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The Red Stockings. +IX. New Austria. + + + ISABELLA + +X. The Young Soldier. +XI. The Empress and her Son. +XII. An Italian Night. +XIII. Isabella of Parma. +XIV. The Ambassador Extraordinary. +XV. The Dream of Love. +XVI. Gluck. +XVII. The New Opera. +XVIII. Ranier Von Calzabigi. +XIX. The Birthday. +XX. Orpheus and Eurydice. +XXI. "In Three Years, We Meet Again." +XXII. Che Faro Senza Eurydice. + + + KING OF ROME + +XXIII. Father Porhammer and Count Kaunitz. +XXIV. Matrimonial Plans. +XXV. Josepha of Bavaria. +XXVI. The Marriage Night. +XXVII. An Unhappy Marriage. +XXVIII. A Statesman'S Hours of Dalliance. +XXIX. Prince Kaunitz and Ritter Gluck. +XXX. An Unfortunate Meeting. +XXXI. Mourning. +XXXII. The Imperial Abbess. +XXXIII. The Co-Regent. +XXXIV. Haroun Al Raschid. +XXXV. The Disguise Removed. +XXXVI. Rosary and Sceptre. +XXXVII. The Difference Between an Abbess and an Empress. +XXXVIII. The Reigning Empress. +XXXIX. The Co-Regent Deposed. +XL Mother and Son. +XLI. Death the Liberator. +XLII. The Mirror. +XLIII. The Interview with Kaunitz. +XLIV. The Archduchess Josepha. +XLV. The Departure. +XLVI. Inoculation. +XLVII. An Adventure. +XLVIII. The Judgment of Solomon. +XLIX. Two Affianced Queens. + + + EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA + +L. The Dinner at the French Ambassador's. +LI. Marianne's Disappearance. +LII. Count Falkenstein. +LIII. What they found at Wichern. +LIV. The Somnambulist. +LV. The Prophecy. +LVI. The Gift. +LVII. The Conference. +LVIII. Kaunitz. +LIX. Souvenir d'Eperies. +LX. Frederick The Great. +LXI. The Prima Donna. +LXII. Frederick the Great and Prince Kaunitz. +LXIII. Russia a Foe to all Europe. +LXIV. The Map of Poland. +LXV. The Countess Wielopolska. +LXYI. The Emperor and The Countess. +LXVII. Maria Theresa. +LXVIII. Marie Antoinette and Court Etiquette. +LXIX. The Triumph of Diplomacy. +LXX. Gossip. +LXXI. An Explanation. +LXXII Famine in Bohemia. +LXXIII. The Black Broth. +LXXIV. The Extortioners of Quality. +LXXV. Diplomatic Esoterics. +LXXVI. Russia Speaks. +LXXVII. The Last Petition. +LXXVIII. Finis Polonie. +LXXIX. The Mad Countess. +LXXX. The Betrothal. +LXXXI. Franz Antony Mesmer. +LXXXII. Therese Von Paradies. +LXXXIII. The First Day of Light. +LXXXIV. Diplomatic Strategy. +LXXXV. Dominus ac Redemptor Noster. +LXXXVI. Heart-Struggles. +LXXXVII. The Forced Bridal. +LXXXVIII. Prince Louis de Rohan. +LXXXIX. The Poles at Vienna. +XC. The Last Farewell. +XCI. The Concert. +XCII. The Catastrophe. + + + MARIE ANTOINETTE + +XCIII. Le Roi ist Mort, Vive Le Roi! +XCIV. The Memoranda. +XCV. France and Austria. +XCVI. The King's List. +XCVII. The First Pasquinade. +XCVIII. The New Fashions. +XCIX The Temple of Etiquette. +C. The New Fashions and their Unhappy Results. +CI. Sunrise. +CII. The Following Day. +CIII. The Last Appeal. +CIV. The Flight. +CV. Joseph in France. +CVI. The Godfather. +CVII. The Godfather. +CVIII. The Arrival at Versailles. +CIX. Count Falkenstein In Paris. +CX. The Queen and The "Dames de la Halle." +CXI. The Adopted Son of the Queen. +CXII. "Chantons, Celebrons Notre Reine." +CXIII. The Hotel Turenne. +CXIV. The Denouement. +CXV. The Parting. +CXVI. Joseph and Louis. +CXVII. The Promenade and the Epigram. +CXVIII. The Dinner en Famille. +CXIX. A Visit to Jean Jacques Rousseau. +CXX. The Parting. +CXXI. Death of the Elector of Bavaria. +CXXII. A Page From History. +CXXIII. The Emperor as Commander-In-Chief. +CXXIV. Secret Negotiations for Peace. +CXXV. Fraternal Discord. +CXXVI. The Defeat. +CXXVII. The Revenge. +CXXVIII. A Letter to the Empress of Russia. +CXXIX. The Gratitude of Princes. +CXXX. Frederick The Great. +CXXXI, "The Darkest Hour is Before Day." +CXXXII. The Emperor and his Mother. +CXXXIII. Prince Potemkin. +CXXXIV. The Prussian Ambassador. +CXXXV. The Austrian Ambassador. +CXXXVI. The Empress Catharine. +CXXXVII. The Czarina and her Master. +CXXXVIII A Diplomatic Defeat. +CXXXIX. The Czarina and the Kaiser. + + + THE REIGN OF JOSEPH + +CXL. The Oath. +CXLI. Prince Kaunitz. +CXLII. The Banker and his Daughter. +CXLIII. The Countess Baillou, +CXLIV. The Expulsion of the Clarisserines. +CXLV. Count Podstadsky'S Escort. +CXLVI. The Lampoon. +CXLVII. The Petitioners. +CXLVIII. The Petitioners. +CXLIX. The Lady Patroness. +CL. Mother and Son. +CLI. The Two Oaths. +CLII. New-Fashioned Obsequies. +CLIII. The Pope in Vienna. +CLIV. The Flight. +CLV. The Marriage before God. +CLVI. The Park. +CLVII. The Parting. +CLVIII. Colonel Szekuly. +CLIX. The Pope's Departure. +CLX. The Repulse. +CLXI. The Count in the Pillory. +CLXII. The Nemesis. +CLXIII. Horja and the Rebellion In Hungary. +CLXIV. The Jew's Revenge. +CLXV. The Favor of Princes. +CLXVI. The Deputation from Hungary. +CLXVII. The Recompense. +CLXVIII. The Rebellion in the Netherlands. +CLXIX. The Imperial Suitor. +CLXX. The Last Dream of Love. +CLXXI. The Turkish War. +CLXXII. Marriage and Separation. +CLXXIII. The Last Dream of Glory. +CLXXIV. The Hungarians Again. +CLXXV. The Revocation. +CLXXVI. The Death of The Martyr. + + + + + + +JOSEPH II. AND HIS COURT + +MARIA THERESA. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE CONFERENCE. + +In the council-chamber of the Empress Maria Theresa, the six lords, who +composed her cabinet council, awaited the entrance of their imperial +mistress to open the sitting. + +At this sitting, a great political question was to be discussed and its +gravity seemed to be reflected in the faces of the lords, as, in low +tones, they whispered together in the dim, spacious apartment, whose +antiquated furniture of dark velvet tapestry corresponded well with the +anxious looks of its occupants. + +In the centre of the room stood the Baron von Bartenstein and the Count +von Uhlefeld, the two powerful statesmen who for thirteen years had been +honored by the confidence of the empress. Together they stood, their +consequence acknowledged by all, while with proud and lofty mien, they +whispered of state secrets. + +Upon the fair, smooth face of Bartenstein appeared an expression of +haughty triumph, which he was at no pains to conceal; and over the +delicate mouth of Von Uhlefeld fluttered a smile of ineffable +complacency. + +"I feel perfectly secure," whispered Von Bartenstein. "The empress will +certainly renew the treaties, and continue the policy which we have +hitherto pursued with such brilliant results to Austria." + +"The empress is wise," returned Uhlefeld. "She can reckon upon our +stanch support, and so long as she pursues this policy, we will sustain +her." + +While he spoke, there shot from his eyes such a glance of conscious +power, that the two lords who, from the recess of a neighboring window, +were watching the imperial favorites, were completely dazzled. + +"See, count" murmured one to the other, "see how Count Uhlefeld smiles +to-day. Doubtless he knows already what the decision of the empress is +to be; and that it is in accordance with his wishes, no one can doubt +who looks upon him now." + +"It will be well for us," replied Count Colloredo, "if we subscribe +unconditionally to the opinions of the lord chancellor. I, for my part, +will do so all the more readily, that I confess to you my utter +ignorance of the question which is to come before us to-day. I was +really so preoccupied at our last sitting that I--I failed exactly to +comprehend its nature. I think, therefore, that it will be well for us +to vote with Count von Uhlefeld--that is, if the president of the Aulic +Council, Count Harrach, does not entertain other opinions." + +Count Harrach bowed. "As for me," sighed he, "I must, as usual, vote +with Count Bartenstein. His will be, as it ever is, the decisive voice +of the day; and its echo will be heard from the lips of the empress. Let +us echo them both, and so be the means of helping to crush the +presumption of yonder crafty and arrogant courtier." + +As he spoke he glanced toward the massive table of carved oak, around +which were arranged the leathern arm-chairs of the members of the Aulic +Council. Count Colloredo followed the glance of his friend, which, with +a supercilious expression, rested upon the person to whom he alluded. +This person was seated in one of the chairs, deeply absorbed in the +perusal of the papers that lay before him upon the table. He was a man +of slight and elegant proportions, whose youthful face contrasted +singularly with the dark, manly, and weather-beaten countenances of the +other members of the council. Not a fault marred the beauty of this fair +face; not the shadow of a wrinkle ruffled the polish of the brow; even +the lovely mouth itself was free from those lines by which thought and +care are wont to mark the passage of man through life. One thing, +however, was wanting to this beautiful mask. It was devoid of +expression. Those delicate features were immobile and stony, No trace of +emotion stirred the compressed lips; no shadow of thought flickered over +the high, marble brow; and the glance of those clear, light-blue eyes +was as calm, cold, and unfeeling as that of a statue. This young man, +with Medusa-like beauty, was Anthony Wenzel von Kaunitz, whom Maria +Theresa had lately recalled from Paris to take his seat in her cabinet +council. + +The looks of Harrach and Colloredo were directed toward him, but he +appeared not to observe them, and went on quietly with his examination +of the state papers. + +"You think, then, count," whispered Colloredo, thoughtfully, "that young +Kaunitz cherishes the absurd hope of an alliance with France?" + +"I am sure of it. I know that a few days ago the French ambassador +delivered to him a most affectionate missive from his friend the +Marquise de Pompadour; and I know too that yesterday he replied to it in +a similar strain: It is his fixed idea, and that of La Pompadour also, +to drive Austria into a new line of policy, by making her the ally of +France." + +Count Colloredo laughed. "The best cure that I know of for fixed ideas +is the madhouse," replied he, "and thither we will send little Kaunitz +if--" + +He ceased suddenly, for Kaunitz had slowly raised his eyes from the +table, and they now rested with such an icy gaze upon the smiling face +of Colloredo, that the frightened statesman shivered. + +"If he should have heard me!" murmured he. "If he--" but the poor count +had no further time for reflection; for at that moment the folding-doors +leading to the private apartments of the empress were thrown open, and +the lord high steward announced the approach of her majesty. + +The councillors advanced to the table, and in respectful silence awaited +the imperial entrance. + +The rustling of silk was heard; and then the quick step of the Countess +Fuchs, whose duty it was to accompany the empress to the threshold of +her council-chamber, and to close the door behind her. + +And now appeared the majestic figure of the empress. The lords laid +their hands upon their swords, and inclined their heads in reverence +before the imperial lady, who with light, elastic step advanced to the +table, while the Countess Fuchs noiselessly closed the door and +returned. + +The empress smilingly acknowledged the salutation, though her smile was +lost to her respectful subjects, who, in obedience to the strict Spanish +etiquette which prevailed at the Austrian court, remained with their +heads bent until the sovereign had taken her seat upon the throne. + +One of these subjects had bent his head with the rest, but he had +ventured to raise it again, and he at least met the glance of royalty. +This bold subject was Kaunitz, the youngest of the councillors. + +He gazed at the advancing empress, and for the first time a smile +flitted over his stony features. And well might the sight of his +sovereign lady stir the marble heart of Kaunitz; for Maria Theresa was +one of the loveliest women of her day. Though thirty-six years of age, +and the mother of thirteen children, she was still beautiful, and the +Austrians were proud to excess of her beauty. Her high, thoughtful +forehead was shaded by a profusion of blond hair, which lightly powdered +and gathered up behind in one rich mass, was there confined by a golden +net. Her large, starry eyes were of that peculiar gray which changes +with every emotion of the soul; at one time seeming to be heavenly-blue, +at another the darkest and most flashing brown. Her bold profile +betokened great pride; but every look of haughtiness was softened away +by the enchanting expression of a mouth in whose exquisite beauty no +trace of the so-called "Austrian lip" could be seen. Her figure, loftier +than is usual with women, was of faultless symmetry, while her graceful +bust would have seemed to the eyes of Praxiteles the waking to life of +his own dreams of Juno. + +Those who looked upon this beautiful empress could well realize the +emotions which thirteen years before had stirred the hearts of the +Hungarian nobles as she stood before them; and had wrought them up to +that height of enthusiasm which culminated in the well-known shout of + +"MORIAMUR PRO REGE NOSTRO!" + +"Our king!" cried the Hungarians, and they were right. For Maria +Theresa, who with her husband, was the tender wife; toward her children, +the loving mother; was in all that related to her empire, her people, +and her sovereignty, a man both in the scope of her comprehension and +the strength of her will. She was capable of sketching bold lines of +policy, and of following them out without reference to personal +predilections or prejudices, both of which she was fully competent to +stifle, wherever they threatened interference with the good of her +realm, or her sense of duty as a sovereign. + +The energy and determination of her character were written upon the +lofty brow of Maria Theresa; and now, as she approached her councillors, +these characteristics beamed forth from her countenance with such power +and such beauty, that Kaunitz himself was overawed, and for one moment a +smile lit up his cold features. + +No one saw this smile except the imperial lady, who had woke the Memnon +into life; and as she took her seat upon the throne, she slightly bent +her head in return. + +Now, with her clear and sonorous voice, she invited her councillors also +to be seated, and at once reached out her hand for the memoranda which +Count Bartenstein had prepared for her examination. + +She glanced quickly over the papers, and laid them aside. "My lords of +the Aulic Council," said she, in tones of deep earnestness, "we have +to-day a question of gravest import to discuss. I crave thereunto your +attention and advice. We are at this sitting to deliberate upon the +future policy of Austria, and deeply significant will be the result of +this day's deliberations to Austria's welfare. Some of our old treaties +are about to expire. Time, which has somewhat moderated the bitterness +of our enemies, seems also to have weakened the amity of our friends. +Both are dying away; and the question now before us is, whether we shall +extinguish enmity, or rekindle friendship? For seventy years past +England, Holland, and Sardinia have been our allies. For three hundred +years France has been our hereditary enemy. Shall we renew our alliance +with the former powers, or seek new relations with the latter? Let me +have your views, my lords." + +With these concluding words, Maria Theresa waved her hand, and pointed +to Count Uhlefeld. The lord chancellor arose, and with a dignified +inclination of the head, responded to the appeal. + +"Since your majesty permits me to speak, I vote without hesitation for +the renewal of our treaty with the maritime powers. For seventy years +our relations with these powers have been amicable and honorable. In our +days of greatest extremity--when Louis XIV. took Alsatia and the city of +Strasburg, and his ally, the Turkish Sultan, besieged Vienna--when two +powerful enemies threatened Austria with destruction, it was this +alliance with the maritime powers and with Sardinia, which, next to the +succor of the generous King of Poland, saved our capital, and Savoy held +Lombardy in check, while England and Holland guarded the Netherlands, +which, since the days of Philip II., have ever been the nest of +rebellion and revolt. To this alliance, therefore, we owe it that your +majesty still reigns over those seditious provinces. To Savoy we are +indebted for Lombardy; while France, perfidious France, has not only +robbed us of our territory, but to this day asserts her right to its +possession! No, your majesty--so long as France retains that which +belongs to Austria, Austria will neither forgive her enmity nor forget +it. See, on the contrary, how the maritime powers have befriended us! It +was THEIR gold which enabled us first to withstand France, and afterward +Prussia--THEIR gold that filled your majesty's coffers--THEIR gold that +sustained and confirmed the prosperity of your majesty's dominions. This +is the alliance that I advocate, and with all my heart I vote for its +renewal. It is but just that the princes and rulers of the earth should +give example to the world of good faith in their dealings; for the +integrity of the sovereign is a pledge to all nations of the integrity +of his people." + +Count Uhlefeld resumed his seat, and after him rose the powerful +favorite of the empress, Count Bartenstein, who, in a long and animated +address, came vehemently to the support of Uhlefeld. + +Then came Counts Colloredo and Harrach, and the lord high steward, Count +Khevenhuller--all unanimous for a renewal of the old treaty. Not one of +these rich, proud nobles would have dared to breathe a sentiment in +opposition to the two powerful statesmen that had spoken before them. +Bartenstein and Uhlefeld had passed the word. The alliance must continue +with those maritime powers, from whose subsidies such unexampled wealth +had flowed into the coffers of Austria, and--those of the lords of the +exchequer! For, up to the times of which we write, it was a fundamental +doctrine of court faith, that the task of inquiry into the accounts of +the imperial treasury was one far beneath the dignity of the sovereign. +The lords of the exchequer, therefore, were responsible to nobody for +their administration of the funds arising from the Dutch and English +subsidies. + +It was natural, then, that the majority of the Aulic Council should vote +for the old alliance. While they argued and voted, Kaunitz, the least +important personage of them all, sat perfectly unconcerned, paying not +the slightest attention to the wise deductions of his colleagues. He +seemed much occupied in straightening loose papers, mending his pen, and +removing with his finger-tips the tiny, specks that flecked the lustre +of his velvet coat. Once, while Bartenstein was delivering his long +address, Kaunitz carried his indifference so far as to draw out his +repeater (on which was painted a portrait of La Pompadour, set in +diamonds) and strike the hour! The musical ring of the little bell +sounded a fairy accompaniment to the deep and earnest tones of +Bartenstein's voice; while Kaunitz, seeming to hear nothing else, held +the watch up to his ear and counted its strokes. [Footnote: Vide +Kormayr, "Austrian Plutarch," vol. xii., p.352.] The empress, who was +accustomed to visit the least manifestation of such inattention on the +part of her councillors with open censure--the empress, so observant of +form, and so exacting of its observance in others--seemed singularly +indulgent to-day; for while Kaunitz was listening to the music of his +watch, his imperial mistress looked on with half a smile. At last, when +the fifth orator had spoken, and it became the turn of Kaunitz to vote, +Maria Theresa turned her flashing eyes upon him with a glance of anxious +and appealing expectation. + +As her look met his, how had all coldness and unconcern vanished from +his face! How glowed his eyes with the lustre of great and world-swaying +thoughts, as, rising from his chair, he returned the gaze of his +sovereign with one that seemed to crave forbearance! + +But Kaunitz had almost preternatural control over his emotions, and he +recovered himself at once. + +"I cannot vote for a renewal of our worn-out alliance with the maritime +powers," said he, in a clear and determined voice. As he uttered these +words, looks of astonishment and disapprobation were, visible upon the +faces of his colleagues. The lord chancellor contented himself with a +contemptuous shrug and a supercilious smile. Kaunitz perceived it, and +met both shrug and smile with undisturbed composure, while calmly and +slowly he repeated his offending words. For a moment he paused, as if to +give time to his hearers to test the flavor of his new and startling +language. Then, firm and collected, he went on: + +"Our alliance with England and Holland has long been a yoke and a +humiliation to Austria. If, in its earlier days, this alliance ever +afforded us protection, dearly have we paid for that protection, and we +have been forced to buy it with fearful sacrifices to our national +pride. Never for one moment have these two powers allowed us to forget +that we have been dependent upon their bounty for money and defence. +Jealous of the growing power and influence of Austria, before whose +youthful and vigorous career lies the glory of future greatness--jealous +of our increasing wealth--jealous of the splendor of Maria Theresa's +reign--these powers, whose faded laurels are buried in the grave of the +past, have compassed sea and land to stop the flow of our prosperity, +and sting the pride of our nationality. With their tyrannical commercial +edicts, they have dealt injury to friends as well as foes. The closing +of the Scheldt and Rhine, the Barrier treaty, and all the other +restrictions upon trade devised by those crafty English to damage the +traffic of other nations, all these compacts have been made as binding +upon Austria as upon every other European power. Unmindful of their +alliance with us, the maritime powers have closed their ports against +our ships; and while affecting to watch the Netherlands in our behalf, +they have been nothing better than spies, seeking to discover whether +our flag transcended in the least the limits of our own blockaded +frontiers; and whether to any but to themselves accrued the profits of +trade with the Baltic and North Seas. Vraiment, such friendship lies +heavily upon us, and its weight feels almost like that of enmity. At +Aix-la-Chapelle I had to remind the English ambassador that his +unknightly and arrogant bearing toward Austria was unseemly both to the +sex and majesty of Austria's empress. And our august sovereign herself, +not long since, saw fit to reprove the insolence of this same British +envoy, who in her very presence spoke of the Netherlands as though they +had been a boon to Austria from England's clemency. Incensed at the tone +of this representative of our friends, the empress exclaimed: 'Am I not +ruler in the Netherlands as well as in Vienna? Do I hold my right of +empire from England and Holland?'" [Footnote: Coxe, "History of the +House of Austria," vol. v., p. 51.] + +"Yes," interrupted Maria Theresa, impetuously, "yes, it is true. The +arrogance of these royal traders has provoked me beyond all bearing. I +will no longer permit them to insinuate of my own imperial rights that I +hold them as favors from the hand of any earthly power. It chafes the +pride of an empress-queen to be CALLED a friend and TREATED as a vassal; +and I intend that these proud allies shall feel that I resent their +affronts!" + +It was wonderful to see the effect of these impassioned words upon the +auditors of the empress. They quaked as they thought how they had voted, +and their awe-stricken faces were pallid with fright. Uhlefeld and +Bartenstein exchanged glances of amazement and dismay; while the other +nobles, like adroit courtiers, fixed their looks, with awakening +admiration, upon Kaunitz, in whom their experienced eyes were just +discovering the rising luminary of a new political firmament. + +He, meanwhile, had inclined his head and smiled when the empress had +interrupted him. She ceased, and after a short pause, Kaunitz resumed, +with unaltered equanimity: "Your majesty has been graciously pleased to +testify, in your own sovereign person, to the tyranny of our two +northern allies. It remains, therefore, to speak of Sardinia +alone--Sardinia, who HELD LOMBARDY IN CHECK. No sooner had Victor +Amadeus put his royal signature to the treaty made by him with Austria, +than he turned to his confidants and said (loud enough for us to hear +him in Vienna): 'Lombardy is mine. I will take it, but I shall eat it +up, leaf by leaf, like an artichoke.' And methinks his majesty of +Sardinia has proved himself to be a good trencherman. He has already +swallowed several leaves of his artichoke, in that he is master of +several of the fairest provinces of Lombardy. It is true that this royal +gourmand has laid aside his crown; and that in his place reigns Victor +Emanuel, of whom Lord Chesterfield, in a burst of enthusiasm, has said, +that `he never did and never will commit an act of injustice.' Concede +that Victor Emanuel is the soul of honor; still," added Kaunitz with a +shake of the head, and an incredulous smile "still--the Italian princes +are abominable geographers--and they are inordinately fond of +artichokes. [Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. Kotmayr, "Austrian +Plutarch," vol. xi.] Now their fondness for this vegetable is as +dangerous to Austria as the too loving grasp of her northern allies, who +with their friendly hands not only close their ports against us, but lay +the weight of their favors so heavily upon our heads as to force us +down upon our knees before them. What have we from England and Holland +but their subsidies? And Austria can now afford to relinquish them-- +Austria is rich, powerful, prosperous enough to be allowed to proffer +her friendship where it will be honorably returned. Austria, then, must +be freed from her oppressive alliance with the maritime powers. She has +youth and vitality enough to shake off this bondage, and strike for the +new path which shall lead her to greatness and glory. There is a moral +and intangible greatness, of whose existence these trading Englishmen +have no conception, but which the refined and elevated people of France +are fully competent to appreciate. France extends to us her hand, and +offers us alliance on terms of equality. Cooperating with France, we +shall defy the enmity of all Europe. With our two-edged sword we shall +turn the scales of future European strife, and make peace or war for +other nations. France, too, is our natural ally, for she is our +neighbor. And she is more than this, for she is our ally by the sacred +unity of one faith. The Holy Father at Rome, who blesses the arms of +Austria, will no longer look sorrowfully upon Austria's league with +heresy. When apostolic France and we are one, the blessings of the +Church will descend upon our alliance. Religion, therefore, as well as +honest statesmanship, call for the treaty with France." + +"And I," cried Maria Theresa, rising quickly from her seat, her eyes +glowing with enthusiastic fire, "I vote joyfully with Count Kaunitz. I, +too, vote for alliance with France. The count has spoken as it stirs my +heart to hear an Austrian speak. He loves his fatherland, and in his +devotion he casts far from him all thought of worldly profit or +advancement. I tender him my warmest thanks, and I will take his words +to heart." + +Overcome with the excitement of the moment, the empress reached her hand +to Kaunitz, who eagerly seized and pressed it to his lips. + +Count Uhlefeld watched this extraordinary scene with astonishment and +consternation. Bartenstein, so long the favorite minister of Maria +Theresa, was deadly pale, and his lips were compressed as though he were +trying to suppress a burst of rage. Harrach, Colloredo, and Khevenhuller +hung their heads, while they turned over in their little minds how best +to curry favor with the new minister. + +The empress saw nothing of the dismayed faces around her. Her soul was +filled with high emotions, and her countenance beamed gloriously with +the fervor of her boundless patriotism. + +"Everything for Austria! My heart, my soul, my life, all are for my +fatherland," said Maria Theresa, with her beautiful eyes raised to +heaven. "And now, my lords," added she, after a pause, "I must retire, +to beg light and counsel from the Almighty. I have learned your +different views on the great question of this day; and when Heaven shall +have taught me what to do, I will decide." + +She waved her hand in parting salutation, and with her loftiest imperial +bearing left the room. + +Until the doors were closed, the lords of the council remained standing +with inclined heads. Then they looked from one to another with faces of +wonder and inquiry. Kaunitz alone seemed unembarrassed; and gathering up +his papers with as much unconcern as if nothing had happened, he +slightly bent his head and left the room. + +Never before had any member of the Aulic Council dared to leave that +room until the lord chancellor had given the signal of departure. It was +a case of unparalleled violation of court etiquette. Count Uhlefeld was +aghast, and Bartenstein seemed crushed. Without exchanging a word, the +two friends rose, and with eyes cast down, and faces pale with the +anguish of that hour, together they left the council-chamber toward +which they had repaired with hearts and bearing so triumphant. + +Colloredo and Harrach followed silently to the anteroom, and bowed +deferentially as their late masters passed through. But no sooner had +the door closed, than the two courtiers exchanged malicious smiles. + +"Fallen favorites," laughed Harrach. "Quenched lights which yesterday +shone like suns, and to-day are burnt to ashes! There is to be a soiree +to-night at Bartenstein's. For the first time in eleven years I shall +stay away from Bartenstein's soirees." + +"And I," replied Colloredo, laughing, "had invited Ulhlefeld for +to-morrow. But, as the entertainment was all in his honor, I shall be +taken with a sudden indisposition, and countermand my supper." + +"That will be a most summary proceeding," said Harrach. "I see that you +believe the sun of Uhlefeld and Bartenstein has set forever." + +"I am convinced of it. They have their death-blow." + +"And the rising sun? You think it will be called Kaunitz?" + +"Will be? It is called Kaunitz: so take my advice. Kaunitz I know, is +not a man to be bribed; but he has two weaknesses--women and horses. +You are, for the present, the favorite of La Fortina; and yesterday you +won from Count Esterhazy an Arabian, which Kaunitz says is the finest +horse in Vienna. If I were you, I would present to him both my mistress +and my horse. Who knows but what these courtesies may induce him to +adopt you as a PROTEGE?" + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE LETTER. + +From her cabinet council the empress passed at once to her private +apartments. When business was over for the, day, she loved to cast the +cares of sovereignty behind, and become a woman--chatting with her +ladies of honor over the "on dits" of the court and city. During the +hours devoted to her toilet, Maria Theresa gave herself up unreservedly +to enjoyment. But she was so impetuous, that her ladies of honor were +never quite secure that some little annoyance would not ruffle the +serenity of her temper. The young girl whose duty it was to read aloud +to the empress and dress her hair, used to declare that she would sooner +wade through three hours' worth of Latin dispatches from Hungary, than +spend one half hour as imperial hair-dresser. + +But today, as she entered her dressing-room, the eyes of the empress +beamed with pleasure, and her mouth was wreathed with sunny smiles. The +little hair-dresser was delighted, and with a responsive smile took her +place, and prepared for her important duties. Maria Theresa glided into +the chair, and with her own hands began to unfasten the golden net that +confined her hair. She then leaned forward, and, with a pleased +expression, contemplated the beautiful face that looked out from the +silver-framed Venetian glass before which she sat. + +"Make me very charming today, Charlotte," said she. [Footnote: Charlotte +von Hieronymus was the mother of Caroline Pichler.] + +"Your majesty needs no help from me to look charming," said the gentle +voice of the little tire-woman. "No hair-dresser had lent you her aid on +that day when your Magyar nobles swore to die for you, and yet the world +says that never were eyes of loyal subjects dazzled by such beauty and +such grace." + +"Ah, yes, child, but that was thirteen years ago. Thirteen years! How +many cares have lain upon my heart since that day! If my face is +wrinkled and my hair grown gray, I may thank that hateful King of +Prussia, for he is the cause of it all." + +"If he has no greater sins to repent of than those two," replied +Charlotte, with an admiring smile, "he may sleep soundly. Your majesty's +forehead is unruffled by a wrinkle, and your hair is as glossy and as +brown as ever it was." + +Brighter still was the smile of the empress, as she turned quickly round +and exclaimed: "Then you think I have still beauty enough to please the +emperor? If you do, make good use of it today, for I have something of +importance to ask of him, and I long to find favor in his eyes. To work, +then, Charlotte, and be quick, for--" + +At that moment, the silken hangings before the door of the dressing-room +were drawn hastily aside, and the Countess Fuchs stepped forward. + +"Ah, countess," continued the empress, "you are just in time for a +cabinet toilet council." + +But the lady of honor showed no disposition to respond to the gay +greeting of her sovereign. With stiffest Spanish ceremony, she +courtesied deeply. "Pardon me, your majesty, if I interrupt you," said +she, solemnly, "but I have something to communicate to yourself alone." + +"Oh, countess!" exclaimed Maria Theresa, anxiously, "you look as if you +bare me sad tidings. But speak out-Charlotte knows as many state secrets +as you do; you need not be reserved before her." + +"Pardon me," again replied the ceremonious lady, with another deep +courtesy, "I bring no news of state--I must speak with your majesty +alone."' + +The eyes of the empress dilated with fear. "No state secret," murmured +she; "oh, what can it be, then? Go, Charlotte, go, child, and remain +until I recall you." + +The door closed behind the tired woman, and the empress cried out: "Now +we are alone, be quick, and speak out what you have to say. You have +come to give me pain, I feel it." + +"Your majesty ordered me, some time since," began the countess in her +low, unsympathizing tones, "to watch the imperial household, so that +nothing might transpire within it that came not to the knowledge of your +majesty. I have lately watched the movements of the emperor's valet." + +"Ah!" cried the empress, clasping her hands convulsively together, "you +watched him, and" + +"Yes, your majesty, I watched him, and I was informed this morning that +he had left the emperor's apartments with a sealed note in his hands, +and had gone into the city." + +"No more just yet," said the empress, with trembling lip. + +"Give me air! I cannot breathe." With wild emotion she tore open her +velvet bodice, and heaving a deep sigh, signed to the countess to go on. + +"My spy awaited Gaspardi's return, and stopped him. He was forbidden, in +the name of your majesty, to go farther. " + +"Go on." + +"He was brought to me, your majesty, and now awaits your orders." + +"So that if there is an answer to the note, he has it," said Maria +Theresa, sharply. The countess bowed. + +"Where is he?" + +"In the antechamber, your majesty." + +The empress bounded from her seat, and walked across the room. Her face +was flushed with anger, and she trembled in every limb. She seemed +undecided what to do; but at last she stopped suddenly, and blushing +deeply, without looking at the countess, she said in a low voice, "Bring +him hither." + +The countess disappeared and returned, followed by Gaspardi. Maria +Theresa strode impetuously forward, and bent her threatening eyes upon +the valet. But the shrewd Italian knew better than to meet the lightning +glance of an angry empress. With downcast looks and reverential +obeisance he awaited her commands. "Look at me, Gaspardi," said she, in +tones that sounded in the valet's ears like distant thunder. "Answer my +questions, sir" + +Gaspardi raised his eyes. + +"To whom was the note addressed that was given you by the emperor this +morning?" + +"Your majesty, I did not presume to look at it," replied Gaspardi, +quietly. "His imperial majesty was pleased to tell me where to take it, +and that sufficed me." + +"And whither did you take it?" + +"Imperial majesty, I have forgotten the house." + +"What street, then?" + +"Pardon me, imperial majesty; these dreadful German names are too hard +for my Italian tongue. As soon as I had obeyed his majesty's commands, I +forgot the name of the street." + +"So that you are resolved not to tell me where you went with the +emperor's note?" + +"Indeed, imperial majesty, I have totally forgotten." + +The empress looked as if she longed to annihilate a menial who defied +her so successfully. + +"I see," exclaimed she, "that you are crafty and deceitful, but you +shall not escape me. I command you, as your sovereign, to give up the +note you bear about you for the emperor. I myself will deliver it to his +majesty." + +Gaspardi gave a start, and unconsciously his hand sought the place where +the note was concealed. He turned very pale and stammered, "Imperial +majesty, I have no letter for the emperor." + +"You have it there!" thundered the infuriated empress, as with +threatening hand she pointed to the valet's breast. "Deliver it at once, +or I will call my lackeys to search you." + +"Your majesty forces me then to betray my lord and emperor?" asked +Gaspardi, trembling. + +"You serve him more faithfully by relinquishing the letter than by +retaining it," returned Maria Theresa, hastily. "Once more I command you +to give it up." + +Gaspardi heaved a sigh of anguish, and looked imploringly at the +empress. But in the trembling lips, the flashing eyes, the flushed +cheeks that met his entreating glance, he saw no symptoms of relenting, +and he dared the strife no longer. His hand shook as he drew forth the +letter. + +The empress uttered a cry, and with the fury of a lioness snatched the +paper and crushed it in her hand. + +"Your majesty," whispered the countess, "dismiss the valet before +he learns too much. He might--" + +"Woe to him if he breathes a word to one human being!" cried the +empress, with menacing gesture. "Woe to him if he dare breathe one word +to his master!" + +"Heaven forbid that I should betray the secrets of my sovereign!" cried +the affrighted Gaspardi. "But, imperial majesty, what am I to say to my +lord the emperor?" + +"You will tell your lord that you brought no answer, and it will not be +the first lie with which you have befooled his imperial ears," replied +Maria Theresa coutemptuously, while she waved her hand as a signal of +dismissal. The unhappy Mercury retired, and as he disappeared, the +pent-up anguish of the empress burst forth. + +"Ah, Margaretta," cried she, in accents of wildest grief, "what an +unfortunate woman I am! In all my life I have loved but one man! My +heart, my soul, my every thought are his, and he robs me, the mother of +his children, of his love, and bestows it upon another!" + +"Perhaps the inconstancy is but momentary," replied the countess, who +burned to know the contents of the letter. "Perhaps there is no +inconstancy at all. This may be nothing but an effort on the part of +some frivolous coquette to draw our handsome emperor within the net of +her guilty attractions. The note would show--" The empress scarcely +heeded the words of her confidante. She had opened her hand, and was +gazing upon the crumpled paper that held her husband's secret. + +"Oh!" murmured she, plaintively. "Oh, it seems to me that a thousand +daggers have sprung from this little paper, to make my heart's blood +flow. Who is the foolhardy woman that would entice my husband from his +loyalty to me? Woe, woe to her when I shall have learned her name! And I +will learn it!" cried the unhappy wife. "I myself will take this letter +to the emperor, and he shall open it in my presence. I will have +justice! Adultery is a fearful crime, and fearful shall be its +punishment in my realms. The name! the name! Oh, that I knew the name of +the execrable woman who has dared to lift her treasonable eyes toward my +husband!" + +"Nothing is easier than to learn it, your majesty," whispered the +countess, "squat like a toad, close to the ear of Eve"--"the letter will +reveal it." + +The empress frowned. Oh, for Ithuriel then! + +"Dost mean that I shall open a letter which was never intended to be +read by me?" + +The countess pointed to the paper. "Your majesty has already broken the +seal. You crushed it unintentionally. There remains but to unfold the +paper, and every thing is explained. I will wage that it comes from the +beautiful dancer Riccardo, whom the emperor admired so much last night +in the ballet, and whom he declared to be the most bewitching creature +he had ever seen." + +The eyes of the empress dropped burning tears, and, covering her face +with her hands, she sobbed aloud. Then she seemed ashamed of her +emotion, and raised her beautiful head again. + +"It is contemptible so to mourn for one who is faithless," said she. "It +is for me to judge and to punish, and that will I! It is my duty as +ruler of Austria to bring crime to light. I will soon learn who it is +that dares to exchange letters with the husband of the reigning empress. +And after all, the speediest, the simplest way to do this, lies before +me. I must open the letter, for justice sake; but I swear that I will +not read one word contained within its stages. I will see the name of +the writer alone; and then I can be sure that curiosity and personal +interest have not prompted me." + +And so Maria Theresa silenced her scruples, and persuaded herself that +she was compelled to do as the tempter had suggested. She tore open the +note; but true to her self-imposed vow, she paused on the threshold of +dishonor, and read nothing but the writer's name. + +"Riccardo!" cried she, wildly. "You were right, Margaretta: an intrigue +with the Riccardo. The emperor has written to her--the emperor, my +husband!" + +She folded the fatal letter, and oh, how her white hands trembled as she +laid it upon the table I and how deadly pale were the cheeks that had +flushed with anger when Gaspardi had been by! + +The countess was not deceived by this phase of the empress's grief. She +knew that the storm would burst, and she thought it better to divide its +wrath. She stepped lightly out to call the confessor of her victim. + +Maria Theresa was unconscious of being alone. She stood before the table +staring at the letter. Gradually her paleness vanished, and the hue of +anger once more deepened on her cheeks. Her eyes, which had just been +drooping with tears, flamed again with indignation; and her expanded +nostrils, her twitching mouth, and her heaving chest, betrayed the fury +of the storm that was raging within. + +"Oh, I will trample her under foot!" muttered she between her teeth, +while she raised her hand as if she would fain have dealt a +leach-stroke. "I will prove to the court--to the empire--to the world, +how Maria Theresa hates vice, and how she punishes crime, without +respect of persons. Both criminals shall feel the lash of justice. If my +woman's heart break, the empress shall do her duty. It shall not be said +that lust holds its revels in Vienna, as at the obscene courts of +Versailles and St. Petersburg. No! Nor shall the libertines of Vienna +point to the Austrian emperor as their model, nor shall their weeping +wives be taunted with reports of the indulgence of the Austrian empress. +Morality and decorum shall prevail in Vienna. The fire of my royal +vengeance shall consume that bold harlot, and then--then for the +emperor!" + +"Your majesty will never consent to bring disgrace upon the father of +your imperial children," said a gentle voice close by, and, turning at +the sound, the empress beheld her confessor. + +She advanced hastily toward Father Porhammer. "How!" exclaimed she +angrily, "how!--you venture to plead for the emperor? You come hither to +stay the hand of justice?" + +"I do indeed," replied the father, "for to-day at least, her hand, if +uplifted against the emperor, must recoil upon the empress. The honor of +my august sovereigns cannot be divided. Your majesty must throw the +shield of your love over the fault of your imperial husband." + +"Oh, I cannot! I cannot suffer this mortal blow in silence," sobbed the +empress. + +"Nay," said the father, smiling, "the wife may be severe, though the +empress be clement." + +"But she, father--must she also be pardoned? she who has enticed my +husband from his conjugal faith?" + +"As for the Riccardo," replied Father Porhammer, "I have heard that she +is a sinful woman, whose beauty has led many men astray. If your majesty +deem her dangerous, she can be made to leave Vienna; but let retribution +go no further." + +"Well, be it so," sighed the empress, whose heart was already softening. +"You are right, reverend father, but La Riccardo shall leave Vienna +forever." + +So saying, she hastened to her escritoire, and wrote and signed the +order for the banishment of the danseuse. + +"There." cried she, handing the order to the priest. "I pray you, dear +father, remit this to Count Bartenstein, and let him see that she goes +hence this very day. And when I shall have laid this evil spirit, +perchance I may find peace once more. But, no, no!" continued she, her +eyes filling with tears; "when she has gone, some other enchantress will +come in her place to charm my husband's love away. Oh, father, if +chastity is not in the heart, sin will always find entrance there." + +"Yes, your majesty; and therefore should the portals of the heart be +ever guarded against the enemy. As watchmen are appointed to guard the +property, so are the servants of God sent on earth to extend the +protection of Heaven to the hearts of your people." + +"And why may I not aid them in their holy labors?" exclaimed the +empress, glowing suddenly with a new interest. "Why may I not appoint a +committee of good and wise men to watch over the morals of my subjects, +and to warn them from temptation, ere it has time to become sin? Come, +father, you must aid me in this good work. Help me to be the earthly, as +the Blessed Virgin is the heavenly mother of the Austrian people. Sketch +me some plan whereby I may organize my scheme. I feel sure that your +suggestions will be dictated by that Heaven to which you have devoted +your whole life." + +"May the spirit of counsel and the spirit of wisdom enlighten my +understanding," said the father, with solemn fervor, "that I may +worthily accomplish the mission with which my empress has intrusted me!" + +"But, your majesty," whispered the Countess Fuchs, "in your magnanimous +projects for your people, you are losing sight of yourself. The Riccardo +has not yet been banished; and the emperor, seeing that no answer is +coming to his note, may seek an interview: Who can guess the +consequences of a meeting?" + +The empress shivered, as the countess probed the wounds herself had made +in that poor, jealous heart. + +"True, true," returned she, in an unsteady voice. "Go, father, and begin +my work of reform, by casting out that wicked woman from among the +unhappy wives of Vienna. I myself will announce her departure to the +emperor. And now, dear friends, leave me. You, father, to Count +Bartenstein. Countess, recall Charlotte, and send me my tire-women. Let +the princes and princesses be regally attired to-day. I will meet the +emperor in their midst." + +The confessor bowed and retired, and the countess opening the door of +the inner dressing-room, beckoned to Charlotte, who, in the recess of a +deep bay-window, sat wearily awaiting the summons to return. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TOILET OF THE EMPRESS. + +SO dark and gloomy was the face of the empress, that poor Charlotte's +heart misgave her, as with a suppressed sigh she resumed her place, and +once more took down the rich masses of her sovereign lady's hair. Maria +Theresa looked sternly at the reflection of her little maid of honor's +face in the glass. She saw how Charlotte's hands trembled and this +increased her ill-humor. Again she raised her eyes to her own image, and +saw plainly that anger was unbecoming to her. The flush on her face was +not rosy, but purple; and the scowl upon her brow was fast deepening +into a wrinkle. Her bosom heaved with a heavy, heavy sigh. + +"Ah," thought she, "if I am ever again to find favor in his eyes, I must +always smile; for smiles are the last glowing tints of beauty's sunset. +And yet, how can I smile, when my heart is breaking? He said that the +Riccardo was the loveliest woman he had ever seen. Alas! I remember the +day when he knelt at my feet, and spoke thus of me. Oh, my Franz! Am I +indeed old, and no longer lovable?" + +In her anxiety to scrutinize her own features, the empress bent suddenly +forward, and the heavy mass of puffs and braids that formed the coiffure +she had selected for the day, gave way. She felt the sharp points of the +hair-pins in her head, and, miserable and nervous as she was, they +seemed to wound her cruelly. Starting from her chair, she poured forth a +torrent of reproaches upon Charlotte's head, who, pale and trembling +more than ever, repaired the damage, and placed among the braids a +bouquet of white roses. These white roses deepened the unbecoming +redness of the empress's face. She perceived this at once, and losing +all self-control, tore the flowers from her hair, and dashed them on the +floor. + +"You are all leagued against me." cried she, indignantly. "You are +trying your best to disfigure me, and to make me look old before my +time. Who ever saw such a ridiculous structure as this headdress, that +makes me look like a perambulating castle on a chessboard? Come, another +coiffure, and let it not be such a ridiculous one as this." + +Charlotte, of course, did not remind her mistress that the coiffure and +roses had been her own selection. She had nothing to do but to obey in +silence, and begin her work again. + +At last the painful task was at an end. The empress looked keenly at +herself in the glass, and convinced that she really looked well, she +called imperatively for her tire-women. In came the procession, bearing +pooped-skirt rich-embroidered train, golden-flowered petticoat, and +bodice flashing with diamonds. But the empress, usually so affable at +her toilet, surveyed both maids and apparel with gloomy indifference. In +moody silence she reached out her feet, while her slippers were +exchanged for high-heeled shoes. Not a look had she to bestow upon the +magnificent dress which enhanced a thousandfold her mature beauty. +Without a word she dismissed the maids of honor, all except Charlotte, +whose crowning labor it was to give the last touch to the imperial head +when the rest of the toilet had been declared to be complete. + +Again Maria Theresa stood before that high Venetian glass, and certainly +it did give back the image of a regal beauty. For a while she examined +her costume from head to foot; and at last---at last, her beautiful blue +eyes beamed bright with satisfaction, and a smile rippled the corners of +her mouth. + +"No," said she, aloud. "No, it is not so. I am neither old nor ugly. The +light of youth has not yet fled from my brow. My beauty's sun has not +yet set forever. My Franz will love me still; and however charming +younger women may be, he will remember the beloved of his boyhood, and +we will yet be happy in reciprocal affection, come what may to us as +emperor and empress. I do not believe that he said he had never seen so +lovely a woman as Riccardo. Poor, dear Franz! He has a tedious life as +husband of the reigning sovereign. From sheer ennui he sometimes wanders +from his wife's heart, but oh! he must, he must return to me; for if I +were to lose him, earthly splendor would be valueless to me forever!" + +Charlotte, who stood behind her mistress with the comb in her hand, was +dismayed at all that she heard; and the plaintive tones of this +magnificent empress, at whose feet lay a world of might, touched her +heart's core. But she sickened as she thought that her presence had been +unheeded, and that the empress had fancied herself alone, while the +secrets of her heart were thus struggling into words. The ample train +completely screened little Charlotte from view, and a deadly paleness +overspread her countenance as she awaited discovery. + +Suddenly the empress turned, and putting her hand tenderly on +Charlotte's head, she said, in a voice of indescribable melancholy "Be +warned, Charlotte, and if you marry, never marry a man who has nothing +to do. Men will grow inconstant from sheer ennui." [Footnote: Maria +Theresa's words. See Caroline Pichler. "Memoirs of My Life."] + +"I never expect to marry, beloved mistress," said the young girl, deeply +touched by this confidence. "I wish to live and die in your majesty's +service." + +"Do you? And can you bear for a lifetime with my impatience, dear +child?" asked the empress, kissing the little devotee on the forehead. +"You know now, my little Charlotte, why I have been so unkind to-day; +you know that my heart was bleeding with such anguish, that had I not +broken out in anger, I must have stifled with agony. You have seen into +the depths of my heart, and why should I not confide in you, who know +every secret of my state-council? No one suspects what misery lies under +the regal mantle. And I care not to exhibit myself to the world's pity. +When Maria Theresa weeps, let her God and those who love her be the +witnesses of her sorrow. Go, now, good little Charlotte, and forget +every thing except your sovereign's love for you. Tell the governess of +the Archduke Ferdinand to bring him hither. Let the other imperial +children await me in my reception-room; and tell the page in the +anteroom to announce to his majesty that I request the honor of a visit +from him." + +Charlotte, once more happy, left the room, her heart filled with joy for +herself, and gentle sorrow for her sovereign. + +Meanwhile the empress thought over the coming interview. "I will try to +recall him to me by love," murmured she, softly. "I will not reproach +him, and although as his empress I have a double claim upon his loyalty, +I will not appeal to any thing but his own dear heart; and when he hears +how he has made his poor Theresa suffer, I know--" + +Here her voice failed her, and tears filled her eyes. But she dashed +them quickly away, for steps approached, and the governess entered, with +the infant prince in her arms. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HUSBAND AND WIFE. + +A half an hour later, the princes and princesses of Austria were all +assembled in their mother's private parlor. They were a beautiful group. +The empress, in their midst, held little Ferdinand in her arms. +Close-peeping through the folds of their mother's rich dress, were three +other little ones; and a few steps farther were the Archduchesses +Christine and Amelia. Near the open harpsichord stood the graceful form +of the empress's eldest child, the Princess Elizabeth, who now and then +ran her fingers lightly over the instrument, while she awaited the +arrival of her father. + +In the pride of her maternity and beauty stood the empress-queen; but +her heart throbbed painfully, though she smiled upon her children. + +The page announced the coming of the emperor, and then left the room. +The empress made a sign to her eldest daughter, who seated herself +before the harpsichord. The door opened, and on the threshold appeared +the tall, elegant form of the Emperor Francis. Elizabeth began a +brilliant "Welcome," and all the young voices joined in one loud chorus, +"Long live our emperor, our sovereign, and our father!" sang the +children; but clear above them all were heard the sonorous tones of the +mother, exclaiming in the fulness of her love, "Long live my emperor, +and my husband!" As if every tender chord of Maria Theresa's heart had +been struck, she broke forth into one of Metastasio's most passionate +songs; while Elizabeth, catching the inspiration, accompanied her mother +with sweetest melody. The empress, her little babe in her arms, was +wrapped up in the ecstasy of the moment. Never had she looked more +enchanting than she did as she ceased, and gave one look of love to her +admiring husband. + +The emperor contemplated for a moment the lovely group before him, and +then, full of emotion, came forward, and bending over his wife, he +kissed the round white arm that held the baby, and whispered to the +mother a few words of rapture at her surpassing beauty. + +"But tell me, gracious empress," said he, aloud, "to what am I indebted +for this charming surprise?" + +The eyes of the empress shot fire, but instead of a reply, she bent down +to the little Archduchess Josepha, who was just old enough to lisp her +father's name, and said: + +"Josepha, tell the emperor what festival we celebrate to-day" the little +one, turning to her father, said, "To-day is imperial mamma's +wedding-day." + +"Our wedding-day!" murmured the emperor, "and I could forget it!" + +"Oh, no! my dear husband," said the empress, "I am sure that you cannot +have forgotten this joyous anniversary. Its remembrance is burned in +your heart, and the presence of your children here, my trust, has +awakened that remembrance, and carried you back with me to the happy, +happy days of our early love." + +The voice of the wife was almost tearful, as she spoke those tender +words; and the emperor, touched and humbled at the thought of his own +oversight, sought to change the subject. "But why," asked he, looking +around, "why, if all our other children are here to greet their father, +is Joseph absent from this happy family gathering?" + +"He has been disobedient and obstinate again," said the empress, with a +shrug of her shoulders, "and his preceptor, to punish him, kept him +away" + +The emperor walked to the door. "Surely," exclaimed he, "on such a day +as this, when all my dear children are around me, my son and the future +emperor should be the first to bid me welcome." + +"Stay, my husband," cried the empress, who had no intention of allowing +the emperor to escape so easily from his embarrassment. + +"You must be content to remain with us, without the future emperor of +Germany, whose reign, I hope I may be allowed to pray, is yet for some +years postponed. Or is this a happy device of the future emperor's +father to remind me, on my wedding-day, that I am growing old enough to +begin to think of the day of my decease?" + +The emperor was perfectly amazed. Although he was accustomed to such +outbursts on the part of his wife, he searched vainly in his heart for +the cause of her intense bitterness to-day. He looked his astonishment; +and the empress, mindful of her resolve not to reproach him, tried her +best to smile. The emperor shook his head thoughtfully as he watched her +face, and said half aloud: "All is not right with thee, Theresa; thou +smilest like a lioness, not like a woman." + +"Very well, then," said she sharply, "the lioness has called you to look +upon her whelps. One day they will be lions and lionesses too, and in +that day they will avenge the injuries of their mother." + +The empress, as she spoke, felt that her smothered jealousy was bursting +forth. She hastily dismissed her children, and going herself to the +door, she called for the governess of the baby, and almost threw him in +her arms. + +"I foresee the coming of a storm," thought the emperor, as the door +being closed, Maria Theresa came quickly back, and stood before him. + +"And is it indeed true," said she bitterly, "that you had forgotten your +wedding-day? Not a throb of your heart to remind you of the past!" + +"My memory does not cling to dates, Theresa," replied the emperor. +"What, if to-day be accidentally the anniversary of our marriage? With +every beating of my heart, I celebrate the hour itself, when I won the +proud and beautiful heiress of Austria; and when I remember that she +deigned to love ME, the poor Archduke of Lorraine, my happiness +overwhelms me. Come, then, my beautiful, my beloved Theresa; come to my +heart, that I may thank you for all the blessings that I owe to your +love. See, dearest, we are alone; let us forget royalty for to-day, and +be happy together in all the fulness of mutual confidence and +affection." + +So saying, he would have pressed her to his heart, but the empress drew +coldly back, and turned deadly pale. This unembarrassed and confident +tenderness irritated her beyond expression. That her faithless spouse +should, without the slightest remorse, act the part of the devoted +lover, outraged her very sense of decency. + +"Really, my husband, it becomes you well to prate of confidence and +affection, who have ceased to think of your own wife, and have eyes +alone for the wife of another!" + +"Again jealous?" sighed the emperor wearily. "Will you never cease to +cloud our domestic sky by these absurd and groundless suspicions?" + +"Groundless!" cried the empress, tearing the letter violently from her +bosom. "With this proof of your guilt confronting you, you will not dare +to say that I am jealous without cause!" + +"Allow me to inquire of your majesty, what this letter is to prove?" + +"It proves that to-day you have written a letter to a woman, of whom +yesterday you said that she was the most beautiful woman in the world." + +"I have no recollection of saying such a thing of any woman; and I am +surprised that your majesty should encourage your attendants to repeat +such contemptible tales," replied the emperor, with some bitterness. +"Were I like you, the reigning sovereign of a great empire, I should +really find no time to indulge in gossip and scandal." + +"Your majesty will oblige me by refraining from any comment upon affairs +which do not concern you. I alone am reigning empress here, and it is +for my people to judge whether I do my duty to them; certainly not for +you, who, while I am with my ministers of state, employ your leisure +hours in writing love-letters to my subjects." + +"I? I write a love-letter?" said the emperor. + +"How dare you deny it? "cried the outraged empress. "Have you also +forgotten that this morning you sent Gaspardi out of the palace on an +errand?" + +"No, I have not forgotten it," replied the emperor, with growing +astonishment. But Maria Theresa remarked that he looked confused, and +avoided her eye. + +"You confess, then, that you sent the letter, and requested an answer?" + +"Yes, but I received no answer," said the emperor, with embarrassment. + +"There is your answer," thundered the enraged wife. "I took it from +Gaspardi myself." + +"And is it possible, Theresa, that you have read a letter addressed to +me?" asked the emperor, in a severe voice. + +The empress blushed, and her eyes sought the ground. + +"No," said she, "I have not read it, Franz." + +"But it is open," persisted he, taking it from his wife's hand. "Who, +then, has dared to break the seal of a letter addressed to me?" + +And the emperor, usually so mild toward his wife, stood erect, with +stormy brow and eyes flashing with anger. + +Maria Theresa in her turn was surprised. She looked earnestly at him, +and confessed inwardly that never had she seen him look so handsome; and +she felt an inexplicable and secret pleasure that her Franz, for once in +his life, was really angry with her. + +"I broke the seal of the letter, but I swear to you that I did not read +one word of it," replied she. "I wished to see the signature only, and +that signature was enough to convince me that I had a faithless husband, +who outrages an empress by giving her a dancer as her rival!" + +"The signature convinced you of this?" asked the emperor. + +"It did!" + +"And you read nothing else?" + +"Nothing, I tell you." + +"Then, madam," returned he, seriously, handing the letter back to her, +"do me the favor to read the whole of it. After breaking the seal, you +need not hesitate. I exact it of you." + +The empress looked overwhelmed. "You exact of me to read a love-letter +addressed to you?" + +"Certainly I do. You took it from my valet, you broke it open, and now I +beg you will be so good as to read it aloud, for I have not yet read it +myself." + +"I will read it, then," cried the empress, scornfully. "And I promise +you that I shall not suppress a word of its contents." + +"Read on," said the emperor, quietly. + +The empress, with loud and angry tone, began: + +"To his Gracious Majesty, the Emperor: + +"Your majesty has honored me by asking my advice upon a subject of the +highest importance. But your majesty is much nearer the goal than I. It +is true that my gracious master, the count, led me to the vestibule of +the temple of science, but further I have not penetrated. What I know I +will joyfully impart to your majesty; and joyfully will I aid you in +your search after that which the whole world is seeking. I will come at +the appointed hour. + +"Your majesty's loyal servant, + +"RICCARDO." + +"I do not understand a word," said the mystified empress. + +"But I do," returned the emperor, with a meaning smile. "Since your +majesty has thrust yourself into the portals of my confidence, I must +e'en take you with me into the penetralia, and confess at once that I +have a passion, which has cost me many a sleepless night, and has +preoccupied my thoughts, even when I was by your majesty's side." + +"But I see nothing of love or passion in this letter," replied Maria +Theresa, glancing once more at its singular contents. + +"And yet it speaks of nothing else. I may just as well confess, too, +that in pursuit of the object of my love, I have spent three hundred +thousand guilders, and thrown away at least one hundred thousand +guilders' worth of diamonds." + +"Your mistress must be either very coy or very grasping," said Maria +Theresa, almost convulsed with jealousy. + +"She is very coy," said the emperor. "All my gold and diamonds have won +me not a smile--she will not yield up her secret. But I believe that she +has responded to the love of one happy mortal, Count Saint-Germain." + +"Count Saint-Germain!" exclaimed the empress, amazed. + +"Himself, your majesty. He is one of the fortunate few, to whom the coy +beauty has succumbed; and to take his place I would give millions. Now, +I heard yesterday that the confidant of the count was in Vienna; and, +hoping to learn something from him, I invited him hither. Signor +Riccardo--" + +"SIGNOR Riccardo! Was this letter written by a man?" + +"By the husband of the dancer." + +"And your letter was addressed to him?" + +"Even so, madame." + +"Then this passion of which you speak is your old passion--alchemy." + +"Yes, it is. I had promised you to give it up, but it proves stronger +than I. Not to annoy you, I have ever since worked secretly in my +laboratory. I have just conceived a new idea. I am about to try the +experiment of consolidating small diamonds into one large one, by means +of a burning-glass." + +The empress answered this with a hearty, happy laugh, and went up to her +husband with outstretched hands. + +"Franz," said she, "I am a simpleton; and all that has been for +tormenting in my heart is sheer nonsense. My crown does not prevent me +from being a silly woman. But, my heart's love, forgive my folly for the +sake of my affection." + +Instead of responding to this appeal, the emperor stood perfectly still, +and gazed earnestly and seriously at his wife. + +"Your jealousy," said he, after a moment's silence, "I freely forgive, +for it is a source of more misery to you than to me. But this jealousy +has attacked my honor as a man, and that I cannot forgive. As reigning +empress, I render you homage, and am content to occupy the second pace +in Austria's realms. I will not deny that such a rule is irksome to me, +for I, like you, have lofty dreams of ambition; and I could have wished +that, in giving me the TITLE, you had allowed me sometimes the +privileges of a co-regent. But I have seen that my co-regency irritated +and annoyed you; I have, therefore, renounced all thought of governing +empires. I have done this, not only because I love you, Theresa, but +because you are worthy by your intellect to govern your people without +my help. In the world, therefore, I am known as the husband of the +reigning empress; but at home I am lord of my own household, and here I +reign supreme. The emperor may be subordinate to his sovereign, but the +man will acknowledge no superior; and the dignity of his manhood shall +be respected, even by yourself." + +"Heaven forbid that I should ever seek to wound it!" exclaimed Maria +Theresa, while she gazed with rapture upon her husband's noble +countenance, and thought that never had he looked so handsome as at this +moment, when, for the first time, he asserted his authority against +herself. + +"You HAVE wounded it, your majesty," replied the emperor, with emphasis. +"You have dogged my steps with spies; you have suffered my character to +be discussed by your attendants. You have gone so far as to compromise +me with my own servants; forcing them to disobey me by virtue of your +rights as sovereign exercised in opposition to mine as your husband. I +gave Gaspardi orders to deliver Riccardo's note to me alone. I forbade +him to tell any one whither he went. YOU took my note from him by force, +and committed the grave wrong of compelling a servant, hitherto +faithful, to disobey and betray his master." + +"I did indeed wrong you, dear Franz," said the empress, already +penitent. "In Gaspardi's presence I will ask your pardon for my +indelicate intrusion, and before him I will bear witness to his +fidelity. I alone was to blame. I promise you, too, to sin no more +against you, my beloved, for your love is the brightest jewel in my +crown. Without it, no happiness would grandeur give to me. Forgive me, +then, my own Franz--forgive your unhappy Theresa!" + +As she spoke, she inclined her head toward her husband, and looked up to +him with such eyes of love, that he could but gaze enraptured upon her +bewitching beauty. + +"Come, Franz, come!" said she tenderly; "surely, that wicked jest of +yours has amply revenged you. Be satisfied with having given me a +heartache for jealousy of the coy mistress upon whom you have wasted +your diamonds, and be magnanimous." + +"And you, Theresa?--will you be magnanimous also? Will you leave my +servants and my letters alone, and set no more spies to dog my steps?" + +"Indeed, Franz, I will never behave as I have done to-day, while we both +live. Now, if you will sign my pardon, I will tell you a piece of news +with which I intend shortly to surprise all Austria." + +"Out with it, then, and if it is good news I sign the pardon," said the +emperor, with a smile. + +"It is excellent news," cried the empress, "for it will give new life to +Austria. It will bring down revenge upon our enemies, and revenge upon +that wicked infidel who took my beautiful Silesia from me, and who, +boasting of his impiety, calls it enlightenment." + +"Have you not yet forgiven Frederick for that little bit of Silesia that +he stole from you?" asked the emperor, laughing. + +"No, I have not yet forgiven him, nor do I ever expect to do so. I owe +it to him, that, years ago, I came like a beggar before the Magyars to +whimper for help and defence. I have never yet forgotten the humiliation +of that day, Franz." + +"And yet, Theresa, we must confess that Frederick is a great man, and it +were well for Austria if we were allies; for such an alliance would +secure the blessings of a stable peace to Europe." + +"It cannot be," cried the empress. "There is no sympathy between Austria +and Prussia, and peace will never come to Europe until one succumbs to +the other. No dependence is to be placed upon alliances between +incongruous nations. In spite of our allies, the English, the Dutch, and +the Russians, the King of Prussia has robbed me of my province; and all +the help I have ever got from them was empty condolence. For this reason +I have sought for alliance with another power--a power which will +cordially unite with me in crushing that hateful infidel, to whom +nothing in life is sacred. This is the news that I promised you. Our +treaty with England and Holland is about to expire, and the new ally I +have found for Austria is France." + +"An alliance with France is not a natural one for Austria, and can never +be enduring," exclaimed the emperor. [Footnote: The emperor's own words. +Coxe, "History of the House of Austria," vol. v., p. 67.] + +"It WILL be enduring," cried Maria Theresa, proudly, "for it is equally +desired by both nations. Not only Louis XV., but the Marquise de +Pompadour is impatient to have the treaty signed." + +"That means that Kaunitz has been flattering the marquise, and the +marquise, Kaunitz. But words are not treaties, and the marquise's +promises are of no consequence whatever." + +"But, Franz, I tell you that we have gone further than words. Of this, +however, no one knows, except the King of France, myself, Kaunitz, and +the marquise." + +"How in the world did you manage to buy the good-will of the marquise? +How many millions did you pay for the precious boon?" + +"Not a kreutzer, dear husband, only a letter." + +"Letter! Letter from whom?" + +"A letter from me to the marquise." + +"What!" cried the emperor, laughing. "You write to La Pompadour--YOU, +Theresa?" + +"With my own hand, I have written to her, and more than once," returned +Maria Theresa, joining in the laugh. "And what do you suppose I did, to +save my honor in the matter? I pretended to think that she was the wife +of the king, and addressed her as 'Madame, ma soeur et cousine.'" + +Here the emperor laughed immoderately. "Well, well!" exclaimed he. "So +the Empress-Queen of Austria and Hungary writes with her own hand to her +beloved cousin La Pompadour!" + +"And do you know what she calls me?" laughed the empress in return. +"Yesterday I had a letter from her in which she calls me, sportively, +'Ma chere reine.'" + +The emperor broke out into such a volley of laughter, that he threw +himself back upon a chair, which broke under him, and the empress had to +come to his assistance, for he was too convulsed to get up alone. +[Footnote: Historical.] + +"Oh dear! oh dear!" groaned the emperor, still continuing to laugh. "I +shall die of this intelligence. Maria Theresa in correspondence with +Madame d'Etoiles!" + +"Well, what of it, Franz?" asked Maria Theresa. "Did I not write to the +prima donna Farinelli when we were seeking alliance with Spain? and is +the marquise not as good as a soprano singer?" [Footnote: The empress's +own words. Coxe, vol. v., p. 69.] + +The emperor looked at her with such a droll expression that she gave up +all idea of defending herself from ridicule, and laughed as heartily as +he did. + +At this moment a page knocked, and announced the Archduke Joseph and his +preceptor. + +"Poor lad!" said the emperor; "I suppose he comes, as usual, accompanied +by an accuser." + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ARCHDUKE JOSEPH. + +The emperor was right; Father Francis came in with complaints of his +highness. While the father with great pathos set forth the reason of the +archduke's absence from the family circle, the culprit stood by, +apparently indifferent to all that was being said. But, to any one +observing him closely, his tremulous mouth, and the short, convulsive +sighs, which he vainly strove to repress, showed the real anxiety of his +fast-beating heart. He thrust back his rising tears, for the little +prince teas too proud to crave sympathy; and he had already learned how +to hide emotion by a cold and haughty bearing. From his childhood he had +borne a secret sorrow in his heart--the sorrow of seeing his young +brother Carl preferred to himself. Not only was Carl the darling of his +parents, but he was the pet and plaything of the whole palace. True, the +poor little archduke was not gifted with the grace and charming naivete +of his brother. He was awkward, serious, and his countenance wore an +expression of discontent, which was thought to betray an evil +disposition, but which, in reality, was but the reflection of the heavy +sorrow which clouded his young heart. No one seemed to understand--no +one seemed to love him. Alone in the midst of that gay and splendid +court, he was never noticed except to be chided. [Footnote: Hubner, +"Life of Joseph II.," page 15.] The buds of his poor young heart were +blighted by the mildew of neglect, so that outwardly he was cold, +sarcastic, and sullen, while inwardly he glowed with a thousand +emotions, which he dared reveal to no one, for no one seemed to dream +that he was capable of feeling them. + +To-day, as usual, he was brought before his parents as a culprit; and +without daring to utter a word in his own defence, he stood by, while +Father Francis told how many times he had yawned over the "Lives of the +Martyrs;" and how he had refused to read, longer than one hour, a most +edifying commentary of the Fathers on the Holy Scriptures. + +The empress heard with displeasure of her son's lack of piety; and she +looked severely at him, while he gazed sullenly at a portrait that hung +opposite. + +"And can it be, my son," exclaimed she, "that you close your heart +against the word of God, and refuse to read religious books?" + +The boy gave her a glance of defiance. "I do not know," said he, +carelessly, "whether the books are religious or not; but I know that +they are tiresome, and teach me nothing." + +"Gracious Heaven!" cried the empress, with horror, "hear the impious +child!" + +"Rather, your majesty," said Father Francis, "let us pray Heaven to +soften his heart." The emperor alone said nothing; but he looked at the +boy with a friendly and sympathizing glance. The child saw the look, and +for one moment a flush of pleasure passed over his face. He raised his +eyes with an appealing expression toward his father, who could no longer +resist the temptation of coming to his relief. + +"Perhaps," suggested he, "the books may be dull to a child of Joseph's +years." + +"No book," returned the empress, "should be dull that treats of God and +of His holy Church." + +"And the work, your majesty, which we were reading, was a most learned +and celebrated treatise," said Father Francis; "one highly calculated to +edify and instruct youth." + +Joseph turned away from the father, and spoke to the emperor. + +"We have already gone through five volumes of it, your majesty, and I am +tired to death of it. Moreover, I don't believe half that I read in his +stupid books." + +The empress, as she heard this, uttered a cry of pain. She felt an icy +coldness benumb her heart, as she remembered that this unbelieving boy +was one day to succeed her on the throne of Austria. The emperor, too, +was pained. By the deadly paleness of her face, he guessed the pane that +was rending his wife's heart, and he dared say no more in defence of his +son. + +"Your majesty sees," continued Father Francis, "how far is the heart of +his highness from God and the Church. His instructors are grieved at his +precocious unbelief, and they are this day to confer together upon the +painful subject. The hour of the conference is at hand, and I crave your +majesty's leave to repair thither." + +"No," said the empress, with a deprecating gesture; "no. Remain, good +father. Let this conference he held in the presence of the emperor and +myself. It is fitting that we both know the worst in regard to our +child." + +The emperor bowed acquiescence, and crossing the room, took a seat by +the side of the empress. + +He rang a little golden bell; and the page who came at the summons, was +ordered to request the attendance of the preceptors of his highness the +Crown Prince of Austria. + +Maria Theresa leaned her head upon her hand, and with a sad and +perplexed countenance watched the open door. The emperor, with his arm +thrown over the gilded back of the divan, looked earnestly at the young +culprit, who, pale, and with a beating heart, was trying his best to +suppress his increasing emotion. + +"I will not cry," thought he, scarcely able to restrain his tears; "for +that would be a triumph for my detestable teachers. I am not going to +give them the pleasure of knowing that I am miserable." + +And, by dint of great exertion, he mastered his agitation. He was so +successful, that he did not move a muscle nor turn his head when the +solemn procession of his accusers entered the room. + +First, at the head, came Father Porhammer, who gave him lessons in logic +and physic; after him walked the engineer Briguen, professor of +mathematics; then Herr von Leporini, who instructed him in general +history; Herrvson Bartenstein, who expounded the political history of +the house of Austria; Baron von Beck, who was his instructor in +judicature; and finally, his governor, Count Bathiany, the only one +toward whom the young prince felt a grain of good-will. + +The empress greeted them with grave courtesy, and exhorted them to say +without reserve before his parents what they thought of the progress and +disposition of the archduke. + +Count Bathiany, with an encouraging smile directed toward his pupil, +assured their majesties that the archduke was anxious to do right--not +because he was told so to do by others, but because he followed the +dictates of his own conscience. True, his highness would not see through +the eyes of any other person; but this, though it might be a defect in a +child, would be the reverse in a man--above all, in a sovereign. "In +proof of the archduke's sincere desire to do right," continued Count +Bathiany, "allow me to repeat to your majesties something which he said +to me yesterday. We were reading together Bellegarde on knowledge of +self and of human nature. The beautiful thoughts of the author so +touched the heart of his highness, that, stopping suddenly, he exclaimed +to me, 'We must read this again; for when I come to the throne I shall +need to know, not only myself, but other men also.'" + +"Well said, my son!" exclaimed the emperor. + +"I cannot agree with your majesty," said the empress, coldly. "_I_ do +not think it praiseworthy for a child of his age to look forward with +complacency to the day when his mother's death will confer upon him a +throne. To rile it would seem more natural if Joseph thought more of his +present duties and less of his future honors." + +A breathless silence followed these bitter words. The emperor, in +confusion, withdrew behind the harpsichord. The archduke looked +perfectly indifferent. While Count Bathiany had been repeating his +words, his face had slightly flushed; but when he heard the sharp +reproof of his mother, he raised his head, and gave her back another +defiant look. With the same sullen haughtiness, he stared first at one +accuser, and then at another, while each one in his turn gave judgment +against him. First, and most vehement in his denunciations, was Count +Bartenstein. He denounced the archduke as idle and inattentive. He never +would have any political sagacity whatever. Why, even the great work, in +fifteen folios, which he (Count Bartenstein) had compiled from the +imperial archives for the especial instruction of the prince, even THAT +failed to interest him! [Footnote: Hormayer says that this book was +heavy and filled with tiresome details. (No wonder! In fifteen +folios.--Trane.)] + +Then followed the rest of their professorships. One complained of +disrespect; another of carelessness; a third of disobedience; a fourth +of irreligion. All concurred in declaring the archduke to be obstinate, +unfeeling, and intractable. + +His face, meanwhile, grew paler and harder, until it seemed almost to +stiffen into marble. Although every censorious word went like a dagger +to his sensitive heart, he still kept on murmuring to himself, "I will +not cry, I will not cry." + +His mother divined nothing of the agony which, like a wild tornado, was +desolating the fair face of her child's whole being. She saw nothing +beyond the portals of that cold and sullen aspect, and the sight filled +her with sorrow and anger. + +"Alas," cried she bitterly, "you are right! He is a refractory and +unfeeling boy." + +At this moment, like the voice of a conciliatory angel, were heard the +soft tones of the melody with which the empress had greeted her husband +that morning. It was the emperor, whose hands seemed unconsciously to +wander over the keys of the harpsichord, while every head bent entranced +to listen. + +When the first tones of the heavenly melody fell upon his ear, the young +prince began to tremble. His features softened; his lips, so scornfully +compressed, now parted, as if to drink in every sound; his eyes filled +with tears, and every angry feeling of his heart was hushed by the magic +of music. With a voice of love it seemed to call him, and unable to +resist its power and its pathos, he burst into a flood of tears, and +with one bound reached his father's arms, sobbing-- + +"Father, dear father, pity me!" + +The emperor drew the poor boy close to his heart. He kissed his blond +curls, and whispering, said: "Dear child, I knew that you were not +heartless. I was sure that you would come when your father called." + +The empress had started from her seat, and she now stood in the centre +of the room, earnestly gazing upon her husband and her child. Her +mother's heart beat wildly, and tears of tenderness suffused her eyes. +She longed to speak some word of pardon to her son; but before all +things, Maria Theresa honored court ceremony. She would not, for the +world, that her subjects had seen her otherwise than self-possessed and +regal in her bearing. + +With one great effort she mastered her emotions; and before the strength +of her will, the mighty flood rolled back upon her heart. Not a tear +that glistened in her eyelids fell; not a tone of her clear, silvery +voice was heard to falter. + +"Count Bathiany," said she, "I perceive that in the education of the +archduke, the humanizing influences of music have been overlooked. Music +to-day has been more powerful with him than filial love or moral +obligation. Select for him, then, a skilful teacher, who will make use +of his art to lead my son back to duty and religion." [Footnote: Maria +Theresa's own words. Coxe, "House of Austria," vol. v.] + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +KAUNITZ. + +Three weeks had elapsed since the memorable sitting at which Maria +Theresa had declared in favor of a new line of policy. Three long weeks +had gone by, and still no message came for Kaunitz; and still +Bartenstein and Uhlefeld held the reins of power. + +With hasty steps, Kaunitz paced the floor of his study. Gone was all +coldness and impassibility from his face. His eyes glowed with restless +fire, and his features twitched nervously. + +His secretary, who sat before the writing-table, had been gazing +anxiously at the count for sometime. He shook his head gloomily, as he +contemplated the strange sight of Kaunitz, agitated and disturbed. + +Kaunitz caught the eye of his confidant, and coming hastily toward the +table, he stood for a few moments without speaking a word. Suddenly he +burst into a loud, harsh laugh--a laugh so bitter, so sardonic, that +Baron Binder turned pale as he heard the sound. + +"Why are you so pale, Binder?" asked Kaunitz, still laughing. "Why do +you start as if you had received an electric shock?" + +"Your laughing is like an electric shock to my heart," replied the +baron. "Its sound was enough to make a man pale. Why, for ten years I +have lived under your roof, and never have I heard you laugh before." + +"Perhaps you are right, Binder, for in sooth my laugh echoes gloomily +within the walls of my own heart. But I could not help it--you had such +a droll, censorious expression on your face." + +"No wonder," returned Baron Binder. "It vexes me to see a statesman so +irresolute and unmanned." + +"Statesman!" exclaimed Kaunitz, bitterly. "Who knows whether my role of +statesman is not played out already?" + +He resumed his walk in moody silence, while Binder followed him with his +eyes. Suddenly Kaunitz stopped again before the table. "Baron," said he, +"you have known me intimately for ten years. In all my embassies you +have been with me as attache. Since we have lived together, have you +ever known me to be faint-hearted?" + +"Never!" cried the baron, "never! I have seen you brave the anger of +monarchs, the hatred of enemies, the treachery of friends and +mistresses. I have stood by your side in more than one duel, and never +before have I seen you otherwise than calm and resolute." + +"Judge, then, how sickening to me is this suspense, since, for the first +time in my life, I falter. Oh! I tremble lest--" + +"Lest what?" asked the baron, with interest. + +"Binder, I fear that Maria Theresa may prove less an empress than a +woman. I fear that the persuasions of the handsome Francis of Lorraine +may outweigh her own convictions of right. What if her husband's +caresses, her confessor's counsel, or her own feminine caprice, should +blind her to the welfare of her subjects and the interest of her empire? +Oh, what a giant structure will fall to the earth, if, at this crisis, +the empress should fail me! Think what a triumph it would be to dash +aside my rivals and seize the helm of state to gather, upon the deck of +one stout ship, all the paltry principalities that call themselves +'Austria;' to band them into one consolidated nation; and then to steer +this noble ship into a haven of greatness and glorious peace! Binder, to +this end alone I live. I have outlived all human illusions. I have no +faith in love--it is bought and sold. No faith in the tears of men; none +in their smiles. Society, to me, is one vast mad house. If, in its +frenzied walls, I show that I am sane, the delirious throng will shout +out, 'Seize the lunatic!' Therefore must I seem as mad as they, and +therefore it is that, outside of this study, I commit a thousand +follies. In such a world I have no faith; but, Binder, I believe in +divine ambition. It is the only passion that has ever stirred my +heart--the only passion worthy to fill the soul of a MAN! My only love, +then, ambition. My only dream is of power. Oh! that I might eclipse and +outlive the names of my rivals! But alas! alas! I fear that the +greatness of Kaunitz will be wrecked upon the shoals of Maria Theresa's +shallowness!" + +"No, no," said the baron vehemently. "Fear nothing, Kaunitz; you are the +man who is destined to make Austria great, and to disperse the clouds of +ignorance that darken the minds of her people." + +"You may be sure that if ever I attain power, Binder, nor church nor +churchman shall have a voice in Austria. Kaunitz alone shall reign. But +will Maria Theresa consent? Will she ever have strength of mind to burst +the shackles with which silly love and silly devotion have bound her? I +fear not. Religion--" + +Here the door opened, and the count's valet handed a card to the +secretary. + +"A visit from Count Bartenstein!" exclaimed the baron triumphantly. "Ah! +I knew--" + +"Will you receive him here, in the study?" + +"I will receive him nowhere," replied Kaunitz coldly. "Say to the +count," added he to the valet, "that I am engaged, and beg to be +excused." + +"What! You deny yourself to the prime minister?" cried Binder, +terrified. + +Kaunitz motioned to the servant to withdraw. + +"Binder," said he exultingly, "do you not see from this visit that MY +day is about to dawn, and that Bartenstein is the first lark to greet +the rising sun? His visit proves that he feels a presentiment of his +fall and my rebuff shall verify it. The whole world will understand that +when Bartenstein was turned away from my door, I gave old Austria, as +well as himself, a parting kick. Away with anxiety and fear! The deluge +is over, and old Bartenstein has brought me the olive-branch that +announces dry land and safety." + +"My dear count!" + +"Yes, Binder, dry land and safety. Now we will be merry, and lift our +head high up into clouds of Olympic revel! Away with your deeds and your +parchments! We are no longer bookworms, but butterflies. Let us sport +among the roses!" + +While Kaunitz spoke, he seized a hand-bell from the table, and rang +vehemently. + +"Make ready for me in my dressing-room," said he to the valet. "Let the +cook prepare a costly dinner for twenty persons. Let the steward select +the rarest wines in the cellar. Tell him to see that the Champagne is +not too warm, nor the Johannisberg to cold; the Sillery too dry, nor the +Lachryma Christi too acid. Order two carriages, and send one for Signora +Ferlina, and the other for Signora Sacco. Send two footmen to Counts +Harrach and Colloredo, with my compliments. Stay--here is a list of the +other guests. Send a messenger to the apartments of my sister, the +countess. Tell her, with my respects, to oblige me by dining to-day in +her own private rooms. I will not need her to preside over my +dinner-table to-day." + +"But, my lord," stammered the valet, "the countess--" + +"Well--what of her?" + +"The countess has been de--gone for a week." + +"Gone, without taking leave? Where?" + +"There, my lord," replied the valet in a low voice, pointing upward +toward heaven. + +"What does he mean, Binder?" asked Kaunitz, with a shrug. + +Binder shrugged responsive. + +"The good countess," said he, "had been ill for some time, but did not +wish to disturb you. You must have been partially prepared for the +melancholy event, for the countess has not appeared at table for three +weeks." + +"Me? Not at all. Do you suppose that during these last three weeks I +have had time to think of her? I never remarked her absence. When did +the--the--ceremony take place?" + +"Day before yesterday. I attended to every thing." + +"My dear friend, how I thank you for sparing me the sight of these +hideous rites! Your arrangements must have been exquisite, for I never +so much as suspected the thing. Fortunately, it is all over, and we can +enjoy ourselves as usual. Here, Philip. Let the house look festive: +flowers on the staircases and in the entrance-hall; oranges and roses in +the dining-room; vanilla-sticks in the coffee-cups instead of teaspoons. +Away with you!" + +The valet bowed, and when he was out of hearing Kaunitz renewed his +thanks to the baron. + +"Once more, thank you for speeding my sister on her journey, and for +saving me all knowledge of this unpleasant affair. How glad the signoras +will be to hear that the countess has positively gone, never to return! +Whom shall I get to replace her? Well, never mind now; some other time +we'll settle that little matter. Now to my toilet." + +He bent his head to the baron, and with light, elastic step passed into +his dressing-room. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE TOILET. + +When Kaunitz entered his dressing-room, his features had resumed their +usual immobility. He walked in, without seeming to be aware of the +presence of his attendants, who, ranged on either side of the apartment, +awaited his commands. + +He went up to his large Venetian mirror, and there surveyed himself at +full length. With anxious glance his keen eyes sought out every faint +line that told of the four-and-thirty years of his life. The picture +seemed deeply interesting, for he stood a long time before the glass. +Alt last the scrutiny was ended, and he turned slightly toward the +hair-dresser. + +"Is the peruke ready?" + +The hair-dresser fluttered off to a bandbox, that lay on the +toilet-table; and lifted out a fantastic-looking blond peruke, +constructed after "his excellency's own design." Kaunitz was not aware +of it, but this wig of his, with its droll mixture of flowing locks +before, and prim purse behind, was an exact counterpart of the life and +character of its inventor. He had had no intention of being symbolic in +his contrivance; it had been solely designed to conceal the little +tell-tale lines that were just about to indent the smooth surface of his +white forehead. He bent his proud head, while the hair-dresser placed +the wonderful wig, and then fell to studying its effect. Here he drew a +curl forward, there he gently removed another; placing each one in its +position over his eyebrows, so that no treacherous side-light should +reveal any thing he chose to hide. Finally the work was done. +"Hippolyte," said he, to the hair-dresser, who stood breathlessly by, +"this is the way in which my wig is to be dressed from this day +forward." [Footnote: From this time Kaunitz wore his wig in this +eccentric fashion. It was adopted by the exquisites of Vienna, and +called "the Kaunitz peruke."] + +Hippolyte bowed low, and stepped back to give place to the valets who +came in with the count's costume. One bore a rich habit embroidered with +gold, and the other a pair of velvet-shorts, red stockings, and +diamond-buckled shoes. + +"A simpler habit--Spanish, without embroidery, and white stockings." + +White stockings! The valets were astounded at such high treason against +the court regulations of Vienna. But Kaunitz, with a slight and +contemptuous shrug, ordered them a second time to bring him white +stockings, and never to presume to bring any other. + +"Now, go and await me in the puderkammer." [Footnote: Literally, +"powder-room."] + +The valets backed out as if in the presence of royalty, and the +eccentric statesman was left with his chief valet. The toilet was +completed in solemn silence. Then, the count walked to the mirror to +take another look at his adored person. He gave a complaisant stroke to +his ruff of richest Alencon, smoothed the folds of his habit, carefully +arranged the lace frills that fell over his white hands, and then +turning to his valet he said, "Powder-mantle." + +The valet unfolded a little package, and, with preter-careful hands, +dropped a long white mantle over the shoulders of the ministerial +coxcomb. Is light folds closed around him, and, with an Olympian nod, he +turned toward the door, while the valet flew to open it. As soon as the +count appeared, the other valets, who, with the hair-dresser, stood on +either side of the room, raised each one a long brush dipped in +hair-powder, and waved it to and fro. Clouds of white dust filled the +room; while through the mist, with grave and deliberate gait, walked +Kaunitz, every now and then halting, when the brushes all stopped; then +giving the word of command, they all fell vigorously to work again. Four +times he went through the farce, and then, grave as a ghost, walked back +to his dressing-room, followed by the hair-dresser. + +At the door, the chief valet carefully removed the powder-mantle, and +for the third time Raunitz turned to the mirror. Then he carefully wiped +the powder from his eyes, and, with a smile of extreme satisfaction he +turned to the hair-dresser. + +"Confess, Hippolyte, that nothing is more beautifying than powder. See +how exquisitely it lies on the front ringlets, and how airily it is +distributed over the entire peruke. Vraiment, I am proud of my +invention." + +Hippolyte protested that it was worthy of the godlike intellect of his +excellency, and was destined to make an era in the annals of +hair-dressing. + +"The annals of hair-dressing," replied his excellency, "are not to be +enriched with any account of my method of using powder. If ever I hear a +word of this discovery breathed outside of these rooms, I dismiss the +whole pack of you. Do you hear?" + +Down went the obsequious heads, while Kaunitz continued, with his fine +cambric handkerchief, to remove the last specks of powder from his +eyelids. When he had sufficiently caressed and admired himself, he went +to the door. It opened, and two valets, who stood outside, presented +him, one with a jewelled snuff-box, the other with an embroidered +handkerchief. A large brown dog, that lay couchant in the hall, rose and +followed him, and the last act of the daily farce was over. + +The count passed into his study, and going at once to the table, he +turned over the papers. "No message yet from the empress," said he, +chagrined. "What if Bartenstein's visit was NOT a politic, but a +triumphant one? What a--" + +Here the door opened, and Baron Binder entered. "Your excellency," said +he, smiling, "I have taken upon myself to bear you a message which your +servants declined to bring. It is to announce a visitor. The hour for +reception has gone by, but he was so urgent, that I really could not +refuse his entreaties that you might be told of his presence. Pardon my +officiousness, but you know how soft-hearted I am. I never could resist +importunity." + +"Who is your suppliant friend?" + +"Count Bartenstein, my lord." + +"Bartenstein! Bartenstein back already!" exclaimed Kaunitz, exultingly. +"And he begged--he begged for an interview, you say?" + +"Begged! the word is faint to express his supplications." + +"Then I am not mistaken!" cried Kaunitz, with a loud, triumphant voice: +"if Bartenstein begs, it is all over with him. Twice in my anteroom in +one day! That is equivalent to a message from the empress." And Kaunitz, +not caring to dissimulate with Binder, gave vent to his exceeding joy. + +"And you will be magnanimous--you will see him, will you not?" asked +Binder, imploringly. + +"What for?" asked the heartless statesman. "If he means business, the +council-chamber is the place for THAT; if he comes to visit ME--'I beg +to be excused.'" + +"But when I beg you, for MY sake, count," persisted the good-natured +baron; "the sight of fallen greatness is such a painful one! How can any +one add to it a feather's weight of anguish?" + +Kaunitz laid his hands upon the broad shoulders of his friend, and in +his eye there kindled something like a ray of affection. + +"Grown-up child, your heart is as soft as if it had never been breathed +upon by the airs of this wicked world. Say no more about Bartenstein, +and I will reward your interest in his misfortune by making you his +successor. You shall be state referendarius yourself. Come along, you +chicken-hearted statesman, and let us play a game of billiards." + +"First," said Binder, sadly, "I must deliver my painful message to Count +Bartenstein." + +"Bah! the page can be sent to dismiss him." + +"But there is no reason why we should keep the poor man waiting." + +"Him, the poor man, say you? I remember the day when I waited in HIS +anteroom, and as I am an honest man, I shall pay him with interest, Come +along, my dear future state referendarius." