; +the old man gave a nod of satisfaction when it appeared from these +histories that old Deyke was a well-to-do man, and that a rich +inheritance must one day descend to his only son and heir.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate came several times daily to see the ladies. Sometimes in +a quiet manner he helped a little in nursing. Sometimes he spoke a few +well-chosen words of comfort to the old lady. He went in and out of all +the houses where there were sick and wounded, offered spiritual +consolation, and was unwearied in assisting and directing in the +hospitals, so that he won the general respect and gratitude of all the +inhabitants of Langensalza, and all the relatives of the wounded. +Madame von Wendenstein was full of his praise, and took every +opportunity of showing her esteem and gratitude to the young clergyman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena kept aloof from her cousin, and he did not seek her more than +every-day intercourse required. But his eyes often rested on her with a +strange expression, and an evil glance darted from them when he saw the +young girl sitting beside the bed of the wounded officer, when her +whole soul lay in her eyes, and the feelings of her heart were warmly +reflected in her features; but no word, no sign betrayed that he +guessed what had taken place in solitude and silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Late in the afternoon of one of the last days of July Madame von +Wendenstein sat, with her daughter, in her room. The window was wide +open to admit the cooler air that streamed in as the day declined. The +door of the sick-room stood open, and Helena sat by the bedside, +attentively watching the quiet slumberer as he lay with a smiling +expression of happiness on his pale features.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate sat with the ladies in his faultless black dress, a white +necktie of dazzling purity carefully arranged around his neck, and his +hair brushed smoothly down on each side of his forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke in a low voice as he told Madame von Wendenstein of the other +sufferers whom he had visited.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have chosen a beautiful calling," said the old lady, smiling +kindly on the young clergyman; "in such times as these especially, it +must be a glorious satisfaction to bear the divine words of comfort to +sufferers, and to raise and refresh their souls amidst bodily pain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in such times as these," said the candidate, in a humble voice, +casting his eyes to the ground, "I feel doubly what an unworthy +instrument I am in the hand of Providence; when I speak to sufferers +who have already stretched out their hands to eternity, who already +behold the glories of a future world, I often ask myself whether I am +worthy to tell them of their Lord, and I tremble beneath the weight of +my office. But," he continued, folding his hands together, "the power +of the divine word gives strength even to an unworthy instrument to +work mightily; and I can say with joy that many a heart in health +devoted to the world, has through my means, on the brink of eternity, +received the faith, and obtained salvation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How many families will be grateful to you!" said Madame von +Wendenstein warmly, as she held out her hand to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They must not be grateful to me, but to Him who is mighty through me," +replied the candidate, in a low voice, bowing his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">And at the same moment he turned a quick glance towards the sick-room, +in which a slight sound was heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeon had entered softly; he approached the bed, watched his +sleeping patient attentively for some little time, then he bent over +him, gently removed the covering of the wound, and examined it +carefully.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few minutes he joined the ladies in the other room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein looked at him anxiously. Helena followed him, +and remained standing at the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything is progressing excellently," said the surgeon; "and though +I cannot say all danger is over, I can assure you that every day my +hopes of a complete recovery increase."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein thanked him for this good news with emotion, and +Helena's eyes smiled through tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For some time to come absolute quiet will be needful. Any shock to the +much shaken nervous system might bring on fever of an inflammatory or +typhoid character, and in the present state of weakness this would be +fatal. The deep wound is still filled with blood; this can only be +slowly absorbed and dispersed. Any sudden flow of blood from a violent +effort might be fatal; therefore, I repeat it, absolute quiet is the +first essential in the recovery of our patient, and nature will assist +his youthful strength to repair the injury he has received. Nothing can +be done beyond a slight compress to the wound, a little cooling +medicine, and the maintenance of the strength by light nourishment. But +now, ladies, I must exercise my medical authority upon you," he +continued. "It is a long time since you have been in the open air, and +to-day it is deliciously cool. You must go out!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein hesitated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is needful for our patient's sake," said the surgeon, "that you +should keep up your strength. What would become of him if you were to +be ill? You must take a real walk. Fritz can take care of the patient, +who wants nothing but sleep."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I will stay here," cried Helena; but suddenly recollecting +herself, she was silent, and looked down with a blush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg, my dear lady," said the candidate, "that you will follow our +friend's prescription without any anxiety. I will remain with Herr von +Wendenstein. I have learned what to do beside a sick bed. Go, for you +all need this refreshment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quick, then," said the doctor. "I will take you to a beautiful shady +walk, and you will see what wonderful good you feel from that medicine +which nature prescribes for all--fresh air."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein put on her bonnet and mantle, and the young +ladies followed her example. Helena looked anxiously at the wounded +officer, and then hesitatingly followed the other ladies, who with the +surgeon had already left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate, with downcast eyes and a gentle smile, accompanied her +to the door. He then turned back, entered the sick-room, and seated +himself in the armchair near the bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">From his pale face the gentle smile and the expression of spiritual +peace and priestly dignity vanished. His half-closed, downcast eyes +opened widely, and were fixed upon the sleeper with a look of hatred, +and his thin lips were pressed firmly together.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a wonderful contrast between the wounded officer--who lay +stretched on his couch in light slumber, his eyes closed, the +reflection of sweet and pure dreams shining in his face, whilst on his +brow appeared a glimpse of heaven, a spark of the Divine breath--and +the man who sat near him in the garments of a priest, a horrible +expression of low, earthly passion and demoniacal hatred upon his +countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wounded man tossed his head a little to and fro, as if he felt +disturbed by the look the candidate fixed upon him, then with a deep +sigh he opened his eyes and turned them joyfully towards the place +where he hoped to see the beloved form that had filled his dreams. With +large, surprised, almost frightened eyes, he saw the clergyman beside +him. The candidate compelled his countenance suddenly to resume its +usual calm expression, lowering his eyes to conceal their hatred, for +he knew that even his strong powers of will could not at once banish +this expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you want anything, Herr von Wendenstein?" asked the candidate, in a +low, gentle voice. "The ladies have gone out, and they have left me +here to take care of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Lieutenant von Wendenstein raised his finger a little and pointed to a +small table near the bed, on which stood a carafe of fresh water and a +small vial filled with a red fluid.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate poured a few drops of the medicine into a glass of water, +and held it to the lieutenant's lips, who raised his head with some +little difficulty and drank it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of the wounded man said as plainly as possible, "I thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate put down the glass, folded his hands together, and said, +as he cast down his eyes,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you think, Herr von Wendenstein, when your body craved earthly +refreshment that your soul needed a spiritual medicine to strengthen +and refresh it in the valley of the shadow of death, that if Providence +sees fit to call it hence, it may be prepared to stand before the +Judge, and to give an account of the deeds done in the flesh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The wounded man's eyes, which after the cooling drink, were closing +again in slumbrous weariness, opened widely, and gazed upon the +candidate with astonishment and fear. He was accustomed to be spoken to +by looks, by signs, by single words whispered low, and his wearied +nerves shuddered at this unusual mode of speech. Then, too, the loving +care that had watched him in sickness and encouraged with fostering +hand the seed of convalescence, had surrounded him with pictures of +hope, with assurances of a new life blooming in the future, so that the +sharp and sudden mention of death, with his threatening hand still +stretched over him, affected him as if on a sunny, flower-scented day +he had suddenly felt the ice-cold breath of a newly-opened vault. A +slight shudder ran through his frame, and he feebly shook his head, as +if to free himself from the gloomy picture so suddenly called up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you thought," continued the candidate, suddenly raising his voice +and speaking sharply and impressively, "how you will pass through those +black, dreadful hours, those hours now perhaps very near you, when your +soul, with convulsive shudders, will tear itself free from the cold +body--when your heart must leave every earthly joy, every earthly hope, +and lay them in the dark depths of the grave, where the body, born of +dust, must return to the dust of which it is formed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of the wounded man grew larger, a feverish glow burned on his +cheeks, and there was an imploring expression in the look he turned +upon the candidate.</p> + +<p class="normal">He fixed his eyes upon the young officer with the electric fascinating +gaze with which the rattlesnake turns its prey to stone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you thought," continued the candidate, and his sharp voice seemed +to cut deep down into the sick man's soul, as his looks glared into his +horror-stricken eyes, "have you thought, that then, at the trumpet +blast of eternity, you must stand before the throne of a righteous and +severe Judge and give an account of your life? Your last act was +murder; the shedding of a brother's blood in a struggle justified by +earthly laws; but must it not appear a deadly sin in the eyes of +Eternal Justice?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The features of the wounded man quivered, the feverish flush increased, +and his eyelids sank and rose with a quick involuntary movement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven has shown you great mercy," said the candidate, "you have been +granted time for preparation here on a bed of sickness, for eternity, +whilst many were called away in the midst of mortal sin. Have you +worthily used the time so graciously granted you? Have you turned your +thoughts and desires away from all worldly things, and fixed them on +things eternal? Have you banished from your heart every earthly wish, +every earthly hope? Does it not still cling to earth? Judge yourself, +and let not the short time of grace be in vain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate bent down lower and lower, and fixed his glaring eyes on +those of the lieutenant, whose violent nervous agitation greatly +increased. His pale hands trembled even to the tips of the fingers, he +raised them with a repelling movement, and pointed to the table, whilst +with difficulty in a feeble voice, he gasped "Water!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate brought the green fire of his sparkling eyes still closer +to the sick man's face, he stretched his right hand over his head +whilst with the fingers of the left he pointed to his heart, and he +said in a low voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Think of the Water of Life, try to become worthy of the Well-spring of +Grace that alone can cool the torturing flames of eternal damnation. +They are ready for you, if you do not use this short time of grace, and +rend every earthly thought from your heart! The time that remains to +you is brief, and if your soul still clings to the past, it will fall +into the abyss already yawning before you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight red foam appeared on the wounded man's lips, his eyes opened +widely, and stared unconsciously around. His out-stretched fingers were +stiff, and his whole frame terribly convulsed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clergyman bent down closer over him, and in a harsh rough whisper +muttered in his ear:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The pit opens, the sulphurous flames ascend, you hear the lamentations +of endless torment, the supplications of the damned that can no longer +reach the Ear of Mercy; the light of heaven goes out, and the outcast +soul sinks into the dreadful horror, which no living spirit can +conceive, no living heart can imagine,--sinks, deeper, deeper,--ever +deeper."</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden shudder passed through the wounded man's frame, a rattling +breath forced itself from his labouring breast, his lips opened and a +stream of thick black blood flowed from his mouth. His face grew deadly +pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate was silent, he rose slowly, his eyes firmly fixed on the +face trembling in its death struggle; he drew back his hands and stood +with a cruel smile, calm and motionless.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door of the next room was softly opened and a careful footstep was +heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate started. With a great effort he compelled his features to +resume their usual expression of pious dignity; he folded his hands on +his breast, and turned his head towards the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke appeared and cautiously popped in his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! you are here, sir?" he said in a whisper, "I was busy in the +stable, but I heard the ladies had gone out, so I thought I would come +and look at my lieutenant. Lord God in heaven!" he cried, suddenly +rushing to the bed, "what is this? my lieutenant is dying!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He seized the stiff hand of the sick man, and bent over the apparently +lifeless body.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear the worst," said the candidate calmly, in a mild voice, full of +melancholy sympathy. "A violent cramp seized the poor young man, and +the breaking of a blood-vessel seems to have ended our hopes. It was +quick and sudden, whilst I was endeavouring to cheer him by friendly +converse, and spiritual consolation!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God! my God!" cried Fritz, "this is too horrible--what will become +of his poor mother, of Miss Helena?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And hastening to the door he called loudly, in an accent of grief and +despair,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Margaret! Margaret!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl rushed upstairs; the sound of Fritz's voice as he called +her had alarmed her, and she looked anxiously in at the door of the +sick-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lieutenant is dying! for God's sake fetch the doctor quickly!" +cried Fritz Deyke as he went to meet her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Margaret glanced hastily at the bed, saw the pale face and streaming +blood, and wringing her hands together, with a low outcry hastened +away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke knelt before the bed, and with a handkerchief wiped away +the blood from the lieutenant's mouth, repeating again and again, "My +God! my God! his poor mother!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate went into the adjoining room, and seized his hat; then he +suddenly determined to remain; he stood still for a moment, and then +seated himself so that he could see into the sick-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Margaret had hastened out; she knew the way that the surgeon had taken +with the ladies, and flew after him. She soon saw him near the first +houses of the little town. He had led the ladies to a shady alley, and +was taking leave of them, as he wished to return to his other patients.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young maiden was quite breathless when she reached him. The surgeon +looked at her with amazement, Helena's eyes were fixed upon her in +anxious fear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, sir!" cried Margaret, struggling for breath enough to +bring out her words, "I think--I fear--the poor lieutenant--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened?" cried the surgeon, in alarm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear he is dead," gasped Margaret. "Come, quick! quick!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein seized the surgeon's arm, as if seeking a +support, but she hastened along in silence, really hurrying the doctor +with her; he was endeavouring to gain from Margaret some particulars of +this unexpected seizure.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena rushed on first, and her flying feet scarcely touched the +ground. She uttered one cry when Margaret gave her terrible message, +then she fled with vacant eyes through the streets, until she came to +old Lohmeier's house, and flying up the stairs, reached the +lieutenant's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">She paused for a moment at the threshold, sighed deeply, and pressed +both her hands against her breast. Then she opened the door, and stood +gazing on the young man's deathlike face. Nothing had changed, and +Fritz Deyke stood before him, carefully removing the blood that +streamed from his lips with a white handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz raised his head and turned round. When he saw Helena standing +there an image of silent despair, he comprehended that her sorrow was +greater than his own. He rose slowly, and said, in a low, trembling +voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think the good God has called him; come, Miss Helena, if anyone can +awake him, you can!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And gently seizing her hand he led her to the bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sank upon her knees, and taking the lieutenant's hand pressed it to +her lips, breathing on it with her warm breath; her sad, tearless eyes +were fixed upon his face, and her lips sometimes moved, repeating the +same whispered words, "Oh! my God! let me follow him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus they continued motionless for some time--Helena crouched beside +the bed, Fritz Deyke standing near her, and regarding her with great +emotion, as he brushed away the tears with the back of his hand. The +candidate sat in the adjoining room, with an expression of deep +sympathy upon his features, his hands folded, and his lips moving as if +in silent prayer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then came the surgeon and the two ladies.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein was about to hasten to her son's bedside, but +the surgeon held her back gravely, almost roughly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one can be of any use here but myself," he said energetically; "the +sick belong to me. Ladies must leave the room; if they are wanted, I +will call them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz gently pushed Madame von Wendenstein and her daughter into the +adjoining room; Helena rose quietly, and seated herself at some +distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeon approached the bed; he carefully examined the sick man's +face, looked at the wound, and held his hand for a long time upon his +heart, gazing at his watch at the same time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate went up to Madame von Wendenstein, who had sunk upon a +chair, her face covered with her hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Compose yourself, much honoured lady," he said in his gentlest voice; +"all hope is not yet over, and if it is the will of Providence to put a +period to your son's life, you must think how many, many parents have +to bear the same, and often even greater sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein only replied by her sobs.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old surgeon now returned to the ladies. Scarcely had he left the +bed, when Helena returned to her place, and again taking the hand +strove to warm it with her breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a frightful crisis," said the doctor; "I cannot understand its +cause, but alas! it leaves us little hope. We must be prepared for the +worst; but the heart still beats, and as long as there is a spark of +life a physician does not despair. There is really nothing to be done; +if nature does not help herself, our knowledge is powerless. But how," +he continued, turning to the candidate, "did this alarming crisis come +on? My patient was perfectly quiet when I last saw him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He continued so," said the candidate, "for some time after I had taken +my place beside his bed; he awoke from a deep sleep, I gave him some +drink, and he appeared quite well; whilst I was endeavouring to refresh +his soul with spiritual consolation, a convulsive movement came on, +followed by this gush of blood. It was quick and sudden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well," said the surgeon, "what I hoped might proceed gently and +gradually has taken place suddenly, from a violent nervous crisis +setting free the blood collected in the vessels. It is scarcely +possible that this can have happened without causing serious mischief, +besides the frightful effect upon the nerves. Did you talk to him +much?" he asked, looking firmly at the candidate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I said," he replied, folding his hands, "what my calling requires me +to say to the sick, I hardly know whether he understood me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me, sir," said the surgeon, in a brusque voice, shaking his +head, "I am not one of those who despise religion, and from my heart I +believe that all help comes from God; but in this case it really would +have been better to let him sleep."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The word of God, with its wondrous power, is never out of place," +replied the candidate in a cold tone of conviction, raising his eyes +with a pious expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God! my God!" cried Helena from the next room, in a loud, +half-frightened, half-joyful voice, "he lives, he wakes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They all hastened into the room; the physician went to the head of the +bed, whilst Helena still knelt and pressed the lieutenant's hand to her +lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had opened his eyes, and turned a wondering look from one face to +another, as if surprised at the excitement he saw on every countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened?" he asked in a low, but perfectly clear voice, +whilst a slight flow of blood still came from his lips. "I have had a +bad, bad dream,--I thought I was dying."</p> + +<p class="normal">His eyes closed again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeon raised the pillows that supported his head, gently took his +hand from Helena, and examined his pulse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A glass of wine," he cried.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke hurried away, and returned in a moment with a glass of old +dark red wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeon held it to his patient's lips. He drank it eagerly to the +last drop.</p> + +<p class="normal">In trembling anxiety they all awaited the result. Helena's face was as +pale as marble; her soul lay in her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short time a tinge of colour came to von Wendenstein's cheek, a +deep sigh heaved his breast, and he opened his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">They rested on Helena, and a smile passed over his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Draw a deep breath," said the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did so immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does it hurt you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer shook his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on +Helena.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor again felt his pulse, laid his hand on his brow, and +listened attentively to his breathing.</p> + +<p class="normal">He then went up to Madame von Wendenstein, and said, as he held out his +hand to her with a joyful smile, "Nature has conquered this violent +crisis, now only rest and nourishment are needed; thank God, your son +is saved!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady approached the bed, pressed an affectionate kiss upon her +son's brow, and gazed long into his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she left the room, and sank upon the sofa in the adjoining +apartment: the frightful excitement and the long, anxious suspense had +so exhausted her strength that her whole soul sought relief in a storm +of tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena remained sitting near the bed, still holding the hand of her +beloved, still gazing upon him calm and motionless, the brilliancy of +perfect happiness on her pale features.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate remained standing, with folded hands; he retained the +gentle smile unchanged upon his lips, whilst his eyes never moved from +the scene at the lieutenant's bedside.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a little consideration the doctor wrote a prescription, and, +rising with the paper in his hand, joined the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our patient must take this every hour," he said. "I hope he may sleep +quietly during the night; to-morrow, or the next day, we can begin a +strengthening diet, and if God continues to help us, we may soon look +for a rapid recovery."</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned to the Candidate Behrmann.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive my hasty words," he said gravely. "You were right when you +spoke of the divine power of God's word. God has indeed performed a +wonder; not one case in a hundred would have passed through such a +crisis favourably. I bow before this wonder, and with you I look up +with thankfulness and adoration to the Day-spring who sends down +knowledge and faith to us, as rays of light from an eternal centre."</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke warmly and feelingly as he held out his hand to the candidate. +An indescribable expression appeared on Behrmann's face. He cast down +his eyes, bent his head, and was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he remembered that many sick friends were wanting him, and he took +leave of Madame von Wendenstein with a few words of sympathy. He went +up to Helena and took her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why did she withdraw it with a hasty movement of fear? Why did an icy +coldness stream from his fingers to her heart? Did she see the +involuntary look which flashed from his eyes when he approached the +bed, or was it that secret instinct which causes unexplained sympathy +and antipathy, often judging more truly than the longest experience, +the deepest knowledge of mankind, or the most prudent reflection?</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician and the candidate departed, and the ladies were left +alone with the invalid, who fell into a calm sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke, whose strong nerves soon recovered from the excitement of +the last hour, gave himself up completely to joy. After he had fetched +the lieutenant's medicine he hastened into the little garden, where +Margaret was watering her flowers, whose drooping heads told of the +excessive heat of the last few days.</p> + +<p class="normal">He said very little. He hurried to and fro, filling her watering-pot +again and again; and then he made little channels in the ground to the +roots of the plants, that the water might penetrate more quickly. He +admired the quickness and grace with which Margaret watered her plants; +how lightly and cleverly she raised the drooping flowers and tied them +to sticks, and he saw that sometimes she looked kindly at him, and that +she blushed a little when he observed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he seated himself with old Lohmeier and his daughter at their +simple but excellent supper, and again he admired Margaret's adroitness +and attention to her household duties, and the cheerful comfort she +shed around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he thought to himself how pretty she would look in the rich old +farmhouse at Blechow, and how the elder Deyke would rejoice at having +such a housekeeper and daughter-in-law. What Margaret thought was her +own secret, but she looked supremely happy as she served her father and +his guest, and performed all the duties of an attentive housewife, with +the skill of an experienced hostess and the grace of a lovely girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus quiet joy and hopeful happiness prevailed throughout the good +burgher house in Langensalza.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate Behrmann visited many of the sick and wounded, and +unweariedly spoke eloquent and impressive words of comfort, and he +refused all thanks with humility. He advised and ordered in the +hospitals; and praises of the pious, gifted, and exemplary young +clergyman resounded from every lip.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_21" href="#div1Ref_21">RECONCILIATION</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein sat in the reception-room of her house +in the +Herrengasse, in Vienna. Nothing had altered in this salon; the +prodigious events and the mighty storms that had shaken the power of +the House of Hapsburg to its very foundations could not have been +suspected from the aspect of this room when unoccupied, so complete was +its stamp of aristocratic immutability and perfect repose. There was +the same old furniture which had already served several generations, +now looking down from their faintly gleaming frames of tarnished +gilding upon the doings of their children and grand-children; there was +the high, wide chimney-piece, the flames from which had been reflected +in the bright, youthful eyes of those who long ago had become staid +grandmothers; there was the same clock with its groups of shepherds and +shepherdesses which had marked the moment of birth and the moment of +death of many a member of the family, and with equal calmness had added +second to second in hours of joy or hours of sorrow. Amongst all these +objects, lifeless indeed but full of memories, and accustomed to look +calmly on the happiness or sadness of generations passed away, sat the +living beings of the present, deeply moved and distressed by the +terrible and unexpected blow which had fallen on the House of Hapsburg +and on Austria.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Countess Frankenstein was grave and dignified as ever, but +there was a sorrowful expression on her proud, calm face as she sat on +the large sofa; beside her, dressed in black, sat the Countess Clam +Gallas, whoso tearful eyes were often covered with her embroidered +handkerchief. Opposite the ladies sat General von Reischach; his fresh, +healthy face glowed brightly as ever, the dark eyes looked out keen and +lively beneath his short white hair, but though this expression of +jovial cheerfulness could not be banished, there was beyond it a look +of melancholy grief. Countess Clara sat beside her mother, leaning back +in an arm-chair, and on her young and beautiful face lay a breath of +deep sorrow, for she was a true daughter of the proud Austrian +aristocracy, and she felt deeply and keenly the humiliation which the +ancient banners of the empire had suffered at Königgrätz, but her +melancholy was spread but as a light veil over the joy and happiness +that filled her dreamy eyes. Notwithstanding all the dangers of +Trautenau and Königgrätz, Lieutenant von Stielow had returned +unwounded; the war was now as good as ended, she feared no fresh perils +for him, and when the war was concluded, preparations for the marriage +were to be commenced.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young countess sat in a dreamy reverie, pursuing the charming +pictures unrolled for the future, and hearing little of the +conversation carried on around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This disaster is the effect of the incomprehensible regard shown to +the clamour of the lower classes," cried Countess Clam Gallas, in a +voice trembling with grief and anger. "Benedek received the chief +command because he was 'a man of the people;' the officers of noble +birth were thus hurt, injured, and passed over; we now see what all +this has led to. I have nothing to say against the rights of merit and +talent," she continued, "history teaches us that great field marshals +have been found among common soldiers, but people should not be pushed +forward who have no talent and whose only merit is courage, simply +because they are not of distinguished birth! And now they make the +aristocracy answerable for the defeat. Count Clam's treatment is an +insult to the whole of the Austrian aristocracy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must not look upon it in that light, countess," said General von +Reischach; "on the contrary, I think the proceedings against Count Clam +Gallas will stop all evil mouths, for it will be an excellent +opportunity for stating the real causes of our defeat. When public +opinion, led on by a couple of journalists, had loaded the count with +reproaches, he was right in demanding a strict investigation, and it +was Mensdorff's duty to urge it upon the emperor. Let us wait the +result, it will show that the Austrian nobility is above reproach."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is very hard," cried the countess, "to be so personally affected +by the common misfortune!" And she wiped the tears that had again +flowed, with her handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell us, Baron Reischach," said Countess Frankenstein, after a short +pause, wishing to give the conversation a different turn; "tell us +about the King of Hanover, you once held a command in his service. I +have the greatest admiration for that heroic prince, and the deepest +commiseration for his unhappy fate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is wonderful," said the general, "with what resignation and +cheerfulness the king bears his evil fortune, and the difficult +position he is now placed in. He is still full of hope; I fear it +deceives him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe they will really venture to dethrone him?" cried the +Countess Frankenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! I am quite sure of it," said General von Reischach.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I, alas! cannot doubt it, from what Mensdorff has told me," said +Countess Clam Gallas.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And must Austria bear this?" cried Countess Frankenstein, a bright +flush of auger upon her usually calm face, and her eyes sparkling with +excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Austria bears everything, and will have to bear still more!" said the +general, shrugging his shoulders. "I see before us a long course of +misfortune, they will again experiment, and every fresh experiment will +pluck a jewel from our crown and a leaf from our laurels; I fear they +will pursue the path of Joseph II."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God protect Austria!" cried Countess Frankenstein, folding her hands. +"Will the King of Hanover remain here?" she asked, after a short pause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It seems so," replied General von Reischach, "he lives in Baron +Knesebeck's house, in the Wallnerstrasse, Countess Wilezek has given +him up her apartments; but I have heard he will soon retire to the Duke +of Brunswick's villa at Hietzing. It would be much better for the king +to go to England, he is by birth an English prince, and if he succeeded +in interesting public opinion there in his behalf, which with his charm +of manner would not be difficult, England would perhaps help him, and +she is the only power who could help him; but he is disinclined, and +Count Platen appears very incapable of persuading the king to take any +decided course."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Platen visited me," said Countess Clam Gallas; "he does not +believe in the annexation of Hanover."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are people who never believe in the devil, until he has got them +by the throat," cried Baron von Reischach: "there is General Brandis, a +plain old soldier, with a quick clear understanding, he would be much +the best counsellor for the king in a position in which rapid and firm +decision can alone avail, but he is not supported by Platen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How many disasters a few days have brought forth!" cried Countess +Frankenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said General von Reischach, as he rose, "you must console +yourself with the happiness that blooms in your family; I would bet +anything," he added, laughing, "that Countess Clara's thoughts are +filled with pleasant pictures."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young countess started from her dreams, a flying blush passed over +her face, and she said, laughingly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can you know about young ladies' thoughts?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know so much about them," replied the general, "that I should not +venture now to bring my little countess a doll, she must have one in a +green uniform with a red plume."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want neither dolls nor anything else from you," replied the young +countess, pretending to pout.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Reischach and Countess Clam Gallas took leave.</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein and her daughter accompanied them to the door, +and had only been a few moments alone when a servant entered and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a gentleman here, who asks very pressingly for an interview +with the countess."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is it?" she asked, with surprise, for she had few visitors except +those belonging to her own exclusive circle of society.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is his card," said the servant, handing a visiting card to the +countess. "He assures me it is greatly to your ladyship's interest to +hear what he has to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein took the card, and read, with a look of +astonishment--"E. Balzer, Exchange Agent."</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep flush passed over Countess Clara's face, she looked anxiously at +her mother and pressed her handkerchief to her lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot understand," said the countess, "what a person so entirely +unknown to me can want; however, let him come in!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few moments Herr Balzer entered the salon. He was dressed in +black, and his common-looking face bore an expression of grave dignity +which did not appear to belong to it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He approached the ladies with a manner in which the boldness of the +habitué of a coffee-house was mingled with the embarrassment of a man +who, accustomed only to low society, suddenly finds himself amongst +persons of distinction.</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein looked at him with a cold, proud gaze, whilst +Clara, after her large eyes had taken in his vulgar appearance with a +hasty glance, cast them down and waited in trembling expectation for +the reason of this unexpected visit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have consented to receive you, sir," said the countess, with easy +calmness, "and I beg you to tell me the important matter you have to +impart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer bowed with affected dignity and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"A most melancholy affair, gracious countess, brings me to you,--an +affair in which we, you and I, or rather your daughter and I, have a +common interest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara fixed her eyes upon him with great surprise and painful suspense; +the haughty look of the countess asked plainer than words, "What +interest can I have in common with this man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer saw this look, and an almost imperceptible smile appeared +on his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very painful and distressing circumstance," he said slowly and +hesitatingly, "obliges me, your ladyship, to confide my honour to you, +and to consult with you, as to what is best to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pray you, sir," said the countess, in an icy voice, "to come to the +fact you have to communicate. My time is much engaged."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without paying any attention to this intimation, Herr Balzer proceeded, +apparently with some embarrassment, whilst twirling his hat in his +hands:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your daughter is engaged to Lieutenant von Stielow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess looked at him, almost rigid with amazement. She began to +fear she had admitted a madman. A slight shiver passed through Clara's +tender form; deep paleness overspread her features, and she did not +dare to lift her eyes to this man, for an instinctive suspicion warned +her he must be the bearer of something evil.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer drew a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his eyes. +In a theatrical manner he walked towards the countess, exclaiming, +whilst he stretched out his hand:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Countess, you will understand me at once, you must understand me; I +trust my fate to your discretion,--only in common with yourself can +this melancholy transaction--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must really beg you, sir," said Countess Frankenstein, looking +anxiously at the bell, from which she was separated by Herr Balzer, "I +must really beg you to state the facts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Stielow," said Balzer, again covering his eyes with his large +yellow silk pocket-handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara folded her hands in breathless suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Stielow," repeated Herr Balzer, in a voice that appeared to +struggle for composure, "that volatile young man who is so happy in the +possession of so lovely, so worthy a fiancée," he bowed to Clara, who +turned from him with disgust, "this volatile young man dares to rob me +of my happiness, to destroy my peace--he keeps up a criminal +correspondence with my wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a low cry, Clara sank down upon the chair before which she stood, +and wept silently.</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein remained standing upright. Her eyes rested +fiercely and proudly upon this detestable messenger of evil, and in a +voice in which no emotion was perceptible, she asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how do you know this, sir? Are you quite sure?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! only too sure," cried Herr Balzer, pathetically, again applying +his handkerchief to his eyes, which were quite red with repeated +rubbing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some time ago," he said, "my friends warned me; but my confidence in +my wife--I love my wife, gracious countess: ah! she was my whole +happiness--prevented my heeding these warnings; then, too, Baron von +Stielow's engagement with the lovely countess"--he again bowed to +Clara--"was well known in Vienna; I felt quite safe, since I was +simple-hearted enough,"--he laid his hand on his black satin +waistcoat--"to believe such an error impossible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well?" asked the countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At last, by chance--oh! my heart will break when I think of +it--yesterday I discovered the frightful truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess made a movement of impatience.</p> + +<p class="normal">He threw a side glance at the easy-chair, in which the younger lady sat +motionless, her face covered with her handkerchief, and with the malice +of vulgar natures who instinctively hate those of a higher grade, he +seemed disposed to prolong her torture.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amongst the letters brought to me," he continued, after some +hesitation, "there was one intended for my wife. I did not observe the +address, and I opened it, believing it directed to myself. It contained +the horrible, too certain proof of my misfortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara gave a low sob.</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess asked with cold severity,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is this letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer, with a deep, strongly marked sigh, felt in the breast +pocket of his coat, pulled out a folded letter, and gave it to the +countess. She took it, opened it, and read the contents slowly. Then +throwing it on the table, she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Countess," cried Herr Balzer, in the same pathetic voice, "I love my +wife; she has greatly erred, it is true, but I love her still, and I +cannot give up the hope of reclaiming her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess shrugged her shoulders, almost imperceptibly, and cast a +look full of contempt upon the exchange agent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not wish for a separation,--I would rather forgive her," he +continued, in a tearful voice; "and I have come, therefore, to speak to +you, countess, to consult with you,--to implore you to--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?" asked the countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, I thought," said Herr Balzer, turning his hat round and +round more quickly, "if you,--Vienna is now a very sad place to reside +in,--if you would go to your country estates, or into Switzerland, or +to the Italian lakes, far away from here, and if you would take +Lieutenant von Stielow with you, he would leave Vienna, and could not +continue to have any intercourse with my wife: I too would take her +away somewhere for a time. After his marriage with the lovely countess, +the young couple would naturally visit Baron von Stielow's family for a +time; he would forget my wife,--all would come straight, if we only +work together at the same plan!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke slowly, and with much hesitation, often interrupting himself, +and casting stolen looks now at the mother, now at the daughter. Before +he had finished speaking, Clara had sprung to her feet, her eyes, red +with weeping, were fixed on him with burning anger; and as he +concluded, she looked at her mother with anxious suspense, her lips +half opened, as if she almost feared her mother might not give the +right reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein drew herself up, with a movement full of pride, +and said in a tone of cold contempt:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for your communication, sir; it has opened my eyes in +time. I regret I cannot assist you in the way you wish, to re-establish +your domestic happiness. You must understand it cannot be the task of a +Countess Frankenstein to cure the Baron Stielow of an unworthy passion, +nor can she consent to continue an engagement which the baron has not +respected. You must find some other means of reclaiming your wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara's eyes expressed her perfect approval of her mother's words; with +a proud movement she turned her back upon Herr Balzer, and, suppressing +her tears with a great effort, she looked out of one of the large panes +of glass in the high window of the salon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer wrung his hands, as if in despair, and cried with +well-acted emotion:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God! countess, forgive me, if I thought only of my own sorrow and +grief, only of myself and my wife, and did not consider that +difficulty. I thought, too, you wished so much for this <i>parti</i>, which +is so excellent, and I hoped you would act in concert with me to bring +everything to a good end."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Countess Frankenstein is not in a position to wish for a <i>parti</i> +unworthy of her, and one her heart cannot approve," said the countess, +the cold calmness of her manner unchanged. "I believe, sir," she +continued, bowing very slightly, "that it is scarcely necessary to +continue this conversation."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer wrung his hands, and cried in a tone of despair:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my God! my God! countess, what have I done! I now understand +perfectly that your daughter, under the circumstances, cannot continue +her engagement,--that I was foolish to hope to re-establish peace +through your assistance. Oh, my God, I had better have remained +silent!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then," he continued, in the same tone, "everything might have gone on +well; now, oh, God! all that is over! You will break off the engagement +with Baron von Stielow, the whole world will hear of my misfortune, +there will be a dreadful scandal in Vienna, and I shall have to +separate from my wife. Ah! and I love my wife; I wish so to forgive +her, to reclaim her,--and I shall love her for ever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused for a moment, and cast a cunning look at the countess, whose +features had assumed an expression of deep thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he added still louder, and wringing his hands still more:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! my gracious countess, have compassion on me. I came to you in +perfect confidence to confide to you the frightful secret of my +misfortune. I see you cannot help me, as I hoped; be merciful to me, +and do not make it impossible for me to think of a way in which the +worst may be averted. Keep my secret. Herr von Stielow in his rage and +anger would revenge himself on me,--there would be nothing to restrain +him,--then there would be a dreadful scandal; that may be a matter of +indifference to you and your daughter, but to me and my wife--Oh! have +compassion on me!" and he made a movement, as if about to throw himself +at the feet of the countess. She still continued thoughtful.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," she said, "it is certainly neither my wish, nor my daughter's, +to discuss this disagreeable affair with Baron Stielow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara turned her head towards her mother, and thanked her with a look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall break off Countess Clara's engagement with Herr von Stielow in +the quietest manner possible, and it will remain for you to do the best +you can for yourself--your secret is safe with me. Again I thank you +for your communication, however painful it was necessary, and has +preserved us from much worse pain in the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she bowed her head in a way that showed Herr Balzer unmistakeably +he was dismissed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He again held his handkerchief before his eyes, and said, in a whining +voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, countess, I shall be eternally grateful to you; forgive +me. I beg the young lady's forgiveness, too, for being the messenger of +such evil tidings. But my lot is the worst. Oh! if you did but know how +I loved my wife!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And as if overcome by the immensity of his grief, he bowed in silence, +and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">He hastily brushed past the servant in the ante-room, and ran down the +stairs; as soon as he had left the room the grave and sorrowful +expression vanished from his face, a vulgar smile of triumph appeared +upon his lips, and he said to himself, with great satisfaction,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I think I did my business very well, and richly earned the +thousand guldens my dearly beloved wife promised me, if I would free +her dear Stielow. Now she can catch him again in her net; she will +succeed, for she understands all that well, and then," he said, with a +broader grin of satisfaction, "I shall have the right of grasping +handfuls of the gold which this young millionaire will pour into her +lap."</p> + +<p class="normal">With quick steps, he hastened to his wife, to tell her of the success +of his negotiation.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as he left the room, Clara, without speaking a word, threw +herself into her mother's arms, sobbing aloud. After the restraint she +had put upon her feelings in the presence of a repulsive stranger, her +tears flowed freely, and relieved the oppression of her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be strong, my daughter," said the countess, gently stroking her +shining hair. "God sends you a hard trial; but it is better to tear +yourself free from an unworthy engagement, than that this blow should +fall upon you later."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! my mother," cried the young countess, with the greatest grief, +"this love made me so happy; he assured me so strongly he was quite +free; I believed him so implicitly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly raising herself from her mother's arms, she rushed to the +table where the letter lay which Herr Balzer had given the countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a slight shudder, she seized the fatal letter, and read the +contents with large, dilated eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she threw it from her with a look of horror, and sinking into a +chair, wept bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go to your room, my child," said the countess, "you need rest. I will +consider how matters can be arranged in the best and quietest way. The +baron's absence makes it easier. We will go into the country; I will +give the needful orders. Calm and compose yourself, that the world may +perceive nothing. It is our duty to bear our sorrows alone: only vulgar +souls show their troubles to the world. God will comfort you, and on +the heart of your mother you will always find a place to weep."</p> + +<p class="normal">And gently raising her daughter, she led her from the salon to the +inner apartments, belonging exclusively to the ladies.</p> + +<p class="normal">The regular strokes of the old clock's pendulum echoed through the +silence of the large, empty room, and the ancestors' portraits looked +down from their frames with their unchanging well-bred smile; their +eyes too, though they looked so calm and cheerful, had wept in days +long past, and with proud strength they had forced their tears back +into their hearts, to avoid the pity or the spiteful joy of the world, +and time as it rolled on, after hours of sorrow and pain, had brought +the moment of happiness. There was nothing now in this old home of an +old race.</p> + +<p class="normal">The loud clatter of a sword was heard in the ante-room. The servant +opened the door, and Lieutenant von Stielow entered, fresh and +cheerful. He looked round the room with sparkling eyes. He turned with +disappointment to the servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The ladies were here a moment ago," he said. "The countess had just +received a person on business; they must have gone to their own +apartments. I will send, and mention that Baron--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my friend," cried the young officer, "do not announce me; the +ladies will soon return, and I shall surprise them. Say nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant bowed, and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer walked several times up and down the room. A smile of +happiness rested on his face--the joy of reunion, after an eventful +separation, during which he had been threatened by death in many forms; +the anticipation of the joyful surprise he should behold in the eyes of +his beloved, all combined to fill his young, fresh heart with joy and +enchantment.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up to the low fauteuil, in which Countess Clara usually sat +beside her mother, and he pressed his lips against the back, where he +knew her head had rested.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he seated himself in the chair, half closed his eyes, and gave +himself up to a sweet, soft reverie, and the old clock's pendulum +measured the time the young man spent in happy dreams, with the same +regular stroke as it had numbered the moments of torture that had wrung +the heart of her who filled his dreams.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst the young baron sat awaiting his happiness, Clara had gone to +her own apartment. It was a square room, with a large window, decorated +with grey silk. Before the window stood a writing table, and near it a +high pyramidal stand of blooming flowers, whose fragrance filled the +room. Upon the writing-table, on an elegant bronze easel, stood a large +photograph of her fiancé; he had given it to her just before his +departure to join the army. In a niche in one corner of the room was a +<i>prie-dieu</i> chair, and a beautiful crucifix in ebony and ivory, with a +small shell, containing holy water, hung upon the wall.</p> + +<p class="normal">This room contained everything calculated to please a faultless taste, +and to enrich and embellish life. This room had been so full of +happiness and hope when the young countess left it,--and now? The +perfume of the flowers was as sweet as an hour ago; the sunshine fell +as brightly through the windows; but where was the happiness? where was +the hope?</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara threw herself on her knees before the image of the crucified +Saviour, where she had often found comfort in the childish sorrows of +her early life. She clasped her beautiful hands in fervent prayer, her +tearful eyes hung on the image of the Redeemer, her lips moved in +half-uttered, imploring words; but not as before did peace and rest +sink into her soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">A wild storm of various emotions raged within her. There was deep +sorrow for her lost happiness, there was defiant anger at the deceit +that had played upon her love, there was swelling pride at the contempt +shown to her feelings, and finally there was bitter, jealous hatred of +the unworthy being to whom she had been sacrificed. All these emotions +surged and raged in her head, in her heart, in her veins; and the +prayer her lips pronounced would not arise to heaven, the peaceful +light of believing self-sacrifice would not kindle within her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She stood up and sighed deeply. Not grief, but anger flashed in her +eyes. Her white teeth bit into her lip, she paced up and down the room, +her hands pressed upon her bosom, as if to still the raging storm +threatening to break her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she stood still before her writing-table, and looked angrily at +von Stielow's portrait.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why did you come into my life," she cried, "to rob me of my peace, and +to make me purchase a few hours' happiness with such frightful +tortures?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her looks rested long on the portrait. Slowly and gradually the angry +expression passed from her features; a mild, sorrowful light shone in +her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my short happiness was so fair," she whispered. "Is it then +possible that those true eyes could lie? Is it possible that at the +very time---"</p> + +<p class="normal">She sank into a chair near her table, and half involuntarily following +the sweet habit of the last short time, she opened an ebony casket, +enriched with mother-o'-pearl and gold.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this casket were the letters her lover had written to her from the +camp. They were all short, hurried notes, many of them very dirty from +the numerous hands they had passed through before they reached her. She +knew them all by heart, those love greetings that said so little and +yet so much, that she had waited for with such longing, that she had +received with such exulting joy, that she had read and read again with +such happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mechanically she took one of the letters, and allowed her eyes slowly +to follow the lines.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she threw away the paper with a movement of horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And with the same hand," she cried, "with which he wrote these +words--" She did not finish the sentence, but gazed gloomily before +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But is it true?" she cried, suddenly; "can it not be malice, envy? Oh, +I knew that this woman was once no stranger to him. I have not seen the +writings side by side to compare them. Good heavens!" she cried, with +horror, "that wretched letter lies in the drawing-room; if one of the +servants----" And hastily springing up, she hurried from the room, +glided swiftly through the intervening apartments, reached the +drawing-room, and advanced at once to the table where the fatal letter +lay between two vases of flowers upon some tapestry work.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sound of her footsteps aroused the young officer from his reverie. +He rose hastily from his half-recumbent position, in which he had been +completely concealed by the high back of the chair, and he saw her his +dreams had pictured standing really before him, her face expressing +indescribable agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">It would be impossible to find words to tell the feelings that passed +through the young girl's mind in one moment. Her heart beat high with +joyful surprise when she saw her lover so unexpectedly; but the next +instant bitter sorrow rushed upon her as she remembered she was for +ever separated from the happiness that had been hers. Her thoughts grew +indistinct, she had neither the strength to speak nor to withdraw, she +stood motionless, her large dilated eyes fixed upon him whom she so +unexpectedly beheld.</p> + +<p class="normal">With one bound the young man was beside her, he opened his arms as if +about to embrace her, but quickly recollecting himself, he sank down on +one knee, seized her hand, which she yielded involuntarily, and +impressed upon it a long, warm, and affectionate kiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, sweet joy of my heart, star of my love," he cried, "here is your +true knight again; your talisman has been my protection; the holy light +of my star was stronger than all the threatening clouds that surrounded +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with bright eyes, filled with happiness, love, and adoring +admiration, he looked up at her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed at him, but there was no expression in her widely opened +eyes, it seemed as if all her blood had flowed back to her heart, as if +all her ideas, all her powers of will, were banished by the +overwhelming feelings of the last few moments.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was rejoiced at this motionless silence, which he ascribed to +surprise at his sudden return, and he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"General Gablenz has been sent for by the emperor, and he brought me +here, so that I greet my darling sooner than I expected!" And taking +from his uniform a gold case set with a C in brilliants, he added with +a happy smile, "here is the talisman from my lady's hand, which +preserved me through every danger; it has rested on my heart, and it +can tell you that its every beat has been true to my love."</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened the case, and in the interior, upon blue velvet beneath a +glass setting, lay a faded rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now," he cried, "I need the dead talisman no longer, I see my living +rose blooming before me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up, gently laid his arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss +upon her brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight shudder passed through her, her eyes sparkled with anger and +contempt, a brilliant red glowed on her cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a hasty movement she tore herself free.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Baron," she cried, "I must beg--you surprise me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She stammered; her lips trembled, she could not find words to express +what she thought and felt, she could not say what she wished to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a moment's silence she turned to leave the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer stood as if struck by lightning, her strange words, +the expression on her face, told him that something must have taken +place to cause a breach between him and his love, but it was impossible +for him to form any clear idea as to what it could be, and he looked at +her in blank amazement. But when she turned to leave him and had +actually reached the door, he stretched out both his arms towards her, +and cried in a voice so full of love and regret, of grief and inquiry, +that it could only proceed from the deepest and truest feeling, +"Clara!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She started at this voice, which found an echo in her heart, she stood +still, her strength left her, she tottered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was beside her in a moment, he supported her, and led her to an +easy-chair, in which he gently placed her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he knelt before her and cried in an imploring tone, "For God's +sake, Clara, what has happened, what distresses you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She held her handkerchief before her eyes and wept, struggling +violently for composure.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened, and Countess Frankenstein entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at the scene before her in utter amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Countess!" he cried, "can you explain the riddle I find here--what has +happened to Clara?" The countess looked at him with grave severity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not expect you to-day, Herr von Stielow," she said, "or I should +have given orders for you to be told at once that my daughter is +suffering, and very unwell. We must leave Vienna for a long time; and I +think under the circumstances it would be better to annul the plans we +had formed for the future. My child," she said, turning to her daughter +who sat still, weeping quietly, "go to your room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clara ill?" cried the young man in the greatest alarm. "My God, how +long has this been so? but no, no, something else has happened. I beg +you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly the young countess stood up. She raised her head proudly, +fixing her eyes firmly on Herr von Stielow, then turning to her mother +she said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Chance, or rather Providence has brought him here, there shall be +truth between us; I at least will not be guilty of the sin of +falsehood." And before the countess could say a word she had walked to +the table with a firm step, seized the letter still lying there, and +with a movement full of proud dignity handed it to the young officer. +Then she again burst into tears and threw herself into her mother's +arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow glanced at the paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep blush overspread his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">He ran his eyes hastily over the writing, then casting his eyes on the +ground, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know how this letter came here, yet I thought, from a few +words Clara once said, that she knew of an error into which I fell: I +thought that in spite of the past she gave me her heart, and I cannot +understand----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara rose and looked at him with flaming eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In spite of the past!" she cried; "yes, because I believed your word, +that all this past was at an end; I did not know that this past was to +share my present!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my God!" exclaimed Herr von Stielow, looking at her with great +surprise, "I do not understand; how can this old letter----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"An old letter?" said the Countess Frankenstein severely, "it is a week +old."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It bears the date of your last letter to me!" cried Clara.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow looked at the paper with amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">His eyes opened widely. He stared blankly at the letter which he held +motionless before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he turned to the ladies with sparkling eyes, and a face much +heightened in colour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not what demon has been at work--I know not who desires to tear +asunder two hearts that God destined for each other. Countess," he +said, "you owe me the truth, I demand who gave you this paper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara's eyes were fixed anxiously on the young man's face, her bosom +rose and fell.</p> + +<p class="normal">The face of the countess expressed the repugnance she had felt during +the whole conversation; she replied coldly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your word of honour to be silent!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give it," said Herr von Stielow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then," said the countess, "this letter accidentally fell into the +hands of this lady's husband, and he----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Deceit! shameful deceit!" cried von Stielow, half angrily, half +joyfully, "I do not yet quite see through it, but be it as it may, +countess--Clara--this letter is a year old; see, if you look closely, +the date is freshly written. This is a scandalous intrigue!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He handed the letter to the countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not hold out her hand to take it. She looked at the young man +coldly. In Clara's eyes gleamed a ray of hope; it is so easy to a +loving heart to believe and to trust.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow threw down the paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, countess," he cried, drawing himself up proudly; "such +proofs are for lawyers!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he approached Clara, knelt on one knee before her, drew the case +with the faded rose from his uniform, and placed his hand upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clara," he said in an earnest loving voice that came from the depth of +his soul, "by the holy remembrance of the first hours of our love, by +this talisman, which has been with me through all the dangers of +battle, I swear;--this letter was written a year ago, before I ever saw +you." He raised his hand and lightly touched her breast with his finger +point. "By your own pure noble heart I swear that no thought of this +erring meteor, whose rays once led me astray, has ever dwelt within me, +since your love arose to be the pure star of my life--your love to +which I will be true to death!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Countess," he said in a calm grave voice, "I give you my word of +honour as a nobleman; by the name which my ancestors have borne with +honour from generation to generation for centuries, by my sword which I +used in those dreadful days without reproach, against the enemies of +Austria--the date of this letter is false. Since Clara gave me her love +I have never exchanged a syllable with this woman, I have never thought +of her, except in repentant remembrance of a past error! I do not ask +if you believe my word," he proceeded, "a Countess Frankenstein cannot +doubt the word of an Austrian nobleman, nor think he would purchase a +life's happiness by a lie. But I ask you," he said in a warmer tone, +turning to Countess Clara, whose eyes were beaming with happiness, "I +ask you if you believe my heart is yours without reserve or doubt? if +now that the past is unveiled between us, and we have spoken of it, you +will continue to be the star of my life, or whether in darkness I must +pursue a solitary path, which my hopes once promised should be full of +sunshine and flowers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">With downcast eyes he waited in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young countess looked at him with the deepest love. A smile of +happiness hovered on her lips. With a light step she glided towards +him; stood still before him, and with a charming movement held out her +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">He raised his eyes, and saw her gentle sparkling looks, her lovely +smile, her slight blush. He opened his arms quickly and she leaned +against him, and hid her face on his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess looked at the beautiful pair with a mild and happy smile, +and a long silence prevailed in the lofty room.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the old clock measured these moments with its calm pendulum, the +moments follow each other with eternal regularity, and never change for +the short joys and long sorrows which form the life of man on earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Clara returned to her room late in the evening, she laid the +golden case with the faded rose at the foot of the crucifix, and now +her prayers went up as lightly winged to heaven as the perfume of +spring flowers, and in her heart as pure and wondrous melodies arose, +as the song of praise of the angels who surround the throne of eternal +love.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_22" href="#div1Ref_22">RUSSIA</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">In a large well-lighted cabinet of his palace in St. +Petersburg, +before an enormous table covered with heaps of papers, which, +notwithstanding their number, were evidently in exemplary order, sat +the vice-chancellor of the Russian empire, Prince Alexander +Gortschakoff.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although it was still early morning, the prince was carefully dressed. +He wore a black frock coat, unbuttoned and thrown back on account of +the heat, over under-clothes of some white summer material. The fine +intelligent face, with its expression of suppressed irony about the +mouth, and with short, grey hair, was buried behind a high black cravat +and tall linen collar, and the eyes that usually looked out so keenly, +so prudently, with such good-tempered, almost roguish humour, through +their gold-rimmed spectacles, gazed into the young day displeased and +discontented.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before the prince stood his confidential secretary, Monsieur von +Hamburger; a slender man, of the middle height, with an open, +intelligent expression, and lively, clever eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was in the act of bringing before the prince various personal +affairs, without any connexion to diplomacy. Before him, on the +prince's table, lay a large packet of acts and papers.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had just ended a report, and with a pencil he held in his hand he +noted down the minister's resolution on its contents. Then he laid the +paper on the large pile of acts, took it up from the table and bowed, +to show that his business was concluded.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince looked at him with some surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you finished?" he asked shortly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your command, Excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have a heap of things you are taking away again?" said the prince, +glancing at the thick packet von Hamburger held beneath his arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall have the honour of bringing these matters before you on some +future day," said the secretary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not to-day? You have been here but a quarter of an hour, and we +have still time!" said the minister, with a slight accent of impatience +in his voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur von Hamburger allowed his quick eyes to rest for a moment on +the prince's face in silence, then he said calmly, with a slight +smile,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Excellency must, I fear, have passed a bad night, and you feel in +no gracious mood. I have, besides these reports, various matters which, +on the ground of justice and courtesy, it is very desirable to consider +in a friendly spirit before presenting them to his majesty the emperor. +I think your Excellency will be angry with me by-and-bye if I expose +these affairs to the reception that at the present moment seems +probable."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince looked at him for a moment firmly through his gold +spectacles without his secretary's casting down his eyes, or at all +changing the smiling, cheerful expression of his countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hamburger," he then said, still in a peevish voice, though the first +appearance of returning good humour was seen in the corners of his +eyes, "I shall make you my doctor! Alas! you don't know how to find the +remedy, but as far as the diagnosis is concerned, you are a born +physician. I shall no longer have the right of being in a bad temper +before you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Excellency will certainly never state," said von Hamburger, +smiling and bowing, "that I took the liberty of remarking upon your +temper; I only begged permission to defer my business until this +temper--your Excellency yourself used the expression--had passed away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ought I not to be in a bad temper?" cried the prince, half laughing, +half impatient, "when the whole world is departing from its old orderly +course, when the balance of European power, already severely shaken, +kicks the beam,--and when all this takes place without Russia having +any part in it, without gaining anything for itself in the new +arrangement of affairs! I am glad," he added thoughtfully, "that +Austria is beaten, Austria, who with unheard-of ingratitude forsook us +in the hour of need, and with false friendship injured us more than our +open foes; but that victory should go so far as to enable Prussia to +dethrone the legitimate princes in Germany, and that the German nation +should be close to us, able to threaten our frontier, causes me heavy +anxiety. Prussia," he said, after a short pause, "was our friend--it +was, it must be so; but what now arises is not Prussia, it is Germany; +and I remember with what hatred against Russia the German nation was +saturated in 1848. In Paris they will do nothing, except ask for +compensation, which I think they will not get. Yes, if Napoleon could +have determined to act, then the moment would have come in which we +could have interfered; but to act alone is to us impossible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Excellency will hear what General Manteuffel brings; he will soon +be here," said von Hamburger, drawing out his watch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will he bring?" cried the prince, impatiently; "forms of speech, +declarations--nothing more; and what shall we reply? we shall put a +good face on a bad game--<i>voilà tout</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hamburger gave a meaning smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Excellency must permit me to say," said he, "that personally I am +convinced it is not right to regard the new formation of Germany with +enmity; to prevent it is impossible; the old European balance of power +has long been out of joint, and Russia is weighty enough," he added +proudly, "not to fear any fresh distribution of power. Russia, that +great and mighty nation, must not hang on to old traditions; she must +go forth to meet the future free and unprejudiced; if the possessions +of other states are increased, so be it--the power of Russia is not +curtailed by an unalterable frontier."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took from a portfolio he had brought with him a folded parchment, +and laid it on the table beside the prince. He had listened +attentively, and his quick eyes looked thoughtfully before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you placing on the table?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Treaty of Paris, your Excellency," replied Hamburger.</p> + +<p class="normal">A fine smile appeared on the lips of the prince, a flashing glance flew +from his eyes towards his secretary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hamburger," he said, "you are a very remarkable man; I think we must +be careful in your company."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Excellency?" asked the secretary, in a calm, naïve tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you can read people's thoughts," replied the prince, whose ill +humour had gradually vanished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In your Excellency's school one must learn a little of everything," +said von Hamburger, laughing and bowing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince took the Treaty of Paris and turned it over.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a short time he pursued his thoughts in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he looked up and asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is General von Knesebeck, whom the King of Hanover has sent here, +already at Zarskoë Selo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He went there immediately after your Excellency had given him an +audience; his imperial majesty had commanded apartments to be prepared +for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has the emperor seen him yet?" asked the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, your Excellency," replied von Hamburger; "you requested the +emperor not to receive him until you had spoken to General Manteuffel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," replied the prince, thoughtfully; "the emperor feels great +sympathy for the King of Hanover, but I would rather that he did not +enter into any engagement. We could do little alone; the only thing +would be for the emperor to use his personal influence with the King of +Prussia to dissuade him from a policy of annexation. It is, however, +highly important to proceed most cautiously in this affair; before +taking each step his majesty must be perfectly clear as to its results +and consequences."</p> + +<p class="normal">A groom of the chambers entered and announced,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"General von Manteuffel."</p> + +<p class="normal">The secretary rose, and withdrew by a side door leading from the +cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince stood up.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every trace of displeasure had vanished from his countenance, there was +nothing to be seen but calm and complete courtesy.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel entered. He wore the full uniform of an +adjutant-general of the King of Prussia, the blue enamelled cross of +the Order of Merit around his neck, upon his breast the stars of the +Russian orders of Alexander Nevsky and of the White Eagle, with the +broad ribbon of the first, and the star of the Prussian Order of the +Red Eagle.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general's sharply-marked features, with the thick bushy hair +growing low down upon the forehead, and the full beard only slightly +cut away at the chin, had not the severe, almost gloomy expression +which they were accustomed to wear. He approached the Russian minister +with great cordiality and easy politeness, as if he were about to pay a +simple visit of courtesy; but the quick, animated grey eyes glanced +searchingly from beneath their thick brows, and were fixed with an +expression of restless expectation upon the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince held out his hand to the general, and invited him by a +courteous movement to place himself in an easy chair near the +writing-table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rejoice," he said, "to welcome your Excellency to St. Petersburg, +and I beg you to excuse me," he added, with a hasty glance at the +general's full uniform, "for receiving you in my morning dress. I +expected a private and friendly conversation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have to deliver a letter from my gracious sovereign to his majesty +the emperor," replied the general, "and I wished to be ready to appear +before his majesty at any moment, of course after I have spoken with +your Excellency upon the object of my mission."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince bowed slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The object of your mission is explained in the royal letter?" he +inquired.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It simply accredits me," replied the general, "and refers to my +personal explanations of its contents. The political situation is so +peculiar that it is impossible for an ambassador to proceed entirely by +written instructions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Redern imparted this to me," said Prince Gortschakoff, "when he +informed me of the honour of your visit."</p> + +<p class="normal">And leaning lightly on the arm of his chair, he looked at the general +with an expression of polite attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king has commanded me," said General Manteuffel, "to lay before +your Excellency and his majesty the emperor the principles that must at +the present moment govern the Prussian policy in Germany and in Europe, +with the perfect candour and the complete confidence demanded by the +close connection between the two royal families, and the friendly +relations between the governments."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The success of the Prussian arms," proceeded the general, "the +sacrifices which the government and the people have made to attain this +success, impose upon Prussia the duty of providing for its own +advantage, and also of securing on a firm and lasting basis the new +formation of Germany and its national unity. Before all things the +recurrence of those difficulties which have just been overcome must be +rendered impossible."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince was silent, his eyes only expressed courteous attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king," continued General von Manteuffel, "has accepted the +conditions of peace proposed by the French mediation; they are already +known to your Excellency, at the same time he has declared that one of +the principles which I just now mentioned renders the increase of +Prussia's power by territorial acquisitions absolutely imperative, and +Austria has already consented to such extension of Prussia in the +north."</p> + +<p class="normal">A half compassionate, half contemptuous smile appeared for a moment on +the prince's lips, then his features resumed their expression of calm +attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king," added General Manteuffel, fixing his gaze immoveably upon +the eyes of the prince, "the king has now decided that the extension of +power necessary for Prussia and Germany will be obtained by the +incorporation of Hanover, Hesse Cassel, Nassau, and the town of +Frankfort."</p> + +<p class="normal">The general was silent, as if awaiting a remark from the minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not a feature of the prince's face moved. His eyes looked cordially at +the general through his gold spectacles, and those eyes plainly said: +"I hear."</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel calmly proceeded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king is deeply and painfully touched by this necessity of causing +princely families related to him to undergo the hard lot of the +vanquished; his majesty would have struggled against it longer, had not +his duty to Prussia and to Germany been victorious in his royal heart +over his natural clemency and his regard to family ties."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the general appeared to expect an answer, or at least a remark +from the prince, but his countenance remained as quiet and unchanged as +a portrait, and there was still only one expression visible in it--a +firm determination to listen with the most respectful and polite +attention to everything that might be said to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The events which have just taken place necessitate various alterations +in the European relations prescribed by the treaty of Vienna, and the +king therefore holds it needful to lay before his majesty the emperor +the constraining principles upon which he acted, and upon which he must +continue to act; he especially desires that these principles should +find full and complete justification from this government, who in +common with Prussia is almost alone in Europe in adhering to the +intentions of that treaty."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince bowed slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The treaty of Vienna," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "is scarcely +ever spoken of in modern diplomacy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty the king," proceeded General von Manteuffel, "is so +penetrated by the justice of the principles laid down by that treaty +and by the Holy Alliance; he has so deeply complained of Austria's +renunciation of that treaty and that alliance, the Prussian policy in +the year 1855 testified so strongly to her faithfulness to that treaty, +that my most gracious sovereign most ardently desires his majesty the +emperor should be convinced that only absolute necessity could induce +him to decide on the approaching alterations in Germany, or to permit +royal families related to him to feel the hard consequences of war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are acquainted with the consequences that war brings upon the +vanquished," said the prince, with quiet courtesy, "for ten years we +have borne those consequences on the shores of the Black Sea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A misfortune in which Prussia is free from blame," replied General von +Manteuffel, "which we have always deeply deplored, the removal of which +we should welcome with joy."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince was silent, but a slight gleam in his eye showed the +watchful general that his words were well received.</p> + +<p class="normal">He continued:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty would deeply regret that the necessities of German policy +should in any way alter the bands of friendship, and the perfect +confidence subsisting between the courts of Berlin and St. Petersburg. +He rather hopes, not only that these will continue to unite Prussia and +the newly constituted Germany with Russia, but also that a new, and +politically a still stronger basis of alliance between these two powers +may in the nature of things be formed."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince cast down his eyes for a moment. Then he said in a calm +conversational tone:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here we feel--and I assure you the emperor, my most gracious +sovereign, feels most of all, the great importance of close and true +friendship with Prussia--and I do not doubt," he added, courteously, +"that under any circumstances this friendship would ensure an active +alliance. Only at the present moment I can scarcely discover its basis. +Russia is recovering and collecting herself," he continued, with a +shade of greater animation in his voice; "and has no intention of +mixing herself up in the affairs of European policy, or in the +reconstruction of national groups, so long as Russian interests are not +directly and unmistakeably injured. We might," he said, with an +expressive look, "complain of alterations in Germany by which royal +families, nearly related both to your king and to the emperor, are +disinherited; in this circumstance I find it impossible to perceive a +motive for more friendly policy, or the foundations for a more +practical alliance. Besides, to speak candidly, I think that the new +state of affairs in Germany is not calculated to strengthen the +political friendship of the court of Berlin with us. You best know how +inimical the German movement of 1848 was towards Russia--Germany will +scarcely accept entirely the political guidance of Prussia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think your Excellency is mistaken on this point," said General von +Manteuffel, with some animation; "the democratic movement of 1848 only +used the national ideas as its banner; it beheld in Russia the +principle of reaction, and following the lead of its orators, it +used hatred to Russia as one of those catch words which move the +masses--true national feeling in Germany has no enmity to Russia, and +would welcome any accession to her national strength, or to her +powerful position in Europe!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince was silent. His features expressed doubt.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel continued:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me, your Excellency, to explain the views which his majesty the +king, my master, entertains on this matter, and which, as I need hardly +say, are thoroughly shared by the Minister President Count Bismarck."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince slightly inclined his head, and listened with the utmost +attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general's features kindled, and he spoke in a voice full of +conviction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"History teaches us that all alliances arising from momentary and +fleeting political combinations, even though sealed by the most solemn +treaties, pass away as quickly as the circumstances that have created +them. When, on the contrary, firm political relations between two +nations and governments have arisen in the natural course of events, +the alliance remains firm through every change of time, and reappears +on every practical opportunity, whether founded on treaties or not. The +first and most important condition of such a natural combination is a +negative one, namely, that the interests of the two states should in no +way cross each other, in no way clash. This first and indispensable +condition exists in an eminent way in the relations between Prussia and +Russia. I am sure your Excellency will agree with me. It is Prussia's +mission to act towards the west. The German nation longs for unity, +longs for a strong and powerful leader; Prussia's calling, Prussia's +noblest ambition is and must ever be, to place this leadership in the +strong hand of her king. Prussia must struggle to command the whole of +Germany; she cannot rest until she has attained this high aim for +herself and the whole nation. What is now gained is a step--an +important step--on the great path which Prussia's German policy must +pursue--but it is not its completion. But this completion will come; +for its greatest hindrance, Austria's power and influence in Germany, +is broken--broken for long enough--as I believe, for ever. The path +upon which Prussia has entered, which she must pursue to the end, may +be crossed by the interests of France, of Italy, of England, but never +by those of the grand Russian nation, ever increasing in preponderance +and strength. For what is the aim, the legitimate aim, of Russian +policy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Prince Gortschakoff's keen eyes looked inquiringly at the general's +animated countenance; the conversation now approached its most +important point.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general looked down for a moment; then he continued with some +slight hesitation:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your Excellency must forgive me, if to you, whose genius inspires and +guides the policy of Russia, I venture to describe the aim and object +of this policy; nevertheless perfect candour is the foundation of +friendship, and in proportion to our comprehension of opposing +political problems, we see the reason, the necessity for this +friendship."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince bowed again in silence, and waited.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The problem of the great founder of the present Russian monarchy," +proceeded General von Manteuffel slowly, as if he sought carefully for +the most correct expressions for his thoughts, "Peter the Great's +problem, was the creation of a state possessing European culture, and +in order to solve this mighty problem he was forced to establish the +seat of his government as near as possible to cultured Europe; he +formed canals through which civilization poured in through the veins of +his vast kingdom, and made it live and bear fruit. So I understand the +choice of St. Petersburg as a capital for new Russia, for with regard +to the interior affairs and the resources of the great nation, this +spot could never have risen to be its capital. Russia's resources lie, +not in the north, not in this distant corner of the empire, they lie in +the south, they lie there, where the great national powers of +productiveness stream in rich abundance from the soil, they lie there, +where the natural course of the world's commerce unites Asia to Europe, +those continents to which Russia stretches out her two hands; these +resources," he added, after a moment's silence, during which he gazed +firmly at the prince, "lie near the Black Sea!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Some slight emotion passed rapidly over the features of the Russian +statesman; involuntarily his eyes turned towards the parchment which +von Hamburger had laid before him on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Manteuffel continued:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The first great problem which Peter the Great proposed to himself is +solved--Russia's broad, gigantic and national organization is saturated +with European cultivation, and we must own with some shame that in one +century you have outrun the whole of Europe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We had only to acquire what Europe had laboriously created," said +Prince Gortschakoff politely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The last great measure of the Emperor Alexander," continued +Manteuffel, "completed the work, and opened even the lowest strata of +the people to the living spirit of civilization--in short, the first +phase of Russian policy is completed, St. Petersburg has fulfilled its +mission. In my opinion the problem of the future is this--to use +Russia's internal productiveness as a centre-point for the fruitful +development of her national strength, to inspire the organization +already created, and to urge it to greater activity. For this you +require the Black Sea and its rich basin; there lies the real centre of +Russia, there must she develop her future, as the far-seeing eye of the +Emperor Nicholas rightly discerned, when he endeavoured to secure the +future of Russia in that direction."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the prince's eyes glided towards the parchment containing the +document so important to Russia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But upon this path," said the general, with emphasis, "which I am +convinced Russia ought to take, and to pursue to the very end, as we +must continue our path in Germany, the Russian interests will never +clash with those of Germany; rather shall we rejoice to see our +powerful neighbour as fortunately accomplishing her national mission as +we hope to accomplish our own."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent, and looked at the prince inquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">He said in a calm tone, with a slight sigh:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! the sad result of the Crimean war has placed an insurmountable +barrier in the path, which your Excellency so brilliantly describes; +and----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We too," cried Manteuffel, "have been often and long delayed upon our +path; nevertheless we never forsook it,--we never gave up the hope of +reaching the goal."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince was silent a moment. Then he said slowly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree with your Excellency, that the interests of Prussia, even of +the new Prussia and Germany, will not jostle those of Russia. I will +not doubt, too, what your Excellency tells me, that the national +movement in the Germany of to-day does not inherit the hatred to Russia +by which the democratic movement of 1848 was actuated. I regard these +assurances with satisfaction, as a guarantee that no cloud will arise +between us. Yet with the same candour with which your Excellency has +spoken to me, I must say that I cannot perceive how the present +situation and (if the lawful claims of treaties are regarded, the +lamentable) alterations in the European balance of power can form a +stronger political connection--can offer a firmer basis of eventual +alliance in the future. You pursue your path with victorious +success,--our own is closed for a long time, perhaps for ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me, your Excellency," said General von Manteuffel quickly, "to +express myself on this point with the reckless freedom which," he +added, laughingly, "you must expect in a soldier fresh from the camp, +who only dabbles in diplomacy."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince's eyes half closed, and he looked at the general with an +expression of good-natured satire.</p> + +<p class="normal">Manteuffel passed his hand lightly over his moustache, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Emperor Napoleon desires compensation for his consent to the new +acquisitions of Prussia and the new constitution of Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" cried the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And," proceeded Manteuffel, "they are far from bashful in Paris in +pointing out what they shall require as compensation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not been initiated in this bargaining," said the prince, with a +look of great interest and lively anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can inform your Excellency fully," returned General Manteuffel; +"they will demand the frontier of 1814, Luxemburg and Mayence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince's face grew still more animated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Will</i> demand?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The demand is not yet stated officially," replied the general; +"Benedetti has only named it in confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what did Count Bismarck reply?" asked the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He put off the discussion of the question and its answer until after +the conclusion of peace with Austria."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince gave a fine smile and a slight nod with his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can, however, tell your Excellency the answer beforehand," said the +general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And it will be?" asked the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a foot's breadth of land, not a fortress,--no compensation," said +General Manteuffel, in a firm, clear voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Prince Gortschakoff looked at him with surprise, as if he had not +expected this short and simple answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will France do?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps declare war," he replied,--"perhaps be prudently silent, wait, +and arm; any way, it will be a sharp disappointment, and war must be +the final result."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince looked at this man with astonishment, who had just discussed +with such fine intellect all the aims and threads of political +interests, and who now, with soldier-like bluntness, spoke as of an +ordinary event, of a war whose thunders must shake Europe to its very +foundations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is the situation," said Manteuffel; "I beg your Excellency's +permission to express my views on its consequences, and the position of +Russia with regard to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am most curious to hear!" said the prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The situation I have just described," proceeded the general, "gives +Russia the power of deciding for all future time the relations +that shall exist between that empire and Germany. If the Russian +policy uses adverse circumstances to make difficulties for us, this +policy,--forgive me, your Excellency, I must touch on every possibility +to make my views clear,--this policy, even though it secures success to +France for a time, will not prevent the regeneration of Germany; and +under all future circumstances--for ever--Prussia and Germany will +regard Russia as a foe, who is ready to come to an understanding with +the western powers upon the affairs of Europe, and to make their +interests her own."</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel spoke in a firm and decided voice, and fixed his +eyes firmly on the vice-chancellor.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince's eyes fell, and he bit his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your Excellency to forgive me," said the general, "for having +touched upon an eventuality, which is doubtless far removed from your +enlightened policy. I now come to the other course--namely, that +Russia, according to the old traditions of the two courts, shall regard +the enlargement of Prussia with friendly and favourable eyes, and shall +make use of the present opportunity to arrange with new Germany the +foundations of that close connection which, according to my +convictions, ought to exist in future, and which will so greatly +further the interests of both nations. The compensation being refused," +he proceeded, "France will probably declare war immediately,--we do not +fear her; at this moment the whole of Germany would unite and accept +war without hesitation, especially if we had Russia as a well-wisher to +back us. But Russia can have no more favourable opportunity for +breaking the bann which the treaty of 1856 laid upon her development +and her natural and needful aims. Whilst we hold France in check, no +one will prevent you from bursting asunder the unnatural chains with +which the western allied powers, in conjunction with ungrateful +Austria, fettered you upon the Black Sea, that spot where lies the +future of Russia."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince's eyes brightened, his features expressed a smiling consent +to the ideas so forcibly and convincingly unfolded by General von +Manteuffel.</p> + +<p class="normal">He continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If, however, as I personally believe will be the case, France, who has +already let the right moment go by----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Prince Gortschakoff several times nodded his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If France," said the general, "is silent for the present, assembles +her forces, and arms, our position is even better, because it is more +certain. During the period of suspense which will precede the +inevitable war, we gain time to bind the national strength of Germany +more strongly and closely together, and you have time to complete your +preparations in the south and west, and to form ties across the ocean +which will, under any circumstances, secure to you your natural +confederates."</p> + +<p class="normal">"General," said the prince, smiling; "you have comprehensively and +successfully studied the affairs of Russia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I love Russia," replied the general, with perfect frankness; +"and because I regard a close and indissoluble friendship between +Russia and Germany as the salvation of Europe in the future. But I am +coming to a conclusion. When, after a longer or a shorter interval from +the reconstruction of Germany, a decisive war breaks out with France, +then that alliance of the western powers so prejudicial to you falls to +pieces; you will have nothing to do, except to hold in check Austria's +desire for revenge, and you will obtain perfect freedom again to open +the Black Sea to your national interests, and your national progress. +We, as we press onwards on the path leading to our national aims, shall +behold with joy the swift and mighty strides which Russia will make in +the fulfilment of her national destiny. Yes," he continued, "we will at +all times and in every way support you. Could I for a moment doubt what +decision would be made by so enlightened a policy as your own, I would +say,--'Choose, your Excellency, whether two states, whose interests can +never be inimical, shall mutually harass each other--or whether by a +perfect and close understanding they shall support each other in +gaining the powerful position that nature assigns them--whether hand in +hand they shall guide the fate of Europe?'"</p> + +<p class="normal">He ceased and looked at the prince in suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">From his face all trace of the cold reserve he had assumed at the +commencement of the interview had completely vanished. A deep +earnestness appeared on his features. His gaze rested on the Prussian +ambassador.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear general," he said, in a firm, clear voice, "if the principles +and the views which you have so candidly, so warmly, and so +convincingly stated are those of your government----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are in every respect those of my gracious sovereign, and of his +ministers," said Manteuffel, calmly and decidedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then," replied the prince, "I will tell you with the same frankness, +that in all fundamental principles our judgment on the present state of +affairs perfectly coincides with your own."</p> + +<p class="normal">A flash of joy shone in the general's deep grave eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It only remains," said the prince, "to use these common principles and +views in practical arrangements, and to make them the firm basis of +common action in the future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready to do this at any moment," said the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But first of all," continued the prince, "we must gain the consent of +his majesty the emperor to, our agreement; if it is agreeable to you, +let us drive at once to Zarskoë Selo. You will have the trouble," he +said, smiling, "of repeating to the emperor what you have just said to +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope," he said, "that my devotion to my country, and my honest love +to Russia, will give my words clearness and conviction."</p> + +<p class="normal">Prince Gortschakoff rang.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Order the carriage," he said to the groom of the chambers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you excuse me for a moment," said he to General von Manteuffel, +"I shall be ready to accompany you immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">He withdrew by a side door. Manteuffel walked to the window and looked +thoughtfully through the panes.</p> + +<p class="normal">After five minutes the prince returned. He wore his ministerial undress +uniform, the broad orange ribbon of the Black Eagle beneath his coat, +and upon his breast the star of this highest Prussian Order, above the +star of the Order of Andreas.</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers opened the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Precede me, I beg," said the minister, with a courteous movement, "I +am at home."</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Manteuffel left the room and awaited the prince who +followed him.</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Late in the afternoon of the same day the splendour of the evening sun +flooded the magically beautiful park surrounding the imperial palace of +Zarskoë Selo; that park of which it is said, that a fallen leaf is +never allowed to remain on the well-kept roads, that magnificent +creation of the first Catharine, which a succession of mighty autocrats +have embellished until it has attained the charms of Fairyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">General von Knesebeck appeared from one of the side doors of the +enormous castle, which with its ornaments of gilded bronze, and its +colossal caryatides glittered in the rays of the setting sun from +amidst dark masses of lofty trees. He had arrived that morning at +Zarskoë Selo at the emperor's command, and he awaited an audience, +during which he was to deliver a letter to the emperor from his king, +who had sent the general to beg Alexander II. to interfere on his +behalf.</p> + +<p class="normal">Grave and sad, the general walked through the glorious alleys, lost in +gloomy thought. The distinguished attention with which he had been +received, the equipages and servants placed at his disposal, had not +removed the impression made on him, both from his conversation with +Prince Gortschakoff, and from the remarks of gentlemen about the court, +that there was little hope for his king. They had all expressed +sympathy and interest; but in the atmosphere of a court there is a +certain fluid, always perceptible to those accustomed to such circles, +from which they can almost always tell beforehand whether or no a +mission will be successful.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general had not approved of the policy of the Hanoverian court, his +quick eyes had perceived the weakness of Austria, and he had deeply +deplored the unaccountable command of the Hanoverian army during its +short campaign. Many ties bound him to Prussia, and with his whole +heart he grasped the thought of a United Germany; but he was a true +servant to his king, and deep grief overwhelmed him when he thought of +the future that was now inevitable, unless his mission attained +success.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked slowly on, farther and farther, lost in thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly an artistically contrived ruin, producing an excellent effect, +arose before him in the solitude, amongst lofty trees. He went up to +it, a doorkeeper in the imperial livery obsequiously opened the door +after glancing at the general's uniform, and he entered a lofty +circular space lighted only from above, dark, severe, and simple, an +English chapel. Before him in exquisite Carara marble rose a figure of +Christ, Dannecker's marvellously beautiful creation. The Saviour with +one hand points to his breast, the other is raised with inexpressible +grandeur towards heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general stood still for a long time before this affecting figure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must lay our sorrows on the Saviour's divine breast, and humbly +await wisdom from heaven," he whispered, "does a secret warning draw me +hither now, and lead me to this beautiful and holy image?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Overcome by the powerful impression made upon him by this work of +genius, he folded his hands and stood before it for some time.</p> + +<p class="normal">He slightly moved his lips as he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the wheel of fate, as it rolls along unceasingly, must crush so +much in its path, grant at least that the German Fatherland may gain +might and greatness, and the German people happiness, from the +struggles and the sufferings of the days that are gone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a long look at the sculptured figure he turned away, and passing +by the door-keeper, he returned to the park.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked again towards the palace, and stood still before the large +lake, compelled by art to flow out from between the two halves of the +castle, and to fall down in waterfalls with many cascades. Here is the +so-called Admiralty, where the grand dukes exercise themselves in +building the models of ships; near the pretty landing place boats are +crowded from all the five divisions of the world; the Turkish kaik, the +Chinese junk, the Russian tschelónok, and the whaling boat of the +Greenlander, lie side by side, and skilful sailors in the emperor's +employment are at the disposal of those who wish to embark.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general was looking at this interesting and varied picture, when a +servant approached him hurriedly, and informed him that an equerry had +just come to his rooms to lead him to the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">With quick footsteps and hastily drawn breath, the general went back to +his apartments, and after donning scarf and plumed hat, hurried with +the equerry along the large and magnificent terrace leading to the part +of the palace inhabited by the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the ante-chamber there was only a groom of the chambers, who +immediately opened the door of the emperor's room. The equerry after +simply announcing him, requested General Knesebeck to enter.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the brightly lighted apartment, with large windows leading out upon +the terrace, and the mild aromatic summer air streaming in through +them, stood the lofty form of Alexander the Second. He wore the uniform +of a Russian general, his perfect features, always grave and even +melancholy, showed emotion, and his large expressive eyes gazed at the +general with a look of deep sorrow. He advanced a step towards +Knesebeck and said in his full, melodious voice, in the purest German:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You come late, general; nevertheless, I rejoice to see you here, a +true servant to your king."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he held out his hand to the general, who seized it respectfully, +and with deep feeling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it might be possible," he said, "for me to be of service to my +master so severely smitten by fate! But first of all I must discharge +my commission;" he drew a sealed letter from his uniform; "and place +this communication from my king in the mighty hands of your imperial +majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">Alexander took the letter, seated himself in an easy, chair, and +pointed to a seat near, where the general placed himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor opened the letter and read its contents slowly and +attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment he looked down sorrowfully, then he fixed his penetrating +eyes upon the general and spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you anything more to say to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have to add," said von Knesebeck, "that his majesty the king my +gracious master, fully acknowledging the completeness of events that +have made the King of Prussia the conqueror in Germany, is ready to +conclude peace with his Prussian majesty and to accept the conditions +made unavoidable by necessity. My gracious sovereign expressed this in +a letter he wrote to his majesty King William, but the letter was +refused. The king hopes, well knowing your majesty's tried friendship, +that you will undertake to mediate, and to preserve him from the hard +measures already spoken of by the public newspapers."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor sighed deeply and looked on the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear General," he then said, "you have come too late. I have indeed +the most affectionate and honest friendship for the king, and from my +soul I wished to see the sad conflict avoided whose unhappy +consequences are now being accomplished. I have endeavoured to work in +this spirit, it has been in vain. I must be quite frank with you," he +continued, "the position of affairs demands it. The wish of my heart to +be useful to your king is opposed by an unalterable political +necessity, which King William, my uncle, deplores as deeply as I do +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">The general sighed. His face quivered with pain and tears shone in his +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked at him for some time with an expression of deep +sorrow and affectionate sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I scarcely venture," he then said in a gentle voice, "to make the only +proposition to you that the circumstances permit, and which if the king +accepts it, I am sure I can prevail upon the King of Prussia to grant; +if the king will abdicate," he proceeded with hesitation, "the +Brunswick succession shall be secured to the Crown Prince Ernest +Augustus."</p> + +<p class="normal">The general was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus," said he, "must the house of Guelph be reduced to its cradle and +its oldest inheritance! Will your majesty permit me to lay this +proposition to which I am not in a position to reply, before my king at +once?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I request you will do so," said the emperor, "you will," he added, +"have no cipher at hand, send the despatch to Count Stackelberg, he can +also receive the answer under his cipher."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your majesty's command," said General von Knesebeck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be convinced," said the emperor in a hearty tone, "that I feel the +deepest and warmest sympathy for your king; may God make the future of +his family as happy as possible, and if I can help him in any way, I am +ready to do so. Though the occasion is sad, I am glad that I have had +the opportunity of making your acquaintance, my dear general."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took his hand and pressed it heartily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he rang and called his equerry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take the despatch which the general will give you to Prince +Gortschakoff at once. It must be sent in cipher to my ambassador in +Vienna immediately. The answer must be sent here to the general without +delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a low bow General von Knesebeck left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later the electric wire bore his despatch to Vienna.</p> + +<p class="normal">The night fell; restless and sleepless the general watched the sun +which only at midnight sank for a short time below the horizon, and +soon reappeared, mingling the twilight of evening with the morning +dawn.</p> + +<p class="normal">At noon a secretary arrived from Prince Gortschakoff and brought him a +sealed letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general hastily broke the seal with its large double eagles, and in +the neatest handwriting saw the reply to his despatch.</p> + +<p class="normal">It ran thus:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king cannot trade upon the succession to Brunswick, which will +devolve upon himself and his heirs, by right of family inheritance, and +the lawful transmission of land. He is however ready to abdicate +immediately, provided the government of the kingdom of Hanover is +guaranteed to the Crown Prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I expected this," said the general with a sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">And sticking the paper into his uniform, he seized his plumed hat, and +descended the stairs to the carriage already waiting to convey him to +the Emperor Alexander.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_23" href="#div1Ref_23">THE MARSHALS OF FRANCE</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Again the Emperor Napoleon sat in his cabinet at the +Tuileries, but his +wearied and anxious features no longer expressed content and calm +security. A short sojourn at the baths of Vichy had not strengthened +his health, and the political situation had not answered his +expectations. Gloom and gravity overspread his face, he supported his +elbows on his knees and bent down his head, slightly twisting the +points of his moustache with his left hand, whilst listening to the +report of the minister of foreign affairs, who sat before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys was extremely excited, a pale flush was upon +his usually quiet countenance, and in his keen and brilliant eyes shone +a fire only repressed by a strong effort of will.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he said, "your majesty beholds the result of the uncertain and +vacillating policy I have so long implored you to abandon. Had your +majesty prevented the war between Prussia and Austria, or had you +marched the army to the Rhine a month ago, either the present difficult +position could not have arisen, or France would have gained that which, +from the new constitution of Germany, she <i>must have</i>. Our situation +now is most painful, and it will cost us double the effort successfully +to uphold the interests of France."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor raised his head a little, and from beneath his drooping +eyelashes stole a look at the excited face of his minister.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think," he said, "that in Berlin they will really refuse our +demands for compensation? Mayence we might perhaps abandon, if it +ceases to be a fortress, or is reduced to a fortress of the second +rank, but would they dare--?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am convinced," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that they will give us +<i>nothing</i> of their own free-will. Peace with Austria is concluded, the +Prussian army is free to march where it lists, and as it is prepared +for war it has a great advantage over us; from Russia too the reports +are very unfavourable, the feeling of displeasure in St. Petersburg has +given place to extreme reserve, and during the last few days all Baron +Talleyrand's remarks upon the dangers of a united military Germany have +been met with evasive answers. Benedetti's short announcement leaves us +in no doubt as to how his propositions were received in Berlin. We must +make the greatest exertions."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the emperor looked up with a thoughtful gaze. He drew out his +watch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benedetti must have returned this morning, I am anxious to hear his +report myself," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will have gone to the Quai d'Orsay," returned Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">The curtain which hung over the door leading to the private secretary's +room moved, and Piétri's fine intelligent head appeared from behind the +portière.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he said, "Monsieur Benedetti is here, and asks whether your +majesty is inclined to receive him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Immediately!" said the emperor with animation, "bring him here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A minute afterwards the portière opened and the ambassador entered the +cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was in black morning dress, his pale features showed traces of +fatigue from his journey, his eyes shone with nervous excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed deeply to the emperor, and shook hands with Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have expected you with impatience," said Napoleon, "be seated, and +tell me how matters stand in Berlin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said Benedetti, as he took a chair, and placed himself opposite +to the emperor and Drouyn de Lhuys, "I had driven to the Quai d'Orsay +to announce myself to the minister, and as I heard he was here, I took +the liberty of coming at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were right," said the emperor, "you now find the whole apparatus +of the constitutional government together," he added laughingly; +"relate,--I listen with impatience."</p> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur Benedetti drew a deep breath and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As your majesty is aware, I laid the sketch of the treaty which I +received from Vichy before Count Bismarck, in a confidential +conversation, immediately after his return to Berlin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And--?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any compensation, but above all the cession of Mayence, he plainly and +roundly--refused."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty perceives," said Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor twisted his moustache and his head sank.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I produced," continued Benedetti, "all the reasons which make it our +imperative duty at this moment to demand compensation for France, I +laid before him the regard we must have to public opinion in France, I +insisted how small was the compensation demanded, in comparison to the +large acquisitions of Prussia, how militarily concentrated Germany owed +France a guarantee of peace for the future: all was in vain,--the +minister president was obstinate in his refusal, and only repeated +again and again, that the national feeling in Germany would not bear +such compensation."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two days afterwards," proceeded Benedetti, "I had a second interview +with Count Bismarck--it had the same result. I pointed out in the most +careful way that the refusal of our just demands might endanger the +future good understanding between Prussia and France, and the only +result of this intimation was that Count Bismarck as carefully, yet in +a manner not to be misunderstood, hinted that though he perceived this +danger he must persist in his refusal, and that he was not to be +frightened from his determination even by the most extreme measures. I +must however remark," added the ambassador, "that our conversation +never for a moment overstepped the bounds of courtesy or even of +friendship, and that Count Bismarck repeatedly told me how greatly he +desired a continuance of a good understanding with France, and how +convinced he was that in the new state of affairs the interests of +France and Germany in Europe would have so many points in common, that +a friendly policy on each side would be determined upon by both +governments after due consideration. I considered it better under these +circumstances," said Benedetti after a short pause, during which the +emperor remained silent, "not to carry on the discussion any farther, +but to return here at once, and to make a personal report upon the +negotiation, and the position of affairs in Berlin."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys bit his lips. The emperor raised his eyes slowly, and +looked at Monsieur Benedetti enquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you think," he asked, "that public opinion in Prussia and in +Germany, will take Count Bismarck's part, if he dares to provoke a war +with France--do you think that the king?--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said Benedetti with energy, "that is what I especially desired +personally to impart to your majesty, in order that you may make no +decision without a perfect knowledge of the situation. The war with +Austria," he proceeded, "was unpopular in Prussia itself, and had it +been disastrous, serious commotions would have arisen in the interior; +nevertheless, I cannot conceal from your majesty, that success has +borne its accustomed fruit. The Prussian people feel as if aroused from +slumber; the aims of the minister president, now clearly revealed to +all eyes, the firmness and daring energy with which he politically +followed up their military success, find not only approval, they call +forth general enthusiasm. Count Bismarck is the popular idol in +Prussia, and if anything could raise his popularity to a higher +pinnacle, it would be a war caused by his refusal to alienate German +soil. The army, the generals, and the princes of the royal family fully +share these views; in military circles, indeed, they are expressed more +vehemently and more decidedly. The king would not for a moment flinch +from such a war. Such is the state of affairs which regard to truth +compels me to divulge to your majesty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Germany--vanquished, but not annihilated Germany?" asked Drouyn de +Lhuys, as the emperor still remained silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course I cannot be so perfectly acquainted with the opinions of the +rest of Germany as I am with those of Berlin," said Benedetti; "but I +have attentively perused the newspapers, and I have spoken of the +feeling in Germany to persons certain to be well informed: the result +of my observations is, that at this moment not a single German +government would dare to side with France against Prussia, and the +German people (of this I am sure) would--with some few exceptions, +which are certain to be instantly suppressed,--place themselves on the +side of Prussia. We should have all Germany against us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"France must fear no enemy, when her honour and her interests are at +stake!" cried Drouyn de Lhuys proudly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Benedetti looked on the ground, and said, with some hesitation,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must also impart to your majesty, that I hear from a source which +for a long time past has supplied me with true and important +intelligence, and which is known to your majesty,--I hear that a secret +treaty is concluded between Prussia and the South German states, which +in case of war delivers the armies of these states to the King of +Prussia as their Commander-in-Chief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" cried the emperor vehemently as he rose, "it would make +the Treaty of Peace an illusion!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our representatives at the South German courts tell us nothing about +this," said Drouyn de Lhuys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe my information is true," said Benedetti, calmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor stood up. Both the gentlemen rose at the same moment. +Drouyn de Lhuys looked at his sovereign in anxious suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Benedetti," said Napoleon with charming kindness, "you are +tired after your exhausting journey, I beg you will rest yourself +thoroughly. I thank you for your communications, and for the zeal you +have shown in making them to me personally. To-morrow I will see you +again and will give you further instructions."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with engaging courtesy he held out his hand to Benedetti.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ambassador bowed deeply and withdrew by the door leading to +Piétri's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty is now convinced," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that our +propositions are refused."</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon drew himself up proudly, his features expressed energy and +determination, his eyes were widely opened, and courage flashed in his +clear glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now for action," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">The minister's face shone with joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"France will thank your majesty for this decision," he cried.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor rang.</p> + +<p class="normal">"General Fleury," he cried to the groom of the chambers as he entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general's strong lean form, with his animated, expressive +countenance, large moustache, and Henri Quatre beard, appeared a moment +afterwards in the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are the marshals assembled?" asked Napoleon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your majesty's command."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys gazed with surprise at the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">He responded with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall be convinced, my dear minister," said he, "that I have not +been idle, and that I have thought of preparing for the action you hold +to be needful. You will, I hope, be satisfied with me. I beg you to +accompany me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And leaving the cabinet, followed by the minister, he walked through an +anteroom, and entered a large salon richly yet simply decorated, in the +midst of which stood a table surrounded by fauteuils.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here were assembled the highest dignitaries of the French army, the +bearers of that honour, so highly prized for centuries, wrestled for +with so much blood--the marshal's baton of France.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was the grey-haired Marshal Vaillant, looking more like a +courtier than a soldier; the snow-white, brave, and military-looking +Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely; Canrobert, with his long hair, +resembling a philosopher rather than a warrior; Count Baraguay +d'Hilliers, elegant and chivalrous, notwithstanding his age; the +minister of war, Count Randon; the slender MacMahon, all muscle and +nerve, with his gentle face and quick bright eyes; there was Niel, with +his earnest, intelligent countenance, showing signs of sickness and +suffering, but bearing also the stamp of unyielding energy and of an +iron will; there was Marshal Forey, with his stiff, military carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">The youngest of the marshals, Bazaine, was wanting: he was in Mexico, +preparing to leave the unhappy Emperor Maximilian to his tragic fate. +All the marshals were in plain black civilian dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor returned the low bow of the assembly by a greeting full of +graceful dignity. With a firm step he walked towards the head of the +table, and placed himself in the arm-chair which stood there, +commanding the marshals, by a sign with his hand, also to be seated.</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys sat opposite to the emperor; on his right hand, Marshal +Vaillant; on his left, Count Baraguay d'Hilliers; the others according +to their seniority.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have assembled you here, messieurs mes maréchals," began Napoleon, +in a firm voice, "even the gentlemen who hold foreign commands, even +you, Duc de Magenta, I have called hither, because, at the present +grave moment, I desire to receive the advice, and to hear the views of +the trusty leaders of the French army."</p> + +<p class="normal">The marshals looked at the emperor full of expectation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You all know," said Napoleon, "the events which have just been +accomplished in Germany. Prussia, misusing her victory at Sadowa, is +creating a German military state, continually to threaten the frontiers +of France. I did not consider myself justified in interfering in the +inner development of Germany. The German nation has the same right +freely to reconstitute itself as France claims, and as all foreign +nations allow to her; but as the sovereign of France, it was my +duty to care for the safety of her frontier, menaced by the increased +strength of Germany. For this cause, I opened negotiations to obtain +for France that frontier which would secure her natural and strategical +defence--the frontier of 1814--Mayence and Luxemburg."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor allowed his eyes to glide over the assembly. He seemed to +expect joyful and animated applause.</p> + +<p class="normal">But grave and silent the marshals sat, with downcast looks; even +MacMahon's bright eyes did not kindle with joy at the prospect of war +expressed in the emperor's words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon proceeded:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have sounded them in Berlin, and it appears that they are not +disposed to accede to the just claims I thought it needful to make in +the name of France. Before I go further, and bring matters to an +ultimatum, I wish to hear your views upon a war with Prussia, the +greatest and the gravest war that France could undertake."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys looked up impatiently. This was not the turn he wished +matters to take.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," said the emperor, whose quick eyes had perceived the gloomy +looks of his marshals, and whose natural moderation inclined him to +prudence; "I know that France is always armed, and strong enough to +repel every attack; but before we begin a war of such immense +importance, we must be quite clear as to our strength, and readiness +for battle. I therefore pray you, gentlemen, to give me your opinions +as to the probable result of a war with Germany, and upon the way in +which such a war must be carried out."</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Marshal Vaillant looked down before him thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he then said, with grave calmness, "twenty years ago my heart +would have beat high at the thought of such a war--revenge for +Waterloo!--now the prudence of old age is victorious over the fire of +youth, over the throbs of my French heart. Before we decide so grave, +so important a question, it will be needful to ascertain by a +commission, the state of the army and the means at our disposal for +offensive war, and for the defence of the country, to consider the +influence of Prussia's new weapon upon tactics, and thus to form a +well-grounded judgment. I cannot venture at once to decide a question +so deeply affecting the fate of France. If I am too prudent," he added, +"I beg your majesty to blame not me, but my years."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Baraguay d'Hilliers and Marshal Canrobert signified their assent +to the views expressed by Vaillant.</p> + +<p class="normal">The minister of war, Count Randon, said:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe that the condition of the army, to which I have devoted all +my care, is excellent, and that the means of defence throughout the +country are in the best possible state; nevertheless, I am the last +person in the world to disapprove of an examination, which will to a +certain extent control my administration as minister of war--a careful +examination upon the influence of the needle-gun I most urgently +advise."</p> + +<p class="normal">The grey-haired Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely said, in a firm +voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire, I have the great honour of commanding your majesty's guards. +This corps is in perfect readiness to march against the enemies of +France. If your majesty declared war to-day, the guards could start for +the frontier to-morrow, full of zeal to twine fresh laurels round our +ancient eagle. But we cannot carry on a war with the guards alone. I +must therefore entirely agree with the views of Marshal Vaillant."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys shrugged his shoulders with impatience, which he +scarcely troubled himself to conceal. The emperor looked thoughtfully +before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said MacMahon, in his voice so gentle in conversation, +but which in front of his troops resounded metallic as a trumpet +blast--"Sire, your majesty knows I would rather see my sword flash in +the sunshine against the enemies of France than wear it in its +scabbard, yet I must fully concur in the wise view of Marshal Vaillant. +Let us examine--let us examine quickly, and then as quickly do that +which is needful."</p> + +<p class="normal">Slowly Marshal Niel raised his eyes, so full of genius, to the emperor. +He hesitated for a moment, then he spoke in a calm, firm tone:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must beg our honoured <i>doyen's</i> forgiveness if I, so much younger +than himself, am of a different opinion."</p> + +<p class="normal">The marshals all looked at the speaker with astonishment. Drouyn de +Lhuys, with joyful expectation, hung on his lips. The emperor raised +his head and looked at him in the greatest suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he added, his features growing animated, "I do not consider a +commission needful, because without an examination my opinion is +formed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And your opinion is?" asked Napoleon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My opinion is that your majesty is not in a position to fight."</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys looked at Niel with horror. The emperor showed no +emotion, only he cast down his eyes and bent his head a little to one +side, as was his custom when he listened with unusual attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," proceeded Kiel, "if one who wears the marshal's baton of +France, in such an assemblage, before his monarch, expresses such an +opinion as my own, it is his duty to give the reasons upon which it is +founded. Allow me to do this on their principal points. I am ready +hereafter to lay my reasons before your majesty in a special memorial. +Firstly," he continued, "a war against Prussia and Germany--for I +believe in this case Germany would stand beside Prussia--needs the +whole and entire force of the French nation. At the present moment this +is not at our command. The expedition to Mexico draws away both men and +money which we could not spare, and I should not wish that, following +the example of Austria, we engaged upon two wars at once, when opposed +to a foe whose dangerous strength we must, above all things, duly +estimate if we hope for success. Secondly," he added, "according to my +opinion, no examination is necessary to convince us that we must oppose +to the Prussian needle-gun a weapon at least as good, if not superior. +I venture to doubt whether, as they now affirm in Austria, it was +entirely the needle-gun that Prussia must thank for her great and +astonishing success. I doubt it; nevertheless, apart from the undoubted +efficacy of this weapon, it is absolutely necessary for the <i>morale</i> +and self-confidence of our soldiers, to give them a needle-gun of an +equally good or superior kind, especially now that the newspapers and +common rumour have surrounded this gun with the nimbus of a magic +weapon. I should hold it to be extremely dangerous to lead the +army, as it is at present equipped, against Prussian regiments. A new +weapon, sire, necessitates new tactics. I will only allude to the +completely altered functions of cavalry in war, and the new problem of +artillery,--on which your majesty's views will be clearer than my own," +he added, bowing to the emperor. "Then," he proceeded, "without any +commission, it is perfectly clear that the strongholds on our frontier +have neither the fortifications, the provisions, nor the ammunition +needful to make them really effective in war. This is no reflection +upon the military administration," he said, turning to Count Randon; +"it is a fact whose full explanation is found in the circumstance that +the state of politics during the last few years has directed our +military attention to other points. Finally," he said in a convincing +tone, "there is one point to consider, which I believe to be the most +important of all. We have opposed to us in Prussia a nation whose +military organization causes every man up to a great age to be a +soldier. In case of need Prussia can, after a lost battle, after the +annihilation even of an army upon the field, produce another army in an +effective condition, with all the discipline and all the requisites of +well-trained soldiers. I will not speak of the influence such an +excessive expenditure of strength must have on home affairs--on the +welfare of the country, but in a military point of view its success is +immense. We have but our regular army, and were it broken, defeated--in +the quiet contemplation of affairs it is the duty even of a French +mouth to pronounce this hard word--we have nothing--except perhaps, +undisciplined masses with a good courage, who would be sacrificed +without result. I will not maintain that it would be advisable, or, +indeed, with our national peculiarities, that it would be possible to +imitate the Prussian system, nevertheless we must create something +which will be a true national reserve. I wish to express that we must +have, to back up our regular army, material sufficiently trained to +form another army in case of need, if we would avoid entering on the +war with unequal forces. I will shortly recapitulate my opinion. We +must, in the first place, be completely freed from Mexico, that we may +be able to concentrate the whole power of France upon one point. We +must then supply the whole army with an excellent breach-loader; we +must modify our drill to our new weapon; our fortresses must be in +perfect readiness for war. Finally, we must create a mobile and +efficient national reserve. I consider all these preparations +indispensable before commencing so grave and decisive a war."</p> + +<p class="normal">Deep silence reigned for a moment throughout the apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor fixed his eyes upon Marshal Forey, the youngest in the +assembly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I perfectly coincide in the views that Marshal Niel has so clearly and +convincingly expressed," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other marshals were silent, but their looks plainly showed that +they had nothing to say against the views Niel had advanced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," cried Drouyn de Lhuys, vehemently, "I am not a soldier, and I +am convinced that from a military point of view the gallant marshal is +perfectly right; but the completion of the preparations he deems +needful for a successful campaign requires time, much time, and I think +we have none to lose if we are to guard the honour and the interests of +France. The favourable moment will go by, Prussia will grow stronger +and stronger, the military strength of Germany will become more and +more organized and concentrated, and if all is carried out that the +marshal desires, the increase to our strength, however important, will +perhaps be met by a still more considerable increase of strength on the +part of the enemy. Sire," he proceeded, with extreme excitement and +with flashing eyes, "I implore your majesty that two men and one +officer with the banner of France, may stand at the frontier and +support the needful demands which we must make upon Prussia; if they +see we are in earnest in Berlin they will yield, and if they do not, in +a few days all France would be formed into battalions to strengthen our +armies. It was with such battalions, sire, that your illustrious uncle +conquered the world; from these he formed those mighty armies, educated +not in the barrack-yard but on the battle-field, with which he subdued +Europe."</p> + +<p class="normal">A deeply pained expression appeared for a moment on the emperor's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he raised his eyes enquiringly to Marshal Niel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you say to this, Monsieur le Maréchal?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Niel, "your minister's words must find an echo in every +French heart, and my strong conviction of my duty towards your majesty +and France alone prevents me from agreeing with him. Immediately after +the battle of Sadowa, whilst Germany was still armed, when Austria had +not yet concluded peace, when the Prussian army was still much +exhausted by the hard blows it had received during a severe struggle, +it might have been possible to do what the minister counsels. To-day it +would be too dangerous a game for France's glory and greatness; it +would be," he added, with a meaning look at the emperor, "a game which +your majesty might perhaps dare to play, but which no conscientious +general would dare to advise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if I dare to play this game," cried the emperor, a brilliant flash +sparkling in his eyes, "which of you gentlemen would stand at my side +and lead the armies of France?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep silence replied to the emperor's question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," at last cried Marshal MacMahon, fixing his bright blue eyes +firmly on the emperor, "we are all ready, if you command, to march at +the head of the armies of France, and to die; but first we beg your +majesty to listen to Marshal Niel, and not to hazard the fate of +France, of imperial France, to such uncertain success."</p> + +<p class="normal">All the marshals bent their heads, and their countenances expressed +their full approval of the Duke of Magenta's words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Drouyn de Lhuys allowed his head to sink sorrowfully upon his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor fixed his eyes upon Marshal Niel without a sign of emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How long a time should you require to carry out what you have asserted +to be needful?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two years, sire," replied the marshal, in a calm, clear voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My best wishes will accompany the marshal in his work, if your majesty +deputes him to carry it out," said Count Randon, bowing to the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few moments of deep silence Napoleon rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, gentlemen," he said, quietly, "for your opinions, and the +frankness with which you have expressed them. It will make it easier to +me to form a decision at this important moment. I shall see you all +again to-day at dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with his own peculiar courtesy he greeted them, and returned to his +cabinet alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked thoughtfully and gravely before him, and several times paced +slowly up and down the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rash indeed would it be to decide on action under these +circumstances," said he; "and wherefore, if time can ripen the fruit, +if waiting can make our aim more sure? Drouyn de Lhuys, that quiet +prudent man, talks like a Jacobin of 1793! He holds intercourse with +Orleans," he said, gloomily, as he stood still and fixed his eyes on +the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he went to his writing-table, seated himself and wrote. His hand +hurried over the paper; sometimes he looked up as if seeking for a +word, then he wrote again, filling one page after another.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had finished he called Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make me a copy of this," said the emperor, holding out the written +sheets; "yet," he added, "read it first and tell me what you think of +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri read slowly and attentively, whilst the emperor made a +cigarette, lighted it at the taper always burning on his table, and +then walked leisurely up and down the room, from time to time casting a +look of enquiry at his secretary's countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he saw that he had finished reading he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, have you any remark to make?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said Piétri, "your majesty will not then act?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it is better to wait," said the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But this programme," said Piétri,--"for, what your majesty has just +sketched out is a political programme for the future--accepts the +alterations in Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Accepts them," said the emperor; and half speaking to himself he +added, "to accept is not to acknowledge--to accept indicates a +fictitious position which we permit to continue as long as we will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admire, as I have often done before, the dexterity with which your +majesty chooses your words," said Piétri. "But," he proceeded, "this +theory of nonintervention, this declaration that the three portions +into which Germany is dividing completely reassure us as to the +interests of France, will not accord with the views of M. Drouyn de +Lhuys. I do not believe he will accept this programme without +discussion."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked steadfastly at his secretary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot compel him to do so," he then said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And your majesty is firmly determined to abide by this programme."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Firmly determined?" said the emperor, thoughtfully. "How difficult it +is to decide at such a time. Do you know, Piétri," he said, as he laid +his hand upon his shoulder, "determination is something that hurts my +nerves; I do not know fear,--danger makes me cold and calm; but I am +always thankful to those who compel me by an impulse to do what is +needful to be done. Make me the copy,--I will drive out."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_24" href="#div1Ref_24">THE EMPRESS CHARLOTTE</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur Piétri finished his business with Napoleon the next +morning, +and rose to withdraw to his own room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked down gravely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must visit the Empress Charlotte," he said in a low tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poor empress! she is indeed to be pitied," remarked Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why does she cling so madly to that absurd Mexican crown?" cried +Napoleon. "Can I uphold the Emperor Maximilian on a throne which he has +himself undermined with his liberal ideas? He has estranged himself +from the Church party, and has deeply offended the clergy, the only +power that can lead the masses out there, and above all, that can get +him money, which he needs so greatly; for without money he will soon +have neither troops, nor generals, nor ministers, nor friends. Ought +I," he continued after a pause, "ought I to continue pouring into this +Mexican abyss streams of French blood and French money, without being +able to fill it, now, when this German danger, which I must bear in +smiling silence because I cannot act, threatens the frontier of +France?" He clenched his teeth firmly together, a look of anger crossed +his face. "This Mexican expedition was a great idea," he then said, +"the establishment of the monarchical principle on the other hemisphere +opposed to threatening North America; the rule of the Latin races. With +the subjugation of the Southern States these plans became impossible; +the Emperor Maximilian has not known how to find supporters for his +throne; I have no longer any interest in upholding him, and I cannot do +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your majesty had supported the Southern States vigorously?" +suggested Piétri, with some diffidence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could I alone?" cried the emperor with animation. "Did not England +leave me in the lurch? England, who had a much greater interest than I, +in opposing the growth and consolidation of this American Republic? who +sheathed the sword that should have cut through those cotton threads, +which are threads of life to proud Great Britain. Shall I draw down +upon myself alone the hatred and enmity of that nation for the future, +without being sure of victory, that I may maintain an emperor upon a +throne where he wishes to rule with constitutional theories, joined to +wild experimental politics? I am sorry for Maximilian," he continued, +taking a few steps about the room; "there is something noble, something +great in him; but also much mistiness; he has something of his +predecessor, of Joseph II., who came into the world a hundred years too +soon, and of that other Maximilian, who was born as much too late, whom +the German poet called the last of the knights, forgetting Francis I. I +pity him," he said, sighing; "but I cannot help him. After all, it is +not so bad after this expedition again to become an archduke of +Austria; there are princes who have no such line of retreat if their +thrones are wrecked! I wish the Empress Charlotte had gone," he said in +a gloomy voice; "she was much excited yesterday--it will be a painful +visit!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He caused the equerry on duty to be summoned, ordered his carriage, and +withdrew into his dressing-room.</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">In a salon, on the <i>bel étage</i> of the Grand Hôtel in the Boulevard des +Italiens, sat the Empress Charlotte of Mexico, dressed entirely in +black. Her face once so lovely, fresh, and charming, was pale and sad; +it was already marked with deep lines which gave her the appearance of +premature old age, her hair was entirely concealed beneath the black +lace handkerchief which came low down on her forehead, her mouth had a +restless nervous movement, and her wearied eyes shone at times with an +unsteady feverish brilliancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before the empress stood General Almonte, the Mexican ambassador in +Paris, a pleasing-looking man of the southern type. He gazed sadly at +the princess, who not long before had crossed the sea to ascend the +dazzling throne of Montezuma, in fabulous splendour, and who now sat +before him broken down by the deepest sorrow; instead of Montezuma's +diadem, she had found Guatimozin's crown of martyrdom.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not believe then, general," asked the empress in a trembling +voice, "that anything is to be hoped from France?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not believe it," replied the general gravely; "according to all +that I have seen and heard here, the emperor is quite determined to +withdraw quickly and definitely from the whole affair. If his majesty +the Emperor Maximilian wishes to maintain his throne, (which I ardently +desire for the sake of an unhappy country robbed by one adventurer +after another)--he must not rely on France--he must find supporters in +the country itself. Before all, he must endeavour to win back the +firmest and mightiest support, which he has lost--the Church and the +clergy; they will procure him both money and soldiers. Not here," added +the general, "is help to be found; if your majesty takes my advice you +will go to Rome--the pope alone can restore to the emperor the mighty +power of the Mexican clergy--certainly he would require conditions, but +quick action is needful, before it is too late," he added in a gloomy +voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh!" cried the empress, standing up and walking up and down the room +with hasty footsteps, "oh! that my noble, unhappy husband should have +listened to the enticing words of that fiend, whom men call Napoleon; +that he should have forsaken our beautiful Miramar, to hurl himself +into this abyss, in which we sink deeper and deeper. If you knew," she +cried, with sparkling eyes, as she stood still before the general, "how +I entreated him, this man--he went to St.-Cloud, to avoid me," she +cried, speaking quicker and with still greater excitement; "I followed +him there, I pressed myself upon him, I begged and implored him, I +repressed all the anger in my heart, I prayed to him as we pray to God, +I threw myself at his feet, I, the grand-daughter of Louis Philippe, +threw myself at the feet of the son of that Hortense--oh! my God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She sank back exhausted on the sofa.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what did the emperor reply?" asked the general, looking with deep +compassion at the unhappy lady, whose diadem weighed so heavily upon +her brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing," sighed the empress; "phrases of regret, cold words of +comfort, which sounded like scorn from his mouth. General," she cried, +rising suddenly, and fixing a tragic look upon him, "general, I fear +that my reason will give way. So much sorrow no human soul can bear, so +many tears no eyes can shed, without falling a prey to the powers of +darkness. At night," she cried, gazing into space as if her mind +pursued a vision, "at night, if after long tearful watching an uneasy +slumber falls upon me, I see him creep up towards me, this demon--this +demon brought forth by hell; he holds out a goblet, green flames dart +from it! I shudder to my heart's core, but he holds the goblet to +my lips, the flames beat on my brow with frightful pain; I must +quaff,--quaff the terrible drink he offers me, and this drink is +blood!--the blood of my husband!" she cried, shrieking aloud, and +stretching out her hands with a movement of convulsive horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty! for God's sake, calm yourself!" cried the general, +dismayed.</p> + +<p class="normal">A sound was heard in the antechamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">A lacquey entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty the emperor has just driven into the <i>porte cochère</i>," he +cried, and threw open the folding door leading to the anteroom.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Empress Charlotte rose quickly. She passed her handkerchief across +her brow, the bewildered look vanished from her features, and she said +with a calm and sorrowful smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave me alone with him, general, perhaps God has softened his heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon appeared in the antechamber, he wore a black coat with the +star and ribbon of the Order of Our Lady of Guadaloupe. Colonel Favé +accompanied him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The empress met him at the threshold of her room.</p> + +<p class="normal">General Almonte with a deep bow withdrew into the antechamber. The +servants closed the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon kissed the hand of the empress, led her to the sofa and placed +himself in an arm-chair beside her. The empress looked at him in +breathless suspense, his veiled eyes were cast on the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is your majesty comfortable here?" he asked in a courteous tone. "I +should have been happier if you would have accepted hospitality at one +of my palaces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want nothing," said the empress with slight impatience, "I have come +to hear my fate. I implore your majesty to say if it is pronounced, and +what I have to hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I told your majesty yesterday my determination, and the +political reasons upon which it was founded," said the emperor in a +calm voice. "I can only regret that circumstances forbid, absolutely +forbid my compliance with your majesty's wishes, as I should so much +have wished," he added, with a polite bow.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Empress Charlotte's lips trembled convulsively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said she in a repressed voice, "it is not a question of my +wishes, they have never been directed to that distant throne. It is a +question of the honour, perhaps of the life of my husband, for he will +sacrifice his life to his honour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But madame," said the emperor, slightly twirling his moustache, "I +cannot see how honour can require him madly to bury himself beneath the +ruins of a throne that cannot be upheld. Your husband undertook a great +and good cause; that it cannot be carried out is the fault, not of +himself, but of circumstances,--no one could reproach him."</p> + +<p class="normal">A bitter smile curved the lips of the empress.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My husband does not thus regard it," said she, "he will not pass +through life as a dethroned prince,--in his opinion a prince who has +once ascended a throne should only abandon it with his life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Emperor Maximilian will not drive this opinion, which really does +not apply to present circumstances, to extremes," replied Napoleon. "I +will send General Castelnau to him, he shall lay before him in my name +a full explanation of the circumstances to which I am forced to yield, +the emperor will understand them, he will return, and I heartily beg +you, madame, to support the general's mission by your persuasions."</p> + +<p class="normal">A flush passed quickly over the empress's face, her eyes sparkled, her +lips quivered, and she said in a hoarse voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The mission will be in vain, and I will never advise my husband to do +anything he holds to be at variance with his honour and his noble +chivalrous heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor slightly bit his lips, his veiled eyes opened for a moment, +and a hard, almost an inimical look, flashed upon the empress.</p> + +<p class="normal">She saw this look, a shudder passed through her, in violent excitement +she pressed her hand to her heart, and she said with a deep breath, +fixing her burning eyes upon the emperor:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire, it is not a question of my husband's honour alone; to care for +this is certainly our own affair, but something else is staked upon +this, something that touches your majesty more nearly,--and that is the +honour of France."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor gave a cold smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My armies only withdraw from Mexico at my command, and they bring rich +laurels with them," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Laurels?" cried the empress with flashing eyes, "yes, the soldiers who +have bravely fought bring laurels with them, and laurels grow on the +graves of the fallen, but the banners of France, who now desert the +throne raised by France's emperor, the prince who went thither +at the call of France, and who is rewarded by humiliation and +desertion,--these banners should be veiled in crape, for they have +forsaken France's honour! Oh! sire," she exclaimed, restraining herself +with a great effort, "I beg you once more--I conjure you--recall your +hard decision!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor's brow wore a gloomy frown, an icy smile was on his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame," he said, "your majesty will allow that I am the best, the +only competent judge of what the honour of France demands."</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of the empress flashed, a look of proud contempt appeared on +her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty is the <i>judge</i>," she said, "then let me be the <i>advocate</i> +of the honour of France, my blood gives me this right, the blood of +Henri Quatre flows in my veins, and my grandfather was the French +king!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor's long eyelashes were raised, and his angry eyes gazed on +the excited woman who sat trembling before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up.</p> + +<p class="normal">The empress also rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">She pressed both hands upon her heart, her whole form swayed to and fro +with the violent effort she made to recover her calmness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," she said in a low soft voice, "forgive the wife who pleads for +the honour and the life of her husband, if her zeal has made her speak +too boldly in a cause which must ever be to her the highest and the +holiest on earth. Sire, I implore you for God's sake, for the sake of +eternal mercy,--have pity on us, give us your protection one year +longer, or give us money, if the blood of France is too precious."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with an imploring look of indescribable anguish she gazed up at +this man, from whose mouth the words of hope could come, which she +might bear back to the husband longing for her with such weary anxiety, +refreshing his harassed soul with new strength.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon spoke in a cold voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame, the greatest service at this grave moment is perfect truth and +openness. I should sin against your majesty, if I allowed you to +entertain vain hopes. My decision is as unalterable as the necessity +that dictates it. I have nothing more for Mexico--not a man, not a +franc!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The features of the empress grew frightfully distorted, the whites of +her eyes grew red as blood, a flaming brightness glowed in her gaze, +her lips receded and showed her gloaming white teeth; with outstretched +arms she walked close up to the emperor, and with hissing breath that +seemed to drive the words from her breast, she cried in a voice which +no longer sounded human:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! it is true, the image of my dream, the horrible apparition +of my sleep! there he stands with his goblet of blood!--demon of +hell!--executioner of my family!--murderer of my husband!--laughing +devil!--murder me, the grand-daughter of Louis Philippe,--of that king +who rescued you from misery, and saved you from the scaffold."</p> + +<p class="normal">As if before some supernatural appearance the emperor slowly stepped +backwards to the door. The empress stood still, and stretching out her +hand towards him she cried, whilst her features grew more frightfully +convulsed, and her eyes glowed more wildly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hence, fiend! but take with thee my curse. The curse which God hurled +at the head of the first murderer shall destroy thy throne! flames +shall blot out thy house! and when thou liest in the dust from whence +thou hast risen, expiring in shame and weakness, the avenging angel +shall shake the depths of thy despairing soul with the cry of +'Charlotte and Maximilian!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Seized with horror the emperor turned round, covering his eyes with his +hands. He hurried to the door, and rushed into the anteroom, where he +found his equerry, and General Almonte much shocked at the dreadful +sound of the empress's voice. He cried scarcely audibly--"Come, Favé, +come quickly, the empress is ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">He hurried down the steps, looking anxiously back; the equerry rushed +after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">General Almonte hastened back into the empress's room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The unhappy princess had sunk on her knees in the middle of the salon, +her left hand was pressed to her heart, her right stretched upwards, +and with upturned eyes she stared vacantly at the ceiling--a statue of +despair.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general hastened to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake," he cried, bending over her, "I conjure your majesty, +calm, collect yourself! What has happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight shiver passed through her limbs, she slowly turned her eyes +towards the general, she looked at him with surprise, passed her hand +over her brow, and allowed him to raise her, and lead her to the sofa. +A lady in waiting had entered in great anxiety, and assisted the +general, the lacquey stood with a frightened face at the door of the +ante-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly the empress rose, her eyes wandered round the room. "Where is +he?" she cried in a hoarse voice, "he has gone, he must not go. I will +dog his heels, day and night my shrieks for revenge shall pierce his +ears!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty!" cried the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Away!" screamed the empress, "leave me: my carriage, my carriage; +after him, the traitor, my husband's murderer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she tore herself free from the general, and the lady in attendance, +rushed through the anteroom and down the stairs, still crying, "My +carriage! my carriage!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The general hastened after her. The servant followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the large court of the Grand Hôtel there was a concourse of +inquisitive people, attracted by the arrival of the imperial carriage. +On the large balcony sat foreigners reading newspapers and chatting.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly they heard the loud out-cry of a woman clad in black, with +distorted features and blood-shot starting eyes. She appeared at the +foot of the large staircase, and shrieked incessantly: "My carriage, my +carriage!"</p> + +<p class="normal">General Almonte overtook the empress. He sought to calm her, it was +impossible. All eyes were fixed on the surprising apparition.</p> + +<p class="normal">The general in great distress wishing to bring the dreadful scene to an +end, desired the lacquey who was in the empress's service, to bring a +carriage into the court of the hotel.</p> + +<p class="normal">The equipage drove round.</p> + +<p class="normal">With one spring the empress threw herself in. The general seized the +door to follow her. Then her strength failed her--she collapsed, her +eyes closed, white foam appeared on her lips; unconscious, with +convulsive shudders, she fell back on the cushions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several servants hastily appeared. They carried her gently upstairs to +her own room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a tragedy begins," said General Almonte, shuddering, as he +followed slowly; "and what a conclusion lies in the lap of the future!"</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Late in the afternoon, the brilliant carriages belonging to the +aristocracy, the <i>haute finance</i>, and the foreign diplomacy, drove +slowly round the Bois de Boulogne. The whole Paris world had remained +in town, the universal interest in the European crisis chained them to +the capital; and the whole world took its accustomed slow drive before +dinner, along the beautiful shores of the two lakes, in the charming, +wonderfully-kept Bois de Boulogne. Between the imposing heavy-looking +carriages with their powdered servants, drove the carriages belonging +to the 'demi-monde,' light and graceful, with spirited prancing steeds; +and the young gentlemen, without regarding the displeased looks of the +ladies of the 'grande monde,' rode close to these carriages, laughingly +and jestingly replying to the piquant remarks made by the ladies of the +avant-scène and the Café anglais.</p> + +<p class="normal">In an open caleche drawn by four beautiful brown horses, preceded by +two piqueurs in green and gold, with an officer riding near the door, +drove the emperor amongst the lively varied throng. Beside him sat +General Fleury. Napoleon's face beamed with good humour, he conversed +with animation to the general, responding with gracious empressement, +right and left, to the salutes he received, whilst the brilliant +equipage drove slowly three times round the lake. An hour later all +Paris knew that the emperor was in excellent health, and that affairs +must be going on well, since his majesty showed such remarkable +cheerfulness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was in the same good spirits at the dinner to which the +marshals and several distinguished officers were invited. The <i>cercle</i> +was over, the sun had set, and the warm darkness of evening was spread +over the gigantic city.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor entered his cabinet. He laid aside the uniform he had worn +at dinner, and put on a plain black frock coat.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as his valet had gone he called Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is my carriage without livery ready?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is waiting at the side door as your majesty commanded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have told me of that remarkable pupil of Lenormand," said the +emperor. "Morny, too, has spoken to me of her, Madame Moreau, is she +not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has really foretold things in a wonderful way; I once visited her +myself, and I was much struck by her prophecies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And were they fulfilled?" asked the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Much, sire, that she foretold happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will hear her," said Napoleon; "come with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he went down the staircase leading to his room; followed by his +secretary.</p> + +<p class="normal">They walked along a corridor, and passed through a side door into an +inner court of the Tuileries; here stood a plain carriage with two +black horses, a coachman, not in livery, sat on the box; it looked like +a doctor's carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor stepped in.</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri followed him and cried to the coachman, "5, Rue Tournon."</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage started at a brisk trot, and drove down the Rue de Rivoli.</p> + +<p class="normal">A second carriage, equally unremarkable, followed at a little distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">It contained the chief of the palace police, and one of his officers.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the old part of Paris, near the palace of the Luxembourg, is the Rue +Tournon, one of those ancient streets bearing the stamp of past times, +with low houses, old sashes, and small windows. The emperor's carriage +stopped before No. 5; Piétri went first through a large open doorway +leading into a small <i>porte-cochère</i>. The emperor followed him. The +second carriage stopped at the corner of the street, its occupants got +out, and began smoking and chatting as they slowly paced the trottoir.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon followed his secretary through the <i>porte-cochère</i>, and at the +end of it walked up some high dark steps leading to a door. A small +landing at the top of the first flight was lighted by a plain but +elegant lamp, and a white china door-plate bore the name of Madame +Moreau.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is the same house and the same apartment that Lenormand occupied," +said Piétri, as he rang the bell near the door-plate.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked round with great interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here then came Napoleon the First," said he, thoughtfully, "and here +the crown was prophesied which he afterwards obtained."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened. A young woman dressed like a Parisian housemaid +appeared. The emperor pulled up the collar of his coat, and held his +handkerchief before the lower part of his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri stepped forwards and concealed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame Moreau?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know whether madame still receives," replied the girl; "it is +very late."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are friends," said Piétri. "Madame will admit us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walk into the salon, gentlemen; I will announce you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She led the emperor and his secretary to a small, but richly and +elegantly furnished room. Thick carpets covered the floor, large +fauteuils stood around a table, on which lay several illustrated +journals, a large lamp hung from the ceiling, and brightly lighted up +the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty must learn to wait in the ante-room," said Piétri, +jestingly, as he wheeled a chair towards Napoleon.</p> + +<p class="normal">He only placed his hand lightly on the back, and looked round the room +with great interest. On the wall hung a large engraving, his own +likeness in his coronation robes. With a slight sigh the emperor +glanced at the slender, youthful figure represented; then he said, +pointing it out laughingly to Piétri:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This lady appears well disposed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is a scholar of Lenormand, sire," replied Piétri, "and holds to +the traditions of her mistress; also she was an especial favourite of +the Duke de Morny."</p> + +<p class="normal">A small door concealed by a very thick dark <i>portière</i> opened, the +curtain was pushed aside, and a short, rather stout lady in a plain +black dress appeared in the doorway. She was about fifty years of age, +with dark smooth hair and lively black eyes, so keen and piercing, that +they were an almost startling contrast to the somewhat puffy and very +commonplace face to which they belonged.</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri advanced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, madame," he said, "for receiving us at this late hour. +You have already given me such brilliant proofs of your art, that I +have brought a friend who is travelling through Paris, and who begs you +to unveil his future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walk this way, messieurs," said Madame Moreau quietly, in an agreeable +voice and with the manner of a lady of good society.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she returned to her cabinet. Piétri and the emperor followed her.</p> + +<p class="normal">This cabinet was a small square room, which had besides the door +leading into the salon, a second door, through which visitors could +depart who did not care to face those who might be waiting in the other +apartment. This cabinet had a dark carpet. The window looking towards +the courtyard was concealed by ample thick green curtains. A tall old +chest stood against the wall, near to the window was a somewhat small +table covered with a green cloth, and before it a large chair in which +the prophetess generally sat. Upon the table stood a lamp with a dark +green shade, which lighted up the surface of the table, and left the +rest of the room in deep shadow. Upon the other side of the table stood +a few dark green chairs and a small divan of the same colour.</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor seated himself in an arm-chair in the shadow, and put his +handkerchief to his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Moreau took no notice. She was accustomed to guests who desired +to preserve a strict incognito.</p> + +<p class="normal">She took her place at the table and asked, "Do you wish the <i>grand +jeu?</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied Piétri, who stood close to Napoleon's chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will monsieur then show me his hand? The left if he pleases."</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon rose and walked to the table, so that the shadow of the dark +lamp shade fell on his face, and he held out his hand to the +soothsayer; long, slender, and soft it looked much younger than his +face or figure.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Moreau seized this hand, turned the palm upwards, and opened the +line between the thumb and forefinger to its utmost extent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a tenacious, enduring will," she said, without raising her eyes +from the emperor's hand; "yet there is a weakness here, a hesitating +delay; this hand is formed to draw the bow with care and skill, but it +will hesitate before letting the arrow fly; it wishes to remain lord of +the arrow in its flight, but the arrow then belongs to fate. This hand +will not quickly loose the string even when the aim is taken, and the +eye perceives that the right moment has come; it will launch the arrow +from the concussion of a sudden doubt,--but the arrow obeys the eternal +might of Providence," she added, in a low voice. She then continued her +attentive examination of the palm. "Broken soon after its beginning, +the line of life winds in entwining curves, often crossed and stopped +by opposing lines, then it rises in a bold, broad arch, higher and +higher, until--"</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed with a vacant, dreamy look upon the hand, and remained +silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have a remarkable hand, monsieur," she said, without looking up; +"the great Fabius Cunctator must have had a hand like yours--yet here +are lines which must have been found in the hand of Catiline, though +without the restless haste of that conspirator, and here are the lines +of Cĉsar--no, of Augustus. Sir," she said, "your hand is very +remarkable, it is formed slowly and carefully to knot the threads of +fate, it is made to build up and to collect, to uphold and to foster, +and yet fate often compels it to destroy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And whither does the line of life lead?" asked the emperor, in so low +a voice that the sound was scarcely heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Moreau said slowly and thoughtfully:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It turns back to whence it came."</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon looked at Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Uncertain as the Pythia," he whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Moreau might have heard and understood these words or not. She +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The riddle which the line of life does not reveal, will perhaps be +read by my cards."</p> + +<p class="normal">She let go the emperor's hand, and taking from a drawer in her table +some large cards, beautifully painted with strange figures and +characters, she handed them to the emperor to shuffle.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did so, still keeping his face in the shadow from the lamp, and gave +her back the pack.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur," she then said, "this is a combination that seldom occurs. I +see you surrounded by the brightest splendour of the highest on earth, +your hand links the fate of numbers. My God!" she cried, "for One only +have I seen this constellation--it is so, it must be so, here is the +eagle above your head; the star in the diagonal, the golden bees,--it +would be unworthy to remain silent, it would lower my art."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose hastily and bowing deeply, with a movement possessing a +certain grace and dignity, notwithstanding her short and corpulent +figure, she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor house has the happiness of beholding the monarch of France +beneath its roof; sire, with the deepest respect I greet my great and +beloved emperor!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon started with surprise, then he moved out of the shadow and +said laughingly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must compliment you, madame, on the penetration of your cards. Since +my great uncle visited your mistress, his nephew and successor may well +visit the pupil. But now that we are without mask," he continued, "tell +me more of the fate inscribed on your cards."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Moreau returned to her chair, and seated herself at a sign from +the emperor--who on his part came close to the table and sat down, +looking at the out-spread cards attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said the lady, "your majesty will believe that I, who love +France, and whose whole heart hangs upon your great race, have often +tried in solitude to read by my art the fate of the empire; wonderful +to say, this very constellation has each time appeared, the very same +which now lies unchanged before me, in the cards your imperial hand has +shuffled. I cannot be deceived. It would be absurd of me to tell of +your majesty's past, from the cards now lying before me; one thing only +I would say,"--she added with hesitation, "may I speak?" and she +glanced at Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no secrets from this gentleman," said Napoleon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," proceeded Madame Moreau, still gazing on the cards, "your +majesty is happy in a noble consort possessing every virtue--and yet--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet?" asked the emperor in a voice in which surprise mingled with +slight impatience.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said she slowly and solemnly, "the life of your majesty lies on +the border land of the powers of light and darkness, a bright and +glittering star beams down upon it, but the deep shadow of a demon-like +fate often threatens to obscure its pure light. Beneath the brilliance +of that star, beneath the influence of its blessed rays, the young +heart of your majesty first opened to the warm breath of youthful +poetry, and an absorbing love: the great emperor's blessing, the noble +martyr of St. Helena, rested on this love; it would have lighted and +warmed your majesty's heart; and this love was responded to by a heart +in whose veins flowed the blood of your great predecessor."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked down with emotion, a melancholy expression appeared +on his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," continued Madame Moreau, "the dark shadow prevailed, the night +of fate closed over that love and its hopes. The heart that beat for +you has grieved during a sad and solitary life, and you have missed the +guide, the good genius of your youth, who would have led you onwards +beneath the rays of your star, and who would often have strengthened +your doubting heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor was silent. A sigh heaved his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go on," he then said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even now, sire," said Madame Moreau, "your heart is in doubt, to-day +two opposing spirits wrestle in your soul, you balance between war and +peace,--oh! wonderful," she proceeded, gazing attentively at the cards +and pointing to some of the pictures, "the men of the sword urge +peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor listened with surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," she said, "you have broken the pride of Russia, you have led +England's queen to the grave of your uncle, you have revenged upon the +house of Hapsburg the humiliations of the King of Rome. Sire, your +star's bright beams have lighted you brilliantly on your course; beware +of Germany," she said in a hoarse tone, "there the demon-like shadow of +your evil fate prevails. Beware! beware!" she cried vehemently, lifting +up her hands as if to conjure him, "pause, before you throw the iron +dice of war!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor gazed before him. A slight shudder passed through his +limbs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you will pause," continued she, perusing the pictures on her +cards, and drawing long lines over the out-spread pack, "for I see you +surrounded by the smiling images of peace, and only in the back-ground +the god of war zealously whets his sword for future days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And shall France thus humble herself?" said Napoleon in a low voice, +as if expressing his thoughts aloud, "shall she yield, draw back!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see no humiliation," said Madame Moreau, with sparkling eyes gazing +at the cards; "I see dazzling splendour, brighter even than that which +surrounded your uncle's throne, I see all the nations of the world +assembled around the steps of your imperial throne, I see emperors and +kings, all the princes of Europe,--almost of the earth,--surrounding +you in a brilliant circle; the Sultan greets the imperial lord of +France, the successor of Peter the Great, ah! what is this!" she cried. +"Sire, watch, watch over the duty sacred to a guest, murder lurks for +Alexander on the soil of France, yet God averts the blow. I see new +splendour, brilliant splendour and proud joy, all the people of Europe, +Asia, and America, even the swarthy Nubians of Africa, uniting in +astonished admiration at the glory of imperial France."</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor's eyes were fully opened, they flashed with pride.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And then?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," said Madame Moreau, "your conquering star has reached the +zenith, then clouds arise, bloody lightning flashes through them, I see +the points of lances sparkle, I see the war-god in tempestuous thunder +stride over the earth, I see your majesty at the head of a moving army, +I see you in Germany,"--she covered her eyes with her hands. "Ah! that +is far away!" she said slowly; "my eyes are dazzled, I have not powers +like the great Lenormand to see into the distant future, later on it +will be clear, but to enduring peace fate has not destined you sire, +see here!" And in prophetic tones she said: "If the olive tree +overshadows France, her laurels must fade!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The emperor looked at her thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the present, then, peace will bring me happiness and glory, but I +must not let the olive trees overpower the laurels?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She slightly nodded her head, still gazing at the cards. Her face +quivered, she opened her lips as if to speak, but she was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon stood up. Once more his eyes looked searchingly round the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this room, then, Madame Lenormand entertained the emperor?" he +asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this very room, sire," said Madame Moreau, rising, "only the +arrangement of the furniture has been slightly changed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, madame," said Napoleon, "follow my horoscope, I shall be +glad to hear more from you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And with a friendly smile, he walked to the door, which Madame Moreau +opened for him, the lamp in her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the stairs he took Piétri's arm and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, madame, I do not wish to be recognized. I rely on your +discretion. Adieu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The quiet-looking carriage drove quickly back to the Tuileries.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he re-entered his cabinet, the emperor seated himself at his +writing-table. Piétri stood beside him:</p> + +<p class="normal">Napoleon wrote:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I herewith send you an explanation of the reasons which, according to +my unalterable decision, render a moderate policy necessary on the part +of France, with regard to recent events in Germany. I do not doubt that +you will entirely share my views, and I beg you to believe in my +sincere friendship."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he signed it, "Napoleon."</p> + +<p class="normal">He handed the paper silently to Piétri.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," he said, after reading it, "who does your majesty destine to be +the successor of Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Moustiers knows the state of affairs in Berlin well," said the +emperor; "prepare a letter to him beforehand, to inquire if he will +undertake the guidance of foreign affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">Piétri bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing more," said Napoleon, "let Hansen come to me early to-morrow +morning, we will make <i>one</i> more effort."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your majesty's command."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you think of Madame Moreau?" asked the emperor, who had +already turned towards the door leading to his private apartments, as +he paused for a moment. "How could she know that episode of my youth?" +he whispered in a low voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sire," replied Piétri, "it is difficult to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our +philosophy,'" said Napoleon in perfect English; and with a friendly nod +he dismissed his secretary.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_25" href="#div1Ref_25">THE SICK AND WOUNDED</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">In a somewhat large salon adjoining the bedroom of his +comfortable +bachelor apartments, in one of the old-fashioned houses of a quiet part +of the town, Lieutenant von Stielow, the morning after his return, lay +upon a large sofa covered with dark red silk.</p> + +<p class="normal">Half-closed curtains of the same colour hung before the window, +admitting a subdued light into the room, where complete quiet +prevailed, only broken from time to time by a carriage belonging to one +of the aristocracy rolling swiftly past.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man wore a wide morning wrapping coat of black silk, with +scarlet collar and facings; beside him stood a small table with a +beautiful silver tea service; he slowly smoked a short chibouk, from +which the fragrant clouds of Turkish tobacco floated about the room, +and his features expressed perfect happiness and calm content. After +the long privations and fatigues of camp life, the young officer for +the first time enjoyed the quiet and rich comfort around him, and with +happy looks he greeted everything; the numerous objects which his room +contained, the paintings, the engravings, the curious arms, the bits of +old Dresden china, in short all the thousand things which the good +taste or passing fancy of a wealthy and cultivated young man collects +in his rooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this, which he had formerly been so accustomed to that he scarcely +deemed it worthy of a glance, now smiled upon him with the charm of +novelty; for so long his eyes had only seen pictures of privation, of +horror, and of death, that the surroundings of his previous life met +him with a greeting full of charm; then he thought of his love, of the +dangers which had surrounded him upon the battle-fields, of the +frightful peril which had threatened his young pure love from wicked +machinations, of his happy preservation amidst the bullets and swords +of the enemy, of the good fortune that had brought him back at the +right moment to destroy those machinations, finally, of the hopes which +were now his own without an obstacle. No wonder that his eyes beamed, +that his lips smiled, and that the world looked as fair, as bright, and +as charming as it only can appear to a young heart who sees itself +possessed of everything that can make life one sweet enjoyment.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had promised the Countess Frankenstein to take no step against the +person who had made the low attempt on her daughter and himself. "Let +us never again speak of those creatures, or remember anything of the +affair, except to thank God who brought their wickedness to shame," +said Clara, with a gentle smile; and so great is the elasticity of a +heart of one-and-twenty, so great the conciliatory power of happiness, +that he scarcely remembered the circumstance which had threatened the +holiest feelings of his heart, except from the sweet feeling of higher +enjoyment which lies in the full possession of that which you feared to +lose.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened quickly and a servant entered with a disturbed and +frightened face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lord baron," he said with some hesitation, "I must--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer turned his head and looked at him inquiringly; but he +could not finish his sentence, for a slender female form in a light +morning dress hastily advanced through the half-open door, and with a +quick and decided movement pushed the servant aside. Her face was +concealed by a thick veil hanging from her small round hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow rose and walked towards his visitor with an expression +of great surprise, whilst he dismissed the servant by a sign, and he, +by shrugging his shoulders endeavoured to signify that he had not been +able to announce this visitor to his master in the usual way.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had the door closed than the lady threw back her veil. Herr +von Stielow beheld the beautiful features of Madame Balzer. She was +pale, but her cheeks were tinged with a light rosy hue, her large eyes +glowed with deep passionate fire, upon her slightly parted lips lay an +expression of bashful shame, mingled with a look of firm and energetic +decision. She was wonderfully beautiful, more charming in this plain, +almost grisette-like toilette, than in the rich and recherché elegance +which usually surrounded her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man looked at the well-known face before him with blank +amazement, almost with fear; for it was the last thing he expected to +see.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Antonia!" he exclaimed in a low voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your lips, then, have not forgotten that name," she said, fixing her +sorrowful eyes upon him; "I feared that all, all remembrance, had +vanished from your heart, even the name of her whom once you loved, and +whom you now despise,--condemn unheard."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow was so amazed, so discomposed by this visit, that he still +stood opposite to her without uttering a word: a flash of anger, of +defiance had shone in his eyes, but it had disappeared--how could anger +be maintained against this gentle humility, this look so full of +entreaty and of sorrow? He gazed at her vacantly, contradictory +feelings struggling in his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have condemned me," she continued in that soft melting voice, only +bestowed upon a few women, and which touches the heart of the listener +like a caress, "you have turned from me without asking a word of +explanation, and yet you loved me once, and yet," she whispered +hesitatingly, as she cast down her eyes, and a rosy blush passed over +her face, "yet, you must have known that I loved you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow still found not a word to oppose to these looks, this +language; he almost felt he was really hard and cruel, and it needed +the full recollection of the evening before, to enable him to maintain +calm composure before this woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Antonia came one step nearer, and fixed her eyes upon him, with a +melancholy expression of unutterable tenderness. "My love," she said in +her soft voice, "was as pure, as confiding as a young maiden's, yet +fiery and glowing as the wine of the south, and it filled my whole +soul, it had enchained my pride. I lay at your feet, as a slave at the +feet of her lord!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears glittered in her lovely eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you--" said von Stielow, feeling quite distracted. "Why these +declarations about the past, now? Why this painful scene?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," she replied, and a proud flash shone in her eyes +without dispersing the melancholy that veiled them, "you are right. I +ought not to touch upon that past, but there is a nearer past of which +I must speak, which leads me hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But--" said von Stielow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without heeding him she continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before you, I had no longer pride, no longer a will, it is true; but +you coldly and cruelly forsook me"--she placed her hand upon her heart, +and pressed her lips together. "You humiliated me, and my pride again +arose. I wished to hate you, to forget you," she added in a hoarse +voice: "but all the nobler feelings of my heart rebelled against it. I +could not do it," she said in trembling tones; "and my pride said, +'Though he no longer loves, he shall not despise!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow's face had grown calm. He looked at her coldly, a +scarcely perceptible smile upon his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You had a right," she added, "it is true, to think me false, and to +believe yourself the toy of a coquettish whim, perhaps even worse; you +shall believe it no more, the memory of me shall not be mingled with +contempt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us leave the past," said he; "I assure you--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," she cried vehemently, "you shall hear me,--if the past gives me +no other right, it gives me this, to demand a hearing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know," she proceeded, "what my life was; with a heart full of +love, with a spirit that craved and strove for higher things, I was in +early life fettered to the husband with whom you are acquainted. He +himself encouraged a crowd of young men around me. Count Rivero came +near me, I found in him the richest genius,--the satisfying of all my +wishes, I believed I loved him," she added, casting down her eyes, "at +least he brought light and interest to my life. Is that a crime?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Without waiting for an answer she went on passionately:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I learned to know you, I discovered my mistake, my heart told me +that before only my mind had been satisfied. I now felt how this new +feeling had taken deep root in my inmost life. Let me be silent about +that time," she said with quivering lips, "recollections that I cannot +stifle would unnerve me. I struggled long and severely," she continued +in a calm voice, as if subduing her emotion by a mighty effort; "ought +I to have spoken to you of the past? I did not dare, my love made me +cowardly; I feared to lose you. I feared to see a cloud upon the brow I +loved. I was silent; I was silent because I feared. Rivero was away. I +ought to have broken with him. Oh!" she cried in a voice of pain, +whilst her whole form trembled, "you know the humiliating position in +which I was placed; the man whose name I bear, my husband, was under +heavy obligations to him; under the circumstances I could not venture +suddenly and quickly to cease our correspondence. I awaited his return. +I knew him to be noble and generous. I wished to tell him all, to +explain,--then there was that unhappy meeting, the intercourse which I +wished quietly and prudently to drop, was torn asunder--oh! what I have +suffered!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow was moved, and looked at her with compassion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I have erred," she proceeded, "I am still not so guilty as I seem, +my heart has never sinned against the truth of my love. I swear to you, +since the day I said, 'I love you'"--she pronounced the words with a +strange melting charm--"every throb of my heart, every feeling of my +soul has been yours; my first conversation with the count was an +explanation with regard to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She stepped nearer to him, she lifted her folded hands and gazed up at +him with a look of inexpressible love, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not betrayed my love. I have not forgotten it. I cannot forget +it. I have come because I must make this explanation, because I cannot +bear"--and here her voice seemed choked with tears--"that you should +despise me, that you should quite forget me," she added lower still, "I +cannot believe, that all, all has vanished from your heart. I cannot +part from you without telling you that if ever your heart should feel +lonely you have a friend who never, never can deny her first love."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked unspeakably lovely as she stood there before him, so humble, +so gentle, her lips slightly parted, her eyes, though suffused with +tears, still glowing with a tender fire, her figure languidly bent +forward.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man looked at her with great compassion, the sound of her +voice, the magnetic brightness of her eyes, had aroused within him +memories of the past. But the mild gentle expression vanished from his +face, his eyes flashed and a scornful smile appeared on his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us leave the past," he said coldly and politely. "I have not +reproached you, and I will not reproach you, I wish you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him sorrowfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then my words have been in vain," she said, sadly, "you do not believe +me----"</p> + +<p class="normal">An angry flash passed over his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you," he said, "and I do not want your words, for thank God! +I know everything. I think this conversation upon the earlier past will +come to an end when I give you a proof that I am acquainted with your +last proceeding."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with a quick angry movement he turned to a casket standing upon a +console table before a mirror, opened it and held towards her the +letter she had sent by her husband to the Countess Frankenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see," he said, "I know the way in which you use the souvenirs of +the past against the present."</p> + +<p class="normal">She shrank back, as if struck by lightning. The paleness of death +overspread her face--her features were convulsed, her eyes fixed +immovably upon the paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think this will bring our conversation to an end," he said, with a +bitter smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep crimson flush spread over her face, her limbs trembled, burning +passion shone in her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," she cried in a wild voice, "no, it is not at an end--it shall not +be at an end!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow slightly shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall not be at an end," she cried in trembling excitement, +"because I love you, because I cannot leave you, because you cannot be +happy with that woman, to whom you will give your name, but whose cold +heart will never feel for you the fiery glow that streams through +mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam, you go too far," said Stielow, and an expression of repugnance +and contempt appeared upon his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You deceive yourself," she said, whilst her lips burned a rich carmine +and her feverish eyes lighted up her pale face. "I know how warmly your +heart has beaten for me, it cannot be happy in a conventional love, in +lukewarm kisses meted out by custom."</p> + +<p class="normal">He half turned from her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You go too far," he said again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hear me, my own, my love," and she sank down at his feet stretching +out her arms towards him; "hear me, and do not despise me, I cannot +live without you. Give your hand," she cried in a voice full of +passion, "to that woman, give her your name, but leave me your heart: +the time will come when you will long for happiness, then come +back to me, to dream, to love; I ask for nothing,--nothing, I will wait +humbly, I will live upon the remembrance of the quiet happiness of the +past during the long days when I do not see you,--do all that you +will,--only love me."</p> + +<p class="normal">She seized his hand and pressed it to her glowing lips, then her head +fell back a little, her half-closed eyes looked at him imploringly, the +warm breath from her mouth seemed to surround him with an enchanted +atmosphere of love and passion.</p> + +<p class="normal">A slight shudder passed through him; he closed his eyes for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he looked at her with calm friendship, and holding her hand firmly +he gently raised her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Antonia," he said quietly, "I should be unworthy to wear a sword if I +gave you any answer but this; let everything be forgotten and forgiven +that belongs to the past, no other remembrance will abide with me but +that of friendship, and if you need a friend, you will find one in me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he let go her hand after pressing it gently.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was it the tone of his voice, was it the quiet pressure of his hand, +that convinced her quick womanly perceptions that she had lost his love +for ever? She stood motionless, the passionate tears left her eyes, a +flash of hatred gleamed in her look, but she hastily concealed it +beneath her downcast eyelids.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a quiet movement she drew down her veil, and said in a voice that +retained no traces of its former emotion:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell; may you be happy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow accompanied her silently and gravely through the ante-room to +the outer door of his apartments, which a servant hurried forwards to +open.</p> + +<p class="normal">She went out with hasty footsteps.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man returned and sank into an arm-chair as if exhausted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it real, or was it acting?" he whispered thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No matter," he cried after a short consideration, "it does not become +me to judge her--may she find happiness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And quickly springing up he said, whilst his face cleared up:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This was the last cloud that threatened to veil my star."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rang for his servant, made a hasty toilette, and drove in his cab to +the house of the Countess Frankenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the afternoon the most varied life filled the wide alleys of the +Prater. Upon the broad turf beneath the trees of this enormous park +some of the cavalry regiments recalled to Vienna were still encamped, +and the different scenes of camp life were picturesquely displayed. +There stood the horses picketed, as if on actual service, neighing and +whinnying with impatience, here lay a circle of soldiers around a +smouldering fire, on which, in the field kettle, their meal was +cooking; booths were erected in which food and drink, the Vienna +sausage, and camp beer, were offered for sale; and the Viennese +streamed in and out in countless numbers. Now that the real war was +over with its fears and anguish, they liked to gaze here on the last +picture of it, which only offered to the eye its romantic charm, and +not its dreadful earnest. But the groups of lookers-on were the +thickest around an open space girt in by tall trees, where the brown +sons of Hungary were displaying their fantastic national dance--the +Czardas. A man played, upon an old violin, one of those peculiar +melodies, half wailing, half wild dithyrambic movements, which even +when thus executed sounds upon the ear with a strange mysterious charm; +the others pursued a peculiar dance, with its strange pantomimic +evolutions, sometimes jingling their spurs together, sometimes stamping +on the ground with their feet, sometimes twisting the body into strange +but always graceful attitudes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amongst one of these groups stood old Grois, the comic actor Knaak, and +the ever-merry Josephine Gallmeyer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pepi's" beautiful eyes sparkling with fun and mirth attentively +followed all the movements of the Czardas. She slightly nodded her +head, and beat time with her hand, to the sharply accentuated music.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look, old Grois," she then said, turning to her companion, who watched +the moving picture with sad and doleful eyes, "those are capital +fellows; I should like to choose a sweetheart from amongst them, they +please me better than all our <i>fade</i> cavaliers put together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said the old actor gloomily, "there they dance, and when it came +to fighting for Austria they let them stay behind, eighty regiments of +our glorious cavalry have never been in action; it almost breaks one's +heart to think of it all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fie! old blood-thirsty tiger," cried the Gallmeyer; "let us be glad +they are still left to dance, and that they have not been under those +cursed needle-guns--there would not have been many of them left!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! needle-guns!" cried old Grois. "Now it is to be the needle-guns +that have done everything; at first everyone said it was the generals' +fault, and now the generals say it was the needle-guns. I hold to it +they were right at first, and that if the Prussians had had our +generals, their needle-guns would not have helped them much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Happy is he who forgets what cannot be mended," cried Fräulein +Gallmeyer; "nothing can be done against the Prussians, they surpass the +gods!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why this sudden admiration for the Prussians?" asked Knaak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, you know," said the Gallmeyer, "it is true they do surpass the +gods, for one of our poets who has written such lovely rôles for my +friend the Wolter says," and here she placed herself in a comically +pathetic attitude, and imitating exactly the voice and manner of the +great actress of the Burg Theatre, repeated: "'Against folly even the +gods strive in vain!' Well, the Prussians have not striven against +folly in vain!" she cried, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pepi," said old Grois in a grave voice, "you can say what you please +about me, and the rest of the world; but if you make the misfortunes of +my dear Austria the subject of your wit, we shall quarrel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be frightful!" cried the Gallmeyer, "for I should then in +the end be forced"--and she looked at him with a roguish smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what?" he asked, already pacified.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To strive in vain with old Grois," she cried, and let just the tip of +her tongue appear between her fresh lips, whilst she twirled round on +the point of her toe.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did I speak sensibly to such a creature?" cried the old actor, +half displeased, half laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Czardas was at an end, and the different groups moved on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See," said Knaak, "there is our friend Stielow and his beautiful +fiancée."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he pointed out an elegant open carriage which drove slowly along +the broad alley. Countess Frankenstein and her daughter sat facing the +horses, Lieutenant von Stielow in his rich Uhlan uniform opposite to +them. His face beamed with happiness as he talked to the young +countess, and pointed out to her the different encampments in the park.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A handsome pair," said old Grois benevolently, as he looked at the two +smiling young creatures.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! that it may remain green for ever! the lovely period of youthful +love!" exclaimed the Gallmeyer. "That is what my friend Wolter would +say," she added laughingly; "but I am very angry with him, for I made +him a declaration of love, and he despised me; but I shall console +myself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They passed on.</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess's carriage, when it had left the thick throng of +pedestrians behind it, drove rapidly towards the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that time long trains, filled with sick and wounded, arrived daily +at the northern station; they were brought from the bandaging sheds and +field hospitals, to Vienna and other places more in the interior, that +they might receive more regular nursing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The rooms belonging to the station were fitted up for the reception of +the wounded; many arrived in so weak a condition that they could not be +moved immediately, nearly all required to rest for a time, and the +further transport had to be arranged.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the regular custom of the ladies of Vienna in every grade, from +the highest aristocracy to the simple shopkeeper's wife, to go to the +railway station when such a train arrived, to refresh the wounded with +cooling drinks and light nourishment, to have linen and lint ready, and +to assist the surgeons as far as they could in any needful operation, +or fresh bandaging. Here was richly shown that beautiful, truly +patriotic spirit of self-denial, so abundant in the Austrian people, +that spirit which the imperial government so frequently misunderstood, +so frequently repressed; but which it scarcely ever directed aright in +its lively desire to benefit the whole nation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some wounded soldiers are coming in," said the young Countess +Frankenstein to her mother, as the carriage arrived at the end of the +Prater, and drew near the northern railway station; "shall we not go? I +have brought some bandages, some raspberry vinegar, and some wine. I +want," she said, turning to her lover with a charming smile, "to help +all the poor wounded soldiers that I can, to show my gratitude to God +for helping me so graciously in my own trouble and sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow affectionately pressed her hand and looked with admiration at +her lovely, blushing face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for recollecting it," said the countess; "we can never do +enough for those who fight and suffer for their country, and we ought +to set an example to the classes beneath us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must beg you to excuse me," said von Stielow, looking at his watch, +"I must wait on General Gablenz and hear if he has any commands for +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara looked disappointed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in the evening you will be free?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly hope so," said the young man, "for there is now little for +the aides-de-camp to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage had reached the railway station. At a sign from the +lieutenant it drew up at the entrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall meet again then," said Countess Frankenstein to Herr von +Stielow, who took leave of the ladies, and Clara's looks said plainer +than words: "We shall soon meet again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The footman sprang from the box, opened the carriage-door, took a +basket from the boot, and followed the ladies into the interior of the +station.</p> + +<p class="normal">It presented a touching, grave, and melancholy picture; but at the same +time much that was pleasing and affecting.</p> + +<p class="normal">Field-beds and litters stood close together in long rows, on which lay +wounded, sick, and dying soldiers belonging to every branch of the +service, Prussian as well as Austrian. Some bore their sufferings in +mute resignation, others sighed and groaned from the horrible tortures +that they endured.</p> + +<p class="normal">The surgeons walked amongst them, examining into the condition of the +new arrivals, giving orders where they were to be taken, according to +the nature of their wounds, and the hopes they entertained of their +recovery. The bandages were renewed before further transport, medicine +and refreshment were administered, and operations immediately needful +were performed in cabinets erected for the purpose and prepared +beforehand. All this was sad and distressing; those who had seen the +proud regiments set out, the eyes of the soldiers flashing at the blast +of the trumpet, and who now saw the broken suffering forms brought back +from the battle-field, where the sacrifice of their blood had not +obtained victory for the banners of their country, might indeed sigh +sorrowfully, as they thought that the boasted civilization of the human +race, with all its progress, had not as yet banished cruel and +murderous war from the face of the earth; war, that scourge of mankind, +as cruel now as in the grey ages of antiquity, only with this +difference, that the inventive powers of man have discovered more +certain and annihilating weapons.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beside the surgeons who examined the wounds with the cold looks of +science, were seen the sisters of mercy, those unwearied priestesses of +Christian love: calmly and without a sound they glided between the +beds, sometimes with gentle hand assisting in the placing of a bandage, +sometimes with a kind consoling word putting to the pale dry lips some +cooling drink, or strengthening medicine.</p> + +<p class="normal">And everywhere amongst the busy groups were seen the beautiful and +graceful ladies of Vienna, especially the ladies of the higher +aristocracy, offering the sick refreshments, handing the surgeons linen +bandages, and calling up a smile upon some sad suffering face.</p> + +<p class="normal">They did not assist much, it is true, these self-constituted +Samaritans, whom the love of their country moved to aid in the care of +her wounded soldiers, but the sight of them did endless good to the +sick and suffering; they felt that in their tenderness there was an +acknowledgment of their pain and sacrifices; many of the eyes, misled +by fever, believed they saw in the forms around them a sister or a +sweetheart, and the vacant weary looks lighted up, the pale quivering +lip gently smiled at the kind hands which thus performed the noblest +work of woman--alleviating pain and soothing suffering.</p> + +<p class="normal">So they brought pleasure and consolation to the poor wounded men, these +willing nurses; though the surgeons sometimes said they were in the +way; but surgeons reckon without that muscle of the heart which drives +the blood streaming through the veins, not to be found by the scalpel +in an anatomical examination of the human heart, with all its abysses +of grief, and its tender fragrant flowers of joy; they know not its +power and yet it often puts their art to shame.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Countess Frankenstein and her daughter were soon surrounded by +several ladies of the first society, and with them they began their +round amongst the wounded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amongst the numerous women who were assembled here, and who it might +almost be said followed the fashion of nursing the sick, if indeed such +a word ought to be applied to so good and blessed an employment, which +was generally engaged in from the noblest motives, was the beautiful +Madame Balzer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dressed in the plainest dark grey toilette, a small basket containing +bandages and nourishment upon her arm, she had followed one of the +surgeons and assisted him with such skill that he had thanked her, +surprised that it was apparently a lady of distinction and not a sister +of mercy who had aided him so efficiently. She looked wonderfully +beautiful in her simple dress, with her pale perfect features; from the +unusual gracefulness of her movements, and the gentle self-possession +with which she approached the beds of the sufferers, a stranger would +have thought that amongst all these distinguished ladies of Vienna she +was the most distinguished. These ladies, however, did not know her; +several of them enquired who that lovely graceful person was, but no +one could reply, for in Vienna there is not that public life which in +Paris gives to the ladies of the great world the opportunity of knowing +perfectly well by sight, their imitators or their models in doubtful +society. The name of Madame Balzer was known to many of these ladies, +she was frequently the subject of conversation in the <i>salons</i> of +Vienna; but only a few of them had seen her, for she went out of doors +but little and always rigorously observed <i>les convenances</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">She passed along by the beds of the wounded soldiers administering +comfort and refreshment; at last she reached the end of a long row, and +saw a litter standing at some little distance, on which a soldier lay +stretched.</p> + +<p class="normal">She went up to him and bent slowly over him, his expressionless eyes +startled her, the blue corpse-like colour was spread over his pale thin +face, a large gaping wound was seen on his bare breast. The wounded man +had died during the journey, he must have expired quite an hour before. +Involuntarily she laid her hand upon his brow, it was cold as ice.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was gazing horrified upon this dreadful sight, when animated voices +met her ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked up, and saw at a little distance a group of several ladies +standing near the litter of a soldier in the Uhlan uniform; the bandage +round his head had slipped and with a feeble hand he was endeavouring +to replace it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amongst these ladies stood the lovely and graceful young countess +Frankenstein. The deepest compassion shone in her eyes, but it did not +banish the brilliant happiness that she felt. With a smile she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This uniform must always be first with me, I almost belong to it +myself!" and with a light elastic step she went up to the litter, and +drawing off her gloves, and throwing back her lace sleeves, she began +with her beautiful white hands to arrange the bandage for the wounded +man. Over her arms hung a long strip of fine white linen, which she +used to retain the bandage in its place until the surgeon should +arrive.</p> + +<p class="normal">Antonia Balzer started when she heard this voice; from her dark corner +she watched the charming and beautiful young girl as she stood in the +strong light with her smiling lips and brilliant eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">A deadly paleness spread over her face, her complexion grew as ghastly +as that of the poor man who lay before her; a burning flash of which no +human eyes seemed capable darted from her, wild hatred distorted her +lovely features.</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed for one moment on the charming figure near her, then her face +assumed a gloomy, dreadful expression; an indescribable smile appeared +on her lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is death, there is life!" she whispered hoarsely, and bent down +over the corpse until her face was hidden, and could be recognized by +no one.</p> + +<p class="normal">She took a small pair of scissors with golden handles from her basket, +and stooping over the dead man she plunged the points of the scissors +deep into the wound upon his breast, then she pressed her fine cambric +handkerchief upon it, and saturated it with the bloody fluid that +exuded.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sprang up hastily; her face expressed anxious excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">She hastened to the knot of ladies surrounding Clara Frankenstein, who +was still occupied in holding the strip of linen which she had placed +around the forehead of the wounded man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heaven's sake!" cried Madame Balzer, "give me a strip of linen, a +drop of eau de cologne! I have exhausted everything; a poor wounded man +is dying!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And hastily approaching Clara she seized her outstretched arm with both +hands, as if imploring her for a piece of the linen which hung over it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara uttered a cry and hastily drew back her hand. A drop of blood +appeared just above her wrist and trickled slowly down her white arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how clumsy of me!" cried Madame Balzer. "I have hurt you with my +scissors; I beg a thousand pardons!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she quickly pressed the handkerchief she had applied to the wound +upon the wrist of the young countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray do not mind about it," said Clara kindly; "do not let us lose our +time over this little scratch when there are so many serious wounds to +think of."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she slowly withdrew her arm, which Madame Balzer was still rubbing +with her handkerchief as if to remove the blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara held out the strip of linen which she had in her hand and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray take some."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Balzer quickly cut a piece off with her scissors, returned +graceful thanks, and after again apologizing for her awkwardness, +returned to the corpse.</p> + +<p class="normal">Several ladies who had witnessed the little scene hastened to the +litter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The man is dead!" they cried, "nothing can be done here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Balzer gazed sorrowfully on the corpse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, he is dead!" she said, "we were too late!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And folding her hands she bowed her head and moved her lips in +whispered prayer. Deep devotion appeared on her features. The ladies +around followed her example, and uttered a short prayer for the soul of +the deceased, whose return was perhaps ardently desired in some distant +home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then they all went on to other beds.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the few gentlemen dispersed amongst the numerous and +compassionate nurses, assisting and advising, was Count Rivero.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was not far off when Madame Balzer hurried to Clara to beg for some +linen.</p> + +<p class="normal">His large dark eyes rested thoughtfully on the two beautiful women +during their short conversation; then he turned slowly away and walked +in a contrary direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few hours later the station was empty; the ladies had all returned +either to their luxurious palaces or quiet family circles; the poor +wounded soldiers had been conveyed to hospitals, to struggle to +convalescence, after long days of suffering, or to die.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_26" href="#div1Ref_26">INSTRUMENTS OF THE CHURCH</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">The morning sun shone brightly into Lieutenant von Stielow's +room. But +not as yesterday did he lie stretched upon his couch in happy dreams; +he paced to and fro, with quick and restless footsteps, his pale face +looked painfully anxious, and it was evident he had passed a sleepless +night.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had spent the evening before with Clara, in the sweet and charming +converse of two loving hearts, who say so much, yet never can say +enough; an hour had flown rapidly, then she had complained of violent +pain from the small wound in her arm; they had applied cooling lotions, +but the pain had increased, and the arm had swelled considerably. They +sent for their usual medical attendant, and he had tried various +remedies; but the poor girl said that the pain became still more +violent; the wound was greatly inflamed and the swelling grew larger. +Stielow remained at the Countess Frankenstein's house until the small +hours of the morning; at last the doctor, after hearing how the injury +had been received, tried a different ointment, and gave the young +countess a sleeping draught.</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein had insisted upon Herr von Stielow's returning +home and resting a little, and she promised him early in the morning to +call in the celebrated Oppolzer. No one thought there was any real +danger; but the young man had passed the night in great anxiety, +possessed by forebodings he could not overcome.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the morning he sent his servant to make inquiries, and heard in +reply that the countess had slept, and that Oppolzer was expected every +moment. He dressed, and prepared to hasten to the countess's house.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had on his uniform, and was just buckling his sword, when his +servant announced Count Rivero.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow made an impatient movement; but at the same time he gave his +servant a sign to admit the visitor.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count entered the room, looking grave, though fresh and elegant.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a graceful bow he held out his hand to the young baron and said in +his resonant voice, whilst his eyes beamed with an expression of warm +friendship:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard that you were here with Field-Marshal Gablenz, and I hastened +to visit you before you perhaps left us again, to express my joy that +you have so happily escaped the dangers of war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are very kind, count," replied von Stielow in a slightly +constrained tone; "I'm heartily glad to see you again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count seemed to expect an invitation to sit down.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow looked on the ground with some embarrassment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he raised his candid eyes and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count, you will forgive me if I speak quite openly to you. I beg you +urgently, to repeat the honour of your visit at some other time, that I +may have the happiness of increasing our acquaintance, which I hope," +he added politely, "will become much more intimate; at this moment I +must own I am pressingly engaged, and in great anxiety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anxiety?" asked the count, "it is not idle curiosity that urges me to +inquire the cause."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! I hope it is nothing very serious," said von Stielow, "the young +Countess Frankenstein--you know I am engaged?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard so," replied the count, "and I wished to offer you my +hearty congratulations."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow bowed slightly, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is unwell; an extraordinary accident has happened to her, which +makes me excessively uneasy; and I was just about to hasten to hear how +she was going on, and what Oppolzer, who was to meet her regular +attendant this morning, had said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oppolzer consulted?" cried the count with a look of alarm; "my God! is +the countess then seriously ill?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can scarcely think so," said von Stielow, "and yet the symptoms are +very distressing; a slight wound on her wrist has become rapidly bad, +and has caused her to feel so extremely ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A wound!" cried the count: his face grew very grave and expressed the +greatest attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was visiting the wounded soldiers at the northern railway +station," said the young officer, "and another lady slightly hurt her +wrist with a small pair of scissors in cutting off a piece of linen; it +could scarcely be called a wound; but in the course of the evening the +arm swelled and grew stiff, and became violently painful. Fever came +on, and the doctor fears that there must have been some drug upon the +scissors, what, he cannot ascertain. Under these circumstances," he +said, pressing the count's hand, "you will forgive me, if I beg you to +excuse me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count had listened very gravely, his face had turned pale, and his +large dark eyes looked thoughtfully at the young man's excited face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear baron," he said slowly, "honestly from my heart I feel the +liveliest interest in you; perhaps I can be useful to you. In former +years I studied medicine deeply, especially the knowledge of poisons +and their antidotes; they once," he added with a slight sigh, "played +so important and frightful a part in my country, that the subject +interested me deeply. If by an unhappy accident there was anything +pernicious or dangerous on the scissors, I may be of some assistance. +Will you allow me to see the young countess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And in a deep voice that seemed to command conviction, he added,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Believe me, I would not propose my help if I did not believe that if +serious danger has arisen, and help is possible, my remedy is certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow had at first listened to the count's proposal in +silent surprise, then a look of thankfulness beamed from his eyes, and +stretching out his hand he cried hastily,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must drive to my house to obtain the necessary apparatus," said the +count; "if it is really a case of poisoning, recovery may depend upon +moments."</p> + +<p class="normal">Instead of replying, the young man seized the count's arm and drew him +to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">They jumped into a cab that stood ready, driven by one of the best and +quickest drivers in Vienna, and in a few minutes they had reached the +count's rooms, which were only at a little distance. He got out, and +soon returned with a small black casket. They then drove rapidly to +Countess Frankenstein's and entered the reception room.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the ante-room a servant had received them with a sorrowful look, and +had replied almost weeping to Herr von Stielow's hasty question,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! my God! Herr Baron, it is terrible, the poor countess is +dreadfully bad, they have sent for the father-confessor, and also for +you, sir:" and he then hastened away to let the countess know of +Stielow's arrival.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked up and down the room with large strides, grief and despair +upon his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count stood calm and motionless, his hand supported on the back of +a chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few moments Countess Frankenstein appeared, she was pale and +exhausted, her eyes wearied with watching and red with weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">She glanced with surprise at the count, whom she had seen once or twice +in society, and whose presence at that moment was inexplicable to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow hastened up to her, seized her hand impatiently, and exclaimed +in a trembling voice,</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake! how is she? How is Clara?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Compose yourself, my dear Stielow," said the countess calmly, though +with a slight sob in her voice, "the hand of the Lord has smitten us +heavily; if He does not work a miracle, we must lose her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she broke down and wept quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But my God! how can it be? what did the doctor say?" cried the young +man, with a look of bewildered horror. "What is this wound?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clara must have touched some dead soldier, the poison from some deadly +wound has got into her blood, there is scarcely a hope of saving her," +she said in a low voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must go to her, I must see her!" cried von Stielow wildly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her confessor is with her," said the countess, "telling her of comfort +and resignation; let her first be reconciled to God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And raising her head, she regained her composure with a violent effort, +and cast an inquiring look at the count, who stood by in silence. His +eyes had flashed with anger when the countess had explained the medical +opinion of the nature of Clara's illness, but he had then raised them +in joyful thankfulness to heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the looks of the countess rested upon him he came forward with the +self-possession of a man of the world, and after bowing slightly he +said:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will recollect me, countess, though I have only had the honour of +meeting you once or twice. I think Herr von Stielow will permit me to +call myself his friend; he told me of the alarming illness that has +attacked the young countess, and I offered to use the medical knowledge +I acquired in earlier years on her behalf, before I knew the nature of +her injury. I have now heard the dreadful danger she is in, and if you +can trust me so far, I beg your permission to apply a remedy which I +promise shall, God willing, be successful."</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess listened in the greatest surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, count, a physician?" she enquired.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A physician from inclination," he replied, "but not a worse one than +many who make it their profession."</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess looked at him and hesitated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I implore you, for God's sake, let the count make the attempt," cried +von Stielow, "we must accept any help,--my God, my God, I cannot lose +her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count," said the Countess Frankenstein, "I thank you from my heart for +your sympathy and your offer. Forgive me if I consider it," she added +with hesitation, "the life of my child--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Consideration and hesitation may be fatal," said the count quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The countess looked down thoughtfully, von Stielow's eyes hung on her +face with an expression of deadly anguish.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door leading to the inner apartments opened and Father Ignatius, +the confessor to the countess and her daughter, entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wore the black dress of a priest, his manner was simple, graceful, +and dignified, his pale and regular features, surrounded by short black +hair, expressed spiritual repose, firmness, and great self-knowledge, +his dark eyes looked full of intelligence beneath the strongly marked +eyebrows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The countess is resigned to God's will, and desirous of receiving the +holy sacrament, that she may be prepared, should it please God not to +hear our prayers for her recovery," he said slowly in a low and +impressive voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! my God! my God!" cried von Stielow, in despair, "I conjure you, +countess, seize on the means that heaven has sent you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count Rivero," said Countess Frankenstein, indicating the count to her +confessor, "offers to save my daughter by means of a remedy which his +study of medicine has caused him to discover; you will understand--I +beg your forgiveness, count--that I must act cautiously where the life +of my child is at stake. I expect the doctor every moment, Oppolzer too +will come again,--he has indeed little hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Ignatius cast a quick searching glance at the count, who replied +to it with a look of calm dignity, almost of proud superiority.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is certainly a grave and difficult question," said the father +hesitatingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every moment makes recovery more doubtful," cried the count with some +vehemence. "I believe," he then continued calmly, "that the father will +be of my opinion, that in this unusual and extreme case we must try +everything, and place confidence in most unusual means."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke he looked firmly at the confessor, and raising his hand +slightly he made the sign of the cross in a peculiar way, over his brow +and his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amazed, almost alarmed, the father gazed at him, and casting down his +eyes before the count's large, brilliant orbs, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be sinning against Providence if we did not thankfully seize +on the means which God has so visibly sent us in our urgent need. Your +conscience will reproach you, countess, if you do not accept the help +now offered."</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein looked at the priest with some surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come then," she said, turning to Count Rivero, after a moment's +silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they all went to the apartments of the young countess. The flowers +still bloomed in her room, the crucifix stood in the niche, and at its +feet lay the case which held the withered rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">The portière that divided this room from her bedroom was drawn back. It +was a spacious apartment hung entirely with grey silk even to the +curtains of the bed, upon which lay the countess in a white négligé, +supported by pillows. The sleeve of her right arm was thrown back, and +the dreadfully inflamed arm was covered with a wet compress, which a +maid who sat near the bed moistened constantly with some strongly +smelling fluid from a medicine bottle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara's face was much flushed, her eyes had the brilliance of fever, +but they looked calmly resigned, as her friends entered with their +sorrowful faces.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as he saw the poor suffering girl, von Stielow rushed past the +others, and falling on his knees beside the bed and folding his hands, +cried in a stifled voice, "Clara, my Clara!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My own friend," she said gently, and stretched out her soft left hand +towards him, "how beautiful life is, how sad to think of the death that +is so near me,--God will be gracious, He will not part us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow bent his head down upon her hand, and touched it lightly with +his lips. He could not say a word. Only a deep sob broke from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Rivero approached the bed with a quick step and a commanding +movement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hope! countess," he said in a firm, clear voice, "God will bless my +hand! And now, baron, give up your place to me, moments are precious!" +He slightly touched the shoulder of the young man as he knelt.</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose hastily and stepped aside.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count removed the compress, and calmly examined the wound. It was +much swollen, of a bluish colour, and long streaks of inflammation +extended to the shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">All eyes rested on the count's face with the most earnest anxiety; he +looked at the wound attentively and lightly followed the swelling with +his finger. Clara gazed with surprise mingled with hopeful confidence, +at this man who was quite unknown to her, but who stood so quietly +beside her and who had so confidently said to her, "hope!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The count concluded his examination.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is quite true," he said; "corrupted matter has got into the wound, +the poison has spread greatly, it is almost too late!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened the black casket he had brought with him, and which he had +placed beside him on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">It contained a small surgical apparatus, and several little cut glass +bottles.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count took a knife with a golden handle and a highly-polished +shining blade.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon, countess," he said in the tone of a man of the +world, "I must hurt you, it is necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young countess smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count took firm hold of the suffering arm, and quick as lightning +cut two deep gashes crossing each other into the wound.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thick blood mixed with matter flowed from it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A handkerchief!" cried the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">They gave him a cambric handkerchief; he quickly removed the blood, +seized a glass bottle, opened the wound widely and poured into it a +portion of the contents.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara's face grew deadly pale; she closed her eyes, her lips quivered +convulsively.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does it hurt?" asked the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Horribly!" replied the young girl in a voice that was scarcely +audible.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count took from the casket a small syringe with a sharp steel +point, filled it with fluid from the bottle, and injected the contents +into the flesh of the arm, following the direction of the swelling.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara's face showed even greater agony, the Countess Frankenstein +watched the count's manipulations with the deepest anxiety, Stielow +wrung his hands in silent grief, and Father Ignatius moved his lips in +prayer.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count took another bottle, half filled a glass with pure water, and +slowly and carefully counted the drops as he let them fall from the +fluid in the phial.</p> + +<p class="normal">The water grew blood red, a strong, peculiar odour spread through the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count touched the patient's brow lightly with his finger.</p> + +<p class="normal">She opened her eyes; her countenance still expressed burning pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drink this!" said the count in a gentle but commanding tone. At the +same time he carefully raised her head and placed the glass to her +lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">She took the contents. His eyes watched her attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short time her face grew calmer, the contraction from the +violence of the pain became less. She opened her eyes, and drew in a +deep breath as if relieved.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! what good that does me!" she whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">An expression of satisfaction appeared on the count's face, then he +said in a grave, solemn voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have done all that is possible to human art and knowledge, let us +hope God's hand will shed a blessing upon my work. Pray to God, +countess, fervently and with all your soul, that He may give my remedy +strength to overcome the poison."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," said the young girl ardently, and her eyes sought her +lover; "come to me, my beloved friend!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow hastened to the bed and sank down before it with +folded hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot put my hands together," she said in a low voice, looking at +him affectionately, "so let me lay my hand in yours, and our united +prayer shall ascend to heaven, that eternal mercy may permit us to +remain together."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she began whisperingly to pray, whilst the young officer's eyes +were raised upwards with a look of the deepest devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly a shudder passed through the form of the young countess, she +withdrew her hand with a look of pain, and gazed with horror at her +lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh!" she cried in a trembling voice, "our prayers cannot really be +united; what a dreadful thought, we do not pray to the same God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clara!" cried the young man, "what an idea! there is but one God in +heaven, and He will hear us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" she cried, without heeding his words, "there is but one God in +heaven, but you do not walk in the paths that lead to Him, you are not +in the bosom of the Church! Oh! I often thought of it amidst the +pleasures and distractions of life; but now in this dire necessity, at +the very gate of eternity, the thought fills me with horror! God cannot +hear us, and," she added, with a bewildered look, "if I must die, if no +help is possible, I must pass into eternity, knowing that his soul is +lost! Horrible! oh, horrible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clara! Clara!" cried von Stielow in a tone of the greatest anguish, +gazing in despair upon her painfully excited face, "God is the same for +all those who worship Him with a pure heart, and no prayer can be more +pure, more earnest than mine is now!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein had sunk upon a chair, and covered her face with +her hands, the father looked thoughtfully at the affecting scene, and +the calm, perfect features of Count Rivero were lighted up as by a +sudden inspiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara gazed sorrowfully at her lover, and gently shook her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not worship at the altars of my Church," she said; "we are apart +in the highest and holiest feelings that touch the human heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clara, my own beloved!" cried the young man, raising his folded hands, +"the altar on which your pure heart worships God must be the holiest, +the best. Oh! that this altar were here, that I might throw myself +before it, and pray to God for your recovery!" And raising his eyes +with a look of inspiration, he took the hand of his betrothed and +placed it on his own. A look of unutterable delight shone in the eyes +of the young countess.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The altar of God is here!" said Count Rivero, in a tone of deep +emotion. He drew from beneath his waistcoat a golden cross, upon which +a marvellously beautiful figure of the Saviour was chiselled in silver. +"And his priest stands beside you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He unfastened the crucifix from a small golden chain to which it was +attached.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There can be no higher nor holier altar than this," said he, touching +the crucifix adoringly with his lips; "the Holy Father in Rome has +consecrated it with his apostolic blessing. Young man," he said, +turning to Stielow, who was still kneeling, but whose eyes were raised +with a look half of inquiry, half of enlightened inspiration, "young +man, God has indeed blessed you, in so wonderfully opening to you the +way of salvation. Hear the voice of God, speaking to you through the +pure lips of her you love; seize on the mercy that beckons you to the +bosom of the true Church, and acknowledge God in the confession which +perhaps may shortly arise from the dying lips of your betrothed to the +throne of the Eternal Father. You supplicate Heaven for a miracle, the +recovery of her you love, open your soul to the miraculous stream of +mercy that flows towards you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will!" cried Stielow, his face glowing with ardent enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara closed her eyes and pressed her hand firmly upon her lover's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou hearest it, my God," she whispered; "I thank Thee! Thy ways of +mercy are holy, and above all our thoughts and hopes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father," said the count with dignity, "do your duty as a priest, and +receive this soul, awakened to eternal salvation, into the bosom of the +one true Church!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Ignatius had stood by in great emotion, his eyes beaming with +satisfaction; but he replied with hesitation:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it possible? Here, without preparation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The count slightly raised his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I undertake the responsibility," he said proudly; "the forms can be +complied with hereafter," and he handed the crucifix to the father, who +kissed it with veneration.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lay your hand upon the image of the Redeemer, and repeat what the +priest of God tells you to say," said the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow turned to the father, who approached him, and did as the count +had commanded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Steadily and solemnly the priest repeated the words of the Catholic +confession of faith; the young officer repeated them after him with the +greatest devotion, and Clara whispered them in a low voice; the count +stood upright, his brilliant eyes raised to heaven, a smile of inspired +triumph on his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Countess Frankenstein had sunk upon her knees, and laid her head upon +her folded hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">The confession of faith was ended; with a humble gesture the father +returned the count the crucifix, he kissed it, and again attaching it +to his chain, he concealed it in his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now unite in prayer," he said with unspeakable sympathy; "no +dissonance will part you, in pure harmony your petitions will rise to +the throne of eternal love and compassion."