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RED STOCKINGS. + +At Kaunitz's dinner-table on that day revelry reigned triumphant. No +jest was too bold for the lips of the men; and if perchance upon the +cheeks of their beautiful companions there rose the slightest flush of +womanly shame, the knights of the revel shouted applause, and pealed +forth their praises in wildest dithyrambics. With glowing faces and eyes +of flame they ate their highly-spiced viands, and drank their fiery +wines, until all restraint was flung aside, and madness ruled the hour. + +The lovely Ferlina, whom Kaunitz had placed next to himself, was +beautiful as Grecian Phryne; and Sacco, who was between her adorers, +Harrach and Colloredo, was bold and bewitching as Lais. + +The odor of flowers--the sound of distant music, every thing that could +intoxicate the senses, was there. It was one of those orgies which +Kaunitz alone knew how to devise, and into which all the lesser +libertines of Vienna longed to be initiated; for once admitted there, +they were graduates in the school of vice. + +The guests were excited beyond control, but not so the host. He who +invoked the demon that possessed the rest, sat perfectly collected. With +the coolness of a helmsman he steered the flower-laden bark of +voluptuousness toward the breakers, while he befooled its passengers +with visions of fatal beauty. + +The feast was at an end, and as Kaunitz reviewed the faces of the +company and saw that for the day their passions were weary from +indulgence, he said to himself, with diabolical calmness: "Now that they +have exhausted every other pleasure, we will sharpen the blunted edge of +desire with gambling! When the life of the heart is burnt to ashes, it +will still revive at the chink of gold." + +"To the gaming-table, friends, to the gaming-table!" cried he. And the +dull eyes grew bright, while the guests followed him to the +green-covered table, which stood at the farther end of the dining-room. + +Kaunitz took from a casket a heap of gold, while La Ferlina gazed upon +it with longing sighs. Harrach and Colloredo poured showers from their +purses, and Sacco looked from one to the other with her most ineffable +smiles. Kaunitz saw it all, and as he threw the dice into the golden +dice-box, he muttered, "Miserable worms, ye think yourselves gods, and +are the slaves of a little fiend, whose name is GOLD." + +As he raised the dice-box, the door opened, and his first valet appeared +on the threshold. + +"Pardon me, your excellency, that I presume to enter the room. But there +is a messenger from the empress, and she begs your excellency's +immediate attendance." + +With an air of consummate indifference, Kaunitz replaced the dice on the +table. "My carriage," was his reply to the valet; and to his guests, +with a graceful inclination, he said, "Do not let this interrupt you. +Count Harrach will be my banker. In this casket are ten thousand +florins--I go halves with the charming Ferlina." + +Signora Ferlina could not contain herself for joy, and in the exuberance +of her gratitude, she disturbed some of the folds of Kaunitz's lace +ruff. Kaunitz was furious; but, without changing a muscle, he went on. +"Farewell, my lords--farewell, ladies! I must away to the post of duty." + +Another bend of the head, and he disappeared. The valets and +hair-dresser were already buzzing around his dressing-room with +court-dress and red stocking, but Kaunitz waved them all away, and +called Hippolyte to arrange a curl of his hair that was displaced. + +The chief valet, who had been petrified with astonishment, now came to +life; and advanced, holding in his hand the rich court-dress. + +"Pardon, your excellency; but my lord the count is about to have an +audience with her imperial majesty?" + +"I am," was the curt reply. + +"Then your excellency must comply with the etiquette of the empress's +court, which requires the full Spanish dress, dagger, and red +stockings." + +"MUST?" said Kaunitz contemptuously. "Fool! From this day, no one shall +say to Count Kaunitz, 'Must.' Bear that in mind. Hand me my muff." + +"Muff, my lord?" echoed the valet. + +"Yes, fool, my hands are cold." + +The valet looked out of the window, where flamed the radiance of a June +sun, and with a deep sigh for the waywardness of his master, handed the +muff. + +Kaunitz thrust in his hands, and slowly left the room, followed by the +dog, the valets, and the hair-dresser. Every time his excellency went +out, this procession came as far as the carriage door, to see that +nothing remained imperfect in this toilet. With the muff held close to +his mouth, for fear a breath of air should enter it, Kaunitz passed +through the lofty corridors of his house to his state-carriage. The dog +wished to get in, but he waved her gently back, saying: + +"No, Phaedra, not to-day. I dare not take you there." + +The carriage rolled off, and the servants looked after in dumb +consternation. At last the first valet, with a malicious smile, said to +the others: + +"I stick to my opinion--he is crazy. Who but a madman would hope to be +admitted to her imperial majesty's presence without red stockings and a +dagger?" + +Hippolyte shook his head. "No, no, he is no madman; he is only a +singular genius, who knows the world, and snaps his fingers at it." + +The valet was not far from right. The simple dress, white stockings, and +the absence of the dagger, raised a commotion in the palace. + +The page in the entrance-hall was afraid to announce the count, and he +rushed into the anteroom to consult the marshal of the imperial +household. The latter, with his sweetest smile, hastened to meet the +indignant count. + +"Have the goodness, my lord," said Kaunitz imperiously, "not to detain +me any longer. The empress has called me to her presence; say that I am +here." + +"But, count," cried the horror-stricken marshal, "you cannot seriously +mean to present yourself in such a garb. Doubtless you have forgotten, +from absence of mind, to array yourself as court etiquette exacts of her +majesty's servants. If you will do me the favor to accompany me to my +own apartments, I will with great pleasure supply the red stockings and +dagger." + +Count Kaunitz shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. "Her majesty sent for +ME, not for my red stockings; therefore, please to announce me." + +The marshal retreated, in his surprise, several steps. "Never," cried he +indignantly, "never would I presume to do so unheard-of a thing! Such a +transgression of her majesty's orders is inadmissible." + +"Very well," replied Kaunitz coolly, "I shall then have the pleasure of +announcing myself." + +He passed by the marshal and dismayed page, and was advancing to the +door that led to the imperial apartments. + +"Hold! hold!" groaned the marshal, whose consternation was now at its +height. "That were too presuming! Since her majesty has commanded your +attendance, I will do my duty. I leave it to yourself, my lord, to +excuse your own boldness, if you can carry it so far as to attempt a +justification of your conduct." + +He bowed, and passed into the next room; then into the cabinet of the +empress, whence he returned with word for Count Kaunitz to enter. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +NEW AUSTRIA. + +The empress received the count with a most gracious smile. "You are +late," she said, reaching out her hand for him to kiss. + +"I came very near not reaching your majesty's presence at all, for those +two wiseacres in the anteroom refused me entrance, because I had neither +red stockings nor a dagger." + +The empress then perceived the omission, and she frowned. "Why did you +present yourself here, without them?" asked she. + +"Because, your majesty, I detest red stockings; and I really cannot see +why I should be compelled to wear any thing that is so distasteful to +me." + +Maria Theresa was so surprised, that she scarcely knew what reply to +make to the argument; so Kaunitz continued: + +"And as for the dagger, that is no emblem of my craft. I am not a +soldier, but a statesman; my implement is the crowquill." + +"And the tongue," replied the empress, "for you certainly know how to +use it. Let us dismiss the dagger and red stockings, then, and speak of +your pen and your tongue, for I need them both. I have well weighed the +matters under consideration, and have taken counsel of Heaven and of my +own conscience. I hope that my decision will be for the best." + +Count Kaunitz, courtier though he was, could not repress a slight +shiver, nor could he master the paleness that overspread his anxious +face. + +The empress went on: "I have irrevocably decided. I abide by what I said +in council. A new day shall dawn upon Austria--God grant that it prove a +happy one! Away, then, with the old alliance! we offer our hand to +France, and you shall conduct the negotiations. I appoint you lord high +chancellor in the place of Count Uhlefeld. And you owe me some thanks, +for I assure you that, to carry out my opposition to my ministers, I +have striven with countless difficulties." + +"I thank your majesty for resolving upon an alliance with France," said +Kaunitz, earnestly; "for I do believe that it will conduce to Austria's +welfare." + +"And do you not thank me for making you prime minister, or is the +appointment unwelcome?" + +"I shall be the happiest of mortals if I can accept; but that question +is for your majesty to decide." + +The empress colored, and looked displeased, while Kaunitz, "himself +again," stood composed and collected before her. + +"Ah," said she, quickly, "you wish me to beg you to accept the highest +office in Austria! Do you think it a favor you do me to become my prime +minister, Kaunitz?" + +"Your majesty," replied Kaunitz in his soft, calm tones, "I think not of +myself, but of Austria that I love, and of you, my honored empress, whom +I would die to serve. But I must know whether it will be allowed me to +serve my empress and my fatherland as I can and will serve them both." + +"What do you mean? Explain yourself." + +"If I am to labor in your behalf, my empress, I must have free hands, +without colleagues by my side, to discuss my plans and plot against +them." + +"Ah!" said the empress, smiling, "I understand. You mean Bartenstein and +Counts Harrach and Colloredo. True, they are your rivals." + +"Oh, your majesty, not my rivals, I hope." + +"Well, then, your enemies, if you like that better," said the empress. +"I shall not chain you together, then. I will find other places +wherewith to compensate them for their past services, and you may find +other colleagues." + +"I desire no colleagues, your majesty," replied Kaunitz, "I wish to be +prime and only minister. Then together we will weld Austria's many +dependencies into one great empire, and unite its governments under one +head." + +"Yours, count?" asked Maria Theresa, in a slight tone of irony. + +"Yours, my sovereign. Whatever you may think, up to this moment you have +not reigned supreme in Austria. By your side have Bartenstein and +Uhlefeld reigned like lesser emperors. Is not Lombardy governed by its +own princes, and does not the Viceroy of Hungary make laws and edicts, +which are brought to you for signature?" + +"Yes, I am truly hemmed in on every side. But I see no remedy for the +evil--I cannot govern everywhere. Hungary and Lombardy have their own +constitutions, and must have their own separate governments." + +"So long as that state of things lasts, neither Hungary nor Lombardy +will be portions of the Austrian empire," said Kaunitz. + +"There is no remedy, Kaunitz," returned Maria Theresa; "I have thought +these difficulties over and over. My arm is too short to reach to the +farthest ends of my realms, and I must be content to delegate some of my +power. One hand cannot navigate the ship of state." + +"But one head can steer it, your majesty, and one head can direct the +hands that work it." + +"And will the count be one of my hands?" + +"Yes, indeed, your majesty. But the fingers must be subject to this +hand, and the hand will then carry out, in all security, the plans of +its august head, the empress." + +"You mean to say that you wish to be alone as my minister?" + +"If I am truly to serve your majesty, it must be so. Let not the +sovereignty of Austria be frittered away in multitudinous rivulets; +gather it all in one full, fertilizing stream. One head and one hand +over Austria's destiny, and then will she grow independent and +all-powerful." + +"But, man," cried the empress, "you cannot sustain the burden you +covet!" + +"I will have ample help, your majesty. I will seek ready hands and +willing hearts that believe in me, and will do my behests. These must +not be my coadjutors, but my subalterns, who think through me, and work +for me. If your majesty will grant me this privilege, then I can serve +Austria. I know that I am asking for high prerogatives; but for +Austria's sake, Maria Theresa will dare every thing; and together we +will accomplish the consolidation of her disjecta membra into one great +empire. The policy which conducts our financial affairs must emanate +from yourself, and our foreign policy must be bold and frank, that +friends and foes may both know what we mean. We must coffin and bury old +Austria with the dead that sleep on the battle-grounds of lost Silesia; +and from her ashes we must build a new empire, of which Hungary and +Lombardy shall be integral parts. Hand in hand with France, we will be +the lawgivers of all Europe; and when, thanks to our thrift and the rich +tribute of our provinces, we pay our national debt, then we may laugh at +English subsidies and Dutch commerce. And lastly, we will cast our eyes +once more upon Silesia, and methinks if France and Austria together +should demand restitution of King Frederick, he will scarcely be so rash +as to say nay. The ministers of Louis XV., who were adverse to our +alliance, are about to retire, and the Duke de Choiseul, our firm friend +and the favorite of Mme. de Pompadour, will replace Richelieu. Choiseul +seeks our friendship, and the day of our triumph is dawning. Such, your +majesty, are my dreams for Austria; it rests with you to make them +realities!" + +The empress had listened with increasing interest to every word that +Kaunitz had spoken. She had risen from her seat and was pacing the room +in a state of high excitement. As he ceased she stopped in front of him, +and her large, sparkling orbs of blue glowed with an expression of +happiness and hope. + +"I believe that you are the man for Austria," said she. "I believe that +together we can carry out our plans and projects. God grant that they be +righteous and just in His sight! You have read my heart, and you know +that I can never reconcile myself to the loss of Silesia. You know that +between me and Frederick no harmony can ever exist; no treaty can ever +be signed to which he is a party. [Footnote: Maria Theresa's own words.] +I will take the hand of France, not so much for love of herself as for +her enmity to Prussia. Will you work with me to make war on Frederick if +I appoint you sole minister, Kaunitz? For I tell you that I burn to +renew my strife with the King of Prussia, and I would rather give him +battle to-day than to-morrow." [Footnote: Maria Theresa's own words. +Coxe.] + +"I comprehend your majesty's feelings, and fully share them. As soon as +France and ourselves understand one another, we will make a league +against Frederick, and may easily make him strike the first blow; for +even now he is longing to appropriate another Silesia." + +"And I am longing to cross swords with him for the one he has stolen. I +cannot bear to think of going to my fathers with a diminished +inheritance; I cannot brook the thought that my woman's hands have not +been strong enough to preserve my rights; for I feel that if I have the +heart of a woman, I have the head of a man. To see Austria great and +powerful, to see her men noble and her women virtuous--that is my dream, +my hope, my aim in life. You are the one to perfect what I have +conceived, Kaunitz; will you give me your hand to this great work?" + +"I will, your majesty, so help me God!" + +"Will you have Austria's good alone in view, in all that you counsel as +my minister?" + +"I will, so help me God!" + +"Will you take counsel with me how we may justly and righteously govern +Austria, without prejudice, without self-love, without thought of +worldly fame, not from love or fear of man, but for the sake of God from +whose hands we hold our empire?" + +"I will, so help me God!" + +"Then," said Maria Theresa, after a pause, "you are my sole minister, +and I empower you to preside over the affairs of state, in the manner +you may judge fittest for the welfare of the Austrian people." + +Kaunitz was as self-possessed a worldling as ever sought to hide his +emotions; but he could not suppress an exclamation of rapture, nor an +expression of triumph, which lit up his face as nothing had ever +illumined it before. + +"Your majesty," said he, when he found words, "I accept the trust, and +as there is a God above to judge me, I will hold it faithfully. My days +and nights, my youth and age, with their thoughts, their will, their +every faculty, shall be laid upon the shrine of Austria's greatness; and +if for one moment I ever sacrifice your majesty to any interest of mine, +may I die a death of torture and disgrace!" + +"I believe you; your countenance reflects your heart, and Almighty God +has heard your words. One thing remember--that Maria Theresa suffers no +minister to dictate to her. She is the reigning sovereign of her people, +and will not suffer a finger to be laid upon her imperial rights. Were +he a thousand times prime minister, the man that presumed too far with +me I would hurl from his eminence to the lowest depths of disgrace. And +now that we understand one another, we will clasp hands like men, who +are pledged before God to do their duty." + +She extended her hand to Kaunitz, who grasped it in his own. "I swear," +said he, solemnly, "to do my duty; and never can I forget this hour. I +swear to my SOVEREIGN, Maria Theresa, loyalty unto death; and before my +EMPRESS I bow my knee, and so do homage to the greatest woman of her +age." + +The empress smiled, while Kaunitz knelt and kissed her fair, jewelled +hand. "May God grant that you speak truth, Kaunitz, and may my posterity +not have to blush for me! 'Every thing for Austria,' shall be your motto +and mine; and this flaming device shall light us on our way through +life. Now go, lord high chancellor, and see that the world finds a +phoenix in the ashes of the old regime which to-day we have consigned to +the dust!" [Footnote: From this time, Kaunitz was the sole minister of +the empress; and he kept his promise to Binder, who became state +referendarius, in the place of the once-powerful Bartenstein.] + + + +ISABELLA + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE YOUNG SOLDIER. + +Kaunitz's prophecy had been fulfilled. No sooner was it known that +Austria and France were allies, than Frederick of Prussia, with all +haste, made treaties with England. These opposite alliances were the +signal for war. For seven years this war held its blood-stained lash +over Austria, and every nation in Europe suffered more or less from its +effects. Maria Theresa began it with sharp words, to which Frederick had +responded with his sharper sword. + +The king, through his ambassador, asked the meaning of her extensive +military preparations throughout Austria, to which the empress, nettled +by the arrogance of the demand, had replied that she believed she had a +right to mass troops for the protection of herself and her allies, +without rendering account of her acts to foreign kings. Upon the receipt +of this reply, Frederick marched his troops into Saxony, and so began +the "Seven Years' War," a war that was prosecuted on both sides with +bitter vindictiveness. + +Throughout Austria the wildest enthusiasm prevailed. Rich and poor, +young and old, all rushed to the fight. The warlike spirit that pervaded +her people made its way to the heart of the empress's eldest son. The +Archduke Joseph had for some time been entreating his mother to allow +him to join the army; and, at last, though much against her will, she +had yielded to his urgent desire. The day on which news of a victory, +near Kunnersdorf, over Frederick, reached the palace, the empress had +given her consent, and her son was to be allowed to go in search of +laurel-wreaths wherewith to deck his imperial brow. + +This permission to enter the army was the first great joy of Joseph's +life. His heart, at last freed from its weight of conventional duties, +and forced submission to the requirements of court etiquette, soared +high into regions of exultant happiness. His countenance, once so cold +and impassible, was now full of joyous changes; his eyes, once so dull +and weary, glowed with the fire of awakened enthusiasm, and they looked +so brilliant a blue, that it seemed as if some little ray from heaven +had found its way into their clear, bright depths. The poor boy was an +altered creature. He was frolicsome with his friends; and as for those +whom he considered his enemies, he cared nothing for their likes or +dislikes. He had nothing to lose or gain from them; he was to leave the +court, leave Vienna, leave every troublesome remembrance behind, and go, +far from all tormentors, to the army. + +The preparations were at an end; the archduke bad taken formal leave of +his mother's court; this evening he was to spend in the imperial family +circle; and early on the next morning his journey would begin. He had +just written a last note of farewell to a friend. Alone in his room, he +stood before a mirror, contemplating with a smile his own image. He was +not looking at his handsome face, though happiness was lending it +exquisite beauty; the object of his rapturous admiration was the white +uniform, which, for the first time, he wore in place of his court-dress. +He was no longer the descendant of Charles the Fifth, no longer the son +of the empress, he was a soldier--a free, self-sustaining man, whose +destiny lay in his own hands, and whose future deeds would prove him +worthy to be the son of his great ancestor. + +As, almost intoxicated with excess of joy, he stood before the glass, +the door opened gently, and a youth of about his own age entered the +room. + +"Pardon me, your highness," said the youth, bowing, "if I enter without +permission. Doubtless your highness did not hear me knock, and I found +no one in your anteroom to announce me." + +The prince turned around, and reached out his hand, saying, with a +laugh: "No, no, you found nobody. I have discharged old Dame Etiquette +from my service, and you see before you not his imperial highness, the +Archduke Joseph, crown prince of Austria, but a young soldier, brimful +of happiness, master of nothing but his own sword, with which he means +to carve out his fortunes on the battlefield. Oh, Dominick! I have +dropped the rosary, and taken up the sabre; and I mean to twist such a +forest of laurels about my head, that it will be impossible for me ever +to wear a night-cap again, were it even sent me as a present from the +pope himself." + +"Do not talk so loud, your highness; you will frighten the proprieties +out of their wits." + +Joseph laughed. "Dominick Kaunitz" said he, "you are the son of your +respected father, no doubt of it; for you behave prettily before the +bare walls themselves. But fear not, son of the mighty minister, MY walls +are dumb, and nobody is near to tell tales. We are alone, for I have +dismissed all my attendants; and here I may give loud vent to my +hallelujahs, which I now proceed to do by singing you a song which I +learned not long ago from an invalid soldier in the street." + +And the prince began, in a sonorous bass voice, to sing: + +"Oh! the young cannon is my bride! Her orange-wreath is twined with bay, +And on the blood-red battle-field We'll celebrate our wedding-day. +Trara! trara! No priest is there To bless the rites, No--" + +Here young Kaunitz, all etiquette despising, put his hands before the +mouth of the prince; and, while the latter strove, in spite of him, to +go on with his song, he said, in low but anxious tones: + +"For Heavens sake, your highness, listen to me. You plunge yourself +wantonly into danger. Do you suppose that your powerful voice does not +resound through the corridors of the palace?" + +"Well, if it is heard, Dominick, what of it? I bid farewell to my +enemies, and this is my 'Hosanna.' You ought to be ashamed of yourself +to stop me. My tormentors, you think, have heard the beginning of my +song; well, the devil take it, but they shall have the end!" + +Once more the archduke began to sing; but Dominick caught his arm. "Do +you wish," said he, "to have the empress revoke her permission?" + +The archduke laughed, "Why, Dominick, you are crazed with grief for my +loss, I do believe; the empress revoke her imperial word, now, when all +my preparations are made, and I go to-morrow?" + +"Empresses do revoke their words, and preparations are often made, to be +followed by--nothing," replied Dominick. + +The prince looked in consternation at his young friend. "Are you in +earnest, dear Dominick?" asked he. "Do you indeed think it possible that +I could be hindered from going to the army, on the very eve of my +departure?" + +"I do, your highness." + +The archduke grew pale, and in a tremulous voice said, "Upon what do you +found your supposition, my friend?" + +"Oh, my dear lord," replied Dominick, "it is no supposition, I fear it +is a fact; and I fear, too, that it is your own fault if this +disappointment awaits you." + +"Good Heaven!" exclaimed the prince, in tones of anguish, "what can I +have done to deserve such fearful chastisement?" + +"You have displeased the empress by neglect of your religious duties. +For more than two weeks you have not entered a place of worship; and, +yesterday, when the Countess Fuchs remonstrated with your highness, you +replied with an unseemly jest. You said, 'Dearest countess, I hope to +prove to you that, although I neglect my mass, I can be pious on the +battle-field. There, on the altar of my country, I mean to sacrifice +countless enemies, and that will be an offering quite as pleasing in the +sight of God.' Were those not your words, prince?" + +"Yes, yes, they were--but I meant no impiety. My heart was so full of +joy that it effervesced in wild words; but surely my mother cannot mean, +for such a harmless jest, to dash my every hope to the earth!" + +"Oh, your highness, this is only one offence out of many of which you +are accused. I have no time to repeat them now, for my errand here is +important and pressing." + +"Where learned you all this?" asked the poor archduke. + +"Bend down your ear, and I will tell you. My father told me every word +of it." + +"The lord high chancellor? Impossible!" + +"Yes, it would seem impossible that he should repeat any thing, and +therefore you may know how seriously the matter affects your highness +when I tell you that he sent me to warn you." + +A quick, loud knock at the door interrupted him, and before the archduke +could say "Come in," the Emperor Francis was in the room. His face +looked careworn, and he cast a glance of tender compassion upon his son. + +"My child," said he, "I come to speak to you in private a thing I cannot +compass in my own apartments." + +Dominick bowed to take leave, but the emperor withheld him. "Stay," said +he, "for you may serve us, Dominick. I know you to be Joseph's best +friend, and you will not betray him. But I have no time for words. Tell +me quickly, Joseph, is there any secret outlet to these apartments? Do +you know of any hidden stairway by which you could escape from the +palace?" + +"I, father! I have secret doors in my apartments? Is this some new +device of my enemies to injure me in the eyes of the empress?" + +"Hush, hush, Joseph!--How like he is in temperament to his +mother!--Answer me at once; there is no question of enemies, but of +yourself." + +"What would you have me do with secret doors and stairways?" asked +Joseph. + +The emperor came close to his son, and, in low, cautious tones, +whispered, "I would have you, this very hour, leave the palace +privately, mount your horse, and speed away from Vienna." + +"Fly, my dear father?" cried Joseph. "Has it come to this, that the son +must fly from the face of his own mother? Am I a criminal, who must not +be told of what crime I am accused? No, your majesty; if death, or +imprisonment for life, were here to threaten me, I would not fly." + +"Nor would I counsel flight, my son, were you accused of wrong; but this +is not a question of crime, of poisoned beaker, or of castle dungeon--it +is simply this: Do you wish to join the army, or are you ready to give +up your commission and stay at home?" + +"Oh, my dear father," cried Joseph, "you well know that I have but one +desire on earth--and that is, to go." + +"Then, hear me. It has been represented to the empress that your lust +for war has made you so reckless, so bloodthirsty, and so impious, that +camp-life will prove your ruin. In her excess of maternal love, she has +taken the alarm, and has resolved to shield you from danger by +withdrawing her consent to your departure." + +The archduke's eyes filled with tears. The emperor laid his hand +sympathizingly upon his shoulder. + +"Do not despair, dear child," said he, tenderly; "perhaps all is not +lost, and I may be able to assist you. I can comprehend the nature of +your sorrow, for I have suffered the same bitter disappointment. If, +instead of leading a useless life, a mere appanage of the empress, I had +been permitted to follow the dictates of my heart, and command her +armies, I might have--but why speak of my waning career? You are young, +and I do not wish to see your life darkened by such early +disappointment. Therefore, listen to me. You know nothing of the change +in your prospects--you have not as yet, received no orders to remain. +Write to your mother, that, preferring to go without the grief of taking +leave, you have presumed to start tonight without her knowledge, hoping +soon to embrace her again, and lay your first-earned laurels at her +feet." + +The archduke hastened to obey his father, and sat down to write. The +emperor, meanwhile, signed to young Kaunitz, who had kept himself +respectfully aloof. + +"Have you a courser," asked he, "to sell to Joseph, and two good +servants that can accompany him until his own attendants can be sent +after him?" + +"I came hither, your majesty, prepared to make the same proposition, +with the fleetest horse in my father's stables, and two trusty servants, +well mounted, all of which await his highness at the postern gate." + +"Your father's best horse? Then he knows of this affair?" "It was he who +sent me to the archduke's assistance. He told me, in case of necessity, +to propose flight, and to be ready for it." + +"The letter is ready," said the archduke, coming forward. + +"I myself will hand it to the empress," said his father, taking it, "and +I will tell her that I counselled you to go as you did." + +"But dear father, the empress will be angry." + +"Well, my son," said the emperor, with a peculiar smile, "I have +survived so many little passing storms, that I shall doubtless survive +this one. The empress has the best and noblest heart in the world, and +its sunshine is always brightest after a storm. Go, then, my child, I +will answer for your sin and mine. The empress has said nothing to me of +her change of purpose; she looks upon it as a state affair, and with her +state affairs I am never made acquainted. Since accident has betrayed it +to me, I have a right to use my knowledge in your behalf, and I +undertake to appease your mother. Here is a purse with two thousand +louis d'ors; it is enough for a few days of incognito. Throw your +military cloak about you, and away!" + +Young Kaunitz laid the cloak upon the shoulders of the archduke, whose +eyes beamed forth the gratitude that filled his heart. + +"Oh my father and my sovereign," said he in a voice that trembled with +emotion, "my whole life will not be long enough to thank you for what +yon are doing for me in this critical hour. Till now I have loved you +indeed as my father, but henceforth I must look upon you as my +benefactor also, as my dearest and best friend. My heart and my soul are +yours, dear father; may I be worthy of your love and of the sacrifice +you are making for me to-day!" + +The emperor folded his son to his heart, and kissed his fair forehead. +"Farewell, dear boy," whispered he; "return to me a victor and a hero. +May you earn for your father on the battle-field the laurels which he +has seen in dreams! God bless you!" + +They then left the room, Count Kaunitz leading the way, to see if the +passage was clear. + +"I will go with you as far as the staircase," continued the emperor, +"and then--" + +At that moment Dominick, who had gone forward into the corridor, rushed +back into the room pale and trembling, "It is too late!" exclaimed he in +a stifled voice; "there comes a messenger from the empress!" + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE EMPRESS AND HER SON. + +The young count was not mistaken. It was indeed a message from the +empress. It was the marshal of the household, followed by four pages who +came to command the presence of the archduke, to whom her majesty wished +to impart something of importance. + +A deadly paleness overspread the face of the young prince, and his whole +frame shivered. The emperor felt the shudder, and drew his son's arm +closer to his heart. "Courage, my son, courage!" whispered he: then +turning toward the imperial embassy, he said aloud, "Announce to her +majesty that I will accompany the arch-duke in a few moments." And as +the marshal stood irresolute and confused, the emperor, smiling, said: +"Oh, I see that you have been ordered to accompany the prince +yourselves. Come, then, my son, we will e'en go along with the +messengers." + +Maria Theresa was pacing the floor of her apartment in great excitement. +Her large, flashing eyes now and then turned toward the door; and +whenever she fancied that footsteps approached, she stopped, and seemed +almost to gasp with anxiety. + +Suddenly she turned toward Father Porhaminer, who, with the Countess +Fuchs, stood by the side of the sofa from which she had risen. "Father," +said she, in a tremulous voice, "I cannot tell why it is that, as I +await my son's presence here, my heart is overwhelmed with anguish. I +feel as if I were about to do him an injustice, and for all the kingdoms +of the world I would not do him wrong." + +"Nay," replied the father, "your majesty is about to rescue that beloved +son from destruction; but as your majesty is a loving mother, it +afflicts you to disappoint your child. Still, our Lord has commanded if +the right eye offend, to pluck it out; and so is it your majesty's duty +to pluck from your son's heart the evil growing there, even were his +heart's blood to follow. The wounds you may inflict upon your dear +child, for God's sake, will soon be healed by His Almighty hand." + +"He was so happy to become a soldier!" murmured the empress, who had +resumed her agitated walk; "his eyes were so bright, and his bearing was +so full of joy and pride! My boy is so handsome, so like his dear +father, that my heart throbs when I see him, as it did in the days when +we were young lovers! A laurel-wreath would well become his fair brow, +and I--how proudly I should have welcomed my young hero to my heart once +more! Dear, dear boy, must I then wake you so rudely from your first +dream of ambition?--I must. He would come to evil in the lawless life of +the camp; God forgive him, but he is as mad for the fight as Don John of +Austria! I should never see him again; he would seek death in his first +battle.. Oh, I could not survive it; my heart would break if I should +have to give up my first-born! Four of my children lie in the vaults of +St. Stephen's--I cannot part with my Joseph! Countess," she said, +turning suddenly to her lady of Honor, "is it not true that Joseph told +you he thought that the altar of the battle-field and the sacrifice, of +his enemies was--" + +"His majesty the emperor and his imperial highness, the Archduke +Joseph!" said the marshal of the household; and the door was flung open +for their entrance. + +Maria Theresa advanced, and bowed slightly to the emperor. "Your +majesty's visit at this unusual hour surprises me," said she with +emphasis. + +"I am aware," replied the emperor graciously, "that I was not expected; +but as this is the last day of our son's residence under the parental +roof, I am sure that my wife will see nothing strange in my visit. I was +with the archduke when your majesty's message reached him, and knowing +that you could have no secrets with the son which the father might not +hear, I followed the impulse of my affection, and came with him." + +"And what signifies this singular and unseemly dress in which my son +presents himself before his sovereign?" asked Maria Theresa, angrily +surveying the uniform which, nevertheless, she acknowledged in her heart +was beyond expression becoming to him. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," replied the son, "I had tried on one uniform, +and if I was to obey your summons at once, there was no time for a +change in my dress." + +"And, indeed," said the emperor, "I think the dress becoming. Our boy +will make a fine-looking soldier." + +The empress being precisely of that opinion herself, was so much the +more vexed at her husband for giving it expression. She bit her lip, and +her brow contracted, as was usual with her when she was growing angry. + +"You held it then as a fact, my son, that you were a soldier?" said she, +catching her breath with anxiety. + +Joseph raised his fine eyes, with an imploring expression, to the face +of his mother. "Your majesty had promised me that I should be a +soldier," replied he firmly, "and I have never yet known my mother to +break her imperial word to the least of her subjects." + +"Hear him!" cried the empress, with a laugh of derision, "he almost +threatens me! This young sir will try to make it a point of honor with +me to keep my word." + +"Pardon me, your majesty," replied Joseph calmly, "I have never allowed +myself to doubt your imperial word for one moment of my life." + +"Well, then, your highness has my imperial permission to doubt it now," +cried the empress, severely humiliated by the implied rebuke; "I allow +you to doubt whether I will ever hold promises that have been rashly and +injudiciously made." + +"Why, your majesty," cried the emperor, "surely you will not retract +your word in the face of the whole world, that knows of Joseph's +appointment!" + +"What to me is the opinion of the world?" returned the haughty empress. +"To God and my conscience alone I am responsible for my acts, and to +them I will answer it that I take back my promise, and declare that +Joseph shall not go into the army!" + +Joseph uttered a cry of anguish. "Mother! mother!" sobbed the unhappy +boy, "it cannot be!" + +"Why can it not be?" said the empress, haughtily. + +"Because it would be a cruel and heartless deed," cried the archduke, +losing all control over himself, "so to make sport of my holiest and +purest hopes in life; and because I never, never can believe that my own +mother would seek to break my heart." + +The empress was about to return a scathing reply, when the emperor laid +his gentle hand upon her shoulder, and the words died upon her lips. + +"I beseech of you, my wife," said he, "to remember that we are not +alone. Joseph is no child; and it ill becomes any but his parents to +witness his humiliation. Have the goodness, then, to dismiss your +attendants, and let us deal with our son alone." + +"Why shall I dismiss them?" cried the empress, "they are my trusty +confidants; and they have a right to hear all that the future Emperor of +Austria presumes to say to his mother!" + +"Pardon me," replied the emperor, "I differ with you, and desire that +they should not hear our family discussions. In these things I too have +my right; and if your majesty does not command them to leave the room, I +do." + +Maria Theresa looked at the countenance of her husband, which was firm +and resolved in its expression. In her confusion she could find no +retort. The emperor waited awhile, and seeing that she did not speak, he +turned toward the two followers, who stood, without moving, at their +posts. + +"I request the Countess Fuchs and Father Porhammer to leave the room," +said he, with dignity. "Family concerns are discussed in private." + +The pair did not go. Father Porhammer interrogated the face of the +empress; and the countess, indignant that her curiosity was to be +frustrated, looked defiant. + +This bold disregard of her husband's command was irritating to the +feelings of the empress. She thought that his orders should have +outweighed her mere remonstrance, and she now felt it her duty to +signify as much. + +"Countess Fuchs," said she, "doubtless the emperor has not spoken loud +enough for you to hear the command he has just given you. You have not +understood his words, and I will take the trouble to repeat them. The +emperor said, 'I request the Countess Fuchs and Father Porhammer to +leave the room. Our family concerns we will discuss in private.'" + +The lady of honor colored, and, with deep inclinations, Father Porhammer +and herself left the room. + +Maria Theresa looked after them until the door was shut, then she +smilingly reached her hand to the emperor, who thanked her with a +pressure and a look of deepest affection. The archduke had retired to +the embrasure of a window, perhaps to seek composure, perhaps to hide +his tears. + +"Now," said Maria Theresa, sternly, while her fiery eyes sought the +figure of her son, "now we are alone, and Joseph is at liberty to speak. +I beg him to remember, that in the person of his mother, he also sees +his sovereign, and that the empress will resent every word of disloyalty +spoken to the parent. And I hold it to be highly disloyal for my son to +accuse me of making sport of his hopes. I have not come to my latest +determination from cruelty or caprice; I have made it in the strength of +my maternal love to shield my child from sin, and in the rectitude of my +imperial responsibility to my people, who have a right to claim from me +that I bestow upon them a monarch who is worthy to reign over Austria. +Therefore, my son, as empress and mother, I say that you shall remain. +That is now my unalterable will. If this decision grieves you, be humble +and submissive; and remember that it is your duty, as son and subject, +to obey without demurring. Then shall we be good friends, and greet one +another heartily, as though you had at this moment returned from the +victorious battle-field. There is my hand. Be welcome, my dear and +much-beloved child." + +The heart of the empress had gradually softened, and as she smiled and +extended her hand, her beautiful eyes were filled to overflowing with +tears. But Joseph, deathly pale, crossed his arms, and returned her +glances of love with a haughty, defiant look, that almost approached to +dislike. + +"My son," said the emperor, "do you not see your dear mother's hand +extended to meet yours?" + +"I see it, I see it," cried Joseph, passionately, "but I cannot take +it--I cannot play my part in this mockery of a return. No, mother, no, I +cannot kiss the hand that has so cruelly dashed my hopes to earth. And +you wish to carry your tyranny so far as to exact that I receive it with +a smile? Oh, mother, my heart is breaking! Have pity on me, and take +back those cruel words; let me go, let me go. Do not make me a byword +for the world, that hereafter will refuse me its respect. Let me go, if +but for a few weeks, and on the day that you command my return, I will +come home. Oh, my heart was too small to hold the love I bore you for +your consent to my departure. It seemed to me that I had lust begun to +live; the world was full of beauty, and I forgot all the trials of my +childhood. For one week I have been young, dear mother; hurl me not back +again into that dark dungeon of solitude where so much of my short life +has been spent. Do not condemn me to live as I have hitherto lived; give +me freedom, give me my manhood's rights!" + +"No, no! a thousand times no!" cried the exasperated empress; "I see now +that I am right to keep such an unfeeling and ungrateful son at home. He +talks of his sufferings forsooth! What has he ever suffered at my +hands?" + +"What have I suffered?" exclaimed Joseph, whose teeth chattered as if he +were having a chill, and who was no longer in a state to suppress the +terrible eruption of his heart's agony. "What have I suffered, ask you? +I will tell you, empress-mother, what I have suffered since first I +could love, or think, or endure. As a child I have felt that my mother +loved another son more than she loved me. When my longing eyes sought +hers, they were riveted upon another face. When my brother and I have +sinned together, he has been forgiven, when I have been punished. Sorrow +and jealousy were in my heart, and no one cared enough for me to ask why +I wept. I was left to suffer without one word of kindness--and you +wondered that I was taciturn, and mocked at my slighted longings for +love, and called them by hard names. And then you pointed to my caressed +and indulged brother, and bade me be gay like him!" + +"My son, my son!" cried the emperor, "control yourself; you know not +what you say." + +"Let him go on, Francis," said the pale mother, "it is well that I +should know his heart at last." + +"Yes," continued the maddened archduke, "let me go on, for in my heart +there is nothing but misery and slighted affection. Oh, mother, mother!" +exclaimed he, suddenly changing from defiance to the most pathetic +entreaty, "on my knees I implore you to let me go; have mercy, have +mercy upon your wretched son!" + +And the young prince, with outstretched hands, threw himself upon his +knees before his mother. The long-suppressed tears gushed forth, and the +wild tempest of his ungovernable fury was spent, and now he sobbed as if +indeed his young heart was breaking. + +The emperor could scarcely restrain the impulse he felt to weep with his +son; but he came and laid his hand upon the poor boy's head, and looked +with passionate entreaty at the empress. + +"Dear Theresa," said he, "be compassionate and forgiving. Pardon him, +beloved, the hard and unjust words which, in the bitterness of a first +sorrow, he has spoken to the best of mothers. Raise him up from the +depths of his despair, and grant the boon, for which, I am sure, he will +love you beyond bounds." + +"I wish that I dared to grant it to yourself, Francis," replied the +empress, sadly and tearfully; "but you see that he has made it +impossible. I dare not do it. The mother has no right to plead with the +empress for her rebellious son. What he has said I freely forgive--God +grant that I may forget it! Well do I know how stormy is youth, and I +remember that Joseph is my son. It is the wild Spanish blood of my +ancestry that boils in his veins, and, therefore, I forgive him with all +my heart. But revoke my last sentence--that I cannot do. To do so would +be to confirm him in wrong. Rise, my son Joseph--I forgive all your +cruel words; but what I have said, I have said. You remain at home." + +Joseph rose slowly from his knees. The tears in his eyes were dried; his +lips were compressed, and once more he wore the old look of cold and +sullen indifference. He made a profound inclination before his mother. +"I have heard the empress's commands," said he, in a hoarse and +unnatural voice; "it is my duty to obey. Allow me to go to my prison, +that I may doff this manly garb, which is no longer suitable to my +blasted career." + +Without awaiting the answer, he turned away, and with hasty strides left +the room. + +The empress watched him in speechless anxiety. As the door closed upon +him, her features assumed an expression of tenderness and she said: "Go +quickly, Franz--go after him. Try to comfort and sustain him. I do not +know why, but I feel uneasy--" + +At that moment a cry was heard in the anteroom, and the fall of a heavy +body to the floor. + +"God help me--it is Joseph!" shrieked the empress; and, forgetting all +ceremony, she darted from the room, and rushed by her dismayed +attendants through the anteroom, out into the corridor. Stretched on the +floor, insensible and lifeless, lay her son. + +Without a word the empress waved off the crowd that was assembled around +his body. The might of her love gave her supernatural strength, and +folding her arms around her child, she covered his pale face with +kisses, and from the very midst of the frightened attendants she bore +him herself to her room, where she laid him softly upon her own bed. + +No one except the emperor had ventured to follow. He stood near, and +reached the salts, to which the empress had silently pointed. She rubbed +her son's temples, held the salts to his nostrils, and at last, when he +gave signs of life, she turned to the emperor and burst into tears. + +"Oh, Franz," said she, "I almost wish that he were sick, that day and +night I might watch by his bedside, and his poor heart might feel the +full extent of a mother's love for her first-born child." + +Perhaps God granted her prayer, that these two noble hearts might no +longer be estranged, but that each might at last meet the other in the +fullest confidence of mutual love. + +A violent attack of fever followed the swoon of the archduke. The +empress never left his side. He slept in her own room, and she watched +over him with gentlest and most affectionate care. + +Whenever Joseph awaked from his fever-dreams and unclosed his eyes +there, close to his bedside he saw the empress, who greeted him with +loving words and softest caresses. Whenever, in his fever-thirst, he +called for drink, her hand held the cup to his parched lips; and +whenever that soft, cool hand was laid upon his hot brow, he felt as if +its touch chased away all pain and soothed all sorrow. + +When he recovered enough to sit up, still his mother would not consent +for him to leave her room for his own. As long as he was an invalid, he +should be hers alone. In her room, and through her loving care, should +he find returning health. His sisters and brothers assembled there to +cheer him with their childish mirth, and his young friend, Dominick +Kaunitz, came daily to entertain him with his lively gossip. Altogether, +the archduke was happy. If he had lost fame, he had found love. + +One day, when, cushioned in his great soft arm-chair, he was chatting +with his favorite tutor, Count Bathiany, the empress entered the room, +her face lit up with a happy smile, while in her hands she held an etui +of red morocco. + +"What think you I have in this etui, dear?" she said, coming forward, +and bending over her son to bestow a kiss. + +"I do not know; but I guess it is some new gift of love from my mother's +dear hand." + +"Yes--rightly guessed. It is a genuine gift of love and, with God's +grace, it may prove the brightest gift in your future crown. Since I +would not let you leave my house, my son, I feel it my duty, at least, +to do my best to make your home a happy one. I also wish to show you +that, in my sight, you are no longer a boy, but a man worthy to govern +your own household. Look at the picture in this case, and if it pleases +you, my darling son, I give you, not only the portrait but the ORIGINAL +also." + +She handed him the case, in which lay the miniature of a young girl of +surpassing beauty, whose large, dark eyes seemed to gaze upon him with a +look of melancholy entreaty. + +The archduke contemplated the picture for some time, and gradually over +his pale face there stole a flush of vague delight. + +"Well!" asked the empress, "does the maiden please you?" + +"Please me!" echoed the archduke, without withdrawing his eyes from the +picture. "'Tis the image of an angel! There is something in her look so +beseeching, something in her smile so sad, that I feel as if I would +fall at her feet and weep; and yet, mother--" + +"Hear him, Franz," cried Maria Theresa to the emperor, who, unobserved +by his son, had entered the room. "Hear our own child! love in his heart +will be a sentiment as holy, as faithful, and as profound as it has been +with us for many happy years! Will you have the angel for your wife, +Joseph?" + +The archduke raised his expressive eyes to the face of his mother. "If I +will have her!" murmured he, sadly. "Dear mother, would she deign to +look upon me? Will she not rather turn away from him to whom the whole +world is indifferent?" + +"My precious child, she will love and honor you, as the world will do, +when it comes to know your noble heart." And once more the empress bent +over her son and imprinted a kiss upon his pale brow. "It is settled +then, my son, that you shall offer your hand to this beautiful girl. In +one week you will have attained your nineteenth birthday, and you shall +give a good example to your sisters. Do you like the prospect?" + +"Yes, dear mother, I am perfectly satisfied." + +"And you do not ask her name or rank?" + +"You have chosen her for me; and I take her from your hand without name +or rank." + +"Well," cried the delighted empress, "Count Bathiany, you have ever been +the favorite preceptor of the archduke. Upon you, then, shall this +honorable mission devolve. To-morrow, as ambassador extraordinary from +our court, you shall go in state to ask of Don Philip of Parma the hand +of his daughter Isabella for his imperial highness, the crown prince of +Austria." + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN ITALIAN NIGHT. + +The moon is up, but she is hidden behind heavy masses of clouds +--welcome clouds that shelter lovers' secrets. The fountains, whose +silvery showers keep such sweet time to the murmurings of love, plash +gently on, hushing the sound of lovers' voices; on the bosom of yonder +marble-tinctured lake, two snow-white swans are floating silently; and, +far amid groves of myrtle and olive, the nightingale warbles her notes +of love. Not a step echoes through the long avenues of the ducal park, +not a light glimmers from the windows of the ducal palace. 'Tis the hour +of midnight, and gentle sleep hath come to all. + +To all, save two. Stay yet awhile behind the cloud, O tell-tale moon! +for there--there are the lovers. See where fair Juliet leans from the +marble balcony; while Romeo, below, whispers of plighted vows that +naught shall cancel save--death! + +"To-morrow, beloved, to-morrow, thou wilt be mine forever?" + +"I will be thine in the face of the whole world." + +"And wilt thou never repent? Hast thou strength to brave the world's +scorn for my sake?" + +"Do I need strength to stretch forth my hand for that which is dearer to +me than all the world beside? Oh, there is selfishness in my love, +Riccardo, for it loses sight of the dangers that will threaten thee on +the day when thou callest me wife!" + +"There is but one danger, dearest--that of losing thee! I know no +other." + +"Still, be cautious, for my sake. Remember, we live on Spanish soil, +though Italy's skies are overhead; and Spanish vengeance is sharp and +swift. Betray not thy hopes by smile or glance--in a few davs we will be +far away in the paradise where our happiness shall be hidden from all +eyes, save those of angels. Be guarded therefore, dear one--for see! +Even now the moon is forth again in all her splendor; and were my +father's spies to track thee!--Gracious Heaven, go! Think of Spanish +daggers, and let us part for a few short hours." + +"Well, I will go, strengthened to turn my eyes from thy beauty, by +thoughts of to-morrow's bliss! In the chapel I await thee." + +"I will be there. The priest will not betray us?" + +"He was the friend of my childhood--we may trust him, Isabella." + +"Then, Heaven bless thee! good-night. Hark!--did I not hear something +rustle in the thicket?" + +"The wind sighing through the pine-trees, love." + +"Then, adieu, till morning." + +"Adieu, sweet one!" + +The moon burst forth in full radiance, and revealed the manly form that +hurried through the avenue; while clear as in noonday could be seen the +slender white figure that watched his retreating steps. + +He is hidden now, but she still lingers, listening enraptured to the +fountain's murmur and the nightingale's song; looking upward at the moon +as she wandered through heaven's pathless way, and thinking that never +had earth or sky seemed so lovely before-- + +But hark! What sounds are those? A cry, a fearful cry rends the air; and +it comes from the thicket where, a moment before, he disappeared from +her sight. + +She started--then, breathless as a statue, she listened in deadly +suspense. Again that cry, that dreadful cry, pierces through the +stillness of the night, freezing her young heart with horror! "His +death-wail!" cried the wretched girl; and careless of danger, scarce +knowing what she did, heeding nothing but the sound of her lover's +voice, she sprang from the balcony, and as though moonbeams had drawn +her thither, she swung herself to the ground. For one moment her slight +form wavered, then she darted forward and flew through the avenue to the +thicket. Away she sped, though the moon shone so bright that she could +be distinctly seen, her own shadow following like a dusky phantom +behind. + +Be friendly, now, fair moon, and light her to her lover, that she may +look into his eyes once more before they close forever! + +She has reached the spot, and, with a low cry, she throws herself by the +side of the tall figure that lies stretched at its length upon the green +sward. + +Yes, it is he; he whom she loves; the soul of her soul, the life of her +life! And he lies cold and motionless, his eyes staring blindly upon the +heavens, his purple lips unclosing to exhale his last sighs, while from +two hideous wounds in his side the blood streams over the white dress of +his betrothed. But he is not dead; his blood is still warm. + +She bends over and kisses his cold lips; she tears her lace mantle from +her shoulders, and, pressing it to his wounds, tries to stanch the +life-blood welling from his side. The mantle grows scarlet with his +gore, but the lips are whiter and colder with each kiss. She knows, +alas! that there is one nearer to him now than she--Azrael is between +her and her lover. He grows colder, stiffer; and--O God!--the +death-rattle! + +"Take me with thee, take me, take me!" screamed the despairing girl; and +her arms clasped frantically around the body, until they seemed as if +they were indeed stiffening into one eternal embrace. + +"Have pity, Riccardo! My life, my soul, leave me not here without thee! +One word--one look, beloved!" + +She stared at him in wild despair, and seeing that he made no sign of +response to her passionate appeal, she raised her hands to heaven, and +kneeling by his side, she prayed. + +"O God, merciful God, take not his fleeting life until he has given me +one last word--until he has told me how long we shall be parted!" + +Her arms sank heavily down, and she sought the face of the dying man, +whispering--oh, how tenderly!--"Hear me, my own; tell me when I shall +follow thee to heaven!" + +She ceased, for suddenly she felt him tremble; his eyes moved until they +met hers, and once more a smile flitted across those blanched lips. He +raised his head, and slowly his body moved, until, supported in HER +arms, he sat erect. Enraptured, he laid her cheek to his, and waited; +for love had called him back to life, and he would speak. + +"We shall meet again in three--" + +He fell back, and with a last cry expired. Love had struggled hard with +death; but death had won the victory. + +Isabel shed no tears. She closed her lover's eyes; gave him one long, +last kiss; and, as she bent over him, her hair was soaked in his blood. +She took the mantle, wet with gore, and pressed it to her heart. +"Precious mantle," said she, "we need not part; in three days--or +perchance he said three hours--we shall lie together in the coffin! +Until then, Riccardo, farewell!" + +Slowly she turned and left the horrible place. Without faltering she +came up the long moonlit avenue, her head thrown back, and her large, +lustrous eyes fixed upon heaven, as though she sought to find her +lover's soul somewhere among the floating clouds. + +The moon flung its radiance around her path; and ever, as she walked, it +grew brighter, until the poor, stricken child of earth looked like a +glorified saint. "God grant that it be three hours!" murmured she; +"three days were an eternity!" + +She reached the palace, without having thought that there was no door +open by which she could enter, when suddenly a form emerged from the +shadowed wall, and a woman's voice whispered: + +"Quick, for Heaven's sake! the side-door is open, and all in the palace +sleep!" + +"I, too, in three hours shall sleep!" cried Isabella, triumphantly, and +with these words she fell to the ground in a swoon. [Footnote: Caroline +Pichler, "Memoirs of My Life." Part I. page 139.] + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ISABELLA OF PARMA. + +The Princess Isabella slept unusually late the next morning. Her little +bell, that summoned the ladies of honor, had not yet rung, and the day +was far advanced. The first cameriera seemed troubled, and whispered her +apprehensions that the princess was sick; for she had observed, for some +days, she said, that her highness had looked pale. + +"But we must go into her room, ladies," added she; "for it is almost +time for her highness to visit the duke, and he never forgives an +omission of ceremonial. Follow me, then; _I_ will undertake to awaken +the princess." + +She opened the door softly, and entered the sleeping-room of the +princess, followed by the other maids of honor. + +"She sleeps yet," said the cameriera; "but I MUST waken her," murmured +she to herself, "it is my duty." + +She advanced, and drew aside the heavy folds of the pink silk curtains +that hung around the bed. + +"Pardon me, your highness," she whispered; "but--" + +She stopped; for, to her great surprise, the princess was awake. She lay +in her long white night-dress, with her hands crossed over her breast, +and her head cushioned on the rose-colored pillow that contrasted +painfully with the pallor of her marble-white face. Her large eyes were +distended, and fixed upon a picture of the blessed Virgin that hung at +the foot of the bed. Slowly her looks turned upon her attendants, who, +breathless and frightened, gazed upon the rosy pillow, and the pallid +face that lay in its midst, dazzling their eyes with its whiteness. + +"Pardon me," again whispered the cameriera, "it is almost noonday." + +"What hour?" murmured the princess. + +"It is ten o'clock, your highness." + +The princess shivered, and exclaimed, "For three days, then!" And +turning away, she began to pray in a low voice, and none but God knew +the meaning of that whispered prayer. + +Her prayer over, she passed her little white hand over the dark locks +that fell around her face and made an effort to rise. + +Her maids of honor saw that she was ill, and hastened to assist her. The +hour of the princess's toilet was to her attendants the most delightful +hour of the day. From her bedchamber all ceremonial was banished; and +there, with her young companions, Isabella was accustomed to laugh, +jest, sing, and be as merry and as free from care as the least of her +father's subjects. + +Philip of Parma was by birth a Spaniard, one of the sons of Philip the +Fifth. After the vicissitudes of war which wrested Naples and Parma from +the hands of Austria, Don Carlos of Spain became king of Naples, and Don +Philip, duke of Parma. Isabella, then a child of seven years, had been +allowed the privilege of taking with her to Italy her young playmates, +who, for form's sake, as she grew older, became her maids of honor. But +they were her dear and chosen friends, and with them she was accustomed +to speak the Spanish language only. + +Her mother, daughter of Louis XV., had introduced French customs into +the court of Parma, and during her life the gayety and grace of French +manners had rendered that court one of the most attractive in Europe. +But the lovely Duchess of Parma died, and with her died all that made +court life endurable. The French language was forbidden, and French +customs were banished. Some said that the duke had loved his wife so +deeply, that in his grief he had excluded from his court every thing +suggestive of his past happiness. Others contended that he had made her +life so wretched by his jealous and tyrannical conduct, that remorse had +driven him to banish, if possible, every reminder of the woman whom he +had almost murdered. + +In the hearts of her children the mother's memory was enshrined; and the +brother and sister were accustomed for her sake, in their private +intercourse, to speak HER language altogether. + +At court they spoke the language of the country; and Isabella--who with +her friends sang boleros and danced the cachuca; with her brother, read +Racine and Corneille--was equally happy while she hung enraptured upon +the strains of Pergolese's music, or gazed entranced upon the pictures +of Correggio and the Veronese. The princess herself was both a painter +and musician, and no one, more than she, loved Italy and Italian art. + +Such, until this wretched morning, had been the life of young Isabella. +What was she now? A cold, white image, in whose staring eyes the light +was quenched--from whose blanched lips the smile had fled forever! + +Her grieved attendants could scarcely suppress their tears, as sadly and +silently they arrayed her in her rich robes; while she, not seeming to +know where she was, gazed at her own reflected image with a look of +stupid horror. They dressed her beautiful hair, and bound it up in massy +braids. They smoothed it over her death-cold forehead, and shuddered to +see how like a corpse she looked. At last the task was at an end, and +the cameriera coming toward her, offered the cup of chocolate which she +was accustomed to drink at that hour. Tenderly she besought the unhappy +girl to partake of it, but Isabella waved away the cup, saying: + +"Dear friend, offer me no earthly food. I pine for the banquet of +angels. Let the chaplain be called to bring the viaticum. I wish to +receive the last sacraments of the dying." + +A cry of horror burst from the lips of the maids of honor. + +"The chaplain! The last sacraments! For you, my beloved child?" asked +the sobbing cameriera. + +"For me," replied Isabella. + +"Heavenly Father!" exclaimed the aja. "Have you then presumed to +anticipate the will of God, and to go before His presence, uncalled?" + +"No, no, death will come to me, I will not seek it. I will endure life +as long as God wills, but, in three days, I shall be called hence." + +The young girls crowded around her, weeping, and imploring her not to +leave them. + +Isabella's white lips parted with a strange smile. "You tell me not to +die, dear friends; do you not see that I am already dead? My heart is +bleeding." + +The hand of the cameriera was laid upon her arm, and she whispered: "My +child, be silent; you know not what you say." + +Isabella bowed her head, and then looking tenderly around at her +kneeling companions, she said: "Rise and sit by me, my dear girls, and +listen to what I am about to say, for we speak together for the last +time on earth. " + +The maidens arose, and obeyed, while Isabella leaned her head for a few +moments upon the bosom of her mother's friend, the cameriera. There was +a pause, during which the poor girl seemed to have received some comfort +in those friendly arms; for she finally sighed, and, raising her head +again, she spoke solemnly, but not unnaturally. + +"I had last night a singular vision," she said. "The spirit of my mother +appeared to me, and said that in three days I was to die. I believe in +this vision. Do not weep, dear sisters; I go to eternal rest. Life is +bitter, death is sweet. Pray for me, that my mother's prophetic words be +verified; and you, beloved friend of that mother," added she, kissing +the cameriera's cheek, "you who know the depths of my heart, and its +secret, silent agony, pray for your child, and praying, ask of her +heavenly Father--death." + +The aja made no reply, she was weeping with the others. + +Isabella contemplated the group for a moment, while a ray of life lit up +her eyes, showing that, even now, it was sad to part from her friends +forever. But the expression was momentary. Her face returned to its +deadly paleness, as gasping for breath, she stammered: +"Now--now--for--my father! Estrella, go to the apartments of the duke, +and say that I desire an interview with his royal highness." + +The young girl returned in a few moments with an answer. His royal +highness had that morning gone some distance in the country on a hunting +excursion, and would be absent for several days. + +Isabella looked at the cameriera, who still stood beside her, and her +pale lips quivered. "Did I not know it?" whispered she; "I told you +truly, HE did it! God forgive him, I cannot.--And now," continued she, +aloud, "now to my last earthly affairs." + +So saying, she called for her caskets of jewels and divided them between +the young maids of honor; and cutting from her hair one rich, massy +lock, she placed it in Estrella's hand, saying, "Share it among you +all." + +To the cameriera she gave a sealed packet, and then bade them leave her +to herself; for the ringing of the chapel bell announced the departure +of the priest thence, with the blessed sacrament. + +The sacred rites were ended. On her knees the Princess Isabella had made +her confession, and had revealed to the shuddering priest the horrible +secrets of the preceding night. She had received absolution, and had +partaken of the holy communion. + +"Now, my child," said the priest, in a voice tremulous with sympathy, +"you have received the blessing of God, and you are prepared for His +coming. May He be merciful to you, and grant your prayer for release +from this earth! I, too, will pray that your martyrdom be short." + +"Amen!" softly murmured Isabella. + +"But the ways of the Lord are inscrutable, and it may be that He wills +it otherwise. If, in His incomprehensible wisdom, He should declare that +your days shall be long on this earth, promise me to endure your lot +with resignation, nor seek to hasten what He has deemed it best to +delay?" + +"I promise, holy father." + +"Make a vow, then, to the Lord, that by the memory of your mother you +will fulfil every duty that presents itself to you in life, until God +has spoken the word that will call you to Himself." + +"I swear, by the memory of my mother, that I will live a life of +resignation and of usefulness until God in His mercy, shall free me from +my prison." + +"Right, dear unhappy child," said the father, smoothing, with his +trembling hands, the soft hair that lay on either side of her forehead. +"May God reward thee, and in His infinite mercy shorten thy sufferings!" + +He stooped, and kissing her pale brow, made the sign of the cross above +her kneeling figure. Then, with eyes blinded by tears, he slowly +retreated to his own room, where he threw himself upon his knees and +prayed that God would give strength to them both to bear the cross of +that dreadful secret. + +Isabella, too, remained alone. In feverish longing for death, she sat, +neither hearing the voices of her friends who begged for admission, nor +the pleadings of her brother, who besought her to see him and give him +one last embrace. Through the long night that followed, still kneeling, +she prayed. When the sun rose, she murmured, "To-morrow!" and through +the day her fancy wandered to the verge of madness. Sometimes visions of +beckoning angels swarmed around her; then they fled, and in their places +stood a hideous skeleton, that, with ghastly smile, held out his +fleshless hand, and strove to clasp hers. + +Again the night set in, and the next morning at break of day, Isabella +rose from her knees, and, hailing the rising sun, cried exultingly, +"To-day!" + +Exhausted from fasting and such long vigils, her head reeled, and she +staggered to her couch. A cold shudder crept over her limbs; all was +dark as night about her; she tried to clasp her hands in prayer and +could not, for they were numb and powerless. "This is welcome death!" +thought she, and her lips parted with a happy smile. Her head fell +backward on the pillow, and her senses fled. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY. + +The Princess Isabella opened her eyes, and in their dark and lustrous +depths shone returning reason; they glared no more with fever-madness, +but were sadder and sweeter than ever. + +She gazed at the forms that surrounded her bedside; at the priest, who, +with folded hands, was praying at her head; at the cameriera, who knelt +beside him; at the young girls, who, gathered in a lovely group at her +feet, smiled and wept by turns as she looked upon them; and lastly, she +felt a kiss upon her hand, and, looking there, she beheld her brother, +who wept with joy. + +"Where am I?" asked she, feebly. + +"You are with those who love you best, darling," said Fernando, +joyfully. "With us, who have prayed so long, that the good God has heard +and restored you to life." + +"I still live, then," said she, sadly. "And how long have I lain here, +friends?" + +The priest advanced, and blessing her, took her by the hand. "For four +weeks, daughter, you have been unconscious of every thing that passed +around you. You see, therefore, that your heavenly Father bids you +live." + +"Four weeks?" whispered the poor girl. "Then, in three months we shall +meet again." + +She closed her eyes, and lay silent for a while. At length, the priest, +bending close to her ear, whispered, "Think, daughter, of the vows, +which, by the memory of your mother, you have made to God!" + +"I will remember them," murmured she, sadly. + +And from this day she mended, until life and strength were restored to +her even as before. She thought of her vow, and made no resistance to +the will of Heaven; but she hoped for death, and awaited her three +months. + +Sustained by these hopes, she recovered. But her heart was wounded past +all cure; gone were her smiles and her songs. Quietly, sadly, and +solemnly glided away the new life to which she had been born through +death. + +The first day on which she felt able to leave her room, she sent to +crave an audience of her father. She had been told that, during her +delirium, he had often visited her chamber; but, since her +convalescence, he had not sent so much as an inquiry after her health. + +He did not, however, deny the interview she sought. He awaited his +daughter, said the messenger, in his own apartments. + +The princess shuddered, and a deadly faintness came over her. + +"My God! my God! will I ever be able to go through this bitter hour? +Must I, indeed, look upon him who--" + +She closed her eyes to shut out the frightful remembrance. Then, +gathering all her strength for the trial, she rose to seek her father, +and make one last request of him. + +With her head thrown proudly back, and her dark eyes flashing with +resolve, she entered his cabinet. + +The duke was entirely alone. He had dismissed his attendants, and now +stood in the centre of the room, awaiting his daughter in gloomy +silence. His cold, stern features had grown more repulsive than ever to +the unhappy girl; his piercing eyes more revengeful; his thin, pale lips +more cruel. He seemed to her a pitiless stranger, and she could not +advance to meet him. Powerless and faint, she stood at the door; all her +strength gone. + +A few moments of anguish went by, and then the duke, extending his hand, +said, in a tone of command, "Come hither, Isabella." + +She stepped forward, and almost touched his hand, when, shuddering, her +arm dropped heavily down, and forgetting all caution, she murmured, in +tones of deepest agony, "I cannot! I cannot!" + +The duke's eyes shot fire, as he, too, dropped his extended hand, and +deep, angry folds wrinkled his forehead. + +"Why have you desired this interview?" asked he. + +"I have a request to prefer, my father," replied Isabella. + +He bent his head. "Speak," said he. + +"I come to entreat of my father the permission to take the veil." + +"And wherefore, I should like to know?" said the duke, carelessly. + +"That I may dedicate my few remaining days to the service of the Lord." + +"Girlish folly!" said he, with a contemptuous laugh, while he paced up +and down the room. + +Isabella made no reply, but stood awaiting a more direct answer to her +petition. Suddenly, he came up to her, and spoke: + +"I cannot grant your request," said he. "I have other plans for you. The +grandchild of the King of Spain cannot be permitted to die a penitent in +a cloister; if she has atonement to make for crime, let her make it, not +under the serge of the nun, but under the purple of the empress." + +"I have no ambition," said Isabella, trembling. "Allow me, I entreat +you, to enter a convent." + +"I repeat that I have other plans for you. I, too, have no ambition for +YOU," said the father, coldly, "but I am ambitious for my house, and +through you I shall attain my end. One of the greatest monarchs of +Europe has sought your hand for the heir of her throne, and I have +resolved that you shall become his wife." + +"Fate will refuse it to him--Fate, more merciful than my father. I have +but a few weeks to live--before a month has elapsed, I shall be in my +grave." + +"Go there, if it pleases you," cried the duke, "but die with royal robes +about you. You shall not die a nun." + +"No one on earth, my father, has a right to detain me. If your highness +refuse your consent. I will fly to a convent without your permission. +And princely though you be, you shall not drag from the altar the bride +of the Lord." + +"Ah, you rebel against my authority!" cried the duke, with a look that +sent a deadly pang to the heart of his daughter. "Know, that I have +power to judge you for such treason, and lay your defiant head upon the +block!" + +"I do not fear death," replied Isabella; "I await it with impatience." + +"Ah! you are possessed with a lovesick desire to die! But hear what I +have to say, and mark it well. I will relate to you an affair that took +place--whilst you were ill. The only son of one of the noblest families +in Parma, the pride of his race, and the idol of his parents, conceived +a plot against my house, whose treason was equal to parricide. I learned +his designs; and with my own eyes and my own ears, I verified his guilt. +He was an archtraitor; he had deserved to die on the scaffold. But I had +pity on his family, and spared them the disgrace of a public execution. +I took his life secretly, and his parents are spared the shame of +knowing how he died. Shall I tell you the name of this dead traitor?" + +Isabella raised her hand, and parting her blanched lips, she said +hoarsely, "No no! in mercy, no!" + +"Very well, then I proceed. This traitor, whom I judged, and to whom I +deat his death-stab, had an accomplice. Do you listen?" + +Like a broken lily, Isabella's head sank down upon her breast. + +"Ah! you listen. The accomplice is placed in a position which makes it +inexpedient for me to punish her in her own person. But should she +thwart me, should she not fully and cheerfully comply with my demands +upon her loyalty, I will see that she suffers more than death in the +family of her accomplice. I shall publish the guilt of the dead criminal +to the whole world; I will disgrace and dishonor his whole race, and his +young sister, with her parents, shall be driven penniless from my +realms, to beg or starve in a stranger land." + +"Father!" cried the wretched girl, while her every limb quivered with +the torture he inflicted, "I am ready to do your will. I will marry whom +you choose, and so long as God condemns me to earth, I will obey you in +all things. But you shall promise me on your princely honor to shield +from all shame or harm the family of--of--the deceased; to befriend his +sister, and if she should ever wish to marry, to honor and favor her +choice. Promise me this, and as long as I live I submit to your will." + +"I promise, on my honor, to do all this, and to forget for their sakes +the crime of their son." + +"I promise also, on my sacred honor, to accept the husband you have +chosen for me. But I will not suffer long, for my life is almost spent." + +The duke shrugged his shoulders. + +"Your highness," continued his daughter, "will inform me on what day I +am to be affianced. I await your commands, and beg your highness's +permission to withdraw to my apartments." + +"Have you nothing more to say to your father, Isabella?" asked he in a +faltering voice. + +"Nothing more to say to your royal highness." She courtesied deeply, +and, without a glance at her father, left the room. + +The duke looked after her with an expression of sorrow. "I have lost her +forever!" said he. "When I struck him, I pierced her heart also. Well, +so let it be! Better a dead child than a dishonored house!" + +He then rang a little golden bell, and ordered preparations to be made +for another grand hunt on the morrow. + +Isabella accepted her destiny nobly. She resolved to fulfil her promises +strictly; but she hoped that God would be satisfied with the sacrifice, +and release her before the day of her nuptials. + +Finally came the day on which, for the third time, she had hoped to die. +She felt a solemn joy steal over her heart, and she desired her maids of +honor to deck her in bridal white. Her dark hair was wreathed with +orange-blossoms, and in her bosom she wore an orange-bud. She was lovely +beyond expression, and her attendants whispered among themselves, though +Isabella neither saw nor heard them. She who awaited death took no heed +of what was going on around her in the palace. + +And yet her stake in that palace was great. On the day before the +embassy had arrived, which was to change her fate, and open to her a new +life at the court of the Austrian empress. + +The duke had received his guests with royal courtesy. But he had +besought the count to postpone his interview with the princess until the +morrow; for with cruel mockery of his child's sorrow, Philip of Parma +had contrived that the day on which she had hoped to meet her dead +lover, should be the day of her betrothal to the Archduke of Austria. + +Isabella was the only person in the palace who had not heard of the +arrival. She had withdrawn into her private cabinet, and there she +counted every pulsation of her heart. She dared not hope to die a +natural death; she was looking forward to some accident that was to +release her from life; something direct from the hand of God she thought +would, on that day, make good the prophecy of her lover. + +She hoped, watched, prayed. She was startled from her solitude by a +knocking at the door, and her father's voice called for admission. + +The princess, obedient to her promise, rose and opened the door. Her +father surveyed her with a smile of derision. "You have done well," said +he, "to deck yourself as a bride; not as the bride of Death, but as the +affianced wife of the LIVING lover who will one day make you empress of +Austria. His ambassador awaits us now in the great hall of state. Follow +me into the next room, where your maids of honor are assembled to attend +you. Mark me, Isabella! When we arrive in the hall, the ambassador will +advance, and in terms befitting the honor conferred, he will request +your acceptance of the archduke's hand. I leave it to your tact and +discretion to answer him as becomes the princess of a great and royal +house." + +"And will your highness perform your promise to ME?" asked Isabella +calmly. "Shall his parents live secure in possession of their noble name +and estates; and shall his sister be the special object of your +highness's protection and favor?" + +"I will do all this, provided you give me satisfaction as relates to +your marriage." + +Isabella bowed. "Then I am ready to accompany your royal highness to the +hall of state, and to accept with courtesy the offer of the Austrian +ambassador." + +Forth went the beautiful martyr and her train through the gorgeous +apartments of the palace, until they reached the hall of the throne. + +In the centre of the hall the duke left his daughter and her attendants, +while he mounted the throne and took his seat upon the ducal chair. + +And now advanced Count Bathiany. With all the fervor which her matchless +beauty inspired, he begged of the princess her fair hand for his future +sovereign the Archduke of Austria. As the count ceased, every eye turned +toward the infanta. She had listened with calm dignity to the words of +the ambassador, and her large, melancholy eyes had been riveted upon his +face while he delivered his errand. There was a pause--a few moments +were needed by that broken heart to hush its moanings, and bare itself +for the sacrifice. The brow of the duke darkened, and he was about to +interpose, when he saw his daughter bow her head. Then she spoke, and +every one bent forward to listen to the silvery tones of her voice. + +"I feel deeply honored," said she, "by the preference of her imperial +majesty of Austria; an alliance with her eldest son is above my deserts; +but since it is their desire, I accept the great honor conferred upon +me. I regret, however, that their majesties should have directed their +choice toward me; for I am convinced that I shall not live long enough +to fulfil the destiny to which this marriage calls me." [Footnote: The +infanta's own words; as veritably historical as is this whole relation +of her death-prophecy and its unhappy fulfilment. See Wraxall, "Memoirs +of the Courts," etc., and Caroline Pichler.] + +When at last the ceremonies of this day of agony were ended; when the +infanta had dismissed her ladies of honor, and was once more +alone--alone with God and with the past, she threw herself upon her +couch, and, with her hands meekly folded across her breast, she lay, +looking up, far beyond the palace dome to heaven. + +There she prayed until midnight, and when the clock had told the hour, +she arose to the new life that awaited her, with its new promises, new +expectations, new ties--but no new hopes. + +"Heavenly Father," exclaimed she, "it has begun, and I will bear it to +the bitter end! I am now the betrothed, and soon will be the wife of +another. If I have sinned in my consent to marry one whom I can never +love, pardon me, O Lord! and hear me vow that I will faithfully fulfil +my duty toward him. I am the affianced of another! Farewell, my beloved, +farewell, FOR THREE LONG YEARS!" + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE DREAM OF LOVE. + +The wedding-festival was over, and Vienna was resting from the fatigue +of the brilliant entertainments by which the marriage of the archduke +had been followed, both in court and city. And indeed the rejoicings had +been conducted with imperial magnificence. For eight days, the people of +Vienna, without respect of rank, had been admitted to the palace, to +witness the court festivities; while in the city and at Schonbrunn, +nightly balls were given at the expense of the empress, where the happy +Viennese danced and feasted to their hearts' content. + +They had returned the bounty of their sovereign by erecting triumphal +arches, strewing the ground with flowers, and rending the air with +shouts, whenever the young archduchess had appeared in the streets. + +The great maestro Gluck had composed an opera for the occasion; and +when, on the night of its representation, the empress made her +appearance in the imperial loge, followed by the archduke and his bride, +the enthusiasm of the people was so great that Gluck waited a quarter of +an hour, baton in hand, before he could begin his overture. + +But now the jubilee was over, the shouts were hushed, the people had +returned to their accustomed routine of life, and the exchequer of the +empress was minus--one million of florins. + +The court had withdrawn to the palace of Schonbrunn, there to enjoy in +privacy the last golden days of autumn, as well as to afford to the +newly-married pair a taste of that retirement so congenial to lovers. + +Maria Theresa, always munificent, had devoted one wing of the palace to +the exclusive use of her young daughter-in-law; and her apartments were +fitted up with the last degree of splendor. Elegant mirrors, buhl and +gilded furniture, costly turkey carpets and exquisite paintings adorned +this princely home; and as the princess was known to be skilled both as +a painter and musician, one room was fitted up for her as a studio, and +another as a music-hall. + +From the music-room, a glass door led to a balcony filled with rare and +beautiful flowers. This balcony overlooked the park, and beyond was seen +the city, made lovely by the soft gray veil of distance, which lends +such beauty to a landscape. + +On this perfumed balcony sat the youthful pair. Isabella reclined in an +arm-chair; and at her feet on a low ottoman sat Joseph, looking up into +her face, his eyes beaming with happiness. It was a lovely sight--that +of these two young creatures, who, in the sweet, still evening, sat +together, unveiling to one another the secrets of two blameless hearts, +and forgetting rank, station, and the world, were tasting the pure joys +of happily wedded love. + +The evening breeze whispered Nature's soft low greeting to them both; +and through the myrtle-branches that, hanging over the balcony, +clustered around Isabella's head, the setting sun flung showers of gold +that lit up her face with the glory of an angel. Bright as an angel +seemed she to her husband, who, sitting at her feet, gazed enraptured +upon her. How graceful he thought the contour of her oval face; how rich +the scarlet of her lovely mouth; what noble thoughts were written on her +pale and lofty brow, and how glossy were the masses of her raven black +hair! And those wondrous eyes! Dark and light, lustrous and dim, at one +moment they flashed with intellect, at another they glistened with +unshed tears. Her form, too, was slender and graceful, for Nature had +denied her nothing; and the charm of her appearance (above all, to an +eve weary of splendor) was made complete by the vapory muslin dress that +fell around her perfect figure like a silver-white cloud. The only +ornament that flecked its snow was a bunch of pink roses, which the +archduke with his own hand had culled for his wife that morning. She +wore them in her bosom, and they were the crowning beauty of that +simple, elegant dress. + +Isabella's head rested amongst the myrtle-branches; her eyes were fixed +upon the heavens, with a look of ineffable sadness, and gradually the +smile had died from her lips. Her countenance contrasted singularly with +that of the archduke. Since his marriage, he had grown handsomer than +ever; and from his bright expressive face beamed the silent eloquence of +a young and joyful existence. + +In his joy he did not see the painful shadows that were darkening his +wife's pale beauty. For a while, a deep stillness was about them. +Flooded by the gold of the setting sun, lay the park at their feet; +farther off glimmered the domes of St. Stephen at Vienna, and faint over +the evening air came the soothing tones of the vesper-bell. + +"How beautiful is the world!" said Joseph, at length; and, at the sound +of his voice, suddenly breaking the stillness that had been so congenial +to her reveries, Isabella started. A slight shiver ran through her +frame, and her eyes unwillingly came back to earth. He did not see it. +"Oh, how lovely is life, my Isabella, now that the music of thy heart +replies to mine! Never has earth seemed to me so full of beauty, as it +does now that I call thee wife." + +Isabella laid her soft hand upon her husband's head, and looked at him +for a while. At length she stifled a sigh, and said, "Are you then +happy, my husband?" + +He drew down the little hand that was resting on his blonde curls and +kissed it fervently. "A boon, my beloved. When we are alone, let us +banish Spanish formality from our intercourse. Be the future empress +before the world, but to me be my wife, and call me 'thou.'" + +"I will," replied she, blushing. "And I repeat my question, art thou +happy, my husband?" + +"I will tell thee, dearest. There seems within me such a flood of melody +seeking voice, that sometimes, for very ecstasy, I feel as if I must +shout aloud all the pent-up joy that other men have frittered away from +boyhood, and I have garnered up for this hour. Again I feel intoxicated +with happiness, and fear that I am dreaming. I tremble lest some rude +hand awake me, and I look around for proof of my sober, waking bliss. I +find it, and then breaks forth my soul in hosannas to God. And when, +mingling among men, I see a face that looks sad or pale, I feel such +sympathy for him who is less happy than I, that I make vows, when I am +emperor, to heal all sorrow, and wipe away all tears. Then come great +and noble aspirations, and I long to give back to my people the +blessings with which they greeted thee, my own Isabella. This is not one +feeling, but the meeting of many. Is it happiness, dearest?" + +"I cannot tell," replied she; "for happiness is a thing so heavenly in +its nature, that one hardly dares to give it a name, lest it take +flight, and soar back to its home above the skies. Let us not press it +too closely, lest we seek it and it be gone." + +"We shall do as it pleases thee," said Joseph, snatching her two hands, +and pressing them to his heart. "I know that when thou art by, Happiness +is here, and she cannot go back to heaven, unless she take thee too." +And again he looked at his wife, as if he would fair have blended their +dual being into one. + +"I wish to make thee a confession, Isabel," resumed he. "It is a great +crime, dearest, but thou wilt give me absolution, I know. As I look +back, I can scarce believe it myself, but--hear. When the empress gave +me thy miniature, beautiful though it was, I gave my consent to marry, +but my heart was untouched. When Count Bathiany departed on his mission, +I prayed that every obstacle might encumber his advance: and oh, my +beloved! when I heard that thou wert coming, I almost wished thee buried +under Alpine avalanches. When I was told of thy arrival, I longed to fly +away from Vienna, from rank and royalty, to some far country, some +secluded spot, where no reasons of state policy would force me to give +my hand to an unknown bride. Was I not a barbarian, sweetest, was I not +an arch-traitor?" + +"No, thou wert only a boy-prince, writhing under the heavy load of thy +royalty." + +"No, I was a criminal; but oh, how I have expiated my sin! When I saw +thee my heart leaped into life; and now it trembles lest thou love not +me! But thou wilt love me, wilt thou not? thou who hast made me so happy +that I wish I had a hundred hearts; for one is not enough to contain the +love I feel for thee!" [Footnote: These are his own words. Caroccioli +"Life of Joseph II."] + +Isabella was gazing at him with a melancholy smile. "Dreamer!" said she, +in a low trembling tone, that sounded to Joseph like heavenly music--" +dreamer! the heart that through God's goodness is filled with love is of +itself supernaturally magnified; for love is a revelation from heaven." + +"Sweet priestess of love! how truly thou art the interpreter of our +passion! For it is OURS, my Isabella, is it not? It is our love of which +we speak, not mine alone. I have confessed to thee; now do the same by +me. Tell me, my wife, didst thou hate the man to whom thy passive hand +was given, without one thought of thee or of thy heart's predilections?" + +How little he guessed the torture he inflicted! He looked into her eyes +with such trusting faith, with such calm security of happiness, that her +sweet face beamed with tender pity, while her cheeks deepened into +scarlet blushes, as she listened to his passionate declarations of love. +Poor Isabella! + +"No," said she, "no, I never hated thee, Joseph. I had already heard +enough to feel esteem for my future husband; and, therefore, I did not +hate, I pitied him." + +"Pity him, my own, and wherefore?" + +"Because without consulting HIS heart, he was affianced to an unknown +girl, unworthy to be the partner of his brilliant destiny. Poor Isabella +of Parma was never made to be an empress, Joseph." + +"She was, she was! She is fit to be empress of the world, for all +poetry, all goodness, all intellect and beauty look out from the depths +of her lustrous eyes. Oh, look upon me, star of my life, and promise to +guide me ever with thy holy light!" + +So saying, he took her in his arms, and pressed her to his tender, manly +heart. + +"Promise me, beloved;" whispered he, "promise never to leave me." + +"I promise," said the pale wife, "never to forsake thee, until God calls +me hence to--" + +"Oh!" interrupted Joseph, "may that hour never strike till I be in +heaven to receive thee; for love is selfish, Isabella, and my daily +prayer is now, that thy dear hand may close my eyes." + +"God will not hear that prayer, Joseph," replied Isabella; and as she +spoke, her head sank upon his shoulder, and her long hair fell from its +fastening, and, like a heavy mourning-veil, shrouded them both. Her +husband held her close to his heart, and as he kissed her, she felt his +tears drop upon her cheek. + +"I do not know," said he, "why it is, but I feel sometimes as if a +tempest were gathering above my head. And yet, the heavens are +cloudless, the sun has set; and see, the moon rises, looking in her pale +beauty, even as thou dost, my love. She has borrowed loveliness from +thee to-night, for, surely, she was never so fair before. But all seems +lovely when thou art near, and, I think, that, perchance--thou lovest +me. Tell me, Isabella, tell me, dearest, that thou dost love me." + +She raised her head, and met his passionate gaze with a look so sad that +his heart grew cold with apprehension. Then her eyes turned heavenward, +and her lips moved. He knew that she was praying. But why, at such a +moment? + +"Tell me the truth!" cried he, vehemently--"tell me the truth!" + +"I cannot answer thee in words," murmured Isabella, "but thou shalt have +music--love's own interpreter. Come, let us go into the music-room." + +And, light as a fairy, she tripped before, opening herself the door, +though he strove to prevent her. + +"No, this is MY temple, and my hands unclose the doors," said she, once +more self-possessed. + +Her husband followed her, enchanted. She looked around at the various +instruments, and struck a few chords on the piano. + +"No. This is too earthly. My own favorite instrument shall speak for +me." + +So saying, she opened a case that lay on the table, and took from it a +violin. + +"This," said she to her husband, "is the violin that came with me from +Italy." + +"How, Isabella," exclaimed he, "dost thou play on my favorite +instrument?" + +"The violin, to me, is dear above all instruments," replied she; "it +alone has tones that respond to those of the human heart." [Footnote: +The infanta, who played on several instruments, excelled on the violin. +Wraxall, vol. ii., page 390.] + +With indescribable grace she raised the violin to her shoulder, and +began to play. At first her chords were light and airy as the sounds +from an AEolian harp; then the melody swelled until it broke into a gush +of harmony that vibrated through every chord of the archduke's beating +heart. As he stood breathless and entranced, she seemed to him like that +picture by Fiesole, of the angel that comforts the dying. This +picture had always been, above all others, the archduke's favorite, and +now it stood embodied before him, a living, breathing divinity. + +The music died away to his ear, though still she played; but now it +seemed to stream from her eyes that shone like luminous stars, and flow +from her softly moving lips, that whispered to the spirits which now +low, now loud, laughed, sighed, or sobbed out their responses from the +magic violin. + +Isabella was no longer a woman and his wife. She was a glorified spirit; +and now he trembled lest his angel should vanish, and leave him nothing +but the memory of a heavenly vision. His eyes filled with tears; a +convulsive sigh broke from his breast, and, burying his face in his +hands, he sank down upon the sofa. + +A light shudder ran through Isabella's frame; her eyes, which had +wandered far, far beyond the portals that shut us out from heaven, +looked wildly around. Her husband's sigh had awakened her from a +blissful dream, and once more her weary heart sank desolate to the +earth. But with an expression of tenderest pity she turned toward him +and smiled. Then her music changed; it pealed out in rich harmony, fit +for mortal ears. She saw her complete mastery over the archduke's soul; +his eyes grew bright and joyful once more, and from his countenance +beamed the light of perfect contentment. + +"Our epithalamium!" exclaimed he, overjoyed, and no longer able to +control his exultation, he darted from his seat, and clasped the dear +musician in his arms. + +"I thank thee, my Isabella," said he, with a voice that trembled with +excess of happiness. "Yes, this is the voice of love; thou hast answered +me with our wedding-song. In this melody is drowned every bitter +remembrance of my life; the discords of the past have melted into +richest harmony--for thou returnest my love. A thousand times I thank +thee; this hour is sacred to me forever. + +"Thou hast said that thou lovest me," continued the happy husband, "and +now I feel the power and strength of a god. I am ready for the battle of +life." + +"But I think that I saw the god weep. Poor mortal friend, gods shed no +tears--tears are the baptism of humanity." + +"Oh, gods must weep for joy, Isabella, else they could not feel its +perfection!" + +"May Heaven grant that thou weep no other tears!" said the wife, +solemnly. "But hear," continued she, raising her little hand, "the +palace clock strikes eight, and we promised her majesty to spend this +evening with the imperial family circle. We must be punctual, and I have +scarcely time to dress." + +"Why, wilt thou change that sweet simple dress? Art thou not always the +pride of the court? Come--thy muslin and roses will shame all the silk +and jewels of my sisters. Come!" + +She laid her hand gently upon the arm that drew her forward, and +courtesied before him with mock ceremony. + +"My lord and husband," said she, laughing, "although your imperial +highness has banished Madame Etiquette from our balcony, remember that +she stands grimly awaiting us by yonder door, and we must take her with +us into the presence of our august empress. Madame Etiquette would never +permit me to pass in this simple dress. She would order me indignantly +from her sight, and your highness also. Go, therefore, and don your +richest Spanish habit. In fifteen minutes I await your highness here." + +She made another deep courtesy. The archduke, taking up the jest, +approached her, and, kissing her hand, replied: + +"I obey your imperial highness, as your loyal husband and loving +subject. I shall deck myself with stars and orders; and in princely +splendor I shall return, as becomes the spouse of the archduchess of +Austria. Your highness's obedient servant." + +And in true Spanish fashion, he bent his knee and kissed the hem of her +robe. Backing out of her presence he bowed again as he reached the door, +but catching her laughing eyes, he suddenly dashed right over Madame +Etiquette, and catching his wife in his arms, he gave her a last and a +right burgher-like kiss. The archduke was very happy, and the +archduchess--well! One day God will reward her! + +As the door closed, the expression of her face changed. The smile died +from her lips, and her eyes were dim with tears. + +"Poor boy!" murmured she, "he loves me, and I--I suffer him to believe +that I return his love, while--But I am right," said the devoted girl, +and she clasped her hands convulsively together. + +"O my Saviour!" cried she "in mercy give me grace while I live, to be +true to the vows, that before thine altar, I have sworn to the Archduke +of Austria! It were cruel in me to wound his noble heart--cruel to awake +him from his dream of love! Let him at least be happy while I live; and +Lord give me strength that I faint not under my burden!" + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +GLUCK. + +The sun had risen, flooding the earth with light, and the people of +Vienna had already begun their labors for the day. But the curtains had +not yet been drawn from a richly-furnished room, whose walls were lined +with books; and in whose centre stood a table covered with papers, +whereon the lights, not yet extinguished, were dropping their waxen +tears from two lofty silver candelabra. At this table sat a man, looking +earnestly at a paper covered with notes of music. He had sat there the +whole night long, and his countenance gave no indication of the +exhaustion that follows upon night-watching. His large, dark, gray eyes +flashed whenever he raised his head thoughtfully, as he frequently did; +and when music was born of his thoughts, a smile illuminated his +otherwise plain face, and a wonderful light played about his magnificent +forehead; the glory of that genius which had made it her dwelling-place. + +The form of this man was as striking as his face. Tall and commanding in +stature, his wide shoulders seemed proudly to bear the weight of the +head that towered above them, and in his lofty bearing there was a +dignitv that betokened either rank or genius. + +He had both; for this man was Christopher von Gluck, son of a huntsman +of Prince Eugene, who was born in 1714 in the village of Weidenwang. + +This son of the poor huntsman was known throughout all Europe; and in +Italy, the nobles in their palaces and the people on the streets sang +the melodies of Phedra, Antigone, Semiramide, and Telemacco. In Germany +he was less known; and in Vienna alone, was he truly appreciated. + +There he sat, unconscious of the daylight. On a chair at his side lay a +violin and a flute; near them, a violoncello leaned against the wall and +within reach of his hand stood one of those upright pianos just then +coming into fashion. + +At one moment he wrote rapidly, at another he hummed a melody; again, +half declaiming, half singing, he read off a recitative; and then bent +over and wrote with all his might. The light began to smoke, and the wax +dropped over his music, but he saw none of it; neither saw he the +daylight that had replaced his candles. He was so absorbed in his work +as not to hear a knock at his door. + +But now the knock was repeated; and this time so distinctly that it +waked him from his dream of harmony, and he frowned. He rose, and +striding to the door, withdrew the bolt. + +The door opened, and a tall, elegant woman, in a tasteful morning-dress +came in. Her fine, regular features were disturbed, and her eyes were +red with weeping or watching. When she saw Gluck looking so fresh and +vigorous, she smiled, and said, "Heaven be praised, you are alive and +well! I have passed a night of anxious terror on your account." + +"And why, Marianne?" asked he, his brow unbent, and his face beaming +with tenderness; for Gluck idolized his beautiful wife. + +She looked at his quiet, inquiring face, and broke into a merry laugh. + +"Oh, the barbarian," cried she, "not to know of what he has been guilty +of! Why, Christopher, look at those burnt-out wax lights--look at the +daylight wondering at you through your curtains. Last night, at ten +o'clock, I lit these candles, and you promised to work for only two +hours more. Look at them now, and see what you have been doing." + +"Indeed, I do believe that I have been here all night," said Gluck, with +naive astonishment. "But I assure you, Marianne, that I fully intended +to go to bed at the end of two hours. Is it my fault if the night has +seemed so short? Twelve hours since we parted? Can it be?" + +He went to the window and drew the curtains. "Day!" cried he, "and the +sun so bright!" He looked out with a smile; but suddenly his brow grew +thoughtful, and he said in a low voice: + +"Oh, may the light of day shine upon me also!" + +His wife laid her hand upon his arm. "And upon whom falls the light of +day, if not upon you?" asked she, reproachfully. "Look back upon your +twenty operas, and see each one bearing its laurel-wreath, and shouting +to the world your fame! And now look into the future, and see their +unborn sisters, whose lips one day will open to the harmony of your +music, and will teach all nations to love your memory! And I, +Christopher, I believe more in your future than in your past successes. +If I did not, think you that I would indulge you as I do in your +artistic eccentricities, and sit like a lovelorn maiden outside of this +door, my ear strained to listen for your breathing--dreading lest some +sudden stroke should have quenched the light of that genius which you +overtask--yet daring not to ask entrance, lest my presence should +affright your other loves, the Muses? Yes, my dear husband, I have faith +in the power of your genius; and for you this glorious sun has risen +to-day. Chase those clouds from the heaven of your brow. They are +ill-timed." + +In the height of her enthusiasm she twined her arms around his neck, and +rested her head upon Gluck's bosom. + +He bent down and kissed her forehead. "Then, my wife has faith, not in +what I have done, but in what I can do? Is it so, love?" + +"It is, Christopher. I believe in the power of your genius." + +Gluck's face wore an expression of triumph as she said this, and he +smiled. His smile was very beautiful, and ever, when she saw it, his +wife felt a thrill of happiness. Never had it seemed to her so full of +heavenly inspiration. + +"Since such is your faith in me, my Egeria, you will then have courage +to hear what I have to tell. Tear away the laurel-wreaths from my past +works, Marianne--burn them to ashes. They are dust and to dust they will +surely return. Their mirth and their melody, their pomp and their +pathos, are all lies. They are not the true children of +inspiration--they are impostors. They are the offspring of our affected +and falsely sentimental times, and deserve not immortality. Away with +them! A new day shall begin for me, or I shall hide my head in bitter +solitude, despising my race, who applaud the juggler, and turn away in +coldness from the veritable artiste." + +"What!" exclaimed Marianne, "those far-famed operas that delight the +world--are they nothing more than clever deceptions?" + +"Nothing more," cried Gluck. "They did not gush from the holy fount of +inspiration; they were composed and arranged to suit the taste of the +public and the dexterity of the singers, who, if they trill and juggle +with their voices, think that they have reached the summit of musical +perfection. But this must no longer be. I have written for time, I shall +now work for immortality. Let me interpret what the angels have +whispered, and then you shall hear a language which nothing but music +can translate. What are the lame efforts of speech by the side of its +thrilling tones? Music is a divine revelation, but men have not yet +received it in their hearts. I have been made its messenger, and I shall +speak the message faithfully." + +"Ah, Christopher," interposed Marianne, "I fear you will find no +followers. If the message be too lofty for the hearers, the messenger +will be driven away in disgrace." + +"Hear the coward!" cried Gluck vehemently; "see the woman's nature +shrinking from the path of honor because it is beset with danger. I did +well not to let you know the nature of my last labors, for with your +sighs and croakings you would have turned me back again into the highway +of falsehood. But you are too late, poltroon. The work is done, and it +shall see light." Gluck looked at his wife's face, and the expression he +saw there made him pause. He was already sorry, and ready to atone. "No, +no! I wrong you, my Egeria: not only are you the wife of my love, but +the friend of my genius. Come, dearest, let us brave the world together; +and even if that fail us, let us never doubt the might of truth and the +glory of its interpreters." + +So saying, Gluck reached out his hands; and his wife, with a trusting +smile laid both hers upon them. "How can you doubt me, Christopher?" +asked she. "Look back into the past, to the days of our courtship, and +say then who was faint-hearted, and who then declared that his little +weight of grief was too heavy for those broad shoulders to bear." + +"I! I!" confessed Gluck; "but I was in love, and a man in love is always +a craven." + +"And I suppose," laughed Marianne, "that I was not in love, which will +account for my energy and patience on that occasion. To think that my +rich father thought me too good for Gluck!