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stielow placed his folded hands upon the bed; Clara pressed her left +hand upon them, and the lips of both these young and loving creatures +moved in earnest prayer to God, imploring Him to permit them to walk +along the path of life together.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus they prayed for a long time earnestly and unitedly; their friends +looked at this affecting picture without speaking. Deep silence +prevailed in the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last Stielow rose from his knees after lightly touching the hand of +the young countess with his lips. Countess Frankenstein approached him +and kissed him upon the brow. "God's blessing be upon you, my son," she +said affectionately. The young man looked around him with dreamy, +glistening eyes; he felt as if descending from a strange world which +was suddenly closed upon him when he looked at the objects around him, +and as if he needed to recover his composure after the excitement which +had shaken his inmost soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count approached the bed, and examined the injured arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wound was very red, and surrounded by a wreath of blisters.</p> + +<p class="normal">Similar blisters appeared all up the arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The remedy is taking effect," he said; "the poison is beginning to +work out, I have a certain hope of recovery."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Stielow threw himself upon the count's breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My friend for ever!" he cried, and tears flowed from his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How shall I thank you, count?" cried Countess Frankenstein, with great +emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God, countess," he replied. "But," he added in the easy tone of +general conversation, "I reckon upon your discretion, you must not +betray me to the doctors."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave instructions about the further treatment of the wound, and a +remedy to be used in his absence, he again administered a medicine, and +left the house promising to return in a few hours.</p> + +<p class="normal">With rapid footsteps he hastened to Madame Balzer's house; his face +assumed a grave and severe expression as he ascended the steps leading +to the young lady's apartments.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the salon he found the Abbé Rosti awaiting him. The young priest sat +opposite the <i>chaise-longue</i> of the mistress of the house, who was +conversing gaily with him, dressed in a charming pale blue morning +toilette.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé rose as the count entered, and the young lady welcomed him +with a graceful smile as she offered him her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have expected you for some time," she said. "The poor abbé has been +wearied with his efforts to continue a conversation with me," she added +in a roguish tone. "Where were you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been preventing the completion of a great crime," replied the +count gloomily, fixing his eyes firmly upon the lady's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">She trembled involuntarily beneath his gaze.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A crime?" she asked, "and where was it committed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was committed," said the count quietly, without removing his eyes, +"it was committed upon a pure and noble creature whom a ruthless hand +had destined to a horrible death, upon the Countess Clara +Frankenstein."</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Balzer stood stiff and motionless. A deep pallor spread over her +face, her lips trembled, her eyes sank before the firm and immovable +gaze of the count. Her breast heaved, she tried to speak; but only a +broken hissing breath came from her lips. "Abbé", said the count +raising his hand and pointing to her, "you see this woman now standing +before you, who was talking to you with smiling lips, whose eyes seemed +to reflect the feelings of a good and noble heart--this woman is a +murderess, who with cold cruelty has poisoned the warm pure blood of an +innocent human being, a being who never harmed her except that she +possessed the love of a young man, for whom this woman felt a wicked +passion. God willed it otherwise," he added, "and gave me the power of +saving this victim of her wickedness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Amazed, horrified, the abbé listened to the count's words; he looked +enquiringly at the beautiful and elegant woman against whom such a +frightful accusation was brought.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had pressed her hand upon her breast, as if to calm its powerful +emotion. Her eyes were raised at the count's last word with an +expression of fear, and raging hatred; but she could not bear his gaze, +and her eyes fell again to the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count," she said with a great effort, but in a calm and sharp voice, +"you bring strange accusations against me, you speak in the voice of a +judge. I do not understand you, nor do I recognize your right."</p> + +<p class="normal">And exerting all her powers of will, she raised her eyes and gazed +firmly into the count's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew himself to his full height, and stepping close up to her, and +raising his hand, he said in a low voice which vibrated through the +room:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not speak from suspicion, I bring an accusation against you which +it would be easy for me to prove; I speak as a judge, because if I +would, I might be your judge, Antonia von Steinfeld."</p> + +<p class="normal">She gazed at him with horror, all her composure left her; and broken +down she sank into a chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I might," proceeded the count, "be the judge of that unnatural +daughter who forsook her old sick mother, a worthy lady who had +educated her, by making great sacrifices, to follow the adventurous +life of an actress, who stole her mother's last treasure, the +title-deeds of her small estate, and whilst she lived in wild +dissipation left that unhappy mother, who would not face the shame and +publicity of bringing her to justice, to suffer from want, until sorrow +broke her heart. I might be the judge of the worthless creature who +sank deeper and deeper, until she was punished for a fresh robbery, +upon a young man whom she had ensnared, by two years' imprisonment; who +then as an actress travelled through most of the little towns of +Bohemia and Galicia, until she succeeded in finding a man but little +better than herself, who gave her his name, and placed her in a +position that enabled her to continue on a large scale the course she +had before commenced. I might be the judge of the murderess who +planned in cold blood a horrible death for a pure and innocent girl. Do +you think, wretch!" he added--and his voice sounded like distant +thunder--"do you think it would cost me more than a word to strip the +false spangled veil from the hideousness of your past life and give you +up to the abhorrence and scorn of the world? Do you think," he cried, +standing close before her, with flashing eyes, "that it would burden my +conscience, by a drop of surer poison than that you placed in the veins +of an innocent creature, to free the world from your sin-laden +existence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As the count spoke, the young woman had sunk down lower and lower; as +he ended she lay at his feet, her eyes stared at him as at some +supernatural appearance, horror and hopeless anguish were depicted in +her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé looked with a mixture of pity and abhorrence at the +broken-down creature.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count gazed at her in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God," he then said, "that the object of your murderous hate was +saved by my hand, or my hand would have slain you without mercy. Try," +he said after a short silence, during which, panting, and with anguish +in her eyes, she had hung on his lips, "try to gain heaven's +forgiveness, use the gifts nature has given you, and which you have +hitherto misused in sin, in the holy service of God and his Church. You +shall serve me as a tool; and for the sake of the cause to which you +shall be dedicated, perhaps it may be possible for you to gain +forgiveness of the past."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him enquiringly; life and hope returned to her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I demand no promises from you, I shall see what you do, and whether +your obedience stands the test,--remember that even when I am far away, +my eyes will be upon you, that my hand can always reach you, and that +vengeance will fall upon your head if you deviate one hair's breadth +from the path which I lay down for you. I shall free you from every +chain that fetters you here, you shall be free in my service, to use +your powers under my direction; but once more: Take heed not to follow +your own way, it will lead you to hopeless destruction."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose slowly and stood before him, with downcast eyes, her hands +crossed upon her breast; it was hard to say what was in her mind, but +her features expressed only deep humility and submission.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked at her for a moment in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have spoken," he said; "I shall not warn, but punish, if my words +are forgotten."</p> + +<p class="normal">She bent her head in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the solemn earnestness vanished from his face, and his features +resumed their usual easy repose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Herr Balzer at home?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think so," she replied in a low voice; "he asked to see me a short +time ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to speak to him," said the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">She bowed in silence and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a scene!" cried the young abbé, shuddering, "and what a dreadful +woman!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked thoughtfully before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe," asked the abbé, "that she will heed your warning? +that she will repent and amend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know," said the count calmly, "we must hope her heart may at +last be opened to grace, in that case she would be an instrument of +priceless worth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are your views?" asked the young priest with surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count slowly placed himself in an arm-chair and signed to the abbé +to seat himself beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My young friend," he said in a grave mild voice, "you belong to the +Holy League, you are a soldier of the Church militant, you have genius, +courage, and faith; you are called to labour with me in the erection of +God's kingdom upon earth, to build up the temple of promise, upon the +rock of St. Peter; I tell you a great battle, a great work, is before +you, a work upon a new foundation."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent--lost in thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What we have done hitherto has crumbled to pieces," he said after a +time; "a new phase begins--Austria has denied the very ground-work of +her existence, she has denied the Church, upon whose soil the empire +has grown up; through which alone it could have been maintained, and +guided safely through the future. The first step upon this path will +swiftly be followed by others, according to the merciless law of +logical consequences; we must strike Austria out of our reckoning. +Whether we can rely upon France is not clear to me, it might appear so +from the first glance, but the present government of France affords no +guarantee, a hellish power prevails there, and this power has been the +first to lay hands upon the ancient and holy rights of the Church. I +see," he continued, as if lost in the contemplation of the picture +presented to his mind, "the world forming itself anew. I see the German +nation slowly arising to supreme eminence. Is it the will of Providence +that the realm of Germany, once the foremost backslider, shall now be +the firm foundation-stone of the kingdom of God? The future will show," +he said after a pause, "but we must be upon the watch, we must regard +these new times with a sharp glance, that we may lay the foundation of +our power, and be able to guide events with a firm hand. What we may +have to do does not yet appear,--here at least <i>nothing</i> can be done, +here are only ruins tottering to their fall. I am going to Paris," he +added, raising his head, "that is the centre of coming events, there we +shall discover the threads which will bind the world. You will +accompany me?" he asked, half as a question, half as a command.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am prepared," he replied, "to follow your guidance, and it fills me +with joy and pride to labour under such a master."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall take this woman with me," said the count, "I shall free her +from her present connexion, and place her in a position where her +eminent talents may be developed: she will, now that she knows she is +in my power, do us great service."</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé looked amazed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This woman?" he said; "ought we to defile our holy cause with such a +tool?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The count fixed his large expressive eyes firmly upon the young priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you then assailed by that doubt of weak souls," he said slowly, +"who desire the end, but fear to use the means?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can sin serve heaven?" asked the abbé with hesitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count rose, and spoke in a tone of firm and full conviction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does not the tempest-flash, that slays and burns the huts of poverty, +serve the eternal councils of God? are not all the destructive powers +of nature wonderful instruments in the hand of God? This is the +almighty power of God, that the evil should serve the good, and lead to +a good end. Even that great German poet who did not belong to the +faith, painted his devil more truly and more rightly than the world +believes; as a power who wills evil, yet must do good! Well," he cried, +"we desire to be soldiers of the Church militant, we wish to overcome +her enemies, and to help on the triumph of the Cross; and shall we like +cowards shrink back before the devil? Shall we acknowledge and fear his +power? No, we must have strength in ourselves to compel the hellish +powers of darkness to the service of heaven; that is the true victory +over sin; not the victory of the fearful schoolboy, who flies, that he +may not be overcome, but the victory of our Master and our Lord, who in +the name of God subdued the fallen angels, and fought against the +powers of the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me," said the abbé in a tone of doubt, "but is it not +presumption in us, who are but weak sinful creatures, to try to govern +the powers of darkness as the hand of Almighty God does, and can? may +we not become their prey, whilst we think we rule them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked at him severely, almost angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The world," he said, "fights against us with every means she +possesses, she loves to choose the best and sharpest weapons; shall we +pursue our holy war unequally armed, and thus prepare for ourselves +certainty of defeat? No! a thousand times No! our hand must bear the +sharpest and the surest weapons, sharper and surer than our enemies'! +The sword slays," he added, "and it is written: 'Thou shalt not kill!' +Yet behold the thousands who wear the sword and spend their lives in +learning most scientifically the art of slaying! Why are they not +condemned, these armies? Why are they crowned with laurels, when they +return victorious after slaying thousands and thousands of innocent +men? Because they draw their swords to serve a good and a true +principle, to defend their hearths, to defend the glory and the +greatness of their country. And their country belongs to this world, +belongs to this fleeting earth! Yet shall we hesitate to draw the sword +in defence of our spiritual home? in defence of the glory, the power, +and the greatness of the eternal country of the human race, the +invisible, most holy kingdom of God? Truly, my young friend, those who +for the things of this world draw the sword, and shed the blood of +their fellow-men, have no right to fetter us in the choice of the +weapons with which we strive for the eternal and imperishable good. But +it is above all our enemies who would place only blunt weapons in our +hands, that their victory may be certain; and if they succeed in +casting doubts into our souls, the battle is gained beforehand. Banish +doubt from your heart, strengthen your soul, or your hand will bear the +sword for the warring Church of Christ in vain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé bowed his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive the hesitation of a youthful heart," he said in a low voice, +"I will wrestle and pray that I may be girded with the strong panoply +of faithful obedience."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked at him kindly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray to God," he said, "that your heart may be nerved and steeled, +without having to pass through the pain and despair mine suffered +before it attained to calm firmness and clear conviction."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stepped closer to him, and laid his hand upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I too," he said in a gentle voice, "was young like yourself, I was +cheerful and happy as you are, I had a wife whom my soul adored, I had +a daughter two years old whose pure eyes seemed to me a greeting from +heaven. I was a surgeon in Rome, my hand was skilful, riches streamed +down upon me. I loved all mankind, when I put my arm around my wife and +held my sweet child upon my knee. To help all who were suffering was my +most holy endeavour, my thank-offering for all the happiness that God +had bestowed upon me. And I had a brother," he added, with a dreamy +look, searching amongst the memories of the past; "I loved him from his +tenderest childhood, I was older than he, and I had formed his mind, +and educated his heart. He was a disciple of the noble art of painting, +that fair flower of my lovely country, and I saw with pride the +creations of his pencil, in which the breath of genius lived, and which +approached nearer and nearer to the great works of the ancients. It was +a good and happy time. My brother wished to try his pencil on the +highest and holiest subject art can create, the divinely blessed Virgin +with the Child Jesus. My wife sat to him as a model, my child upon her +lap was to represent the Divine Child. Was it a sin, a presumptuous +crime? The great Raphael had painted the forms of earthly women for his +madonnas, and yet the wonderful spirit of divinity had enlightened his +eyes. I rejoiced, and was happy in the thought that by the hand of my +brother all that I loved on earth might be united to do God service. I +was absent long hours in the exercise of my profession," he continued +in a gloomy voice, "and one day when I returned, they had vanished! My +brother had tempted my wife away, or she him, I know not which--I know +nothing except that they were gone, and that they had taken my innocent +child with them, that her pure eyes might bring me no comfort in my +loneliness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He said the last words lower and lower, his eyes seemed far away, his +features trembled with painful emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">He sank down into an arm-chair as if exhausted, the abbé looked at him +with much sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is long since I have spoken of this," said the count after a +moment, in a calm and melancholy voice, "since I have probed my wound +with words. You see," he said, with an indescribably sad smile, "the +wound is not yet healed.--All my inquiries were in vain," he then +proceeded; "I could find no trace of the fugitives. Shall I describe my +feelings? It would be hard to find human language to express them. I +despaired of God, my soul revolted wildly against heaven; I wished to +put an end to my life, and only a slight hope of recovering my child, +my poor, innocent child, made me delay my resolution from day to day. I +abhorred mankind, I withheld the help of my knowledge from the sick, +from the dying; I rejoiced with cold malice when fathers died, when +children were torn from their parents, whilst an operation from my +skilful hand would have saved them. I hated and despised governments +and communities; could their laws, and their institutions, punish or +prevent such crimes as had been committed against me? If I could have +destroyed the whole human race with one word, I would have spoken that +word with a scornful smile, and have reduced every living creature to +eternal nothingness! Oh! my young friend," he said, with a heavy sigh, +"those were frightful days and nights that I passed through; my spirit +went down into hell, and I felt what seethes and ferments in its +depths! In my breast its horrible, yelling voices resounded; I, too, +pronounced that 'No' against the decrees of the Creator, against the +God of mercy and of love! An old worthy priest, a valiant warrior of +the Church, came to me; he forced himself upon me, and the fiery rays +of his eloquence aroused an angry tempest in the midnight of my soul, +every fibre of my being shuddered. But after the storm came light. I +learned from my wise teacher and guide, that no decree of government or +of society, however well-founded, however wise, can banish sin. That +power belongs to the Holy Church alone, that community ordained of God, +and when at last she possesses the world in her all-powerful grasp, sin +will be vanquished, and crime will vanish from the earth. I learned to +know that there is no higher, no holier calling than this, to strive +that all things may be committed to the power of the Church, that the +work of our Saviour's redemption may be completed, that the blood of +Christ may flow down upon all mankind; there is no prouder, no more +glorious deed possible, than to compel sin itself to the service of +heaven. But," he continued, and his eyes glowed with energy and +indomitable will, "I also saw the frightful weapons of the Church's +foes, and I learnt that victory can only be obtained by seizing with a +firm, relentless hand all the weapons of the will and the mind; above +all, by grasping with an iron hand all the evil powers of the sinful +world, and compelling them to serve the Holy Cause, by an annihilating +warfare against each other. I dedicated my life to the cause of the +Church militant, and God strengthened my heart and enlightened my mind, +and he gave me power over men to guide the threads of their fate. I +have often held a fearful and demoniacal power; but my good angel has +not failed me, the hellish power has served heaven, as the gigantic +power of steam obeys the pressure of the human hand. And ought I to +hesitate and doubt," he cried passionately, "in the choice of the +weapons whereby the victory, the great and holy victory, may be won? +ought I to throw away the power I have gained over the enemy, and make +myself and the cause I serve the laughing-stock of the world? Oh! I +fear not the powers of hell, this hand is strong enough to bend them to +my will, and in the name of God to compel the evil ones to work his +good pleasure!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé looked with admiration at the count's perfect and animated +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me, my master," he said humbly, "if I doubted; and do not +withdraw your strong hand from me, to guide and to support."</p> + +<p class="normal">The count held out his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your powers, too, will be steeled in the battle," he said, "but never +forget that though man, the weak and sinful creature, may venture to +wield these weapons, only he has a right to seize them who renounces +all, that he may live and die an instrument to increase the glory of +God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened, Herr Balzer entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He saluted the count with his usual vulgar familiarity, and the +shameless confidence habitual to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count responded by a proud inclination of the head, and looked at +him coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wished to speak to me, count," said Herr Balzer, "how can I serve +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope our conversation will be short," replied the count, "I have a +proposal to make to you which you will accept, as it will free you from +a very bad position."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer was alarmed at the severe, decided tone in which the count +spoke to him. His confidence seemed to give way a little.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A proposal?" he said with surprise; then he added with a vulgar laugh, +"I always like to hear proposals, especially if acceptable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish your wife to be perfectly free," said the count shortly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That will be a little difficult!" cried Herr Balzer with a look +of satisfaction, "a separation--she must turn Protestant, and the +scandal----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She would be free--as a widow," said the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer sprang backwards from the speaker.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked round anxiously, then he gazed into the count's calm face, +and said, with a constrained smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You jest, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly not," said the count; "you will have the goodness to listen +to me quietly and without interruption, and I do not doubt that you +will perfectly agree with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer seemed not to know what he thought of this strange calm +man, but he bent his head as an intimation that he was willing to hear.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the simplest way in the world the count proceeded:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your affairs, sir, are in a desperate state; you are not only a +bankrupt, but you have almost from the commencement of your financial +existence only concealed your old debts by incurring larger ones, a +course which necessarily would bring you to complete ruin in the end."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer looked at the count in great surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The moment of unavoidable ruin has come," he said, "I am in possession +of a number of demands upon you, which if presented must infallibly +overthrow your credit. Beside this, your position is most unhappily +compromised, since you have, to save yourself, or rather to stave off +the time of inevitable ruin, pursued the plan of forging various bills +of exchange."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count," cried Herr Balzer in a voice whose impudence ill concealed his +fear, "I----"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a proud movement the count imposed silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew from his pocket several bills of exchange.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see," he said, turning them over, "the forged bills are in my +hands, a prison will be your destination if I give these into the hands +of a magistrate."</p> + +<p class="normal">Every trace of self-confidence had disappeared from Herr Balzer's +common-looking face. "With bewildered fear he looked at the count +without speaking a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a lost man," he said coldly, "and if you have a spark of +honour left, you will prefer death to the future before you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer raised his hands in speechless agony, as if imploring the +count for mercy.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at him severely and proceeded:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not, however, destroy you, I will give you the opportunity of +beginning a new life."</p> + +<p class="normal">A ray of joy shone in the exchange-agent's eyes; he did not yet +understand, but he began to hope.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Count," he cried, "command----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hear first what I demand; upon your implicit obedience your future +will depend."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer listened anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will go at once to Gmünden," said the count, "from thence you will +write a letter to your wife, in which you will say that you cannot bear +the disgrace of bankruptcy, and that you prefer death; you will then +take care that your hat, your stick, and a glove or pocket-handkerchief +are found floating on the water, where the lake is the deepest. After +this is accomplished, you will cut off your beard, put on a wig, and go +to Salzburg, where at this address a certain person will provide you +with a passport and the sum of five thousand gulden."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave Herr Balzer a card with some writing upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will then," he continued, "proceed to Hamburg, and embark in the +first ship for New York, and there you will go to those who will be +pointed out to you by the person in Salzburg. They will give you every +information, and assist you in commencing a new life, if you forget +your name and the past. Remember that you are watched, and that you +will be destroyed if you are not perfectly obedient!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer's face had at first only expressed utter amazement, then a +look of scorn and wicked satisfaction passed over his features, finally +he gazed thoughtfully before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you accept my proposals of safety?" asked the count.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my bills of exchange?" asked Balzer, looking ashamed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have bought them, they will stay in my pocketbook," replied the +count.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accept," said Herr Balzer, "you shall be satisfied with me. But," he +added, with an extremely repulsive smile, "five thousand gulden is not +much--you value my wife at very little."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall receive the same sum when you arrive in New York," said the +count coldly, "if you obey me implicitly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go," said Herr Balzer. "May I not," he added with a look of +grief that was badly acted, "bid my wife farewell?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied the count, "she shall believe you are really dead, that +is my express will; she shall be free, even in her conscience."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer turned to go.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall expect news of you from Salzburg in three days!" said the +count. "And now," he added solemnly and earnestly, "thank heaven, and +make use of the mercy that offers you a new life!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand to him, and mildness and kindness shone in his +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Balzer bowed and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are now ready," said the count, as soon as he was alone with the +abbé; "be prepared to start in a week's time."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_27" href="#div1Ref_27">HIETZING</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">The large and extensive Castle of Schönbrunn is beautifully +situated, +it is surrounded by an enormous and ancient park with artistically +arranged ruins, with allegorical fountains, with deep shady groves, and +sunny level lawns; behind the castle, airily perched on the summit of +the height, is the triumphal arch called the Gloriette, from whence the +great Empress Maria Theresa could behold Vienna, which with the lofty +tower of St. Stephen appears upon the horizon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Near to this imperial residence, full of remembrances of the Empress +Queen and of Napoleon I., (whose eagles may still be seen upon the two +obelisks at the principal entrance,) and around the spacious park, lies +pretty Hietzing, that favourite summer retreat of the Viennese. Villa +adjoins villa, and in the beautiful summer afternoons all the +fashionable world of Vienna streams out to hear the concerts in the +large gardens of the "Neue Welt," or of "Dommayer's Casino," and to +walk in the shady alleys of the park of Schönbrunn, which is always +open to the public.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since the time when Napoleon I. fixed his head-quarters in Maria +Theresa's favourite residence, and caused the "old guard" to parade in +the spacious court of the castle, Hietzing had not been so animated or +so full as in the autumn of 1866.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Saxon army was encamped in and around Hietzing; King John inhabited +the Stöckl, that small palace at the entrance of the park which Maria +Theresa had built for her celebrated physician van Swieten; and the +King of Hanover, who on his first arrival in Vienna had resided at the +house of his ambassador, General von Knesebeck, had now retired to the +Duke of Brunswick's villa at the farther end of the pretty village, +from which it was separated by a long high wall, which concealed the +wonderful art treasures and whimsical arrangements in the park and the +interior of the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Saxon troops, the suites of the two princes, the equipages of the +arch-dukes and of the Austrian aristocracy, who vied with each other in +attentions to the kings who were now suffering from the effects of the +Austrian policy, filled the streets of Hietzing in a varied and +brilliant manner; the inhabitants of Vienna streamed out more +numerously than ever, and if anyone had cause to be satisfied with the +catastrophe of 1866 it was certainly the possessors of the "Neue Welt," +and "Dommayer's Casino."</p> + +<p class="normal">One morning in that remarkable and eventful time, two persons met in +the large central salon of the Brunswick villa.</p> + +<p class="normal">The walls of this apartment were hung with Chinese tapestry, the +embroidered figures of the inhabitants of that great empire, with faces +exactly resembling those painted on their china, looked down +complacently from the walls, the whole of the furniture was of costly +Chinese work, life-sized pagodas stood in the corners, Chinese mats of +the finest rice-straw covered the floors; the large glass doors were +open and let the mild air blow in from the well-kept park. All the +curiosities in this salon, which gave it rather the appearance of a +museum than of a dwelling-room, did not attract one look from the two +men who paced up and down, with sad and mournful faces.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of these persons was Count Alfred Wedel, whom we met with before in +Hanover during the catastrophe of the month of June. He wore his +undress court uniform, a blue coat with a scarlet collar; beside him +was a small and delicate-looking man of about thirty-six years of age, +with thin fair hair and a long light moustache; his features expressed +great energy, and quick lively intelligence. He wore the uniform of a +captain of infantry in the Hanoverian army.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my dear Düring," said Count Wedel, in a melancholy voice, "all is +over,--Hanover exists no more,--you are the last man who waved our +banner; would to God," he added with a sigh, "that our generals had +been as energetic as you were, it would have been better for us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot indeed understand," said Captain von Düring, "how everything +happened; I have only been able to follow the campaign from vague +reports; but I can comprehend neither the military nor the political +operations!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who can understand them?" cried Count Wedel with bitterness, "least of +all, I believe, those who conceived them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you believe the annexation of Hanover will really take place?" +asked von Düring.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe it is certain," said Count Wedel; "the expressions used by +the Prussian magistrates in Hanover leave us in no doubt about it, it +is no use ignoring the sad fact; but," he said, "we are called!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A bell sounded from the adjoining room.</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment afterwards the king's groom of the chambers appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty requests you, gentlemen, to go to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">He opened the door into the king's cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Wedel and Captain von Düring entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cabinet that George V. inhabited was hung with silken tartan, +beautiful specimens of Scotch weapons, and masterly paintings +representing scenes from Sir Walter Scott's novels, adorned the walls. +Before a large table in the midst of the room stood the king; his +beautiful, expressive countenance was very sad. He wore the loose grey +overcoat belonging to the uniform of his Austrian regiment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless you, gentlemen," said King George with a gracious smile, as +he held out his hand, which Count Wedel and Captain von Düring pressed +to their lips; "much has happened since we parted, my dear Alfred."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Wedel in a trembling voice, "whatever has +happened, or whatever may happen, my heart remains ever the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You bring me news of the queen?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, your majesty," replied the count, producing several letters +and handing them to the king; "a letter from her majesty, notes from +the princesses, and a report from Herr von Malortie upon your private +estates."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king laid the letters before him on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is the queen?" he asked, "how does she bear these sorrowful +times?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her majesty is calm and dignified," said the count, "but very unhappy, +the queen desires most earnestly to join your majesty as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep shadow passed over the king's brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whether God will bring us together again," he said, "lies in the dark +womb of the future; at present the queen must remain where she is, and +represent the government; such is my will."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Wedel was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is the countess?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank your majesty, she is arranging the house, and will soon follow +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Follow you?" asked King George.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Wedel with emotion, "I have not come to +bring you intelligence and to return. I have come to remain, if you do +not send me away!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said the count, "from all I see and hear, you will not +return, at least not for a long time, to Hanover. Your majesty made me +your chamberlain, and I have performed my duty about your person with +pride. Your majesty is now in exile," he continued, his voice almost +failing him: "I beg for the great honour of sharing your exile, and +retaining my office!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was silent for a moment. He slightly bit his moustache, a +sorrowful expression appeared on his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Alfred," he then said in a gentle voice, "you have just built +a house and newly furnished it. The countess is delicate, I am sure of +your faithfulness and devotion, but you must think of your family. You +would make too great a sacrifice; leave my service and this court,--the +court of banishment," he said sadly, "to those who are alone in life, +and have only themselves to think of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," cried Count Wedel hastily, interrupting the king, "you +will hurt me much if you do not accept my service, if you forbid me the +honour of standing beside you in misfortune; I shall not leave you," he +added with blunt frankness, "and if you do not allow me to be your +chamberlain, at least I will be the courtier of misfortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">A joyful smile passed over the king's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Misfortune has its charms," he said, "it teaches us to know our true +friends. We will speak more of this hereafter. And now, my dear Captain +von Düring," he said, turning towards him, "I have heard of your +wonderful march, tell me about it, I wish to hear how you found it +possible to wave the banner of Hanover to the very end, after I had +been forced to lower it," he added, with a sorrowful sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Captain von Düring, "I was at Emden with my +company, an overwhelming force of the enemy desired me to capitulate, I +declared that I would rather be buried beneath the ruins of the town +than lay down my arms; they then granted me a free retreat. I +withdrew," he continued, "with my company towards Holland. A large +number of young men from every district joined me. I procured a number +of passports partly by persuasion, partly from a list of pass +formularies, I filled them in and distributed them amongst my soldiers. +They had to pack up their arms and their uniform and thus they took +them with them to the Hague. Here I found your majesty's resident +minister, Count George Platen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"An excellent young man!" cried the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A true servant of your majesty, full of energy and zeal," said Captain +Düring; "I received from him a hearty reception and the warmest +support. Here I heard of the battle of Langensalza, and we celebrated +the victory with the greatest joy, for we were then convinced that the +army had cut its way through to the south."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It ought to have done so!" said the king gloomily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We considered," proceeded Captain von Düring, "how it was possible for +my company to reach the army,--there was but one way, through France--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through France!" cried the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your majesty," said Captain von Düring, "it was a risk but I +ventured it. We got into the railway train as simple passengers, and +happily we all succeeded in avoiding the notice of the French +authorities, and in detached parties by the roundabout way of +Thionville, Metz, and Karlsruhe, we reached Frankfort. The order, +prudence, and punctuality of the soldiers was exemplary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a marvellous march!" said the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Frankfort," continued Captain von Düring, "I applied to the +president of the Confederation, who supplied me with means for +purchasing fresh uniforms for my soldiers; the Duke of Nassau gave us +arms, a committee of the citizens provided us with linen and other +equipments, and in a fortnight I had 350 men armed and ready for the +field. I made the best non-commissioned officers into officers, and we +were about to join the garrison of Mayence, there to educate my quickly +organized troops by active service. In Frankfort I heard of the +capitulation of Langensalza,--forgive me, your majesty, I cannot +understand it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was surrounded by superior forces," said the king, "I could not +uselessly sacrifice my troops to certain destruction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I perfectly understand that <i>your majesty</i> was forced thus to act," +said Captain von Düring, "but I do not understand the operations that +placed the army in such a position."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The capitulation did not affect me," continued Captain von Düring, "it +only concerned the army actually at Langensalza, and I had received no +intelligence, no commands. I remained under arms until the end."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then added in a low sad voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"When all was at an end I disbanded my corps and sent my soldiers back +to their homes, but I came here to announce myself to your majesty, and +to report to you my useless attempts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not useless, my dear Captain von Düring," said the king kindly, "you +could no longer obtain victory for my cause, circumstances made that +impossible, but under the greatest difficulties, to the very bounds of +possibility, you did your duty, and you set all the officers of my army +a fine example, that cannot be lost."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are your views for the future?" he then asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Captain von Düring sadly, "I will not enter the +Prussian service; they want officers in Turkey, so does the Viceroy of +Egypt. I know Eastern affairs from the permission your majesty gave me +to serve for two years with the French army in Algeria, I think of +seeking a career in the East."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you stay with me?" he then asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," cried Captain von Düring, "my wishes are nothing, you +have but to command,--it would be my greatest happiness; yet," he added +with some hesitation, "I must tell your majesty plainly, that idleness +is contrary to my whole nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall not be unemployed, my dear Düring," said the king, proudly +raising his head. "I have every intention of again obtaining my +inheritance, and when the political situation permits the attempt I +shall require men capable of forming an army, and of leading it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Captain von Düring's face brightened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," he cried, "I can only lay my sword, my life, and my +future at the feet of my king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I appoint you my equerry," said the king, "remain here, you shall do +no court duty," he added, laughing. "Au revoir, I shall expect you to +dinner at five o'clock."</p> + +<p class="normal">Captain von Düring bowed low.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot express to your majesty the gratitude I feel," he said; "may +I have the opportunity of proving it by my deeds!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has your majesty any commands for me?" asked Count Wedel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did the queen give you no commission to me?" asked the king in a +penetrating voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Commission?" said the count, "no, only to deliver the letters which I +have had the honour of presenting to your majesty, but--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But?" asked the king anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I perceived," said the count, "that the queen ardently wishes your +majesty could follow the advice given you by so many well-wishers, +and--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that I should abdicate?" said the king passionately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her majesty believes that thus the crown would be preserved in the +royal family," said the count, "and she regrets that your majesty does +not seize upon this sad and deplorable means of safety; the queen +thinks you might still be in time; but that your majesty is withheld by +those around you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what do you think? I wish to hear your honest opinion," asked King +George.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Wedel slowly, "is convinced of my entire +devotion to your person; but since you ask the question, I must reply +uprightly and honestly, that if by your majesty's abdication the crown +could be saved for the house of Guelph--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>If</i> it could!" said the king earnestly.</p> + +<p class="normal">He came a few steps nearer, feeling his way with his hand, and seized +the count's arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish," he said, "that this point should be perfectly plain to you; +for no accusation could pain me more, than that I had sacrificed the +future of my family to my personal inclinations. I do not know by whom, +or with what views the queen and the country have been told that my +abdication would preserve the independence of Hanover, and prevent her +annexation to Prussia; that it is only with me that Prussia refuses to +conclude peace; I will not try to discover what motives have induced +various persons to speak in this manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Counts Münster, Windthorst," said Count Wedel, "they certainly hope to +be all-powerful ministers under the rule of the crown prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No matter who it is," proceeded the king; "I can understand how the +queen, how several of the most important members of my family, may +credit these assurances; only it hurts me to think that they can +believe I should not long ago have seized upon this means of saving the +crown, if it would have saved it. When this opinion was urged upon me +from every side; when the queen telegraphed begging me to abdicate," +continued the king more slowly, "I determined to take a step which +should make my duty upon this point plain. If my abdication could +preserve my crown for my descendants," he said with emphasis, "it was +my duty to abdicate, if not, it was my duty to refuse all such +propositions. I sent the minister for education, von Hodenburg, who was +here, to Berlin, to ask Count Bismarck plainly, whether my abdication +would preserve the crown for my son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" exclaimed Count Wedel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Late one evening," added the king, "Herr von Hodenburg had a long +interview with Count Bismarck. He declared with a candour and honesty +that did him honour, that the incorporation of Hanover was quite +resolved upon, that for the interests and the safety of Prussia the +step was absolutely necessary, and that my abdication would not affect +it in the least. Hodenburg told the count that the people of Hanover +would greatly resent an incorporation with Prussia, and that it would +create endless difficulties; the count replied that he knew well it +would be so, but that he could not be in error in doing what he +believed to be his duty towards his king and his country. But," he +said, interrupting himself, "this is only hearsay; through Lex, I will +give you Herr von Hodenburg's report, read it all through, it is very +interesting; but, you now know the answer I received to my direct +question,--tell me, what do you think?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty is right,--right a thousand times," cried Count Wedel; "I +see afresh how easy it is to judge falsely when you do not know all the +circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers opened both the folding doors and exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty the King of Saxony!"</p> + +<p class="normal">King George took the count's arm. Supported by his chamberlain he +walked quickly through the Chinese anteroom.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the further door of this apartment appeared the somewhat bent and +slender form of King John, with his sharply-cut profile, his bright +eyes full of genius, and his grey hair. Behind him walked his equerry, +Colonel von Thielau. The king wore the uniform of a Saxon general. He +hastened to meet King George and seized his hand. Count Wedel stepped +back.</p> + +<p class="normal">King George took the King of Saxony's arm, and guided by him returned +to his cabinet. The groom of the chambers shut the doors.</p> + +<p class="normal">King John led the King of Hanover to the chair before his table, and +drew forward one of the arm-chairs standing near for himself. They both +seated themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wished to come to you at once," said the King of Saxony, "to tell +you that the foundations of my peace with Prussia were concluded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will then return?" asked King George.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet," replied the King of Saxony, "the completion of the +conditions requires some time, and the troops cannot return until all +the new arrangements are definitely made."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you are satisfied?" asked the King of Hanover.</p> + +<p class="normal">King John sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am satisfied," he said, "thus far,--Saxony will not be taken from my +family; for the rest, the cause for which I fought is defeated,--the +vanquished must accept their fate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My fate too is that of the vanquished," said King George in a sad +voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">The King of Saxony seized his hand, in great emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Believe me," he said affectionately, "that no one feels for you more +deeply, more heartily than I do; but," he added, "believe me also when +I say, that as far as my personal feelings go, I would far rather be in +your position than in my own. Rather, far rather would I abandon public +life, withdraw into seclusion, and devote the remainder of my days to +philosophy and the arts, than begin life afresh under new and strange, +oppressive and humiliating conditions."</p> + +<p class="normal">King George bowed his head with a sorrowful look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And," added King John passionately, "Germany will be divided; instead +of one united, federal Germany, we shall be split into two warring +halves. Oh!" he cried, "for Germany, for her greatness and her power, I +would make any sacrifice; but will the end be reached by this path?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And thoughtfully he gazed before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do the Saxons themselves say to this new state of affairs? will +it not create great difficulties?" asked the King of Hanover.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Saxon people, as well as myself, will have to go through many +sorrowful experiences," replied King John gravely; "but when I have +once signed my name beneath the Treaty of Peace, my word must be +respected and held sacred under all circumstances, and my people will +support me. I have but one wish," he added, with a deep sigh, "that the +painful sacrifices I make may give to Germany unity and greatness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Germany will not in this way attain to real safety, or to true +greatness!" cried the King of Hanover.</p> + +<p class="normal">King John was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must give up my minister von Beust," he said after a pause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do they demand this at Berlin?" asked the King of Hanover.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly, but it comes almost to the same thing; besides, his +position would be almost an impossible one. I am sorry, for his talents +would have assisted me greatly in the difficulties arising from the new +arrangements. Perhaps," continued the king, "a wider field will be +opened to his genius. The emperor gave me an intimation from which it +appears the idea has occurred to him of employing Beust, instead of +Mensdorff, who neither can nor will remain in office."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Beust here in Austria?" exclaimed the king in great surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said the King of Saxony thoughtfully, "he would meet with +difficulties; the Archduke Albert and the Archduchess Sophia feel a +great repugnance to the plan; it is, of course, a matter of profound +secrecy during the present uncertain state of affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said King George. "What does Beust think he can do with +Austria? he is taking a difficult position, the more difficult from the +many inimical elements he would have to encounter at home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One important element he thinks he can overcome, and reconcile to the +House of Hapsburg: Hungary, who has so long been discontented, will +find it impossible to continue her displeasure, as he will at once +restore to her the self-government she demands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Remove the centre of gravity to Pesth," said King George with some +bitterness, "as Bismarck advised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A second centre of gravity will remain in Vienna," returned the King +of Saxony, "and the balance of power between the two will create the +future strength of Austria."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the Church," asked the King of Hanover, "will she regard Beust +favourably?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I avoid speaking upon Church questions," said King John gravely, +"happily, from the constitution of Saxony, I have never been placed in +the painful position of deciding between political necessity and my +religions convictions. Have you good news of the queen?" he said, +changing the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you," replied King George, "she is as well as painful +circumstances permit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admire her heroic courage and her dignified bearing," said the King +of Saxony; after a short pause he added--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall you remain here, or go to England?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To England?" cried King George, "to England, who moved not a finger to +assist me, or to defend the country that had given her a glorious race +of kings, the country whose sons had shed their blood in England's +wars? No! I will remain here, here in the house my cousin has so kindly +placed at my disposal. Here, at least, I am upon Guelphic soil," he +tapped his foot on the ground, "here I will remain until the tide of +misfortune turns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You believe a change is possible in our present fate?" asked King John +with some surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do believe it," said the King of Hanover firmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," said King John, "we shall embarrass Austria, about whose power +we were so much deceived, if we stay here; our position will be +painful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here in quiet Hietzing," replied King George, "I shall not embarrass +the political world of Vienna, though perhaps," he added with dignity, +"I may be a living reminiscence of duties that cannot be stripped off."</p> + +<p class="normal">The King of Saxony stood up. King George also rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I expect my son," said King John, "he will pay his respects to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall be delighted to see the crown prince," said King George.</p> + +<p class="normal">The King of Saxony pressed the King of Hanover's hand,--he rang, the +folding doors were thrown open, and arm in arm the two princes walked +through the reception room. King George accompanied his guest to the +door of the house, and then returned, guided by Count Wedel who had +followed him, to his cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen and Herr Meding had in the meantime arrived in the +ante-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The groom of the chambers announced them to the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call the crown prince and the privy councillor," said King George.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few minutes Prince Ernest Augustus and Herr Lex entered the +king's cabinet, Count Platen and Herr Meding followed them. At a sign +from the king they all seated themselves around the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king began in a grave voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The incorporation of Hanover with Prussia is determined upon +irrevocably; I am in a great difficulty, gentlemen, and I wish to hear +your advice. As you are aware, the English government has offered to +mediate for the recovery of the property belonging to my family; it has +also expressed a wish that my army should be released from its oath of +fealty, by which means the negotiations as to my property would be made +much easier. My personal inclination prompts me simply to decline the +negotiations, and to await a change in our unhappy fortunes; but this +is a question which concerns not only the interests of my family, but +those of many of my officers. What do you think ought to be done, Count +Platen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," replied the count, bowing slightly, "my opinion is that +your present position requires as much money as possible, for the means +at your disposal are very limited. If then, as I believe is the case, +the Prussian government sets great value upon the release of the army +from its oath, much may be gained by your consent. I think your majesty +cannot hesitate to engage in negotiations; nevertheless, the oath of +fealty must not be released until a favourable result is gained."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Above all things," said the crown prince, "our family domains and the +hunting grounds must be preserved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what do you think?" said the king, turning his head towards +Meding, with marked attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," he replied, "I am quite of the opinion that you must +enter upon these negotiations, yet I do not share the views either of +his royal highness the crown prince or of Count Platen. From what your +majesty has always firmly expressed, I believe you will not accept the +fate that war has brought upon Hanover, but that you will make every +effort in your power to recover your rights."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I will," cried the king, slightly striking the table with his +hand; "should my exile endure twenty or thirty years, I will never +cease to struggle for my rights!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty is perfectly justified in this resolution," said Meding. +"War has been declared against you, and no peace concluded with you. +Your majesty is a recognized enemy, and you can act accordingly; but +you must then expect the other side to proceed in a similar way. For +us, your majesty's servants, duty is clearly defined. Since your +majesty has willed to continue the struggle, all our opinions must be +governed by this determination. The possession of domains in the +kingdom of Hanover would make you completely dependent upon the +Prussian government. Every landowner, in concluding arrangements, must +recognize almost daily the authority of the present possessors of the +country. All this does not accord with the attitude your majesty +desires to maintain. Besides--forgive me, your majesty, but I cannot +forget a maxim taught me by my great master in politics, Herr von +Manteuffel----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Prussian maxim," said the crown prince, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your royal highness," replied Meding gravely, "the maxims I learnt and +followed in the Prussian service, I will never deny. From following +these maxims implicitly, I have now the honour of standing beside my +king in his misfortunes. Circumstances,--my love and my duty to my +royal master,--may make me the enemy of the land of my birth, but deny +and scoff at it I never will."</p> + +<p class="normal">The crown prince was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are perfectly right," cried the king energetically. "You would be +no true servant to me if you denied your former masters. Well, then, +Herr von Manteuffel--?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Manteuffel," continued Meding, "used to say, 'A good general +thinks first of a retreat.' In the struggle which your majesty +undertakes, I think anxiously of a retreat; and it appears to me +unworthy of the Guelphs to continue to be landowners in the country +where they wore the crown. An independent capital will be the basis of +obtaining fresh possessions in a country which, after the loss of the +throne of Hanover, opens a great and glorious future to princes of the +house of Guelph--in England."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But shall we then give up all the possessions of our family, so full +of remembrances?" cried the crown prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If his majesty recovers the crown of Hanover," said Meding, "he will +also recover possession of the royal domains; if not, these +remembrances can only be painful. I certainly believe, too," he added, +"that Prussia will grant no domains without an express recognition of +her sovereignty."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was thoughtfully silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Count Platen, "the remarks of Herr Meding are +certainly worthy of attention. But the wish of his royal highness is +also very right. We might reconcile these views, and demand a portion +of your possessions in the domains--say a third part, especially in the +capital."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would place the whole negotiation on a difficult basis, and draw +it out to a tremendous length," said Meding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us seize this method of escaping from the difficulty," said the +king. "What do you think, my dear Lex?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quite of Count Platen's opinion," he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meding was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You still have some idea?" said the king, turning to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," said Meding, "my second and most serious remark is upon +the connection Count Platen is inclined to establish between the +property and the release of the oath of fealty. Such a connection may +be advantageous. I think, however, it would compromise your majesty's +dignity."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king raised his head proudly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You forestall me," he cried vehemently. "Never, never shall the fate +of my officers, of my true and brave army, depend upon the estates of +my family. I desire that the two questions should be kept completely +apart, and that this should be made perfectly clear to the English +government. With regard to the army," he added, after a pause, "my +decision is made. I will never release the army from its oath, but I +will give them permission to leave the service. I shall never blame any +of my officers who are compelled by circumstances to use this +permission; but I will not free those who can and will remain. I will +send military commissioners to Berlin, that they may obtain the most +favourable terms they can for these officers who refuse to enter the +Prussian service. Draw out instructions in this spirit, gentlemen, and +lay them before me. Above all things, however, avoid mixing up my +private affairs with the fate of the army. It will be needful," he +added, after some consideration, "to draw up a protest against the +incorporation of Hanover, and to have it ready to send to all the +European courts, as soon as the annexation is proclaimed. We must also +draw up a plan for diligent and energetic action in the struggle for +the recovery of my rights."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already employed the minister of legation, Lumé de Luine, in +drawing up this protest in the French language," said Count Platen. +"The facts may be found in the memorial upon the Hanoverian policy +already prepared. As to our activity," he continued, "it can only be +exercised at present in causing internal agitations in the country, and +in keeping up a sharp observation upon European politics. The only +chance of regaining the crown of Hanover lies in the goodwill and +support of those powers who may possibly go to war with Prussia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly think, your majesty," said Meding, "that the plan of our +future operations, though it cannot be definitely drawn up at the +present moment, should be framed on larger principles, and founded on a +broader basis. As to agitations in Hanover itself, they must be +conducted with great prudence, lest we should urge our unhappy country +to destruction, from which we should have no power to save her. The +point of support appears to me to lie elsewhere. The restoration of +your majesty's rights and of the crown of Hanover will only be possible +if those principles which are now defeated, namely, the federative +unity of Germany, and the self-government and independence of its +various races, renew the war, and are victorious. This, however, can +only take place if the monarchical principle joins the spirit of +progress--the democracy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would restore the king to the throne by democracy?" cried Count +Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His majesty's restoration is only possible," replied Meding, "through +the support of the true spirit of pure democracy: not of that democracy +that drags everything high and noble down into the filthy mud of the +masses, but that democracy which, uniting with the spirit of progress +and development now abroad, elevates the people more and more, and +excites their sympathy and interest in public affairs. Permit me, your +majesty," he continued after a short pause, "to express myself more +plainly. Simple legitimacy, however sacred and venerable to me, is no +longer a power in public life, it no longer moves the feelings of the +people, it no longer influences the politics of the cabinet. Monarchy, +if she wishes her rule, so wise, so beneficial, sanctioned by the right +of centuries, to endure through the developments of the future, must +progress with the living movement around her, must espouse herself to +freedom. The foundations of her right must be upon the ancient soil, +established upon the granite rock, the growth of centuries; but upon +this soil the fruits of freedom must ripen. Thus only can monarchy gain +permanence and recognition in the future. This is the case throughout +the whole world. But in Germany, in addition to the universal love of +freedom, there is the love of individual government, and the desire to +preserve the various races distinct. These two principles, both +forcible powers, will rise against what has just taken place, as soon +as the present development is fully understood. The first result of +recent events will be a great diminution of freedom and individual +government. If, then, a change in the present state of affairs is ever +brought about, it will be caused by the spirit of the German nation +revolting against the oppression of forced military centralization. If +your majesty would strive successfully, you must make yourself and +Hanover the incorporation of the German national principles; you must +draw around you all those elements which move the nation's noblest +feelings; you must fight against temporal weapons with spiritual +weapons. Should a moment come when a storm assails the unfinished +edifice of to-day, then must your majesty raise the national banner, +and call upon the German people to fight for federative government and +for freedom. Though, however, our work must be chiefly mental, it is +also needful to prepare for actual war, not by agitations and +demonstrations, but by careful organization. The cadres of the army +must be formed and ready, the threads that guide the policy of Europe +must be carefully watched, that your majesty may choose the right +moment for action, and also influence the course of events as much as +possible. I am convinced that agitations and demonstrations alone would +be objectless and useless, and complete devotion to the policy of any +cabinet highly dangerous, for your majesty would never wish to regain +your crown through the Emperor of Austria, nor Napoleon III. Perfect +independence of action, both mental and material, is needful. We must +endeavour to gain the sympathy of all the European cabinets, but we +must be dependent on none. In independence alone lies your majesty's +hope of success even should certain circumstances arise, not utterly +beyond the bounds of possibility, permitting you to conclude a +favourable peace with the enemy. Without independence and a firm +alliance with the mental needs of the German nation, all your majesty's +efforts would be vain, they would compromise your dignity, and," he +added, in a low but firm voice, "you would find no organ for them."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a moment's silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In one word," continued Meding, "your majesty must undertake the +combat with weapons that are sharp and powerful, but at the same time +noble and dignified, that even our enemies may respect us; then even +should all be in vain, the house of Guelph after the records of a +thousand years may have this inscribed in history:--They fell, they did +not sink. I have only sketched out the outlines of what I conceive +should be the course of our future work. I must, however, state I am +ready to recall anything at your majesty's command."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such a work would cost a great deal of money," said the crown prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A great deal may be done with moderate means, your royal highness," +replied Meding, "as I know by experience; nevertheless, when we play +for crowns, we must not narrowly count the stakes."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king raised his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I quite agree with you, my dear Meding," he said, "that legitimate +right should unite with freedom, with real and wholesome freedom; I +truly do not fear the influence of the mind, and it shall not fail +either my work, or my will. We will speak of these things again, I +desire to consider them more closely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would certainly be advantageous to enter into relations with the +leaders of the people," said Count Platen, "and Herr Meding might enter +into negotiations of a personal nature: your majesty should retain the +power of disavowing them if needful."</p> + +<p class="normal">Meding replied with some animation:</p> + +<p class="normal">"When negotiations are carried on between two governments every +diplomatist must be prepared beforehand to have his proposals disavowed +under certain conditions, but should I negotiate with the people, at +the first disavowal, my honour and convictions would impel me to take +their side, and make their cause my own. But," he said, turning to the +king, with a bow, "I know that this would never occur in your majesty's +service."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king drew out his repeater.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is time to dine," he said, "all the gentlemen will have arrived +already. Prepare the instructions, and we will then form our plan of +action."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose. All present also stood up. Count Platen, Lex, and Meding left +the cabinet and returned to the Chinese salon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the king's guests had already assembled. Besides the equerries on +duty, Field-Marshal von Rorschach, Prince Hermann von Solms and Captain +von Düring were present.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Wedel had resumed his duties and carried the chamberlain's staff.</p> + +<p class="normal">Baron Reischach was talking to Prince Hermann.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How proud our good prince is," he said goodnaturedly, "at having smelt +powder for the first time! Yes, yes," he said, with a sigh, "those +were happy days, they will never return,--an old cripple like myself +will never again hear the cannon's music."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But to look at you," said the prince, "so fresh, so rosy, one can +hardly believe those times were long ago, were it not for the white +hair we should take you for a young man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The ladies of Vienna call my head a sugared strawberry," said the +general, laughing, "but the fruit tempts them no longer, the days of +war and love are over for me, but my old heart keeps young, and +rejoices that my dear young prince should have fought so bravely."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the old general patted the prince on the shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Platen entered and greeted General von Reischach.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What news do you bring us from Vienna?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very little," said the general, shrugging his shoulders, "yet stay, a +half countryman of yours, a native of Mecklenburg, is about to carry +off one of our fairest young ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whom?" asked Count Platen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Baron Stielow will marry the young Countess Frankenstein in a +fortnight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" said Count Platen, "Herr von Stielow, one of Gablenz's staff?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is converted, I hear," said Prince Hermann.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through love of his bride," replied the general, "and from gratitude +for her recovery from a severe illness; she was hurt in nursing the +wounded, and suffered from poisoning of the blood. They will travel for +some time after the wedding."</p> + +<p class="normal">The dining-room doors were thrown open.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Wedel entered the king's cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Immediately both the folding doors were opened, Count Wedel raised his +staff, the king appeared in the colonel's uniform of his Austrian +regiment, the star of the Order of St. Stephen upon his breast, the +cross of Maria Theresa around his neck. He leant on the arm of the +crown prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">He greeted his guests by a slight inclination of the head, and entered +the dining-room. They all followed him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_28" href="#div1Ref_28">BLECHOW</a>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Lieutenant von Wendenstein slowly recovered after the crisis +was +happily passed; and though at times he suffered from great weakness +there was no serious drawback in his convalescence, and the physician +gave his friends good hopes that his health in the future would not be +impaired.</p> + +<p class="normal">But no sooner did he really progress, no sooner did his strength really +return, his eyes grow bright, and a slight colour tinge his cheek, than +Helena withdrew from her office of nurse, and left the care of the +invalid entirely to the charge of Madame von Wendenstein and his +sister, whilst she bestowed all her attentions upon the old lady, as if +anxious lest she should miss any of her home comforts.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was very unnecessary, for Madame von Wendenstein wanted nothing more +than the sight of her son's improvement day by day.</p> + +<p class="normal">With beaming eyes and radiant smile she watched the progress of his +recovery, and with the quick perceptions of a mother's love she noted +every shade of colour and of expression on the face of her son +betokening the return of life and youthful strength.</p> + +<p class="normal">She grew lively and cheerful, and showed much interest in the +arrangements of the Lohmeier household; she had often expressed her +surprise and great satisfaction at the orderly way in which everything +was arranged; at the beautiful house linen, the excellent cooking, and +the order in the house work, and she was amazed that so young a girl as +Margaret should be so good a manager. She had kindly bestowed the rich +treasures of her experience upon her young hostess, for whom she felt +great affection, and old Lohmeier regarded this distinguished lady, who +yet was so well acquainted with all household details, with the +greatest veneration, especially when he saw the interest his daughter, +the pride of his heart, had excited in her mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lieutenant remarked that Helena no longer appeared at his bed-side; +his eyes often rested upon her enquiringly when he was able to rise and +go into his mother's room, but he said very little, he was not quite +sure whether the sweet and charming picture which filled his mind was +the result of a feverish imagination or the truth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena was quiet and dreamy; she seldom looked at Wendenstein, the +feelings she had so plainly shown in the days of anguish and danger +were now most carefully concealed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein often turned her mild eyes sympathizingly upon +the young girl; but she did not say a word, for she held that every +true woman's heart is a tender flower, which must bud and blossom in +its own way, shrinking back and closing at a rough touch. In her quiet +pious way she had committed both these young hearts into God's hand, +and she trusted that in His good time they would come to a happy +understanding.</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate came very little. He was unwearied in consoling and +exhorting the sick, and the whole town spoke of him with esteem and +admiration. He said a few kind and hearty words to Lieutenant von +Wendenstein when he first saw him, after his recovery appeared certain, +reminding him of the gratitude he ought to feel for the life restored +to him when on the threshold of death; but Wendenstein felt a strange +shudder pass through him as he spoke, and he sat still afterwards for +some time in deep thought, pursuing the frightful and alarming +recollections which arose in his mind, but which he could not +completely recall. Whenever he saw the candidate the same feeling of +cold and deadly fear returned, and again his memory refused to recall +the reason. He blamed himself greatly for his aversion to so excellent +a man, and the more his recovery progressed and his nerves +strengthened, the more he struggled to feel kindness and friendship for +the young clergyman.</p> + +<p class="normal">After some time of this quiet life, the day came when the ladies and +the lieutenant, who could now walk slowly, determined to return home. +Notwithstanding her joy at her son's recovery Madame von Wendenstein +had a new and deep cause for grief. The incorporation of Hanover with +Prussia was quite decided upon, and the president had told his wife in +a short and mournful letter that he should resign, as he could not at +his age change his masters. He should go to Hanover for a time, and +then he would buy an estate for his son the lieutenant, as he no longer +wished him to remain in the army under present circumstances. The whole +family could reside with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">This letter Madame von Wendenstein received the evening before her +journey. As she read it large tears ran slowly down her cheeks. She was +then to return, only to leave the old house that for so many years had +sheltered her, the home filled with so many remembrances of her quiet +happy life. But she was accustomed always to conform to her husband's +will without questioning it, and when she thought of leaving the old +house at Blechow, which after all belonged to the office the president +was about to resign, and of going to an estate which would really be +her son's, and of the pleasure of arranging and founding a house for +him, she dried her tears. She thought of the children and grandchildren +who would always live there, and a smile played round her lips as she +again read the president's letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lieutenant's eyes sparkled with joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! how I thank my father!" he cried; "how grateful I am to him for +allowing me to leave the service. It would have been too painful to +forget the old flag for which I shed my blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">And holding out his hand to his mother with a smile he said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how beautiful my dear mother will make our new home; oh! it will +be charming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He gazed at Helena who sat opposite to him, bending over her work. She +did not raise her eyes; but she felt his look, and a deep blush passed +over her face, and Madame von Wendenstein saw it with a quiet smile; +from the sorrowful present she foresaw a bright and happy future.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst this went on in the apartments upstairs, Margaret sat with her +father and Fritz Deyke at their simple evening meal.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young girl turned the new potatoes skilfully out of their brown +coats, they were first-fruits of the year, and she prepared them for +her father and the guest who had become like one of themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were all three silent, and the young peasant looked very mournful.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not eat," said the old man, looking at his guest's plate, +though he himself showed but little appetite.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I have not done them well," said Margaret, trying to make a +little joke; but her voice was dismal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke gave a quick glance at her pale face and downcast eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot!" he cried, as he threw down his knife and fork upon the +plate. "When I think that I am to go to-morrow, I really wish I had +never come; when I sit at home and think of how happy we used to be, +especially how beautifully Margaret did everything at dinner time--no +wonder I cannot eat!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Lohmeier looked at him sympathetically, it was plain that he was +sorry to part with the kind, goodhearted young fellow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay here," he said simply, "you know we should like to keep you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Margaret looked at him with bright eyes swimming with tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot help it," he said, "I must go some time, and the longer I +stay the worse it will be."</p> + +<p class="normal">He sighed deeply, and his eyes met those of the young girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">Margaret put down her head and sobbed aloud. Then she sprang up, +covered her face with her hands, and leaned her head against a large +chest that stood in the corner, weeping bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke rushed to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" he cried, and tried to withdraw her hands from her face, "I +cannot bear it, you will break my heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood still for a moment before the weeping girl with his eyes fixed +thoughtfully upon the ground. Then he walked quickly back to the table +and stood before the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Lohmeier," he said in a firm tone, "I can no longer restrain my +feelings. I intended to go home first and come to an understanding with +my father, and then to come back here, but I cannot do it. I cannot see +her cry, I must speak, and as to my father, I know beforehand quite +well what he will say. Herr Lohmeier, I cannot be happy without +Margaret, I have enough, much more than enough to keep a wife. I know +you think me an honest fellow--give me your daughter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Margaret did not move, she kept her hands over her face, the low sound +of her weeping was heard throughout the room, whilst Fritz Deyke looked +at her father in breathless suspense.</p> + +<p class="normal">He gazed gravely before him. He did not look much surprised, perhaps he +had expected something of the kind, but for a time he was silent and +thoughtful.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is all right as far as I am concerned," he said at last, "I have +grown very fond of you, and I can trust my daughter's happiness to you, +but there are two persons to ask about it--in the first place, my +daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">With one bound Fritz was by Margaret's side.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Margaret," he cried, "will you go with me?" And putting his arm round +her, he drew her gently to the table opposite to her father.</p> + +<p class="normal">She let her hands glide down from her face; her eyes were full of +tears, but they beamed with affection and confidence, and whilst she +gazed at her young lover, she said in a loud firm voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, that is one person," said old Lohmeier, laughing, "but the +consent of the second is a graver matter, I mean your father. These are +sad times, and your father, a thorough-going Hanoverian, will scarcely +welcome a Prussian daughter-in-law to his house; she is the daughter of +a stiff true Prussian, and I would disinherit her if she ever forgot +the love she owes her king."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke was silent for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Lohmeier," he then said, "you know I am a Hanoverian with all my +heart and soul, and that it is a great grief to me that we are now to +be Prussian, but what can I do, or how can Margaret help it? We did not +make the politics and we can't change them; would to God Prussia and +Hanover could come to as good an understanding as we have done. +However," he added more warmly, "I cannot complain, for if Prussia +takes my country at least it gives me the best thing it has, and my +annexation is a peaceful one, of heart to heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">He embraced Margaret, and looked imploringly at the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he continued grave and thoughtful--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will your father think so?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz considered a moment, then he cried suddenly,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait a moment!" and rushed from the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lohmeier looked after him with surprise. "Where is he going?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I know," said Margaret; "he has often told me what a great +respect his father has for Madame von Wendenstein, and how he will do +anything at a word from her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz soon came back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame von Wendenstein begs you to go to her," said he to old Lohmeier +with a look of delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up at once, brushed his sleeve with the tips of his fingers, +stroked his grey hair with the palm of his hand and went upstairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz and Margaret remained alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">He seated himself and gently drew the young girl into a chair beside +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">What did they say? So little and yet so much, their speech was so old +and yet so new, one more variation on the eternal melody of love, that +rings in the human heart from the cradle to the grave, and whose +endearing tones pass with the soul into the great harmony of Eternity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame von Wendenstein led old Lohmeier into her son's sick room, and +there they remained together for half an hour, and the result of their +conversation was, that he consented to his daughter's betrothal to +Fritz, upon condition that old Deyke's approval was gained; and that he +might learn to know his future daughter-in-law, Madame von Wendenstein +invited Margaret to go home with her. She undertook to introduce her +lover's father to her, and to instruct her in the house-keeping +arrangements of her own country. Old Lohmeier accepted the invitation +with much pride, for his veneration for this lady who had passed many +weeks in his house, was immense. He informed the young people with +great dignity and importance, "that he had talked the matter over with +his much honoured friend Madame von Wendenstein," and they both felt +extremely happy, though Margaret was rather alarmed at the prospect of +meeting with the stern old Bauermeister, of whom Fritz always spoke in +terms of the greatest respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus their departure drew near. Some time before, Madame von +Wendenstein had endeavoured to propose some remuneration for all the +trouble and expense her son's illness had occasioned, but it had been +so decidedly refused by the old brewer, and he had appeared so hurt at +the proposal, that she had never again renewed it. On the day of her +departure she gave Margaret a beautiful cross of rubies and diamonds, +on a string of large pearls.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have wept many tears here," she said gently. "Let the pearls remind +you of this, my child; but the sacred love we adore in the Cross, the +sign of the Holy Passion and of our redemption, has dried my tears, and +raised and comforted my heart. Let the cross remind you of this; and if +you, too, shed tears of grief, look at this cross, with firm faith and +loving resignation."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears were in Margaret's eyes as she received the cross; and old +Lohmeier took Madame von Wendenstein's fine white hand in his own with +emotion, and pressed his lips upon it. He carefully locked up the pearl +necklace and the cross in an old oaken chest, in which he kept the +simple but massive ornaments of his late wife; they were all to be +Margaret's when she married, and entered the large old farmhouse as its +mistress.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then they set out, accompanied by a thousand good wishes from old +Lohmeier, who promised, when all was arranged, to think of retiring +from his business, and of spending the last years of his life quietly +near his daughter's new home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus in the spot where so bloody a battle had raged between Hanover and +Prussia, Christian compassion had caused two young hearts to reap a +harvest of love from the seeds of hatred. Thus was the will of the +Eternal accomplished, who turns evil into good; and where demons have +led men into strife and hatred, His unwearied care removes their gloomy +traces by that bright child of heaven--Reconciliation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their return to Blechow was grave and sad. The president silently +strained to his breast the son restored to him from the gates of death; +silently, too, he kissed the brow of his wife. The days that followed +were calm and melancholy.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president worked hard with Auditor von Bergfeld, that he might +leave everything in the most perfect order for his successor. Madame +von Wendenstein went quietly about the house, occupied in the +melancholy task of displacing the treasures collected during more than +twenty years of house-keeping, and the remembrances they awakened were +known only to her eye and her heart. All those treasures had to be +packed in huge coffers, and conveyed to the new house. And the enormous +oaken chests looked so sad, with their opened doors and their empty +trays, and throughout the house sighed the gloomy spirit of departure +and separation, the spirit that moves through human life like a +messenger of death, touching the heart with a shrinking foreboding of +the last great farewell of eternity. Every farewell breaks a flower +from the wreath adorning the spring-time of our lives, until the last +blooms are buried beneath the wintry snows of death. But every blossom +leaves a fruit behind, whose seed is in itself; and these will bear +purer, fairer flowers, and spring up into imperishable beauty beneath +the life-breath of eternal spring.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fritz Deyke had a long conversation with his father, who looked very +black at first, when he heard what his son had to say. He loved his +son, he had unbounded confidence in him, and he knew he would make no +unworthy choice; but to have a town young lady for his daughter-in-law, +to have a Prussian mistress in Hanoverian Wendland was not at all to +his mind. But he said nothing, and, at his son's request, he went to +the castle to see Madame von Wendenstein.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady he had always regarded as a model of womanly perfection, +and she told him of all the attention and kindness her son had received +in old Lohmeier's house, taking care to describe the excellent burgher +position held by Margaret's father. Then she kindly and warmly urged +him not to visit the misfortunes of the times upon innocent heads; and +he held out his hand to her, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be as my son wishes. He is good and true: the wife he brings +to my house shall be welcome, and my blessing shall rest upon her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Madame von Wendenstein opened the door into the next room, and +Margaret, blushing deeply, and trembling from agitation, entered; but +her eyes were bright and candid. She was dressed in the costume of the +rich peasant women of Wendland. She went up quickly to the old man, and +kissed his hand, and a warm tear fell upon the hand hardened with toil.</p> + +<p class="normal">A gentle smile passed over the stern, furrowed face of the old peasant; +his eyes looked milder than they had done for many a day, as he gazed +down upon the young girl's strong, yet slender form. He stroked her +glossy hair, and said, in a low voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless you, my daughter!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then everything was said, and everything was settled. Old Deyke was a +man of few words; but his words were like a rock--you might have built +a house upon them when they were spoken.</p> + +<p class="normal">He took Margaret to his farm, and as she walked at his side, and told +him artlessly how amazed she had been at the wonderful treasures of the +old castle, and as she let a word fall showing every now and then, how +much she knew about housekeeping, his face grew brighter and brighter. +But when she sent the maidservants out of the kitchen, and lighted the +fire, and cooked the dinner herself with skilful hands; when she laid +the cloth, arranging everything so quickly and prettily, whilst Fritz +watched her with delighted eyes; when at last she brought the old man's +pipe, and lighted it for him, and then looked up at him with loving, +imploring eyes, he looked at her through tears: the image of his dead +wife rose before him, and he held out his hand to his son, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for bringing me such a daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young people knelt down before him, and he said, in a low half +choking voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless and keep you, my dear, dear children!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The lieutenant was very quiet and thoughtful. His wound was quite +healed, his nerves were grown strong again, and the wonderful +reparatory powers of youth sent his blood through his veins as quickly +as before. He seldom saw Helena: when she came up from the Vicarage she +was surrounded by the others, and he could only exchange a few words +with her. The old merry confidence between the two friends from +childhood would not return; there was something new and strange between +them, which closed their lips when it sought expression in words.</p> + +<p class="normal">One afternoon, when the president was hard at work with Auditor von +Bergfeld, and Madame von Wendenstein, her daughters and Margaret were +busy in the melancholy occupation of dismantling the house, the +lieutenant walked slowly and thoughtfully towards the pastor's.</p> + +<p class="normal">The roses had withered in the pretty little garden, and the autumnal +asters raised their many-coloured heads, overtopped by the tall and +brilliant sunflowers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena sat at the open window, and often raised her eyes from her work +to look dreamily over the cornfields; her father and the candidate had +gone out to make some visits in the village; she was alone with her +thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly she trembled slightly, a blush spread hastily over her +delicate face, she let her work fall into her lap; Lieutenant von +Wendenstein had entered the garden, and was approaching the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment later he knocked at the door of the sitting-room; she made an +effort to cry "Come in," and he entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked delighted when he saw that Helena was alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">He came to her quickly and took her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father is out," she said, with downcast eyes and trembling voice, +"will you take a chair?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The lieutenant remained standing before her, and looked at her long and +affectionately. Then he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss +upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Blushing deeply, she tried to draw her hand away; he held it with +gentle force.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am so very glad to find you alone," he said; "I have wanted so long +to ask you something I am not quite sure about."</p> + +<p class="normal">She raised her eyes to his with surprise and enquiry, she wished to +speak, but she found no words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Helena," he said, in a low voice, "when I was wounded and ill in +Langensalza, without strength enough to think clearly, dizzy with +fever, a sweet image was always before me,--I saw a consoling angel +looking at me so kindly, so lovingly,--I held her helping hand in mine, +I pressed it to my lips, and from the depths of my heart I said, 'dear +Helena.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">She withdrew her hand quickly, and seated herself on the chair near the +window; pale and trembling, her eyes sought the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up to her and continued in urgent terms:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me,--for sometimes a gloomy veil comes over my memory,--tell me, +this image that never leaves my heart, that follows me everywhere--was +it real?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She gave no answer, but sat still and motionless.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Helena," he said imploringly, "I saw eyes that told me such good and +loving things in a mute language,--those eyes are near me night and +day. Helena, look at me once more, that I may see whether the image in +my heart was the dream of fever, or the truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">He sank on his knees before her, and seized her hand as it hung beside +her, looking up at her with an earnest loving gaze.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she slowly raised her eyes, and in her eyes lay her answer; those +eyes again spoke the mute language that found an echo in his heart. +Again he pressed her hand to his lips, and again she permitted it with +a loving smile, and in a soft voice, happy and triumphant, he +whispered, "Dear, dear Helena!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They sat for a long time in silence; he was never weary of gazing on +the beloved features which in the days of his deadly peril were graven +so deeply in his soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he sprang up, bent over her and held her in his arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened, the pastor and candidate entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentleman looked much surprised at this unexpected scene, an +evil flash of hatred darted from the candidate's sharp eyes, but he +quickly fixed them on the ground and an oily smile played around his +mouth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena bent down her head in charming confusion. The lieutenant +hastened to the pastor and seized his hand energetically.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear sir," he said, in a decided voice, "my dear playmate, Helena, +watched over my life, and saved it when it hung on the feeblest +thread,--I have implored her to watch over it henceforth,--for +ever,--and--she will." He looked at the young girl with eyes full of +happiness and continued, "Will you unite our hands before the altar of +our dear old church, where we made our vows at our confirmation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he looked the old clergyman honestly in the face.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was still lost in astonishment at the turn affairs had taken, and +which he had never perceived.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at his daughter. Her deep blushes, and the bashful, yet +imploring expression of her eyes, convinced him that God had joined two +hearts together, and that it would ill beseem him to part them. He +loved von Wendenstein, and could only rejoice at the prospect of being +more closely connected with him; but his intentions and plans for his +daughter had been so different, he could not accommodate himself at +once to the change.</p> + +<p class="normal">Helena sprang to her feet, she hurried to her father and threw herself +upon his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentleman looked gravely at his nephew, he stood with downcast +eyes, and gentle smiles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Herr von Wendenstein," said the pastor, "you well know the +great esteem I have ever entertained for you and your family, and if my +daughter has given you her heart, as a father and as a priest I must +lay my hand upon your heads and bless you. I must own, however, that +all this has greatly surprised me. I had quite different ideas as to my +daughter's future life," and he again looked enquiringly at the +candidate.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he came up to the pastor, and said in a calm voice, though without +raising his eyes:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let there be no discord in the friendly harmony of this hour, my dear +uncle. You know I am devoted above all things to my sacred calling; +earthly wishes, however dear to my heart, cannot disturb the spiritual +calm of my soul, and if heaven has decreed that my hopes and desires +are to be denied, I shall only see a gracious dispensation of +Providence, intended to turn away my soul from earthly things, that all +its powers may be devoted to the accomplishment of my sacred office. I +shall pray for my cousin's happiness with my whole soul! I congratulate +you most heartily, Herr von Wendenstein," he added, holding out his +hand to the young officer. He seized it and looked at the young +clergyman with emotion. But the hand was cold as ice, and a deep +shudder passed through his nerves, as he felt its smooth serpent-like +pressure.</p> + +<p class="normal">The last time that all the family friends assembled around the +hospitable board of the old Castle of Blechow, was at the celebration +of the lieutenant's betrothal with Helena. The president had thus +willed it, and he also insisted that old Deyke, Fritz, and Margaret, as +well as Lohmeier, who was with them, should take part in the family +festivity, which was also a day of farewell. The president wished to +make a sad farewell less melancholy, by thus solemnizing the union of +two hearts.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wished that all should carry away a happy recollection of their last +day at Blechow, and that the last rays of the old times should sink +brightly into the ocean of the past.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything was packed up, and ready to start; only the dinner service +and the heavy old plate was still used, and displayed its glories for +the last time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president's eldest son had arrived early in the morning, and had +had a long and serious conversation with his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">He told him he had been offered the assistant-secretaryship in the +Ministry of the Interior in Berlin, and he expressed a wish to accept +the appointment, since he hoped by this means to alleviate the +condition of his native country, under its new circumstances. Yet he +left the decision entirely to his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president stood for a long time in grave thought</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are young, my son," he said, at last, in a gentle voice; "your +life belongs to the future--you must go forth and work in the +present--you ought not to bury yourself in the past. The king has +released all his civil servants from their oath; you are therefore +free,--seize the opportunity of making a career for yourself, and of +labouring for the general good. But never forget that good and faithful +Hanover is your fatherland,--keep that remembrance sacredly in your +heart, and when you can, work that it may be treated lovingly, for the +sake of it; fair and honourable history in the past. My blessing be +upon you in your new path!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The son kissed his father's hand in silence, and nothing more was said +by either of them on the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guests sat around the table in the dining-room of the old castle +with grave emotion. Old Deyke took his place beside the president with +great dignity. Fritz and Margaret sat beside each other embarrassed, +but happy,--the lieutenant's eyes sparkled with joy. Helena's fair face +expressed thoughtful happiness; and though a tear sometimes shone in +Madame von Wendenstein's soft eyes, when she looked at her son and his +lovely bride, such a happy smile came to her lips, that it was hard to +say whether the pearly drop came from the bitter cup of grief or the +pure spring of joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you remember, dearest Helena," said the lieutenant, "how you showed +me the dark cloud, which was driven away from the silver beams of the +moon? You see it has returned, and now rests in its pure, full light; +but it brings no storm, no tempest, but blessing and happiness to the +garden of our lives!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him with her loving eyes, smilingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think," she whispered, "you have found the magic key of the kingdom +of dreams and fancies, which you once thought you could only have from +my hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did I not have it from your hands?" he said; "you gave it to me +when I was on the borders of death, and I will guard it truly in the +golden light of life!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The dessert was brought. A post-horn was heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old servant in a few minutes announced Baron von Klentzin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The successor to your office in Blechow, my dear father," said the +assessor; "the civil commissioner von Hardenberg has desired him to +release you."</p> + +<p class="normal">They all rose gravely.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Prussian entered; he was a tall, slender young man, elegant in his +appearance, graceful in his movements.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president advanced towards him with calm dignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are welcome, Baron von Klentzin, to my house,--the house that is +still mine, and that to-morrow will be yours. We are celebrating a +family festivity,--the betrothal of my son,--and I beg you will join +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">He introduced the young man to his wife, and to the others, and then +requested him to be seated beside Madame von Wendenstein. He signed to +the servant to fill his guest's glass with champagne.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-morrow I shall resign my office to you, and I hope you will find +everything in order," said the old gentleman,--"to-day allow me to +treat you as my guest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Baron von Klentzin bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I enter your circle as a stranger," he said, "and I feel I can +scarcely be welcome. But I beg you, sir, and all here present, to +believe that I deeply respect your feelings,--we know what love to the +Fatherland is,--and," he added warmly, "we come to you with open hands +and hearts. May the future unite us all, without grief or bitterness, +in one glorious Germany! Now, permit me to empty my glass to the +happiness of the youthful pair!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," said the president, with deep melancholy in his voice, "it has +ever been the unalterable custom at my table to drink to the health of +our king and commander-in-chief. He is no longer sovereign of this +country. You will understand how I wish this last day not to deviate +from the old custom of my house. A new time arises, but let us think of +the old with thankfulness and love!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Baron von Klentzin seized his glass.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only from love of the past can bloom a blessing on the future," he +said feelingly; "and far be it from me to prevent, by my presence, the +last farewell to such a past."</p> + +<p class="normal">They all rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">The president said, solemnly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The King!' who was our lord, and to whom the service of my life +belongs. May God's blessing be upon him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They all repeated the toast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr von Klentzin, deeply moved, touched his glass against his host's, +and the slight sound reverberated through the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">They all emptied their glasses silently.</p> + +<p class="normal">That was the last toast to George V. in the old castle of Blechow. +Klentzin looked down thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have won a fair country," he said to himself; "God grant that we +may win these hearts to true brotherhood."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_29" href="#div1Ref_29">"GOD AND THE FATHERLAND!"</a></h3> + +<p class="normal">King William had returned to Berlin. The nation received him +with the +wildest joy, scarcely knowing how to express its delight and enthusiasm +at this unparalleled seven days' campaign, the wonderful success of +which had placed Prussia so high amongst the first-class powers of +Europe, and had so completely consolidated the unity of Germany. The +first wild burst of delight was over in Berlin. Everything began to +return to its accustomed course, at least outwardly, for every heart +still swelled high with the proud feeling of victory.</p> + +<p class="normal">Early one morning King William entered his cabinet. He was dressed, as +always, in uniform, with the iron cross and the Order of Merit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Schneider here?" he enquired of the attendant on duty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your majesty's command. He waits in the anteroom."</p> + +<p class="normal">At a sign from the king, Louis Schneider entered, with a large +portfolio under his arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, Schneider," cried the king. "Everything has returned to +its accustomed order, and we can begin regular work. What is there in +the way of literature? What have you got in that great portfolio?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Allow me first, your majesty, to offer you my most hearty +congratulations on the successful termination of the war. Here, +on the very spot," said Schneider, with emotion, "where I stood last +time--that day when your majesty regarded the future so anxiously, and +found yourself so completely without allies,--your majesty has again +experienced that the King of Prussia is not weak when he stands alone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he has those two Allies who gave us our device," said the king, +with a calm smile, "God and the Fatherland!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent for a moment. Schneider opened his portfolio.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what have you in the newspapers?" asked the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing, your majesty, but variations upon one theme--joy at our +victories, gratitude to our royal conqueror, his soldiers, and his +ministers. The whole press is one great dithyrambus, expressing its +emotions now majestically, now pathetically, now comically. But good +advice to Prussia and the North-German Confederacy is not wanting. It +is incredible how much didactic writing is produced on the future +well-being of Germany. Would your majesty like an example?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king was silent, and looked thoughtfully before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Schneider," he said, "how ungrateful men are!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Schneider gazed at the king in amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty," he cried, "I cannot, alas! deny that ingratitude is a +characteristic of the human race; but I thought the present time was +really an exception, everyone is so anxious to express gratitude to +your majesty, to the generals."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is just at the present time," said the king gravely, "that I think +the world, and Berlin especially, so very ungrateful. They thank me, in +the most exaggerated words, my Fritz too, all my generals; but <i>One</i> +Man they forget, and yet that man had a great share in the success that +God has given us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Schneider still looked at the king enquiringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one thinks of my brother, the late king," said King William, in a +voice that trembled slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Deep emotion appeared on Schneider's animated face, a tear shone on his +eyelashes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, by God!" he cried, in his sonorous voice, "your majesty is right; +we are ungrateful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How deep, how true," said the king, "was his devotion to Germany's +greatness, and to Prussia's destiny; how much he did to strengthen the +army, and to organize the government of Prussia, that she might be +ready to fulfil her high calling. Prussia's future greatness was clear +to his enlightened mind; and if the rough hand of revolution had not +interfered in the carrying-out of his plans and views----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The king paused suddenly, and pursued his thoughts in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Schneider's eyes rested with warm affection upon the thoughtful +features of his generous and simple-minded sovereign.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If God has granted to us to pluck the fruit," continued the king, "yet +ought we not to forget whose careful hand planted the tree and watered +its roots in time of drought; truly he has not deserved it of us."</p> + +<p class="normal">The king turned to his writing-table, and took up a sheet of paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have written down a few of my thoughts," said he with some +hesitation, "but chiefly facts, as to what the late king did for +Prussia, how he strengthened the army, and the nation, and laboured for +the unity of Germany. I should like a leading article to be written +from this and published in the 'Spener Gazette,' that all Berlin may +read it. Will you see to this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out the paper to Schneider, who took it respectfully, his eyes +resting on the king's face with admiration and surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will attend to it at once,--does your majesty wish for an especial +title?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be made rather striking," said the king, "that every one may +read it. Let it be called 'A Royal Brother,'" he added after a moment's +thought; "if all forget him, his brother must not forget him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will carry out your majesty's wishes at once," said Schneider, +"and," he added with much emotion, "I shall henceforth look upon what +has passed to-day as the most beautiful incident of my life. The victor +of Königgrätz amidst the rejoicing of his people places half his +laurels on his brother's grave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It hurts me to find how little they thought of my brother in their +rejoicings," said the king, with a gentle smile, "for I have only built +upon the foundation he laid. Now go, and take care that the article +appears shortly, we will do nothing else to-day. This you will do with +your whole heart. I know your faithfulness to your late king."</p> + +<p class="normal">He offered his hand to Schneider, but would not permit him to press it +to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king turned away and walked silently to his writing-table, and in +silence Schneider left the cabinet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck too had returned, and was devoting himself with +resistless energy to the work before him of organizing and arranging +the new state of affairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Late one evening the count again sat in his cabinet before his large +writing-table, piled with papers, busily occupied in reading +despatches, and in thinking over what was laid before him. There was a +sharp knock at the door leading from the ante-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count looked up. His confidant only would come in that manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come in!" he exclaimed. Baron von Keudell entered. The minister nodded +to him with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What brings you here, dear Keudell?" he asked, laying aside a paper +which he had just looked through, "has anything happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something decidedly strange has happened, your excellency, which I +must at once impart to you. Monsieur Hansen is here, and has just been +with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hansen, the Danish agitator?" asked Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same," said Keudell, "only this time he is not the Danish +agitator, but the French agent."</p> + +<p class="normal">A cloud gathered on Count Bismarck's brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do they still want in Paris?" he cried. "Are they not yet +satisfied? Benedetti must have understood me perfectly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think they wish to make one more secret effort," said von Keudell. +"I beg you to hear Monsieur Hansen yourself, he is to a certain extent +accredited by Drouyn de Lhuys, and he can really tell us much that it +interests us to know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drouyn de Lhuys is no longer minister," said Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has resigned, certainly," replied Keudell, "and Lavalette is in his +place until Moustier arrives, but his credentials prove that Hansen has +something to propose, which is not to follow the usual course of +diplomacy until it is known how we shall receive it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said Bismarck, after a short pause, "why should I not hear him? +My mind, though, is made up as to all these proposals, direct or +indirect. Where is Monsieur Hansen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I brought him with me; he is waiting down stairs, and if your +excellency desires----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be so kind as to bring him here," said the minister; "I shall find you +when I join the countess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Keudell bowed, a minute afterwards he took Monsieur Hansen to +the cabinet and withdrew as soon as Bismarck had received the +unimportant-looking little man with great cordiality, and had requested +him to be seated at his writing-table.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count's keen grey eyes rested enquiringly on the clever face of the +Dane.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency," said Hansen, "I thank you in the name of my country +for your generosity to Denmark, after your complete success, expressed +in Article V. of the peace stipulations."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck bowed slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have nothing against Denmark," he said; "on the contrary I esteem +and respect that sturdy little nation, and I heartily wish Prussia and +Denmark to live together on friendly terms. I rely upon your countrymen +not to throw difficulties in the practical fulfilment of the principles +which must guide us in regard to Denmark."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to be of use to your excellency," said Hansen. "I have come to +impart my ideas upon the delicate relations existing between newly +constituted Germany and France."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck made a slight movement intimating that he was willing to +listen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I ought to impart to your excellency that I have been initiated into +the negociations that have already taken place."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bismarck remained silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor," continued Hansen, "is in a very painful position. He has +the greatest repugnance to interrupting in any way the right of a great +people to national development, by being inimical to the great events +just accomplished in Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">A scarcely perceptible smile passed over the minister's grave face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the other hand," added Hansen, "it is impossible to deny that the +great increase in the political and military strength of Prussia, has +greatly troubled public opinion in France. Napoleon is less able to +neglect public opinion than any other sovereign in Europe, since his +government is based on the free will of the people, and founded on the +votes of public opinion in France. At one time," said he as Bismarck +still looked at him calmly and remained silent, "the emperor believed +France would be satisfied by compensations which would increase her +defensive power, and form some balance to the great additions in the +offensive strength of Germany. He is, however, very unwilling to urge +this question in any way that can disturb or endanger the present +friendship between France and Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again a slight smile passed over Bismarck's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor," pursued Hansen, "thinks there is a way which might for +ever prevent disagreement. It is founded on the principle that friction +can best be prevented between two powerful military nations, not by +fortified frontiers, but by neutral territory. His idea is to form a +state in imitation of Belgium upon the Rhine, as an excellent means of +maintaining peaceful relations between France and Germany. The King of +Saxony would appear to be a suitable head to this Roman Catholic +country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peace is concluded with Saxony," said Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I did not intend to suggest this idea," replied Hansen; "it would +be better on many accounts to bestow this kingdom of the Rhine upon the +Prince of Hohenzollern, and thus to found a dynasty whose connection +with the Prussian royal family would prevent any mistrust in Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The princes of Hohenzollern are not related to our royal family," said +Count Bismarck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are a branch of the same family," replied Monsieur Hansen. "I +believe I may assure your excellency that if this suggestion meets with +your approval, the affair may quickly be arranged in the usual +diplomatic way."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment Count Bismarck looked down thoughtfully, then he raised +his eyes, and fixing them calmly on Hanson's expectant face, he said in +a firm voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not ask who has empowered you to make this proposal. I shall +regard this idea as your private and personal notion, and in return I +will plainly and candidly express my own opinion on the subject. +Germany, by her success in a great war, has made a vast step forwards +in her national constitution. The German nation is not obliged to +account for this to any one, she need not trouble herself as to whether +other nations are pleased or displeased by the exercise of her national +rights, but above all she is not called upon to pay a bribe to any +other country, and thus to purchase the Unity of Germany. As long as I +am the Prussian minister, as long as I influence the fate of Germany," +he cried, "such a bribe shall not be paid, under whatever form it may +be disguised! That is my private opinion," he added, "you thus see it +would be quite superfluous to express the ideas you proposed to me in +any official way; the answer of the Prussian Government would be +exactly the same as that I have just given you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency," said Monsieur Hansen, who was evidently disconcerted +at the count's decided refusal to continue the discussion, "I am really +grateful to you for the regard you have shown to the national feeling's +of Denmark, and I honestly desire to do you a service in this matter. I +wish you to understand," he continued gravely, "that from what I know +of the state of affairs, and the popular displeasure in Paris, war will +sooner or later be unavoidable, if this last basis of a favourable +understanding with France is refused. I may affirm, with the fullest +conviction, war can then be only a question of time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck stood up, his eyes flashed proudly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let war come," he cried firmly; "I fear it not, and never will I +avoid it by sacrificing the honour of Germany! The valiant armies of +Prussia and of her allies, who smote Austria, will take the field +against France with far greater enthusiasm, if we are forced to do so. +You may tell that to anyone who is interested in knowing my views; but +you may also add, that no one prizes more highly than I do the good +understanding between France and Germany. The French and German nations +are formed rather to progress hand in hand, than to wrestle with each +other in deadly strife. I will do all in my power to maintain peace and +friendship,--all, except sacrificing the honour and dignity of +Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your excellency at least to believe that I have been actuated +only by the purest motives, in making a proposal I believed conducive +to the interests of both nations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for it," said Bismarck politely; "it has served to clear +up the situation perfectly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Monsieur Hansen left the cabinet with a low bow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He would play the same game with Germany that he did with Italy," +cried the count as soon as he was alone; "but from me he shall gain +neither a Savoy nor a Nice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He left his cabinet, and repaired to his wife's drawing-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ladies with Baron von Keudell sat around the tea-table.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count entered, and greeted them affectionately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you seen the new 'Kladderadatsch?'" asked the countess, pointing +to the well-known comic face upon a newspaper that lay on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count seized it, and turned to the large picture on the last page.</p> + +<p class="normal">It represented an infirm old beggar, with the features of the Emperor +Napoleon, standing before the door of a house, hat in hand, asking an +alms. A window was open, and the minister-president was represented +looking from it with a movement of refusal, and beneath was printed, +"Nothing given away here."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a merry laugh, the count threw the paper on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is strange," he said, "how cleverly they often describe the +situation by a drawing. There is more told in this picture than in many +a long leading article."</p> + +<p class="normal">At one draught he emptied the crystal goblet of foaming beer which was +handed to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must ask you a favour, Keudell," he said gravely: "will you play me +that Funeral March of Beethoven. You remember it. You played it one +evening before the war."</p> + +<p class="normal">Keudell rose with alacrity, and seated himself at the piano.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the impressive chords of the mighty Hymn of Death arose,--the +ladies listened breathlessly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck drew himself to his full height; his grave, +strongly-marked features shone with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew a deep breath as Herr von Keudell ended.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Many heroes have fallen," he said, in a deep voice, "but the prize is +won,--their blood has not flowed in vain. Time has brought many +sorrows,--discords will still echo in the future. May the Almighty +resolve them into the glorious harmony of a great United Germany!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His voice swelled through the room,--the countess looked at him with +tearful eyes. Solemnly, and as if involuntarily, Keudell raised his +hands, and let them sink upon the keys. Then that War-cry of the Faith +arose, in the glorious tones in which the great Reformer expressed his +rooted confidence in the God of Battles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Count Bismarck raised his eyes upwards, a look of happiness passed over +his excited features, and, following the melody, his lips whispered +softly--</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0"> +"Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott,<br> +Ein' starke Wehr und Waffen!"</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Where the +rifle-club holds its meetings.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: The King +of Saxony remained true to Napoleon, although +part of the Saxon troops went over to the Allies during the battle of +Leipsic.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W90"> + +<h5>CHISWICK PRESS:--PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS,<br> +TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II), by +Gregor Samarow + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCEPTRE AND CROWN *** + +***** This file should be named 37724-h.htm or 37724-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/2/37724/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + + + diff --git a/37724.txt b/37724.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..93ff87d --- /dev/null +++ b/37724.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15365 @@ +Project Gutenberg's For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II), by Gregor Samarow + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II) + A Romance of the Present Time + +Author: Gregor Samarow + +Release Date: October 11, 2011 [EBook #37724] +[Last updated: May 30, 2015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCEPTRE AND CROWN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/forsceptreandcr01samagoog + + 2. Gregor Samarow is pseudonym of Oskar Meding. + + 3. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN. + + + + + + + NEW NOVELS AT THE LIBRARIES. + + +VANESSA. By the Author of "Thomasina," "Dorothy," &c. 2 vols. crown +8vo. + + +IDOLATRY: A Romance. By Julian Hawthorne, Author of "Bressant." 2 vols. +crown 8vo. + +"A more powerful book than 'Bressant.' ... If the figures are mostly +phantoms, they are phantoms which take a more powerful hold on the mind +than many very real figures.... There are three scenes in this romance, +any one of which would prove true genius."--_Spectator_. + +"The character of the Egyptian, half mad and all wicked, is remarkably +drawn.... Manetho is a really fine conception.... That there are +passages of almost exquisite beauty here and there is only what we +might expect."--_Athenaeum_. + + +WOMAN'S A RIDDLE: or, Baby Warmstrey. By Philip Sheldon. 3 vols. crown +8vo. + +"In the delineation of idiosyncrasy, special and particular, and its +effects on the lives of the personages of the story, the author may, +without exaggeration, be said to be masterly. Whether in the long +drawn-out development of character in the every-day life of the persons +of the drama, or in the description of peculiar qualities in a single +pointed sentence, he is equally skilful; while where pathos is +necessary, he has it at command, and subdued sly humour is not +wanting."--_Morning Post_. + + +AILEEN FERRERS. By Susan Morley. 2 vols. cr. 8vo. + +"Her novel rises to a level far above that which cultivated women with +a facile pen ordinarily attain when they set themselves to write a +story.... Its grammar is faultless, its style is pure, flowing, terse, +and correct, there is not a line of fine writing from beginning to end, +and there is a total absence of anything like moralising, or the +introduction of pretty ineffectual sermons.... It is as a study of +character, worked out in a manner that is free from almost all the +usual faults of lady writers, that 'Aileen Ferrers' merits a place +apart from its innumerable rivals."--_Saturday Review_. + + * * * * * + + HENRY S. KING AND CO. LONDON. + + + + + + + _FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN_ + + A ROMANCE OF THE PRESENT TIME. + + TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF + + GREGOR SAMAROW. + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. + + + + + HENRY S. KING AND CO. + 65, Cornhill, and 12, Paternoster Row, London. + 1875. + + + + + + + (_All rights reserved_.) + + + + + CONTENTS OF VOL. II. + + Chapter + XIII. Delay. + + XIV. Langensalza. + + XV. Suspense. + + XVI. Intrigue. + + XVII. Defeat. + + XVIII. Diplomacy. + + XIX. Bismarck's Diplomacy. + + XX. The Crisis. + + XXI. Reconciliation. + + XXII. Russia. + + XXIII. The Marshals of France. + + XXIV. The Empress Charlotte. + + XXV. The Sick and Wounded. + + XXVI. Instruments of the Church. + + XXVII. Hietzing. + + XXVIII. Blechow. + + XXIX. "God and the Fatherland!" + + + + + + FOR SCEPTRE AND CROWN. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + DELAY. + + +Events did indeed hurry on during those memorable days, and history +took as many forward steps in the annals of the world in hours as she +had formerly done in years. General von Manteuffel marched from the +north; General Vogel von Falckenstein occupied Hanover, and took +possession of the government of the country, the king having commanded +all magistrates to keep in their various positions; General Beyer +concentrated his divided forces in Hesse; General von Seckendorf +occupied the country from Magdeburg to Nordhausen, and from Erfurt a +part of the garrison and a battery of artillery marched to Eisenach, +and there joined the troops of the Duke of Coburg-Gotha, to block the +road to the south against the Hanoverian army. + +Orders flew from Berlin to the different generals in command, and quick +and unanimous movements were made throughout the Prussian army, their +aim being to strengthen every point of a circle they were forming +around the Hanoverian army, which continually grew stronger and drew +closer together. + +Now, only the quickest and most direct road to Fulda remained open. + +And the brave-spirited army still lay in Goettingen and its immediate +neighbourhood. + +The general staff worked day and night to prepare it for the march. +Certainly the younger officers and men boiled with impatience, and +could not understand why the regiments, after making such a sudden +march from their various quarters to Goettingen, were not able to march +on by a perfectly open road to the south. Certainly old General Brandis +shook his head, and said it would be better to break through the enemy +with an army unprepared to march, than to be hemmed in with an army +prepared to march. Certainly he hinted that the soldiers of the great +Wellington had, according to every rule, frequently been unprepared to +march, yet they had marched, fought, and conquered. Truly the king +gnashed his teeth with impatience; he could do nothing, the ruler whose +eyes were deprived of light by the hand of Heaven, but question and +urge, and again urge and question. + +But the general staff in the aula of Georgia Augusta proved to good +General von Arentschildt that, according to all existing rules, the +army was not yet ready to march. The rules lay before them, and the +general staff was right; and General von Arentschildt told the king the +army could not march yet. + +The general staff waited, too, for the advance of the Hessians and +Bavarians, to combine with the Hanoverian army. + +The king was obliged to wait in silent impatience in his rooms at the +Crown Hotel. + +The troops, in their quarters and cantonments, waited, and their +impatience was not silent; on the contrary, the air resounded with good +hearty oaths, and impatience was loudest and liveliest amongst the +cavalry regiments, where the snorting horses pawed the ground, and the +men thought they had but to spring into the saddle to be as ready to +march as any cavalry in the world. + +They all waited. + +Count Platen waited for some relenting on the part of Prince Ysenburg. +He had sent an explanation about the Prussian ultimatum from Goettingen +to the prince, and he hoped it might be the means of recommencing +negotiations; but on the second day the explanation itself came back, +opened, it is true, but with the short and cold remark from Prince +Ysenburg that after the declaration of hostilities all his diplomatic +functions had ceased, and that he was no longer in a position to +receive writings from the Hanoverian minister. + +So they all waited, and impatience waxed hotter in the army still +unprepared to march; but so much had been neglected and left +disorderly--so the new leaders of the army found and maintained--that, +in spite of all this and all that, they still could not march. + +The courier Duve went on his way without meeting a Prussian soldier; he +found the Hessian head-quarters not in Fulda, but in Hanau, and there +General von Lossberg declared he could not alter the disposition +of the army, as Prince Alexander of Hesse had already assumed the +command,--besides the army of Hesse-Cassel was immovable. + +The courier hastened on; and in Frankfort he delivered to Baron Kuebeck, +the Austrian presidential ambassador to the confederacy, the despatches +confided to him by Count Ingelheim, and he received from Herr von +Kuebeck an urgent memorial to Prince Alexander of Hesse, who was then in +Darmstadt. Duve told the prince all about the position of the +Hanoverian army, which was entirely unknown to him. Prince Alexander +sent a message, that he would request the Bavarians, who were at +Schweinfurth, to march towards the north, and that the eighth corps +d'armee at Fulda should march upon Eschwege immediately, to stretch out +a hand to the Hanoverian army; and finally, that the Hessian brigade +should be pushed forwards from Hanau to Giessen as a demonstration. + +It was expected in Prince Alexander's head-quarters that the Hanoverian +army would march immediately on the road to Fulda, there join the +Hessian brigade, and unite with the eighth army corps. The road to +Fulda was free, and only a portion of General Beyer's divided corps +could have been met with, and it was improbable that it would have +hazarded an encounter. + +This was the way they reckoned in Prince Alexander's head-quarters. + +But the new Hanoverian generals decided otherwise in the aula of +Georgia Augusta. News had arrived partly from travellers, partly from +messengers sent to ascertain, that 60,000, 80,000, yes 100,000 Prussian +troops blocked the way to Fulda; so it was decided not to take that +road, but to march into the midst of the Prussian territory between the +Prussian armies, and to get to Eisenach by Heiligenstadt and Treffurt, +there to cross the road and to fall in with the Bavarians, from whom +they had received no information; but they remained persuaded that they +must be there. + +In vain old General von Brandis shook his head, and remarked in his +curt fashion, that an army who wished to fight must learn to stand up +to the enemy; that if Prussian troops were on the road to Fulda, it was +one of Wellington's practical maxims for conducting war, "to go on;" +that, at any rate, they had a better chance of overthrowing the enemy +and reaching the south that way, than by jumping out of the frying-pan +into the fire, as they seemed determined to do. + +The general staff unanimously determined to march to Heiligenstadt, and +the king consented. + +At last the army was to move on the morning of the 21st of June, at +four o'clock, and a general cry of joy throughout all the quarters and +cantonments greeted the order to march. + +In exemplary order, as on parade, the valiant brigades formed. The king +left Goettingen about five o'clock, the senate of the university and the +civic magistrates assembling to take leave of him. + +It was a brilliant and dazzling procession which in the early morning +light crossed into the Prussian territory. + +A half squadron of the Cambridge dragoons formed the body-guard of +their royal master. + +Mounted on a large and beautiful white horse, which was guided by Major +Schweppe of the Guard Cuirassiers, with an almost imperceptible leading +rein, rode George V., with the proud knightly bearing which always gave +him so imposing and regal an aspect when on horseback; by his side came +the crown prince in his hussar uniform, on a small thorough-bred horse. +They were surrounded by a numerous suite, both civil and military; old +General von Brandis, notwithstanding his seventy-one years, had sent +back his carriage, and Count Ingelheim rode beside the king in a grey +dress and long stable boots. The brilliant cavalcade was followed by +the king's travelling carriage, drawn by six horses, with outriders and +piquers; and then a number of other carriages for the suite, led +horses, the master of the stables, and servants. + +Whenever the royal train passed the troops on the march, a loud, joyful +hurrah burst forth, and every brave soldier's heart beat higher when he +saw his king amongst them. + +The courageous but strategically puzzling march of the Hanoverian army +belongs to history, and is fully related in writings upon the war of +1866. It may perhaps be granted to future times to unriddle the +extraordinary movements made by the army, and perhaps to explain why +the march upon Treffurt was given up when they had reached +Heiligenstadt, and their course turned by Muehlhausen to Langensalza; +from thence right under the cannon of Erfurt they marched to Eisenach, +and then suddenly, when this place was as good as taken, they halted, +because an envoy from the Duke of Coburg-Gotha, without credentials, +appeared at the Hanoverian headquarters. Major von Jacobi was sent by +the Hanoverian general staff to Gotha to clear up this mission; and +there, deceived as to the number of Prussian troops occupying Eisenach, +he telegraphed such an account of the enemy to Colonel von Buelow, the +Hanoverian officer in command, that, misled by the report, he withdrew +his troops from Eisenach, and concluded a provisional armistice with +the enemy. + +When, therefore,--so runs the official report of these events,--General +von Arentschildt arrived on the spot at about eight o'clock in the +evening, expecting to find Eisenach taken, he was opposed to +circumstances that completely defeated his plans, and contradicted all +his majesty's views, but which both the armistice just concluded and +the approaching night prevented him from grappling with. + +Major von Jacobi was brought before a court-martial, the course of +which was rendered impossible by succeeding events. + +The reception of the envoy, the negotiations commenced with him and +with the Duke of Coburg in the midst of military action, combined with +the withdrawal of the troops from Eisenach, caused the idea to gain +ground in Berlin that the king wished to negotiate; and King William of +Prussia, animated by the desire of avoiding a bloody encounter +with the Hanoverians, sent General von Alvensleben to the Hanoverian +head-quarters, situated on the 25th June at Gross-Behringen, on the +road to Eisenach. + +During the previous negotiations with the Duke of Coburg, and the +withdrawal of the Hanoverian troops, the Prussians had seized the +opportunity of reinforcing Eisenach so strongly that it was now very +difficult to take it. + +General von Alvensleben announced himself in Bavaria as empowered by +his majesty the King of Prussia "to receive any commands from the King +of Hanover." The negotiations turned upon the proposition made by the +Hanoverian council of war, that the Hanoverian troops should be granted +a free passage to the south without battle or bloodshed, upon condition +of abstaining for a certain time from fighting against Prussia. Prussia +required that the time named should be a year, and demanded various +guarantees and pledges. The King of Hanover did not accept these +stipulations, yet negotiations were not broken off; on the contrary, a +suspension of hostilities was concluded, and the king promised a +definite answer on the morning of the 26th of June. But when he +despatched Colonel Rudorff, of the general staff, early in the morning +of the 26th, he was turned back by General Vogel von Falckenstein, who +had already arrived in Eisenach and concentrated there nearly two whole +divisions. He declared he know nothing of an armistice, and that he +should certainly attack the enemy. + +The Hanoverian army was thus placed in a most unfavourable position. +The king, who had passed the night in Behringen, removed his +head-quarters early on the morning of the 26th to the Schuetzhaus[1] in +Langensalza. + +The Schuetzhaus, a large and handsome building, stands back from the +road leading to Eisenach, at some little distance from the town; before +it is a large open square, and opposite to it rises the spacious +post-house. Behind the house there is a large garden surrounded by high +walls and covered walks, and a broad verandah connects the house with +the garden. + +Double sentries were posted before the Schuetzhaus; in the square stood +the royal carriages, and officers of every branch of the service +came and went; the aides-de-camp of the general in command, whose +head-quarters were in the town, hurried to and fro, to bring the king +the latest information,--all was movement and military life. + +The army was concentrated around Langensalza, and placed in a defensive +position, for as General Vogel von Falckenstein refused to recognize +the armistice, a Prussian attack was expected at any moment. After +Falckenstein had learnt from General von Alvensleben all particulars, +he declared himself willing to respect the suspension of arms; but the +defensive position of the Hanoverian army was nevertheless maintained. + +The king sat in his room. The expression on his face was very grave. +Old General von Brandis stood near him. + +"My dear Brandis," said the king gloomily, "I fear we are in very evil +case!" + +"Alas! I am quite sure we are, your majesty!" replied the general. + +"I fear," continued the king, "that these unfortunate and involved +negotiations have only served to give the Prussians time to strengthen +the forces opposed to us, and to make our position worse. Without these +negotiations we should have taken Eisenach and perhaps we should by +this time have joined the Bavarians in safety." + +"We should certainly have done so," said the general drily. "Your +majesty will do me the justice to remember I always spoke strongly +against these negotiations," he continued. "According to my opinion +your majesty might negotiate or march; but to attempt both together +would never succeed. I cannot understand what these negotiations were +to lead to. I do not see their aim. To march to the south under the +obligation not to fight against Prussia for a certain time----" + +"For two months," interrupted the king. + +"But what good could it do?" pursued the general; "what reception could +we expect in South Germany if we arrived saying, 'Here we are, we want +maintenance and quarters, but we can't fight'? I really don't know," +said he with some bitterness, "what I should say to such a surprise +were I the general commanding the South German troops. I believe that +it would have been better to have stayed in Hanover." + +A slight look of impatience passed over the king's face, but it +vanished immediately, and he said, kindly but gravely,-- + +"But, my dear Brandis, the commanding general and the general staff +assured me the army was unprepared to undertake any serious military +operation, and that after we reached South Germany eight weeks at least +would be required before it was in a condition to fight! It was for +this reason that I entered upon negotiations,--how could I do +otherwise?" + +"I do not venture," said the general, "to question your majesty's +decision or mode of action, but I must again repeat I do not understand +the theories which govern the general staff. The results of all their +labour are only negative, and their movements continual retreats. Yet, +your majesty," he cried, "we want to go forwards! and to go forwards we +must march. To march straight on invigorates an army, to halt long in +one place wearies it, but aimless marching hither and thither will in +the end demoralize it." + +The king was silent and sighed deeply. + +"Your majesty," said the general with warmth and energy, "there is but +one way now which can save us, and that is a hasty march upon Gotha. +The Prussians expect from our previous operations that we shall work +across the railway near Eisenach, and they have drawn together their +greatest strength in that direction. Let your majesty at once direct +your course by forced marches upon Gotha, we shall find but little +resistance, and we shall break through it. We have nineteen thousand +men; even if we lose four thousand, we shall still reach--and of this I +am certain--South Germany with fifteen thousand men; we shall bring +immediate assistance, and above all things we shall maintain the honour +of your majesty's banner in the field. If we stay here," he added +sorrowfully, "we must end badly." + +"But the negotiations with Alvensleben," said the king +hesitating,--"Count Platen still hopes for a favourable result." + +"What result?" exclaimed General von Brandis; "the results of the +negotiations on either side have not been brilliant." + +"Count Platen!" announced the groom of the chambers. + +The king made a sign, and Count Platen entered. + +"Your majesty," he cried, "the Prussian Colonel von Doering has arrived +as an envoy from Berlin, and brings a despatch from Count Bismarck; it +appears that in Berlin they still wish to negotiate." + +"Let the colonel come immediately," said the king. + +General Brandis shrugged his shoulders and walked to the window. + +Count Platen returned with the Prussian staff-officer. + +"Colonel von Doering!" said the count, introducing him, whilst he +approached the king with a stiff military salute; "he begs permission +to read your majesty a despatch from the minister-president, Count +Bismarck." + +"I am prepared to listen, colonel," replied the king. + +The colonel opened a paper which he held in his hand. + +"I must first remark to your majesty," he said, "that I consider myself +freed from my charge, as I find negotiations are broken off, and +General Vogel von Falckenstein already meditating an attack." + +"Your communication then will be useless?" asked the king coldly. + +"Nevertheless, if your majesty permits, I will carry out my orders." + +"Even yet----" began Count Platen. + +"Read, colonel," said the king. + +The colonel slowly read the despatch. It was an exact repetition of the +ultimatum received through Prince Ysenburg on the 15th, and proposed a +treaty on the foundation of the Prussian project of reform. + +"Does this man believe," cried the king, as the colonel ended, "that I +shall now----" + +"Your majesty," said Colonel von Doering in a firm voice, "I humbly beg +you graciously to consider that I, as a Prussian officer, cannot hear +any derogatory expression applied to the minister-president." + +"Is he not a man like ourselves?" asked the king, with dignity. "Does +Count Bismarck believe," he continued, "that I shall in the field, at +the head of my army, accept conditions which I rejected in my cabinet +at Herrenhausen, and that I shall now allow my army to march against +Austria?" + +"Could not a short time be granted for consideration?" suggested Count +Platen. + +"I have no orders for granting time," said Colonel von Doering. + +"And I do not need it," said the king, "in giving you my answer. It is +the same as before; it is to these propositions simply 'No.' I have +listened to negotiations in the hope of preventing useless bloodshed +and diminishing the burdens of our countrymen, but upon this basis I +cannot negotiate; events must take their course, I can do nothing more +to restrain them. I thank you, colonel, and I wish I had made your +acquaintance on a happier occasion. Take care, gentlemen," he added, +turning to Count Platen and General Brandis, "that the colonel is led +in safety to our outposts." + +Colonel von Doering made a military salute and left the king's room, +accompanied by the two ministers. + +Count Ingelheim walked thoughtfully to and fro before the house, and +looked up from time to time with an anxious expression at the king's +windows. Groups of officers stood around in animated conversation. They +knew that a Prussian envoy was with the king, and all these brave young +officers, thirsting for the battle, feared nothing more than that they +should capitulate without fighting. + +"We could never again be seen in a Hanoverian uniform," cried a young +officer of one of the Guard regiments with a rosy childish face, as he +stamped with his foot, "if we were ensnared without drawing the sword, +as in a mousetrap. We have been marching a fortnight, now here, now +there; now waiting for the Bavarians, then for the Hessians, and never +going forwards. So much was expected from this new commander; and +now ..." + +An eager young officer on a swift horse galloped up in the Guard Jaeger +uniform, the star of a commander of the order of Ernest Augustus on his +breast. He threw himself from the saddle, gave his horse to his +servant, who had hastened after him, and walked up to the group of +officers. + +"Well, prince," cried the lieutenant in the Guards, "where do you come +from so hastily?" + +"I have ridden out a little amongst the troops," replied Prince Hermann +von Solms-Braunfels, the king's youngest nephew, as he endeavoured to +seize the down just shading his upper lip with his fingers. "I am in +despair, for in spite of my earnest request the king has commanded me +to be here at head-quarters, but from time to time I must escape into +the free life of the camp, and enjoy a little fresh air. Where are you +stationed, Herr von Landesberg?" he inquired of the young lieutenant. + +"Here in Langensalza," he replied, "fretting over the inactivity +imposed upon us by the general staff. The king should just listen to +us, the young officers of the army; he would soon be convinced that the +army was ready both to march and to fight." + +"God knows it is so," exclaimed an hussar officer, drawing his long +moustache through his fingers; "I cannot comprehend why we have a +general staff only to arrange such marches as we have made. I have +heard an old story of the Crusaders, or some such people," continued +the hussar drily, "who let a goose go before them, and followed the +line of march pursued by the fowl. That was both a simpler and a kinder +course, for now they strip the poor bird of its feathers and write with +them night and day--and nothing more clever comes of it." + +"See, there comes the Prussian envoy back!" cried Herr von Landesberg, +and the officers approached the Schuetzhaus, at the door of which +Colonel Doering, accompanied by General von Brandis and Count Platen, +appeared. + +Whilst General von Brandis called the carriage and ordered a guard of +four dragoons to accompany it, Count Platen politely took leave of the +Prussian colonel and hastened to Count Ingelheim, who met him full of +anxiety. + +"It was the ultimatum of the 15th over again," cried the minister to +the Austrian ambassador. + +"And...?" asked Count Ingelheim. + +"Of course it was at once declined," exclaimed Count Platen. + +"Then these luckless negotiations are over at last?" asked Count +Ingelheim, watching with secret relief Colonel von Doering's carriage as +it rolled away. + +"Quite at an end," said Count Platen, as he sighed slightly. + +"Do you know, dear count," proceeded the ambassador, "that in my +opinion your position here is a very serious one? You are in a corner +between the Prussian armies, and I see only _one_ way out; that is by a +hasty march upon Gotha." + +"Yes, the king is quite ready to go forward, but the general staff----" + +"Would to heaven!" cried Count Ingelheim energetically, "that his +majesty had retained his old officers; I do not believe that +Tschirschnitz would have allowed these constantly retrograde marches." + +"Yes," said Count Platen, with a slight shrug, "it is so difficult for +me to do anything in military affairs. In Goettingen the wish seemed +universal." + +"The wish is universal to act and to march; do you see that knot of +officers? I am sure they are of my opinion;" and he pointed out a group +in which Lieutenant von Landesberg was just expressing his joy at the +envoy's departure, and his hopes of speedy action. + +Prince Hermann left the officers and joined Platen and Ingelheim. + +"The envoy is not coming back again?" he asked. + +"No, prince," cried Count Ingelheim, "I hope he is the last." + +Four post-horses dashed quickly along the road, drawing a close +carriage with a servant in travelling livery upon the box. + +"Who is this?" cried Count Platen, with surprise, and all eyes turned +upon the carriage as it drew up before the house. The servant sprang +down and opened the door. + +An old gentleman in travelling dress, wrapped in a large Havelock +cloak, his white head covered with a black cap, got out slowly and +looked around as if seeking for something. + +"Persiany!" exclaimed Prince Hermann. + +"Good heavens, Persiany!" cried Count Platen, with amazement; then, +with a pleased look and hasty footstep he met and welcomed the Emperor +of Russia's ambassador at the Hanoverian court. + +"What does he want here?" asked Count Ingelheim; and a dark cloud +passed over his face. + +"It looks well for us, as far as the inclinations of Russia go," said +the prince; "and," he continued, with a smile, "he is at least no +Prussian envoy." + +"Who knows?" murmured Count Ingelheim. And an investigating look +followed Count Platen's meeting with Persiany. + +"At last I have found you, my dear count," cried the Russian +ambassador, an old gentleman with strongly marked features and dark +piercing eyes, which now wore an expression of the greatest anxiety. +"Thank God that this horrible journey is at an end." And he held out a +hand trembling with weakness to the minister. + +"You will never believe what I have gone through," he continued, as he +took off his cloak, "in that dreadful carriage, always delayed by the +movements of the troops, without sleep, without proper nourishment, at +my age." + +"Well," said Count Platen, "you can now rest at least; we cannot offer +you much, our head-quarters are not rich in comforts----" + +"But first," interrupted Monsieur de Persiany, "where is his majesty? I +beg an immediate audience; I come by the command of my gracious master +and emperor." + +Count Platen looked surprised, and listened attentively; then he +exclaimed,-- + +"Come with me, I will at once announce your arrival to his majesty." + +He gave his arm to the old gentleman, who trembled from exhaustion, and +assisted him in mounting the stairs leading to the upper rooms of the +Schuetzhaus. + +In the ante-room Monsieur de Persiany sank into a chair. Count Platen +entered the king's apartment and found him resting on a sofa. Lex sat +near him, reading aloud. + +"Forgive me for disturbing you, your majesty," said the minister, "but +Monsieur de Persiany is here at the command of the Emperor Alexander, +and he requests an immediate audience." + +George V. rose, an expression of joy shining in his face. + +"How?" he cried, with animation,--"and what does he bring? let him come +in!" + +Count Platen led the Russian ambassador into the room. + +"Welcome to the camp, my dear Monsieur de Persiany!" cried the king, +holding out his hand to him as he entered. + +The old gentleman seized it, and said, in trembling voice,-- + +"Good God, your majesty! what times are these? how painful it is to me +to see you under such circumstances!" + +His hand shook and tears glittered in his eyes. + +"Monsieur de Persiany is much exhausted by his journey, your majesty," +said Count Platen. + +The king seated himself on the sofa, and exclaimed,-- + +"Pray sit down, Monsieur de Persiany, you are in want of refreshment. +Lex, go and find a glass of wine." + +"I thank you, I thank your majesty most humbly," said the old +gentleman, as he sank into a chair as if quite exhausted. "I shall find +something by and by. Now let me impart to your majesty all that the +emperor, my gracious master, has commanded me to say. I was to seek +your head-quarters, and to assure you of his friendly sympathy." + +"The emperor is very good," said the king; "I recognize in this the +friendship he has always shown me, and to which my whole heart +responds." + +"The emperor commanded me," continued Persiany, with labouring breath, +"to place myself at your majesty's disposal, as he understood +negotiations were being carried on with Prussia, and thought the +intervention of a neutral power, friendly alike to both sovereigns----" + +The king's brow clouded. + +"Negotiations have been broken off," he said. + +"Good heavens!" cried Persiany, "I have come too late!" And he sank +back in his chair as if broken down by the thought that his fatiguing +journey had been in vain. + +"Is it then quite impossible to prevent bloodshed?" he asked, folding +his trembling hands; "the emperor firmly believes that the king +of Prussia is desirous of coming to an understanding, and if your +majesty----" + +"My dear Monsieur de Persiany," said the king, "I do not know how I +could again commence negotiations. The Prussians, just before your +arrival, offered me the ultimatum which I could not accept on the 15th, +and I have again refused it." + +"My God! my God!" cried Persiany, "what a misfortune it is at such a +moment to be so old and feeble, no longer master of my nerves. Possibly +through my mediation you might again----" He could add no more, his +voice failed him, he was almost fainting. + +"My dear ambassador," said the king, in a gentle voice, "I thank you +heartily for the rapid and fatiguing journey you have undertaken in +order to prove to me the friendship and amiable wishes of the emperor; +but at present nothing can be done. You stand greatly in need of rest +and refreshment, I beg you to withdraw. Count Platen will take care of +you." + +"I thank you, I thank your majesty," said Persiany, rising with +difficulty; "I stand in need of a little nourishment. I shall soon be +_a mon aise_; under all circumstances I am at your majesty's disposal." + +His strength threatened to fail him, he took Count Platen's arm, and +was led by him into a room in which a bed was prepared, upon which the +exhausted old man immediately fell into a slumber, whilst his servant +repaired to the meagrely supplied kitchen in search of some refreshment +with which to restore his master's strength when he awoke. + +Count Platen sought the Austrian ambassador as he paced up and down the +garden. + +"Well, some new negotiation, is it not so?" asked Count Ingelheim, +casting a penetrating glance at the minister. + +"It appears," he replied, "that in St. Petersburg, either from their +own inclination or the wish of Prussia, they desire to mediate--perhaps +Colonel von Doering's mission was connected--but at all events----" + +"My dear count," interrupted the Austrian ambassador gravely; "I +refrained from any remark whilst negotiations continued; they were, in +form at least, of a military nature; you see the military position into +which these negotiations have led you; you are shut in between the +Prussian armies, crushed--if you do not quickly seize the only way in +which lies safety. Will you give the enemy time to close the only road +now open, that leading to Gotha, by again commencing negotiations? +Besides, this time," he added, "the affair is political, and I must +seriously call your attention to its political results. The former +negotiations have placed your military position in great danger; shall +your political position be also imperilled? What will be said in +Vienna, if even at this moment no reliance can be placed on Hanover; +and if through the mediation of Russia, negotiations are again begun +with Prussia?" + +"But not the smallest negotiation is begun," said Count Platen. + +"Because good old Persiany is asleep," said Count Ingelheim; "because +he has no nerve. But when he wakes, I beg you, Count Platen, send this +Russian mediator away; do you still hope to find any support except in +Austria? or do you wish to be excluded from her sympathy, and from the +benefits to be gained by the great struggle about to take place?" + +"But I ask you, on what excuse?" said Count Platen hesitatingly. + +"On what excuse?" cried Count Ingelheim; "the sickly old man will +accept any excuse with thankfulness that sends him out of this noise, +these hardships, and the near neighbourhood of cannon. Consider," he +continued urgently, "what will be said in Vienna, by the emperor, who +builds so strongly upon Hanover, by all your friends in society, who +count so much upon you, the Schwarzenbergs, the Dietrichsteins, +Countess Mensdorff, Countess Clam-Gallas----" + +"Persiany shall go!" exclaimed Count Platen; "they know in Vienna my +devotion to Austria; in the exposed position of Hanover----" + +"It is best to hold firmly to one side or the other," said Count +Ingelheim, "and to gain a sure friend, even at the twelfth hour." + +"I will go to the king," said Count Platen, and he walked slowly +towards the house. + +Count Ingelheim looked after him, and shook his head slightly. + +"If he only meets no one on the way," he said to himself. "I fear," he +added, continuing his soliloquy, "I fear matters here will not end +well; there is no connecting link between the heroic king and his brave +army; this general staff is ignorant of war, it knows but one maxim, to +get out of the enemy's way whenever he shows himself; and the crown +prince----" + +He sighed deeply. + +"However," he added, "we have always gained something. The Hanoverian +campaign has cost Prussia much time; has absorbed many troops; all this +is clear gain on our side; the occupation of the country absorbs much +of its strength; above all things an understanding, a political +arrangement, must be prevented which would leave the enemy's hands free +here in the north. But here comes my northern colleague!" And he +hastened to meet the Russian ambassador as he came out of the house. + +Monsieur de Persiany had slept a little, had refreshed his toilette a +little, and had eaten a little, and he looked much fresher than before. +But his footsteps were still uncertain as he walked to meet Count +Ingelheim. + +"Welcome to head-quarters, my dear colleague," cried the latter, as he +held out his hand; "the corps diplomatique is well represented--I was +its only member up to this time! You are fatigued by the journey, are +you not?" + +"Tired to death!" cried Persiany, as he sank upon a garden seat, where +Count Ingelheim placed himself at his side; "tired to death, and it +does not appear that they have much to revive one here." + +"No, that there certainly is not," said Count Ingelheim; "the whole day +noise, trumpet calls, bugle sounds----" + +"Horrible!" exclaimed Persiany. + +"And at night no bed, or at best a hard straw mattress." + +Persiany folded his hands and raised his eyes to heaven. + +"These are only slight disagreeables which we scarcely think of," said +Count Ingelheim. + +Persiany looked at him with an expression of great surprise. + +"It will be much more unpleasant when action really begins, when real +fighting commences," said the Austrian diplomatist; "the king is +certain to be in the midst, and we must of course be with him." + +"Do you think we should really be in danger?" asked Persiany, "our +diplomatic character----" + +"Will scarcely preserve me from imprisonment," said Count Ingelheim; +"for we are at war with Prussia. With you it is somewhat different: you +are certain to be treated with consideration, so soon as you have +identified yourself before a commander of troops. But in the melee!..." +And he shrugged his shoulders. + +"Should we really have cause to fear?" asked Persiany. + +"My dear colleague," replied Count Ingelheim, sighing slightly, and +casting a penetrating look at the Russian diplomatist, "a cannon ball, +the pistol of an hussar, the sword of a cuirassier, little heed the +diplomatic character." + +"My God!" cried Persiany. "But if fighting begins I scarcely think I +ought to remain here; we are at peace with Prussia." + +"It will come suddenly, I think, and without much warning; there will +be no choice," said Count Ingelheim drily. "I do not believe our lives +will be actually in danger; but really it will be sufficiently +unpleasant to hear the noise of battle--to see the blood--the +corpses----" + +Persiany fell back on the bench, and his white lips trembled as he +thought of such a trial to his nerves. + +"I wonder if they have some soda-water here?" he asked. + +"I do not think so," said Count Ingelheim; "we do not find such things, +and the small store they have is carefully put aside for the wounded in +the approaching engagement. At the king's table we have thin beer, cold +beef, and baked potatoes." + +"Impossible!" cried Persiany. + +Count Ingelheim shrugged his shoulders. + +"What would you have?" said he; "you cannot expect good dinners in the +midst of war; besides, we sportsmen are accustomed----" + +"But I am not a sportsman!" cried Persiany. + +"Here comes Count Platen," exclaimed the Austrian ambassador; "perhaps +he will bring us some news." + +Count Platen came and begged the Russian ambassador, who was greatly +shaken by Count Ingelheim's descriptions, to accompany him to the king. + +"You do not believe further negotiations are possible?" asked Persiany, +as he ascended the steps. + +"I do not think the king will permit anything to be attempted," replied +Count Platen, after a short hesitation. + +"Then----" said M. de Persiany--but he could not express his thoughts, +for they had reached the door of the king's room. + +"My dear Monsieur de Persiany," said George V., "I sent for you in +order----I hope, though, you are somewhat rested." + +"I thank your majesty," said Persiany, sighing; "I am a little +stronger." + +"I sent for you," said the king, "to thank you for the zeal which +caused you to undertake a journey, doubly fatiguing to one of your +years, and in your weak health, for the purpose of expressing to me the +emperor's friendly regard, and his hearty desire to mediate. I would +also beg you to remain longer at my head-quarters----" + +A slight flush passed over Persiany's face; he gasped. + +"If," continued the king, "there were the least possibility of +negotiating, after Colonel von Doering had been the bearer of a proposal +again based on the Prussian project of reform, which I had already +declined. Also the envoy considered his commission actually annulled +before he delivered it. I should therefore only torment you, and injure +your health uselessly, by exposing you to the tumult and fatigues of +war, if I kept you with me. I beg you therefore to return to Hanover. +Your advice will be useful to the queen. Pray thank the emperor most +heartily and sincerely for his sympathy and friendship." + +"If your majesty is really of opinion that all hope of negotiation is +over, that I should be useless to you, and that I might perhaps be of +service to her majesty the queen in Hanover----" + +"That is quite my opinion," said the king. + +"If it were possible," said Persiany, "that perhaps the course of +events,--opposed to a superior power,--still the moment for negotiation +might come,--it would be my duty to remain,--and only your majesty's +distinct command----" + +"If it must be so," said the king, "I give this command; set out +immediately, and tell the queen how you found me and the army." + +"Then I must obey," cried Persiany. "I pray God to bless your majesty, +and to guide things to a happy termination." + +With great emotion the old gentleman seized the hand the king offered +him, and a tear fell upon it. + +The king smiled good-humouredly. + +"I know what a true affection you bear towards me and my family. God +protect you--and your emperor!" he added heartily. + +Persiany returned with Count Platen to the garden, where Count +Ingelheim awaited them. + +"Well, my dear colleague," he cried, "you look much more cheerful. Are +you growing reconciled to camp life?" + +"The king has dismissed me," said Persiany; "he sends me back to +Hanover; my old carcass will no longer undergo such trials. But," he +added, turning to Count Platen, "by the way that I came, by the same +will I not return; send me to Gotha. I will get to Frankfort, from +there perhaps to Umwegen, but yet it will be the quickest and safest +road. I must set out at once. I may be of use in Hanover." + +The old gentlemen pressed Count Ingelheim's hand, and tripped hastily +to the house, leaning on Count Platen's arm. His carriage and a guard +were soon ready. + +"The storm has blown over," said Count Ingelheim, rubbing his hands, +and laughing as he looked after the Russian ambassador; "yes, if they +wish to succeed in diplomacy in these times, they must send people with +strong muscles and firm nerves." + +And he walked with youthful elasticity towards the house. + +An hour later the king hold a council of war. He assembled the general +in command, the general staff, the adjutant-general, and General von +Brandis. He also requested Count Platen, Count Ingelheim, and Herr +Meding to be present. + +The king urged an immediate advance upon Gotha. General von Brandis, +Colonel Dammers, and all the non-military gentlemen strongly supported +the king's opinion. + +Colonel Cordemann, the chief of the general staff, insisted strongly +that the army, in consequence of its exhausting marches and scanty +food, could not possibly undertake offensive movements, and that their +course was to take up a defensive position, and make a courageous +defence if attacked. The whole of the general staff agreed with the +chief, and the general in command stated that under existing +circumstances he could not be responsible for the consequences of an +onward march. + +The king gave his consent to the dispositions agreed upon with a sigh, +but he declared that he would pass the night amongst his troops, and +about midnight, accompanied by the whole of his suite, their royal +master established himself amongst his soldiers for the night. + +The royal bivouac was in a corn-field near to Merxleben, and everyone +listened with anxious expectation until the morning dawned. + +All was quiet. The outposts sent in no news of any movement on the part +of the enemy. + +About four o'clock in the morning one of the emissaries sent out +several days before towards the south, returned with the intelligence +that the Bavarians had been seen advancing in several detachments, and +that even on the 25th they had reached Bacha. The complete inactivity +of the enemy seemed to support this information, and it was believed +the Prussian forces were drawn away in that direction. + +This idea gave great satisfaction in head-quarters, and it was +determined to wait in a strong position for the confirmation of the +intelligence and the approach of the Bavarians. General von Brandis +alone shook his head, and opined that if the Bavarians were advancing +and the Prussians occupied in the south, it was a stronger reason for +hastening as quickly as possible to meet them, and stretching towards +them a helping hand, before the overwhelming Prussian forces could come +down upon them from the north. + +The order was given to erect batteries, and the king and his suite, +exhausted by a sleepless night, repaired to Thamsbrueck, a small village +on the banks of the Unstrut, and there the king took up his quarters in +the Pfarrhaus. + +Clear and brilliant rose the sun on the 27th of June, and his first +rays lighted up the varied changing picture of the Hanoverian army +encamped around Langensalza. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + LANGENSALZA. + + +At about five in the morning the king withdrew to the quiet Pfarrhaus +on the hill at Thamsbrueck, and retired to rest. From the dispositions +made by the general staff a delay of several days was expected, with +probably some defensive fighting, whilst tidings were awaited of a more +certain nature from the Bavarians. + +Beneath a large and ancient linden-tree in front of the pastor's house +the king's suite were assembled, discussing an extremely simple but +much-relished breakfast. + +A large table covered with a white cloth bore a coffee service of +blue and white pottery, such as is traditional in all primitive old +country-houses in North Germany, and the perfume which arose from the +large pot standing on an ancient-looking chafing-dish was certainly not +from Mocha. + +A ham, a few sausages, a large black loaf, and a small piece of butter +completed the provisions, over which Count Erhardt Wedel presided with +the strictest impartiality. + +The whole party did honour to the breakfast, with appetites rarely seen +at the chamberlain's table at Herrenhausen. + +"There seems to be an immense proportion of water in this beverage," +said General von Brandis, gazing with curiosity at the brown fluid in +his blue cup. + +"If the coffee has too much water, it makes up for the dryness of the +sausage," remarked Count Ingelheim, as he attempted to cut a slice with +his pocket-knife, but the stony nature of the sausage successfully +resisted all his efforts. + +"At least the drink is warm," said Count Platen, as pale and shivering +he sipped the smoking coffee. + +"I don't know that warm water is much better than cold," grumbled +General Brandis, without making up his mind to put his cup to his lips. +"It has its merits as an outward application, but to drink it without a +prudent admixture of some stimulating body is unpleasant, especially so +early in the morning." + +"Your excellency shares the prejudices of the ancient legions against +water," said Count Wedel, laughing. "They used to say, as water was so +unpleasant when it got into their boots, how much more disagreeable it +would be if it got into their stomachs!" + +"Wellington's veterans lived before the discovery of hydropathy," said +little Herr Lex, as he busied himself in overcoming a large piece of +ham. + +"They were right!" cried General Brandis, with comic gravity. "Fire was +their element," he added, setting his cup down untasted upon the table; +"they did not carry on war with sugared water, as seems the present +fashion." + +"Perhaps I can offer your excellency a better drink for this chilly +morning," said Prince Hermann Solms, drawing out a field flask covered +with plaited straw. "I have a little excellent cognac left." + +"You are a help in need, my dear prince," cried the old gentleman, +smiling. "I will repay you some day!" + +The prince, hastening into the house, came back with a kettle full of +hot water, and he soon mixed the old general a glass of grog, with such +a homoeopathic allowance of water that his cheerfulness quite returned. + +A loud hurrah resounded from the stable-like buildings at one side of +the house, and the Crown Prince Ernest Augustus hurried from them and +joined the breakfast party. + +He carried his handkerchief carefully tied together in one hand, and +his cap in the other. + +"Guess what I have here, gentlemen!" he cried, raising both hands above +his head. "Fresh eggs--just laid. Is it not a glorious find?" And he +emptied the cap and the handkerchief upon the table. "Now, shall we +boil them, or shall we make an omelette?" + +"Why any preparation?" said General Brandis, seizing an egg, +decapitating it with his sword, and hastily drinking the contents. "It +is easy to see that the present generation are unaccustomed to the +rigours of war." + +Count Ingelheim followed his example. + +"It would be great fun, though, to make an omelette!" cried the crown +prince, holding his hands over the rest of his spoil. + +"Alas! we have plenty of time," murmured General Brandis. + +"Listen!" cried Meding, springing to his feet. + +"A cannon shot," said Count Ingelheim, putting his hand to his car. + +"Impossible!" remarked the adjutant-general; "where should it come +from? The general staff does not expect an attack." + +A short, heavy, distant sound was heard. + +"Those are certainly guns!" cried Count Wedel. + +"I think they are beginning to growl," said General Brandis, rising and +drinking off the rest of his grog with a look of satisfaction. "It +would be as well to mount!" + +"Shall his majesty be awakened?" asked Count Wedel. + +"It will be time enough to call him if anything serious really +appears," said Colonel Dammers. "I will go up to the top of the house, +from whence one can overlook the whole plain." + +He entered the house; Prince Hermann followed him, and the others +listened anxiously to the sound of firing, which grew louder and more +distinct every moment. + +"After all, an omelette would be too much trouble," said the crown +prince, putting his eggs into the kettle, the contents of which had not +been much diminished by the general's grog. He placed it on the +chafing-dish and blew the charcoal, listening attentively for the water +to boil. + +After a short time Colonel Dammers returned. + +"Some strong columns are visible on the distant horizon; I can see +their arms glittering through the dust!" he cried. "His majesty must be +called." + +Count Wedel hurried into the house. + +Signals were heard from the plain. A general march was beginning in +various parts of the camp. + +George V. came out of the Pfarrhaus. They all approached the king. + +"Your majesty," cried General Brandis, "I hear with joy the well-known +voice of cannon; it makes my old heart young again." + +The king's face expressed high courage and calm determination. He held +out his hand to the general. + +"I hear this voice in earnest for the first time," he said; "but, my +dear general, my heart, too, beats higher at the sound. Now +negotiations are impossible. God be with us!" + +He folded his hands and raised his head silently to heaven. All those +around him involuntarily followed his example. + +The sound of horse's hoofs was heard. An officer of the garde du corps, +springing from the saddle, informed the king, from the general in +command, that the enemy were drawing up in strong columns upon the road +from Gotha, and that the general begged his majesty to leave Thamsbrueck +immediately, and to go to the hills behind Merxleben. + +Count Wedel hurried away; the horses were saddled and the carriages +prepared. + +"General von Arentschildt further begs your majesty's commands and +instructions as to the capitulation which may be needful during the +action," said the aide-de-camp. + +General Brandis bit his moustache. Count Ingelheim stamped upon the +ground. + +"What does he mean?" asked the king quietly. + +"The general staff," continued the officer, "has represented to the +general that the troops are so worn out and badly fed that they may be +unable to endure the fatigue of battle; he therefore begs permission to +capitulate should he deem it needful. He has drawn up an instruction on +this point, and he begs your majesty to send it back to him signed." He +handed the king a paper. + +The king had closed his teeth firmly, and he drew his breath with a +sharp, almost hissing sound. + +Without the slightest movement of haste or anger he took the paper and +tore it through. + +"Ride back to General Arentschildt," he said in a calm ringing voice, +"and tell him my commands, to resist to the last man!" + +The officer's face brightened. With a military salute he turned sharply +round, sprang into the saddle, and galloped off. + +"And now forwards! gentlemen," cried the king. + +"Father, have a new-laid egg!" And the crown prince, hurrying up, +offered the king a plate, on which was a specimen of his cooking. + +"Eat it, your majesty," said General Brandis; "there is no saying when +or where you may get anything else." And he handed the king an egg, +after breaking the shell with the hilt of his sword. + +The king ate it and turned to the horses. + +They mounted and set out; dragoons preceded them and acted as a guard; +the carriages and the led horses followed. + +As the king rode out of the village of Thamsbrueck, the artillery duel +had already fully commenced. + +From the hill above they saw the lines of the enemy's skirmishers +before the town of Langensalza. The enemy's batteries were on the +farther side of the Unstrut, and kept up an energetic fire, to which +the Hanoverian artillery replied from the opposite bank. The infantry +were engaged before the town, and the Hanoverian cavalry were seen on +one side slowly withdrawing. + +"Where shall we ride?" asked the king. + +"To a hill behind Merxleben, from whence we can overlook the whole +battle-field, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general. + +"We are going away from the thunder of the cannon!" said the king. + +"There is a turn in the road to the left," replied Colonel Dammers. + +"Then we must ride to the right to keep near the fighting," said the +king calmly, turning his head in the direction whence came the sound of +firing. "Schweppe," he said to the major of guard cuirassiers who held +his leading rein, "I command you to ride in that direction." + +"There is no road, your majesty," he replied. + +"Then we will ride through the fields." And the royal procession moved +on, in the direction the king had indicated. + +The sound of the cannon was heard nearer and nearer, mingled with the +rattle of small arms. + +The king and his suite rode to an eminence where the plain was bounded +by a chain of hills; the party being rendered conspicuous to both sides +from the dragoons, and the brilliant uniforms of the suite. + +A few balls flew over their heads and the horses began to be uneasy. + +Suddenly the enemy's artillery appeared to choose the king's party as +their mark, and shells flew thicker and thicker over them, striking the +ground now before them, now behind them. + +The adjutant-general sprang to the king's side. + +"Your majesty!" he cried, "we are under a heavy fire, I conjure your +majesty--" + +Count Platen and General von Brandis also implored the king to withdraw +from such imminent peril. + +The king reined in his horse. + +The whole escort stood still. + +"Can my troops see me here?" asked George V. + +"Certainly, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general, "your +majesty's position is visible from the whole of the plain." + +"Good," said the king, simply. And he quietly remained on the spot. + +The shells flew hissing through the air, the bullets of the small arms +whistled through the valley, and the frightened horses throwing up +their heads snorted and trembled; the blind king, the Guelphic prince, +who was ready to give his life for what his proud heart told him was +the right, halted upon the brow of the hill, motionless as a marble +statue, that his soldiers might see him. + +With a maddening hurrah the Hanoverian columns greeted the king as they +marched past him, and sank their waving banners low before their royal +master, who returned their greeting calmly and quietly each time it was +announced to him. + +"If we stand here much longer," said Count Ingelheim to General +Brandis, "a ball will sooner or later solve the Hanoverian question in +a very simple manner." + +"Yes, indeed!" replied Count Platen, looking at a shell that had fallen +unpleasantly near the king, "they are improving in their practice; but +if we venture to tell him so we shall have to stay here all the +longer." + +"Your majesty," said General Brandis, riding up to the king, "there is +a turn in the fighting, and I think your majesty would be more visible +upon the hill which was first selected for your position." + +"Are you quite sure, Brandis?" said the king. + +"I am sure your majesty would be in a better position there," replied +the general. + +"Let us go then!" cried the king, touching his horse with the spur; it +bounded forwards so rapidly that Major Schweppe had some difficulty in +holding the guiding rein. + +Their rapid pace soon brought them to the hill, near which the reserve +cavalry were placed. + +The king rode on to the highest point. His suite surrounded him, some +dismounted, and followed the movements of the troops with field-glasses +and telescopes. + +The carriages were drawn up in a large semicircle. + +The king stood motionless. Not a feature of his pale, noble face +changed. The adjutant-general informed him of the course of the +fighting as far as it could be made out, the gentlemen of the suite +sometimes expressed by loud shouts the result of their observations, +but generally they imparted to each other in low tones their hopes and +fears. + +Whilst this was going on at head-quarters, the Duke of Cambridge's +dragoon regiment had been employed since the early morning in outpost +duty near the village of Hemingsleben, on the road leading from +Langensalza to Gotha. + +Before the village was the toll-house with its black and white bar +raised, and beside it stood the most advanced outpost. + +Lieutenant von Stolzenberg commanded the outpost, and with him was his +somewhat younger comrade Lieutenant von Wendenstein. + +The morning sun shone brightly, and the two young officers stood near +their horses, gazing over the plain, which spread far around them, and +which was crossed by the grey band of the high road. Some straw lay on +the ground, but none of the provisions appeared which, on the evening +of their march into Goettingen, the young men had obtained for their +supper. + +With a weary, half-sleepy look, Wendenstein drew out his pocket flask, +took a good drink and handed it to his companion. Then taking a piece +of black bread from his pocket, and breaking it up, he slowly swallowed +one morsel after another. + +"Do you know, Stolzenberg," he said, with a slight shiver, "this sort +of warfare in the chill of dawn makes one feel far from courageous. We +did not think of such campaigning as this when we started." + +He gave his horse a piece of bread moistened with brandy. + +"No, indeed!" said Stolzenberg with a sigh, as he took a sip from the +flask. "But where the devil did you get that horrid liquor from?" + +"I found it at the inn in the village. What can you do? When your +cognac is at an end, you must put up with potato spirit. It is a shame +that we have nothing to eat and drink; there is plenty, but the +provision column never comes up, and when one has a hope of getting +something, the alarm is given; it is 'forwards!' again." + +"Forwards!" cried Stolzenberg, "I think we have not been going forwards +for long enough. And the beautiful flocks of sheep we saw on both sides +of the roads, and which we dare not touch for our lives! Donnerwetter!" +he cried, stamping his foot; "to be in an enemy's country and not to be +allowed to requisition the necessaries of life is too much!" + +"Don't you know," said Wendenstein, laughing, "that the general staff +has so much to do in getting out of the enemy's way, that it has no +time to remember that people must eat; and besides, it would really be +difficult for the provision columns to follow our very eccentric +march!" + +"I cannot imagine how the king is satisfied with such a method of +conducting a campaign," said Stolzenberg; "he wishes to go forwards, +and these changes hither and thither do not accord with his character." + +"Our poor king!" said Wendenstein, sighing; "what can he do? If indeed +he could see--but as it is! It is really wonderful that he should go +through the fatigue of the campaign with us." + +"What is that?" exclaimed Stolzenberg, raising his glass to his eyes, +and looking attentively across the plain. "Look over there, +Wendenstein, just behind the bend in the road. Do you not see a long +cloud of dust?" + +Wendenstein looked through his glass in the direction pointed out. + +"I see bayonets glittering through the dust!" he cried, energetically; +"Stolzenberg, old man, I believe it is the enemy!" + +"I believe it is!" he replied, still gazing at the distant cloud +of dust. "There is no doubt of it! A column of infantry, and +there!--artillery, too! Wendenstein, ride back at once, and say a +column of infantry and artillery are advancing on the road from Gotha!" + +"Hurrah!" cried Wendenstein, as he sprang into the saddle and galloped +back to the village. + +Stolzenberg and his dragoons were in the saddle in a moment. Drawn up +in order upon the road, they looked anxiously over the plain. The cloud +of dust slowly grew nearer, and they could see more plainly the bright +flashing of the bayonets. + +After a short time horsemen from the village joined the outpost. The +colonel in command of the regiment, Count Kielmansegge, came, +accompanied by his staff with Lieutenant von Wendenstein. + +"Look there, sir!" cried Stolzenberg, and pointed to the enemy's +approaching columns. + +The colonel looked earnestly for a moment through his glass. + +"It is certainly the enemy!" he cried, "and see! there is a battery +being posted upon yonder hill. All outposts to fall back on their +squadrons!" cried he to his staff, who galloped off immediately. + +Stolzenberg recalled his vedettes. + +"And what will the regiment do, if I may be allowed to ask?" he said, +turning to his colonel. + +"Slowly retire, whilst skirmishing with the enemy, such is the order," +he replied, sighing and shrugging his shoulders; and he hastened back +to the village to which the other outposts had already withdrawn. + +"Retire, always retire!" cried Wendenstein, passionately. "Well! some +time or other they will reckon on these tactics without the troops!" + +There was a sudden flash from the hill, followed by an explosion, and a +cannon ball splintered the bar of the toll-house on the high road. + +"The overture begins!" cried Stolzenberg; and with his few men he +trotted quickly back to the village. + +This was the shot they heard at head-quarters in Thamsbrueck. + +The regiment withdrew, constantly skirmishing with the enemy, and fell +back slowly upon Langensalza. + +In the meantime the town was abandoned, the order of the general in +command ran, "that the army whilst fighting should retreat." + +At Langensalza the dragoons fell in with the infantry of the Knesebeck +Brigade, which had received orders to retire behind the Unstrut. The +troops obeyed this order with gnashing of teeth, and gave up one +position after the other, for the enemy forthwith to seize upon; the +enemy's riflemen harassed them, and the artillery advancing along the +heights opened a nearer and more murderous fire. + +The dragoons crossed the bridge over the Unstrut, and made a stand +before the village of Merxleben, on the slope of the Kirchberg hill, +from whose summit a Hanoverian battery maintained a fire, which, though +less rapid than the Prussian, was so well directed that it did great +execution in the hostile ranks. + +To the right of the dragoons, General Knesebeck's brigade was massed, +he having followed the command he had received to retire. On the other +side of the Unstrut stood a mill, upon a small stream called the +Salzabach; immediately after the retreat of the Hanoverians it was +occupied by the Prussians, and from it they kept up a heavy fire. + +Two battalions of the guards marched past the dragoons. At the head of +the first rode Lieutenant-Colonel von Landesberg; the second was led by +Colonel von Alten. + +The battalions had crossed the Unstrut, and were following the order +received to retire to the brigade stationed on the hill. + +Colonel von Landesberg rode thoughtfully in front of his battalion, the +grenadiers followed him in solemn silence. + +The battalion had the Unstrut on the left, and had just reached a spot +where it was forced to turn to the right, to take up the prescribed +position. + +At this place the banks of the river are very low, and it is so shallow +that it is easy to cross it. + +A level terrace surrounds the hill, upon the slope of which lies the +village of Merxleben. The enemy's most advanced chain of skirmishers +was approaching the opposite bank of the river. + +Colonel von Landesberg gave a searching look at the situation. + +"If this spot remains undefended," he said to his adjutant, "the enemy +will penetrate our position, and divide our forces." + +"So it seems to me, colonel," replied the adjutant. "I cannot see why +it is to be abandoned,--however, the general staff--" + +The colonel gnawed his moustache. + +"It is impossible to give up this position to the enemy," he said, half +to himself. + +His eyes flashed, and he pulled in his horse suddenly. + +"Battalion, halt!" he shouted. + +The command was repeated along the ranks; the battalion halted. With +excited faces the grenadiers awaited further orders from their leader. + +"Right about turn!" he cried. + +A thundering shout of joy broke as from one mouth along the ranks, and +in an instant the grenadiers had fronted. + +The enemy's sharpshooters appeared on the other side of the river. + +"Skirmishers, forward!" cried Colonel von Landesberg. + +The lines opened out with exemplary precision, and in a short time the +Hanoverian skirmishers were close to the river, received by the fire of +the enemy. + +Several grenadiers fell; but the firing from the Hanoverian lines was +so certain and regular, that the most advanced of the enemy's +sharpshooters soon sought cover, and replied but feebly. + +The second battalion of guards had come up in the meantime. Colonel von +Alten galloped up to Colonel von Landesberg, who had ridden down to the +river, and was in the midst of his men. + +"What is going on here?" asked Alten; "is the plan for the day +changed?" + +"You see this spot," said Colonel von Landesberg,--"it must not be +taken, and I mean to hold it." + +"Have you received an order?" asked Colonel von Alten. + +"I do not want an order, for I see that the fate of the day and of the +army depends on its being kept," cried Landesberg. "Fire!" + +The report of fire-arms rolled along the line. + +Colonel von Alten gave a scrutinizing look around, then he rode back to +his battalion, which was about a hundred paces off. + +"Right about turn!" he cried. + +The battalion replied, like the first, with an echoing "Hurrah!" A few +moments afterwards his sharpshooters were drawn up along the bank of +the Unstrut, and the advancing enemy found itself opposed by a steady +fire. + +Although the grenadiers fell, the lines filled up silently and +regularly, and not an inch of ground was yielded. Colonel von +Landesberg placed himself in the front ranks, cool and calm as if on +parade. + +The battalions of the enemy which had advanced to the river halted. An +uneasy movement appeared amongst them. An aide-de-camp galloped up. + +"Colonel," he cried, "the general expects you in the prescribed +position!" + +"Tell him I am engaged by the enemy!" replied von Landesberg curtly. + +The aide-de-camp glanced at what was going on, saluted, turned his +horse, and galloped back without a word. + +The enemy's fire grew weaker. After a short time, bugle calls were +heard on the opposite bank, and the enemy was withdrawn out of reach of +fire. Colonel von Landesberg put up his sword. "So," said he, "the +first thing is done; do you think the river is fordable?" + +"Certainly!" replied the adjutant, riding down close to it; "I can see +the bottom almost everywhere." + +"We can swim if needful," said Landesberg, calmly. "They shall rest ten +minutes, then I will go first." + +Colonel de Vaux's brigade stood at some little distance, close to the +village of Merxleben; the Cambridge dragoons were halted near the banks +of the Unstrut. The officers looked anxiously at the movements of the +troops, who were retiring on the two wings, the centre keeping up an +energetic artillery fire. + +"We have crossed the Unstrut," exclaimed von Wendenstein; "it is really +scandalous--where will this retreat end? We shall go back and back, +until we march into the jaws of the enemy coming down upon us from the +north, and then--" + +"Then at last we shall capitulate," said von Stolzenberg, bitterly; +"this kind of war can have no other end." + +Lieutenant-Colonel Kielmansegge trotted quickly up to the troop in +which the young officers rode. + +"Look there, gentlemen," he cried, and pointed to the river bank at +some distance along the plain. "What is that?--active firing is going +on there." + +"They are exchanging shots as they retreat--the Knesebeck Brigade it +must be," said von Wendenstein. + +"We shall soon have the enemy on our flank," said Stolzenberg; and both +the officers took their glasses and looked in the direction in which +Count Kielmansegge was still gazing attentively. + +"It is the guards," said von Stolzenberg, "and actually they are not +retreating, they have made a stand on the bank!" + +"The enemy's sharpshooters are retreating!" exclaimed Wendenstein +joyfully. + +"They halt," said Count Kielmansegge, still looking through his +glass,--"our battalions form,--they are going down to the river--into +it--hurrah!" he cried, "they are advancing to the attack." + +"And we are standing still here," cried von Wendenstein, whilst he drew +his sword half out of the scabbard, and put it back with a clang. + +At this moment Colonel de Vaux galloped up with the brigade staff. + +"The guards are crossing the Unstrut," cried Count Kielmansegge, as +they came up. + +"So I see!" exclaimed Colonel de Vaux, "and devil take me if I stand +still here; now the die must be cast. It is bad enough that we shall +have to retake all the positions we have so quietly abandoned to the +enemy! What regiments are close here?" he enquired of his adjutant. + +"The first battalion of the second regiment, and the first Jaeger +battalion," he replied. + +"Bring them here at once." + +The adjutant galloped to the columns close by, and led them at quick +march up to the colonel. + +He dismounted and placed himself at their head. + +"And what shall I do?" asked Count Kielmansegge. + +"Ride down by the river," replied de Vaux, "cross where you can, and +act according to circumstances; if possible fall on the right flank of +the enemy, and silence that hostile battery." + +"At your command, colonel!" cried Kielmansegge. In a few moments the +regiments formed and rode at a sharp trot along the river. + +From the place where the two battalions of guards had crossed the +stream, a heavy fire had commenced. The first battalion under the +gallant Landesberg advanced slowly in a straight line upon Langensalza, +the second battalion turned to the left towards the mill which formed +the central point of the enemy's position, and which was in a diagonal +line from Colonel de Vaux. + +"Now is the time!" he cried, and commanding his adjutant to give the +order to advance, he at the same time ordered the assault to be +sounded. + +Before him lay an even plain without any cover for about five hundred +yards, part of it being thickly planted with rape. The whole of this +plain was exposed to the fire of the enemy's lines, and of the +artillery from the hill behind. + +The drums beat, the colonel raised his sword, and in as perfect order +as on the parade ground the battalions marched across the dangerous +plain. + +The enemy's fire tore great gaps in the ranks, for the soldiers could +not advance quickly on account of the rape, but they were quietly +filled up; and in a short time the battalion gained the bank of the +river, and in its turn opened a murderous fire upon the enemy, who +withdrew his skirmishers, and concentrated his whole force around the +mill. + +The whole army saw the guards cross the Unstrut and the bold advance of +Colonel de Vaux, and a general offensive movement commenced. + +No officer would wait for orders. With a loud "Hurrah!" the troops +broke from their positions, and advanced to the points where they might +most quickly meet the enemy, and where they thought they could take the +most active part in the fighting. + +The infantry crossed the Unstrut at all points, sometimes even by +swimming, and pressed on towards the enemy's positions. The batteries +which had already retired, advanced and supported the attack by an +incessant fire, and the cavalry crossed the river wherever it was +possible, and advanced to the scene of combat. + +The enemy were concentrated in force around the mill already mentioned, +which formed the key of the central position of the Prussian army. It +was surrounded by a deep moat. + +Against this mill the guards advanced; two bridges over the river were +before them, closed by barricades and strongly defended. + +A company advanced without halting from the hill, led by their captain; +they took the bridge by storm, and from this side also pressed on +towards the mill; single lieutenants led small detachments everywhere, +wading or swimming across the river, and advanced on every side to +storm the enemy's strong position. + +By this time desperate fighting was going on before the mill. Companies +of different regiments, sometimes in small detachments, united to storm +the buildings. + +Three times Lieutenants Koering, Leue, and Schneider with exemplary +courage led a storming party, Lieutenant Leue falling riddled with +bullets, at the head of his detachment. Their numbers were too small, +the moat around the mill was too deep, the fire too overwhelming. + +Just then Colonel Dammers appeared to inspect the state of the battle +and to report the news to the king. Prince Herman Solms rode beside +him, for the young prince, devoured with impatience, had obtained +permission to accompany the colonel. + +The sadly diminished ranks were just closing, again to attempt the +storming of the mill. + +A Prussian battery had been brought forward and the shells suddenly +fell amongst the storming party, whilst a fresh and tremendous fire +from the needle-guns opened upon them from the mill. + +They hesitated under this murderous hail of balls. + +The prince touched his horse with the spur, and bounded between the +storming party and the mill. + +"They are not so bad as they look!" he cried cheerfully, turning to the +soldiers; and reining in his horse, he took off his cap and jokingly +saluted a shell which flew over his head and buried itself in the +ground. + +"Hurrah!" cried the soldiers, and again rushed to the attack, led on by +their brave lieutenants. + +At this moment two companies advanced from the bridges, and immediately +behind them Colonel Floekher's battalion, and at the same time guns +opened behind the storming party from the hill of Merxleben, and a +heavy fire from a hastily advanced Hanoverian battery fell on the mill, +splintering the roof and shattering the walls. + +The gallant defenders of the building evidently about to become a heap +of ruins, broke through on the other side, and retreated in strong +parties along the high road. But they were checked by the second +battalion of guards, which had now come up, and which opened a +murderous fire upon their flank, whilst two squadrons of hussars who +had burst over the bridges galloped down upon them with upraised +swords. + +Some of the fugitives fled over the fields, and were fortunate enough +to gain the reserve Prussian division; the hindmost returned to the +ruined building, and a white handkerchief soon waved from one of the +windows. + +The firing ceased immediately. Colonel Floekher rode up to the battered +door, which was quickly opened, and the last of the brave defenders, +about a hundred men, laid down their arms. + +The courtyard was full of dead and wounded, and just outside lay the +Hanoverian soldiers who had fallen. The ruin looked ghastly with its +shattered windows and broken walls in the bright sunshine, a picture of +destruction, horror, and death. + +The adjutant-general rode up to Prince Herman. + +"I compliment you, prince," he said: "you received your baptism of fire +gloriously, but you exposed yourself uselessly. What should I have said +to the king if any misfortune had befallen you?" + +"What could I do?" said the prince, laughing, and plucking at the down +on his upper lip; "the king has ordered me to head-quarters: ought I to +let them say I am afraid of fire?" + +"They would not have said that," said the colonel, looking kindly at +the almost boyish face. + +"It is better that they cannot say it!" cried the prince, and galloped +off with the adjutant-general. + +A retreat on the part of the enemy was decided upon from this moment. +Slowly and in perfect order, under a continuous fire, the Prussian +troops formed in squares, and retired in the direction of Gotha covered +by their batteries, which kept up a constant fire upon the advancing +Hanoverians. + +At last General Arentschildt had ordered a general attack, but this +command only affected a few of the troops, and was indeed superfluous, +for the attack had commenced, and no order would have prevented it. + +Whilst the centre of the Prussian position was pierced, Count +Kielmansegge with his dragoons had ridden along the side of the +Unstrut, endeavouring to find a ford. But he could not discover one, +the banks of the river in this part being very steep and overgrown with +bushes. They were obliged to ride down stream to the village of +Nagelstedt, where at last they found a bridge, over which they crossed +into an open field on the other side. + +The dragoons hurried at a sharp trot closer and closer to the sound of +the guns; already the enemy was driven back, and the battle had surged +to the south of Langensalza. + +A gentle eminence rose before the dragoons, the regiment rode up it, +and found itself opposite the enemy's exposed flank. Two Prussian +squares were slowly retreating, still keeping up a constant fire, and +on a hill near the dragoons was a Prussian battery, which sent its +shell into the centre of the advancing Hanoverians. The dragoons were +alone; between them and the Hanoverian army were the Prussian +battalions. + +"The time has come at last!" said Wendenstein, who was with the troop +of which Stolzenberg was first lieutenant. "Thank God! we have +something to do. At such a moment it is better to be in love," he +added, as he tried whether his sword was firm in his hand; "you see I +know what to think of, and--" + +"There, again it spoke," said Stolzenberg, shuddering slightly; +"farewell, old fellow, if we do not meet again." + +"Madness!" cried von Wendenstein, "but look out, we are to charge." + +The command was given that the fourth squadron should take the enemy's +battery, and that the second and third should attack the Prussian +squares. + +The two squadrons slowly advanced towards the distant squares, who +stood still to receive them, whilst Rittmeister von Einem at the head +of his dragoons galloped up the hill on which stood the battery. + +The guns were turned upon the attacking dragoons, a storm of shell +received the squadron. The horsemen fell in numbers, down went both the +trumpeters, but unchecked, the squadron galloped onwards, the +Rittmeister far before them waving high his sword. + +Quicker and quicker grew the pace, the battery was almost reached, when +once again the guns opened fire, and sent their case-shot into the very +midst of the gallant riders. + +The Rittmeister escaped as by a miracle. He was the first to spring +between the hostile cannon, and he smote down a gunner with a mighty +cut from his sword; the dragoons followed him through the heavy fire of +the infantry support to the battery. + +A bullet hit the Rittmeister's horse, which fell, rolling over upon +him. He quickly disengaged himself from the quivering animal, and his +sword flow round swift as lightning to defend himself from the +threatening bayonets of the infantry. The dragoons were now engaged in +a fierce hand-to-hand fight. + +"Forwards! forwards!" cried the Rittmeister, as with his sword he +parried a bayonet thrust against his breast; but a shot fired close to +him struck him, his arm sank down, and whilst with his left hand he +seized the wheel of the cannon he had taken, to support himself, +several of the enemy's bayonets were plunged deep into his breast. + +His strength failed, and he fell upon a heap of slain; his hand +clenched in death, held fast the wheel of the conquered gun. The +dragoons pressed forwards over him, and soon the last defenders of the +battery fled over the field. + +The battery was silenced, but the greater number of the dragoons lay +around their fallen leader. + +This attack had been watched with the greatest interest by the two +squadrons as they advanced slowly towards the Prussian squares, and as +the defenders of the battery fled, loud cheers burst forth. + +When the two squadrons had come near enough to the squares to charge, +suddenly from behind the hill on which the battery stood, galloped the +garde du corps, followed by the cuirassier guards. The garde du corps +dashed against the square next them. Two volleys, discharged when they +were close to the enemy, did not check them, but the brave square stood +unbroken, and the squadron of garde du corps retired from the enemy's +fire, preparing to charge afresh. + +The commander of the second square nearest to the dragoons came forward +and waved a handkerchief. Major von Hammerstein, with his adjutant and +a trumpeter, advanced to meet him. + +"My soldiers are ready to sink from exhaustion," said the Prussian +staff-officer; "I am willing to surrender." + +"I must then beg for your sword, my comrade," replied Major von +Hammerstein, "and that you will lay down your arms." + +"I agree to the last," said the Prussian officer; "to give up my sword +is too hard a condition. But," he cried, "here come the cuirassiers." + +And indeed the cuirassiers, who had followed the garde du corps, and +passing by the first square had formed to charge, were galloping down +upon them. + +"Ride to the cuirassiers and stop them!" cried Major von Hammerstein to +his adjutant. + +He galloped off to meet the charging regiment, but their rapid movement +and the noise around prevented him from making himself heard. They +rushed onwards. + +"Too late!" cried the Prussian commander. "Stand to your arms! Fire!" +he cried, as he returned to the square, and a tremendous volley mowed +down the cuirassiers just as they approached. The foremost ranks fell, +and the direction of the charge being somewhat oblique, the shock came +on the flank of the square, and it remained unbroken. + +Major von Hammerstein had ridden back, and "Charge! charge!" resounded +down the ranks of the dragoons. + +The two squadrons charged the square at a gallop. + +They were received by a frightful fire. The major fell, just in front +of the foe, but Lieutenant von Stolzenberg urged on his horse, reined +him in for a moment when close to the lowered bayonets of the enemy, +drove the spurs into his horse's flanks, so that he reared upright, and +then, with one mighty leap, bore his young master, as he raised his +sword and gave a ringing cheer, right into the hostile square, where, +like his rider, he fell, pierced through with bayonets. + +But his fall tore a large opening in the ranks, and the squadron +pressed in after them. + +"Well done, old fellow!" cried Wendenstein, and at the same moment he +fell beside his comrade, and the dragoons rushed over him. + +The square was broken, and those who yet survived fled madly across the +field. + +But when the dragoon squadrons reassembled, not one officer was left, +and one-third of the men were wanting. + +The cuirassiers had rallied meanwhile, and hastened to the scene of +this brilliant struggle. + +A young soldier rode with the first squadron in an old coat that had +evidently not been made for him, and in plain grey trousers stuffed +into military boots. On his head he wore a military cap, and a wound on +his brow was bound up with a white handkerchief. + +"Where is Lieutenant von Wendenstein?" he asked of a dragoon, as the +remains of the second squadron rode up. + +"All our officers lie there!" replied the dragoon, pointing to a heap +of men and horses which marked the spot where the square had stood. + +"Dead!" cried the cuirassier. "But I cannot leave him there; I promised +to take care of him, and no one shall ever say Fritz Deyke broke his +word. My poor lieutenant!" + +He hastily quitted the ranks and rode up to the commanding officer. + +"Sir," he said, saluting him, "I overtook the army at Langensalza and +joined the cuirassiers, that I might take my share in the war. I hope, +sir, you can say I have done my duty?" + +"You have done bravely," replied the officer. + +"Well, sir," continued the young man, "the day's work seems over, and, +besides, I have a scratch from which the blood runs into my eyes, so I +came to ask leave for the day." + +The officer looked at him with amazement. A deep blush spread over the +young soldier's face. + +"Sir," he cried, "I was brought up at Blechow with our president's son, +Lieutenant von Wendenstein, of the Cambridge dragoons; and when I left +home to join the army, his mother said to me, 'Fritz, take care of my +son if you can,' and I promised her I would, sir; and now there lies +the young gentleman amongst the dead. Shall I leave him there?" + +The officer looked kindly at him. + +"Go, my brave lad," he said, "and come back when the lieutenant no +longer needs you." + +"Thank you, sir," cried Fritz. + +The cuirassiers advanced in pursuit of the enemy. + +Meanwhile the other square had been broken by the charge of the garde +du corps. The cavalry had moved forward, and in a short time the scene +of all this carnage, of all this noise, was only an empty plain, where +piles of corpses lay one on another in lakes of blood--men and horses, +friend and foe, mingled together. + +Fritz Deyke was alone in this scene of horror. + +He dismounted, led his horse by the bridle, and walked to the place +where the dragoons had broken the square. His horse snorted and +struggled to run back. He led it a little way off and tied it to the +trunk of a tree which grew near the high road; then he again approached +the heaps of slain. + +Some wounded men raised their heads and begged gaspingly for a drop of +water. + +"I cannot help all, but you shall not perish," he said. + +There was a deep ditch near the high road; it might have water in it. +He seized two helmets lying on the ground, and hurried to the ditch. +There was actually some water--a little, and dirty, for the continuous +heat had sucked up the moisture. + +With some difficulty he filled the helmets with the muddy, lukewarm +fluid, and carrying them like two buckets, he returned to the wounded +men, who were watching for him with unspeakable longing. He drew out +his flask, poured some of its contents into each helmet, and gave some +of the liquid to the sufferers, impartially succouring both Prussians +and Hanoverians. + +"So, be patient," he said, kindly; "the first ambulance I see, I will +send to you." And he began to search amongst the dead. + +They lay heaped on one another, the brave dragoons and the brave +Prussian infantry, some with a calm, peaceful expression on their +faces, some with a look of wild horror, many so frightfully disfigured +with bullets and stabs that the soldier's brave heart quailed, and he +had to close his eyes for a moment to gain strength to continue his +dreadful employment. + +But he went on undeterred. He laid the dead bodies aside, and exerting +all his strength, he dragged at the dead horses. + +"Here is Herr von Stolzenberg!" he cried, as he turned over the body of +the young officer, which lay with its face on the ground, bathed in +blood. "Handsome, brave gentleman! and to die so young! It is all over +with him," he said, mournfully. A bullet had carried away part of the +skull, and countless stabs still oozed with blood. + +Fritz Deyke bowed his head over the corpse, folded his hands, and +repeated "Our Father." + +"But here," he then cried, "lies poor Roland, stone dead. Good, +faithful creature; and under him, alas! there is my lieutenant!" He +pushed the dead horse aside. + +Beneath lay Lieutenant von Wendenstein, pale and stark, his left hand +pressed on his breast, his sword still in his right hand, his eyes wide +open, and staring glassily at the sky. + +"Dead!" said poor Fritz, with a cry of grief; "he is really dead!" and +he bent sorrowfully over the body of the fallen officer. + +"But I must take him away!" he cried, with decision. "He must not stay +here; at least I must be able to lead his poor old father and mother to +his grave. How frightful to see his kind, beautiful eyes staring thus!" +he said, shuddering; "but where is he wounded? The head is unhurt. Ah! +here in the breast. His hand is pressed upon it; the blood still +trickles. But I cannot look at his eyes!" he cried; "those dead, glassy +eyes, which in life were so kind and merry!" + +He bent down and laid his hand on the head of the slain, that he might +gently close the eyes of his former playmate. + +"God in heaven!" he cried, suddenly. "He lives, his eyelids moved!" + +He folded his hands and gazed anxiously at the face before him. + +The eyes really moved, they closed slowly, then they opened again; for +one moment a ray of light seemed to light them up, then they grew +staring and glassy as before. + +Fritz Deyke sank upon his knees. + +"Great God in heaven!" he said in a trembling voice; "if Thou wilt +never in my whole life hear a prayer from me again, yet help me now to +save my poor master!" + +He seized his flask, opened the mouth of the wounded man, and poured +into it a little brandy. + +Then he anxiously awaited the result. + +An almost imperceptible shiver passed through the young officer's +limbs; his eyes lived for a moment, and looked inquiringly at the young +peasant; his lips were slightly parted; a red foam appeared upon them, +and a deep sigh heaved his breast. + +Then the eyelids closed, and the face lost the horrible starkness of +death. But no further sign of life appeared. + +"Now to get him to the town!" cried Fritz, raising the young officer in +his strong arms and bearing him to his horse. + +He climbed with difficulty into the saddle, still holding the +motionless form; then he supported it before him with his right hand, +whilst he held the bridle with the other. + +He rode quickly across the fields to the town. + +The squares broken by the dragoons, garde du corps, and cuirassiers, +and the battery taken by Rittmeister von Einem made the last resistance +on the side of the Prussians before they retreated entirely. + +The Hanoverian central brigade pressed onwards, and soon the whole +battle-field almost to Gotha was in possession of the Hanoverian +troops. + +The army, unfit to march, had made the most surprising, though alas! +aimless advances--the army unfit to fight, had fought--and won! + +During the whole day the king and his suite had remained on the hill +near Merxleben. He had not left the saddle for a moment. He had asked +short questions about the fighting, which the gentlemen of his suite +had answered; no information had come from the general in command, for +the battle was fought by individual officers and their divisions, who +would no longer retreat, and who had seized on the offensive, each +where he thought he could act most decisively and effectively. + +The king saw nothing; he heard the bullets hiss past him, the thunder +of the cannon around him; but the varied living picture was wanting +that enchains the mind with trembling excitement. + +He was as motionless as a bronze statue; his face betrayed no trace of +his inward emotion; his only inquiry was, could his soldiers see him? + +At last the adjutant-general galloped up the hill, and brought the news +that the enemy's centre was pierced, and the cuirassier guards who had +been held in reserve behind the king's position, rushed past with a +loud "Hurrah!" to their royal leader, as they started across the plain +in pursuit of the enemy. Finally, a staff officer arrived from the +commanding general, announcing that the victory was decided in favour +of the Hanoverian arms. Then the king drew a deep breath and said, "I +will dismount." + +A groom hastened to him; the king got off his horse. All the gentlemen +around drew near him to express their congratulations. + +"Many brave and faithful hearts have ceased to beat! God grant them +eternal peace!" said the king, solemnly. + +He stood for a moment in silent thought. + +"I am somewhat exhausted," he then said; "is there anything to drink?" + +Those nearest to him seized their flasks; they were empty. + +"There is some sherry in our carriage," said Meding. + +"And I have a travelling cup," cried Count Platen, taking a silver cup +from a case. + +Meding ran to the carriage, and soon returned with half a bottle of +sherry and a little wheaten bread. He poured some wine into the small +cup, and handed it to the king. He drank it, and ate a morsel of bread. + +"Now I am strong again," he cried; "would to God that each one of my +soldiers could say the same." + +"I will move about a little," he then said, and taking Meding's arm he +paced slowly to and fro, on the top of the hill. + +"God has given our arms the victory," he said with emotion; "what is +next to be done?" + +"Your majesty," said Meding, "this noble blood will all have been shed +in vain, if we do not march at once to Gotha, cross the railway, and +endeavour to reach Bavaria." + +The king sighed. + +"Oh! that I could place myself at the head of my army and lead it +onwards! They will make difficulties, raise obstacles. You know how +many obstacles the general staff has already raised in the council of +war." + +He stood still, thinking deeply. + +"Your majesty must command a protocol to be drawn up, that these +obstacles may at least be stated in black and white," said Meding. + +"It shall be done!" cried the king with energy. "You shall draw it up. +I am answerable to history for what occurs, and for what is neglected." + +An aide-de-camp from the general in command galloped up. + +"General von Arentschildt begs your majesty at once to take up your +head-quarters in Langensalza." + +"To horse!" cried the king. + +The aide-de-camp hurried away, the horses were brought, and the royal +party moved down from the hill across the battle-field. + +The king was grave and calm as he rode towards the town. Heaps of dead +bodies lay on the road near the mill, and the horses' hoofs were +reddened by the blood which stood on the ground in great pools. The +king saw it not. He heard the "hurrahs" of the soldiers he met, and the +loud cheers with which they greeted him; no pride of victory kindled in +his noble face; he sat on his horse cold and silent; he thought of the +slain, who had bought him this victory with their lives, he thought of +the future, and with anxious care he asked himself whether this victory +would yield the fruit desired, and extricate the army from the +dangerous position into which it had been led. + +The royal head-quarters were established in the Schuetzhaus at +Langensalza. + +Scarcely was the king a little refreshed, when he ordered the general +in command, and the chief of the general staff to be summoned, and he +invited General von Brandis, Count Platen, Count Ingelheim, with Lex +and Meding, to be present at the council of war. + +At about nine in the evening the officers assembled in the king's room. + +The king urged an immediate march upon Gotha, but the general in +command and the chief of the staff declared that the army was in such a +state of exhaustion it could not march. In vain General Brandis pointed +out that even for a tired army a short march of two hours and then +excellent quarters in Gotha, was better than a bivouac in the fields +without proper food; the chief of the general staff declared the march +to be absolutely impossible, and the general in command refused to be +responsible for its consequences. Both these gentlemen asked earnestly +for permission to leave the council, as their presence with the troops +was absolutely necessary. + +The council of war broke up without any result, and the king retired to +rest after the fatigues of the day. + +The bivouac fires of the troops shone all around the town; and such +merry songs, such cheerful voices rose on every side, it was hard to +believe these were the exhausted soldiers who could not possibly +undertake a two hours' march to Gotha, there to find rest and food. + +Fritz Deyke meanwhile had ridden to the town, carrying Lieutenant von +Wendenstein before him, without knowing whether he was alive or dead. +The young man lay heavily in his arms, his limbs hung helplessly down, +and the wound in his breast bled afresh from the quick ride. + +The young peasant reached the town, but there had been fighting in the +streets, and it seemed deserted by its inhabitants, who had shut +themselves into the back rooms of their houses. + +"Where shall I find the best quarters?" he asked himself. "Perhaps they +will take the greatest care of him in the hotel," he thought, after a +moment's consideration, and he rode on in search of an inn. At a turn +in the street he saw a large white house standing a little back, with a +well-kept garden in front of it, and with various outbuildings beside +it. Green jalousie blinds were closed over the windows. + +As the cuirassier rode past with the lifeless body in his arms, a fresh +young voice cried, half in fear, half in compassion: + +"Ah! the poor young officer!" + +Fritz was touched by the sound of the voice, as well as by this mark of +sympathy for his dear lieutenant, and looked up at the house. + +A young girl's pretty blonde head peeped from a half-opened shutter, +but bashfully withdrew as the soldier looked up; the blind, however, +was not entirely closed. + +Either the expressive voice, or the sympathy in the bright blue eyes +still looking down through the small opening upon the strange and +melancholy spectacle, caused the young man to conclude, that in this +comfortable and well-to-do looking house he should find good quarters +for his beloved officer: it was enough, he reined in his horse, and +cried out-- + +"Yes, the poor young officer needs rest and care, and I demand quarters +for him in this house." + +The words were short and commanding, for he belonged to the army who +entered the town as victors; but the tone of voice was gentle and +imploring, and it caused the young girl to open the shutter entirely, +and to stretch out her head. At the same moment, a stout, elderly man, +with a full red face and short grey hair, appeared, and looked down +with displeasure at the Hanoverian soldier. + +"Quarters can be had in this house, if so it must be," he said, curtly +and uncivilly; "but as to care, we have nothing to do with that, and +there is nothing much to eat!" + +"I will see to that!" cried Fritz Deyke, "only come down and help me to +carry in my lieutenant!" + +The old man withdrew from the window grumbling, whilst the young girl +called out kindly, "I will get a bed ready at once for the poor wounded +man, then we shall see what must be done next." + +And she disappeared from the window. + +The old man had opened the house door, and advanced towards the +horseman. + +"I cannot bid you welcome to my house," he said, gloomily and harshly, +"for you belong to the enemies of my king and country, but I am bound +to give you quarters; and," he continued, looking compassionately at +the pale young officer, "I would rather give quarters to the wounded +than to the sound." + +"It is no question of friend or foe!" replied Fritz, in a conciliatory +voice; "it is a question of Christian charity to a poor wounded man!" + +"Come then!" said the old man, simply, and walked up to the horse. + +Fritz Deyke let the lifeless form slide gently into the old man's arms; +then dismounting, he tied his horse to the low garden railings, and +together they bore the lifeless form to the house. + +"Up here," said the old man, pointing to the stairs which led from the +hall to the comfortable rooms above. + +Fritz Deyke went up first, carefully supporting the lieutenant's head, +whilst the old man followed, bearing him. + +They entered a long passage with doors on each side. + +The young girl stood waiting for them, and hastened forwards to open +the door of a large room, with two windows looking towards the +courtyard; it was furnished plainly but with some elegance, and a +snow-white bed was prepared for the sufferer. + +Fritz Deyke, with the help of the old man, laid the wounded officer +gently down upon it. + +"Now, young man!" said his host, looking gravely at the cuirassier, +"your officer is safe, and he shall want for nothing that my house can +afford,--the house of the Brewer Lohmeier," he added, with a look of +dignified satisfaction, "that you may know whose guest you are. Come +now, we will take your horse into the stable; and," he continued +somewhat confidentially, "whilst you are here, keep others away if you +can." + +They went down stairs, leaving the young girl in the room with the +wounded man. She smoothed the pillows, and looked with melancholy +interest at the handsome face, pale as death. + +Some infantry came down the street. + +"We will find quarters in this street," cried one of them; "see, here +is a nice-looking house,--let us go in,--there will be room for us +all!" + +Fritz Deyke came to the door at this moment with the brewer. + +"Ah! there are cuirassiers here already," cried the infantry man; "is +there still room, comrade?" + +Fritz put his finger to his lips. + +"A dangerously-wounded officer here," he said; "you must not talk so +loud, nor make such a noise in marching." + +"Then we must go further," said the infantry soldiers; they cast +sympathizing looks at the upper windows, and walked on. + +"Thank you!" said the old brewer, in a friendly voice. + +Fritz Deyke led his horse through the yard gate to the stable, where he +put him with the brewer's four horses. He then asked for a piece of +chalk, and wrote in large letters upon the house door: "Dangerously +wounded officers." + +"Now," he cried, "I must go and find a surgeon; take care of my +lieutenant, but do not move him!" He was about to hurry away. + +"Stop," said the brewer, "your surgeons will all be busy at the field +hospitals; our surgeon lives close here, he is a clever man, I will +fetch him." + +He went out, and soon returned with a fresh-faced, grey-headed old +gentleman, with a very kind expression. + +He stepped up to the bed, whilst Fritz studied his looks with the +greatest anxiety. + +The surgeon shook his head, he opened one of the closed eye-lids, +looked at the eye of the wounded man, and said, + +"Life is not extinct, whether we can retain it is in God's hand! I must +look at the wounds, we must undress him, and you, dear Margaret, get us +some warm water and some wine." + +The young girl hastened away. Fritz carefully cut off the wounded man's +clothes and boots. + +There was a wound in the left breast, another in the shoulder. + +"This is nothing," said the surgeon, pointing to the shoulder, "a +bayonet wound, which will get well of itself; but here--" drawing a +probe from a case, he examined the wound in the breast. + +"The bullet has lodged upon the rib," he said; "if he does not die from +loss of blood and exhaustion he may recover. For the present he must +have perfect rest; I cannot attempt to extract the bullet until he has +in some measure recovered his strength." + +Margaret returned with warm water, linen, and a sponge. She then placed +a small lamp upon the table, for it began to grow dark. + +The surgeon washed the wound, and poured some wine into his patient's +mouth. A deep breath parted his lips, a faint tinge of colour came to +his cheeks, and he opened his eyes. He looked with surprise at +everything around him; his eyes closed again, and scarcely audibly he +murmured "Auf Wiedersehn!" + +The young girl folded her hands, and raised her eyes, shining through +tears to heaven. + +Fritz took off his cap, waved it in the air and opened his mouth wide, +as if to shout the Hurrah! with which the lusty young peasants made the +meadows near Blechow or the large room in the inn echo again, but this +Hurrah! did not come; the mouth closed again, the cap flew into a +corner, only a thankful, happy expression replaced the melancholy look +his face had hitherto worn. He had heard a sound of life from the lips +of his dear lieutenant, he now hoped to save him. + +"Well, well," said the surgeon cheerfully, "for the present you can +only keep him quiet, and give him some red wine as often as possible, +to repair the loss of blood; to-morrow I will try to extract the +bullet." + +He departed, accompanied by old Lohmeier. + +Fritz, Deyke, and Margaret remained with the patient, and watched his +breathing; with the greatest punctuality the young girl handed a +spoonful of wine to the cuirassier, who poured it carefully into the +officer's mouth. + +Old Lohmeier brought Fritz some cold supper and a draught of his own +beer. The young man hastily despatched the supper, his appetite was as +good as ever, the beer he declined. + +"I could not keep awake," he said. + +"Now go to bed, Margaret," said her father, "we will tend the wounded +man; sitting up at night will tire you." + +"What is the loss of one night's sleep, father," said Margaret, "when a +man's life is in danger? Let me stay, he might want something." + +Her father did not gainsay her, and his look of satisfaction +acknowledged she was right. Fritz Deyke said nothing, but he raised his +large true-hearted blue eyes with an expression of gratitude to the +young girl's face. + +Lohmeier seated himself in an armchair and soon nodded; the young +people remained near the bed, and scrupulously carried out the +surgeon's orders, watching with pleasure every fresh sign of life in +their patient, sometimes a deep breath, sometimes a slight flush +passing over his pale face. + +For a long time they sat in silence. + +"You are a good girl," Fritz said at last, when she had just handed him +a spoonful of wine, and he held out his hand to her in hearty +friendship; "how thankful my lieutenant's mother will be to you, for +what you have done for her son." + +"Ah! his poor mother!" she said with emotion, responding to the warm +pressure of his hand, whilst a tear shone in her clear eyes; "is she a +great lady?" + +Fritz Deyke imparted to her in low whispers all about the lieutenant's +family, and the old house in Blechow, and he told her of beautiful +Wendland, with its rich pastures and dark fir woods, and then of his +own home, of his father, and the farm and acres; and the young girl +listened silently and attentively to the soldier's words. The pictures +they presented were so natural, so clear and so bright, and they were +all gilded by the poetic shimmer surrounding the brave cuirassier, who +had saved his playmate in the bloody battle-field, and who now watched +so anxiously over the life still so precarious. + +The night passed quietly in old Lohmeier's house. Loud, merry voices +rang without, from the soldiers quartered in the town, and from the +bivouacs, and when the old brewer sometimes woke he glanced +benevolently at the young soldier and the wounded officer, whose +presence prevented his house from being otherwise occupied, for all the +troops had respected the words Fritz had written on the door. No one +had knocked, but all had passed it in silence. + +The morning of the 28th June dawned brilliantly, as if to greet the +victorious soldiers in their cantonments. Already all was movement at +head-quarters. The king in a proclamation to the army had expressed in +a few affectionate words his thanks for their exertions and courage. + +Then the burial of the dead took place. They were interred, so far as +they could be found on the battle-field, in the churchyard of +Langensalza. + +The king with his suite stood near the open graves, whilst the +clergyman of the little town, in a few simple words, commended to +eternal rest the warriors united in death, Prussians and Hanoverians; +and the king, who could not see the brave men who lay at his feet, true +soldiers of duty and of their rightful lord, stooped down in silence, +seized a handful of earth, and with his own royal hand strewed the +first dust upon the loyal dead. + +"May the earth lay lightly on you!" whispered the king, and in a still +lower voice he added, "Happy are they who rest in peace!" + +Then he folded his hands, repeated the Lord's Prayer, and taking the +arm of the crown prince, returned to the Schuetzhaus. + +On his way back, groups of soldiers who stood about greeted him with +loud "Hurrahs!" and cries of "Forwards! forwards!" + +The king bent down his head, a sorrowful expression appeared in his +face. + +As soon as he reached his room, he sent for the general in command. He +was with the troops, and an hour passed before he entered the king's +apartment. + +"Are the troops ready to march?" asked the king. + +"No, your majesty! The army is done for, quite done for!" cried the +general, striking his hand on his breast. "There are no provisions +forthcoming, and the ammunition is scarcely sufficient for the first +round." + +"Then in your opinion, what is to be done?" asked the king, calmly and +coldly. + +"Your majesty!" cried Arentschildt, "the general staff is unanimous in +declaring a capitulation to be unavoidable." + +"Wherefore?" asked the king. + +"The general staff is of opinion that the army cannot march," cried the +general; "besides, overwhelming forces are drawing up on every side; +from the north the outposts have sent in word that General Manteuffel +is surrounding us; in the south General Vogel von Falckenstein has +collected troops from Eisenach, and has cut off the road to Gotha." + +"That would have been impossible had we marched on yesterday evening," +said the king. + +"An advance was impossible, as the general staff declared!" cried +General von Arentschildt. + +The king was silent. + +"Your majesty!" cried the general, striking his breast; "it is hard for +me to say the word--capitulate! but there is nothing else to be done. I +beg your majesty's permission to commence arrangements with General von +Falckenstein." + +"I will send you my orders in an hour," said the king; "leave your +adjutant here." + +And he turned away. + +The general left the room. + +"It must be so!" cried the king sorrowfully. "The blood of all these +brave men has flowed in vain. In vain has been all the pain, the +anguish, and the toil--and why in vain? Because my eyes are dark; +because I cannot lead my valiant troops as my forefathers have done, as +the brave Brunswick--oh! it is hard, very hard!" + +The king's face had a dark expression, he clenched his teeth, and +raised his sightless eyes to heaven. + +Then the anger vanished from his countenance, peace took its place, a +sorrowful but gentle smile came to his lips. He folded his hands, and +said in a low tone: + +"My God and Saviour bore for me the crown of thorns; for me He shed His +blood upon the cross. O Lord, not my will but Thine be done!" + +He touched the golden bell which had been brought from his cabinet at +Herrenhausen. + +The groom of the chambers entered. + +"I beg Count Platen, General Brandis, Count Ingelheim, with Herr Lex +and Herr Meding, to come to me at once." + +In a short time these gentlemen entered the room. + +"You know the position in which we are placed, gentlemen," said the +king; "we are surrounded by the enemy in superior numbers, and the +general in command declares that the troops cannot march from +exhaustion, that they are without either provisions or ammunition. He +considers a capitulation unavoidable. Before I decide, I wish to hear +your views. What do you think, Count Ingelheim?" + +Gravely and with painful emotion, the Austrian ambassador replied: "It +is most melancholy, your majesty, after such a day as yesterday to +speak of capitulation; but if we are really surrounded by superior +forces, brought up since yesterday evening," this he said with +emphasis, "it would be a useless sacrifice of many brave soldiers to +resist, and no one could thus advise your majesty." + +"If we could only send to Berlin," said Count Platen, "it might +yet----" + +"Your majesty," interrupted General Brandis, in a trembling voice, "if +it were possible that like the Duke of Brunswick you could draw your +sword, and ride yourself at the head of your army, I would still cry +'Forwards!' I believe we should cut our way through; but as it is----" +he stamped with his foot, and turned away to hide the tears that +blinded his eyes. + +The state-councillor Meding came close to the king. + +"Your majesty," he said, in a husky voice, "the unavoidable must be +endured; the sun shines even on the darkest day! Your majesty must not +uselessly sacrifice the lives of your subjects, but," he continued, +"you are answerable to history, and it must be clearly stated that a +further march is impossible. If I may presume to advise your majesty, +cause the general in command, and each commander of a brigade, upon his +military honour and the oath given to his sovereign, to declare before +God and his conscience that the troops can neither march nor fight, and +that they have neither food nor ammunition. Thus will your majesty be +freed from all reproach from your army, your country, and history." + +The king bent his head in approval. + +"So shall it be," he said. "Draw up such a document with the assistance +of Lex, and send it to General Arentschildt." + +"And permit me, your majesty," cried Count Ingelheim, "at this solemn +moment to express my conviction that notwithstanding the heavy trial it +has pleased God to lay upon you, you will return in triumph to your +capital, as surely as Austria and my emperor will, to the last man, +maintain the rights of Germany." + +The king held out his hand to him. + +"You too have borne the fatigues of the campaign in vain," he said, +with a melancholy smile. + +"Not in vain, your majesty," cried Count Ingelheim. "I have seen a king +and an army without fear and without reproach." + +An hour later the king received the declaration he had demanded, signed +by the general in command, the chief of the general staff, and all the +brigadiers. A capitulation was concluded with General Vogel von +Falckenstein, but soon afterwards General von Manteuffel arrived, and +at the command of the King of Prussia granted other conditions, which +were highly favourable to the Hanoverian army. + +The officers retained their arms, their baggage, their horses, and all +their privileges; and even the sub-officers retained their rank. The +privates gave up their arms and horses to officers appointed by the +King of Hanover, and they delivered them to Prussian commissioners; +they were then dismissed to their homes. + +But first General Manteuffel, at the express command of the King of +Prussia, publicly acknowledged the brave conduct of the Hanoverian +soldiers. + +The King of Hanover sent Count Platen, General von Brandis, and Herr +Meding before him to Linz, there to await him; he himself rested for a +short time in the castle of the Duke of Altenburg, from whence he +proceeded to Vienna to await further events. + +The Hanoverian soldiers, who were smitten as by a thunderbolt from the +seventh heaven by the capitulation, laid down their arms with bitter +grief, and with dust on their heads returned to the homes they had left +so confident of victory. + +But they could return unhumiliated, for they had done what was +possible. The brave and faithful army, on the last battle-field where +the ancient banner of their country was unfurled, had raised a monument +of honour and glory which the chivalrous commander of the Prussian +troops was the first to adorn with the laurels of his praise. + +But who, that knows the history of that day and its important results, +can avoid asking the question, "Why was it not possible that two such +noble, chivalrous, and pious princes, whose warriors stood opposed in +deadly fight, should not have known and understood each other?" + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + SUSPENSE. + + +The sultry heat of summer was extremely oppressive in the plain +surrounding the quiet village of Blechow; the sky looked dark and +heavy, not that it was covered with clouds, but it was grey from the +heavy atmosphere, and although the sun was still high above the +horizon, his rays were of a dark blood-red colour. Deep stillness +prevailed. Almost all the young men had left the village; as soon as +the news came that the troops were concentrated at Goettingen they had +set out to join the army there, or to overtake it on its march. But the +stillness was the most complete in the old castle, where the president, +with gloomy wrinkles on his brow, paced up and down the great hall, and +gazed from time to time across the garden at the broad plain beyond. He +had obeyed the king's command, that all magistrates should remain at +their posts; he had, through the Landrostei, received a decree from the +ministry whereby the government of the country was delivered to the +Prussian Civil Commissioner, Herr von Hardenburg, and he had given up +all business to the Auditor von Bergfeld, saying, "Your knowledge is +quite sufficient to enable you to understand and execute all the orders +which may be issued by the government; do everything, and when you want +my signature bring me the papers. I will remain at my post, and will +sign them, since the king has so commanded; but do not consult me, for +I will hear nothing of all this misery, and my old heart, which is sad +enough already, shall not be pricked to death with pins. But if there +is any oppression which I could by any possibility avert, then tell me +the whole matter, and the Prussian Civil Commissioner shall hear old +Wendenstein's voice as plainly as the Hanoverian board have ever heard +it!" With that he left the office; he signed his name when needful, and +he seldom opened his lips after the foreign occupation was completed. + +Madame von Wendenstein went silently and quietly about the house,--she +looked after the house keeping, and arranged everything as punctually +as ever,--but sometimes the old lady would pause suddenly, her dreamy +eyes fixed on the far-off distance, as if they sought to follow her +thoughts beyond the wood-encircled horizon,--then she would hastily +resume her occupation, and hurry restlessly through the well-known +rooms, and the more she ordered and arranged the more she seemed to +become mistress of her heavy trouble. + +It was very quiet too in the Pfarrhaus. No one had left it, all went on +as usual, but the general depression seemed to weigh down the humble +roof, and even the roses in the garden hung their heads exhausted by +the burning heat of the sun. + +The pastor had gone out, as was his custom, to visit some of his +people, for he did not consider the Sunday services his only duty, but +thought that he who would really be a shepherd and bishop of souls must +carry the word of God in friendly converse into the daily life of his +flock and know its joys and sorrows. + +Helena sat at the window, and mechanically plied her needle, but her +eyes were often thoughtfully turned to the far distance, and her hands +sank wearily into her lap. + +Candidate Behrmann sat opposite to her; he was as neatly dressed and as +smoothly brushed as ever, and his expressionless and composed +countenance looked happier and more cheerful than usual. + +His sharp observing eyes followed the looks the young girl fixed on the +distant horizon, and that the languishing conversation might not +entirely fail, he said,-- + +"It is strange what a sultry oppression hangs over all nature; we feel +the actual weight of this thick heavy atmosphere." + +"Our poor soldiers---what they must suffer from marching in this heat!" +cried Helena, sighing. + +"In those days I feel how doubly happy I am," said the candidate, "when +I think of my peaceful and spiritual calling, and contrast it with the +useless and really reprehensible employment of the soldiers, and all +they must now undergo." + +"Useless and reprehensible!" cried Helena, gazing at him with her great +eyes; "do you call it useless to fight for your king and your country?" + +"Not according to the views of the world," he said sanctimoniously; +"all these people are doing their duty according to their lights; but +the king himself is reprehensible, and the sacrifices they make for him +are useless, for what will they gain? Oh! it is a nobler fight, and +more pleasing to God, to struggle with spiritual weapons against sin +and unbelief, and to benefit mankind--as your father does, Helena," he +added, "and as I hope to emulate him in doing." + +"Certainly it is a nobler calling, beautiful and holy, but a soldier +also serves God when he fights on the side of right," said the young +girl warmly. + +"Which side is right?" asked the candidate; "both sides call on the God +of battles, and very often what is evidently the wrong side conquers." + +"For a soldier," cried Helena, "that side is the right which his duty +and the oath plighted to his sovereign calls upon him to defend." + +"Certainly, certainly," said the candidate, as if agreeing with her; +"but women should feel greater interest in peaceful and beneficial +usefulness,--what help, for instance, can a soldier be to his wife and +children? at any moment he may be called away to do battle for the +great ones of the earth,--he gives his life for a cause for which he +does not care, and his family are left in need and misery." + +"And they bear in their hearts the proud consciousness that he for whom +they weep is worthy to be called a hero," cried Helena with kindling +eyes. + +The candidate gave his cousin a reproving look, and said, in a solemn +voice,-- + +"I believe the conflict in God's service has also its heroes." + +"Certainly," said Helena, without embarrassment; "every calling has its +own round of duty to fulfil, and we," she added with a smile, "are here +to comfort and to help those who are wounded in the battle of life." + +And again she dreamily turned her eyes to the distance. After a moment +she rose hastily. + +"I think," she said, "the heat will be less oppressive out of doors. I +will walk to meet my father; he must now be returning." As she put on +her straw hat she asked, "Will you come with me, cousin?" + +"With the greatest pleasure," he replied eagerly; and they left the +parsonage together, taking the road which led to the village. + +"I have so greatly enjoyed my life here," said the candidate, after +they had walked for a short time in silence, "that I already quite +understand the charm of this quiet, peaceful seclusion, and I own +myself ready to forego all larger circles of society." + +"You see," said Helena merrily, "a short time ago you shuddered at our +solitude, as I did at the restless, crowded city. At a time like this," +she added, with a sigh, "it is hard to be so completely cut off from +the world; we literally hear nothing--what has happened to the army and +the king?" she said with energy. "Our poor sovereign!" + +The candidate was silent. + +"Really," he said, after a short pause, continuing his own flow of +thought, as if he had not heard his cousin's last words, "really one. +cannot feel solitary here. Your father's conversation, so simple, yet +so rich in thoughts, offers greater variety than many an assembly in +the great world; and your society, dear Helena," he added warmly. + +She looked at him with astonishment. "My society," she interrupted, +with a smile, "cannot compensate for your friends in town; my +learning----" + +"Your learning!" he exclaimed hastily; "is it learning that charms us +in a woman?" + +"A certain amount must be needful," said she, half jokingly, "when +conversing with a learned man." + +"Not for me," he cried. "Natural simplicity of heart and intellect has +a charm for me. A man wishes to form, to educate his wife, not to find +her opinions already fixed," he cried, his voice assuming a sudden +tenderness of expression. + +Her eyes were raised to his for a moment, and then lowered. They walked +on for a time in silence. + +"Helena," he said, "it is true that the idea of quiet, simple +usefulness in the country attracts me more and more; and it is also +true that your society has greatly influenced me." + +She walked on in silence. + +"When a man relinquishes the intellectual pleasures of the great +world," he added, "he naturally seeks some equivalent; and this +equivalent I find in my family, my home. I shall remain here to assist +your father in his spiritual office. I shall experience double +happiness in my labours, if my own heart finds a lovely flower to +reward my unassuming industry. Helena," he continued, with animation, +"shall you find no satisfaction in uniting with me to support and cheer +the evening of your father's life, and in assisting me in my holy +calling? Will you not stand at my side as a help-mate, such as your +mother was to your father?" + +The young girl walked on, her eyes fixed on the ground. A deep sigh +heaved her breast. + +"Cousin----" + +"It does not become me, a servant of the Church," he interrupted, "to +speak to you in the manner and the tone in which a man of the world +might declare his love; pure and bright must be the flame which holds a +place in the heart of a minister. But such a flame my heart offers you, +Helena; and I ask you, plainly and candidly, will you accept what my +heart can give, and do you believe you can thus find the quiet +happiness of your life?" + +She stood still, and looked at him calmly and honestly. + +"Your words surprise me, cousin. I did not expect to hear this, and so +suddenly----" + +"The relations between us must be made clear," he said. "For this +reason I have told you the feelings of my heart. A minister cannot woo +as a man of the world; you cannot be surprised at that, being yourself +the daughter of a minister." + +"But consider," she said hesitatingly, "we scarcely know each other." + +"Have you no confidence in me?" he asked. "Could you not accept me as +your support through life?" + +She looked on the ground. A deep blush spread over her face. + +"But one must also----" + +"Well, what?" he asked, and with piercing glance he gazed at her +anxiously. + +"Love," she whispered. + +"And that you believe you could not feel for me?" he enquired. + +Again she looked up at him. Again she sighed deeply, and her eyes were +for a moment turned dreamily to the distance. Then a slight, half +roguish smile came to her lips, and she whispered,-- + +"One cannot tell beforehand!" + +"Beforehand?" he said, and a darker expression passed over his face. + +"Cousin," she said, with sweetness and candour, as she held out her +hand to him, "your words mean well, and it is flattering to me that you +should think I can be anything to your life. Let me then tell you +honestly, I think you are mistaken. Perhaps," she added kindly, "it is +not needful to pursue this conversation, that has so surprised me, just +now. Give me time. I promise to think of what you have said; and when +we know each other better, I will tell you." + +He looked down gloomily. + +"Oh," he said bitterly, "your heart answers already; it does not +respond to the simple language of my feelings. I truly do not know how +to raise excitement and restless emotion. The servant of the Church +cannot hope to cause the fiery passion that a--young officer----" + +She stood still. Her face was very pale, and her eyes were fixed upon +him with a proud look. + +He stopped suddenly, as if displeased with himself, and his excited +features resumed their usual smooth and calm expression. + +"Cousin," she said coldly, "I must beg you not to continue this +conversation now. Examine your own feelings, and give me time. My +father----" + +"Your father's wishes are my own," he said. + +She bent her head, and a melancholy look passed over her face. + +"My father," she then said, "cannot wish me to make any promise without +examining my own heart." + +"And you will tell me your decision, when you have made this +examination?" + +"Yes," said she. "Now leave me, I beg." + +A deep breath passed through his thin lips; he cast his eyes to the +ground, and walked by her silently and gravely. + +"Here comes my father," cried Helena, and hastened to meet the pastor, +who was returning by a side road leading to some of the scattered +cottages of the village. + +The candidate followed in silence. + +"This is well," said the old gentlemen, "my children, that you come +together to meet me; it is better in these troubled times not to be +alone. Throughout the village there is sorrow and anxiety about the +absent, the more so that a rumour is flying through the country of a +most exciting nature." + +"What is the rumour, papa?" cried Helena; "nothing disastrous?" + +"Glorious, yet disastrous," said the pastor; "there has been a great +battle, so it is said from village to village, from house to house. Our +army has won a great victory; but much, much blood has been shed." + +"Oh, how horrible!" cried Helena, with great emotion, as she folded her +hands. The candidate's quick eyes regarded her with curiosity; but she +did not remark it, her looks were fixed on space. + +"People scarcely know which they feel," continued the pastor quietly, +"joy at the victory, or anxiety lost sons and brothers should have +fallen." + +"How happy are those," said the candidate, "who have no relative in the +army; then there is no anxiety, no care." + +"You have not, like myself, lived here for years," replied the pastor +gravely. "Every member of my flock is as dear to me as if he were my +relation. I feel each grief that affects them as if I myself were +smitten." + +Helena involuntarily caught her father's hand with a hasty movement, +and pressed it to her lips. The old gentleman felt a tear upon his +hand. With a gentle smile, he said,-- + +"You too, my good child, feel for the sorrows of our friends. I know it +must be so; you have grown up amongst them." + +Helena covered her face for a moment with her handkerchief and sobbed. + +The candidate flashed an evil, malicious side glance upon her, whilst a +cold, scornful smile played around his lips. + +"I am going to the president," said the pastor; "there they must have +the earliest reliable news, and they will be most anxious about the +lieutenant. Poor Madame von Wendenstein! Come with me to the castle, +children." + +And they took the road to the hill upon which the old house stood +amidst high dark woods. + +Helena took her father's arm, and involuntarily hastened her steps. + +They climbed the hill and entered the hall by the open door. The great +oak chests stood there as still and solemn as ever, and the old +paintings looked down from their frames as gravely and quietly as if +there were no changes, no cares nor sorrows in the world of living men. + +In the large garden drawing-room Herr von Wendenstein paced up and down +with measured step, Madame von Wendenstein sat in her accustomed place +before the large round table, and her daughters were beside her; all +was as usual, yet a heavy cloud of care weighed on each brow, on each +heart. + +The president held out his hand to the pastor in silence, silently +Madame von Wendenstein greeted her visitors, and the young girls +embraced without speaking a word. + +"A rumour is abroad of a great battle, and of a great victory," said +the pastor; "I hoped here to learn something reliable." + +"I have had no news," said the president gloomily. "I only know what +has been brought from mouth to mouth; some part will be true; let us +hope the news of the victory may be confirmed." + +He said nothing of the care and anxiety of his heart for the son who +was on the distant battle-field, but an affectionate and sympathizing +look flew from beneath his contracted brows towards his wife. + +"What a wonderful thing the world is!" she said in a low tone, as she +shook her head. "In peaceful times, steam and the telegraph seemed to +have annihilated time and space, and news of the most unimportant +trifles flew from one end of the earth to the other; and now, when so +many hearts are tormented by restless anxiety, news travels slowly and +uncertainly from mouth to mouth, as in the days that are long passed +away." + +"So it is with the proud achievements of human intellect," said the +pastor; "when the hand of God seizes the history of a nation, man grows +weak and powerless, and all the progress the world has made becomes as +nothing. But that it is God's hand must be our consolation, He has +power to raise up and to protect, He has power to heal the wounds His +hands have made." + +With a pious look of resignation, Madame von Wendenstein listened to +the pastor's words, but tears trickled down her cheeks, and proved how +hard her heart found this anxious suspense. + +"I have no news from the army," said the president, "but I have +received a letter from my son in Hanover. He tells me of the Prussian +government, and praises its order and punctuality highly," said the old +gentleman with some bitterness. + +"Public men must be in great and painful difficulties in Hanover," said +the pastor; "there, political views are much more in the foreground +than here in the country, and it must be extremely hard to reconcile +the duties of a servant of Hanover with the necessities of the +situation." + +"It appears as if the gentlemen in office found them easy to +reconcile," said the president gloomily. "It is certainly good that the +Prussian government should be excellent, prompt, and punctual, but it +would never come into my head in these days to feel any particular +enthusiasm about it. Well, youth is different to what it was in my +day." + +The auditor Bergfeld entered the room with a hasty step and an excited +look. + +"What news do you bring from Luechow?" cried the president, hastening +towards him: and all eyes were fixed on him in mute anxiety. + +"It is true!" he cried; "there has been a battle--at Langensalza, and +our army is victorious!" + +"Thank God!" cried the president; "and have they succeeded in pressing +on to the south?" + +"Alas, no," said Bergfeld, mournfully, "the day after the battle our +brave soldiers were surrounded by overwhelming forces and obliged to +capitulate." The president gazed gloomily before him. "Is the king a +prisoner?" he asked. "No," said Bergfeld, "the king is free, the +capitulation is very honourable, the officers return home with their +arms and horses. But," he continued, "there are many wounded; in +Hanover committees have been formed, nourishment is wanted, they beg +for linen, for bread and meat." + +"Everything in the house shall be packed up at once," cried the +president, energetically, "the wounded must have the best of +everything; my cellar shall be emptied." + +Madame von Wendenstein had risen and approached her husband. + +"Let me take the things," she said, imploringly. "Why?" cried the +president, "you can do no good, and if Karl comes back, it--" + +"_If_ he comes back!" cried the old lady, bursting into tears. + +"We shall soon hear news of him," said the president, "and until +then--" + +The sound of voices was heard in the hall. Johann entered and said, +"Old Deyke is here; he wishes to speak to the president." + +"Bring him in, bring him in!" cried the old gentleman, and the old +peasant Deyke came in amongst the excited group, looking as calm and +dignified as usual, but with a deep and gloomy gravity spread over his +sharp features. + +"Well, dear Deyke," cried the president, "have you heard the news; do +you come to consult with us how to send in the quickest way all that +our brave soldiers need?" + +"I have received a letter from my Fritz," said the peasant solemnly, +whilst he respectfully took the hand held out to him by the president. + +"Well, and how does the brave young fellow get on? cried the old +gentleman. + +"Has he seen my son?" asked Madame von Wendenstein, gazing at the +peasant with anxious eyes. + +"He has found the lieutenant," he replied, laconically. + +"And my son lives?" cried the poor lady with hesitation. She feared to +hear the answer which must touch the inmost string of her heart. + +"He lives," said old Deyke. "I wish to say a couple of words to the +president alone," he stammered. + +"No!" cried Madame von Wendenstein, vehemently, "no, not alone. Deyke, +you have some bad news, but I will hear it; I am strong enough to hear +anything, but I cannot bear suspense. I beg you," she continued, +looking affectionately at her husband, "to let me hear what he has to +tell." + +The president looked undecided. The pastor came forward slowly. + +"Permit your wife to hear the tidings, whatever they may be, my old +friend," he said, gravely and quietly. "Your son lives, that is the +first and most important point; whatever may be to come, cannot be too +hard for a true and pious heart, like our friend's, to bear." + +Madame von Wendenstein looked gratefully at the clergyman. + +Old Deyke slowly drew out a paper. + +"The president will perhaps look at my son's letter?" + +"Give it to me," said the pastor; "it belongs to God's servant, an old +friend of this house, to impart this message." + +He took the paper and walked to the window, through which the last +light of the waning day entered the room. + +Madame von Wendenstein with widely opened eyes hung on his lips. Helena +sat at the table with her head resting on her hand, calm and apparently +indifferent; her eyes were cast down; it seemed doubtful whether she +saw or heard anything passing around her. + +Slowly the pastor read,-- + + +"My dear Father, + +"I write at once that you may have news of me, and, thank God, I am +well and cheerful; I fell in with the army at Langensalza, and enlisted +in the cuirassier guards, and took part in the great battle, and went +under a hot fire, but I came out safe and sound. We were victorious, +and took two cannon and many prisoners, but to-day we are surrounded by +superior numbers, and the generals have said we could not march. So the +king capitulated, and we are all coming home. My heart is almost broken +when I look at all our brave soldiers going back with the white staff +in their hands, and they don't look such cowardly creatures either. + +"Now, dear father, I must tell you of Lieutenant von Wendenstein, with +whom I must remain, for he is badly wounded, and I cannot leave him +here alone. I found him on the battle-field and thought he was dead, +but, thank God, it was not so bad as that; and the doctor has extracted +the ball, and says he will live if he only has strength to hold out +through the fever. I am with him at the brewer Lohmeier's, a good man +though he is a Prussian, and the lieutenant is well cared for. My host +sends off this letter for me through an acquaintance in the field post. +Go at once to the president and tell him all, and have no anxiety about +me for I am all right. + + "Your son, + + "Fritz. + +"Written the 28th July, 1866." + + +The pastor was silent. + +The president came up to his wife, put his arm round her shoulders, +kissed her grey hair, and said,-- + +"He lives! my God, I thank thee!" + +"And now I may go to him?" asked Madame von Wendenstein. + +"And I?" cried her daughter. + +"Yes," said the old gentleman, "and I wish I could go with you, but I +should be of no use there." + +Helena rose; she walked slowly but with a firm step towards Madame von +Wendenstein and said, while her eyes shone brilliantly,-- + +"May I accompany you? If my father will permit it?" + +"You, Helena?" cried the pastor. + +"Our brave soldiers want nursing," said the young girl, looking firmly +at her father, "and you have taught me to help the suffering. Will you +not allow me at such a time as this to do my duty?" + +The pastor looked kindly at his daughter. "Go, my child, and God be +with you;" and turning to Madame von Wendenstein, he added, "Will you +take my daughter under your protection?" + +"With all my heart," cried the old lady, and folded the pastor's +daughter in her arms. + +Candidate Behrmann had watched the whole of this scene in silence. + +He bit his lips, when Helena announced her intention of accompanying +Madame von Wendenstein, and a pale ray shot from his eyes, but his face +immediately resumed its smooth smiling expression, he stepped forward +and said in a gentle voice,-- + +"I shall also beg permission, madame, to accompany you on your journey; +it will be desirable for you to have a male protector, and I think on +the site of the bloody battle-field spiritual consolation will be +needed and welcomed. I believe I can be more useful there than here, +where until I return my uncle can so well fulfil all the duties of his +sacred office alone." + +He looked humbly and modestly at his uncle and the president, awaiting +their reply. + +"That is a good and right thought, my dear nephew," said the pastor, +holding out his hand to him; "on yonder battle-field there is grave and +blessed work to be done, and I can get on here in the meantime quite +well alone." + +The president was glad that the ladies should have a protector, and +Madame von Wendenstein thanked the candidate heartily for facilitating +her journey to her suffering son. + +Helena had looked up, startled for a moment when her cousin said he +would accompany the ladies; then in silence, with downcast eyes, she +listened to the rest of the conversation, neither word nor look +betraying the least interest in it. + +The greatest movement and activity suddenly began in the old castle. + +Madame von Wendenstein hastened through the well-known rooms ordering +and arranging, here showing her daughters what must be packed in the +travelling trunks, there sorting out wine, sugar, and nourishment of +all kinds, then again giving the servants instructions as to what they +were to do in her absence: all the silent abstraction which had altered +the old lady during the last few days had vanished, with active step +and shining eyes she hurried about, and anyone so seeing her might have +thought she was preparing for some great festival. + +Helena had returned to the Pfarrhaus with her father and the candidate +to make her rapid preparations for the journey, and not quite two hours +after the journey had been decided on the president's comfortable +carriage, with its well-bred powerful horses, stood before the large +hall door of the castle. + +Madame von Wendenstein gave her husband a long and affectionate +embrace, it was the first time for years that they had been separated. +He laid his hand on her head and said, "God bless you! and bring you +back with our son!" + +Old Deyke was there, and a crowd of villagers were there too, with +their wives and daughters, for the news had spread like wild-fire that +the president's wife and daughter were going to nurse the wounded +lieutenant, and that the pastor's daughter and the new candidate were +to accompany them. They all came to take leave, and Madame von +Wendenstein shook hands with all, and promised each to gain news of +this or that relative who was with the army. What the carriage could +still hold was taken up with love offerings that all had brought for +their relations, and every head was uncovered when at last the carriage +rolled away; but there was no shouting, no loud word was heard, and +they all went back quietly to their homes, in great anxiety as to what +the next few days must bring, whether the life or death of those dear +to them. + +The president went quietly back into the castle with the pastor, and +the two old gentlemen sat together for a long time. They said but +little, and yet each found in these weary times consolation in +the society of the other. The president cast his eyes round the +drawing-room, which was as quiet and comfortable as ever, but when he +looked at the place where his wife usually sat, and thought of the +cheerful voices which used to sound through the room, and then turned +his thoughts to the distant town where his son lay threatened by death, +a mist came before his eyes, he pressed his eyelids together and a hot +drop fell on his hand. He stood up quickly, and walked several times up +and down the room. + +The pastor arose. + +"My honoured old friend," he said, "at such a moment as this a man like +yourself need not be ashamed of a tear! It is late, let us go to rest, +and these days will pass away!" + +The president stood still, held out his hand to the pastor, and looked +at him through the blinding tears which ran down his cheeks. + +"Pray to God," he said in a low voice, "to give me back my son." + +The pastor went home. All was quiet in the castle and the darkness of +night brooded over it, but a light still burned in the president's +window, and the servants heard, even until morning dawned, the firm +regular step of their old master as he paced up and down in the lonely +castle. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + INTRIGUE. + + +Whilst in North Germany the catastrophe so disastrous to the House of +Guelph was completed, in Vienna everything was expected from the battle +which all foresaw must take place in Bohemia almost immediately. The +Austrian arms had been successful in Italy, that drill ground for the +Austrian general staff officers, the battle of Custozza had been won, +and new confidence filled the Viennese, as to their success in Germany. + +The Viennese placed full confidence in Field-Marshal Benedek, the man +of the people, and from him they expected, in their light-hearted, +sanguine fashion, complete success. Those anxious doubts had vanished +which a short time before had filled them with uneasiness; the arms of +Austria were victorious in Italy, fortune was favourable to the empire, +and with excited but joyful confidence they awaited news from Bohemia. +A great victory was certainly expected. + +Things were looked at differently, and not with such confidence in the +state offices in the Ballhaus Platz, and in the Hofburg. + +Count Mensdorff was sad and downcast; the Italian success had not +removed his gloomy forebodings, and he could only reply with a feeble +smile to the congratulations he received on the victory of Custozza. +The emperor alternated between fear and joyful hope; the victory in +Italy awakened in his heart the proud recollection of Novara, and a +wide and brilliant future spread before his gaze. But when the doubts, +the warnings of Field-Marshal Benedek occurred to him--the plain, +straightforward general, who troubled himself little about strategic +operations, and only knew how to lead his soldiers against the enemy +and to fight; but who continually maintained that with these troops, in +the condition in which he found them, he could not beat the enemy--the +emperor's heart had deep misgivings, and he waited for the future with +great anxiety. + +Whilst all Vienna felt the most restless, feverish excitement; whilst +everyone wished that time had wings to hasten the events of the future, +Madame Antonia Balzer lay on her luxurious couch in her quiet boudoir. +The curtains were closed, notwithstanding the great heat; a soft +twilight prevailed, and a mysterious and varied perfume pervaded the +room, that perfume which fills the immediate neighbourhood of an +elegant and beautiful woman; one cannot tell of what it consists, but +it gives the invisible air a magnetic, sympathetic charm. + +The young lady lay there as if she courted sleep, and on her features +neither the passionate _abandon_ appeared with which she had welcomed +Herr von Stielow, nor the icy coldness which she had shown to her +husband. + +Her large eyes gazed gloomily into space, and her face expressed +anxious, mournful weariness. + +A number of sealed letters and telegrams lay on a small table near her. + +Her pearly hand played carelessly with a small poodle dog which lay +curled up in her lap. + +"I thought I was strong," she whispered to herself; "and yet I cannot +forget him!" + +She sprang up, placed the little dog upon the pillow, and walked slowly +up and down the room. + +"What a wonderful organization is our human nature!" she cried +scornfully. "I thought I was strong. I had set it before me as a means +to rule, to rise on the aspiring ladder of life, without permitting +myself to be kept back by the emotions and motives of the common herd; +and now, when my feet touch the very first step of the ladder I look +back, my heart weeps; I am sick with love and regret, like any +milliner's girl," she added, with an angry look, as she stamped her +small foot upon the carpet. + +She gazed before her. + +"And why," she asked thoughtfully, "why cannot my heart forget one who +so scornfully turned from me, who so contemptuously gave me up? This +Count Rivero--he offers me what I long for; he is a man who occupies a +high place in the world, and guides with powerful hand the threads that +weave the fate of men; why do I not love him? I might be happy. And +he," she continued, while a soft mist came over her eyes, and her arms +were slightly raised, "he, for whom every pulse in my heart beats, he +whom I call back in the still hours of the night, whom my arms seek in +empty space, who is he? A boy,--in intellect far beneath me; yet oh! he +is so beautiful, so pure!" she cried, stretching out her hands to the +picture her mind had called up; "I love him, and I am the slave of my +love!" + +She sank wearily into a luxurious chair, and covered her face with her +hands. + +She sat for a long time motionless, and only the panting breath of her +heaving bosom interrupted the silence of the darkened room. + +Then again she sprang up, and with trembling lips and vehement voice +she cried,-- + +"But she--who tore him from me--that fine lady, who from her cradle has +enjoyed every happiness life can afford, who basks in the golden +sunshine of an admiring world, who has all--all, that is denied +me--shall she enjoy the love that I have lost?" + +She hastily opened a small casket of incrusted ebony, and took out a +photograph in the form of a _carte-de-visite_. + +She regarded it long with glowing looks. + +"What foolish, inexpressive features!" she cried; "how lukewarm, how +wearisome must be her love. Can she make him happy--he, who has known +the passion of my heart--who has learnt what love is?" + +And she spasmodically seized the likeness and crushed it together. + +The bell of the entrance hall aroused her from her stormy dreams; she +threw the crumpled photograph hastily back into the casket, and her +face resumed its usual calm expression. + +The servant announced Count Rivero, who immediately entered, +faultlessly elegant as ever, cold, calm, and friendly; the smile of the +man of the world upon his lips. + +With light elastic steps he approached the lady and pressed his lips +lightly on her hand--not with the fiery warmth of a lover--still less +with the respectful courtesy of a man of distinction towards a lady of +the great world. In the count's greeting there was a certain negligent +familiarity, which only his extreme elegance, and the courteous bearing +which marked his every movement preserved from rudeness. + +She seemed to feel this, and regarded her visitor coldly, almost with +enmity. + +"What? have you slept, my fair friend?" said the count, smiling: "truly +it is hard to believe that the whole world is trembling with anxiety +when one enters this darkened and quiet apartment." + +"A number of letters and despatches have arrived!" she said, pointing +to the small table near her couch. + +"Are you sure," asked the count, "that this large correspondence does +not arouse curiosity?" + +She smiled coldly. + +"They are accustomed to my receiving many letters, and I do not think +they will seek here for the clue of important political events." + +The count walked to the window, and drew back one of the curtains, +admitting the bright light into the room. He then pushed the table with +the letters to the window, and opened them one after another, whilst +the young lady watched him from her easy-chair in silence. + +The count drew a portfolio from his pocket, took out a small volume +containing various ciphers, and with its help began to decipher the +letters. The contents appeared in the highest degree satisfactory, for +an expression of joy beamed from his face, and he rose with a proud +look when he had ended the perusal. + +"I see the work approaches its completion," he said, half to himself, +half to Madame Balzer; "soon will the building of lies and wickedness +fall in ruins, and truth and right will again triumph." + +"And what will it be to me?" asked the young lady, slightly turning her +head towards the count. + +He came up to her, seated himself near her couch, and spoke with +extreme courtesy, as he kissed the hand she negligently abandoned to +him. + +"You have assisted in a great and noble work, my lovely friend, and you +have rendered very important assistance by taking charge of a secret +correspondence, which has enabled me to preserve the appearance of a +man of the world and ordinary traveller. I promise you an independent +and brilliant position. The _how_ you must leave to me. I hope you +trust my words." + +She gave him a quick look and said,-- + +"I do not doubt that you can keep your promise, or that you will keep +it." + +"But," he continued, "much remains still to be done, and I believe I +can open out greater and nobler spheres to your genius and industry: +will you continue to be my confederate?" + +"I will," she replied; then a deep sigh heaved her breast, a rapid +blush tinged her cheeks, and whilst a trembling fire sparkled in her +eyes she said, "I have one wish." + +"Express it!" he said with the gallantry of a man of the world; "if it +be in my power to fulfil it--" + +"I believe it is, for I have seen so many proofs of your power that I +have unbounded confidence in it." + +"Well?" he asked, gazing at her enquiringly. + +She cast down her eyes, interlaced her fingers, and said in a low and +timid voice,-- + +"Give me back Stielow." + +Immense surprise, and a shade of displeasure appeared on his face. + +"I certainly did not expect this wish," he said, "I thought you had +forgotten this caprice. To fulfil it exceeds my power." + +"I do not believe it," she replied, raising her eyes and gazing full at +the count, "he is a boy, and you know how to lead earnest men of ripe +years." + +"But you forget," said he, "that--" + +"That he, in a fit of ill-temper, out of spite, has thrown himself at +the feet of a _fade_, insipid girl, who finds a place in the almanach +de Gotha, where her heart is also," she cried, rising hastily from her +recumbent position, with flashing eyes. "No, I do not forget it, but +just for that reason I will have him back. I will help you in +everything," she continued, speaking more slowly, "I will employ all +the powers of my intellect and of my will, on behalf of your plans; but +I will have something in return for myself, and I say therefore, 'Give +me back Stielow.'" + +"You shall certainly," said the count, "have for yourself whatever you +wish. I impose no restraints on your little personal divertissements," +he added, with a smile; "but what do you want with this boy--as you +yourself call him?--can you not rule men with your genius, and by a +glance from those eyes?" + +"I love him!" she whispered. + +The count looked at her with amazement. + +"Forgive me!" he said, smiling, "this boy--" + +"Because he is a boy," she cried, and a stream of passionate feeling +gushed from her large widely-opened eyes,--"because he is so pure, so +good, and so beautiful," she whispered, and her eyes were veiled with +mist. + +The count looked at her very gravely. + +"Do you know," he said, "that the love which rules you will take from +you the power of ruling others, and of being my ally?" + +"No," she cried, "no, it will strengthen me; but the vain longing in my +heart makes me gloomy and weak,--oh! give him back to me again. I own +my weakness, let me in this one point be weak, and I promise in every +other you shall find me strong and immovable." + +"Had you told me before what you now tell me," said he thoughtfully, +"it might have been possible, perhaps, but now it is out of my power, +and--I may not use it; this young man shall not be the plaything of +your caprice," he said gravely and decidedly, "shake off this weakness, +be strong, and forget this fancy!" + +She rose cold and calm. + +"Let us speak of it no more," she said in her accustomed tone. + +The count examined her attentively. + +"You own I am right?" he asked. + +"I will forget this fancy," she replied without a muscle of her face +changing. + +At this moment the door-bell was heard. + +"It is Galotti," said the count, and opened the door of the boudoir. + +A strongly-made man entered, of middle height with a full face. His +thin hair left a lofty arched brow completely free, the bright eyes +were quick and observing, and the full lips denoted an energetic +temperament and brilliant eloquence. + +"Things are going on excellently," cried the count, advancing to meet +him. "Everything is prepared for the decisive blow. The Sardinian party +have lost courage; they are disorganized by the Austrian victory, and +with one stroke the contemptible government they call Italian will +crumble to pieces." + +"Glorious! glorious!" cried Galotti, as he pressed Count Rivero's hand, +and approached the lady, whom he greeted with all the grace of one +accustomed to good society. "I bring good news too," he said, "they are +ready at the Farnese Palace, and Count Montebello has, in answer to a +confidential enquiry, made it clearly understood that he will take no +steps to prevent Italy from becoming what was intended at the peace of +Zurich." + +"I will leave you, gentlemen," said Madame Balzer. "I will have +breakfast prepared in the dining-room, and shall be at your disposal +when your interview is ended." + +Count Rivero kissed her hand, Signer Galotti bowed, and she withdrew +through the door leading to her sleeping apartment. + +"The king will go to Naples?" asked the count as soon as she had left +the room. + +"At the very first sign from us," replied Galotti, "a troop of +brigands, formed of old soldiers of the Neapolitan guards, will await +him on the coast, the Sardinian garrisons are always weak, and at the +first signal the whole people will rise!" + +"Do you think the moment has come for placing the match to our +well-laid train?" asked the count. + +"Certainly," replied Galotti; "what should we wait for? The Sardinian +army is completely demoralized by the battle of Custozza, and is held +in check by the Grand Duke Albert, so that it cannot be employed in the +interior. The most rapid action is needful; in a few weeks Italy can be +freed from the heavy yoke which weighs her down. Everyone is waiting +longingly for the word, the giving of which is in your hand." + +The count walked thoughtfully to the window. + +"Everything has been prepared so long, thought over so carefully," said +he, "and yet now the decisive moment approaches, now the eventful +word--'Act!'--must be spoken, giving life and motion to our quiet +preparations,--the doubt arises whether all is well organized. Yet we +can no longer hesitate. We must send the watchword to Rome and Naples, +and to Tuscany," he said, turning to Galotti; "here are three +addresses," he added, taking from his portfolio three cards and +carefully perusing them. "The text of the telegram is written below, +the names, like the contents of the despatches, are perfectly +unimportant, they will disclose nothing." + +And with a trembling hand he held out the cards to Signor Galotti. + +Madame Balzer rushed into the boudoir. + +"Do you know, Count Rivero," she cried, "that the army in Bohemia is +completely defeated? The news is spreading like wild-fire through +Vienna, my maid has just heard it in the house." + +The count gazed at her in blank dismay. His eyes opened wide with +horror, a nervous movement convulsed his lips, and he hastily snatched +up his hat. + +"Impossible!" cried Galotti. "General Gablenz has been victorious in +several skirmishes; a great battle was not expected." + +"We must hear what has happened," said the count, in a low voice, "it +would be horrible if this intelligence were true." + +He was about to hasten away. A violent peal at the bell was heard, and +almost immediately a young man in the dress of a priest entered the +room. + +"Thank God! that I find you here, Count Rivero," he cried, "nothing +must be done, the disaster is immense, Benedek is totally beaten, the +whole army is in wild flight and confusion." + +The count was dumb. His dark eyes were raised to heaven with a burning +look, deep grief was painted on his features. + +"We must act so much the more rapidly and energetically," cried +Galotti; "if this news reaches Italy our confederates will be +frightened and confused, the enemy will gain courage, and the lukewarm +will become foes." + +He stretched out his hand to take the cards which Rivero still held. + +The count made a movement of refusal. + +"How did you gain your information, Abbe Rosti?" he asked quietly. + +"It has just been brought from the Hofburg to the Nuncio," replied the +abbe. "Unhappily there is no doubt of its truth." + +"Then the work of years is lost!" said Count Rivero, in a grave and +melancholy voice. + +"Let us use the present moment!" cried Galotti, "let us act quickly; +then, let what will happen in Germany, we shall at least have restored +Italy to her ancient rights, and Austria must be grateful to us if we +give her in Italy the influence she has lost in Germany." + +"No!" said the count, calmly, "we must not venture upon action before +the situation is perfectly plain. Our whole force in Italy is quite +strong enough to break the Piedmontese rule if the regular army is +engaged and defeated by the victorious Austrian troops, but we are not +in a position to effect anything against the army of Piedmont if it is +free to act against us. We should uselessly sacrifice all our faithful +friends, and we should destroy the organization we have formed with +such toil, which will be useful to us in the future, and which we could +never again bring to such perfection if it were now broken up. And I +fear Victor Emanuel's army will be free, I fear Vienna will give up +Italy." + +"Give up Italy, after the victory of Custozza!" cried the Abbe Rosti, +"it is impossible,--wherefore?" + +"For Germany! which she will also lose!" + +"But, my God!" cried Galotti, "that would have been done before the +campaign, if done at all. Austria's forces in Germany would have been +doubled--but now--" + +"My dear friend," said the count, sighing, "remember the words of the +First Napoleon: 'Austria is always too late--by one year, one army, and +one idea!'" + +"I cannot make up my mind to sit still," cried Galotti, energetically, +"now that everything is prepared, and we seem almost to hold success in +our hands." + +"I do not desire that we should indifferently sit still," said Count +Rivero; "we will never sit still," he added, with flashing eyes, "but +we must perhaps begin again a long and toilsome work from the +beginning. For the present we must not act hastily, and compromise +individuals and events, risking the future before we see our way +clearly. Do you know," he enquired of the abbe, "how the emperor +received the intelligence and what he did?" + +"The emperor was much cast down, as was natural," said the abbe; "he +sent Count Mensdorff immediately to the army, that he might ascertain +its condition. That is all we have yet heard." + +"Mensdorff was right," said Count Rivero, thoughtfully; then, raising +himself with an energetic movement, he said: "Once more, gentlemen, we +must see clearly before we act; and our courage must not fail, even if +we perceive long years of toil before us. Above all, I wish to be fully +informed as to the present, then we will speak of the future." + +He approached the lady, who had remained during the conversation gazing +before her as if completely indifferent, and said, as he kissed her +hand: "Auf Wiedersehn! chere amie!" then he added in a somewhat lower +voice, "Perhaps the moment will soon come for opening so wide a field +to your skilful industry, that all minor wishes will be forgotten!" + +She looked up at him quickly for a moment, but she did not reply. + +The two other gentlemen took leave, and left the room with the count. + +The young lady remained alone. + +A flashing look followed them as they withdrew. + +"You wish to use me for your plans," she cried, "you seek to charm me +with hopes of freedom and dominion, and you would prepare for me a +gilded slavery? You forbid my heart to beat, because it cannot be so +serviceable as your tool? Ah! you deceive yourself, Count Rivero! I +need you, but I am not your servant, your slave! Well then, let war +begin between us," she said, with determination; "not war to the death, +but a war for rule; I will try to make your proud shoulders bear me up +to power and independence. Independence!" said she, sighing, after a +short silence, "how much I am short of it, yet let me go carefully and +prudently onwards; first, I will see whether I cannot win back the +unfaithful friend to whom my heart still clings, without the aid of my +master." + +She threw herself on the sofa, and looked thoughtfully before her. + +"But, my God!" she cried, with anguish in her eyes, as she pressed her +tender hand to her forehead, "I wish to win him back, and he is before +the enemy, the great battle has been fought, perhaps he lies dead +already upon the bloody field." And her eyes gazed into space as if she +actually saw the horrible picture her fancy had painted. + +Then she leant back and a dark expression passed over her face. + +"And if it were so?" she said, gloomily, "perhaps it would be better +for me, and I might then be free from the burning thorn I cannot tear +from my heart. The count is right! such love is weakness, and I will +not be weak! perhaps I should again be strong. But to know that he is +living, to think that he belongs to me no longer, that he, in his +beauty, is at the feet of another--" + +She sprang up, a wild glow kindled in her eyes, her breast heaved high, +her beautiful features were distorted by the vehemence of her emotion. + +"Never, never!" she said, in a low, hissing voice. "If he were dead, I +could forget him; but that picture will pursue me everywhere--will +poison my life. Poison!" she repeated, and an evil flash passed across +her face. "How easy it was in days gone by," she whispered, "to destroy +an enemy! Now--" Again she stared blankly before her. "But is it +needful to poison the body to conquer difficulties?" + +A wicked smile played around her beautiful mouth; her eyes flashed, and +for a long time she sat thinking deeply. + +She rose and went to her rosewood writing-table. She took a packet of +letters from one compartment and began to read them attentively. +Several she threw back; at last she seemed to have found what she +sought. It was a short note only, written on a single sheet. + +"He wrote me this during the man[oe]uvres," said she; "this will serve +me." + +She read:-- + + +"My sweet queen, + +"I must tell you in a few words how my heart longs for you, and how +much I feel this separation. All day I am interested, and hard at work +at my duty, but when at night I lie down in bivouac, the stars above +me, and the soft breath of night sighing around, then your sweet image +dwells in my heart; I seem to feel your breath; I open my arms seeking +to embrace you; and when at last sleep weighs down my eyelids, you are +with me in my dreams. Oh, that the unmelodious trumpet must destroy +such heavenly visions! I would ever dream until I am again with you, +and find with you a sweeter reality. I kiss this paper, so soon to +touch your lovely hands." + + +While she read her voice was soft, and she gazed at the letter lost in +recollections. + +Then again her features grew cold and hard. + +"This will do perfectly," said she; "and no date; excellent!" + +She seized a pen, and after considering the handwriting for a few +moments, she wrote at the commencement of the letter--"June 30th, +1866." + +She looked attentively at her writing. + +"Yes," she said, "it will pass capitally." + +She rang a small silver bell. Her maid entered. + +"Find my husband," said Madame Balzer, "and tell him I wish to speak to +him immediately." + +The maid withdrew, and the young lady walked thoughtfully to the +window, carelessly looking down on the excited crowds below, whilst a +slight smile of satisfaction played on her lips. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + DEFEAT. + + +Gloomy silence prevailed in the Hofburg. In the midst of the rejoicings +at the Italian victory the annihilating thunderbolt had fallen, ruining +all hopes of success in Bohemia, and destroying in a moment the blind +confidence that had been placed in Field-Marshal Benedek and his +operations. It was as if a sudden stupefaction had come on everyone. +The attendants glided slowly and sadly through the long corridors, and +scarcely said the few words necessary for the fulfilment of their +duties. Immediately after receiving the intelligence of the lost +battle, the emperor had sent Count Mensdorff to Benedek's +head-quarters, that, being himself a soldier, he might judge of the +condition of affairs; he then withdrew into his own apartments, and +only the adjutant-general had access to him. + +Deep silence reigned in the imperial ante-room. The life guardsman +stood quietly before the emperor's door; the equerry on duty, Baron +Fejervary de Komlos, leant silently against the window and looked at +the groups below, as they formed and again dispersed after grave +whispered converse. There were often looks cast upwards to the windows +of the castle, as though they longed for fresh news--for something +decided, to remove their load of anxiety. + +The regular ticking of the great old clock was heard, marking as calmly +these saddest moments to the House of Hapsburg as it had proclaimed +during its greatest splendour that all yielded to the inexorable scythe +of Time. For Time goes on with equal pace during the flying moments of +happiness and during the creeping hours of the blackest day, only in +the rush of happiness his iron footstep is unheard, whilst in the sad +stillness of misfortune "_memento mori_" sounds on every ear, and calls +to each one of us from the bosom of the solemn vanished past. + +Thus was it here. The guardsman and the equerry had often performed +their duty in this very room, with their hearts full of joyful thoughts +of the world without; and all those hours had vanished from their +recollection, or had melted together in a blurred picture; but these +hours, these still, dark hours, with the slow stroke of the heavy +pendulum marking their lingering seconds, were buried deep in their +memory for ever. + +The Adjutant-General Count Crenneville entered. He was accompanied by +the Hanoverian ambassador, General von Knesebeck, dressed in the full +uniform of a Hanoverian general, and followed by the King of Hanover's +equerry, Major von Kohlrausch, a simple soldier-like man, with a short +black moustache and a bald head. + +General von Knesebeck, the tall, stately man who had moved with so firm +and proud a step through Count Mensdorff's salons, now stooped in his +walk. Sorrow and mourning lay on his grave regular features, and +without speaking a word he saluted the equerry on duty. + +"Will you announce me, dear baron?" said Count Crenneville to Baron von +Fejervary. + +He entered the imperial apartment, and returning immediately, signified +to the adjutant-general by a respectful movement that the emperor +awaited him. + +Count Crenneville entered the cabinet of Francis Joseph. + +The emperor again wore a large grey military cloak. He sat bending over +his writing-table; pens, papers, and letters lay untouched before him; +there were no signs of the restless industry of a sovereign who never +allowed an hour to pass idly. It was not grief which the excited, +wearied countenance of the emperor wore, it was comfortless, dull +despair. + +Crenneville looked sadly at his sovereign thus weighed down with +sorrow, and said, with deep emotion,-- + +"I beg your imperial majesty not to yield to the sad impression of this +disastrous news. We all--all Austria looks to her emperor. No +misfortune is so great that a strong will and a resolute courage cannot +amend it; and if your majesty despairs, what will the army--what will +the people do?" + +The emperor slowly raised his wearied eyes and passed his hand over his +brow as if to ease it of a load of thought. + +"You are right," he answered mournfully. "Austria expects from me +courage and decision, and truly," he cried, raising his head, whilst an +angry flash darted from his eyes, "courage I have, might I but face the +enemy's fire, and if my personal courage could procure success, victory +should not fail the banners of Austria! But must I not believe that I +am ordained to misfortune, that my sceptre must bring destruction upon +Austria? Have I not done everything to procure success? have I not +placed at the head of the troops a man whom the army and the nation +considered the most competent? And now?--beaten!" cried he vehemently, +with tears in his eyes, "beaten after so haughty, so bold an attack, +beaten by this enemy who during the last century has seized on my +ancestral inheritance in Germany, an enemy whom I hoped to overthrow +for ever. What avails me the victory in Italy, if I lose Germany? oh! +it is hard!" + +And the emperor supported his head in both his hands whilst a deep sigh +heaved his breast. + +Count Crenneville came a step nearer. + +"Your majesty!" said he, "all is not yet lost. Mensdorff will perhaps +bring us good news; the battle must have cost the enemy much, perhaps +all may still be well." + +The emperor let his hands sink down and looked at the count for some +time. + +"My dear Crenneville!" he then said, gravely and slowly, "I will tell +you something which has never been so clear to me as at this moment. Do +you know," he said dreamily, "what great characteristic of my family +carried Hapsburg and Austria through all the hardest times? It was its +tenacity, its tough indestructible tenacity, that bent beneath the +blows of misfortune, without for a moment losing sight of the aim for +which to suffer, to wait, to conquer. Go to past history, look up the +darkest, heaviest times, you will find in all my ancestors proofs of +unconquerable endurance, and you will find too that this characteristic +was their salvation. This tenacity," he continued after a short +silence, "this Hapsburg endurance, in me is wanting, and that is my +misfortune. Joy bears me on his light pinions high as the heavens, +large views of life fill me with mighty inspiration, but even so the +heavy hand of misfortune dashes me to the ground. I can fight, I can +sacrifice myself, but I cannot bear, I cannot wait--oh! I cannot wait!" +he cried, with a look of horror. + +Then suddenly he raised his head, he pressed his beautiful teeth +lightly on the full under lip and said, the princely pride of the +Hapsburg kindling in his eyes,-- + +"You are right, Count Crenneville, I must not yield to weakness; forget +that you have seen me weak so long; is the misfortune great?--we must +be greater than misfortune!" + +"The heavier the blow, the more deeply it affects your heart, so much +the more I admire the bold courage which your majesty now, as ever, +regains. I rejoice the more," added the count, "that your imperial +majesty is superior to disaster, as the Ambassador General Knesebeck +has just requested an audience; he bears the heavy blow which has +fallen on his master well and chivalrously!" + +"The poor king," cried the emperor, "he has bravely defended his +rights, and he now expects from me help and protection! All those +princes," he continued gloomily, "who assembled around me in the old +imperial hall at Frankfort, how shall I appear before them after this +shameful defeat!" And again he sank into brooding thought. + +"Your majesty!" cried Count Crenneville in a low, imploring tone. + +The emperor stood up. + +"Bring General von Knesebeck in!" + +The adjutant-general hastened to the door, and a moment afterwards +returned with General von Knesebeck, and Major von Kohlrausch. + +The emperor walked towards the general and held out his hand with much +emotion. + +"You bring sad news, my dear general; I am filled with admiration for +your royal master, and I deeply deplore that such great heroism could +not command a happier result. Alas! you have found little to console +you here," he added with a visible effort; and then as if unwilling to +pursue the painful subject, he turned a look of enquiry towards Major +von Kohlrausch. + +"Your majesty," said General von Knesebeck, "I mast first beg +permission to introduce to you Major von Kohlrausch, equerry to my +royal master. He begs the honour of presenting a letter from our +sovereign." + +The emperor bowed kindly to the major, who stepped forward in a +soldier-like manner and placed a writing in the emperor's hand. + +He opened it quickly and looked through its brief contents. + +"His majesty imparts the melancholy catastrophe to me in a few words, +and refers me to you for a personal communication, major." + +"My gracious master," said Major von Kohlrausch, as if repeating a +military order, "commanded me to tell your imperial majesty, that after +the great efforts made by his army to preserve the independence of his +crown, and victoriously to defend his kingdom, and after these efforts +and the successful battle of Langensalza were rendered useless by the +superior numbers of the enemy, his majesty deemed his most dignified +and worthy course would be to repair to your imperial majesty, his +illustrious confederate." + +"And his true friend!" cried the emperor warmly. + +The major bowed and proceeded. + +"May I ask your imperial majesty whether the visit of the king and his +reception in Vienna will be agreeable to you?" + +"Agreeable!" cried the emperor with animation, "I long to embrace the +heroic monarch who has given us all so high an example of princely +stedfastness. Truly," he proceeded with a sigh, "the king will no +longer find here a powerful ally; he will find a broken power needing +the greatest courage and every exertion to avert the worst +consequences." + +"I believe I am speaking the mind of my royal master," said Major von +Kohlrausch, "when I assure your imperial majesty the king is ready and +resolved to share fortune and misfortune with his illustrious ally, +whose cause is his own and that of right." + +The emperor looked on the ground for a moment. Then he raised his eyes +with a brilliant expression, and said, his countenance glowing with +courage and happy pride,-- + +"The friendship and the trust of so noble and heroic a heart as your +king's must give courage to all, and fresh confidence in our cause. +Tell your royal master I await him with impatience, and that he will +find me worthy to defend the cause of right and of Germany to the +uttermost. My answer to the king shall be given to you as soon as +possible." + +The emperor ceased. The major silently awaited a sign of dismissal. + +After a few moments Francis Joseph said, in a voice of emotion,-- + +"The king has given us an unparalleled example of heroism. I am anxious +to express my admiration for his courage and that of the crown prince +during the last few days by an outward sign. I will immediately summon +the chapter of the Order of Maria Theresa, and my army will be proud if +the king and his son will wear upon their breasts the noblest and +highest sign of honour to an Austrian soldier--wait until I can send +you the insignia." + +"I know my master well enough," said the major, with a joyful +expression, "to be sure that such a sign will fill him with the highest +satisfaction, and that the whole Hanoverian army will receive it with +proud joy." + +"I have been much pleased, my dear major," said the emperor, +gracefully, "to receive you on this occasion as an envoy from the king. +I will, with the other things, send you the cross of the Order of +Leopold, and I beg you to wear it in memory of this moment, and of my +friendly remembrance." + +The major bowed deeply. "Without this gracious sign," he said, "I +should never forget this moment." + +"Now rest yourself," said the emperor, kindly, "that you may have +strength when all is ready for your return." + +He bowed his head as a dismissal. The major with a quick military +salute left the cabinet. + +"You have been in the Bavarian head-quarters," said the emperor to +General von Knesebeck. + +"I have, your majesty," replied he. "When, in consequence of despatches +received from Count Ingelheim, your majesty commanded me to go at once +to Prince Karl, and urgently to beg him, in your all-powerful name, to +hasten to the assistance of the Hanoverian army, I set out immediately, +and found the Bavarian head-quarters, which the day before had been at +Bamberg, at Neustadt. I represented to Prince Karl the pressing danger +of the Hanoverian army, and I implored him, in your majesty's name and +in that of my king, to make a rapid advance towards Eisenach and Gotha, +that a union might be effected, and a favourable and important change +possibly be made in the whole campaign." + +"And Prince Karl?" asked the emperor, anxiously. + +"The prince, as well as General von der Tann, who was with him, fully +acknowledged the importance of a union of the Bavarian with the +Hanoverian army--they were ready to do everything in their power--as +indeed had been intended at the outset of the march. At the same time +his royal highness, as well as the chief of the general staff, +expressed great dissatisfaction at the march of the Hanoverian army; it +was then really not known where it was, and, according to information +brought in, the greatest strategical faults had been committed. The +prince asked me about the strength of our army, and when I replied +that, according to my estimation and to the intelligence I had heard, +about nineteen thousand men were under arms, he replied, 'With nineteen +thousand men you should cut your way through the enemy, and not march +hither and thither into positions where you must be surrounded.' +General von der Tann nodded approval." + +The emperor bent his head and sighed. + +"I heard this with great sorrow," added the general, "and my grief was +greater since I could not deny the truth of the judgment pronounced at +the Bavarian headquarters. I am a general staff officer, your majesty," +he said, with a sigh, "but I must own the marches which our army have +made are to me quite incomprehensible, and that it would have been much +easier on our part to reach the Bavarians by a hasty march, than to +await their advance with these apparently aimless runnings to and fro." + +"The poor king!" cried the emperor, in a sorrowful voice. + +"Naturally," continued von Knesebeck, "I did not utter these ideas in +the Bavarian head-quarters; on the contrary, I urged a hasty advance +for the relief of the Hanoverian army--the only course as matters then +were which could possibly save it. Prince Karl, in spite of his +displeasure, was quite ready to comply; he immediately commanded an +advance by the forest of Thuringia upon Gotha, and informed Prince +Alexander of his movements, that the eighth army corps might march at +the same time. But," he added, with a sigh, "the Bavarian army had been +reduced to a peace footing." + +"Impossible!" cried the emperor. "Bavaria urged upon the confederation +so strongly the policy that led to war." + +General von Knesebeck slightly shrugged his shoulders. + +"Under the circumstances," he said, "the Bavarian army was not in a +condition to act rapidly and forcibly. However, they set out. Prince +Karl removed his headquarters to Meiningen, and with a heavy heart full +of misgivings I accompanied him thither. The following day we were to +proceed; then Count Ingelheim arrived, and brought the news of the +catastrophe of Langensalza!" + +"What a melancholy combination of disastrous events!" cried the +emperor. + +"Under these circumstances," continued the general, "Prince Karl was +quite right in abandoning his onward march and ordering flank +movements, through which to join the eighth army corps at Friedberg, +seventeen miles from Meiningen. I returned here with a sorrowful heart, +and found, alas! the news of the still heavier blow which has smitten +your majesty and our cause." + +"The blow is heavy," cried the emperor, "but I have courage, and hope +all may yet be favourable. I am glad that your king's message came +to-day, and that I have seen you, my dear general; it has given me +fresh courage to strive to the utmost to do my duty towards Germany. Do +you think," he asked, after a moment's thought, "that we may expect an +energetic campaign from Bavaria? You have seen the condition of the +army--you have the quick eye of a soldier--tell me candidly your +opinion!" + +"Your majesty," said General von Knesebeck, "Bavaria will doubtless +absorb Prussian troops, and that is an advantage. As to an energetic +campaign, Prince Karl is a very old gentleman, and at his years energy +is unusual, especially at the head of an army unfit to fight." + +"But General von der Tann?" asked the emperor. + +"General von der Tann has great military capacity; whether he will be +responsible for any exploit not purely Bavarian in its aim, whether +with the prince's character he can effect anything, I doubt." + +"You expect then--?" asked the emperor anxiously. + +"Very little!" said the general. + +"And from the other German corps?" asked the emperor. + +"The eighth corps can do nothing without Bavaria; and before my +departure extraordinary news had arrived from Baden." + +"Will Baden fall off from us?" cried the emperor. + +"I do not know," said Knesebeck, "the impression made by the defeat of +Koeniggraetz, which will perhaps be exaggerated--" He shrugged his +shoulders. + +"The Reichs-armee!" cried the emperor, stamping his foot upon the +ground. "Do you believe," he exclaimed vehemently, "that the Austrian +sun is setting? It is indeed evening," he said gloomily--"perhaps +night; but," he cried, with flaming eyes, "after night comes morning!" + +"The sun does not set upon the realms of Austria; your majesty must +have faith in the brilliant star of your house!" cried General von +Knesebeck. + +"And by God!" cried the emperor, "if the star of day will once more +shine favourably upon the House of Austria during this campaign, then +shall your king in the full splendour of power and happiness stand next +to myself in Germany!" And he held out his hand to the general with a +movement of indescribable nobility. + +The equerry entered. + +"Count Mensdorff, your imperial majesty, has just returned, and +requests an audience." + +"Ah!" cried the emperor, drawing a deep breath; "at once--at once. I +await him with impatience!" + +And he walked forward to meet Count Mensdorff, who, at a sign from +Major von Fejervari, appeared on the threshold of the royal cabinet. + +"Has your imperial majesty any further commands for me?" asked General +von Knesebeck. + +"Remain! remain! dear general," cried the emperor. "Count Mensdorff's +intelligence will have the greatest interest for you, as well as for +me!" + +The general bowed. + +"And now, Count Mensdorff," cried the emperor, with a trembling voice, +"speak! The fate of Austria hangs on your lips!" + +Count Mensdorff stood before his monarch looking quite broken down; the +fatigues of the journey to headquarters had exhausted his feeble frame, +nervous anxiety had drawn deep lines upon his countenance, a sorrowful +expression lay around his lips, and only his dark eyes shone with +feverish brilliance. + +"You are exhausted!" cried the emperor; "seat yourselves, gentlemen." + +And he seated himself before his writing-table. Crenneville, Count +Mensdorff, and General Knesebeck placed themselves near the table. + +"Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, in his low voice, "the tidings I +bring are sad,--very sad, but not hopeless." + +The emperor folded his hands and looked upwards. + +"The army has suffered a frightful defeat," said Count Mensdorff, +"ending in a wild flight, in which all order was lost. To assemble and +re-form the masses will require several days." + +"But how is this possible?" cried the emperor, "how could Benedek--" + +"The field-marshal," said Count Mensdorff, "was quite right when he +told your majesty he could not fight with that army,--events have been +unparalleled. Your majesty knows that Benedek is a good, brave general, +who is quite capable of forestalling the plans and defeating the troops +who operate against him. Your majesty,--I must say it,--he has in no +way been supported. The general staff drew up a plan, the excellence of +which I will not judge, but which the rapid, unexpected, and +wonderfully combined movements of the Prussian army, the sudden and +unforeseen arrival of the crown prince's forces, ought to have +modified. With inconceivable blindness the general staff refused to +make any modification,--to listen to any warning. Added to this, they +were so little prepared for a retreat, or so incomprehensibly careless, +that the officers were unacquainted with the line of retreat, and not +one commandant of a regiment knew the bridges by means of which the +march must be effected; thus the retreat became a flight, the flight +became the dissolution of the army." + +"Terrible!" cried the emperor; "Benedek must be brought before a +court-martial." + +"Not Benedek, your majesty," said Count Mensdorff; "he has done what he +could do; he stood at the post which had been given him, he exposed +himself personally in a way seldom done by a general; and with +unequalled courage he, with his whole staff, charged the enemy as if at +the head of a squadron,--of course in vain. Tears came into my eyes, +your majesty," proceeded Count Mensdorff, in a voice slightly trembling +with emotion, "when I saw the brave general, broken down with grief, +and when he said to me in his simple, soldier-like way: 'I have lost +everything, except, alas! my life!' Your majesty, we must deeply regret +that the field-marshal was placed in a position to which he was +unequal; but to be angry with him, to blame him, is impossible." + +The emperor looked silently and gloomily down before him. + +"But," continued Count Mensdorff, "the general staff must be made to +answer for their conduct. I am far from pronouncing a judgment; the +moment has not yet come, and an impartial and calm examination is now +impossible. I hope that the accused may be able to justify themselves; +but a strict reckoning must be required, it is demanded by the voice of +the whole army, whose heroic courage has been sacrificed in vain,--in a +few days it will be demanded by the voice of the people." + +"And who are the guilty?" asked the emperor. + +"Lieutenant Field-Marshal von Henikstein and Major-General von +Krismanic are the _accused_," said the count with emphasis; "whether +they are guilty justice must decide." + +"They shall be removed from their positions, and recalled here to +justify themselves. Count Crenneville," cried the emperor. + +"At your majesty's command," replied the adjutant-general. + +"I must not conceal from your imperial majesty," continued Count +Mensdorff in a calm voice, "that several parties in the army severely +blame Count Clam-Gallas; they say he did not conduct his operations at +the right time nor obey the orders that were given him." + +"Count Clam!" exclaimed the emperor. "I do not believe it." + +"I thank your imperial majesty for that word," said Count Mensdorff, +"and I venture to add that I believe from his devotion to your majesty +and to Austria, Count Clam-Gallas would be incapable of military +negligence; nevertheless, he is my relative, he belongs to the great +aristocracy of the empire--the public voice accuses him, and will +condemn him the more easily if his justification is not brilliant and +complete. I beg your majesty to call him to account." + +"It shall be done," said the emperor, "he shall be invited here; I can +then take further steps. But now," he continued, "what is to be done? +is the situation hopeless?" + +"Your majesty," replied Count Mensdorff, "the army still numbers +180,000 men; at the present moment they are certainly in no condition +to carry on any military operation; but only time and re-formation are +required to enable them to offer fresh resistance to the enemy. The +fortified camp of Olmuetz affords rest and safety, and the field-marshal +is withdrawing his head-quarters there, to draw the enemy away from +Vienna." + +"To draw them away from Vienna!" repeated the emperor; "it is terrible; +this enemy whom I hoped to overthrow for ever, already threatens me in +my capital!" + +"It is to be hoped," said Count Mensdorff, "that the Prussian army will +follow the field-marshal, and be detained before Olmuetz; in the +meantime Vienna must be covered to provide for every contingency, and +to enable us to attack the enemy on two sides when we can resume +offensive measures." + +General Knesebeck nodded approval, the emperor cast a look of +excitement on his minister. + +"And to obtain this," added Count Mensdorff, "we need Hungary and the +Italian army." + +The emperor rose. + +"Do you believe," he cried vehemently, "that from the mouth of Hungary +the words that saved Austria will again resound: _Moriamur pro rege +nostro?_" + +"_Pro rege nostro_," said Count Mensdorff, clearly pronouncing each +word, "yes, I do believe it--if your majesty will be _rex Hungariae!_" + +"Am I not?" cried the emperor. "What shall I do to make Hungary draw +the sword for me?" + +"Forget and forgive," said Count Mensdorff, "and restore to Hungary her +independence beneath the crown of St. Stephen." + +The emperor was silent. + +"And the Italian army?" he then asked. + +"Must be recalled as quickly as possible, to cover Vienna, and to march +against the enemy!" + +"And what will become of Italy?" asked the emperor. + +"Italy must be given up," said Count Mensdorff, sighing. + +The emperor gave him a penetrating look. + +"Give up Italy?" he asked, hesitatingly, and cast down his eyes. + +"Italy or Germany," said Count Mensdorff, "and in my opinion the choice +cannot be difficult." + +"It is hard enough to have to make the choice," whispered the emperor. + +"Your majesty, permit me to speak plainly and to express my thoughts +clearly. Your imperial majesty will remember before the commencement of +the war my deep anxiety at two different campaigns being carried on at +the same moment. I was of the opinion that Italy ought to be +sacrificed, that our position in Germany might be recovered and +strengthened by an alliance with France. One might then indeed hope +that without this sacrifice the war on both sides would be successfully +carried on, and your majesty's great and courageous heart held firmly +to this hope. Now this is no longer possible, now the sorrowful choice +must be made--if we are to gain anything in Germany--if we are to +maintain what we possess--the whole strength of Austria must be +concentrated upon one point, the whole strength of the Italian army +must be brought here, and the Arch-Duke Albert with his eagle eye must +take the entire command of both armies. Thus alone is recovery +possible; thus alone is it possible to keep Germany for Austria. For," +he added, mournfully, "your majesty must not be deceived, the disaster +of Koeniggraetz will have a great effect on all the lukewarm and +hesitating members of the German Confederation. Baden has already +fallen away." + +"Baden fallen away?" cried the emperor vehemently. + +"Just now, since my return, as I was preparing to come here," said +Count Mensdorff, "intelligence came to the Office of State from +Frankfort, that Prince William of Baden had declared on the 6th, that +under existing circumstances he must refuse for the troops of Baden to +co-operate with the army of the confederation." + +"Such, then, is the first result of Koeniggraetz," said the emperor, +bitterly. "But," he cried, with sparkling eyes, as he threw back his +head, "they may be mistaken, these princes, whose forefathers humbly +surrounded the throne of my ancestors. The power of Austria is shaken, +but not destroyed; and yet again the time may come when Hapsburg will +sit in judgment in Germany, to punish and reward! Count Mensdorff," he +cried, with decision, "my choice is made. I give up all for Germany. +But," he continued, sinking again into gloomy thought, "how can I--I, +the victor, bow down before this king of Italy--implore a peace which +may, perhaps, be refused?" + +"Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, "the solution of that difficulty +is very simple, if you cast your eye over the political situation as it +was at the beginning of the war. The Emperor Napoleon ardently desires +the evacuation of Italy. He offered an alliance before the commencement +of the war, of which Venetia was the price; cannot the same still be +obtained? My advice, your majesty, is that we should cede Venice to the +emperor of the French, who, on his part, can deliver it over to Victor +Emanuel, and by this means an alliance with Napoleon will be obtained, +or at least, under unfavourable circumstances, his powerful +intervention. Thus the dignity of Austria will be preserved towards +Italy, all direct negotiation avoided, and the whole of our force will +be available for the struggle in Germany. If your majesty commands it, +I will immediately speak on the subject to the Duke de Gramont, and +send instructions to Prince Metternich." + +The emperor was silent for some time, lost in thought. The three +gentlemen sat round him motionless: it was so quiet in the cabinet that +their breathing was perceptible, and in the distance was heard the +echoing movement of great Vienna. + +At last the emperor rose. The three gentlemen stood up. + +"So be it, then," cried Francis Joseph, very gravely; "neither Spain +nor Italy have brought a blessing to my house. In Germany was their +cradle, in Germany grew their strength, in Germany shall lie their +future!" + +"Speak to Gramont immediately," he proceeded. "And you, Count +Crenneville, make all the necessary arrangements for my uncle to assume +the general command of all my armies, and also for bringing the army of +the south hither. General Knesebeck," he said, turning towards him, +"you are here as the representative of the bravest princes in Germany. +You see that the heir of the German emperors sacrifices all for +Germany!" + +"I would that all Germany witnessed your majesty's noble decision," +said the general with emotion. + +"And Hungary, your majesty?" asked Count Mensdorff. + +"Speak to Count Andrassy," said the emperor, with a little hesitation. +"Tell him what may happen, and hear what they expect." + +He made a sign with his hand, and bent his head with a friendly smile. + +Bowing deeply, the three gentlemen left the cabinet. + +The emperor walked to and fro several times with hasty steps. + +"Thus all that the sword of Radetzky won, is lost," he said, with a +deep sigh, as he stood still before the window. "That land is lost for +which so much German blood has flowed! Be it so," he cried, drawing a +deep breath, "if I may only retain Germany." + +He looked thoughtfully down on the ground. + +"But if I give up Italy," he whispered, "how can Rome, how can the +Church withstand the waves which will then hurl themselves against St. +Peter's rock?" + +A darker gloom lay on his brow. + +With a slight knock, the groom of the chambers entered by the door +leading from the inner apartment. + +"Count Rivero," he said, "begs for an audience, and as your majesty +commanded me to announce him at once, I----" + +"Is this a warning?" said the emperor, in a low tone; and he made a +movement as if to decline the interview. + +He then stepped back from the window, and said,-- + +"Let him come." + +The groom of the chambers withdrew. + +"I will hear him," said the emperor; "he has at least the right to +candour and truth." + +The door of the inner apartment was again opened, and Count Rivero +entered the cabinet, looking grave and melancholy. + +"You come in a heavy hour, count," said the emperor, addressing him; +"the events of this day have buried many hopes." + +"Just and holy hopes should never be buried, your majesty," replied the +count; "yes, even if we go down to the grave, we must look with trust +to the future." + +The emperor gave him a scrutinizing look. + +"I will not quite give up hope," he said, with a certain amount of +embarrassment. + +"Your majesty," said the count, after a short pause, during which the +emperor expressed nothing more, "I have only heard the outlines of the +great disaster; I do not yet know what its results will be, or what +your majesty has determined to do. But I do know well that all is +prepared in Italy for an insurrection in favour of our Holy Faith, and +for the right. The Austrian victories have deeply shaken both the +military and moral power of the King of Sardinia, and the moment has +come to pronounce the decisive word which will set the country in +flames. I beg your majesty's commands to do this, and above all I ask +whether the rising in Italy will have the full and powerful support of +the Austrian army. Without this, the sacrifice of many lives would be +useless, and we should but injure our holy cause." + +The count spoke in a calm, low voice, and in the respectful tone of a +courtier, but at the same time with grave firmness, and a certain proud +conviction. + +The emperor cast down his eyes for a moment, then he came a step nearer +to the count, and said,-- + +"My dear count, the enemy in Bohemia threatens the capital; the +defeated army cannot operate without rest and reorganization. I need +the whole strength of Austria to counteract the consequences of this +defeat, to parry this threatened blow; the army of the south must cover +Vienna, and give the Bohemian army time to reassemble, and strength to +reassume offensive measures." + +"Then your majesty will give up Italy?" said the count, with a deep +sigh, but without a sign of excitement, as he fixed his dark eyes full +on the emperor. + +"I must," said the emperor,--"I must, unless I yield Germany, and +annihilate the position of Austria; there is no escape." + +"Your majesty will thus," continued the count, calmly, in his deep +metallic voice, "your majesty will thus yield the iron crown of the +House of Hapsburg, for ever, to the House of Savoy, yield Venice, the +proud Queen of the Adriatic, to Victor Emanuel, whose army has been +smitten down by the sword of Austria?" + +"Not to him," cried the emperor warmly, "not to him." + +"And to whom, your majesty?" + +"I need the help of France," said the emperor. "I must buy the alliance +of Napoleon at a price I would not pay before the commencement of the +war." + +"Must his cold demon-like hand again grasp the fate of Italy?" cried +the count, hotly; "must Rome and the Holy See be given up for ever to +the arbitrary pleasure of the earlier Carbonari?" + +"Not for ever," said the emperor; "if my power is re-established in +Germany, if I succeed in overcoming the danger now threatening me, the +Holy See will have a more powerful protector than I now could be,--and +who knows?" he continued, with animation, "Germany won Lombardy in +centuries gone by." + +"Then all is lost!" cried the count involuntarily, in a sorrowful +voice. He quickly overcame his feelings, and said, in his usual calm +voice, "Is your majesty's decision irrevocable, or may I be permitted +to urge some reasons against it?" + +The emperor was silent for a moment. + +"Speak!" he then said. + +"Your majesty hopes," said the count, "to recover your defeat by the +recall of the southern army; and by ceding Venetia--that is to say, +Italy--to buy the alliance of France. According to my convictions both +these hopes are deceitful." + +The emperor looked at him with amazement and with great attention. + +"The army of the south," continued the count, "will come much too late +to be of any assistance; for your majesty has to oppose a foe who will +never stand still and wait; the lamentable events from which we now +suffer fully prove this. The French alliance, even if your majesty +purchased it, will not be worth the price you give for it, for, as I +before had the honour of assuring your majesty, France is unfit to +undertake any military action." + +The emperor was silent. + +"At the same time," added the count, "in giving up Italy your majesty +gives up a great principle, you recognize revolution--revolution +against legitimate right, and against the Church. You withdraw the +imperial house of Hapsburg from that mighty Ally who sits in judgment +high above all earthly battle-fields and cabinets, and who orders the +fate of prince and people after his Eternal will. Your majesty gives up +the Church, your majesty gives up the Almighty Lord, whose fortress and +weapon upon earth the Holy Church is." + +The emperor sighed. + +"But what shall I do?" he asked sorrowfully, "shall I permit the +haughty foe to enter my capital? Can a fugitive prince be a protector +of the Church?" + +"Your imperial majesty's ancestors," said the count, "have flown from +Vienna, and because they held firmly to the right and to the Eternal +and All-powerful Ally of their house, they have been gloriously +restored to their capital! Besides," he continued, "much lies between +the enemy and Vienna. The enemy's army has suffered greatly, and Europe +will guarantee that Vienna shall not be Prussian. France must resist, +even without being bought--England--at this time even Russia. Let your +majesty permit the victorious army in Italy under the illustrious +archduke to press onwards, and in a short time Italy will be yours. +Prussia's ally is annihilated, and Holy Church will raise her powerful +voice for Austria and Hapsburg; this voice must be obeyed, in Bavaria, +in Germany, yes, even in France it must be obeyed, and your majesty +will rise with renewed strength. Let not your majesty leave your work +uncompleted, that the other side may reap the benefit of what has been +done; pursue your victory to the end, then its effects will repair this +misfortune; do not sacrifice victory to defeat, but heal defeat by the +brilliancy of your victory!" + +The count spoke more warmly than before. + +He had slightly raised his hand, and he stood in his wonderful beauty +an image of convincing eloquence. + +The emperor was much affected, his features showed a great struggle. + +"And, upon the other side," proceeded the count, "if your majesty gives +up Italy, if you throw all your strength towards the north, and if this +sacrifice does not bring forth the fruit expected, where will you then +find help and support?--enduring support and strong help? When you have +once left the one road, when you have once parted from the One +everlasting and unchanging Ally, the separation will grow greater and +greater, it will become a cleft, and the power of the Church will no +longer be employed on behalf of backsliding Austria. And let not the +statesmen of the world despise this power," he cried, proudly drawing +himself up; "if the chastening excommunication of the Vatican no longer +hurls crowns from the heads of princes, and brings them in sackcloth +and in tears to stand before the doors of the temple, the spirit and +the words of the Church are still mighty and all-powerful in the world; +and if its thunderbolt no longer shatters the rock, its rain-drops wear +away the stone! Let your majesty ponder deeply before you separate from +the Church." + +The emperor's excited face flushed slightly; he raised his head, a +proud flash gleamed in his eyes, and his lip was somewhat raised. + +"Your majesty's imperial brother in Mexico," continued the count with +energy, "wanders upon that dangerous path, he seeks his power in +worldly aids, he has separated from the Church, he is but a plaything +in the hand of Napoleon, and the path he has taken will lead him down +deeper and deeper." + +The emperor drew himself up to his full height. + +"I thank you, Count Rivero," he said coldly, "for so plainly expressing +your opinion. My resolution is made, and irrevocable! I can change +nothing. I hope the way I am now taking may enable me to be useful to +the Church, and to serve it as my heart desires." + +The inspired excitement vanished from the count's face. His features +resumed their accustomed calmness, and his eyes their still, clear +look. + +He waited for a few moments; and as the emperor was silent, he said, +without the least trace of emotion in his voice,-- + +"Has your majesty any further commands?" + +The emperor replied graciously: + +"Farewell, count; be assured of the uprightness of my intentions, and +hope with me for the future,--what you desire God may bring to pass in +days to come." + +"My hope never fails," replied the count calmly, "for the future +belongs to the Ruler of the Universe!" + +And with a deep bow he left the cabinet. + +The emperor looked after him thoughtfully. + +"They want to renew the days of Canossa!" he said to himself; "they +deceive themselves. I will not be a servant to the Church; I will +struggle and fight for the power to be her protector. And now, to +work!" + +He rang, the groom of the chambers appeared. + +"Let States-Chancellor Klindworth be sent for without delay!" + +"At your majesty's command!" + +The emperor seated himself at his writing-table, and looked through +various papers. But this occupation was merely mechanical. His thoughts +often wandered, and the paper in his hand sank slowly down, while his +eyes gazed thoughtfully into space. + +Klindworth entered. His face, with its downcast eyes, was as unmoved +and impenetrable as ever. His hands were folded on his breast, he bowed +deeply, and remained standing near the door. + +The emperor looked up as he entered, and returned his respectful +greeting by a slight inclination of the head. + +"Do you know what I have decided to do, my dear Klindworth?" he asked, +with a piercing glance at the old man's face. + +"I do know it, your imperial majesty!" + +"And what do you say to it?" + +"I rejoice at your majesty's decision." + +The emperor appeared surprised. + +"You applaud me," he asked, "for sacrificing Italy?" + +"To keep Germany--yes," replied Klindworth; "your majesty can reconquer +Italy by Germany--never Germany by Italy." + +"But you were against my giving up Italy before the commencement of the +war," said the emperor. + +"Certainly, your imperial majesty," replied Klindworth, "because I +learnt from the great Metternich 'that you should never give up +anything that you can possibly keep; but should you be compelled by +necessity to sacrifice something, always sacrifice that which you can +most easily regain.'" + +"But," said the emperor, looking up with a quick piercing glance, "Rome +will take this very ill, perhaps become my enemy." + +"Take it ill--yes, your majesty," replied the states-chancellor: +"become your enemy, that will not much matter, for Rome will always +need Austria. The Church and her influence is a mighty power in +political life, and we must use political powers, but we must not +permit them to rule us--that was one of Metternich's first principles." + +The emperor was thoughtfully silent. + +"If I give up Italy, I must win the price of this sacrifice. Do you +believe I shall gain an alliance with France?" + +"I hope so," said Klindworth, a piercing glance appearing for a moment +beneath his half-closed eyelids, "if the diplomatists do their duty." + +"If they do their duty," said the emperor pondering. "My dear +Klindworth," he continued, "you must go at once to Paris and use all +your talents to induce Napoleon to undertake active measures." + +"I will set off with the next courier, your majesty," said Klindworth, +without the least change in his expression. + +"You know the situation well, and will do the best you can with it?" +asked the emperor. + +"Your majesty may rely upon me," said Klindworth. + +The emperor was silent for some time, and passed his fingers lightly +over the table. + +"What do they say in Vienna?" he asked at last, in a tone of +indifference. + +"I trouble myself very little about what they say," replied the +states-chancellor, with a quiet, searching glance at the emperor; "but +I have heard enough to know that public opinion is courageous, and +expects much from the Archduke Albert and the army of Italy." + +"Do they speak of my brother Maximilian?" asked the emperor, in a +slightly constrained voice. + +Again a quick glance shot from Klindworth's eyes. + +"I have heard nothing; what should they say about him?" + +"There are people," returned the emperor, in a low tone, "who pronounce +my brother's name in conjunction with this unhappy catastrophe." And +again he was silent, a dark cloud gathering on his brow. + +"The best means for making Vienna pronounce one name," said Klindworth, +"is for your majesty to show yourself." + +"How? Would you have me drive in the Prater?" asked the emperor, with +the same gloomy look. + +"Your majesty," said Klindworth, "a number of Austrian and Saxon +officers, who have been wounded, have just arrived, and have come to +the Golden Lamb in the Leopoldstadt. May I humbly suggest that your +majesty should visit these wounded soldiers? It would make an excellent +impression." + +"Immediately," cried the emperor; "and not to make an impression. My +heart urges me at once to welcome these brave men, and to thank them." + +He rose. + +"Does your imperial majesty," said Klindworth, in a humble voice, "wish +that the money for my journey should be paid by the government?" + +"No," said the emperor. He opened a small casket standing upon the +table, and took out two rouleaux, which he gave to Klindworth. + +"Is it enough?" he asked. + +"Quite," he replied, whilst his eyes sparkled for a moment. He seized +the rouleaux, and they vanished in the pocket of his brown great-coat. + +"Now," said the emperor, "start at once, and come back soon. If +it is needful, send me information in the way you know. Above all, +obtain--what is possible." + +He slightly bent his head. Klindworth bowed, and quickly vanished, +without opening the door wider than was absolutely necessary, and +without making the least sound. + +The emperor rang, and ordered his carriage and his equerries. + +Then he drove to the Golden Lamb, and visited the wounded officers. + +The Viennese, who saw him drive through the streets in his open +carriage, looking proud and cheerful, said, "Things cannot be so bad +after all, for the emperor is well and happy." + +When he left the hotel, a dense crowd had collected before the house, +and the emperor was greeted with loud, enthusiastic cheers. + +Far and near, loud cries resounded of "Eljen! Eljen!" + +The emperor listened with mingled feelings, and sank again into deep +thought, whilst the carriage slowly parted the thick crowd, and then at +a quick trot bore him back to the Hofburg. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + DIPLOMACY. + + +Napoleon III. sat in his cabinet in the Tuileries. The heavy curtains +were drawn back from the windows, and the bright rays of morning +entered the room. + +The emperor wore a light morning dress; his hair and his long moustache +were carefully arranged, and his aged, wearied, and anxious face had +the look of freshness which a night's rest and a carefully-arranged +toilette give even to an invalid. + +Beside him, on a small table, stood a lighted wax taper, and the simple +service of silver and Sevres china in which he prepared his own tea. He +was smoking a large dark-brown Havannah, and a blue cloud of fine smoke +filled the cabinet, and mingling with the aroma of the tea, and the eau +de lavande with which the room had been prepared before the emperor's +entrance, and the fresh air, shed an agreeable fragrance through the +apartment. + +The emperor held some papers and telegrams in his hand, and his face +wore a cheerful and satisfied expression. + +Before him stood his confidential secretary, Pietri. + +"Everything falls to those who know how to wait," said the emperor, +with a smile. "I was urged to interfere in this German war--to rash and +hasty action--and now? I think I have gained more and done better than +if I--quite against my conviction and inclinations--had interfered with +the natural course of events. + +"The emperor of Austria," he continued, "yields me Venetia, and calls +for my mediation to stay the advance of the victorious foe. Thus I have +Italy in my hand to oppose to the situation. The defeated Italians will +have to thank me for the restoration of their last province, and my +promise, 'Free to the Adriatic,' will be kept!" He gave a sigh of +relief. "Then I have won much influence and prestige," he added, +laughing, "and prestige avails me more than power or influence. The +king of Prussia accepts my mediation to begin with, only for a +suspension of arms, but the rest will follow, and I am thus the +arbitrator of Germany! Could I have gained more?" he asked, with a long +breath at his cigar, whilst he contentedly regarded the white ashes, +and slowly puffed away the blue smoke in small clouds; "could I have +done more if the armies of France had taken the field?" + +"Certainly not," returned Pietri; "and I admire your majesty's +quick-sightedness. I must own I was not without anxiety at France being +withheld from taking any part in these great events. Nevertheless, may +I call your majesty's attention to the fact that the situation is much +clearer on the side of Italy even if there is a slight disinclination +on the part of the king to receive Venice as a gift, than it is with +regard to the German powers. Accepting your mediation as a principle--" + +"Will lead to further negotiations and to practical results," +interrupted the emperor. "I know well that both sides have their own +plans in the background. Well," he said, smiling, "I have mine." + +"It is certainly a great thing," he continued, after a short pause, +"that the cannon should be silenced by my first word of reconciliation, +and that the gentle and friendly voice of France should force both +mighty foes to lower their arms, at least for a moment, whilst they +listen respectfully to my words. Such is my position as mediator in +Germany. And thus it must be represented to public opinion," he added; +"it is very important that this should not interfere with my calm and +prudent action." + +"This has been done, sire," said Pietri. "The 'Moniteur' has +represented your majesty's mediation quite in this spirit, and all the +leading newspapers have thus described the situation." + +"Good, good," said the emperor. "And how does the sovereign public +opinion of my good Paris regard the affair?" + +"Excellently," replied Pietri; "all the organs of the press describe +the position of France in this conflict as highly flattering to the +national dignity." + +The emperor nodded his head with an air of satisfaction. + +"I cannot, however, conceal from your majesty," continued Pietri, "that +I have observed a strong Prussian tendency in the journals; the +Prussian Consul Bamberg, who as your majesty knows takes charge of +these affairs at the embassy, has for some time been strongly and +cleverly supported by 'le Temps,' 'le Siecle,' and other newspapers." + +The emperor was thoughtfully silent. + +"The question is," continued Pietri, "whether this agitation shall be +counteracted?" + +"No," said the emperor decidedly, "it would be far from my wish for +public opinion strongly to take up the side of Austria; it would be +inconvenient. I must tell you honestly," he proceeded after thinking +deeply for a moment, "that I have very little confidence in Austria, +she seems to me to be in the process of dissolution and near her fall. +The great emperor had this same thought," he added half speaking to +himself, "they did not understand him in Berlin, and were punished for +it at Jena--Count Bismarck is no Haugwitz, and--but," he said, suddenly +interrupting himself, "does Austria make no effort to work on public +opinion here?" + +Pietri shrugged his shoulders. + +"Prince Metternich," he said, "is too much a grand seigneur to trouble +himself to descend from the heights of Olympus into the dark and murky +atmosphere of journalism, for which in Austria they maintain a most +sovereign contempt." + +"Yes, yes," said the emperor, "these legitimate diplomatists breathe +and move upon their Olympian heights without regarding what takes place +on earthly dust, and yet it comes from below that public opinion, that +Proteus-like power who weaves the threads upon the loom of eternal +Fate, that mysterious power, before whose sentence the proud gods of +Olympus and of Tartarus tremble." + +"Something," said Pietri, laughing, "has been done by Austria to +influence public opinion--in very long, correct, and diplomatic +articles the 'Memorial diplomatique' explains--" + +"Debraux de Saldapenda?" asked the emperor, smiling. + +"Your majesty is right!" + +"Certainly," said Napoleon, as he brushed the ashes of his cigar from +his trousers, "a small counter influence can do no harm. Let an article +appear here and there, calling attention to the necessity of not +allowing Austria's position in Europe to be too much weakened. You +understand, in Europe, not a word about Germany, and the articles must +bear the stamp of official Austrian origin, the journalists themselves +must believe they come from thence. You will know how to arrange this?" + +"Perfectly, sire," replied Pietri. + +"Laguerroniere told me," continued the emperor, "of a very clever +little journalist--Escudier--he has relations in Austria; make use of +him, we must certainly strengthen our newspaper contingent," he +proceeded, "our cadres are very small, and we must make a campaign. +Think over this." + +Pietri bowed. + +The groom of the chambers announced: "His Excellency Monsieur Drouyn de +Lhuys." + +The emperor bent his head, took a last whiff from his cigar, and said +to his secretary, "Stay near me, I may need you." + +Pietri withdrew through the large and heavy portiere, which concealed +the steps leading to his own room. + +Scarcely had the folds of the curtain closed behind him, when Drouyn de +Lhuys entered the emperor's cabinet. He looked as calm and grave as +ever, and had his portfolio under his arm. + +"Good morning, my dear minister," cried Napoleon, rising slowly and +holding out his hand, "well, are you satisfied with the course of +events, and the position which the policy of waiting has procured for +us?" + +"Not entirely, sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys gravely and quietly. A +cloud passed over the emperor's brow. Then he said in a friendly +voice,-- + +"You are an incorrigible pessimist, my dear minister; what could you +require more? Are we not at this moment the umpire of Europe?" + +"An umpire, sire," said Drouyn de Lhuys inexorably, "who does not yet +know whether the contending parties will accept his award. The best +umpire is he who throws his sword into the balance, of which Brennus +the ancestor of the Gauls has given us an example." + +"I might be listening to the most fiery of my marshals, and not to my +Secretary of State and of Foreign Affairs," said the emperor, laughing, +"but to speak gravely, why are you not satisfied? I know that we have +before us many involved and difficult negotiations, but," he added +courteously, "can that alarm you, the experienced statesman, so capable +of finding Ariadne's clue in all such labyrinths? I believe that we +have won the game if we can only bring matters upon the field of long +negotiations. Sudden events are what I most fear. They exclude logic, +combination, and the weapons of the mind." + +Drouyn de Lhuys was silent for a moment, and his eyes rested on the +emperor's face, so much more animated than usual. + +"I know," he then said, "that your majesty loves to tie Gordian knots, +but you forget that we have to do with a man who is apt to hew through +such works of art with his sword, and who has a very sharp sword in his +hand!" + +"But, my dear minister," said the emperor, "you would not have me at +this moment, when my mediation is accepted, step between the two +combatants with my weapon in my hand?" + +"Not in your hand, your majesty," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "but with a +sharp sword by your side. Sire, the moment is grave, the French +mediation cannot be Platonic; your majesty must clearly perceive what +may arise through your intervention." + +"In the first place, that this unpleasant din of cannon in Germany will +cease,--it makes all calm and skilful diplomacy impossible! _Cedant +arma togae!_ And, then--but what is your opinion of the situation, and +what do you think we ought to do?" he said, interrupting himself, +whilst his half-closed eyes opened and a full glance from his brilliant +phosphorescent pupils fell upon his minister. + +He seated himself, pointing with his hand to an easy-chair for Drouyn +de Lhuys to occupy. + +"Sire," said the latter, as he sat down, "your majesty must be clear as +to the influence you wish to exercise upon the events that have already +taken place in Germany. Two courses are possible, and with your +permission I will analyze them before your majesty. After the +information we have received from Benedetti, after what Goltz has +imparted to us, it is impossible to imagine that Prussia will entirely +give up the advantages she has procured by the amazing success of her +arms--upon which we must remember the monarchy of Hohenzollern had +staked--perhaps its existence." + +The emperor nodded acquiescence. + +"According to my information, and my conception of Count Bismarck's +character, he will require not only the exclusion of Austria from +German affairs, not only the leadership of Germany at least to the +Main, for Prussia, he will also require an increase of territory, the +annexation of Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony." + +The emperor raised his head. + +"Hesse," he said, "that touches me not. Hanover, I have a great +esteem for King George and sympathise with him, since I knew him at +Baden-Baden; but Hanover is England's affair. Saxony," he said, +slightly twirling the point of his moustache, "that is different; that +touches the traditions of my house. But," he interrupted himself, "go +on." + +"Austria," said Drouyn de Lhuys, calmly continuing the subject, "will +be forced to yield to these demands, for it is in no condition to +continue the war. The army of the south will not return in time, and +upon Hungary, so my agents assure me, there is no reliance to be +placed; it will therefore depend upon the influence of France whether +Prussia obtains what she demands." + +The emperor was silent. + +"Two paths are possible to your majesty in this position of affairs." + +The emperor listened with the greatest interest. + +"One course," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "is for your majesty to say: 'The +German Confederation, as guaranteed by Europe, is dissolved, and all +the German princes have simply become European sovereigns, who are +allies of France. France refuses that the balance of power in Germany +and in Europe should be disturbed, by any change in their possessions +or their sovereign rights.' Your majesty can divide the German +Confederation into a North German and a South German group, the first +to be under the leadership of Prussia, the second under Austria, and +you can forbid all other change. This is the course," added the +minister, "that I should advise your majesty to pursue." + +The emperor bent himself down thoughtfully. + +"And if Prussia rejects this proposal, or rather this award?" he asked. + +"Then your majesty must march to the Rhine and follow the example of +Brennus," said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"What should I gain?" asked Napoleon. "Would not divided Germany be as +ready to unite against France, perhaps more strongly organized in two +parts, as was ever the old German Confederation? And the other course?" +he then asked. + +"If your majesty will not follow the path I have pointed out," said +Drouyn de Lhuys, "then, in my opinion, France must act towards Germany +as she acted towards Italy. She must allow events to take their natural +course, she must consent to an entire or partial national union beneath +Prussia, and to the territorial acquisitions of Prussia,--and she must +demand on her part compensation." + +The eyes of the emperor lighted up. + +"And what compensation would you demand?" he asked. + +"Benedetti maintains," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that in Berlin they are +much inclined to give us possession of Belgium." + +The emperor nodded approval. + +"I do not," added the minister, "approve this policy; we shall gain +little as far as military position is concerned, and we shall be +burdened with great complications towards England." + +The emperor shrugged his shoulders slightly. + +"But Belgium is French," he said. + +"Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "by the same right Alsace is German." + +"Ah! bah!" exclaimed the emperor, involuntarily. "But," said he, "where +would you seek compensation?" + +"Sire," replied Drouyn de Lhuys, "if the military and political unity +of Germany is consolidated under the leadership of Prussia its new +power will be very dangerous to France, dangerous to our influence, +yes, even to our safety. We must therefore on our side demand +guarantees against an aggressive policy from newly constituted Germany. +In the next place," he added, as the emperor remained silent, "we must +demand, as is only right and moderate, the extension of the French +boundaries as established by the Congress of 1814." + +The emperor bowed his head with animation. + +"Then, sire," continued Drouyn de Lhuys, as he fixed his keen eyes upon +the emperor, "we must demand Luxembourg and Mayence." + +"That is much," said the emperor, without looking up. + +"But not too much!" returned Drouyn de Lhuys. "Luxembourg too is only a +question between us and Holland, and only the silent consent of Prussia +will be needed. Mayence--well, they may demur about that, but it is +better to ask more than you positively intend to take. That is my idea +of compensation," he added after a short pause. + +"And it is mine," said the emperor, rising; and with his slow halting +gait he took several turns about the room. + +He stood still before Drouyn do Lhuys, who had also risen, and said,-- + +"I regret, my dear minister, that I cannot decide upon following the +first course you pointed out; since you consider it the right one." + +"I pointed out the second as the best alternative," said Drouyn de +Lhuys; "and although I should have preferred the former, I fully +approve of the second." + +"Give me the second," said the emperor, "let Herr von Bismarck unite +Germany as well as he can, and let us strengthen the power of France as +much as possible. Write to Benedetti at once, order him to go to +head-quarters and to negotiate at first a simple suspension of arms; +let us first quiet those cannon and make room for calm diplomacy. Let +him then raise the question of compensation in a confidential +conversation with Herr von Bismarck, and suggest Luxembourg and +Mayence." + +Drouyn de Lhuys bowed. + +"But without engaging himself too much, without stating any ultimatum. +I will keep my hand free," said the emperor with animation. + +"Our interests can only be preserved, sire," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "if +our attitude is decided, and our speech firm." + +"They shall be so," cried the emperor; "but we must not begin with the +ultimatum. Let Benedetti sound, and skilfully discover how his +proposals are received." + +"And what will your majesty say to Austria?" asked Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"That we are taking the greatest pains to make the peace as favourable +as possible, and to preserve the territorial possessions and the +European position of Austria. We must," he added, "advise Vienna to be +ready to continue the war in case we are unsuccessful, for who knows +what turn affairs may take, and, besides, a firm attitude on the part +of Austria, and an increase of the difficulties Prussia finds on that +side, can only be favourable to us." + +"I am quite of your majesty's opinion, and I shall write in this spirit +to the Duke de Gramont immediately. I must now mention to your majesty +that Herr von Beust has arrived and requests an audience." + +"Beust, the Saxon minister?" asked the emperor with surprise. + +"He arrived in Paris this morning, and was with me before I came here," +said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"And what does he want?" enquired Napoleon. + +"To call upon your majesty to protect Saxony." + +"I will see him," said Napoleon after a short pause; "but without +ceremonial." + +"That is also the wish of Herr von Beust, your majesty." + +"Beg him to announce himself through Colonel Fave, who is on duty. I +will instruct the colonel to bring him without exciting observation." + +"Very well, sire. To-day or to-morrow I expect Prince Reuss, who is +sent by the King of Prussia with letters to your majesty from +head-quarters at Pardubitz." + +"From where?" asked the emperor. + +"Pardubitz, sire," repeated Drouyn de Lhuys, pronouncing the word very +distinctly. + +"What a name!" cried Napoleon. "And do you know what he brings?" + +"The conditions of peace," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "without their +previous acceptance the King of Prussia will conclude no armistice. So +says Count Goltz, who informed me of the prince's coming by a +telegram." + +"And were these conditions known to Count Goltz?" asked the emperor +further. + +"From his previous and general instructions I take it they were the +same as I have already imparted to your majesty,--Austria's exclusion +from Germany, the leadership of Prussia, and the annexation of the +territory lying between the separate portions of Prussia," returned +Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"Then his arrival will alter nothing in our policy," said the emperor. +"We will await him." + +"Permit me once more to draw your majesty's attention to the fact," +said Drouyn de Lhuys, in an impressive tone, as he fixed his +penetrating eyes upon the emperor, "that whatever policy France may +adopt, our interests cannot be preserved unless our language is very +firm, and our attitude decided." + +"It shall be so," said the emperor, "in the groundwork of the plan; the +form of negotiation must nevertheless be circumspect. Impress this upon +Benedetti." + +"We have the greater reason to be firm," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "because +a new difficulty is arising for Prussia, which will make the court at +Berlin all the more anxious to arrange affairs with us. An article from +the official journal of St. Petersburg has been sent to me, in which it +is stated that the suspension of arms would lead to a definite +reconciliation, if there was not someone in Germany who thought himself +strong enough to compel Europe to consent to his German conquests, +forgetting that there still existed sovereigns in Europe whose united +forces could prevent the balance of power from being an idle word." + +And Drouyn de Lhuys drew a newspaper from his portfolio, and handed it +to the emperor. + +He took it, glanced through it hastily, and laid it on the table. + +"That is plain," he said, laughing; "and the address of the warning +cannot be doubtful." + +"Baron Talleyrand maintains this article is the expression of the +opinion of the court party," said Drouyn de Lhuys; "and that, although +the emperor and Prince Gortschakoff are reserved, they regard the +catastrophe now taking place in Germany with the greatest interest." + +"Excellent, excellent!" cried the emperor. "Instruct Talleyrand to +foster this feeling as much as possible. He must," said he, after a +thoughtful pause, "point out especially that the interests of Russia +and France are identical in preventing Germany from concentrating her +military power in the hand of Prussia." + +"I have prepared an instruction to that effect, sire," said Drouyn de +Lhuys, "since I thought I foresaw such an intention on the part of your +majesty." + +"And," said the emperor, as if seized by a sudden thought; but he broke +off quickly, and said, laughingly,-- + +"You see, my dear minister, how everything unites in placing the +threads of the European situation again in our hands: we have all the +advantages of a victorious battle, without a shot having been fired, or +one Frenchman having been sent out of the world." + +"I shall be glad if all comes to a favourable end," replied Drouyn de +Lhuys, as he closed his portfolio. + +"And do not forget," said the emperor, in a gracious tone, repeating +his minister's words, "that our language must be firm, and our attitude +decided." + +He held out his hand to his minister. + +"I may then send Herr von Beust here immediately?" said Drouyn de +Lhuys, preparing to go. + +"Do so," said the emperor; "and as soon as anything fresh arises, I +expect you." + +With an engaging smile, he made one step towards the door, through +which, with a low bow, Drouyn de Lhuys withdrew. + +The emperor walked thoughtfully several times up and down his cabinet. +Then he went to the portiere, which concealed the private stairs, and +called,-- + +"Pietri." + +He appeared immediately. + +"Have you seen this article from the 'Journal de St.-Petersbourg'?" +asked the emperor, handing his secretary the paper he had received from +Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"I have," replied Pietri, after glancing at it hastily; "I had it ready +to present to your majesty." + +"All goes on excellently," said the emperor, rubbing his hands. "We +must increase this difficulty arising for the victor of Koeniggraetz in +the East as much as possible. I have ordered Talleyrand to dwell upon +the identity of the French and Russian interests." + +Pietri bowed. + +The emperor slightly turned the points of his moustache. + +"You might write to him quite confidentially," he proceeded, "saying +that there is no intention of allowing the idea to transpire hastily; +but that since 1854 and 1856, the European situation has much changed, +and that now an understanding between France and Russia upon the +Eastern question would, perhaps, be possible and desirable. Should a +common policy facilitate the arrangement of the German difficulty, a +revision of the Treaty of Paris would probably not be refused here. But +this must be quite private," he said, with emphasis, "engaging us to +nothing, and in the strictest confidence." + +"Very good, it shall be done at once," said Pietri. + +"Sire," he said, after waiting for a moment, during which the emperor +was silent, "Herr Klindworth is here, and wishes to see your majesty." + +"Klindworth?" cried the emperor, laughing, "that old stormy petrel +could not keep out of a crisis which has raised such a tempest in +European policy. What does he want?" + +"He comes from Vienna, and wants to impart to your majesty much that is +interesting." + +"He is always interesting, and he often has clever ideas," cried the +emperor. "Bring him here at once." + +Pietri ran down the steps, and returned in a few moments with +States-Chancellor Klindworth, who appeared from behind the dark, heavy +portiere, which the private secretary closed again after his entrance. + +The emperor and Klindworth were alone. The latter stood in the same +attitude, the same brown coat, and the same white cravat as in the +cabinet of Francis Joseph. With downcast eyes he waited, after a low +bow, for the emperor to speak. + +"Welcome, dear Herr Klindworth," said Napoleon, in his peculiarly +winning and fascinating way, "come and sit near me, that we may talk of +these wonderful and stormy events which have so disturbed the peace of +the whole world." + +He sank again into his arm-chair, and Klindworth, taking in the +expression of the emperor's countenance with a hasty glance, seated +himself opposite. + +Napoleon opened a small etui, twirled up a large cigarette of Turkish +tobacco with great dexterity, and lighted it at the wax taper on the +table beside him. + +"I am glad," said Klindworth, "to see your majesty looking so well and +cheerful, in the midst of these great catastrophes. His majesty Francis +Joseph will be much rejoiced when I tell him of your majesty's +excellent health.'' + +"You come from the Emperor Francis Joseph?" said Napoleon, with aroused +attention. + +"You know, sire," said Klindworth, folding his hands over his breast, +"I am no ambassador; I represent nothing. I am only old Klindworth, who +has the good fortune to be honoured by the confidence of those in the +very highest positions, and who uses his healthy old wits in the +diplomatic world, endeavouring to set straight what inexperienced folly +has set crooked." + +The emperor laughed, whilst he blew a thick cloud from his cigarette. + +"And do you come to correct a little of the folly that goes on in the +Tuileries?" he then asked. + +"If your majesty speaks of the Tuileries I must be silent," said +Klindworth, "but if you speak of the Quai d'Orsay, I shall not say no; +there they can always do with a little good advice." + +The emperor laughed still more. "Well," he said, "what advice would you +give to the Quai d'Orsay? Perhaps I can support it." + +A rapid glance shot from the eyes of the states-chancellor. He lightly +tapped the fingers of the right hand upon the back of the left, and +said,-- + +"I would recall to your majesty's ministers and diplomatists the old +formula: Videant consoles ne quid detrimenti capiat respublica!" + +The emperor immediately grew grave; his quick, brilliant eyes were +suddenly raised from beneath their drooping lids, and fixed with a +burning expression upon Klindworth, who sat before him without moving a +muscle. Then he leant back in his arm-chair, blew from him a thick +cloud of smoke, and asked in a quiet tone,-- + +"Do you think, then, that things are so bad? Now that the emperor has +determined to evacuate Venetia all his forces will be free, and the +fortune of war may change." + +"I do not believe it will change, sire," said Klindworth, calmly, "and +according to my opinion, your majesty must take heed lest your defeat +should bring upon you still worse consequences." + +"My defeat?" inquired Napoleon, drawing himself up proudly, whilst his +moustache glided through his fingers. + +"Sire, Koeniggraetz was as great a defeat to France as to Austria." + +The emperor was silent. + +"Does your majesty think," continued Klindworth, "it added to the +prestige of France--and to imperial France prestige is needful--that +without her concurrence all European affairs should be turned upside +down, that a great Prusso-German military monarchy should arise, +without France's interference? The cabinets of Europe will thus learn +to arrange their own matters without heeding France, and your majesty +can conceive better than I, what effect this will produce upon the +French nation." + +The emperor considered. Then he said, calmly and gravely: "What does +the Emperor Francis Joseph intend to do, and what does he expect of +me?" + +Klindworth showed not the least surprise at this suddenly direct +question, and at the different tone it gave to the conversation. + +"The emperor," said he, "is determined to fight to the last. He hopes, +by the withdrawal of the southern army, to gain the necessary strength +to resume action; he hopes Hungary----" + +The emperor slightly shook his head. + +"He hopes," continued Klindworth, "that the armistice will give him +time to reassemble his forces, and that the Prussian demands will be so +exorbitant as to render peace impossible. He expects that your majesty +will march to the Rhine, that Austria will be freed from her +difficulties, and Prussia hurled from the height upon which the victory +of Koeniggraetz has placed her." + +The emperor was silent for a moment. + +"Will there not be difficulties," he then said, without looking up, "in +the fulfilment of these numerous hopes?" + +"If your majesty sees them," returned Klindworth, "they are certainly +there." + +"And do you not see them?" asked the emperor. + +"Sire," replied Klindworth, "I received orders to urge your majesty to +hasty action with an armed hand. That is my commission; if your majesty +will give me an answer, I will, if you command me, tell you my +opinion." + +"You define sharply," said the emperor, laughing. "Well," he proceeded +slowly, turning his cigarette between his fingers, "I will speak +without reserve. The emperor may rest assured that I regard a strong +Austria absolutely necessary to peace and the balance of power in +Europe, and that I will prevent Austria's displacement from her +European position with the whole force of France, if needful. I do not, +however, believe that this supreme moment has yet come, and I might do +more harm than good by an armed interference, for at this moment there +is no reason for pushing the German question into a European crisis." + +Klindworth listened attentively, accompanying with an inclination of +the head each word, as it was slowly uttered by the emperor. + +"Your majesty wishes to wait," he then said, "and to keep your hand +free as long as possible, but you will prevent any alienation of +territory from Austria itself." + +The emperor slightly bent his head. + +"But one circumstance must by no means be excluded from our +arrangements," he said; "every effort must be made in Vienna to alter +the military position in Austria's favour." + +"I understand perfectly, sire," said the states-chancellor. + +"Well, now, my dear Herr Klindworth," said the emperor, throwing away +the remains of his cigarette into a small china vase, and preparing a +fresh one with the greatest care and attention, "you will tell me your +opinion, since you have heard my intentions." + +And he bent his head slightly to one side, and looked at Klindworth +attentively. + +"My opinion, sire, is that you are perfectly right." + +Surprise was seen on the emperor's countenance. + +"Your majesty is perfectly right," repeated Klindworth, looking up with +a quick, watchful glance, "for in the first place," he continued, in a +matter-of-fact tone, "waiting gives you a chance of demanding +compensation for France." + +The emperor's eyelids were almost entirely closed; he had completed his +cigarette, and blew a thick cloud into the air before him. + +"And besides," continued Klindworth, quitting his former remark +completely, and somewhat raising his voice, "your majesty has a double +reason for avoiding a brusque interference, you would benefit France as +well as Austria very little." + +The emperor listened with interest. + +"If your majesty now interferes with an armed hand in the affairs of +Germany," said Klindworth, drumming with his fingers, "two courses are +possible. Prussia may yield, in which case things will remain as they +are. Prussia will only be regarded as the President of the +Confederation, and obtain some small territorial accession; in material +matters she will remain as she was, but an immense moral weapon will +have been placed in her hand. The German people will be told that the +union of Germany has been prevented by France, that Austria has called +in the national enemy, and as in Germany they may now write, read, and +sing what they please, and as the newspapers and books and songs are +made in Berlin, Austria's position amongst the German people would be +morally annihilated, and on some future occasion--perhaps when France +was engaged in some contrary direction--the perfectly ripened fruit +would fall into the hands of the Hohenzollerns." + +The emperor turned his moustache, and nodded approval. + +"But," continued Klindworth, "and the character of her leaders renders +this supposition the most probable, Prussia may not yield, but may +undertake the war notwithstanding its enormous proportions. I fear +then, Herr von Bismarck would succeed in inflaming a national war, and +would lead united Germany against France." + +"Would this be possible with the present feeling of Germany?" asked the +emperor. + +"Sire," said Klindworth, "if moving water will not freeze in winter an +iron bar is thrown in, and the ice-rind forms at once. The sword of +France thrown into the German movement would act like that iron bar, +the waves would be still, and would form into a solid mass." + +"But the South Germans?" asked the emperor--"both the people and the +governments?" + +"They have now lost all hope in Austria," said Klindworth; "they feel +themselves in the power of Prussia; with a few promises, a few kind +words, and a few threats it will not be difficult to gain them over to +her side, for of this I am certain, they only want some reasonable and +honourable excuse to join her." + +The emperor was silent. + +"If, however," said Klindworth with animation, "Prussia at once obtains +what she desires, namely immediate and important accessions of +territory, the complete annexation of Hanover, Hesse, &c.,--if only +sufficient pressure is applied as to enable South Germany to retain its +sovereign independence--the result will not be the union of Germany, +that popular idea of all poets, singers, and beer-drinkers; on the +contrary, it will be its separation, and all the blood that has been +shed will only have been for the aggrandizement of Prussia. Domestic +nationality, that feeling so dear to the German, will be directed +against Prussia, and the national sympathy will turn towards Austria." + +"Will this be possible?" asked the emperor. + +"Certain," replied Klindworth; "if Austria, penetrated by another +spirit, uses with prudent policy those powers which are now once more +so active and potent--alas! that it should be so; but we must work with +what will effect most." + +"That is?" asked the emperor. + +"Sire," said Klindworth, "if Prussia is increased in size by these +annexations, and obtains the leadership in North Germany, she will be +compelled to adopt a strict, unbending government, for the German races +do not easily assimilate. One iron hand will be laid on North Germany, +and the other constantly raised to menace South Germany. Then Austria +must arise with fresh strength, as the shield of individual government, +of independence, and of Liberty." + +Napoleon smiled. + +"Of liberty?" + +"Why not?" cried Klindworth; "severe sicknesses are healed by means of +dangerous poisons." + +"But where is the skilful physician?" asked the emperor, laughing, "who +can administer to sick Austria the proper dose of this poison? Count +Mensdorff or Metternich?" + +"I think I have found this physician," said Klindworth, gravely, +without appearing perplexed. + +The groom of the chambers entered. + +"Colonel Fave is in the ante-room, sire." + +The emperor rose. + +"In one moment," he said. + +Klindworth stood up and came nearer to the emperor. + +"This physician," he said, in a low voice, "is von Beust." + +Puzzled and amazed, the emperor gazed at him. + +"Beust!" he cried, "the Protestant! Do you believe that the +emperor----" + +"I do believe it," said Klindworth; "but at all events, Herr von Beust +is here; your majesty can sound him for yourself, and see whether my +opinion is well founded." + +He fixed his sharp eyes longer and more firmly than before upon the +emperor, with a penetrating glance. + +Napoleon smiled. + +"He who plays with you," he said, "must lay his cards upon the table. +Wait with Pietri; I will see you again after I have spoken with your +physician upon the future of Austria." + +A smile of contentment played round the states-chancellor's thick lips, +as with a low bow he withdrew through the portiere. + +The emperor rang. + +"Colonel Fave!" + +The colonel, a thin man of middle height, with short black hair, and a +small moustache, dressed in a black overcoat, half soldier, half +courtier in manner, appeared at the door. He held it open for the +minister of Saxony to enter, and he then withdrew. + +Herr von Beust wore a grey overcoat, of some light summer material, +thrown back from over his black coat, upon which sparkled the white +star of the Legion of Honour. His slightly grey hair was carefully +curled and arranged; his wide black trousers almost concealed the small +foot in its well-fitting boot. His fine intellectual countenance, with +its almost transparent complexion, eloquent mouth, and lively bright +eyes, was paler than usual, and the amiable, winning smile was entirely +gone. A melancholy expression was seen on his lips, and his whole face +showed nervous anxiety. + +He approached the emperor with the grace of a distinguished courtier, +and bowed in silence. + +Napoleon went to meet him with his fascinating smile, and held out his +hand to him. + +"However sorrowful may be the occasion," he said in a gentle voice, "I +rejoice to see the most reliable and talented statesman in Germany." + +"The most unhappy, sire," said von Beust sadly. + +"They only are unhappy who have lost hope," replied the emperor, +seating himself, and pointing out a chair to Herr von Beust, with a +movement full of graceful courtesy. + +"Sire, I have come to hear from your majesty's lips if I may still +hope, and bid my sovereign do the same?" + +The emperor's fingers glided over the points of his moustache. + +"Tell me," he then said, "your views on events in Germany. I am anxious +to have them pictured by your mouth, the mouth of a master of narrative +and description," he added, with a gracious smile and a slight +inclination of the head. + +Beust's pale face grew animated. + +"Sire," he said, "I have lost my game! I hoped to have created a new +federal form of national life in Germany; to have repressed within +definite boundaries the ambition of Prussia, and to have established +the German Confederation in renewed power and authority, by enabling it +to carry out freely the developments required by the present times. I +deceived myself; I reckoned without considering the divisions in +Germany, the weakness of Austria. The game is lost," he repeated, +sighing; "but at least Saxony did all in her power to win." + +"And is no lucky change in the game possible?" asked the emperor. + +"I believe not," said von Beust; "in Vienna they still hope much from +the southern army--from resuming the offensive. I do not believe in all +that. A state does not easily recover from such a blow as Koeniggraetz, +even if its inner life has not the stagnation, and has not fallen into +the indolence, of Austria. Prussia is the victor in Germany, and will +seize a victor's rights with an iron hand, if not restrained by a +powerful veto." + +His keen eyes were raised inquiringly to the emperor. + +"And you think that I ought to pronounce this veto--that I can?" asked +Napoleon. + +"Sire," replied von Beust, "I speak to your majesty as minister of +Saxony, as servant to my unhappy monarch, who is threatened with the +loss of the inheritance of his ancestors, as far as it still remains to +him." + +"Do you think," interrupted the emperor, "that in Prussian +head-quarters they mean seriously to disinherit the German princes?" + +"The incorporation of Hanover, Hesse, and Saxony is determined upon, +sire," said Herr von Beust with decision; "and," he continued, slightly +shrugging his shoulders, "they laid high stakes upon the game in +Berlin--it is perhaps natural that they should not be satisfied with +the stakes alone, but make use of the advantage with regard to the +future. But," he added after a moment's pause, "Hanover and Hesse +divide the Prussian dominions, Saxony, on the contrary, separates +Prussia from Austria and prevents continual friction; above all, +Hanover and Hesse pursued a path of their own; with regard to the real +interests of Germany they remained coldly passive; even when war was +unavoidable they concluded no alliance with Austria--if fate overtakes +them, they must in great measure ascribe it to themselves. To uphold +Saxony, however, is a question of honour for Austria, and," he +proceeded, looking full at the emperor, "perhaps for France also, for +imperial France, for the heir to Napoleon the First's power and glory." + +The emperor bent his head and slowly stroked his moustache. + +"Sire," continued von Beust, whilst a tinge of red flushed his pale +face, and with his eyes still fixed upon the emperor, "when the power +of your great-uncle was shattered by the hand of fate at Leipsic--when +so many whom he had raised up and made great forsook him, the King of +Saxony stood beside him, a true friend, an ally in misfortune. And +heavy penance he had to do for his truth, with half his lands he paid +for his allegiance to his imperial friend. The emperor never forgot it, +and even in St. Helena he remembered his noble confederate with emotion +and grief." + +The emperor bent his head lower and lower. Herr von Beust continued in +a louder voice:-- + +"Now, sire, the heir of that prince who was true to your great +predecessor in his misfortunes[2] is in danger of losing those +possessions of his house that he still retains; King John, who has +always been your majesty's sincere friend, is in danger of being driven +from the inheritance of his forefathers: and not he, sire, I, his +servant--who need not like himself regard royal delicacy of feeling--I +ask your majesty, will the heir of the power, the glory, and the name +of that great Titan, silently suffer the descendant of his last and +truest friend, his friend in need and danger, to be dethroned and +banished?" + +Herr von Beust ceased and gazed in breathless anxiety at the emperor. + +Napoleon raised his head. His eyes were open. His pupils shone large +and clear in dazzling brightness, a peculiar expression of pride and +dignity was on his brow, a soft melancholy smile upon his lips. + +"Sir," he said, in a low, metallic voice, "the friends of my uncle are +my friends, to the third and fourth generation, and no prince shall +repent having stood by the emperor's side in misfortune whilst I grasp +the sword of France! You have saved Saxony," he added, with his +gracious smile. "Tell the king your master that he shall return to his +dwelling and his kingdom. I give you my word as an emperor." + +With a movement in which the dignity of the sovereign was combined with +the graceful courtesy of the man of the world, he held out his hand to +Herr von Beust. + +He seized it with veneration, whilst he rose quickly and exclaimed,-- + +"If the spirit of the great emperor can look down upon earth, sire, at +this moment he must smile, well pleased, upon your majesty. You prove +that his friendship still weighs heavily in the scale of the fate of +Europe." + +A short pause ensued. The emperor was thoughtful. Beust had again +seated himself, and waited. + +"You believe, then," said the emperor at last, "that success is +impossible for Austria?" + +"I have urged them strongly in Vienna," said von Beust, sighing, "to do +all that they can--to make the utmost exertions, but I fear it will be +in vain. The state machinery of Austria has grown rusty, and it would +be hard even for a master spirit to set it in motion. The master spirit +is not there, and," he added sadly, "is no longer to be found in the +home of Kaunitz and Metternich." + +"Then he must be imported," said the emperor. + +The eyes of the Saxon minister, full of surprise and admiration, were +fixed enquiringly upon the emperor's face, which had resumed its usual +calm and reserved expression. + +"Do you believe," said Napoleon, "that it would be impossible to +regenerate Austria if the master spirit who is wanted were found?" + +"Impossible!" cried von Beust; "certainly not. Austria has immense +interior power, only the nerve is wanting to move it." + +"You have during your political life thought out so much, and with such +great success," said the emperor kindly, with a slight inclination of +the head, "that you must have considered how best this slumbering power +might be aroused--inspired with life?" + +A sudden brilliancy shone in the eyes of Herr von Beust. + +"Sire," he said with animation, "the first and deepest cause of +Austria's weakness lies in this--her own strength binds her, one half +of the monarchy watches the other half, and holds it in check. Hungary, +with her great military power, with her rich, inexhaustible +productiveness, lies dead; and instead of inspiring her with life, +Vienna carefully excludes all political life from that country. In this +crisis, for example, Hungary alone could save all that is lost; but +they will not speak the inspiring word, for this word is, 'Freedom and +National Independence;' and at this word all the dusty old acts in the +state repositories tremble, and the dusty men tremble still more! And +in the interior of the monarchy, in Austria itself, a stiff bureaucracy +represses every sign of life amongst the people; and where the people +do not feel, do not think, do not co-operate in public life, they are +incapable of making great sacrifices and heroic efforts to uphold and +to save the state. Oh!" he went on, with still greater animation, "if +Austria could arise in renewed life, if her rich powers could be +developed and strengthened by natural movement, then all would be won +back for Austria and for Germany. If Austria would maintain her moral +place in Germany, if she would undertake the sphere of intellectual +progress, and through this progress allow her material power to arise +afresh, then--and not too late--the day would come when this defeat +would be brilliantly avenged. The formulary to obtain this is simple, +it is this: freedom and independence for Hungary; freedom and public +life for the whole monarchy, the reform of the government, and the +reform of the army! But to adopt and carry out this formulary," he +added, with a melancholy smile, and a slight bend of the head, "a +genius and a will is needed, such as your majesty possesses." + +"You flatter," said the emperor, smiling, and slightly raising his +finger. "At this moment I learn----After the completion of these +events, you will perhaps not continue minister of Saxony?" he then +said. + +"I shall remain at my king's side during the present crisis," said Herr +von Beust. "But then, I think an unsuccessful statesman had better +vanish from the stage." + +"Or," said the emperor, "try his powers in a wider sphere than that +whose narrow boundaries have denied him success." + +He rose. + +Beust stood up, and seized his hat. + +"I hope," said the emperor, "that your views on the regeneration of +Austria may some day be brought to life. In any case, I beg you will +remember that you have a friend here, and that the interests of France +and Austria are one in encouraging the free development of the German +nation, and guaranteeing its national life. Greet your king from me, +and ask him to trust to my word." + +With great emotion, Herr von Beust seized the emperor's proffered hand. + +"Thanks, sire, my warmest thanks," he cried. "Whatever the future may +bring forth, I shall never forget this hour." + +And bowing deeply, he left the cabinet. + +The emperor called Pietri. + +"Is Klindworth there?" he asked. + +"At your command, sire." + +"I beg him to come to me." + +The states-chancellor appeared. + +The emperor advanced towards him with a smile. + +"You are right," he said; "the physician is found who can heal the +sickness of Austria." + +Klindworth bowed. + +"I knew," he said, "that your majesty would agree with me." + +"Try to have the treatment of the case confided to him. You may rely +upon my entire support." + +He thought deeply. + +"And tell the emperor," he then said, "that I will do all in my power +to assist him, as energetically as circumstances permit. Material help, +however, Austria must gain from herself and from the regeneration of +her resources." + +"I understand perfectly, sire," said Klindworth. + +"Keep me _au fait_ as to Herr von Beust." + +Klindworth bowed. + +"May I return?" he asked. + +"You must set to work at once," said the emperor, "for your task is not +an easy one. _Au revoir:_" and he made a friendly movement with his +hand. + +Klindworth vanished behind the portiere. + +"The cards are shuffled more and more," said the emperor, as he sank +back comfortably into his arm-chair; "and it is only needful to hold +them with a strong hand, and to look firmly at them, to rule the game. +It will do," he added, supporting his head on his hand, "and at the +same time a wide perspective is opened for the future. If Austria can +truly arise in renewed life--Italy enclosed on both sides--the alliance +is given--Hungary--Poland holds Russia in check----" + +His eyes shone. + +"Well," he said, with a slight smile, "we will wait, in waiting lies my +strength. But a little help prepared beforehand may be useful. Above +all things, I must not forget Saxony." + +He stood up, and called Pietri. + +"Drive to Drouyn de Lhuys," he said, "and desire him, in the +instructions to Benedetti, to give him distinct orders to forbid the +annexation of Saxony in the most decided manner--in the most decided +manner," he repeated with emphasis. + +"At your command, sire." + +"And," asked the emperor, "do you know where General Tuerr is at this +moment?" + +"With the army in Italy," replied Pietri; "but I can ascertain +precisely immediately." + +"Write to him," said the emperor. "No," interrupting himself, "send a +confidential person. I want to beg him to come here at once." + +Pietri bowed. + +"Through him," said the emperor, speaking half to himself, "I shall +keep my hand a little in Turin and Pesth; that may be important." + +"Has your majesty any other commands?" asked Pietri. + +"No, I thank you," said the emperor; and his private secretary +withdrew. Napoleon leant back comfortably in his arm-chair, and +carefully rolling a fresh cigarette, smoked thick clouds, lost in deep +thought. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + BISMARCK'S DIPLOMACY. + + +The King of Prussia had taken up his head-quarters in the old castle +belonging to the Princes of Dietrichstein at Nickolsburg. A brilliant +and changing picture was displayed in this little town, which from its +quiet seclusion seemed scarcely destined to become the centre of events +so important in the history of the world. + +The king's guard kept watch before the castle, the troops quartered in +the little town moved about the streets in changing groups, marching +columns pushed in between, artillery rattled over the rough pavement, +the varied sounds of the bivouac echoed from without; and all around +there was life and movement. + +The inhabitants stood shyly before the doors, and at the windows which +they had opened again. The fear of the enemy oppressed them, but it +began to be mingled with confidence; these troops belonging to the foe +were not so fearful as they had imagined. Here and there a Prussian +soldier was seen in his weather-stained uniform, with his great wild +beard, talking to a group of peasants who had been driven into the town +for shelter from the burned and wasted villages; he was giving the shy +and frightened children bread or other food, or goodnaturedly offering +to some weak old man, some sick or weary woman, an invigorating sip +from his flask. + +War was here displayed in all its brilliance, in all its dazzling +grandeur; the remembrance of long days and quiet years of peace filling +in the background of the picture. War was here in all its horror, +destroying in one frightful moment the happiness of years, and amidst +the clash of national rights and interests, unchaining the savage +instincts of human nature; but here too bloomed the noblest and purest +flowers of heroism and self-sacrifice. + +If the good-natured cordiality of the enemy's soldiers had done much to +restore the confidence of the inhabitants, it was still more confirmed +by a rumour passing from mouth to mouth, that negotiations for peace +had commenced. Amongst the generals and staff officers who hurried in +and out of the castle, diplomatists were seen in civilian dress; it was +known that the French ambassador had arrived, and that after a short +reception he had travelled on to Vienna. An armistice of five days had +been concluded, and peace hovered in the air, longed for by none more +ardently and sincerely than by the unhappy inhabitants of the countries +where the bloody drama of war was being enacted. + +In the midst of all this noise, of these echoing voices, of all these +signals from drums and trumpets, sat the Prussian minister-president, +Count Bismarck, in the spacious room in which he was quartered. + +In the middle of the room stood a table covered with a dark green +cloth, and piled with heaps of letters and papers. On the floor lay +opened and torn envelopes in wild confusion. A large map of the country +lay spread out upon the table, and before it sat the minister-president +on a plain rush-bottomed chair; on a small table beside him stood a +bottle of bright golden Bohemian beer and a large glass. The window was +open and let in the fresh morning air. + +Count Bismarck wore the uniform of a major of his cuirassier regiment +comfortably unbuttoned, long riding boots, and his sword at his side. + +Baron von Keudell sat opposite to him in the uniform of the Landwehr +cavalry; he was occupied in looking through some letters. + +"Benedetti is long in coming," said the minister, looking up from the +map, in the contemplation of which he had been engrossed for some time; +"they must still be very hopeful in Vienna, or perhaps they wish to +play a double game! Well! they shall not keep us halted here much +longer!" he cried vehemently, filling his glass and emptying it at a +single draught, "standing still here can only injure our position. +Though slow, like everything else in Austria, the army of the south is +advancing nearer and nearer, the cholera too begins to be troublesome. +I regret," he said, after a short silence, "that the king with his +usual moderation gave up the entry into Vienna; there was nothing to +stop us, and Austrian arrogance might have been humbled in the capital +itself. Well! if they do not soon conclude peace, I hope the patience +of our most gracious sovereign will be exhausted!" + +"Is there a despatch from St. Petersburg?" he inquired of Keudell, +suddenly breaking off his reflections. + +"I have just opened a despatch from Count Redern, your excellency," +said Herr von Keudell. + +"Give it to me," cried Count Bismarck; and with a hasty movement he +snatched the paper Herr von Keudell handed him across the table. + +He read it attentively, and the deep silence within the room, where the +breathing of the two men could be plainly heard, made a curious +contrast to the confused noise from without. + +The count threw the writing on the table. + +"It is so," he cried, "a cloud is arising which may cause us painful +embarrassment. Will they do anything there?" he said, half speaking to +himself; "will their displeasure lead to action? I think not; but still +it is very disagreeable. If Austria finds any point of support, she +will apply every lever. St. Petersburg will do nothing for the sake of +Austria; but the necessary alterations in Germany, and this French +mediation with its plans in the background--the situation is difficult +enough, and it will probably give us as much trouble to tear asunder +this spider's web of diplomatic threads as it did to carry the Austrian +lines. At all events this Russian cloud must be dispersed for the +present and the future! For the future will bring us plenty to do," he +said thoughtfully. + +He stood up and paced the room with long strides, thinking deeply and +sometimes moving his lips. The working of his features showed the +mighty struggle of the labouring thoughts that oppressed him. + +At last the force of his will appeared to have brought these +contradictory ideas to order and peace. He gave a sigh of satisfaction, +and walking to the window inhaled long draughts of the fresh air, +widely expanding his broad, powerful chest. + +A secretary of foreign affairs entered. + +The count turned towards him. + +"The Bavarian minister von der Pfordten has arrived, and requests an +interview with your excellency. Here is his letter." + +Count Bismarck hastily seized the small sealed note, opened it and read +the short contents. + +"They all come," he said, with a proud look, "all these mighty hunters, +who had already divided the bear's skin, and now feel his claws. But +they shall not escape from them so easily. Besides, I do not yet see my +way clearly. Tell Herr von der Pfordten," he called out to the +secretary who was waiting, "that you have given me his letter, and that +I will send him my answer." + +The secretary withdrew. + +A few minutes afterwards he returned and said: + +"The French ambassador!