--Heaven forgive me but I +could not mourn him as I might have done, had his death not left me free +to marry you, you ill-natured giant. Yes! and now that twelve years have +gone by, I love you twice as well as I did; and God, who knew there was +no room in my heart for other loves, has given me no children, for I +long for none. You are to me husband, lover, friend, and--you need not +shake your head, sir--you are child, too. Then why have you kept your +secrets from me--tell me, traitor, why?" + +"Not because you were faint-hearted, my beloved," said Gluck with +emotion; "my violent temper wronged us both, when it provoked me to +utter a word so false. But genius must labor in secret and in silence; +its works are like those enchanted treasures of which we have +read--speak of their existence, and lo! they are ashes, Sometimes genius +holds an enchanted treasure before the eyes of the artiste, who in holy +meditation must earn it for himself. One word spoken breaketh the spell, +and therefore it was, Marianne, that I spoke not the word. But the +treasure is mine; I have earned it, and at my wife's feet I lay it, +perchance that she may stand by my side, while the world rejects it as +worthless, and heaps obloquy upon my head." + +"His will be a bold hand that casts the first stone at the giant!" said +Marianne, looking proudly upon the tall and stalwart figure of her +husband. + +"You call me giant, and that recalls to me a fact which bears upon the +subject of our conversation now," said Gluck, with a laugh. "It was the +fall of my 'Giant' that first showed me the precipice toward which I, my +works, and all my musical predecessors, were hastening." + +"You mean your 'Cuduta de Giganti,' which you tried to exhibit before +those icy English people?" + +"Do not speak against the English, Marianne; they are a good, upright +nation. It is not their fault if they are better versed in bookkeeping +than in music; and I do not know that they are far wrong when they +prefer the chink of gold to the strumming and piping which, until now, +the world, turning up the whites of its eyes, has called music. I, who +had been piping and strumming with the rest, suddenly rushed out of the +throng, and thrusting my masterpiece in their faces, told them that it +was music. Was it their fault if they turned their backs and would not +believe me? I think not." + +"Oh I you need not excuse the English, Christopher. I know the history +of the 'Cuduta de Giganti,' although Master Gluck has never told it me. +I know that the young artist met with no favor at English hands; and I +know that because his works were not a lame repetition of Italian music +and water, the discerning Londoners voted it worthless. I know, too, +that Master Gluck, in his distress, took counsel with the great Handel, +and besought him to point out the opera's defects. Then said Handel--" + +"How, dear prattler, you know what Handel said?" + +"I do, Master Gluck. Handel said: 'You have given yourself too much +trouble, man. To please the English public you must make a great noise. +Give them plenty of brass and sheep-skin.'" + +"So he did," cried Gluck, convulsed with laughter. "I followed his +advice. I sprinkled the choruses with trumpet and drum, and the second +time the opera came out it was a complete success." + +Marianne joined in the mirth of her husband. + +"But now, if all this is true, why do you like the English?" + +"Because my failure in England taught me the utter worthlessness of our +present school of music, and inspired me with the desire to reform it." + +He drew her arm within his, and seated her on the divan by his side. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE NEW OPERA. + +"Now, Marianne," said he, putting his arm around her waist, "hear the +secret history of my musical career. I will tell you of the misfortunes +which my genius has encountered through life. I begin with England. It +is of no use to go back to the privations of my boyhood, though they +were many; for hunger and thirst are the tribute that man must pay to +fate for the capital which genius gives to him, and which he must +increase with all his might and all his strength. Even as a boy I craved +less for bread than for fame; and I consecrated my life and soul to art. +I thought that I was in the right way, for I had written eight operas, +which the Italians lauded to the skies. But the 'Caduta de Giganti' was +a failure, and 'Artamene' likewise. This double fiasco enraged me (you +know my bad temper, Marianne). I could not bear to be so misconceived. I +was determined to show the English that, in spite of them, I was an +artiste. I longed to bring them to my feet, as Jupiter did the Titans. +So I ordered from one of those poetasters to be found in every land, a +sort of libretto called, in theatrical parlance, a lyric drama; and to +the words of this monstrosity I arranged the very finest airs of my +several operas. When I had completed this musical kaleidoscope I called +it 'Pyramus and Thisbe.' I dished up my olla podrida, and set it before +the hungry English; but they did not relish it. The public remained +cold, and, what was far worse, I remained cold myself. I thought over +this singular result, and wondered how it was that music which, as a +part of the operas for which it was written, had seemed so full of soul, +now faded into insipidity when transplanted to the soil of other +dramatic situations. I found the answer in the question. It was because +I had transplanted my music from its native soil, that its beauty had +flown. Then it burst upon my mind that the libretto is the father of the +opera, the music its mother; and so, if the father be not strong and +lusty, the mother will bring forth a sickly offspring, which offspring +cannot grow up to perfection. Now, my operas are sickly, for they are +the children of an unsound father, who is no true poet." + +"Still, still, rash man!" whispered Marianne, looking around as though +she feared listeners. "Do you forget that the father of your operas is +Metastasio?" + +"I remember it too well; for many of my works have perished from their +union with his weak and sentimental verses. Perished, in MY estimation, +I mean; for to make my operas passable, I have often been obliged to +write fiery music to insipid words; and introduce fioritures out of +place, that the nightingales might compensate to the world for the +shortcomings of the poet. Well, my heart has bled while I wrote such +music, and I prayed to God to send me a true poet--one who could write +of something else besides love; one, who could rise to the height of my +own inspiration, and who could develop a genuine lyric drama, with +characters, not personages, and a plot whose interest should increase +unto its end." + +"And have you found him?" asked Marianne, with a meaning smile. "I have. +It is-" + +"Calzabigi," interrupted she. + +"How!" cried the fiery Gluck, "after promising secrecy, has he been +unable to curb his tongue?" + +"Nonsense, Christopher! he has not said a word to me. I guessed this +long ago." + +"And how comes it that you never hinted a word of it to ME?" + +"I waited for the hour when you deemed it best to speak, my love; for I +fully comprehend the reasons for your silence. I waited therefore until +Minerva should come forth, full armed, to challenge Jove's opponents to +the strife. Meanwhile I had faith in God and thee, Christopher, and I +prayed for Heaven's blessing on thy genius." + +"Heaven will hear thy prayer, my better self," cried Gluck, drawing his +wife close to his heart. "Oh, how happy I feel to be permitted to speak +with thee of my past labors! How gladly shall I listen to thy criticisms +or thy approval! both, more to me than those of all the world beside. +Come, Marianne, I will begin now." + +He sprang up from the divan, and would have hurried to the piano, but +Marianne held him back. "Maestro," said she, "before we sacrifice to +Apollo, let us give to life and mortality their rights. Prose awaits us +in the dining-room, and we shall give her audience before we open the +pages of this nameless opera." + +"You shall hear its name, Marianne. It is--" + +Marianne put her arms around his neck, and whispered, "Hush, my Orpheus!" + +"How! You know that also?" + +She raised her hand, as if in menace. "Know, Christopher, that little +Hymen tolerates no man who has secrets from his wife. You tried to be +silent, but betrayed yourself in your sleep. You do not know how often +during the night you have called Eurydice in tones of plaintive music. +Nor do you know how, as you appealed to the deities of the infernal +regions, I shuddered at the power of your weird notes!" + +"You heard, then," cried Cluck, enchanted. "And you--" + +"My friend Prose, Prose calls with angry voice. Away to the dining-room! +A man who has revelled all night with the Muses, needs refreshment in +the morning. Nay--you need not frown like Jupiter Tonans--you must go +with me to eat earthly food, before I taste your nectar and ambrosia. +Come, and to reward your industry you shall have a glass of Lacrimae +Christi from the cellar of the Duke of Bologna." + +She drew him from the room, and succeeded in landing him at the +breakfast-table. + +"Now, I will not hear a word about art," said Marianne, when the +servants had brought in the breakfast. "I am the physician, both of body +and mind, and condemn you to a silence of fifteen minutes. Then you may +talk." + +"Of my opera, carissima?" + +"Heaven forbid! of the wind and weather--nothing else. Now hush, and +drink your chocolate." + +So Gluck, obedient, drank his chocolate, and ate his biscuit and +partridge-wing in silence. + +All at once, the comfortable stillness was broken by a loud ringing of +the door-bell, and a servant announced Signor Calzabigi. + +Gluck darted off from the table, but Marianne, laughing, brought him +back again. "First, your glass of Lacrimae Christi," said she. +"Calzabigi will be indulgent and wait for us a moment." + +He took the glass, and inclining his head, drank her health. + +"Marianne," said he cheerfully, "I have been amiable and tractable as a +good child. Enough of Prose, then--give me my freedom now, will you?" + +"Yes, maestro; you are free; your body is refreshed, and can bear the +weight of that strong soul that has no infirmities to impede its flight. +Fly, if you list--to Calzabigi!" + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +RANIER VON CALZABIGI. + +The door of the drawing-room bad scarcely opened before Calzabigi +hastened forward to meet Gluck. But, seeing his wife, he stopped, and +made a profound inclination. + +"Speak out, friend," cried Gluck merrily. "She knows every thing, and +think what a treasure of a wife she is! She has known it all along, +without betraying herself by a word." + +"And does that surprise you?" answered Calzabigi, "It does not me, for +well I know that the signora is an angel of prudence as well as of +goodness. The signora will allow me to speak before her? Well, then, +maestro, the die is cast. I am just from the house of Count Durazzo, to +whom, at your request, I took the opera yesterday. The count sat up all +night to examine it; and this morning, when I was ushered into his room, +I found him still in his evening-dress, the score on the table before +him." + +"Hear, Marianne," exclaimed Gluck, triumphantly, "it is not only the +composer who forgets to sleep for the sake of this opera. And what said +the theatrical director, Raniero?" + +"He said that no intrigue and no opposition should prevent him from +representing this magnificent opera. He says that he feels proud of the +privilege of introducing such a chef-d'oeuvre to the world. He has +already sent for the transcribers; he has chosen the performers, and +begs of the author to distribute the parts. But every thing must be done +at once, for the opera comes out in October to celebrate the birthday of +the young Archduchess Isabella." + +"That is impossible," cried Gluck. "We are in July, and such an opera +cannot be learned in three months." + +"With good-will, it can be done, Christopher," said Marianne, +imploringly. "Do not leave your enemies time to cabal against you; +snatch the victory from them before they have time for strategy." + +"You do not know what you require at my hands," returned he, +passionately. "You do not know how an ill-timed pause or a slighted rest +would mar the fair face of my godlike music, and travesty its beauty." + +"Hear how he defames himself!" laughed Marianne, "as if it were so easy +to desecrate Gluck's masterpiece." + +"It is precisely because it is my masterpiece that it is easy to +travesty," returned Gluck, earnestly. "The lines which distinguish the +hand of a Raphael from that of a lesser genius are so delicate as to be +almost imperceptible. Slight deviations of the pencil have no effect +upon a caricature; but you well know how completely a beautiful face +maybe disfigured by a few unskilful touches. I will cite as an example +the aria of 'Orpheus,' 'Che faro senza Euridice' Change its expression +by the smallest discrepancy of time or modulation, and you transform it +into a tune for a puppet-show. In music of this description a misplaced +piano or forte, an ill-judged fioriture, an error of movement, either +one, will alter the effect of the whole scene. The opera must, +therefore, be rehearsed under my own direction, for the composer is the +soul of his opera, and his presence is as necessary to its success as is +that of the sun to the creation." [Footnote: These are Gluck's own +words. Anton Schmid, "Life of Gluck," page 152.] + +"Well, I am sure, you can manage the whole troupe with that stentor +voice of yours," replied Marianne. + +"If you do not consent, Gluck," interposed Calzabigi, "they will have to +rehearse for the birthday fete an opera of Hasse and Metastasio." + +"What!" shrieked Gluck, "lay aside my 'Orpheus' for one of Hasse's puny +operas? Never! My opera is almost complete. It needs but one last aria +to stand out before the world in all its fulness of perfection, and +shall I suffer it to be laid aside to give place to one of his tooting, +jingling performances? No, no. My 'Orpheus' shall not retire before +Hasse's pitiful jeremiades. It shall be forthcoming on the birthday, and +I must train the singers by day and by night." + +"Right!" exclaimed Marianne, "and we shall crown you with new laurels, +Christopher, on that eventful night." + +"I am not so sure of that, Marianne. It is easier to criticise than to +appreciate, and every thing original or new provokes the opposition of +the multitude. In our case, they have double provocation, for +Calzabigi's poem is as original as my music. We have both striven for +simplicity, nature, and truth; we have both discarded clap-trap of every +sort. Oh, Calzabigi, my friend, how happy for me that I have found such +a poet! If, through his 'Orpheus,' Gluck is to attain fame, he well +knows how much of it is due to the inspiration of your noble poem." + +"And never," exclaimed Calzabigi, grasping the extended hand of the +composer, "never would the name of poor Calzabigi have been known, had +Gluck not borne it along upon the pinions of his own fame. If the world +calls me poet, it is because my poem has borrowed beauty from Gluck's +celestial music." + +"Yes," said Gluck, laughing, "and if your poem fails, you will be +equally indebted to Gluck's music. Those half-learned critics, so +numerous in the world, who are far more injurious to art than the +ignorant, will rave against our opera. Another class of musical pedants +will be for discovering carelessness, and, for aught we know, the +majority of the world may follow in their wake, and condemn our opera as +barbarous, discordant, and overstrained." + +"We must try to forestall all these prejudices, and win the critics to +the side of truth and real art," said Marianne. + +"The signora is right," said Calzabigi. "It is not so much for our own +sake, as for the sake of art, that we should strive to have a fair +hearing before the world. We have the powerful party of Metastasio and +Hasse to gain. But I will deal with them myself. You, maestro, speak a +word of encouragement to Hasse, and he will be so overjoyed, that he +will laud your opera to the skies. And pray, be a man among men, and do +as other composers have done before: pay a visit to the singers, and ask +them to bring all their skill to the representation of your great work; +ask them to--" + +Here, Gluck, boiling over with indignation, broke in upon Calzabigi, so +as actually to make the poet start back. + +"What!" cried he, in a voice of thunder, "shall I visit the ladies' +maids also, and make them declarations of love? Shall I present each +singer with a golden snuff-box, while I entertain the troupe at a +supper, where champagne shall flow like water, and Indian birds-nests +shall be served up with diamonds? Shall I present myself in full +court-dress at the anteroom of the tenor, and, slipping a ducat in the +hand of his valet, solicit the honor of an interview? Shall I then bribe +the maid of the prima donna to let me lay upon her mistress's +toilet-table a poem, a dedication, and a set of jewels? Shame upon you, +cravens, that would have genius beg for suffrages from mediocrity! +Rather would I throw my 'Orpheus' behind the fire, and let every opera I +have ever written follow it to destruction. I would bite out my tongue, +and spit it in Hasse's face, sooner than go before him with a mouth full +of flattering lies, to befool him with praise of that patchwork he has +made, and calls AN OPERA! When I was obscure and unknown, I scorned +these tricks of trade; and think you that to-day I would stoop to such +baseness? Eight years ago, in Rome, a cabal was formed to cause the +failure of my 'Trionfo de Camillo,' Cardinal Albini came to assure me +that his influence should put down the plots of my enemies. I thanked +him, but refused all protection for my opera: and I told his eminence +that my works must depend upon their own worth for success. [Footnote: +This is true. Anton Schmid, page 88.] And you dare, at this time, to +come with such proposals to me? You are not worthy of my friendship. I +will have nothing further to say to either of you, you cringing +puppets!" + +So saying, with his dark-blue dressing-gown flying out like an angry +cloud behind him, Gluck strode across the room, and sailed off to his +private study. + +Marianne, smiling, reached out her hand to the astounded poet. "Forgive +his stormy temper," said she, gently; "he can no more bear contradiction +than a spoiled child. His wrath looks formidable; but though there is +much thunder, there is no lightning about him. Wait a quarter of an +hour, kind friend, and he will be back, suing for pardon and imploring +us to take his hand, just like a naughty child that he is. Then he will +smile, and look so ashamed that you will never have the heart to feel +resentful." + +"I have none already," replied Calzabigi; "his thunder has rolled +grandly over our heads, and right noble are its sounds; but the +lightning has spared us. We are safe, and--unconvinced. For, indeed, +signora," continued Raniero, with earnestness, "we are right. No +reliance is ever to be placed upon the justice or good taste of the +world, and since the maestro refuses to propitiate his judges; I will +undertake the task myself. I shall go at once to Metastasio, and after +that I shall invite the performers to a supper." + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE BIRTHDAY. + +It was the birthday of the Archduchess Isabella, and all Vienna was +alive with festivity. The passionate love of the archduke for his +beautiful young wife was well known, and the people hastened to offer +homage to the beloved partner of their future emperor. + +From early morning the equipages of the nobility were seen hurrying to +the palace, where the archduchess in state, surrounded by the other +members of the imperial family, received the congratulations of the +court. In an adjoining room, on a table of white marble, were exhibited +the rich gifts by which her new relatives had testified their affection; +for Isabella was adored by her husband's family. + +The Emperor Francis, usually so simple, had presented her with a set of +jewels, worth half a million; and the empress, whose joy in the +happiness of her son's wedded life knew no bounds, was lavish in her +demonstrations of love to the woman who had awakened his heart to gentle +emotions. + +Not only had every variety of rich costumes been ordered for Isabella +from Paris, but the empress had gone so far as to present a set of +bridal jewels to her little grand-daughter, a child scarcely a year old. +This magnificent parure of diamonds, sapphires, and pearls, was the +admiration of the whole court. Around it lay the offerings of the young +sisters-in-law, all of whom, with one exception, had presented +something. The Princess Christina, the dearest friend of Isabella, had +painted her miniature, and this beautiful likeness was intended as a +present to the Archduke Joseph. [Footnote: Wraxall, page 80.] He +received it with delight; and while his large blue eyes wandered from +the portrait to the original, he testified his pleasure by every +possible expression of rapture and gratitude. "And yet," said he, "there +is something in this picture which I have never seen in your +countenance, Isabella. Your eyes, which to me have always seemed to +borrow their light from heaven, here look dark and unfathomable, as if +within their melancholy depths there lay a secret full of untold +sorrow." + +Joseph did not perceive the look of intelligence that passed between his +wife and sister as he spoke these words: he still gazed upon the +picture, and at last his face, which had been lit up with joy, grew +sorrowful and full of thought. Suddenly he laid the miniature down, and +placing his hands upon Isabella's shoulders, he looked searchingly at +her pale countenance. + +"Look at me, my beloved," whispered he, tenderly, "let me see your +bewitching smile, that it may give the lie to yonder strange image. I +see there your beautiful features, but instead of my loving and beloved +wife, my happy, smiling Isabella, I see an angel, but, oh, I see a +martyr, too, dying of some secret sorrow. That is not your face--is it +my wife? YOU have never looked so wretched, so heart-broken! Speak, +Isabella, you are happy, are you not, my own one?" + +"Yes, dear husband," whispered she, scarcely moving her blanched lips, +"I am happy and contented in your happiness, But see, the empress +beckons to you. She seems about to present some stranger to your +notice." + +The archduke left to obey the summons, and Isabella and Christina +remained together, looking vacantly upon the birthday-table and the +splendid gifts that lay in such rich profusion before their eyes. + +"Poor brother!" murmured Christina, "he loves as few have ever loved +before! And you, dear sister, can you not kindle one spark from the +embers of your heart to warm--" + +"Why speak of my dead heart?" said Isabella, mournfully. "Did I not long +ago confide to you its terrible secret? You, my trusted and dearest +friend, have you not seen how I pray Heaven for strength to hold before +my husband's eyes the faint ray of light which he mistakes for the +sunshine of love? Dear Joseph! His heart is so noble and so rich with +love that he sees not the poverty of mine. May God be merciful that his +delusion last at least as long as my life! then will I die happy; for I +shall have done my duty in the face of a sorrow transcending all other +sorrows." + +Christina bent her head over the glittering heaps before her, that no +one might see her tears. But Isabella saw them as they fell upon the +bridal gifts of her little daughter. + +She pointed to the jewels. "See, Christina, your tears are brighter than +our dear mother's diamonds. Now, were the emperor here--" + +"Heaven forbid!" said Christina, as with her gossamer handkerchief she +wiped away the fallen tear. "If the empress were to know this, she would +be justly displeased, that, on such a day, my tears should dim the +splendor of your little daughter's bridal jewels." + +"Give yourself no concern for my daughter's jewels, Christina; she will +never see her bridal-day." + +"How? Do you expect her to be an old maid, like my two eldest sisters?" +asked Christina, with assumed playfulness. + +Isabella laid her hand on Christina's shoulder. "I believe," said she, +solemnly, "or rather I know, that my daughter will ere long be an +angel." + +"Oh, Isabella," cried Christina, almost impatiently, "is it not enough +that you prophesy your own death, to make me wretched, without adding to +my grief by predicting that of your child, too?" + +"I cannot leave her behind, Christina; I should be unhappy without her. +She must follow me--but hush! Here comes the empress --let us be happy +for her sake." + +And with a sweet smile, Isabella advanced to greet her mother-in-law. + +"My dearest daughter," said the empress, "I long for this ceremonial to +end, that we may enjoy our happiness en famille. We must dine in +private, unless you wish it otherwise, for to-day you are empress of all +hearts, and your wishes are commands." + +Isabella raised the hand of the empress to her lips. "I have but one +wish to-day, your majesty," said she; "it is that you love me." + +"That wish was granted before it was uttered, my beloved child," replied +the empress, tenderly, "for indeed I love you more and more each day of +my life; and when I see you and my son together, your happiness seems +like the old melody of my own happy bridal so many years ago." + +"And yet," said Isabella, "your majesty looks so young--" + +"No, child, I am a grandmother," replied the empress, smiling proudly, +"but my heart is as young as ever, and it leaps with joy when I look +upon the son whom you have made so happy. Why, HIS heart looks out of +his great, blue eyes with such--But see for yourself, here he comes!" + +At this moment the archduke entered the room, and advanced toward his +mother, while at the door, apparently awaiting his return, stood the +emperor and the lord high chancellor, Kaunitz. + +"Pardon me, your majesty, if I interrupt you," said the archduke. "I +have just learned from the marshal of the imperial household that your +majesty has declined going to the opera to-night. Can this be possible, +when Gluck's new opera has been rehearsing for two months with especial +reference to this occasion?" + +"It can," replied the empress, "for I do not interdict the +representation--I only absent myself from it." + +The archduke crimsoned, and he was about to make some hasty reply, when +he felt the pressure of his wife's hand upon his arm. He smiled, and +controlled himself at once. + +"Forgive me, if I venture to remonstrate with your majesty," replied he, +good-humoredly. "This new opera of Gluck is a musical gem, and is well +worthy your majesty's notice." + +"I have been told, on the contrary, that it is very tiresome," exclaimed +the empress with impatience. "The libretto is heavy, and the music also. +It is highly probable that the opera will fail, and it would certainly +be unfortunate if, on this day of rejoicing, we should assemble there to +witness the failure." + +"But your majesty may have been misinformed," persisted Joseph. "Let me +beg of you, my dear mother, for the sake of the great maestro, who would +take your absence sorely to heart, as well as for the sake of the +director, Count Durazzo, who has taken such pains to produce this new +masterpiece--let me beg you to reconsider your decision." + +"And allow me to add my entreaties to those of Joseph," said the +emperor; entering the room. "All Vienna awaits the new representation as +a high artistic gratification. Without your majesty's presence the +triumph of the maestro will be incomplete." + +"And the emperor, too, opposes me?" said Maria Theresa. "Does he, too, +desert the old style, to follow these new-fangled musical +eccentricities? Have we not all enjoyed the opera as it exists at +present? And if so, why shall this Master Gluck step suddenly forward +and announce to us that we know nothing of music, and that what we have +hitherto admired as such was nothing more than trumpery? Why does he +disdain the poetry of Metastasio, to adopt that of a man whom nobody +knows? I will not lend my hand to mortify the old man who for thirty +years has been our court-poet. I owe it to him, at least, not to appear +at this representation, and that is reason enough for me to refuse my +presence there." + +"But Calzabigi's poem is of surpassing beauty," remonstrated the +emperor; "for Kaunitz himself has seen it, and is in raptures with it." + +"Ah, Kaunitz, too, has given his adherence to the new musical caprice of +Master Gluck?" said the empress, signing to the count to come forward. + +"Yes, your majesty," said Kaunitz, bowing, "I also am for the new and +startling, whether in politics or in music. I have learned this lesson +from my imperial mistress, whose new line of policy now commands the +admiration of all Europe." + +The empress received these flattering words with an emotion of visible +pleasure; for it was seldom that Kaunitz paid compliments, even to +sovereigns. + +"You mean, then, that Gluck has not only produced something new, but +something of worth, also?" + +"Yes, your majesty, music has cut off her queue, and really in her new +coiffure she is divinely beautiful. Moreover, your majesty has rewarded +the seventy years of Metastasio with a rich pension, proof enough to him +of the estimation in which his talents are held. Metastasio belongs to +the old regime you have pensioned off; Calzabigi and Gluck are children +of our new Austria. Your majesty's self has created this Austria, and +you owe to her children your imperial countenance and favor." + +"But I have been told there will be some strife to-night between the +rival parties," said the empress. + +"And since when has your majesty shunned the battle-field?" asked +Kaunitz. + +"But the defeat, count, I fear the defeat. The opera is sure to fail." + +"No one knows better than your majesty how to console the vanquished. +Your majesty was never greater than when, after the defeat of +Field-marshal Daun, you went forth to meet him with all the honors which +you would have awarded to a victorious general. [Footnote: After the +battle of Torgau, which Daun lost.] If Gluck fails to-day, he will not +be the less a great artiste, and your majesty will sustain him under his +reverses." + +The empress laughed. "It is dangerous to contend with Kaunitz, for he +slays me with my own weapons. And you, too, my husband, would have me +abandon Hasse and Metastasio, who are so pious and so good, for this +Gluck, whom I have never met inside of a church? Gluck is not even a +Christian." + +"But he is a genius," cried out Joseph, "and genius is pleasing in the +sight of God. Metastasio and Hasse are old, and having nothing better to +do, they go to church. If they were young, your majesty would not meet +them so often, I fancy." + +The face of the empress grew scarlet while the archduke poured forth +these thoughtless words; and all present felt that Gluck and his cause +were lost. + +But Isabella came to the rescue. Approaching the empress and kissing her +hand, she said: "Your majesty has been so good as to say that to-day you +would refuse me nothing. I have two requests to make. May I speak?" + +"Yes, dear child, you may," replied the empress, already appeased by the +gentle voice of her beloved daughter-in-law. "I know so well that you +will ask nothing unseemly that I do not fear to grant your requests. +What are they?" + +"First, your majesty, I beg that my husband and I be permitted to attend +the mass that is to be celebrated in your private chapel, that by your +side we may beg of God to give peace to Austria, and to bless us, your +majesty's own family, with unity and love among ourselves. Will you +permit this?" + +The empress, in her animated way, drew the archduchess toward her, and +kissed her tenderly. + +"You are an angel, Isabella," said she, "and discord ceases at the very +sound of your voice. Yes, dearest child, you shall come with Joseph; and +side by side we will pray for peace and family concord. For the second +boon, I guess it. Is it not that I grant your husband's petition?" + +Isabella, smiling, bowed her head, and the empress turned toward the +emperor. + +"Well, your majesty," continued she, "since my presence is +indispensable, I bow to your superior judgment in art, and the court +must attend the opera to-night. Are you satisfied, my son?" asked she of +the archduke. "Are you satisfied now that I have sacrificed my +prejudices to give you pleasure? And on some future occasion will you do +as much for me, should I require it?" + +"With shame I shall remember your majesty's goodness in pardoning my +ungracious behavior to-day" replied the archduke, fervently pressing his +mother's hands to his lips. + +"I not only forgive but forget it, my son," said Maria Theresa, with one +of her enchanting smiles; "this is a day of rejoicing, and no clouds +shall darken our happiness. Let us now retire to the chapel, for, +believe me, dear son, it is not well to forget our heavenly Father until +age forces us to remember our dependence. A great and brilliant destiny +is before you, Joseph, and much you need help from Heaven. Watch and +pray while you are young, that you may call down the blessing of God +upon your career." + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. + +On that night, all Vienna sped to the Imperial Opera-house. Not lords +and ladies alone, but commoners and artisans with their wives, thronged +to hear the wonderful music which for three weeks had divided the +Viennese into two bitter factions. On one side stood Metastasio, the +venerable court-poet, whose laurels dated from the reign of the +empress's father. Linked with his fame was that of Hasse, who for forty +years had been called "Il caro Sassone" Hasse, who had composed so many +operas, was often heard to say, that, when it came upon him unawares, he +did not know his own music. + +All Italy had declared for Hasse and Metastasio, and in scornful +security the Italians had predicted the discomfiture of the new school +of music. + +On the other hand were Gluck and his friend Calzabigi, whose partisans +disdained the old style, and lauded the new one to the skies. Gluck was +perfectly indifferent to all this strife of party. Not once, since the +first day of rehearsal, had his countenance lost its expression of calm +and lofty security. Resolved to conquer, he receded before no obstacle. +In vain had the prima donna, the renowned Gabrielle, complained of +hoarseness: Gluck blandly excused her, and volunteered to send for her +rival, Tibaldi, to take the role of Eurydice. This threat cured the +hoarseness, and Gabrielle attended the rehearsals punctually. In vain +had Guadagni attempted, by a few fioritures, to give an Italian turn to +the severe simplicity of Orpheus's air. At the least deviation from his +text, Gluck, with a frown, would recall the ambitious tenor, and do away +with his embellishments. In vain had the chorus-singers complained of +the impossibility of learning their parts. Gluck instructed them one by +one. He had trained the orchestra, too, to fullest precision; and +finally, every difficulty overcome, the great opera of "Orpheus and +Eurydice" was ready for representation on the birthday of the +Archduchess Isabella. + +Shortly before the hour of performance, Gluck entered his drawing-room +in a rich court-dress, his coat covered with decorations. His wife met +him, elegantly attired, and sparkling with diamonds. She held out her +hand, and smiled a happy smile. + +"Look at me, my hero," said she. "I have arrayed myself in my +wedding-jewels. I feel to-night as I did on the day when we plighted our +faith to one another before the altar. Then, dear Christopher, our +hearts were united; to-day--our souls. Is it not so? And are we not one +in spirit?" + +"Yes, dearest, yes," replied Gluck, folding her in his arms, "never have +I so prized and loved you as in these later days of strife and struggle. +Well do I feel what a blessing to man is a noble woman! Often during our +rehearsals, when I have encountered the supercilious glances of +performers and orchestra, the thought of your dear self has given me +strength to confront and defy their scorn. And when, weary in mind and +body, I have found my way home, the touch of your hand has refreshed and +cooled the fever in my heart. And often when others have pronounced my +music worthless, I might have despaired, but for the remembrance of your +emotion. I thought of your tears and of your rapture, and hope revived +in my sick heart. Your applause, dear wife, has sustained me to the +end." + +"No, dear Christopher," replied Marianne, "not my applause, but the +might of your own inspiration. That which is truly great must sooner or +later prevail over mediocrity." + +"The world is not so appreciative as you fancy. Marianne! Else had +Socrates not drunk of the poisoned beaker, nor Christ, our Lord, been +crucified. Mediocrity is popular, because it has the sympathy of the +masses. Not only does it come within their comprehension, but it is +accommodating; it does not wound their littleness. I know, dear wife, +that my opera is a veritable work of art, and therefore do I tremble +that its verdict is in the hands of mediocrity. Poor Marianne! You have +arrayed yourself for a bridal, and it MAY happen that we go to the +funeral of my masterpiece." + +"Well, even so," replied the spirited wife, "I shall not have decked +myself in vain; I shall die like the Indian widow, upon the funeral pile +of my dear husband's greatness. I will both live and die with you, +maestro; whether you are apotheosized or stoned, your worth can neither +be magnified nor lessened by the world. My faith in your genius is +independent of public opinion; and whether you conquer or die, your +opera must live." + +"How I wish," said Gluck thoughtfully, "that from above, I might look +down a hundred years hence and see whether indeed my works will have +value on earth, or be thrown aside as antiquated trumpery! But it is +useless--an impenetrable cloud covers the future, and we must e'en +content ourselves with the verdict of the day. Let me be strong to meet +it!--Come, Marianne, the carriage is coming to the door, and we must go. +But is all this splendor to be hidden behind the lattice-work of my +little stage-box?" + +"Oh, no, Christopher," said his wife gayly; "on such a night as this, I +have taken another box; from whence I can be a happy witness of my +husband's triumph." + +"What intrepid confidence the woman possesses!" exclaimed Gluck, +catching his wife's gayety. "But how will my brave champion feel, if she +has to see as well as hear the hisses that may possibly greet us +to-night!" + +"I shall feel heartily ashamed of the audience," replied Marianne, "and +shall take no pains to conceal my contempt." + +"We shall see," answered Gluck, handing her to the carriage, and +following her with a merry laugh. "Now, forward!" + +Within the theatre all was commotion. On one side, the partisans from +the old school, who, from prejudice or custom, adhered to Hasse and +Metastasio, predicted failure. This party was composed of Italians, and +of all those who had "gone out" with old Austria. New Austria, on the +other hand, with all the young dilettante of Vienna, were resolved to +sustain Gluck, and, if possible, secure to his new opera an +unprecedented triumph. The excitement reached even those boxes where sat +the elite of the Viennese nobility. Even THEIR voices were to be heard +discussing the merits or demerits of the musical apple of discord. The +Gluckites related that Guadagni who, at first, had been strongly +prejudiced against the opera, had finally been moved to tears by its +exquisite harmony, and had said to Gluck that he was learning for the +first time to what heights of beauty music might soar. The Hasseites +replied that the opera was none the less tedious for Guadagni's word. +Moreover, if Hasse and Metastasio had not openly condemned Gluck's +musical innovations, it was because they were both satisfied that the +opera would damn itself, and they were present to witness the +discomfiture of its composer. [Footnote: Anton Schmid, "Ritter von +Gluck," page 92.] + +Suddenly there was a hush in the theatre. The attention of the +disputants was directed toward a small box, in the first tier, the door +of which had opened to give entrance to two persons. One was an old man +with silver-white hair, which flowed in ringlets on either side of his +pale and delicate face. His thin lips were parted with an affable smile, +and the glance of his small dark eyes was mild, benevolent, and in +keeping with the rest of his countenance. His small, bent figure was +clothed in the cassock of an abbe, but the simplicity of his costume was +heightened by the order of Theresa which, attached to a silk ribbon, +hung around his neck. + +The other was a tall, gaunt man, in the dress of court maestro de +capello. His lean face was proud and serious, his large mouth wore an +expression of scorn, and his full-orbed, light-blue eyes had a glance of +power which accorded well with his lofty stature. The two advanced arm +in arm toward the railing, and, at their appearance, a storm of applause +arose from the parterre, while the partisans of the Italian school +cried; "Long live Hasse! Long live Metastasio!" + +They bowed and took their seats. While this was transpiring, the wife of +Gluck entered her box. With a quiet smile she listened to the shouts +that greeted her husband's rivals. + +"He too" thought she, "will have his greeting and his triumph." + +She was not mistaken. No sooner had Gluck appeared in the orchestra, +than, from boxes as well as parterre, a thousand voices pealed forth his +welcome: "Long live Gluck! long live the great maestro!" + +Gluck bowed gracefully, while Marianne, happy but tranquil, unfolded her +jewelled fan, and leaned back in supreme satisfaction. Metastasio +whispered something to Hasse, who nodded his head, and then began to run +his fingers through the masses of his bushy, gray hair. + +Suddenly were heard these words: "Her majesty the empress, and the +imperial court!" + +Hushed now was every sound. Every eye was turned toward the box +surmounted by the double-headed eagle of Austria. The marshal of the +household appeared with his golden wand, the doors of the box flew +asunder, the audience rose, and the empress, leaning on the arm of the +emperor, entered her box. Magnificently dressed, and sparkling with +diamonds, her transcendent beauty seemed still more to dazzle the eyes +of her enraptured subjects. She was followed by the archduke, who, in +conversation with his wife, seemed scarcely to heed the greetings of his +future subjects. Behind them came a bevy of princes and princesses, all +of whom, including little Marie Antoinette and Maximilian, the two +youngest, had been permitted to accompany the imperial party. It was a +family festival, and Maria Theresa chose on this occasion to appear +before her people in the character of a mother. + +The empress and her husband came forward and bowed. The former then +glided gracefully into her large gilt arm-chair, while the latter signed +to his children to be seated. + +This was the signal of the music to begin. The audience resumed their +seats, Gluck raised the leader's staff, and signed to the musicians. + +The overture began. In breathless silence the audience listened to that +short, earnest overture, whose horns, trumpets, and hautboys seemed to +herald the coming of kings and heroes. + +The curtain rose, and, in a funeral hall, Orpheus poured forth his grief +for the loss of his Eurydice. With this pathetic complaint mingled the +voices of the chorus of mourners; then a solo from Orpheus, in which he +bewails anew the fate of the noble woman who had died for his sake. The +god of love appears, counselling him to descend himself to the infernal +regions. Orpheus, strengthened and revived by hope, resolves to tempt +the dangerous descent, and calls upon his friends to share his fate. + +At the end of the first act the curtain fell amid the profoundest +silence. The Hasseites shrugged their shoulders, and even Gluck's +warmest adherents felt undecided what to say of this severe Doric music, +which disdained all the coquetries of art, and rejected all superfluous +embellishment. + +"I am glad that Metastasio is here," said the empress, "for his presence +will prove to Calzabigi that he is not a pensioned dotard. And what +thinks my daughter of the opera?" asked Maria Theresa of the infanta. + +But when she saw Isabella's face, her heart grew faint with fear. The +archduchess was pale as death, and her countenance wore an expression of +grief bordering on despair. Her large, dark eyes, distended to their +utmost, were fixed upon the ceiling; and she seemed as if she still +heard the wailings of Orpheus and the plaintive chorus of his friends. + +Joseph saw nothing of this. He had taken a seat farther back, and was +chatting gayly with his little brothers and sisters. + +"God help me!" murmured the empress; "she looks as if she were dying! +Oh, if she were right with her dismal prophecy of death! What if indeed +she is to leave us? Have mercy, O God! I know that I love her too well. +She will be taken from me; Heaven will claim from me this sacrifice!" +[Footnote: The empress's words. Caraccioli, "Life of Joseph II.," page +87.] + +Isabella shuddered, and awakened from her horrid dream. Her eyes fell, +her cheeks flushed, and once more her lips parted with a gentle smile. +With a tender and appealing look, she turned toward the empress and +kissed her hand. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," whispered she; "the music has entranced and +bewildered me. I was in another world, and was lost to the present." + +"The music pleases you, then?" asked the empress. + +"Oh, your majesty," cried Isabella, "this is no music to give pleasure; +it is the sublimest language of truth and love!" + +"Then," said the empress tenderly, "if you prize it so highly, dearest, +I will prove to you how dearly I love you, for your verdict and mine +disagree. Our next festive day will be that on which Joseph is to be +crowned King of Rome. And we shall do homage to the taste of the Queen +of Rome by ordering that this opera be repeated on the occasion of her +coronation." + +Isabella shook her head. "I shall not live long enough to be crowned +Queen of Rome." [Footnote: Isabella's own words. Wraxall, ii., page 394.] + +Maria Theresa was about to murmur a reply, when the curtain rose, and +the second act of the opera opened. + +The audience, who had been loudly canvassing the music, were silenced, +and awaited in breathless expectation the unfolding of the plot. Soon +came the wonderful scene between Orpheus and the furies who guard the +gates of Avernus. The beseeching tones of Orpheus, and the inexorable +"No!" of the furies, made every listener tremble. Even Hasse, overcome +by the sublimity of the music, bowed his head with the rest; and +Metastasio, enraptured with the words, murmured, "Ah, che poesia +divina!" Murmurs of applause were heard from every side of the theatre; +they grew with every scene, and at last burst forth in wild shouts. It +seemed as if the audience were gradually rising to the appreciation of +this new and unknown music, until with one accord its matchless beauty +burst upon their hearts and overpowered them. + +When the curtain fell a second time, the applause knew no bounds. The +Gluckites, in triumphant silence, hearkened to the voices of the +deeply-moved multitude, who gave full vent to their emotions, and +noisily exchanged the thoughts to which the wonderful opera had given +birth. + +Marianne, supremely happy, listened enraptured, while wreaths fell in +showers around the head of her beloved husband. The adherents of Hasse +and Metastasio no longer dared to raise their voices in opposition to +the public verdict. In this state of excitement the third act began. +With increasing delight, the audience listened. When Eurydice, condemned +to return to the infernal regions, sang her plaintive aria, sobs were +heard throughout the theatre, and murmurs of applause were audible +during the whole scene. But when Orpheus concluded his passionate aria +'Che faro senza Eurydice,' the people could contain their enthusiasm no +longer. Exalted, carried away, with beating hearts and tearful eyes, +they cried "Da capo!" and when Guadagni, in compliance with the call, +had repeated his solo, the audience shouted out so often the name of +Gluck, that he could resist his joy no longer. He turned, and they saw +his noble face scarlet with blushes; then arose another storm. Again and +again the "vivas" and the clappings were renewed, each time more frantic +than before. + +Hasse, tired of the spectacle of his rival's triumph, had disappeared. +Metastasio, more magnanimous, had remained, and applauded as loudly as +any. Marianne, to conceal her tears, had hidden her face behind her open +fan; and as the applause of the people increased, until it resembled the +shouts of victory, she murmured: "I knew it, I knew it! The true and +beautiful must always prevail." + +The fire of enthusiasm had spread to the imperial box. The emperor had +more than once been heard to call out, "Bravo!" and Maria Theresa had +several times felt her eyes grow dim. But she brushed away her tears and +exclaimed: "It is beautiful, certainly; but it is a heathen opera, in +which not God but gods are invoked!" + +Isabella said nothing. She had held up before her face the bouquet which +her husband had gathered for her, that her tears might fall unseen among +its flowers. Joseph saw those tears shining like dew-drops upon its +rose-leaves, and, taking it from her hands, he kissed them away. "Do not +weep, my Isabella," whispered he tenderly; "your tears fall like a +weight of sorrow upon my heart. Wipe them away, beloved. The day will +come when you also shall be an empress, and your people will do you +homage as I do now; and then you will have it in your power to heal +their sorrows, and wipe away their tears; and they will love and bless +you as I--" + +A final burst of applause drowned the voice of the archduke. The opera +was at an end, and the people were calling again for Gluck, the creator +of the lyric drama. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +"IN THREE YEARS, WE MEET AGAIN." + +The war was over. All Vienna was rejoicing that the struggle which had +caused so much bloodshed was at an end, and that Austria and Prussia had +made peace. + +Neither of the two had gained any thing by this long war, except +glorious victories, honorable wounds, and a knowledge of the power and +bravery of its enemy. Both had serious burdens to bear, which, for many +years to come, would be painful reminders of the past. Austria, to cover +the expenses of the war, had invented paper money, and had flooded the +empire with millions of coupons. Prussia had coined base money, and all +the employes of the state had received notes, which were nicknamed +"Beamtenscheine." After the war these notes were exchanged for this base +currency, which soon afterward was withdrawn from circulation as +worthless. But Prussia had obtained from Austria full recognition of her +rights to Silesia, and she in return had pledged herself to vote for +Joseph as candidate for the crown of Rome, and to support the +pretensions of the empress to the reversion of the duchy of Modena. + +We have said that all Vienna was rejoicing, and turned out to receive +the returning army with laurel wreaths and oaken boughs. The people +breathed freely once more; they shouted and feasted, and prepared +themselves to enjoy to their utmost the blessings of peace. + +But while the nation shouted for joy, a cloud was gathering over the +imperial palace, and its black shadow darkened the faces of the once +happy family. + +There wanted now but a few months to complete the third year of the +archduke's marriage, and the young princesses seized every opportunity +to make schemes of pleasure for the joyous anniversary. Isabella viewed +these projects with a mournful smile. Her countenance became sadder and +more serious, except when in the presence of her husband. There she +assumed an appearance of gayety: laughing, jesting, and drawing from her +violin its sweetest sounds. But, with her attendants, or in the company +of the other members of the imperial family, she was melancholy, and +made her preparations for death, which she foretold would overtake her +very soon. + +"You believe this terrible presentiment, my daughter?" said the empress +to her one day. "Will you indeed forsake us who love you so dearly?" + +"It is not that I will, but that I MUST go," replied she. "It is God who +calls me, and I must obey." + +"But why do you think that God has called you?" + +Isabella was silent for a moment, then she raised her eyes with a +strange, unspeakable look to the face of the empress. "A dream has +announced it to me," said she, "a dream in which I place implicit +faith." + +"A dream?" said the pious empress to herself. "It is true that God +sometimes speaks to men in dreams; sometimes reveals to us in sleep +secrets which He denies to our waking, earthly eyes. What was your +dream, love?" + +"What I saw?" whispered she, almost inaudibly. "There are visions which +no words can describe. They do not pass as pictures before the eye, but +with unquenchable fire they brand themselves upon the heart. What I saw? +I saw a beloved and dying face, a breathing corpse. I lay overwhelmed +with grief near the outstretched form of my--my--mother. Oh, believe me, +the prayer of despair has power over death itself, and the cry of a +broken heart calls back the parting soul. I wept, I implored, I prayed, +until the dim eyes opened, the icy lips moved and the stiffening corpse +arose and looked at me, at me who knelt in wild anguish by its side." + +"Horrible! "cried the empress. "And this awful dream did not awake you?" + +"No, I did not awake, and even now it seems to me that all these things +were real. I saw the corpse erect, and I heard the words which its +hollow and unearthly voice spoke to me: `We shall meet again in +three--'" + +"Say no more, say no more," said the pale empress, crossing herself. +"You speak with such an air of conviction, that for a moment I too +seemed to see this dreadful dream. When had you your dream?" + +"In the autumn of 1760, your majesty." + +The empress said nothing. She imprinted a kiss upon the forehead of the +infants, and hastily withdrew to her own apartments. + +"I will pray, I will pray!" sobbed she. "Perhaps God will have mercy +upon us." + +She ordered her private carriage and drove to St. Stephens, where, +prostrate among the tombs of her ancestors, she prayed for more than an +hour. + +From this day Maria Theresa became sad and silent, anxiously watching +the countenance of Isabella, to see if it betokened death. But weeks +passed by, and the infanta's prophecy began to be regarded as a delusion +only fit to provoke a smile. The empress alone remained impressed by it. +She still gazed with sorrowing love at the pale and melancholy face of +her daughter-in-law. + +"You have made a convert of my mother," said the Archduchess Christina +one day to Isabella, "although," added she, laughing, "you never looked +better in your life." + +"And you, Christina, you do not believe?" said Isabella, putting her arm +around Christina's neck. "You, my friend, and the confidante of my +sorrows, you would wish to prolong the burden of this life of secret +wretchedness and dissimulation?" + +"I believe in the goodness of God, and in the excellence of your own +heart, dear Isabella. These three years once passed away, as soon as you +will have been convinced that this prophecy was indeed nothing but a +dream, your heart will reopen to life and love. A new future will loom +up before you, and at last you will reward the love of my poor brother, +not by noble self-sacrifice, but by veritable affection." + +"Would that you spoke the truth!" returned Isabella sadly. "Had my heart +been capable of loving, I would have loved him long ago--him, whose +noble and confiding love is at once my pride and my grief. Believe me +when I tell you that in these few years of married life I have suffered +terribly. I have striven with my sorrows, I have tried to overcome the +past, I have desired to live and to enjoy life--but in vain. My heart +was dead, and could not awake to life--I have only suffered and waited +for release." + +"Gracious Heaven!" cried Christina, unmoved by the confidence with which +Isabella spoke, "is there nothing then that can bind you to life? If you +are cold to the burning love of your husband, are you indifferent to +your child?" + +"Do you think that I will leave my child?" said Isabella, looking +surprised. "Oh, no! She will come to me before she is seven years old." +[Footnote: The infanta's own words. This interview of Isabella with +Christina is historical, and the most extraordinary part of it is, that +the prophecy of her child's death was fulfilled.] + +"Oh, Isabella, Isabella, I cannot believe that you will be taken from +us," cried Christina, bursting into tears, and encircling her sister +with her arms, as though she fancied that they might shield her from the +touch of death. "Stay with us, darling, we love you so dearly!" + +Her voice choked by emotion, she laid her head upon Isabella's shoulder, +and wept piteously. The infanta kissed her, and whispered words of +tenderness, and Christina's sobs died away. Both were silent. Together +they stood with sad hearts and blanched cheeks, two imperial princesses +in the prime of youth, beauty, and worldly station, yet both bowed down +by grief. + +Their lips slightly moved in prayer, but all around was silent. Suddenly +the silence was broken by the deep, full sound of a large clock which +stood on the mantel-piece. Isaella raised her pale face, and listened +with a shudder. + +For many months this clock had not struck the hour. The clockmaker, who +had been sent to repair it, had pronounced the machinery to be so +completely destroyed, that it would have to be renewed. Isabella could +not summon resolution to part with the clock. It was a dear memento of +home, and of her mother. She had therefore preferred to keep it, +although it would never sound again. + +And now it struck! Loud, even, and full-toned, it pealed the hour, and +its clear, metallic voice rang sharply through the room. + +Isabella raised her head, and, pointing to the clock, said, with a +shudder: "Christina, it is the signal--I am called!" [Footnote: +Historical. Wraxall, p. 387.] + +She drew back, as if in fear, while the clock went on with its +relentless strokes. "Come, come, let us away!" murmured Christina, with +pale and trembling lips. + +"Yes, come," sighed Isabella. + +She made a step, but her trembling feet refused to support her. She grew +dizzy, and sank down upon her knees. + +Christina uttered a cry, and would have flown for help but Isabella held +her back. "My end approaches," said she. "My senses fail me. Hear my +last words. When I am dead, you will find a letter for you. Swear that +you will comply with its demands." + +"I swear!" said Christina, solemnly. + +"I am content. Now call the physician." + +Day after day of anguish went by--of such anguish as the human heart can +bear, but which human language is inadequate to paint. + +Isabella was borne to her chamber, and the imperial physician was called +in. The empress followed him to the bedside, where pale and motionless +sat Joseph, his eyes riveted upon the beloved wife who, for the first +time, refused to smile upon him, for the first time was deaf to his +words of love and sorrow. + +The physician bent over the princess and took her hand. He felt her +head, then her heart, while the empress, with folded hands, stood +praying beside him: and Joseph, whose eyes were now turned upon him, +looked into his face, as if his whole soul lay in one long gaze of +entreaty. + +Van Swieten spoke not a word, but continued his examination. He bade the +weeping attendants uncover the feet of the princess, and bent over them +in close and anxious scrutiny. As he raised his eyes, the archduke saw +that Van Swieten was very pale. + +"Oh, doctor," cried he, in tones of agony, "do not say that she will +die! You have saved so many lives! Save my wife, my treasured wife, and +take all that I possess in the world beside!" + +The physician replied not, but went again to the head of the bed, and +looked intently at the face of the princess. It had now turned scarlet, +and here and there was flecked with spots of purple. Van Swieten +snatched from Joseph one of the burning hands which he held clasped +within his own. + +"Let me hold her dear hands," said he, kissing them again and again. + +The doctor held up the little hand he had taken, which, first as white +as fallen snow, was now empurpled with disease. He turned it over, +looked into the palm, opened the fingers, and examined them closely. + +"Doctor, in mercy, speak!" said the agonized husband. "Do you not see +that I shall die before your eyes, unless you promise that she shall +live!" + +The empress prayed no longer. When she saw how Van Swieten was examining +the fingers of the archduchess, she uttered a stifled cry, and hiding +her head with her hands, she wept silently. At the foot of the bed knelt +the attendants, all with their tearful eyes lifted to the face of him +who would promise life or pronounce death. Van Swieten gently laid down +the hand of his patient, and opened her dress over the breast. As though +he had seen enough, he closed it quickly and stood erect. + +His eyes were now fixed upon Joseph with an expression of deep and +painful sympathy. "Speak," said Joseph, with trembling lips, "I have +courage to hear." + +"It is my duty to speak," replied Van Swieten, "my duty to exact of her +majesty and of your highness to leave the room. The archduchess has the +small-pox." + +Maria Theresa sank insensible to the floor. From the anteroom where he +was waiting the emperor heard the fall, and hastening at the sound, he +bore his wife away. + +Joseph, meanwhile, sat as though he had been struck by a thunderbolt. + +"Archduke Joseph," cried Van Swieten, "by the duty you owe to your +country and your parents I implore you to leave this infected spot." + +Joseph raised his head, and a smile illumined his pale face. "Oh," cried +he, "I am a happy man; I have had the small-pox! I at least can remain +with her until she recovers or dies." + +"Yes, but you will convey the infection to your relatives." + +"I will not leave the room, doctor," said Joseph resolutely. "No inmate +of the palace shall receive the infection through me. I myself will be +Isabella's nurse until--" + +He could speak no more; he covered his face with his hands, and his +tears fell in showers over the pillow of his unconscious wife. + +Van Swieten opposed him no longer. He was suffered to remain, nursing +the archduchess with a love that defied all fatigue. + +Of all this Isabella was ignorant. Her large, staring eyes were fixed +upon her tender guardian, but she knew him not; she spoke to him in +words of burning tenderness, such as never before had fallen from her +lips; but while she poured out her love, she called him by another name, +she called him Riccardo--and while she told him that he was dearer to +her than all the world beside, she warned him to beware of her father. +Sometimes, in her delirium, she saw a bloody corpse beside her, and she +prayed to die by its side. Then she seemed to listen to another voice, +and her little hands were clasped in agony, while, exhausted with the +horror of the vision, she murmured, "Three years! three years! O God, +what martyrdom! In three years we meet again!" + +Her husband heeded not her wild language, he listened to the music of +her voice. That voice was all that was left to remind him of his once +beautiful Isabella; it was still as sweet as in the days when her beauty +had almost maddened him--that beauty which had flown forever, and left +its possessor a hideous mass of blood and corruption. + +On the sixth day of her illness Isabella recovered from her delirium. +She opened her eyes and fixed them upon her husband with a look of calm +intelligence. "Farewell, Joseph!" said she softly. "Farewell! It is over +now, and I die." + +"No, no, darling, you will not die," cried he, bursting into tears. "You +would not leave me, beloved, you will live to bless me again." + +"Do not sorrow for me," said she. "Forgive and forget me." As Joseph, +overcome by his emotion, made no reply, she repeated her words with more +emphasis: "Forgive me, Joseph, say that you forgive me, for otherwise I +shall not die in peace." + +"Forgive thee!" cried he. "I forgive thee, who for three years hast made +my life one long sunny day!" + +"Thou wert happy, then," asked she, "happy through me?" + +"I was, I AM happy, if thou wilt not leave me." + +"Then," sighed the wife, "I die in peace. He was happy, I have done my +duty, I have atoned--" + +Her head fell back. A long, fearful silence ensued. Suddenly a +shriek--the shriek of a man, was heard. When the attendants rushed in, +Isabella was dead, and Joseph had fallen insensible upon the body. +[Footnote: This extraordinary account of the life and death of the +infanta, Isabella of Parma, is no romance; it rests upon facts which are +mentioned by historians of the reign of Maria Theresa. Caroline Pichler, +whose mother was tire-woman to the empress when the archduchess died, +relates the history of the prophecy, wherein Isabella, first in three +hours, then in as many days, weeks, months, and years, awaited her +death. She also relates the fact of her death at the expiration of three +years, "in the arms of her despairing husband." Caroline Fichler, +"Memoirs of my Life."] + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +CHE FARO SENZA EURYDICE. + +The funeral rites were ended, and Isabella of Parma slept in St. +Stephen's, in the tomb of the kaisers. + +Joseph had refused to attend the funeral. From the hour his +consciousness had returned to him he had locked himself within his +apartments, and night and day he was heard pacing the floor with dull +and measured tread. Not even the empress, who had stood imploring at the +door, could obtain a word in answer to her entreaties. For two days and +nights lie remained within. On the third day the emperor knocked at the +door, and announced to his son that all was now ready for the funeral, +and his presence was indispensable. + +Joseph opened the door, and, without a word, leaned upon his father's +arm, and traversed the long suite of apartments hung in black, until +they reached the room where lay the body of his wife. There, amid +burning wax-lights, was the hideous coffin that enclosed his beloved +one, and was about to bear away forever his life, his love, and his +happiness. When he saw the coffin, a stifled cry arose from his breast. +He darted with open arms toward it, and, bending down, hid his face upon +the lid. + +At this moment the doors of the room were opened, and the empress +entered, attended by her daughters, all in deep mourning. Their faces +were wan with weeping, as were those of all who followed the bereaved +sovereign. Meanwhile Joseph neither saw nor heard what passed around +him. The ceremonies began, but while the priest performed the funeral +rites, the archduke murmured words which brought tears to the eyes of +his father and mother. + +Maria Theresa approached her stricken son. She kissed his hair, and laid +her hand lovingly upon his shoulder. + +"My son," said she, with quivering lip, "arise and be a man. Her soul is +with God and with us; let us give her body to the earth that bore it." + +While the empress spoke, the bells of the churches began to toll, and +from the streets were heard the beating of muffled drums, and the +booming of the cannon that announced to Vienna the moving of the funeral +procession. + +"Come, my son, come," repeated the empress. "Our time of trial is at +hand." + +Joseph raised his head from the coffin, and stared wildly around. He saw +the priests, the acolytes with their smoking censers, the weeping +attendants of his wife; he saw the black hangings, the groups of +mourners, and his father and mother standing pale and sad beside him; he +heard the tolling of the bells and the dull sound of the funeral drum; +and now, now indeed he felt the awful reality of his bereavement, and +knew that as yet he had suffered nothing. Tears filled his eyes, and he +sank upon his father's breast. Sobs and wailings filled the funeral +hall, while without the inexorable knell went on, the drums still beat, +the cannon roared, all calling for the coffin, for whose entrance the +imperial vault lay open. + +Once more Joseph approached this dreadful coffin. He kissed it, and +taking from it one of the roses with which it had been decked, he said, +"Farewell, my wife, my treasure; farewell, my adored Isabella!" Then +turning toward the empress, he added, "Thank you, dearest mother, for +the courage which bears you through this bitter trial; for me, I cannot +follow you. Greet my ancestors and say to them that never came a nobler +victim to the grave than the one which you bear thither to-day." + +"You will not go with us!" said the empress, astounded. + +"No, mother, no. Mingle dust with dust, but do not ask me to look into +my Isabella's grave." + +He turned, and without a word or another look at the coffin, he left the +room. + +"Let him go," whispered the emperor. "I believe that it would kill him +to witness the funeral ceremony." + +The empress gave a sign, and the cortege moved with the coffin to the +catafalque, which, drawn by twelve black horses, awaited the body in +front of the palace. + +Joseph once more retreated to his room, and there, through the stillness +of the deserted palace, might be heard his ceaseless tramp, that sounded +as though it might be the hammer that was fashioning another coffin to +break the hearts of the imperial family. At least it seemed so to the +sorrowing empress, who listened to the dull sound of her son's footsteps +with superstitious fear. She had gone to him, on her return from the +funeral, to console him with her love and sympathy. But the door was +locked, and her affectionate entreaties for admission were unanswered. + +She turned to the emperor. "Something must be done to bend the obstinacy +of this solitary grief," said she anxiously. "I know Joseph. His is a +passionate and obdurate nature, strong in love as in hate. He had +yielded his whole soul to his wife, and now, alas! I fear that she will +draw him with her to the grave. What shall we do, Franz, to comfort him? +How shall we entice him from this odious room, which he paces like a +lion in his cage?" + +"Go once more and command him to open the door. He will not have the +courage to defy you," said the emperor. + +Maria Theresa knocked again, and cried out, "My son Joseph, I command +you, as your sovereign and mother, to open the door." + +No answer. Still the same dull, everlasting tread. + +The empress stood awhile to listen; then, flushing with anger, she +exclaimed, "It is in vain. We have lost all control over him. His sorrow +has made him cruel and rebellious, even toward his mother." + +"But this is unmanly," cried the emperor with displeasure. "It is a +miserable weakness to sink so helpless under grief." + +"Think you so?" said the empress, ready to vent upon the emperor her +vexation at the conduct of her son. "In your pride of manhood you deem +it weak that Joseph grieves for his wife. I dare say that were your +majesty placed in similar circumstances, you would know full well how to +bear my loss like a man. But your majesty must remember that Joseph has +not your wisdom and experience. He is but a poor, artless youth, who has +been weak enough to love his wife without stint. This is a fault for +which I crave the emperor's indulgence." + +"Oh, your majesty," replied the emperor, smiling, "God forbid that he +should ever grow less affectionate! I was only vexed that the voice of +Maria Theresa should have less power over my son than it has over his +father; that silvery voice which bewitched me in youth, and through life +has soothed my every pang." + +The empress, completely softened, reached out her hand. + +"Would you, indeed, mourn for me, Franz?" said she tenderly. "Would you +refuse to listen to father or mother for my sake? My dearest, you would, +I believe. From our childhood we were lovers, we will be lovers in our +old age, and when we part the one that is left will mourn as deeply as +Joseph. Let us, then, be lenient with his grief, until our love and +forbearance shall have won him to come and weep upon his mother's +breast." + +"If your majesty permit," said Christina, stepping forward, "I will try +to soften his grief." + +"What can you do, dear child?" asked the empress of her favorite +daughter. + +"I have a message for him," replied Christina. "I swore to Isabella that +no one but myself should reveal it to Joseph. I know that it will prove +consolatory, and Isabella also knew it. For this reason she intrusted it +to me." + +"Try, then my daughter, try if your voice will have more power than +mine. Meanwhile I will essay the power of music. It over-came him once +when he was a boy. We will try him with the music that Isabella loved +best." + +She called a page and spoke with him in a low voice. In conclusion she +said, "Let the carriage go at once and bring him hither in a quarter of +an hour." + +The page withdrew, and the imperial family were again alone. "Now, my +daughter," said the empress, "see if he will speak to you." + +Christina approached the door. "My brother Joseph," said she, "I beseech +you open the door to me. I come from Isabella; it is she who sends me to +you." + +The bolt was withdrawn, and for a moment the pale face of Joseph +appeared at the door. + +"Come in," said he, waving his hand to Christina. She followed him into +the room where so many, many tears had been shed. "Now speak," said he, +"what did Isabella say to you?" + +His sister looked with pity upon his ghastly face and those hollow eyes +grown glassy with weeping. "Poor, poor Joseph!" said she softly, "I see +that your love for her was beyond all bounds." + +He made a motion of impatience. "Do not pity me," said he. "My grief is +too sacred for sympathy. I do not need it. Tell me at once, what said +Isabella?" + +Christina hesitated. She felt as if the balm she was about to bring +would prove more painful than the wounds it was intended to heal. + +"Speak, I tell you," cried Joseph angrily. "If you have made use of +Isabella's name to gain access to my presence, it is a trick for which I +will never forgive you. Why did you disturb me? I was with her," +continued he, staring at the divan where so often they had sat together. +"She wore her white dress and the pink roses, and she smiled with her +enchanting smile. I lay at her feet, I looked into her eyes, I heard the +melody of her voice." + +"Did she ever say that she loved you?" asked Christina. + +He looked at her intently and grew thoughtful. "I do not know," said he +after a pause, "whether she ever told me so in words. But there needed +no words. I saw her love in every glance, in every smile. Her whole life +was love, and oh! I have lost it forever!" + +"You have not lost it, for you never possessed it," said Christina + +Joseph drew back and frowned. "What is that?" said be hastily + +Christina approached him, and laying her hand upon his shoulder, she +looked into his face until her eyes filled with tears. + +"I say," whispered she in a tremulous voice, "do not mourn any longer, +dear brother. For she for whom you grieve, she whom you call your +Isabella, never loved you." + +"That is not true," cried Joseph vehemently. "It is a lie, a wicked lie +that you have devised to lessen my grief." + +"It is nothing but the truth, and I promised Isabella to tell it to +you." + +Joseph sank almost insensible upon the divan. Christina seated herself +near him, and throwing her arms around him, sobbed, "My brother, my +darling brother, think no more of the dead, but turn your heart toward +us; for we love you, and Isabella never did. She merely endured your +love." + +"Endured my love!" murmured Joseph, and his head sank powerless upon +Christina's bosom. But suddenly he rose, and looking with a beseeching +expression at his sister's beautiful face, he said + +"Bethink you, Christina, of what you do. Think that I love Isabella with +all the strength and glow of my heart; think that for me she was the +embodiment of all beauty, goodness, and purity. Do not seek to comfort +me by destroying my faith in the truth of the only woman I have ever +loved. In whom shall I have faith, if not in her? If HER love was a lie, +is there love in this world? Oh, Christina, in mercy say that you have +sought to comfort by deceiving me!" + +"I have sought to comfort you, by telling you the truth. If you will not +believe me, believe her own words." + +She drew a paper from her dress and handed it to Joseph. "It is a +letter," said she, "which Isabella gave me, and she made me swear that I +would fulfil its behests. Read, and be satisfied." + +Joseph unfolded the letter. "It is her handwriting," said he to himself, +and he tried to read it but in vain; his hand trembled, and his eyes +filled with tears. + +He gave it back to Christina, who read it aloud: + +"My Christina--confidant of my sufferings and sorrow--hear my dying +request. To you I leave the task of consoling my husband. His noble +tears shall not be shed over the grave of one who is unworthy of them. +Tell him the truth, tell him all you know, show him this letter, and bid +him not grieve for one who never loved him. Do this for me, it is my +last request. ISABELLA." + +Suddenly, from the adjoining room, the sweet tones of music were heard; +the air was tremulous with melody, which at first soft and low, swelled +louder and louder until it filled the room with a gush of harmony that +stirred the hearts of those who listened with sweetest and holiest +emotions. + +Joseph bent eagerly forward. He knew those strains so well! He +remembered the night when Isabella's tears had fallen among the +rose-leaves, and he had kissed them away. He saw her once more in the +pride of her beauty, looking at him from the depths of those glorious +dark eyes which he had so madly loved. The music gave life and being to +these memories, and its glamour brought back the dead from her grave! He +remembered how he had asked her if she loved him, and how, avoiding the +words so difficult to speak, she had answered with the witching tones of +her violin. Oh, that heavenly evening hour upon the balcony! She had +said, "Love has its own language: come and listen." And Christina said +SHE HAD NOT LOVED! He could not, would not believe her! + +He took the letter from Christina's hand and kissed the paper. "I do not +believe you," he said softly. "My trust in her is like my sorrow--for +eternity!" + +This imperturbable faith had the effect of hardening Christina, and +making her cruel. "You shall believe me," said she hastily. "You shall +see in her own handwriting that she loved another." + +"ANOTHER! "cried the wretched husband. "I will kill him!" + +"He died before you ever knew her," said Christina, frightened at the +effect of her own heartlessness. + +A smile overspread his face. "Dead, before I knew her! Then she forgot +him when I loved her." He took up the letter and read it again. "Oh," +said he, "see how magnanimous was my Isabella. She has been false to her +own heart that she might save me from sorrow. She thought it would dry +my tears to think that she did not love me. Oh, beloved, I see through +thy noble falsehood--in death as in life I know every working of that +unselfish heart!" + +Christina said nothing, but she grew more inflexible in her purpose. "He +shall be convinced," said she to herself. "I will give him her letters +to me, and then he will know that he never has been loved." + +Again pealed forth the sounds of that heavenly music. Now the violin, +mingling with the tones of the harpsichord, glide into a melody of +divinest beauty; and the full, rich tones of a woman's voice warbled the +complaint of Orpheus: "Che faro senza Eurydice!" + +Joseph sighed convulsively, and a faint color tinged his pale cheeks. +This was Isabella's favorite air; and once more the vision started up +before him, once more he saw the tears, he kissed them, and looked into +the depths of those starry eyes! + +He rose from the divan, and, drawn thither by a power which he could not +contend, he left the room, and followed the music that was calling him +from madness back to reason. + +At the harpsichord sat Ritter Gluck, and by him stood the Archduchess +Elizabeth, whose rich and beautiful voice had exorcised the evil spirit. + +The emperor and empress, with all their children, came forward to meet +the unhappy one, and all with tearful eyes kissed and welcomed him with +tender words of love. + +Gluck alone seemed not to have seen the archduke. He was chiding +Elizabeth for singing falsely, and called upon her to repeat her song. +Nevertheless, while he corrected his pupil, the big tears were coursing +one another down his cheeks, and fell upon his hands, as they wandered +over the instrument, enrapturing every ear. + +Elizabeth began again; and again were heard the heart-breaking tones of +"Che faro senza Eurydice!" + +All eyes turned upon the bereaved Orpheus. The empress opened her arms, +and completely subdued, he darted to his mother's heart, and cried out, +"Che faro senza Eurydice!" + +Again and again the mother kissed her weeping son. The emperor folded +them both to his loving heart. The brothers and sisters wept for mingled +grief and joy. Elizabeth's voice failed her, and she sang no more. But +Gluck played on, his hands weaving new strains of harmony such as earth +had never heard before. His head thrown back, his eyes upturned toward +heaven, his face beaming with inspiration, he listened to his music, +while from Joseph's anguish was born the wonderful song in Alceste, "No +crudel, no posso vivere, to to sai, senza de te." + +The melody went on, the parents caressed their child, and on his +mother's bosom Joseph wept the last tears of his great youthful sorrow. +The dream of love was over! Grief had made of him a man. + + + +KING OF ROME. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FATHER PORHAMMER AND COUNT KAUNITZ. + +The empress paced her cabinet with hasty steps. Near the large table, +covered with papers of state, stood Father Porhammer. + +"Are you sure of what you say?" said Maria Theresa with impatience. "Are +you sure that the lord chancellor so far forgets his honor and dignity +as to spend his hours of leisure in the company of disreputable +actresses? Is it true that his house is the scene of shameful orgies and +saturnalian feasts?" + +"It is even so, your majesty," replied Porhammer. "It is unhappily true +that he whom your majesty has raised to the first place in the empire +of--" + +"The first place!" echoed the empress angrily. "Know, sir, that the +first place in the empire is mine. From God I hold my power and my +crown, and I depute them to no man--I alone reign in Austria." + +"Your majesty," resumed the father, "did not allow me to finish. I was +about to say that he whom your majesty has made your most illustrious +subject, he who ought to give to all your subjects an example of moral +conduct, is a profligate and libertine. That infamous school of Paris, +where reigns the wanton Marquise de Pompadour, the debauched court of +Versailles--" + +"Hold, father, and remember that France is Austria's dearest ally," +interrupted the empress. + +The father bowed. "The school of Parisian gallantry, of which the lord +chancellor is a graduate, has borne its fruits. Count Kaunitz mocks at +religion, chastity, and every other virtue. Instead of giving an +honorable mistress to his house, it is the home of Foliazzi, the singer, +who holds him fast with her rosy chains." + +"We must send her away from Vienna." + +"Ah, your majesty, if you send her, Count Kaunitz will go with her. He +cannot live without La Foliazzi. Even when he comes hither to your +majesty's august presence, La Foliazzi is in his coach, and she awaits +his return at the doors of the imperial palace." + +"Impossible! I will not believe such scandalous reports. Count Kaunitz +never would dare bring his mistresses to my palace doors; he never would +have the audacity to treat his official visits to myself as episodes in +a life of lasciviousness with an unchaste singer. You shall withdraw +your words, Father Porhammer, or you shall prove them." + +"I will prove them, your majesty." + +Just then the door opened, and a page announced the lord chancellor, +Count Kaunitz. + +"Admit Count Kaunitz," said the empress, "and you, Father Porhammer, +remain." + +The father withdrew within the embrasure of a window, while the lord +chancellor followed the page into the presence of the empress. The +count's face was as fair and his cheeks as rosy as ever; he wore the +same fantastic peruke of his own invention, and his figure was as +straight and slender as it had ever been. Ten years had gone by since he +became prime minister, but nothing had altered HIM. So marble-like his +face, that age could not wrinkle, nor care trace a line upon its stony +surface. + +He did not wait for the imperial greeting, but came forward in his +careless, unceremonious way, not as though he stood before his +sovereign, but as if he had come to visit a lady of his own rank. + +"Your majesty sees," said he, with a courteous inclination of the head, +"that I use the permission which has been granted me, of seeking an +audience whenever the state demands it. As I come, not to intrude upon +your majesty with idle conversation, but to speak of grave and important +matters of state, I do not apologize for coming unbidden." + +The easy and unembarrassed manner in which Kaunitz announced himself had +its effect upon the empress. She who was so accustomed to give vent to +the feelings of the moment, overcame her displeasure and received her +minister with her usual affability. + +"Your majesty, then, will grant an audience to your minister of state?" +said Kaunitz, looking sharply at the priest who stood unconcerned at the +window. + +"Since the lord chancellor comes at such an unusual hour," replied the +empress, "I must conclude that his business is of an imperative nature. +I am therefore ready to hear him." + +Kaunitz bowed, and then turning with an arrogant gesture toward the +empress's confessor, he said, "Do you hear, Father Porhammer? the +empress will hold a council with me." + +"I hear it, my lord," said the priest. + +"Then as we are not on the subject of religion, you will have the +goodness to leave the room." + +"I was ordered by her majesty to remain," replied Father Porhammer +quietly. + +Kaunitz turned toward the empress, who, with knit and angry brow, was +listening to her minister. + +"If it be the empress's pleasure," said he, bowing, "I will take the +liberty of retiring until her majesty is at leisure for earthly affairs. +Religion and politics are not to be confounded together; the former +being the weightier subject of the two, I give way." + +He bowed again, and was about to leave the room, when the empress +recalled him. + +"Stay!" said she. "Father Porhammer will leave us for a while." + +Without a word, the father bowed and withdrew. + +"Now speak, Count Kaunitz," said the empress, hastily, "and let the +affair be important that has led you to drive my confessor, in such an +uncourteous fashion, from my presence." + +"Weighty, most weighty is the news that concerns the imperial house of +Austria," said Kaunitz, with his unruffled equanimity. "A courier has +brought me tidings of the archduke's election as King of Rome." + +"Is that all?" said Maria Theresa. "That is no news. The voice of Prussia +decided that matter long ago; and this is the only advantage we have +ever reaped from our long and terrible war with Frederick?" + +"No, your majesty, no, this is not the only thing we have obtained. This +war has yielded us material advantages. It has increased the military +strength of the country; it has placed before the eyes of all Europe the +inexhaustible nature of Austria's resources; it has brought all the +little Germanic principalities under Austria's dominion. It has united +Hungary, Sclavonia, Italy, Bohemia, and Lombardy under Austria's flag +and Austria's field-marshals. Indeed, your majesty, this war has given +us something of far more value than Prussia's vote. The bloody baptism +of the battle-field has made Austrians of all those who bled for +Austria's rights." + +"That does not prevent that abominable man from clinging to my fair +domain of Silesia. How will my ancestor, the great Charles, greet me +when I go to my grave, bearing the tidings that under my reign Austria +has been shorn of a principality?" + +"No such tidings shall your majesty bear to your forefathers," replied +Kaunitz, fervently. "Leave Frederick alone with his bit of a +principality; more trouble than profit may it be to him! Long before he +will have transformed his Silesian Austrians into loyal Prussians, we +shall have repaired the damage he has done us by new and richer +acquisitions." + +"No, no, no!" cried the empress, "let us have no more war. What we do +not possess by just right, I never will consent to win with the sword." + +"But inheritance and alliance bestow rights," persisted the minister. +"Your majesty has marriageable daughters and sons, and it is time to +think of negotiating honorable alliances for them." + +The eyes of the empress sparkled, and her face beamed with happy smiles. +The establishment of her children was her constant thought by night and +day, and in broaching this subject, Kaunitz was meeting her dearest +wishes. Her displeasure against him melted away like snow before the +sun, and she gave herself up entirely to the pleasing discussion. + +"It will be difficult to find husbands for my daughters" said she. "All +the reigning heads of European families are married, and their sons are +too young for Elizabeth and Amelia. I cannot marry my grown-up daughters +to boys; nor can I bring a set of insignificant sons-in-law to hang +about the court. My husband the emperor would never consent to bestow +his daughters upon petty princes, who, instead of bringing influence +with them, would derive their reflected consequence from an alliance +with us. If we cannot find them husbands worthy of their station, my +daughters must remain single, or devote their lives to God." + +"If your majesty's eldest daughters choose that holy vocation, politics +need not interfere with their inclinations, the boyish heirs of European +kingdoms can await the advent of the younger princesses." + +"Let them wait," said the empress; "we will train noble queens for +them." + +"But the Archduke Leopold need not wait," said Kaunitz; "we will begin +with him. The Spanish ambassador has received from his sovereign, Carlos +IV., a letter directing him to offer his daughter Maria Louisa to your +majesty's second son. Knowing that his highness the Archduke Joseph is +your majesty's successor, he supposes that the Emperor Francis will +bestow upon his second son the grand duchy of Tuscany. " + +"A very good alliance," returned Maria Theresa, nodding her head. "The +women of the house of Bourbon are all estimable. Our lost Isabella was a +lovely woman. Well, the grand-daughter of the King of Spain having died, +let us renew our connection with him through his daughter; and may God +grant to Leopold happier nuptials than were those of my poor Joseph." + +"The Archduke Joseph, too, must marry," said Kaunitz. "Poor Joseph!" +sighed the empress; "even now his heart is full of sorrow; and while he +mourns his dead, we make plans to marry him to another! But you are +right, count; he must marry. We cannot listen to his heart, he must +sacrifice himself to duty. Austria must have another heir. But let us +give him a little respite." + +"He will forget his sorrow when he is crowned King of Rome," said +Kaunitz. "Ambition is certain to cure love; and the possession of a +crown may well console any man for the loss of a woman." + +Maria Theresa was displeased. "Do you deem it, then, so light a thing?" +said she, with a frown, "to lose a beloved wife? Do you think it great +happiness to wear a crown? You know nothing either of the pains of power +or the joys of marriage; but I can tell you that many a time I would +have fainted under the burden of my crown, had my Franz not sustained me +with his loving and beloved hand. But what know you of love? Your heart +is a market-place wherein you seek slaves for your harem, but no +honorable woman would make it her home. I have heard scandalous reports +concerning your house, Count Kaunitz; I have--" + +A light knock was heard at the door, and as the empress gave the word, +Father Porhammer entered the room. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +MATRIMONIAL PLANS. + +Father Porhammer came forward, while the empress looked at him with a +glance of astonishment. + +"Forgive me, your majesty, for this intrusion. It is in accordance with +your gracious commands, whose fulfilment I have no right to delay. I was +ordered by your majesty to prove the fact which I asserted." + +"Well, have you the proof?" said the empress, impatiently. + +"I have, your majesty. It is in the carriage of the lord chancellor, at +the great door of the palace." + +The empress made an exclamation; and her face grew scarlet with anger. +Her stormy looks rested upon Kaunitz, who, perfectly unconcerned, seemed +not to have heard what Porhammer had said. This undisturbed serenity on +the part of her minister gave the empress time for recollection. She +knew from experience that the lightning of her wrath would play +harmlessly about the head of this living statue, and she felt more +keenly than she had ever done before, that however Kaunitz's private +life might shock her own sense of honor and decency, his vast intellect +as minister of state was indispensable to Austria. + +With a quick and haughty gesture, she motioned the priest away, and then +began to pace up and down the length of the apartment. + +Kaunitz remained tranquil near the table, his cold glances resting now +on the papers, now on the pictures that hung opposite to him. He was +busily engaged arranging his Alengon ruffles, when the empress stopped, +and fixed her fiery eyes upon him. + +"My lord chancellor, Count Kaunitz, tell me who sits in your carriage +before the doors of my palace, awaiting your return from this +conference?" + +"Who sits in my carriage, your majesty? I was not aware that any one was +there whose name it was necessary for me to announce to your imperial +majesty." + +"I can well believe that you would not dare to pronounce the name of +that person in my presence," cried the empress, indignantly "but let me +tell you, sir count, that your behavior is highly displeasing to me, and +that I blush to hear the things I do, to the disparagement of your honor +and morality." + +"Has your majesty any complaint to make of me as minister, or as +president of council?" asked Kaunitz, almost roughly. "Have I not +fulfilled the vows I made to your majesty ten years ago? Have I +discharged my duties carelessly? The ship of state which, in her hour of +peril, was confided to my hands, have I not steered her safely through +rocks and reefs? Or, have I been unfaithful to my trust? If your majesty +can convict me of crime, or even of negligence, then sit in judgment +upon the culprit. Tell me of what state offence am I accused?" + +"I do not speak of my prime minister," replied the empress somewhat +embarrassed. "I have no fault to find with HIM. On the contrary, he has +nobly kept the pledge he made to me and to my Austria, and he has been a +wise, faithful, and conscientious servant. But this is not enough; there +are also duties to perform toward God, toward society, and toward one's +self." + +"For your majesty, as well as for me, it suffices that I am true to my +duties as your subject. As to my duty as a man, this is no place to +discuss a matter which lies between God and myself it would be +indecorous for me to raise the veil of my private life before the eyes +of your majesty. I came here to speak of Austria's welfare and yours, +not of me or mine." + +Without giving the empress time to make any reply, Kaunitz resumed the +subject which had been interrupted by the visit of Father Porhammer. + +"Though your majesty may deem it expedient to postpone the marriage of +the Archduke Joseph, still, that need not prevent us from taking the +steps that will be necessary to secure an advantageous alliance for the +heir to the throne. We can grant a respite to the Archduke of Austria, +but the King of Rome must stifle his grief, and attend to the calls of +duty. He must silence his heart, for the Emperor of Austria must have a +successor." + +"At least let us choose him a bride worthy to succeed in his affections +the angelic wife he has lost," said the empress, with feeling. + +Something like a smile flitted over Kaunitz's sardonic face. "Your +majesty must pardon me, but you view this matter entirely too much as a +thing of sentiment; whereas, in effect, it is an affair of policy. The +main object of the archduke's marriage is to find a princess whose +family can advance the interests of the state, and who is in a condition +to bear children." + +"And have you already found such a wife for my poor child?" asked the +empress. "Have you one to propose whom policy will approve, and who will +not be distasteful to the eye or the heart?" + +"She must be a German princess," said Kaunitz. + +"Why MUST?" + +"Because the house of Hapsburg must court the good-will of all Germany, +which, through this long war and from the divided interests of the +German people, it is in danger of losing. Prussia, grown morally strong +by the war, is about to become the rival of Austria, and even now she +seeks to have a voice in German politics. Northern Germany already +inclines to Prussia by its sympathies of creed and opinion. If we allow +this to go on, Prussia will divide Germany into two halves. The northern +half, that which is Protestant, and in my opinion the wiser half, +because free from the prejudices of religion, will belong to enlightened +Prussia; the southern half, the bigoted Catholic portion, that which +believes in the pope and his Jesuits, may perhaps adhere to Austria. +Then comes revolution. Prussia will have for her allies, not only +northern Germany, but Sweden, England, Holland, Denmark, even Russia. +Every step she takes in advance will drive back Austria; and the day may +come when Prussia, our powerful enemy, will seek for the Margrave of +Brandenburg the crown of the Kaisers." + +"Never! never!" exclaimed Maria Theresa, passionately--"To think of this +little Burgrave of Nuremberg, the vassal of Rudolf of Hapsburg, growing +to be the rival of the stately house of Austria! No, no! Never shall the +day dawn when Austria descends to an equality with Prussia! We are +natural enemies; we can no more call the Brandenburgs brothers than the +eagle can claim kindred with the vulture! You are right, count; the +strife of the battle-field is over, let us gird ourselves for that of +diplomacy. Let us be wary and watchful; not only the state but the holy +church is in danger. I can no longer allow this prince of infidels to +propagate his unbelief or his Protestantism throughout my Catholic +fatherland. We are the ally and the daughter of our holy father, the +pope, and we must be up and doing for God and for our country. Now let +us think how we are to check this thirst of Prussia for power." + +"There are two expedients," said Kaunitz, calmly interrupting the +empress in her torrent of indignation. + +"Let us hear them." + +"The first one is to strengthen our interest with Germany either by +offers of advantages and honors, payment of subsidies; or by matrimonial +alliances. For this reason it is that the future king of Rome must +choose his wife among the princesses of Germany. Through your majesty's +other children we will ally ourselves to the rest of Europe. The +Bourbons reign in the south, and they must all be allied to the house of +Hapsubrg. Through the marriage of Archduke Leopold with the daughter of +the King of Spain, we shall gain a powerful ally; and the archduke +himself, as Grand Duke of Tuscany, will represent Austria's interest in +Italy. If the Crown Prince of Parma and the young King of Naples unite +themselves to two of your majesty's daughters, then all Italy will be +leagued with Austria. When this is accomplished, the word 'Italy' will +be a geographical designation, but the country will be an Austrian +dependency. Now for Western Europe. For France, we must confirm our +alliance with her also. The son of the dauphin, the grandson of Louis +XV., is now eleven years old; just three years older than the +Archduchess Marie Antoinette." + +"Truly, Kaunitz, your plans are great," cried the empress, her face full +of smiles and radiant with joy. "The emperor often calls me a +match-maker, but I am an insignificant schemer by YOUR side. I must say +that I approve your plans, and will do all that I can to insure them +success." + +"The most of them are for the future; before all things we must bestir +ourselves about the present. You have seen how later, we can secure the +friendship of the south; that of the north must come through the +marriage of the King of Rome. His selection of a German princess will +incline all Germany toward your majesty's imperial house. Naarest to +Prussia are the two important principalities of Bavaria and Saxony." + +"And both have unmarried princesses," exclaimed the empress, joyfully. +"I wish we might select the daughter of the Elector of Saxony, for that +house has suffered so much for Austria, that I would gladly do it this +favor. But I have heard that the Princess Mary Kunigunde has very few +charms." + +"Perhaps Josepha of Bavaria may be handsomer," said Kaunitz dryly. + +"She is nevertheless the daughter of Charles VII., and he has never been +my friend. I have suffered much from this man, and would you have me +accept his daughter as mine?" + +"There can be no resentment for bygones in politics," said Kaunitz, +deliberately. + +"But there may be gratitude for past services," exclaimed the empress, +warmly. "I shall never forget how Hungary sustained me when this man +would have robbed me of my crown. I never would have worn my imperial +diadem but for the help of God, and the sword of St. Stephen, which my +brave Magyars drew for me on the battle-field! Without Hungary I would +have been dethroned, and shall I now place the crown of St. Stephen's +upon the brow of an enemy's daughter! It would be an injustice to my +loyal Hungarians. I shall give my voice to Mary of Saxony, but if Joseph +prefers Josepha, I will not oppose his choice. And this matter settled, +tell me your other plans for strengthening the power of Austria." + +"My second plan is to humanize the Hungarian nobles. These nobles reign +in Hungary like so many petty sovereigns. There is no such thing as +nationality among them. The country is divided into nobles and vassals. +The nobles are so powerful that the government is completely lost sight +of, and the real sovereigns of Hungary are the Magyars." + +"That is in some sense true," answered the empress. "I have often felt +how dangerous to my rights was the arrogance of my Hungarian subjects. +They lift their haughty heads too near the regions of royalty." + +"And your majesty's great ancestor, Charles V. once said that nothing +had a right to lift its head in the vicinity of a king. The very trees +would he lop, that their branches might not grow too near to heaven; how +much more the heads of men, when they were raised too high." + +"But such a policy shall never be mine--I will never buy obedience with +oppression. Besides, I have already said that I am under obligations to +my Hungarian nobles, and I will not injure a hair of their heads." + +"There are other ways of conquering besides the sword," said the crafty +Kaunitz. "Coercion would but fortify the Magyars in their insolence. +These haughty lords must be enticed from their fastnesses to Vienna. +They must be greeted with honors, titles, and estates. They must be +taught to love splendor, to spend money, to accumulate debts, until they +become bankrupt, and their possessions in Hungary fall into the hands of +the crown." + +"What an infamous policy!" cried the empress. + +"Good, nevertheless," said Kaunitz calmly. "Nothing can be done with the +Magyars by force. They must be vanquished by pleasure, and also by +marriage. They must be made to take home Viennese wives, who will +initiate them into the arts of refined life, who will help them to waste +their money, and so cut off the wings of their freedom. He who has +learned to love pleasure will have no taste for sedition, and he who is +in debt is no longer free. Your majesty must bestow gifts and places at +court; the Magyars will grow ambitious--they will become hangers-on of +princes, and--dissipation, ostentation, and extravagance will do the +rest." + +While Kaunitz was unfolding his satanic schemes, the empress walked up +and down, in visible agitation. When he ceased, she came and stood +before him, and with her searching eyes tried to look through the mask +of his impenetrable countenance. + +"What you have said there," said she, "is a mournful leaf from the book +of worldly wisdom which guides your actions, and it is enough to make an +honest heart ache to think that good is to be reached by such foul +means. My heart struggles against such a course, but my head approves +it, and I dare not listen to my womanly scruples, for I am a sovereign. +May the wiles of the women of Vienna make loyal subjects of my brave +Hungarians! I will bestow honors without end; but for aught else, let it +come as it may. Extravagance, debt, and sequestration, they must bring +about themselves." + +"They will follow; and then sequestered estates must go to Austrian +nobles, that our own people may mingle with the Magyars at home, and +strengthen the influence of your majesty's house in Hungary." + +"Say no more," said the empress, mournfully. "Bring them hither, if you +can. But my heart aches, and my ears burn to have heard what you have +said. Say no more of Hungary to me--let us speak of our bright plans for +my children. It makes me happy to think that so many of them will wear +crowns." + +"The first will be that of the King of Rome, and I trust that, before +his coronation, your majesty will have persuaded him to marry one of the +two German princesses of whom we have spoken." + +"The Saxon or the Bavarian," said the empress. "I think he will +comply--for he will understand as well as ourselves the urgency of the +case. When is the coronation to take place?" + +"In two weeks, your majesty." "Then poor Joseph has but fourteen days +for his grief. When he returns from Frankfort, I shall remind him of his +duty as a sovereign. But hark! It is twelve o'clock--the hour for mass. +If the lord chancellor has nothing more to propose, I--" + +"Pardon me, your majesty. I have an insignificant petition to +present--it concerns myself." + +"It is a pleasure to me," said Maria Theresa, "to think that in any way +I can gratify you. Speak, then, without fear. What can I do to serve +you?" + +"It is only for the sake of decorum, your majesty," replied Kaunitz. +"You say that I have been useful to the country. I confess that I, too, +think that I deserve something from Austria. If I were another man, and +Kaunitz stood by, as I reviewed in my mind all that he has done and is +trying still to do to make Austria powerful, I would speak thus to your +majesty: 'It is in the power of the empress to distinguish merit by +elevating it to a position above the common herd. Your majesty has +honored Count Kaunitz by calling him your right hand. When the head of a +body politic is an empress, it is not enough for the right hand to be +called a count.'" + +"Shall I call you prince?" laughed Maria Theresa. + +"Just what I was about to propose to your majesty," said Kaunitz, as he +made a deeper inclination than usual before the empress. + +"Then it shall be so," said she, warmly. "From this moment my esteemed +minister is Prince Kaunitz, and the letters patent shall be made out +this very day." + +She extended her hand to the new-made prince, who kissed it fervently. + +"I take this title, so graciously bestowed, not because it will confer +splendor upon my own name, but because it will prove to the world that +those who serve Maria Theresa with fidelity, she delights to honor. And +now that this trifling matter is arranged, I beg your majesty's +permission to retire." + +"Until to-morrow," replied the empress, with a smile. + +She waved her hand; but as Kaunitz left the room, he heard her following +him into the anteroom. He had already opened the door leading into the +hall, but hearing her still advance, he turned again, and made a +profound inclination. + +"Au revoir, my dear prince," said the empress, loud enough for Father +Porhammer, who waited to accompany her to the chapel, to hear her +greeting. + +The father could not withhold some trace of his displeasure from his +countenance, while Kaunitz, with a faint, derisive smile, passed on. The +empress, at that moment, reopened the door, and came out into the hall. +Father Porhammer, advancing to her, said, "Did I not prove to your +majesty the truth of my statement concerning the immorality of--" + +"The what?" said the empress, with an absent air. "Oh yes, yes. I had +forgotten. You wished to prove to me that the lord chancellor had some +person in his carriage awaiting his return. I believe you, +father--doubtless there is some one in the carriage of the lord +chancellor, whom it would be improper to name in my presence. But listen +to what I have to say on this subject. It is better for you and for me +not to see what goes on either in the lord chancellor's house or in his +carriage. Close your eyes, as I shall mine, to whatever is objectionable +in his life. I cannot afford to lose his services. So far as I am +concerned, he is blameless. His life may be loose, but his loyalty is +firm; he is a wise and great statesman, and that, you will allow, is a +virtue which may well cover a multitude of sins." + +Father Porhammer bowed to the will of his sovereign; Prince Kaunitz went +on with his life of debauchery. + +"Let us hasten to the chapel," added the empress; and a page throwing +open the doors of another apartment, Maria Theresa joined her lords and +ladies in waiting, and the imperial court entered the chapel. + +But the thoughts of the empress were more of earth than heaven, on that +morning. Her heart was filled with maternal cares, and when the services +were over, and she had arrived at the door of her cabinet, she dismissed +her attendants, and summoned to her presence the marshal of the +household, Count Dietrichstein. + +As soon as he appeared, Maria Theresa said eagerly: "Come hither, count. +I wish to have a confidential conversation with you. You are an old and +faithful servant of my family, and I know that I can depend upon your +discretion." + +"Your majesty well knows that I would sooner die than betray a secret of +my imperial mistress," exclaimed good, fat, old Dietrichstein, +fervently. + +The empress looked kindly at his real, good-humored face. "And you would +rather die than tell me an untruth also, is it not so?" said she, +smiling. + +"That," replied Count Dietrichstein, with another smile, "that is an +embarrassing question; for there are cases, when even your majesty's +self--" + +"Yes, yes; but in this instance I earnestly desire to hear the +unvarnished truth." + +"If so, your majesty's desire is for me a command, and I will answer +truthfully whatever you ask." + +"Well, then, listen to me. You have just returned from a tour in Bavaria +and Saxony. Of course you have seen the two princesses. Mary Kunigunde +and Josepha." + +"I know them both," said Dietrichstein, puffing. + +"Well, tell me what sort of person is the Princess Mary Kunigunde?" + +"She is slender," replied Dietrichstein, shrugging his shoulders; +"slender as a bean-pole. If your majesty will pardon me the expression +in favor of its truth, her bones rattle as she walks, and if you should +chance to touch her by accident, I pity you." + +"What for?" + +"Because you will retreat from the collision bruised." + +"You are a wicked slanderer, count," replied the empress. "You mean to +say that the Princess of Saxony is frail and feminine in her +appearance." + +"If your majesty pleases, so be it; but if you looked into her serene +Highness's face, you might mistake her for a man, nevertheless." + +"Holy Virgin! what does the man mean?" cried the empress, astounded. + +"I mean," said the count, with a sort of comic seriousness, "that the +frail and feminine princess has a black beard which a cornet might +envy." + +"Nonsense, count! you saw her at twilight, and mistook a shadow on her +face for a beard." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, you commanded me to tell the truth. I saw the +princess by sunlight as well as by candlelight. Under all circumstances, +this black shadow overhung her not very small mouth; and I have strong +reason for persisting in my opinion that it was a flourishing beard." + +"But Josepha of Bavaria--is she handsomer?" + +"Handsomer, your majesty," cried the old count. "It is said that she is +a good and estimable person; if this be true, her soul is very, very +different from her body. Indeed, her beauty may be said to rival that of +the Princess Mary." + +"You are a keen critic," sighed the empress. "But suppose you were +obliged to marry either one of the princesses, which one would you +choose?" + +"Your majesty!" exclaimed the old count, horror stricken. "I never would +have the assurance to raise my eyes to thoughts of marriage with a +serene highness." + +"Well, then," said the empress, "suppose you were a prince and her equal +in birth, which one then would you prefer?" + +The count looked at the floor, and was silent. + +"The truth, the truth!" cried the empress. "Speak out and do not fear. +Whatever you say shall be sacred with me. Now tell me, which of the two +would you take to wife?" + +"Well, then," said Count Dietrichstein, with a grimace of excessive +disgust, "since your majesty obliges me to suppose the case, I will tell +the truth. If by any artifice I could escape, nothing on earth would +induce me to marry either one of them. But if the knife were at my +throat, and I had no other way of saving my life, I would take the +Princess Josepha, for she--" + +"Speak out," said the empress, amused, though sorely disappointed. "You +would marry Josepha of Bavaria because--" + +"Because," sighed the fat old count, "if she is horribly ugly, she has, +at least, something like a woman's bosom." + +Maria Theresa broke out into a hearty laugh. "You are right," said she, +"the reason is a very good one, and has its weight. I thank you for your +candor, and will turn over in my mind what you have told me." + +"But your majesty has promised not to betray me," protested the count +with imploring look. + +"And I will keep my promise faithfully," replied the empress, reaching +him her hand. "Nevertheless, I cling to the hope that you have +exaggerated the defects of the princesses, and that they are not +altogether as ugly as you have pictured them to me." [Footnote: This +conversation is historical, and the criticism of Count Dietrichstein +upon the two princesses, as here related, is almost verbatim. See +Wraxall's "Memoirs," vol. ii., page 406.] + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +JOSEPHA OF BAVARIA. + +Festivity reigned at the court and throughout the city of Vienna. The +weather was cold, but the streets were thronged with people and hung +with garlands. Nothing was thought of but balls, illuminations, and +dress. Every one was curious to see the splendid spectacle of the +day--the entrance of the bride of the King of Rome into Vienna. + +The plans of the lord chancellor were beginning to unfold themselves. +The Archduke Joseph had been crowned King of Rome at Frankfort, and the +empress on his return, had prepared him for his second bridal. He had +stoutly refused at first, but finally had yielded to the reasonings of +his mother and the persuasions of his father. He had been told to choose +between Mary Kunigunde and Josepha. + +Not far from Toplitz, as if by accident, he met the Princess Mary out on +a hunting party. The princess was on horseback; but she rode awkwardly, +and her demeanor was shy and ungraceful. She well knew the object of +this casual meeting, and when the King of Rome approached to greet her, +she turned pale and trembled as she felt the gaze of his large blue +eyes. Her paleness did not increase her beauty, nor did her shyness +contribute to make her interesting. Joseph was annoyed at her +taciturnity and disgusted with her ugliness. After a few brief words he +bowed, and galloped off to join his retinue. The princess looked sadly +after him, and returned home with a troubled heart. She knew that she +had been disdained, and that the King of Rome would never choose her for +his bride. + +She was right. Joseph preferred the Princess Josepha, whom he had also +"met by chance." He, like Count Dietrichstein, having the knife at his +throat, selected her for his bride who was minus the flourishing black +beard. + +It was the 22d of January of the year 1765, and the wedding-day of the +King of Rome. From early morning the archduchesses at the palace had +been practising a lyric drama from the pen of Metastasio called "Il +Parnasso Confuso." The music was by Gluck, and his deep bass was heard +accompanying the sweet rich voices of the bridegroom's sisters. They had +studied their parts diligently, and felt quite confident of success, as +they gathered around the maestro. But Gluck was never satisfied, and he +kept Apollo and the Muses at their music-lesson until their ladies of +honor were obliged to inform them that they must positively retire to +their toilets, a courier having arrived to say that the princess had +entered the gates of the city. + +While all these preparations were going on around him, the King of Rome +tarried in his private apartments. He was in the room wherein he had +locked himself after the death of Isabella, the room where day and night +he had deplored his lost happiness, until Christina had so rudely +awakened him from his dream of love and sorrow. + +This miserable consolation had had its effect. Joseph wiped away his +tears, and having read Isabella's letters and convinced himself that she +never had loved him, he had forborne to murmur at her loss. + +On this, his bridal-day, he was thinking of the time when alone and +heart-broken he had paced this room for three days and nights; and now, +surrounded by festivity and splendor, he paced the floor again, awaiting +the moment when he should have to mount his horse and meet the princess. +He was not with the living bride, but with the dead one; and as he +thought of her grace, her smiles, her surpassing beauty, his lip curled +with a sneer, and his brow grew dark and stormy. + +"And she, too, deceived me," said he; "those smiles, those glances, that +love, all were false. While she lay in my arms and listened to my words +of love, her heart was in the grave with her murdered lover! Oh, my God! +now that I know that she deceived me, in whom can I place my trust? Even +now, what am I but a dependent boy, the slave of the empress and of her +all-powerful minister, who force upon me a woman whom I hate, and bid me +make her the mother of my children? Oh, when will my shackles fall, when +shall I be free!" + +In the distance was heard the dull sound of a cannon. "Already!" cried +the unhappy bridegroom. "It is time for me to meet my bride, and to +begin the loathsome farce of a second bridal. Verily, if I did not hate +this Josepha, I could pity her. She will not find me a loving husband. +The Queen of Rome will never be an enviable woman!" + +So saying, he threw around his shoulders his velvet cloak edged with +ermine, and left the room to join his retinue. They were to meet the +princess and accompany her to the castle of Schonbrunn. It was there +that the imperial family awaited the bridal party, and there in the +chapel the marriage was to be solemnized. + +The streets were thronged with people that shouted for joy: the +balconies and windows were filled with elegant women, who smiled and +waved their hands in greeting to the royal pair. For all the world this +was a day of rejoicing, except for the two persons for whose sake the +rest rejoiced. These had no part in the universal gayety; and the mirth +which was inspired by their presence found no echo in their +souls--Joseph's heart was full of dislike and ill-will toward his +betrothed, and she was unhappy, fearing the reception that awaited her. +She had trembled as she thought of the meeting with Joseph, and then of +the proud, powerful, and beautiful woman who was his mother. The fame of +her intellect, fascinations, and beauty had reached the court of Munich, +and poor Josepha knew very well that SHE was neither handsome, +cultivated, nor charming. Her education had been neglected, and if she +had attained to the honor of being Queen of Rome and Empress-elect of +Austria, it was not that she had any right to a station so exalted, it +was that her brother was childless and had promised his inheritance to +Austria. + +Josepha was sad as she thought of these things, but she could not +suppress an emotion of joy when she saw the brilliant cortege hat was +coming from Vienna to meet her. This proud and handsome horseman, whose +blue eyes shone like stars, this was her husband, the lord of her +destiny! She had seen him once before, and had loved him from that +moment. True, he had not chosen her from inclination, but she could not +shut her heart to the bliss of being his wife, he who, to-day a king, +would in future years place an imperial crown upon her brow. + +And now the two cavalcades met; the carriage of the princess drew up, +and the King of Rome dismounting, came toward her with a low inclination +of the head. Around them stood the noblemen of his suite, whose splendid +uniforms and decorations dazzled the eye with their brilliancy. They +sprang from their horses and each one reverentially saluted the +bride-elect. This done, the King of Rome assisted her to alight, that +she might mount the magnificent horse which was now led forward by the +empress's chief master of the horse. + +When her betrothed held out his hand to her, Josepha, blushing, looked +at him with a timid and tender glance, which seemed to implore a return +of her love. She could not speak a word, but she pressed his hand. + +Joseph, so far from returning the pressure, looked surprised--almost +disdainful; and, stepping back, he left to the master of the horse and +the other lords in waiting the care of assisting the princess to mount. +She sprang into the saddle with perfect confidence, and grasped her +reins with so much skill, that although the beautiful animal reared and +pranced until his bridle was covered with foam, his rider was perfectly +at ease. + +"She is, at least, a good horsewoman," said Joseph to himself, as he +took his place by her side. + +And now the bells chimed merrily, and the cannon proclaimed to all +Vienna that the royal pair were about to enter the city. + +Silently they rode through the flower-strewn streets, silently they +heard the joyous shouts of the multitude, here and there smiling wearily +in return, but both tired of splendor, and both longing for rest. +Neither spoke to the other; what had they to say to one another--they +whom policy had chained together for life? + +At the farther end of the city the state-coach of the empress awaited +the princess. With an indifferent and careless air, Joseph handed +Josepha to the carriage. This time she dared not press his hand; but as +the door closed upon herself and her governess, she threw herself back +upon the velvet cushions and wept bitterly. + +"For the love of Heaven, what mean these tears, your highness?" cried +the governess. "Your highness's head-dress will be ruined, and your eyes +will be swollen." + +"'Tis true," murmured Josepha, "I have no right to weep as other women +do, at such a time. I am nothing but a puppet, that laughs or weeps as +etiquette ordains." + +"Your highness is excited and does not see your destiny in its true +light," replied the lady, with sympathy. "It is one which any woman on +earth might envy. You are about to become the wife of the handsomest +prince in all Europe, an emperor in prospect, and son of the great Maria +Theresa, whose beauty and goodness are the theme of the whole world. And +then the lovely and accomplished Archduchesses of Austria--they are to +be your sisters-in-law!" + +"Yes," said the princess, passionately, "and look at me. You have known +me since my infancy, dear friend, therefore you need not flatter me +because of my station. Look at me, and tell me if it is not enough to +break my heart, that I must appear before this beautiful empress and her +daughters, and that I must try to win the affections of this prince, the +glance of whose eye is enough to kindle love in the heart of every woman +living--oh say, and speak without reserve--tell me if a woman so +obscure, so ignorant, and so destitute of charms, can ever hope to be +loved or cherished by such a family?" + +"Your highness is worthy of all affection, and deserves the choicest of +the blessings that are in store for you," replied the lady of honor +warmly. "No one knowing your noble heart would say that any station is +too exalted for you." + +"Oh! who will be troubled with looking into my heart in imperial +Vienna?" sobbed the disheartened Josepha. "Externals are every thing in +court; and I, unhappy one, who scarcely dare not utter my heart's +yearnings to those who encourage me, what will become of me if I meet +with cold glances or scornful words? I feel how little I am skilled to +win love, and the consciousness of my defects heightens them and renders +me still more repulsive." + +"Your highness is unjust toward yourself. No one else would ever dream +of speaking in such terms of you. Be happy, dear lady, and you will soon +grow comely, too." + +"Happy!" sighed the princess, looking from the window at the elegant and +graceful prince, who, cold and stern as though he had been following the +dead, vouchsafed not a look toward the carriage where sat his bride. + +With another sigh she turned her head. Her eyes encountered those of the +governess, fixed upon her in wondering sympathy. With a bitter smile +Josephs, laid her hand upon the shoulder of her friend. + +"I must tell you something, Lucy," said she--"something terrible and +sad. Hear well my words, and mark them! I already love my betrothed +beyond power of expression; but he will never return my love. I shall +worship him, and I feel that he will hate me!" + +Blushing painfully at the sound of her own words, the princess hid her +face in her hands. + +The carriage stopped, and now the confused and self-tortured girl had to +go forward to meet the emperor, who waited at the foot of the great +staircase to conduct her to the presence of the empress. Maria Theresa +came gracefully forward, surrounded by her beautiful daughters and a +dazzling train of lords and ladies. Josepha's head reeled when she saw +them, and almost fainting, she sank down at the feet of the empress. + +"Mercy, gracious empress, mercy!" sobbed the poor girl, almost beside +herself with terror; while, regardless of all courtly decorum, she +covered the hand of Maria Theresa with tears and kisses. + +A sneer was perceptible on the faces of the courtiers, and the young +archduchesses smiled derisively; but Maria Theresa, whose generous heart +beat in sympathetic response to the emotion and fright of the poor young +stranger, kindly raised her up, and, kissing her forehead, encouraged +her with gracious words. + +"Be welcome, my daughter," said she, in her clear and silvery voice, +"May all the happiness be yours through life! Come, my children, let us +hasten to the chapel." + +She made a sign to her husband, and took the arm of the King of Rome. +The emperor followed with the Princess Josepha, and now through the +splendid halls, that dazzled the eye with festive magnificence, came the +long train of courtiers and ladies that graced the pageant of this royal +bridal. In the chapel, before the altar, stood Cardinal Megazzi, +surrounded by priests and acolytes, all arrayed in the pomp and splendor +attendant on a solemn Catholic ceremony. + +The princess had not been wedded by proxy; it was therefore necessary +that she should be married with the blessings of the church, before she +proceedcd in state to the throne-room to receive the homage due to her +as a queen. No time had therefore been given her to retire before the +ceremony, and she was married in her travelling-dress. At the entrance +of the chapel stood the new ladies in waiting of the Queen of Rome. One +of them relieved her of her hat, which the empress replaced by a wreath +of myrtle. Then Maria Theresa, having placed the hand of Josepha in that +of her son, the imperial cortege approached the altar. + +As they stood before the chancel, the King of Rome, overcome by the +bitterness of the moment, bowed his head to his unfortunate bride and +whispered, "Poor Josepha, I pity you!" + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE MARRIAGE NIGHT. + +The ceremonial was over. The empress herself had conducted the young +Queen of Rome to her apartments; and she had stood by her side, while +her tire-woman exchanged her dress of golden tissue for a light white +negligee of finest cambric trimmed with costly lace. With her own hand +Maria Theresa unfastened the myrtle-wreath and coronet of diamonds that +encircled her daughter-in-law's brow. She then kissed Josepha +affectionately, and, bidding her good-night, she besought the blessing +of God upon both her children. + +And now the princess was alone in this vast apartment. On one side, +under a canopy of blue velvet embroidered with gold, was the state-bed +of the Queen of Rome. Close by stood the toilet of gold with its +wilderness of jewels and etuis, all the gifts of the empress. On the +walls of blue velvet hung large Venetian mirrors, filling the room with +images of that gorgeous bed of state. In the centre, on a marble table, +thirty wax-lights in silver candelabra illumined the splendor of the +scene. The heavy velvet window curtains were closed; but they threw no +shadow, for the park of Schonbrunn was illuminated by two hundred +thousand lamps, which far and near lit up the castle on this festive +evening with a flood of fiery splendor. [Footnote: Hormayer, +"Reminiscences of Vienna," vol. v., page 81.] + +The Queen of Rome was alone, her bridesmaids and attendants had left +her, and she awaited her husband, who would enter her room through a +private door which, close to the bed of state, led to his own +apartments. + +With beating heart and in feverish suspense, trembling with hope and +fear, Josepha paced her magnificent room. Heavy sighs broke from her +bosom, hot tears fell from her eyes. + +"He will come," cried she, wringing her hands, "he will come and look +into my face with his heavenly blue eyes, and I--I shall cast down mine +like a culprit, and dare not confide my secret to him. O God! O God! I +have sworn to conceal my infirmity, for it is not contagious and will +harm no one--and yet my heart misgives me when I think that--Oh, no! no! +It will soon be over, and he will never have known it. Were he told of +it, it might prejudice him against me, and how could I bear to see those +beauteous eyes turned away from me in disgust? I will keep my secret; +and after--my love shall atone to him for this one breach of faith. Oh, +my God! teach me how to win him! I have nothing to bring to this +splendid court save the gushing fountains of my love for him--oh, my +father, why have I nothing but this to offer--why have I neither beauty +nor grace to please my husband's eyes--for I love him, oh, I love him +already more than my life!" + +She started, for she heard a sound near the side door. Now the key +turned in the lock, and in another moment the king walked in. He still +wore the magnificent Spanish court-dress in which he had received the +homage of his marriage guests. The order of the Golden Fleece was on his +breast, and also the sparkling diamond cross of the imperial house of +Hapsburg. Josepha, blushing, recalled to mind her night negligee, and +dared not raise her eyes. + +For a while they stood opposite to one another, Josepha, in painful +confusion; Joseph, his eyes bent with cold scrutiny upon her person. At +length he approached and touched her gently on the arm. + +"Why do you tremble so?" asked he kindly. "Raise your head and look at +me." + +Slowly she lifted her eyes, and looked at him with a gaze of entreaty. + +"Now," said be, with a bitter smile, "am I so frightful that you have +reason to tremble at my coming?" + +"I did not tremble from fear or fright," said she, in a voice scarcely +audible. + +"Ah, you have no confidence in me," said he, "you wish to hide your +emotions from me. And yet madame, let me tell you that nothing but +mutual and perfect confidence will help us through this hour and through +life. Come, then. Josepha, I will set you the example. I will confide in +you without reserve. Give me your hand and let us sit together on yonder +divan." + +She placed her trembling hand within his, and he led her to the sofa. A +flood of deep and silent joy overwhelmed her heart, as alone in that +royal apartment, which was hers, she sat by the side of this man whom +she had already loved with passion. + +"First, madame, let me ask your forgiveness for accepting a hand which +was not freely bestowed by yourself, but was placed in mine by the +inexorable policy of the destiny that rules kings. In obeying the +commands of your brother, you have not only married one whom you did not +know, but perhaps you have been forced to stifle other wishes, other +inclinations." + +"No," cried she, earnestly, "no. I have left nothing to regret, I have +made no sacrifice, I--" + +"Yes, you have sacrificed your freedom, the most precious boon that +Heaven has bestowed on man, to become the galley-slave of policy and +princely station. Poor Josepha, I pity you!" + +"Do not pity me," said Josepha, tearfully, "pity yourself, whose freedom +has been sacrificed to me. You have given your honored hand to a woman +whom you do not love, a woman who would be too happy--" + +"Had she the power to free herself and me from this compulsory union," +interrupted Joseph. "I believe you, for I read in your countenance that +your heart is good and noble, and gladly would contribute to the +happiness of your fellow-creatures. But we must both accept the destiny +which the hand of diplomacy has woven for us. The heads that wear the +crowns must also wear the thorns. But we will try to lighten the pain to +one another. You have become my wife without love, and I, too, have +become your HUSBAND--without love." + +Josepha's head fell, she sighed, and murmured something which Joseph +could not hear. + +He went on: "I do not come to you with vain pretensions of a man who +fancies he has won an honorable woman's heart because the priest has bid +them love one another. I will not take advantage of the rights which +either diplomacy or church has given me over you. Here at least there +shall be no dissimulation; here we shall both be privileged to avow +honestly and honorably that we are not lovers. Then let us be friends. I +come to you in all frankness, offering myself to be to you as a brother. +Perhaps it may come to pass that I win your love; perchance your +goodness and your worth may win my sad heart back again to life--the day +may come when we shall be able to say that we love each other. Let us +await this day, and soften the interval by mutual confidence and trust. +And should it ever come to us, Josepha, we will then seal with +heart-felt embrace the bond which the church has made between us to-day. +Take me, then, as brother and friend, and be to me a sister and +companion. Will you, Josepha?" + +He reached out his hand, and looked at her with a glance of brotherly +kindness. She gave him hers with a mournful smile, and her eyes sought +the ground. + +"Welcome, then, my friend and sister," said Joseph warmly. "Now for +unreserved confidence. You promise me that, do you not?" + +"I promise," gasped the poor girl. + +"And you will open your heart that I may read its every page?" + +"I will--I promise to keep nothing from you." "I promise the same to +you, and perhaps this plant of friendship may one day bear the flowers +of love. You are inexperienced in the ways of court-life. You will need +a pilot to steer you safe amid reefs and breakers. I will be this pilot +to you, I will teach you what to suspect and to avoid. Above all, never +venture to have an opinion that does not coincide with that of the +empress. We are all a pious and well-brought-up family who see with her +eyes, and hear with her ears, and never dare confess that we possess +sight or hearing in our own persons. Recollect that you, too, must fall +in the line of puppets, and give up your senses to the empress." + +"But in the depths of my own heart I trust that I may see with the eyes +of the King of Rome," replied Josepha with a smile. "For if I am to +learn from you, I must surely dare to use my senses." + +"Yes; but let no one suspect that you learn any thing from me. In this +court we tread on flowers; and if one of our flowers chances to wither +we cover it over with a pater-noster, and that makes all right again." + +"But suppose it will not be made right?" returned Josepha. "Suppose that +prayer should fail?" + +"Gracious Heaven, what do I hear!" cried Joseph. "What profane doubt are +you so bold as to utter! You do not belong to the stupid, pious band, +who think that prayer cures all woes? Poor Josepha, let no one but me +hear such heresy from your lips--pray, pray; or make believe to pray; no +one will ever ask you whether your heart is in it or not. And if any one +seeks to know, answer nothing. Pray on, and mistrust every one." + +"What! mistrust the generous friend whom kind Providence has given to me +this day!" cried Josepha with feeling. "That I can never do. You have +encouraged me to confide in you, and even had you not done so, you would +have won my confidence unsought. " + +"I am glad that you think so," returned Joseph. "Let us begin at once, +then. Have you a wish that I have it in my power to gratify? Or have you +any thing in your heart which you will confide to me as a proof of your +faith in my friendship?" + +Josepha started, and her cheeks grew white with fear. This question +awakened her from her short dream of hope and happiness, and she +remembered that she had a secret which it was her duty to reveal to her +husband. She looked furtively at him. Perhaps he had heard something, +and this was a trial of her truth. But no! His face was tranquil and +unsuspecting; there was nothing searching in the glance of his deep-blue +eyes. No! he knew nothing, and wherefore cloud the brightness of the +hour with a confession which might crush its promise of future bliss? + +"Well," said Joseph kindly, "is there nothing on your heart that you +would confide to your friend?" + +"No!" at last said Joseplia resolutely. "My life has been dull and +uneventful. It is only today that I begin to live; the sun of hope is +dawning upon my heart; I feel as if I might--" + +"Hark!" said Joseph, "I think I hear some one coming. Yes; there is +surely a light tap at the door." + +The king rose hastily and crossed the room toward the little side-door. + +"Is any one there?" asked he in a loud tone of displeasure. + +"Yes, your majesty," whispered a trembling voice, "and I pray you +earnestly to open the door." + +"It is my valet Anselmo," said Joseph to the princess, while he withdrew +the bolt. + +It was Anselmo, in truth, who, with mysterious mien, beckoned to his +lord to come out. + +"Will your majesty condescend to step into the corridor, that I may +deliver the message with which I am intrusted?" said the valet. + +"Is it so weighty, Anselmo, that it cannot lie upon your conscience +until morning?" + +"Not one moment can I defer it, your majesty, for I was told that your +majesty's well-being and health depended upon my speed." + +The king stepped outside and closed the door. "Who sent you hither, +Anselmo?" asked he. + +"I do not know, sire, but I suspect. It was a female form enveloped in a +long black cloak, with a hood which concealed her face. She came from +the gallery which leads to the apartments of their imperial highnesses, +your majesty's sisters, and entered your majesty's own cabinet, which I +had left open while I was lighting your majesty hither." + +"And what said she?" asked the king impatiently. + +"She asked if your majesty had gone into the queen's apartments When I +told her that you had, she held out this note and said: 'Speed to the +king, and as you value his health and welfare, give him this note at +once.' She disappeared, and here, your majesty, is the note." + +The king took the paper, which by the dim light of the corridor he could +not read. + +"And who do you think is the mysterious lady, Anselmo?" asked he. + +"Sire, I do not know. Perhaps your majesty will recognize the +handwriting." + +"I wish to know, Anselmo, who YOU think was hidden under that cloak?" + +"Well, then, your majesty," said Anselmo, in a whisper scarcely audible, +"I think it was the Archduchess Christina." + +"I suspected as much," said the king to himself. "It is some intrigue of +hers against the Princess Josepha, whom she hates because I selected her +in preference to the sister of Christina's lover, the Elector of +Saxony." [Footnote: The Princess Christina was in love with the Elector +of Saxony; but the Emperor Francis was opposed to the marriage. +Christina used all her influence to bring about a marriage between her +brother and Mary Kunigunde the sister of her lover, hoping thereby to +pave the way for her own union with the handsome Albert. Failing in +this, she became the bitter enemy of the unhappy woman to whom Joseph +had given the preference.] + +Perhaps Anselmo understood a few words of this soliloquy, for he +continued: "A courier arrived from Saxony, and I was told by my sister, +the tire-woman of her highness, that the Archduchess Christina had +received a packet of letters." + +"Very well, Anselmo," said the king, "if to-morrow you should be asked +whether you delivered the note, say that I tore it up without opening +it. Do you hear?" + +Dismissing the valet with a wave of the hand, he returned to the +princess. + +"Pardon me," said he, "for leaving you, and allow me in your presence to +read a note which has just been mysteriously delivered into my hands. I +wish to give you a proof of my confidence, by entrusting you at once +with my secrets." + +So saying, he approached the marble centre-table, and opened the letter. + +What was it that blanched Josepha's cheek and made her tremble, as +Joseph smiled and looked at her? Why did she stare at him while he read, +and why did her heart stand still with fright, as she saw his expression +change? + +He seemed shocked at the contents of the note, and when he raised his +eyes and their glance met that of Josepha, she saw them filled with +aversion and scorn. + +"Madame," said he, and his voice had grown harsh, "madame, I asked you +in good faith whether you had anything to confide to my honor. I +expressed a desire to win your confidence. You answered that you had +nothing to tell. Once more I ask, have you any thing to say? The more +humiliating the confession, the more will I appreciate your candor. +Speak, therefore." + +Josepha answered not a word. Her teeth chattered so painfully that she +could not articulate; she trembled so violently that she had to grasp +the back of an arm-chair for support. + +Joseph saw this, and he laughed a hoarse and contemptuous laugh. She did +not ask him why he sneered. She threw herself at his feet, and raised +her arms imploringly. + +"Mercy," cried the unhappy woman, "mercy!" + +He laughed again, and held the paper before her eyes. + +"Read, madame, read!" said he rudely. + +"I cannot," sobbed she. "I will not read what has been written of me. I +will tell you myself all that I know. I will confide my secret to you; I +will indeed." + +"You have nothing to confide, madame," cried Joseph. "With a sincere and +holy desire to perform my duty I asked for your friendship and your +confidence. I cast them both back, for you have allowed the hour of +trust to go by! Now it is too late! You are accused. Do not look to me +for protection; vindicate yourself if you can. Read this letter, and +tell me if the writer speaks the truth." + +Josepha still knelt at his feet; but her arms had fallen in despair. She +knew that she had nothing more to hope from her husband: she felt that +she was about to be sentenced to a life of utter misery. + +"You will not read?" said Joseph, as unnoticed, Josepha lay at his feet. +"If so, I must read the letter for you myself. It warns me not to come +too near to your royal person. It--" + +"I will spare you, sire," exclaimed she, as with the energy of despair +she rose to her feet. "You will not let me speak, you shall see for +yourself!" + +With a frantic gesture, she tore her dress from her neck and shoulders, +and heedless that she stood with arms and bosom exposed, she let it fall +to the floor, and bowed her head as if to receive the stroke of the +headsman's axe. + +"Know my secret," said she, as she folded her hands and stood before her +outraged husband. "And now hear me. A few months ago I had a beloved +brother, whom I loved the more that he was unfortunate and afflicted. +From his childhood he had suffered from a malady which his physicians +called leprosy. The very servants deserted him, for it was said that the +disease was contagious. I loved my brother with devotion; I went to him +and nursed him until he died. God shielded me, for I did not take the +malady. But on my neck and back there came dark spots which, although +they are painful, are not contagious. My physicians tod me that my +strong constitution had rejected the leprosy, and these spots were a +regeneration of my skin, which would soon disappear. This, sire, is my +fatal secret; and now judge me. It is in your power to make me the +happiest of mortals, by granting me a generous pardon; but I will not +complain if you condemn and despise me." + +"Complain if you choose, it is indifferent to me," cried Joseph, with a +hoarse laugh. "Never in this world shall you be my wife. If the hateful +tie that binds me to you cannot be unloosed, I will make you answerable +for every day of disgust and misery that I am forced to pass under the +same roof with you. If I am cursed before the world with the name of +your husband. I shall punish you in secret with my everlasting hate." + +As if stricken by lightning, she fell to the floor. Her fallen dress +exposed to view her beautiful form. Her arms, which were folded above +her head, were round and white as those of a Greek statue; and as she +lay with her full, graceful shoulders bared almost to the waist, she +looked like Niobe just stricken by the wrath of a god. + +Joseph was unmindful of this. He had no sympathy with the noble +sacrifice which her loving heart had offered to a dying brother. He saw +neither her youth nor her grace; he saw but those dark spots upon her +back, and he shuddered as she raised her arm to clasp his feet. + +"Do not touch me," exclaimed he, starting back. "Your touch is +pollution. We are forever divorced. To day the priest joined our bands +together, but to-night I part them never more to meet. Farewell." + +And hurling at her prostrate form the letter which had betrayed her, he +turned and left the room. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE. + +It was the morning after the wedding. Maria Theresa had just completed +her toilet, and was smiling at her own beautiful image reflected in the +looking-glass. She looked every inch an empress in her rich crimson +velvet dress, with its long and graceful train, and its border of +ermine. Her superb blond hair had been exquisitely dressed by her little +favourite Charlotte von Hieronymus. It was sprinkled with gold-powder, +and the coiffure was heightened by a little cap of crimson velvet, +attached to the hair by arrows of gold set with costly brilliants. The +complexion of the empress was so lovely, that she never wore rouge; and +surely such eyes as hers needed none of the "adulteries of art" to +heighten their brilliancy or beauty. Although she was in her forty-ninth +year, and had given birth to sixteen children, Maria Theresa was still +beautiful not only youthful in appearance, but youthful in heart, and in +the strength and greatness of her intellect. She loved the emperor as +fondly as she had done twenty-eight years before, and each of her ten +living children was as dear to her maternal heart as if each had been an +only child. + +She had arrayed herself with unusual magnificence to celebrate the entry +of the newly-married couple into Vienna. The imperial cortege was to +stop at the cathedral of St. Stephen, there to witness the bridals of +twenty-five young couples, all of whom the empress had dowered in honor +of her son's second marriage. + +"Surely the prayers of these fifty lovers will bring happiness upon the +heads of my son and his wife," said the empress to herself. "They need +prayers indeed, for poor Josepha is very unlike our peerless Isabella, +and I fear she will not be attractive enough to cause the dead to be +forgotten. Still, she seems mild and kind-hearted, and I have already +read in her eyes that she is in love with Joseph. I hope this will lead +him to love her in return. Sometimes a man will love a woman through +pity, afterward through habit." + +A nervous and impatient knock at her door interrupted the current of the +empress's thoughts; the door was flung open without further ceremony, +and the King of Rome entered the room. He was pale and agitated, and to +his mother's affectionate welcome he replied by a deep inclination of +the head. + +The empress perceived at once that something was wrong, and her heart +beat rapidly. + +"My dear boy," said she, "you do not wear a holiday face, and your young +bride--" + +"I have no bride," interrupted Joseph, angrily. "I have come to beg of +your majesty to discontinue these rejoicings, or at least to excuse me +from appearing in public at the side of the Princess of Bavaria. She is +not my wife, nor ever shall be!" + +"What means this?" stammered the empress, bewildered. + +"It means that my marriage is null and void; and that no human power +shall force me to be husband of a creature tainted with leprosy." + +The empress uttered a cry of horror. + +"My son, my son!" exclaimed she, "what unheard of charge is this!" + +"A charge which is a miserable truth, your majesty. Do you not remember +to have heard that the natural son of Charles of Bavaria had died, not +long ago, of leprosy which he had contracted during a journey to the +East? Well, his tender and self-sacrificing half-sister volunteered to +nurse him, and was with him until he died. Your majesty, no doubt, will +look upon this as something very fine and Christian-like. I, on the +contrary, would have found it more honorable, if the princess had +advised us of the legacy she wears upon her back." + +"Woe to her and to the house of Bavaria, if you speak the truth, my +son!" cried the empress, indignantly. + +"If your majesty will send Van Swieten to her, you may convince yourself +of the fact." + +A few moments later Van Swieten entered the room. His fame was European. +He was well known as a man of great skill and science; added to this, +his noble frankness and high moral worth had greatly endeared him to the +imperial family. Maria Theresa went hastily forward to meet him. + +"Van Swieten," said she, with a voice trembling from agitation, "you +have been our friend in many an hour of sorrow, and many a secret of the +house of Hapsburg has been faithfully buried in your loyal heart. Help +me again, and, above all, let it he in secrecy. The King of Rome says +fearful things of his wife. I will not believe them until I hear your +verdict. Go at once, I implore you, to the princess, and command her, in +my name, to declare her malady." + +"But, your majesty, she has not called for my advice," replied Van +Swieten, with surprise. + +"Then she must take it unasked," said the empress. "The princess will +receive you, and you will know how to win her to reveal her condition. +As soon as you leave her, return to me." + +Van Swieten bowed and left the room. The empress and her son remained +together. Neither spoke a word. The King of Rome stood in the embrasure +of a window, looking sullenly up at the sky. The empress walked +hurriedly to and fro, careless that her violent motions were filling her +dress with the gold powder that fell from her head like little showers +of stars. + +"Christina, was right to warn me," said she, after a long pause. "I +never should have consented to this alliance with the daughter of my +enemy. It is of no use to patch up old enmities. Charles was humbled and +defeated by me, and now comes this Josepha, to revenge her father's +losses, and to bring sorrow to my child. Oh, my son, why did you not +allow my counsel, and marry the Princess of Saxony? But it is useless to +reproach you. The evil is done--let us consult together how best we may +bear it." + +"Not at all!" cried Joseph." We must consult how we may soonest cast it +away from us. Your majesty will never require of me the sacrifice of +remaining bound to that woman. I obeyed your behest; and in spite of my +disinclination to a second marriage, I bent my will before the +necessities of diplomacy, and the command of my sovereign. But we are +now on a ground where the duty of a subject ends, and the honor of a man +stands preeminent. I never will consent to be the husband of this woman +whose person is disgusting to me. Far above all claims of political +expediency, I hold my right as a man." + +"But you hold them with unbecoming language," replied the empress, who +did not at all relish the tone of the King of Rome. "And let me tell +you, my royal son, that an upright and honorable prince thinks less of +his rights as a man than of his duties as a ruler. He strives, while a +prince, to be a man; and while a man, to sacrifice his inclinations to +the calls of a princely station." + +"But not his personal honor," cried Joseph. "Your majesty's code is that +of Macchiavelli, who counsels a prince never to let his feelings as a +man interfere with his policy as a ruler." + +The empress was about to make an angry rejoinder to this remark, when +the door opened, and Van Swieten reappeared. + +"Ah!" said the empress, "did you see her, Van Swieten?" + +"Yes, your majesty," replied Van Swieten, with emphasis, "I have seen +the Queen of Rome." + +"Do you mean to say that she has no disease that unfits her to be the +wife of the King of Rome?" asked Maria Theresa. + +"Her only malady is a cutaneous one, which in a short time will be +completely cured. Some persons are so happily organized that they throw +off disease, even when in contact with it. The princess possesses this +sound and healthy organization The poison which she inhaled by her +brother's bedside, has settled upon her skin in a harmless eruption--her +constitution is untouched. In a few weeks all trace of it will +disappear, and nothing will remain to remind us of her noble disregard +of self, save the memory of her heroism and magnanimity. For, indeed, +your majesty, it is easier to confront death on the battle-field than to +face it in the pestiferous atmosphere of a sick-room. " + +Maria Theresa turned with a radiant smile toward her son. "You see, my +son "said she," that you have done injustice to your noble wife. Go, +then, and entreat her forgiveness." + +"No, your majesty," said a soft voice behind them, "it is for me to +implore my husband's forgiveness." + +The empress turned and beheld her daughter-in-law, splendidly attired, +but pale and wan with unmistakable grief. + +"Josepha, how came you hither?" asked she. + +"I followed Herr van Swieten," replied Josepha. "He told me that your +majesty and the King of Rome were here, awaiting his verdict, and I +judged from his manner that it would be in my favor. Therefore I came, +and having heard his flattering words, which I do not deserve, I am here +to inculpate myself. No, Herr van Swieten, if there were any merit in +suffering for a brother whom I dearly loved, it would all be effaced by +the wrong which I have done to the King of Rome. I feel that I was +guilty in not confiding my malady to your majesty, and I bow my head +before the justice of my punishment, severe though it maybe." + +"It shall not be severe, my daughter," said the empress, whose kind +heart was completely overcome by Josepha's humility--"I, for my part, +forgive you; you are already sufficiently punished." + +"I thank your majesty," returned Josepha, kissing her outstretched hand. +"It is easy for one so magnanimous, to pardon the guilty; but my +husband, will he also forgive me?" + +She turned her pale and imploring face toward Joseph, who, with his arms +crossed, looked scornfully back. + +"No," said she sadly, "no. To obtain his forgiveness, I must make a full +confession of my fault." + +She approached the window, but her head was cast down so that she did +not see with what a look of hate Joseph beheld her advancing toward him. + +"To obtain your pardon, sire," said she, "I must say why I deceived you. +It was because I preferred perjury to the loss of my earthly +happiness--the unspeakable happiness of being your wife. I was afraid of +losing my treasure. For I love you beyond all power of expression; from +the first moment of our meeting, I have loved you, and this love which, +thanks to Almighty God, I have a right to avow before the world--this +love it was that misled me. Oh, my husband, have mercy, and forgive the +fault that was born of my excessive love for you. A whole life of love +and obedience shall atone for my sin. Forgive me, forgive me, for the +sake of my love!" + +And, overwhelmed by her grief, the princess knelt at the feet of her +husband, and raised her hands in supplication for pardon. + +The empress looked on with sympathetic heart and tearful eyes; she +expected at every moment to see Joseph raise up his wife, and press her +to his heart for her touching avowal of love. She expected to hear HIM +implore forgiveness; but she was sadly mistaken. + +Joseph stood immovable, his eyes flashing scorn and fury at the kneeling +princes before him. + +This outraged all the pride of Maria Theresa's womanhood. Hastily +approaching Josepha, and stretching her arms toward her, she said: "If +Joseph has no mercy in his obdurate heart, I at least will not witness +such humiliation on the part of his wife. Rise, my daughter, and take +shelter under my love; I will not suffer you to be oppressed--not even +by my own son." + +She would have raised Josepha, but the poor girl waved her gently back. +"No, dear lady," said she, sobbing, "let me remain until he forgives +me." + +"Let her remain, your majesty," cried Joseph with a burst of wrath, "she +is in her proper place. But if she means to kneel until she has obtained +my forgiveness, let her kneel throughout all eternity! I consented to +this marriage for expediency's sake, and I would have done my best to +make the burden as light for us both as lay in my power. Your majesty +knows how she has deceived me; you have heard her pitiful lie with its +pitiful excuse. I might have forgiven her for marrying me, with her +disgusting disease, but for being a liar--never!" + +"Enough," cried the empress, as much excited by her son's obduracy as by +Josepha's touching confession. "This scene must end, and so help me God, +it shall never be enacted a second time! You are bound to one another +for life, and together you shall remain. Each mortal has his weight of +grief to bear. Bear yours in silence, and bear it as becomes your +dignity and station. Have the manliness to smile before the world, my +son, as beseems a prince who has more regard for his princely duties +than for his rights as a man to happiness." + +And with that imposing grandeur which Maria Theresa knew so well how to +assume, she continued: "Rise, Queen of Rome, and never again forget +either your own royal station or the dignity of your womanhood. Give her +your hand, my son; if you will not love, you must at least honor and +respect your wife. The bells of Vienna even now are pealing your +welcome; the people await their sovereigns, and it does not become us to +keep them in suspense on such an occasion as this." + +Without looking back to see the effect of her words, the empress left +the room, and called to her pages to fling wide the palace doors. + +"Apprise the court that we are ready to move," said she, in a commanding +voice, "and let the carriages approach." + +The pages threw open the wide doors; the emperor and the archduchesses +entered, and following them came the courtiers and ladies of the +imperial household in all the splendor of flashing jewels and costly +robes. + +The empress, with unruffled serenity, advanced to meet them. Not once +were her eyes cast behind toward the unhappy couple, whom she knew +perfectly well had yielded to the force of circumstances, and were +already throwing the veil of etiquette and courtly decorum over their +bleeding hearts. + +An hour later the imperial family made its entry into Vienna. In her +gilded state-carriage sat the proud and beautiful empress, and at her +side was the pale Queen of Rome. On either side of the carriage rode the +two husbands, the Emperor Francis of Lorraine and the King of Rome. The +people once more shouted for joy, wishing long life to the imperial +pair, and joy to the newly-married couple. From one side to another the +empress and the queen bowed and smiled to all, while the King of Rome +thanked the enraptured Viennese for their welcome. On this clay appeared +a new color in Vienna, so called in honor of Joseph's deep-blue eyes; it +was called "imperial blue." + +And the bells chimed; the cannon roared; while in the cathedral the +fifty lovers awaited the King and Queen of Rome, whose marriage filled +all hearts with joy, and seemed to realize every dream of happiness on +earth. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A STATESMAN'S HOURS OF DALLIANCE. + +"Are there many people in the anteroom?" asked Prince Kaunitz of the +state referendarius, Baron Binder. + +"Yes, your highness," returned Binder, "all waiting impatiently for your +appearance." + +"Let them wait, the stupid, strutting representatives of littleness! The +more insignificant the petty masters, the more conceited are the petty +ambassadors. I have no time to see them to-day. We are at peace with the +whole world, and our only diplomacy regards marrying and giving in +marriage." + +"So far you have nothing to boast or in that line," said Binder, +laughing. "There are all sorts of stories afloat about the unhappy +marriage of the King of Rome. Sorne go so far as to say that he shows +his dislike in public." + +"Bah! what matters it whether a prince is a happy husband or not? When a +king sets up pretensions to conjugal felicity, he is either an egotist +or a fool. If the King of Rome cannot love his good, stupid, ugly wife, +he can make love to the dowry she brings him. A goodly inheritance comes +with her; what matters it if a woman be thrown into the bargain?" + +"Ah, prince, a woman is sometimes harder to conquer than a province; and +I think the King of Rome would much rather have won his Bavaria with the +sword." + +"Because he is a blockhead full of sublime nonsense, who mistakes his +love of novelty for wisdom. He would break his head against a wall, this +obstinate King of Rome, while I crept safely through a mouse-hole. Walls +are not so easily battered down as he supposes; but mouse-holes abound +everywhere, as this sapient king will find out some of these days. It +was much easier for us to creep into Bavaria with the help of the lovely +Josepha, than to flourish our sword in her brother's face. He has not +long to live, and we shall come peacefully in possession of his fair +province." + +"Or rather, the war for its possession will be waged in the king's +private apartments." + +"On that silly subject again!" exclaimed Kaunitz, impatiently. "If your +heart bleeds so freely for the sentimental sorrows of the King of Rome, +you may have another opportunity for your sensibilities in the marriage +of his brother Leopold; for I assure you that his intended is not one +whit handsomer, or more intelligent, than Josepha of Bavaria. So you see +that the King of Rome will not be apt to envy his brother." + +"Your highness is to escort the Infanta of Spain to Innspruck?" + +"Not I, indeed; that honor I do not confer upon insignificant princesses +who are nothing but grand-duchesses elect. I go to Innspruck one day +sooner than the imperial family, to inspect the preparations for the +festivities, and then I shall go as far as the gates of Innspruck--no +farther, to receive Donna Maria Louisa." + +"That is the reason why your levee is so crowded to-day," replied Binder +laughing. "The foreign ministers wish to take leave of their master. And +now they have waited long enough for you, prince." + +"I shall not see one of them. Austria, thanks to me, is now so powerful +that I need give myself no concern to soothe the anger of a dozen petty +envoys, and to-day there are none other in the anteroom." + +"The Dutch and Saxon ministers," urged Binder. + +"Little nobodies," said Kaunitz, with a shrug. "I will not see them." + +"But, indeed, you presume too much upon their littleness. Only yesterday +you invited the Hessian ambassador to dine, and then you sat down to +table without him." + +"He was three minutes behind the time. And do you imagine that Prince +Kaunitz waits for a poor little Hessian envoy? I did it on purpose to +teach him punctuality." + +Here the prince rang a bell, and ordered a page to dismiss the gentlemen +in the anteroom. [Footnote: Report of the Prussian ambassador Baron +Furst to Frederick II.] + +Baron Binder looked after the page and shook his head. Kaunitz smiled. +"Enough of ambassadors for to-day. The ship of Austria lies proudly and +safely in the haven of her own greatness; and would you deprive the +pilot of a few hours of relaxation? I shall have to take the helm again +to-morrow, when I go to Innspruck, and do you grumble if for a few hours +I enjoy life to-day?" + +"I was not aware that dismissing one's visitors was a way to enjoy +life," said Binder. + +"I do not mean that, you old pedant. Do you hear that tapping at the +door?" + +"Yes, I hear it. It is from the little private door that leads to the +corridor." + +"Well, that corridor, as you know, leads to a side-entrance of the +palace, and if you look out of the window you will see there the +equipage of the handsomest, frailest, and most fascinating actress in +all Vienna--the equipage of the divine Foliazzi. Hear how the knocking +grows louder. My charmer becomes impatient." + +"Allow me to retire, then," said Binder, "and leave the field to the +prima donna." As he left the room, he muttered: "If Kaunitz were not a +great statesman, he would be a ridiculous old fop!" + +Kaunitz listened with perfect a unconcern to the repeated knocking of +his charmer until Binder was out of of sight, then he walked up to the +looking-glass, smoothed his locks, straightened his ruffles, and drew +the bolt of the door. The beautiful Foliazzi, in a coquettish and most +becoming morning-costume, radiant with smiles and beauty, entered the +room. + +Kaunitz greeted her coldly, and answered her rapturous salutation by a +faint nod. "Your impatience is very annoying, Olympia," said he; "you +beat upon my door like a drum-major." + +"Your highness, it is the impatience of a longing heart," said the +singer. "Do you know that it seems to me a thousand years since last I +was allowed to enter these gates of Paradise! For eight days I have been +plunged in deepest sorrow, watching your carriage as it passed by my +house, snatching every note from my footman's hands in the hope that it +might be one from you--hoping in vain, and at last yielded myself up to +fell despair." + +"You express yourself warmly," said Kaunitz, umnoved. + +"Yes, indeed; for a feeling heart always finds strong expression," +answered the signora, showing a row of teeth between her rosy lips that +looked like precious pearls. "And now my adored reprobate, why have you +banished me from your presence for an eternity? Which of my two enemies +have prevailed against me, politics or the Countess Clary? Justify +yourself, unkind but beloved prince; say that you have not deceived me, +for my heart yearns to forgive you?" + +She came very, very near, and with her bewitching smiles looked up into +Kaunitz's face. + +Kaunitz bent to receive the caress, and laid his hand fondly upon her +raven black hair. "Is it true that you have longed for me--very true +indeed?" said he. + +"I never knew how dear you were to me until I had endured the +intolerable pangs of your absence," replied Foliazzi, leaning her head +upon the prince's shoulder. + +"You love me, then, Olympia? Tell me, dearest, tell me truly?" + +"Unjust! You ask me such a question!" cried the signora, putting her +arms around the prince's neck. "If I love you? Do you not feel it in +every pulsation of my heart? do you not read it in every glance of my +eyes? Can you not FEEL that my only thought is of you--my only life, +your love?" + +"I am really glad to hear it," said Kaunitz, with statue-like +tranquillity. "And now I will tell you why I have not sent for you this +past week. It was that I might not interrupt your tender interviews with +Count Palffy, nor frighten away the poor enamoured fool from the snares +you were laying for him." + +The signora looked perfectly astounded. "But surely," stammered she, +"your highness does not believe--" + +"Oh, no! I believe nothing; I know that the Olympia who loves me so +passionately, has been for two days the fair friend of the young, rich, +and prodigal Count Palffy." + +Here the signora laughed outright. "But, your highness, if you knew +this, why did you not stop me in my protestations, and tell me so?" + +"I only wanted to see whether, really, you were a finished actress. I +congratulate you, Olympia; I could not have done it better myself." + +"Prince," said the signora, seriously, "I learned the whole of this +scene from yourself; and in my relations with you I have followed the +example you gave me. While you swore eternal love to me, you were making +declarations to the Countess Clary. Oh, my lord, I have suffered at your +hands, and the whole world sympathizes with my disappointment! The whole +world knows of your double dealings with women, and calls you a +heartless young libertine." + +"Does it?" cried Kaunitz, for a moment forgetting his coldness, and +showing his satisfaction in his face. "Does it, indeed, call me a +heartless young libertine?" + +"Yes," replied the signora, who seemed not to see his gratification. +"And when people see a man who is adored by women, and is false to them +all, they say, 'He is a little Kaunitz.'" + +When the signora said this, Kaunitz did what he had not done for years, +he broke out into a laugh, repeating triumphantly, "A little Kaunitz. +But mark you," continued he, "other libertines are called little +Kaunitzes, but I alone am the great Kaunitz." + +"True," sighed the signora, "and this great Kaunitz it is who has +abandoned me. While I worshipped the air he breathed, he sat at the feet +of the Countess Clary, repeating to her the self-same protestations with +which an hour before he had intoxicated my senses. Oh, when I heard +this, jealousy and despair took possession of my soul. I was resolved to +be revenged, and so I permitted the advances of Count Palffy. Ha! while +I endured his presence, I felt that my heart was wholly and forever +yours! Oh, my adored, my great Kaunitz, say that you love me, and at +your feet I throw all the lesser Kaunitzes in token of my fealty!" + +The signora would have flung her arms around him, but Kaunitz with a +commanding gesture waved her off. + +"Very well done, Olympia," said he, nodding his head. "You are as +accomplished as you are beautiful; and well I understand how it is that +you infatuate by your charms all manner of little Kaunitzes. But now +listen to Kaunitz the great. I not only allow, but order you to continue +your intrigue with Count Palffy. Take every thing he offers; wring his +purse dry; and the sooner you ruin him the better." + +"That means that I importune you with my love. Farewell, prince, and may +you never repent of your cruelty to poor Olympia." + +"Stay," said Kaunitz, coolly. "I have not done with you. Continue your +amours with the Hungarian, and love him as much as you choose, +provided--" + +"Provided?" echoed the singer anxiously, as Kaunitz paused. + +"Provided you affect before the world to be still my mistress." + +"Oh, my beloved prince," cried Foliazzi, "you will not cast me off!" and +in spite of his disinclination she folded Kaunitz to her heart. + +The prince struggled to get free. "You have disarranged my whole dress," +said he, peevishly. "On account of your folly I shall have to make my +toilet again. Hear me, and let me alone. I said that you would AFFECT to +be my mistress. To this end you will drive as usual to the side-door by +which you have been accustomed to enter the palace, and while your +carriage stands there for one hour, you shall be treated to a costly +breakfast in my little boudoir every morning." + +"By your side, my own prince?" + +"By yourself, my own Olympia. I have not time to devote an hour to you +every day. Your carriage shall stand at my door in the morning. Every +evening mine will be for an hour before yours, and while it remains +there I forbid you to be at home to any one whatsoever." + +"I shall think of nothing but you until that hour," said the signora, +fondly. + +"Vraiment, you are very presuming to suppose that I shall trouble myself +to come in the carriage," replied Kaunitz, contemptuously. "It is enough +that the coach being there, the world will suppose that I am there also. +A man of fashion must have the name of possessing a mistress; but a +statesman cannot waste his valuable time on women. You are my mistress, +ostensibly, and therefore I give you a year's salary of four thousand +guilders." + +"You are an angel--a god!" cried La Foliazzi, this time with genuine +rapture. "You come upon one like Jupiter, in a shower of gold." + +"Yes, but I have no wish to fall into the embraces of my Danae. Now, +hear my last words. If you ever dare let it transpire that you are not +really my mistress, I shall punish you severely. I will not only stop +your salary, but I will cite you before the committee of morals, and you +shall be forced into a marriage with somebody." + +The singer shuddered and drew back. "Let me go at once into my boudoir. +Is my breakfast ready?" + +"No--your morning visits there begin to-morrow. Now go home to Count +Palffy, and do not forget our contract." + +"I shall not forget it, prince," replied the signora, smiling. "I await +your coach this evening. You may kiss me if you choose." + +She bent her head to his and held out her delicate cheek, fresh as a +rose. + +"Simpleton," said he, slightly tapping her beautiful mouth, "do you +suppose that the great Kaunitz would kiss any lips but those which, like +the sensitive mimosa, shrink from the touch of man Go away. Count Palffy +will feel honored to reap the kisses I have left." + +He gave her his hand, and looked after her, as with light and graceful +carriage she left the room. + +"She is surpassingly beautiful," said Kaunitz to himself. "Every one +envies me; but each one thinks it quite a matter of course that the +loveliest woman in Vienna should be glad to be my mistress. Ah! two +o'clock. My guests await me. But before I go I must bring down the +Countess Clary from the airy heaven which she has built for herself." + +He rang, and a page appeared; for from the time he became a prince, +Kaunitz introduced four pages in his household, and kept open table +daily for twelve persons. + +"Tell the Countess Clary," said he, "that in a few moments I will +conduct her to the dining-room. Then await me in my puderkammer." + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +PRINCE KAUNITZ AND RITTER GLUCK. + +Prince Kaunitz had finished his promenade in the powder-room, and having +ascertained by means of his mirror that his peruke was in order, he +betook himself to the apartments of the Countess Clary, to conduct her +to table. + +The young countess, Kaunitz's niece, and a widow scarcely thirty years +of age, flew to greet her uncle, radiant with smiles and happiness. + +"What an unexpected honor you confer upon me, my dear uncle!" said she, +with her sweet low voice. "Coming yourself to conduct me to the table! +How I thank you for preparing me a triumph which every woman in Vienna +will envy me." + +"I came with no intention whatever of preparing you a triumph or a +pleasure. I came solely because I wish to have a few words with you +before we go to dinner." + +"I am all ears, your highness," said the countess, smiling. + +Kaunitz looked at his young and lovely niece with uncommon scrutiny. +"You have been crying," said he, after a pause. + +"No, indeed," said she, blushing. + +"Do you suppose that you can deceive me? I repeat it, you have been +crying. Will you presume to contradict me?" + +"No, dear uncle, I will not." + +"And wherefore? No prevarication; I must know." + +The young countess raised her soft blue eyes to the face of the haughty +prince. "I will tell the truth," said she, again blushing. "I was crying +because La Foliazzi was so long with you to-day." + +"Jealous, too!" said Kaunitz, with a sneer. "And pray, who ever gave +you the right of being jealous of me?" + +The countess said nothing, but her eyes filled with tears. + +"Allow me to discuss this matter with you. I came for this purpose. Our +relations must be distinctly understood if they are to last. You must +have the goodness to remember their origin. When you were left a widow +you turned to me, as your nearest relative, for assistance. You were +unprotected, and your husband had left you nothing. I gave you my +protection, not because I was in any way pleased with you, but because +you were my sister's child. I invited you hither to do the honors of my +house, to give orders to the cooks and steward, to overlook my household +arrangements, and to receive my guests in a manner worthy of their host. +To insure you the appearance and consideration due to you as my niece +and as the lady of my house, I gave you a remuneration of two thousand +guilders a year. Were not these my terms?" + +"Yes, your highness, they were. They filled me with gratitude and joy; +and never will I forget your kindness." + +"It seems, however, that you do forget it," replied the heartless uncle. +"How does it happen that you take the liberty of being unhappy because +La Foliazzi is in my room! What business is it of yours, whom I receive +or entertain? Have I ever given you the slightest hope that from my +niece I would ever raise you to the eminence of being my wife?" + +"Never, never, dear uncle," said the countess, scarlet with shame. "You +have never been otherwise to me than my generous benefactor." + +"Then oblige me by silencing the absurd rumors that may have led you +into the delusion of supposing that I intended to make of you a +princess. I wish you to know that I have no idea of marrying again; and +if ever I should form another matrimonial alliance, it will either be +with an imperial or a royal princes. Will you be so good as to remember +this and to act accordingly?" + +"Certainly," replied the countess, her eyes filling with tears. "I +assure your highness that I have never been so presuming as to regard +you otherwise than as my kinsman and guardian. My feelings of admiration +for you are indeed enthusiastic; but I have never felt any thing toward +you but the attachment of a daughter." + +"Pray do not trouble yourself to feel any thing at all on my account," +said Kaunitz, ill-humoredly. "I am not under the necessity of playing +the part of a tender father toward you; therefore, dry up the tears you +took the trouble to shed on La Foliazzi's account. But enough of this +folly. I hope that we understand each other, and that I will not have to +repeat this conversation. Be so good as to take my arm. We will go +forward to meet our guests." + +The young countess took the arm of the prince, and they entered the +drawing-room. The guests had long been assembled there, but it never +occurred to Kaunitz to make any apology for his late appearance. +Nevertheless, his guests were all noble; some of them representatives of +princely houses or powerful kingdoms. Kaunitz, however, was not only the +all-powerful minister of Maria Theresa; it was well known that his +slender, diamond-studded fingers directed the policy of all Europe. No +one in that room had the courage to resent his rudeness. All seemed to +feel honored as he walked haughtily forward with a slight inclination of +his head to the many, and a condescending smile to the few whom it +pleased him to distinguish by his notice. [Footnote: Wraxall, "Memoirs," +vol. i., page 380.] + +Prince Kaunitz did not choose to perceive that several distinguished +ambassadors, as well as a German prince, himself a reigning sovereign, +were present as his guests. He passed them all by to accost a small, +graceful man who, seated in a recess, had received no further attention +from the high-born company than a condescending nod. Kaunitz gave him +his hand, and welcomed him audibly. The honored guest was Noverre, the +inventor of the ballet as it is performed to-day on the stage. Noverre +blushed with pleasure at the reception given him, while the other guests +scarcely concealed their chagrin. + +Just then the folding-doors were thrown wide open, and the steward +announced in a loud voice that the table of his lord the prince was +served. The company arose, and the ladies looked to see which of them +was to have the honor of being conducted to the table by the host. +Kaunitz feigned neither to see nor to hear. He continued his +conversation with Noverre, and when he had quite done, he sauntered +carelessly up to his other guests. Suddenly he paused, and his eyes +wandered from one to another with a searching glance. + +"Good Heaven!" exclaimed he, "of what a rudeness we were about to be +guilty. I had invited Ritter Gluck to meet us to-day, and he has not yet +arrived. It shall not be said of me that I was ever wanting in respect +to genius as transcendent as his. I must beg of my distinguished guests +to await his arrival before going to dinner." [Footnote: Swinburne, vol. +I., page 80.] + +Hereupon he resumed his conversation with Noverre. The other guests +were indignant, for they all felt the insult. The nobles disapproved of +the fashion, which had been introduced by Kaunitz, of mingling artists +and savans of no birth with the aristocracy of Vienna; and the +ambassadors felt it as a personal injury that Kaunitz, who yesterday had +refused to wait for them, to-day called upon them to wait for a +musician. + +Kaunitz pretended not to see the displeasure which, nevertheless, his +guests were at no great pains to conceal, and he went on talking in an +animated strain with Noverre. The poor dancer, meanwhile, gave short and +embarrassed answers. He had remarked the discontent of the company, and +the prince's over-politeness oppressed him, the more so as he perceived +one of the lords gradually approaching with the intention of addressing +the prince. With the deepest respect the dancer attempted to withdraw, +but the merciless Kaunitz caught him by one of the buttons of his velvet +coat, and held him fast. + +"Do not stir," said the prince. "I see the duke quite as well as you do, +but he is a liar and a braggart--I dislike him, and he shall not speak +with me. Tell me something about the new ballet that you are arranging +for the emperor's festival. I hear that Gluck has composed the music. +But hush! Here comes the maestro." + +Kaunitz walked rapidly forward and met Gluck in the middle of the room. +They greeted one another cordially, but proudly--as two princes might +have done. Around them stood the other guests, frowning to see these two +men, both so proud, so conscious of greatness, scarcely seeming aware +that others besides themselves were present. Gluck was in full +court-dress; at his side a sword; on his breast the brilliant order of +the pope. With unembarrassed courtesy he received the greeting of the +prince, and made no apology for his tardy appearance. + +"Thank Heaven, you have come at last!" exclaimed Kaunitz, in an audible +voice. "I was afraid that the gods, angels, and spirits who are the +daily associates of the great maestro would deprive us poor mortals of +the honor of dining with the favorite of the Muses and the Graces." + +"The gods, the Muses, and the Graces are the associates of Prince +Kaunitz," returned Gluck. "If they are not to be found in their temples, +we may be sure that they have taken refuge here." + +Kaunitz, who never vouchsafed a civil word in return for compliments, +bowed his head, and with a gratified smile turned to his assembled +guests. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," said he, "let us sit down to dinner." + +But the company waited for the signal to rise which would be given when +the host offered his arm to the lady whom he complimented by taking her +in to dinner. + +The prince looked around, and his eyes rested again on Gluck. + +"I beg of the Ritter Gluck," said he, graciously, "the honor of +conducting him to the table." And with a courteous bow he offered his +arm. "Favorite of the Muses, come with me. I am too true a worshipper of +your nine lovely mistresses, to resign you to any one else." + +Gluck, with a smile appreciative of the honor conferred upon him, took +the arm of the prince, and was led into the dining-room. + +Behind them came the other guests. All wore discontented faces; for this +time the slight had been offered not only to dukes and ambassadors, but +to the ladies themselves, who could not help feeling bitterly this utter +disregard of all etiquette and good-breeding. + +On the day after the dinner Kaunitz started for Innspruck to superintend +the festivities preparing for the marriage of the Archduke Leopold. +Count Durazzo, the director of the theatre, had preceded the prince by a +week. Noverre, with his ballet-dancers, was to follow. The great opera +of "Orpheus and Eurydice," whose fame was now European was being +rehearsed at Innspruck, for representation on the first night of the +festival. + +Although Florian Gassman was a leader of acknowledged skill, Gluck, at +the request of the emperor, had gone to Innspruck to direct and oversee +the rehearsals. + +The furies had just concluded their chorus, and Gluck had given the +signal for dismissal, when Prince Kaunitz entered the theatre, and came +forward, offering his hand to the maestro. + +"Well, maestro," said be, "are you satisfied with your artistes? Are we +to have a great musical treat to-morrow?" + +Gluck shrugged his shoulders. "My singers are not the angels who taught +me this music, but for mortals they sing well. I scarcely think that +Donna Maria Louisa has ever heard any thing comparable to the music +which is to welcome her to Innspruck." + +"I am glad to hear it," said Kaunitz, with his usual composure, although +he was inwardly annoyed at Gluck's complacency. "But as I promised the +empress to see and hear every thing myself, I must hear and judge of +your opera also. Be so good as to have it repeated." + +Gluck looked at the prince in amazement. + +"What," cried he, "your highness wishes them to go through the whole +opera without an audience?" + +Prince Kaunitz raised his lofty head in displeasure, and said: "Ritter +Gluck, quality has always been esteemed before quantity. I alone am an +audience. Let the opera begin, the audience is here." [Footnote: The +prince's own words. Swinburne, vol. 1, page 302.] + +Gluck did not answer immediately. He frowned and looked down. Suddenly +he raised his head, and his face wore its usual expression of energy and +power. + +"I will gratify your highness. I myself would like to hear the opera +without participating in it. Ladies and gentlemen of the coulisses, be +so kind as to return! Gentlemen of the orchestra, resume your +instruments! Gassman, have the goodness to lead. Do your best. Let us +have your highest interpretation of art--for you have an audience such +as you may never have again. Prince Kaunitz and Ritter Gluck are your +listeners!" + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +AN UNFORTUNATE MEETING. + +Festival followed festival. The streets of the beautiful capital of +Tyrol were gay with the multitudes who thronged to the marriage of the +empress's second son. + +It was the second day after the wedding. On the first evening the opera +of "Orpheus and Eurydice" had been triumphantly represented before the +elite of the city. A second representation had been called for by the +delighted audience, although at the imperial palace a magnificent mask +ball was to be given, for which two thousand invitations had been +issued. It was a splendid confusion of lights, jewels, velvet, satins, +and flowers. All the nations of the world had met in that imperial +ballroom; not only mortals, but fairies, sylphides, and heathen gods and +goddesses. It was a bewildering scene, that crowd of fantastic +revellers, whose faces were every one hidden by velvet masks, through +which dark eyes glittered, like stars upon the blackness of the night. + +The imperial family alone appeared without masks. Maria Theresa, in a +dress of blue velvet, studded with golden embroidery, her fair white +forehead encircled by a coronet of diamonds and sapphires, walked +among her guests with enchanting smiles and gracious words. She leaned +upon the arm of the King of Rome, who, looking more cheerful than usual, +chatted gayly with his mother or with the crowd around them. Near them +were the Grand Duke Leopold and his bride, so absorbed in one another +that it was easy to see that they at least were happy in their +affections. Behind them flocked the young archduchesses, who were +enjoying the ball to the utmost. Whenever the empress approached a group +of her guests, they stood in respectful silence while she and her +handsome family passed by: but as soon as she had left them, their +admiration burst forth in every imaginable form of words. The empress, +who overheard these murmured plaudits, smiled proudly upon her young +daughters, who, even if they had been no archduchesses, would still have +been the handsomest girls in Austria. + +While the empress, in the full splendor of her rank and beauty, was +representing the sovereign of Austria, the emperor, mingling with the +guests, was taking the liberty of amusing himself as ordinary mortals +love to do at a masked ball. On his arm hung a mask of most graceful +figure, but so completely was she disguised that nothing could be +ascertained with regard to her name or rank. Some whispered that it was +the emperor's new favorite, the Countess of Auersberg. + +As the pair went by, the emperor overheard the conjectures of the crowd, +and he turned with a smile to the lady who accompanied him. + +"Do not fear," said he; "there is no danger of your being recognized. +You are mistaken for another lady. I promised you that you should meet +Joseph here, and I will keep my promise. Let us try to make our way +through the crowd, that we may join him as soon as possible; for I feel +oppressed this evening, I know not why." + +"Oh, then, your majesty, let me go back into the anteroom," said the +veiled lady. "I begin to feel all the rashness of my undertaking, and +although it has the sanction of your majesty and the empress, I feel +like a criminal, every moment dreading discovery. Let us go back." + +"No, no," replied the emperor, "let us remain until the interview with +Joseph is over. I shall feel no better in the anteroom than here. I +never shall be well until I leave this beautiful, fearful Tyrol. Its +mountains weigh heavily upon my head and my breast. But let us sit down +awhile. I love to listen to the people's talk, when the court is not +by." + +"But while your majesty is present the court is here," said the lady. + +"Not so, my dear," whispered the emperor; "the empress and my children +are the court, I am but a private nobleman. Ah, there they come! See how +beautiful and stately the empress looks! Who would suppose that this +grown-up family were her children!--But she, she signs us to approach. +Take courage, and await me here." + +So saying, the emperor hastened toward his wife, who received him with a +loving smile of welcome. + +"Now, my son," said she, withdrawing her arm from Joseph, "I give you +your freedom. I advise you to mix among the masks, and to go in search +of adventures. We have done enough for ceremony, I think we may now +enjoy ourselves a little like the rest of mankind. If we were younger, +Franzel, we, too, would mix with yonder crowd, and dance awhile. But I +suppose we must leave that to our children, and betake ourselves to the +card-table or to the opera-house." + +"If your majesty leaves me the choice," said the emperor, "I vote for +the opera." + +The empress took his arm, while she turned to the Countess Lerchenfeld, +the governess of the archduchesses. "To the dancing-room, countess," +said she; "the archduchesses may dance, but no masks must enter the +room. Now, my dear husband, follow me. Adieu, Joseph! To-morrow I expect +to hear what fortune has befallen you to-night." + +"Your majesty forgets that Fortune is a woman," returned Joseph, +smiling, "and you know that I have no luck with women." + +"Or you will not have it," said the empress, laughing, and leaving her +son to his thoughts. + +"Or you will not have it," repeated a soft voice near, and Joseph, +turning, saw an elegant-looking woman, veiled and masked. + +"Fair mask," said he, smiling, "although you have the qualities of Echo, +you have not yet pined away to invisibility." + +"Perhaps, sire, my body is only the coffin of my heart, and my heart the +unfortunate Echo that has grieved herself to death and invisibility. But +perhaps your majesty does not believe in the power of grief, for +doubtless you are unacquainted with its pangs." + +"And why should you imagine that I am unacquainted with grief?" asked +Joseph. + +"Because your majesty's station is exalted above that of other men; +because God has blessed you with a noble heart, that is worthy of your +destiny--the destiny which gives you the power of making other mortals +happy." + +"How do you know all this?" + +"I see it," whispered she, "in your eyes--those eyes that reflect the +blue of heaven. Oh, sire, may never a cloud darken that heaven!" + +"I thank you for your pious wish," replied the king sadly, "but if you +are mortal, you know that in this world there are no such things as +cloudless skies. Let us not speak of such serious matters; give me your +arm, and let us join in the mirth that is around us." + +"If your majesty will permit me, I will while away the hour by relating +to you a sad story of life." + +"Why a sad story, why not a merry one?" + +"Because I came here for no other object than to relate this sad story +to yourself. I came to crave your majesty's sympathy and clemency in +behalf of a suffering fellow-creature." + +"Can I do any thing in the matter?" asked the king. + +"From your majesty alone do I hope for succor." + +"Very well; if so, let me hear the story. I will listen." + +"Sire, my mournful history will ill accord with the merriment of a +ballroom. If you will condescend to go with me to one of the boxes in +the gallery, I will there confide my secret to your ear, and there I +hope to soften your heart. Oh, sire, do not tarry; it is a case of life +or death." + +"Well," said Joseph, after a pause, "I will go. After all, I am about to +have an adventure." + +The mask bowed, and made her way through the crowd to a side-door which +opened upon the private staircase leading to the boxes. Joseph looked +with interest at the light and elegant form that preceded him, and said +to himself, "Truly an adventure! I will follow it to the end." + +They were now in the galleries, from whence a beautiful view of the +ballroom was obtained. The lady entered a box, the king followed. The +sound of the music, and the gay voices of the dancers, came with +softened murmur to the ears of the king. He thought of the past, but +rousing himself to the exigencies of the present, he turned to the lady +and said: "Now, fair mask, to your narrative." + +"Swear first to bear me to the end! Swear it by the memory of Isabella, +whom you so passionately loved!" + +"Isabella!" cried Joseph, turning pale. "You are very bold, madame, to +call that name, and call it here! But speak. By her loved memory I will +listen." + +She took his hand, and pressed it to her lips. Then she begged the king +to be seated, and took her place by his side. + +"Sire, I wish to relate to you the history of a woman whom God has +either blessed or cursed; a woman who, if she were not most unfortunate, +would be the happiest of mortals." + +"You speak as the Sphinx did before the gates of Thebes. How can one be +at the same time blessed and cursed?" + +"Sire, it is a blessing to be capable of loving with passion; it is a +curse to love, and not be loved in return." + +"And a greater curse," murmured Joseph, "to feign love and not to feel +it. I have been a victim of such hypocrisy, and never shall I outlive +its bitter memories." + +"Sire," began the lady, "the woman of whom I speak would willingly give +a year of her life if the man she loves would but vouchsafe to her +thirsting heart one single glance of love. Think how wretched she must +be, when even the appearance of love would satisfy her. But do not +suppose, sire, that this woman is the victim of a guilty passion which +she dare not own. She is a wife, and the man she adores, and who loves +her not, is her husband." + +"Why does he not love her?" asked Joseph quickly. + +"Because," said the mask, in an agitated voice, "because she has sinned +against him. On the day of her marriage, although he nobly invited her +confidence, she hid from him a--a--malady. Oh, in mercy, do not go! You +MUST hear me" cried she; almost frenzied, "you swore by the memory of +Isabella to listen." + +Joseph resumed his seat, and said roughly, "Go on, then." + +"It was a crime," continued she in a voice of deepest emotion, "but she +has paid dearly for her sin. Her husband repulsed her, but her heart was +still his; he despised her, and yet she adores him. Her malady has long +since disappeared; her heart alone is sick; that heart which will break +if her lord refuse to forgive her the offence that was born of her love +for him! But oh, sire, he has no pity. When she meets him with imploring +looks, he turns away; her letters he sends to her unopened. Oh, he is +severe in his wrath; it is like vengeance from Heaven! But still she +loves, and still she hopes that one day he will be generous, and forgive +her another crime--that of not being blessed with beauty. For months she +has longed to tell him that she repents of her faults, that her +punishment is just; but, oh! oh! she begs for mercy. She was forbidden +to follow him to Innspruck, but she could not stay behind. His parents +gave their consent, and she is here at your knees, my lord and king, to +plead for mercy. Oh! has there not been enough of cruelty? See me +humbled at your feet; reach me your beloved hand, and bid me sit by your +side! " + +She had sunk to the ground, and now tearing from her face the mask and +veil, the King of Rome beheld the death-like countenance of his despised +wife. + +Joseph rose from his seat and looked at her with inexorable hate. + +"Madame," said he, "thanks to the name which you used to force me into +compliance, I have heard you out. I married you without affection, and +you had been my wife but a few short hours when you turned my +indifference into undying hate. You come and whine to me for my love; +and you inform me that you are love sick on my account. If so, I dare +say that Van Swieten, who cured you of leprosy, can also cure you of +your unfortunate attachment. If you never knew it before, allow me to +inform you that YOUR love gives you no claim to MINE; and when a woman +has the indelicacy to thrust herself upon a man who has never sought +her, she must expect to be despised and humbled to the dust. And now, +madame, as I still have the misfortune to be your husband, listen to my +commands. You came here in spite of my prohibition; as you pass in the +world for my wife, you shall at least be obedient to my will. Go back +this night to Vienna, and never again presume to entrap me into another +interview like this!" + +Without vouchsafing a look at the fainting woman who lay at his feet, +Joseph left the box, and descended to the ballroom. But what wail was +that, which, coming from the imperial banqueting-hall, hushed every +sound of music and mirth, and drove the gay multitude in terror from the +ballroom? + +The King of Rome was hastily making his way through the terrified crowd, +when he was met by one of his own officers. + +"I have been seeking your majesty," said he in a trembling voice. "The +emperor--" + +"In Heaven's name, what of the emperor?" + +"He is very ill, your majesty. On leaving the theatre, he was struck +down by apoplexy." + +The king made no reply. He dashed on from room to room until he reached +his father's sleeping-apartment. + +And there on the bed, that white, motionless body; that cold, insensible +piece of clay; that marble image without breath--was all that earth now +held of the Emperor Francis of Lorraine. He was dead, and his wish had +been granted. He had gone forever from the "beautiful, fearful Tyrol;" +and its mountains lay no longer heavily on his breast. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +MOURNING. + +The sound of rejoicings was hushed. The people of Innspruck had hastened +to remove from the streets every symbol of festivity. The flowers and +flags, the triumphal arches, and the wreathed arcades had disappeared. +The epithalamium had been followed by the dirge. + +Night had set in--the first night of the emperor's death. The corpse +still lay on the bed where its last breath had been drawn, and no one +was with the deceased sovereign except two night-watchers, whose drowsy +heads were buried in the arm-chairs wherein they sat. Death had banished +ceremony. In the presence of their dead emperor, his attendants were +seated and slept. In the centre of the room stood the coffin that +awaited the imperial remains; for on the morrow the funeral ceremonies +were to begin. But the empress had ordered that on this night all +ceremony should be suspended. + +Deep silence reigned throughout Innspruck. The citizens, worn out with +the excitement of the day, had all retired to rest. Even the children of +the deceased had forgotten their sorrow in sleep. Maria Theresa alone +sought no rest. + +All that day she had been overwhelmed by grief; even prayer seemed to +bring no relief to her heart. But now she was tranquil, she had thrust +back her tears; and the empress-widow, all etiquette forgetting, was +making her husband's shroud. + +As a woman, she grieved for the partner of her joys and sorrows; as a +woman, she wished to pay the last sad honors to the only man whom she +had ever loved. She whose hands were accustomed to the sceptre, now held +a needle, and to all offers of assistance she made but one reply. + +"None of you are worthy to help me in this holy work, for none of you +loved him. For you, he was the beneficent and honored sovereign, but for +me, he was the joy, the light, the air of my life. I, who loved him, +have alone the right to work upon his shroud." + +"Oh, your majesty," cried the Countess Dann, while her eyes filled with +sympathizing tears, "would that the world could see with what devotion +the great Maria Theresa sits in the stillness of the night, and with her +own hands prepares her husband's shroud!" + +The empress quickly raised her head, and, with something like her +accustomed imperiousness, said: "I forbid any one of you to speak of +what you have seen to-night. In the simplicity of my grief, I do what my +heart urges me to do; but let not my sorrow become the subject of the +world's idle gossip. When the husband dies his wife, be she empress or +beggar, is nothing but a sorrowing widow. Ah! I am indeed beggared of +all my wealth, for I have lost the dearest treasure I possessed on +earth. All my joys will die with him." + +The empress's sobs choked her utterance; and burying her face in the +shroud, she wept aloud. + +"In the name of Heaven, your majesty, do not let your tears fall upon +the shroud!" cried the Countess Dann, while she tried with gentle force +to wrest the cloth from the empress's hands. "I have heard it said that +what is laid in the coffin bedewed with tears, draws after it to the +grave the one who sheds them." + +"Would it were true!" exclaimed the empress, who had already resumed her +work. "Would that my Francis could open his arms to receive me, that I +might rest by his side from the cares of life! Would that I were with +him, who was my lover from earliest childhood; for cold and cheerless +will be the life that is no longer lit up by his smile." + +She bent over her work, and nothing further was said; but her ladies of +honor gazed with tearful eyes upon the high-born mourner, who, in her +long, black dress, was making a shroud for her lost husband. + +At last the task was completed, and she rose from her seat. With a sad +smile she threw the shroud over her head, and it fell around her +majestic form like a white veil. + +"My veil of eternal widowhood!" said she. "Let me warm it with my love, +that it may not lie too cold upon my darling's breast. Now, my friends, +go and rest. Pray for the emperor, and for his heart-broken wife." + +"Surely," said the Countess Daun, "your majesty will not send us away +until we have attended to your wants. Let us remain; we will watch by +your bedside." + +"No, countess, I will dispense with your services to-night. Charlote von +Hieronymus will stay with me." + +Turning to her beloved little tire-woman she said: "I want your +attendance yet awhile, Charlotte; you are to dress my hair to-night as +becomes a widow. Good-night, ladies." + +The ladies of honor, with deep courtesies, left the room. As the door +closed behind them, she said to Charlotte: "Now, Charlotte, dear child, +you shall go with me on my last visit to the emperor. Take a pair of +scissors, and come." + +"Scissors, your majesty?" said Charlotte. + +"Yes, my dear," replied she, as she advanced to her work-table from +whence she took up a silver candelabrum, and signed to Charlotte to +follow. + +Wrapping the shroud close about her, the empress went forward through +the long suite of magnificent but dark and empty rooms, that lay between +her and her husband. Her tall white figure, enveloped in the shroud, +looked in the gloom of night like a ghost. The light which she carried, +as it flashed across her face gave it a weird aspect; and as the two +wanderers went flitting by the large mirrors that here and there +ornamented the rooms, they looked like a vision which had started up for +a moment, then vanished into utter darkness. + +At last they came to a door which stood ajar, through which a light was +visible. + +"We are here," said the empress, leaning against the door for support. +"Step lightly, Charlotte, and make no noise, for the emperor sleeps." + +There on the bed, with its yellow, sunken face, was the corpse that had +been her husband--the only man she had ever loved. And that hideous +black coffin, which looked all the gloomier for the wax-lights that +burned around it, was his last resting-place. + +Maria Theresa shuddered when she saw all this; but her strong will came +to her help, and she went steadily forward until she reached the +night-watchers. She awoke them and said, "Go, wait in the next room +until I call you." Charlotte was already on her knees, praying. + +The empress stood once more irresolute, then rushing forward with a cry +she leaned over the body. + +Presently she laid her hand lovingly upon the staring eyes of the +corpse, and looked long and tenderly at the face. + +"Shut your eyes, my Franz," said she softly, "shut your eyes, for never +have they looked so coldly upon me before. Do not forget me in heaven, +my beloved; but leave your heart with me; mine has been with you for so +many years! First I loved you as a child--then as a maiden--and lastly, +I loved you as a wife and the mother of your children. And I will ever +love you, my own one. I was true as your wife, and I will be true as +your widow. Farewell, my beloved, farewell!" + +She bent over and kissed the emperor's mouth, and for a moment laid her +head upon his cold, still bosom. Then again she drew her hand softly +across his eyes, and tried to close them. A proud smile flitted over her +wan face, for the eyes of the corpse closed. The loving hand of the wife +had prevailed where every other effort had failed. True to her wishes in +death as in life, the dead emperor had shut his eyes to earth forever. + +"Come, Charlotte, come," cried the empress, almost joyfully, "see how my +emperor loves me! He hears me still, and has granted my last request. I +will mourn no more, but will think of the day when I shall go to him +again and share his home in heaven. Until then, my Franz, farewell!" + +She bent her head, and taking the shroud from her shoulders, she spread +it carefully over the coffin, smoothing every wrinkle with her hands, +until it lay as perfect as the covering of a couch. + +"Call the valets, Charlotte," said she; and as they entered the room, +she motioned them to advance. "Help me to lay the emperor on yonder +bed," said she. "Take the feet and body, and I will bear his head." + +With her strong arms, she raised him as a mother would move her sleeping +child, and, with the help of the valets, she laid her husband in his +coffin. This done, she again sent away the attendants, and then wrapped +the body in the shroud as though she had been protecting it from the +cold. + +"Come hither, Charlotte," said she, "with your scissors." Charlotte +approached noiselessly. "Cut off my hair," continued she, taking out her +comb, and letting down the rich masses until it fell about her person +like another shroud. + +"No, your majesty, no," cried Charlotte, bursting into tears. "I never +can cut off that magnificent hair." + +"Good child," said the empress, "many a weary hour has that magnificent +hair cost you, and do you ask to have it spared? It shall give you no +more trouble. Take the scissors and cut it off!" + +"Has your majesty then forgotten," pleaded Charlotte, "how dearly the +emperor loved this hair?" + +"No, Charlotte, and therefore he must have it. 'Tis the last love-token +I have to give him. I cannot die with him like an Indian wife; but +religion does not forbid me to lay this offering at least in his coffin. +He used so often to pass his hands through it--he was so proud of its +beauty, that now he is gone, no one else shall see it. Say no more, +Charlotte, but cut it off." + +The empress bent her head, while Charlotte, with a heart-felt sigh and +trembling hands, cut off the long and beautiful blond hair which Maria +Theresa laid as a love-token in the coffin of her husband. [Footnote: +Caroline Pichler. "Memoirs," vol. i., p.23.] + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE IMPERIAL ABBESS. + +The funeral rites were over. In the crypt of the church of the +Capuchins, under the monument which, twenty years before, the empress +had built for herself and her husband, lay the body of Emperor Francis. +In this vault slept all the imperial dead of the house of Hapsburg. One +after another, with closed eyes and folded hands their marble effigies +were stretched across their tombs, stiff and cold as the bones that were +buried beneath. The eternal night of death reigned over those couchant +images of stone and bronze. + +But Maria Theresa and her emperor had conquered death. Both rising from +the tomb, their eyes were fixed upon each other with an expression of +deepest tenderness; while Azrael, who stood behind with a wreath of +cypress in his hands, seemed to have transformed himself into an angel +of love that sanctified their union even beyond the tomb. + +All had left the vault save the widowed empress; she had remained behind +to weep and pray. Her prayers ended, she drew her long black cloak +around her and strode through the church, unmindful of the monks, who, +on either side of the aisle, awaited her appearance in respectful +silence. She heeded neither their inclined heads nor their looks of +sympathy; stunned by grief, she was unmindful of externals, and scarcely +knew that she had left the vault, when her coach stopped before the +imperial palace. + +Once there Maria Theresa passed by the splendid apartments which she had +inhabited during her husband's life, and ascending the staircase to the +second story of the palace, she entered upon the dwelling which had been +prepared for her widowhood. It was simple to coldness. Hung with black, +nothing relieved the gloom of these rooms; neither mirror, picture, +gilding, nor flowers were there. The bedroom looked sad in the extreme. +The walls were hung in gray silk; gray velvet curtains were drawn in +front of the small widow's bed; the floor was covered with a gray carpet +studded with white lilies, and the furniture was like the curtains, of +dim, dull gray velvet. [Footnote: Caroline Pichler, "Memoirs," vol. i., +p. 20.] + +As the empress entered this dismal room she saluted her ladies of honor +who had followed her, and now stood awaiting her commands at the door. + +"Bring all my dresses, shawls, laces, and jewels to me in the +reception-room, and send a messenger to Prince Kaunitz to say that I +await his presence." + +The ladies of honor left the room silently, and the empress, closing the +door, began again to weep and pray. Meanwhile her attendants were +occupied bringing up the costly wardrobe of their imperial mistress. In +a little while the dark rooms were brightened with velvet and silk of +every color, with gold and silver, with jewels and flowers. + +The ladies looked with eager and admiring eyes at the magnificence which +had transformed this funereal apartment into a bazaar of elegance and +luxury, scarcely daring to speak the hopes and wishes that were filling +all their hearts. Suddenly their curious eyes sought the ground, for the +empress appeared and entered the room. What a contrast between this pale +figure, clad in simplest mourning, and the rich costumes which in the +days of her happiness had heightened her beauty; those days which seemed +to lie so far, far away from the bitter present + +The empress laid her hand upon her heart, as if to stifle a cry of +anguish; then approaching the black marble table, she took up some of +the dresses that lay upon it. + +With a voice softer and more pathetic than ever they had heard before, +she begged the companions of her happier days to accept and wear these +costly things as a legacy from the emperor. She then divied them as se +thought best; assigning to each lady what best became her and was most +appropriate. + +Her ladies stood weeping around, while Maria Theresa besought each one +to pardon the trouble she had given in her joyous days, for the sake of +the misery she now endured. And as she entreated them to forget that she +had been imperious and exacting, they knelt weeping at her feet, and +earnestly implored her not to leave them. + +The empress sadly shook her head. "I am no longer an empress," said she, +"I am a poor, humbled woman, who needs no more attendance, whose only +aim on earth is to serve God and die in His favor! Pray for the emperor, +char friends, and pray for me also." + +Slowly turning away, she left the room and entered her cabinet, which +opened into the gray bedroom. + +"And now to my last worldly task," said she, as ringing a silver +hand-bell she bade a page conduct Prince Kaunitz to her presence. + +The page opened the door, and the prince came in. + +The empress greeted him with a silent bend of her head, and exhausted, +sank into an arm-chair that stood before her writing-desk. Kaunitz, +without awaiting permission, took a seat opposite. + +There was a long pause. At length Kaunitz said: "Your majesty has +honored me by commanding my presence hither." + +"Yes, I sent for you because I have something of great importance to +say," replied the empress. + +"I am all attention," replied the minister. "For it is worthy of your +noble self so soon to stifle your grief and to attend to the duties of +your crown. You have sent for me that we may work. And your majesty has +done well, for much business has accumulated on our hands since we last +held a cabinet council." + +The empress shook her head. "Business no longer troubles me," replied +she; "I have sent for you to say that we are no longer to work +together." + +"Does that mean that your majesty is about to dismiss me in disgrace? +Are you no longer satisfied with your minister?" asked Kaunitz. + +"No, prince. It means that I myself must retire from the bustle and +vanities of this world. My hands are no longer fit to wield a sceptre; +they must be folded in prayer--in prayer for my emperor, who was called +away without receiving the sacraments of the church. My strength is gone +from me; my crown oppresses me; I can no longer be an empress." + +"Were you made a sovereign by any power of yours?" asked Kaunitz. "Had +you the choice of becoming an empress or remaining an archduchess? What +did your majesty say to me when the insolent Charles of Bavaria tried to +wrest your imperial crown from your head?--'I received my crown from the +hands of God, and I must defend my divine right!' Floods of noble blood +were spilled that Maria Theresa might preserve her right; and does she +now intend to dim the glory of her crown by sacrificing it to her sorrow +as a wife?" + +"I am tired of life and of the world, and I intend to take refuge from +their troubles in a cloister. Say no more! I am resolved to go, and the +palace at Innspruck shall be my convent. There, on the spot where he +died, will I make my vows; and as an abbess will I spend my life praying +that God may give him eternal rest. My vocation as a sovereign is at an +end; I resign my sceptre to my son." [Footnote: Coxe, "History of the +House of Austria," vol. v., page 188.] + +"That means that your majesty will destroy with your own hands the +structure you had commenced; that you have grown faint-hearted, and are +unfaithful to your duty and to your subjects." + +"I will follow the steps of my great ancestor, Charles V.," cried the +empress with energy. "I lay down my earthly dignity to humble myself +before God." + +"And your majesty will be quite as unhappy as your ancestor. Do you +suppose that the poor monk ever was able to forget that he had been a +great prince?" + +"And yet Charles V. remained for several years in a cloister." "But what +a life, your majesty! A life of regret, repentance, and despair. Believe +me, it is far better like Caesar to die pierced by twenty daggers on the +steps of a throne, than voluntarily to descend from that throne to enter +the miserable walls of a cloister." + +"Better perhaps for those who have not renounced the world and its +pomps," cried the empress, raising her beautiful eyes to heaven. "But it +is neither satiety nor weariness of grandeur that has drive me to a +cloister. It is my love for my emperor, my yearning to be alone with God +and the past." + +"But, your majesty," said Kaunitz with emphasis, "you will not be alone +with the past; the maledictions of your people will follow you Will they +hold you guiltless to have broken your faith with them?" + +"I shall not have broken my faith; I shall have left to my people a +successor to whom sooner or later they will owe the same allegiance as +they now owe me." + +"But a successor who will overturn all that his mother has done for +Austria's welfare. Your majesty laid the foundations of Austria's +greatness. To that end you called me to the lofty station which I now +occupy. Remember that together we pledged our lives and love to Austria. +Be not untrue to the covenant. In the name of that people which I then +represented, I claim from their emperor, Maria Theresa, the strict +fulfilment of her bond. I call upon her to be true to her duty as the +ruler of a great nation, until the hand of God releases her from her +crown and her life." + +While Kaunitz spoke, Maria Theresa walked up and down the room with +troubled brow and folded arms. As lie ceased, she came and stood before +him, looking earnestly into his face, which now had cast aside its mask +of tranquillity, and showed visible signs of agitation. + +"You are a bold advocate of my people's claims," said she; "a brave +defender of my Austria. I rejoice to know it, and never will take +umbrage at what you have so nobly spoken. But you have not convinced me; +my sorrow speaks louder than your arguments. You have termed me 'your +emperor.' I know why you have once more called me by that flattering +title. You wish to remind me that in mounting the throne of my ancestors +I lost the right to grieve as a woman, and pledged myself to gird on the +armor of manhood. Hitherto I have made it my pride to plan, to reign, to +fight like a man. I have always feared that men might say of me that my +hand was too weak to grasp the reins of power. But God, who perhaps gave +me the head of a man while leaving me the heart of a woman, has punished +me for my ambition. He has left me to learn that, alas! I am but a +woman--with all the weakness of my sex. It is that womanly heart which, +throbbing with an anguish that no words can paint, has vanquished my +head; and loud above all thoughts of my duty as an empress is the wail +of my sorrow as a widow! But I will show you, Kaunitz, that I am not +stubborn. I shall communicate my intentions to no one. For four weeks I +will retire to my cloister. Instead of naming Joseph my successor, I +will appoint him co-regent. If, after four weeks of probation, I still +feel that I can without guilt retire from the world, shall I then be +absolved from my oath, and suffered to lay down my crown without +reproach from my faithful minister?" + +"If, after four weeks of unlimited power delegated to the Emperor +Joseph, your majesty still thinks that you have a right to abdicate," +replied Kaunitz, "I shall make no opposition to your majesty's choice of +a private vocation, for I shall feel that after that time remonstrance +with you would be useless." + +"Well, then, my novitiate shall begin to-morrow. Apprise the court and +the foreign representatives that I wish to meet them in the throne-room, +where in their presence I will appoint my son emperor co-regent." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE CO-REGENT. + +Maria Theresa had kept her word. She had appointed her son co-regent, +investing the young emperor with full power to reign, to make laws, to +punish, to reward, and to govern her people, while she retired to the +palace of Innspruck. There she dwelt in strictest privacy, scarcely +seeing her children, and restricting her intercourse to the first lady +of honor, her confessor, and a few chosen friends, whom she sometimes +admitted to her mournful rooms. + +Joseph, the young emperor of four-and-twenty years, was now monarch of +all Austria, Hungary, Lombardy, and the Netherlands. He had reached the +goal of his longings for power, and now he could begin to think about +the happiness of his people. + +Since the intoxicating moment when Maria Theresa, in the presence of the +whole court, had named him co-regent, and delivered over to his hands +her vast empire, Joseph felt as if he had suddenly been transported to a +world of enchantment. He had, together with her ministers, dissuaded the +empress from her resolution of retiring to Innspruck; but even as he +joined his voice to theirs, his heart was trembling with fear lest she +should yield. He felt that if she revoked the power she had conferred, +he would almost die with disappointment. But the empress remained firm, +and her son was triumphant. + +She had gone from the throne to the solitude of her own apartments, and +left him lord and emperor of Austria! He would no longer be obliged to +conceal his thoughts; they should come out into the broad day as deeds, +for he was sovereign there! + +A day and night had passed by since his mother had renounced her rights +to him. He could not sleep. His head was full of plans, his heart of +emotion. He dared not sleep--he who was the guardian of millions of his +fellow-beings--he who felt ready to shed his heart's blood for their +good. + +On the first day, Joseph had been in council with the ministers of +state. The will of the deceased emperor had been opened, and his son now +learned, that while his mother was conferring upon him power, his father +had left him boundless wealth. The Emperor Francis had left his eldest +son sole heir to his estates in Hungary and Galicia, to his jewels and +treasures, and also to the millions of money which he had accumulated +through manufactures and trade. + +He had also left to his eldest son the twenty-two millions of coupons +which he had taken for the gold which he had advanced to the state for +the prosecution of the Seven Years' War. Joseph was therefore the +richest prince in all Germany, for his father's vast estates amounted to +one hundred and fifty-nine millions of guilders. [Footnote: Hubner, +"Life of Joseph II." vol. i., page 28.] But he who had been so +intoxicated with joy at his mother's gift, seemed scarcely moved at all +as he received the tidings of his vast inheritance. + +"I wish that my father had bought all the coupons that were issued, and +that they were all mine," said he, with a sigh. + +"Your majesty would be no gainer thereby," replied the lord keeper of +the finances, Von Kinsky. "These coupons bear but little interest, and +paper money is not gold. Its value is nominal." + +"But it has one merit," replied the emperor, smiling; "it can be burned. +Oh, what a miserable invention is this paper money, which represents +value, but possesses none! Suppose that all the holders of these coupons +were to come in this morning and ask for their redemption, could the +imperial coffers meet their obligations?" + +"Not if they all came at once, your majesty." + +"But the people have a right to call for them," said the emperor. "In +lending their money, they showed their confidence in the government, and +this confidence must not be betrayed. Let the twenty-two millions of +coupons be put in a package and brought to my private apartments. I wish +to dispose of them." + +Throughout this day Joseph was so absorbed by business, both private and +official, that he had no opportunity of exhibiting himself in his new +character, either to his family or his subjects. + +But, on the second day of his co-regency, the young emperor appeared in +public. On this day, the Viennese celebrated the deliverance of Vienna +from the Turks by John Sobieski and his brave Polish legions. The +mourning of the female members of the imperial family did not permit +them to mingle as usual with the people on this favorite festival; but +the emperor resolved to show himself on this occasion in the character +of a sovereign. All Vienna was eager to see him as soon as it became +rumored that he would certainly attend the mass in honor of the day at +the cathedral of St. Stephen. + +Meanwhile, the young emperor was in his palace. The anterooms were +filled with petitioners of every sort, who, through bribes offered to +the members of the imperial household, had penetrated thus far, and were +now awaiting the appearance of the emperor. The anterooms of Maria +Theresa had always been thronged with these petitioners, and now they +jostled each other without ceremony, each one hoping to be remarked by +the emperor as he passed on to his carriage. + +Suddenly the commotion ceased and took the form of a panic as the door +opened and the valets of the emperor came forward, their hands filled +with the petitions which they had just taken in. They had all been +refused! + +A few moments afterward the door opened again, and the lord chamberlain, +Count Rosenberg, advanced to the centre of the room. + +There was no necessity for the pages to order silence, for the crowd +were breathless with expectation, and the deepest stillness reigned +throughout the thronged rooms while Count Rosenberg read the first +greeting of the emperor to his people. + +It was sharp, and to the point. It forbade, in strongest terms, all +indirect efforts to obtain promotion or pensions; and it declared once +for all that merit alone would be the test of all applications presented +to the Emperor Joseph II. + +When the count had done reading the proclamation, the valets laid the +petitions upon a table, that each man might select and remove his own +paper. + +"Your majesty has made some enemies to-day," said Count Rosenberg, as he +reentered the cabinet of the emperor. "I saw many a scowl in the +anteroom as I passed by the disappointed multitude that thronged my +way." + +"I do not wish the friendship of intriguers and flatterers," replied the +emperor with a merry laugh. "If my proclamations make me enemies, I +think they will also make me friends. The good shall be satisfied with +my rule; for, during my mother's reign, I have observed much and thought +much. And now the day has come when the power is mine to reward virtue +and punish vice." + +"May Heaven grant that your majesty's day draw to a close without clouds +or storms!" said Rosenberg. + +The emperor laughed again. "What do you fear, my friend?" asked he. +"Have you so long shared with me my burden of dissimulation, that you +are frightened to see our shackles fall? Are you afraid of the fresh +air, because we wear our masks no longer? Patience, Rosenberg, and al +will be well with us. Our dreams are about to be fulfilled: what we have +whispered together in the twilight of mutual trust, we may now cry out +with free and joyous shouts--'Reform! reform!' My people have prayed +quite enough, they shall now learn to do something better--they shall +think; they have been long enough led by faith, like little children. I +will give them confirmation, and they shall enter upon the +responsibilities of manhood. I mean to be a blessing to the virtuous, +and a terror to the vicious." + +"Unhappily, there is more evil than good in this world," said Count +Rosenberg, sighing, "and a man, though he can seldom count his friends, +is never at a loss to count his enemies." + +"I do not understand you," said Joseph, smiling. "I intend to draw out +the fangs of the wicked, so that they shall have power to injure no +one." + +"Your majesty will do this if time be granted you," said the count. +"If--" + +"What do you mean?" cried the emperor, impatiently, as Rosenberg +hesitated. "Speak on. What do you fear?" + +"I fear," whispered the count, "that your day will be darkened by bigots +and priests. I fear that the empress will not leave you freedom to carry +out your reformation. I fear that your enemies will dry up her tears, +and unclasp her folded hands, to force within their grasp the sceptre to +which your manhood gives you exclusive right. I fear the influence of +her confessor, Father Porhammer: try to conciliate him. It is far better +to win over our opponents by forbearance, than to exasperate them by +open warfare." + +"But open warfare is my right," cried Joseph, "and I am powerful enough +to despise all opponents, as well as strong enough to pursue my way +without regard to the wickedness of all the bigots in Christendom. Face +to face shall we stand, and I defy them all! We have had enough, too, of +Spanish etiquette and Italian mummery here. Now we shall have honest +German customs; we shall be Germans in thought, in speech, and in +sentiment. This is my dream, my bright and beautiful dream! Austria +shall one day be Germanized; the kingdoms and provinces which compose my +dominions shall no longer be separate nationalities, but all shall be +the branches of one lofty tree. The limbs shall lose their names, and be +called by that of the trunk; and the trunk shall bear the name of +Germany. High above the boughs of this noble tree, which shall extend +from France to Poland, I will place my banner and my crown, and before +their might all Europe shall bow. This is my dream, Rosenberg, my dream +of future greatness!" + +"While I listen and look upon your majesty's countenance, bright with +inspiration, I, too, bow before the grandeur of your thought, and feel +as if this godlike dream must surely become a glorious truth." + +"It shall be glorious truth, Rosenberg," exclaimed the emperor. "Why +should Germany be severed into many parts, when France and Spain are +each a kingdom in itself? Why is England so powerful? Because Scotland +and Ireland have lost their identity in hers. Sweden and Norway, are +they not, or rather ought they not to be, one? And Russia, how many +different races own the sway of the mighty Czar? My empire, too, shall +become strong through unity, and I shall be not only emperor of Austria, +but, in very deed and truth, emperor of all Germany!" + +Rosenberg shook his head, and sighed. "Ah, your majesty," said he, "you +are so young that you believe in the realization of mortal dreams." + +"I do, and I intend to workout their realization myself. I shall begin +by being German myself. I intend to do away with ceremony, priestcraft, +and foreign influence. To that intent, my lord chamberlain, you will see +that all foreigners are dismissed from the palace, and their places +supplied by Germans. My two Italian valets I make over to Porhammer. +Nothing but German shall be spoken at court. I will have neither French +nor Italian actors here. Count Durazzo shall dismiss his foreign troupes +and employ Germans in their stead. [Footnote: Gross-Hoffinger, "History +of Joseph II.," vol. i., p. 91.] Let him see that the German stage +flourishes and does honor to the metropolis of the German empire." + +"This is an ordinance that will enchant the youths of Vienna," replied +the count, gayly. + +"Here is another which will equally rejoice their hearts as well as +those of all the pretty women in Vienna," added the emperor. + +"Your majesty means to revoke the power of the committee on morals?" + +"Not quite. I dare not fly so soon in the face of my lady-mother's pet +institutions," returned Joseph, laughing; "but I shall suspend them +until further notice. Now the pretty sinners may all go to sleep in +peace. Now the young girls of Vienna may walk the streets without being +asked whither they go, or whence they come. Reform! reform! But hark! +there are the church-bells; I go to exhibit myself to my subjects. Come, +let us away." + +"But your majesty has not made your toilet. The valets are now waiting +with your Spanish court-dress in your dressing-room." + +"I make them a present of it," said the emperor. "The day of Spanish +court-dresses is over. The uniform of my regiment shall be my +court-dress hereafter, so that you see I am dressed and ready." + +"Then allow me to order that the carriage of state be prepared for your +majesty." + +"Order that the carriage of state be left to rot in the empress's +stables," returned Joseph. "The day of etiquette, also, is over. I am a +man like other men, and have as much use of my limbs as they. Let +cripples and dotards ride--I shall go to church on foot." + +"But your majesty," remonstrated Rosenberg, "what will the people say +when they see their emperor stripped of all the pomp of his high +station? They will think that you hold them too cheaply to visit them in +state." + +"No, no. My people will feel that I come among them, not with the cold +splendor of my rank, but with the warmth of human sympathy and human +nature, and they will greet me with more enthusiasm than if I came in my +carriage of state." + +The emperor was right. The people who had thronged every street through +which he was to pass, shouted for joy, when they saw the ruler of all +Austria on foot, accompanied by a few of his friends, making his way +among them with as much simplicity as a burgher. + +At first astonishment had repressed the enthusiasm of the Viennese, but +this momentary reticence overcome, the subjects of Joseph the Second +rent the air with their cries of welcome, and pressed around his path, +all eager to look into the face of the sovereign who walked among his +people as an equal and a man. + +"See him! see him!" cried they. "See the German prince who is not +ashamed to be a German! See our emperor in the uniform of the German +infantry! Long live the emperor! Long live our fatherland! Long live the +emperor!" shouted the multitude while Joseph, his heart overflowing with +joy, made his way at last to the cathedral of St. Stephen. + +And now the trumpets sounded, and the mighty organ thundered forth a +welcome, while cardinals and priests lifted their voices, and the clergy +sang the "Salvum fac imperatorum nostrum." + +And ever and anon, through the open windows of the cathedral, the people +shouted, "Long live the emperor! Long live our fatherland!" + +Overcome by the ovation, Joseph sank down upon his knees, and his heart +softened by the scene, the circumstances, and the sublime chants of the +church, he prayed. Clasping his hands, he prayed that God might give him +strength to do his duty to his subjects, and to make them happy. + +The "Salvum fac imperatorum" over, the mass for the repose of the soul +of Sobieski and his twelve thousand Poles was intoned. The emperor +prayed for them, and thanked the Almighty Ruler of all things for the +rescue they had brought to Vienna in her hour of danger from the +infidel. + +This was the first public act of Joseph's reign as co-regent. + +The mass over, the people witnessed another public act of the young +emperor's reign. While Joseph, smiling and bending his head to the +crowds that pressed around him, was quietly pursuing his way back to the +palace, a procession was seen coming through the streets which attracted +the attention of the multitude, and called forth their wonder. + +First came a file of soldiers, with shouldered carbines, then an open +vehicle drawn by horses from the imperial stables, then another file of +soldiers. Within the wagons sat several officers of the emperor's +household, with large rolls of paper in their hands, and behind it was a +detachment of cavalry with drawn sabres. + +"What means this pageant?" asked the people of one another. + +For all answer to this question, the multitudes pressed forward and fell +in with the mysterious procession. + +The train moved on, until it arrived at an open market-place, where it +halted. In the centre of the square was a heap of fagots, near which +stood two men with lighted torches in their hands. + +"An execution!" cried the terror-stricken multitude. "But what an +execution! Who was to be burnt at the stake?" + +While the crowd were murmuring within themselves, the officers of the +emperor's household advanced to the pile, and laid the rolls of papers +which they had brought, upon it. They then signed to the people for +silence, and one of the officers addressed the crowd. + +"The Emperor Joseph, co-regent with the Empress Maria Theresa, sends +greeting to his subjects," cried he in a clear, loud voice. "To-day, the +first of his reign, and the festival of John Sobieski the deliverer of +Vienna, he wishes to prove to his people how much he loves them. In +testimony whereof, he presents to them twenty-two millions of coupons, +bequeathed to him by his father the late Emperor Francis. These papers +are the coupons. In the name of the Emperor Joseph approach, ye +torch-bearers, and kindle the pile, that the people of Austria, made +richer by twenty-two millions, may recognize, in this sacrifice, the +love of their sovereign." + +The torches were applied, and high in the air soared the flames that +were consuming the emperor's bequest, while the faces of the multitude +around were lit up by the glare of the burning pile. + +The bells of the churches began to chime, the flames soared higher and +higher, and the people looked on in wondering gratitude at the +twenty-two millions of consuming guilders, which were the first offering +of Joseph II to his subjects. [Hormayer. "Austrian Plutarch." vol. i. p +129] + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +HAROUN AL RASCHID. + +The emperor was alone in his dressing-cabinet. He stood before a mirror, +covering his rich blond curls with a large wig, which fell in long +ringlets over his shoulders, and completed the very singular costume in +which it had pleased is majesty to array himself. + +The emperor surveyed himself with evident satisfaction, and broke out +into a hearty laugh. "I think," said he, "that in this dark-haired fop, +with his fashionable costume, no one will recognize the emperor. I +suppose that in this disguise I may go undetected in search of +adventures. If I am to be of use as a prince, I must see all things, +prove all things, and learn all things. It is written, 'Prove all +things, and hold fast to that which is good.' I am afraid that I shall +not hold fast to much that comes under my observation." + +He drew back from the mirror, threw over his shoulders a little cloak, +bordered with fur, set a three-cornered hat upon the top of his wig, +took up a small gold-headed cane, and then returned to survey himself a +second time. + +"A fop of the latest style--that is to say, a fool of the first water +--looks out upon himself from this looking-glass," said he, laughing. +"It would be an affront to my majesty if any one were to presume to +suspect the emperor under this absurd disguise. I hope I shall be as +successful in the way of adventures as was my predecessor Haroun al +Raschid." + +He drew his cloak close around him, and stepped from a little private +door that opened from his dressing-room into the corridor which led to +the apartments of his wife. Retired and unobserved, the Empress Josepha +lived within these rooms, which from the first night of their marriage, +her husband had never reentered. The corridor was empty. Joseph could +therefore pass out unobserved, until he reached a private staircase +leading to the lower floor of the palace. Once there, he raised his +head, and stepped boldly out into the hall. The porters allowed him to +pass without suspicion, and, unrecognized, the young adventurer reached +the public thoroughfares. + +"Now," thought he, with a sensation of childish delight, "now I am free, +a man just like other men. I defy any one to see my divine right upon my +brow, or to observe any difference between the 'imperial blue' of my +eyes, and the ordinary blue of those of my subjects." + +"Halt, there!" cried a threatening voice to the careless pedestrian. +"Out of the way, young coxcomb; do you suppose that I must give way to +you?" + +"Not at all, your worship," replied Joseph, smiling, as with an active +bound he cleared the way for a colossal carman, who, covered with sweat +and dust, was wheeling a load of bricks in a barrow. + +The carman stopped, and surveying the emperor angrily, cried out in a +voice of thunder, "What do you mean by calling me 'your worship?' Do you +mean to insult me because you are wasting your father's money on your +pretty person, decked out like a flower-girl on a holiday?" + +"Heaven forbid that I should seek to insult you!" replied the emperor. +"The size of your fists is enough to inspire any one with respect. For +all the world I would not offend their owner." + +"Well, then, go your way, you whippersnapper," muttered the carman, +while the emperor congratulated himself upon having gotten out of the +scrape without detection. + +"It would have been a pretty anecdote for the history of the Emperor +Joseph, had he been discovered in a street brawl with a carman," said he +to himself. "A little more, and my imperial face would have been pounded +into jelly by that Hercules of a fellow! It is not such an easy matter +as I had supposed, to mix on equal terms with other men! But I shall +learn by bitter experience how to behave." + +At this moment Joseph heard the sounds of weeping. Turning, he beheld +coming toward him a young girl of about sixteen, whose slight figure, in +spite of the cool autumn day, was scarcely covered by a thin, patched +dress of dark stuff. An old, faded silk handkerchief was thrown over her +shoulders; her sweet, pale face was bedewed with tears, and her lips +were murmuring gentle complaints, though no one stopped to listen. On +her right arm she carried a bundle, which every now and then she +watched, as if afraid that some one might rob her of its treasures. + +Suddenly a kind voice whispered, "Why do you weep, my child?" + +The young girl started and met the gaze of a young man, whose blue eyes +were fixed upon her with an expression of tenderest sympathy. + +"I weep," said she, "because I am unhappy," and she quickened her steps +that she might leave him behind. But the emperor kept pace with her. + +"Why do you walk so fast? are you afraid of me?" + +"I fear the committee of morals," said she, blushing. "If they should +see me with you, I might be mistaken for--" + +"Have you ever been suspected by them?" + +"Yes, sir, although I have always tried, when I was in the streets, to +avoid observation. Go, sir, go. Do not heed my tears. I am accustomed to +misfortune." + +"But it is said that the emperor has suspended the office of that +committee." + +"I am glad of it," replied the girl, "for good and evil are alike +exposed to suspicion; and I would like to walk the streets without fear +of being taken for what I am not." + +"Where are you going, child?" + +"I am going," replied she, with a fresh burst of tears, "to sell the +clothes I carry in this bundle." + +"What clothes, child?" + +"The last decent covering that my poor mother owns," sobbed the girl. + +"You are, then, very poor?" asked the emperor, softly. + +"Very poor. We are often hungry, and have no food but our own bitter +tears. These are the last clothes we have, but they must go for bread, +and then perhaps we shall perish of cold." + +"Poor girl! have you no father?" + +"My father died in defence of Austria and the empress, and as a reward +of his devotion to his sovereign, his wife and child have been left to +die of want." + +"Your father was a soldier?" asked the emperor, much affected. + +"He was an officer, who served with distinction in the Seven Years' War. +But he never was promoted. He died for Maria Theresa, and his widow and +child will soon follow him to the grave." + +"Why have you never applied to the empress for relief? Her purse is +always open to the wants of the needy." + +"To obtain any thing from royalty, sir, you know that one must have +influence," replied the girl, bitterly. "We have no influence, nor would +we know how to intrigue for favor." + +"Why, then, do you not go to the emperor? He at least has no fancy for +intriguers and flatterers. You should have gone to him." + +"To be haughtily repulsed?" said she. "Oh, sir, the new emperor is a man +whose only love is a love of power, and whose only pleasure is to make +that power felt by others. Has he not already refused to listen to any +petition whatever? Did he not forbid his people to come to him for +favors?" + +"He did that," replied Joseph, "because he wished to do justice to all; +and for that reason he has done away with all presentation of petitions +through courtiers or other officers of his household. But he has +appointed an hour to receive all those who present their petitions in +person." + +"So he has said," returned the girl, "but no one believes him. His +guards will turn away all who are not richly dressed, and so the emperor +will have promised to see the people, though the people will never be +allowed to come into his presence." + +"Have the Austrians so little faith in the sincerity of the emperor?" +asked Joseph. "Do they think that his heart--" + +"His heart!" exclaimed the girl. "The emperor is without a heart. Even +toward his mother he is said to be undutiful and obstinate. He hates his +wife, and she is as mild as an angel. He whose pleasure it is to see an +empress at his feet, do you suppose that he can sympathize with the +misfortunes of his subjects? No, no; he has already stopped all pensions +which the generous empress had given from her private purse." + +"Because he intends to bestow them upon worthier objects." + +"No, no; it is because he is a miser." + +"He a miser!" cried Joseph. "Did he not some days ago burn up twenty-two +millions of coupons?" + +"It was said so; but no one saw them; and it is whispered that the +twenty-two millions were nothing but pieces of waste paper." + +The emperor was speechless. He looked at this young traducer with an +expression of real horror. + +"How!" at length said he, in a voice choked by emotion, "the emperor is +suspected of such baseness!" + +"He is known to be selfish and miserly," replied his tormentor. + +Joseph's eyes flashed with anger; but conquering his bitterness, he +constrained himself to smile. + +"My child," said he, "you have been deceived. If you knew the emperor, +you would find that he is generous and ready to do justice to all men. +Go home and write your petition; and come to-day at noon to the imperial +palace. The guards will allow you to pass, and a servant will be there +to conduct you to me. I, myself, will present your petition, and I know +that the emperor will not refuse a pension to the widow and child of a +brave Austrian officer." + +The girl's eyes filled with tears as she attempted to thank her unknown +benefactor. + +But the emperor, who had allowed her to abuse him without interruption, +would not listen to her praises. + +"Your mother is sick, and needs care," said he. "Go home, and do not +sell your clothes, for you will need them to visit the emperor. How much +did you expect to get for them?" + +"I expected seven ducats, for a portion of this clothing is my mother's +wedding-dress." + +"Then, my child, let me beg you to accept twelve," said he, drawing out +his purse. "I hope they will suffice for your wants until the emperor +fills them all." + +The young girl bent over and kissed Joseph's hand. "Oh, sir," said she, +"you save us from death, and we have nothing to offer in return but our +poor prayers." + +"Pray for the emperor," said he, gently. "Pray God that he may win the +love of his people. Farewell! I shall wait for you today, at noon." + +With these words, Joseph quickened his pace, and was soon lost to view. + +"My second adventure," thought he. "I must confess that it is not very +flattering to walk incognito about the streets and hear the sentiments +of one's own subjects. How often do kings mistake the murmurings of +discontent for the outpourings of joy! It is so pleasant to believe in +the love of our subjects, and to shut our eyes to all doubts of their +loyalty! But I am resolved to see and judge of the people for myself. My +path will often be beset with thorns, but Fate has not made me a monarch +for my own good; I am an emperor for the good of others. That child has +revealed some painful truths to me; it would seem as if I were fated +forever to be misjudged." + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE DISGUISE REMOVED. + +At mid-day the emperor reentered the palace gates. This time he came +through the principal entrance, feeling quite secure in his disguise. + +He proceeded at once to the hall of reception, wondering whether his +young protegee would present herself as he had requested her to do. + +The sentries allowed him to pass, supposing him to be one of those about +to seek an audience with the emperor. Unsuspected he reached the hall. + +Yes, there was his little accuser. She stood trembling and blushing in +one corner of the room, holding in her hand a paper. As she recognized +her unknown protector, she hastened to meet him, and timidly gave him +her hand. + +"Oh, sir," said she, "you have been true to your word. I was so afraid +you would forget me, that I was several times on the point of leaving +this grand place. I feel lonely and ashamed; for you see that no one is +here but myself. Nobody trusts the emperor. And I, who am here, will +surely be repulsed; he never will be as kind as you have been to a poor +friendless girl. My mother has no hope; and if she has sent me to the +palace, it was that I might see you again, and once more pour forth my +gratitude for your kindness. If you would add another to the generous +gift you have already bestowed, tell me your name, that my mother and I +may beg God's blessing upon it, and then let me go, for I feel that my +visit here will be vain!" + +"My dear child," said Joseph, laughing, "if all the emperor's opponents +were as headstrong as you, the poor man would have but little hope of +ever gaining the good-will of his subjects. But I intend to prove to you +that you are unjust. Give me your petition. I myself will present it for +you. Wait awhile, until I send a messenger who will conduct you to the +emperor. Follow him and fear nothing, for I shall be there, too, and +there I will tell you my name. Au revoir." + +The young girl looked anxiously after him as he disappeared and once +more betook herself to the window. Gradually the room filled with a sad, +humble, and trembling crowd, such as often throngs the anterooms of +princes and nobles--a crowd which, with tearful eyes and sorrowing +hearts, so often returns home without succor and without hope. + +But the people who were assembled in this hall of reception seemed more +sanguine than is usual with petitioners for imperial favor. They chatted +together of their various expectations; they spoke of the emperor's +benevolence; and all seemed to hope that they would be heard with +patience, and favorably answered. A door opened, and an officer entered. +He looked sharply around the room, and then went directly to the window, +where the young girl, with a beating heart, was listening to the praises +of that emperor whom in her soul she believed to be a tyrant. + +"The emperor will he here presently," said the officer, in answer to a +storm of inquiries from every side. "But I have been ordered first to +conduct this young lady, the daughter of a deceased officer, to his +majesty's presence." + +She followed him, silent and anxious. They went through suites of +splendid rooms, whose costly decorations struck the child of poverty +with new dismay. At last they stopped in a richly gilded saloon, covered +with a carpet of Gobelin, and hung with the same rich tapestry. + +"Remain here," said the officer, "while I announce you to his majesty." + +He disappeared behind the velvet portiere, and the frightened girl +remained with a crowd of richly-dressed nobles, whose embroidered +court-dresses and diamond crosses, almost blinded her with their +splendor. + +Once more the portiere was drawn aside, and the officer beckoned the +girl to advance. She did so with trembling limbs and throbbing heart. +The hangings fell, and she was in the dread presence of the emperor. He +stood near a window with his back toward her--a tall, graceful man, in a +white uniform. + +The poor girl felt as if she would cease to breathe, for this was the +decisive moment of her young life. The emperor could either consign her +to misery, or raise her to comfort, and wipe away the tears of her dear, +suffering mother. + +He turned and looked at her with a benevolent smile. "Come hither, my +child," said he. "You would speak with the emperor. I am he." + +The girl uttered a stifled cry, and falling on her knees, she hid her +death-like face in her hands. For she had recognized her unknown +protector. Yes, this noble man, who had proffered help and promised +protection, this was the emperor, and to his face she had called him +miser and tyrant! + +She never for one moment thought whether he would punish her insolence; +she had but one feeling, that of unspeakable anguish for having wounded +a noble and generous heart. This alone caused her shame and grief. + +The emperor approached, and looked with tenderness at the kneeling +maiden, through whose fingers her tears were flowing in streams. + +"I have read your petition, and have found that you spoke the truth. +From this day your father's pay falls to your mother; and at her death +it shall revert to you. I beg you both to forgive the tardiness of this +act of justice; for neither the empress nor I had ever heard that your +father had any family. Once more forgive us for all that you have +endured since his death. And now, my child, rise from your knees; for +human beings should kneel before God alone. Dry your tears, and hasten +to your mother. Tell her that the emperor is not as heartless as he has +been pictured to her by his enemies." + +"No, no," cried she, "I cannot rise until my sovereign has forgiven my +presumption and my calumnies." + +"They are forgiven; for what could you know of me, you poor child, but +what you had been told? But now you know me yourself; and for the future +if you hear me traduced, you will defend me, will you not?" [Footnote: +Historical.] He reached out his hand, which she kissed and bedewed with +her tears. + +The emperor raised her tenderly. "Be comforted; for if you cry so +bitterly my courtiers will think that I have been unkind to you. You +told me just now that you wished to know the name of your protector that +you might pray for him. Well, my child, pray for me--my name is Joseph." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +ROSARY AND SCEPTRE. + +The four weeks to which Maria Theresa had limited her novitiate had +almost expired. She still secluded herself from the world, and, in the +deep retirement of her palatial cloister, would suffer no mention of +worldly affairs in her presence. + +In vain her confessor and her attendants strove to awaken her interest +to the dissatisfaction of the people with the wild projects of reform +that threatened the subversion of all social order. From the day of her +retirement, Maria Theresa had forbidden the slightest allusion to +politics. Her confesser had on one occasion ventured a hint on the +subject of the changes which were being made by the emperor, but the +empress had turned her flashing eyes upon him, and had reminded him +that, as the servant of the Lord, he was there to exhort and to pray, +not to concern himself about the trivialities of this world. + +On another occasion the Countess Fuchs had presumed to mention the +changes in the imperial household. The empress interrupted her coldly, +saying that if she had not lost her relish for the vanities of the +court, the countess must absent herself until further orders. + +This severity had put an end to all plans for inducing the empress to +resume the cares of empire. She was now at liberty to weep and pray +without distraction. Even her children, who came daily to kiss her hand, +were allowed no conversation but that which turned upon religion. When +the morning services were ended, they silently withdrew to their rooms. + +For a few days past, the Archduchess Christina had absented herself from +this mournful levee. On the first day of her nonappearance the empress +had not appeared to remark her absence. But on the second day her eyes +wandered sadly from her prayer book to her children, and her lips seemed +ready to frame some question. Instead of speaking, she bent her head +over her rosary, and strove to pray with more devotion than usual. + +Finally came a third day, and still Christina was absent. The empress +could no longer master her maternal anxiety, and as the Archduchess +Elizabeth approached to kiss her hand, she spoke. "Where is Christina? +Why is she not with you?" + +"My sister is sick, your majesty," replied the archduchess. And as +though she feared to displease her mother by further speech, she bent +her head and withdrew. + +The next day when the imperial children entered their mother's +apartment, her prayer-book was lying on the table, while she, pale and +agitated, was pacing the room with hasty steps. She received her family +with a slight motion of her head, and looked anxiously toward the door, +until it had closed after the entrance of little Marie Antoinette. Then +the empress sighed, and turned away her head lest her children should +see the tears that were gushing from her eyes. + +But when mass was over, and little, Marie Antoinette approached her +mother, she took the child up in her arms, and tenderly kissing her +cheek, said: "How is Christina, my darling?" + +"Sister Christina is very sick, imperial mamma," replied the child, "and +she cries all day long. But she loves you very dearly, and longs to see +you." + +The empress put down her little daughter without a word, and as if she +thought to mortify her worldliness, she signed to all present to +withdraw, and falling upon her knees, prayed long and fervently. An hour +or two after she sent for her confessor. As he left her room and passed +through the anteroom, the attendants saw that his countenance looked +joyous in the extreme. They flocked to hear if there was any hope of +convincing the empress of the necessity of her return to the world. + +"I think there is much," replied the father. "God be thanked, her +maternal love has overcome the dangerous lethargy into which sorrow had +plunged our beloved sovereign. For a time she was overcome by her grief +as a widow; but she begins to feel that her children have a right to her +counsels and care. Later she will recognize the claims of her people and +Austria will be saved from the mad schemes of that unbelieving dreamer, +her son." + +"Do you really believe that her majesty will return to the throne'?" +asked the countess. + +"I do. She besought me in trembling tones to tell her something of her +beloved child--and I did nothing to tranquillize her, --for she has no +right to seclude herself from her people. Maria Theresa is a greater +sovereign than her son will ever be, and Austria cannot afford to lose +her now. She will visit her daughter to-day. Tell the archduchess not to +fear her brother's opposition; for her mother, once resolved to return +to her people, will see that her own daughters are not made wretched by +a tyrannical brother. The princess will marry her lover." + +"I hasten. How soon may we expect the empress?" + +"She will surely be there before many hours. Solitude is not congenial +to Maria Theresa's heart; her active mind craves occupation, and her +grief requires it. Let us appeal to her affections through the illness +of her child, and complete reaction will ensue. If once we can persuade +her to quit her seclusion, the cloister-dream is over. Let us all work +in concert to restore her to the world. It is not the sovereign of a +great nation who has a right like Mary to sit at the feet of Jesus. Go +at once, Count Bathiany, and may God bless the efforts we are making to +restore our empress to her sense of duty. Church and state are alike +endangered by the fatal step she has taken." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ABBESS AND AN EMPRESS. + +IT was the hour of dinner. Complete silence reigned throughout the +imperial palace, except in the halls and stairways that led from the +imperial dining-hall to the kitchens below. Both lay far from the +apartments of the empress-abbess. She, therefore, felt that she could +visit her child without fear of observation. She had just concluded her +own solitary dinner, and was trying to collect her thoughts for prayer. +In vain. They WOULD wander to the sick-bed of her daughter, whom fancy +pictured dying without the precious cares that a mother's hand alone is +gifted to bestow. Maria Theresa felt that her heart was all too +storm-tossed for prayer. She closed her book with a pang of +self-reproach, and rose from her arm-chair. + +"It is useless," said she, at last. "I must obey the call of my +rebellious heart, and tread once more the paths of earthly love and +earthly cares. I cannot remain here and think that my Christina longs +for her mother's presence, and that I may not wipe her tears away with +my kisses. It is my duty to tend my sick child. I am not in the right +path, or a merciful God would strengthen me to tread it courageously. I +must replace their father to my children. Poor orphans! They need twice +the love I gave before, and, God forgive me, I was about to abandon them +entirely. It is no injury to the memory of my Francis, for, through his +children, I shall but love him the more. How I long once more to press +them to my heart! Yes, I must go, and this is the hour. I will pass by +the private corridors, and surprise my Christina in her solitude." + +With more activity than she bad been able to summon to her help since +the emperor's burial, Maria Theresa to her dressing-room, and snatching +up her long, black cloak, threw it around her person. As she was drawing +the hood over her face, she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror +close by. She was shocked at her own image; her face so corpse-like, her +cloak so like a hideous pall. + +"I look like a ghost," thought the empress. "And indeed I am dead to all +happiness, for I have buried my all! But Christina will be shocked at my +looks. I must not frighten the poor child." + +And actuated partly by maternal love, partly by womanly vanity, Maria +Theresa slipped back the ugly hood that hid her white forehead and +opened the black crape collar which encircled her neck, so that some +portion of her throat was visible. + +"I will always be my Franz's poor widow," said the empress, while she +arranged her toilet, "but I will not affright my children by my +dress--now I look more like their mother. Let me hasten to my child." + +And having again flung back the hood so that some portions of her +beautiful hair could be seen, she left the room. She opened the door +softly and looked into the next apartment. She had well calculated her +time, for no one was there; her ladies of honor had all gone to dinner. + +"That is pleasant," said she. "I am glad not to meet their wondering +faces; glad not to be greeted as an empress, for I am an empress no +longer. I am a poor, humble widow, fulfilling the only earthly duties +now left me to perform." + +She bent her head and went softly through the second anteroom to the +hall. Again, all was empty and silent; neither page, nor sentry, nor +lackey to be seen. She knew not why, but a feeling of desolation came +over her. She had bidden adieu to the etiquette due to her rank, but +this, she thought, was carrying the point too far. + +"If I had had the misfortune to fall suddenly ill," said she, "I must +have called in vain for succor. No one is by to hear my voice. But at +least there must be sentries in the other hall." No! That hall too was +empty. No lackeys were there, no guards! For the first time in her life, +Maria Theresa was out of hearing of any human being, and she felt a pang +of disappointment and humiliation. She started at the sound of her own +footsteps, and walked faster, that she might come within sight of some +one-any one. Suddenly, to her joy, she heard the sound of voices, and +paused to listen. + +The door of the room whence the voices were heard was slightly ajar, and +the empress overheard the following conversation. The speakers were +Father Porhammer and the Countess Fuchs. "Do not despair," said the +father; "the empress is forgiving and magnanimous; and when she shall +have admitted you again to her presence, it will be your duty to aid all +those who love Austria, by using your influence to recall her majesty to +the throne. Woe to Austria if she persists in elevating her grief above +her duty as a sovereign! Woe to the nation if her son, that rebellious +child of the church, reign over this land! His insane love of novelty--" +"For Heaven's sake, father," replied the countess, "say nothing against +the emperor! His mother's will has placed him on the throne, and we must +submit." + +The empress heard no more. With noiseless tread she hurried on, until +she turned the corner of a side-hall and then she relaxed her pace. She +pondered over what she had just heard, and it did not contribute to +tranquillize her mind. + +"What can he be doing?" thought she." What are those mad schemes of +which my friends have tried to apprise me? He was ever self-willed and +stubborn; ever inclined to skepticism. Alas! alas! I foresee sad days +for my poor Austria!" + +At that moment the empress had gained a small landing which led to a +staircase which she had to descend. She was about to proceed on her way +when she perceived a man, whose back was turned toward her, seated on +the topmost step. He was so quiet that she thought he was asleep. But as +her foot touched him he turned carelessly round, and perceiving the +empress, rose slowly, and bent his head as though to any lady whom he +might pass. + +Maria Theresa was astonished. She knew not what to think of the +irreverent bearing of this man, who was no other than Stockel, one of +the servants whose duty it had been, for thirty years, to light the +fires in her dressing-room. + +He had been accustomed every morning to appear before his imperial lady, +in winter, to see that her fires were burning; in summer, to distribute +her alms. Steckel was from Tyrol, he had been a favorite servant of the +empress; and being an upright and intelligent man, his word was known to +have some weight with her. [Footnote: Thiebault, "Memoires de Vlugt +Ans."] Stockel had been the most respectful and loyal of servants; the +appearance alone of the empress had always made his old wrinkled face +light up with joy. How did it happen that now, when he had been parted +from her for four weeks, he seemed indifferent? + +"He is offended because I have never sent for him," thought the +kind-hearted empress;' "I must try to appease him." + +"I am glad to see you, Stockel," said she, with one of her own +bewitching smiles; "it is long since you have visited me in my room. I +am such a poor, sorrowing widow, that I have not had heart enough to +think of the poverty of others." + +Steckel said nothing. He turned and slightly shrugged his shoulders. + +"How?" said Maria Theresa good-humoredly, "are you offended? Have you +the heart to be angry with your empress?" + +"Empress?" returned Stockel; "I took your highness for a pious nun. The +whole world knows that Maria Theresa is no longer an empress; she no +longer reigns in Austria." + +Maria Theresa felt a pang as she heard these words, and her cheeks +flushed--almost with anger. But overcoming the feeling she smiled sadly +and said: "I see that you are really angry, poor Stockel. You do not +like to see my palace made a cloister. You think, perhaps, that I have +done wrong?" + +"I do not pretend to judge of the acts of the rulers of earth," replied +he gloomily. "Perhaps the deeds which in ordinary people would be called +cowardly, may with them be great and noble. I know nothing about it; but +I know what my beloved empress once said to me. She was then young and +energetic, and she had not forgotten the oath she had taken when the +archbishop crowned her at St. Stephen's--the oath which bound her to be +a faithful ruler over her people until God released her." + +"What said your empress then?" + +"I will tell your highness. I had lost my young wife, the one I loved +best on earth, and I came to beg my discharge; for my longing was to go +back to my native mountains and live a hermit's life in Tyrol. My +empress would not release me. `How!' said she, 'are you so weak that you +must skulk away from the world because Almigthy God has seen fit to +bereave you of your wife? He tries your faith, man, and you must be +firm, whether you face the storm or bask in the sunshine. Did you not +promise to serve me faithfully, and will you now cast away your useful +life in vain sorrow? What would you think of me were I so lightly to +break my oath to my people--I who must lift my head above every tempest +of private sorrow, to fulfill my vow until death,' Thus spoke my +empress; but that was many years ago, and she was then sovereign of all +Austria." + +Maria Theresa looked down, and the tear-drops that had been gathering in +her eyes fell upon her black dress, where they glistened like diamonds. + +"It is true," whispered she, "I was sovereign of all Austria." + +"And what prevents you from being sovereign to-day?" asked Stockel +eagerly. "Have your people released you?" + +The empress waved her hand impatiently. "Enough," said she, "let me go +my way!" + +"But I have a petition to make, and as it is the last favor I shall ever +ask, I hope your majesty will not deny me." + +"Speak your wish," replied Maria Theresa hastily. + +"I beg of your majesty to allow me to quit your service," replied the +man moodily. "I cannot forget the words of Maria Theresa. I will not +skulk away from the world while I have strength to work. I am tired of +the idle life I lead. It is summer, and there is no fire to kindle. As +for the poor unfortunates whom I used to visit, I can do them no good; +their benefactress is no more. I must do something, or life will be a +burden; and if your majesty will condescend to give me leave, I shall +seek another place." + +"Another place, Stockel!" said the empress. "What other place?" + +"A place in the household of the REIGNING empress," answered Stockel +with a low inclination. + +Maria Theresa raised her head, and her astonishment was visible in her +large, open eyes. + +"The reigning empress?" said she musing. "Who can that be?" + +"The wife of the reigning emperor, your majesty," said Stockel grimly. + +The empress threw back her proud head, and drew her mantle convulsively +around her. + +"It is well," said she, "Come to me to-morrow, and you shall hear my +decision." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +THE REIGNING EMPRESS. + +The empress went slowly down the staircase. This staircase led to the +left wing of the palace, where the apartments of the imperial children +were situated. From earliest childhood the daughters of Maria Theresa +had had each one her separate suite. Each one had her governess, her +ladies of honor, and her train of servants, and lived as if in a +miniature court. + +On great festivals, national or domestic, the younger members of the +imperial family were invited to the table of the empress; otherwise they +ate in private with their retinue, and each child had a separate table. + +It was now the dinner-hour, and Maria Theresa had selected it, because +she felt sure that all the attendants of her children were at table, and +no one would know of her visit to Christina. But she was mistaken. As +she passed by the anteroom leading to the apartments of her children, +she heard the voices of the lords and ladies in waiting, and through the +half-opened door, saw them chatting together in groups. They did not +seem to observe their ex-sovereign; they went on conversing as if +nothing had happened. But as the empress was passing the apartments of +little Marie Antoinette, her governess appeared, and, with a cry of joy, +threw herself at Maria Theresa's feet, and covered her hand with kisses. +The empress smiled. A thrill of pleasure ran through her frame, as she +received the homage to which from her birth she had been accustomed. + +"Rise, countess," said she, kindly, "and do not let Marie Antoinette +know that I am near. But, tell me, how comes it that at this hour I find +the retinue of my children at leisure, while they are at table?" + +"We are at leisure, your majesty," replied the countess, "because we are +waiting for their highnesses to rise from the table." + +"Is it then a festival, that my children should be dining at the +imperial table?" + +"Please your majesty, the reigning emperor has abolished the private +tables of their highnesses your children. He finds it cheaper and more +convenient for all the members of the imperial family to be served at +once and at one table." + +"Where, then, do my children dine?" asked the empress, with asperity. + +"En famille, with her imperial majesty, the reigning empress." + +"The reigning empress!" echoed Maria Theresa, with a frown. "But how +comes it that my children leave their rooms without a retinue? Have you, +then, already forgotten that I never permit a breach of court-ceremonial +on any account?" + +"Please your majesty, the emperor dislikes etiquette, and he has +strictly forbidden all Spanish customs as laughable and ridiculous. He +has forbidden all attendance upon the imperial family, except on new +year's day. He has also forbidden us to kneel before his majesty, +because it is an outlandish Spanish custom, and a homage due to God +alone. All the French and Italian servants of the palace are dismissed, +and their places are supplied by natives. The emperor wishes to have +every thing at his court essentially German. For that reason he has +ordered the mass to be translated and celebrated in the German +language." + +The empress heaved a sigh, and drew her mantilla over her face, as if to +shut out the future which was unrolling itself to her view. She felt +sick at heart; for she began to comprehend that her successor was not +only creating a new order of things, but was speaking with contempt of +his mother's reign. But she would not comtemplate the sad vision; she +strove to turn back her thoughts to the present. + +"But if you no longer have your private table," continued she, "why not +accompany the princesses?" + +"Because the emperor deems it fitting that the imperial family should +dine alone. We, ladies in waiting, dine in a small room set apart for +us, and then return to our apartments to await their highnesses." + +"But the lords in waiting, do they not dine with you?" + +"No, your majesty, they have received orders at one o'clock to go to +their own houses, or to their former lodgings to dine. The court table +is abolished, and the emperor finds that by so doing he has economized a +very considerable sum." + +A deep flush of anger passed over the face of Maria Theresa, and her lip +curled contemptuously. Economy was one of the few virtues which the +profuse and munificent empress had never learned to practise. She +considered it beneath the dignity of a sovereign to count the cost of +anything. + +"Enough," said she, in a constrained voice, "I will go to Christina. Let +no one know of my visit. I desire to see my sick daughter alone." + +She bent her lofty head, and walked rapidly away. With a beating heart +she opened the door that led to the sleeping-room of the princess. There +on a couch lay a pale, weeping figure, the empress's darling, her +beautiful Christina. + +She stopped for a moment on the threshold, and looked lovingly at the +dear child, whom, for four days, she had not seen; then a thrill of +unutterable joy pervaded her whole being. At this moment Christina +raised her languid eyes; her glance met that of her mother; and with a +piercing cry, she sprang from the couch. But, overcome by weakness and +emotion, she faltered, grew paler, and sank to the floor. + +The empress darted forward and caught her fainting daughter in her arms. +She carried her to the divan, laid her softly down, and, with quivering +lip, surveyed the pale face and closed eyes of the princess. + +She recovered slowly, and at length, heaving a deep sigh unclosed her +eyes. Mother and child contemplated each other with loving glances, and +as the archduchess raised her arms and clasped them around her mother's +neck, she whispered feebly: "Oh, now, all is well! I am no longer +desolate; my dear, dear mother has returned to me. She has not forsaken +us; she will shield us from oppression and misfortune." + +Like a frightened dove Christina clung to the empress, and burying her +face in her mother's breast, she wept tears of relief and joy. + +The empress drew her close to her heart. "Yes, darling," said she, with +fervor, "I am here to shield you, and I will never forsake you again. No +one on earth shall oppress you now. Tell me, dear child, what goes wrong +with you?" + +"Oh, mother, "whispered Christina, "there is one in Austria, more +powerful than yourself, who will force me to his will. You cannot shield +me from the emperor, for you have given him the power to rule over us; +and, oh, how cruelly he uses his right!" + +"What I have given, I can recall, "cried the empress. "Mine are the +power and the crown, and I have not yet relinquished them. Now speak, +Christina; what grieves you, and why are your eyes so red with weeping?" + +"Because I am the most unhappy of mortals," cried Christina, +passionately. "Because I am denied the right which every peasant-girl +exercises; the right of refusing a man whom I do not love. Oh, mother, +if you can, save me from the detested Duke of Chablais,--whom my cruel +brother forces upon me as a husband." + +"Is that your sorrow, my child?" exclaimed the empress. "Joseph is like +his father; he loves wealth. The emperor had proposed this half-brother +of the King of Sardinia for you, Christina, but I refused my consent; +and, now without my knowledge, Joseph would force him upon you, because +of his great riches. But patience, patience, my daughter. I will show +you that I am not so powerless as you think; I will show you that no one +in Austria shall give away my Christina without her mother's +approbation." + +While the empress spoke, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glowed with a +proud consciousness of might not yet renounced forever. The sorrowing +widow was being once more transformed into the stately sovereign, and +the eyes, which had been so dimmed by tears, were lit up by the fire of +new resolves. + +"Oh, mother, my own imperial mother," said Christina, "do not only free +me from the man whom I detest, but bless me with the hand of the man I +love. You well know how long I have loved Albert of Saxony, you know how +dear I am to him. I have sworn never to be the wife of another, and I +will keep my oath, or die! Oh, mother, do not make me the sport of +policy and ambition! Let me be happy with him whom I love. What are +crowns and sceptres and splendor, when the heart is without love and +hope? I am willing to lead a simple life with Albert--let me be happy in +my own way. Oh, mother! I love him so far above all earthly creatures, +that I would rather be buried with him in the grave than be an empress +without him." + +And she fell upon her knees and wept anew. The empress had listened +musingly to her daughter's appeal. While Christina was speaking, the +glamour of her own past love was upon her heart. + +She was a girl again; and once more her life seemed bound up in the love +she bore to young Francis of Lorraine. Thus had she spoken, so had she +entreated her father, the proud emperor, until he had relented, and she +had become the wife of Christina's own father! Not only maternal love, +but womanly sympathy pleaded for her unhappy child. + +She bent over her, and with her white hand fondly stroked the rich +masses of Christina's golden-brown hair. + +"Do not weep, my daughter," said she tenderly. "True, you have spoken +words most unseemly for one of your birth; for it is the duty of a +princess to buy her splendor and her rank with many a stifled longing +and many a disappointment of the affections. Kind fate bestowed upon me +not only grandeur, but the husband of my love, and daily do I thank the +good God who gave me to my best beloved Franz. I do not know why you, +too, may not be made a happy exception to the lot of princesses. I have +still four beautiful daughters for whom state policy may seek alliances. +I will permit one of my children to be happy as I have been. God grant +that the rest may find happiness go hand in hand with duty." + +The princess, enraptured, would have thrown her arms around her mother's +neck; but suddenly, her face, which had grown rosy with joy, became pale +again, and her countenance wore an expression of deep disappointment. + +"Oh, mother," cried she, "we build castles, while we forget that you are +no longer the sovereign of Austria. And while you weep and pray in your +dark cell, the emperor, with undutiful hand, overturns the edifice of +Austria's greatness--that edifice which you, dearest mother, had reared +with your own hands. He is like Erostratus; his only fame will be to +have destroyed a temple which he had not the cunning to build." + +"We will wrest the fagots from his sacrilegious hands," cried the +empress. + +The archduchess seemed not to have heard her mother's words She threw +her arms around the empress, and, clinging convulsively to her, +exclaimed, "Oh, do, not forsake me, my mother and my empress. That +horrible woman, who was dragged from her obscurity to curse my brother's +life; that tiresome, hideous Josepha--do not suffer her to wear your +title and your crown. O God! O God! Must I live to see Maria Theresa +humbled, while Josepha of Bavaria is the reigning empress of Austria?" + +The empress started. This was the third time she had heard these words, +and each time it seemed as if a dagger had pierced her proud heart. + +"Josepha of Bavaria the reigning empress of Austria!" said she +scornfully. "We shall see how long she is to bear my title and wear my +crown! But I am weary, my daughter. I must go to my solitude, but fear +nothing. Whether I be empress or abbess, no man on earth shall oppress +my children. The doors of the cloister have not yet closed upon me; I am +still, if I choose to be, the reigning empress of Austria." + +She pressed a kiss upon Christina's forehead, and left the room. + +On her return she encountered no one, and she was just about to open the +door of her own anteroom, when she caught the sound of voices from +within. + +"But I tell you, gentlemen," cried an angry voice, "that her majesty, +the ex-empress, receives no one, and has no longer any revenues. She has +nothing more to do with the administration of affairs in Austria." + +"But I must see the empress," replied a second and a deprecating voice. +"It is my right, for she is our sovereign, and she cannot so forsake us. +Let me see the empress. My life depends upon her goodness." + +"And I," cried a third voice, "I too must see her. Not for myself do I +seek this audience, but for her subjects. Oh, for the love of Austria, +let me speak with my gracious sovereign!" + +"But I tell you that I dare not," cried the ruffled page. "It would ruin +me not only with her majesty, but with the reigning emperor. The widowed +empress has no more voice in state affairs, and the emperor never will +suffer her to have any, for he has all the power to himself, and he +never means to yield an inch of it." + +"Woe then to Austria!" cried the third speaker. + +"Why do you cry, 'Woe to Austria?'" asked a voice outside; and the tall, +majestic form of the empress appeared at the door. + +"Our empress!" cried the two petitioners, while both fell at her feet +and looked into her voice with unmistakeable joy. + +The empress greeted them kindly, but she added: "Rise, gentlemen. I hear +that my son, the emperor, has forbidden his subjects to kneel to him; +they shall not, therefore, kneel to me, for he is right. To God alone +belongs such homage. Rise, therefore, Father Aloysius; the brothers of +the holy order of Jesus must never kneel, to fellow-mortal. And you, +Counsellor Bundener, rise also, and stand erect. Your limbs have grown +stiff in my service; in your old age you have the right to spare them. +You," added she, turning to the page, "return to your post, and attend +more faithfully to your duty than you have done to-day. When I left this +room, no one guarded the entrance to it." + +"Your majesty," stammered the confused page, "it was the dinner-hour, +and I had never dreamed of your leaving your apartments. His majesty the +emperor has reduced the pages and sentries to half their number, and +there are no longer enough of us to relieve one another as we were +accustomed to do under the reign of your majesty." + +"It is well," said the empress haughtily. "I will restore order to my +household before another day has passed. And now, gentlemen, what brings +you hither? Speak, Father Aloysius." + +"My conscience, your majesty," replied Father Aloysius, fervently. "I +cannot stand by and see the hailstorm of corruption that devastates our +unhappy country. I cannot see Austria flooded with the works of French +philosophers and German infidels. What is to become of religion and +decency if Voltaire and Rousseau are to be the teachers of Austrian +youth!" + +"It rests with yourself, my friend," replied the empress, "to protect +the youth of Austria from such contaminating influences. Why do those +whom I appointed censors of the press permit the introduction of these +godless works in my realms?" + +"Your majesty's realms!" replied the father sadly. "Alas, they are no +longer yours. Your son is emperor and master of Austria, and he has +commanded the printing and distribution of every infidel work of modern +times. The censors of the press have been silenced, and ordered to +discontinue their revision of books." + +"Has my son presumed so far?" cried the empress, angrily. "Has he dared +to overthrow the barriers which for the good of my subjects I had raised +to protect them from the corrupt influences of French infidelity? Has be +ordered the dissemination of obscene and ungodly books? O my God! How +culpable have I been to the trust which thou hast placed in my hands! I +feel my guilt; I have sinned in the excess of my grief. But I will +conquer my weak heart. Go in peace, father. I will ponder your words, +and to-morrow you shall hear from me." + +The father bowed and retired, while the empress turned toward Counsellor +Bundener and inquired the cause of his distress. + +"Oh, your majesty," cried the old man in accents of despair, "unless you +help me I am ruined. If you come not again to my assistance my children +will starve, for I am old and--" + +"What!" interrupted the empress, "your children starve with the pension +I gave you from my own private purse?" + +"You did, indeed, give me a generous pension," replied Bundener, "and +may God bless your majesty, for a more bountiful sovereign never bore +the weight of a crown. But desolation and despair sit in the places +where once your majesty's name was mingled each day with the prayers of +those whom you had succored. The emperor has withdrawn every pension +bestowed by you. He has received a statement of every annuity paid by +your majesty's orders, and has declared his intention of cleaning out +the Augean stables of this wasteful beneficence." [Footnote: Hubner, +"Life of Joseph II.," vol. i., p. 28.] + +The empress could not suppress a cry of indignation. Her face grew +scarlet, and her lips parted. But she conquered the angry impulse that +would have led her to disparage her son in the presence of his subject, +and her mouth closed firmly. With agitated mien she paced her apartment, +her eyes flashing, her breast heaving, her whole frame convulsed with a +sense of insulted maternity. Then she came toward the counsellor, and +lifting her proud head as though Olympus had owned her sway, she spoke: + +"Go home, my friend," said she imperiously, "and believe my royal word +when I assure you that neither you nor any other of my pensioners shall +be robbed of your annuities. Princely faith shall be sacred above all +consideration of thrift, and we shall see who dares impeach mine!" + +So saying, Maria Theresa passed into her dressing-room, where her ladies +of honor were assembled. They all bent the knee as she entered, and +awaited her commands in reverential silence. At that moment the flourish +of trumpets and the call of the guards to arms were heard. The empress +looked astounded, and directed an inquiring glance toward the window. +She knew full well the meaning of that trumpet signal and that call to +arms; they were heard on the departure or the return of one person only +in Austria, and that person was herself, the empress. + +For the third time the trumpet sounded. "What means this?" asked she, +frowning. + +"Please your majesty," answered a lady of the bedchamber, "it signifies +that her imperial majesty, the reigning empress, has returned from her +walk in the palace gardens." + +Maria Theresa answered not a word. She walked quickly past her +attendants and laid her hand upon the lock of the door which led into +her private study. Her head was thrown back, her eyes were full of +flashing resolve, and the tone of her voice was clear, full, and +majestic. It betokened that Maria Theresa was "herself again." + +"Let Prince Kaunitz be summoned," said she. "Send hither the Countess +Fuchs and Father Porhammer. Tell the two latter to come to my study when +the prince leaves it." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE CO-REGENT DEPOSED. + +Scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed since the empress's orders had +been issued, when a page announced Prince Kaunitz. + +Maria Theresa went forward to receive him. Her whole being seemed filled +with a feverish excitement which contrasted singularly with the +unaltered demeanor of her prime minister, who, cold and tranquil as +ever, advanced to meet his sovereign, and bowed with his usual phlegm. + +"Well," said Maria Theresa, after a pause, "every thing has not changed +in the four weeks of my retirement from court. You at least are the same +in appearance. Let me hope that you are the same in spirit and in mind." + +"Please your majesty," replied Kaunitz, "four weeks have not yet gone by +since I had the honor of an interview with you." + +"What do you mean by that?" asked the empress, impatiently. "Do you wish +to remind me that I had resolved to wait four weeks before I decided +upon a permanent course of action?" + +"Yes, your majesty," said Kaunitz. "I am somewhat vain, as everybody +knows, and I have already seen my triumph in your majesty's face. I read +there that my noble empress has proved me a true prophet. She has not +yet been away from her subjects four weeks, and already her head has +silenced the weakness of her heart. Three weeks have sufficed to bring +Maria Theresa once more to her sense of duty." + +"Ah!" said the empress, "are you then so sure that my novitiate will not +end in a cloister?" + +"I am convinced of it. For never shall I forget the day on which your +majesty swore to be a faithful ruler over Austria as long as you lived. +I am convinced of it, too, because I know that, although my empress has +the heart of a woman, she has the head of a man, and in all well-ordered +unions the head rules the household." + +The empress smiled faintly, but said nothing. Her arms were crossed over +her breast, her head was bent in thought, and she went slowly back and +forth from one end of her study to the other. Kaunitz followed her with +his large, tranquil eyes, which seemed to penetrate to the remotest +regions of her throbbing heart. + +Suddenly she stood before him, and for a moment gazed earnestly in his +face. + +"Kaunitz," said she, "I have not only considered you for many years as a +wise and great statesman, but, what is better yet, I have esteemed you +as a man of honor. I exact of you that you act honorably and openly +toward me in this hour. Do you promise?" + +"An honorable man, your majesty, need not promise to do that which honor +requires of him." + +"True, true. But you might pay unconscious deference to my rank or to my +sex. Courtesy might mislead you. This is precisely what I warn you to +avoid. I wish you to speak candidly without thought or consideration for +empress or woman. Remember how you pledged your life to Austria's +good--and, forgetting all else, answer me truthfully and without fear. +Will you, Kaunitz?" + +"I will, your majesty. Ask, and you shall be truthfully answered--so +help me God." + +"Then, tell me, which of us is better calculated to reign in +Austria--Joseph or myself? Which of us will best promote the welfare of +the Austrian people? Do not answer me at once. Take time to reflect upon +the subject, for a, weighty question lies in the balance of this hour. I +cannot trust myself in this decision, for I have wept so many tears that +I have not the strength to see wherein my duty lies. I cannot even trust +my own misgivings, for pride or vanity may have blinded my eyes to +truth. I am not sure that I view things in their proper light. It is +useless, therefore, for me to speak. I desire to hear no one but +yourself. I swear to you by the memory of Charles V., that, whatever you +say shall be sacred; for I have exacted of you candor--and say what you +will, your candor shall not offend. Who, then, is best fitted to reign, +Joseph or I?" + +"Your majesty, I have had full time to reflect upon this weighty +question; for since first you announced your intention to resign the +throne, I have thought of nothing else. In politics we know neither +predilection nor prejudice. Necessity and interest decide all things. +Your majesty has so often called me a good politician, that I have ended +by believing myself to be one. It follows thence that, in deliberating +upon this great question, I have laid aside all personal inclination and +sympathy, and have had in view the welfare of Austria alone. But for +this, the matter would have required no thought, for the Emperor Joseph +and I have nothing in common. He fears me, and I do not love him. +[Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. Wrazall, vol. ii., p. 490.] We never +could be made to understand one another; for the language of the heart +is not to be forced by edicts, as is the language of the court. The +emperor has forbidden all tongues in Germany, save one. If he persist in +this, he will alienate his subjects, and Austria will soon lose her +greatness. When a titan intends to force his people to forget their +mother-tongue, he must do it by degrees; and if he succeeds, he will be +a skilful teacher. The best reforms are to be introduced through the +byways of life. If we trust them on the highway, they shock and terrify +the people. The young emperor, regardless of these considerations, has +violently suppressed whatever seemed injudicious to him in your +majesty's administration. Perhaps you had done too much; your son, +certainly, does too little. I hear everywhere of interdicts, but nowhere +of concessions. Old things destroyed, but nothing created to replace +them. What will be the result of this? Austria must soon be reduced to a +mass of ruins, and your son will go down to posterity with a fame like +that of Attila. Save Austria! save him from the curse that threatens +both. We have not yet completed the noble edifice of which eleven years +ago we laid the foundations. We must finish the structure, and so solid +must be its walls that our thoughtless young reformer shall not have +strength to batter them down. Your majesty must remain the reigning +Empress of Austria. You cannot resign your empire to your son. Duty and +the welfare of your subjects forbid it." + +The empress inclined her head approvingly. "I believe that you are +right, Kaunitz," replied she. "It is not in the pride, but in the deep +humility of my heart, that I reassume the crown which God himself placed +upon my head. I have no right to say that the load is too heavy since He +wills me to bear it. Indeed I feel that He will give me strength to +accomplish His will in me, and I am now ready to say, 'Behold the +handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to His word.' I will +never again lift my treasonable hand against that crown which I pray +Heaven I may wear for the good of my people. But you, prince, you must +be at my side; together we have planned for Austria, together we must +complete the noble structure of her greatness." + +"I remain, your majesty, and will never cease to labor until the banner +of the Hapsburg floats proudly from its battlements. But we must +decorate as well as strengthen. We have beautiful young princesses whose +alliances will bring wealth and splendor to our imperial edifice. +Within, we shall have solid walls that will insure the durability of our +structure; without, we shall have brilliant alliances that will perfect +its beauty." + +"You have a marriage to propose?" said the empress, smiling. + +"I have, your majesty, a marriage with the young King of Naples." + +"For which of my daughters?" asked Maria Theresa uneasily. + +"For the one your majesty shall select." + +"Then it shall be Johanna. She is very beautiful, and has a proud and +ambitious heart which craves less for love than for rank and splendor. +But if I give one of my daughters to diplomacy, you must leave me +another for domestic happiness. Christina has undertaken to think that +she must marry for love, and I think we ought to make her happy in her +own modest way. We owe amends to Albert of Saxony for having declined an +alliance with his sister; we also owe him something for his fidelity and +good faith as an ally. Let the young lovers be united, then; we have +gold and daughters enough to tolerate one marriage of inclination in our +imperial house." + +"But your majesty will give up the youngest, Marie Antoinette, to +diplomacy, will you not?" + +"You destine her to the throne of France, prince--is it not so?" + +"Yes, your majesty. The son of the dauphin is a noble youth, and +although his father was unfriendly to Austria, Choiseuil and La +Pompadour are for us. Marie Antoinette, therefore, is to be Queen of +France. This, however, must be a profound secret between ourselves. +While her little highness is being fashioned for her future dignity, we +must marry her elder sisters, if not so brilliantly, at least as +advantageously as we can. First, then, upon the list is the Archduchess +Christina. We must find some suitable rank for herself and her husband, +and your majesty will of course bestow a dowry worthy of your daughter's +birth and station." + +"I will present them the duchy of Teschen as a wedding-gift, and it must +be your care, prince, to find an appointment for the Elector of Saxony +that will be worthy of my son-in-law." + +"Let us name him Captain-General and Stadtholder of Hungary. That will +be an effectual means of converting the Hungarians into Austrians, and +the appointment is in every way suitable to the elector's rank." The +empress nodded, smiling acquiescence. "Your head," said she, "is always +in the right place; and sometimes I cannot help thinking that your heart +is better than the world believes it to be, else how could you so +readily divine the hearts of others? How quickly have you devised the +best of schemes to promote my daughter's happiness, without compromising +her imperial station! Christina shall be Stadthalterin of Hungary; and +in her name and my own I thank you for the suggestion. One thing, +however, lies heavy on my heart. It is the thought of the blow I am +about to inflict upon my poor Joseph. How will he bear to be deprived of +his sovereignty?" + +"I think your majesty named him co-regent only," said Kaunitz. + +"I did," replied the empress, "and in very truth I withdraw nothing but +a temporary privilege. As empress I know my right to resume the reins of +power; but it grieves my maternal heart to exercise it. I think I see +him now, poor boy, with his great blue eyes fixed in despair upon me. I +never shall have the courage to announce my return to him." + +"There will be no need to restrict him in his co-regency. He can be +removed to the war department, where he may reign unfettered." + +"He shall have unlimited power there," exclaimed the empress, joyfully. +"It is the proper province of a man, and Joseph will fill the station +far better than I have ever done. I promise not to interfere with him in +the field. For other state affairs, I shall attend to them myself, and I +do not think that I will ever delegate my power a second time. You had +best inform Joseph of my resumption of the throne, and let the Frau +Josepha also be advised that she is no longer reigning empress of +Austria. For me, I must always remain at heart a sorrowing widow. My +sorrows I can never overcome; my widow's weeds I shall never lay aside. +[Footnote: She kept her word. Every month, on the day of her husband's +death, she spent the day in solitary prayer and on every yearly +anniversary of her widowhood, she knelt for hours by the side of the +emperor's tomb, praying for the repose of his soul. Her private +apartments were ever after hung with gray, and her coaches and liveries +were of the same sad hue.--Caroline Pichler, "Memoirs."] But above the +weeds I will wear the mantle of royalty; and since you have so +determined for me, Austria shall once more own the sway of Maria +Theresa. " + + + +CHAPTER XL + +MOTHER AND SON. + +The dream was over--the blessed dream of philanthropy and reform! The +reins of power had been snatched from his hands, and Joseph was once +more consigned to a life of insignificant inactivity. Like a wounded +bird, whose broken wing no longer bears him aloft his heart fluttered +and fell--its high hopes dashed to earth. The old influences which he +hated, were at work again, and he had no recourse but absolute silence. +His deep humiliation, he was constrained to hide under a mask of +serenity; but he knew that his spirit was crushed, and night fell over +his stricken soul. Still, he struggled against the chill of his despair, +and with all the strength of his being he strove against misfortune. + +"I will not succumb," thought he, "I will not be vanquished by this +secret grief. I will not be a cause of sorrow to my friends and of +triumph to my enemies--I will live and overpower misfortune. Since all +in Vienna is so dark, let me seek sunshine elsewhere--I will +travel!--Away from this stifling court, to breathe the free air of +heaven! Here I am an emperor without an empire; there at least I shall +be a man, to whom the world belongs, wherever his steed has strength and +speed to bear him. Yes, let me travel, that I may gird up my loins for +the day when the sun of royalty shall rise for me. It will come! it will +come! And when it dawns, it must find me strong, refreshed, and ready +for action." + +The emperor made his preparations to depart, and then, in compliance +with the requisitions of court etiquette, he sought his mother, to +obtain her consent to his journey. Maria Theresa received her son with +that half-mournful tenderness which lent such an indescribable +fascination to her appearance and manners. She looked at him with a +smile so winning and affectionate, that Joseph, in spite of himself, +felt touched and gladdened; and the hand which his mother held out was +most fervently pressed to his lips. It was the first time they had met +in private since the empress had reascended her throne, and both felt +the embarrassment and significance of the hour. + +"I have longed for this moment with anxious and beating heart, my son," +said the mother, while she drew him toward her. "I know, my child, that +your heart is embittered toward me. You think that I would have been +wiser as well as kinder had I never left my widow's cloister. But +reflect, my dear son, as I have done, that my sceptre was given me by +the hand of God, and that it would be sinful and cowardly in me to give +it into the hands of another until He, in His wisdom, releases me from +durance." + +Joseph looked with genuine emotion at the agitated countenance of his +mother. He saw the tears gather and fall from her eyes; he saw the +quivering lip, the trembling frame; he felt that her integrity was +beyond suspicion, her love for him beyond all question. The icy barriers +that had closed upon his heart, gave way; he felt the warm and sunny +glow of a mother's unspeakable love, and, yielding to the impulse of the +moment, he flung his arms around the empress's neck, while he covered +her face with kisses. "Mother, my dear mother!" sobbed he; and as if +these words had opened the floodgates of all the love which filled his +heart, he leaned his head upon her bosom, and was silent. + +She smiled fondly upon him as he lay there; she returned his kisses, and +stroked his fair, high forehead with her loving hand. + +"Have you come back once more to your mother's heart, my darling?" +whispered she. "Have you found your way back to the nest whence you have +wandered away so long, you stray birdling? Do you feel, my son, that the +mother's bosom is the resting-place for her children? Oh! promise me, my +heart's treasure, to trust and love me from this hour? We are human, and +therefore we are sinful and erring. I well know, dear boy, that I have +many failings. From my heart I regret them; and if in your short life, +as boy or man, I have grieved you, pardon me, dearest, for I have not +meant it in unkindness." + +"No, mother,"' said Joseph, "it is I who should sue for pardon. My heart +is wild and stubborn; but I believe that it beats with a love as true +and warm for my empress as that of any other man in Austria. Have +patience with me, then, my mother, for I am indeed a wandering bird; +and, in my wild flight, the shafts of this life have wounded and maimed +me. But let us not speak of life--mine is a blasted one." + +"Yes, my son, let us speak of your life, and of its misfortunes; for I +know that Josepha of Bavaria is its chiefest sorrow. I have heard +something of your unhappiness as a husband, and I pity you both." + +"You pity her!" cried Joseph, hastily. "How does she deserve my mother's +compassion?" + +The empress laid her hand gently upon her son's shoulder. "She loves +you, Joseph," said she, "and I cannot refuse my sympathy to a woman who +loves without hope of return." + +"She loves me!" exclaimed Joseph with a laugh of derision. "Yes--and her +love is my abhorrence and my shame. Her ogling glances make me shudder +with disgust. When she turns upon me her blotched and pimpled face, and +calls me by the name of husband, the courtiers sneer, and I--I feel as +if I would love to forget my manhood and fell her to the earth." + +"She is certainly ugly," said the empress, shaking her head, "but uglier +women than she have inspired love. And remember, Joseph, that you chose +her yourself. Besides, she has an excellent heart, if you would but take +the trouble to explore its unknown regions. Moreover, you will one day +be sole Emperor of Austria, and you should seek to give an heir to your +throne. If Josepha were the mother of your children, you would no longer +think her ugly." + +"SHE the mother of my children!" cried Joseph, with such keenness of +hate, that the empress shuddered. "Do you think me capable of such a +degradation? You have not seen Van Swieten lately, or he would have told +you that this woman, in addition to her other attractions, is troubled +with a new malady." + +"Van Swieten did not mention it to me." + +"Well, then, your majesty, I will mention it. This so-called empress has +the scurvy." + +"Oh, my son, my poor boy!" cried the empress, putting her arm around +Joseph's neck as though she would have shielded him from infection. +"That is a disgusting malady, but Van Swieten's skill will soon conquer +it." + +"Yes; but neither he nor you will ever conquer my hate for her. Not all +the world could make me forgive the deception that was practised upon me +when she was allowed to become my wife. THIS woman the mother of my +children! No! No one shall ever force me to be the father of any thing +born of Josepha of Bavaria!" + +The empress turned away and sighed. It was in vain. This was hatred +strong as death. "May God comfort you both!" said she, mournfully. + +"Then He must put us asunder!" cried out Joseph, almost beside himself. +"Believe me, mother," continued he, "death alone can bring us +consolation; and may God forgive me when I pray that this atoning angel +may come to my relief! She or I! No longer can I bear this ridicule of +hearing this leper called an empress!" + +"Travel, then, my dear son," said his mother. "Travel and try to enjoy +life away from Vienna. Perchance when you will have seen how little true +happinesss there is on earth, experience may come to your help, and +teach you to be less unhappy." + +The emperor shook his head. "Nothing," replied he, moodily, "can ever +console me. Wherever I go, I shall hear the rattle of my prisoner's +chain. Let us speak of it no more. I thank your majesty for the +permission to leave Vienna, and I thank you for this bright and sacred +hour, whose memory will bless me as long as I live. You have been to me +this day a tender and sympathizing mother. May I henceforward be to you +a grateful and obedient son." + +"You have not yet told me whither you desire to travel," said the +empress, after a pause. + +"With your majesty's permission, I would wish to travel in Bohemia and +Moravia, and then I wish to visit the courts of Dresden and Munich. Both +sovereigns, through their ambassadors, have sent me urgent invitations." + +"It would be uncourteous to refuse," said the empress, earnestly. "It is +politic for us, as far as possible, to bind all the German princes to us +by interchange of kindness." + +"Since this is your majesty's opinion, I hope that you will also consent +to my acceptance of a third invitation. The King of Prussia has +requested to have an interview with me at Torgau." + +The brow of the empress darkened. + +"The King of Prussia?" said she, almost breathless. + +"Yes, your majesty, and to be frank with you it is of all my invitations +the one which I most desire to accept. I long to see face to face the +king whom all Europe, friend or foe, unites in calling 'Frederick the +Great'--great not only as a hero, but also as a lawgiver." + +"Yes," cried the empress, with indignation, "the king whom infidels +delight to honor. I never supposed that he would presume to approach my +son and heir as an equal. The Margrave of Brandenburg has a right to +hold the wash-basin of the Emperor of Germany, but methinks he forgets +his rank when he invites him to an interview. " + +"Ah, your majesty," replied Joseph, smiling, "the Margrave of +Brandenburg, to our sorrow and our loss, has proved himself a king; in +more than one battle has he held the wash-basin for Austria's sovereign, +but it was to fill it with Austrian blood." + +Maria Theresa grew more and more angry as she heard these bold words. +"It ill becomes my son," said she, "to be the panegyrist of the victor +whose laurels were snatched from his mother's brow." + +"Justice impels me to acknowledge merit, whether I see it in friend or +foe," answered the emperor. "Frederick of Prussia is a great man, and I +only hope that I may ever resemble him." + +The empress uttered an exclamation, and her large eyes darted lightning +glances. + +"And thus speaks my son of the man who has injured and robbed his +mother!" exclaimed she indignantly. "My son would press his hand who has +spilled such seas of Austrian blood--would worship as a hero the enemy +of his race! But so long as I reign in Austria, no Hapsburger shall +condescend to give the hand to a Hohenzollern. There is an old feud +between our houses; it cannot be healed." + +"But if there is feud, your majesty perceives that it is not the fault +of the King of Prussia, since he holds out the right hand of friendship. +I think it much more Christian-like to bury feuds than to perpetuate +them. Your majesty sees, then, how Frederick has been calumniated, since +he follows the Christian precept which commands us to forgive our +enemies." + +"I wish to have nothing to do with him," said the empress. + +"But, as I had the honor of saying before, the king has sent me a +pressing invitation, and you said just now that it would be uncourteous +to refuse." + +"Not the invitation of Frederick. I will not consent to that." + +"Not even if I beg it as a favor to myself?" asked Joseph fervently. +"Not even if I tell you that I have no wish so near at heart as that of +knowing the King of Prussia? Think of this day, so brightened to me by +the sunshine of your tenderness! Let the mother plead for me with the +sovereign; for it is not to my empress, it is to my mother that I +confide my hopes and wishes. Oh, do not drown the harmony of this hour +in discord! Do not interpose a cloud between us now." + +The empress threw back her head. "You threaten me, sir, with your +displeasure? If there are clouds between us, see that they disperse from +your own brow, and show me the face of a loyal subject and a respectful +son. I will not consent to this visit to the King of Prussia; the very +thought of it is galling to my pride." + +"Is that your majesty's last word?" + +"It is my last." + +"Then I have nothing further to say, except that, as in duty bound, I +will obey the orders of my sovereign," replied Joseph, turning deathly +pale. "I shall refuse the invitation of the King of Prussia, and beg +leave to retire." + +Without awaiting the answer of his mother, he bowed, and hastily left +the room. + +"Dismissed like a school-boy," muttered he, while tears of rage flowed +down his cheeks. "Two chains on my feet--the chains of this accursed +marriage, and the chains of my filial duty, impede my every step. When I +would advance, they hold me back and eat into my flesh. But it is of no +use to complain, I must learn to bear my fate like a man. I cannot rebel +openly, therefore must I be silent. But my time will come!" + +He raised his head proudly, and with a firm step took the way to his +private apartments. He went at once into his study, where, on his +writing-desk, lay the letter of the King of Prussia. + +The emperor seated himself at the desk, and, with a heavy sigh, took up +his pen. "Tell the king, your master," wrote he, "that I am not yet my +own master; I am the slave of another will. But I will find means some +day to atone for the rudeness which I have been forced to offer him in +return for his kindness." [Footnote: Hubner, "Life of Joseph II.," vol. +i., p. 87.--Gross-Hofflinger, vol. 1., p. 116.] + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +DEATH THE LIBERATOR. + +The cruel enemy which had laid low so many branches of the noble house +of Hapsburg, had once more found entrance into the imperial palace at +Vienna. This terrific invisible foe, which, from generation to +generation, had hunted the imperial family with such keen ferocity, was +the small-pox. Emperors and Empresses of Austria had been its victims, +and almost every one of Maria Theresa's children bore, sooner or later, +its brand upon their faces. This fiend had robbed them of the fair +Isabella; and now its envenomed hand was laid upon the affianced bride +of the King of Naples. The beautiful young Johanna was borne to the +vaults of the Capuchins, while in the palace its inmates were +panic-stricken to hear that Josepha of Bavaria, too, had taken the +infection. + +With such lightning swiftness had the venom darted through the veins of +the unhappy empress, that her attendants had fled in disgust from the +pestiferous atmosphere of her chamber. + +And there, with one hired nurse, whom the humane Van Swieten had +procured from a hospital, lay the wife of the Emperor of Austria. + +No loving hand smoothed the pillow beneath her burning head or held the +cooling cup to her blood-stained lips; no friendly voice whispered words +of sympathy; no familiar face bent over her with looks of pity. + +Alone and forsaken, as she had lived, so must she die! At his first +wife's bedside Joseph had watched day and night; but Josepha's he did +not approach. In vain had she sent each day, through Van Swieten, a +petition to see him, if only once; Joseph returned, for all answer, that +his duty to his mother and sisters forbade the risk. + +And there lay the woman whose princely station mocked her misery; there +she lay unpitied and unloved. The inmates of the palace hurried past the +infected room, stopping their breathing as they ran: the daughters of +Maria Theresa never so much as inquired whether their abhorred +sister-in-law were living or dead. + +But the poor dying empress was not even alone with her misery. Memory +was there to haunt her with mournful histories of her past life: pale, +tearful, despairing were these ghosts of an existence uncheckered by one +ray of happiness. Ah, with what a heart full of trembling hope had she +entered the walls of this palace, which to her had proved a prisoner's +cell! With what rapture had she heard the approaching step of that +high-born emperor, her husband, on their wedding-night; and oh, how +fearful and how swift had fallen the bolt of his vengeance upon her sin! +Memory whispered her of this. + +She thought of the Emperor Francis, of his tender sympathy with her +sorrow; she remembered how he had conspired with her on that fatal night +at Innspruck. Then she remembered her husband's scorn, his withering +insults, and her loss of consciousness. She thought how she had been +found on the floor, and awakened by the terrifying intelligence of the +emperor's sudden death. Her tears, her despair, she remembered all; and +her wail of sorrow at the loss of her kindest friend. [Wraxall, vol. +ii., page 411.] Memory whispered her of this. + +She thought of her dreary life from that day forward: forever the +shrinking victim of Christina's sneers, because she, and not the sister +of Albert of Saxony, had become the emperor's wife. Even the +kind-hearted Maria Theresa had been cold to her; even she, so loving, so +affectionate, had never loved Josepha. And the wretched woman thought +how one day when the imperial family had dined together, and her +entrance had been announced as that of "Her majesty, the reigning +empress," the archduchesses had sneered, and their mother had smiled in +derision. Memory whispered her of this. [Footnote: Hubner, "Life of +Joseph II.," p. 27.] + +She thought how her poor, martyred heart had never been able to give up +all hope of love and happiness; how day by day she had striven, through +humility and obedience, to appease her husband's anger. But he had +always repulsed her. One day she had resolved that he SHOULD see her. +She knew that the emperor was in the daily habit of sitting on the +balcony which divided her apartments from his. She watched his coming, +and went forward to meet him. But when he saw her, in spite of her tears +and supplications, with a gesture of disgust, he left the balcony and +closed the window that led to it. The next day, when she ventured a +second time on the balcony, she found it separated by a high partition, +shutting out all hope of seeing her husband more. And she remembered +how, one day afterward, when she stepped out upon it, and her husband +became aware of her presence, he had, in sight of all the passers-by, +started back into his room, and flung down his window with violence. +[Footnote: Caroline Pichler, "Memoirs," vol. i., p. 182.] Memory +whispered her of this. + +But now that she had expiated her first fault by two years of bitter +repentance, now that death was about to free him from her hated presence +forever, surely he would have mercy, and forgive her the crime of having +darkened his life by their unhappy union. + +Oh, that once more she could look into the heaven of those deep-blue +eyes! That once more before she died she could hear the music of that +voice, which to her was like the harmony of angels' tongues! + +In vain! Ever came Van Swieten with the same cold message--"The emperor +cannot compromise the safety of his relatives." + +At last, in the energy of despair, Josepha sat erect in her bed, and +with her livid, bloody hands, wrote a letter which Van Swieten, at her +earnest entreaty, delivered to the emperor. + +When, after a short absence, he returned with another denial, she gave +such a shriek of anguish that it was heard throughout the palace. + +Van Swieten, overwhelmed by pity for the poor martyr, felt that he must +make one more effort in her behalf. He could do nothing for her: bodily, +she was beyond his power to heal; but he was resolved to be the +physician of her broken heart, and, if it lay within the power of man, +to soothe and comfort her dying moments. + +With the letter which Joseph had returned to him, he hastened to the +Empress Maria Theresa. To her he pictured the agony of her dying +daughter-in-law, and besought her to soften the emperor's heart. + +The empress listened with deep emotion to the long-tried friend of her +house. Tears of sympathy gathered in her eyes, and fell over her pale +cheeks. + +"Joseph will not grant her request, because he fears the infection for +us?" asked she. + +"Yes, your majesty, that is his pretext." + +"He need not fear for me, and he can remain at a distance from the other +members of the family," said Maria Theresa. "But I know what are his +real sentiments. He hates Josepha, and it is his hatred alone that +prevents him from granting her petition. He has a hard, unforgiving +heart, he never will pardon his wife--not even when she lies cold in her +grave." + +"And she will not die until she has seen him," returned Van Swieten, +sadly. "It seems as if she had power to keep off death until the last +aim of her being has been reached. Oh, it is fearful to see a soul of +such fire and resolution in a body already decaying." + +The empress shuddered. "Come, Van Swieten," said she, resolutely, "I +know how to force Joseph to the bedside of his poor, dying wife." + +She rose, and would have gone to the door, but Van Swieten, all ceremony +forgetting, held her back. + +"I will call the emperor myself," said he; "whither would your majesty +go?" + +"Do not detain me," cried the empress, "I must go to the emperor." + +"But what then?" asked Van Swieten, alarmed. + +The empress, who had already crossed her anteroom, looked back with a +countenance beaming with noble energy. + +"I will do my duty," replied she. "I will do what Christian feeling +prompts. I will go to Josepha." + +"No, your majesty, no," cried Van Swieten, again laying hands upon his +sovereign. "You owe it to your people and your children not to expose +yourself to danger." + +The empress smiled sadly. "Doctor, where did Isabella and Johanna take +the infection? God called them to Himself, and God has shielded me, If +it pleases Him that I also shall suffer this fearful scourge, it will +not be from contagion. It will be from His divine hand." + +"No, no, your majesty, it will be my fault," cried Van Swieten. "On my +head will be the sin." + +"I free you from all responsibility," replied she, "and say no more; for +it is my duty to visit this deserted woman's death-bed. I have been less +kind to her than I should have been, and less indulgent than on MY +death-bed I will wish to have been. I have not been a tender mother to +her, living--let me comfort her, at least, now that she is dying." + +"But she has not asked for your majesty," persisted Van Swieten. +"Wherefore--" + +But suddenly he stopped, and a cry of horror was stifled between his +lips. He had seen upon the forehead and cheeks of the empress those +small, dark spots which revealed to his experienced eye that it was too +late to shield her from infection. + +Maria Theresa was too excited to remark the paleness of Van Swieten. She +continued: + +"Go to Joseph, and tell him that I await him at the death-bed of his +wife. He will not dare refuse her now. Go, doctor, we must both do our +duty." + +Van Swieten stepped aside, for he had blocked the door. + +"Go, your majesty," said he, almost inaudibly. "I will not detain you, +but will see the emperor." He turned away, sick at heart. "One empress +dying, and another!--O God! grant me help that I may save my beloved +Maria Theresa!" + +Meanwhile the empress hurried through the deserted halls of the palace +to the room of the unhappy Josepha. As she approached the door, she +heard her voice in tones of bitterest anguish. The sound filled the +heart of Maria Theresa with deepest sympathy and sorrow. + +For one moment she stood irresolute; then, gathering all her strength, +she opened the door, and went in. At the foot of the bed knelt two +Ursuline nuns, those angels of mercy who are ever present to comfort the +dying. The entrance of the empress did not interrupt their prayers. They +knew that no one could rescue the dying woman; they were praying Heaven +to comfort her departing soul. + +But was she comforted? She ceased her lamentations, and now lay still. +She had heard the door open, and had struggled to rise; but she was too +weak, and sank back with a groan. + +But she had seen the empress, who, with the courage of a noble spirit, +had conquered her disgust, and advancing to the bed, bent over Josepha +with a sweet, sad smile. Josepha saw it, and the empress looked more +beautiful to her dying eyes than she had ever looked before. + +"God bless you, my poor daughter," whispered she, in broken accents. "I +come to give you a mother's blessing, and to beg of Almighty God to give +you peace." + +"Peace, peace!" echoed the sufferer, while the empress, with a shudder +surveyed her black and bloated face. + +Suddenly she uttered a cry, and opened her arms. "He comes! he comes!" +cried she; and her dying eyes unclosed with a ray of joy. + +Yes, he came--he, whom she had so longed to see. + +When Van Swieten told him that the empress had gone to Josepha's room, +he started from his seat, and hurried through the corridor with such +wild speed that the physician had been unable to follow him. + +Hastily approaching the bed, he put his arms gently around his mother, +and sought to lead her away. + +"Mother," said he, imploringly, "leave this room. It is my duty to be +here, not yours. Bid adieu to the Empress Josepha, and go hence." + +"Oh, oh!" groaned Josepha, falling back upon her pillow, "he does not +come for my sake, but for his mother's." + +"Yes, Josepha," replied Joseph, "I am here for your sake also, and I +shall remain with you." + +"I also will remain," said Maria Theresa. "This sacred hour shall unite +in love those who so long have been severed by error and +misapprehension. Life is a succession of strivings to do well, and +relapses into wrong. We feel that we have erred toward you, and we come +with overflowing hearts to crave forgiveness. Forgive us, Josepha, as +you hope to be forgiven!" + +"Forgive me also, Josepha," said Joseph, with genuine emotion. "Let us +part in peace. Forgive me my obduracy, as from my soul I forgive you. We +have both been unhappy--" + +"No," interrupted Josepha, "I have not been unhappy; for I--I have +loved. I die happy; for he whom I love no longer turns abhorrent from my +presence. I shall die by the light of your pardoning smile. Death, that +comes every moment nearer, death, to me, brings happiness. He comes with +his cold kiss, to take my parting breath--the only kiss my lips have +ever felt. He brings me love and consolation. He takes from my face the +hideous mask which it has worn through life; and my soul's beauty, in +another world, shall win me Joseph's love. Oh death, the comforter! I +feel thy kiss. Farewell, Joseph, farewell!" + +"Farewell!" whispered Joseph and Maria Theresa. + +A fearful pause ensued--a slight spasm--a gasp--and all was over. + +"She is released!" said Van Swieten. "May her soul rest in peace!" + +The Ursulines intoned the prayers for the dead, and Maria Theresa, in +tears, clasped her hands and faltered out the responses. Suddenly she +reeled, heaved a sigh, and fell back in the emperor's arms. + +"My mother, my dear mother!" cried he, terrified. + +Van Swieten touched him lightly. "Do not arouse her. Yonder sleeps the +one empress in death--her pains are past; but this one, our beloved +Maria Theresa, has yet to suffer. May God be merciful and spare her +life!" + +"Her life!" cried Joseph, turning pale. + +"Yes, her life," said Van Swieten, solemnly. "The empress has the +small-pox." [Footnote: The Empress Josepha died May 28, 1767, at the age +of twenty nine years. Her body was so decayed by small pox, that, before +her death the flesh fell from her in pieces. It was so completely +decomposed, that it was impossible to pay it the customary funeral +honors. It was hurriedly wrapped up in a linen cloth, and coffined. From +these circumstances a rumor prevailed in Bavaria that she had not died, +but had been forced into a cloister by her husband.] + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE MIRROR. + +Six fearful weeks had gone by--six weeks of anxiety, suspense, and care, +not only for the imperial family, but for all Austria. + +Like the lightning flash, intelligence had gone through the land that +the empress was in danger, and her subjects had lost interest in every +thing except the bulletins issued from the palace where Van Swieten and +Von Storck watched day and night by the bedside of their beloved +sovereign. Deputations were sent to Vienna, sympathizing with the +emperor, and the avenues to the palace were thronged with thousands of +anxious faces, each waiting eagerly for the bulletins that came out four +times a day. + +At last the danger passed away. Van Swieten slept at home, and the +empress was recovering. + +She had recovered. Leaning on the arm of the emperor, and surrounded by +her happy children, Maria Theresa left her widow's cell to take up her +abode in the new and splendid apartments which, during her +convalescence, Joseph had prepared for her reception. + +She thanked her son for his loving attention, so contrary to his usual +habits of economy, and therefore so much the more a proof of his earnest +desire to give pleasure to his mother. She, in her turn, sought to give +strong expression to her gratitude, by admiring with enthusiasm all that +had been done for her. She stopped to examine the costly Turkey carpets, +the gorgeous Gobelin tapestries on the walls, the tables carved of +precious woods, or inlaid with jewels and Florentine mosaic, the rich +furniture covered with velvet and gold, the magnificent lustres of +sparkling crystal, and the elegant trifles which here and there were +tastefully disposed upon etageres or consoles. + +"Indeed, my son," cried the empress, surveying the beautiful suite, "you +have decorated these rooms with the taste and prodigality of a woman. It +adds much to my enjoyment of their beauty to think that all this is the +work of your loving hands. But one thing has my princely son forgotten; +and therein he betrays his sex, showing that he is no woman, but in very +truth a man." + +"Have I forgotten something, your majesty?" asked Joseph. + +"Yes; something, my son, which a woman could never have overlooked. +There are no mirrors in my splendid home." + +"No mirrors!" exclaimed Joseph, looking confused. "No--yes --indeed, +your majesty is right, I had forgotten them. But I beg a thousand +pardons for my negligence, and I will see that it is repaired. I shall +order the costliest Venetian mirrors to be made for these apartments." + +While Joseph spoke, his mother looked earnestly at his blushing face, +and perfectly divined both his embarrassment and its cause. She turned +her eyes upon her daughters, who, with theirs cast down, were sharing +their brother's perplexity. + +"I must wait then until my mirrors are made," said the empress, after a +pause. "You must think that I have less than woman's vanity, my son, if +you expect me to remain for weeks without a greeting from my +looking-glass. Of course the small-pox has not dared to disfigure the +face of an empress; I feel secure against its sacrilegious touch. Is it +not so, my little Marie Antoinette? Has it not respected your mother's +comeliness?" + +The little archduchess looked frightened at the question, and timidly +raised her large eyes. "My imperial mamma is as handsome as ever she +was," said the child, in a trembling voice. + +"And she will always be handsome to us, should she live until old age +shall have wrinkled her face and paled her cheeks," cried Joseph warmly. +"The picture of her youthful grace and beauty is engraved upon our +hearts, and nothing can ever remove it thence. To the eyes of her +children a noble and beloved mother is always beautiful. " + +The empress said nothing in reply. She smiled affectionately upon her +son, and inclining her head kindly to the others, retired to her +sitting-room. She walked several times up and down, and finally +approached her mirror. In accordance with an old superstition, which +pronounces it ill-luck to allow a looking-glass in the room of a sick +person, this large mirror had been covered with a heavy silk curtain. +The empress drew it back; but instead of her looking-glass, she was +confronted by a portrait of her late husband, the emperor. She uttered +an exclamation of surprise and joy, and contemplated the picture with a +happy smile. "God bless thee, my Franz, my noble emperor!" whispered +she. "Thou art ever the same; thy dear smile is unaltered, although I am +no longer thy handsome bride, but a hideous and disfigured being, from +whom my children deem it fit to conceal a looking-glass. Look at me with +thy dear eyes, Franz; thou wert ever my mirror, and in thy light have I +seen my brightest day of earthly joy. My departed beauty leaves me not +one pang of regret, since thou art gone for whom alone I prized it. +Maria Theresa has ceased to be a woman--she is nothing more than a +sovereign, and what to her are the scars of the small-pox? But I must +see what I look like," said she, dropping the curtain. "I will show them +that I am not as foolish as they imagine." + +She took up her little golden bell and rang. The door of the next room +opened, and Charlotte von Hieronymus entered. The empress smiled and +said: "It is time to make my toilet. I will dine to-day en famille with +the emperor, and I must be dressed. Let us go into my dressing-room." + +The maid of honor courtesied and opened the door. Every thing there was +ready for the empress. The tire-woman, the mistress of the wardrobe, the +maids of honor were all at their posts; and Charlotte hastened to take +her place behind the large arm-chair in which the empress was accustomed +to have her hair dressed. + +But Maria Theresa saw that she had not been expected in her +dressing-room, for her cheval-glass was encumbered with shawls, dresses, +and cloaks. She took her seat, smilingly saying to herself, "I shall see +myself now, face to face." + +Charlotte passed the comb through the short hair of the empress, and +sighed as she thought of the offering that had been laid in the +emperor's coffin; while the other maids of honor stood silent around. +Maria Theresa, usually so familiar and talkative at this hour, spoke not +a word. She looked sharply at the cheval-glass, and began carelessly, +and as if by chance, to remove with her foot, the dresses that +encumbered it; then, as if ashamed of her artifice, she suddenly rose +from the chair, and with an energetic gesture unbared the mirror. + +No mirror was there! Nothing greeted the empress's eyes save the empty +frame. She turned a reproachful glance upon the little coiffeuse. + +Charlotte fell upon her knees, and looked imploringly at the empress. +"It is my fault, your majesty," said she, blushing and trembling; "I +alone am the culprit. Pardon my maladroitness, I pray you?" + +"What do you mean, child?" asked the empress. + +"I--I broke the looking-glass, your majesty. I stumbled over it in the +dark, and shivered it to pieces. I am very, very awkward--I am very +sorry." + +"What! You overturned this heavy mirror!" said Maria Theresa. "If so, +there must have been a fearful crash. How comes it that I never heard +any thing--I who for six weeks have been ill in the adjoining room?" + +"It happened just at the time when your majesty was delirious with +fever; and--" + +"And this mirror has been broken for three weeks!" said Maria Theresa, +raising her eyebrows and looking intently at Charlotte's blushing face. +"Three weeks ago! I think you might have had it replaced, Charlotte, by +this time; hey, child?" + +Charlotte's eyes sought the floor. At length she stammered, in a voice +scarcely audible, "Please your majesty, I could not suppose that you +would miss the glass so soon. You have made so little use of mirrors +since--" + +"Enough of this nonsense," interrupted the empress. "You have been well +drilled, and have played your part with some talent, but don't imagine +that I am the dupe of all this pretty acting. Get up, child; don't make +a fool of yourself, but put on my crape cap for me, and then go as +quickly as you can for a looking-glass." + +"A looking-glass, your majesty?" cried Charlotte in a frightened voice. + +"A looking-glass," repeated the empress emphatically. + +"I have none, your majesty." + +"Well, then," said Maria Theresa, her patience sorely tried by all this, +"let some one with better eyes than yours look for one. Go, Sophie, and +bid one of the pages bring me a mirror from my old apartments below. I +do not suppose that there has been a general crashing of all the mirrors +in the palace. In a quarter of an hour I shall be in my sitting-room. At +the end of that time the mirror must be there. Be quick, Sophie; and +you, Charlotte, finish the combing of my hair. There is but little to do +to it now, so dry your tears." + +"Ah!" whispered Charlotte, "I would there were more to do. I cannot help +crying, your majesty when I see the ruins of that beautiful hair." + +"And yet, poor child, you have spent so many weary hours over it," +replied the princess. "You ought to be glad that your delicate little +hands are no longer obliged to bear its weight--Charlotte," said she +suddenly, "you have several times asked for your dismissal. Now, you +shall have it, and you shall marry your lover, Counsellor Greiner. I +myself will give you away, and bestow the dowry." + +The grateful girl pressed the hand of the empress to her lips, while she +whispered words of love and thanks. + +Maria Theresa smiled, and took her seat, while Charlotte completed her +toilet. Match-making was the empress's great weakness, and she was in +high spirits over the prospect of marrying Charlotte. + +The simple mourning costume was soon donned, and the empress rose to +leave her dressing-room. As she passed the empty frame of the Psyche, +she turned laughing toward her maid of honor. + +"I give you this mirror, Charlotte," said she. "If the glass is really +broken, it shall be replaced by the costliest one that Venice can +produce. It will be to you a souvenir of your successful debut as an +actress on this day. You have really done admirably. But let me tell you +one thing, my child," continued Maria Theresa, taking Charlotte's hand +in hers. "Never be an actress with your husband; but let your heart be +reflected in all your words and deeds, as yonder mirror will give back +the truthful picture of your face. Let all be clear and bright in your +married intercourse; and see that no breath of deception ever cloud its +surface. Take this wedding-gift, and cherish it as a faithful monitor. +Truth is a light that comes to us from Heaven; let us look steadily at +it, for evil as well as for good. This is the hour of my trial--no great +one--but still a trial. Let me now look at truth, and learn to bear the +revelation it is about to make." + +She opened the door, and entered her sitting-room. Her commands had been +obeyed; the mirror was in its place. She advanced with resolute step, +but as she approached the glass her eyes were instinctively cast down, +until she stood directly before it. The decisive moment had arrived; she +was to see--what? + +Slowly her eyes were raised, and she looked. She uttered a low cry, and +started back in horror. She had seen a strange, scarred, empurpled face, +whose colorless lips and hard features had filled her soul with +loathing. + +But with all the strength of her brave and noble heart, Maria Theresa +overcame the shock, and looked again. She forced her eyes to contemplate +the fearful image that confronted her once beautiful face, and long and +earnestly she gazed upon it. + +"Well," said she at last, with a sigh, "I must make acquaintance with +this caricature of my former self. I must accustom myself to the +mortifying fact that this is Maria Theresa, or I might some of these +days call for a page to drive out that hideous old crone! I must learn, +too, to be resigned, for it is the hand of my heavenly Father that has +covered my face with this grotesque mask. Since He has thought fit to +deprive me of my beauty, let His divine will be done." + +For some moments she remained silent, still gazing intently at the +mirror. Finally a smile overspread her entire countenance, and she +nodded at the image in the glass. + +"Well! you ugly old woman," said she aloud, "we have begun our +acquaintance. Let us be good friends. I do not intend to make one effort +to lessen your ugliness by womanly art; I must seek to win its pardon +from the world by noble deeds and a well-spent life. Perhaps, in future +days, when my subjects lament my homeliness, they may add that +nevertheless I was a GOOD, and--well! in this hour of humiliation we may +praise one another, I think--perchance a GREAT sovereign." + +Here the empress turned from the mirror and crossing over to the spot +where the emperor's portrait hung, she continued her soliloquy. "But +Franz, dear Franz, you at least are spared the sight of your Theresa's +transformation. I could not have borne this as I do, if you had been +here to witness it. Now! what matters it? My people will not remind me +of it, and my children have already promised to love me, and forgive my +deformity. Sleep, then, my beloved, until I rejoin you in heaven. There, +the mask will fall for me, as for poor Josepha, and there we shall be +glorified and happy." + +The empress then returned to the dressing-room, where her attendants, +anxious and unhappy, awaited her reappearance. What was their +astonishment to see her tranquil and smiling, not a trace of discontent +upon her countenance! + +"Let the steward of the household be apprised that I will have mirrors +in all my apartments. They can be hung at once, and may be replaced by +those which the emperor has ordered, whenever they arrive from Venice. +Let my page Gustavus repair to Cardinal Migazzi and inform him that +to-morrow I make my public thanksgiving in the cathedral of St. Stephen. +I shall go on foot and in the midst of my people, that they may see me +and know that I am not ashamed of the judgments of God. Let Prince +Kaunitz be advised that on to-morrow, after the holy sacrifice, I will +receive him here. Open my doors and windows, and let us breathe the free +air of heaven. I am no longer an invalid, my friends; I am strong, and +ready to begin life anew." + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE INTERVIEW WITH KAUNITZ. + +From earliest morning the streets of Vienna had been thronged by a +joyous multitude, eagerly awaiting the sight of their restored +sovereign. All Vienna had mourned when the empress lay ill; all Vienna +now rejoiced that she had recovered. Maria Theresa's road to the church +was one long triumph--the outpouring of the sincere love which filled +the hearts of her subjects. The empress had done nothing to court this +homage; for the notice given to the cardinal had been as short as it +possibly could be; but the news of the thanksgiving had flown from one +end of Vienna to the other; and every corporation and society, the +students of every college, and every citizen that was at liberty to +leave home, flocked to congratulate the well-beloved sovereign. The +streets through which she had to pass were lined with people bearing +flags, banners, and emblems, while near them stood the children of the +educational and orphan asylums, which had been endowed by the +munificence of the empress. Lofty and lowly, rich and poor, stood in +friendly contact with each other; even the nobles, imitating Maria +Theresa's affability, mixed smiling and free among the people. All sense +of rank and station seemed lost in the universal joy of the hour. + +The bells chimed, and the people rent the air with shouts; for this was +the signal of the empress's sortie from the palace, and her people knew +that she was coming to meet them. At last they saw her; leaning on the +arm of the emperor, and followed by her other children, she came, proud +and resolute as ever. It was a beautiful sight, this empress with her +ten lovely sons and daughters, all joyful and smiling, as like simple +subjects they walked through the streets toward the church, to thank God +for her recovery. + +Inexpressible joy beamed from Maria Theresa's eyes--those superb eyes +whose light the small-pox could not quench. Her great and noble soul +looked out from their azure depths, and her head seemed encircled by a +glory. In this hour she was no "ugly old crone," she was the happy, +proud, triumphant empress, who in the eyes of her people was both +beautiful and beloved. For the moment her widow's sorrows were +forgotten; and when surrounded by so many loyal hearts, she sank on her +knees before the altar of St. Stephen, she thanked God for the joy of +this hour, and made a vow that her whole life should be devoted to the +welfare of the people who on this day had given her so touching a +welcome. + +Exhausted not only by emotion, but by the heat of the July sun which +shone on her head as she returned, the empress at last reached her own +rooms. Her tire-women hastened to relieve her of her coverings and to +dry her moistened hair and face. But she waved them back. + +"No, no, my friends, let me refresh myself in my own way. The air is +more skilful than your hands, and is softer than your napkins. Open the +doors and the windows, and place my arm-chair in the middle of the +room." + +"But, your majesty," remonstrated one of the maids of honor, "you forget +your condition. The draught will do you injury." + +"I do not know what such fastidious people mean by a draught," replied +the empress, laughing and taking her seat; "but I know that the good God +has sent this air from heaven for man's enjoyment; and when I feel its +cool kiss upon my cheek, I think that God is nigh. I have always loved +to feel the breath of my Creator, and therefore it is that I have always +been strong and healthy. See! see! how it blows away my mantle! You are +right, sweet summer wind, I will throw the burden away." + +She let fall her mantle, and gave her bare shoulders to the wind, +enjoying the breeze, and frightening her maids of honor out of their +propriety. + +"Now, let me have some refreshment," cried she. Away sped two or three +of the ladies, each one anxious to escape from the gust that was driving +every thing before it in the empress's rooms. A page brought in a tray, +and there, in the centre of the room, the empress, although yet +overheated, ate a plate of strawberries, and drank a glass of lemonade, +cooled in ice. [Footnote: Caroline Pichler, "Memoirs," vol i., pp. +18,19. Maria Theresa supported without pain extreme degrees of heat and +cold. Summer and winter her windows stood open, and often the +snow-flakes have been seen to fall upon her escritoire while she wrote. +In winter, the Emperor Joseph always came into his mother's rooms +wrapped in furs.] + +She was interrupted, in the midst of all this comfort, by another page, +who announced Prince Kaunitz. Maria Theresa rose hastily from her seat. +"Shut all the doors and windows," exclaimed she, "do not let him scent +the draught." [Footnote: Wraxall, vol. ii., p. 380.] + +While her orders were being obeyed, she looked around to convince +herself that every avenue was closed through which the wind might +penetrate, and that done, she ordered the door to be thrown open, and +the prince admitted. + +Prince Kaunitz approached with his usual serious and tranquil demeanor. +He bowed low, and said: "I congratulate your majesty and the Austrian +empire, upon your happy recovery. I, who have no fear of any other +enemy, have trembled before this deadly foe of your imperial house. For +all other dangers we have craft and valor; but against this one no +bravery or statesmanship can avail." + +"But skill has availed; and to Van Swieten, under Providence, I am +indebted for my life," cried the empress, warmly. "I know, Kaunitz, that +you have but little faith in heavenly or earthly physicians; and I pray +God that you may never acquire it through the bitter experience of such +suffering as I have but lately endured! Often during my sleepless nights +I have longed for a sight of your grave face, and it grieved me to think +that perchance we might never meet again to talk of Austria, and plan +for Austria's welfare. " + +"But I knew that your majesty would recover," said Kaunitz, with unusual +warmth; "I knew it, for Austria cannot spare you, and as long as there +is work for you here below, your strong mind will bid defiance to +death." + +Maria Theresa colored with pleasure. It was so seldom that Kaunitz gave +utterance to such sentiments, that his praise was really worth having. + +"You think, then, that Austria needs me?" said she. + +"I do, indeed, your majesty." + +"But if God had called me to Himself, what would you have done?" + +"I would still have labored, as in duty bound, for my country; but I +would have owed a lifelong grudge to Providence for its want of wisdom." + +"You are a scoffer, Kaunitz," said the empress. "Your Creator is very +merciful to allow you time to utter the unchristian sentiments which are +forever falling from your lips. But God sees the heart of man, and He +knows that yours is better than your words. Since the loving, +all-suffering Lord forgives you, so will I. But tell me, how has my +empire fared during these six long weeks?" + +"Well, your majesty. Throughout the day I worked for myself, throughout +the night for you, and nothing is behindhand. Each day adds to our +internal strength, that gives us consideration abroad, and soon we shall +hold our own as one of the four great European powers, mightier than in +the days when the sun never set upon Austrian realms. The empire of +Charles V. was grand, but it was not solid. It resembled a reversed +pyramid, in danger of being crushed by its own weight. The pyramid +to-day is less in size, but greater in base and therefore firmer in +foundation. [Footnote: "Letters of a French Traveller," volt i., p. +421.] Strength does not depend so much upon size as upon proportion: and +Austria, although her territory has been vaster, has never been so truly +powerful as she is in this, the reign of your majesty." + +"If Silesia were but ours again! As for Naples and Alsatia, they were +never more than disjecta membra of our empire; and they were always less +profit than trouble. But Silesia is ours--ours by a common ancestry, a +common language, and the strong tie of affection. I shall never recover +front the blow that I received when I lost Silesia." + +"We shall have restitution some of these days, your majesty," said +Kaunitz. + +"Do you mean to say that I shall ever recover Silesia?" asked the +empress, eagerly. + +"From the King of Prussia? No--never! He holds fast to his possessions, +and his sharp sword would be unsheathed to-morrow, were we to lay the +weight of a finger upon his right to Silesia. But we shall be otherwise +revenged, in the day when we shall feel that we have attained the +noontide of our power and strength." + +"You do not intend to propose to me a war of aggression!" said the +empress, shocked. + +"No, your majesty, but if we should see two eagles tearing to pieces a +lamb which is beyond hope of rescue, our two-headed eagle must swoop +down upon the robbers, and demand his share of the booty. I foresee evil +doings among our neighbors. Catharine of Russia is bold and +unscrupulous; Frederick of Prussia knows it, and he already seeks the +friendship of Russia, that he may gain an accomplice as well as an +ally." + +"God forbid that I should follow in the wake of the King of Prussia!" +cried Maria Theresa. "Never will I accept, much less seek an alliance +with this cruel woman; whose throne is blood-stained and whose heart is +dead to every sentiment of womanly virtue and honor!" + +"Your majesty need have no intercourse with the woman; you have only to +confer with the sovereign of a powerful neighboring empire." + +"Russia is not a neighboring empire," exclaimed the empress. "On one +occasion I wrote to the Empress Elizabeth, 'I will always be your +friend, but with my consent you shall never be my neighbor.' [Footnote: +Historical.] Poland lies between Russia and Austria." + +"Yes," said Kaunitz, with one of his meaning smiles, "but how long will +Poland divide us from Russia?" + +"Man!" exclaimed Maria Theresa with horror, "you do not surely insinuate +that we would dare to lay a hand upon Poland?" + +"Not we, but the Empress of Russia will--" + +"Impossible! impossible! She dare not do it--" + +Kaunitz shrugged his shoulders. "DARE, your majesty? Some things we dare +not attempt because they are difficult; others are difficult because we +dare not attempt them. [Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. Hormayer, +"Plutarch," vol. xii., p. 271.] The Empress of Russia dares do any +thing; for she knows how to take things easily, and believes in her own +foresight. Despots are grasping, and Catharine is a great despot. We +must make haste to secure her good-will, that when the time comes we may +all understand one another." + +"I!" exclaimed the empress, "I should stoop so low as to seek the +good-will of this wicked empress, who mounted her throne upon the dead +body of her husband, while her lovers stood by, their hands reeking with +the blood of the murdered emperor! Oh, Kaunitz! you would never ask me +to do this thing?" + +"Your majesty is great enough to sacrifice your personal antipathies to +the good of your country. Your majesty once condescended to write to +Farinelli and THAT act won us the friendship of the King of Spain and of +his sons; THAT letter will be the means of placing an Archduchess of +Austria on the throne of Naples." + +"Would have been," said Maria Theresa, heaving a sigh. "The bride of the +King of Naples is no more! My poor Johanna! My beautiful child!" + +"But the Archduchess Josepha lives, and I had intended to propose to +your majesty to accept the hand of the King of Naples for her highness." + +"Is the house of Naples then so desirous of our alliance that it has +already offered its heir to another one of my daughters? I am sorry that +we should be obliged to accept, for I have heard of late that the king +is an illiterate and trifling fellow, scarcely better than the lazzaroni +who are his chosen associates. Josepha will not be happy with such a +man." + +"Your majesty, her highness does not marry the young ignoramus who, to +be sure, knows neither how to read nor write--she marries the King of +Naples; and surely if any thing can gracefully conceal a man's faults, +it is the purple mantle of royalty." + +"I will give my child to this representative of royalty," said Maria +Theresa sadly, "but I look upon her as a victim of expediency. If she is +true to her God and to her spouse, I must be content, even though, as a +woman, Josepha's life will be a blank." + +"And this alliance," said Kaunitz, still pursuing the object for which +he was contending, "this marriage is the result of one letter to +Farinelli. Your majesty once condescended to write to La Pompadour. THAT +letter won the friendship of France, and its fruits will be the marriage +of the Archduchess Marie Antoinette, and her elevation to the throne of +France. Your majesty sees then what important results have sprung from +two friendly letters which my honored sovereign has not disdained to +write. Surely when wise statesmanship prompts your majesty to indite a +third letter to the Empress of Russia, you will not refuse its counsels +and suggestions. The two first letters were worth to us two thrones; the +third may chance to be worth a new province." + +"A new province!" exclaimed the empress, coming closer to Kaunitz, and +in her eagerness laying her hand upon his shoulder. "Tell me--what wise +and wicked stratagem do you hatch within your brain to-day?" + +"My plans, so please your majesty," said the prince, raising his eyes so +as to meet those of the empress, "my plans are not of to-day. They--" + +But suddenly he grew dumb, and gazed horror-stricken at the face of +Maria Theresa. Kaunitz was short-sighted, and up to this moment be had +remained in ignorance of the fearful change that had forever transformed +the empress's beauty into ugliness. The discovery had left him +speechless. + +"Well?" cried the empress, not suspecting the cause of his sudden +silence. "You have not the courage to confide your plans to me? They +must be dishonorable. If not, in the name of Heaven, speak!" + +The prince answered not a word. The shock had been too great; and as he +gazed upon that scarred and blotched face, once so smooth, fair, and +beautiful, his presence of mind forsook him, and his diplomacy came to +naught. + +"Forgive me your majesty" said he, as pale and staggering he retreated +toward the door. "A sudden faintness has come over me, and every thing +swims before my vision. Let me entreat your permission to retire." + +Without awaiting the empress's reply, he made a hasty bow, and fled from +the room. + +The empress looked after him in utter astonishment. "What has come over +the man?" said she to herself. "He looks as if he had seen a ghost! +Well--I suppose it is nothing more than a fit of eccentricity." + +And she flung back her head with a half-disdainful smile. But as she did +so, her eyes lit accidentally upon the mirror, and she saw her own image +reflected in its bright depths. + +She started; for she had already forgotten the "ugly old woman" whom she +had apostrophized on the day previous. Suddenly she burst into a peal of +laughter, and cried out. "No wonder poor Kaunitz looked as if he had +seen something horrible! HE SAW ME--and I am the Medusa that turned him +into stone. Poor, short-sighted man! He had been in blissful ignorance +of my altered looks until I laid my hand upon his shoulder. I must do +something to heal the wound I have inflicted. I owe him more than I can +well repay. I will give him a brilliant decoration, and that will be a +cure-all; for Kaunitz is very vain and very fond of show." + +While the empress was writing the note which was to accompany her gift, +Kaunitz, with his handkerchief over his mouth, was dashing through the +palace corridors to his carriage. With an impatient gesture he motioned +to his coachman to drive home with all speed. + +Not with his usual stateliness, but panting, almost running, did Kaunitz +traverse the gilded halls of his own palace, which were open to-day in +honor of the empress's recovery, and were already festive with the sound +of the guests assembling to a magnificent dinner which was to celebrate +the event. Without a word to the Countess Clary, who came forward +elegantly attired for the occasion, Kaunitz flew to his study, and +sinking into an arm-chair, he covered his face with his hands. He felt +as if he had been face to face with death. That was not his beautiful, +majestic, superb Maria Theresa; it was a frightful vision--a messenger +from the grave, that forced upon his unwilling mind the dreadful +futurity that awaits all who are born of woman. + +"Could it be? Was this indeed the empress, whose beauty had intoxicated +her subjects, as drawing from its sheath the sword of St. Stephen, she +held it flashing in the sun, and called upon them to defend her rights? +Oh, could it be that this woman, once beautiful as Olympian Juno, had +been transformed into such a caricature?" + +A thrill of pain darted through the whole frame of the prince, and he +did what since his mother's death he had never done--he wept. + +But gradually he overcame his grief, the scanty fountain of his tears +dried up, and he resumed his cold and habitual demeanor. For a long time +he sat motionless in his chair, staring at the wall that was opposite. +Finally he moved toward his escritoire and took up a pen. + +He began to write instructions for the use of his secretaries. They were +never to pronounce in his presence the two words DEATH and SMALL-POX. If +those words ever occurred in any correspondence or official paper that +was to come before his notice, they were to be erased. Those who +presented themselves before the prince were to be warned that these +fearful words must never pass their lips in his presence. A secretary +was to go at once to the Countess Clary, that she might prepare the +guests of the prince, and caution them against the use of the offensive +words. [Footnote: Hormayer, "Austrian Plutarch," vol. xii., p. 374.] + +When Kaunitz had completed these singular instructions, he rang, and +gave the paper to a page. As he did so, a servant entered with a letter +and a package from her majesty the empress. + +The package contained the grand cross of the order of St Stephen but +instead of the usual symbol the cross was composed of costly brilliants. +The letter was in the empress's own hand--a worthy answer to the +"instructions" which Kaunitz was in the act of sending to his +secretaries. + +The empress wrote as follows: "I send you the grand cross of St. +Stephen; but as a mark of distinction you must wear it in brilliants. +You have done so much to dignify it, that I seize with eagerness the +opportunity which presents itself to offer you a tribute of that +gratitude which I feel for your services, and shall continue to feel +until the day of my death. MARIA THERESA." [Footnote: Wraxall, vol. +ii., p. 479.] + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +THE ARCHDUCHESS JOSEPHA. + +The plan of the empress and her prime minister approached their +fulfilment; Austria was about to contract ties of kindred with her +powerful neighbors. + +Maria Theresa had again consented to receive the King of Naples as her +son-in-law, and he was the affianced husband of the archduchess Josepha. +The palace of Lichtenstein, the residence of the Neapolitan ambassador +was, in consequence of the betrothal, the scene of splendid festivities, +and in the imperial palace preparations were making for the approaching +nuptials. They were to be solemnized on the fifteenth of October, and +immediately after the ceremony the young bride was to leave Vienna for +Naples. + +Every thing was gayety and bustle; all were deep in consultation over +dress and jewels; and the great topic of court conversation was the +parure of brilliants sent by the King of Spain, whose surpassing +magnificence had called forth an expresson of astonishment from the lips +of the empress herself. + +The trousseau of the archduchess was exposed in the apartments which had +once been occupied by the empress and her husband; and now Maria +Theresa, followed by a bevy of wondering young archduchesses, was +examining her daughter's princely wardrobe, that with her own eyes she +might be sure that nothing was wanting to render it worthy of a +queen-elect. The young girls burst into exclamations of rapture when +they approached the table where, in its snowy purity, lay the bridal +dress of white velvet, embroidered with pearls and diamonds. + +"Oh!" cried little Marie Antoinette, while she stroked it with her +pretty, rosy hand, "oh, my beautiful Josepha, you will look like an +angel, when you wear this lovely white dress." + +"Say rather, like a queen," returned Josepha, smiling. "When a woman is +a queen, she is sure to look like an angel in the eyes of the world." + +"It does not follow, however, that because she is a queen, she shall be +as happy as an angel," remarked the Archduchess Maria Amelia, who was +betrothed to the Duke of Parma. + +"Nevertheless, I would rather be the unhappy queen of an important +kingdom than the happy wife of a poor little prince," replied Josepha, +as, raising her superb diadem of brilliants, she advanced to a mirror +and placed it upon her brow. "Do you think," asked she proudly, "that I +can be very miserable while I wear these starry gems upon my forehead? +Oh no! If it were set with thorns that drew my blood, I would rather +wear this royal diadem than the light coronet of an insignificant +duchess." + +"And I," exclaimed Amelia, "would rather wear the ring of a beggar than +be the wife of a king who neither reads nor writes, and throughout all +Europe is known by the name of a lazzarone." + +"Before whom millions of subjects must, nevertheless, bend the knee, and +who, despite of all, is a powerful and wealthy monarch," returned +Josepha, angrily. + +"That is, if his master, the Marquis Tannucci allows it," cried the +Archduchess Caroline, laughing. "For you know very well, Josepha, that +Tannucci is the king of your lazzaroni-king, and when he behaves amiss, +puts him on his knees for punishment. Now when you are his wife, you can +go and comfort him in disgrace, and kneel down in the corner by his +side. How interesting it will be!" + +Upon this the Archduchess Amelia began to laugh, while her sisters +joined in--all except Marie Antoinette, who with an expression of +sympathy, turned to Josepha. + +"Do not mind them, my Josepha," said she; "if your king can not read, +you can teach him, and he will love you all the better; and in spite of +every thing, you will be a happy queen in the end." + +"I do not mind them, Antoinette," returned Josepha, her eyes flashing +with anger, "for I well know that they are envious of my prosperity, and +would willingly supplant me. But my day of retaliation will come. It +will be that on which my sisters shall be forced to acknowledge the rank +of the Queen of Naples, and to yield her precedence!" + +A burst of indignation would have been the reply to these haughty words, +had the Archduchess Caroline not felt a hand upon her shoulder, and +heard a voice which commanded silence. + +The empress, who, at the beginning of this spicy dialogue, had been +absent on her survey in a neighboring apartment, had returned, and had +heard Josepha's last words. Shocked and grieved, she came forward, and +stood in the midst of her daughters. + +"Peace!" exclaimed the imperial mother. "I have heard such words of +arrogance fall from your lips as must be expiated by humble petition to +your Creator. Sinful creatures are we all, whether we be princesses or +peasants; and if we dare to lift our poor heads in pride of birth or +station, God will surely punish us. With a breath He overturns the +sceptres of kings--with a breath He hurls our crowns to earth, until, +cowering at His feet, we acknowledge our unworthiness. It becomes a +queen to remember that she is a mortal, powerless without the grace of +God to do one good action, and wearing under the purple of royalty the +tattered raiment of humanity. But it is these absurd vanities that have +stirred up the demon of pride in your hearts," continued the empress, +giving a disdainful toss to the velvet wedding-dress; "let us leave +these wretched gew-gaws and betake ourselves to the purer air of our own +rooms." + +She waved her hand, and motioning to her daughters, they followed her, +silent and ashamed. All had their eyes cast down, and none saw the tears +that now fell like rain from Josepha's eyes. She was thoroughly +mortified and longed to escape to her room; but as she bent her head to +take leave of the empress, the latter motioned her to remain. + +"I have as yet a few words to speak with you, my daughter," said Maria +Theresa, as she closed the door of her dressing-room. "Your haughty +conduct of this day has reminded me that you have a sacred duty to +perform. The vanities of the world will have less weight with you when +you return from the graves of your ancestors. Go to the imperial vault, +and learn from the ashes of the emperors and empresses who sleep there, +the nothingness of all worldly splendor. Kneel down beside your dear +father's tomb, and pray for humility. Tell him to pray for me, Josepha, +for my crown weighs heavily upon my brow, and I fain would be at rest." + +Josepha made no answer. She stared at her mother with an expression of +horror and incredulity, as though she meant to ask if she had heard her +words aright. + +"Well, my daughter!" cried Maria Theresa, surprised at Josepha's +silence. "Why do you linger? Go--go, child, and recalling the sins of +your life, beg pardon of God, and the blessing of your deceased father." + +"Give me that blessing yourself, dear mother," faltered the princess, +clasping her hands, and looking imploringly at the empress. "My father's +spirit is here, it is not in that fearful vault." + +The empress started. "I cannot believe," said she, with severity, "that +my daughter has cause to tremble before the ashes of her father. The +guilty alone fear death; innocence is never afraid!" + +"Oh mother, mother! I have no sin upon my soul, and yet I--" + +"And yet," echoed the empress as Josepha paused. + +"And yet I shiver at the very thought of going thither," said the +archduchess. "Yes your majesty, I shiver at the thought of encountering +the black coffins and mouldering skeletons of my forefathers. Oh, +mother, have pity on my youth and cowardice! Do not force me to that +horrid place!" + +"I have no right to exempt you from the performance of this sacred duty, +Josepha," replied the empress firmly. "It is a time-honored custom of +our family, that the princesses of Austria, who marry kings, should take +leave of the graves of their ancestors. I cannot release the Queen of +Naples from her duty. She is to wear the crown, she must bear the +cross." + +"But I dread it! I dread it so!" murmured Josepha. "I shudder at the +thought of Josepha's corpse. I never loved her, and she died without +forgiving me. Oh, do not force me to go alone in the presence of the +dead!" + +"I command you to go into the vault where repose the holy ashes of your +fathers," repeated the empress sternly. "Bend your lofty head, my +daughter, and throw yourself with humility upon the graves of your +ancestors, there to learn the vanity of all human greatness and human +power." + +"Mercy, mercy!" cried the terrified girl. "I cannot, I cannot obey your +dreadful behest." + +"Who dares say 'I cannot,' when duty is in question?" exclaimed the +empress. "You are my daughter and my subject still, and I will see +whether you intend to defy my authority." + +So saying, she rose and rang her little golden bell. "The carriage of +the Archduchess Josepha," said she to the page who answered the summons. +"Let a courier be dispatched to the Capuchin fathers to inform them that +in a quarter of an hour the princess will visit the imperial vault. Now, +princess," continued the empress as the page left the room, "you will +not surely have the hardihood to say again, 'I cannot?'" + +"No," faltered Josepha, "I will obey. But one thing I must ask. Does +your majesty wish to kill me?" + +"What do you mean, child?" + +"I mean that I will die, if you force me to this vault," replied +Josepha, pale as death. "I feel it in the icy chill that seizes my heart +even now. I tell you, mother, that I will die, if you send me to the +fearful place where Josepha's corpse infects the air with its +death-mould. Do you still desire that I shall go?" + +"You need not seek to frighten me, Josepha; stratagem will avail you +nothing," replied the empress, coldly. "It is not given to mortals to +know the hour of their death, and I cannot allow myself to be influenced +by such folly. Go, my child, there is nothing to fear; the spirits of +your forefathers will shield you from harm," added she kindly. + +"I go," replied Josepha; "but my mother has sentenced me to death." + +She bent her head and left the room. The empress looked after her +daughter as she went, and a sudden pang shot through her heart. She felt +as though she could not let her go--she felt as if she must call her +back, and pressing her to her heart, release her from the ordeal which +tried her young soul so fearfully. + +Just then the princess, who had reached the door, turned her large dark +eyes with another look of entreaty. This was enough to restore the +empress to her self-possession. + +She would not call her back. She saw rather than heard the trembling +lips that strove to form a last appeal for mercy, and the graceful +figure vanished. + +When she was out of sight, all the tenderness, all the anxiety of the +empress returned. She rushed forward, then suddenly stood still and +shaking her head, she murmured, "No! no! It would be unpardonable +weakness. I cannot yield. She must go to the grave of her fathers." + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE DEPARTURE. + +The messenger had returned, the carriage waited, and Josepha had no +longer a pretext for delaying her visit to the vault. She must obey her +mother's behest--she must perform the horrible pilgrimage! Pale and +speechless she suffered her attendants to throw her mantle around her, +and then, as if in obedience to some invisible phantom that beckoned her +on, she rose from her seat and advanced rigidly to the door. Suddenly +she paused, and, turning to her maid of honor, she said, "Be so kind as +to call my sister Antoinette, I must bid her farewell." + +A few moments elapsed, when the door opened and the Archduchess Marie +Antoinette flew into her sister's arms. Josepha pressed her closely to +her heart. + +"I could not go, my darling" whispered she, "without once more seeing +you. Let me look, for the last time, upon that sweet face, and those +bright eyes that are lit up with the blue of heaven. Kiss me, dear, and +promise not to forget me." + +"I can never forget, never cease to love you, sister," replied the +child, returning Josepha's caresses. "But why do you say farewell? Why +are you crying? Are you going to leave us already for that young king +who is to take you away from us? Oh, Josepha, how can you love a man +whom you have never seen?" + +"I do not love the King of Naples, dear child," said Josepha, sadly. +"Oh, Antoinette! would you could understand my sorrows!" + +"Speak, dear sister," replied Antoinette, tenderly. "Am I not twelve +years old, and does not the Countess Lerchenfeld tell me, every time I +do wrong, that I am no longer a child? Tell me, then, what grieves you? +I will keep your secret, I promise you." + +"I weep," said Josepha, "because it is so sad to die before one has +known the happiness of living." + +"Die!" exclaimed Antoinette, turning pale. "Why do you speak of dying, +you who are about to become a queen?" + +"I shall never live to be a queen, my sister. The empress has commanded +me to visit the imperial vault. I go thither to-day; in a few days I +shall be carried thither, never to return. [Footnote: The princess's own +words. See "Memoires sur la Vie Privee de Marie Antoinette," par Madame +Campan, vol i., p. 38.] Farewell, Antoinette; I leave you to-day, but +I leave you for the grave." + +"'No, no, no!" screamed the child. "You shall not go. I will throw +myself at the feet of the empress, and never rise until she has released +you, dear sister." + +"Have you yet to learn that the empress never retracts her words? It is +useless. I trust go, and my death-warrant is signed." + +"It shall not be!" cried Antoinette, beside herself with grief. "Wait +dear, Josepha, until I return. I go to obtain your release." + +"What can you say to the empress, my poor little one?" + +"I will beg for mercy, and if she will not listen, I shall rise and tell +her fearlessly, 'Your majesty, Josepha says that you have sentenced her +to death. No mortal has power over the life of an imperial princess; God +alone has that power. My sister must not go into the vault, for if she +does, she dies, and that by your hand.'" + +And as the child spoke these words, she threw back her head, and her +eyes darted fire. She looked like her mother. + +"I see, Antoinette," said Josepha, with a smile, "that you would not +submit tamely to death. You have a brave soul, my little sister, and +will know how to straggle against misfortune. But I--I have no spirit, I +can only suffer and obey; and before I die, I must open my heart to +you--you shall receive my last thoughts." + +Marie Antoinette looked with tearful eyes at her sister, and sank, white +as a lily, on her knees. + +"I am ready," said she, folding her hands, while Josepha bent forward, +and laid her hand, as with a blessing, upon Antoinette's soft blond +hair. + +"When I am dead," said Josepha, "go to my sisters, and beg them to +forgive my unkind words. Tell them that I loved them all dearly. Say to +Maria Amelia that she must pardon my unsisterly conduct. It arose, not +from haughtiness, but from despair. For, Antoinette, I hated the King of +Naples, and well I knew what a miserable fate awaited me as his queen. +But there was no rescue for me, that I knew; so I tried to hide my grief +under the semblance of exultation. Tell her to forgive me for the sake +of the tears I have shed in secret over this hated betrothal. How often +have I called upon death to liberate me! and yet, now that the dark +shadow of Azrael's icy wing is upon me, I fear to die." + +"Let me die for you, sister!" exclaimed Antoinette, resolutely. "Give me +the hood and mantle. I will cover my face, and no one will know that it +is I, for I am almost as tall as you. If I never return from the vault +alive, the empress will pardon you for my sake. Oh, I should die happy, +if my death would rescue you, Josepha." + +And Antoinette attempted to draw off her sister's mantle, and put it +around her own shoulders. But Josepha withheld her. + +"Dear child," said she, kissing her, "is it possible that you are +willing to die for me, you who are so young and happy?" + +"For that very reason, Josepha," said Antoinette, "it might be well to +die. Who knows what sorrows the world may have in reserve for me? Let me +die to-day, dear sister, let me--" + +At that moment the door opened, and the maid of honor of the Archduchess +Josepha appeared. + +"Pardon me, your highness," said she deprecatingly. "A page of her +majesty is here to know if you have gone to the imperial vaults." + +"Apprise her majesty that I am about to leave," replied Josepha, with +dignity. Taking Antoinette in her arms, she said, in a whisper: "You +see, it is I who must die. Farewell, dearest; may you live and be +happy!" + +So saying, she tore herself away from the weeping child and hastened to +her carriage. Antoinette, with a shriek, rushed forward to follow, but +Josepha had fastened the door. The poor child sank on her knees and +began to pray. But prayer brought no consolation. She thought of her +sister dying from terror, and wrung her hands while she cried aloud. + +Suddenly she ceased, started to her feet, and the blood mounted to her +pale face. + +"The secret door!" exclaimed she. "I had forgotten it." She crossed the +room toward a picture that hung on a wall opposite, and touching a +spring in its frame, it flew back and revealed a communication with one +of the state-apartments. She sprang through the opening, her golden hair +flying out in showers behind her, her cheeks glowing, her eyes flashing, +and her heart beating wildly as she sped through the palace to the +empress's apartments. The sentry would have stopped her; but throwing +him off with an imperious gesture, she darted through the door, and all +ceremony forgetting, flew to the sitting-room of the empress, and threw +herself at her mother's feet. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +INOCULATION. + +Maria Theresa was standing in the embrasure of a window, and she +scarcely turned her head as she heard the rustling behind her. She took +no notice of the breach of etiquette of which Antoinette was guilty, in +rushing unannounced upon her solitude. Her eyes were fixed upon the +chapel of the Capuchins in whose vaults lay so many whom she had loved. +Her heart and thoughts were within those gray walls, now with her +husband and her dead children, now with Josepha, for whom she felt pang +after pang of anxiety. In an absent tone she turned and said: + +"What brings you hither, little Antoinette?" + +"Josepha, dear mother. Have pity on Josepha!" + +The empress, with a thrill of joy at her heart, replied, "She did not +go, then?" + +"Yes, yes, she went because you forced her to go, but she went with a +broken heart. Oh, mamma, Josepha says that the dead are waiting to take +her with them! May I not order my carriage and fly to bring her back?" + +Maria Theresa said nothing. Her eyes turned first upon the beautiful +little suppliant at her feet, then they wandered out through the evening +haze, and rested on the dark towers of the Capuchin chapel. + +"Oh, dear mamma," continued Antoinette, "if I may not bring her back, at +least let me share her danger. Be good to your poor little Antoinette. +You promised, if I behaved well, to do something for me, mamma, and now +I deserve a reward, for Count Brandeis says that I have been a good girl +of late. Do not shake your head, it would make me better if I went to +pray with Josepha. You do not know how vain and worldly I am. When I saw +Josepha's beautiful jewels I was quite envious of her; and indeed, +mamma, no one needs solitude and prayer more than I. Let me go and pray +for grace by the grave of my father." + +The empress laid her hand upon her daughter's head, and looked at her +beautiful countenance with an expression of deepest tenderness. + +"You are a noble-hearted child, my Antoinette," said she. "With such +sensibility as yours, you are likely to suffer from the faults and +misconceptions of the world; for magnanimity is so rare that it is often +misunderstood. You would share your sister's danger, while believing in +its reality. No, no, darling, I cannot accept your generous sacrifice. +It would be useless, for Josepha's terror will shorten her prayers. +Before you could reach the chapel, she will have left it--" + +Maria Theresa paused, and again looked out from the window. The rolling +of carriage-wheels was distinctly heard coming toward the palace. Now it +ceased, and the sentry's voice was heard at the gates. + +"Ah!" cried the empress, joyfully, "I was right. It is Josepha. Her +devotions have not been long; but I will confess to you, Antoinette, +that a weight is lifted from my heart. I have not breathed freely since +she left my presence. Oh, I will forgive her for her short prayers, for +they have shortened my miserable suspense!" + +"Let me go and bring her to you, mamma." cried Antoinette, clapping her +hands and darting toward the door. But the empress held her back. + +"No, dear, remain with me. Josepha's heart will reveal to her that her +mother longs to welcome her back." + +At that moment a page announced the Countess Lerchenfeld. + +"It is not my child!" cried the empress, turning pale. + +The countess, too, was very pale, and she trembled as she approached the +imperial mother. + +"She is dead!" murmured Marie Antoinette, sinking almost fainting to the +floor. + +But the empress called out, "Where is my child! In mercy, tell me why +you are here without her?" + +"Please your majesty," replied the countess, "I come to beg that you +will excuse her highness. She has been suddenly taken sick. She was +lifted insensible to the carriage, and has not yet recovered her +consciousness." + +Maria Theresa reeled, and a deathly paleness overspread her countenance. +"Sick!" murmured she, with quivering lip. "What--what happened?" + +"I do not know, your majesty. Accordng to your imperial command I +accompanied her highness to the chapel. I went as far as the stairway +that leads to the crypts. Her highness was strangely agitated. I tried +to soothe her, but as she looked below, and saw the open door, she +shuddered, and clinging to me, whispered: 'Countess, I scent the +loathesome corpse that even now stirs in its coffin at my approach.' +Again I strove to comfort her, but all in vain. Scarcely able to support +herself, she bade me farewell, and commended herself to your majesty. +Then, clinging to the damp walls, she tottered below, and disappeared." + +"And did you not hold her back!" cried Marie Antoinette. "You had the +cruelty to leave her--" + +"Peace, Antoinette," said the empress, raising her hand, imploringly. +"What else?" asked she, hoarsely. + +"I stood at the head of the stairway, your majesty, awaiting her +highness's return. For a while all was silent; then I heard a piercing +shriek and I hastened to the vault--" + +"Was it my child?" asked the empress, now as rigid as a marble statue. + +"Yes, your majesty. I found her highness kneeling, with her head resting +upon the tomb of the emperor." + +"Insensible?" + +"No, your majesty. I approached and found her icy cold, her eyes +dilated, and her face covered with drops of cold sweat. She was scarcely +able to speak, but in broken accents she related to me that, as she was +making her way toward the altar at the head of the emperor's tomb, she +suddenly became sensible that something was holding her back. +Horror-stricken, she strove to fly, but could not. When, as she turned +her head, she beheld the coffin of the Empress Josepha, and saw that +from thence came the power that held her back. With a shriek she bounded +forward, and fell at the foot of the emperor's tomb. I supported her +until we reached the chapel--door, when she fainted, and I had to call +for help to bear her to her carriage." + +"And now?" asked the empress, who was weeping bitterly. + +"She is still unconscious, your majesty. Herr van Swieten and the +emperor are at her bedside." + +"And I," cried the unhappy empress, "I, too, must be with my poor, +martyred child." + +Marie Antoinette would have followed, but her mother bade her remain, +and hastening from the room, Maria Theresa ran breathless through the +corridors until she reached her daughter's apartments. + +There, like a crushed lily, lay the fair bride of Naples, while near her +stood her brother in speechless grief. At the foot of the bed Van +Swieten and one of the maids of honor were rubbing her white feet with +stimulants. + +The empress laid her hand upon Josepha's cold brow, and turning to Van +Swieten, as though in his hands lay the fate of her child, as she asked: + +"Will she die?" + +"Life and death," replied the physician, "are in the hands of the Lord. +As long as there is life, there is hope." + +Maria Theresa, shook her head. "I have no hope," said she, with the +calmness of despair. "'Tis the enemy of our house. Is it not, Van +Swieten? Has she not the small-pox?" + +"I fear so, your majesty." + +"She must die, then--and it is I who have murdered her!" shrieked the +empress, wildly; and she fell fainting to the floor. + +On the fifteenth of October, the day on which Josepha was to have given +her hand to the King of Naples, the bells of Vienna tolled her funeral +knell. + +Not in her gilded carriage rode the fair young bride, but cold and +lifeless she lay under the black and silver pall on which were placed a +myrtle-wreath and a royal crown of gold. + +Another Spouse had claimed her hand, and the marriage-rites were +solemnized in the still vaults of the chapel of the Capuchins. + +The empress had not left her daughter's room since the fatal day of her +return from the chapel. With all the tenderness of her affectionate +nature she had been the nurse of her suffering child. Not a tear was in +her eye, nor a murmur on her lips. Silent, vigilant, and sleepless, she +had struggled with the foe that was wresting yet another loved one from +her house. + +Day by day Josepha grew worse until she lay dying. Still the empress +shed no tear. Bending over her daughter's bed, she received her last +sigh. And now she watched the corpse, and would not be moved, though the +emperor and Van Swieten implored her to seek rest. + +When the body was removed, the poor, tearless mourner followed it from +the room through the halls and gates of the palace until it was laid in +the grave. + +Then she returned home, and, without a word, retired to her own +apartments. There, on a table, lay heaps of papers and letters with +unbroken seals. But the empress heeded nothing of all this. Maternity +reigned supreme in her heart--there was room in it for grief and remorse +alone. She strode to the window, and there, as she had done not many +days before, she looked out upon the gray towers of the chapel, and +thought how she had driven her own precious child into the dismal depths +of its loathsome vaults. + +The door was softly opened, and the emperor and Van Swieten were seen +with anxious looks directed toward the window where the empress was +standing. + +"What is to be done?" said Joseph. "How is she to be awakened from that +fearful torpor?" + +"We must bring about some crisis," replied Van Swieten, thoughtfully. +"We must awake both the empress and the mother. The one must have +work--the other, tears. This frozen sea of grief must thaw, or her +majesty will die." + +"Doctor," cried Joseph, "save her, I implore you. Do something to +humanize this marble grief." + +"I will try, your majesty. With your permission I will assemble the +imperial family here, and we will ask to be admitted to the presence of +the empress. The Archduchess Marie Antoinette and the Archduke +Maximilian I shall not summon." + +Not long after, the door was once more softly opened, and the Emperor +Joseph, followed by his sisters and the doctor, entered the empress's +sitting-room. + +Maria Theresa was still erect before the window, staring at the dark +towers of the chapel. + +"Your majesty," said Joseph, approaching, "your children are here to +mourn with you." + +"It is well," replied Maria Theresa, without stirring from her position. +"I thank you all. But leave me, my children. I would mourn alone." + +"But before we go, will not your majesty vouchsafe one look of +kindness?" entreated the emperor. "May we not kiss your hand? Oh, my +beloved mother, your living children, too, have a right to your love! Do +not turn away so coldly from us. Let your children comfort their sad +hearts with the sight of your dear and honored countenance." + +There was so much genuine feeling in Joseph's voice, as he uttered these +words, that his mother could not resist him. She turned and gave him her +hand. + +"God bless you, my son," said she, "for your loving words. They fall +like balsam upon my sore and wounded heart. God bless you all, my +children, who have come hither to comfort your poor, sorrowing mother." + +The archduchesses flocked, weeping to her side, and smiled through their +tears, as they met her glance of love. But suddenly she started, and +looked searchingly around the room. + +"Where are my little ones?" said she anxiously. + +No one spoke, but the group all turned their eyes upon Van Swieten, +whose presence, until now, had been unobserved by the empress. + +Like an angry lioness, she sprang forward to the threshold, and laid her +hand upon Van Swieten's shoulder. + +"What means your presence here, Van Swieten?" cried she loudly. "What +fearful message do you bear me now? My children my children! where are +they?" + +"In their rooms, your majesty," replied Van Swieten, seriously. "I came +hither expressly to apologize for their absence. It was I who prevented +them from coming." + +"Why so?" exclaimed the empress. + +"Because, your majesty, they have never had the small-pox; and contact +with you would be dangerous for them. For some weeks they must absent +themselves from your majesty's presence." + +"You are not telling me the truth, Van Swieten!" cried Maria Theresa, +hastily. "My children are sick, and I must go to them." + +"Your majesty may banish me forever from the palace," said he, "but as +long as I remain, you cannot approach your children. It is my duty to +shield them from the infection which still clings to your majesty's +person. Would you be the probable cause of their death?" + +The earnest tone with which Van Swieten put this question so overcame +the empress, that she raised both her arms, and cried out in a voice of +piercing anguish: "Ah! it is I who caused Josepha's death!--I who +murdered my unhappy child!" + +These words once uttered, the icy bonds that had frozen her heart gave +way, and Maria Theresa wept. + +"She is saved!" whispered Van Swieten to the emperor. "Will your majesty +now request the archduchesses to retire? The empress does not like to be +seen in tears; and this paroxysm once over, the presence of her +daughters will embarrass her." + +The emperor communicated Van Swieten's wish, and the princesses silently +and noiselessly withdrew. The empress was on her knees, while showers of +healing tears were refreshing her seethed heart. + +"Let us try to induce her to rise," whispered Van Swieten. "This hour, +if it please God, may prove a signal blessing to all Austria." + +The emperor approached, and tenderly strove to lift his mother, while he +lavished words of love and comfort upon her. She allowed him to lead +tier to a divan, where gradually the tempest of her grief gave place to +deep-drawn sighs, and, finally, to peace. The crisis, however, was long +and terrible, for the affections of Maria Theresa were as strong as her +will; and fierce had been the conflict between the two. + +For some time a deep silence reigned throughout the room. Finally, the +empress raised her eyes and said, "You will speak the truth, both of +you, will you not?" + +"We will, your majesty," replied the emperor and Van Swieten. + +"Then, Joseph, say--are my children well and safe?" + +"They are, my dearest mother, and but for the doctor's prohibition, both +would have accompanied us thither." + +Maria Theresa then turned to the physician. "Van Swieten," said she, +"you, too, must swear to speak the truth. I have something to ask of you +also." + +"I swear, your majesty," replied Van Swieten. + +"Then say if I am the cause of my daughter's death. Do not answer me at +once. Take time for reflection, and, as Almighty God hears us, answer me +conscientiously." + +There was a pause. Nothing was heard save the heavy breathing of the +empress, and the ticking of the golden clock that stood upon the mantel. +Maria Theresa sat with her head bowed down upon her hands; before her +stood Joseph, his pale and noble face turned toward the physician, and +his eyes fixed upon him with an expression of deepest entreaty. Van +Swieten saw the look and answered it by a scarcely perceptible motion of +his head. + +"Now, speak, Van Swieten," said the empress, raising her head, and +looking him full in the face." Was Josepha's visit to the chapel-vault +the cause of her death?" + +"No, your majesty," said the physician gravely. "In THIS SENSE you +were not guilty of her highness's death; for the body, in smallpox, is +infected long before it shows itself on the surface. Had her highness +received the infection in the crypts of the chapel, she would be still +living. Her terror and presentiment of death were merely symptoms of the +disease." + +The empress reached out both her hands to Van Swieten, and said: "Thank +you, my friend. You surely would not deceive me with false comfort; I +can, therefore, even in the face of this great sorrow, find courage to +live and do my duty. I may weep for my lost child, but while weeping I +may feel that Heaven's will, and not my guilt, compassed her death. +Thank you, my dear son, for your sympathy and tenderness. You will never +know what comfort your love has been to me this day." + +So saying, she drew the emperor close to her, and putting both her arms +around his neck, kissed him tenderly. + +"Van Swieten," said she, then, "what do you mean by saying that 'in this +sense' I was not guilty of Josepha's death." + +"I think, your majesty," replied the emperor, "that I can explain those +words. He means to say that had you yielded to his frequent petitions to +make use of inoculation as a safeguard against the violence of the +small-pox, our dear Josepha might have survived her attack. Is it not +so, Van Swieten?" + +"It is, your Majesty. If the empress would consent to allow the +introduction in Austria of inoculation for the small-pox, she would not +only shield her own family from danger, but would confer a great +blessing on her subjects." + +"Indeed, Van Swieten," replied the empress, after a pause, "what you +propose seems sinful to me. Besides, I have heard that many who were +inoculated for small-pox have died of its effects. But for this, they +might have lived for many years. How can I reconcile it to my conscience +to assume such an awful responsibility?" "But," urged Van Swieten, +"thousands have been rescued, where two or three have perished. I do not +say that the remedy is infallible; but I can safely say that out of one +hundred cases, ninety, by its use, are rendered innoxious. Oh, your +majesty! when you remember that within ten years five members of your +family have been victims to this terrific scourge--when you remember how +for weeks Austria was in extremest sorrow while your majesty lay so ill, +how can you refuse such a boon for yourself and your people?" + +"It is hard for me to refuse any thing to the one whose skilful hand +restored me to life," replied the empress, while she reached her hand to +Van Swieten. + +"My dear, dear mother!" exclaimed Joseph, "do not refuse him! He asks +you to save the lives of thousands. Think how different life would have +been for me had my Isabella lived! Think of my sister;--think of +Antoinette and Maximilian, who long to be with you and cannot." + +"Doctor," said the empress, "if my children were inoculated, how long +would it be before I could see them?" + +"In two hours, your majesty; for in that time the poison would have +permeated their systems." + +By this time the empress had resumed her habit of walking to and fro +when she was debating any thing in her mind. She went on for some time, +while Van Swieten and the emperor followed her movements with anxious +looks. + +Finally sire spoke. "Well, my son," said she, coming close to Joseph, +and smiling fondly upon him, "I yield to you as co-regent of Austria. +You, too, have some right to speak in this matter, and your wishes shall +decide mine. To you, also, Van Swieten, I yield in gratitude for all +that you have done for me and mine. Let Austria profit by this new +discovery, and may it prove a blessing to us all! Are you satisfied, +Joseph?" + +"More than satisfied," exclaimed he, kissing his mother's hand. + +"Now, Van Swieten," continued Maria Theresa, "hasten to inoculate my +children. I long to fold them to my poor aching heart. Remember, you +have promised that I shall see them in two hours!" + +"In two hours they shall be here, your majesty," said Van Swieten, as he +hurried away. + +"Stop a moment," cried Maria Theresa. "As you have been the instigator +of this thing, upon your shoulders shall fall the work that must arise +from it. I exact of you, therefore, to superintend the inoculation of my +subjects, and your pay as chief medical inspector shall be five thousand +florins. I also give my palace at Hetzendorf as a model hospital for the +reception of the children of fifty families, who shall there be +inoculated and cared for at my expense. This is the monument I shall +erect to my beloved Josepha; and when the little ones who are rescued +from death thank God for their recovery, they will pray for my poor +child's departed soul. Does this please you, my son?" + +The emperor did not answer--his heart was too full for speech. The +empress saw his agitation, and opening her arms to clasp him in her +embrace, she faltered out, "Come, dear child, and together let us mourn +for our beloved dead." [Footnote: The institution founded on that day by +the empress went very soon into operation. Every spring the children of +fifty families among the nobles and gentry were received at the hospital +of Hetzendorf. The empress was accustomed to visit the institution +frequently; and at the end of each season, she gave its little inmates a +splendid ball, which was always attended by herself and her daughters. +The festivities closed with concerts, lotteries, and a present to each +child. Caroline Pichler, "Memoirs," Vol. i., p. 68. Coxe, "History of +the House of Austria," vol. v. p. 188.] + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +AN ADVENTURE. + +It was a lovely day in June--one of those glorious days when field and +wood are like a lofty cathedral, where the birds are the choir, and the +wind stirring the censers of the forest perfume, is the organ; while +man, in ecstasy with nature's beauty, glances enraptured from heaven to +earth--from earth again to heaven. + +But pleasantest of all on such a day are the reveries that come and go +over the heart, under the shade of a noble oak that lifts its crowned +head to the clouds, while birds twitter love-songs among its branches, +and lovers lie dreaming on the green sward below. + +So thought a young man as he reclined under the shadow of a tall +beech-tree that skirted the green border of a meadow, somewhere near the +woods around Schonbrunn. He had fastened his horse to a tree not far +off, and while the steed cropped the fresh grass, its owner revelled in +the luxury of sylvan solitude. With an expression of quiet enjoyment he +glanced now upon the soft, green meadow, now at the dim, shady woods, +and then at the blue and silver sky that parted him from heaven. + +"Oh! how delightful it is," thought he, "to drop the shackles of +royalty, and to be a man! Oh, beautiful sky, with livery of 'kaiser +blue,' change thy hue, and hide me in a dark cloud that I may be safe +from the homage of courtiers and sycophants! If they knew that I was +here, how soon would they pursue and imprison me again in my gilded cage +of imperial grandeur!" + +Just then, in the distance, was heard the sound of a hunting horn, and +the emperor's soliloquy was cut short. An expression of annoyance was +visible on his features, as he listened. But instead of advancing, the +sounds receded until finally they were lost in the sighing of the wind +among the forest-trees. + +"They have passed by," exclaimed he joyfully. "This day is mine, and I +am free. What a charm is in that word FREEDOM! I feel it now; no emperor +am I, but a man, to whom the animals will turn their backs, without +suspecting that they refuse to look upon an anointed sovereign. But +hark! what is that? A doe--a timid doe--perhaps an enchanted princess +who can resume her shape at the bidding of a prince only. Here am I, +sweet princess--ready, as soon as you become a woman, to leap into your +arms." + +The emperor grasped his fowling-piece that was leaning against the +beech. But the doe caught the sound, raised her graceful head, and her +mild eye sought the enemy that threatened her. She saw him, and as he +raised the gun to take aim, she cleared the road with one wild bound, +and in a few moments was lost in a thicket. + +The emperor leaped on his horse, exclaiming, "I must catch my enchanted +princess;" and giving his steed the rein, away they flew on the track of +the doe; away they flew over fallen trunks and through brier and copse, +until the panting steed would have recoiled before a wide hedge--but the +emperor cried, "Over it! over it! The princess is beyond!" and the +foaming horse gathered up his forelegs for the leap. He made a spring, +but missed, and with a loud crash, horse and rider fell into the ditch +on the farther side of the hedge. + +The emperor fell under the horse, who, in its efforts to rise, inflicted +dreadful suffering upon its master. He felt that his senses were leaving +him, and thought that he was being crushed to death. The load upon his +breast was insufferable, and in his ears there came a sound like the +roaring of the ocean. He uttered one cry for help, commended himself to +Heaven, and fainted. + +How long he lay there, he never knew. When he opened his weary eyes +again, he lay on the sward near the hedge, with his head resting upon +the lap of a beautiful girl, who was contemplating him with looks of +tenderest pity. By her side knelt another young girl, who was bathing +his temples with water. + +"Look, Marianne," exclaimed she joyfully; "he begins to move. Oh, dear +sister, we have saved his life." + +"Still, Kathi," whispered the other. "He has not yet his senses. He +looks as if he were dreaming of angels. But he will soon awake." + +"I don't wonder that be dreams of angels, Marianne, when he looks at +you," said Kathi, contemplating her beautiful sister. "But now that he +is safe, I will go and look after his horse. Poor animal! he trembles +yet with fright, and I think he has lamed his leg. I will lead him to +the spring where he can drink and cool his foot. You know the curate +says that water is a great doctor for man and beast." + +So saying she took up the bridle, and coaxing the horse gently, he +followed her, although he shuddered with the pain of his limb. + +She disappeared behind a little grove of trees, while her sister +contemplated their handsome patient. He lay perfectly quiet, his eyes +open, but feeling too weary for speech. He felt uncertain whether he +waked or dreamed, nor did he care; for the present moment was +unutterably sweet. His pain was slight, and with his head pillowed upon +the lap of the lovely girl whose face was beautiful as that of Eve in +the groves of Eden, the emperor gazed on in rapture. + +Marianne became gradually aware that his glances spoke admiration, for +her color slowly deepened, until it glowed like the petals of a +newly-opened rose. The emperor smiled as he watched her blushes. "Do +angels then blush?" asked he softly. + +"He still dreams," said Marianne, shaking her head. "I thought just now +that his senses were returning." + +"No, child," replied Joseph, "I do not dream. I see before me the +loveliest vision that ever blessed the eyes of man, or else--I have +overtaken the enchanted princess. Oh, princess! it was cruel of you to +lure one over that treacherous hedge!" Marianne looked alarmed. "Poor, +poor young man!" murmured she in a low voice, "he is delirious. I must +moisten his head again." + +She extended her hand to the little pail that held the water, but Joseph +caught it, and pressed it warmly to his lips. Marianne blushed anew, +with painful embarrassment, and sought to withdraw her hand. + +The emperor would not yield it. "Let me kiss the hand of the angel that +has rescued me from death," said he. "For 'tis you, is it not, who saved +my life?" + +"My sister and I, sir, were coming through the wood," replied Marianne, +"when we saw your horse galloping directly toward the hedge. We knew +what must happen, and ran with all our might toward you, but before we +reached you, the horse had made the leap. Oh, I shudder when I think of +it!" + +And her face grew white again, while her lustrous eyes were dimmed with +tears. + +"Go on, go on, my--. No, I will not call you princess lest you should +think me delirious. I am not delirious, beautiful Marianne! but I dream, +I dream of my boyhood and almost believe that I have come upon enchanted +ground. Your sweet voice--your lovely face --this delicious wood--it all +seems like fairy-land! But speak on; where did you find me?" + +"Under the horse, sir; and the first thing we did was to free you from +its weight. We took the rein, and, after some efforts, we got him to his +feet. Kathi led him away, and I--I--" + +"You, Marianne! tell me--what did you do?" + +"I," said she, looking down--"I bore you as well as I was able to this +spot. I do not know how I did it, but fright gives one very great +strength." + +"Go on, go on!" + +"We had been gathering mushrooms in the woods, when we saw you. As soon +as Kathi had tied the horse, she ran for her little pail, poured out the +mushrooms, and filling it with water, we bathed your head until you +revived. This, sir, is the whole history, and now that you have +recovered, I will help you to rise." + +"Not yet, not yet, enchantress. I cannot raise my head from its +delicious pillow. Let me dream for a few moments longer. Fairy-land is +almost like heaven." + +Marianne said no more, but her eyes sought the ground, and her face grew +scarlet. The emperor still gazed upon her wonderful beauty, and thought +that nothing he had ever seen in gilded halls could approach this +peasant-girl, whose red dress and black bodice were more dazzling to his +eyes than the laces and diamonds of all Vienna assembled. + +"Where," asked he, observing that her snowy shoulders were bare, "where +did you get a kerchief to bathe my head?" + +Marianne started and laid her hands upon her neck. "Good Heaven!" +murmured she to herself; "it was the kerchief from my own bosom!" +Unconsciously she reached her hand to take it from the pail. + +"What!" said Joseph, stopping her; "would you wear that dripping +kerchief? No, no! let the sky, the birds, and the wood-nymphs look at +those graceful shoulders; and if I may not look, I will shut my eyes." + +"Oh! do not shut your eyes; they are blue as the sky itself!" replied +Marianne. But as she spoke she drew forward the long braids that trailed +behind her on the ground, and quickly untwisting them, her hair fell in +showers around her neck and shoulders, so that they were effectually +concealed. + +"You are right," said the emperor. "Your hair is as beautiful as the +rest of your person. It surpasses the sables of a Russian princess. You +know perfectly well how to adorn yourself, you bewitching child." + +"I did not mean to adorn myself, sir," said Marianne. "Why, then, did +you cover yourself with that superb mantle?" + +"Because, sir, I--I was cold." + +"Are you so icy, then, that you freeze in midsummer?" + +She said nothing, but bent her head in confusion. Luckily, at that +moment, Kathi came in sight with the horse. + +"Now, sir," exclaimed Marianne, "you can rise, can you not?" + +"Not unless you help me, for my head is yet very light." + +"Well, sir, if that be so, then stay where you are, and try to sleep, +while I pray to the blessed Virgin to protect you." + +Meanwhile Kathi came forward, and, when she saw the emperor, nodded her +head. + +"God be praised, sir," cried she, "you have your senses once more! You +have gotten off cheaply with nothing but a black eye. But, bless me! how +quiet you are, Marianne! Who would think, that while the gentleman was +out of his senses, you were crying as if he had been your sweetheart! +Why, sir, her tears fell upon your face and waked you." + +"Pardon me," whispered Marianne, "I wiped them away with the kerchief." + +"Why did you deprive me of those sweet tears?" whispered the emperor. +But Kathi was talking all the while. + +"Now," continued she, "try to get up. Put one arm around me, and the +other around Marianne, and we will set you upon your legs, to find out +whether they are sound. Come--one, two, three; now!" With the help of +the strong peasant-girl, the emperor arose and stood erect. But he +complained of dizziness, and would have Marianne to sustain him. + +She approached with a smile, while he, drawing her gently to his side, +looked into her eyes. The poor girl trembled, she knew not why, for +assuredly she was not afraid. + +Kathi, who had gone back for the horse, now came up, leading him to his +master. "Now," said she, "we are all ready to go. Your horse is a little +lame, and not yet able to bear you. Whither shall we lead you, sir? +Where is your home?" + +"My home!" exclaimed the emperor, with troubled mien. "I had forgotten +that I had a home." This question had awakened him from his idyl. + +"Where is my home?" echoed he sadly. "It is in Vienna. Can you put me on +the road thither?" + +"That can we, sir; but it is a long way for such a gentleman as you to +travel on foot." + +"Let us go, then, to the highway, and perhaps I may there find some +conveyance." + +"Well, then," cried the gleeful Kathi, "forward, march!" + +"Not yet, Kathi. Not until I have thanked you for the great service you +have rendered me. Let me give you some testimony of my gratitude. Before +we part, let me gratify some wish of yours. Speak first, Kathi." + +"H'm," said Kathi, "I have many wishes. It is not so easy to say what I +want." + +"Well, take time, and think for a moment, child." + +Kathi looked as if she were making a bold resolve. + +"That ring upon your finger--it is the prettiest thing I ever saw. Will +you give it to me?" + +"Kathi!" exclaimed Marianne, "how can you ask such a thing?" + +"Why not?" returned Kathi, reddening; "did he not tell me to say what I +wanted?" + +"Yes," said Marianne in a low voice, "but it may be a gift--perhaps it +is from his sweetheart!" + +"No, Marianne," replied the emperor sadly, "I have no sweetheart. No one +cares whether I give or keep the ring. Take it, Kathi." + +Kathi held out her hand, and when it had been placed upon her finger she +turned it around to see it glisten, and laughed for joy. + +"And you, Marianne," said Joseph, changing his tone as he addressed the +beautiful creature who stood at his side, "tell me your wish. Let it be +something hard to perform, for then I shall be all the happier to grant +it." + +But Marianne spoke not a word. + +"Why, Marianne," cried Kathi impatiently, "do you not see that he is a +rich and great lord, who will give you any thing you ask? Why do you +stand so dumb?" + +"Come, dear Marianne," whispered the emperor, "have you no wish that I +can gratify?" + +"Yes, sir," cried Marianne, in a voice scarcely audible. + +"Speak it, then, sweet one, and it shall be granted." + +"Then, sir," said Marianne, her cheeks glowing, though her eyes were +still cast down, "my father's house is hard by. Come and rest awhile +under his roof, and let me give you a glass of milk, and to your horse +some fresh hay." + +The emperor seemed to grow very weak while Marianne spoke, for he clung +to her as though he had been afraid to fall. + +"Yes, Marianne," replied he, "and God bless you for the kind suggestion! +Let me for once forget the world and imagine that I, too, am a peasant, +with no thought of earth beyond these enchanted woods. Take me to the +cottage where your father lives, and let me eat of his bread. I am +hungry." + +And the emperor, with his strange suite, set off for the cottage of +Conrad the peasant. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON. + +Old Conrad stood in his doorway, shading his old eyes from the sunbeams, +while he looked anxiously down the road that led to the village. It was +noonday, and yet the hearth of the kitchen was empty and cold. No kettle +was on the hob, no platter upon the table. And yet his daughters had +started early for the woods, and surely they must have gathered their +mushrooms hours ago. + +The old peasant began to be anxious. If it had been Kathi alone, it +would have been easy enough to guess at the delay. She was gossiping +with Valentine, and forgetting that she had father or sister, home or +dinner. But Marianne was along, and she never flirted or loitered. What +could be the matter? But--what was that coming up the road? Marianne! +Yes, truly, Marianne with a fine lord at her side, who seemed closer to +her than propriety seemed to allow. + +"Gracious Heaven!" thought the old man, "what has come over my bashful +Marianne? What would the villagers say if they should see her now? And +what comes behind? Kathi, with a horse. Are the maidens bewitched?" + +They came nearer; and now Kathi, from the top of her voice, bade him +good-day. + +"Are we not fine, father?" cried she, with a loud laugh. But Marianne, +coming forward with the emperor, bent gracefully before her old father. + +"See, dear father," said she in her soft, musical tones, "we bring you a +guest who to-day will share our humble dinner with us." + +"A guest whose life has been saved by your daughters," added Joseph, +extending his hand. + +"And a very rich somebody he must be, father," cried Kathi, "for see how +he has paid us for our help. Look at this brave ring, how it glistens! +It is mine; and Marianne might have had as much if she had chosen. But +what do you think she asked him?--to come home and get a glass of milk!" + +"That was well done of my Marianne," said the father, proudly. "It would +have been a pity not to let me see the brave gentleman, if indeed you +have been so happy as to save his life. Come in, my lord, come in. You +are welcome. What we have we give cordially." + +"And therefore what you give will be gratefully received," replied the +emperor, entering and seating himself. + +"Now, sir," said Marianne, "I will go and prepare the dinner." So +saying, she passed into the cottage kitchen. + +"That is a beautiful maiden," said Joseph, looking wistfully after the +graceful figure as it disappeared. + +"They are my heart's joy, both of them," replied Conrad. "They are brisk +as fawns, and industrious as bees. And yet I am often sad as I look at +them." + +"Why so?" + +"Because I am old and poor. I have nothing to leave them, and when I +die, they will have to go to service. That frets me. It is because I +love the maidens so dearly that I am troubled about them." + +"Let their poverty trouble you no longer, my friend. I will provide for +them. I have it in my power to make them both comfortable, and that they +shall be, I promise you." + +The old man spoke his thanks, and presently came Marianne to announce +the dinner. It was served in an arbor covered with honeysuckles and red +beans, and the emperor thought that he had never had a better dinner in +his imperial palace. The shackles of his greatness had fallen from him, +and he drank deeply of the present hour, without a thought for the +morrow. Marianne was at his side, and as he looked into the lustrous +depths of her dark eyes, he wished himself a peasant that he might look +into them forever. + +Meanwhile Kathi and her father walked together in the garden. They were +both examining the diamond ring, and the hearts of both were filled with +ambitious thoughts and hopes. + +"He must be very rich," said Kathi, in a low voice. "He has fallen in +love with Marianne, 'tis plain, and she has only to ask and have any +thing she likes. Look, father, he is kissing her! But don't let them see +you. The more he loves her, the more he will give us. But you must speak +to Marianne, father. She is as silly as a sheep, and doesn't care +whether we are poor or rich. Call her here, and tell her that she MUST +ask for a great sum of money--enough for us to buy a fine farm. Then +Valentine will marry me at once, and I shall be able to give a +wedding-dress to all the other maidens in the village." + +"But suppose that the lord should want Marianne?" asked Conrad, turning +pale. + +Kathi still held up her ring, and she turned toward the sun until it +seemed to be in a blaze. "Look, father," said she, in a low tone, +"look." + +The eyes of the old man were fixed upon the jewel; and strange hopes, +with which, until now, he had been unacquainted, stirred his heart. The +serpent had found its way into Eden, and it spoke to both in the glitter +of this unhappy ring. + +"Father," said Kathi, at length, "if Marianne had such a ring as this on +her finger she would find many hundred wooers who would forgive her for +having had ONE before them." + +"Silence!" cried the old man. "If your mother were alive to hear these +guilty words, she would think that you were no longer innocent yourself. +How I wish she were here in this trying hour! But since you have no +parent but me, I must protect you from shame." + +With these words the old man walked resolutely to the arbor, followed by +Kathi, who implored him not to ruin their fortunes. + +"My lord," said Conrad, "the day wanes. If you intend to reach Vienna +tonight, you have no time to lose." + +"Alas!" thought Joseph, "my dream is over. You are right," said he to +the peasant, "unless you will shelter me to-night." + +"I have but one bed in my house, sir," replied Conrad, "and that is in +the little room of my daughters." + +"Then let me sleep there," said Joseph, with the arrogance of one +accustomed to command. + +"Oh!" faltered Marianne, springing to her father's side, as though she +would seek protection from these ensnaring words. + +But Kathi shook her sister's arm, and surveying her blushing face, +exclaimed with a loud laugh, "You are a fool. What harm can it do us, if +the gentleman sleeps in our room? We can make ourselves a bed of hay on +the floor, and give him the bedstead. No one will ever think any the +less of us." + +"I think so, too," said Joseph, who was now resolved to see of what +stuff the peasant was made. "Do not hesitate so. Let me sleep in your +daughters' room, and I will give you a handful of gold for my lodging." + +Kathi gave a cry of delight, and going close to her father, she +whispered, "Father, you will not refuse! Think--a handful of gold! We +will be the richest farmers in the village! There are two of us--there +can be no danger." + +"Well!" asked Joseph, impatiently, "have you decided? Did you not tell +me that you were poor? and is this not an opportunity I offer you to +enrich your daughters!" + +"Sir," replied the old man, solemnly, "I do not know whether this +opportunity may not be for evil, instead of good. I am a poor and simple +farmer, and cannot decide for myself whether the mere fact of your +sleeping in the same room with my daughters is right or not. Our curate +is a very holy man; I will apply to him for advice." + +"Very well," said Joseph, "go and fetch him, he shall decide." + +Old Conrad left the garden, followed again by Kathi, who was resolved to +leave the great lord alone with her sister. Marianne, who before had +been so happy and unembarrassed, now started forward with the intention +of going with her father. But the emperor would not allow it. He caught +her by both hands and held her fast. + +"Stay, frightened doe," said he softly. "You are right, dear child, to +tremble before men, for they are full of deceit; but do not be afraid of +me; I will not harm you." + +Marianne raised her dark, tearful eyes to his face, and gradually a +smile lit up her lovely features. + +"I believe you, my lord," said she. "You have, perhaps, already seen +that I would do any thing on earth for you, were it even to give up my +life; but for no one would I do that which my mother would blame if she +were living--on no account would I do that which I might not tell in +prayer to my heavenly Father." + +The emperor looked once more at her lovely face. + +"Oh, Marianne! why are you a peasant!" exclaimed he. Then raising his +eyes to heaven. "Almighty God," continued he, "shield her from harm. In +Thy presence I swear to protect her honor--even from myself. " + +At that moment old Conrad appeared in the road. At his side was a little +old man in a faded cassock, whose spare white hair scarcely covered his +bald head. + +Joseph came forward, holding Marianne by the hand. Kathi darted from the +house, laughing vociferously. The priest advanced, his eyes fixed upon +the face of the stranger. All at once, pointing with his finger to +Joseph, he cried out: + +"Conrad, a great honor has befallen your house. Your guest is the +emperor!" + +"The emperor!" exclaimed three voices--two in joyous notes, the third +with the cry of despair. + +Conrad and Kathi were on their knees; Marianne leaned deathly pale +against the arbor. + +"Yes, father," replied Joseph, mastering his annoyance at the +revelation; "yes, I am the emperor. But, my friends, do not offer me +such homage as belongs to God alone. Rise, Conrad. Old men should not +kneel before young ones. Rise, Kathi. Men should kneel before pretty +maidens, no matter whether they be princesses or peasants. And now, +father, hear my petition. I am tired and suffering. I have had a fall +from my horse, and I do not wish to go to-night to Vienna. I have +offered this old man a handful of gold to give me his only bed--the one +in his daughters' room. But he will not give his consent without your +approval. Decide between us, and remember who it is that asks for +lodging here." + +The head of the old priest sank upon his breast. + +"Oh," thought Kathi, "I hope he will say yes." + +Marianne made not a movement, while her father looked anxiously toward +the priest. + +"Well, father, well," cried Joseph. "You say nothing--and yet I have +told you that the emperor craves a night's lodging in the room of these +young girls. You see that I ask where I might command. I should think +that the lord of the whole land is also lord of the little room of two +peasant-girls." + +"Yes, your majesty. You are lord of the room, but not of the honor of +these peasant-girls," replied the curate, raising his eyes, and steadily +meeting those of Joseph. [Footnote: "Life of Joseph II., Emperor of +Austria," vol iii., p. 89.] + +"Nobly answered, father," replied the emperor, taking the old priest's +hand, and pressing it between his own. "Had you decided otherwise, I +would not have forgiven you. Before the servant of the Lord, the claims +of the sovereign are on an equality with those of his subject. Pardon +me, Conrad, for testing your honor as I did, and accept my horse as a +token of my respect. If you should ever wish to sell him, bring him to +the imperial stables, and he will be ransomed by me for a thousand +florins." + +"Oh, your majesty," said the happy old man, "I shall die content for my +children are provided for." + +"Now we are rich," cried Kathi, "the best match in the village will be +proud to marry either one of us." + +The emperor, meanwhile, took out his pocket-book, and, tearing out a +leaf, wrote some words upon it. + +Folding the paper, he advanced to Marianne, and handing it to her, said: + +"My dear child, when your father presents this paper to the marshal of +my household, Count Rosenberg, he will give him in return for you five +hundred florins." + +"Five hundred florins!" exclaimed Kathi, with envious looks. + +"Take the paper, Marianne," pleaded the emperor. "It is your dowry." + +Marianne raised her tearful eyes, but her hands did not move to take the +gift. She reflected for a moment, and then spoke. + +"Five hundred florins," said she, "is not that a large sum?" + +"It is, my child," replied Joseph. + +"More than the value of the ring you gave my sister, is it not?" asked +she. + +The emperor looked disappointed. "Yes, Marianne," replied he, with a +sigh. "You have no reason to envy your sister. Kathi's ring is not worth +more than a hundred florins." + +He still held the paper in his hands. Suddenly Marianne took it from +him, and crossed over to her sister. + +"You hear, Kathi," said she, "you hear what the emperor says. This paper +is worth five times as much as your ring. Let us exchange." + +So saying, she held out the paper, while Kathi with a scream of delight, +snatched it from her hand, and as quick as thought, drew the ring from +her own finger. + +"If you repent your bargain, Marianne," said she, "so much the worse for +you. The dowry is mine--and mine it shall remain." + +Marianne did not listen. She placed the ring upon her own hand, and +contemplated it with a smile of satisfaction. Then going up to the +priest, she addressed him with a grace that would have been winning in a +countess. + +"Father," said she, "you have heard the exchange that Kathi and I have +made. The dowry is hers--the ring is mine. As long as I live, I shall +wear this token of my emperor's condescending goodness. And when I die, +father, promise me that my ring shall go with me to the grave." + +The emperor, all etiquette forgetting, made a step forward, with his +arms extended. But recovering himself, he stopped; his arms dropped +heavily to his side, and he heaved a deep, deep sigh. + +Instead of approaching Marianne, he drew near to the priest. + +"Father," said he, "my mother will perhaps feel some anxiety on my +account. Will you be so kind as to accompany me to the post-house, where +I may perhaps be able to procure some vehicle for Vienna." + +"I am ready, your majesty," replied the curate; "and if it pleases you, +we will set out at once." + +"So be it," sighed Joseph. "Farewell, Conrad," continued he; "hearken to +the counsels of your excellent pastor, for he is a faithful servant of +God. Farewell, Kathi; now that you have a dowery, you will speedily find +a husband. Let me be godfather to the first baby." + +Kathi blushed and laughed, while the emperor turned to the pale +Marianne. He took her hand, and, pressing it to his lips, he said to the +priest, who was looking on with anxious eyes-- + +"A man has the right to kiss the hand of a lovely and innocent girl like +this, even though he have the misfortune to be born an emperor. Has he +not, father?" + +Without waiting for an answer, Joseph dropped the poor little cold hand, +and turned away. + +The old priest followed, while Conrad and his daughters looked on, +scarcely crediting the evidence of their senses. + +The emperor had reached the cottage-gate, when suddenly he turned, and +spoke again. + +"Marianne, one last request. Will you give me the kerchief with which +you were bathing my head to-day? The evening air is pool about my +throat. I am subject to hoarseness." + +Marianne was trembling so that she could not answer. But Kathi came +forward, and taking the kerchief from a rosebush where It had been hung +to dry, she ran forward, and gave it into the emperor's hands. + +He bowed, and continued his way. + +Marianne gazed wistfully down the road at the tall and noble form that +was disappearing from her sight--perhaps forever. + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +TWO AFFIANCED QUEENS. + +There was great activity in the private apartments of the empress. Maria +Theresa, whose forenoons were usually dedicated to business of state, +was now engaged in giving audience to jewellers, milliners, and +mantuamakers. + +For whom were these preparations? No one knew, although every one +desired to know. The secret seemed especially to interest the two young +Archduchesses Caroline and Marie Antoinette. These silks, satins, laces, +and jewels signified--marriage. Of that, there could be no doubt. But +who was to be the bride? The Archduchess Elizabeth was past thirty. +Could it be that there was any truth in the rumor of a projected +marriage between herself and the old King of France? She was tired of +life at the court of Austria, and would have welcomed the change, had +the negotiations which were pending on that subject ever come to +anything. But they did not. [Footnote: They were frustrated by the +Countess du Barry, who never forgave the Duke de Choiseul for +entertaining the project. Du Barry prevailed upon the king to say that +he was too old to marry, and she revenged herself on Choiseul by +bringing about his disgrace. Alex. Dumas, "History of Louis XV."] + +Caroline and Marie Antoinette were very incredulous when it was hinted +that their mother's preparations were intended for their eldest sister. +They laughed at the absurdity of Elizabeth's faded pretensions. + +"It must be that I am about to be married," said Caroline, as she +entered her little sister's room one morning, in full dress. "The +empress has commanded my presence in her cabinet to-day, and that +betokens something unusual and important. But bless me you, too, are in +full dress?" + +"Yes," said Marie Antoinette, laughing, and echoing her sister's words, +"it must certainly be myself that is about to be married, for the +empress has commanded my presence in her cabinet, and, of course, she +has something of great importance to communicate." + +"How! You also?" exclaimed Caroline. "At what hour?" + +"At twelve exactly, your highness," answered Marie Antoinette, with a +deep courtesy. + +"The same hour. Then we must go together. I suppose that the empress +intends to propose a husband for me, and a new tutor for you, +Antoinette." + +"Pray, why not a husband?" laughed Marie Antoinette. + +"Because, you saucy child," replied her sister, "husbands are not dolls +for little girls to play with." + +Marie Antoinette tossed her pretty bead, saying, "Let me tell you, +Caroline, that little girls are sometimes as wise as their elders, and I +shall give you a proof of my superior wisdom, by not returning irony for +irony. Perhaps it may be you who is to be married--perhaps it may be +both of us. There are more crowns in Europe than one. But hark! there +sounds the clock. The empress expects us." + +She gave her hand to her sister, and the two princesses went laughing +together to their mother's room. + +The empress received them with an affectionate smile, and although her +daughters were accustomed to stand in her presence, to-day she told them +to sit on either side of her. + +They were both beautiful, and their mother surveyed them with pride and +pleasure. + +"Come, dear children," said she, "we will banish etiquette for a while. +To-day I am no empress, I am but a mother. But why do you both smile so +significantly at one another? Are you guessing at what is to be the +subject of our interview?" + +"What can it be, your majesty," said Caroline gayly, "but the +explanation of the riddle that has been puzzling all the brains in the +palace for a month past?" + +"You have guessed," answered Maria Theresa, laughing. "It is of your own +marriage that I would speak. I have accepted a crown for you, my +Caroline, and the ambassador who will conduct you to your kingdom is +already on his way. Your trousseau is magnificent and worthy of a queen. +Your fair brow was made for a royal diadem, and in yonder room lies one +that is made up of a constellation of diamonds." + +"But the king--the man--who is he?" asked Caroline anxiously. "Tell me, +your majesty, to whom I am affianced?" + +The empress's brow grew ruffled. + +"My daughter," said she, "a princess marries not a king, but a kingdom. +It is given to few mortals wearing crowns to add to their royalty +domestic happiness. It becomes you more to ask whether you are to be a +great and powerful queen, than the name of the man who is to place his +crown upon your head." + +The princess was silent, but she said to herself, "If she means to hand +me over to the horrid old King of France, I shall say emphatically--No!" + +The empress went on. "Diplomacy is the wooer of royal maidens, and +diplomacy has chosen you both. For you, too, my little Antoinette, are +promised to the heir of a crown." + +Marie Antoinette nodded to Caroline. "I told you so," said she. "Mamma +did not call me hither to propose a new tutor." + +"Yes, my dear," said the empress, laughing, "I did call you hither for +that object also. A little girl who is destined to reign over one of the +greatest nations in the world must prepare herself conscientiously to +fill her station worthily. You have a noble mission, my child; through +your marriage the enmity so long subsisting between Austria and France +shall be converted into amity and concord." + +"France!" screamed Antoinette. "Your majesty would surely not marry me +to the horrid old Louis XV.!" + +"Oh no!" replied the empress, heartily amused. "You are affianced to his +grandson, who one of these days will be called Louis XVI." + +Marie Antoinette uttered a cry and started from her seat. "Oh my God!" +exclaimed she. + +"What--what is the matter?" cried Maria Theresa. "Speak, my child, what +ails you?" + +"Nothing," murmured Antoinette, shaking her head sadly. "Your majesty +would only laugh." + +"What is it? I insist upon knowing why it is that you shudder at the +name of Louis XVI.? Have you heard aught to his disadvantage? Has your +brother the emperor--" + +"No, no," interrupted Marie Antoinette, quickly, "the emperor has never +mentioned his name to me. No one has ever spoken disparagingly of the +dauphin in my presence. What made me shudder at the mention of his +title, is the recollection of a fearful prophecy which was related to me +yesterday, by my French teacher, as we were reading the hisory of +Catherine de Medicis." + +"Tell it to me, then, my daughter." + +"Since your majesty commands me, I obey," said the young girl, +gracefully inclining her head. "Catherine de Medicis, though she was +very learned, was a very superstitious woman. One of her astrologers +owned a magic looking-glass. He brought it before the queen, and she +commanded him to show her in the mirror the destiny of her royal house. +He obeyed, and drew back the curtain that covered the face of the +looking-glass." + +"And what did she see there?" asked the empress, with interest. + +Marie Antoinette continued: "She saw the lily-decked throne of France; +and upon it appeared, one after another, her sons, Henry, Francis, and +Charles. Then came her hated son-in-law, Henry of Navarre; after him, +Louis XIII.--then his grandson, Louis XIV., then Louis XV." + +"And what then?" + +"Then she saw nothing. She waited a few moments after Louis XV. had +disappeared, and then she saw a figure with a crown upon his head, but +this figure soon was hidden by a cloud; and, in his place, the throne +was filled with snakes and cats, who were tearing each other to pieces." + +"Fearful sight!" said Maria Theresa, rising from her seat and walking +about the room. + +"It was fearful to Catherine de Medicis, your majesty, for she fainted. +Now you know why I dread to be the bride of the one who is to be called +Louis XVI." + +The empress said nothing. For a while, she went to and fro through the +room; then she resumed her seat, and threw back her proud head with a +forced smile. + +"These are silly fables," said she, "tales with which nurses might +frighten little children, but only fit to provoke laughter from rational +beings." + +"Pardon me, your majesty," interposed Antoinette "but Louis XV. is not +too rational to be affected by them." + +"How do you know that, child?" + +"I know it, your majesty, because Monsieur le Maitre, who published this +prophecy in his journal 'L'Espion Ture,' was imprisoned for fifteen +years in the Bastile, on account of it. He is still there, although he +has powerful friends who have interceded for him in vain." [Footnote: +Swinburne, p. 60.] + +"And Aufresne told you all this?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"He ought to go to the Bastile with Le Maitre, then. But I hope that my +little Antoinette has too much sense to be affected by Aufresne's +nonsense, and that she will accept the husband whom her sovereign and +mother has chosen for her. It is a bright destiny, that of a Queen of +France; and if snakes and cats should come near your throne, you must +tread them under foot. Look up, my child, and have courage. In two years +you will be the bride of the dauphin. Prepare yourself meanwhile to be a +worthy representative of your native Austria. The Queen of France must, +as far as she is able, assimilate herself to the customs and language of +her people. With that intention, Prince Kaunitz has commissioned the +Duke de Choiseul to select you a new teacher. He will be accompanied by +two French ladies of honor. These people, my dear, are to form your +manners according to the requirements of court etiquette in France; but +in your heart, my child, I trust that you will always be an Austrian. +That you may not be too French, Gluck will continue to give you music +lessons. I flatter myself that the French cannot compete with us in +music. Study well, and try to deserve the brilliant destiny in store for +you." + +She drew Antoinette close to her and kissed her fondly. + +"I will obey your majesty in all things," whispered the child, and sadly +she resumed her seat. + +"Now, Caroline," continued the empress, "a word with you. You see with +what modesty and submission your sister has accepted her destiny. Follow +her example, and prepare yourself to receive your affianced husband, +Ferdinand of Naples." + +It was Caroline, now, who turned pale and shuddered. She uttered a cry +of horror, and raised her hands in abhorrence. "Never! Never, your +majesty," cried she, "I cannot do it. You would not be so unnatural as +to--" + +"And why not?" asked the empress, coldly. + +"Because God Himself has declared against our alliance with the King of +Naples. He it is who interposed to save my sisters from this marriage. +In mercy, my mother, do not sentence me also to death!" + +The empress grew pale, and her lip quivered. But Maria Theresa, was +forever warring with her own emotions, so that nothing was gained for +Caroline by this appeal to her maternal love. + +"What!" exclaimed she, recovering her self-possession. "do you also seek +to frighten me? I am not the cowardly simpleton for which you mistake +me. As if the King of Naples were a vampire, to murder his wives at dead +of night! No, Caroline, no! If it has pleased the Almighty to afflict +me, by taking to Himself the two dear children who were to have been +Queens of Naples, it is a sad coincidence--nothing more." + +"But I cannot marry him!" cried Caroline, wringing her hands; "I should +be forever seeing at his side the spectral figures of my dead sisters. +Mother, dear mother, have pity on me!" + +"Have pity on her!" echoed Antoinette, kneeling at the empress's feet. + +"Enough!" exclaimed Maria Theresa, in a commanding voice. "I have +spoken, it is for you to obey; for my word has been given, and I cannot +retract. If, as your mother, I feel my heart grow weak with sympathy for +your weakness, as your empress, I spurn its cowardly promptings; for my +imperial word shall be held sacred, if it cost me my life. Rise, both of +you. It ill becomes the Queens of France and Naples to bow their knees +like beggars. Obedience is more praiseworthy than humiliation. Go to +your apartments; pray for courage to bear your crosses, and God's +blessing will shield you from all evil." + +"I will pray God to give me grace to die in His favor," faltered +Caroline. + +"I will pray Him to take my life at once, rather than I should live to +share the destiny of Louis XVI.!" whispered Antoinette, while the two +imperial martyrs bowed low before their mother, and retired each to her +room. + +Maria Theresa looked after their sweet, childish figures, and when the +door had closed upon them, she buried her face in the cushions of the +sofa where they had been sitting together, and wept. + +"My children! my children! Each a queen, and both in tears! Oh, Heavenly +Father, grant that I may not have erred, in forcing this weight of +royalty upon their tender heads. Mother of God, thou hast loved a child! +By that holy love, pray for those who would faint if their crowns should +be of thorns!" + + + +EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA. + + + +CHAPTER L. + +THE DINNER AT THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR'S. + +Prince Kaunitz sat lazily reclining in his arm-chair, playing with his +jewelled snuff-box and listening with an appearance of unconcern to a +man who, in an attitude of profoundest respect, was relating to him a +remarkable story of a young emperor and a beautiful peasant-girl, in +which there was much talk of woods, diamonds, milk, and an Arabian +steed. + +The smile that was upon the face of the minister might either betoken +amusement or incredulity. + +The detective was at that period of his story where the emperor parted +from old Conrad and his daughters. He now paused to see the effect of +his narration. + +"Very pretty, indeed," said the prince, nodding his head, "but romances +are out of fashion. In these days we prefer truth." + +"Does your highness suppose I am not speaking truth'?" said the man. + +Kaunitz took a pinch of snuff, and replied coldly, "I suppose nothing +about it. Somebody, I know, has been playing upon your love of the +marvellous. I know that you are not telling me the truth." + +"Your highness!" exclaimed Eberhard, with the air of an injured man, "no +one can impose upon my credulity, for I believe nothing but that which I +see. I had this adventure from old Conrad himself, and I saw him receive +a thousand ducats for the horse. In the joy of his foolish old heart, he +told me the whole story; and as he saw the deep interest which I felt in +the tale, he invited me to his house, where I saw the beautiful +Marianne, with her diamond on her finger." + +"Then you acted like a fool; for the emperor knows you as well as all +Vienna does, and he will be furious when he discovers that we have been +watching his pastoral amours." + +"Indeed, your highness is right, I would be a poor fool to go there +without great precaution; for, as you very justly remarked, I am well +known in Vienna. But when I made the old peasant's acquaintance I was +disguised, and I defy anybody to know me when I choose to play +incognito. I wore a gray wig and a black patch over one eye. In this +dress I visited them, and had the story all over again, with variations, +from that coquettish village beauty, Kathi." + +"How long ago?" + +"Three weeks, your highness." + +"How many times since then has the emperor visited his inamorata?" + +"Six times, your highness. Old Conrad has bought a farm, where he lives +in a handsome house, in which each of his daughters now has a room of +her own. Marianne's room opens on the garden, where the emperor drinks +his milk and enjoys the privilege of her society." + +"Have the girls any lovers?" + +"Of course, your highness; but they have grown so proud that Kathi will +have nothing to say to her sweetheart, Valentine; while Marianne, it is +said has never encouraged any of the young men in the village. Indeed, +they are all afraid of her." + +"Because they know that the emperor honors her with his presence?" + +"No, your highness, the emperor has not allowed the family to whisper a +word of his agency in their newly-gotten wealth. They give out that it +is a legacy." + +"Do the emperor and Marianne see one another in secret, without the +curate and the father's knowledge?" + +Eberhard shrugged his shoulders. "Day before yesterday, Marianne went +alone to the woods to gather mushrooms, and never came home until dusk. +She had been lost in the woods. It was the day on which the emperor was +to visit the farm, but he did not come. Perhaps he got lost too. +To-morrow, Marianne is to gather mushrooms again. I, too, shall go--to +cut wood," + +"Is that all?" asked Kaunitz. + +"That is all, for to-day, your highness." + +"Very well. Go home and invent a continuation of your story. Let no one +know of it meanwhile except myself. You can boast of more than some +poets and literati can say, for you have amused me, and I will reward +you. Here are two gold ducats for you." + +Eberhard bowed low as he received them, but when he had left the room, +and was out of sight of Kaunitz, he turned toward the door muttering, +"As if I were such a fool as to sell my precious secret to you for two +paltry ducats! I know of others who will pay me for my news, and they +shall have it." + +Meanwhile Kaunitz, buried in his arm-chair, was revolving the story is +his mind. + +"An emperor, a widower of two wives," said he to himself, "and he treats +us to an idyl of the genuine Gessner stamp! An imperial Damon who spends +his time twining wreaths of roses with his Philis! Well--he had better +be left to play the fool in peace; his pastoral will keep him from +meddling in state affairs. Men call me the coachman of European +politics; so be it, and let no one meddle with my coach-box. That noble +empress is of one mind with me, but this emperor would like to snatch +the reins, and go careering over the heavens for himself. So much the +better if he flirts and drinks milk with a dairymaid. But how long will +it last? Eberhard, of course, has gone to Porhammer, who being piously +disinclined to such little pastimes, will go straight to the empress; +and then Damon will be reproved, and I--I may fall under her displeasure +for having known and concealed her son's intrigue. What shall I do? +Shall I warn the emperor so that he can carry off his Semele, and go on +with his amours? Or shall I--bah! Let things shape themselves. What do I +care for them all? I am the coachman of Europe, and they are my +passengers." + +So saying, Kaunitz threw back his head, and, being alone, indulged +himself in a chuckle. It was speedily smothered, however, for three taps +at the door announced the approach of the minister's valet. + +"The fool intends to remind me that it is time to dress," said he to +himself. "There must be some important engagement on hand to make him so +audacious. Come in, Hippolyte!--Any engagement for dinner?" asked he, as +Hippolyte made his appearance. + +"So please your highness, you dine to-day with the Frenoh ambassador." + +"What o'clock is it?" + +"Three o'clock, your highness." + +"It is time. Tell the cook to send my dinner to the palace of the French +ambassador. His excellency knows the terms on which I dine out of my own +house?" + +"I had the honor to explain them fully, your highness." + +"And he acceded to them?" + +"He did, your highness. Your highness, he said, was welcome to bring +your dinner, if you preferred it to his. He had one request, however, to +make, which was that you would not bring your post-dessert; a request +which I did not understand." + +"I understand it perfectly. The Count de Breteuil means that he would +like me to leave my mouth-cleaning apparatus at home. Come, since it is +time, let us begin to dress." + +So saying, he rose, and presently he was walking to and fro in the +powder-room, buried in his white mantle, while the servants waved their +powder-brushes, and the air was dense with white clouds. + +"Order the carriage," said the prince, when Hippolyte had presented the +snuff-box and the handkerchief of cobweb cambric and lace. "Three +footmen to stand behind my chair." + +Hippolyte went to order the footmen to the hotel of the Count de +Breteuil, while his master slowly made his way to the anteroom where six +lackeys awaited him, each one bearing aloft a long silk cloak. + +"What says the thermometer to-day?" asked he. + +The lackey with the first cloak stepped to a window and examined the +thermometer that was fastened outside. + +"Sixty degrees, your highness--temperate," said the man. + +"Cold! Four cloaks," said Kaunitz; and stepping through the row of +servants, one after the other laid cloak upon cloak over his shoulders. +When the fourth one had been wrapped around him, he ordered a fifth for +his return, and putting his handkerchief to his mouth for fear he might +swallow a breath of air, the coachman of Europe proceeded to his +carriage, where Hippolyte was ready to help him in. + +"Is my mouth-cleaning apparatus in the rumble?" asked the prince, as he +sank back in the soft cushions. + +"Your highness said that his excellency had requested--" + +"Yes, but I did not say that I should heed his excellency's request. +Quick, and bring it hither! Cups, brushes, essences, and every thing!" + +Off started Hippolyte, and Kaunitz drew his four cloaks around his +precious person while he muttered to himself, "I shall show my lord, +Count de Breteuil, that the man who has the honor of receiving Kaunitz +at his table, makes no conditions with such a guest. The French +ambassador grows arrogant, and I must teach him that the rules of +etiquette and customs of society are for him and his compeers, but not +for me. Whatever Kaunitz does is becoming and en regle. Voila +tout.--Forward!" + +Meanwhile the Count de Breteuil was receiving his distinguished guests. +After the topics of the day had been discussed, he informed them that he +was glad to be able to promise that Prince Kaunitz would come to dinner +without his abominable apparatus. + +"Impossible!" exclaimed the ladies. + +"Not at all," replied the count. "I have complied with one of his absurd +conditions--he brings his dinner; but I made it my especial request that +he would omit his usual post-dessert." + +"And he agreed?" + +"It would appear so, since he has accepted. It must be so, for see, he +is here." + +The count went forward to meet the prince, who deigned not the smallest +apology for having kept the guests waiting a whole hour. + +They repaired to the dining-room, where a costly and luxurious dinner +made amends to the company for their protracted fast. + +Kaunitz, however, took no notice of these delicate viands. He ate his +own dinner, and was served by his own lackeys. + +"Your highness," said his neighbor, the Princess Esterhazy, "you should +taste this pate a la Soubise, it is delicious." + +"Who knows what abominable ingredients may not have gone into its +composition?" said Kaunitz. "I might poison myself if I tasted the +villanous compound. It is all very well for ordinary people to eat from +other men's kitchens. If they die the ranks close up and nobody misses +them; but I owe my life to Austria and to Europe. Eat your pate a la +Soubise, if it suit you; I eat nothing but viands a la Kaunitz, and I +trust to no cook but my own." + +It was the same with the Tokay, the Johannisberg and the Champagne. +Kaunitz affected not to see them, while one of his lackeys reached him a +glass of water on a golden salver. Kaunitz held it up to the light. "How +dare you bring me water from the count's fountain?" said he, with a +threatening look. + +"Indeed, your highness," stammered the frightened servant, "I drew it +myself from your highness's own fountain." + +"How," laughed the Princess Esterhazy, "you bring your water, too?" + +"Yes, madame, I do, for it is the purest water in Vienna, and I have +already told you that my health is of the first importance to Austria. +Bread, Baptiste!" + +Baptiste was behind the chair, with a golden plate, on which lay two or +three slices of bread, which he presented. + +"And bread, too, from his house," cried the princess, laughing +immoderately. + +"Yes, madame," replied Kaunitz, gravely, "I eat no bread but that of my +own baker." + +"Oh," replied the gay young princess. "I am not surprised at your taking +such wondrous good care of yourself; what astonishes me is, that you +should be allowed to enjoy such privileges in a house that is not your +own. Why, Louis XIV. could not have been more exacting when he +condescended to dine with a subject!" + +Kaunitz raised his cold blue eyes so as to meet the look of the bold +speaker. "Madame," said he, "Louis XIV. was Louis XIV., and I am +Kaunitz." + +So saying, he took a glass of water from HIS fountain, and ate a piece +of bread from HIS baker. He then leaned back in his chair and took an +animated part in the conversation. + +This was only because thereby he knew that he would dazzle his hearers +by speaking English, French, Italian, or Spanish, as occasion required. + +The dinner was at an end and dessert came on the table. Of course +Kaunitz refused to partake of it; but while the other guests were +enjoying their confections, he took advantage of a pause in the +conversation, to say to his pretty neighbor: + +"Now, princess, that the company have enjoyed THEIR dessert, I shall +take the liberty of ordering MINE." + +"Ah! you have your own dessert?" asked the princess, while the guests +listened to hear what was coming. + +"I have," said Kaunitz. "I have brought my dessert, of course. +Hippolyte, my etui." + +Hippolyte brought the offensive etui and laid it on the dinner-table, +while Baptiste approached with a glass of water. Kaunitz opened the case +with quiet indifference and examined its content. There were several +small mirrors, various kinds of brushes, scissors, knives, a whet-stone, +and a pile of little linen napkins. [Footnote: Swinburne, vol i., page +353.] + +While Kaunitz examined and took out his disgusting little utensils the +ladies looked at Count Breteuil, who could scarcely credit the evidence +of his senses. But as Kaunitz set a looking-glass before him, raised his +upper lip, and closed his teeth, preparatory to a cleaning, the count +rose indignant from his seat. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," said he, "we will return to the drawing-room for +coffee; Prince Kaunitz desires this room to himself." + +The company departed, leaving Kaunitz alone. He did not look as if he +had heard or seen any thing. He went on grinning, brushing his teeth, +drying them in and out with his napkins, and finished off with washing +his hands and cleaning his nails. This done, he walked deliberately back +to the drawing-room, and, going immediately toward the host, he said: + +"Count, I am about to return home. You have taken very great pains to +prepare a dinner for me, and I shall make you a princely return. From +this day forward I dine no more from home; your dinner, therefore, will +be immortal, for history will relate that the last time Prince Kaunitz +dined away from his own palace, he dined at that of the French +ambassador." With this he bowed, and slowly left the room. + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +MARIANNE'S DISAPPEARANCE. + +Kaunitz remained true to his policy in the drama of "The Emperor and the +Dairy-Maid." He allowed things to run their course. Twice a week, +Eberhard came with additional information to which the minister listened +with deep interest, but his interest never took the shape of action. +What did he care? + +"This imperial idyl is a disease," thought he. "It will have its crisis +by and by, like a cutaneous eruption. Let it come. Why should I help the +patient when I have not been called in?" + +Not long after, however, he was called in. One morning he was lying in +his dressing-gown on a divan, his head bound up in half a dozen silk +handkerchiefs, and his whole person in the primeval disorder of a +slovenly neglige, when his valet announced--the Emperor Joseph. + +Kaunitz half rose, saying with a yawn, "Show his majesty to the state +reception-room, and beg him to await me there." + +"I have no time to wait, my dear prince," said a soft and melancholy +voice behind him; and, as Kaunitz turned round, he saw the emperor who +was already at his side. + +The prince motioned to Hippolyte to leave the room. He went out on +tiptoe, and, as he reached the threshold, the emperor himself closed the +door and locked it. Kaunitz, who had risen, stood in the middle of the +room, looking as indifferent to the visit of an emperor as to that of a +tailor. + +"Prince," said Joseph, returning and offering his hand, "we have not +hitherto been good friends, but you see that I hold you in esteem, for I +come to claim your assistance." + +"I expected your majesty," replied Kaunitz. + +The emperor cast his eyes over the velvet dressing-gown and the half +dozen head handkerchiefs, and looked his astonishment. The prince +understood the glance, and replied to it. + +"I did not expect your majesty quite so soon. A few hours later I would +have been ready to receive you. Will you permit me to retire for a few +moments, that I may at least make my head, if not the rest of my person, +presentable?" + +The emperor took the hand of the prince and led him back to the divan. +"My dear Kaunitz," said he, "when a man's head is in such a maze as mine +to-day, he concerns himself very little about the looks of other men. +Sit down again, and I will take this armchair by you." + +He drew Kaunitz, with gentle force, upon the divan, and then seated +himself at his side. + +"Do you know what brings me to you?" said Joseph, blushing. + +"I believe that I do, your majesty. It is no state affair, for on state +affairs, unhappily, we are ever at variance." + +The emperor laughed a sardonic laugh. "What need have I of a state +councillor, I who am but a puppet in the hands of my mother, I who must +stand, with shackled arms, and look on while she reigns? But it is in +vain to murmur. I watch and wait; and while I wait, I find myself +inclining fast to your policy. I believe you to be an honorable +statesman, and I believe also that the course you have pursued, you have +chose because you are convinced that it is wise." + +"Your majesty means the French alliance," said Kaunitz. "You, like your +deceased father, have always opposed it, and but for the firmness of and +wisdom of the empress, it would have failed. But we need not discuss +this matter to-day; I owe the honor conferred upon me to another +question." + +"Then you know why I am here?" + +"I believe that I know," replied Kaunitz, playing with the silk tassels +of his dressing-gown. "I have lately heard a tale about an emperor who +was lost in a forest and rescued by a peasant-girl. The sovereign was +grateful, as a matter of course, and the damsel forthwith melted away +with love at the sight of him, as Semele did for Jupiter. That, too, may +be very natural; but let me tell your majesty, it is dangerous for the +committee on morals do not approve of such pastorals, and the empress--" + +"That accursed committee!" cried Joseph. "It is they who discovered it, +and you who betrayed me." + +Kaunitz slightly elevated his shoulders, and his eyes rested, unmoved, +upon the emperor's glowing face. "I have never yet," said he, "descended +to the office of an informer. Had your majesty addressed me on this +subject some weeks ago, I should have said to you, 'You are dreaming a +very pretty dream of innocence, moonshine, and childishness. If you do +not wish to be roughly awakened, go and dream at a distance from Vienna; +for here there are certainly some people who will think it their duty to +disturb you!'" + +"Why did you not warn me, Kaunitz?" + +"I did not wish to have the appearance of forcing myself into your +majesty's confidence. I had not been intrusted with your secret, and had +no right to warn you." + +"No, you warned the empress instead," said Joseph, bitterly. + +"I warned nobody, your majesty. I said to myself, 'He is an enviable man +to be able, in the midst of an artificial life, to enjoy the sweets of +rural intercourse.' I foresaw what must inevitably happen; and pitied +the innocent Eve, who will, ere long, be exiled from paradise." + +"She is exiled!" cried the emperor. "She has been removed, I know not +where. She has disappeared, and no trace of her can I find." + +"Disappeared!" exclaimed Kaunitz, astonished. "Then I have not heard the +whole truth. I did not even know that she was to be removed; I only +suspected it." + +"Tell me the truth!" cried the emperor, sharply. + +"Sire," said Kaunitz, proudly, "there may be times when it is the part +of wisdom to be silent; but it is never permitted to a man of honor to +be untruthful. I know nothing of this girl's disappearance. The most +that I anticipated was a forced marriage. This, I knew, would occasion +new differences between the empress and your majesty, and I had supposed +that you were coming to me to call for my mediation." + +"I must believe you," sighed the emperor. "But prove your integrity by +helping me to find her. Oh, Kaunitz, I beseech of you, help me, and earn +thereby my gratitude and undying regard!" + +"Have I waited so long for your majesty's regard, to earn it on account +of a silly peasant?" said Kaunitz, with a bitter smile. "I hope that I +shall have a niche in the temple of the world's esteem, even if I do +fail in finding the daughter of Conrad the boor. If your majesty has +never esteemed me before, you will not begin to do so today; and, as +regards your promised gratitude; the whole world knows, and your majesty +also knows, that I am not to be bribed; but I am ready, from the depths +of my own attachment to you, to do all that I can to help you." + +"Kaunitz," said the emperor, offering him his hand, "you intend to force +me to love you." + +"If I ever did force your majesty to love me," replied Kaunitz, with +animation, "I should count it the happiest day of my life. If I ever +succeed in winning your confidence, then I may hope to complete the work +I have begun--that of uniting your majesty's dominions into one great +whole, before which all Europe shall bow in reverence." + +"Let us speak of other things," interrupted the emperor. "Help me to +find Marianne." + +"Allow me one question, then--am I the only person to whom your majesty +has spoken on this subject?" + +"No, I have spoken to one other man. I have consulted the shrewdest +detective in all Vienna, and have promised him a large reward if he will +serve me. He came to me this morning. He had discovered nothing, but +gave me to understand that it was you who had betrayed me to the +empress." + +"What is his name, your majesty?" + +"Eberhard. He has sworn to unravel the mystery for me." + +"Then it certainly will be unravelled, for he it is who has been +tracking your majesty, and who has been the means of betraying you to +the empress. I, too, have been giving him gold, with this difference, +that your majesty trusted him, and I did not. He is at the bottom of the +whole plot." + +The emperor sprang from his seat, and hastened to the door. Kaunitz +followed, and ventured to detain him. + +"I must go," cried Joseph, impatiently. "I must force Eberhard to tell +me what has been done with Marianne." + +"You will not find him. He, too, has disappeared." + +"Then I must go to the empress to beg her to be merciful to that poor +child who is suffering on my account. I will exact it of her." + +"That will only make the matter worse." + +Joseph stamped his foot, and uttered a cry of fury. "What must I do, +then?" exclaimed he. + +"Be silent and affect indifference. As soon as the empress believes that +you have grown careless on the girl's account, she will begin to think +that she has taken the matter too seriously to heart. Conrad must sell +his farm, and remove far away from Vienna. Once settled, let him come +and claim his daughter, and the empress will be very glad to be rid of +her. Do this, and all will be right." + +Joseph frowned, and seemed reluctant to follow this advice. + +Kaunitz saw his unwillingness, and continued "This is the only means of +restoring the girl to peace of mind, and your majesty owes her this +reparation. The poor thing has been rudely precipitated from the clouds; +and as the comedy is over, the best thing we can do for her is to +convince her that it as a comedy, and that the curtain has fallen. Your +majesty, however, must not again lay your imperial hand upon the simple +web of her destiny: leave it to your inferiors to gather up its broken +threads. Go away from Vienna; travel, and seek recreation. Leave +Marianne to me, and I swear to you that I will rescue and befriend her. +When you have gone, I shall go to the empress and relate the whole +story. I shall tell all the truth; Maria Theresa has a noble, generous +heart; and she will not do any injury to the one who was instrumental in +saving the life of her darling son. She will do any thing for her +happiness, provided it do not compromise the honor of her imperial +house. And she is right. But you must go, and once gone, Marianne shall +be free." + +"Free not only from others, but from me also," said the emperor, deeply +affected. "I feel I have erred toward this innocent young girl. I have +deeply sinned; for, regardless of her peace of mind, I have allowed +myself to dream of a love that could bring naught and misery to both. +For I will not conceal from you, my friend, how much it costs me to +renounce this sweet creature, and to promise that I will see her no +more. My intercourse with her was the last dying sigh of a love which +has gone from my heart forevermore. But--it must be sacrificed. Rescue +her, and try to make her happy, Kaunitz; try to efface from her heart +the memory of my blasting love." + +"I promise to free her, but I cannot promise to rescue her from the +memory of your majesty's love. Who knows that from the ring which she +has sworn to wear forever, she may not have inhaled a poison that will +shorten her young life? To rescue her from such a fate lies not in the +power of man. Time--the great comforter--may heal her wounds, but your +majesty must promise never to ask whither she has gone. For you she must +be dead." + +"I promise, on my imperial honor, never to see her again," said Joseph, +in a faltering voice. "I will leave to-morrow. Thank God, the world is +wide; and, far away from Vienna, I, too, can seek for oblivion, and, +perchance, for another ray of earthly happiness." And so ended the +pastoral of the emperor and the village maid. + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +COUNT FALKENSTEIN. + +"Away with care and sorrow! Away with royalty and state!" cried the +emperor, as the long train of wagons, which had accompanied him from +Vienna, were disappearing in the distance. + +The empress had caused preparation for her son's journey to be made with +imperial pomp. A brilliant cortege of nobles and gentleman had followed +the emperor's caleche, and behind them came twelve wagons with beds, +cooking utensils, and provisions--the whole gotten up with true princely +magnificence. + +The emperor had said nothing, and had left Vienna amid the chiming of +bells and the loud greetings of the people. For two days he submitted to +the tedious pageants of public receptions, stupid addresses, girls in +white, and flower-decked arches; but on the morning of the third day, +two couriers announced not only to the discomfited gentlemen composing +his suite, but to the conductors of the provision-train, that the +emperor would excuse them from further attendance. + +Everybody was astonished, and everybody was disappointed. The emperor, +meanwhile, stood by laughing, until the last wagon was out of sight. + +"Away with sorrow and care!" cried he, approaching his two carriage +companions, Counts Rosenberg and Coronini. "Note, any friends," +exclaimed he, putting a hand upon the shoulder of each one, "now the +world is ours! Let us enjoy our rich inheritance! But--bless me, how +forlorn you both look! What is the matter? have I been mistaken in +supposing you would relish my plan of travel?" + +"No, your majesty," replied Rosenberg, with a forced smile, "but I am +afraid you will scarcely relish it yourself. You have parted with every +convenience that snakes travelling endurable." + +"Your majesty will have to put up with many a sorry dinner and many an +uncomfortable bed," sighed Comnini. + +"I am tired of comforts and conveniences," rejoined the emperor, +laughing, "and I long for the variety of privation. But, in my +thoughtlessness, I had taken it for granted that you, too, were weary of +grandeur, and would like to get a taste of ordinary life. If I am +mistaken, you are free to return with my discharged cortege; I force no +one to share my hardships. Speak quickly, for there is yet time for me +to select other fellow-travellers." + +"No, no, your majesty," said Rosenberg gayly, "I will go whither you go, +and share your privations!" + +"Here I stay, to live and die at your majesty's side!" cried Coronini, +with comic fervor. + +The emperor nodded. "Thank you both, my friends; I had counted upon you, +and would have regretted your refusal to go with me. Thank Heaven, we +are no longer under the necessity of parading our rank about the world! +I cannot express to you the joy I feel at the prospect of going about +unnoticed, like any other man." + +"That joy will be denied your majesty," said Rosenberg, with a slight +inclination. "The Emperor Joseph can never go unnoticed, like ordinary +men." + +"Do not hope it, your majesty!" cried Coronini. "Your majesty's rank is +stamped upon your brow, and you cannot hide it." + +The emperor looked down on the sandy hillock on which they stood, then +upward at the bright-blue sky above their heads. + +"Are we then under the gilded dome of my mother's palace," sail he, +after a pause, "that I should still hear the language of courtly +falsehood? Awake, my friends, for this is not Austria's imperial +capital! It is the world which God created, and here upon our mother +earth we stand as man to mail. A little shining beetle is creeping on my +boot as familiarly as it would on the sabot of a base-born laborer. If +my divine right were written upon my brow, would not the insects +acknowledge my sovereignty, as in Eden they its golden wings and leave +me without a sign--Happy beetle! Would that I too had wings, that I +might flee away and be at rest!" + +The emperor heaved a sigh, and his thoughts evidently wandered faraway +from the scene before him. But presently recalling himself, he spoke +again. Pointing to the sky, he said: + +"And now, friends, look above you where the heavens enthrone a Jehovah, +in whose sight all men are equal: and so long as we dwell together under +the open sky, remember him who has said, 'Thou shalt have no other gods +before me!"' + +"But, your majesty--" + +"Majesty! Where is any majesty here? If I were a lion, to shake the +forest with my roar I might pretend to majesty among the brutes; but you +see that I am, in all things, like yourself--neither nobler nor greater +than you. In Vienna I am your sovereign: so be it; but while we travel, +I am simply Count Falkenstein. I beg you to respect this name and title, +for the Falkensteins are an older race of nobles than the Hapsburgs, and +the turreted castle of my ancestors, the counts, is one of the oldest in +Germany. Away, then, with royalty! I ask for admittance into your own +rank. Will you accept me, and promise that we shall be on terms of +equality?" + +He offered a hand to each of his friends, and would not permit them to +do otherwise than press it, in token of assent. + +"Now let me tell you my plans. We travel like three happy fellows, bent +upon recreation alone. We go and stay as it best suits us; when we are +hungry, we will dine; when we are tired, we will sleep. A little straw +will make our beds, and our cloaks shall keep us warm. [Footnote: The +emperor, during his tour as Count Falkenstein, repeatedly slept on +straw, over which a leathern cover was spread. Hubner, i., p. 43.] In +Florence I shall be forced to play the emperor, as the reigning duke is +my brother; but he, too, will join us, and then we shall all go on +travelling incognito. First we visit Rome, then Naples. We must find out +whether our sister Caroline has taught her lazzaroni-king to read and +write; and when we shall have learned something of her domestic life, we +will turn our faces homeward. In Milan I roust again play the emperor, +for Lombardy needs my protection, and I must give it. From Lombardy I +return to Vienna. Does the route please you?" + +"Exceedingly, count," replied Rosenberg. + +"It does, indeed, your highness," added Coronini. + +"And why, my highness?" asked Joseph, laughing. + +"Because the Counts of Falkenstein were princes, and the title being +appropriate, I hope your majesty will allow me to use it." "I regret +very much, most worthy master-of-ceremonies-itinerant, that I cannot do +so. Pack up your court-manners, Coronini, and carry them in your trunk +until we get back to Vienna. " + +"So be it, then," sighed Coronini, "since your m--, I mean my lord count, +will have it so, we must be content to have you hidden under a cloud, +like Jupiter, when he made acquaintance with Io." + +"By Jupiter, Coronini, you are ambitious in your similes," replied the +emperor, laughing. "You look very much like Io, do you not?" + +"I hope we may be as lucky as the gods," interrupted Rosenberg, "for +every time they visited the earth they were sure to fall in with all the +pretty women." + +"True; but mythology teaches that the women who aspired to love gods, +forfeited both happiness and life," replied the emperor, with a touch of +sadness in his voice. "But pshaw!" continued he, suddenly, "what do I +say? Away with retrospection! Let us come out of the clouds, and +approach, both of you, while I intrust you with a great secret--I am +hungry. " + +The two counts started in breathless haste for the carriage, near which +the emperor's valet and the postilion were in earnest conversation; but +they returned with very long faces. + +"Count," said Rosenberg, sadly, "we have nothing to eat." + +"The valet says that Count Falkentstein ordered every thing to be sent +back to Vienna except our trunks," sighed Coronini. "All the wine, +bread, game, and delicacies remained in the wagons." + +"Very well," cried the emperor, laughing heartily at the contretemps, +"let us go and ask for dinner in yonder village behind the wood." + +"The postilion says that there is not a public house anywhere about," +continued Coronini, in great distress. "He says that we will find +nothing to eat in the village." + +Instead of making a reply, the emperor walked to the hillock, and +questioned the postilion himself. + +"What is the name of the village beyond the forest?" asked he. + +"Wichern, your majesty." + +"Do we change horses there?" + +"No, your majesty, we harness up at Unterbergen." + +"Can we get any breakfast at Wichern, think you?" + +"No, no, your majesty, not a morsel of any thing--none but peasants live +in the village." + +"Well, my friend, do the peasants live without eating?" + +"Oh, your majesty, they eat anything! They live on bread, bacon, eggs, +and milk, with sometimes a mess of cabbage or beans." + +"And you call that having nothing to eat?" exclaimed Joseph, hastening +joyfully back to his friends. "Come, come; we shall find dinner at +Wichern, and if nobody will cook for us, we will cook for ourselves." + +Coronini opened his eyes like full moons. + +"Why do you stare so, Coronini? Are not all soldiers cooks? I, at least, +am resolved to learn, and I feel beforehand that I shall do honor to +myself. Cook and butler, I shall fill both offices. Come, we are going +to enjoy ourselves. Thomas, tell the postilion to drive as far as the +entrance of the village. We will forage on foot." + +The emperor bounded into the carriage, the two noblemen followed, the +postilion cracked his whip, and they were soon at Wichern. + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +WHAT THEY FOUND AT WICHERN. + +The carriage stopped, and before the valet had had time to open the +door, the emperor leaped to the ground. + +"Come," said he, merrily, "come and seek your fortunes. Thomas, you +remain with the carriage. Drive under the shade of that tree and wait +for our return. Before all things, I forbid you to tell anybody who we +are. From this day forward, my name is Count Falkenstein. Mark me! I +expect you to preserve my incognito." + +"I will obey you, my lord count," said the valet, with a bow. + +The emperor with his two companions walked toward the village. Nothing +very hopeful was to be seen as they looked up the dirty little streets. +The wretched mud cottages stood each one apart, their yards separated by +scraggy willow-hedges, upon which ragged old garments were hanging in +the sun to dry. Between the hedges were muddy pools, over which the +ducks were wrangling for the bits of weed that floated on the surface of +the foul waters. On their borders, in the very midst of the rubbish and +kitchen offal that lay about in heaps, dirty, half-naked children, with +straw-colored hair, tumbled over one another, or paddled in the water. +In the farm-yards around the dung-heaps, the youngest children of the +cottagers kept company with the sow and her grunting pigs. Before the +slovenly entrances of the huts here and there sat dirty, unseemly old +men and women, who stared at the three strangers as they surveyed the +uninviting picture before them. + +"I congratulate the emperor that he is not obliged to look upon this +shocking scene," said Joseph. "I am glad that his people cannot cry out +to him for help, since help for such squalor as this there is none on +earth." + +"They are not as wretched as you suppose," said Rosenberg. "These people +are scarcely above the brute creation; and they know of nothing better +than the existence which is so shocking to you. They were born and bred +in squalor, and provided their pastures yield forage, their hens lay +eggs and their cows give milk, they live and die contented." + +"If so, they are an enviable set of mortals," replied Joseph, laughing, +"and we, who require so much for our comfort, are poorer than they. But +as there is no help for our poverty, let us think of dinner. Here are +three streets; the village seems to have been divided for our especial +accommodation. Each one shall take a street, and in one hour from now we +meet at the carriage, each man with a dish of contribution. En avant! I +take the street before me; you do the same. Look at your watches, and be +punctual." + +So saying, he waved his hand and hastened forward. The same solitude and +misery met his view as he walked on; the same ducks, hens, sows, and +tumbling children; with now and then the shrill treble of a scolding +woman, or the melancholy lowing of a sick cow. + +"I am curious now," thought the emperor, "to know how and where I am to +find my dinner. But stay--here is a cottage less slovenly than its +neighbors; I shall tempt my fortunes there." + +He opened the wicker gate and entered the yard. The lazy sow that lay on +the dunghill grunted, but took no further notice of the imperial +intruder. He stopped before the low cottage door and knocked, but no one +came. The place seemed silent and deserted; not the faintest hum of life +was to be heard from within. + +"I shall take the liberty of going in without awaiting an invitation," +said the emperor, pushing open the door and entering the cottage. But he +started at the unexpected sight that met his view as he looked around +the room. It was a miserable place, cold and bare; not a chair or any +other article of household furniture was to be seen; but in the centre +of the room stood a small deal coffin, and in the coffin was the corpse +of a child. Stiff and cold, beautiful and tranquil, lay the babe, a +smile still lingering around its mouth, while its half-open eyes seemed +fixed upon the white roses that were clasped in its little dimpled +hands. The coffin lay in the midst of flowers, and within slept the dead +child, transfigured and glorified. + +The emperor advanced softly and bent over it. He looked with tender +sympathy at the little marble image which yesterday was a poor, ragged +peasant, to-day was a bright and winged angel. His thoughts flew back to +the imperial palace, where his little motherless daughter was fading +away from earth, and the father prayed for his only child. He took from +the passive hands a rose, and softly as he came, he left the solitary +cottage, wherein an angel was keeping watch. + +He passed over to the neighboring yard. Here too, everything seemed to +be at rest: but a savory odor saluted the nostrils of the noble +adventurer which at least betokened the presence of beings who hungered +and thirsted, and had some regard for the creature comforts of life. + +"Ah!" said the emperor, drawing in the fragrant smell, "that savors of +meat and greens," and he hurried through the house to the kitchen. Sure +enough, there blazed a roaring fire, and from the chimney-crane hung the +steaming pot whence issued the delightful aroma of budding dinner. On +the hearth stood a young woman of cleanly appearance, who was stirring +the contents of the pot with a great wooden spoon. + +"Good-morning, madame," said the emperor, in a loud, cheerful voice. The +woman started, gave a scream, and turned her glowing face to the door. + +"What do you mean by coming into strange people's houses and frightening +them so?" cried she, angrily. "Nobody asked you in, I am sure." + +"Pardon me, madame," said the emperor. "I was urgently invited." + +"I should like to know who invited you, for nobody is here but myself, +and I don't want you." + +"Yes, madame; but your steaming kettle, I do assure you, has given me a +pressing invitation to dine here." + +"Oh! you are witty, are you? Well, carry your wits elsewhere; they won't +serve you here. My kettle calls nobody but those who are to eat of my +dinner." + +"That is the very thing I want, madame. I want to eat of your dinner." +As he spoke, the emperor kept advancing until he came close upon the +kettle and its tempting contents; but the peasant-woman pushed him +rudely back, and thrusting her broad person between himself and the +coveted pot, she looked defiance at him, and broke out into a torrent of +abuse. + +The emperor laughed aloud. "I don't wish to rob you," said he. "I will +pay you handsomely if you will only let me have your dinner. What have +you in that pot?" + +"That is none of your business. With my bacon and beans you have no +concern." + +"Bacon and beans! Oh, my craving stomach! Here, take this piece of gold +and give the some directly." + +"Do you take me for a fool, to sell my dinner just as the men will be +coming from the field!" + +"By no means for a fool," said the emperor, soothingly; "but if you show +the men that golden ducat they will wait patiently until you cook them +another dinner. Your husband can buy himself a fine holiday suit with +this." + +"He has one, and don't want two. Go your way; you shall not have a +morsel of my dinner." + +"Not if I give you two gold pieces? Come, do be accommodating, and give +me the bacon and beans." + +"I tell you yon shall not have them," screamed the termagant. "I have no +use for your gold, but I want my dinner. So be off with you. You will +get nothing from me if you beg all day long." + +"Very well, madame; I bid you good-morning," said Joseph, laughing, but +inwardly chagrined at his fiasco. "I must go on, however," thought he; +and he entered the yard of the next house. Before the door sat a pale +young woman, with a new-born infant in her arms. She looked up with a +languid smile. + +"I am hungry," said Joseph, after greeting her with uncovered head. +"Have you any thing good in your kitchen?" + +She shook her head sadly. "I am a poor, weak creature, sir, and cannot +get a meal for my husband," replied she; "he will have to cook his own +dinner when he comes home." + +"And what will he cook to-day, for instance?" + +"I suppose he will make an omelet; for the hens have been cackling a +great deal this morning, and an omelet is made in a few minutes." + +"Is it? So much the better, then; you can show me how to make one, and I +will pay you well." + +"Go in the hen-coop, sir, and see if you find any eggs. My husband will +want three of them; the rest are at your service." + +"Where is the hen-coop?" asked Joseph, much pleased. + +"Go through the kitchen out into the yard, and you will see a little +room with a wooden bolt; that is the hen-coop." + +"I go," cried Joseph merrily. Presently great commotion was heard among +the hens, and the emperor returned with a glowing face, his hair and +coat well sprinkled with straw. He came forward with both hands full of +eggs. + +"Here are eight," said he. "Three for your husband, and five for me. Now +tell me how I must cook them." + +"You will have to go to the kitchen, sir. There you will find a flitch +of bacon. Cut off some slices, put them in a pan you will see there, and +set it on the fire. My neighbor has just now made some for poor John. +Then look on the dresser and take some milk and a little flour. Make a +batter of them with the eggs, pour it upon your bacon, and when the eggs +are done, the omelet is made. It is the easiest thing in the world." + +"My dear good woman, it will be a desperately hard task for me," said +the emperor with a sigh. "I'm afraid I shall make a very poor omelet. +Won't you come into the kitchen and make it for me? Do, I will pay you +well." + +"Dear gentleman," said the young woman, blushing "do you think I am so +idle as to sit here, if I could get up and help you? I was brought to +bed yesterday of this baby; and I am such a poor, sickly thing that I +shall not be able to get up before two days. As the day was bright, dear +John brought me and the baby out here, because it was more cheerful on +the door-sill than within. I am a weak, useless creature, sir." + +"Weak! useless!" cried the emperor, astounded; "and you expect to be up +in three days after your confinement? Poor little thing! Have you no +physician and no medicine?" + +"The Lord is my physician, sir," said the simple creature, "and my +medicine is the fresh air. But let me think of your omelet. If you +cannot make it yourself, just step to the cottage on the left, and call +my neighbor. She is very good to me, and she will make your omelet for +you with pleasure." + +"A thousand thanks," said the emperor, hastening to follow the +directions. He, returned in a few moments with a good-humored, healthy +young woman, who went cheerfully to work, and the omelet was soon made. + +One hour after he had parted from his friends, the emperor was seen +coming along the street with a platter in his hand and a little bucket +on his arm. He walked carefully, his eyes fixed upon his precious dish, +all anxiety lest it should fall from his hands. + +Thomas was thunderstruck. An emperor carrying an earthen platter in his +hand! He darted forward to receive it, but Joseph motioned him away. + +"Don't touch me, Thomas," said he, "or I shall let it fall. I intend to +place it with my own hands. Go, now, and set the table. Pile up some of +those flat stones, and bring the carriage cushions. We will dine under +that wide-spreading oak. Make haste, I am very hungry." + +Off went Thomas, obedient, though bewildered; and he had soon improvised +a, table, over which he laid a shining damask cloth. Luckily, the +emperor's camp-chest had not been put in the baggage-wagon, or his +majesty would have had to eat with his fingers. But the golden service +was soon forthcoming, with goblets of sparkling crystal, and three +bottles of fine old Hungarian wine. + +"Now," said Joseph triumphantly, "let me place my dishes." With these +words he put on his platter and basket, with great ceremony and +undisguised satisfaction. + +A curious medley of wealth and poverty were these golden plates and +forks, with the coarse red platter, that contained the hard-earned +omelet. But the omelet was smoking and savory, and the strawberries were +splendid. + +While the emperor was enjoying the result of his foraging expedition, +Rosenberg and Coronini were seen approaching, each with his earthen +platter in his hand. + +"The hour is up and we are here," said Coronini. "I have the honor of +laying my dish at your m--feet, count." + +"Potatoes! beautiful roasted potatoes!" cried Joseph. "Why, count, you +have brought us a treat." + +"I rejoice to hear it, my lord count; for I was threatened with a +broomstick when I tore it from the hands of the woman, who vowed I +should not have a single potato. I dashed two ducats at her feet and +made off with all speed; for the hour was almost up, and I had exhausted +all my manners in the ten houses, which I had visited in vain, before my +successful raid upon hers." + +"And will not my lord count cast an eye upon my dish?" asked Rosenberg. + +"He has obtained that for which I sued in vain!" cried Joseph. "He has +actually brought bacon and beans." + +"But I did not sue; I stormed and threatened. Neither did I waste my +gold to obtain my end. I threw the woman a silver thaler and plenty of +abuse in the bargain." + +"Let us be seated!" said the emperor, "and pray admire my omelet and my +strawberries. Now, Coronini, the strawberries are tempting, but before +you taste them, I must tell you that they are tainted with treason: +treason toward my own sacred person. Reflect well before you decide to +eat them. What I am going to relate is as terrible as it is true. While +my omelet was cooking, I strolled out into the road to see if there was +any thing else in Wichern besides poultry, pigs, and dirty children. +Coming toward me I perceived a pretty little barefoot boy, with a basket +full of red, luscious strawberries. I asked where he was going. He said +to the neighboring village to sell his strawberries to the farmer's +wife, who had ordered them. I offered to buy them, but my gold could not +tempt the child--he refused peremptorily to sell them to me at any +price. I argued, pleaded, threatened; all to no purpose. At length, +seeing there was no other alternative, I snatched his strawberries away, +threw him a ducat, and walked off with the prize. He picked up the gold, +but as he did so, he saluted my imperial ears with an epithet--such an +epithet! Oh, you will shudder when you hear what language the little +rascal used to his sovereign! You never will be able to bear it, +Coronini: you, whose loyalty is offended every time you address me as +Count Falkenstein. I only wonder that the sun did not hide its head, and +the earth tremble at the sacrilege! What do you suppose he called +me?