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Count Bismarck. + +"Have the goodness, dear Keudell," said Bismarck, after a moment's +thought, "to go to Herr von der Pfordten, and to tell him that I cannot +receive the Bavarian minister, as we are still at war with his country, +but that personally I shall be glad to see him, and to have an +ex-official conversation with him, and that I will soon appoint an hour +for that purpose." + +Herr von Keudell bowed and went out. + +A moment afterwards, at a sign from Bismarck, the secretary opened the +door for the French ambassador. + +Count Bismarck's expression had completely changed. Calm repose and +courtesy were in his face. He stepped forwards to receive the +representative of the Emperor Napoleon, and shook hands with him. + +Monsieur Benedetti presented a remarkable contrast to the powerful form +and firm soldier-like bearing of the Prussian minister. He was somewhat +past fifty, his thin hair had receded from his forehead, and only +sparingly covered the upper part of his head. His smooth beardless face +was one of those physiognomies whose age it is difficult to discover, +as when young they look older, when old, younger, than they really are. +It would have been difficult to say what characteristic, what +individuality, such features could express, nothing was seen beyond a +calm expression of receptive and intelligent sensibility to every +impression; what lay behind this gentle courteous exterior it was +impossible to discover. His eyes were bright and candid, apparently +careless and indifferent, it was only by the rapid and keen glance with +which he occasionally took in every circumstance around him, that he +betrayed the lively interest that really actuated him. His face told +nothing, expressed nothing, and yet one perceived involuntarily that +behind this nothing lay something, carefully concealed. + +He was of middle height, and the bearing of his slender figure was +elegant, in his movements he was as animated as an Italian, as pliant +and elastic as an Oriental, his light summer clothes were extremely +simple, but notwithstanding the journey from which he had just +returned, they were of spotless freshness. + +"I have been expecting you with impatience," said Count Bismarck, +fixing his penetrating steel-grey eyes upon the ambassador's calm face. +"What did you find in Vienna? do you bring peace?" + +"At least I bring the beginning. I bring the acceptance of the +preliminaries as proposed by the emperor." + +"Ah! they decided thus in Vienna?" cried Count Bismarck. + +"I have had a difficult job," said Benedetti, "for it was far from easy +to gain Austria's consent." + +Count Bismarck shrugged his shoulders. + +"What can they hope for?" he cried; "do they prefer to await us in +Vienna?" + +"They hope much from the southern army, from a great military rising in +Hungary," said the ambassador. + +"Perhaps too for a new John Sobieski?" asked Bismarck, with a slight +smile. + +"And I must really own," continued Benedetti calmly, "that I was not in +a position to deny the justice of these hopes." + +Count Bismarck looked at him amazed and enquiringly. + +"Two-thirds of the southern army," said Benedetti, "stand in the +immediate vicinity of Vienna, the Prater is turned into a bivouac, and +the fortified camp at Floridsdorf could make a strong resistance; the +troops of the southern army are full of confidence from recent victory, +and are inspired with the best dispositions, the Arch-Duke Albert is a +general of great determination, and the chief of his general staff, +Lieutenant Field-Marshal von John, an officer of fine and quick +intelligence." + +Count Bismarck listened in silence. A scarcely perceptible smile played +round his lips. + +"And Hungary?" he asked negligently. + +"Negotiations have been carried on with Count Andrassy and the Deak +party, and if they will but grant a self-constituted government, and +agree to the arming of the Honveds, a mighty rising may be expected in +Hungary." + +"_If_ they grant it," said Count Bismarck. "Hungary has been often +deceived, besides our troops have been before Presburg ever since the +battle of Blumenau, and have only _not_ taken it on account of the +armistice. The key of Hungary is in our hands." + +"They are persuaded in Vienna," proceeded Benedetti, "that the Prussian +army has suffered greatly in the various engagements, and also from +sickness." + +"We suffer most from standing still," cried Bismarck vehemently. + +"For all these reasons," said the ambassador quietly, "it was not easy +to gain Austria's consent to the peace programme drawn up by my +sovereign. It was very hard to the emperor Francis Joseph to agree to +the exclusion of Austria from Germany. At last he yielded to the urgent +representations I made in the name of the emperor, and that he might no +longer expose Austria to the chances and burdens of war, and no longer +endanger the peace of Europe, the emperor of Austria at last accepted +the programme." + +Count Bismarck bit his moustache. + +"This programme is now definite, with the consent of Austria?" he +asked. He invited the ambassador to be seated by a movement of the +hand, and took a chair opposite to him. + +"Nothing has been altered," replied Monsieur Benedetti, "the integrity +of Austria, but its exclusion from Germany as newly constituted; the +formation of a North German Union under the military leadership of +Prussia; the right of the southern states to form an independent +confederated union, but the maintenance of a national connexion between +North and South Germany, which connexion is to be determined by a free +and general consent of the various states." + +As the ambassador slowly and distinctly repeated this programme Count +Bismarck accompanied each phrase with a quick nod of approval, whilst +he slightly clasped the fingers of both his hands. + +"Those are the rules laid down for the position of Austria, and for our +own position in Germany," he said, "as we before agreed. As the +foundation of the negotiations, since Austria accepts them, they +suffice, but as the basis of a definite peace a further understanding +is needful. Peace with Austria does not affect and must not affect our +proceedings with regard to the other German states with whom we are at +war." + +"Austria leaves each of these states to conclude its own peace," said +Benedetti. + +"To conclude peace!" cried Count Bismarck. "These governments would be +willing enough to conclude peace now, and on the first opportunity to +begin the game afresh!" + +After a short pause he continued in a calm voice: + +"Some days ago the king imparted to the emperor your sovereign by +telegraph, that a certain addition to the power of Prussia through +acquisitions of territory had become needful. You have lived among +us," he continued, "and you well know the stake Prussia had placed on +this war, the sacrifices that have been made to carry it on, the +wounds which war has inflicted on the country. The Prussian people +expect--demand, a reward for their sacrifices, since victory has +decided in our favour: they demand, and rightly, that the blood of +Prussian soldiers, the sons of the people, shall not have been shed in +vain, and that the state of things shall be definitely done away with, +which always has caused and always would engender strife. Those +vexatious boundaries which make Prussia's geographical position, and +her unity, so difficult, which neither natural nor political +considerations permit, must be removed--removed for ever. Prussia, +rightly to fulfil and powerfully to carry out the position assigned to +her in Germany by the peace basis, must before all things be thoroughly +strong and more homogeneous. The incorporation of Hanover, Hesse, and +Saxony is needful, firmly and indissolubly to connect the two halves of +the monarchy, and to secure it against Austria in a military point of +view." + +Not a feature of the ambassador's smooth face changed. + +"I find it only natural that the Prussian people should wish to pluck +the richest fruits of a war in which _their whole force_," he said, +with a slight emphasis, "was sent to the battle-field. But the wishes +of the people are often different from the views of princes and +governments. You are as much convinced as myself," he continued, in a +lower voice, "that every period has its peculiar political maxims and +views. To-day, for example, they are different from what they were in +the time of Frederick the Great; it was then held right to keep what +you had taken. At that time interests and demands were not so moderate +as at present." + +A slight frown appeared between Count Bismarck's eyebrows. + +"Well," he said, with a smile, and in a calm voice, "I think Frederick +the Great found it not so easy to keep what he had taken; that +political maxim was practised on a large scale in the beginning of the +present century by Napoleon I." + +"That was the great fault of the founder of our imperial dynasty," said +Benedetti, "at last it armed the whole of Europe against him; I am able +to say this candidly, when I reflect on the wise moderation the +emperor, my sovereign, has ever shown, when at the head of victorious +armies, and the care with which he has avoided this mistake of his +great uncle." + +Count Bismarck looked for a moment thoughtfully before him. + +"You know," he then said, with perfect frankness, "how important I deem +our good understanding with France; the emperor knows it too, and +particularly at this moment I would on no account even _appear_ to have +neglected the wishes or interests of France, or to have refused her +advice. The good understanding of Prussia,--of Germany with France, the +adjustment of the political requirements and necessities on both sides, +the peaceful and friendly intercourse between the two countries, is in +my opinion the first condition, for the peace and balance of power in +Europe. Let us then discuss the situation calmly and with perfect +candour. I can only repeat to you," he said, raising his piercing eyes +and fixing them upon the ambassador, "that the increase of Prussia's +power by the acquisition of the hostile states appears to me an +absolute necessity. Do you think," he proceeded, "that the emperor will +deem it needful for the interests of France to oppose these +acquisitions?" + +Benedetti hesitated for a moment before answering this direct question. + +"The emperor has already," he then said, "recognized the necessity of +arrangements for uniting the two separate halves of the Prussian +monarchy, and this necessity I feel convinced he would now be less +inclined than ever to deny. Whether the complete annexation of German +states, whose rights were guaranteed by the rest of Europe, is +absolutely needful, must be a matter of opinion, but I do not think the +emperor will have any other view than for you to carry out your own +ideas, and if he does not share, he will not contradict them." + +Count Bismarck bowed his head approvingly. + +"As to Saxony," added Benedetti. + +The Prussian minister looked at him anxiously and expectantly. + +"With regard to Saxony," said the ambassador, "I found a strong +determination in Austria to maintain its territorial integrity; it is +held to be a duty to a confederate who has fought with Austria on the +same battlefields." + +Bismarck bit his lip. + +"I believe," added Benedetti, "that the Emperor Francis Joseph is +resolved to carry on the war to the last gasp rather than yield to this +condition." + +Count Bismarck was silent for a moment. + +"And how does France, how does the emperor Napoleon regard this +resolution on the part of--Austria?" he asked, with a firm look and a +slight smile. + +"I believe I may affirm that the emperor entirely shares the wishes of +Austria with regard to Saxony," said Benedetti. + +"Seriously?" asked Count Bismarck. + +"Most seriously," replied the ambassador calmly. + +"Very good!" exclaimed Bismarck; "the incorporation of Saxony is not so +absolute a necessity to us, as those states are which divide our +territory. I will inform the king of the wishes of the Emperor +Napoleon, and Austria, with regard to Saxony, and I will support them. +Saxony will of course be added to the independent states in the North +German Union." + +"That is an interior affair belonging to the new organization of +Germany," said Benedetti, "in which the emperor has not the slightest +wish to intermeddle." + +"So then the programme as you have just repeated it may be looked upon +as a definite peace basis, with this addition, that Austria agrees to +accept all the alterations in North Germany which the territorial +acquisitions may necessitate, namely, the incorporation of Hanover, +Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, and Frankfort." + +The calm face of the ambassador showed some surprise. + +"I do not remember that we ever spoke of Nassau and Frankfort." + +"They are needful for the complete adjustment of our frontier, that is +to say, if we give up Saxony," said Bismarck. + +Benedetti was silent. + +"Negotiations for peace may then be begun upon this basis?" asked the +Prussian minister, with an enquiring glance at the ambassador. + +"I see no further difficulty," said the latter, "and," he added, +without any particular emphasis, "the adjustment of the interests of +new Germany and of France will be easily arranged through the spirit of +moderation and _prevenance_ shown by our emperor, and with which you +too and your sovereign have proved you are inspired." + +Count Bismarck gazed deeply and searchingly into the expressionless +eyes of the French diplomatist; he appeared carefully to weigh every +word. + +"And how do you think that these interests will be affected by the new +arrangements? how do you think they can be adjusted?" + +Benedetti leant back a little in his chair, and then said,-- + +"I think you will acknowledge the readiness with which the Emperor +Napoleon has accepted the incorporation of the German states by +Prussia, although--I must repeat this--it was not in accordance with +his ideas, and perhaps might occasion serious misconceptions in other +European cabinets." + +"What power would find anything against it," cried Bismarck, "if France +agreed?" + +"England, perhaps, with regard to Hanover," said Benedetti. + +Bismarck shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps Russia," continued the ambassador. "The Emperor Alexander, +with his views on legitimacy and monarchical rights, would hardly +approve of the disinheriting of dynasties." + +Count Bismarck was silent. + +"I mention this only incidentally," said Benedetti; "nevertheless I +think it is greatly to your interest to act completely in accordance +with France, and I believe that you will not be unwilling to +acknowledge the Emperor Napoleon's friendship, nor to own that on our +side certain territorial modifications are needful on our frontier, to +maintain the balance of power and thus cement a lasting friendship." + +The slight cloud which at the ambassador's first words had appeared on +Count Bismarck's brow, not unobserved by the speaker, quickly vanished; +his countenance assumed calm indifference, and with obliging courtesy +he asked,-- + +"And can you impart to me the emperor's views as to these territorial +modifications?" + +"_My_ views," replied Benedetti, with a slight emphasis, "are, that in +consequence of the important alterations in Germany it will be needful +for France, entirely from military considerations, to demand certain +compensations. You will not deny that the boundaries given to France in +1815 are neither in accordance with her natural nor her military +requirements, nor that the restoration of the frontier given in 1814 by +victorious Europe to defeated France, is a moderate and just demand +from a powerful France who has just consented in so ready and friendly +a spirit to immense accessions of strength for victorious Prussia." + +Count Bismarck remained silent, and the courteous, smiling expression +of his face did not change for a moment. + +"You will," pursued Benedetti, "find it only reasonable that the +emperor should wish to include in the extended or rather restored +frontier of France, Luxembourg, which from its natural position and +language belongs to as, and which in a military point of view is so +needful, to secure us from the increased power of Germany threatening +us from the Rhine fortresses. You must forgive me," he said, smiling; +"we must remember that a time may come when the respective governments +of Paris and Berlin are not so peaceful and friendly as at present. +These arrangements will not be difficult; the King of Holland, who +cannot set great store upon this loosely-bound province, will be +doubtless willing to part with it for an indemnification." + +Still Count Bismarck was silent, smiling, and cheerful. + +"Finally," said Benedetti--Count Bismarck raised his head and listened +attentively--"finally, as a key to her defensive position, France must +demand--I speak of possible disputes, doubtless far distant--France +must demand possession of Mayence." + +The count's eyes flashed. He rose quickly and drew himself up to his +full height, his gigantic form panting with indignation. Benedetti +slowly followed his example. + +"I would rather vanish for ever from the political arena," cried the +Prussian minister, "than yield Mayence." + +He paced the room with hasty strides. + +Benedetti stood motionless. His calm eyes followed the count's vehement +movements. + +"If my views," he said, as if simply continuing the conversation, "do +not accord with yours, we----" + +Bismarck had turned his face to the window for a moment, and had +pressed his lips together as if with a violent struggle. + +"We shall certainly understand one another perfectly if we discuss +the subject more fully," he said, in his calmest and most courteous +tone, as he turned again towards Benedetti with completely regained +self-command. His face expressed only politeness and friendship. + +"But we should not anticipate these discussions just now," he +continued. "Have you instructions to express these wishes in the +emperor's name, and to demand an answer, or do they in any way bear +upon our negotiations for peace with Austria?" + +"I had the honour," said Monsieur Benedetti, "of remarking at the +beginning of this conversation that I was expressing _my own_ ideas; I +have no instructions to demand anything, nor to request a distinct +answer; still less does this conversation in any way affect the +negotiations for peace." + +"Let us agree then," replied Bismarck, "to defer this conversation +until we have finished what lies immediately before us, and until after +the peace with Austria is signed. You fully comprehend that deep and +calm reflection is needed completely to satisfy the interests of both +sides; and then," he added, smiling, "it is not easy to discuss the +equivalent compensation of objects not yet in our hands. I do not doubt +that we shall perfectly understand each other when we discuss the +matter in earnest, and when you have received definite instructions. +You know how much I desire, not only the present friendship of France, +but that the feeling should be enduring, and so firmly consolidated +that the relations between France and Prussia may form the basis of a +European peace. Everything then to be done at present is arranged?" he +asked, after a short pause. + +"Completely," replied Monsieur Benedetti. + +"The Austrian plenipotentiaries--?" + +"Will arrive to-morrow or the day after. I will rest a little after my +fatiguing journey." And he seized his hat. + +Count Bismarck held out his hand to him, and accompanied him to the +door of the room. + +Scarcely had the door closed behind the ambassador, before the +expression of Bismarck's face changed completely. The courteous amiable +smile vanished from his lips. Burning anger flashed from his eyes. + +"They think they hold a good hand," he cried, "these skilful players; +but they deceive themselves; they are mistaken in me--Germany shall not +pay for her unity, like Italy, with her own flesh and blood; at least, +not so long as I influence the fate of the nation. Let them advance to +the Rhine, if it must be so, I will not retreat; the only concession I +will make is, to go forwards slowly. I should not be sorry if they +determined to fight," he cried with sparkling eyes; "I am ready to say +once more, 'I dare it;' and this time the king would not hesitate and +wait. Yet," he continued more calmly, "much has been gained already, +and what has been gained should not be rashly risked; they think the +game is in their hands,--well! I will shuffle the cards a little on my +side." + +He rang a small bell. An orderly entered. + +"Find Herr von Keudell, and beg him to bring me Herr von der Pfordten." + +The orderly withdrew. + +Count Bismarck seated himself before the table covered with maps, and +studied them attentively; sometimes he passed the fore-finger of his +right hand over certain parts, sometimes his lips moved in a low +whisper, and sometimes his eyes were thoughtfully raised to the +ceiling. + +After about a quarter of an hour, Herr von Keudell brought the Bavarian +minister to the cabinet. + +The full tall form of this statesman was bent, and showed signs of +bodily weakness. His large gentle face, surrounded with dark hair, was +pale and exhausted, his eyes gazed mournfully through the glasses of +his spectacles. + +Count Bismarck was standing perfectly upright, his features expressed +icy coldness; with the stiffest military bearing, but with formal +politeness, he advanced towards the Bavarian minister and returned his +greeting. He then with an equally cold and courteous movement invited +him to be seated on the chair Benedetti had just left, and placing +himself opposite to him he waited for him to speak. + +"I come," said Herr von der Pfordten, in a voice of some emotion, and +in the southern dialect, "to prevent further bloodshed and misery from +this war. The campaign is really decided, and decided in your favour, +and Bavaria cannot hesitate to conclude a war, which," he said in a low +voice, "it would, perhaps, have been better never to have commenced." + +Count Bismarck looked at him severely for a moment with his hard clear +eyes. + +"Do you know," he said, "that I have a perfect right to treat you as a +prisoner of war?" + +Herr von der Pfordten started. For a moment he was speechless, gazing +at the Prussian minister in amazement. + +"Bavaria is at war with Prussia, negotiations are impossible," said +Count Bismarck; "a Bavarian minister can only be a prisoner at the +Prussian head-quarters,--intercourse can only be carried on by the +bearer of a flag of truce." + +Herr von der Pfordten sorrowfully bowed his head. "I am in your power," +he said calmly, "and this proves how greatly I desire peace. What would +you gain by arresting me?" + +Count Bismarck was silent. + +"I am amazed at your boldness in coming here," he said after a pause; +"you prove indeed that you desire peace." + +Herr von der Pfordten shook his head slightly. + +"I fear," he said, "that my step has been in vain." + +"A step in the right path is never in vain, even though it should be +too late," said Count Bismarck, with a slight tone of friendship in his +voice; "what a position might Bavaria have held, had you taken this +step four weeks ago--if you had come to me four weeks ago in Berlin!" + +"I held firmly to the German Confederation which had been sanctioned by +all Europe," replied the Bavarian minister, "and I believed I was doing +my duty towards Germany and Bavaria; I was wrong; the past has gone for +ever; I come to speak to you of the future." + +"The future lies in _our_ hands," cried Count Bismarck. "Austria makes +her own peace, and troubles herself neither about the Confederation, +nor her allies." + +"I know it," said Herr von der Pfordten faintly. + +"Germany now sees," continued Bismarck, "where Austria has dragged her. +I am especially sorry for Bavaria, for I always thought that Bavaria +would have taken an important part in the national development of +Germany, and, united with Prussia, would have stood at the head of the +nation." + +"If Bavaria took a false step under my guidance," said Herr von der +Pfordten,--"and the result has shown it _was_ a false step--let us now +amend the fault, even though late. My decision is made. I have but +_one_ duty to fulfil, to make every effort to avert from my country and +my young king the evil results of my fault. To fulfil this duty I am +here, and because I expect and desire nothing for myself in the future, +I believe I can the more freely and impartially discuss it with you, +count." + +Count Bismarck was silent for a moment, and his fingers tapped the +table slightly. + +"I am not in a position," he then said, "to speak as Prussian minister +to the minister of Bavaria; the situation forbids it, the king's +permission is wanting. But this hour shall not be unfruitful," he +continued in a milder tone; "I will prove to you how much I personally +regret that we could not understand each other, that we could not work +together; your advice, your experience would have been so useful to +Germany. Let us speak as Baron von der Pfordten and Count Bismarck, a +Bavarian and a Prussian patriot, on the present position of affairs; +perhaps," he continued laughingly, "both the Prussian and the Bavarian +minister may learn something from us." + +Herr von der Pfordten's face brightened up. He looked at the count +through his spectacles with a happy expression. + +"What do you think," said Bismarck, "will become of Bavaria? What can +Prussia do with Bavaria?" + +"I suppose," said Herr von der Pfordten, "that Prussia will have +undivided authority in North Germany." + +"Who can dispute it?" asked Count Bismarck. + +"I may then remark that an annexation of South German territory, so +entirely heterogeneous, would hardly be to Prussia's interest, and that +it would be a greater advantage to come to an understanding on the +future of Germany, with an independent and unweakened Bavaria." + +"And on the first opportunity to find ourselves in fresh difficulties?" +asked Count Bismarck. + +"After the experience of this day--" began the Bavarian minister. + +"My dear baron," interrupted Bismarck, "I will speak quite openly to +you. The future belongs neither to you nor to me. Words and promises, +however much in earnest, cannot be the foundation upon which the future +peace and strength of Prussia and of Germany must rest. We must have +guarantees. Prussia cannot again be exposed to the danger she has just +overcome, nor again be called upon to make the sacrifice she has just +made. Bavaria has been, very much to her own disadvantage, as I always +knew, our foe. We must have full security that this cannot happen in +the future. To attain this there are two ways." + +Herr von der Pfordten listened anxiously. + +"Either," proceeded Count Bismarck, "to take so much of your territory +as will prevent Bavaria from being able to hurt us in the future----" + +"Have you thought of the difficulties of assimilating Bavarian +territory and the Bavarian people?" asked Herr von der Pfordten. + +"They would be great," said Bismarck calmly, "I own it; but we should +overcome them, and for the safety of Prussia I despise difficulties." + +The Bavarian minister sighed. + +"The complications that such a course would cause!" he said in a low +voice, and with a penetrating glance at Bismarck's face. + +Count Bismarck looked at him firmly. + +"From whence are they to come?" he asked. "From Austria? In the quarter +where complications might arise," he continued, looking proudly at the +Bavarian minister, "they would not refuse a share in the spoil." + +Von der Pfordten bowed his head. + +"Let us not speak of it," said Bismarck. "We are Germans; let us manage +the affairs of Germany without our neighbours." + +"And the other way?" asked Herr von der Pfordten, with hesitation. + +"The inner life of Bavaria is foreign to us," said Count Bismarck +thoughtfully, "and we would rather not interfere with it. What Germany +needs for strength and power--what Prussia needs for safety, is that +the supreme direction of the national forces should be placed in the +hands of the most powerful military state of the German nation--her +natural leader in war. If Bavaria will acknowledge this national +necessity--if, in short, she will agree, by a binding treaty, in the +event of a national war, to give up the command of her army to the king +of Prussia, the needful guarantee for Germany's defence and power, for +Prussia's safety, will be obtained." + +The face of the Bavarian minister cleared up more and more. + +"The command of the army in a national war?" he asked. + +"Of course, with certain conditions, which would make a common command, +an incorporation of the Bavarian army with the Prussian forces, +possible," said Count Bismarck. + +"Without prejudice to the king's command of the army?" asked Herr von +der Pfordten. + +"I should consider any further curtailment of his powers unnecessary," +replied the Count. + +Herr von der Pfordten drew a deep breath. + +"These, then, would be your conditions of peace?" he asked. + +"Not the conditions of peace, but the preliminaries of peace," replied +Bismarck. + +"How am I to understand this?" asked von der Pfordten. + +"Very easily," said the Count. "If a treaty such as I have sketched, +and which I will immediately have drawn out in detail by the military +department, is concluded--a treaty which, for the present, had better +be kept secret--yes," he added thoughtfully, "it had much better be +kept secret; it will save you so much trouble from the anti-Prussian +party--if such a treaty, I say, is agreed to, peace can easily be +concluded. This treaty would be a guarantee to Prussia that Bavaria +would really and uprightly labour with her at the work of national +union, and that all the former faults in her policy were laid aside. +With this guarantee we could easily negotiate peace. It would then be +to our interest to maintain Bavaria's power and complete independence +in Germany. We shall then only have the expenses of the war to +consider, which we shall expect to have paid in full, and perhaps some +very unimportant cession of territory, for the sake of the symmetry of +our frontier." + +"Count," said Herr von der Pfordten, with emotion, "I thank you. You +have shown me a way by which, with honour to herself and benefit to +Germany, Bavaria may extricate herself from her present melancholy +position. I thank you in the name of my king." + +"I feel the deepest sympathy for your young king," said Count Bismarck, +"and I hope that Bavaria, as Prussia's ally, may yet take the place, +which hitherto _she would not_ take. But, my dear baron," he added, +rising, "we must not forget that this is only a conversation between +two private individuals. Hasten back to your king, and bring his +consent to this treaty as soon as possible. When it is signed, +hostilities will cease, and I promise the negotiations for peace shall +not be difficult nor prolonged; and," he added courteously, "be assured +I do not wish you to retire from public life." + +"I know," said Herr von der Pfordten, "what I must do. A new hand must +guide Bavaria in new paths; but my good wishes will be as hearty for +new Germany as they ever have been for the old." + +"One thing more," said Bismarck. "Since we have come to so good an +understanding, you might do your allies in Stuttgardt and Darmstadt a +service--perhaps to me also; for I wish to treat with Wuertemberg and +Hesse in a conciliatory spirit. If these courts are willing to conclude +a treaty similar to that of which we have been speaking, I think a +reconciliation would be possible. If Herr von Varnbueler and Herr von +Dalwigk should come here empowered to conclude such a treaty, the +secrecy of which I willingly promise, they would be welcome, and would +find moderate and easy terms of peace." + +"I do not doubt that they will shortly appear," said Herr von der +Pfordten. + +"Now, my dear baron, hasten away," cried Count Bismarck, "and return +quickly, and so act that Count Bismarck may soon welcome the Bavarian +minister fully empowered to conclude peace." + +He held out his hand to Herr von der Pfordten, who pressed it heartily +and with much feeling, and he accompanied him to the door. + +In the ante-room they found von Keudell, and Bismarck begged him to +facilitate the Bavarian minister's journey as much as possible. + +When Count Bismarck returned to his room, he rubbed his hands with +satisfaction, whilst he paced the room with long strides. + +"So, messieurs in Paris!" he cried with a laugh, "you wish to split up +and divide Germany, and help yourselves to compensation. The skilful +engineers are blown up with their own mine. And their compensation? Let +them flatter themselves with that hope a little longer. Now to the +king!" + +He buttoned up his uniform, took his military cap, and left the room to +go to King William's quarters. + +In the ante-room he saw an elderly gentleman, with grey hair and a grey +beard, in the uniform of a Hanoverian equerry. A Prussian officer had +brought him, and now approached the president minister, saying:-- + +"Lieutenant-Colonel von Heimbruch, the king of Hanover's equerry, +wishes to speak to your excellency. I have brought him here, and was +about to announce him." + +Bismarck turned towards von Heimbruch, touched his cap slightly with +his hand, and looked at him inquiringly. + +The colonel approached him, and said: + +"His majesty the king, my most gracious master, arrived in Vienna a +short time ago, and, as negotiations for peace have begun, he sends me +to his majesty the King of Prussia with a letter. At the same time, +Count Platen sends this note to your excellency." + +He handed the Prussian minister a sealed letter. + +He opened it, and read through the contents quickly. + +He turned gravely to Colonel von Heimbruch. + +"Will you have the goodness to wait for me here. I am going to his +majesty, and I shall shortly return." + +With a military salute he walked on. + +In the king's ante-room there were several generals and other officers. +They all rose as Count Bismarck entered and saluted the generals. + +The equerry on duty, Baron von Loe, advanced towards the minister +president. + +"Is his majesty alone?" asked Count Bismarck. + +"General von Moltke is with the king," replied Baron von Loe, "but his +majesty commanded me to announce your excellency at once." + +He entered the king's cabinet, after knocking at the door, and returned +almost immediately to open it to the president. + +King William stood before a large table, spread over with maps, on +which long arrows of various colours marked the position of the armies. +He wore a campaigning overcoat, the Iron Cross in his button-hole, and +the Order of Merit around his neck. + +The king's eyes were attentively following the lines which General von +Moltke drew in the air above the map with the pencil in his hand, +sometimes pointing out a line here, sometimes there, for the +elucidation of his dispositions. The tall, slender form of the general +was bent slightly forwards as he gazed at the maps, his calm face, with +its grave and noble features, recalling Sharnhorst's portraits, was +somewhat animated, whilst he unfolded his ideas to the king, who +listened in silence, from time to time signifying his approval by +slightly bowing his head. + +"I am glad you have come," cried the king, as his minister entered. +"You can explain everything. Moltke has just told me that General +Manteuffel has sent in word that Prince Karl of Bavaria proposes a +week's suspension of hostilities, and that Wuerzburg, now threatened by +Manteuffel, should be spared, since a treaty for the cessation of +hostilities and negotiations for peace with Bavaria are about to +commence immediately. General Manteuffel, who knows nothing of all +this, does not refuse to treat, but demands that Wuerzburg should be +given up to him in return for the suspension of arms, and he has sent +to us to know what he is to do. What are these negotiations with +Bavaria?" + +Count Bismarck smiled. + +"Herr von der Pfordten has just left me, your majesty," he replied. + +"Ah!" cried the king; "do they beg for peace? What did you say?" + +"Your majesty," replied Bismarck, "this is all part of the present +situation upon which I am most desirous of consulting your majesty, and +of receiving your supreme decision." + +General von Moltke stuck his pencil into a large notebook which he held +in his hand, and said: + +"Your majesty has no further commands for me at this moment?" + +"May I beg your majesty," said Count Bismarck quickly, "to ask the +general to stay,--his opinion is important upon the question before +us." + +The king bowed approval. The general turned his grave eyes inquiringly +upon the president. + +"Your majesty," said Count Bismarck, "Benedetti has returned, and +brings Austria's consent to the Emperor Napoleon's programme of peace." + +"The negotiations can then begin?" asked the king. + +"Without delay, your majesty," said Count Bismarck. "Benedetti," he +proceeded, "wished to take great credit to himself for having persuaded +Austria to accept the programme; he spoke of the great resistance they +had made in Vienna, and described Austria's condition as by no means +hopeless." + +Moltke smiled. + +"They can do nothing in Vienna," said the king calmly. "They intended +to entice us to Olmuetz, and there to hold us fast, to cover Vienna, and +to prevail on Hungary to rise. All that is over. By Moltke's advice, we +left them alone at Olmuetz, and marched straight on. We are before +Vienna, and it cannot hold out--the fortifications they have made at +Floridsdorf cannot delay us; besides this, we hold the key of Hungary +in our hands, and the Hungarians do not seem desirous of assisting +Austria in her difficulties." + +"I know all this, your majesty," said Count Bismarck; "I know too what +these representations of Benedetti mean,--his tactics are to show us +difficulties that we may feel the more indebted to France for her +mediation, and more willing to pay a high price for it." + +"And have they named their price?" asked the king, with increased +attention. + +"I told the ambassador plainly," replied Count Bismarck, "what your +majesty had already telegraphed to the Emperor Napoleon from Bruenn, on +the 18th instant, that a large territorial acquisition would be needful +to Prussia, and I pointed out those possessions of the enemy lying +between the two halves of our kingdom and Saxony." + +"And did he raise any objection?" asked the king. + +"He used a few phrases about treaties and the balance of power in +Europe, which, in the mouth of a diplomatist of the Napoleon dynasty, +sounded rather absurd; but he made no real objection, except as regards +Saxony." + +"Well?" asked the king. + +"As regards Saxony," continued Count Bismarck, "the Emperor Napoleon +has, so Benedetti expressed it, identified himself unconditionally with +the Austrian demand, that the territorial integrity of Saxony should be +maintained." + +The king looked on the ground thoughtfully. + +"The truth is," added Bismarck, "in Paris they push Austria forward, +but nevertheless they seriously mean to support Saxony. Your majesty +must therefore decide; will you make a concession on this point or +not?" + +"What is your opinion?" asked the king. + +"To abandon the incorporation of Saxony, your majesty, rather than +complicate the present position. Saxony is not absolutely necessary to +us, I believe, in a military point of view?" And he looked inquiringly +at General von Moltke. + +"If Saxony joins the military league of the North German Confederation, +and does its duty in earnest----no!" said the general. + +"King John's word is inviolable," said the king, with a warm light in +his eyes, "so let the independence of Saxony be agreed to. I am very +glad in this instance to be able to lighten the heavy consequences of +war for a very estimable prince." + +Count Bismarck bowed. + +"France," he continued, "as well as Austria, accepts all the +alterations of territory in North Germany; but now begin the +extraordinary negotiations for compensation." + +The king's countenance clouded. + +"Were their demands stated?" he asked. + +"No; but Benedetti pointed out very plainly what they would be; and I +had guessed them beforehand," said Count Bismarck. + +"What were they?" asked the king. + +Calmly and smiling Count Bismarck replied-- + +"The frontier of 1814--Luxembourg and Mayence." + +The king started as if from an electric shock. A dark red flush passed +over General Moltke's pale, handsome face, and a sarcastic smile came +to his lips. + +"And what did you reply?" asked the king, closing his teeth firmly. + +"I put off the negotiations on this point, until after the conclusion +of peace with Austria; it was the more easy, as Benedetti only +mentioned them as his own views. I was not, therefore, obliged to give +a distinct answer." + +"But you know," said the king, with a severe look and voice, "that I +would never cede a foot of German soil." + +"As surely," replied Count Bismarck, "as your majesty I hope is +convinced, that my hand would never sign such a treaty! But," he added, +"I thought it useless to make a breach and to have difficulties and +embarrassments too soon. If France commenced a war now--" + +"We should march to Paris," said General Moltke carelessly; "Napoleon +has no army!" + +"Count Goltz does not believe that," said the president-minister, "if I +could only be sure; but at all events it is better to conclude a peace +with Austria, and not to provoke discussions of compensations not yet +officially demanded by France. When we have done here, those gentlemen +in Paris shall get the answer I have prepared for them, and a little +surprise into the bargain. I now come to Herr von der Pfordten, your +majesty." + +The king looked at him enquiringly. + +"Your majesty recollects," said Count Bismarck, "the position which the +peace programme gives to the South German states?" + +"Certainly," said the king, "and this position has caused me great +doubts for the future." + +"The intention is plain," said Bismarck; "in Paris they wish to split +Germany in two, and to hold one half in check with the other; in Vienna +they wish to begin afresh the game they have now lost, at some future +time. I hope they will find themselves mistaken. I offered von der +Pfordten very easy terms of peace, provided Bavaria entered into a +secret treaty accepting your majesty as commander-in-chief of her army +in case of war." + +The king's eyes sparkled. + +"Then would Germany indeed be one!" he cried. "Did he accept these +terms?" + +"With thankfulness and joy," replied Count Bismarck, "and Wuertemberg +and Hesse will follow the example, he assures me. I must now request +General Moltke to have the goodness to draw up the proposed military +arrangement, so that when the Bavarian minister returns with the king's +consent, everything may be settled as quickly as possible, and also for +Wuertemberg and Hesse. Until then General Manteuffel must avoid any +definite explanation about the armistice, and produce a wholesome +pressure. I hope," he said laughing; "the Emperor Napoleon will +observe after peace has been concluded, that all the trumps in his +well-shuffled game are in our hand, and then the compensation question +shall also be settled." + +"You see, Moltke," said the king smiling, and with a gracious look at +the president, "these diplomatists are all alike, even when they wear +uniform! But," he added gravely, "Benedetti must not speak to me about +compensation; I should not be able to delay my answer!" + +Count Bismarck bowed. + +"I must, however, direct your majesty's attention," he said, "to +another subject. The disposition of the Russian court is unfavourable, +and I fear our new acquisitions will cause increased displeasure." + +"I feared this," said the king. + +"It is important," proceeded Count Bismarck, "that the sky should be +clear in that quarter. We must paralyze the influence exerted against +us, and call Russia's attention to the interest she has in preserving +the friendship of Prussia and Germany, both now and in the future. It +will be needful to send a skilful person to St. Petersburg. I will lay +before your majesty a sketch of my views in this direction, and if you +graciously approve, it will serve as the ambassador's instructions." + +"Do so," said the king, with animation, "not only politically but +personally I am most anxious to preserve the undisturbed friendship of +Russia. I will send Manteuffel," he said after a little consideration, +"he is quite the man for it, as soon as the war in Bavaria is ended." + +Count Bismarck bowed in silence. He then said: + +"Your majesty, a Hanoverian equerry has just arrived here with a letter +from the king. He has brought me a note from Count Platen." + +A sorrowful expression came into the king's face. + +"What does he write?" he asked. + +"The king acknowledges your majesty as the victor in Germany, and is +ready to accept such terms of peace as your majesty will grant." + +For a long time the king was silent. + +"Oh!" he cried, "if I could but help him. Poor George! Could not a +curtailed Hanover without military independence be permitted?" + +Count Bismarck's eyes looked with icy calmness and complete firmness on +the king's excited face. + +"Your majesty has decided that the incorporation of Hanover is +necessary for the safety and power of Prussia. What good would a sham +monarchy, a simple principality do to the Guelphs? But to us, such a +hiatus inhabited by a hostile population would be dangerous. Your +majesty must remember what mischief the Hanoverians would have done us, +had they retained Gablenz, or had the general staff ordered less +incomprehensible marches. Such a danger must be rendered impossible for +the future!" + +"Queen Frederika was the sister of my mother," said the king in a voice +that trembled slightly. + +"I venerate the ties of royal blood that unite your majesty to King +George," said Count Bismarck, "and I have personally the highest +sympathy for that unhappy prince; but," he said, raising his voice, +"your majesty's nearest and dearest relation is the Prussian people, +whose blood has flowed on these battle-fields--the people of Frederick +the Great, the people of 1813. Your majesty must pay them the price of +their blood. Forgive me, your majesty, if I am bold when speaking in +the name of your people. I know my words only express feelings your +royal heart deeply and loudly echoes. If your majesty receives the +king's letter," he added, "you bind your hands, you commence +negotiations, which ought not to be begun!" + +The king sighed deeply. + +"God is my witness," he said, "that I did all I could to avoid a breach +with Hanover, and to save the king from the hard fate which now falls +upon him. Believe me," he added, "my heart could make no greater +sacrifice to Prussia, her greatness, and her calling in Germany, than +in yielding to this necessity." + +A moisture clouded the king's clear eyes. + +"Decline to receive the letter!" he said with emotion, sorrowfully +bending his head. + +"God bless your majesty," cried Bismarck with kindling eyes, "for the +sake of Prussia and of Germany!" + +General von Moltke looked gravely at his royal commander with an +expression of earnest love and admiration. + +Silently the king motioned with his hand and turned to the window. + +Count Bismarck and the general left the cabinet. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + THE CRISIS. + + +Langensalza had grown very quiet after its days of storm and +excitement. The Hanoverian army was disbanded, and had returned home. +The Prussian troops had advanced upon other enemies in the south and +west, and the little town was now as placid and still as it had been +for long years before, until Fate chose it for the theatre of so bloody +a struggle. + +But although the streets were as quiet and monotonous as ever in the +hot sunshine of midsummer, within the houses a quiet life went on of +inexhaustible love and mercy, that love and mercy which the tempest of +war always calls forth so abundantly, and which is so lovely a witness +of the eternal and indestructible connection between man's heart and +the God of unconquerable love, of inexhaustible compassion. + +Many of the severely wounded Prussians and Hanoverians could not be +moved, and numerous hospitals were formed. All the private houses had +received the poor sacrifices of war, and from Prussia and Hanover, +besides the sisters of mercy and deaconesses, numerous relatives of the +wounded had arrived, to undertake the care of those they loved. + +When the sun was setting, and the twilight brought the coolness of +evening, many women and girls in dark, simple dresses, with grave +faces, walked silently through the streets, hastily breathing in a +little fresh air, to obtain strength to continue their work of loving +self-sacrifice; and the looks of the inhabitants followed them with +quiet sympathy, as they sat before their doors after their day's work +was over, talking in whispers about one group after another as it +passed. + +Madame von Wendenstein, with her daughter and Helena, had been most +kindly received into old Lohmeier's house, Margaret preparing two rooms +in the well-to-do burgher house with every possible comfort, whilst the +candidate found a lodging in a neighbouring hotel. + +Trembling with anxiety, Madame von Wendenstein approached her son's +bed, repressing by a powerful effort the convulsive sobs that +threatened to choke her. The young lieutenant lay rigid and quiet, his +low, regular breathing the only sign of life. + +The mother took his hand, bent over him, and gently breathed a kiss +upon his brow; and under the magnetic influence of a mother's kiss, the +young man slowly opened his eyes, and gazed around with a vacant look. +But then a happy ray of recognition animated the senseless eyes, a +smile came to his lips, and the mother felt an almost imperceptible +pressure on her fingers. + +The old lady sank on her knees beside the bed, laid her head on her +son's hand, and, in silent unspoken prayer, besought God to preserve +this life, dearer to her than her own. + +The two young girls stood behind Madame von Wendenstein. Helena's large +burning eyes were fixed on the image of the man, now so weak and +fragile, who had left her so fresh and strong. His sister concealed her +tears with her handkerchief; but Helena's eyes were dry and bright, her +pale features composed and motionless. She stood with folded hands, and +her lips trembled slightly. + +Lieutenant von Wendenstein's widely-opened eyes fell on the young girl, +when his mother sank down beside his bed. A gleam of happiness passed +over his face, his eyes brightened with a look of delight, his lips +opened slightly, but a hard, rattling breath came from his mouth, and a +red foam appeared on his lips. His eyelids closed again, and the face +lay deadly pale and rigid on the white pillow. + +Then the surgeon arrived, and brought uncertain comfort, and a time +commenced of unwearied watching--that quiet work, so difficult in its +simplicity and on which so rich a blessing rests, which raises the +heart so high above all earthly things, to the Fount of love, the +Eternal Lord of human life and human fate. How easy it seems to sit in +a comfortable chair, and watch the sleep of the sick; how small the +trouble of laying a cooling bandage on a wound, of placing a nourishing +drink, a composing medicine to the lips! + +But who can weigh the anguish and anxiety with which the loving eye +hangs on each movement of the eyelash, on each quiver of the lip, on +every breath! The life of the sick may be endangered by a minute's +sleep, a forgotten order. Oh! how great these small, unimportant +services are through the long nights, when the seconds, wont to fly so +quickly, roll heavily, drearily into the sea of eternity; how small and +colourless all the changing brilliant doings of the outer world appear, +compared with the quiet sick-room and its holy work of preserving a +human life, and staying the Fates' cold hands, with their pitiless +shears, from severing a tender thread, on which hang joy and hope, love +and happiness, work and success! + +And when recovery slowly, slowly approaches the bed of pain, like a +tender spring flower coyly raising its head, ever threatened by the +rough hand of a wintry death, who hesitatingly and unwillingly gives up +his prey, and with his cold flakes strives to stifle the bloom so +unweariedly tended day and night; how the loving heart bows down in +humble thanksgiving before the Almighty, in whose hand human life is +but a breath, which in a moment can fail, and which yet is so carefully +preserved, and adorned with such rich blessing. How small appear human +wishes, human will; how resignedly the heart learns to pray, "Lord, not +my will, but Thine be done!" with what trust and faith the soul rises +to the Father beyond the stars, who says, "Ask, and it shall be given +you." + +Madame von Wendenstein passed through all these phases of inner life +beside the bed of her son; hoping and fearing, doubting and trusting, +she always maintained her outward calmness, and performed all the +duties of a nurse, assisted by the two young girls. Pale and quiet, +Helena took her share of the work, her large, dreamy eyes, quickened by +anxiety, watching every feature of the wounded man. + +And hope had come, rejoicing every heart. The patient had passed +through the first fever from the wound. The ball had been +satisfactorily extracted; only one crisis more had to be feared--the +flow of blood which had filled the deep wound; then there was only the +recovery of strength to the much-shaken nervous system. + +The most complete quiet was ordered by the surgeon; no loud sound must +be permitted to reach the patient's ear; no question must be answered, +and smiling lips and friendly glances must be the only language between +the sufferer and his nurses. + +And how expressive was this language! + +What pure, warm light flowed from Helena's eyes when they rested on the +pale face of the sleeper; how they hung on every breath, how thankfully +were they raised above when the regular breathing told of soft and +gentle sleep! + +And when the sufferer opened his eyes, and saw those glances, what +bright, expressive looks, though weak from illness, replied. How +wonderful is it that the eye can express so much, that small circle +which yet can comprehend and mirror back the firmament, with its stars, +the everlasting mountains, and the boundless sea; what no words can +utter, what the most glowing poetry cannot express, is all said by the +eye, with its fine shades of varied expression; and above all by the +eyes of the sick, because, banished from the changing and distracting +pictures of the world, they have grown clearer and more transparent, +revealing more plainly all that passes in the self-contained soul. + +When the eyes of the wounded officer rested on the young girl, their +deep eloquence telling whole volumes of poetry, recollections of the +past, hopeful dreams for the future, her eyes fell, and a slight blush +passed over her brow, and yet she raised them again, and her answer +sparkled through a veil of tears. + +Once when Helena offered him some cooling drink, his long, thin, white +hand, with its dark blue veins, was stretched out towards her, she gave +him hers, and he clasped it, and held it for a long time, and his eyes +rested on her so thankfully, so enquiringly, so longingly, that, with a +sudden crimson blush, she withdrew her hand; but her look had answered +his, and, smiling, he closed his eyes, to dream again in light and +happy slumber. + +And often since then, with an imploring look, he had held out his hand, +and she had given him hers,--and then her hand had been gently pressed +to his lips, and a kiss had been breathed on it with the hot breath of +sickness, and again tremblingly she had withdrawn her hand, and again +their eyes had met, and a happy smile had appeared upon her lips. And +the dumb language between them had grown richer and clearer, and he had +often opened his lips as if to make his feeble voice enforce the words +his eyes had spoken; but with a sweet smile she had laid her finger on +her lips, and his mouth had remained silent. At last his lips moved as +she sat by his bed, and in the lowest whisper he said, "Dear Helena." + +Then with a quick movement and a brilliant look she had held out her +hand to him, and had not withdrawn it when he had pressed it long and +fervently to his lips. + +Madame von Wendenstein had seen much of this dumb language, and had +understood it;--for what woman does not understand it? and what mother +is indifferent when the heart of a beloved son turns with tender +feelings to her who through the warfare of daily life may carry on a +gentle woman's work, begun by the mother herself during the quiet years +of childhood, that work of mild, consoling, gentle, forgiving love, +without which man's strength is hard and unfruitful; without which +man's work is without charm and graceful inspiration? Lost in these +reflections she had often sat watching the movements of the two young +hearts; whether it was pleasing to her, whether she saw with joy or +grief that which was unfolded to her, and which she could not prevent, +was hard to read in her pale, but calm and cheerful features; +nevertheless she was deeply moved by the sight of this flower of love +springing up from her son's bed of pain. And when one day the wounded +man put out both hands, and taking her hand and Helena's at the same +moment, silently implored that a mother's love might be given to his +beloved, without speaking she passed her arms round Helena, and +imprinted a kiss upon her brow; then her daughter came, and tenderly +pressed Helena to her heart; and the sick man with a look of happiness +folded his pale hands together in thankfulness. + +Thus in the chamber of sickness a rich, eventful life went on, a link +between two hearts was formed, so pure, so tender, so delicate, so +holy, that it scarcely could have been thus perfected amidst the +distractions of the world; no words had been exchanged, but all was +understood--all knew what had sprung up on the border land that divides +life from death; they knew it had taken root strongly, and would grow +up in the future life. Thus God, whilst ruling the terrible tempests +that convulsed the world, and bringing forth a new order of things from +the mighty struggle of the nations of Germany--seized with a gentle, +tender hand the inner life of these two human hearts, imprinting deep +and silent feelings as indelibly, as the gigantic characters in which +His eternal judgments were graven on the tablets of history. + +Fritz Deyke, with his clear, true eyes, saw plainly enough what was +going on beside the sick-bed of his lieutenant; he had not said a word, +but he had managed to express that he understood, and was perfectly +satisfied, by his respectful attentions and hearty sympathy to the +pastor's daughter, and when he saw Helena sitting beside the +lieutenant's bed, he looked with a smile from one to the other, and +gave an approving nod, as if applauding some satisfactory thought. + +Since the ladies' arrival he only came to and fro to the sick room, +bringing everything needful, and at night he insisted on undertaking +the last and most weary hours of watching, driving away the ladies with +good-natured brusqueness. + +But he was unwearied in assisting the pretty Margaret in all her +occupations, in her endeavour to make their quiet monotonous life as +agreeable as possible to her guests, and in her efforts to provide them +with every comfort; then he had almost taken old Lohmeier's place out +of doors, in the stable and garden, assisting everywhere with skilful +hand, lightening much of the old man's work, and relieving him entirely +of the rest. And in the evening he sat before the door with his host +and his daughter; the father listened well pleased and smiled +approvingly at his daughter when the sturdy son of Wendland, who had +long before thrown aside his soldier's coat, told stories of his home; +the old man gave a nod of satisfaction when it appeared from these +histories that old Deyke was a well-to-do man, and that a rich +inheritance must one day descend to his only son and heir. + +The candidate came several times daily to see the ladies. Sometimes in +a quiet manner he helped a little in nursing. Sometimes he spoke a few +well-chosen words of comfort to the old lady. He went in and out of all +the houses where there were sick and wounded, offered spiritual +consolation, and was unwearied in assisting and directing in the +hospitals, so that he won the general respect and gratitude of all the +inhabitants of Langensalza, and all the relatives of the wounded. +Madame von Wendenstein was full of his praise, and took every +opportunity of showing her esteem and gratitude to the young clergyman. + +Helena kept aloof from her cousin, and he did not seek her more than +every-day intercourse required. But his eyes often rested on her with a +strange expression, and an evil glance darted from them when he saw the +young girl sitting beside the bed of the wounded officer, when her +whole soul lay in her eyes, and the feelings of her heart were warmly +reflected in her features; but no word, no sign betrayed that he +guessed what had taken place in solitude and silence. + +Late in the afternoon of one of the last days of July Madame von +Wendenstein sat, with her daughter, in her room. The window was wide +open to admit the cooler air that streamed in as the day declined. The +door of the sick-room stood open, and Helena sat by the bedside, +attentively watching the quiet slumberer as he lay with a smiling +expression of happiness on his pale features. + +The candidate sat with the ladies in his faultless black dress, a white +necktie of dazzling purity carefully arranged around his neck, and his +hair brushed smoothly down on each side of his forehead. + +He spoke in a low voice as he told Madame von Wendenstein of the other +sufferers whom he had visited. + +"You have chosen a beautiful calling," said the old lady, smiling +kindly on the young clergyman; "in such times as these especially, it +must be a glorious satisfaction to bear the divine words of comfort to +sufferers, and to raise and refresh their souls amidst bodily pain." + +"But in such times as these," said the candidate, in a humble voice, +casting his eyes to the ground, "I feel doubly what an unworthy +instrument I am in the hand of Providence; when I speak to sufferers +who have already stretched out their hands to eternity, who already +behold the glories of a future world, I often ask myself whether I am +worthy to tell them of their Lord, and I tremble beneath the weight of +my office. But," he continued, folding his hands together, "the power +of the divine word gives strength even to an unworthy instrument to +work mightily; and I can say with joy that many a heart in health +devoted to the world, has through my means, on the brink of eternity, +received the faith, and obtained salvation." + +"How many families will be grateful to you!" said Madame von +Wendenstein warmly, as she held out her hand to him. + +"They must not be grateful to me, but to Him who is mighty through me," +replied the candidate, in a low voice, bowing his head. + +And at the same moment he turned a quick glance towards the sick-room, +in which a slight sound was heard. + +The surgeon had entered softly; he approached the bed, watched his +sleeping patient attentively for some little time, then he bent over +him, gently removed the covering of the wound, and examined it +carefully. + +After a few minutes he joined the ladies in the other room. + +Madame von Wendenstein looked at him anxiously. Helena followed him, +and remained standing at the door. + +"Everything is progressing excellently," said the surgeon; "and though +I cannot say all danger is over, I can assure you that every day my +hopes of a complete recovery increase." + +Madame von Wendenstein thanked him for this good news with emotion, and +Helena's eyes smiled through tears. + +"For some time to come absolute quiet will be needful. Any shock to the +much shaken nervous system might bring on fever of an inflammatory or +typhoid character, and in the present state of weakness this would be +fatal. The deep wound is still filled with blood; this can only be +slowly absorbed and dispersed. Any sudden flow of blood from a violent +effort might be fatal; therefore, I repeat it, absolute quiet is the +first essential in the recovery of our patient, and nature will assist +his youthful strength to repair the injury he has received. Nothing can +be done beyond a slight compress to the wound, a little cooling +medicine, and the maintenance of the strength by light nourishment. But +now, ladies, I must exercise my medical authority upon you," he +continued. "It is a long time since you have been in the open air, and +to-day it is deliciously cool. You must go out!" + +Madame von Wendenstein hesitated. + +"It is needful for our patient's sake," said the surgeon, "that you +should keep up your strength. What would become of him if you were to +be ill? You must take a real walk. Fritz can take care of the patient, +who wants nothing but sleep." + +"Oh, I will stay here," cried Helena; but suddenly recollecting +herself, she was silent, and looked down with a blush. + +"I beg, my dear lady," said the candidate, "that you will follow our +friend's prescription without any anxiety. I will remain with Herr von +Wendenstein. I have learned what to do beside a sick bed. Go, for you +all need this refreshment." + +"Quick, then," said the doctor. "I will take you to a beautiful shady +walk, and you will see what wonderful good you feel from that medicine +which nature prescribes for all--fresh air." + +Madame von Wendenstein put on her bonnet and mantle, and the young +ladies followed her example. Helena looked anxiously at the wounded +officer, and then hesitatingly followed the other ladies, who with the +surgeon had already left the room. + +The candidate, with downcast eyes and a gentle smile, accompanied her +to the door. He then turned back, entered the sick-room, and seated +himself in the armchair near the bed. + +From his pale face the gentle smile and the expression of spiritual +peace and priestly dignity vanished. His half-closed, downcast eyes +opened widely, and were fixed upon the sleeper with a look of hatred, +and his thin lips were pressed firmly together. + +There was a wonderful contrast between the wounded officer--who lay +stretched on his couch in light slumber, his eyes closed, the +reflection of sweet and pure dreams shining in his face, whilst on his +brow appeared a glimpse of heaven, a spark of the Divine breath--and +the man who sat near him in the garments of a priest, a horrible +expression of low, earthly passion and demoniacal hatred upon his +countenance. + +The wounded man tossed his head a little to and fro, as if he felt +disturbed by the look the candidate fixed upon him, then with a deep +sigh he opened his eyes and turned them joyfully towards the place +where he hoped to see the beloved form that had filled his dreams. With +large, surprised, almost frightened eyes, he saw the clergyman beside +him. The candidate compelled his countenance suddenly to resume its +usual calm expression, lowering his eyes to conceal their hatred, for +he knew that even his strong powers of will could not at once banish +this expression. + +"Do you want anything, Herr von Wendenstein?" asked the candidate, in a +low, gentle voice. "The ladies have gone out, and they have left me +here to take care of you." + +Lieutenant von Wendenstein raised his finger a little and pointed to a +small table near the bed, on which stood a carafe of fresh water and a +small vial filled with a red fluid. + +The candidate poured a few drops of the medicine into a glass of water, +and held it to the lieutenant's lips, who raised his head with some +little difficulty and drank it. + +The eyes of the wounded man said as plainly as possible, "I thank you." + +The candidate put down the glass, folded his hands together, and said, +as he cast down his eyes,-- + +"Did you think, Herr von Wendenstein, when your body craved earthly +refreshment that your soul needed a spiritual medicine to strengthen +and refresh it in the valley of the shadow of death, that if Providence +sees fit to call it hence, it may be prepared to stand before the +Judge, and to give an account of the deeds done in the flesh?" + +The wounded man's eyes, which after the cooling drink, were closing +again in slumbrous weariness, opened widely, and gazed upon the +candidate with astonishment and fear. He was accustomed to be spoken to +by looks, by signs, by single words whispered low, and his wearied +nerves shuddered at this unusual mode of speech. Then, too, the loving +care that had watched him in sickness and encouraged with fostering +hand the seed of convalescence, had surrounded him with pictures of +hope, with assurances of a new life blooming in the future, so that the +sharp and sudden mention of death, with his threatening hand still +stretched over him, affected him as if on a sunny, flower-scented day +he had suddenly felt the ice-cold breath of a newly-opened vault. A +slight shudder ran through his frame, and he feebly shook his head, as +if to free himself from the gloomy picture so suddenly called up. + +"Have you thought," continued the candidate, suddenly raising his voice +and speaking sharply and impressively, "how you will pass through those +black, dreadful hours, those hours now perhaps very near you, when your +soul, with convulsive shudders, will tear itself free from the cold +body--when your heart must leave every earthly joy, every earthly hope, +and lay them in the dark depths of the grave, where the body, born of +dust, must return to the dust of which it is formed?" + +The eyes of the wounded man grew larger, a feverish glow burned on his +cheeks, and there was an imploring expression in the look he turned +upon the candidate. + +He fixed his eyes upon the young officer with the electric fascinating +gaze with which the rattlesnake turns its prey to stone. + +"Have you thought," continued the candidate, and his sharp voice seemed +to cut deep down into the sick man's soul, as his looks glared into his +horror-stricken eyes, "have you thought, that then, at the trumpet +blast of eternity, you must stand before the throne of a righteous and +severe Judge and give an account of your life? Your last act was +murder; the shedding of a brother's blood in a struggle justified by +earthly laws; but must it not appear a deadly sin in the eyes of +Eternal Justice?" + +The features of the wounded man quivered, the feverish flush increased, +and his eyelids sank and rose with a quick involuntary movement. + +"Heaven has shown you great mercy," said the candidate, "you have been +granted time for preparation here on a bed of sickness, for eternity, +whilst many were called away in the midst of mortal sin. Have you +worthily used the time so graciously granted you? Have you turned your +thoughts and desires away from all worldly things, and fixed them on +things eternal? Have you banished from your heart every earthly wish, +every earthly hope? Does it not still cling to earth? Judge yourself, +and let not the short time of grace be in vain!" + +The candidate bent down lower and lower, and fixed his glaring eyes on +those of the lieutenant, whose violent nervous agitation greatly +increased. His pale hands trembled even to the tips of the fingers, he +raised them with a repelling movement, and pointed to the table, whilst +with difficulty in a feeble voice, he gasped "Water!" + +The candidate brought the green fire of his sparkling eyes still closer +to the sick man's face, he stretched his right hand over his head +whilst with the fingers of the left he pointed to his heart, and he +said in a low voice: + +"Think of the Water of Life, try to become worthy of the Well-spring of +Grace that alone can cool the torturing flames of eternal damnation. +They are ready for you, if you do not use this short time of grace, and +rend every earthly thought from your heart! The time that remains to +you is brief, and if your soul still clings to the past, it will fall +into the abyss already yawning before you!" + +A slight red foam appeared on the wounded man's lips, his eyes opened +widely, and stared unconsciously around. His out-stretched fingers were +stiff, and his whole frame terribly convulsed. + +The clergyman bent down closer over him, and in a harsh rough whisper +muttered in his ear: + +"The pit opens, the sulphurous flames ascend, you hear the lamentations +of endless torment, the supplications of the damned that can no longer +reach the Ear of Mercy; the light of heaven goes out, and the outcast +soul sinks into the dreadful horror, which no living spirit can +conceive, no living heart can imagine,--sinks, deeper, deeper,--ever +deeper." + +A sudden shudder passed through the wounded man's frame, a rattling +breath forced itself from his labouring breast, his lips opened and a +stream of thick black blood flowed from his mouth. His face grew deadly +pale. + +The candidate was silent, he rose slowly, his eyes firmly fixed on the +face trembling in its death struggle; he drew back his hands and stood +with a cruel smile, calm and motionless. + +The door of the next room was softly opened and a careful footstep was +heard. + +The candidate started. With a great effort he compelled his features to +resume their usual expression of pious dignity; he folded his hands on +his breast, and turned his head towards the door. + +Fritz Deyke appeared and cautiously popped in his head. + +"Ah! you are here, sir?" he said in a whisper, "I was busy in the +stable, but I heard the ladies had gone out, so I thought I would come +and look at my lieutenant. Lord God in heaven!" he cried, suddenly +rushing to the bed, "what is this? my lieutenant is dying!" + +He seized the stiff hand of the sick man, and bent over the apparently +lifeless body. + +"I fear the worst," said the candidate calmly, in a mild voice, full of +melancholy sympathy. "A violent cramp seized the poor young man, and +the breaking of a blood-vessel seems to have ended our hopes. It was +quick and sudden, whilst I was endeavouring to cheer him by friendly +converse, and spiritual consolation!" + +"My God! my God!" cried Fritz, "this is too horrible--what will become +of his poor mother, of Miss Helena?" + +And hastening to the door he called loudly, in an accent of grief and +despair,-- + +"Margaret! Margaret!" + +The young girl rushed upstairs; the sound of Fritz's voice as he called +her had alarmed her, and she looked anxiously in at the door of the +sick-room. + +"My lieutenant is dying! for God's sake fetch the doctor quickly!" +cried Fritz Deyke as he went to meet her. + +Margaret glanced hastily at the bed, saw the pale face and streaming +blood, and wringing her hands together, with a low outcry hastened +away. + +Fritz Deyke knelt before the bed, and with a handkerchief wiped away +the blood from the lieutenant's mouth, repeating again and again, "My +God! my God! his poor mother!" + +The candidate went into the adjoining room, and seized his hat; then he +suddenly determined to remain; he stood still for a moment, and then +seated himself so that he could see into the sick-room. + +Margaret had hastened out; she knew the way that the surgeon had taken +with the ladies, and flew after him. She soon saw him near the first +houses of the little town. He had led the ladies to a shady alley, and +was taking leave of them, as he wished to return to his other patients. + +The young maiden was quite breathless when she reached him. The surgeon +looked at her with amazement, Helena's eyes were fixed upon her in +anxious fear. + +"For God's sake, sir!" cried Margaret, struggling for breath enough to +bring out her words, "I think--I fear--the poor lieutenant--" + +"What has happened?" cried the surgeon, in alarm. + +"I fear he is dead," gasped Margaret. "Come, quick! quick!" + +Madame von Wendenstein seized the surgeon's arm, as if seeking a +support, but she hastened along in silence, really hurrying the doctor +with her; he was endeavouring to gain from Margaret some particulars of +this unexpected seizure. + +Helena rushed on first, and her flying feet scarcely touched the +ground. She uttered one cry when Margaret gave her terrible message, +then she fled with vacant eyes through the streets, until she came to +old Lohmeier's house, and flying up the stairs, reached the +lieutenant's room. + +She paused for a moment at the threshold, sighed deeply, and pressed +both her hands against her breast. Then she opened the door, and stood +gazing on the young man's deathlike face. Nothing had changed, and +Fritz Deyke stood before him, carefully removing the blood that +streamed from his lips with a white handkerchief. + +Fritz raised his head and turned round. When he saw Helena standing +there an image of silent despair, he comprehended that her sorrow was +greater than his own. He rose slowly, and said, in a low, trembling +voice,-- + +"I think the good God has called him; come, Miss Helena, if anyone can +awake him, you can!" + +And gently seizing her hand he led her to the bed. + +She sank upon her knees, and taking the lieutenant's hand pressed it to +her lips, breathing on it with her warm breath; her sad, tearless eyes +were fixed upon his face, and her lips sometimes moved, repeating the +same whispered words, "Oh! my God! let me follow him!" + +Thus they continued motionless for some time--Helena crouched beside +the bed, Fritz Deyke standing near her, and regarding her with great +emotion, as he brushed away the tears with the back of his hand. The +candidate sat in the adjoining room, with an expression of deep +sympathy upon his features, his hands folded, and his lips moving as if +in silent prayer. + +Then came the surgeon and the two ladies. + +Madame von Wendenstein was about to hasten to her son's bedside, but +the surgeon held her back gravely, almost roughly. + +"No one can be of any use here but myself," he said energetically; "the +sick belong to me. Ladies must leave the room; if they are wanted, I +will call them." + +Fritz gently pushed Madame von Wendenstein and her daughter into the +adjoining room; Helena rose quietly, and seated herself at some +distance. + +The surgeon approached the bed; he carefully examined the sick man's +face, looked at the wound, and held his hand for a long time upon his +heart, gazing at his watch at the same time. + +The candidate went up to Madame von Wendenstein, who had sunk upon a +chair, her face covered with her hands. + +"Compose yourself, much honoured lady," he said in his gentlest voice; +"all hope is not yet over, and if it is the will of Providence to put a +period to your son's life, you must think how many, many parents have +to bear the same, and often even greater sorrow." + +Madame von Wendenstein only replied by her sobs. + +The old surgeon now returned to the ladies. Scarcely had he left the +bed, when Helena returned to her place, and again taking the hand +strove to warm it with her breath. + +"It is a frightful crisis," said the doctor; "I cannot understand its +cause, but alas! it leaves us little hope. We must be prepared for the +worst; but the heart still beats, and as long as there is a spark of +life a physician does not despair. There is really nothing to be done; +if nature does not help herself, our knowledge is powerless. But how," +he continued, turning to the candidate, "did this alarming crisis come +on? My patient was perfectly quiet when I last saw him." + +"He continued so," said the candidate, "for some time after I had taken +my place beside his bed; he awoke from a deep sleep, I gave him some +drink, and he appeared quite well; whilst I was endeavouring to refresh +his soul with spiritual consolation, a convulsive movement came on, +followed by this gush of blood. It was quick and sudden." + +"Well, well," said the surgeon, "what I hoped might proceed gently and +gradually has taken place suddenly, from a violent nervous crisis +setting free the blood collected in the vessels. It is scarcely +possible that this can have happened without causing serious mischief, +besides the frightful effect upon the nerves. Did you talk to him +much?" he asked, looking firmly at the candidate. + +"I said," he replied, folding his hands, "what my calling requires me +to say to the sick, I hardly know whether he understood me." + +"Forgive me, sir," said the surgeon, in a brusque voice, shaking his +head, "I am not one of those who despise religion, and from my heart I +believe that all help comes from God; but in this case it really would +have been better to let him sleep." + +"The word of God, with its wondrous power, is never out of place," +replied the candidate in a cold tone of conviction, raising his eyes +with a pious expression. + +"My God! my God!" cried Helena from the next room, in a loud, +half-frightened, half-joyful voice, "he lives, he wakes!" + +They all hastened into the room; the physician went to the head of the +bed, whilst Helena still knelt and pressed the lieutenant's hand to her +lips. + +He had opened his eyes, and turned a wondering look from one face to +another, as if surprised at the excitement he saw on every countenance. + +"What has happened?" he asked in a low, but perfectly clear voice, +whilst a slight flow of blood still came from his lips. "I have had a +bad, bad dream,--I thought I was dying." + +His eyes closed again. + +The surgeon raised the pillows that supported his head, gently took his +hand from Helena, and examined his pulse. + +"A glass of wine," he cried. + +Fritz Deyke hurried away, and returned in a moment with a glass of old +dark red wine. + +The surgeon held it to his patient's lips. He drank it eagerly to the +last drop. + +In trembling anxiety they all awaited the result. Helena's face was as +pale as marble; her soul lay in her eyes. + +After a short time a tinge of colour came to von Wendenstein's cheek, a +deep sigh heaved his breast, and he opened his eyes. + +They rested on Helena, and a smile passed over his face. + +"Draw a deep breath," said the doctor. + +He did so immediately. + +"Does it hurt you?" + +The young officer shook his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on +Helena. + +The doctor again felt his pulse, laid his hand on his brow, and +listened attentively to his breathing. + +He then went up to Madame von Wendenstein, and said, as he held out his +hand to her with a joyful smile, "Nature has conquered this violent +crisis, now only rest and nourishment are needed; thank God, your son +is saved!" + +The old lady approached the bed, pressed an affectionate kiss upon her +son's brow, and gazed long into his eyes. + +Then she left the room, and sank upon the sofa in the adjoining +apartment: the frightful excitement and the long, anxious suspense had +so exhausted her strength that her whole soul sought relief in a storm +of tears. + +Helena remained sitting near the bed, still holding the hand of her +beloved, still gazing upon him calm and motionless, the brilliancy of +perfect happiness on her pale features. + +The candidate remained standing, with folded hands; he retained the +gentle smile unchanged upon his lips, whilst his eyes never moved from +the scene at the lieutenant's bedside. + +After a little consideration the doctor wrote a prescription, and, +rising with the paper in his hand, joined the others. + +"Our patient must take this every hour," he said. "I hope he may sleep +quietly during the night; to-morrow, or the next day, we can begin a +strengthening diet, and if God continues to help us, we may soon look +for a rapid recovery." + +He turned to the Candidate Behrmann. + +"Forgive my hasty words," he said gravely. "You were right when you +spoke of the divine power of God's word. God has indeed performed a +wonder; not one case in a hundred would have passed through such a +crisis favourably. I bow before this wonder, and with you I look up +with thankfulness and adoration to the Day-spring who sends down +knowledge and faith to us, as rays of light from an eternal centre." + +He spoke warmly and feelingly as he held out his hand to the candidate. +An indescribable expression appeared on Behrmann's face. He cast down +his eyes, bent his head, and was silent. + +Then he remembered that many sick friends were wanting him, and he took +leave of Madame von Wendenstein with a few words of sympathy. He went +up to Helena and took her hand. + +Why did she withdraw it with a hasty movement of fear? Why did an icy +coldness stream from his fingers to her heart? Did she see the +involuntary look which flashed from his eyes when he approached the +bed, or was it that secret instinct which causes unexplained sympathy +and antipathy, often judging more truly than the longest experience, +the deepest knowledge of mankind, or the most prudent reflection? + +The physician and the candidate departed, and the ladies were left +alone with the invalid, who fell into a calm sleep. + +Fritz Deyke, whose strong nerves soon recovered from the excitement of +the last hour, gave himself up completely to joy. After he had fetched +the lieutenant's medicine he hastened into the little garden, where +Margaret was watering her flowers, whose drooping heads told of the +excessive heat of the last few days. + +He said very little. He hurried to and fro, filling her watering-pot +again and again; and then he made little channels in the ground to the +roots of the plants, that the water might penetrate more quickly. He +admired the quickness and grace with which Margaret watered her plants; +how lightly and cleverly she raised the drooping flowers and tied them +to sticks, and he saw that sometimes she looked kindly at him, and that +she blushed a little when he observed it. + +Then he seated himself with old Lohmeier and his daughter at their +simple but excellent supper, and again he admired Margaret's adroitness +and attention to her household duties, and the cheerful comfort she +shed around her. + +And he thought to himself how pretty she would look in the rich old +farmhouse at Blechow, and how the elder Deyke would rejoice at having +such a housekeeper and daughter-in-law. What Margaret thought was her +own secret, but she looked supremely happy as she served her father and +his guest, and performed all the duties of an attentive housewife, with +the skill of an experienced hostess and the grace of a lovely girl. + +Thus quiet joy and hopeful happiness prevailed throughout the good +burgher house in Langensalza. + +The candidate Behrmann visited many of the sick and wounded, and +unweariedly spoke eloquent and impressive words of comfort, and he +refused all thanks with humility. He advised and ordered in the +hospitals; and praises of the pious, gifted, and exemplary young +clergyman resounded from every lip. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + RECONCILIATION. + + +Countess Frankenstein sat in the reception-room of her house in the +Herrengasse, in Vienna. Nothing had altered in this salon; the +prodigious events and the mighty storms that had shaken the power of +the House of Hapsburg to its very foundations could not have been +suspected from the aspect of this room when unoccupied, so complete was +its stamp of aristocratic immutability and perfect repose. There was +the same old furniture which had already served several generations, +now looking down from their faintly gleaming frames of tarnished +gilding upon the doings of their children and grand-children; there was +the high, wide chimney-piece, the flames from which had been reflected +in the bright, youthful eyes of those who long ago had become staid +grandmothers; there was the same clock with its groups of shepherds and +shepherdesses which had marked the moment of birth and the moment of +death of many a member of the family, and with equal calmness had added +second to second in hours of joy or hours of sorrow. Amongst all these +objects, lifeless indeed but full of memories, and accustomed to look +calmly on the happiness or sadness of generations passed away, sat the +living beings of the present, deeply moved and distressed by the +terrible and unexpected blow which had fallen on the House of Hapsburg +and on Austria. + +The old Countess Frankenstein was grave and dignified as ever, but +there was a sorrowful expression on her proud, calm face as she sat on +the large sofa; beside her, dressed in black, sat the Countess Clam +Gallas, whoso tearful eyes were often covered with her embroidered +handkerchief. Opposite the ladies sat General von Reischach; his fresh, +healthy face glowed brightly as ever, the dark eyes looked out keen and +lively beneath his short white hair, but though this expression of +jovial cheerfulness could not be banished, there was beyond it a look +of melancholy grief. Countess Clara sat beside her mother, leaning back +in an arm-chair, and on her young and beautiful face lay a breath of +deep sorrow, for she was a true daughter of the proud Austrian +aristocracy, and she felt deeply and keenly the humiliation which the +ancient banners of the empire had suffered at Koeniggraetz, but her +melancholy was spread but as a light veil over the joy and happiness +that filled her dreamy eyes. Notwithstanding all the dangers of +Trautenau and Koeniggraetz, Lieutenant von Stielow had returned +unwounded; the war was now as good as ended, she feared no fresh perils +for him, and when the war was concluded, preparations for the marriage +were to be commenced. + +The young countess sat in a dreamy reverie, pursuing the charming +pictures unrolled for the future, and hearing little of the +conversation carried on around her. + +"This disaster is the effect of the incomprehensible regard shown to +the clamour of the lower classes," cried Countess Clam Gallas, in a +voice trembling with grief and anger. "Benedek received the chief +command because he was 'a man of the people;' the officers of noble +birth were thus hurt, injured, and passed over; we now see what all +this has led to. I have nothing to say against the rights of merit and +talent," she continued, "history teaches us that great field marshals +have been found among common soldiers, but people should not be pushed +forward who have no talent and whose only merit is courage, simply +because they are not of distinguished birth! And now they make the +aristocracy answerable for the defeat. Count Clam's treatment is an +insult to the whole of the Austrian aristocracy." + +"You must not look upon it in that light, countess," said General von +Reischach; "on the contrary, I think the proceedings against Count Clam +Gallas will stop all evil mouths, for it will be an excellent +opportunity for stating the real causes of our defeat. When public +opinion, led on by a couple of journalists, had loaded the count with +reproaches, he was right in demanding a strict investigation, and it +was Mensdorff's duty to urge it upon the emperor. Let us wait the +result, it will show that the Austrian nobility is above reproach." + +"It is very hard," cried the countess, "to be so personally affected +by the common misfortune!" And she wiped the tears that had again +flowed, with her handkerchief. + +"Tell us, Baron Reischach," said Countess Frankenstein, after a short +pause, wishing to give the conversation a different turn; "tell us +about the King of Hanover, you once held a command in his service. I +have the greatest admiration for that heroic prince, and the deepest +commiseration for his unhappy fate." + +"It is wonderful," said the general, "with what resignation and +cheerfulness the king bears his evil fortune, and the difficult +position he is now placed in. He is still full of hope; I fear it +deceives him!" + +"Do you believe they will really venture to dethrone him?" cried the +Countess Frankenstein. + +"Alas! I am quite sure of it," said General von Reischach. + +"And I, alas! cannot doubt it, from what Mensdorff has told me," said +Countess Clam Gallas. + +"And must Austria bear this?" cried Countess Frankenstein, a bright +flush of auger upon her usually calm face, and her eyes sparkling with +excitement. + +"Austria bears everything, and will have to bear still more!" said the +general, shrugging his shoulders. "I see before us a long course of +misfortune, they will again experiment, and every fresh experiment will +pluck a jewel from our crown and a leaf from our laurels; I fear they +will pursue the path of Joseph II." + +"God protect Austria!" cried Countess Frankenstein, folding her hands. +"Will the King of Hanover remain here?" she asked, after a short pause. + +"It seems so," replied General von Reischach, "he lives in Baron +Knesebeck's house, in the Wallnerstrasse, Countess Wilezek has given +him up her apartments; but I have heard he will soon retire to the Duke +of Brunswick's villa at Hietzing. It would be much better for the king +to go to England, he is by birth an English prince, and if he succeeded +in interesting public opinion there in his behalf, which with his charm +of manner would not be difficult, England would perhaps help him, and +she is the only power who could help him; but he is disinclined, and +Count Platen appears very incapable of persuading the king to take any +decided course." + +"Count Platen visited me," said Countess Clam Gallas; "he does not +believe in the annexation of Hanover." + +"There are people who never believe in the devil, until he has got them +by the throat," cried Baron von Reischach: "there is General Brandis, a +plain old soldier, with a quick clear understanding, he would be much +the best counsellor for the king in a position in which rapid and firm +decision can alone avail, but he is not supported by Platen." + +"How many disasters a few days have brought forth!" cried Countess +Frankenstein. + +"Well," said General von Reischach, as he rose, "you must console +yourself with the happiness that blooms in your family; I would bet +anything," he added, laughing, "that Countess Clara's thoughts are +filled with pleasant pictures." + +The young countess started from her dreams, a flying blush passed over +her face, and she said, laughingly,-- + +"What can you know about young ladies' thoughts?" + +"I know so much about them," replied the general, "that I should not +venture now to bring my little countess a doll, she must have one in a +green uniform with a red plume." + +"I want neither dolls nor anything else from you," replied the young +countess, pretending to pout. + +General von Reischach and Countess Clam Gallas took leave. + +Countess Frankenstein and her daughter accompanied them to the door, +and had only been a few moments alone when a servant entered and said: + +"There is a gentleman here, who asks very pressingly for an interview +with the countess." + +"Who is it?" she asked, with surprise, for she had few visitors except +those belonging to her own exclusive circle of society. + +"Here is his card," said the servant, handing a visiting card to the +countess. "He assures me it is greatly to your ladyship's interest to +hear what he has to say." + +Countess Frankenstein took the card, and read, with a look of +astonishment--"E. Balzer, Exchange Agent." + +A deep flush passed over Countess Clara's face, she looked anxiously at +her mother and pressed her handkerchief to her lips. + +"I cannot understand," said the countess, "what a person so entirely +unknown to me can want; however, let him come in!" + +In a few moments Herr Balzer entered the salon. He was dressed in +black, and his common-looking face bore an expression of grave dignity +which did not appear to belong to it. + +He approached the ladies with a manner in which the boldness of the +habitue of a coffee-house was mingled with the embarrassment of a man +who, accustomed only to low society, suddenly finds himself amongst +persons of distinction. + +Countess Frankenstein looked at him with a cold, proud gaze, whilst +Clara, after her large eyes had taken in his vulgar appearance with a +hasty glance, cast them down and waited in trembling expectation for +the reason of this unexpected visit. + +"I have consented to receive you, sir," said the countess, with easy +calmness, "and I beg you to tell me the important matter you have to +impart." + +Herr Balzer bowed with affected dignity and said: + +"A most melancholy affair, gracious countess, brings me to you,--an +affair in which we, you and I, or rather your daughter and I, have a +common interest." + +Clara fixed her eyes upon him with great surprise and painful suspense; +the haughty look of the countess asked plainer than words, "What +interest can I have in common with this man?" + +Herr Balzer saw this look, and an almost imperceptible smile appeared +on his lips. + +"A very painful and distressing circumstance," he said slowly and +hesitatingly, "obliges me, your ladyship, to confide my honour to you, +and to consult with you, as to what is best to be done." + +"I pray you, sir," said the countess, in an icy voice, "to come to the +fact you have to communicate. My time is much engaged." + +Without paying any attention to this intimation, Herr Balzer proceeded, +apparently with some embarrassment, whilst twirling his hat in his +hands: + +"Your daughter is engaged to Lieutenant von Stielow?" + +The countess looked at him, almost rigid with amazement. She began to +fear she had admitted a madman. A slight shiver passed through Clara's +tender form; deep paleness overspread her features, and she did not +dare to lift her eyes to this man, for an instinctive suspicion warned +her he must be the bearer of something evil. + +Herr Balzer drew a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his eyes. +In a theatrical manner he walked towards the countess, exclaiming, +whilst he stretched out his hand: + +"Countess, you will understand me at once, you must understand me; I +trust my fate to your discretion,--only in common with yourself can +this melancholy transaction--" + +"I must really beg you, sir," said Countess Frankenstein, looking +anxiously at the bell, from which she was separated by Herr Balzer, "I +must really beg you to state the facts." + +"Herr von Stielow," said Balzer, again covering his eyes with his large +yellow silk pocket-handkerchief. + +Clara folded her hands in breathless suspense. + +"Herr von Stielow," repeated Herr Balzer, in a voice that appeared to +struggle for composure, "that volatile young man who is so happy in the +possession of so lovely, so worthy a fiancee," he bowed to Clara, who +turned from him with disgust, "this volatile young man dares to rob me +of my happiness, to destroy my peace--he keeps up a criminal +correspondence with my wife." + +With a low cry, Clara sank down upon the chair before which she stood, +and wept silently. + +Countess Frankenstein remained standing upright. Her eyes rested +fiercely and proudly upon this detestable messenger of evil, and in a +voice in which no emotion was perceptible, she asked: + +"And how do you know this, sir? Are you quite sure?" + +"Alas! only too sure," cried Herr Balzer, pathetically, again applying +his handkerchief to his eyes, which were quite red with repeated +rubbing. + +"Some time ago," he said, "my friends warned me; but my confidence in +my wife--I love my wife, gracious countess: ah! she was my whole +happiness--prevented my heeding these warnings; then, too, Baron von +Stielow's engagement with the lovely countess"--he again bowed to +Clara--"was well known in Vienna; I felt quite safe, since I was +simple-hearted enough,"--he laid his hand on his black satin +waistcoat--"to believe such an error impossible." + +"Well?" asked the countess. + +"At last, by chance--oh! my heart will break when I think of +it--yesterday I discovered the frightful truth." + +The countess made a movement of impatience. + +He threw a side glance at the easy-chair, in which the younger lady sat +motionless, her face covered with her handkerchief, and with the malice +of vulgar natures who instinctively hate those of a higher grade, he +seemed disposed to prolong her torture. + +"Amongst the letters brought to me," he continued, after some +hesitation, "there was one intended for my wife. I did not observe the +address, and I opened it, believing it directed to myself. It contained +the horrible, too certain proof of my misfortune." + +Clara gave a low sob. + +The countess asked with cold severity,-- + +"Where is this letter?" + +Herr Balzer, with a deep, strongly marked sigh, felt in the breast +pocket of his coat, pulled out a folded letter, and gave it to the +countess. She took it, opened it, and read the contents slowly. Then +throwing it on the table, she said: + +"What have you done?" + +"Countess," cried Herr Balzer, in the same pathetic voice, "I love my +wife; she has greatly erred, it is true, but I love her still, and I +cannot give up the hope of reclaiming her." + +The countess shrugged her shoulders, almost imperceptibly, and cast a +look full of contempt upon the exchange agent. + +"I do not wish for a separation,--I would rather forgive her," he +continued, in a tearful voice; "and I have come, therefore, to speak to +you, countess, to consult with you,--to implore you to--" + +"What?" asked the countess. + +"You see, I thought," said Herr Balzer, turning his hat round and +round more quickly, "if you,--Vienna is now a very sad place to reside +in,--if you would go to your country estates, or into Switzerland, or +to the Italian lakes, far away from here, and if you would take +Lieutenant von Stielow with you, he would leave Vienna, and could not +continue to have any intercourse with my wife: I too would take her +away somewhere for a time. After his marriage with the lovely countess, +the young couple would naturally visit Baron von Stielow's family for a +time; he would forget my wife,--all would come straight, if we only +work together at the same plan!" + +He spoke slowly, and with much hesitation, often interrupting himself, +and casting stolen looks now at the mother, now at the daughter. Before +he had finished speaking, Clara had sprung to her feet, her eyes, red +with weeping, were fixed on him with burning anger; and as he +concluded, she looked at her mother with anxious suspense, her lips +half opened, as if she almost feared her mother might not give the +right reply. + +Countess Frankenstein drew herself up, with a movement full of pride, +and said in a tone of cold contempt: + +"I thank you for your communication, sir; it has opened my eyes in +time. I regret I cannot assist you in the way you wish, to re-establish +your domestic happiness. You must understand it cannot be the task of a +Countess Frankenstein to cure the Baron Stielow of an unworthy passion, +nor can she consent to continue an engagement which the baron has not +respected. You must find some other means of reclaiming your wife." + +Clara's eyes expressed her perfect approval of her mother's words; with +a proud movement she turned her back upon Herr Balzer, and, suppressing +her tears with a great effort, she looked out of one of the large panes +of glass in the high window of the salon. + +Herr Balzer wrung his hands, as if in despair, and cried with +well-acted emotion: + +"My God! countess, forgive me, if I thought only of my own sorrow and +grief, only of myself and my wife, and did not consider that +difficulty. I thought, too, you wished so much for this _parti_, which +is so excellent, and I hoped you would act in concert with me to bring +everything to a good end." + +"A Countess Frankenstein is not in a position to wish for a _parti_ +unworthy of her, and one her heart cannot approve," said the countess, +the cold calmness of her manner unchanged. "I believe, sir," she +continued, bowing very slightly, "that it is scarcely necessary to +continue this conversation." + +Herr Balzer wrung his hands, and cried in a tone of despair: + +"Oh, my God! my God! countess, what have I done! I now understand +perfectly that your daughter, under the circumstances, cannot continue +her engagement,--that I was foolish to hope to re-establish peace +through your assistance. Oh, my God, I had better have remained +silent!" + +The countess looked at him inquiringly. + +"Then," he continued, in the same tone, "everything might have gone on +well; now, oh, God! all that is over! You will break off the engagement +with Baron von Stielow, the whole world will hear of my misfortune, +there will be a dreadful scandal in Vienna, and I shall have to +separate from my wife. Ah! and I love my wife; I wish so to forgive +her, to reclaim her,--and I shall love her for ever!" + +He paused for a moment, and cast a cunning look at the countess, whose +features had assumed an expression of deep thought. + +Then he added still louder, and wringing his hands still more: + +"Oh! my gracious countess, have compassion on me. I came to you in +perfect confidence to confide to you the frightful secret of my +misfortune. I see you cannot help me, as I hoped; be merciful to me, +and do not make it impossible for me to think of a way in which the +worst may be averted. Keep my secret. Herr von Stielow in his rage and +anger would revenge himself on me,--there would be nothing to restrain +him,--then there would be a dreadful scandal; that may be a matter of +indifference to you and your daughter, but to me and my wife--Oh! have +compassion on me!" and he made a movement, as if about to throw himself +at the feet of the countess. She still continued thoughtful. + +"Sir," she said, "it is certainly neither my wish, nor my daughter's, +to discuss this disagreeable affair with Baron Stielow." + +Clara turned her head towards her mother, and thanked her with a look. + +"I shall break off Countess Clara's engagement with Herr von Stielow in +the quietest manner possible, and it will remain for you to do the best +you can for yourself--your secret is safe with me. Again I thank you +for your communication, however painful it was necessary, and has +preserved us from much worse pain in the future." + +And she bowed her head in a way that showed Herr Balzer unmistakeably +he was dismissed. + +He again held his handkerchief before his eyes, and said, in a whining +voice: + +"I thank you, countess, I shall be eternally grateful to you; forgive +me. I beg the young lady's forgiveness, too, for being the messenger of +such evil tidings. But my lot is the worst. Oh! if you did but know how +I loved my wife!" + +And as if overcome by the immensity of his grief, he bowed in silence, +and left the room. + +He hastily brushed past the servant in the ante-room, and ran down the +stairs; as soon as he had left the room the grave and sorrowful +expression vanished from his face, a vulgar smile of triumph appeared +upon his lips, and he said to himself, with great satisfaction,-- + +"Well, I think I did my business very well, and richly earned the +thousand guldens my dearly beloved wife promised me, if I would free +her dear Stielow. Now she can catch him again in her net; she will +succeed, for she understands all that well, and then," he said, with a +broader grin of satisfaction, "I shall have the right of grasping +handfuls of the gold which this young millionaire will pour into her +lap." + +With quick steps, he hastened to his wife, to tell her of the success +of his negotiation. + +As soon as he left the room, Clara, without speaking a word, threw +herself into her mother's arms, sobbing aloud. After the restraint she +had put upon her feelings in the presence of a repulsive stranger, her +tears flowed freely, and relieved the oppression of her heart. + +"Be strong, my daughter," said the countess, gently stroking her +shining hair. "God sends you a hard trial; but it is better to tear +yourself free from an unworthy engagement, than that this blow should +fall upon you later." + +"Oh! my mother," cried the young countess, with the greatest grief, +"this love made me so happy; he assured me so strongly he was quite +free; I believed him so implicitly." + +Suddenly raising herself from her mother's arms, she rushed to the +table where the letter lay which Herr Balzer had given the countess. + +With a slight shudder, she seized the fatal letter, and read the +contents with large, dilated eyes. + +Then she threw it from her with a look of horror, and sinking into a +chair, wept bitterly. + +"Go to your room, my child," said the countess, "you need rest. I will +consider how matters can be arranged in the best and quietest way. The +baron's absence makes it easier. We will go into the country; I will +give the needful orders. Calm and compose yourself, that the world may +perceive nothing. It is our duty to bear our sorrows alone: only vulgar +souls show their troubles to the world. God will comfort you, and on +the heart of your mother you will always find a place to weep." + +And gently raising her daughter, she led her from the salon to the +inner apartments, belonging exclusively to the ladies. + +The regular strokes of the old clock's pendulum echoed through the +silence of the large, empty room, and the ancestors' portraits looked +down from their frames with their unchanging well-bred smile; their +eyes too, though they looked so calm and cheerful, had wept in days +long past, and with proud strength they had forced their tears back +into their hearts, to avoid the pity or the spiteful joy of the world, +and time as it rolled on, after hours of sorrow and pain, had brought +the moment of happiness. There was nothing now in this old home of an +old race. + +The loud clatter of a sword was heard in the ante-room. The servant +opened the door, and Lieutenant von Stielow entered, fresh and +cheerful. He looked round the room with sparkling eyes. He turned with +disappointment to the servant. + +"The ladies were here a moment ago," he said. "The countess had just +received a person on business; they must have gone to their own +apartments. I will send, and mention that Baron--" + +"No, my friend," cried the young officer, "do not announce me; the +ladies will soon return, and I shall surprise them. Say nothing." + +The servant bowed, and left the room. + +The young officer walked several times up and down the room. A smile of +happiness rested on his face--the joy of reunion, after an eventful +separation, during which he had been threatened by death in many forms; +the anticipation of the joyful surprise he should behold in the eyes of +his beloved, all combined to fill his young, fresh heart with joy and +enchantment. + +He went up to the low fauteuil, in which Countess Clara usually sat +beside her mother, and he pressed his lips against the back, where he +knew her head had rested. + +Then he seated himself in the chair, half closed his eyes, and gave +himself up to a sweet, soft reverie, and the old clock's pendulum +measured the time the young man spent in happy dreams, with the same +regular stroke as it had numbered the moments of torture that had wrung +the heart of her who filled his dreams. + +Whilst the young baron sat awaiting his happiness, Clara had gone to +her own apartment. It was a square room, with a large window, decorated +with grey silk. Before the window stood a writing table, and near it a +high pyramidal stand of blooming flowers, whose fragrance filled the +room. Upon the writing-table, on an elegant bronze easel, stood a large +photograph of her fiance; he had given it to her just before his +departure to join the army. In a niche in one corner of the room was a +_prie-dieu_ chair, and a beautiful crucifix in ebony and ivory, with a +small shell, containing holy water, hung upon the wall. + +This room contained everything calculated to please a faultless taste, +and to enrich and embellish life. This room had been so full of +happiness and hope when the young countess left it,--and now? The +perfume of the flowers was as sweet as an hour ago; the sunshine fell +as brightly through the windows; but where was the happiness? where was +the hope? + +Clara threw herself on her knees before the image of the crucified +Saviour, where she had often found comfort in the childish sorrows of +her early life. She clasped her beautiful hands in fervent prayer, her +tearful eyes hung on the image of the Redeemer, her lips moved in +half-uttered, imploring words; but not as before did peace and rest +sink into her soul. + +A wild storm of various emotions raged within her. There was deep +sorrow for her lost happiness, there was defiant anger at the deceit +that had played upon her love, there was swelling pride at the contempt +shown to her feelings, and finally there was bitter, jealous hatred of +the unworthy being to whom she had been sacrificed. All these emotions +surged and raged in her head, in her heart, in her veins; and the +prayer her lips pronounced would not arise to heaven, the peaceful +light of believing self-sacrifice would not kindle within her. + +She stood up and sighed deeply. Not grief, but anger flashed in her +eyes. Her white teeth bit into her lip, she paced up and down the room, +her hands pressed upon her bosom, as if to still the raging storm +threatening to break her heart. + +Then she stood still before her writing-table, and looked angrily at +von Stielow's portrait. + +"Why did you come into my life," she cried, "to rob me of my peace, and +to make me purchase a few hours' happiness with such frightful +tortures?" + +Her looks rested long on the portrait. Slowly and gradually the angry +expression passed from her features; a mild, sorrowful light shone in +her eyes. + +"And my short happiness was so fair," she whispered. "Is it then +possible that those true eyes could lie? Is it possible that at the +very time---" + +She sank into a chair near her table, and half involuntarily following +the sweet habit of the last short time, she opened an ebony casket, +enriched with mother-o'-pearl and gold. + +In this casket were the letters her lover had written to her from the +camp. They were all short, hurried notes, many of them very dirty from +the numerous hands they had passed through before they reached her. She +knew them all by heart, those love greetings that said so little and +yet so much, that she had waited for with such longing, that she had +received with such exulting joy, that she had read and read again with +such happiness. + +Mechanically she took one of the letters, and allowed her eyes slowly +to follow the lines. + +Then she threw away the paper with a movement of horror. + +"And with the same hand," she cried, "with which he wrote these +words--" She did not finish the sentence, but gazed gloomily before +her. + +"But is it true?" she cried, suddenly; "can it not be malice, envy? Oh, +I knew that this woman was once no stranger to him. I have not seen the +writings side by side to compare them. Good heavens!" she cried, with +horror, "that wretched letter lies in the drawing-room; if one of the +servants----" And hastily springing up, she hurried from the room, +glided swiftly through the intervening apartments, reached the +drawing-room, and advanced at once to the table where the fatal letter +lay between two vases of flowers upon some tapestry work. + +The sound of her footsteps aroused the young officer from his reverie. +He rose hastily from his half-recumbent position, in which he had been +completely concealed by the high back of the chair, and he saw her his +dreams had pictured standing really before him, her face expressing +indescribable agitation. + +It would be impossible to find words to tell the feelings that passed +through the young girl's mind in one moment. Her heart beat high with +joyful surprise when she saw her lover so unexpectedly; but the next +instant bitter sorrow rushed upon her as she remembered she was for +ever separated from the happiness that had been hers. Her thoughts grew +indistinct, she had neither the strength to speak nor to withdraw, she +stood motionless, her large dilated eyes fixed upon him whom she so +unexpectedly beheld. + +With one bound the young man was beside her, he opened his arms as if +about to embrace her, but quickly recollecting himself, he sank down on +one knee, seized her hand, which she yielded involuntarily, and +impressed upon it a long, warm, and affectionate kiss. + +"Here, sweet joy of my heart, star of my love," he cried, "here is your +true knight again; your talisman has been my protection; the holy light +of my star was stronger than all the threatening clouds that surrounded +me." + +And with bright eyes, filled with happiness, love, and adoring +admiration, he looked up at her. + +She gazed at him, but there was no expression in her widely opened +eyes, it seemed as if all her blood had flowed back to her heart, as if +all her ideas, all her powers of will, were banished by the +overwhelming feelings of the last few moments. + +He was rejoiced at this motionless silence, which he ascribed to +surprise at his sudden return, and he said: + +"General Gablenz has been sent for by the emperor, and he brought me +here, so that I greet my darling sooner than I expected!" And taking +from his uniform a gold case set with a C in brilliants, he added with +a happy smile, "here is the talisman from my lady's hand, which +preserved me through every danger; it has rested on my heart, and it +can tell you that its every beat has been true to my love." + +He opened the case, and in the interior, upon blue velvet beneath a +glass setting, lay a faded rose. + +"Now," he cried, "I need the dead talisman no longer, I see my living +rose blooming before me!" + +He stood up, gently laid his arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss +upon her brow. + +A slight shudder passed through her, her eyes sparkled with anger and +contempt, a brilliant red glowed on her cheeks. + +With a hasty movement she tore herself free. + +"Baron," she cried, "I must beg--you surprise me!" + +She stammered; her lips trembled, she could not find words to express +what she thought and felt, she could not say what she wished to say. + +After a moment's silence she turned to leave the room. + +The young officer stood as if struck by lightning, her strange words, +the expression on her face, told him that something must have taken +place to cause a breach between him and his love, but it was impossible +for him to form any clear idea as to what it could be, and he looked at +her in blank amazement. But when she turned to leave him and had +actually reached the door, he stretched out both his arms towards her, +and cried in a voice so full of love and regret, of grief and inquiry, +that it could only proceed from the deepest and truest feeling, +"Clara!" + +She started at this voice, which found an echo in her heart, she stood +still, her strength left her, she tottered. + +He was beside her in a moment, he supported her, and led her to an +easy-chair, in which he gently placed her. + +Then he knelt before her and cried in an imploring tone, "For God's +sake, Clara, what has happened, what distresses you?" + +She held her handkerchief before her eyes and wept, struggling +violently for composure. + +The door opened, and Countess Frankenstein entered. + +She looked at the scene before her in utter amazement. + +Herr von Stielow sprang to his feet. + +"Countess!" he cried, "can you explain the riddle I find here--what has +happened to Clara?" The countess looked at him with grave severity. + +"I did not expect you to-day, Herr von Stielow," she said, "or I should +have given orders for you to be told at once that my daughter is +suffering, and very unwell. We must leave Vienna for a long time; and I +think under the circumstances it would be better to annul the plans we +had formed for the future. My child," she said, turning to her daughter +who sat still, weeping quietly, "go to your room." + +"Clara ill?" cried the young man in the greatest alarm. "My God, how +long has this been so? but no, no, something else has happened. I beg +you----" + +Suddenly the young countess stood up. She raised her head proudly, +fixing her eyes firmly on Herr von Stielow, then turning to her mother +she said,-- + +"Chance, or rather Providence has brought him here, there shall be +truth between us; I at least will not be guilty of the sin of +falsehood." And before the countess could say a word she had walked to +the table with a firm step, seized the letter still lying there, and +with a movement full of proud dignity handed it to the young officer. +Then she again burst into tears and threw herself into her mother's +arms. + +Herr von Stielow glanced at the paper. + +A deep blush overspread his face. + +He ran his eyes hastily over the writing, then casting his eyes on the +ground, he said: + +"I do not know how this letter came here, yet I thought, from a few +words Clara once said, that she knew of an error into which I fell: I +thought that in spite of the past she gave me her heart, and I cannot +understand----" + +Clara rose and looked at him with flaming eyes. + +"In spite of the past!" she cried; "yes, because I believed your word, +that all this past was at an end; I did not know that this past was to +share my present!" + +"But, my God!" exclaimed Herr von Stielow, looking at her with great +surprise, "I do not understand; how can this old letter----" + +"An old letter?" said the Countess Frankenstein severely, "it is a week +old." + +"It bears the date of your last letter to me!" cried Clara. + +Herr von Stielow looked at the paper with amazement. + +His eyes opened widely. He stared blankly at the letter which he held +motionless before him. + +At last he turned to the ladies with sparkling eyes, and a face much +heightened in colour. + +"I know not what demon has been at work--I know not who desires to tear +asunder two hearts that God destined for each other. Countess," he +said, "you owe me the truth, I demand who gave you this paper?" + +Clara's eyes were fixed anxiously on the young man's face, her bosom +rose and fell. + +The face of the countess expressed the repugnance she had felt during +the whole conversation; she replied coldly: + +"Your word of honour to be silent!" + +"I give it," said Herr von Stielow. + +"Then," said the countess, "this letter accidentally fell into the +hands of this lady's husband, and he----" + +"Deceit! shameful deceit!" cried von Stielow, half angrily, half +joyfully, "I do not yet quite see through it, but be it as it may, +countess--Clara--this letter is a year old; see, if you look closely, +the date is freshly written. This is a scandalous intrigue!" + +He handed the letter to the countess. + +She did not hold out her hand to take it. She looked at the young man +coldly. In Clara's eyes gleamed a ray of hope; it is so easy to a +loving heart to believe and to trust. + +Herr von Stielow threw down the paper. + +"You are right, countess," he cried, drawing himself up proudly; "such +proofs are for lawyers!" + +Then he approached Clara, knelt on one knee before her, drew the case +with the faded rose from his uniform, and placed his hand upon it. + +"Clara," he said in an earnest loving voice that came from the depth of +his soul, "by the holy remembrance of the first hours of our love, by +this talisman, which has been with me through all the dangers of +battle, I swear;--this letter was written a year ago, before I ever saw +you." He raised his hand and lightly touched her breast with his finger +point. "By your own pure noble heart I swear that no thought of this +erring meteor, whose rays once led me astray, has ever dwelt within me, +since your love arose to be the pure star of my life--your love to +which I will be true to death!" + +He stood up. + +"Countess," he said in a calm grave voice, "I give you my word of +honour as a nobleman; by the name which my ancestors have borne with +honour from generation to generation for centuries, by my sword which I +used in those dreadful days without reproach, against the enemies of +Austria--the date of this letter is false. Since Clara gave me her love +I have never exchanged a syllable with this woman, I have never thought +of her, except in repentant remembrance of a past error! I do not ask +if you believe my word," he proceeded, "a Countess Frankenstein cannot +doubt the word of an Austrian nobleman, nor think he would purchase a +life's happiness by a lie. But I ask you," he said in a warmer tone, +turning to Countess Clara, whose eyes were beaming with happiness, "I +ask you if you believe my heart is yours without reserve or doubt? if +now that the past is unveiled between us, and we have spoken of it, you +will continue to be the star of my life, or whether in darkness I must +pursue a solitary path, which my hopes once promised should be full of +sunshine and flowers?" + +With downcast eyes he waited in silence. + +The young countess looked at him with the deepest love. A smile of +happiness hovered on her lips. With a light step she glided towards +him; stood still before him, and with a charming movement held out her +hand. + +He raised his eyes, and saw her gentle sparkling looks, her lovely +smile, her slight blush. He opened his arms quickly and she leaned +against him, and hid her face on his breast. + +The countess looked at the beautiful pair with a mild and happy smile, +and a long silence prevailed in the lofty room. + +But the old clock measured these moments with its calm pendulum, the +moments follow each other with eternal regularity, and never change for +the short joys and long sorrows which form the life of man on earth. + +When Clara returned to her room late in the evening, she laid the +golden case with the faded rose at the foot of the crucifix, and now +her prayers went up as lightly winged to heaven as the perfume of +spring flowers, and in her heart as pure and wondrous melodies arose, +as the song of praise of the angels who surround the throne of eternal +love. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + RUSSIA. + + +In a large well-lighted cabinet of his palace in St. Petersburg, +before an enormous table covered with heaps of papers, which, +notwithstanding their number, were evidently in exemplary order, sat +the vice-chancellor of the Russian empire, Prince Alexander +Gortschakoff. + +Although it was still early morning, the prince was carefully dressed. +He wore a black frock coat, unbuttoned and thrown back on account of +the heat, over under-clothes of some white summer material. The fine +intelligent face, with its expression of suppressed irony about the +mouth, and with short, grey hair, was buried behind a high black cravat +and tall linen collar, and the eyes that usually looked out so keenly, +so prudently, with such good-tempered, almost roguish humour, through +their gold-rimmed spectacles, gazed into the young day displeased and +discontented. + +Before the prince stood his confidential secretary, Monsieur von +Hamburger; a slender man, of the middle height, with an open, +intelligent expression, and lively, clever eyes. + +He was in the act of bringing before the prince various personal +affairs, without any connexion to diplomacy. Before him, on the +prince's table, lay a large packet of acts and papers. + +He had just ended a report, and with a pencil he held in his hand he +noted down the minister's resolution on its contents. Then he laid the +paper on the large pile of acts, took it up from the table and bowed, +to show that his business was concluded. + +The prince looked at him with some surprise. + +"Have you finished?" he asked shortly. + +"At your command, Excellency." + +"You have a heap of things you are taking away again?" said the prince, +glancing at the thick packet von Hamburger held beneath his arm. + +"I shall have the honour of bringing these matters before you on some +future day," said the secretary. + +"Why not to-day? You have been here but a quarter of an hour, and we +have still time!" said the minister, with a slight accent of impatience +in his voice. + +Monsieur von Hamburger allowed his quick eyes to rest for a moment on +the prince's face in silence, then he said calmly, with a slight +smile,-- + +"Your Excellency must, I fear, have passed a bad night, and you feel in +no gracious mood. I have, besides these reports, various matters which, +on the ground of justice and courtesy, it is very desirable to consider +in a friendly spirit before presenting them to his majesty the emperor. +I think your Excellency will be angry with me by-and-bye if I expose +these affairs to the reception that at the present moment seems +probable." + +The prince looked at him for a moment firmly through his gold +spectacles without his secretary's casting down his eyes, or at all +changing the smiling, cheerful expression of his countenance. + +"Hamburger," he then said, still in a peevish voice, though the first +appearance of returning good humour was seen in the corners of his +eyes, "I shall make you my doctor! Alas! you don't know how to find the +remedy, but as far as the diagnosis is concerned, you are a born +physician. I shall no longer have the right of being in a bad temper +before you." + +"Your Excellency will certainly never state," said von Hamburger, +smiling and bowing, "that I took the liberty of remarking upon your +temper; I only begged permission to defer my business until this +temper--your Excellency yourself used the expression--had passed away." + +"Ought I not to be in a bad temper?" cried the prince, half laughing, +half impatient, "when the whole world is departing from its old orderly +course, when the balance of European power, already severely shaken, +kicks the beam,--and when all this takes place without Russia having +any part in it, without gaining anything for itself in the new +arrangement of affairs! I am glad," he added thoughtfully, "that +Austria is beaten, Austria, who with unheard-of ingratitude forsook us +in the hour of need, and with false friendship injured us more than our +open foes; but that victory should go so far as to enable Prussia to +dethrone the legitimate princes in Germany, and that the German nation +should be close to us, able to threaten our frontier, causes me heavy +anxiety. Prussia," he said, after a short pause, "was our friend--it +was, it must be so; but what now arises is not Prussia, it is Germany; +and I remember with what hatred against Russia the German nation was +saturated in 1848. In Paris they will do nothing, except ask for +compensation, which I think they will not get. Yes, if Napoleon could +have determined to act, then the moment would have come in which we +could have interfered; but to act alone is to us impossible." + +"Your Excellency will hear what General Manteuffel brings; he will soon +be here," said von Hamburger, drawing out his watch. + +"What will he bring?" cried the prince, impatiently; "forms of speech, +declarations--nothing more; and what shall we reply? we shall put a +good face on a bad game--_voila tout_." + +Hamburger gave a meaning smile. + +"Your Excellency must permit me to say," said he, "that personally I am +convinced it is not right to regard the new formation of Germany with +enmity; to prevent it is impossible; the old European balance of power +has long been out of joint, and Russia is weighty enough," he added +proudly, "not to fear any fresh distribution of power. Russia, that +great and mighty nation, must not hang on to old traditions; she must +go forth to meet the future free and unprejudiced; if the possessions +of other states are increased, so be it--the power of Russia is not +curtailed by an unalterable frontier." + +He took from a portfolio he had brought with him a folded parchment, +and laid it on the table beside the prince. He had listened +attentively, and his quick eyes looked thoughtfully before him. + +"What are you placing on the table?" he asked. + +"The Treaty of Paris, your Excellency," replied Hamburger. + +A fine smile appeared on the lips of the prince, a flashing glance flew +from his eyes towards his secretary. + +"Hamburger," he said, "you are a very remarkable man; I think we must +be careful in your company." + +"Why, Excellency?" asked the secretary, in a calm, naive tone. + +"I think you can read people's thoughts," replied the prince, whose ill +humour had gradually vanished. + +"In your Excellency's school one must learn a little of everything," +said von Hamburger, laughing and bowing. + +The prince took the Treaty of Paris and turned it over. + +For a short time he pursued his thoughts in silence. + +Then he looked up and asked,-- + +"Is General von Knesebeck, whom the King of Hanover has sent here, +already at Zarskoe Selo?" + +"He went there immediately after your Excellency had given him an +audience; his imperial majesty had commanded apartments to be prepared +for him." + +"Has the emperor seen him yet?" asked the prince. + +"No, your Excellency," replied von Hamburger; "you requested the +emperor not to receive him until you had spoken to General Manteuffel." + +"True," replied the prince, thoughtfully; "the emperor feels great +sympathy for the King of Hanover, but I would rather that he did not +enter into any engagement. We could do little alone; the only thing +would be for the emperor to use his personal influence with the King of +Prussia to dissuade him from a policy of annexation. It is, however, +highly important to proceed most cautiously in this affair; before +taking each step his majesty must be perfectly clear as to its results +and consequences." + +A groom of the chambers entered and announced,-- + +"General von Manteuffel." + +The secretary rose, and withdrew by a side door leading from the +cabinet. + +The prince stood up. + +Every trace of displeasure had vanished from his countenance, there was +nothing to be seen but calm and complete courtesy. + +General von Manteuffel entered. He wore the full uniform of an +adjutant-general of the King of Prussia, the blue enamelled cross of +the Order of Merit around his neck, upon his breast the stars of the +Russian orders of Alexander Nevsky and of the White Eagle, with the +broad ribbon of the first, and the star of the Prussian Order of the +Red Eagle. + +The general's sharply-marked features, with the thick bushy hair +growing low down upon the forehead, and the full beard only slightly +cut away at the chin, had not the severe, almost gloomy expression +which they were accustomed to wear. He approached the Russian minister +with great cordiality and easy politeness, as if he were about to pay a +simple visit of courtesy; but the quick, animated grey eyes glanced +searchingly from beneath their thick brows, and were fixed with an +expression of restless expectation upon the prince. + +The prince held out his hand to the general, and invited him by a +courteous movement to place himself in an easy chair near the +writing-table. + +"I rejoice," he said, "to welcome your Excellency to St. Petersburg, +and I beg you to excuse me," he added, with a hasty glance at the +general's full uniform, "for receiving you in my morning dress. I +expected a private and friendly conversation." + +"I have to deliver a letter from my gracious sovereign to his majesty +the emperor," replied the general, "and I wished to be ready to appear +before his majesty at any moment, of course after I have spoken with +your Excellency upon the object of my mission." + +The prince bowed slightly. + +"The object of your mission is explained in the royal letter?" he +inquired. + +"It simply accredits me," replied the general, "and refers to my +personal explanations of its contents. The political situation is so +peculiar that it is impossible for an ambassador to proceed entirely by +written instructions." + +"Count Redern imparted this to me," said Prince Gortschakoff, "when he +informed me of the honour of your visit." + +And leaning lightly on the arm of his chair, he looked at the general +with an expression of polite attention. + +"The king has commanded me," said General Manteuffel, "to lay before +your Excellency and his majesty the emperor the principles that must at +the present moment govern the Prussian policy in Germany and in Europe, +with the perfect candour and the complete confidence demanded by the +close connection between the two royal families, and the friendly +relations between the governments." + +The prince bowed. + +"The success of the Prussian arms," proceeded the general, "the +sacrifices which the government and the people have made to attain this +success, impose upon Prussia the duty of providing for its own +advantage, and also of securing on a firm and lasting basis the new +formation of Germany and its national unity. Before all things the +recurrence of those difficulties which have just been overcome must be +rendered impossible." + +The prince was silent, his eyes only expressed courteous attention. + +"The king," continued General von Manteuffel, "has accepted the +conditions of peace proposed by the French mediation; they are already +known to your Excellency, at the same time he has declared that one of +the principles which I just now mentioned renders the increase of +Prussia's power by territorial acquisitions absolutely imperative, and +Austria has already consented to such extension of Prussia in the +north." + +A half compassionate, half contemptuous smile appeared for a moment on +the prince's lips, then his features resumed their expression of calm +attention. + +"The king," added General Manteuffel, fixing his gaze immoveably upon +the eyes of the prince, "the king has now decided that the extension of +power necessary for Prussia and Germany will be obtained by the +incorporation of Hanover, Hesse Cassel, Nassau, and the town of +Frankfort." + +The general was silent, as if awaiting a remark from the minister. + +Not a feature of the prince's face moved. His eyes looked cordially at +the general through his gold spectacles, and those eyes plainly said: +"I hear." + +General von Manteuffel calmly proceeded. + +"The king is deeply and painfully touched by this necessity of causing +princely families related to him to undergo the hard lot of the +vanquished; his majesty would have struggled against it longer, had not +his duty to Prussia and to Germany been victorious in his royal heart +over his natural clemency and his regard to family ties." + +Again the general appeared to expect an answer, or at least a remark +from the prince, but his countenance remained as quiet and unchanged as +a portrait, and there was still only one expression visible in it--a +firm determination to listen with the most respectful and polite +attention to everything that might be said to him. + +General von Manteuffel continued: + +"The events which have just taken place necessitate various alterations +in the European relations prescribed by the treaty of Vienna, and the +king therefore holds it needful to lay before his majesty the emperor +the constraining principles upon which he acted, and upon which he must +continue to act; he especially desires that these principles should +find full and complete justification from this government, who in +common with Prussia is almost alone in Europe in adhering to the +intentions of that treaty." + +The prince bowed slightly. + +"The treaty of Vienna," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "is scarcely +ever spoken of in modern diplomacy." + +"His majesty the king," proceeded General von Manteuffel, "is so +penetrated by the justice of the principles laid down by that treaty +and by the Holy Alliance; he has so deeply complained of Austria's +renunciation of that treaty and that alliance, the Prussian policy in +the year 1855 testified so strongly to her faithfulness to that treaty, +that my most gracious sovereign most ardently desires his majesty the +emperor should be convinced that only absolute necessity could induce +him to decide on the approaching alterations in Germany, or to permit +royal families related to him to feel the hard consequences of war." + +"We are acquainted with the consequences that war brings upon the +vanquished," said the prince, with quiet courtesy, "for ten years we +have borne those consequences on the shores of the Black Sea." + +"A misfortune in which Prussia is free from blame," replied General von +Manteuffel, "which we have always deeply deplored, the removal of which +we should welcome with joy." + +The prince was silent, but a slight gleam in his eye showed the +watchful general that his words were well received. + +He continued:-- + +"His majesty would deeply regret that the necessities of German policy +should in any way alter the bands of friendship, and the perfect +confidence subsisting between the courts of Berlin and St. Petersburg. +He rather hopes, not only that these will continue to unite Prussia and +the newly constituted Germany with Russia, but also that a new, and +politically a still stronger basis of alliance between these two powers +may in the nature of things be formed." + +The prince cast down his eyes for a moment. Then he said in a calm +conversational tone:-- + +"Here we feel--and I assure you the emperor, my most gracious +sovereign, feels most of all, the great importance of close and true +friendship with Prussia--and I do not doubt," he added, courteously, +"that under any circumstances this friendship would ensure an active +alliance. Only at the present moment I can scarcely discover its basis. +Russia is recovering and collecting herself," he continued, with a +shade of greater animation in his voice; "and has no intention of +mixing herself up in the affairs of European policy, or in the +reconstruction of national groups, so long as Russian interests are not +directly and unmistakeably injured. We might," he said, with an +expressive look, "complain of alterations in Germany by which royal +families, nearly related both to your king and to the emperor, are +disinherited; in this circumstance I find it impossible to perceive a +motive for more friendly policy, or the foundations for a more +practical alliance. Besides, to speak candidly, I think that the new +state of affairs in Germany is not calculated to strengthen the +political friendship of the court of Berlin with us. You best know how +inimical the German movement of 1848 was towards Russia--Germany will +scarcely accept entirely the political guidance of Prussia." + +"I think your Excellency is mistaken on this point," said General von +Manteuffel, with some animation; "the democratic movement of 1848 only +used the national ideas as its banner; it beheld in Russia the +principle of reaction, and following the lead of its orators, it +used hatred to Russia as one of those catch words which move the +masses--true national feeling in Germany has no enmity to Russia, and +would welcome any accession to her national strength, or to her +powerful position in Europe!" + +The prince was silent. His features expressed doubt. + +General von Manteuffel continued:-- + +"Permit me, your Excellency, to explain the views which his majesty the +king, my master, entertains on this matter, and which, as I need hardly +say, are thoroughly shared by the Minister President Count Bismarck." + +The prince slightly inclined his head, and listened with the utmost +attention. + +The general's features kindled, and he spoke in a voice full of +conviction. + +"History teaches us that all alliances arising from momentary and +fleeting political combinations, even though sealed by the most solemn +treaties, pass away as quickly as the circumstances that have created +them. When, on the contrary, firm political relations between two +nations and governments have arisen in the natural course of events, +the alliance remains firm through every change of time, and reappears +on every practical opportunity, whether founded on treaties or not. The +first and most important condition of such a natural combination is a +negative one, namely, that the interests of the two states should in no +way cross each other, in no way clash. This first and indispensable +condition exists in an eminent way in the relations between Prussia and +Russia. I am sure your Excellency will agree with me. It is Prussia's +mission to act towards the west. The German nation longs for unity, +longs for a strong and powerful leader; Prussia's calling, Prussia's +noblest ambition is and must ever be, to place this leadership in the +strong hand of her king. Prussia must struggle to command the whole of +Germany; she cannot rest until she has attained this high aim for +herself and the whole nation. What is now gained is a step--an +important step--on the great path which Prussia's German policy must +pursue--but it is not its completion. But this completion will come; +for its greatest hindrance, Austria's power and influence in Germany, +is broken--broken for long enough--as I believe, for ever. The path +upon which Prussia has entered, which she must pursue to the end, may +be crossed by the interests of France, of Italy, of England, but never +by those of the grand Russian nation, ever increasing in preponderance +and strength. For what is the aim, the legitimate aim, of Russian +policy?" + +Prince Gortschakoff's keen eyes looked inquiringly at the general's +animated countenance; the conversation now approached its most +important point. + +The general looked down for a moment; then he continued with some +slight hesitation:-- + +"Your Excellency must forgive me, if to you, whose genius inspires and +guides the policy of Russia, I venture to describe the aim and object +of this policy; nevertheless perfect candour is the foundation of +friendship, and in proportion to our comprehension of opposing +political problems, we see the reason, the necessity for this +friendship." + +The prince bowed again in silence, and waited. + +"The problem of the great founder of the present Russian monarchy," +proceeded General von Manteuffel slowly, as if he sought carefully for +the most correct expressions for his thoughts, "Peter the Great's +problem, was the creation of a state possessing European culture, and +in order to solve this mighty problem he was forced to establish the +seat of his government as near as possible to cultured Europe; he +formed canals through which civilization poured in through the veins of +his vast kingdom, and made it live and bear fruit. So I understand the +choice of St. Petersburg as a capital for new Russia, for with regard +to the interior affairs and the resources of the great nation, this +spot could never have risen to be its capital. Russia's resources lie, +not in the north, not in this distant corner of the empire, they lie in +the south, they lie there, where the great national powers of +productiveness stream in rich abundance from the soil, they lie there, +where the natural course of the world's commerce unites Asia to Europe, +those continents to which Russia stretches out her two hands; these +resources," he added, after a moment's silence, during which he gazed +firmly at the prince, "lie near the Black Sea!" + +Some slight emotion passed rapidly over the features of the Russian +statesman; involuntarily his eyes turned towards the parchment which +von Hamburger had laid before him on the table. + +Manteuffel continued:-- + +"The first great problem which Peter the Great proposed to himself is +solved--Russia's broad, gigantic and national organization is saturated +with European cultivation, and we must own with some shame that in one +century you have outrun the whole of Europe." + +"We had only to acquire what Europe had laboriously created," said +Prince Gortschakoff politely. + +"The last great measure of the Emperor Alexander," continued +Manteuffel, "completed the work, and opened even the lowest strata of +the people to the living spirit of civilization--in short, the first +phase of Russian policy is completed, St. Petersburg has fulfilled its +mission. In my opinion the problem of the future is this--to use +Russia's internal productiveness as a centre-point for the fruitful +development of her national strength, to inspire the organization +already created, and to urge it to greater activity. For this you +require the Black Sea and its rich basin; there lies the real centre of +Russia, there must she develop her future, as the far-seeing eye of the +Emperor Nicholas rightly discerned, when he endeavoured to secure the +future of Russia in that direction." + +Again the prince's eyes glided towards the parchment containing the +document so important to Russia. + +"But upon this path," said the general, with emphasis, "which I am +convinced Russia ought to take, and to pursue to the very end, as we +must continue our path in Germany, the Russian interests will never +clash with those of Germany; rather shall we rejoice to see our +powerful neighbour as fortunately accomplishing her national mission as +we hope to accomplish our own." + +He was silent, and looked at the prince inquiringly. + +He said in a calm tone, with a slight sigh: + +"Alas! the sad result of the Crimean war has placed an insurmountable +barrier in the path, which your Excellency so brilliantly describes; +and----" + +"We too," cried Manteuffel, "have been often and long delayed upon our +path; nevertheless we never forsook it,--we never gave up the hope of +reaching the goal." + +The prince was silent a moment. Then he said slowly: + +"I agree with your Excellency, that the interests of Prussia, even of +the new Prussia and Germany, will not jostle those of Russia. I will +not doubt, too, what your Excellency tells me, that the national +movement in the Germany of to-day does not inherit the hatred to Russia +by which the democratic movement of 1848 was actuated. I regard these +assurances with satisfaction, as a guarantee that no cloud will arise +between us. Yet with the same candour with which your Excellency has +spoken to me, I must say that I cannot perceive how the present +situation and (if the lawful claims of treaties are regarded, the +lamentable) alterations in the European balance of power can form a +stronger political connection--can offer a firmer basis of eventual +alliance in the future. You pursue your path with victorious +success,--our own is closed for a long time, perhaps for ever." + +"Permit me, your Excellency," said General von Manteuffel quickly, "to +express myself on this point with the reckless freedom which," he +added, laughingly, "you must expect in a soldier fresh from the camp, +who only dabbles in diplomacy." + +The prince's eyes half closed, and he looked at the general with an +expression of good-natured satire. + +Manteuffel passed his hand lightly over his moustache, and said: + +"The Emperor Napoleon desires compensation for his consent to the new +acquisitions of Prussia and the new constitution of Germany." + +"Ah!" cried the prince. + +"And," proceeded Manteuffel, "they are far from bashful in Paris in +pointing out what they shall require as compensation." + +"I have not been initiated in this bargaining," said the prince, with a +look of great interest and lively anxiety. + +"I can inform your Excellency fully," returned General Manteuffel; +"they will demand the frontier of 1814, Luxemburg and Mayence." + +The prince's face grew still more animated. + +"_Will_ demand?" he asked. + +"The demand is not yet stated officially," replied the general; +"Benedetti has only named it in confidence." + +"And what did Count Bismarck reply?" asked the prince. + +"He put off the discussion of the question and its answer until after +the conclusion of peace with Austria." + +The prince gave a fine smile and a slight nod with his head. + +"I can, however, tell your Excellency the answer beforehand," said the +general. + +"And it will be?" asked the prince. + +"Not a foot's breadth of land, not a fortress,--no compensation," said +General Manteuffel, in a firm, clear voice. + +Prince Gortschakoff looked at him with surprise, as if he had not +expected this short and simple answer. + +"And what will France do?" he asked. + +The general shrugged his shoulders. + +"Perhaps declare war," he replied,--"perhaps be prudently silent, wait, +and arm; any way, it will be a sharp disappointment, and war must be +the final result." + +The prince looked at this man with astonishment, who had just discussed +with such fine intellect all the aims and threads of political +interests, and who now, with soldier-like bluntness, spoke as of an +ordinary event, of a war whose thunders must shake Europe to its very +foundations. + +"That is the situation," said Manteuffel; "I beg your Excellency's +permission to express my views on its consequences, and the position of +Russia with regard to them." + +"I am most curious to hear!" said the prince. + +"The situation I have just described," proceeded the general, "gives +Russia the power of deciding for all future time the relations +that shall exist between that empire and Germany. If the Russian +policy uses adverse circumstances to make difficulties for us, this +policy,--forgive me, your Excellency, I must touch on every possibility +to make my views clear,--this policy, even though it secures success to +France for a time, will not prevent the regeneration of Germany; and +under all future circumstances--for ever--Prussia and Germany will +regard Russia as a foe, who is ready to come to an understanding with +the western powers upon the affairs of Europe, and to make their +interests her own." + +General von Manteuffel spoke in a firm and decided voice, and fixed his +eyes firmly on the vice-chancellor. + +The prince's eyes fell, and he bit his lips. + +"I beg your Excellency to forgive me," said the general, "for having +touched upon an eventuality, which is doubtless far removed from your +enlightened policy. I now come to the other course--namely, that +Russia, according to the old traditions of the two courts, shall regard +the enlargement of Prussia with friendly and favourable eyes, and shall +make use of the present opportunity to arrange with new Germany the +foundations of that close connection which, according to my +convictions, ought to exist in future, and which will so greatly +further the interests of both nations. The compensation being refused," +he proceeded, "France will probably declare war immediately,--we do not +fear her; at this moment the whole of Germany would unite and accept +war without hesitation, especially if we had Russia as a well-wisher to +back us. But Russia can have no more favourable opportunity for +breaking the bann which the treaty of 1856 laid upon her development +and her natural and needful aims. Whilst we hold France in check, no +one will prevent you from bursting asunder the unnatural chains with +which the western allied powers, in conjunction with ungrateful +Austria, fettered you upon the Black Sea, that spot where lies the +future of Russia." + +The prince's eyes brightened, his features expressed a smiling consent +to the ideas so forcibly and convincingly unfolded by General von +Manteuffel. + +He continued: + +"If, however, as I personally believe will be the case, France, who has +already let the right moment go by----" + +Prince Gortschakoff several times nodded his head. + +"If France," said the general, "is silent for the present, assembles +her forces, and arms, our position is even better, because it is more +certain. During the period of suspense which will precede the +inevitable war, we gain time to bind the national strength of Germany +more strongly and closely together, and you have time to complete your +preparations in the south and west, and to form ties across the ocean +which will, under any circumstances, secure to you your natural +confederates." + +"General," said the prince, smiling; "you have comprehensively and +successfully studied the affairs of Russia." + +"Because I love Russia," replied the general, with perfect frankness; +"and because I regard a close and indissoluble friendship between +Russia and Germany as the salvation of Europe in the future. But I am +coming to a conclusion. When, after a longer or a shorter interval from +the reconstruction of Germany, a decisive war breaks out with France, +then that alliance of the western powers so prejudicial to you falls to +pieces; you will have nothing to do, except to hold in check Austria's +desire for revenge, and you will obtain perfect freedom again to open +the Black Sea to your national interests, and your national progress. +We, as we press onwards on the path leading to our national aims, shall +behold with joy the swift and mighty strides which Russia will make in +the fulfilment of her national destiny. Yes," he continued, "we will at +all times and in every way support you. Could I for a moment doubt what +decision would be made by so enlightened a policy as your own, I would +say,--'Choose, your Excellency, whether two states, whose interests can +never be inimical, shall mutually harass each other--or whether by a +perfect and close understanding they shall support each other in +gaining the powerful position that nature assigns them--whether hand in +hand they shall guide the fate of Europe?'" + +He ceased and looked at the prince in suspense. + +From his face all trace of the cold reserve he had assumed at the +commencement of the interview had completely vanished. A deep +earnestness appeared on his features. His gaze rested on the Prussian +ambassador. + +"My dear general," he said, in a firm, clear voice, "if the principles +and the views which you have so candidly, so warmly, and so +convincingly stated are those of your government----" + +"They are in every respect those of my gracious sovereign, and of his +ministers," said Manteuffel, calmly and decidedly. + +"Then," replied the prince, "I will tell you with the same frankness, +that in all fundamental principles our judgment on the present state of +affairs perfectly coincides with your own." + +A flash of joy shone in the general's deep grave eyes. + +"It only remains," said the prince, "to use these common principles and +views in practical arrangements, and to make them the firm basis of +common action in the future." + +"I am ready to do this at any moment," said the general. + +"But first of all," continued the prince, "we must gain the consent of +his majesty the emperor to, our agreement; if it is agreeable to you, +let us drive at once to Zarskoe Selo. You will have the trouble," he +said, smiling, "of repeating to the emperor what you have just said to +me." + +General von Manteuffel bowed. + +"I hope," he said, "that my devotion to my country, and my honest love +to Russia, will give my words clearness and conviction." + +Prince Gortschakoff rang. + +"Order the carriage," he said to the groom of the chambers. + +"Will you excuse me for a moment," said he to General von Manteuffel, +"I shall be ready to accompany you immediately." + +He withdrew by a side door. Manteuffel walked to the window and looked +thoughtfully through the panes. + +After five minutes the prince returned. He wore his ministerial undress +uniform, the broad orange ribbon of the Black Eagle beneath his coat, +and upon his breast the star of this highest Prussian Order, above the +star of the Order of Andreas. + +The groom of the chambers opened the door. + +"Precede me, I beg," said the minister, with a courteous movement, "I +am at home." + +General von Manteuffel left the room and awaited the prince who +followed him. + + * * * * * + +Late in the afternoon of the same day the splendour of the evening sun +flooded the magically beautiful park surrounding the imperial palace of +Zarskoe Selo; that park of which it is said, that a fallen leaf is +never allowed to remain on the well-kept roads, that magnificent +creation of the first Catharine, which a succession of mighty autocrats +have embellished until it has attained the charms of Fairyland. + +General von Knesebeck appeared from one of the side doors of the +enormous castle, which with its ornaments of gilded bronze, and its +colossal caryatides glittered in the rays of the setting sun from +amidst dark masses of lofty trees. He had arrived that morning at +Zarskoe Selo at the emperor's command, and he awaited an audience, +during which he was to deliver a letter to the emperor from his king, +who had sent the general to beg Alexander II. to interfere on his +behalf. + +Grave and sad, the general walked through the glorious alleys, lost in +gloomy thought. The distinguished attention with which he had been +received, the equipages and servants placed at his disposal, had not +removed the impression made on him, both from his conversation with +Prince Gortschakoff, and from the remarks of gentlemen about the court, +that there was little hope for his king. They had all expressed +sympathy and interest; but in the atmosphere of a court there is a +certain fluid, always perceptible to those accustomed to such circles, +from which they can almost always tell beforehand whether or no a +mission will be successful. + +The general had not approved of the policy of the Hanoverian court, his +quick eyes had perceived the weakness of Austria, and he had deeply +deplored the unaccountable command of the Hanoverian army during its +short campaign. Many ties bound him to Prussia, and with his whole +heart he grasped the thought of a United Germany; but he was a true +servant to his king, and deep grief overwhelmed him when he thought of +the future that was now inevitable, unless his mission attained +success. + +He walked slowly on, farther and farther, lost in thought. + +Suddenly an artistically contrived ruin, producing an excellent effect, +arose before him in the solitude, amongst lofty trees. He went up to +it, a doorkeeper in the imperial livery obsequiously opened the door +after glancing at the general's uniform, and he entered a lofty +circular space lighted only from above, dark, severe, and simple, an +English chapel. Before him in exquisite Carara marble rose a figure of +Christ, Dannecker's marvellously beautiful creation. The Saviour with +one hand points to his breast, the other is raised with inexpressible +grandeur towards heaven. + +The general stood still for a long time before this affecting figure. + +"We must lay our sorrows on the Saviour's divine breast, and humbly +await wisdom from heaven," he whispered, "does a secret warning draw me +hither now, and lead me to this beautiful and holy image?" + +Overcome by the powerful impression made upon him by this work of +genius, he folded his hands and stood before it for some time. + +He slightly moved his lips as he said: + +"If the wheel of fate, as it rolls along unceasingly, must crush so +much in its path, grant at least that the German Fatherland may gain +might and greatness, and the German people happiness, from the +struggles and the sufferings of the days that are gone!" + +With a long look at the sculptured figure he turned away, and passing +by the door-keeper, he returned to the park. + +He walked again towards the palace, and stood still before the large +lake, compelled by art to flow out from between the two halves of the +castle, and to fall down in waterfalls with many cascades. Here is the +so-called Admiralty, where the grand dukes exercise themselves in +building the models of ships; near the pretty landing place boats are +crowded from all the five divisions of the world; the Turkish kaik, the +Chinese junk, the Russian tschelonok, and the whaling boat of the +Greenlander, lie side by side, and skilful sailors in the emperor's +employment are at the disposal of those who wish to embark. + +The general was looking at this interesting and varied picture, when a +servant approached him hurriedly, and informed him that an equerry had +just come to his rooms to lead him to the emperor. + +With quick footsteps and hastily drawn breath, the general went back to +his apartments, and after donning scarf and plumed hat, hurried with +the equerry along the large and magnificent terrace leading to the part +of the palace inhabited by the emperor. + +In the ante-chamber there was only a groom of the chambers, who +immediately opened the door of the emperor's room. The equerry after +simply announcing him, requested General Knesebeck to enter. + +In the brightly lighted apartment, with large windows leading out upon +the terrace, and the mild aromatic summer air streaming in through +them, stood the lofty form of Alexander the Second. He wore the uniform +of a Russian general, his perfect features, always grave and even +melancholy, showed emotion, and his large expressive eyes gazed at the +general with a look of deep sorrow. He advanced a step towards +Knesebeck and said in his full, melodious voice, in the purest German: + +"You come late, general; nevertheless, I rejoice to see you here, a +true servant to your king." + +And he held out his hand to the general, who seized it respectfully, +and with deep feeling. + +"If it might be possible," he said, "for me to be of service to my +master so severely smitten by fate! But first of all I must discharge +my commission;" he drew a sealed letter from his uniform; "and place +this communication from my king in the mighty hands of your imperial +majesty." + +Alexander took the letter, seated himself in an easy, chair, and +pointed to a seat near, where the general placed himself. + +The emperor opened the letter and read its contents slowly and +attentively. + +For a moment he looked down sorrowfully, then he fixed his penetrating +eyes upon the general and spoke. + +"Have you anything more to say to me?" + +"I have to add," said von Knesebeck, "that his majesty the king my +gracious master, fully acknowledging the completeness of events that +have made the King of Prussia the conqueror in Germany, is ready to +conclude peace with his Prussian majesty and to accept the conditions +made unavoidable by necessity. My gracious sovereign expressed this in +a letter he wrote to his majesty King William, but the letter was +refused. The king hopes, well knowing your majesty's tried friendship, +that you will undertake to mediate, and to preserve him from the hard +measures already spoken of by the public newspapers." + +The emperor sighed deeply and looked on the ground. + +"My dear General," he then said, "you have come too late. I have indeed +the most affectionate and honest friendship for the king, and from my +soul I wished to see the sad conflict avoided whose unhappy +consequences are now being accomplished. I have endeavoured to work in +this spirit, it has been in vain. I must be quite frank with you," he +continued, "the position of affairs demands it. The wish of my heart to +be useful to your king is opposed by an unalterable political +necessity, which King William, my uncle, deplores as deeply as I do +myself." + +The general sighed. His face quivered with pain and tears shone in his +eyes. + +The emperor looked at him for some time with an expression of deep +sorrow and affectionate sympathy. + +"I scarcely venture," he then said in a gentle voice, "to make the only +proposition to you that the circumstances permit, and which if the king +accepts it, I am sure I can prevail upon the King of Prussia to grant; +if the king will abdicate," he proceeded with hesitation, "the +Brunswick succession shall be secured to the Crown Prince Ernest +Augustus." + +The general was silent for a moment. + +"Thus," said he, "must the house of Guelph be reduced to its cradle and +its oldest inheritance! Will your majesty permit me to lay this +proposition to which I am not in a position to reply, before my king at +once?" + +"I request you will do so," said the emperor, "you will," he added, +"have no cipher at hand, send the despatch to Count Stackelberg, he can +also receive the answer under his cipher." + +"At your majesty's command," said General von Knesebeck. + +"Be convinced," said the emperor in a hearty tone, "that I feel the +deepest and warmest sympathy for your king; may God make the future of +his family as happy as possible, and if I can help him in any way, I am +ready to do so. Though the occasion is sad, I am glad that I have had +the opportunity of making your acquaintance, my dear general." + +He took his hand and pressed it heartily. + +Then he rang and called his equerry. + +"Take the despatch which the general will give you to Prince +Gortschakoff at once. It must be sent in cipher to my ambassador in +Vienna immediately. The answer must be sent here to the general without +delay." + +With a low bow General von Knesebeck left the cabinet. + +An hour later the electric wire bore his despatch to Vienna. + +The night fell; restless and sleepless the general watched the sun +which only at midnight sank for a short time below the horizon, and +soon reappeared, mingling the twilight of evening with the morning +dawn. + +At noon a secretary arrived from Prince Gortschakoff and brought him a +sealed letter. + +The general hastily broke the seal with its large double eagles, and in +the neatest handwriting saw the reply to his despatch. + +It ran thus: + +"The king cannot trade upon the succession to Brunswick, which will +devolve upon himself and his heirs, by right of family inheritance, and +the lawful transmission of land. He is however ready to abdicate +immediately, provided the government of the kingdom of Hanover is +guaranteed to the Crown Prince." + +"I expected this," said the general with a sigh. + +And sticking the paper into his uniform, he seized his plumed hat, and +descended the stairs to the carriage already waiting to convey him to +the Emperor Alexander. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + THE MARSHALS OF FRANCE. + + +Again the Emperor Napoleon sat in his cabinet at the Tuileries, but his +wearied and anxious features no longer expressed content and calm +security. A short sojourn at the baths of Vichy had not strengthened +his health, and the political situation had not answered his +expectations. Gloom and gravity overspread his face, he supported his +elbows on his knees and bent down his head, slightly twisting the +points of his moustache with his left hand, whilst listening to the +report of the minister of foreign affairs, who sat before him. + +Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys was extremely excited, a pale flush was upon +his usually quiet countenance, and in his keen and brilliant eyes shone +a fire only repressed by a strong effort of will. + +"Sire," he said, "your majesty beholds the result of the uncertain and +vacillating policy I have so long implored you to abandon. Had your +majesty prevented the war between Prussia and Austria, or had you +marched the army to the Rhine a month ago, either the present difficult +position could not have arisen, or France would have gained that which, +from the new constitution of Germany, she _must have_. Our situation +now is most painful, and it will cost us double the effort successfully +to uphold the interests of France." + +The emperor raised his head a little, and from beneath his drooping +eyelashes stole a look at the excited face of his minister. + +"Do you think," he said, "that in Berlin they will really refuse our +demands for compensation? Mayence we might perhaps abandon, if it +ceases to be a fortress, or is reduced to a fortress of the second +rank, but would they dare--?" + +He paused. + +"I am convinced," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that they will give us +_nothing_ of their own free-will. Peace with Austria is concluded, the +Prussian army is free to march where it lists, and as it is prepared +for war it has a great advantage over us; from Russia too the reports +are very unfavourable, the feeling of displeasure in St. Petersburg has +given place to extreme reserve, and during the last few days all Baron +Talleyrand's remarks upon the dangers of a united military Germany have +been met with evasive answers. Benedetti's short announcement leaves us +in no doubt as to how his propositions were received in Berlin. We must +make the greatest exertions." + +Again the emperor looked up with a thoughtful gaze. He drew out his +watch. + +"Benedetti must have returned this morning, I am anxious to hear his +report myself," he said. + +"He will have gone to the Quai d'Orsay," returned Drouyn de Lhuys. + +The curtain which hung over the door leading to the private secretary's +room moved, and Pietri's fine intelligent head appeared from behind the +portiere. + +"Sire," he said, "Monsieur Benedetti is here, and asks whether your +majesty is inclined to receive him?" + +"Immediately!" said the emperor with animation, "bring him here!" + +A minute afterwards the portiere opened and the ambassador entered the +cabinet. + +He was in black morning dress, his pale features showed traces of +fatigue from his journey, his eyes shone with nervous excitement. + +He bowed deeply to the emperor, and shook hands with Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"I have expected you with impatience," said Napoleon, "be seated, and +tell me how matters stand in Berlin." + +"Sire," said Benedetti, as he took a chair, and placed himself opposite +to the emperor and Drouyn de Lhuys, "I had driven to the Quai d'Orsay +to announce myself to the minister, and as I heard he was here, I took +the liberty of coming at once." + +"You were right," said the emperor, "you now find the whole apparatus +of the constitutional government together," he added laughingly; +"relate,--I listen with impatience." + +Monsieur Benedetti drew a deep breath and said: + +"As your majesty is aware, I laid the sketch of the treaty which I +received from Vichy before Count Bismarck, in a confidential +conversation, immediately after his return to Berlin." + +"And--?" asked the emperor. + +"Any compensation, but above all the cession of Mayence, he plainly and +roundly--refused." + +"Your majesty perceives," said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +The emperor twisted his moustache and his head sank. + +"I produced," continued Benedetti, "all the reasons which make it our +imperative duty at this moment to demand compensation for France, I +laid before him the regard we must have to public opinion in France, I +insisted how small was the compensation demanded, in comparison to the +large acquisitions of Prussia, how militarily concentrated Germany owed +France a guarantee of peace for the future: all was in vain,--the +minister president was obstinate in his refusal, and only repeated +again and again, that the national feeling in Germany would not bear +such compensation." + +The emperor was silent. + +"Two days afterwards," proceeded Benedetti, "I had a second interview +with Count Bismarck--it had the same result. I pointed out in the most +careful way that the refusal of our just demands might endanger the +future good understanding between Prussia and France, and the only +result of this intimation was that Count Bismarck as carefully, yet in +a manner not to be misunderstood, hinted that though he perceived this +danger he must persist in his refusal, and that he was not to be +frightened from his determination even by the most extreme measures. I +must however remark," added the ambassador, "that our conversation +never for a moment overstepped the bounds of courtesy or even of +friendship, and that Count Bismarck repeatedly told me how greatly he +desired a continuance of a good understanding with France, and how +convinced he was that in the new state of affairs the interests of +France and Germany in Europe would have so many points in common, that +a friendly policy on each side would be determined upon by both +governments after due consideration. I considered it better under these +circumstances," said Benedetti after a short pause, during which the +emperor remained silent, "not to carry on the discussion any farther, +but to return here at once, and to make a personal report upon the +negotiation, and the position of affairs in Berlin." + +Drouyn de Lhuys bit his lips. The emperor raised his eyes slowly, and +looked at Monsieur Benedetti enquiringly. + +"And do you think," he asked, "that public opinion in Prussia and in +Germany, will take Count Bismarck's part, if he dares to provoke a war +with France--do you think that the king?--" + +"Sire," said Benedetti with energy, "that is what I especially desired +personally to impart to your majesty, in order that you may make no +decision without a perfect knowledge of the situation. The war with +Austria," he proceeded, "was unpopular in Prussia itself, and had it +been disastrous, serious commotions would have arisen in the interior; +nevertheless, I cannot conceal from your majesty, that success has +borne its accustomed fruit. The Prussian people feel as if aroused from +slumber; the aims of the minister president, now clearly revealed to +all eyes, the firmness and daring energy with which he politically +followed up their military success, find not only approval, they call +forth general enthusiasm. Count Bismarck is the popular idol in +Prussia, and if anything could raise his popularity to a higher +pinnacle, it would be a war caused by his refusal to alienate German +soil. The army, the generals, and the princes of the royal family fully +share these views; in military circles, indeed, they are expressed more +vehemently and more decidedly. The king would not for a moment flinch +from such a war. Such is the state of affairs which regard to truth +compels me to divulge to your majesty." + +"But Germany--vanquished, but not annihilated Germany?" asked Drouyn de +Lhuys, as the emperor still remained silent. + +"Of course I cannot be so perfectly acquainted with the opinions of the +rest of Germany as I am with those of Berlin," said Benedetti; "but I +have attentively perused the newspapers, and I have spoken of the +feeling in Germany to persons certain to be well informed: the result +of my observations is, that at this moment not a single German +government would dare to side with France against Prussia, and the +German people (of this I am sure) would--with some few exceptions, +which are certain to be instantly suppressed,--place themselves on the +side of Prussia. We should have all Germany against us." + +"France must fear no enemy, when her honour and her interests are at +stake!" cried Drouyn de Lhuys proudly. + +Benedetti looked on the ground, and said, with some hesitation,-- + +"I must also impart to your majesty, that I hear from a source which +for a long time past has supplied me with true and important +intelligence, and which is known to your majesty,--I hear that a secret +treaty is concluded between Prussia and the South German states, which +in case of war delivers the armies of these states to the King of +Prussia as their Commander-in-Chief." + +"Impossible!" cried the emperor vehemently as he rose, "it would make +the Treaty of Peace an illusion!" + +"Our representatives at the South German courts tell us nothing about +this," said Drouyn de Lhuys. + +"I believe my information is true," said Benedetti, calmly. + +The emperor stood up. Both the gentlemen rose at the same moment. +Drouyn de Lhuys looked at his sovereign in anxious suspense. + +"My dear Benedetti," said Napoleon with charming kindness, "you are +tired after your exhausting journey, I beg you will rest yourself +thoroughly. I thank you for your communications, and for the zeal you +have shown in making them to me personally. To-morrow I will see you +again and will give you further instructions." + +And with engaging courtesy he held out his hand to Benedetti. + +The ambassador bowed deeply and withdrew by the door leading to +Pietri's room. + +"Your majesty is now convinced," said Drouyn de Lhuys, "that our +propositions are refused." + +Napoleon drew himself up proudly, his features expressed energy and +determination, his eyes were widely opened, and courage flashed in his +clear glance. + +"Now for action," said he. + +The minister's face shone with joy. + +"France will thank your majesty for this decision," he cried. + +The emperor rang. + +"General Fleury," he cried to the groom of the chambers as he entered. + +The general's strong lean form, with his animated, expressive +countenance, large moustache, and Henri Quatre beard, appeared a moment +afterwards in the cabinet. + +"Are the marshals assembled?" asked Napoleon. + +"At your majesty's command." + +Drouyn de Lhuys gazed with surprise at the emperor. + +He responded with a smile. + +"You shall be convinced, my dear minister," said he, "that I have not +been idle, and that I have thought of preparing for the action you hold +to be needful. You will, I hope, be satisfied with me. I beg you to +accompany me." + +And leaving the cabinet, followed by the minister, he walked through an +anteroom, and entered a large salon richly yet simply decorated, in the +midst of which stood a table surrounded by fauteuils. + +Here were assembled the highest dignitaries of the French army, the +bearers of that honour, so highly prized for centuries, wrestled for +with so much blood--the marshal's baton of France. + +There was the grey-haired Marshal Vaillant, looking more like a +courtier than a soldier; the snow-white, brave, and military-looking +Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely; Canrobert, with his long hair, +resembling a philosopher rather than a warrior; Count Baraguay +d'Hilliers, elegant and chivalrous, notwithstanding his age; the +minister of war, Count Randon; the slender MacMahon, all muscle and +nerve, with his gentle face and quick bright eyes; there was Niel, with +his earnest, intelligent countenance, showing signs of sickness and +suffering, but bearing also the stamp of unyielding energy and of an +iron will; there was Marshal Forey, with his stiff, military carriage. + +The youngest of the marshals, Bazaine, was wanting: he was in Mexico, +preparing to leave the unhappy Emperor Maximilian to his tragic fate. +All the marshals were in plain black civilian dress. + +The emperor returned the low bow of the assembly by a greeting full of +graceful dignity. With a firm step he walked towards the head of the +table, and placed himself in the arm-chair which stood there, +commanding the marshals, by a sign with his hand, also to be seated. + +Drouyn de Lhuys sat opposite to the emperor; on his right hand, Marshal +Vaillant; on his left, Count Baraguay d'Hilliers; the others according +to their seniority. + +"I have assembled you here, messieurs mes marechals," began Napoleon, +in a firm voice, "even the gentlemen who hold foreign commands, even +you, Duc de Magenta, I have called hither, because, at the present +grave moment, I desire to receive the advice, and to hear the views of +the trusty leaders of the French army." + +The marshals looked at the emperor full of expectation. + +"You all know," said Napoleon, "the events which have just been +accomplished in Germany. Prussia, misusing her victory at Sadowa, is +creating a German military state, continually to threaten the frontiers +of France. I did not consider myself justified in interfering in the +inner development of Germany. The German nation has the same right +freely to reconstitute itself as France claims, and as all foreign +nations allow to her; but as the sovereign of France, it was my +duty to care for the safety of her frontier, menaced by the increased +strength of Germany. For this cause, I opened negotiations to obtain +for France that frontier which would secure her natural and strategical +defence--the frontier of 1814--Mayence and Luxemburg." + +The emperor allowed his eyes to glide over the assembly. He seemed to +expect joyful and animated applause. + +But grave and silent the marshals sat, with downcast looks; even +MacMahon's bright eyes did not kindle with joy at the prospect of war +expressed in the emperor's words. + +Napoleon proceeded: + +"I have sounded them in Berlin, and it appears that they are not +disposed to accede to the just claims I thought it needful to make in +the name of France. Before I go further, and bring matters to an +ultimatum, I wish to hear your views upon a war with Prussia, the +greatest and the gravest war that France could undertake." + +Drouyn de Lhuys looked up impatiently. This was not the turn he wished +matters to take. + +"I know," said the emperor, whose quick eyes had perceived the gloomy +looks of his marshals, and whose natural moderation inclined him to +prudence; "I know that France is always armed, and strong enough to +repel every attack; but before we begin a war of such immense +importance, we must be quite clear as to our strength, and readiness +for battle. I therefore pray you, gentlemen, to give me your opinions +as to the probable result of a war with Germany, and upon the way in +which such a war must be carried out." + +Old Marshal Vaillant looked down before him thoughtfully. + +"Sire," he then said, with grave calmness, "twenty years ago my heart +would have beat high at the thought of such a war--revenge for +Waterloo!--now the prudence of old age is victorious over the fire of +youth, over the throbs of my French heart. Before we decide so grave, +so important a question, it will be needful to ascertain by a +commission, the state of the army and the means at our disposal for +offensive war, and for the defence of the country, to consider the +influence of Prussia's new weapon upon tactics, and thus to form a +well-grounded judgment. I cannot venture at once to decide a question +so deeply affecting the fate of France. If I am too prudent," he added, +"I beg your majesty to blame not me, but my years." + +Count Baraguay d'Hilliers and Marshal Canrobert signified their assent +to the views expressed by Vaillant. + +The minister of war, Count Randon, said:-- + +"I believe that the condition of the army, to which I have devoted all +my care, is excellent, and that the means of defence throughout the +country are in the best possible state; nevertheless, I am the last +person in the world to disapprove of an examination, which will to a +certain extent control my administration as minister of war--a careful +examination upon the influence of the needle-gun I most urgently +advise." + +The grey-haired Count Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely said, in a firm +voice,-- + +"Sire, I have the great honour of commanding your majesty's guards. +This corps is in perfect readiness to march against the enemies of +France. If your majesty declared war to-day, the guards could start for +the frontier to-morrow, full of zeal to twine fresh laurels round our +ancient eagle. But we cannot carry on a war with the guards alone. I +must therefore entirely agree with the views of Marshal Vaillant." + +Drouyn de Lhuys shrugged his shoulders with impatience, which he +scarcely troubled himself to conceal. The emperor looked thoughtfully +before him. + +"Sire," said MacMahon, in his voice so gentle in conversation, +but which in front of his troops resounded metallic as a trumpet +blast--"Sire, your majesty knows I would rather see my sword flash in +the sunshine against the enemies of France than wear it in its +scabbard, yet I must fully concur in the wise view of Marshal Vaillant. +Let us examine--let us examine quickly, and then as quickly do that +which is needful." + +Slowly Marshal Niel raised his eyes, so full of genius, to the emperor. +He hesitated for a moment, then he spoke in a calm, firm tone:-- + +"I must beg our honoured _doyen's_ forgiveness if I, so much younger +than himself, am of a different opinion." + +The marshals all looked at the speaker with astonishment. Drouyn de +Lhuys, with joyful expectation, hung on his lips. The emperor raised +his head and looked at him in the greatest suspense. + +"Sire," he added, his features growing animated, "I do not consider a +commission needful, because without an examination my opinion is +formed." + +"And your opinion is?" asked Napoleon. + +"My opinion is that your majesty is not in a position to fight." + +Drouyn de Lhuys looked at Niel with horror. The emperor showed no +emotion, only he cast down his eyes and bent his head a little to one +side, as was his custom when he listened with unusual attention. + +"Sire," proceeded Kiel, "if one who wears the marshal's baton of +France, in such an assemblage, before his monarch, expresses such an +opinion as my own, it is his duty to give the reasons upon which it is +founded. Allow me to do this on their principal points. I am ready +hereafter to lay my reasons before your majesty in a special memorial. +Firstly," he continued, "a war against Prussia and Germany--for I +believe in this case Germany would stand beside Prussia--needs the +whole and entire force of the French nation. At the present moment this +is not at our command. The expedition to Mexico draws away both men and +money which we could not spare, and I should not wish that, following +the example of Austria, we engaged upon two wars at once, when opposed +to a foe whose dangerous strength we must, above all things, duly +estimate if we hope for success. Secondly," he added, "according to my +opinion, no examination is necessary to convince us that we must oppose +to the Prussian needle-gun a weapon at least as good, if not superior. +I venture to doubt whether, as they now affirm in Austria, it was +entirely the needle-gun that Prussia must thank for her great and +astonishing success. I doubt it; nevertheless, apart from the undoubted +efficacy of this weapon, it is absolutely necessary for the _morale_ +and self-confidence of our soldiers, to give them a needle-gun of an +equally good or superior kind, especially now that the newspapers and +common rumour have surrounded this gun with the nimbus of a magic +weapon. I should hold it to be extremely dangerous to lead the +army, as it is at present equipped, against Prussian regiments. A new +weapon, sire, necessitates new tactics. I will only allude to the +completely altered functions of cavalry in war, and the new problem of +artillery,--on which your majesty's views will be clearer than my own," +he added, bowing to the emperor. "Then," he proceeded, "without any +commission, it is perfectly clear that the strongholds on our frontier +have neither the fortifications, the provisions, nor the ammunition +needful to make them really effective in war. This is no reflection +upon the military administration," he said, turning to Count Randon; +"it is a fact whose full explanation is found in the circumstance that +the state of politics during the last few years has directed our +military attention to other points. Finally," he said in a convincing +tone, "there is one point to consider, which I believe to be the most +important of all. We have opposed to us in Prussia a nation whose +military organization causes every man up to a great age to be a +soldier. In case of need Prussia can, after a lost battle, after the +annihilation even of an army upon the field, produce another army in an +effective condition, with all the discipline and all the requisites of +well-trained soldiers. I will not speak of the influence such an +excessive expenditure of strength must have on home affairs--on the +welfare of the country, but in a military point of view its success is +immense. We have but our regular army, and were it broken, defeated--in +the quiet contemplation of affairs it is the duty even of a French +mouth to pronounce this hard word--we have nothing--except perhaps, +undisciplined masses with a good courage, who would be sacrificed +without result. I will not maintain that it would be advisable, or, +indeed, with our national peculiarities, that it would be possible to +imitate the Prussian system, nevertheless we must create something +which will be a true national reserve. I wish to express that we must +have, to back up our regular army, material sufficiently trained to +form another army in case of need, if we would avoid entering on the +war with unequal forces. I will shortly recapitulate my opinion. We +must, in the first place, be completely freed from Mexico, that we may +be able to concentrate the whole power of France upon one point. We +must then supply the whole army with an excellent breach-loader; we +must modify our drill to our new weapon; our fortresses must be in +perfect readiness for war. Finally, we must create a mobile and +efficient national reserve. I consider all these preparations +indispensable before commencing so grave and decisive a war." + +Deep silence reigned for a moment throughout the apartment. + +The emperor fixed his eyes upon Marshal Forey, the youngest in the +assembly. + +"I perfectly coincide in the views that Marshal Niel has so clearly and +convincingly expressed," he said. + +The other marshals were silent, but their looks plainly showed that +they had nothing to say against the views Niel had advanced. + +"Sire," cried Drouyn de Lhuys, vehemently, "I am not a soldier, and I +am convinced that from a military point of view the gallant marshal is +perfectly right; but the completion of the preparations he deems +needful for a successful campaign requires time, much time, and I think +we have none to lose if we are to guard the honour and the interests of +France. The favourable moment will go by, Prussia will grow stronger +and stronger, the military strength of Germany will become more and +more organized and concentrated, and if all is carried out that the +marshal desires, the increase to our strength, however important, will +perhaps be met by a still more considerable increase of strength on the +part of the enemy. Sire," he proceeded, with extreme excitement and +with flashing eyes, "I implore your majesty that two men and one +officer with the banner of France, may stand at the frontier and +support the needful demands which we must make upon Prussia; if they +see we are in earnest in Berlin they will yield, and if they do not, in +a few days all France would be formed into battalions to strengthen our +armies. It was with such battalions, sire, that your illustrious uncle +conquered the world; from these he formed those mighty armies, educated +not in the barrack-yard but on the battle-field, with which he subdued +Europe." + +A deeply pained expression appeared for a moment on the emperor's face. + +Then he raised his eyes enquiringly to Marshal Niel. + +"What do you say to this, Monsieur le Marechal?" he asked. + +"Sire," replied Niel, "your minister's words must find an echo in every +French heart, and my strong conviction of my duty towards your majesty +and France alone prevents me from agreeing with him. Immediately after +the battle of Sadowa, whilst Germany was still armed, when Austria had +not yet concluded peace, when the Prussian army was still much +exhausted by the hard blows it had received during a severe struggle, +it might have been possible to do what the minister counsels. To-day it +would be too dangerous a game for France's glory and greatness; it +would be," he added, with a meaning look at the emperor, "a game which +your majesty might perhaps dare to play, but which no conscientious +general would dare to advise." + +"And if I dare to play this game," cried the emperor, a brilliant flash +sparkling in his eyes, "which of you gentlemen would stand at my side +and lead the armies of France?" + +A deep silence replied to the emperor's question. + +"Sire," at last cried Marshal MacMahon, fixing his bright blue eyes +firmly on the emperor, "we are all ready, if you command, to march at +the head of the armies of France, and to die; but first we beg your +majesty to listen to Marshal Niel, and not to hazard the fate of +France, of imperial France, to such uncertain success." + +All the marshals bent their heads, and their countenances expressed +their full approval of the Duke of Magenta's words. + +Drouyn de Lhuys allowed his head to sink sorrowfully upon his breast. + +The emperor fixed his eyes upon Marshal Niel without a sign of emotion. + +"How long a time should you require to carry out what you have asserted +to be needful?" + +"Two years, sire," replied the marshal, in a calm, clear voice. + +"My best wishes will accompany the marshal in his work, if your majesty +deputes him to carry it out," said Count Randon, bowing to the emperor. + +After a few moments of deep silence Napoleon rose. + +"I thank you, gentlemen," he said, quietly, "for your opinions, and the +frankness with which you have expressed them. It will make it easier to +me to form a decision at this important moment. I shall see you all +again to-day at dinner." + +And with his own peculiar courtesy he greeted them, and returned to his +cabinet alone. + +He looked thoughtfully and gravely before him, and several times paced +slowly up and down the room. + +"Rash indeed would it be to decide on action under these +circumstances," said he; "and wherefore, if time can ripen the fruit, +if waiting can make our aim more sure? Drouyn de Lhuys, that quiet +prudent man, talks like a Jacobin of 1793! He holds intercourse with +Orleans," he said, gloomily, as he stood still and fixed his eyes on +the ground. + +Then he went to his writing-table, seated himself and wrote. His hand +hurried over the paper; sometimes he looked up as if seeking for a +word, then he wrote again, filling one page after another. + +When he had finished he called Pietri. + +"Make me a copy of this," said the emperor, holding out the written +sheets; "yet," he added, "read it first and tell me what you think of +it." + +Pietri read slowly and attentively, whilst the emperor made a +cigarette, lighted it at the taper always burning on his table, and +then walked leisurely up and down the room, from time to time casting a +look of enquiry at his secretary's countenance. + +When he saw that he had finished reading he said: + +"Well, have you any remark to make?" + +"Sire," said Pietri, "your majesty will not then act?" + +"Perhaps it is better to wait," said the emperor. + +"But this programme," said Pietri,--"for, what your majesty has just +sketched out is a political programme for the future--accepts the +alterations in Germany." + +"Accepts them," said the emperor; and half speaking to himself he +added, "to accept is not to acknowledge--to accept indicates a +fictitious position which we permit to continue as long as we will." + +"I admire, as I have often done before, the dexterity with which your +majesty chooses your words," said Pietri. "But," he proceeded, "this +theory of nonintervention, this declaration that the three portions +into which Germany is dividing completely reassure us as to the +interests of France, will not accord with the views of M. Drouyn de +Lhuys. I do not believe he will accept this programme without +discussion." + +The emperor looked steadfastly at his secretary. + +"I cannot compel him to do so," he then said. + +"And your majesty is firmly determined to abide by this programme." + +"Firmly determined?" said the emperor, thoughtfully. "How difficult it +is to decide at such a time. Do you know, Pietri," he said, as he laid +his hand upon his shoulder, "determination is something that hurts my +nerves; I do not know fear,--danger makes me cold and calm; but I am +always thankful to those who compel me by an impulse to do what is +needful to be done. Make me the copy,--I will drive out." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + THE EMPRESS CHARLOTTE. + + +Monsieur Pietri finished his business with Napoleon the next morning, +and rose to withdraw to his own room. + +The emperor looked down gravely. + +"I must visit the Empress Charlotte," he said in a low tone. + +"The poor empress! she is indeed to be pitied," remarked Pietri. + +"Why does she cling so madly to that absurd Mexican crown?" cried +Napoleon. "Can I uphold the Emperor Maximilian on a throne which he has +himself undermined with his liberal ideas? He has estranged himself +from the Church party, and has deeply offended the clergy, the only +power that can lead the masses out there, and above all, that can get +him money, which he needs so greatly; for without money he will soon +have neither troops, nor generals, nor ministers, nor friends. Ought +I," he continued after a pause, "ought I to continue pouring into this +Mexican abyss streams of French blood and French money, without being +able to fill it, now, when this German danger, which I must bear in +smiling silence because I cannot act, threatens the frontier of +France?" He clenched his teeth firmly together, a look of anger crossed +his face. "This Mexican expedition was a great idea," he then said, +"the establishment of the monarchical principle on the other hemisphere +opposed to threatening North America; the rule of the Latin races. With +the subjugation of the Southern States these plans became impossible; +the Emperor Maximilian has not known how to find supporters for his +throne; I have no longer any interest in upholding him, and I cannot do +it." + +"If your majesty had supported the Southern States vigorously?" +suggested Pietri, with some diffidence. + +"How could I alone?" cried the emperor with animation. "Did not England +leave me in the lurch? England, who had a much greater interest than I, +in opposing the growth and consolidation of this American Republic? who +sheathed the sword that should have cut through those cotton threads, +which are threads of life to proud Great Britain. Shall I draw down +upon myself alone the hatred and enmity of that nation for the future, +without being sure of victory, that I may maintain an emperor upon a +throne where he wishes to rule with constitutional theories, joined to +wild experimental politics? I am sorry for Maximilian," he continued, +taking a few steps about the room; "there is something noble, something +great in him; but also much mistiness; he has something of his +predecessor, of Joseph II., who came into the world a hundred years too +soon, and of that other Maximilian, who was born as much too late, whom +the German poet called the last of the knights, forgetting Francis I. I +pity him," he said, sighing; "but I cannot help him. After all, it is +not so bad after this expedition again to become an archduke of +Austria; there are princes who have no such line of retreat if their +thrones are wrecked! I wish the Empress Charlotte had gone," he said in +a gloomy voice; "she was much excited yesterday--it will be a painful +visit!" + +He caused the equerry on duty to be summoned, ordered his carriage, and +withdrew into his dressing-room. + + * * * * * + +In a salon, on the _bel etage_ of the Grand Hotel in the Boulevard des +Italiens, sat the Empress Charlotte of Mexico, dressed entirely in +black. Her face once so lovely, fresh, and charming, was pale and sad; +it was already marked with deep lines which gave her the appearance of +premature old age, her hair was entirely concealed beneath the black +lace handkerchief which came low down on her forehead, her mouth had a +restless nervous movement, and her wearied eyes shone at times with an +unsteady feverish brilliancy. + +Before the empress stood General Almonte, the Mexican ambassador in +Paris, a pleasing-looking man of the southern type. He gazed sadly at +the princess, who not long before had crossed the sea to ascend the +dazzling throne of Montezuma, in fabulous splendour, and who now sat +before him broken down by the deepest sorrow; instead of Montezuma's +diadem, she had found Guatimozin's crown of martyrdom. + +"You do not believe then, general," asked the empress in a trembling +voice, "that anything is to be hoped from France?" + +"I do not believe it," replied the general gravely; "according to all +that I have seen and heard here, the emperor is quite determined to +withdraw quickly and definitely from the whole affair. If his majesty +the Emperor Maximilian wishes to maintain his throne, (which I ardently +desire for the sake of an unhappy country robbed by one adventurer +after another)--he must not rely on France--he must find supporters in +the country itself. Before all, he must endeavour to win back the +firmest and mightiest support, which he has lost--the Church and the +clergy; they will procure him both money and soldiers. Not here," added +the general, "is help to be found; if your majesty takes my advice you +will go to Rome--the pope alone can restore to the emperor the mighty +power of the Mexican clergy--certainly he would require conditions, but +quick action is needful, before it is too late," he added in a gloomy +voice. + +"Oh!" cried the empress, standing up and walking up and down the room +with hasty footsteps, "oh! that my noble, unhappy husband should have +listened to the enticing words of that fiend, whom men call Napoleon; +that he should have forsaken our beautiful Miramar, to hurl himself +into this abyss, in which we sink deeper and deeper. If you knew," she +cried, with sparkling eyes, as she stood still before the general, "how +I entreated him, this man--he went to St.-Cloud, to avoid me," she +cried, speaking quicker and with still greater excitement; "I followed +him there, I pressed myself upon him, I begged and implored him, I +repressed all the anger in my heart, I prayed to him as we pray to God, +I threw myself at his feet, I, the grand-daughter of Louis Philippe, +threw myself at the feet of the son of that Hortense--oh! my God!" + +She sank back exhausted on the sofa. + +"And what did the emperor reply?" asked the general, looking with deep +compassion at the unhappy lady, whose diadem weighed so heavily upon +her brow. + +"Nothing," sighed the empress; "phrases of regret, cold words of +comfort, which sounded like scorn from his mouth. General," she cried, +rising suddenly, and fixing a tragic look upon him, "general, I fear +that my reason will give way. So much sorrow no human soul can bear, so +many tears no eyes can shed, without falling a prey to the powers of +darkness. At night," she cried, gazing into space as if her mind +pursued a vision, "at night, if after long tearful watching an uneasy +slumber falls upon me, I see him creep up towards me, this demon--this +demon brought forth by hell; he holds out a goblet, green flames dart +from it! I shudder to my heart's core, but he holds the goblet to +my lips, the flames beat on my brow with frightful pain; I must +quaff,--quaff the terrible drink he offers me, and this drink is +blood!--the blood of my husband!" she cried, shrieking aloud, and +stretching out her hands with a movement of convulsive horror. + +"Your majesty! for God's sake, calm yourself!" cried the general, +dismayed. + +A sound was heard in the antechamber. + +A lacquey entered. + +"His majesty the emperor has just driven into the _porte cochere_," he +cried, and threw open the folding door leading to the anteroom. + +The Empress Charlotte rose quickly. She passed her handkerchief across +her brow, the bewildered look vanished from her features, and she said +with a calm and sorrowful smile: + +"Leave me alone with him, general, perhaps God has softened his heart." + +Napoleon appeared in the antechamber, he wore a black coat with the +star and ribbon of the Order of Our Lady of Guadaloupe. Colonel Fave +accompanied him. + +The empress met him at the threshold of her room. + +General Almonte with a deep bow withdrew into the antechamber. The +servants closed the door. + +Napoleon kissed the hand of the empress, led her to the sofa and placed +himself in an arm-chair beside her. The empress looked at him in +breathless suspense, his veiled eyes were cast on the ground. + +"Is your majesty comfortable here?" he asked in a courteous tone. "I +should have been happier if you would have accepted hospitality at one +of my palaces." + +"I want nothing," said the empress with slight impatience, "I have come +to hear my fate. I implore your majesty to say if it is pronounced, and +what I have to hope." + +"I think I told your majesty yesterday my determination, and the +political reasons upon which it was founded," said the emperor in a +calm voice. "I can only regret that circumstances forbid, absolutely +forbid my compliance with your majesty's wishes, as I should so much +have wished," he added, with a polite bow. + +The Empress Charlotte's lips trembled convulsively. + +"Sire," said she in a repressed voice, "it is not a question of my +wishes, they have never been directed to that distant throne. It is a +question of the honour, perhaps of the life of my husband, for he will +sacrifice his life to his honour." + +"But madame," said the emperor, slightly twirling his moustache, "I +cannot see how honour can require him madly to bury himself beneath the +ruins of a throne that cannot be upheld. Your husband undertook a great +and good cause; that it cannot be carried out is the fault, not of +himself, but of circumstances,--no one could reproach him." + +A bitter smile curved the lips of the empress. + +"My husband does not thus regard it," said she, "he will not pass +through life as a dethroned prince,--in his opinion a prince who has +once ascended a throne should only abandon it with his life." + +"The Emperor Maximilian will not drive this opinion, which really does +not apply to present circumstances, to extremes," replied Napoleon. "I +will send General Castelnau to him, he shall lay before him in my name +a full explanation of the circumstances to which I am forced to yield, +the emperor will understand them, he will return, and I heartily beg +you, madame, to support the general's mission by your persuasions." + +A flush passed quickly over the empress's face, her eyes sparkled, her +lips quivered, and she said in a hoarse voice: + +"The mission will be in vain, and I will never advise my husband to do +anything he holds to be at variance with his honour and his noble +chivalrous heart." + +The emperor slightly bit his lips, his veiled eyes opened for a moment, +and a hard, almost an inimical look, flashed upon the empress. + +She saw this look, a shudder passed through her, in violent excitement +she pressed her hand to her heart, and she said with a deep breath, +fixing her burning eyes upon the emperor: + +"Sire, it is not a question of my husband's honour alone; to care for +this is certainly our own affair, but something else is staked upon +this, something that touches your majesty more nearly,--and that is the +honour of France." + +The emperor gave a cold smile. + +"My armies only withdraw from Mexico at my command, and they bring rich +laurels with them," he said. + +"Laurels?" cried the empress with flashing eyes, "yes, the soldiers who +have bravely fought bring laurels with them, and laurels grow on the +graves of the fallen, but the banners of France, who now desert the +throne raised by France's emperor, the prince who went thither +at the call of France, and who is rewarded by humiliation and +desertion,--these banners should be veiled in crape, for they have +forsaken France's honour! Oh! sire," she exclaimed, restraining herself +with a great effort, "I beg you once more--I conjure you--recall your +hard decision!" + +The emperor's brow wore a gloomy frown, an icy smile was on his lips. + +"Madame," he said, "your majesty will allow that I am the best, the +only competent judge of what the honour of France demands." + +The eyes of the empress flashed, a look of proud contempt appeared on +her face. + +"Your majesty is the _judge_," she said, "then let me be the _advocate_ +of the honour of France, my blood gives me this right, the blood of +Henri Quatre flows in my veins, and my grandfather was the French +king!" + +The emperor's long eyelashes were raised, and his angry eyes gazed on +the excited woman who sat trembling before him. + +He stood up. + +The empress also rose. + +She pressed both hands upon her heart, her whole form swayed to and fro +with the violent effort she made to recover her calmness. + +"Sire," she said in a low soft voice, "forgive the wife who pleads for +the honour and the life of her husband, if her zeal has made her speak +too boldly in a cause which must ever be to her the highest and the +holiest on earth. Sire, I implore you for God's sake, for the sake of +eternal mercy,--have pity on us, give us your protection one year +longer, or give us money, if the blood of France is too precious." + +And with an imploring look of indescribable anguish she gazed up at +this man, from whose mouth the words of hope could come, which she +might bear back to the husband longing for her with such weary anxiety, +refreshing his harassed soul with new strength. + +Napoleon spoke in a cold voice. + +"Madame, the greatest service at this grave moment is perfect truth and +openness. I should sin against your majesty, if I allowed you to +entertain vain hopes. My decision is as unalterable as the necessity +that dictates it. I have nothing more for Mexico--not a man, not a +franc!" + +The features of the empress grew frightfully distorted, the whites of +her eyes grew red as blood, a flaming brightness glowed in her gaze, +her lips receded and showed her gloaming white teeth; with outstretched +arms she walked close up to the emperor, and with hissing breath that +seemed to drive the words from her breast, she cried in a voice which +no longer sounded human: + +"Yes! it is true, the image of my dream, the horrible apparition +of my sleep! there he stands with his goblet of blood!--demon of +hell!--executioner of my family!--murderer of my husband!--laughing +devil!--murder me, the grand-daughter of Louis Philippe,--of that king +who rescued you from misery, and saved you from the scaffold." + +As if before some supernatural appearance the emperor slowly stepped +backwards to the door. The empress stood still, and stretching out her +hand towards him she cried, whilst her features grew more frightfully +convulsed, and her eyes glowed more wildly: + +"Hence, fiend! but take with thee my curse. The curse which God hurled +at the head of the first murderer shall destroy thy throne! flames +shall blot out thy house! and when thou liest in the dust from whence +thou hast risen, expiring in shame and weakness, the avenging angel +shall shake the depths of thy despairing soul with the cry of +'Charlotte and Maximilian!'" + +Seized with horror the emperor turned round, covering his eyes with his +hands. He hurried to the door, and rushed into the anteroom, where he +found his equerry, and General Almonte much shocked at the dreadful +sound of the empress's voice. He cried scarcely audibly--"Come, Fave, +come quickly, the empress is ill." + +He hurried down the steps, looking anxiously back; the equerry rushed +after him. + +General Almonte hastened back into the empress's room. + +The unhappy princess had sunk on her knees in the middle of the salon, +her left hand was pressed to her heart, her right stretched upwards, +and with upturned eyes she stared vacantly at the ceiling--a statue of +despair. + +The general hastened to her. + +"For God's sake," he cried, bending over her, "I conjure your majesty, +calm, collect yourself! What has happened?" + +A slight shiver passed through her limbs, she slowly turned her eyes +towards the general, she looked at him with surprise, passed her hand +over her brow, and allowed him to raise her, and lead her to the sofa. +A lady in waiting had entered in great anxiety, and assisted the +general, the lacquey stood with a frightened face at the door of the +ante-room. + +Suddenly the empress rose, her eyes wandered round the room. "Where is +he?" she cried in a hoarse voice, "he has gone, he must not go. I will +dog his heels, day and night my shrieks for revenge shall pierce his +ears!" + +"Your majesty!" cried the general. + +"Away!" screamed the empress, "leave me: my carriage, my carriage; +after him, the traitor, my husband's murderer!" + +And she tore herself free from the general, and the lady in attendance, +rushed through the anteroom and down the stairs, still crying, "My +carriage! my carriage!" + +The general hastened after her. The servant followed. + +In the large court of the Grand Hotel there was a concourse of +inquisitive people, attracted by the arrival of the imperial carriage. +On the large balcony sat foreigners reading newspapers and chatting. + +Suddenly they heard the loud out-cry of a woman clad in black, with +distorted features and blood-shot starting eyes. She appeared at the +foot of the large staircase, and shrieked incessantly: "My carriage, my +carriage!" + +General Almonte overtook the empress. He sought to calm her, it was +impossible. All eyes were fixed on the surprising apparition. + +The general in great distress wishing to bring the dreadful scene to an +end, desired the lacquey who was in the empress's service, to bring a +carriage into the court of the hotel. + +The equipage drove round. + +With one spring the empress threw herself in. The general seized the +door to follow her. Then her strength failed her--she collapsed, her +eyes closed, white foam appeared on her lips; unconscious, with +convulsive shudders, she fell back on the cushions. + +Several servants hastily appeared. They carried her gently upstairs to +her own room. + +"What a tragedy begins," said General Almonte, shuddering, as he +followed slowly; "and what a conclusion lies in the lap of the future!" + + * * * * * + +Late in the afternoon, the brilliant carriages belonging to the +aristocracy, the _haute finance_, and the foreign diplomacy, drove +slowly round the Bois de Boulogne. The whole Paris world had remained +in town, the universal interest in the European crisis chained them to +the capital; and the whole world took its accustomed slow drive before +dinner, along the beautiful shores of the two lakes, in the charming, +wonderfully-kept Bois de Boulogne. Between the imposing heavy-looking +carriages with their powdered servants, drove the carriages belonging +to the 'demi-monde,' light and graceful, with spirited prancing steeds; +and the young gentlemen, without regarding the displeased looks of the +ladies of the 'grande monde,' rode close to these carriages, laughingly +and jestingly replying to the piquant remarks made by the ladies of the +avant-scene and the Cafe anglais. + +In an open caleche drawn by four beautiful brown horses, preceded by +two piqueurs in green and gold, with an officer riding near the door, +drove the emperor amongst the lively varied throng. Beside him sat +General Fleury. Napoleon's face beamed with good humour, he conversed +with animation to the general, responding with gracious empressement, +right and left, to the salutes he received, whilst the brilliant +equipage drove slowly three times round the lake. An hour later all +Paris knew that the emperor was in excellent health, and that affairs +must be going on well, since his majesty showed such remarkable +cheerfulness. + +The emperor was in the same good spirits at the dinner to which the +marshals and several distinguished officers were invited. The _cercle_ +was over, the sun had set, and the warm darkness of evening was spread +over the gigantic city. + +The emperor entered his cabinet. He laid aside the uniform he had worn +at dinner, and put on a plain black frock coat. + +As soon as his valet had gone he called Pietri. + +"Is my carriage without livery ready?" he asked. + +"It is waiting at the side door as your majesty commanded." + +"You have told me of that remarkable pupil of Lenormand," said the +emperor. "Morny, too, has spoken to me of her, Madame Moreau, is she +not?" + +Pietri smiled. + +"She has really foretold things in a wonderful way; I once visited her +myself, and I was much struck by her prophecies." + +"And were they fulfilled?" asked the emperor. + +"Much, sire, that she foretold happened." + +"I will hear her," said Napoleon; "come with me." + +And he went down the staircase leading to his room; followed by his +secretary. + +They walked along a corridor, and passed through a side door into an +inner court of the Tuileries; here stood a plain carriage with two +black horses, a coachman, not in livery, sat on the box; it looked like +a doctor's carriage. + +The emperor stepped in. + +Pietri followed him and cried to the coachman, "5, Rue Tournon." + +The carriage started at a brisk trot, and drove down the Rue de Rivoli. + +A second carriage, equally unremarkable, followed at a little distance. + +It contained the chief of the palace police, and one of his officers. + +In the old part of Paris, near the palace of the Luxembourg, is the Rue +Tournon, one of those ancient streets bearing the stamp of past times, +with low houses, old sashes, and small windows. The emperor's carriage +stopped before No. 5; Pietri went first through a large open doorway +leading into a small _porte-cochere_. The emperor followed him. The +second carriage stopped at the corner of the street, its occupants got +out, and began smoking and chatting as they slowly paced the trottoir. + +Napoleon followed his secretary through the _porte-cochere_, and at the +end of it walked up some high dark steps leading to a door. A small +landing at the top of the first flight was lighted by a plain but +elegant lamp, and a white china door-plate bore the name of Madame +Moreau. + +"It is the same house and the same apartment that Lenormand occupied," +said Pietri, as he rang the bell near the door-plate. + +The emperor looked round with great interest. + +"Here then came Napoleon the First," said he, thoughtfully, "and here +the crown was prophesied which he afterwards obtained." + +The door opened. A young woman dressed like a Parisian housemaid +appeared. The emperor pulled up the collar of his coat, and held his +handkerchief before the lower part of his face. + +Pietri stepped forwards and concealed him. + +"Madame Moreau?" he asked. + +"I do not know whether madame still receives," replied the girl; "it is +very late." + +"We are friends," said Pietri. "Madame will admit us." + +"Walk into the salon, gentlemen; I will announce you." + +She led the emperor and his secretary to a small, but richly and +elegantly furnished room. Thick carpets covered the floor, large +fauteuils stood around a table, on which lay several illustrated +journals, a large lamp hung from the ceiling, and brightly lighted up +the room. + +"Your majesty must learn to wait in the ante-room," said Pietri, +jestingly, as he wheeled a chair towards Napoleon. + +He only placed his hand lightly on the back, and looked round the room +with great interest. On the wall hung a large engraving, his own +likeness in his coronation robes. With a slight sigh the emperor +glanced at the slender, youthful figure represented; then he said, +pointing it out laughingly to Pietri: + +"This lady appears well disposed." + +"She is a scholar of Lenormand, sire," replied Pietri, "and holds to +the traditions of her mistress; also she was an especial favourite of +the Duke de Morny." + +A small door concealed by a very thick dark _portiere_ opened, the +curtain was pushed aside, and a short, rather stout lady in a plain +black dress appeared in the doorway. She was about fifty years of age, +with dark smooth hair and lively black eyes, so keen and piercing, that +they were an almost startling contrast to the somewhat puffy and very +commonplace face to which they belonged. + +Pietri advanced. + +"I thank you, madame," he said, "for receiving us at this late hour. +You have already given me such brilliant proofs of your art, that I +have brought a friend who is travelling through Paris, and who begs you +to unveil his future." + +"Walk this way, messieurs," said Madame Moreau quietly, in an agreeable +voice and with the manner of a lady of good society. + +And she returned to her cabinet. Pietri and the emperor followed her. + +This cabinet was a small square room, which had besides the door +leading into the salon, a second door, through which visitors could +depart who did not care to face those who might be waiting in the other +apartment. This cabinet had a dark carpet. The window looking towards +the courtyard was concealed by ample thick green curtains. A tall old +chest stood against the wall, near to the window was a somewhat small +table covered with a green cloth, and before it a large chair in which +the prophetess generally sat. Upon the table stood a lamp with a dark +green shade, which lighted up the surface of the table, and left the +rest of the room in deep shadow. Upon the other side of the table stood +a few dark green chairs and a small divan of the same colour. + +The emperor seated himself in an arm-chair in the shadow, and put his +handkerchief to his face. + +Madame Moreau took no notice. She was accustomed to guests who desired +to preserve a strict incognito. + +She took her place at the table and asked, "Do you wish the _grand +jeu?_" + +"Certainly," replied Pietri, who stood close to Napoleon's chair. + +"Will monsieur then show me his hand? The left if he pleases." + +Napoleon rose and walked to the table, so that the shadow of the dark +lamp shade fell on his face, and he held out his hand to the +soothsayer; long, slender, and soft it looked much younger than his +face or figure. + +Madame Moreau seized this hand, turned the palm upwards, and opened the +line between the thumb and forefinger to its utmost extent. + +"What a tenacious, enduring will," she said, without raising her eyes +from the emperor's hand; "yet there is a weakness here, a hesitating +delay; this hand is formed to draw the bow with care and skill, but it +will hesitate before letting the arrow fly; it wishes to remain lord of +the arrow in its flight, but the arrow then belongs to fate. This hand +will not quickly loose the string even when the aim is taken, and the +eye perceives that the right moment has come; it will launch the arrow +from the concussion of a sudden doubt,--but the arrow obeys the eternal +might of Providence," she added, in a low voice. She then continued her +attentive examination of the palm. "Broken soon after its beginning, +the line of life winds in entwining curves, often crossed and stopped +by opposing lines, then it rises in a bold, broad arch, higher and +higher, until--" + +She gazed with a vacant, dreamy look upon the hand, and remained +silent. + +"You have a remarkable hand, monsieur," she said, without looking up; +"the great Fabius Cunctator must have had a hand like yours--yet here +are lines which must have been found in the hand of Catiline, though +without the restless haste of that conspirator, and here are the lines +of Caesar--no, of Augustus. Sir," she said, "your hand is very +remarkable, it is formed slowly and carefully to knot the threads of +fate, it is made to build up and to collect, to uphold and to foster, +and yet fate often compels it to destroy." + +"And whither does the line of life lead?" asked the emperor, in so low +a voice that the sound was scarcely heard. + +Madame Moreau said slowly and thoughtfully: + +"It turns back to whence it came." + +Napoleon looked at Pietri. + +"Uncertain as the Pythia," he whispered. + +Madame Moreau might have heard and understood these words or not. She +said: + +"The riddle which the line of life does not reveal, will perhaps be +read by my cards." + +She let go the emperor's hand, and taking from a drawer in her table +some large cards, beautifully painted with strange figures and +characters, she handed them to the emperor to shuffle. + +He did so, still keeping his face in the shadow from the lamp, and gave +her back the pack. + +"Monsieur," she then said, "this is a combination that seldom occurs. I +see you surrounded by the brightest splendour of the highest on earth, +your hand links the fate of numbers. My God!" she cried, "for One only +have I seen this constellation--it is so, it must be so, here is the +eagle above your head; the star in the diagonal, the golden bees,--it +would be unworthy to remain silent, it would lower my art." + +She rose hastily and bowing deeply, with a movement possessing a +certain grace and dignity, notwithstanding her short and corpulent +figure, she said: + +"My poor house has the happiness of beholding the monarch of France +beneath its roof; sire, with the deepest respect I greet my great and +beloved emperor!" + +Napoleon started with surprise, then he moved out of the shadow and +said laughingly: + +"I must compliment you, madame, on the penetration of your cards. Since +my great uncle visited your mistress, his nephew and successor may well +visit the pupil. But now that we are without mask," he continued, "tell +me more of the fate inscribed on your cards." + +Madame Moreau returned to her chair, and seated herself at a sign from +the emperor--who on his part came close to the table and sat down, +looking at the out-spread cards attentively. + +"Sire," said the lady, "your majesty will believe that I, who love +France, and whose whole heart hangs upon your great race, have often +tried in solitude to read by my art the fate of the empire; wonderful +to say, this very constellation has each time appeared, the very same +which now lies unchanged before me, in the cards your imperial hand has +shuffled. I cannot be deceived. It would be absurd of me to tell of +your majesty's past, from the cards now lying before me; one thing only +I would say,"--she added with hesitation, "may I speak?" and she +glanced at Pietri. + +"I have no secrets from this gentleman," said Napoleon. + +"Sire," proceeded Madame Moreau, still gazing on the cards, "your +majesty is happy in a noble consort possessing every virtue--and yet--" + +"And yet?" asked the emperor in a voice in which surprise mingled with +slight impatience. + +"Sire," said she slowly and solemnly, "the life of your majesty lies on +the border land of the powers of light and darkness, a bright and +glittering star beams down upon it, but the deep shadow of a demon-like +fate often threatens to obscure its pure light. Beneath the brilliance +of that star, beneath the influence of its blessed rays, the young +heart of your majesty first opened to the warm breath of youthful +poetry, and an absorbing love: the great emperor's blessing, the noble +martyr of St. Helena, rested on this love; it would have lighted and +warmed your majesty's heart; and this love was responded to by a heart +in whose veins flowed the blood of your great predecessor." + +The emperor looked down with emotion, a melancholy expression appeared +on his face. + +"Sire," continued Madame Moreau, "the dark shadow prevailed, the night +of fate closed over that love and its hopes. The heart that beat for +you has grieved during a sad and solitary life, and you have missed the +guide, the good genius of your youth, who would have led you onwards +beneath the rays of your star, and who would often have strengthened +your doubting heart." + +The emperor was silent. A sigh heaved his breast. + +"Go on," he then said. + +"Even now, sire," said Madame Moreau, "your heart is in doubt, to-day +two opposing spirits wrestle in your soul, you balance between war and +peace,--oh! wonderful," she proceeded, gazing attentively at the cards +and pointing to some of the pictures, "the men of the sword urge +peace." + +The emperor listened with surprise. + +"Sire," she said, "you have broken the pride of Russia, you have led +England's queen to the grave of your uncle, you have revenged upon the +house of Hapsburg the humiliations of the King of Rome. Sire, your +star's bright beams have lighted you brilliantly on your course; beware +of Germany," she said in a hoarse tone, "there the demon-like shadow of +your evil fate prevails. Beware! beware!" she cried vehemently, lifting +up her hands as if to conjure him, "pause, before you throw the iron +dice of war!" + +The emperor gazed before him. A slight shudder passed through his +limbs. + +"And you will pause," continued she, perusing the pictures on her +cards, and drawing long lines over the out-spread pack, "for I see you +surrounded by the smiling images of peace, and only in the back-ground +the god of war zealously whets his sword for future days." + +"And shall France thus humble herself?" said Napoleon in a low voice, +as if expressing his thoughts aloud, "shall she yield, draw back!" + +"I see no humiliation," said Madame Moreau, with sparkling eyes gazing +at the cards; "I see dazzling splendour, brighter even than that which +surrounded your uncle's throne, I see all the nations of the world +assembled around the steps of your imperial throne, I see emperors and +kings, all the princes of Europe,--almost of the earth,--surrounding +you in a brilliant circle; the Sultan greets the imperial lord of +France, the successor of Peter the Great, ah! what is this!" she cried. +"Sire, watch, watch over the duty sacred to a guest, murder lurks for +Alexander on the soil of France, yet God averts the blow. I see new +splendour, brilliant splendour and proud joy, all the people of Europe, +Asia, and America, even the swarthy Nubians of Africa, uniting in +astonished admiration at the glory of imperial France." + +The emperor's eyes were fully opened, they flashed with pride. + +"And then?" he asked. + +"Sire," said Madame Moreau, "your conquering star has reached the +zenith, then clouds arise, bloody lightning flashes through them, I see +the points of lances sparkle, I see the war-god in tempestuous thunder +stride over the earth, I see your majesty at the head of a moving army, +I see you in Germany,"--she covered her eyes with her hands. "Ah! that +is far away!" she said slowly; "my eyes are dazzled, I have not powers +like the great Lenormand to see into the distant future, later on it +will be clear, but to enduring peace fate has not destined you sire, +see here!" And in prophetic tones she said: "If the olive tree +overshadows France, her laurels must fade!" + +The emperor looked at her thoughtfully. + +"For the present, then, peace will bring me happiness and glory, but I +must not let the olive trees overpower the laurels?" + +She slightly nodded her head, still gazing at the cards. Her face +quivered, she opened her lips as if to speak, but she was silent. + +Napoleon stood up. Once more his eyes looked searchingly round the +room. + +"In this room, then, Madame Lenormand entertained the emperor?" he +asked. + +"In this very room, sire," said Madame Moreau, rising, "only the +arrangement of the furniture has been slightly changed." + +"I thank you, madame," said Napoleon, "follow my horoscope, I shall be +glad to hear more from you!" + +And with a friendly smile, he walked to the door, which Madame Moreau +opened for him, the lamp in her hand. + +On the stairs he took Pietri's arm and said: + +"Stay, madame, I do not wish to be recognized. I rely on your +discretion. Adieu!" + +The quiet-looking carriage drove quickly back to the Tuileries. + +When he re-entered his cabinet, the emperor seated himself at his +writing-table. Pietri stood beside him: + +Napoleon wrote: + +"My dear Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys,-- + +"I herewith send you an explanation of the reasons which, according to +my unalterable decision, render a moderate policy necessary on the part +of France, with regard to recent events in Germany. I do not doubt that +you will entirely share my views, and I beg you to believe in my +sincere friendship." + +And he signed it, "Napoleon." + +He handed the paper silently to Pietri. + +"Sire," he said, after reading it, "who does your majesty destine to be +the successor of Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys?" + +"Moustiers knows the state of affairs in Berlin well," said the +emperor; "prepare a letter to him beforehand, to inquire if he will +undertake the guidance of foreign affairs." + +Pietri bowed. + +"One thing more," said Napoleon, "let Hansen come to me early to-morrow +morning, we will make _one_ more effort." + +"At your majesty's command." + +"What do you think of Madame Moreau?" asked the emperor, who had +already turned towards the door leading to his private apartments, as +he paused for a moment. "How could she know that episode of my youth?" +he whispered in a low voice. + +"Sire," replied Pietri, "it is difficult to say." + +"'There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our +philosophy,'" said Napoleon in perfect English; and with a friendly nod +he dismissed his secretary. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + THE SICK AND WOUNDED. + + +In a somewhat large salon adjoining the bedroom of his comfortable +bachelor apartments, in one of the old-fashioned houses of a quiet part +of the town, Lieutenant von Stielow, the morning after his return, lay +upon a large sofa covered with dark red silk. + +Half-closed curtains of the same colour hung before the window, +admitting a subdued light into the room, where complete quiet +prevailed, only broken from time to time by a carriage belonging to one +of the aristocracy rolling swiftly past. + +The young man wore a wide morning wrapping coat of black silk, with +scarlet collar and facings; beside him stood a small table with a +beautiful silver tea service; he slowly smoked a short chibouk, from +which the fragrant clouds of Turkish tobacco floated about the room, +and his features expressed perfect happiness and calm content. After +the long privations and fatigues of camp life, the young officer for +the first time enjoyed the quiet and rich comfort around him, and with +happy looks he greeted everything; the numerous objects which his room +contained, the paintings, the engravings, the curious arms, the bits of +old Dresden china, in short all the thousand things which the good +taste or passing fancy of a wealthy and cultivated young man collects +in his rooms. + +All this, which he had formerly been so accustomed to that he scarcely +deemed it worthy of a glance, now smiled upon him with the charm of +novelty; for so long his eyes had only seen pictures of privation, of +horror, and of death, that the surroundings of his previous life met +him with a greeting full of charm; then he thought of his love, of the +dangers which had surrounded him upon the battle-fields, of the +frightful peril which had threatened his young pure love from wicked +machinations, of his happy preservation amidst the bullets and swords +of the enemy, of the good fortune that had brought him back at the +right moment to destroy those machinations, finally, of the hopes which +were now his own without an obstacle. No wonder that his eyes beamed, +that his lips smiled, and that the world looked as fair, as bright, and +as charming as it only can appear to a young heart who sees itself +possessed of everything that can make life one sweet enjoyment. + +He had promised the Countess Frankenstein to take no step against the +person who had made the low attempt on her daughter and himself. "Let +us never again speak of those creatures, or remember anything of the +affair, except to thank God who brought their wickedness to shame," +said Clara, with a gentle smile; and so great is the elasticity of a +heart of one-and-twenty, so great the conciliatory power of happiness, +that he scarcely remembered the circumstance which had threatened the +holiest feelings of his heart, except from the sweet feeling of higher +enjoyment which lies in the full possession of that which you feared to +lose. + +The door opened quickly and a servant entered with a disturbed and +frightened face. + +"My lord baron," he said with some hesitation, "I must--" + +The young officer turned his head and looked at him inquiringly; but he +could not finish his sentence, for a slender female form in a light +morning dress hastily advanced through the half-open door, and with a +quick and decided movement pushed the servant aside. Her face was +concealed by a thick veil hanging from her small round hat. + +Herr von Stielow rose and walked towards his visitor with an expression +of great surprise, whilst he dismissed the servant by a sign, and he, +by shrugging his shoulders endeavoured to signify that he had not been +able to announce this visitor to his master in the usual way. + +Scarcely had the door closed than the lady threw back her veil. Herr +von Stielow beheld the beautiful features of Madame Balzer. She was +pale, but her cheeks were tinged with a light rosy hue, her large eyes +glowed with deep passionate fire, upon her slightly parted lips lay an +expression of bashful shame, mingled with a look of firm and energetic +decision. She was wonderfully beautiful, more charming in this plain, +almost grisette-like toilette, than in the rich and recherche elegance +which usually surrounded her. + +The young man looked at the well-known face before him with blank +amazement, almost with fear; for it was the last thing he expected to +see. + +"Antonia!" he exclaimed in a low voice. + +"Your lips, then, have not forgotten that name," she said, fixing her +sorrowful eyes upon him; "I feared that all, all remembrance, had +vanished from your heart, even the name of her whom once you loved, and +whom you now despise,--condemn unheard." + +Stielow was so amazed, so discomposed by this visit, that he still +stood opposite to her without uttering a word: a flash of anger, of +defiance had shone in his eyes, but it had disappeared--how could anger +be maintained against this gentle humility, this look so full of +entreaty and of sorrow? He gazed at her vacantly, contradictory +feelings struggling in his breast. + +"You have condemned me," she continued in that soft melting voice, only +bestowed upon a few women, and which touches the heart of the listener +like a caress, "you have turned from me without asking a word of +explanation, and yet you loved me once, and yet," she whispered +hesitatingly, as she cast down her eyes, and a rosy blush passed over +her face, "yet, you must have known that I loved you!" + +Herr von Stielow still found not a word to oppose to these looks, this +language; he almost felt he was really hard and cruel, and it needed +the full recollection of the evening before, to enable him to maintain +calm composure before this woman. + +Antonia came one step nearer, and fixed her eyes upon him, with a +melancholy expression of unutterable tenderness. "My love," she said in +her soft voice, "was as pure, as confiding as a young maiden's, yet +fiery and glowing as the wine of the south, and it filled my whole +soul, it had enchained my pride. I lay at your feet, as a slave at the +feet of her lord!" + +Tears glittered in her lovely eyes. + +"I beg you--" said von Stielow, feeling quite distracted. "Why these +declarations about the past, now? Why this painful scene?" + +"You are right," she replied, and a proud flash shone in her eyes +without dispersing the melancholy that veiled them, "you are right. I +ought not to touch upon that past, but there is a nearer past of which +I must speak, which leads me hither." + +"But--" said von Stielow. + +Without heeding him she continued: + +"Before you, I had no longer pride, no longer a will, it is true; but +you coldly and cruelly forsook me"--she placed her hand upon her heart, +and pressed her lips together. "You humiliated me, and my pride again +arose. I wished to hate you, to forget you," she added in a hoarse +voice: "but all the nobler feelings of my heart rebelled against it. I +could not do it," she said in trembling tones; "and my pride said, +'Though he no longer loves, he shall not despise!'" + +Herr von Stielow's face had grown calm. He looked at her coldly, a +scarcely perceptible smile upon his lips. + +"You had a right," she added, "it is true, to think me false, and to +believe yourself the toy of a coquettish whim, perhaps even worse; you +shall believe it no more, the memory of me shall not be mingled with +contempt." + +"Let us leave the past," said he; "I assure you--" + +"No," she cried vehemently, "you shall hear me,--if the past gives me +no other right, it gives me this, to demand a hearing!" + +He was silent. + +"You know," she proceeded, "what my life was; with a heart full of +love, with a spirit that craved and strove for higher things, I was in +early life fettered to the husband with whom you are acquainted. He +himself encouraged a crowd of young men around me. Count Rivero came +near me, I found in him the richest genius,--the satisfying of all my +wishes, I believed I loved him," she added, casting down her eyes, "at +least he brought light and interest to my life. Is that a crime?" + +Without waiting for an answer she went on passionately:-- + +"Then I learned to know you, I discovered my mistake, my heart told me +that before only my mind had been satisfied. I now felt how this new +feeling had taken deep root in my inmost life. Let me be silent about +that time," she said with quivering lips, "recollections that I cannot +stifle would unnerve me. I struggled long and severely," she continued +in a calm voice, as if subduing her emotion by a mighty effort; "ought +I to have spoken to you of the past? I did not dare, my love made me +cowardly; I feared to lose you. I feared to see a cloud upon the brow I +loved. I was silent; I was silent because I feared. Rivero was away. I +ought to have broken with him. Oh!" she cried in a voice of pain, +whilst her whole form trembled, "you know the humiliating position in +which I was placed; the man whose name I bear, my husband, was under +heavy obligations to him; under the circumstances I could not venture +suddenly and quickly to cease our correspondence. I awaited his return. +I knew him to be noble and generous. I wished to tell him all, to +explain,--then there was that unhappy meeting, the intercourse which I +wished quietly and prudently to drop, was torn asunder--oh! what I have +suffered!" + +Herr von Stielow was moved, and looked at her with compassion. + +"If I have erred," she proceeded, "I am still not so guilty as I seem, +my heart has never sinned against the truth of my love. I swear to you, +since the day I said, 'I love you'"--she pronounced the words with a +strange melting charm--"every throb of my heart, every feeling of my +soul has been yours; my first conversation with the count was an +explanation with regard to you." + +She stepped nearer to him, she lifted her folded hands and gazed up at +him with a look of inexpressible love, and said: + +"I have not betrayed my love. I have not forgotten it. I cannot forget +it. I have come because I must make this explanation, because I cannot +bear"--and here her voice seemed choked with tears--"that you should +despise me, that you should quite forget me," she added lower still, "I +cannot believe, that all, all has vanished from your heart. I cannot +part from you without telling you that if ever your heart should feel +lonely you have a friend who never, never can deny her first love." + +She looked unspeakably lovely as she stood there before him, so humble, +so gentle, her lips slightly parted, her eyes, though suffused with +tears, still glowing with a tender fire, her figure languidly bent +forward. + +The young man looked at her with great compassion, the sound of her +voice, the magnetic brightness of her eyes, had aroused within him +memories of the past. But the mild gentle expression vanished from his +face, his eyes flashed and a scornful smile appeared on his lips. + +"Let us leave the past," he said coldly and politely. "I have not +reproached you, and I will not reproach you, I wish you----" + +She looked at him sorrowfully. + +"Then my words have been in vain," she said, sadly, "you do not believe +me----" + +An angry flash passed over his face. + +"I believe you," he said, "and I do not want your words, for thank God! +I know everything. I think this conversation upon the earlier past will +come to an end when I give you a proof that I am acquainted with your +last proceeding." + +And with a quick angry movement he turned to a casket standing upon a +console table before a mirror, opened it and held towards her the +letter she had sent by her husband to the Countess Frankenstein. + +"You see," he said, "I know the way in which you use the souvenirs of +the past against the present." + +She shrank back, as if struck by lightning. The paleness of death +overspread her face--her features were convulsed, her eyes fixed +immovably upon the paper. + +"I think this will bring our conversation to an end," he said, with a +bitter smile. + +A deep crimson flush spread over her face, her limbs trembled, burning +passion shone in her eyes. + +"No," she cried in a wild voice, "no, it is not at an end--it shall not +be at an end!" + +Herr von Stielow slightly shrugged his shoulders. + +"It shall not be at an end," she cried in trembling excitement, +"because I love you, because I cannot leave you, because you cannot be +happy with that woman, to whom you will give your name, but whose cold +heart will never feel for you the fiery glow that streams through +mine." + +"Madam, you go too far," said Stielow, and an expression of repugnance +and contempt appeared upon his face. + +"You deceive yourself," she said, whilst her lips burned a rich carmine +and her feverish eyes lighted up her pale face. "I know how warmly your +heart has beaten for me, it cannot be happy in a conventional love, in +lukewarm kisses meted out by custom." + +He half turned from her. + +"You go too far," he said again. + +"Hear me, my own, my love," and she sank down at his feet stretching +out her arms towards him; "hear me, and do not despise me, I cannot +live without you. Give your hand," she cried in a voice full of +passion, "to that woman, give her your name, but leave me your heart: +the time will come when you will long for happiness, then come +back to me, to dream, to love; I ask for nothing,--nothing, I will wait +humbly, I will live upon the remembrance of the quiet happiness of the +past during the long days when I do not see you,--do all that you +will,--only love me." + +She seized his hand and pressed it to her glowing lips, then her head +fell back a little, her half-closed eyes looked at him imploringly, the +warm breath from her mouth seemed to surround him with an enchanted +atmosphere of love and passion. + +A slight shudder passed through him; he closed his eyes for a moment. + +Then he looked at her with calm friendship, and holding her hand firmly +he gently raised her. + +"Antonia," he said quietly, "I should be unworthy to wear a sword if I +gave you any answer but this; let everything be forgotten and forgiven +that belongs to the past, no other remembrance will abide with me but +that of friendship, and if you need a friend, you will find one in me." + +And he let go her hand after pressing it gently. + +Was it the tone of his voice, was it the quiet pressure of his hand, +that convinced her quick womanly perceptions that she had lost his love +for ever? She stood motionless, the passionate tears left her eyes, a +flash of hatred gleamed in her look, but she hastily concealed it +beneath her downcast eyelids. + +With a quiet movement she drew down her veil, and said in a voice that +retained no traces of its former emotion: + +"Farewell; may you be happy!" + +She turned to the door. + +Stielow accompanied her silently and gravely through the ante-room to +the outer door of his apartments, which a servant hurried forwards to +open. + +She went out with hasty footsteps. + +The young man returned and sank into an arm-chair as if exhausted. + +"Was it real, or was it acting?" he whispered thoughtfully. + +"No matter," he cried after a short consideration, "it does not become +me to judge her--may she find happiness!" + +And quickly springing up he said, whilst his face cleared up: + +"This was the last cloud that threatened to veil my star." + +He rang for his servant, made a hasty toilette, and drove in his cab to +the house of the Countess Frankenstein. + +In the afternoon the most varied life filled the wide alleys of the +Prater. Upon the broad turf beneath the trees of this enormous park +some of the cavalry regiments recalled to Vienna were still encamped, +and the different scenes of camp life were picturesquely displayed. +There stood the horses picketed, as if on actual service, neighing and +whinnying with impatience, here lay a circle of soldiers around a +smouldering fire, on which, in the field kettle, their meal was +cooking; booths were erected in which food and drink, the Vienna +sausage, and camp beer, were offered for sale; and the Viennese +streamed in and out in countless numbers. Now that the real war was +over with its fears and anguish, they liked to gaze here on the last +picture of it, which only offered to the eye its romantic charm, and +not its dreadful earnest. But the groups of lookers-on were the +thickest around an open space girt in by tall trees, where the brown +sons of Hungary were displaying their fantastic national dance--the +Czardas. A man played, upon an old violin, one of those peculiar +melodies, half wailing, half wild dithyrambic movements, which even +when thus executed sounds upon the ear with a strange mysterious charm; +the others pursued a peculiar dance, with its strange pantomimic +evolutions, sometimes jingling their spurs together, sometimes stamping +on the ground with their feet, sometimes twisting the body into strange +but always graceful attitudes. + +Amongst one of these groups stood old Grois, the comic actor Knaak, and +the ever-merry Josephine Gallmeyer. + +"Pepi's" beautiful eyes sparkling with fun and mirth attentively +followed all the movements of the Czardas. She slightly nodded her +head, and beat time with her hand, to the sharply accentuated music. + +"Look, old Grois," she then said, turning to her companion, who watched +the moving picture with sad and doleful eyes, "those are capital +fellows; I should like to choose a sweetheart from amongst them, they +please me better than all our _fade_ cavaliers put together." + +"Yes," said the old actor gloomily, "there they dance, and when it came +to fighting for Austria they let them stay behind, eighty regiments of +our glorious cavalry have never been in action; it almost breaks one's +heart to think of it all." + +"Fie! old blood-thirsty tiger," cried the Gallmeyer; "let us be glad +they are still left to dance, and that they have not been under those +cursed needle-guns--there would not have been many of them left!" + +"Bah! needle-guns!" cried old Grois. "Now it is to be the needle-guns +that have done everything; at first everyone said it was the generals' +fault, and now the generals say it was the needle-guns. I hold to it +they were right at first, and that if the Prussians had had our +generals, their needle-guns would not have helped them much." + +"Happy is he who forgets what cannot be mended," cried Fraeulein +Gallmeyer; "nothing can be done against the Prussians, they surpass the +gods!" + +"Why this sudden admiration for the Prussians?" asked Knaak. + +"Well, you know," said the Gallmeyer, "it is true they do surpass the +gods, for one of our poets who has written such lovely roles for my +friend the Wolter says," and here she placed herself in a comically +pathetic attitude, and imitating exactly the voice and manner of the +great actress of the Burg Theatre, repeated: "'Against folly even the +gods strive in vain!' Well, the Prussians have not striven against +folly in vain!" she cried, laughing. + +"Pepi," said old Grois in a grave voice, "you can say what you please +about me, and the rest of the world; but if you make the misfortunes of +my dear Austria the subject of your wit, we shall quarrel!" + +"That would be frightful!" cried the Gallmeyer, "for I should then in +the end be forced"--and she looked at him with a roguish smile. + +"Well, what?" he asked, already pacified. + +"To strive in vain with old Grois," she cried, and let just the tip of +her tongue appear between her fresh lips, whilst she twirled round on +the point of her toe. + +"And did I speak sensibly to such a creature?" cried the old actor, +half displeased, half laughing. + +The Czardas was at an end, and the different groups moved on. + +"See," said Knaak, "there is our friend Stielow and his beautiful +fiancee." + +And he pointed out an elegant open carriage which drove slowly along +the broad alley. Countess Frankenstein and her daughter sat facing the +horses, Lieutenant von Stielow in his rich Uhlan uniform opposite to +them. His face beamed with happiness as he talked to the young +countess, and pointed out to her the different encampments in the park. + +"A handsome pair," said old Grois benevolently, as he looked at the two +smiling young creatures. + +"Oh! that it may remain green for ever! the lovely period of youthful +love!" exclaimed the Gallmeyer. "That is what my friend Wolter would +say," she added laughingly; "but I am very angry with him, for I made +him a declaration of love, and he despised me; but I shall console +myself!" + +They passed on. + +The countess's carriage, when it had left the thick throng of +pedestrians behind it, drove rapidly towards the town. + +At that time long trains, filled with sick and wounded, arrived daily +at the northern station; they were brought from the bandaging sheds and +field hospitals, to Vienna and other places more in the interior, that +they might receive more regular nursing. + +The rooms belonging to the station were fitted up for the reception of +the wounded; many arrived in so weak a condition that they could not be +moved immediately, nearly all required to rest for a time, and the +further transport had to be arranged. + +It was the regular custom of the ladies of Vienna in every grade, from +the highest aristocracy to the simple shopkeeper's wife, to go to the +railway station when such a train arrived, to refresh the wounded with +cooling drinks and light nourishment, to have linen and lint ready, and +to assist the surgeons as far as they could in any needful operation, +or fresh bandaging. Here was richly shown that beautiful, truly +patriotic spirit of self-denial, so abundant in the Austrian people, +that spirit which the imperial government so frequently misunderstood, +so frequently repressed; but which it scarcely ever directed aright in +its lively desire to benefit the whole nation. + +"Some wounded soldiers are coming in," said the young Countess +Frankenstein to her mother, as the carriage arrived at the end of the +Prater, and drew near the northern railway station; "shall we not go? I +have brought some bandages, some raspberry vinegar, and some wine. I +want," she said, turning to her lover with a charming smile, "to help +all the poor wounded soldiers that I can, to show my gratitude to God +for helping me so graciously in my own trouble and sorrow." + +Stielow affectionately pressed her hand and looked with admiration at +her lovely, blushing face. + +"I thank you for recollecting it," said the countess; "we can never do +enough for those who fight and suffer for their country, and we ought +to set an example to the classes beneath us." + +"I must beg you to excuse me," said von Stielow, looking at his watch, +"I must wait on General Gablenz and hear if he has any commands for +me." + +Clara looked disappointed. + +"But in the evening you will be free?" she asked. + +"I certainly hope so," said the young man, "for there is now little for +the aides-de-camp to do." + +The carriage had reached the railway station. At a sign from the +lieutenant it drew up at the entrance. + +"We shall meet again then," said Countess Frankenstein to Herr von +Stielow, who took leave of the ladies, and Clara's looks said plainer +than words: "We shall soon meet again." + +The footman sprang from the box, opened the carriage-door, took a +basket from the boot, and followed the ladies into the interior of the +station. + +It presented a touching, grave, and melancholy picture; but at the same +time much that was pleasing and affecting. + +Field-beds and litters stood close together in long rows, on which lay +wounded, sick, and dying soldiers belonging to every branch of the +service, Prussian as well as Austrian. Some bore their sufferings in +mute resignation, others sighed and groaned from the horrible tortures +that they endured. + +The surgeons walked amongst them, examining into the condition of the +new arrivals, giving orders where they were to be taken, according to +the nature of their wounds, and the hopes they entertained of their +recovery. The bandages were renewed before further transport, medicine +and refreshment were administered, and operations immediately needful +were performed in cabinets erected for the purpose and prepared +beforehand. All this was sad and distressing; those who had seen the +proud regiments set out, the eyes of the soldiers flashing at the blast +of the trumpet, and who now saw the broken suffering forms brought back +from the battle-field, where the sacrifice of their blood had not +obtained victory for the banners of their country, might indeed sigh +sorrowfully, as they thought that the boasted civilization of the human +race, with all its progress, had not as yet banished cruel and +murderous war from the face of the earth; war, that scourge of mankind, +as cruel now as in the grey ages of antiquity, only with this +difference, that the inventive powers of man have discovered more +certain and annihilating weapons. + +Beside the surgeons who examined the wounds with the cold looks of +science, were seen the sisters of mercy, those unwearied priestesses of +Christian love: calmly and without a sound they glided between the +beds, sometimes with gentle hand assisting in the placing of a bandage, +sometimes with a kind consoling word putting to the pale dry lips some +cooling drink, or strengthening medicine. + +And everywhere amongst the busy groups were seen the beautiful and +graceful ladies of Vienna, especially the ladies of the higher +aristocracy, offering the sick refreshments, handing the surgeons linen +bandages, and calling up a smile upon some sad suffering face. + +They did not assist much, it is true, these self-constituted +Samaritans, whom the love of their country moved to aid in the care of +her wounded soldiers, but the sight of them did endless good to the +sick and suffering; they felt that in their tenderness there was an +acknowledgment of their pain and sacrifices; many of the eyes, misled +by fever, believed they saw in the forms around them a sister or a +sweetheart, and the vacant weary looks lighted up, the pale quivering +lip gently smiled at the kind hands which thus performed the noblest +work of woman--alleviating pain and soothing suffering. + +So they brought pleasure and consolation to the poor wounded men, these +willing nurses; though the surgeons sometimes said they were in the +way; but surgeons reckon without that muscle of the heart which drives +the blood streaming through the veins, not to be found by the scalpel +in an anatomical examination of the human heart, with all its abysses +of grief, and its tender fragrant flowers of joy; they know not its +power and yet it often puts their art to shame. + +The Countess Frankenstein and her daughter were soon surrounded by +several ladies of the first society, and with them they began their +round amongst the wounded. + +Amongst the numerous women who were assembled here, and who it might +almost be said followed the fashion of nursing the sick, if indeed such +a word ought to be applied to so good and blessed an employment, which +was generally engaged in from the noblest motives, was the beautiful +Madame Balzer. + +Dressed in the plainest dark grey toilette, a small basket containing +bandages and nourishment upon her arm, she had followed one of the +surgeons and assisted him with such skill that he had thanked her, +surprised that it was apparently a lady of distinction and not a sister +of mercy who had aided him so efficiently. She looked wonderfully +beautiful in her simple dress, with her pale perfect features; from the +unusual gracefulness of her movements, and the gentle self-possession +with which she approached the beds of the sufferers, a stranger would +have thought that amongst all these distinguished ladies of Vienna she +was the most distinguished. These ladies, however, did not know her; +several of them enquired who that lovely graceful person was, but no +one could reply, for in Vienna there is not that public life which in +Paris gives to the ladies of the great world the opportunity of knowing +perfectly well by sight, their imitators or their models in doubtful +society. The name of Madame Balzer was known to many of these ladies, +she was frequently the subject of conversation in the _salons_ of +Vienna; but only a few of them had seen her, for she went out of doors +but little and always rigorously observed _les convenances_. + +She passed along by the beds of the wounded soldiers administering +comfort and refreshment; at last she reached the end of a long row, and +saw a litter standing at some little distance, on which a soldier lay +stretched. + +She went up to him and bent slowly over him, his expressionless eyes +startled her, the blue corpse-like colour was spread over his pale thin +face, a large gaping wound was seen on his bare breast. The wounded man +had died during the journey, he must have expired quite an hour before. +Involuntarily she laid her hand upon his brow, it was cold as ice. + +She was gazing horrified upon this dreadful sight, when animated voices +met her ear. + +She looked up, and saw at a little distance a group of several ladies +standing near the litter of a soldier in the Uhlan uniform; the bandage +round his head had slipped and with a feeble hand he was endeavouring +to replace it. + +Amongst these ladies stood the lovely and graceful young countess +Frankenstein. The deepest compassion shone in her eyes, but it did not +banish the brilliant happiness that she felt. With a smile she said: + +"This uniform must always be first with me, I almost belong to it +myself!" and with a light elastic step she went up to the litter, and +drawing off her gloves, and throwing back her lace sleeves, she began +with her beautiful white hands to arrange the bandage for the wounded +man. Over her arms hung a long strip of fine white linen, which she +used to retain the bandage in its place until the surgeon should +arrive. + +Antonia Balzer started when she heard this voice; from her dark corner +she watched the charming and beautiful young girl as she stood in the +strong light with her smiling lips and brilliant eyes. + +A deadly paleness spread over her face, her complexion grew as ghastly +as that of the poor man who lay before her; a burning flash of which no +human eyes seemed capable darted from her, wild hatred distorted her +lovely features. + +She gazed for one moment on the charming figure near her, then her face +assumed a gloomy, dreadful expression; an indescribable smile appeared +on her lips. + +"Here is death, there is life!" she whispered hoarsely, and bent down +over the corpse until her face was hidden, and could be recognized by +no one. + +She took a small pair of scissors with golden handles from her basket, +and stooping over the dead man she plunged the points of the scissors +deep into the wound upon his breast, then she pressed her fine cambric +handkerchief upon it, and saturated it with the bloody fluid that +exuded. + +She sprang up hastily; her face expressed anxious excitement. + +She hastened to the knot of ladies surrounding Clara Frankenstein, who +was still occupied in holding the strip of linen which she had placed +around the forehead of the wounded man. + +"For heaven's sake!" cried Madame Balzer, "give me a strip of linen, a +drop of eau de cologne! I have exhausted everything; a poor wounded man +is dying!" + +And hastily approaching Clara she seized her outstretched arm with both +hands, as if imploring her for a piece of the linen which hung over it. + +Clara uttered a cry and hastily drew back her hand. A drop of blood +appeared just above her wrist and trickled slowly down her white arm. + +"Oh, how clumsy of me!" cried Madame Balzer. "I have hurt you with my +scissors; I beg a thousand pardons!" + +And she quickly pressed the handkerchief she had applied to the wound +upon the wrist of the young countess. + +"Pray do not mind about it," said Clara kindly; "do not let us lose our +time over this little scratch when there are so many serious wounds to +think of." + +And she slowly withdrew her arm, which Madame Balzer was still rubbing +with her handkerchief as if to remove the blood. + +Clara held out the strip of linen which she had in her hand and said: + +"Pray take some." + +Madame Balzer quickly cut a piece off with her scissors, returned +graceful thanks, and after again apologizing for her awkwardness, +returned to the corpse. + +Several ladies who had witnessed the little scene hastened to the +litter. + +"The man is dead!" they cried, "nothing can be done here!" + +Madame Balzer gazed sorrowfully on the corpse. + +"Yes, he is dead!" she said, "we were too late!" + +And folding her hands she bowed her head and moved her lips in +whispered prayer. Deep devotion appeared on her features. The ladies +around followed her example, and uttered a short prayer for the soul of +the deceased, whose return was perhaps ardently desired in some distant +home. + +Then they all went on to other beds. + +One of the few gentlemen dispersed amongst the numerous and +compassionate nurses, assisting and advising, was Count Rivero. + +He was not far off when Madame Balzer hurried to Clara to beg for some +linen. + +His large dark eyes rested thoughtfully on the two beautiful women +during their short conversation; then he turned slowly away and walked +in a contrary direction. + +A few hours later the station was empty; the ladies had all returned +either to their luxurious palaces or quiet family circles; the poor +wounded soldiers had been conveyed to hospitals, to struggle to +convalescence, after long days of suffering, or to die. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + INSTRUMENTS OF THE CHURCH. + + +The morning sun shone brightly into Lieutenant von Stielow's room. But +not as yesterday did he lie stretched upon his couch in happy dreams; +he paced to and fro, with quick and restless footsteps, his pale face +looked painfully anxious, and it was evident he had passed a sleepless +night. + +He had spent the evening before with Clara, in the sweet and charming +converse of two loving hearts, who say so much, yet never can say +enough; an hour had flown rapidly, then she had complained of violent +pain from the small wound in her arm; they had applied cooling lotions, +but the pain had increased, and the arm had swelled considerably. They +sent for their usual medical attendant, and he had tried various +remedies; but the poor girl said that the pain became still more +violent; the wound was greatly inflamed and the swelling grew larger. +Stielow remained at the Countess Frankenstein's house until the small +hours of the morning; at last the doctor, after hearing how the injury +had been received, tried a different ointment, and gave the young +countess a sleeping draught. + +Countess Frankenstein had insisted upon Herr von Stielow's returning +home and resting a little, and she promised him early in the morning to +call in the celebrated Oppolzer. No one thought there was any real +danger; but the young man had passed the night in great anxiety, +possessed by forebodings he could not overcome. + +In the morning he sent his servant to make inquiries, and heard in +reply that the countess had slept, and that Oppolzer was expected every +moment. He dressed, and prepared to hasten to the countess's house. + +He had on his uniform, and was just buckling his sword, when his +servant announced Count Rivero. + +Stielow made an impatient movement; but at the same time he gave his +servant a sign to admit the visitor. + +The count entered the room, looking grave, though fresh and elegant. + +With a graceful bow he held out his hand to the young baron and said in +his resonant voice, whilst his eyes beamed with an expression of warm +friendship: + +"I heard that you were here with Field-Marshal Gablenz, and I hastened +to visit you before you perhaps left us again, to express my joy that +you have so happily escaped the dangers of war." + +"You are very kind, count," replied von Stielow in a slightly +constrained tone; "I'm heartily glad to see you again." + +The count seemed to expect an invitation to sit down. + +Herr von Stielow looked on the ground with some embarrassment. + +Then he raised his candid eyes and said: + +"Count, you will forgive me if I speak quite openly to you. I beg you +urgently, to repeat the honour of your visit at some other time, that I +may have the happiness of increasing our acquaintance, which I hope," +he added politely, "will become much more intimate; at this moment I +must own I am pressingly engaged, and in great anxiety." + +"Anxiety?" asked the count, "it is not idle curiosity that urges me to +inquire the cause." + +"Oh! I hope it is nothing very serious," said von Stielow, "the young +Countess Frankenstein--you know I am engaged?" + +"I have heard so," replied the count, "and I wished to offer you my +hearty congratulations." + +Herr von Stielow bowed slightly, and said: + +"She is unwell; an extraordinary accident has happened to her, which +makes me excessively uneasy; and I was just about to hasten to hear how +she was going on, and what Oppolzer, who was to meet her regular +attendant this morning, had said." + +"Oppolzer consulted?" cried the count with a look of alarm; "my God! is +the countess then seriously ill?" + +"We can scarcely think so," said von Stielow, "and yet the symptoms are +very distressing; a slight wound on her wrist has become rapidly bad, +and has caused her to feel so extremely ill." + +"A wound!" cried the count: his face grew very grave and expressed the +greatest attention. + +"She was visiting the wounded soldiers at the northern railway +station," said the young officer, "and another lady slightly hurt her +wrist with a small pair of scissors in cutting off a piece of linen; it +could scarcely be called a wound; but in the course of the evening the +arm swelled and grew stiff, and became violently painful. Fever came +on, and the doctor fears that there must have been some drug upon the +scissors, what, he cannot ascertain. Under these circumstances," he +said, pressing the count's hand, "you will forgive me, if I beg you to +excuse me." + +The count had listened very gravely, his face had turned pale, and his +large dark eyes looked thoughtfully at the young man's excited face. + +"My dear baron," he said slowly, "honestly from my heart I feel the +liveliest interest in you; perhaps I can be useful to you. In former +years I studied medicine deeply, especially the knowledge of poisons +and their antidotes; they once," he added with a slight sigh, "played +so important and frightful a part in my country, that the subject +interested me deeply. If by an unhappy accident there was anything +pernicious or dangerous on the scissors, I may be of some assistance. +Will you allow me to see the young countess?" + +And in a deep voice that seemed to command conviction, he added, + +"Believe me, I would not propose my help if I did not believe that if +serious danger has arisen, and help is possible, my remedy is certain." + +Herr von Stielow had at first listened to the count's proposal in +silent surprise, then a look of thankfulness beamed from his eyes, and +stretching out his hand he cried hastily,-- + +"Come!" + +"We must drive to my house to obtain the necessary apparatus," said the +count; "if it is really a case of poisoning, recovery may depend upon +moments." + +Instead of replying, the young man seized the count's arm and drew him +to the door. + +They jumped into a cab that stood ready, driven by one of the best and +quickest drivers in Vienna, and in a few minutes they had reached the +count's rooms, which were only at a little distance. He got out, and +soon returned with a small black casket. They then drove rapidly to +Countess Frankenstein's and entered the reception room. + +In the ante-room a servant had received them with a sorrowful look, and +had replied almost weeping to Herr von Stielow's hasty question, + +"Ah! my God! Herr Baron, it is terrible, the poor countess is +dreadfully bad, they have sent for the father-confessor, and also for +you, sir:" and he then hastened away to let the countess know of +Stielow's arrival. + +He walked up and down the room with large strides, grief and despair +upon his face. + +The count stood calm and motionless, his hand supported on the back of +a chair. + +After a few moments Countess Frankenstein appeared, she was pale and +exhausted, her eyes wearied with watching and red with weeping. + +She glanced with surprise at the count, whom she had seen once or twice +in society, and whose presence at that moment was inexplicable to her. + +Stielow hastened up to her, seized her hand impatiently, and exclaimed +in a trembling voice, + +"For God's sake! how is she? How is Clara?" + +"Compose yourself, my dear Stielow," said the countess calmly, though +with a slight sob in her voice, "the hand of the Lord has smitten us +heavily; if He does not work a miracle, we must lose her!" + +And she broke down and wept quietly. + +"But my God! how can it be? what did the doctor say?" cried the young +man, with a look of bewildered horror. "What is this wound?" + +"Clara must have touched some dead soldier, the poison from some deadly +wound has got into her blood, there is scarcely a hope of saving her," +she said in a low voice. + +"I must go to her, I must see her!" cried von Stielow wildly. + +"Her confessor is with her," said the countess, "telling her of comfort +and resignation; let her first be reconciled to God!" + +And raising her head, she regained her composure with a violent effort, +and cast an inquiring look at the count, who stood by in silence. His +eyes had flashed with anger when the countess had explained the medical +opinion of the nature of Clara's illness, but he had then raised them +in joyful thankfulness to heaven. + +As the looks of the countess rested upon him he came forward with the +self-possession of a man of the world, and after bowing slightly he +said:-- + +"You will recollect me, countess, though I have only had the honour of +meeting you once or twice. I think Herr von Stielow will permit me to +call myself his friend; he told me of the alarming illness that has +attacked the young countess, and I offered to use the medical knowledge +I acquired in earlier years on her behalf, before I knew the nature of +her injury. I have now heard the dreadful danger she is in, and if you +can trust me so far, I beg your permission to apply a remedy which I +promise shall, God willing, be successful." + +The countess listened in the greatest surprise. + +"You, count, a physician?" she enquired. + +"A physician from inclination," he replied, "but not a worse one than +many who make it their profession." + +The countess looked at him and hesitated. + +"I implore you, for God's sake, let the count make the attempt," cried +von Stielow, "we must accept any help,--my God, my God, I cannot lose +her!" + +"Count," said the Countess Frankenstein, "I thank you from my heart for +your sympathy and your offer. Forgive me if I consider it," she added +with hesitation, "the life of my child--" + +"Consideration and hesitation may be fatal," said the count quietly. + +The countess looked down thoughtfully, von Stielow's eyes hung on her +face with an expression of deadly anguish. + +The door leading to the inner apartments opened and Father Ignatius, +the confessor to the countess and her daughter, entered. + +He wore the black dress of a priest, his manner was simple, graceful, +and dignified, his pale and regular features, surrounded by short black +hair, expressed spiritual repose, firmness, and great self-knowledge, +his dark eyes looked full of intelligence beneath the strongly marked +eyebrows. + +"The countess is resigned to God's will, and desirous of receiving the +holy sacrament, that she may be prepared, should it please God not to +hear our prayers for her recovery," he said slowly in a low and +impressive voice. + +"Oh! my God! my God!" cried von Stielow, in despair, "I conjure you, +countess, seize on the means that heaven has sent you!" + +"Count Rivero," said Countess Frankenstein, indicating the count to her +confessor, "offers to save my daughter by means of a remedy which his +study of medicine has caused him to discover; you will understand--I +beg your forgiveness, count--that I must act cautiously where the life +of my child is at stake. I expect the doctor every moment, Oppolzer too +will come again,--he has indeed little hope." + +Father Ignatius cast a quick searching glance at the count, who replied +to it with a look of calm dignity, almost of proud superiority. + +"It is certainly a grave and difficult question," said the father +hesitatingly. + +"Every moment makes recovery more doubtful," cried the count with some +vehemence. "I believe," he then continued calmly, "that the father will +be of my opinion, that in this unusual and extreme case we must try +everything, and place confidence in most unusual means." + +As he spoke he looked firmly at the confessor, and raising his hand +slightly he made the sign of the cross in a peculiar way, over his brow +and his breast. + +Amazed, almost alarmed, the father gazed at him, and casting down his +eyes before the count's large, brilliant orbs, he said: + +"It would be sinning against Providence if we did not thankfully seize +on the means which God has so visibly sent us in our urgent need. Your +conscience will reproach you, countess, if you do not accept the help +now offered." + +Countess Frankenstein looked at the priest with some surprise. + +"Come then," she said, turning to Count Rivero, after a moment's +silence. + +And they all went to the apartments of the young countess. The flowers +still bloomed in her room, the crucifix stood in the niche, and at its +feet lay the case which held the withered rose. + +The portiere that divided this room from her bedroom was drawn back. It +was a spacious apartment hung entirely with grey silk even to the +curtains of the bed, upon which lay the countess in a white neglige, +supported by pillows. The sleeve of her right arm was thrown back, and +the dreadfully inflamed arm was covered with a wet compress, which a +maid who sat near the bed moistened constantly with some strongly +smelling fluid from a medicine bottle. + +Clara's face was much flushed, her eyes had the brilliance of fever, +but they looked calmly resigned, as her friends entered with their +sorrowful faces. + +As soon as he saw the poor suffering girl, von Stielow rushed past the +others, and falling on his knees beside the bed and folding his hands, +cried in a stifled voice, "Clara, my Clara!" + +"My own friend," she said gently, and stretched out her soft left hand +towards him, "how beautiful life is, how sad to think of the death that +is so near me,--God will be gracious, He will not part us!" + +Stielow bent his head down upon her hand, and touched it lightly with +his lips. He could not say a word. Only a deep sob broke from him. + +Count Rivero approached the bed with a quick step and a commanding +movement. + +"Hope! countess," he said in a firm, clear voice, "God will bless my +hand! And now, baron, give up your place to me, moments are precious!" +He slightly touched the shoulder of the young man as he knelt. + +He rose hastily and stepped aside. + +The count removed the compress, and calmly examined the wound. It was +much swollen, of a bluish colour, and long streaks of inflammation +extended to the shoulder. + +All eyes rested on the count's face with the most earnest anxiety; he +looked at the wound attentively and lightly followed the swelling with +his finger. Clara gazed with surprise mingled with hopeful confidence, +at this man who was quite unknown to her, but who stood so quietly +beside her and who had so confidently said to her, "hope!" + +The count concluded his examination. + +"It is quite true," he said; "corrupted matter has got into the wound, +the poison has spread greatly, it is almost too late!" + +He opened the black casket he had brought with him, and which he had +placed beside him on the table. + +It contained a small surgical apparatus, and several little cut glass +bottles. + +The count took a knife with a golden handle and a highly-polished +shining blade. + +"I beg your pardon, countess," he said in the tone of a man of the +world, "I must hurt you, it is necessary." + +The young countess smiled. + +The count took firm hold of the suffering arm, and quick as lightning +cut two deep gashes crossing each other into the wound. + +Thick blood mixed with matter flowed from it. + +"A handkerchief!" cried the count. + +They gave him a cambric handkerchief; he quickly removed the blood, +seized a glass bottle, opened the wound widely and poured into it a +portion of the contents. + +Clara's face grew deadly pale; she closed her eyes, her lips quivered +convulsively. + +"Does it hurt?" asked the count. + +"Horribly!" replied the young girl in a voice that was scarcely +audible. + +The count took from the casket a small syringe with a sharp steel +point, filled it with fluid from the bottle, and injected the contents +into the flesh of the arm, following the direction of the swelling. + +Clara's face showed even greater agony, the Countess Frankenstein +watched the count's manipulations with the deepest anxiety, Stielow +wrung his hands in silent grief, and Father Ignatius moved his lips in +prayer. + +The count took another bottle, half filled a glass with pure water, and +slowly and carefully counted the drops as he let them fall from the +fluid in the phial. + +The water grew blood red, a strong, peculiar odour spread through the +room. + +The count touched the patient's brow lightly with his finger. + +She opened her eyes; her countenance still expressed burning pain. + +"Drink this!" said the count in a gentle but commanding tone. At the +same time he carefully raised her head and placed the glass to her +lips. + +She took the contents. His eyes watched her attentively. + +After a short time her face grew calmer, the contraction from the +violence of the pain became less. She opened her eyes, and drew in a +deep breath as if relieved. + +"Ah! what good that does me!" she whispered. + +An expression of satisfaction appeared on the count's face, then he +said in a grave, solemn voice: + +"I have done all that is possible to human art and knowledge, let us +hope God's hand will shed a blessing upon my work. Pray to God, +countess, fervently and with all your soul, that He may give my remedy +strength to overcome the poison." + +"Yes, yes," said the young girl ardently, and her eyes sought her +lover; "come to me, my beloved friend!" + +Herr von Stielow hastened to the bed and sank down before it with +folded hands. + +"I cannot put my hands together," she said in a low voice, looking at +him affectionately, "so let me lay my hand in yours, and our united +prayer shall ascend to heaven, that eternal mercy may permit us to +remain together." + +And she began whisperingly to pray, whilst the young officer's eyes +were raised upwards with a look of the deepest devotion. + +Suddenly a shudder passed through the form of the young countess, she +withdrew her hand with a look of pain, and gazed with horror at her +lover. + +"Oh!" she cried in a trembling voice, "our prayers cannot really be +united; what a dreadful thought, we do not pray to the same God!" + +"Clara!" cried the young man, "what an idea! there is but one God in +heaven, and He will hear us!" + +"Ah!" she cried, without heeding his words, "there is but one God in +heaven, but you do not walk in the paths that lead to Him, you are not +in the bosom of the Church! Oh! I often thought of it amidst the +pleasures and distractions of life; but now in this dire necessity, at +the very gate of eternity, the thought fills me with horror! God cannot +hear us, and," she added, with a bewildered look, "if I must die, if no +help is possible, I must pass into eternity, knowing that his soul is +lost! Horrible! oh, horrible!" + +"Clara! Clara!" cried von Stielow in a tone of the greatest anguish, +gazing in despair upon her painfully excited face, "God is the same for +all those who worship Him with a pure heart, and no prayer can be more +pure, more earnest than mine is now!" + +Countess Frankenstein had sunk upon a chair, and covered her face with +her hands, the father looked thoughtfully at the affecting scene, and +the calm, perfect features of Count Rivero were lighted up as by a +sudden inspiration. + +Clara gazed sorrowfully at her lover, and gently shook her head. + +"You do not worship at the altars of my Church," she said; "we are apart +in the highest and holiest feelings that touch the human heart!" + +"Clara, my own beloved!" cried the young man, raising his folded hands, +"the altar on which your pure heart worships God must be the holiest, +the best. Oh! that this altar were here, that I might throw myself +before it, and pray to God for your recovery!" And raising his eyes +with a look of inspiration, he took the hand of his betrothed and +placed it on his own. A look of unutterable delight shone in the eyes +of the young countess. + +"The altar of God is here!" said Count Rivero, in a tone of deep +emotion. He drew from beneath his waistcoat a golden cross, upon which +a marvellously beautiful figure of the Saviour was chiselled in silver. +"And his priest stands beside you!" + +He unfastened the crucifix from a small golden chain to which it was +attached. + +"There can be no higher nor holier altar than this," said he, touching +the crucifix adoringly with his lips; "the Holy Father in Rome has +consecrated it with his apostolic blessing. Young man," he said, +turning to Stielow, who was still kneeling, but whose eyes were raised +with a look half of inquiry, half of enlightened inspiration, "young +man, God has indeed blessed you, in so wonderfully opening to you the +way of salvation. Hear the voice of God, speaking to you through the +pure lips of her you love; seize on the mercy that beckons you to the +bosom of the true Church, and acknowledge God in the confession which +perhaps may shortly arise from the dying lips of your betrothed to the +throne of the Eternal Father. You supplicate Heaven for a miracle, the +recovery of her you love, open your soul to the miraculous stream of +mercy that flows towards you." + +"I will!" cried Stielow, his face glowing with ardent enthusiasm. + +Clara closed her eyes and pressed her hand firmly upon her lover's. + +"Thou hearest it, my God," she whispered; "I thank Thee! Thy ways of +mercy are holy, and above all our thoughts and hopes." + +"Father," said the count with dignity, "do your duty as a priest, and +receive this soul, awakened to eternal salvation, into the bosom of the +one true Church!" + +Father Ignatius had stood by in great emotion, his eyes beaming with +satisfaction; but he replied with hesitation: + +"Is it possible? Here, without preparation?" + +The count slightly raised his hand. + +"I undertake the responsibility," he said proudly; "the forms can be +complied with hereafter," and he handed the crucifix to the father, who +kissed it with veneration. + +"Lay your hand upon the image of the Redeemer, and repeat what the +priest of God tells you to say," said the count. + +Stielow turned to the father, who approached him, and did as the count +had commanded. + +Steadily and solemnly the priest repeated the words of the Catholic +confession of faith; the young officer repeated them after him with the +greatest devotion, and Clara whispered them in a low voice; the count +stood upright, his brilliant eyes raised to heaven, a smile of inspired +triumph on his lips. + +Countess Frankenstein had sunk upon her knees, and laid her head upon +her folded hands. + +The confession of faith was ended; with a humble gesture the father +returned the count the crucifix, he kissed it, and again attaching it +to his chain, he concealed it in his breast. + +"Now unite in prayer," he said with unspeakable sympathy; "no +dissonance will part you, in pure harmony your petitions will rise to +the throne of eternal love and compassion." + +Stielow placed his folded hands upon the bed; Clara pressed her left +hand upon them, and the lips of both these young and loving creatures +moved in earnest prayer to God, imploring Him to permit them to walk +along the path of life together. + +Thus they prayed for a long time earnestly and unitedly; their friends +looked at this affecting picture without speaking. Deep silence +prevailed in the room. + +At last Stielow rose from his knees after lightly touching the hand of +the young countess with his lips. Countess Frankenstein approached him +and kissed him upon the brow. "God's blessing be upon you, my son," she +said affectionately. The young man looked around him with dreamy, +glistening eyes; he felt as if descending from a strange world which +was suddenly closed upon him when he looked at the objects around him, +and as if he needed to recover his composure after the excitement which +had shaken his inmost soul. + +The count approached the bed, and examined the injured arm. + +The wound was very red, and surrounded by a wreath of blisters. + +Similar blisters appeared all up the arm. + +"The remedy is taking effect," he said; "the poison is beginning to +work out, I have a certain hope of recovery." + +Herr von Stielow threw himself upon the count's breast. + +"My friend for ever!" he cried, and tears flowed from his eyes. + +"How shall I thank you, count?" cried Countess Frankenstein, with great +emotion. + +"Thank God, countess," he replied. "But," he added in the easy tone of +general conversation, "I reckon upon your discretion, you must not +betray me to the doctors." + +He gave instructions about the further treatment of the wound, and a +remedy to be used in his absence, he again administered a medicine, and +left the house promising to return in a few hours. + +With rapid footsteps he hastened to Madame Balzer's house; his face +assumed a grave and severe expression as he ascended the steps leading +to the young lady's apartments. + +In the salon he found the Abbe Rosti awaiting him. The young priest sat +opposite the _chaise-longue_ of the mistress of the house, who was +conversing gaily with him, dressed in a charming pale blue morning +toilette. + +The abbe rose as the count entered, and the young lady welcomed him +with a graceful smile as she offered him her hand. + +"We have expected you for some time," she said. "The poor abbe has been +wearied with his efforts to continue a conversation with me," she added +in a roguish tone. "Where were you?" + +"I have been preventing the completion of a great crime," replied the +count gloomily, fixing his eyes firmly upon the lady's face. + +She trembled involuntarily beneath his gaze. + +"A crime?" she asked, "and where was it committed?" + +"It was committed," said the count quietly, without removing his eyes, +"it was committed upon a pure and noble creature whom a ruthless hand +had destined to a horrible death, upon the Countess Clara +Frankenstein." + +Madame Balzer stood stiff and motionless. A deep pallor spread over her +face, her lips trembled, her eyes sank before the firm and immovable +gaze of the count. Her breast heaved, she tried to speak; but only a +broken hissing breath came from her lips. "Abbe", said the count +raising his hand and pointing to her, "you see this woman now standing +before you, who was talking to you with smiling lips, whose eyes seemed +to reflect the feelings of a good and noble heart--this woman is a +murderess, who with cold cruelty has poisoned the warm pure blood of an +innocent human being, a being who never harmed her except that she +possessed the love of a young man, for whom this woman felt a wicked +passion. God willed it otherwise," he added, "and gave me the power of +saving this victim of her wickedness!" + +Amazed, horrified, the abbe listened to the count's words; he looked +enquiringly at the beautiful and elegant woman against whom such a +frightful accusation was brought. + +She had pressed her hand upon her breast, as if to calm its powerful +emotion. Her eyes were raised at the count's last word with an +expression of fear, and raging hatred; but she could not bear his gaze, +and her eyes fell again to the ground. + +"Count," she said with a great effort, but in a calm and sharp voice, +"you bring strange accusations against me, you speak in the voice of a +judge. I do not understand you, nor do I recognize your right." + +And exerting all her powers of will, she raised her eyes and gazed +firmly into the count's face. + +He drew himself to his full height, and stepping close up to her, and +raising his hand, he said in a low voice which vibrated through the +room: + +"I do not speak from suspicion, I bring an accusation against you which +it would be easy for me to prove; I speak as a judge, because if I +would, I might be your judge, Antonia von Steinfeld." + +She gazed at him with horror, all her composure left her; and broken +down she sank into a chair. + +"I might," proceeded the count, "be the judge of that unnatural +daughter who forsook her old sick mother, a worthy lady who had +educated her, by making great sacrifices, to follow the adventurous +life of an actress, who stole her mother's last treasure, the +title-deeds of her small estate, and whilst she lived in wild +dissipation left that unhappy mother, who would not face the shame and +publicity of bringing her to justice, to suffer from want, until sorrow +broke her heart. I might be the judge of the worthless creature who +sank deeper and deeper, until she was punished for a fresh robbery, +upon a young man whom she had ensnared, by two years' imprisonment; who +then as an actress travelled through most of the little towns of +Bohemia and Galicia, until she succeeded in finding a man but little +better than herself, who gave her his name, and placed her in a +position that enabled her to continue on a large scale the course she +had before commenced. I might be the judge of the murderess who +planned in cold blood a horrible death for a pure and innocent girl. Do +you think, wretch!" he added--and his voice sounded like distant +thunder--"do you think it would cost me more than a word to strip the +false spangled veil from the hideousness of your past life and give you +up to the abhorrence and scorn of the world? Do you think," he cried, +standing close before her, with flashing eyes, "that it would burden my +conscience, by a drop of surer poison than that you placed in the veins +of an innocent creature, to free the world from your sin-laden +existence?" + +As the count spoke, the young woman had sunk down lower and lower; as +he ended she lay at his feet, her eyes stared at him as at some +supernatural appearance, horror and hopeless anguish were depicted in +her face. + +The abbe looked with a mixture of pity and abhorrence at the +broken-down creature. + +The count gazed at her in silence. + +"Thank God," he then said, "that the object of your murderous hate was +saved by my hand, or my hand would have slain you without mercy. Try," +he said after a short silence, during which, panting, and with anguish +in her eyes, she had hung on his lips, "try to gain heaven's +forgiveness, use the gifts nature has given you, and which you have +hitherto misused in sin, in the holy service of God and his Church. You +shall serve me as a tool; and for the sake of the cause to which you +shall be dedicated, perhaps it may be possible for you to gain +forgiveness of the past." + +She looked at him enquiringly; life and hope returned to her face. + +"I demand no promises from you, I shall see what you do, and whether +your obedience stands the test,--remember that even when I am far away, +my eyes will be upon you, that my hand can always reach you, and that +vengeance will fall upon your head if you deviate one hair's breadth +from the path which I lay down for you. I shall free you from every +chain that fetters you here, you shall be free in my service, to use +your powers under my direction; but once more: Take heed not to follow +your own way, it will lead you to hopeless destruction." + +She rose slowly and stood before him, with downcast eyes, her hands +crossed upon her breast; it was hard to say what was in her mind, but +her features expressed only deep humility and submission. + +The count looked at her for a moment in silence. + +"I have spoken," he said; "I shall not warn, but punish, if my words +are forgotten." + +She bent her head in silence. + +Then the solemn earnestness vanished from his face, and his features +resumed their usual easy repose. + +"Is Herr Balzer at home?" he asked. + +"I think so," she replied in a low voice; "he asked to see me a short +time ago." + +"I wish to speak to him," said the count. + +She bowed in silence and left the room. + +"What a scene!" cried the young abbe, shuddering, "and what a dreadful +woman!" + +The count looked thoughtfully before him. + +"Do you believe," asked the abbe, "that she will heed your warning? +that she will repent and amend?" + +"I do not know," said the count calmly, "we must hope her heart may at +last be opened to grace, in that case she would be an instrument of +priceless worth." + +"What are your views?" asked the young priest with surprise. + +The count slowly placed himself in an arm-chair and signed to the abbe +to seat himself beside him. + +"My young friend," he said in a grave mild voice, "you belong to the +Holy League, you are a soldier of the Church militant, you have genius, +courage, and faith; you are called to labour with me in the erection of +God's kingdom upon earth, to build up the temple of promise, upon the +rock of St. Peter; I tell you a great battle, a great work, is before +you, a work upon a new foundation." + +He was silent--lost in thought. + +"What we have done hitherto has crumbled to pieces," he said after a +time; "a new phase begins--Austria has denied the very ground-work of +her existence, she has denied the Church, upon whose soil the empire +has grown up; through which alone it could have been maintained, and +guided safely through the future. The first step upon this path will +swiftly be followed by others, according to the merciless law of +logical consequences; we must strike Austria out of our reckoning. +Whether we can rely upon France is not clear to me, it might appear so +from the first glance, but the present government of France affords no +guarantee, a hellish power prevails there, and this power has been the +first to lay hands upon the ancient and holy rights of the Church. I +see," he continued, as if lost in the contemplation of the picture +presented to his mind, "the world forming itself anew. I see the German +nation slowly arising to supreme eminence. Is it the will of Providence +that the realm of Germany, once the foremost backslider, shall now be +the firm foundation-stone of the kingdom of God? The future will show," +he said after a pause, "but we must be upon the watch, we must regard +these new times with a sharp glance, that we may lay the foundation of +our power, and be able to guide events with a firm hand. What we may +have to do does not yet appear,--here at least _nothing_ can be done, +here are only ruins tottering to their fall. I am going to Paris," he +added, raising his head, "that is the centre of coming events, there we +shall discover the threads which will bind the world. You will +accompany me?" he asked, half as a question, half as a command. + +The abbe bowed. + +"I am prepared," he replied, "to follow your guidance, and it fills me +with joy and pride to labour under such a master." + +"I shall take this woman with me," said the count, "I shall free her +from her present connexion, and place her in a position where her +eminent talents may be developed: she will, now that she knows she is +in my power, do us great service." + +The abbe looked amazed. + +"This woman?" he said; "ought we to defile our holy cause with such a +tool?" + +The count fixed his large expressive eyes firmly upon the young priest. + +"Are you then assailed by that doubt of weak souls," he said slowly, +"who desire the end, but fear to use the means?" + +"Can sin serve heaven?" asked the abbe with hesitation. + +The count rose, and spoke in a tone of firm and full conviction. + +"Does not the tempest-flash, that slays and burns the huts of poverty, +serve the eternal councils of God? are not all the destructive powers +of nature wonderful instruments in the hand of God? This is the +almighty power of God, that the evil should serve the good, and lead to +a good end. Even that great German poet who did not belong to the +faith, painted his devil more truly and more rightly than the world +believes; as a power who wills evil, yet must do good! Well," he cried, +"we desire to be soldiers of the Church militant, we wish to overcome +her enemies, and to help on the triumph of the Cross; and shall we like +cowards shrink back before the devil? Shall we acknowledge and fear his +power? No, we must have strength in ourselves to compel the hellish +powers of darkness to the service of heaven; that is the true victory +over sin; not the victory of the fearful schoolboy, who flies, that he +may not be overcome, but the victory of our Master and our Lord, who in +the name of God subdued the fallen angels, and fought against the +powers of the world." + +"Forgive me," said the abbe in a tone of doubt, "but is it not +presumption in us, who are but weak sinful creatures, to try to govern +the powers of darkness as the hand of Almighty God does, and can? may +we not become their prey, whilst we think we rule them?" + +The count looked at him severely, almost angrily. + +"The world," he said, "fights against us with every means she +possesses, she loves to choose the best and sharpest weapons; shall we +pursue our holy war unequally armed, and thus prepare for ourselves +certainty of defeat? No! a thousand times No! our hand must bear the +sharpest and the surest weapons, sharper and surer than our enemies'! +The sword slays," he added, "and it is written: 'Thou shalt not kill!' +Yet behold the thousands who wear the sword and spend their lives in +learning most scientifically the art of slaying! Why are they not +condemned, these armies? Why are they crowned with laurels, when they +return victorious after slaying thousands and thousands of innocent +men? Because they draw their swords to serve a good and a true +principle, to defend their hearths, to defend the glory and the +greatness of their country. And their country belongs to this world, +belongs to this fleeting earth! Yet shall we hesitate to draw the sword +in defence of our spiritual home? in defence of the glory, the power, +and the greatness of the eternal country of the human race, the +invisible, most holy kingdom of God? Truly, my young friend, those who +for the things of this world draw the sword, and shed the blood of +their fellow-men, have no right to fetter us in the choice of the +weapons with which we strive for the eternal and imperishable good. But +it is above all our enemies who would place only blunt weapons in our +hands, that their victory may be certain; and if they succeed in +casting doubts into our souls, the battle is gained beforehand. Banish +doubt from your heart, strengthen your soul, or your hand will bear the +sword for the warring Church of Christ in vain!" + +The abbe bowed his head. + +"Forgive the hesitation of a youthful heart," he said in a low voice, +"I will wrestle and pray that I may be girded with the strong panoply +of faithful obedience." + +The count looked at him kindly. + +"Pray to God," he said, "that your heart may be nerved and steeled, +without having to pass through the pain and despair mine suffered +before it attained to calm firmness and clear conviction." + +He stepped closer to him, and laid his hand upon his shoulder. + +"I too," he said in a gentle voice, "was young like yourself, I was +cheerful and happy as you are, I had a wife whom my soul adored, I had +a daughter two years old whose pure eyes seemed to me a greeting from +heaven. I was a surgeon in Rome, my hand was skilful, riches streamed +down upon me. I loved all mankind, when I put my arm around my wife and +held my sweet child upon my knee. To help all who were suffering was my +most holy endeavour, my thank-offering for all the happiness that God +had bestowed upon me. And I had a brother," he added, with a dreamy +look, searching amongst the memories of the past; "I loved him from his +tenderest childhood, I was older than he, and I had formed his mind, +and educated his heart. He was a disciple of the noble art of painting, +that fair flower of my lovely country, and I saw with pride the +creations of his pencil, in which the breath of genius lived, and which +approached nearer and nearer to the great works of the ancients. It was +a good and happy time. My brother wished to try his pencil on the +highest and holiest subject art can create, the divinely blessed Virgin +with the Child Jesus. My wife sat to him as a model, my child upon her +lap was to represent the Divine Child. Was it a sin, a presumptuous +crime? The great Raphael had painted the forms of earthly women for his +madonnas, and yet the wonderful spirit of divinity had enlightened his +eyes. I rejoiced, and was happy in the thought that by the hand of my +brother all that I loved on earth might be united to do God service. I +was absent long hours in the exercise of my profession," he continued +in a gloomy voice, "and one day when I returned, they had vanished! My +brother had tempted my wife away, or she him, I know not which--I know +nothing except that they were gone, and that they had taken my innocent +child with them, that her pure eyes might bring me no comfort in my +loneliness!" + +He said the last words lower and lower, his eyes seemed far away, his +features trembled with painful emotion. + +He sank down into an arm-chair as if exhausted, the abbe looked at him +with much sympathy. + +"It is long since I have spoken of this," said the count after a +moment, in a calm and melancholy voice, "since I have probed my wound +with words. You see," he said, with an indescribably sad smile, "the +wound is not yet healed.--All my inquiries were in vain," he then +proceeded; "I could find no trace of the fugitives. Shall I describe my +feelings? It would be hard to find human language to express them. I +despaired of God, my soul revolted wildly against heaven; I wished to +put an end to my life, and only a slight hope of recovering my child, +my poor, innocent child, made me delay my resolution from day to day. I +abhorred mankind, I withheld the help of my knowledge from the sick, +from the dying; I rejoiced with cold malice when fathers died, when +children were torn from their parents, whilst an operation from my +skilful hand would have saved them. I hated and despised governments +and communities; could their laws, and their institutions, punish or +prevent such crimes as had been committed against me? If I could have +destroyed the whole human race with one word, I would have spoken that +word with a scornful smile, and have reduced every living creature to +eternal nothingness! Oh! my young friend," he said, with a heavy sigh, +"those were frightful days and nights that I passed through; my spirit +went down into hell, and I felt what seethes and ferments in its +depths! In my breast its horrible, yelling voices resounded; I, too, +pronounced that 'No' against the decrees of the Creator, against the +God of mercy and of love! An old worthy priest, a valiant warrior of +the Church, came to me; he forced himself upon me, and the fiery rays +of his eloquence aroused an angry tempest in the midnight of my soul, +every fibre of my being shuddered. But after the storm came light. I +learned from my wise teacher and guide, that no decree of government or +of society, however well-founded, however wise, can banish sin. That +power belongs to the Holy Church alone, that community ordained of God, +and when at last she possesses the world in her all-powerful grasp, sin +will be vanquished, and crime will vanish from the earth. I learned to +know that there is no higher, no holier calling than this, to strive +that all things may be committed to the power of the Church, that the +work of our Saviour's redemption may be completed, that the blood of +Christ may flow down upon all mankind; there is no prouder, no more +glorious deed possible, than to compel sin itself to the service of +heaven. But," he continued, and his eyes glowed with energy and +indomitable will, "I also saw the frightful weapons of the Church's +foes, and I learnt that victory can only be obtained by seizing with a +firm, relentless hand all the weapons of the will and the mind; above +all, by grasping with an iron hand all the evil powers of the sinful +world, and compelling them to serve the Holy Cause, by an annihilating +warfare against each other. I dedicated my life to the cause of the +Church militant, and God strengthened my heart and enlightened my mind, +and he gave me power over men to guide the threads of their fate. I +have often held a fearful and demoniacal power; but my good angel has +not failed me, the hellish power has served heaven, as the gigantic +power of steam obeys the pressure of the human hand. And ought I to +hesitate and doubt," he cried passionately, "in the choice of the +weapons whereby the victory, the great and holy victory, may be won? +ought I to throw away the power I have gained over the enemy, and make +myself and the cause I serve the laughing-stock of the world? Oh! I +fear not the powers of hell, this hand is strong enough to bend them to +my will, and in the name of God to compel the evil ones to work his +good pleasure!" + +The abbe looked with admiration at the count's perfect and animated +face. + +"Forgive me, my master," he said humbly, "if I doubted; and do not +withdraw your strong hand from me, to guide and to support." + +The count held out his hand. + +"Your powers, too, will be steeled in the battle," he said, "but never +forget that though man, the weak and sinful creature, may venture to +wield these weapons, only he has a right to seize them who renounces +all, that he may live and die an instrument to increase the glory of +God!" + +The door opened, Herr Balzer entered. + +He saluted the count with his usual vulgar familiarity, and the +shameless confidence habitual to him. + +The count responded by a proud inclination of the head, and looked at +him coldly. + +"You wished to speak to me, count," said Herr Balzer, "how can I serve +you?" + +"I hope our conversation will be short," replied the count, "I have a +proposal to make to you which you will accept, as it will free you from +a very bad position." + +Herr Balzer was alarmed at the severe, decided tone in which the count +spoke to him. His confidence seemed to give way a little. + +"A proposal?" he said with surprise; then he added with a vulgar laugh, +"I always like to hear proposals, especially if acceptable." + +"I wish your wife to be perfectly free," said the count shortly. + +"That will be a little difficult!" cried Herr Balzer with a look +of satisfaction, "a separation--she must turn Protestant, and the +scandal----" + +"She would be free--as a widow," said the count. + +Herr Balzer sprang backwards from the speaker. + +He looked round anxiously, then he gazed into the count's calm face, +and said, with a constrained smile: + +"You jest, sir?" + +"Certainly not," said the count; "you will have the goodness to listen +to me quietly and without interruption, and I do not doubt that you +will perfectly agree with me." + +Herr Balzer seemed not to know what he thought of this strange calm +man, but he bent his head as an intimation that he was willing to hear. + +In the simplest way in the world the count proceeded: + +"Your affairs, sir, are in a desperate state; you are not only a +bankrupt, but you have almost from the commencement of your financial +existence only concealed your old debts by incurring larger ones, a +course which necessarily would bring you to complete ruin in the end." + +Herr Balzer looked at the count in great surprise. + +"The moment of unavoidable ruin has come," he said, "I am in possession +of a number of demands upon you, which if presented must infallibly +overthrow your credit. Beside this, your position is most unhappily +compromised, since you have, to save yourself, or rather to stave off +the time of inevitable ruin, pursued the plan of forging various bills +of exchange." + +"Count," cried Herr Balzer in a voice whose impudence ill concealed his +fear, "I----" + +With a proud movement the count imposed silence. + +He drew from his pocket several bills of exchange. + +"You see," he said, turning them over, "the forged bills are in my +hands, a prison will be your destination if I give these into the hands +of a magistrate." + +Every trace of self-confidence had disappeared from Herr Balzer's +common-looking face. "With bewildered fear he looked at the count +without speaking a word. + +"You are a lost man," he said coldly, "and if you have a spark of +honour left, you will prefer death to the future before you." + +Herr Balzer raised his hands in speechless agony, as if imploring the +count for mercy. + +He looked at him severely and proceeded: + +"I will not, however, destroy you, I will give you the opportunity of +beginning a new life." + +A ray of joy shone in the exchange-agent's eyes; he did not yet +understand, but he began to hope. + +"Count," he cried, "command----" + +"Hear first what I demand; upon your implicit obedience your future +will depend." + +Herr Balzer listened anxiously. + +"You will go at once to Gmuenden," said the count, "from thence you will +write a letter to your wife, in which you will say that you cannot bear +the disgrace of bankruptcy, and that you prefer death; you will then +take care that your hat, your stick, and a glove or pocket-handkerchief +are found floating on the water, where the lake is the deepest. After +this is accomplished, you will cut off your beard, put on a wig, and go +to Salzburg, where at this address a certain person will provide you +with a passport and the sum of five thousand gulden." + +He gave Herr Balzer a card with some writing upon it. + +"You will then," he continued, "proceed to Hamburg, and embark in the +first ship for New York, and there you will go to those who will be +pointed out to you by the person in Salzburg. They will give you every +information, and assist you in commencing a new life, if you forget +your name and the past. Remember that you are watched, and that you +will be destroyed if you are not perfectly obedient!" + +Herr Balzer's face had at first only expressed utter amazement, then a +look of scorn and wicked satisfaction passed over his features, finally +he gazed thoughtfully before him. + +"Do you accept my proposals of safety?" asked the count. + +"And my bills of exchange?" asked Balzer, looking ashamed. + +"I have bought them, they will stay in my pocketbook," replied the +count. + +"I accept," said Herr Balzer, "you shall be satisfied with me. But," he +added, with an extremely repulsive smile, "five thousand gulden is not +much--you value my wife at very little." + +"You shall receive the same sum when you arrive in New York," said the +count coldly, "if you obey me implicitly." + +"I will go," said Herr Balzer. "May I not," he added with a look of +grief that was badly acted, "bid my wife farewell?" + +"No," replied the count, "she shall believe you are really dead, that +is my express will; she shall be free, even in her conscience." + +Herr Balzer turned to go. + +"I shall expect news of you from Salzburg in three days!" said the +count. "And now," he added solemnly and earnestly, "thank heaven, and +make use of the mercy that offers you a new life!" + +He held out his hand to him, and mildness and kindness shone in his +eyes. + +Herr Balzer bowed and left the room. + +"We are now ready," said the count, as soon as he was alone with the +abbe; "be prepared to start in a week's time." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + HIETZING. + + +The large and extensive Castle of Schoenbrunn is beautifully situated, +it is surrounded by an enormous and ancient park with artistically +arranged ruins, with allegorical fountains, with deep shady groves, and +sunny level lawns; behind the castle, airily perched on the summit of +the height, is the triumphal arch called the Gloriette, from whence the +great Empress Maria Theresa could behold Vienna, which with the lofty +tower of St. Stephen appears upon the horizon. + +Near to this imperial residence, full of remembrances of the Empress +Queen and of Napoleon I., (whose eagles may still be seen upon the two +obelisks at the principal entrance,) and around the spacious park, lies +pretty Hietzing, that favourite summer retreat of the Viennese. Villa +adjoins villa, and in the beautiful summer afternoons all the +fashionable world of Vienna streams out to hear the concerts in the +large gardens of the "Neue Welt," or of "Dommayer's Casino," and to +walk in the shady alleys of the park of Schoenbrunn, which is always +open to the public. + +Since the time when Napoleon I. fixed his head-quarters in Maria +Theresa's favourite residence, and caused the "old guard" to parade in +the spacious court of the castle, Hietzing had not been so animated or +so full as in the autumn of 1866. + +The Saxon army was encamped in and around Hietzing; King John inhabited +the Stoeckl, that small palace at the entrance of the park which Maria +Theresa had built for her celebrated physician van Swieten; and the +King of Hanover, who on his first arrival in Vienna had resided at the +house of his ambassador, General von Knesebeck, had now retired to the +Duke of Brunswick's villa at the farther end of the pretty village, +from which it was separated by a long high wall, which concealed the +wonderful art treasures and whimsical arrangements in the park and the +interior of the house. + +The Saxon troops, the suites of the two princes, the equipages of the +arch-dukes and of the Austrian aristocracy, who vied with each other in +attentions to the kings who were now suffering from the effects of the +Austrian policy, filled the streets of Hietzing in a varied and +brilliant manner; the inhabitants of Vienna streamed out more +numerously than ever, and if anyone had cause to be satisfied with the +catastrophe of 1866 it was certainly the possessors of the "Neue Welt," +and "Dommayer's Casino." + +One morning in that remarkable and eventful time, two persons met in +the large central salon of the Brunswick villa. + +The walls of this apartment were hung with Chinese tapestry, the +embroidered figures of the inhabitants of that great empire, with faces +exactly resembling those painted on their china, looked down +complacently from the walls, the whole of the furniture was of costly +Chinese work, life-sized pagodas stood in the corners, Chinese mats of +the finest rice-straw covered the floors; the large glass doors were +open and let the mild air blow in from the well-kept park. All the +curiosities in this salon, which gave it rather the appearance of a +museum than of a dwelling-room, did not attract one look from the two +men who paced up and down, with sad and mournful faces. + +One of these persons was Count Alfred Wedel, whom we met with before in +Hanover during the catastrophe of the month of June. He wore his +undress court uniform, a blue coat with a scarlet collar; beside him +was a small and delicate-looking man of about thirty-six years of age, +with thin fair hair and a long light moustache; his features expressed +great energy, and quick lively intelligence. He wore the uniform of a +captain of infantry in the Hanoverian army. + +"Yes, my dear Duering," said Count Wedel, in a melancholy voice, "all is +over,--Hanover exists no more,--you are the last man who waved our +banner; would to God," he added with a sigh, "that our generals had +been as energetic as you were, it would have been better for us." + +"I cannot indeed understand," said Captain von Duering, "how everything +happened; I have only been able to follow the campaign from vague +reports; but I can comprehend neither the military nor the political +operations!" + +"Who can understand them?" cried Count Wedel with bitterness, "least of +all, I believe, those who conceived them." + +"Do you believe the annexation of Hanover will really take place?" +asked von Duering. + +"I believe it is certain," said Count Wedel; "the expressions used by +the Prussian magistrates in Hanover leave us in no doubt about it, it +is no use ignoring the sad fact; but," he said, "we are called!" + +A bell sounded from the adjoining room. + +A moment afterwards the king's groom of the chambers appeared. + +"His majesty requests you, gentlemen, to go to him." + +He opened the door into the king's cabinet. + +Count Wedel and Captain von Duering entered. + +The cabinet that George V. inhabited was hung with silken tartan, +beautiful specimens of Scotch weapons, and masterly paintings +representing scenes from Sir Walter Scott's novels, adorned the walls. +Before a large table in the midst of the room stood the king; his +beautiful, expressive countenance was very sad. He wore the loose grey +overcoat belonging to the uniform of his Austrian regiment. + +"God bless you, gentlemen," said King George with a gracious smile, as +he held out his hand, which Count Wedel and Captain von Duering pressed +to their lips; "much has happened since we parted, my dear Alfred." + +"Your majesty," said Count Wedel in a trembling voice, "whatever has +happened, or whatever may happen, my heart remains ever the same." + +"You bring me news of the queen?" asked the king. + +"Certainly, your majesty," replied the count, producing several letters +and handing them to the king; "a letter from her majesty, notes from +the princesses, and a report from Herr von Malortie upon your private +estates." + +The king laid the letters before him on the table. + +"How is the queen?" he asked, "how does she bear these sorrowful +times?" + +"Her majesty is calm and dignified," said the count, "but very unhappy, +the queen desires most earnestly to join your majesty as soon as +possible." + +A deep shadow passed over the king's brow. + +"Whether God will bring us together again," he said, "lies in the dark +womb of the future; at present the queen must remain where she is, and +represent the government; such is my will." + +Count Wedel was silent. + +"How is the countess?" asked the king. + +"I thank your majesty, she is arranging the house, and will soon follow +me." + +"Follow you?" asked King George. + +"Your majesty," said Count Wedel with emotion, "I have not come to +bring you intelligence and to return. I have come to remain, if you do +not send me away!" + +The king looked at him inquiringly. + +"Your majesty," said the count, "from all I see and hear, you will not +return, at least not for a long time, to Hanover. Your majesty made me +your chamberlain, and I have performed my duty about your person with +pride. Your majesty is now in exile," he continued, his voice almost +failing him: "I beg for the great honour of sharing your exile, and +retaining my office!" + +The king was silent for a moment. He slightly bit his moustache, a +sorrowful expression appeared on his face. + +"My dear Alfred," he then said in a gentle voice, "you have just built +a house and newly furnished it. The countess is delicate, I am sure of +your faithfulness and devotion, but you must think of your family. You +would make too great a sacrifice; leave my service and this court,--the +court of banishment," he said sadly, "to those who are alone in life, +and have only themselves to think of." + +"Your majesty," cried Count Wedel hastily, interrupting the king, "you +will hurt me much if you do not accept my service, if you forbid me the +honour of standing beside you in misfortune; I shall not leave you," he +added with blunt frankness, "and if you do not allow me to be your +chamberlain, at least I will be the courtier of misfortune." + +A joyful smile passed over the king's face. + +"Misfortune has its charms," he said, "it teaches us to know our true +friends. We will speak more of this hereafter. And now, my dear Captain +von Duering," he said, turning towards him, "I have heard of your +wonderful march, tell me about it, I wish to hear how you found it +possible to wave the banner of Hanover to the very end, after I had +been forced to lower it," he added, with a sorrowful sigh. + +"Your majesty," said Captain von Duering, "I was at Emden with my +company, an overwhelming force of the enemy desired me to capitulate, I +declared that I would rather be buried beneath the ruins of the town +than lay down my arms; they then granted me a free retreat. I +withdrew," he continued, "with my company towards Holland. A large +number of young men from every district joined me. I procured a number +of passports partly by persuasion, partly from a list of pass +formularies, I filled them in and distributed them amongst my soldiers. +They had to pack up their arms and their uniform and thus they took +them with them to the Hague. Here I found your majesty's resident +minister, Count George Platen." + +"An excellent young man!" cried the king. + +"A true servant of your majesty, full of energy and zeal," said Captain +Duering; "I received from him a hearty reception and the warmest +support. Here I heard of the battle of Langensalza, and we celebrated +the victory with the greatest joy, for we were then convinced that the +army had cut its way through to the south." + +"It ought to have done so!" said the king gloomily. + +"We considered," proceeded Captain von Duering, "how it was possible for +my company to reach the army,--there was but one way, through France--" + +"Through France!" cried the king. + +"Yes, your majesty," said Captain von Duering, "it was a risk but I +ventured it. We got into the railway train as simple passengers, and +happily we all succeeded in avoiding the notice of the French +authorities, and in detached parties by the roundabout way of +Thionville, Metz, and Karlsruhe, we reached Frankfort. The order, +prudence, and punctuality of the soldiers was exemplary." + +"What a marvellous march!" said the king. + +"In Frankfort," continued Captain von Duering, "I applied to the +president of the Confederation, who supplied me with means for +purchasing fresh uniforms for my soldiers; the Duke of Nassau gave us +arms, a committee of the citizens provided us with linen and other +equipments, and in a fortnight I had 350 men armed and ready for the +field. I made the best non-commissioned officers into officers, and we +were about to join the garrison of Mayence, there to educate my quickly +organized troops by active service. In Frankfort I heard of the +capitulation of Langensalza,--forgive me, your majesty, I cannot +understand it." + +"I was surrounded by superior forces," said the king, "I could not +uselessly sacrifice my troops to certain destruction." + +"I perfectly understand that _your majesty_ was forced thus to act," +said Captain von Duering, "but I do not understand the operations that +placed the army in such a position." + +The king was silent. + +"The capitulation did not affect me," continued Captain von Duering, "it +only concerned the army actually at Langensalza, and I had received no +intelligence, no commands. I remained under arms until the end." + +He then added in a low sad voice: + +"When all was at an end I disbanded my corps and sent my soldiers back +to their homes, but I came here to announce myself to your majesty, and +to report to you my useless attempts." + +"Not useless, my dear Captain von Duering," said the king kindly, "you +could no longer obtain victory for my cause, circumstances made that +impossible, but under the greatest difficulties, to the very bounds of +possibility, you did your duty, and you set all the officers of my army +a fine example, that cannot be lost." + +The king was silent for a moment. + +"What are your views for the future?" he then asked. + +"Your majesty," said Captain von Duering sadly, "I will not enter the +Prussian service; they want officers in Turkey, so does the Viceroy of +Egypt. I know Eastern affairs from the permission your majesty gave me +to serve for two years with the French army in Algeria, I think of +seeking a career in the East." + +"Will you stay with me?" he then asked. + +"Your majesty," cried Captain von Duering, "my wishes are nothing, you +have but to command,--it would be my greatest happiness; yet," he added +with some hesitation, "I must tell your majesty plainly, that idleness +is contrary to my whole nature." + +"You shall not be unemployed, my dear Duering," said the king, proudly +raising his head. "I have every intention of again obtaining my +inheritance, and when the political situation permits the attempt I +shall require men capable of forming an army, and of leading it." + +Captain von Duering's face brightened. + +"Your majesty," he cried, "I can only lay my sword, my life, and my +future at the feet of my king." + +"I appoint you my equerry," said the king, "remain here, you shall do +no court duty," he added, laughing. "Au revoir, I shall expect you to +dinner at five o'clock." + +Captain von Duering bowed low. + +"I cannot express to your majesty the gratitude I feel," he said; "may +I have the opportunity of proving it by my deeds!" + +And he left the cabinet. + +"Has your majesty any commands for me?" asked Count Wedel. + +"Did the queen give you no commission to me?" asked the king in a +penetrating voice. + +"Commission?" said the count, "no, only to deliver the letters which I +have had the honour of presenting to your majesty, but--" + +"But?" asked the king anxiously. + +"I perceived," said the count, "that the queen ardently wishes your +majesty could follow the advice given you by so many well-wishers, +and--" + +"And that I should abdicate?" said the king passionately. + +"Her majesty believes that thus the crown would be preserved in the +royal family," said the count, "and she regrets that your majesty does +not seize upon this sad and deplorable means of safety; the queen +thinks you might still be in time; but that your majesty is withheld by +those around you." + +"And what do you think? I wish to hear your honest opinion," asked King +George. + +"Your majesty," said Count Wedel slowly, "is convinced of my entire +devotion to your person; but since you ask the question, I must reply +uprightly and honestly, that if by your majesty's abdication the crown +could be saved for the house of Guelph--" + +"_If_ it could!" said the king earnestly. + +He came a few steps nearer, feeling his way with his hand, and seized +the count's arm. + +"I wish," he said, "that this point should be perfectly plain to you; +for no accusation could pain me more, than that I had sacrificed the +future of my family to my personal inclinations. I do not know by whom, +or with what views the queen and the country have been told that my +abdication would preserve the independence of Hanover, and prevent her +annexation to Prussia; that it is only with me that Prussia refuses to +conclude peace; I will not try to discover what motives have induced +various persons to speak in this manner." + +"Counts Muenster, Windthorst," said Count Wedel, "they certainly hope to +be all-powerful ministers under the rule of the crown prince." + +"No matter who it is," proceeded the king; "I can understand how the +queen, how several of the most important members of my family, may +credit these assurances; only it hurts me to think that they can +believe I should not long ago have seized upon this means of saving the +crown, if it would have saved it. When this opinion was urged upon me +from every side; when the queen telegraphed begging me to abdicate," +continued the king more slowly, "I determined to take a step which +should make my duty upon this point plain. If my abdication could +preserve my crown for my descendants," he said with emphasis, "it was +my duty to abdicate, if not, it was my duty to refuse all such +propositions. I sent the minister for education, von Hodenburg, who was +here, to Berlin, to ask Count Bismarck plainly, whether my abdication +would preserve the crown for my son." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Count Wedel. + +"Late one evening," added the king, "Herr von Hodenburg had a long +interview with Count Bismarck. He declared with a candour and honesty +that did him honour, that the incorporation of Hanover was quite +resolved upon, that for the interests and the safety of Prussia the +step was absolutely necessary, and that my abdication would not affect +it in the least. Hodenburg told the count that the people of Hanover +would greatly resent an incorporation with Prussia, and that it would +create endless difficulties; the count replied that he knew well it +would be so, but that he could not be in error in doing what he +believed to be his duty towards his king and his country. But," he +said, interrupting himself, "this is only hearsay; through Lex, I will +give you Herr von Hodenburg's report, read it all through, it is very +interesting; but, you now know the answer I received to my direct +question,--tell me, what do you think?" + +"Your majesty is right,--right a thousand times," cried Count Wedel; "I +see afresh how easy it is to judge falsely when you do not know all the +circumstances." + +The groom of the chambers opened both the folding doors and exclaimed: + +"His majesty the King of Saxony!" + +King George took the count's arm. Supported by his chamberlain he +walked quickly through the Chinese anteroom. + +At the further door of this apartment appeared the somewhat bent and +slender form of King John, with his sharply-cut profile, his bright +eyes full of genius, and his grey hair. Behind him walked his equerry, +Colonel von Thielau. The king wore the uniform of a Saxon general. He +hastened to meet King George and seized his hand. Count Wedel stepped +back. + +King George took the King of Saxony's arm, and guided by him returned +to his cabinet. The groom of the chambers shut the doors. + +King John led the King of Hanover to the chair before his table, and +drew forward one of the arm-chairs standing near for himself. They both +seated themselves. + +"I wished to come to you at once," said the King of Saxony, "to tell +you that the foundations of my peace with Prussia were concluded." + +"You will then return?" asked King George. + +"Not yet," replied the King of Saxony, "the completion of the +conditions requires some time, and the troops cannot return until all +the new arrangements are definitely made." + +"And you are satisfied?" asked the King of Hanover. + +King John sighed. + +"I am satisfied," he said, "thus far,--Saxony will not be taken from my +family; for the rest, the cause for which I fought is defeated,--the +vanquished must accept their fate." + +"My fate too is that of the vanquished," said King George in a sad +voice. + +The King of Saxony seized his hand, in great emotion. + +"Believe me," he said affectionately, "that no one feels for you more +deeply, more heartily than I do; but," he added, "believe me also when +I say, that as far as my personal feelings go, I would far rather be in +your position than in my own. Rather, far rather would I abandon public +life, withdraw into seclusion, and devote the remainder of my days to +philosophy and the arts, than begin life afresh under new and strange, +oppressive and humiliating conditions." + +King George bowed his head with a sorrowful look. + +"And," added King John passionately, "Germany will be divided; instead +of one united, federal Germany, we shall be split into two warring +halves. Oh!" he cried, "for Germany, for her greatness and her power, I +would make any sacrifice; but will the end be reached by this path?" + +And thoughtfully he gazed before him. + +"What do the Saxons themselves say to this new state of affairs? will +it not create great difficulties?" asked the King of Hanover. + +"The Saxon people, as well as myself, will have to go through many +sorrowful experiences," replied King John gravely; "but when I have +once signed my name beneath the Treaty of Peace, my word must be +respected and held sacred under all circumstances, and my people will +support me. I have but one wish," he added, with a deep sigh, "that the +painful sacrifices I make may give to Germany unity and greatness." + +"Germany will not in this way attain to real safety, or to true +greatness!" cried the King of Hanover. + +King John was silent. + +"I must give up my minister von Beust," he said after a pause. + +"Do they demand this at Berlin?" asked the King of Hanover. + +"Not exactly, but it comes almost to the same thing; besides, his +position would be almost an impossible one. I am sorry, for his talents +would have assisted me greatly in the difficulties arising from the new +arrangements. Perhaps," continued the king, "a wider field will be +opened to his genius. The emperor gave me an intimation from which it +appears the idea has occurred to him of employing Beust, instead of +Mensdorff, who neither can nor will remain in office." + +"Herr von Beust here in Austria?" exclaimed the king in great surprise. + +"Yes," said the King of Saxony thoughtfully, "he would meet with +difficulties; the Archduke Albert and the Archduchess Sophia feel a +great repugnance to the plan; it is, of course, a matter of profound +secrecy during the present uncertain state of affairs." + +"Certainly," said King George. "What does Beust think he can do with +Austria? he is taking a difficult position, the more difficult from the +many inimical elements he would have to encounter at home." + +"One important element he thinks he can overcome, and reconcile to the +House of Hapsburg: Hungary, who has so long been discontented, will +find it impossible to continue her displeasure, as he will at once +restore to her the self-government she demands." + +"Remove the centre of gravity to Pesth," said King George with some +bitterness, "as Bismarck advised." + +"A second centre of gravity will remain in Vienna," returned the King +of Saxony, "and the balance of power between the two will create the +future strength of Austria." + +"But the Church," asked the King of Hanover, "will she regard Beust +favourably?" + +"I avoid speaking upon Church questions," said King John gravely, +"happily, from the constitution of Saxony, I have never been placed in +the painful position of deciding between political necessity and my +religions convictions. Have you good news of the queen?" he said, +changing the subject. + +"I thank you," replied King George, "she is as well as painful +circumstances permit." + +"I admire her heroic courage and her dignified bearing," said the King +of Saxony; after a short pause he added-- + +"Shall you remain here, or go to England?" + +"To England?" cried King George, "to England, who moved not a finger to +assist me, or to defend the country that had given her a glorious race +of kings, the country whose sons had shed their blood in England's +wars? No! I will remain here, here in the house my cousin has so kindly +placed at my disposal. Here, at least, I am upon Guelphic soil," he +tapped his foot on the ground, "here I will remain until the tide of +misfortune turns." + +"You believe a change is possible in our present fate?" asked King John +with some surprise. + +"I do believe it," said the King of Hanover firmly. + +"But," said King John, "we shall embarrass Austria, about whose power +we were so much deceived, if we stay here; our position will be +painful." + +"Here in quiet Hietzing," replied King George, "I shall not embarrass +the political world of Vienna, though perhaps," he added with dignity, +"I may be a living reminiscence of duties that cannot be stripped off." + +The King of Saxony stood up. King George also rose. + +"I expect my son," said King John, "he will pay his respects to you." + +"I shall be delighted to see the crown prince," said King George. + +The King of Saxony pressed the King of Hanover's hand,--he rang, the +folding doors were thrown open, and arm in arm the two princes walked +through the reception room. King George accompanied his guest to the +door of the house, and then returned, guided by Count Wedel who had +followed him, to his cabinet. + +Count Platen and Herr Meding had in the meantime arrived in the +ante-room. + +The groom of the chambers announced them to the king. + +"Call the crown prince and the privy councillor," said King George. + +After a few minutes Prince Ernest Augustus and Herr Lex entered the +king's cabinet, Count Platen and Herr Meding followed them. At a sign +from the king they all seated themselves around the table. + +The king began in a grave voice: + +"The incorporation of Hanover with Prussia is determined upon +irrevocably; I am in a great difficulty, gentlemen, and I wish to hear +your advice. As you are aware, the English government has offered to +mediate for the recovery of the property belonging to my family; it has +also expressed a wish that my army should be released from its oath of +fealty, by which means the negotiations as to my property would be made +much easier. My personal inclination prompts me simply to decline the +negotiations, and to await a change in our unhappy fortunes; but this +is a question which concerns not only the interests of my family, but +those of many of my officers. What do you think ought to be done, Count +Platen?" + +"Your majesty," replied the count, bowing slightly, "my opinion is that +your present position requires as much money as possible, for the means +at your disposal are very limited. If then, as I believe is the case, +the Prussian government sets great value upon the release of the army +from its oath, much may be gained by your consent. I think your majesty +cannot hesitate to engage in negotiations; nevertheless, the oath of +fealty must not be released until a favourable result is gained." + +"Above all things," said the crown prince, "our family domains and the +hunting grounds must be preserved." + +"And what do you think?" said the king, turning his head towards +Meding, with marked attention. + +"Your majesty," he replied, "I am quite of the opinion that you must +enter upon these negotiations, yet I do not share the views either of +his royal highness the crown prince or of Count Platen. From what your +majesty has always firmly expressed, I believe you will not accept the +fate that war has brought upon Hanover, but that you will make every +effort in your power to recover your rights." + +"That I will," cried the king, slightly striking the table with his +hand; "should my exile endure twenty or thirty years, I will never +cease to struggle for my rights!" + +"Your majesty is perfectly justified in this resolution," said Meding. +"War has been declared against you, and no peace concluded with you. +Your majesty is a recognized enemy, and you can act accordingly; but +you must then expect the other side to proceed in a similar way. For +us, your majesty's servants, duty is clearly defined. Since your +majesty has willed to continue the struggle, all our opinions must be +governed by this determination. The possession of domains in the +kingdom of Hanover would make you completely dependent upon the +Prussian government. Every landowner, in concluding arrangements, must +recognize almost daily the authority of the present possessors of the +country. All this does not accord with the attitude your majesty +desires to maintain. Besides--forgive me, your majesty, but I cannot +forget a maxim taught me by my great master in politics, Herr von +Manteuffel----" + +"A Prussian maxim," said the crown prince, laughing. + +"Your royal highness," replied Meding gravely, "the maxims I learnt and +followed in the Prussian service, I will never deny. From following +these maxims implicitly, I have now the honour of standing beside my +king in his misfortunes. Circumstances,--my love and my duty to my +royal master,--may make me the enemy of the land of my birth, but deny +and scoff at it I never will." + +The crown prince was silent. + +"You are perfectly right," cried the king energetically. "You would be +no true servant to me if you denied your former masters. Well, then, +Herr von Manteuffel--?" + +"Herr von Manteuffel," continued Meding, "used to say, 'A good general +thinks first of a retreat.' In the struggle which your majesty +undertakes, I think anxiously of a retreat; and it appears to me +unworthy of the Guelphs to continue to be landowners in the country +where they wore the crown. An independent capital will be the basis of +obtaining fresh possessions in a country which, after the loss of the +throne of Hanover, opens a great and glorious future to princes of the +house of Guelph--in England." + +"But shall we then give up all the possessions of our family, so full +of remembrances?" cried the crown prince. + +"If his majesty recovers the crown of Hanover," said Meding, "he will +also recover possession of the royal domains; if not, these +remembrances can only be painful. I certainly believe, too," he added, +"that Prussia will grant no domains without an express recognition of +her sovereignty." + +The king was thoughtfully silent. + +"Your majesty," said Count Platen, "the remarks of Herr Meding are +certainly worthy of attention. But the wish of his royal highness is +also very right. We might reconcile these views, and demand a portion +of your possessions in the domains--say a third part, especially in the +capital." + +"That would place the whole negotiation on a difficult basis, and draw +it out to a tremendous length," said Meding. + +"Let us seize this method of escaping from the difficulty," said the +king. "What do you think, my dear Lex?" + +"I am quite of Count Platen's opinion," he replied. + +Meding was silent. + +"You still have some idea?" said the king, turning to him. + +"Your majesty," said Meding, "my second and most serious remark is upon +the connection Count Platen is inclined to establish between the +property and the release of the oath of fealty. Such a connection may +be advantageous. I think, however, it would compromise your majesty's +dignity." + +The king raised his head proudly. + +"You forestall me," he cried vehemently. "Never, never shall the fate +of my officers, of my true and brave army, depend upon the estates of +my family. I desire that the two questions should be kept completely +apart, and that this should be made perfectly clear to the English +government. With regard to the army," he added, after a pause, "my +decision is made. I will never release the army from its oath, but I +will give them permission to leave the service. I shall never blame any +of my officers who are compelled by circumstances to use this +permission; but I will not free those who can and will remain. I will +send military commissioners to Berlin, that they may obtain the most +favourable terms they can for these officers who refuse to enter the +Prussian service. Draw out instructions in this spirit, gentlemen, and +lay them before me. Above all things, however, avoid mixing up my +private affairs with the fate of the army. It will be needful," he +added, after some consideration, "to draw up a protest against the +incorporation of Hanover, and to have it ready to send to all the +European courts, as soon as the annexation is proclaimed. We must also +draw up a plan for diligent and energetic action in the struggle for +the recovery of my rights." + +"I have already employed the minister of legation, Lume de Luine, in +drawing up this protest in the French language," said Count Platen. +"The facts may be found in the memorial upon the Hanoverian policy +already prepared. As to our activity," he continued, "it can only be +exercised at present in causing internal agitations in the country, and +in keeping up a sharp observation upon European politics. The only +chance of regaining the crown of Hanover lies in the goodwill and +support of those powers who may possibly go to war with Prussia." + +"I certainly think, your majesty," said Meding, "that the plan of our +future operations, though it cannot be definitely drawn up at the +present moment, should be framed on larger principles, and founded on a +broader basis. As to agitations in Hanover itself, they must be +conducted with great prudence, lest we should urge our unhappy country +to destruction, from which we should have no power to save her. The +point of support appears to me to lie elsewhere. The restoration of +your majesty's rights and of the crown of Hanover will only be possible +if those principles which are now defeated, namely, the federative +unity of Germany, and the self-government and independence of its +various races, renew the war, and are victorious. This, however, can +only take place if the monarchical principle joins the spirit of +progress--the democracy." + +"You would restore the king to the throne by democracy?" cried Count +Platen. + +"His majesty's restoration is only possible," replied Meding, "through +the support of the true spirit of pure democracy: not of that democracy +that drags everything high and noble down into the filthy mud of the +masses, but that democracy which, uniting with the spirit of progress +and development now abroad, elevates the people more and more, and +excites their sympathy and interest in public affairs. Permit me, your +majesty," he continued after a short pause, "to express myself more +plainly. Simple legitimacy, however sacred and venerable to me, is no +longer a power in public life, it no longer moves the feelings of the +people, it no longer influences the politics of the cabinet. Monarchy, +if she wishes her rule, so wise, so beneficial, sanctioned by the right +of centuries, to endure through the developments of the future, must +progress with the living movement around her, must espouse herself to +freedom. The foundations of her right must be upon the ancient soil, +established upon the granite rock, the growth of centuries; but upon +this soil the fruits of freedom must ripen. Thus only can monarchy gain +permanence and recognition in the future. This is the case throughout +the whole world. But in Germany, in addition to the universal love of +freedom, there is the love of individual government, and the desire to +preserve the various races distinct. These two principles, both +forcible powers, will rise against what has just taken place, as soon +as the present development is fully understood. The first result of +recent events will be a great diminution of freedom and individual +government. If, then, a change in the present state of affairs is ever +brought about, it will be caused by the spirit of the German nation +revolting against the oppression of forced military centralization. If +your majesty would strive successfully, you must make yourself and +Hanover the incorporation of the German national principles; you must +draw around you all those elements which move the nation's noblest +feelings; you must fight against temporal weapons with spiritual +weapons. Should a moment come when a storm assails the unfinished +edifice of to-day, then must your majesty raise the national banner, +and call upon the German people to fight for federative government and +for freedom. Though, however, our work must be chiefly mental, it is +also needful to prepare for actual war, not by agitations and +demonstrations, but by careful organization. The cadres of the army +must be formed and ready, the threads that guide the policy of Europe +must be carefully watched, that your majesty may choose the right +moment for action, and also influence the course of events as much as +possible. I am convinced that agitations and demonstrations alone would +be objectless and useless, and complete devotion to the policy of any +cabinet highly dangerous, for your majesty would never wish to regain +your crown through the Emperor of Austria, nor Napoleon III. Perfect +independence of action, both mental and material, is needful. We must +endeavour to gain the sympathy of all the European cabinets, but we +must be dependent on none. In independence alone lies your majesty's +hope of success even should certain circumstances arise, not utterly +beyond the bounds of possibility, permitting you to conclude a +favourable peace with the enemy. Without independence and a firm +alliance with the mental needs of the German nation, all your majesty's +efforts would be vain, they would compromise your dignity, and," he +added, in a low but firm voice, "you would find no organ for them." + +There was a moment's silence. + +"In one word," continued Meding, "your majesty must undertake the +combat with weapons that are sharp and powerful, but at the same time +noble and dignified, that even our enemies may respect us; then even +should all be in vain, the house of Guelph after the records of a +thousand years may have this inscribed in history:--They fell, they did +not sink. I have only sketched out the outlines of what I conceive +should be the course of our future work. I must, however, state I am +ready to recall anything at your majesty's command." + +"Such a work would cost a great deal of money," said the crown prince. + +"A great deal may be done with moderate means, your royal highness," +replied Meding, "as I know by experience; nevertheless, when we play +for crowns, we must not narrowly count the stakes." + +The king raised his head. + +"I quite agree with you, my dear Meding," he said, "that legitimate +right should unite with freedom, with real and wholesome freedom; I +truly do not fear the influence of the mind, and it shall not fail +either my work, or my will. We will speak of these things again, I +desire to consider them more closely." + +"It would certainly be advantageous to enter into relations with the +leaders of the people," said Count Platen, "and Herr Meding might enter +into negotiations of a personal nature: your majesty should retain the +power of disavowing them if needful." + +Meding replied with some animation: + +"When negotiations are carried on between two governments every +diplomatist must be prepared beforehand to have his proposals disavowed +under certain conditions, but should I negotiate with the people, at +the first disavowal, my honour and convictions would impel me to take +their side, and make their cause my own. But," he said, turning to the +king, with a bow, "I know that this would never occur in your majesty's +service." + +The king drew out his repeater. + +"It is time to dine," he said, "all the gentlemen will have arrived +already. Prepare the instructions, and we will then form our plan of +action." + +He rose. All present also stood up. Count Platen, Lex, and Meding left +the cabinet and returned to the Chinese salon. + +Here the king's guests had already assembled. Besides the equerries on +duty, Field-Marshal von Rorschach, Prince Hermann von Solms and Captain +von Duering were present. + +Count Wedel had resumed his duties and carried the chamberlain's staff. + +Baron Reischach was talking to Prince Hermann. + +"How proud our good prince is," he said goodnaturedly, "at having smelt +powder for the first time! Yes, yes," he said, with a sigh, "those +were happy days, they will never return,--an old cripple like myself +will never again hear the cannon's music." + +"But to look at you," said the prince, "so fresh, so rosy, one can +hardly believe those times were long ago, were it not for the white +hair we should take you for a young man." + +"The ladies of Vienna call my head a sugared strawberry," said the +general, laughing, "but the fruit tempts them no longer, the days of +war and love are over for me, but my old heart keeps young, and +rejoices that my dear young prince should have fought so bravely." + +And the old general patted the prince on the shoulder. + +Count Platen entered and greeted General von Reischach. + +"What news do you bring us from Vienna?" + +"Very little," said the general, shrugging his shoulders, "yet stay, a +half countryman of yours, a native of Mecklenburg, is about to carry +off one of our fairest young ladies." + +"Whom?" asked Count Platen. + +"Baron Stielow will marry the young Countess Frankenstein in a +fortnight." + +"Ah!" said Count Platen, "Herr von Stielow, one of Gablenz's staff?" + +"The same." + +"He is converted, I hear," said Prince Hermann. + +"Through love of his bride," replied the general, "and from gratitude +for her recovery from a severe illness; she was hurt in nursing the +wounded, and suffered from poisoning of the blood. They will travel for +some time after the wedding." + +The dining-room doors were thrown open. + +Count Wedel entered the king's cabinet. + +Immediately both the folding doors were opened, Count Wedel raised his +staff, the king appeared in the colonel's uniform of his Austrian +regiment, the star of the Order of St. Stephen upon his breast, the +cross of Maria Theresa around his neck. He leant on the arm of the +crown prince. + +He greeted his guests by a slight inclination of the head, and entered +the dining-room. They all followed him. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + BLECHOW. + + +Lieutenant von Wendenstein slowly recovered after the crisis was +happily passed; and though at times he suffered from great weakness +there was no serious drawback in his convalescence, and the physician +gave his friends good hopes that his health in the future would not be +impaired. + +But no sooner did he really progress, no sooner did his strength really +return, his eyes grow bright, and a slight colour tinge his cheek, than +Helena withdrew from her office of nurse, and left the care of the +invalid entirely to the charge of Madame von Wendenstein and his +sister, whilst she bestowed all her attentions upon the old lady, as if +anxious lest she should miss any of her home comforts. + +It was very unnecessary, for Madame von Wendenstein wanted nothing more +than the sight of her son's improvement day by day. + +With beaming eyes and radiant smile she watched the progress of his +recovery, and with the quick perceptions of a mother's love she noted +every shade of colour and of expression on the face of her son +betokening the return of life and youthful strength. + +She grew lively and cheerful, and showed much interest in the +arrangements of the Lohmeier household; she had often expressed her +surprise and great satisfaction at the orderly way in which everything +was arranged; at the beautiful house linen, the excellent cooking, and +the order in the house work, and she was amazed that so young a girl as +Margaret should be so good a manager. She had kindly bestowed the rich +treasures of her experience upon her young hostess, for whom she felt +great affection, and old Lohmeier regarded this distinguished lady, who +yet was so well acquainted with all household details, with the +greatest veneration, especially when he saw the interest his daughter, +the pride of his heart, had excited in her mind. + +The lieutenant remarked that Helena no longer appeared at his bed-side; +his eyes often rested upon her enquiringly when he was able to rise and +go into his mother's room, but he said very little, he was not quite +sure whether the sweet and charming picture which filled his mind was +the result of a feverish imagination or the truth. + +Helena was quiet and dreamy; she seldom looked at Wendenstein, the +feelings she had so plainly shown in the days of anguish and danger +were now most carefully concealed. + +Madame von Wendenstein often turned her mild eyes sympathizingly upon +the young girl; but she did not say a word, for she held that every +true woman's heart is a tender flower, which must bud and blossom in +its own way, shrinking back and closing at a rough touch. In her quiet +pious way she had committed both these young hearts into God's hand, +and she trusted that in His good time they would come to a happy +understanding. + +The candidate came very little. He was unwearied in consoling and +exhorting the sick, and the whole town spoke of him with esteem and +admiration. He said a few kind and hearty words to Lieutenant von +Wendenstein when he first saw him, after his recovery appeared certain, +reminding him of the gratitude he ought to feel for the life restored +to him when on the threshold of death; but Wendenstein felt a strange +shudder pass through him as he spoke, and he sat still afterwards for +some time in deep thought, pursuing the frightful and alarming +recollections which arose in his mind, but which he could not +completely recall. Whenever he saw the candidate the same feeling of +cold and deadly fear returned, and again his memory refused to recall +the reason. He blamed himself greatly for his aversion to so excellent +a man, and the more his recovery progressed and his nerves +strengthened, the more he struggled to feel kindness and friendship for +the young clergyman. + +After some time of this quiet life, the day came when the ladies and +the lieutenant, who could now walk slowly, determined to return home. +Notwithstanding her joy at her son's recovery Madame von Wendenstein +had a new and deep cause for grief. The incorporation of Hanover with +Prussia was quite decided upon, and the president had told his wife in +a short and mournful letter that he should resign, as he could not at +his age change his masters. He should go to Hanover for a time, and +then he would buy an estate for his son the lieutenant, as he no longer +wished him to remain in the army under present circumstances. The whole +family could reside with him. + +This letter Madame von Wendenstein received the evening before her +journey. As she read it large tears ran slowly down her cheeks. She was +then to return, only to leave the old house that for so many years had +sheltered her, the home filled with so many remembrances of her quiet +happy life. But she was accustomed always to conform to her husband's +will without questioning it, and when she thought of leaving the old +house at Blechow, which after all belonged to the office the president +was about to resign, and of going to an estate which would really be +her son's, and of the pleasure of arranging and founding a house for +him, she dried her tears. She thought of the children and grandchildren +who would always live there, and a smile played round her lips as she +again read the president's letter. + +The lieutenant's eyes sparkled with joy. + +"Oh! how I thank my father!" he cried; "how grateful I am to him for +allowing me to leave the service. It would have been too painful to +forget the old flag for which I shed my blood." + +And holding out his hand to his mother with a smile he said-- + +"And how beautiful my dear mother will make our new home; oh! it will +be charming!" + +He gazed at Helena who sat opposite to him, bending over her work. She +did not raise her eyes; but she felt his look, and a deep blush passed +over her face, and Madame von Wendenstein saw it with a quiet smile; +from the sorrowful present she foresaw a bright and happy future. + +Whilst this went on in the apartments upstairs, Margaret sat with her +father and Fritz Deyke at their simple evening meal. + +The young girl turned the new potatoes skilfully out of their brown +coats, they were first-fruits of the year, and she prepared them for +her father and the guest who had become like one of themselves. + +They were all three silent, and the young peasant looked very mournful. + +"You do not eat," said the old man, looking at his guest's plate, +though he himself showed but little appetite. + +"Perhaps I have not done them well," said Margaret, trying to make a +little joke; but her voice was dismal. + +Fritz Deyke gave a quick glance at her pale face and downcast eyes. + +"I cannot!" he cried, as he threw down his knife and fork upon the +plate. "When I think that I am to go to-morrow, I really wish I had +never come; when I sit at home and think of how happy we used to be, +especially how beautifully Margaret did everything at dinner time--no +wonder I cannot eat!" + +Old Lohmeier looked at him sympathetically, it was plain that he was +sorry to part with the kind, goodhearted young fellow. + +"Stay here," he said simply, "you know we should like to keep you." + +Margaret looked at him with bright eyes swimming with tears. + +"I cannot help it," he said, "I must go some time, and the longer I +stay the worse it will be." + +He sighed deeply, and his eyes met those of the young girl. + +Margaret put down her head and sobbed aloud. Then she sprang up, +covered her face with her hands, and leaned her head against a large +chest that stood in the corner, weeping bitterly. + +Fritz Deyke rushed to her. + +"My God!" he cried, and tried to withdraw her hands from her face, "I +cannot bear it, you will break my heart!" + +He stood still for a moment before the weeping girl with his eyes fixed +thoughtfully upon the ground. Then he walked quickly back to the table +and stood before the old man. + +"Herr Lohmeier," he said in a firm tone, "I can no longer restrain my +feelings. I intended to go home first and come to an understanding with +my father, and then to come back here, but I cannot do it. I cannot see +her cry, I must speak, and as to my father, I know beforehand quite +well what he will say. Herr Lohmeier, I cannot be happy without +Margaret, I have enough, much more than enough to keep a wife. I know +you think me an honest fellow--give me your daughter!" + +Margaret did not move, she kept her hands over her face, the low sound +of her weeping was heard throughout the room, whilst Fritz Deyke looked +at her father in breathless suspense. + +He gazed gravely before him. He did not look much surprised, perhaps he +had expected something of the kind, but for a time he was silent and +thoughtful. + +"It is all right as far as I am concerned," he said at last, "I have +grown very fond of you, and I can trust my daughter's happiness to you, +but there are two persons to ask about it--in the first place, my +daughter." + +With one bound Fritz was by Margaret's side. + +"Margaret," he cried, "will you go with me?" And putting his arm round +her, he drew her gently to the table opposite to her father. + +She let her hands glide down from her face; her eyes were full of +tears, but they beamed with affection and confidence, and whilst she +gazed at her young lover, she said in a loud firm voice: + +"Yes!" + +"Well, that is one person," said old Lohmeier, laughing, "but the +consent of the second is a graver matter, I mean your father. These are +sad times, and your father, a thorough-going Hanoverian, will scarcely +welcome a Prussian daughter-in-law to his house; she is the daughter of +a stiff true Prussian, and I would disinherit her if she ever forgot +the love she owes her king." + +Fritz Deyke was silent for a moment. + +"Herr Lohmeier," he then said, "you know I am a Hanoverian with all my +heart and soul, and that it is a great grief to me that we are now to +be Prussian, but what can I do, or how can Margaret help it? We did not +make the politics and we can't change them; would to God Prussia and +Hanover could come to as good an understanding as we have done. +However," he added more warmly, "I cannot complain, for if Prussia +takes my country at least it gives me the best thing it has, and my +annexation is a peaceful one, of heart to heart." + +He embraced Margaret, and looked imploringly at the old man. + +But he continued grave and thoughtful-- + +"Will your father think so?" he asked. + +Fritz considered a moment, then he cried suddenly, + +"Wait a moment!" and rushed from the room. + +Lohmeier looked after him with surprise. "Where is he going?" he asked. + +"I think I know," said Margaret; "he has often told me what a great +respect his father has for Madame von Wendenstein, and how he will do +anything at a word from her." + +Fritz soon came back. + +"Madame von Wendenstein begs you to go to her," said he to old Lohmeier +with a look of delight. + +He stood up at once, brushed his sleeve with the tips of his fingers, +stroked his grey hair with the palm of his hand and went upstairs. + +Fritz and Margaret remained alone. + +He seated himself and gently drew the young girl into a chair beside +him. + +What did they say? So little and yet so much, their speech was so old +and yet so new, one more variation on the eternal melody of love, that +rings in the human heart from the cradle to the grave, and whose +endearing tones pass with the soul into the great harmony of Eternity. + +Madame von Wendenstein led old Lohmeier into her son's sick room, and +there they remained together for half an hour, and the result of their +conversation was, that he consented to his daughter's betrothal to +Fritz, upon condition that old Deyke's approval was gained; and that he +might learn to know his future daughter-in-law, Madame von Wendenstein +invited Margaret to go home with her. She undertook to introduce her +lover's father to her, and to instruct her in the house-keeping +arrangements of her own country. Old Lohmeier accepted the invitation +with much pride, for his veneration for this lady who had passed many +weeks in his house, was immense. He informed the young people with +great dignity and importance, "that he had talked the matter over with +his much honoured friend Madame von Wendenstein," and they both felt +extremely happy, though Margaret was rather alarmed at the prospect of +meeting with the stern old Bauermeister, of whom Fritz always spoke in +terms of the greatest respect. + +Thus their departure drew near. Some time before, Madame von +Wendenstein had endeavoured to propose some remuneration for all the +trouble and expense her son's illness had occasioned, but it had been +so decidedly refused by the old brewer, and he had appeared so hurt at +the proposal, that she had never again renewed it. On the day of her +departure she gave Margaret a beautiful cross of rubies and diamonds, +on a string of large pearls. + +"I have wept many tears here," she said gently. "Let the pearls remind +you of this, my child; but the sacred love we adore in the Cross, the +sign of the Holy Passion and of our redemption, has dried my tears, and +raised and comforted my heart. Let the cross remind you of this; and if +you, too, shed tears of grief, look at this cross, with firm faith and +loving resignation." + +Tears were in Margaret's eyes as she received the cross; and old +Lohmeier took Madame von Wendenstein's fine white hand in his own with +emotion, and pressed his lips upon it. He carefully locked up the pearl +necklace and the cross in an old oaken chest, in which he kept the +simple but massive ornaments of his late wife; they were all to be +Margaret's when she married, and entered the large old farmhouse as its +mistress. + +And then they set out, accompanied by a thousand good wishes from old +Lohmeier, who promised, when all was arranged, to think of retiring +from his business, and of spending the last years of his life quietly +near his daughter's new home. + +Thus in the spot where so bloody a battle had raged between Hanover and +Prussia, Christian compassion had caused two young hearts to reap a +harvest of love from the seeds of hatred. Thus was the will of the +Eternal accomplished, who turns evil into good; and where demons have +led men into strife and hatred, His unwearied care removes their gloomy +traces by that bright child of heaven--Reconciliation. + +Their return to Blechow was grave and sad. The president silently +strained to his breast the son restored to him from the gates of death; +silently, too, he kissed the brow of his wife. The days that followed +were calm and melancholy. + +The president worked hard with Auditor von Bergfeld, that he might +leave everything in the most perfect order for his successor. Madame +von Wendenstein went quietly about the house, occupied in the +melancholy task of displacing the treasures collected during more than +twenty years of house-keeping, and the remembrances they awakened were +known only to her eye and her heart. All those treasures had to be +packed in huge coffers, and conveyed to the new house. And the enormous +oaken chests looked so sad, with their opened doors and their empty +trays, and throughout the house sighed the gloomy spirit of departure +and separation, the spirit that moves through human life like a +messenger of death, touching the heart with a shrinking foreboding of +the last great farewell of eternity. Every farewell breaks a flower +from the wreath adorning the spring-time of our lives, until the last +blooms are buried beneath the wintry snows of death. But every blossom +leaves a fruit behind, whose seed is in itself; and these will bear +purer, fairer flowers, and spring up into imperishable beauty beneath +the life-breath of eternal spring. + +Fritz Deyke had a long conversation with his father, who looked very +black at first, when he heard what his son had to say. He loved his +son, he had unbounded confidence in him, and he knew he would make no +unworthy choice; but to have a town young lady for his daughter-in-law, +to have a Prussian mistress in Hanoverian Wendland was not at all to +his mind. But he said nothing, and, at his son's request, he went to +the castle to see Madame von Wendenstein. + +The old lady he had always regarded as a model of womanly perfection, +and she told him of all the attention and kindness her son had received +in old Lohmeier's house, taking care to describe the excellent burgher +position held by Margaret's father. Then she kindly and warmly urged +him not to visit the misfortunes of the times upon innocent heads; and +he held out his hand to her, and said,-- + +"It shall be as my son wishes. He is good and true: the wife he brings +to my house shall be welcome, and my blessing shall rest upon her." + +Then Madame von Wendenstein opened the door into the next room, and +Margaret, blushing deeply, and trembling from agitation, entered; but +her eyes were bright and candid. She was dressed in the costume of the +rich peasant women of Wendland. She went up quickly to the old man, and +kissed his hand, and a warm tear fell upon the hand hardened with toil. + +A gentle smile passed over the stern, furrowed face of the old peasant; +his eyes looked milder than they had done for many a day, as he gazed +down upon the young girl's strong, yet slender form. He stroked her +glossy hair, and said, in a low voice,-- + +"God bless you, my daughter!" + +Then everything was said, and everything was settled. Old Deyke was a +man of few words; but his words were like a rock--you might have built +a house upon them when they were spoken. + +He took Margaret to his farm, and as she walked at his side, and told +him artlessly how amazed she had been at the wonderful treasures of the +old castle, and as she let a word fall showing every now and then, how +much she knew about housekeeping, his face grew brighter and brighter. +But when she sent the maidservants out of the kitchen, and lighted the +fire, and cooked the dinner herself with skilful hands; when she laid +the cloth, arranging everything so quickly and prettily, whilst Fritz +watched her with delighted eyes; when at last she brought the old man's +pipe, and lighted it for him, and then looked up at him with loving, +imploring eyes, he looked at her through tears: the image of his dead +wife rose before him, and he held out his hand to his son, saying,-- + +"I thank you for bringing me such a daughter." + +The young people knelt down before him, and he said, in a low half +choking voice: + +"God bless and keep you, my dear, dear children!" + +The lieutenant was very quiet and thoughtful. His wound was quite +healed, his nerves were grown strong again, and the wonderful +reparatory powers of youth sent his blood through his veins as quickly +as before. He seldom saw Helena: when she came up from the Vicarage she +was surrounded by the others, and he could only exchange a few words +with her. The old merry confidence between the two friends from +childhood would not return; there was something new and strange between +them, which closed their lips when it sought expression in words. + +One afternoon, when the president was hard at work with Auditor von +Bergfeld, and Madame von Wendenstein, her daughters and Margaret were +busy in the melancholy occupation of dismantling the house, the +lieutenant walked slowly and thoughtfully towards the pastor's. + +The roses had withered in the pretty little garden, and the autumnal +asters raised their many-coloured heads, overtopped by the tall and +brilliant sunflowers. + +Helena sat at the open window, and often raised her eyes from her work +to look dreamily over the cornfields; her father and the candidate had +gone out to make some visits in the village; she was alone with her +thoughts. + +Suddenly she trembled slightly, a blush spread hastily over her +delicate face, she let her work fall into her lap; Lieutenant von +Wendenstein had entered the garden, and was approaching the house. + +A moment later he knocked at the door of the sitting-room; she made an +effort to cry "Come in," and he entered. + +He looked delighted when he saw that Helena was alone. + +He came to her quickly and took her hand. + +"My father is out," she said, with downcast eyes and trembling voice, +"will you take a chair?" + +The lieutenant remained standing before her, and looked at her long and +affectionately. Then he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss +upon it. + +Blushing deeply, she tried to draw her hand away; he held it with +gentle force. + +"I am so very glad to find you alone," he said; "I have wanted so long +to ask you something I am not quite sure about." + +She raised her eyes to his with surprise and enquiry, she wished to +speak, but she found no words. + +"Helena," he said, in a low voice, "when I was wounded and ill in +Langensalza, without strength enough to think clearly, dizzy with +fever, a sweet image was always before me,--I saw a consoling angel +looking at me so kindly, so lovingly,--I held her helping hand in mine, +I pressed it to my lips, and from the depths of my heart I said, 'dear +Helena.'" + +She withdrew her hand quickly, and seated herself on the chair near the +window; pale and trembling, her eyes sought the ground. + +He went up to her and continued in urgent terms: + +"Tell me,--for sometimes a gloomy veil comes over my memory,--tell me, +this image that never leaves my heart, that follows me everywhere--was +it real?" + +She gave no answer, but sat still and motionless. + +"Helena," he said imploringly, "I saw eyes that told me such good and +loving things in a mute language,--those eyes are near me night and +day. Helena, look at me once more, that I may see whether the image in +my heart was the dream of fever, or the truth." + +He sank on his knees before her, and seized her hand as it hung beside +her, looking up at her with an earnest loving gaze. + +Then she slowly raised her eyes, and in her eyes lay her answer; those +eyes again spoke the mute language that found an echo in his heart. +Again he pressed her hand to his lips, and again she permitted it with +a loving smile, and in a soft voice, happy and triumphant, he +whispered, "Dear, dear Helena!" + +They sat for a long time in silence; he was never weary of gazing on +the beloved features which in the days of his deadly peril were graven +so deeply in his soul. + +Then he sprang up, bent over her and held her in his arms. + +The door opened, the pastor and candidate entered. + +The old gentleman looked much surprised at this unexpected scene, an +evil flash of hatred darted from the candidate's sharp eyes, but he +quickly fixed them on the ground and an oily smile played around his +mouth. + +Helena bent down her head in charming confusion. The lieutenant +hastened to the pastor and seized his hand energetically. + +"Dear sir," he said, in a decided voice, "my dear playmate, Helena, +watched over my life, and saved it when it hung on the feeblest +thread,--I have implored her to watch over it henceforth,--for +ever,--and--she will." He looked at the young girl with eyes full of +happiness and continued, "Will you unite our hands before the altar of +our dear old church, where we made our vows at our confirmation?" + +And he looked the old clergyman honestly in the face. + +He was still lost in astonishment at the turn affairs had taken, and +which he had never perceived. + +He looked at his daughter. Her deep blushes, and the bashful, yet +imploring expression of her eyes, convinced him that God had joined two +hearts together, and that it would ill beseem him to part them. He +loved von Wendenstein, and could only rejoice at the prospect of being +more closely connected with him; but his intentions and plans for his +daughter had been so different, he could not accommodate himself at +once to the change. + +Helena sprang to her feet, she hurried to her father and threw herself +upon his breast. + +The old gentleman looked gravely at his nephew, he stood with downcast +eyes, and gentle smiles. + +"My dear Herr von Wendenstein," said the pastor, "you well know the +great esteem I have ever entertained for you and your family, and if my +daughter has given you her heart, as a father and as a priest I must +lay my hand upon your heads and bless you. I must own, however, that +all this has greatly surprised me. I had quite different ideas as to my +daughter's future life," and he again looked enquiringly at the +candidate. + +But he came up to the pastor, and said in a calm voice, though without +raising his eyes: + +"Let there be no discord in the friendly harmony of this hour, my dear +uncle. You know I am devoted above all things to my sacred calling; +earthly wishes, however dear to my heart, cannot disturb the spiritual +calm of my soul, and if heaven has decreed that my hopes and desires +are to be denied, I shall only see a gracious dispensation of +Providence, intended to turn away my soul from earthly things, that all +its powers may be devoted to the accomplishment of my sacred office. I +shall pray for my cousin's happiness with my whole soul! I congratulate +you most heartily, Herr von Wendenstein," he added, holding out his +hand to the young officer. He seized it and looked at the young +clergyman with emotion. But the hand was cold as ice, and a deep +shudder passed through his nerves, as he felt its smooth serpent-like +pressure. + +The last time that all the family friends assembled around the +hospitable board of the old Castle of Blechow, was at the celebration +of the lieutenant's betrothal with Helena. The president had thus +willed it, and he also insisted that old Deyke, Fritz, and Margaret, as +well as Lohmeier, who was with them, should take part in the family +festivity, which was also a day of farewell. The president wished to +make a sad farewell less melancholy, by thus solemnizing the union of +two hearts. + +He wished that all should carry away a happy recollection of their last +day at Blechow, and that the last rays of the old times should sink +brightly into the ocean of the past. + +Everything was packed up, and ready to start; only the dinner service +and the heavy old plate was still used, and displayed its glories for +the last time. + +The president's eldest son had arrived early in the morning, and had +had a long and serious conversation with his father. + +He told him he had been offered the assistant-secretaryship in the +Ministry of the Interior in Berlin, and he expressed a wish to accept +the appointment, since he hoped by this means to alleviate the +condition of his native country, under its new circumstances. Yet he +left the decision entirely to his father. + +The president stood for a long time in grave thought + +"You are young, my son," he said, at last, in a gentle voice; "your +life belongs to the future--you must go forth and work in the +present--you ought not to bury yourself in the past. The king has +released all his civil servants from their oath; you are therefore +free,--seize the opportunity of making a career for yourself, and of +labouring for the general good. But never forget that good and faithful +Hanover is your fatherland,--keep that remembrance sacredly in your +heart, and when you can, work that it may be treated lovingly, for the +sake of it; fair and honourable history in the past. My blessing be +upon you in your new path!" + +The son kissed his father's hand in silence, and nothing more was said +by either of them on the subject. + +The guests sat around the table in the dining-room of the old castle +with grave emotion. Old Deyke took his place beside the president with +great dignity. Fritz and Margaret sat beside each other embarrassed, +but happy,--the lieutenant's eyes sparkled with joy. Helena's fair face +expressed thoughtful happiness; and though a tear sometimes shone in +Madame von Wendenstein's soft eyes, when she looked at her son and his +lovely bride, such a happy smile came to her lips, that it was hard to +say whether the pearly drop came from the bitter cup of grief or the +pure spring of joy. + +"Do you remember, dearest Helena," said the lieutenant, "how you showed +me the dark cloud, which was driven away from the silver beams of the +moon? You see it has returned, and now rests in its pure, full light; +but it brings no storm, no tempest, but blessing and happiness to the +garden of our lives!" + +She looked at him with her loving eyes, smilingly. + +"I think," she whispered, "you have found the magic key of the kingdom +of dreams and fancies, which you once thought you could only have from +my hands." + +"And did I not have it from your hands?" he said; "you gave it to me +when I was on the borders of death, and I will guard it truly in the +golden light of life!" + +The dessert was brought. A post-horn was heard. + +The old servant in a few minutes announced Baron von Klentzin. + +"The successor to your office in Blechow, my dear father," said the +assessor; "the civil commissioner von Hardenberg has desired him to +release you." + +They all rose gravely. + +The Prussian entered; he was a tall, slender young man, elegant in his +appearance, graceful in his movements. + +The president advanced towards him with calm dignity. + +"You are welcome, Baron von Klentzin, to my house,--the house that is +still mine, and that to-morrow will be yours. We are celebrating a +family festivity,--the betrothal of my son,--and I beg you will join +us." + +He introduced the young man to his wife, and to the others, and then +requested him to be seated beside Madame von Wendenstein. He signed to +the servant to fill his guest's glass with champagne. + +"To-morrow I shall resign my office to you, and I hope you will find +everything in order," said the old gentleman,--"to-day allow me to +treat you as my guest." + +Baron von Klentzin bowed. + +"I enter your circle as a stranger," he said, "and I feel I can +scarcely be welcome. But I beg you, sir, and all here present, to +believe that I deeply respect your feelings,--we know what love to the +Fatherland is,--and," he added warmly, "we come to you with open hands +and hearts. May the future unite us all, without grief or bitterness, +in one glorious Germany! Now, permit me to empty my glass to the +happiness of the youthful pair!" + +"Sir," said the president, with deep melancholy in his voice, "it has +ever been the unalterable custom at my table to drink to the health of +our king and commander-in-chief. He is no longer sovereign of this +country. You will understand how I wish this last day not to deviate +from the old custom of my house. A new time arises, but let us think of +the old with thankfulness and love!" + +Baron von Klentzin seized his glass. + +"Only from love of the past can bloom a blessing on the future," he +said feelingly; "and far be it from me to prevent, by my presence, the +last farewell to such a past." + +They all rose. + +The president said, solemnly-- + +"'The King!' who was our lord, and to whom the service of my life +belongs. May God's blessing be upon him!" + +They all repeated the toast. + +Herr von Klentzin, deeply moved, touched his glass against his host's, +and the slight sound reverberated through the room. + +They all emptied their glasses silently. + +That was the last toast to George V. in the old castle of Blechow. +Klentzin looked down thoughtfully. + +"We have won a fair country," he said to himself; "God grant that we +may win these hearts to true brotherhood." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + "GOD AND THE FATHERLAND!" + + +King William had returned to Berlin. The nation received him with the +wildest joy, scarcely knowing how to express its delight and enthusiasm +at this unparalleled seven days' campaign, the wonderful success of +which had placed Prussia so high amongst the first-class powers of +Europe, and had so completely consolidated the unity of Germany. The +first wild burst of delight was over in Berlin. Everything began to +return to its accustomed course, at least outwardly, for every heart +still swelled high with the proud feeling of victory. + +Early one morning King William entered his cabinet. He was dressed, as +always, in uniform, with the iron cross and the Order of Merit. + +"Is Schneider here?" he enquired of the attendant on duty. + +"At your majesty's command. He waits in the anteroom." + +At a sign from the king, Louis Schneider entered, with a large +portfolio under his arm. + +"Good morning, Schneider," cried the king. "Everything has returned to +its accustomed order, and we can begin regular work. What is there in +the way of literature? What have you got in that great portfolio?" + +"Allow me first, your majesty, to offer you my most hearty +congratulations on the successful termination of the war. Here, +on the very spot," said Schneider, with emotion, "where I stood last +time--that day when your majesty regarded the future so anxiously, and +found yourself so completely without allies,--your majesty has again +experienced that the King of Prussia is not weak when he stands alone!" + +"If he has those two Allies who gave us our device," said the king, +with a calm smile, "God and the Fatherland!" + +He was silent for a moment. Schneider opened his portfolio. + +"Well, what have you in the newspapers?" asked the king. + +"Nothing, your majesty, but variations upon one theme--joy at our +victories, gratitude to our royal conqueror, his soldiers, and his +ministers. The whole press is one great dithyrambus, expressing its +emotions now majestically, now pathetically, now comically. But good +advice to Prussia and the North-German Confederacy is not wanting. It +is incredible how much didactic writing is produced on the future +well-being of Germany. Would your majesty like an example?" + +The king was silent, and looked thoughtfully before him. + +"Schneider," he said, "how ungrateful men are!" + +Schneider gazed at the king in amazement. + +"Your majesty," he cried, "I cannot, alas! deny that ingratitude is a +characteristic of the human race; but I thought the present time was +really an exception, everyone is so anxious to express gratitude to +your majesty, to the generals." + +"It is just at the present time," said the king gravely, "that I think +the world, and Berlin especially, so very ungrateful. They thank me, in +the most exaggerated words, my Fritz too, all my generals; but _One_ +Man they forget, and yet that man had a great share in the success that +God has given us." + +Schneider still looked at the king enquiringly. + +"No one thinks of my brother, the late king," said King William, in a +voice that trembled slightly. + +Deep emotion appeared on Schneider's animated face, a tear shone on his +eyelashes. + +"Yes, by God!" he cried, in his sonorous voice, "your majesty is right; +we are ungrateful." + +"How deep, how true," said the king, "was his devotion to Germany's +greatness, and to Prussia's destiny; how much he did to strengthen the +army, and to organize the government of Prussia, that she might be +ready to fulfil her high calling. Prussia's future greatness was clear +to his enlightened mind; and if the rough hand of revolution had not +interfered in the carrying-out of his plans and views----" + +The king paused suddenly, and pursued his thoughts in silence. + +Schneider's eyes rested with warm affection upon the thoughtful +features of his generous and simple-minded sovereign. + +"If God has granted to us to pluck the fruit," continued the king, "yet +ought we not to forget whose careful hand planted the tree and watered +its roots in time of drought; truly he has not deserved it of us." + +The king turned to his writing-table, and took up a sheet of paper. + +"I have written down a few of my thoughts," said he with some +hesitation, "but chiefly facts, as to what the late king did for +Prussia, how he strengthened the army, and the nation, and laboured for +the unity of Germany. I should like a leading article to be written +from this and published in the 'Spener Gazette,' that all Berlin may +read it. Will you see to this?" + +He held out the paper to Schneider, who took it respectfully, his eyes +resting on the king's face with admiration and surprise. + +"I will attend to it at once,--does your majesty wish for an especial +title?" + +"It must be made rather striking," said the king, "that every one may +read it. Let it be called 'A Royal Brother,'" he added after a moment's +thought; "if all forget him, his brother must not forget him." + +"I will carry out your majesty's wishes at once," said Schneider, +"and," he added with much emotion, "I shall henceforth look upon what +has passed to-day as the most beautiful incident of my life. The victor +of Koeniggraetz amidst the rejoicing of his people places half his +laurels on his brother's grave." + +"It hurts me to find how little they thought of my brother in their +rejoicings," said the king, with a gentle smile, "for I have only built +upon the foundation he laid. Now go, and take care that the article +appears shortly, we will do nothing else to-day. This you will do with +your whole heart. I know your faithfulness to your late king." + +He offered his hand to Schneider, but would not permit him to press it +to his lips. + +The king turned away and walked silently to his writing-table, and in +silence Schneider left the cabinet. + +Count Bismarck too had returned, and was devoting himself with +resistless energy to the work before him of organizing and arranging +the new state of affairs. + +Late one evening the count again sat in his cabinet before his large +writing-table, piled with papers, busily occupied in reading +despatches, and in thinking over what was laid before him. There was a +sharp knock at the door leading from the ante-room. + +The count looked up. His confidant only would come in that manner. + +"Come in!" he exclaimed. Baron von Keudell entered. The minister nodded +to him with a smile. + +"What brings you here, dear Keudell?" he asked, laying aside a paper +which he had just looked through, "has anything happened?" + +"Something decidedly strange has happened, your excellency, which I +must at once impart to you. Monsieur Hansen is here, and has just been +with me." + +"Hansen, the Danish agitator?" asked Bismarck. + +"The same," said Keudell, "only this time he is not the Danish +agitator, but the French agent." + +A cloud gathered on Count Bismarck's brow. + +"What do they still want in Paris?" he cried. "Are they not yet +satisfied? Benedetti must have understood me perfectly." + +"I think they wish to make one more secret effort," said von Keudell. +"I beg you to hear Monsieur Hansen yourself, he is to a certain extent +accredited by Drouyn de Lhuys, and he can really tell us much that it +interests us to know." + +"Drouyn de Lhuys is no longer minister," said Count Bismarck. + +"He has resigned, certainly," replied Keudell, "and Lavalette is in his +place until Moustier arrives, but his credentials prove that Hansen has +something to propose, which is not to follow the usual course of +diplomacy until it is known how we shall receive it." + +"Well," said Bismarck, after a short pause, "why should I not hear him? +My mind, though, is made up as to all these proposals, direct or +indirect. Where is Monsieur Hansen?" + +"I brought him with me; he is waiting down stairs, and if your +excellency desires----" + +"Be so kind as to bring him here," said the minister; "I shall find you +when I join the countess?" + +Keudell bowed, a minute afterwards he took Monsieur Hansen to +the cabinet and withdrew as soon as Bismarck had received the +unimportant-looking little man with great cordiality, and had requested +him to be seated at his writing-table. + +The count's keen grey eyes rested enquiringly on the clever face of the +Dane. + +"Your excellency," said Hansen, "I thank you in the name of my country +for your generosity to Denmark, after your complete success, expressed +in Article V. of the peace stipulations." + +Count Bismarck bowed slightly. + +"I have nothing against Denmark," he said; "on the contrary I esteem +and respect that sturdy little nation, and I heartily wish Prussia and +Denmark to live together on friendly terms. I rely upon your countrymen +not to throw difficulties in the practical fulfilment of the principles +which must guide us in regard to Denmark." + +"I wish to be of use to your excellency," said Hansen. "I have come to +impart my ideas upon the delicate relations existing between newly +constituted Germany and France." + +Count Bismarck made a slight movement intimating that he was willing to +listen. + +"I ought to impart to your excellency that I have been initiated into +the negociations that have already taken place." + +Bismarck remained silent. + +"The emperor," continued Hansen, "is in a very painful position. He has +the greatest repugnance to interrupting in any way the right of a great +people to national development, by being inimical to the great events +just accomplished in Germany." + +A scarcely perceptible smile passed over the minister's grave face. + +"On the other hand," added Hansen, "it is impossible to deny that the +great increase in the political and military strength of Prussia, has +greatly troubled public opinion in France. Napoleon is less able to +neglect public opinion than any other sovereign in Europe, since his +government is based on the free will of the people, and founded on the +votes of public opinion in France. At one time," said he as Bismarck +still looked at him calmly and remained silent, "the emperor believed +France would be satisfied by compensations which would increase her +defensive power, and form some balance to the great additions in the +offensive strength of Germany. He is, however, very unwilling to urge +this question in any way that can disturb or endanger the present +friendship between France and Germany." + +Again a slight smile passed over Bismarck's face. + +"The emperor," pursued Hansen, "thinks there is a way which might for +ever prevent disagreement. It is founded on the principle that friction +can best be prevented between two powerful military nations, not by +fortified frontiers, but by neutral territory. His idea is to form a +state in imitation of Belgium upon the Rhine, as an excellent means of +maintaining peaceful relations between France and Germany. The King of +Saxony would appear to be a suitable head to this Roman Catholic +country." + +"Peace is concluded with Saxony," said Count Bismarck. + +"And I did not intend to suggest this idea," replied Hansen; "it would +be better on many accounts to bestow this kingdom of the Rhine upon the +Prince of Hohenzollern, and thus to found a dynasty whose connection +with the Prussian royal family would prevent any mistrust in Germany." + +"The princes of Hohenzollern are not related to our royal family," said +Count Bismarck. + +"They are a branch of the same family," replied Monsieur Hansen. "I +believe I may assure your excellency that if this suggestion meets with +your approval, the affair may quickly be arranged in the usual +diplomatic way." + +He was silent. + +For a moment Count Bismarck looked down thoughtfully, then he raised +his eyes, and fixing them calmly on Hanson's expectant face, he said in +a firm voice: + +"I will not ask who has empowered you to make this proposal. I shall +regard this idea as your private and personal notion, and in return I +will plainly and candidly express my own opinion on the subject. +Germany, by her success in a great war, has made a vast step forwards +in her national constitution. The German nation is not obliged to +account for this to any one, she need not trouble herself as to whether +other nations are pleased or displeased by the exercise of her national +rights, but above all she is not called upon to pay a bribe to any +other country, and thus to purchase the Unity of Germany. As long as I +am the Prussian minister, as long as I influence the fate of Germany," +he cried, "such a bribe shall not be paid, under whatever form it may +be disguised! That is my private opinion," he added, "you thus see it +would be quite superfluous to express the ideas you proposed to me in +any official way; the answer of the Prussian Government would be +exactly the same as that I have just given you." + +"Your excellency," said Monsieur Hansen, who was evidently disconcerted +at the count's decided refusal to continue the discussion, "I am really +grateful to you for the regard you have shown to the national feeling's +of Denmark, and I honestly desire to do you a service in this matter. I +wish you to understand," he continued gravely, "that from what I know +of the state of affairs, and the popular displeasure in Paris, war will +sooner or later be unavoidable, if this last basis of a favourable +understanding with France is refused. I may affirm, with the fullest +conviction, war can then be only a question of time." + +Count Bismarck stood up, his eyes flashed proudly. + +"Then let war come," he cried firmly; "I fear it not, and never will I +avoid it by sacrificing the honour of Germany! The valiant armies of +Prussia and of her allies, who smote Austria, will take the field +against France with far greater enthusiasm, if we are forced to do so. +You may tell that to anyone who is interested in knowing my views; but +you may also add, that no one prizes more highly than I do the good +understanding between France and Germany. The French and German nations +are formed rather to progress hand in hand, than to wrestle with each +other in deadly strife. I will do all in my power to maintain peace and +friendship,--all, except sacrificing the honour and dignity of +Germany." + +"I beg your excellency at least to believe that I have been actuated +only by the purest motives, in making a proposal I believed conducive +to the interests of both nations." + +"I thank you for it," said Bismarck politely; "it has served to clear +up the situation perfectly." + +Monsieur Hansen left the cabinet with a low bow. + +"He would play the same game with Germany that he did with Italy," +cried the count as soon as he was alone; "but from me he shall gain +neither a Savoy nor a Nice!" + +He left his cabinet, and repaired to his wife's drawing-room. + +The ladies with Baron von Keudell sat around the tea-table. + +The count entered, and greeted them affectionately. + +"Have you seen the new 'Kladderadatsch?'" asked the countess, pointing +to the well-known comic face upon a newspaper that lay on the table. + +The count seized it, and turned to the large picture on the last page. + +It represented an infirm old beggar, with the features of the Emperor +Napoleon, standing before the door of a house, hat in hand, asking an +alms. A window was open, and the minister-president was represented +looking from it with a movement of refusal, and beneath was printed, +"Nothing given away here." + +With a merry laugh, the count threw the paper on the table. + +"It is strange," he said, "how cleverly they often describe the +situation by a drawing. There is more told in this picture than in many +a long leading article." + +At one draught he emptied the crystal goblet of foaming beer which was +handed to him. + +"I must ask you a favour, Keudell," he said gravely: "will you play me +that Funeral March of Beethoven. You remember it. You played it one +evening before the war." + +Keudell rose with alacrity, and seated himself at the piano. + +Again the impressive chords of the mighty Hymn of Death arose,--the +ladies listened breathlessly. + +Count Bismarck drew himself to his full height; his grave, +strongly-marked features shone with enthusiasm. + +He drew a deep breath as Herr von Keudell ended. + +"Many heroes have fallen," he said, in a deep voice, "but the prize is +won,--their blood has not flowed in vain. Time has brought many +sorrows,--discords will still echo in the future. May the Almighty +resolve them into the glorious harmony of a great United Germany!" + +His voice swelled through the room,--the countess looked at him with +tearful eyes. Solemnly, and as if involuntarily, Keudell raised his +hands, and let them sink upon the keys. Then that War-cry of the Faith +arose, in the glorious tones in which the great Reformer expressed his +rooted confidence in the God of Battles. + +Count Bismarck raised his eyes upwards, a look of happiness passed over +his excited features, and, following the melody, his lips whispered +softly-- + + + "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, + Ein' starke Wehr und Waffen!" + + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Where the rifle-club holds its meetings.] + +[Footnote 2: The King of Saxony remained true to Napoleon, although +part of the Saxon troops went over to the Allies during the battle of +Leipsic.] + + + + THE END. + + + + + * * * * * + + CHISWICK PRESS:--PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS, + TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of For Sceptre and Crown, Vol. II (of II), by +Gregor Samarow + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCEPTRE AND CROWN *** + +***** This file should be named 37724.txt or 37724.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/2/37724/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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