--An ass! He did, I assure you. That little bare-legged boy called +his emperor an ass! Now, Coronini, do you think you can taste of the +strawberries that were gathered by those treacherous little hands?" + +"If my lord count allows it, I will venture to eat," replied Coronini, +"for I really think there was no treason committed." + +"Why! not when he called me an--" + +"Pray do not say it again," entreated Coronini, raising his hands +deprecatingly; "it cuts me to the heart. But Count Falkenstein had +already proclaimed that no majesty was by, and when no majesty, was +there, no majesty could be insulted." + +"Oh, you sophist! Did you not say that I wore my title upon my brow? Did +you not tell me that I could not hide my majesty from the sons of men? +But I forgive you, and the boy also. Let us drink his health while we +enjoy his strawberries. Fill your glasses to the brim, and having done +honor to those who furnished our repast, allow me to propose--ourselves: +To the health of those who are about to eat a dinner which they have +earned by the sweat of their brow." + +So saying, the emperor touched the glasses of his friends. + +"Now, postilion," cried he, before they drank, "blow us a blast on your +horn--a right merry blast!" + +The postilion put the horn to his lips, and while he blew the glasses +clinked gayly; and the friends laughed, jested, and ate their dinner +with a relish they had seldom known before. [Footnote: Hubner, "Life of +Joseph II.," vol. i., page 40.] + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +THE SOMNAMBULIST. + +The policy instituted by Kaunitz, when he became sole minister of the +empress, had now culminated in the alliance of Austria with France, +through the solemn betrothal of the childish Marie Antoinette with the +dauphin. The union was complete--it was to be cemented by the strong tie +of intermarriage; and now, that success had crowned the schemes to which +she had yielded such hearty consent, Maria Theresa was anxious, +restless, and unhappy. Vainly she strove to thrust from her memory the +prophecy which had been foretold in relation to the destinies of France. +With anguish she remembered the cry of Marie Antoinette; with horror she +recurred to the vision which had overcome Catherine de Medicis. + +"It is sinful in me," thought the empress, as one morning she left her +pillow from inability to sleep. "God alone is Lord of futurity, and no +human hand dare lift its black curtain! But stay," cried she, suddenly +springing up, and in her eager haste beginning to dress without +assistance. "There is in Vienna a holy nun, who is said to be a +prophetess, and Father Gassner, to whom I have extended protection, he, +too, is said at times to enjoy the privilege of God's prophets of old. +Perhaps they have been sent in mercy to warn us, lest, in our ignorance +of consequences, we stumble and sin." + +For some time the empress walked up and down her room, undecided whether +to turn the sibylline leaves or not. It might be sinful to question, it +might be fatal to remain ignorant. Was it, or was it not the will of +God, that she should pry into the great mystery of futurity? Surely it +could not be sinful, else why should He have given to His servants the +gift of prophecy? + +"I will go to the Ursuline nun," concluded she, "and Father Gassner +shall come to me." + +She rang, and ordered a carriage, with no attendant but her first lady +of honor. "No footman, no outriders, but a simple court equipage; and +inform Father Gassner that in one hour I shall await him in the palace." + +In less than half an hour the carriage of the empress was at the gate of +the Ursuline Convent. Completely disguised in a long black cloak, with +her face hidden under a thick veil, Maria Theresa leaped eagerly to the +ground. + +Her attendant was about to follow, but the empress motioned her to +remain. "Await me here," said she, "I do not wish to be known in the +convent. I am about to imitate my son, and visit my subjects incognito." + +The porteress, who had recognized the imperial liveries, made no +opposition to the entrance of the tall, veiled figure. She supposed her +to be some lady of the empress's household, and allowed her to pass at +once into the hall, following her steps with undisguised curiosity. + +She had already ascended the staircase, when she turned to the +porteress. + +"In which cell is the invalid nun?" asked she. + +"Your highness means Sister Margaret, the somnambulist?" asked the +porteress. "She has been taken to the parlor of the abbess, for the +convenience of the many who visit her now." + +"Does she pretend to reveal the future?" + +"It would make your highness's hair stand on end to hear her! She has +been asleep this morning, and do you know what she said in her sleep. +She prophesied that the convent would be honored by a visit from the +empress on this very day." + +"Did she, indeed?" faltered Maria Theresa. "When? How long ago?" + +"About two hours ago, your highness. And as she is never mistaken, the +abbess has prepared all things for her majesty's reception. Doubtless +your ladyship has been sent to announce her?" + +"You really feel sure that she will come?" + +"Certainly. Sister Margaret's visions are prophetic--we cannot doubt +them." + +The empress shuddered, and drew her cloak close around her. "Gracious +Heaven!" thought she, "what if she should prophesy evil for my +child?--It is well," added she, aloud; "where shall I find her?" + +"Your highness has only to turn to the left; the last door leads into +the parlor of the abbess." + +A deep silence reigned throughout the convent. The empress went on +through the dim, long corridor, now with hurried step and wildly-beating +heart, now suddenly pausing faint and irresolute, to lean against a +pillar, and gather courage for the interview. As she turned the corner +of the corridor, a flood of light, streaming through an oriel window, +revived and cheered her. She stepped forward and looked. The window +opened upon the chapel, where the lights were burning upon the altar, +and high mass was about to begin; for Sister Margaret had said that the +empress was very near. + +"It is true. They are waiting for me. Oh, she must be a prophetess, for, +two hours ago, I had not dreamed of coming hither! I feel my courage +fail me. I will go back. I dare not hear, for it is too late." + +The empress turned and retraced her steps; then once more calling up all +her fortitude, she returned. "For," thought she, "if God permits me to +see, why should I remain blind? He it is who has sent me to this holy +prophetess. I must listen for my Antoinette's sake." + +A second time she went forward, reached the parlor, and opened the door. +She had scarcely appeared on the threshold, cloaked and screened by her +thick black veil, when a clear voice, whose tones were preterhuman in +their melody, addressed her. "Hail, Empress of Austria! All hail to her +who cometh hither!" + +"She is indeed a prophetess!" murmured the empress. "She knows me +through my disguise." + +She approached the bed and bent over it. The nun lay with closed eyes; +but a heavenly smile was upon her lips, and a holy light seemed to play +around her pale but beautiful face. Not the least tinge of color was on +her cheeks; and but for the tint of carmine upon her lips--so unearthly, +so seraphic was her beauty--that she might have been mistaken for a +sculptor's dream of Azrael, the pale angel of death. + +While the empress gazed awe-stricken, the abbess and the nuns, who had +been kneeling around the bed, arose to greet their sovereign. + +"Is it indeed our gracious empress?" asked the abbess. + +Maria Theresa withdrew her hat and veil, and revealed her pale, agitated +face. + +"I am the empress," said she,, "But I implore you let there be no +ceremony because of my visit. In this sacred habitation, God alone is +great, and His creatures are all equal before Him. We are in the +presence of the servant to whom He has condescended to speak, while to +the sovereigns of earth He is silent. To Him alone belongs homage." + +"Gracious empress, Sister Margaret had announced your majesty's visit, +and we were to have greeted you as becomes Christian subjects. The +chapel is prepared, the altar is decked." + +"I will repair later to the church, mother. At present, my visit is to +Sister Margaret." + +"If so, your majesty must not delay. She sleeps but three hours at a +time, and she will soon awake. She has the gift of prophecy in her sleep +only." + +"Then go, holy mother, and leave me alone with her. Go and await me in +the church." + +The abbess glanced at the clock on the wall. "She will awake in ten +minutes," said she, and with noiseless steps the nuns all left the room. + +The empress waited until the door was closed and the sound of their +light footfall had died away; then again approaching the bed, she +called, "Sister Margaret." + +The nun trembled, and her brow grew troubled. "Oh," said she, "the +angels have flown! Why have you come with your sad notes of sorrow to +silence the harmony of my heavenly dreams?" + +"You know then that I am sad?" asked the empress. + +"Yes, your heart is open to me. I see your anguish. The mother comes to +me, not the empress." + +Maria Theresa feeling herself in the presence of a supernatural being, +glided down upon her knees. "You are right," said she, "it is indeed a +sorrowing mother who kneels before you, imploring you, in the humility +of my heart, to say what God hath revealed of her daughter s fate!" + +"Oh!" cried the nun, in a voice of anguish. + +But the empress went on. "My soul trembles for Marie Antoinette. +Something seems to warn me not to trust my child to the foul atmosphere +of that court of France, where Du Barry sits by the side of the king, +and the nobles pay her homage as though she were a virtuous queen. Oh! +tell me, holy sister, what will become of my Antoinette in France?" + +"Oh! oh!" wailed the nun, and she writhed upon her bed. + +"She is so sweet, so pure, so innocent!" continued the empress. "My +spotless dove! Will she soil her wings? Oh, sister, speak to me!" + +"Oh!" cried the nun, for the third time, and the empress trembled, while +her face grew white as that of the prophetess. + +"I am on my knees," murmured she, "and I await your answer. Sister +Margaret! Sister Margaret! in the name of God, who has endowed you with +superhuman wisdom, tell me what is to be the fate of Marie Antoinette?" + +"Thou hast called on the name of God," said the nun, in a strange, clear +voice, "and I am forced to answer thee. Thou wouldst know the fate of +Marie Antoinette? Hear it: She will live through much evil, but will +return to virtue." [Footnote: Swinburne vol. i., p. 351.] + +"She will then cease to be virtuous," cried the empress, bursting into +tears. + +"She will learn much evil," repeated the nun, turning uneasily on her +bed. "She will endure--poor Marie Antoinette! Unhappy Queen of France! +Woe! woe!" + +"Woe unto me!" cried the wretched mother. "Woe unto her who leadeth her +children into temptation!" + +"She will return to virtue!" murmured the nun, indistinctly. "Poor +Queen--of--France!" + +With a loud cry she threw out her arms, and sat upright in the bed. Her +eyes opened, and she looked around the room. + +"Where is the reverend mother?" cried she. "Were are the sisters?" + +Suddenly her eyes rested upon the black and veiled figure of the +empress. + +"Who are you?" exclaimed she. "Away with you, black shadow! I am not yet +dead! Not yet! Oh, this pain! this pain!" and the nun fell back upon her +pillow. + +Maria Theresa rose from her knees, and, wild with terror, fled from the +room. Away she sped through the long, dark corridor to the window that +overlooked the chapel, where the nuns were awaiting her return--away +down the wide stone staircase, through the hall, out into the open air. +She hurried into the carriage, and, once seated, fell back upon the +cushions and wept aloud. + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +THE PROPHECY. + +The empress spoke not a word during the drive to the palace. She was so +absorbed in her sorrow as to be unconscious of the presence of another +person, and she wept without restraint until the carriage stopped. Then, +stifling her sobs and hastily drying her tears, she dropped her veil and +walked with her usual majestic gait through the palace halls. In her +anteroom she met a gentleman in waiting coming toward her. + +"Father Gassner, your majesty." + +"Where is he?" + +"Here, so please your majesty." + +"Let him follow me into my cabinet," said the empress, going forward, +while the courtier and the priest came behind. When she reached the door +of her cabinet she turned. "Wait here," said she. "When I ring, I beg of +you to enter, father. The count will await your return in this room." + +She entered her cabinet and closed the door. Once more alone, she gave +vent to her sorrow. She wept aloud, and in her ears she seemed to hear +the clear, metallic voice of the sick nun pealing out those dreadful +words: "She will live through much evil, but will return to virtue." + +But Maria Theresa was no coward. She was determined to master her +credulity. + +"I am a simpleton," thought she. "I must forget the dreams of a +delirious nun. How could I be so weak as to imagine that God would +permit an hysterical invalid to prophesy to a sound and strong woman +like myself? I will speak with Father Gassner. Perhaps he may see the +future differently. If he does, I shall know that they are both false +prophets, and their prophecies I shall throw to the winds." + +Strengthened by these reflections, the empress touched her bell. The +door opened, and Father Gassner entered the room. He bowed, and then +drawing his tall, majestic figure to its full height, he remained +standing by the door, with his large, dark-blue eyes fixed upon the face +of the empress. She returned the glance. There seemed to be a strife +between the eyes of the sovereign, who was accustomed to see others bend +before her, and those of the inspired man, whose intercourse was with +the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Each met the other with dignity +and composure. + +Suddenly the empress strode haughtily up to the priest and said in a +tone that sounded almost defiant: + +"Father Gassner, have you the courage to look me in the face and assert +yourself to be a prophet?" + +"It requires no courage to avow a gift, which God, in the superabundance +of His goodness, has bestowed upon one who does not deserve it," replied +the father, gently. "If my eyes are opened to see, or my hand to heal, +glory be to God who has blessed them! The light, the grace are not mine, +why should I deny my Lord?" [Footnote: Father Gassner was one of the +most remarkable thaumaturgists of the eighteenth century. He healed all +sorts of diseases by the touch of his hand and multitudes flocked to him +for cure. His extraordinary powers displeased the bishop of his diocese, +and, to avoid censure, Father Gassner sought protection from the +empress, who held him in great reverence. His prediction concerning the +fate of Marie Antoinette was generally known long before its +accomplishment. It was related to Madame Campan, by a son of Kaunitz, +years before the Revolution.] + +"Then, if I question you as to the future, you will answer?" + +"If it is given to me to do so, I will answer." + +"Tell me, then, whether Antoinette will be happy in her marriage?" The +priest turned pale, but he said nothing. + +"Speak, speak; or I will denounce you as a false prophet!" + +"Is this the only thing your majesty has to ask of me?" + +"The only one." + +"Then denounce me--for I cannot answer your majesty." + +Gassner turned, and his hand was upon the lock of the door. + +"Stay!" cried the empress, haughtily. "I command you, as your sovereign, +to speak the truth." + +"The truth?" cried Gassner, in a voice of anguish, and his large eyes +opened with an expression of horror. + +What did he see with those eyes that seemed to look far out into the dim +aisles of the terrible future? + +"The truth!" echoed the unhappy mother. "Tell me, will my Antoinette be +happy?" + +Deep sighs convulsed the breast of the priest, and, with a look of +inexpressible agony, he answered, solemnly: + +"Empress of Austria, WE HAVE ALL OUR CROSS TO BEAR!" +[Footnote: "Memoires de Madame Campan," vol. ii., p. 14.] + +The empress started back, with a cry. + +"Again, again!" murmured she, burying her face in her hands. But +suddenly coming forward, her eyes flaming like those of an angry +lioness, she said: + +"What mean these riddles? Speak out at once, and tell me, without +equivocation--what is to be the fate of Antoinette?" + +"WE HAVE ALL OUR CROSS TO BEAR," repeated the priest, "and the Queen of +France will surely have hers." + +With these words he turned and left the room. + +Pale and rigid, the empress stood in the middle of the room, murmuring +to herself the two fearful prophecies: "She will live through much evil, +but will return to virtue."--"We have all our cross to bear, and the +Queen of France will surely have hers." + +For a while Maria Theresa was overwhelmed by the double blow she had +received. But it was not in her nature to succumb to circumstances. She +must overrule them. + +She rang her bell, and a page entered the room. + +"Let a messenger be dispatched to Prince Kaunitz, I wish to see his +highness. He can come to me unannounced." + +Not long after the prince made his appearance. A short sharp glance at +the agitated mien of the empress showed to the experienced diplomatist +that to-day, as so often before, he must oppose the shield of +indifference to the storm of passion with which he was about to contend. + +"Your majesty," said he, "has sent for me, just as I was about to +request an audience. I am in receipt of letters from the emperor. He has +spent a day with the King of Prussia." + +He attempted to give the letters into the hands of the empress, but she +put them back with a gesture of impatience. + +"Prince Kaunitz," said she, "it is you who have done this-you must undo +it. It cannot, shall not be." + +"What does your majesty mean?" asked Kaunitz, astonished. "I speak of +that which lies nearest my heart," said the empress, warmly. + +"Of the meeting of the emperor with the King of Prussia," returned +Kaunitz, quietly. "Yesterday they met at Neisse. It was a glorious +interview. The two monarchs embraced, and the emperor remarked-" + +"Enough, enough!" cried Maria Theresa, impatiently. "You affect to +misunderstand me. I speak of Antoinette's engagement to the dauphin. It +must be broken. My daughter shall not go to France." + +Kaunitz was so completely astounded, so sincerely astounded, that he was +speechless. The paint upon his face could not conceal the angry flush +that colored it, nor his pet locks cover the wrinkles that rose up to +disfigure his forehead. + +"Do not stare at me as if you thought I was parting with my senses," +cried the empress. "I know very well what I say. I will not turn my +innocent Antoinette into that den of corruption. She shall not bear a +cross from which it is in my power to save her." + +"Who speaks of crosses?" asked Kaunitz, bewildered. "The only thing of +which I have heard is a royal crown wherewith her brow is to be decked." + +"She shall not wear that crown?" exclaimed Maria Theresa. "God himself +has warned me through the lips of His prophets, and not unheeded shall +the warning fall." + +Kaunitz breathed more freely, and his features resumed their wonted +calmness. + +"If that is all," thought he, gayly, "I shall be victorious. An ebullition +of superstition is easily quieted by a little good news." "Your majesty +has been following the new fashion," said he, aloud; "you have been +consulting the fortune-tellers. I presume you have visited the nun who +is subject to pious hysterics; and Father Gassner, I see, has been +visiting your majesty, for I met him as I was coming to the palace. I +could not help laughing as I saw his absurd length of visage." + +Maria Theresa, in reply to this irony, related the answers which had +been made to her questions. + +Kaunitz listened with sublime indifference, and evinced not a spark of +sympathy. When the empress had concluded her story, he merely said + +"What else, your majesty?" + +"What else?" echoed the empress, surprised "Yes, your majesty. Surely +there must be something more than a pair of vague sentences, a pair of +'ohs' and 'ahs;' and a sick nun and a silly priest. These insignificant +nothings are certainly not enough to overturn the structure which for +ten years we have employed all our skill to build up." + +"I well know that you are an infidel and an unbeliever, Kaunitz," cried +the empress, vexed at the quiet sneers of her minister. "I know you +believe that only which you can understand and explain." + +"No, your majesty, I believe all that is reasonable. What I cannot +comprehend is unreasonable." + +The empress glanced angrily at his stony countenance. "God sometimes +speaks to us through the mouths of His chosen ones," cried she; "and, as +I believe in the inspiration of Sister Margaret and Father Gassner, my +daughter shall not go to France." + +"Is that your majesty's unalterable resolution?" + +"It is." + +"Then," returned Kaunitz, bowing, "allow me to make a request for +myself." + +"Speak on." + +"Allow me at once to retire from your majesty's service." + +"Kaunitz!" exclaimed Maria Theresa, "is it possible that you would +forsake me?" + +"No, your majesty; it is you who forsake me. You are willing, for the +sake of two crazy seers, to destroy the fabric which it has been the +work of my life to construct. Your majesty desires that I should remain +your minister, and with my own hand should undo the web that I have +woven with such trouble to myself? All Europe knows that the French +alliance is my work. To this end I have labored by day and lain awake by +night; to this end I have flattered and bribed; to this end I have seen +my friend De Choiseul disgraced, while I bowed low before his miserable +successor, that I might win him and that wretched Du Barry to my +purpose!" + +"You are irretrievably bent upon this alliance?" asked the empress, +thoughtfully. "It was then not to gratify me that you sought to place a +crown upon my dear child's head?" + +"Your majesty's wishes have always been sacred to me, but I should never +have sought to gratify them, had they not been in accordance with my +sense of duty to Austria. I have not sought to make a queen of the +Archduchess Maria Antoinette. I have sought to unite Austria with +France, and to strengthen the southwestern powers of Europe against the +infidelity and barbarism of Prussia and Russia. In spite of all that is +taking place at Neisse, Austria and Prussia are, and ever will be, +enemies. The king and the emperor may flatter and smile, but neither +believes what the other says. Frederick will never lose an opportunity +of robbing. He ogles Russia, and would gladly see her our 'neighbor,' if +by so doing he were to gain an insignificant province for Prussia. It is +to ward off these dangerous accomplices that we seek alliance with +France, and through France, with Spain, Portugal, and Italy. And now, +when the goal is won, and the prize is ours, your majesty retracts her +imperial word! You are the sovereign, and your will must be, done. But I +cannot lend my hand to that which my reason condemns as unwise, and my +conscience as dishonorable. I beg of your majesty, to-day and forever, +to dismiss me from your service!" + +The empress did not make any reply. She had risen, and was walking +hastily up and down, murmuring low, inarticulate words and heaving deep, +convulsive sighs. Kaunitz followed her with the eye of a cool physician, +who watches the crisis of a brain-fever. He looked down, however, as the +empress, stopping, raised her dark, glowing eyes to his. When he met her +glance his expression had changed; it had become as usual. + +"You have heard the pleadings of the mother," said she, breathing hard, +"and you have silenced them with your cold arguments. The empress has +heard, and she it is who must decide against herself. She has no right +to sacrifice her empire to her maternity. May God forgive me," continued +she, solemnly clasping her hands, "if I err in quelling the voice of my +love which cries so loudly against this union. Let it be accomplished! +Marie Antoinette shall be the bride of Louis XVI." + +"Spoken like the noble Empress of Austria!" cried Kaunitz, triumphantly. + +"Do not praise me," returned Maria Theresa sadly; "but hear what I have +to say. You have spoken words so bold, that it would seem you fancy +yourself to be Emperor of Austria. It was not you who sought alliance +with France, but myself. You did nothing but follow out my intentions +and obey my commands. The sin of my refusal, therefore, was nothing to +you or your conscience--it rested on my head alone." + +"May God preserve your majesty to your country and your subjects! May +you long be Austria's head, and I--your right hand!" exclaimed Kaunitz. + +"You do not then wish to retire?" asked she, with a languid smile. + +"I beg of your majesty to forgive and retain me." + +"So be it, then," returned the empress, with a light inclination of the +head. "But I cannot hear any more to-day. You have no sympathy with my +trials as a mother. I have sacrificed my child to Austria, but my heart +is pierced with sorrow and apprehension. Leave me to my tears. I cannot +feel for any one except my child--my poor, innocent child!" + +She turned hastily away, that he might not see the tears that were +already streaming down her face. Kaunitz bowed, and left the cabinet +with his usual cold, proud step. + +The minister once gone, Maria Theresa gave herself up to the wildest +grief. No one saw her anguish but God; no one ever knew how the powerful +empress writhed and wrung her hands in her powerless agony; no one but +God and the dead emperor, whose mild eyes beamed compassion from the +gilt frame in which his picture hung, upon the wall. To this picture +Maria Theresa at last raised her eyes, and it seemed, to her excited +imagination, that her husband smiled and whispered words of consolation. + +"Yes, dear Franz, I hear you," said she. "You would remind me that this +is our wedding-day. Alas, I know it! Once a day of joy, and from this +moment the anniversary of a great sorrow! Franz, it is OUR child that is +the victim! The sweet Antoinette, whose eyes are so like her father's! +Oh, dear husband, my heart is heavy with grief; Why may I not go to rest +too? But thou wilt not love me if my courage fail. I will be brave, +Franz; I will work, and try to do my duty." + +She approached her writing-table, and began to overlook the heaps of +papers that awaited her inspection and signature. Gradually her brow +cleared and her face resumed its usual expression of deep thought and +high resolve. The mother forgot her grief, and the empress was absorbed +in the cares of state. + +She felt so strongly the comfort and sustenance derived from labor, that +on that day she dined alone, and returned immediately to her +writing-desk. Twilight came on, and still the empress was at work. +Finally the rolling of carriages toward the imperial theatre was heard, +and presently the shouts of the applauding audience. The empress heard +nothing. She had never attended the theatre since her husband's death, +and it was nothing to her that to-night Lessing's beautiful drama, +"Emilia Galotti," was being represented for the first time in Vienna. + +Twilight deepened into night, and the empress rang for lights. Then +retiring to her dressing-room, she threw off her heavy court costume, +and exchanged it for a simple peignoir, in which she returned to her +cabinet and still wrote on. + +Suddenly the stillness was broken by a knock, and a page entered with a +golden salver, on which lay a letter. + +"A courier from Florence, your majesty," said he. + +Maria Theresa took the letter, and dismissed the page. "From my +Leopold," said she, while she opened it. "It is an extra courier. It +must announce the accouchement of his wife. Oh, my heart, how it beats!" + +With trembling hands she held the missive and read it. But at once her +face was lighted up with joy, and throwing herself upon her knees before +the portrait of the emperor, she said, "Franz, Leopold has given us a +grandson. Do you hear?" + +No answer came in response to the joyful cry of the empress, and she +could not bear the burden of her joy alone. Some one must rejoice with +her. She craved sympathy, and she must go out to seek it. + +She left her cabinet. Unmindful of her dress, she sped through the long +corridors, farther and still farther, down the staircase and away to the +extremest end of the palace, until she reached the imperial theatre. + +That night it was crowded. The interest of the spectators had deepened +as the play went on. They were absorbed in the scene between Emilia and +her father, when a door was heard to open and to shut. + +Suddenly, in the imperial box, which had so long been empty, a tall and +noble figure bent forward, far over the railing, and a clear, musical +voice cried out: + +"Leopold has a son!" + +The audience, as if electrified, rose with one accord from their seats. +All turned toward the imperial box. Each one had recognized the voice of +the adored Maria Theresa, and every heart over-flowed with the joy of +the moment. + +The empress repeated her words: + +"Leopold has a son, and it is born on my wedding-day. Wish me joy, dear +friends, of my grandson!" + +Then arose such a storm of congratulations as never before had been +heard within those theatre walls. The women wept, and the men waved +their hats and cheered; while all, with one voice, cried out. "Long live +Maria Theresa! Long live the imperial grandmother!" + + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +THE GIFT. + +All prophecies defying, Maria Theresa had given her daughter to France. +In the month of May, 1770, the Archduchess Marie Antoinette was married +by proxy in Vienna; and amid the ringing of bells, the booming of +cannon, and the shouts of the populace, the beautiful young dauphiness +left Austria to meet her inevitable fate. + +Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, too, one room was darkening under the +shadow of approaching death. It was that in which Isabella's daughter +was passing from earth to heaven. + +The emperor knew that his child was dying; and many an hour he spent at +her solitary bedside, where, tranquil and smiling, she murmured words +which her father knew were whispered to the angels. + +The emperor sorrowed deeply for the severance of the last tie that bound +him to the bright and beautiful dream of his early married life. But he +was so accustomed to sorrow, that on the occasion of his sister's +marriage, he had gone through the forms required by etiquette, without +any visible emotion. + +But the festivities were at an end. The future Queen of France had +bidden farewell to her native Vienna, and the marriage guests had +departed; while darker and darker grew the chamber of the dying child, +and sadder the face of the widowed father. The emperor kissed his +daughter's burning forehead, and held her little transparent hand in +his. "Farewell, my angel," whispered he; "since thy mother calls thee, +go, my little Theresa. Tell her that she was my only love--my first and +last. Go, beloved, and pray for thy unhappy father." + +Once more he kissed her, and when he raised his head, her face was +moistened with his tears. He turned hastily away and left the room. + +"And now," thought he, "to my duty, I must forget my own sorrows that I +may wipe away the tears of my sorrowing people. There is so much grief +and want in Austria! Oh, my child, my little one! Amid the blessings of +the suffering poor shalt thou stretch forth thy wings and take the +flight to heaven!" + +He was on his way to seek an audience of his mother. Maria Theresa was +in her cabinet, and was somewhat surprised to see her son at this +unusual hour of the day. + +"I come to your majesty to beg a boon," said Joseph, with a sad smile. +"Yesterday you were distributing Antoinette's wedding-gifts to your +children; I alone received nothing. Is there nothing for me?" + +"Nothing for you, my son!" exclaimed Maria Theresa, astonished. "Why, +every thing is yours, and therefore I have nothing to give. Where your +right is indisputable, my presents are superfluous." + +"Yes, mother; but it does not become one so generous as you, to let her +eldest son wait for an inheritance, when she might make him a handsome +present of her own free will. Be generous, then, and give me something, +too. I wish to be on an equality with the other children." + +"Well, then, you grown-up child, what will you have?" asked the empress, +laughing. "Of course you have already chosen your gift, and it is mere +gallantry on your part to beg for what you might take without leave. But +let us hear. What is it? You have only to ask and have." + +"Indeed! May I choose my wedding-gift?" + +"Yes, you imperial beggar, you may." + +"Well, then, give me the government claims upon the four lower classes." + +The empress looked aghast. "Is it money you desire?" said she. "Say how +much, and you shall have it from my private purse. But do not rob the +poor! The claim that you covet is the tax levied upon all the working +classes, and you know how numerous they are." + +"For that very reason, I want it. It is a princely gift. Shall I have +it?" + +The empress reflected for a few moments. "I know," said she, looking up +with one of her sweetest smiles, "I know that you will not misuse your +power; for I remember the fate of your father's legacy, the three +millions of coupons. You shall have the claim, my son. It is yours." + +"Will your majesty draw out the deed of gift?" + +"I will, my son. It is YOUR wedding-gift from our darling Antoinette. +But you will acquaint me, from time to time, with the use you are making +of your power over the poor classes?" + +"I will render my account to your majesty. But first draw out the deed." + +The empress stepped to her escritoire and wrote a few lines, to which +she affixed the imperial signature and seal. + +"There it is," said she. "I bestow upon my son, the emperor, all the +government claims to the impost levied upon the four lower classes. Will +that do?" + +"It will, and from my heart I thank my dear mother for the gracious +gift." + +He took the hand of the empress to kiss it, but she held his fast in her +grasp, and looked at him with an expression of tenderness; and anxiety. + +"You are pale, my son," said she, affectionately. "I see that your heart +is sad." + +"And yet," replied Joseph, with quivering lip, "I should rejoice, for I +am about to have an angel in heaven." + +"Poor little Theresa!" murmured the empress, while the tears rose to her +eyes. "She has never been a healthy child. Isabella calls her hence." + +"Yes," replied Joseph, bitterly; "she calls my child away, that, she may +break the last link that bound her to me." + +"We must believe, my child, that it is for the best. The will of God, +however painful its manifestations, is holy, wise and merciful. Isabella +declared to us that she would call the child when it had reached its +seventh year; she goes to her mother. And now that this bitter dream of +your early love is past, perhaps your heart may awaken once more to +love. There are many beautiful princesses in Europe, and not one of them +would refuse the hand of the Emperor of Austria. It is for you to +choose, and no one shall dictate your choice." + +"Would your majesty convert me into a bluebeard?" cried Joseph, +coloring. "Do you not see that I murder my wives? Enough, that two of +them are buried in the chapel of the Capuchins, and that to-morrow, +perhaps, my child will join them. Leopold has given an heir to my +throne, and I am satisfied." + +"Why do you talk of a successor, my son?" said the empress, "you who are +so young?" + +"Your majesty, I am old," replied Joseph, mournfully--"so old that I have +no hope of happiness on earth. You see that to-day, when you have been +so gracious, I am too wretched to do aught but thank you for your +splendid gift. Let me retire, then, to my unhappy solitude; I am not fit +to look upon your sweet and honored countenance. I must exile myself +until my trial is past." + +He left the room, and hastening to his cabinet, "Now," exclaimed he, +"now for my mother's gift." + +He sat dozen and wrote as follows: + +"MY DEAR PRINCE KALUITZ: By the enclosed, you will see that the empress, +my mother, has presented me with all the government claims upon the +working-classes. Will you make immediate arrangements to acquaint the +collectors with the following: + +"'No tax shall be collected from the working-classes during the +remainder of my life.' "Joseph." [Footnote: Historical. Hubner, vol. +ii., p, 86.] + +"Now," thought he, as he laid aside his pen, "this document will gladden +many a heart, and it will, perchance, win forgiveness for my own +weakness. But, why should monarchs have hearts of flesh like other men, +since they have no right to feel, to love, or to grieve? Be still, +throbbing heart, that the emperor may forget himself, to remember his +subjects! Yes, my subjects--my children --I will make you happy! I +will--' + +There was a light tap at the door, and the governess of the little +Archduchess Maria Theresa entered the room. + +"I have come," said she, in a faltering voice, "to announce to your +majesty that the princess has breathed her last." + +The emperor made no reply. He motioned the lady to retire, and bowing +his head, gave way to one long burst of grief. + +For hours he sat there, solitary and broken-hearted. At length the +paroxysm was over. He raised his head, and his eyes were tearless and +bright. + +"It is over!" exclaimed he, in clear and unfaltering tones. "The past is +buried; and I am born anew to a life whereof the aim shall be Austria's +greatness and her people's welfare. I am no more a husband, no more a +father. Austria shall be my bride, and every Austrian my child." + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +THE CONFERENCE. + +Great excitement prevailed at Neustadt. All work was suspended, all the +shops were shut, and although it was not Sunday, the people, in their +holiday attire, seemed to have cast away all thought of the wants, +cares, and occupations of everyday life. For, although it was not +Sunday, it was a holiday--a holiday for Neustadt, since this was the +birthday of Neustadt's fame. For hundreds of years the little village +had existed in profound obscurity, its simple inhabitants dreaming away +their lives far from the clamor of the world and its vicissitudes. Their +slumbers had been disturbed by the Seven Years' War, and many a father, +son, husband, and lover had fought and fallen on its bloodthirsty +battlefield. But with the return of peace came insignificance, and +villagers of Neustadt went on dreaming as before. + +Today, however, on the 3d of September, in the year 1770, they were +awakened by an event which gave to Neustadt a place in history. The two +greatest potentates in Germany were to meet there to bury their past +enmity, and pledge to each other the right hand of fellowship. + +These two potentates were the Emperor of Austria and the King of +Prussia. It was, therefore, not surprising that all Neustadt should be +out of doors to witness the baptism of Neustadt's celebrity. + +The streets were thronged with well-dressed people, the houses were hung +with garlands and wreaths, the church-bells were ringing, and all the +dignitaries of the town had turned out to witness the pageant. + +And now the moment had arrived. The thunder of cannon, the shouts of the +people who thronged the avenue that led to the palace, and the clang of +martial music, announced the approach of the emperor, whom his people +were frantic to welcome. + +He came, a young man, on a jet-black Arabian, who rode ahead of those +glittering nobles--this was the Emperor Joseph, the hope of Austria. + +A thousand voices rent the air with shouts, while Joseph smiled, and +bowed, and raised his eyes to the balconies, whence showers of bouquets +were falling around him. + +He was inclining his head, when a wrest, of red roses and +orange-flowers, aimed by some skilful hand, fell directly upon his +saddle-bow. He smiled, and taking up the wreath, looked around to see +whence it came. Suddenly his eye brightened, and his countenance +expressed increased interest, while he reined in his horse that he might +look again at a lady who was leaning over a balcony just above him. Her +tall and elegant figure was clothed in a dress of black velvet, closed +from her white throat to her round waist by buttons of large and +magnificent diamonds, whose brilliancy was almost dazzling. Her youthful +and beautiful face was colorless, with that exquisite and delicate +pallor which has no affinity to ill-health, but resembles the spiritual +beauty of a marble statue. Her glossy black hair defined the exquisite +oval of that fair face, as a rich frame sets off a fine painting. On her +head she wore a diadem of brilliants, which confined a rich black-lace +veil, that fluttered like a dark cloud around her graceful figure. Her +countenance wore an expression of profound sadness, and her large, +lustrous eyes were riveted with an earnest gaze upon the emperor. + +He bowed to his saddle-bow, but she did not seem to recognize the +compliment, for her glance and her sadness were unchanged. + +"The wreath is not from her," thought Joseph, with a feeling of +disappointment; but as he turned for one more look at her lovely face, +he remarked a bouquet which she wore in her bosom. It was similar to the +wreath which he held. The same white orange-blossoms and red roses, +fastened together by the same white and red ribbon, whose long streamers +were now fluttering in the wind. + +A triumphant smile overspread the features of the emperor, as blushing, +he bowed again and passed on. But his face no longer wore its expression +of careless gratification. He grew absent and thoughtful; he forgot to +return the greetings of the people; and vainly the ladies, who crowded +window and balcony, threw flowers in his way, or waved their +handkerchiefs in greeting. He saw nothing but the beautiful vision in +the black veil, and wondered whence she came and what could be the +hidden meaning of the red and white flowers which she wore and gave to +him. + +He was glad when the pageant of his entry into Neustadt was over, and, +dismounting quickly, he entered the palace, followed by Field-Marshal +Lacy and Count Rosenberg. + +The people looked after them and shouted anew. But their attention was +directed from the emperor to a carriage, drawn by four horses, which, +advancing in the very centre of the brilliant cortege, seemed to contain +some imperial personage, for the staff were around it, as though forming +its escort. The curtains of the carriage were all drawn, so that nothing +could be seen of its occupant. + +Who could it be? A woman, of course; since no man would dare to be +driven, while the Emperor of Austria rode. It could be no other than the +Empress Maria Theresa, who had taken the journey to Neustadt, that she +might look, face to face, upon her celebrated opponent, and offer him +her own hand in pledge of future good understanding. + +While the populace hoped and speculated, the mysterious equipage arrived +before the palace gates. The rich-liveried footmen sprang from the +rumble, and stationed themselves at the door of the coach. The two +others, who were seated on the box, did likewise; bringing with them, as +they alighted on the ground, a roll of rich Turkey carpeting, which they +laid, with great precision, from the carriage to the palace steps. + +Then the people were convinced that it was the empress. Who but the +sovereign lady of Austria and Hungary would walk the streets upon a +carpet of such magnificence? And they thronged nearer, eager to catch +the first glance of their beloved and honored empress. + +The carpet was laid without a wrinkle. One of the footmen opened the +carriage door, while another approached the fore-wheel. + +"She comes! she comes!" cried the populace, and they crowded around in +eager delight. + +One foot was put forward--not a foot encased in a satin slipper, but a +foot in a buckled shoe, which, glistening though it was with diamonds, +was not that of an empress. The occupant of the carriage was a man! + +"A man!" exclaimed the bystanders, astounded. Yes. Here he came, wrapped +up in a bearskin, which, on this warm summer day, was enough to dissolve +an ordinary human being into vapor. Not content with his wrapping, his +hands were encased in a huge muff, which he held close to his face, that +he might not inhale one single breath of the air that was refreshing +everybody else. His head was covered by a hood which concealed his face, +of which nothing was visible save a pair of light-blue eyes. + +When he had disappeared within the palace doors, the footmen rolled up +the carpet and replaced it on the coach-box. + +The populace, who had been looking on in speechless wonder, now began to +laugh and whisper. Some said it was the King of the North Pole; others +declared it was an Arctic bear; others again thought the gentleman had +started for Siberia and had lost his way. Finally the desire to know who +he was grew uncontrollable, and, thronging around his lackeys, the +people shouted out: + +"Who is he? Tell us, who is be?" + +The lackeys, with the gravity of heralds-at-arms, shouted out in return: + +"This is his highness Prince Kaunitz, prime minister of their majesties +the Empress Maria Theresa and the Emperor Joseph of Austria!" + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +KAUNITZ. + +"What an abominable idea!" exclaimed Prince Kaunitz, as, perfectly +exhausted from his journey, he fell into an armchair in his own room. +"What an abominable idea to undertake this journey! These German roads +are as rough and uncouth as the Germans themselves, and I only wonder +that we have arrived without breaking our ribs!" + +"It would certainly have been more convenient," said Baron Binder, "if +the King of Prussia had visited us in Vienna." + +Kaunitz turned his large eyes full upon his friend. + +"I suppose," said he, "that you jest, Binder; for you MUST know that it +is never safe to have your enemy under your own roof." + +"Your highness, then, has no confidence in the protestations of love +that are going on between the emperor and the king?" + +The prince made no reply. He was looking at himself in a mirror, +criticising his toilet, which had just been completed by the expert +Hippolyte. Apparently it was satisfactory, for he looked up and spoke: + +"You are a grown-up child, Binder; you stare, and believe every thing. +Have you not yet learned that statesmanship recognizes nothing but +interests? To-day it is to the interest of Frederick to squeeze our +hands and protest that he loves us; to-morrow (if he can), he will put +another Silesia in his royal pocket. We, too, have found it convenient +to write him a love-letter or two; but to-day, if we would, we would +pluck off his crown, and make him a little margrave again! Our intimacy +reminds me of a sight I once saw while we were in Paris. It was a cage, +in which animals, naturally antagonistic, were living in a state of +perfect concord. A dog and cat were dining sociably together from one +plate, and, not far off, a turkey-hen was comfortably perched upon the +back of a fox, who, so far from betraying any symptom of appetite for +the turkey, looked quite oblivious of her proximity. I gave the keeper a +louis d'or, and he told me his secret. The dog's teeth were drawn, and +the cat's claws were pared off; this, of course, forced both to keep the +peace. As for the turkey-hen, she was fastened to the back of the fox +with fine wire, and this was the secret of her security." + +"Ah!" cried Binder, laughing, "this is the history of many a human +alliance. How many foxes I have known who carried their hens upon their +backs and made believe to love them, because they dared not do +otherwise!" + +"Peace, Binder, my story is not yet ended. One morning the dog and the +cat were found dead in THEIR corner; and in the other, the fox lay +bleeding and moaning; while of the hen, nothing remained save her +feathers. Time--the despot that rules us all, had outwitted the keeper +and asserted the laws of Nature. The cat's claws had grown out, and so +had the dog's teeth. The fox, after much pondering over his misfortunes, +had discovered the reason why he could not reach the hen; and this done, +he worked at the wires until they broke. Of course he revenged himself +on the spot by gobbling her up; but in his wrath at the wires, he had +thrust them so deeply into his own flesh that the wounds they made upon +his body caused his death. And so ended the compulsory alliance of four +natural enemies." + +"Does your highness apply that anecdote to us?" asked Binder. "Are we to +end like the cat and the dog?" + +"For the present," said Kaunitz, thoughtfully, "our teeth and claws are +harmless. We must wait until they have grown out again!" + +"Your highness, then, assigns us the role of the dog?" + +"Certainly. I leave it to Prussia to play the cat--she has scratched us +more than once, and even to-day, when she covers her paws with velvet, I +feel the claws underneath. I came hither to watch her. I am curious to +know what it is in Frederick that has so bewitched the young Emperor of +Austria." + +"It would appear that his majesty of Prussia has extraordinary powers of +fascination. No one can resist him." + +"I shall resist him," said Kaunitz, "for against his fascinations I am +defended by the talisman of our mutual hate." + +"Do not say so, your highness. The King of Prussia may fear, but he +cannot hate you. And did he not make it a special request that you +should accompany the emperor?" + +"He did; and however disinclined I might be to accept his invitation, I +have come lest he should suppose that I am afraid to encounter his eagle +eyes. [Footnote: Ferrand, "History of the Dismemberment of Poland," vol. +i., p. 103.] I fear HIM! HE intimidate me! It is expedient for the +present that Austria and Prussia should be quasi allies, for in this way +peace has been secured to Europe. But my system of diplomacy, which the +empress has made her own, forbids me to make any permanent alliance with +a prince who lives politically from hand to mouth, and has no fixed line +of policy. [Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. See Ferrand. vol. i., v. 69.] +No--I do not fear him; for I see through his hypocritical professions, +and in spite of his usurped crown I feel myself to be more than his +equal. If he has won thirteen victories on the battle-field, I have +fought twice as many in the cabinet, where the fight is hand to hand, +and the victor conquers without an army. On this field he will scarcely +dare to encounter me. If he does, he will find his master for once! + +"Yes," repeated Kaunitz emphatically, "he will find his master in me. I +have never failed to make other men subservient to my schemes, and the +King of Prussia shall grace my triumph with the rest. He is the vassal +of Austria, and I will be the one to force him back to his allegiance. +It is scandalous that this petty king should have been suffered to play +an important part in European affairs. I will drive him from his +accidental grandeur, and he shall return to his duty. I will humble him +if I can; for this King of Prussia is the only man in Europe who has +denied me the honors and consideration due me as a politician and a +prince." [Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. Ferrand, vol. i., p. 104] + +While Kaunitz spoke, his marble face grew animated, and his eyes glowed +with the fire of hate. + +"Nay, prince!" exclaimed Binder, anxious to subdue the fiend that was +rising in his friend's heart, "everybody knows that you are the coachman +of Europe, and that it is in the power of no man to wrest the reins from +your hands." + +"May this Prussian ride behind as my footman!" cried Kaunitz, gnashing +his teeth. "Oh, I know him! I know why he pays a million of subsidy +annually to his accomplice, the virtuous Catherine, that she may +continue her assaults upon Poland and Turkey! I know whither his +longings travel; but when he stretches his hand out for the booty, we +too will be there to claim our share, and he shall yield it." + +"Your highness speaks in riddles," said Binder, shrugging his shoulders. +"I am accustomed, as you know, to look through your political +spectacles; and I beg you to explain, for I am perfectly at a loss to +understand you." + +The countenance of Kaunitz had resumed its impassible look. He threw +back his head, and fixed his cold, heartless blue eyes upon the baron. + +"Do you know," said he, "what William the Silent once said of himself? +'If I knew that my night-cap had found out my thoughts I would throw it +in the fire.' Now, Binder, do not aim to be my night-cap, or I shall +burn you to a cinder.--But enough of this. It would seem that the +Emperor Joseph expects me to wait upon him. Well--if it please him that +I should make the first visit, I will humor him. When a man feels that +he is lord and master of another, he can afford to be condescending! I +will indulge the emperor's whim." + +He rang, and one of his valets entered the room. + +"Is his majesty in the castle?" + +"Yes, your highness. His majesty has been reviewing the troops." + +"Where is his majesty now?" + +"He is with his suite in the parlor that overlooks the square." + +"Is it far from this room?" + +"No, your highness. It is close by." + +"Then reach me a cloak and muff, and woe to you if I encounter a draught +on my way!" + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +SOUVENIR D'EPERIES. + +The emperor stood in the centre of the room in lively conversation with +the gentlemen of his suite. As Kaunitz entered, he stopped at once, and +coming forward, received the prince with a cordial welcome. + +Kaunitz replied by a low bow, and nodded slightly to Prince de Ligne and +General Lacy. + +"Your highness is just in time," said the emperor. "These gentlemen need +encouragement. They have been blushing and trembling like two young +debutantes." + +"Before whom, your majesty?" + +"Oh!--before the great Frederick, of course. And De Ligne, who is +considered the most elegant man in Vienna, actually trembled more than +anybody else." + +"Actors trembling before their manager!" said Kaunitz, with a slight +shrug. "Compose yourselves, gentlemen; the King of Prussia is too much +absorbed in his own role to take any notice of you." + +"That is right," cried the emperor. "Encourage the debutantes, prince!" + +"I scarcely think that the prince will succeed where your majesty has +failed," said General von Lacy proudly. + +"And his highness will hardly have any time to devote to us, for +doubtless he too is practising the role which he must play before the +King of Prussia," added De Ligne. + +"I beg to impress upon the Prince de Ligne," interrupted Kaunitz, "that +the verb 'must' is one which I am well accustomed to conjugate for +others but never allow others to conjugate for me." + +"I for one have had it conjugated for me by your highness," said the +emperor, laughing. "Nobody in Austria knows it in all its moods and +tenses better than I. But I have always recognized you as my teacher, +and hope always to remain your faithful pupil." + +The clouds which were gathering on Kaunitz's brow now shifted to the +faces of Lacy and De Ligne. + +"I have nothing to teach your majesty," replied Kaunitz, almost smiling; +"but allow me as a faithful servant to offer you a suggestion. Present +to the King of Prussia that beautiful wreath which you hold in your +hand, as an emblem of the friendship which to-day we pledge to Prussia." + +"Not I," cried Joseph, while he held up his wreath and admired its white +and red roses. "I shall keep my bouquet, were it only for the sake of +the beautiful donor. You, prince, who penetrate all things, have pity on +me, and find out her name." + +"Your majesty saw her, then?" + +"Saw her? Yes, by Aphrodite, I did; and never in my life did I see a +lovelier woman. She stood there in her velvet dress and veil, looking +for all the world like the queen of night, of starry night. You see how +she has impressed me, since I, who am so prosaic, launch out into +extravagance of speech to describe her." + +"She was in mourning?" asked Kaunitz thoughtfully. + +"Clothed in black, except the diamonds that sparkled on her bodice, and +the bouquet (a match to mine) which she wore in her bosom. Ah, your +highness, how you look at my poor flowers, as if treason were lurking +among their leaves!" + +"It is a beautiful bouquet," said Kaunitz, eying it critically, "and +very peculiar. Will your majesty allow me to examine it?" + +The emperor handed over the wreath. "Take it," said he, "but be merciful +to my pretty delinquents." + +Kaunitz took the flowers and looked at them as he would have done at any +other thing that might be the links in a chain of evidence, and passed +his slender, white fingers through the long ribbons that fastened them +together. + +"The lady who threw these flowers is a Pole," said he, after a pause. + +"How do you know that?" cried the emperor. + +"It is certainly not accidental that the wreath should be composed of +white and red roses, and tied with a knot of white and red ribbons. +White and red, you remember, are the colors of the so-called Republic +of Poland." + +"You are right!" exclaimed Joseph, "and she wears mourning because a +noble woman must necessarily grieve for the sufferings of her bleeding +country." + +"Look," said Kaunitz, who, meanwhile, was opening the leaves and +searching among them, "here is a paper. Does your majesty permit me to +draw it out?" + +"Certainly. I gave you the wreath to examine, and you shall have the +benefit of all that you discover." + +Kaunitz bowed his thanks, and began to untwist the stems of the flowers. +The emperor and the two courtiers looked on with interest. The prince +drew forth a little folded paper, and reached it over to the emperor. + +"Have the goodness, your majesty, to read it yourself. A declaration of +love from a lady is not intended for my profane eyes." + +The emperor sighed. "No," said he, "it is no declaration for me. I am +not so happy. Read, your highness, read it aloud." + +Kaunitz unfolded the paper, and read. "Souvenir d'Eperies" + +"Nothing more?" asked Joseph. + +Kaunitz replied by handing him the note. + +"How strange! Only these words, and no explanation. I cannot understand +it." + +"These words prove my supposition, your majesty. The donor is a Polish +lady and one of the Confederates." + +"You think so?" + +"I am convinced of it. When your majesty was travelling in Hungary, did +you not spend a day at Eperies, and honor the Confederates by receiving +them both publicly and privately?" + +"I did," replied Joseph, warmly. "And it gladdened my heart to assure +these brave, struggling patriots of my sympathy." + +"Did not your majesty go so far as to promise them mediation with +Prussia and Russia?" [Footnote: Ferrand. vol. i., p. 79.] + +"I did," replied the emperor, with a faint blush. + +"Well, then, this female confederate meant to remind you of your promise +on the day when you are to hold a conference with Frederick," said +Kaunitz, allowing the wreath to slip through his fingers to the floor. +"There, your majesty," continued he, "your beautiful Pole is at your +feet. Will you rescue her, or unite in crushing her to the earth?" + +"Oh, I will rescue her," replied Joseph, "that she may not fall into the +hands of ambitious Catharine. It would give her great pleasure to deck +her Muscovite head with these sweet Polish roses; but she shall not have +them." + +With these words, and before his courtiers could anticipate his action, +the emperor stooped and picked up the wreath. + +"Have a care, your majesty," said the wary Kaunitz, "how you espouse +Polish quarrels. The Poles are unlucky. They can die like men, but they +do not live like men. Beware of Polish roses, for their perfume is not +wholesome." + +Just then a shout was heard in the distance, and the emperor hastened to +the window. + +"It is the King of Prussia!" cried he, joyfully, and he walked toward +the door. + +Prince Kaunitz took the liberty of going immediately up and interposing +his tall person between Joseph and the doorway. + +"Your majesty," said he, reproachfully, "what are you about to do?" + +"I am about to go forward to meet the King of Prussia. He is just +descending from his carriage. Do not detain me," replied Joseph, +hastily. + +"But has your majesty forgotten that at Neisse, when the King of Prussia +was the host, he came no farther than the stairway to meet you? It is +not seemly that Austria should condescend to Prussia." + +"My dear prince," said the emperor, with a peculiar laugh, "it is your +business to respect these conventions. It is mine to regulate them. As +the LITTLE sovereign of Austria I hasten to do homage to the GREAT King +of Prussia." + +And gently putting the minister aside: the emperor walked rapidly out, +followed by his suite. + +Kaunitz looked after him with stormy brow. + +"Incorrigible fanatic!" said he to himself. "Will you never cease to +butt your empty head against the wall? You will butt in vain as long as +_I_ have power and life. Go. It befits such a little emperor as you to +humble yourself before your great king; but Austria is represented in MY +person, and I remain here!" + +He looked around the room, and his eyes fell upon the wreath, which the +emperor had laid by the side of his hat, on the table. A sneer +overspread his countenance as he went toward it, and shook off some of +the leaves which were already fading. + +"How soon they fall!" said he. "I think that the glorious republic will +be quite as short-lived as they. Meanwhile I shall see that the +'Souvenir d'Eperies' lives no longer than roses have a right to live." + +He left the room, resolved to find out who it was that had bestowed the +wreath. "For," thought he, "she may prove a useful instrument with which +to operate on either side." + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +FREDERICK THE GREAT. + +With youthful ardor, unconscious that his head was uncovered, the +emperor hurried down the staircase into the street. Looking neither to +the right nor to the left, his eyes fixed upon the spot whence the king +was advancing, the emperor rushed onward, for the first time in his life +slighting the people who thronged around, full of joy at sight of his +elegant and handsome person. + +Frederick was coming with equal rapidity, and now, in the very centre of +the square, the monarchs met. + +At this moment all was quiet. The military, ranged in lines around, were +glistening with gold lace and brightened arms. Behind them came the +people, who far and near were seen flowing in one great stream toward +the square, while on the balconies and through the open windows of the +houses around richly-dressed matrons and beautiful maidens enclosed the +scene, like one long wreath of variegated flowers. + +They met; and in the joy of his youthful enthusiasm, the emperor threw +himself into the arms of the King of Prussia, and embraced him with a +tenderness that was almost filial. The king returned the caress, and +pressed the young monarch to his heart. + +While the King of Prussia had been advancing, the people in silence were +revolving in their minds the blood, the treasure, the long years of +struggle which Austrians had owed to this warlike Frederick. But when +they saw how Joseph greeted him, they forgot every thing, and he now +seemed to their excited imaginations to come like a resplendent sun of +peace, whose rays streamed far into the distance of a happy and +prosperous futurity. + +It was peace! peace!--the hopes of peace that filled every eye with +tears, and bowed every unconscious knee in prayer to Almighty God. + +From the midst of the kneeling multitude, a voice was heard to cry out, +"Long live peace!" A thousand other voices echoed the words, "Long live +peace!" + +"Long live the emperor and the king!" cried the same voice; and now the +air was rent with shouts, while from street and square, and from every +house, the cry went up to heaven, "Long live the emperor! Long live the +king!" + +Frederick withdrew from Joseph's embrace, and bowed to the multitude +with that bright and fascinating smile which no one was ever known to +resist. + +He then turned to the emperor, and presenting the young Prince of +Prussia and the two Princes of Brunswick, he pointed to the white +uniforms which they wore, and said: "Sire, I bring you some new +recruits. [Footnote: The king wore the Austrian uniform, embroided with +silver. The princes and the king's suite also wore it.] We are all +desirous of serving under your banner. And we feel that it would be an +honor," continued he, looking around the square, "to be the +companions-in-arms of your majesty's soldiers, for each man looks like a +true son of Mars." + +"If so," replied the emperor, "they have reason to rejoice, since to-day +they are permitted, for the first time, to do homage to their father." + +Frederick smiled, and taking Joseph's arm, they walked together to the +palace. The king was conducted at once to the apartments prepared for +his occupation, whence he shortly emerged to join the noble company +assembled in the hall that led into the dining-room. + +The brilliant suite of the emperor were awaiting the princely pair, and +when they entered the hall together, followed by the cortege of Prussia, +every head bowed with deferential awe, and every eye sought the ground. +One head only bent slightly, and one pair of eyes looked boldly into the +face of Frederick the Great. + +The eagle eye of the king remarked him at once, and with an affable +smile he approached the haughty minister. + +"I rejoice, at last, to meet Prince Kaunitz face to face," said he, in +his soft and musical voice. "We need no introduction to one another. I +am not such a barbarian as to require that he should be pointed out to +me whom all Europe knows, admires, and respects." + +Something happened to which Kaunitz was totally unaccustomed--he +blushed. In spite of himself, he smiled and bowed very, very low; but he +found no words wherewith to reply to Frederick's flattering address. + +"Sire," said the emperor, coming to the rescue, "you are making the most +self-possessed men in Austria grow speechless with ecstasy. Even Kaunitz +is at a loss to answer you; and as for poor De Ligne, he is completely +dazzled. But by an by, he will get accustomed to the sun's splendor, and +then he will recover his accustomed address." [Footnote: The emperor's +words. "Conversations with Frederick the Great," by Prince de Ligne, p. +11.] + +"I know him well," said Frederick, with another bewitching smile. "I +have read your letter to Jean Jacques Rousseau, prince; and I know it to +be genuine, for it is too beautiful to be a forgery." + +"Ah, sire!" replied De Ligne, "I am not of such renown that obscure +writers should seek to forge my name." [Footnote: Not long before this, +a letter had been written to Jean Jacques, and signed with the king's +name. The writer of this letter was Horace Walpole.] + +The king bowed, and turned to Field-Marshal von Lacy. + +"Your majesty need not present this man either," said he, laying his hand +upon Lacy's shoulder, "he has given me entirely too much trouble for me +not to be familiar with his features. I have good reason to remember Von +Lacy, and to rejoice that he is not quartermaster-general to-day; for in +that capacity, I and my soldiers have suffered enough from him." + +"But where is Loudon?" asked the emperor. "He is very late to-day." + +"That is not his habit," replied Frederick, quickly, "I have seldom been +able to come upon the field as soon as he. But, sire, we have done him +injustice, for he is here, punctual as though he waited his enemies, not +his friends." + +Crossing over to Loudon, and disregarding his stiff demeanor, Frederick +took his hand, and greeted him with the most cordial expressions of +regard. + +"If it be agreeable to your majesty," said the emperor, as the doors +were flung open, "we will proceed to dinner." And he offered his arm. + +Frederick took it, but he still kept his eyes upon Loudon. + +"Sire," said he to Joseph, "if I am to have the honor of sitting beside +your majesty at the table, pray, let me have Loudon on the other side. I +would much rather have him there than opposite--I feel safer." + +So saying, the king walked on, and the company passed into the +dining-room. + +"If he turns the heads of all the court with his flattery," muttered +Kaunitz, following just after the princely pair, "he shall not succeed +with me. What fine things, to be sure! But flattery indiscriminately +bestowed leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. He wishes Loudon for his +neighbor, forsooth, as if a man could have any rational intercourse with +such an ignorant, ill-bred, awkward dolt as he is." + +And Kaunitz, who was secretly chagrined at the choice of the king, took +the seat which bad been assigned to him by the emperor. It was at +Joseph's own table, directly opposite the two sovereigns + +"Ah!" exclaimed Frederick, laughing and nodding to Kaunitz, "now I am +satisfied. If I would rather have Loudon beside me, I would rather have +the greatest statesman in Europe before me, for it is only when I can +see him that I feel quite safe from his diplomatic grasp. I take shelter +under your highness's eye. Be indulgent to an old soldier, whose sword +has so often been struck from his hands by your magic pen." + +"Your majesty's pen is as sharp as your sword," replied Kaunitz, "and +the world has learned to fear and admire the one as much as the other. +We offer resistance to neither; but pay willing homage to the prince who +is at once a statesman, an author, and a warrior." + +The emperor whispered to Frederick: "Sire, a compliment from Kaunitz is +like the flower upon the aloe-it blooms once in a century." + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +THE PRIMA DONNA. + +The festivities of the first day were concluded with a ballet. Great +preparations had been made for the reception of the King of Prussia. +Noverre with his dancers, and Florian Gassman with his opera corps had +been summoned to Neustadt. They came in twenty wagons laden with +scenery, coulisses, machinery, and costumes, all of which was intended +to prove to Frederick that, although the court of Berlin was the +acknowledged seat of literature and the fine arts, Vienna was not +altogether forsaken by the Muses. + +"Your majesty must be indulgent to our theatrical efforts," said the +emperor, as they took their seats in the box which had been prepared for +their occupation. "We all know that in Berlin the Muses and Graces have +their home; they seldom visit Vienna, for they are loyal and love to sit +at the feet of their master." + +"Ah, sire, you speak of the past. Time was when the Muses were not +unpropitious; but now that I am an old man, they have proved inconstant, +and have fled from Sans-Souci forever. The Muses themselves are young, +and it is but natural that they should seek your majesty's protection. I +am thankful through your intervention, to be admitted once more to +Parnassus." + +Just as the king was about to seat himself he remarked Kaunitz, who, +with his usual grave indifference, was advancing to a chair not far off. + +Frederick turned smilingly to Joseph. "Your majesty and I," said he, +"might stand to-night as representatives of youthful and aged +sovereignty. We both need wisdom in our councils. Let us invite Prince +Kaunitz to sit between us." + +The emperor bowed, and beckoned to the prince, who, having heard +distinctly what had been intended for his ears, could not suppress a +momentary expression of exultation. Never in his life bad lie made a bow +so profound as that with which he took the seat which a king had +resigned to him. He was so exultant that in the course of the evening he +was actually heard to laugh. The ballet began. Gods and goddesses +fluttered about the stage, Muses and Graces grouped themselves together +in attitudes of surpassing beauty; and finally, with one grand tableau, +composed of all the dancers, the curtain fell. + +After the ballet came a concert. It was to open with an air from Gluck's +opera of "Alceste," sung in costume by the celebrated Bernasconi. + +The orchestra played the introduction, and the curtain rose but the +prima donna did not appear. The leader looked toward the coulisses, but +in vain; and the audience began to express their impatience in audible +murmurs. + +The curtain fell slowly, and the marshal of the emperor's household, +coming forward, spoke a few words to Joseph, in a low voice. + +He turned to the king. "Sire, I have to apologize to you for this +unlucky contretemps. Signora Bernasconi has been taken suddenly sick." + +"Oh!" replied Frederick, laughing, "I am quite au fait to the sudden +illness of prima donnas. But since I have ordered a half month's salary +to be withdrawn from every singer who falls sick on a night of +representation, my cantatrices at Berlin enjoy unprecedented health." + +"Bernasconi must have been made sick by her anxiety to appear well in +your majesty's critical eyes." + +"Do not believe it. These princesses of the stage are more capricious +than veritable princesses. Above all, the Italians." + +"But Bernasconi," said Kaunitz, "is not an Italian. She belongs to a +noble Polish family." + +"So much the worse," laughed Frederick. "That Polish blood is forever +boiling over. I am surprised that your highness should permit your +director to give to a Polish woman a role of importance. Wherever the +Poles go, they bring trouble and strife." + +"Perhaps so, sire," replied Kaunitz; "but they are excellent actors, and +no people understand better how to represent heroes." + +As he said this, Kaunitz drew out his jewelled snuff-box, enriched with +a medallion portrait of his imperial mistress, Maria Theresa. + +"To represent heroes, I grant you; but just as we are beginning to feel +an interest in the spectacle of their heroism, To the stage-armor falls +off, the tin sword rattles, and we find that we were wasting our +sympathies upon a band of play-actors." + +"Perhaps," said Kaunitz, as he dipped his long, white fingers into the +snuff-box, "perhaps we may live to see the stage break under them, and +then they may cease to be actors, and become lunatics." + +Frederick's eagle eyes were fixed upon Kaunitz while he spoke, but the +minister still continued to play with his snuff-box. + +"Prince," said he, laughing, "we have been antagonists for so many years +that we must celebrate our first meeting by a pledge of future +good-will. The Indians are accustomed at such times to smoke the calumet +of peace. Here we have tobacco under another form. Will you allow me a +pinch from your snuff-box?" + +This was a token of such great condescension that even the haughty +Kaunitz was seen to blush with gratified vanity. With unusual eagerness, +he presented his snuff-box to the king. + +The king took the snuff and as he did so, remarked, "This is the first +time I have ever taken snuff from another man's box." + +"Pardon me, your majesty," replied Kaunitz, quickly. "Silesia was a +pinch from our snuff-box." + +"True," said Frederick, laughing, "but the tobacco was so strong that it +has cost me many an uncomfortable sneeze; and nobody as ever been civil +enough to say, `Heaven bless you.'" + +While the king and Kaunitz jested together, Signor Tobaldi had been +singing his aria; and now that he ceased, Frederick, for the first time, +became aware that any music had been going on. + +"Your majesty," said the emperor, "has done injustice, for once, to a +prima donna. Bernasconi is really sick, but she has sent a substitute." + +"These substitutes," said Frederick, "are always on the look-out for +such opportunities of sliding into notice; but unhappily they are not +often equal to the tasks they are so eager to perform." + +"This substitute," said Joseph, "is no rival opera-singer. She is a dear +friend of Bernasconi's, who speaks of her singing with enthusiasm." + +"Is that possible? Does one singer go into raptures over another? By all +means let us hear the phoenix." + +The king looked toward the stage, and his countenance assumed at once an +expression of genuine interest. + +Once more the orchestra began the introduction to Gluck's beautiful +aria. Meanwhile a tall and elegant person was seen to advance toward the +foot-lights. Her pure Grecian robe, half covered with a mantle of purple +velvet, richly embroidered in gold, fell in graceful folds froth her +snowy shoulders. Her dark hair, worn in the Grecian style, was confined +by a diadem of brilliants; and the short, white tunic which she wore +under her mantle, was fastened by a girdle blazing with jewels. + +She was so transcendently beautiful that Frederick could not resist the +temptation of joining in the applause which greeted her entrance. She +seemed unconscious of the effect she produced, so earnestly and +anxiously were her large, lustrous eyes fixed upon the spot where +Frederick and Joseph were sitting together. She raised her graceful arms +as she began the prayer of Alceste; but her looks were riveted upon the +sovereigns, who represent divinity on earth. When she sang, the tones of +her glorious voice sank deep into the hearts of all who listened. Now it +was clear, pure, and vibrating, wooing the air like a clarionet--now it +caressed the ear like a speaking violin--and upon it poured forth +volumes of harmony that filled all space, as the the booming organ fills +the aisles of a vast and lofty cathedral. Gluck, the hypercritical +Gluck, would have been ravished to hear his music as she sang it; and +Frederick, who, up to this hour, had refused to acknowledge the genius +of the great German, now sat breathless with rapture, as he listened to +such music and such interpretation of music as never had been heard +before. + +The Emperor Joseph was unmindful of it all. He had a vague idea of +celestial sounds that seemed to drown him in an ocean of melody; but he +heard not a note of Alceste's prayer. Every sense was stunned save +one--and that one was sight. + +"It is she," murmured he, as the siren ceased to sing: "it is she, the +beautiful Pole. How resplendent she is to-night!" Then turning to +Kaunitz, whose observing eyes bad been watching his face and whose sharp +ears had caught his words, he whispered: + +"Do you remember the bouquet that was thrown to me this morning?" + +"I forget nothing your majesty deigns to communicate to me," replied +Kaunitz. + +"This is she. Who can she be?" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Kaunitz, slightly elevating his eyebrows. "The 'Souvenir +d'Eperies.' Now I comprehend Bernasconi's illness. She felt ill through +patriotism, that this adroit countrywoman of hers might have the +opportunity of being remarked by your majesty. I would not be at all +surprised if she went out of the way of prima donnas to attract your +majesty's attention. These Polish women are fanatics in their love of +country." + +The emperor said nothing in reply. He scarcely listened. His eyes were +still upon the descending curtain that hid the mysterious beauty from +his sight. If her object had been to attract him, she had certainly +succeeded. + +The audience were waiting for some signal from either Joseph or +Frederick that they might give vent to their admiration. The king +understood the general feeling, and began to applaud with his hands. In +a moment the applause became vociferous, and it did not cease until the +curtain drew up a second time, and the prima donna came forward to +receive her ovation. + +For one moment they surveyed the enchanting singer, and then broke out +into another wild storm, in which the emperor joined so heartily that +his voice was heard above the din, crying out, "Brava! bravissima!" + +The singer sought his glance, and meeting it, blushed deeply. Then, +coming forward a few steps, she began once more to sing. + +Her song was a passionate appeal to the two princes, whom she addressed +openly, in behalf of Poland. + +It was over, and not a sound was heard in the theatre. The audience +hung, in breathless anxiety, upon the verdict that must come from those +who had been addressed. They were so intent upon Frederick and Joseph +that they did not see the singer leave the stage. They were not +destined, however, to be enlightened or relieved, for no demonstration +was made in the imperial box. + +But Joseph, rising from his seat, signed to the marshal of the household +to approach. + +"Go, count," said he, "go quickly, and ask her name. Tell her it is the +emperor who desires to know her." + +"Her name is Poland," said Kaunitz, in an absent tone. Then, addressing +Joseph, he continued: "Did I not tell your majesty that your adventure +was not to end with the throwing of a bouquet? I know these Polish +women; they coquette with every thing--above all, with the throes of +their dying fatherland." + +The emperor smiled, but said nothing. He was watching the return of the +marshal of the household. + +"Well, count, what is her name?" cried he earnestly. + +"Sire, I am unable to find it out. The lady has left the theatre, and no +one here, not even the director, knows her name." + +"Strange," said the emperor. "Let a messenger, then, be sent to +Bernasconi: she, of course, must know." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, I have been to Bernasconi. She is here, +preparing to sing her second air. She has suddenly recovered and will +have the honor of appearing before your majesties in a few moments." + +"But what said Bernasconi of the Polish singer?" + +"She does not know her name, your majesty. She showed me a letter from +Colonel Dumourriez, the French plenipotentiary to the Polish Republic. +He designates her only as a Polish lady of noble birth, whose remarkable +vocal powers were worthy of your majesty's admiration." + +"Do you hear that?" said Frederick to Kaunitz. "Do you hear that? The +French plenipotentiary sends this prima donna to sing before the +emperor. Vraiment, it seems that France is disgusted with war, and +intends to try her hand at sentiment. Petticoat-government is so +securely established there, that I suppose the French are about to throw +a petticoat over the heads of their allies. France and Poland are two +fevimes galantes." + +"Yes, sire," replied Kaunitz, "but one of them is old and ugly. Lindaine +La Pologne is an old coquette, who puts on youthful airs, and thinks she +hides her wrinkles with paint." + +"Does your highness, then, believe that her youth is forever past? Can +she never be rejuvenated?" asked Frederick, with a searching look at +Kaunitz's marble features. + +"Sire, people who waste their youth in dissipation and rioting, have no +strength when the day of real warfare dawns." + +"And it would seem that the Empress of Russia has some intention of +making a serious attack upon the poor old lady," said Frederick, while +for the second time he took a pinch from the snuff-box of the crafty +Austrian. + +Meanwhile the concert was going on. Bernasconi, completely restored, +sang the beautiful air from "Orpheus and Eurydice," and Frederick +applauded as before. But the emperor sat silent and abstracted. His +thoughts were with that Polish woman, whose love of country had brought +her to Neustadt to remind him of the promises he had made to the +Confederates at Eperies. + +"How enthusiastically she loves Poland!" said he to himself. "She will +of course find means to cross my path again, for she seeks to interest +me in the fate of her fatherland. The next time she comes, I will do +like the prince in the fairy-tale, I will strew pitch upon the +threshold, that she may not be able to escape from me again." + +Kaunitz, too, was preoccupied with thoughts of the bewitching +Confederate, but the fact that she would be sure to come again was not +quite so consoling to him as to Joseph. + +As soon as he returned home, he called for his private secretary, who +was one of the most dexterous detectives in Vienna. + +"You will make inquiries at once as to the whereabout of the prima donna +who sang before me and their majesties to-night. Tomorrow at nine +o'clock I must know who she is, where she lodges, and what is her +business here." + + + + + +CHAPTER, LXII. + +FREDERICK THE GREAT AND PRINCE KAUNITZ. + +The great review, which had been gotten up in honor of the King of +Prussia, was over. In this review Frederick had become acquainted with +the strength of the Austrian army, the superiority of its cavalry, and +the military capacity of the emperor who was its commander-in-chief. + +The king had been loud in his praises of all three, and had embraced the +emperor in presence of the whole army. + +Immediately after the review, Frederick sent a page to announce to +Prince Kaunitz that he woud be glad to see him in his own private +apartments. + +Kaunitz at once declared his readiness to wait upon the king, and to the +unspeakable astonishment of his valet, had actually shortened his toilet +and had betrayed some indifference to the arrangement of his peruke. As +he left the room, his gait was elastic and active, and his countenance +bore visible marks of the excitement with which he was looking forward +to the coming interview. + +But Kaunitz himself became suddenly aware of all this, and he set to +work to force back his emotion. The nearer he came to the king's suite +of rooms, the slower became his step and the calmer his mien. At last it +was tranquillized, and the minister looked almost as cold and +indifferent as ever. + +Arrived at the door of the antechamber, he looked around, and having +convinced himself that no one was in sight, he drew from his +breast-pocket a small mirror which he always wore about his person. +Sharply he viewed himself therein, until gradually, as he looked, his +face resumed the stony aspect which like a thickening haze concealed his +emotions from other men's eyes. + +"It is really not worth my while," thought he, "to get up an excitement +because I am about to have a conference with that small bit of royalty, +Frederick. If he should discover it, he might suppose that I, like the +rest of the world, am abashed in the presence of a king because he has +some military fame. No--no--what excites me is the fact that I am about +to write a bit of history; for this interview between Prussia and +Austria will be historical. It is the fate of Europe--that fate which I +hold in my hands, that stirs me with such unwonted emotion. This King of +Prussia has nothing to do with it. No doubt he hopes to hoodwink me with +flattery, but I shall work him to my ends, and force him to that line of +policy which I have long ago laid down for Austria's welfare." + +Here the mirror was returned to his pocket, and he opened the door of +the anteroom. The sweet sounds of a flute broke in upon his ear as he +entered. The king's aide-de-camp came up and whispered that his +sovereign was accustomed to play on the flute daily, and that he never +failed even when in camp to solace his solitude with music. + +Prince Kaunitz answered with a shrug, and pointing to the door, said, +"Announce me to his majesty." + +The aide-de-camp opened the door and announced his highness Prince +Kaunitz. + +The flute ceased, and the rich, musical voice of Frederick was heard to +say, "He can enter." + +Kaunitz was not much pleased to receive a permission where he fancied +himself entitled to an invitation; but he had no alternative, so he +walked languidly forward while the officer held the door open. + +"Shut the door, and admit no one during the visit of Prince Kaunitz," +said the king. Then turning to the prince, he pointed to his flute. "I +suspect you are amused to see such an old fellow as I coquetting with +the fine arts; but I assure you that my flute is one of my trustiest +friends. She has never deceived me, and keeps my secrets faithfully. My +alliance with her is for life. Ask her, and she will tell you that we +live on terms of truest friendship." + +"Unhappily, I do not understand the language of your lady-love. Your +majesty will perhaps allow me to turn my attention to another one of +your feminine allies, toward whom I shall venture to question your +majesty's good faith." + +"Of what lady do you speak?" cried Frederick, eagerly. + +"Of the Empress Catharine," replied Kaunitz, slightly inclining his +head. + +"Oh!" said the king, laughing, "you dart like an arrow to the point, and +transfix me at once upon the barb of politics. Let us sit down, then. +The arm-chair which you are taking now, may boast hereater that it is +the courser which has carried the greatest statesman in Europe to a +field where he is sure to win new victories." + +Kaunitz was careful to seat himself at the same time as the king, and +they both sat before a table covered with charts, papers, and books. + +A short pause ensued. Both were collecting their energies for the +strife. The king, with his eagle eye, gazed upon the face of the astute +diplomatist while he, pretending not to see it, looked perfectly +oblivious of kings or emperors. + +"So you will ask of Catharine whether I am a loyal ally or not'!" asked +the king at last. + +"Yes, sire, for unluckily the Empress of Russia is the one who can give +me information." + +"Why unluckily?" + +"Because I grieve to see that a German prince is willing to form +alliances with her, who, if she could, would bring all Europe under her +yoke, and make every European sovereign her vassal. Russia grows hourly +more dangerous and more grasping. She foments discord and incites wars, +for she finds her fortune in the dissensions of other nations, and at +every misunderstanding between other powers, she makes a step toward the +goal whither she travels." + +"And what is that goal?" + +"The subjugation of all Europe," cried Kaunitz, with unusual warmth." +Russia's policy is that of unprincipled ambition; and if so far she has +not progressed in her lust of dominion, it is Austria, or rather the +policy which I dictate to Austria, that has checked her advance. It is I +who have restored the balance of power, by conquering Austria's +antipathy to France, by isolating haughty England, and hunting all +Europe against rapacious Russia. But Russia never loses sight of the +policy initiated by Peter the Great; and as I have stemmed the tide of +her aggression toward the west, it is overflowing toward the south and +the east. All, justice disregarding. Russian armies occupy Poland; and +before long the ships of Russia will swarm in the Black Sea and threaten +Constantinople. Russia is perforce a robber, for she is internally +exhausted, and unless she seeks new ports for her commerce, and new +sources of revenue, she is ruined." + +"You err, I assure you," cried Frederick, eagerly. "Russia is in a +condition to sustain any burden; her revenues this year show an increase +over the last of five hundred thousand rubles." + +"Then this increase comes probably from the million of subsidy which +your majesty has agreed to pay to Russia," said Kaunitz, bowing. +[Footnote: Ferrand, "History of the Dismemberment of Poland," vol. i., +p. 84.] "Such rich tribute may well give her strength to attempt any +thing; but every thaler which your majesty pays into her treasury is a +firebrand which will one day consume all Europe. If indeed, as you say, +Russia is strong and formidable, it is for your majesty to hold her in +check; if she is exhausted, her alliance is not worth having." +[Footnote: Kaunitz's own words. Ferrand, vol. i., p. 108.] + +"Your highness seems eager to have me break off my connection with +Russia," said the king, while a cloud passed over his face. "You wish to +prove that Russia is a power whose friendship is worthless and whose +enmity is to be despised. And yet it is well known to me how zealously +the Austrian ambassador was intriguing not long ago to induce Russia to +cast me aside and enter into an alliance with you. Your highness must +excuse me if I throw aside the double-edged blade of courtly +dissimulation. I am an old soldier and my tongue refuses to utter any +thing but unvarnished truth." + +"If your majesty permits," replied Kaunitz with some warmth, "I, too, +will speak the unvarnished truth. You are pleased to charge me with +seeking to alienate Russia from Prussia while striving to promote an +alliance of the former with Austria. Will your majesty allow me to reply +to this accusation in full without interruption?" + +"I will," replied Frederick, nodding his head. "Speak on, I shall not +put in a word." + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +RUSSIA A FOE TO ALL EUROPE. + +Prince Kaunitz remained silent for a time, as though he were turning +over in his mind what he should say to the king. Then slowly raising his +head, he met the scrutinizing glance of Frederick with perfect +composure, and spoke as follows: + +"At the conclusion of the unhappy war which desolated both Austria and +Prussia, I had to consider what course for the future was likely to +recuperate the prostrate energies of Austria. I resolved in my mind +various schemes, and laid them before her imperial majesty. The one +which I advocated and which was adopted by the empress, had mainly for +its object the pacification of all European broils, and the restoration +of the various Austrian dependencies to order and prosperity. For some +time I waited to see whether your majesty would not seek to conciliate +France, and renew your old league of friendship with her king. But the +policy pursued by your majesty at the court of Russia convinced me that +you were thinking exclusively of securing your provinces in the east. +This once understood, it became the interest of Austria to rivet the +links which bound her to France; for an alliance with her offered the +same advantages to us as that of Russia did to Prussia. Moreover, it was +Austria's opinion that Prussia was now too closely bound to Russia for +her ever to seek an alliance with France. It therefore appeared that our +good understanding with the latter would conduce to preserve the balance +of power among European nations, and that it would meet with the favor +of all those potentates who were anxious for peace. It follows thence +that the court of Vienna is perfectly content with her relations toward +France; and I expressly and distinctly declare to your majesty that we +never will seek to alienate Russia from Prussia, that we never will +encourage any advances from Russia, and that your majesty may rest +assured that we never will deviate from our present line of policy. This +was what I desired to explain, and I thank your majesty for the courtesy +with which You have listened to me." [Footnote: This discourse of Kannitz is +historical. It is found in Ferrand's "Histoire des Trois Demembrements +de la Pologue," vol. i., p. 112.] + +The face of the king, which at first had looked distrustful, was now +entirely free from suspicion. He rose from his chair, and giving his +hand to Kaunitz, said with a cordial smile + +"This is what I call noble and candid statesmanship. You have not spoken +as a diplomatist, but as a great minister, who, feeling his strength, +has no reason to conceal his actions. I will answer in the same spirit. +Sit down again and hear me. You fear Russia, and think that if she gains +too great an ascendency among nations, she will use it to the detriment +of all Europe. I agree with you, and I myself would view the +aggrandizement of Russia under Catharine with disapprobation and +distrust. You are right, and I feel the embarrassment of my present +political condition. At the commencement of this Turkish war, I would +have used my honest endeavors to check the usurping advances of Russia, +not only in Turkey but also in Poland. But I myself was in a critical +position. You, who had been represented to me as the most rapacious of +diplomatists, you had prejudiced all Europe against me, so that for +seven long years my only allies were my rights and my good sword. The +only hand reached out to me was that of Russia; policy constrained me to +grasp and retain it. It is both to my honor and my interest that I keep +faith with Russia,, and eschew all shifts and tergiversations in my +dealings with her. Her alliance is advantageous to Prussia, and +therefore I pay her large subsidies, give her advice, allow my officers +to enlist in her armies, and finally I have promised the empress that +should Austria interfere in behalf of the Turks, I will use all my +influence to mediate between you." [Footnote: Dolan. "Memoirs of My +Times," vol. i., p. 458.] + +"Does that mean that if Russia and Austria should go to war, your +majesty will stand by the former?" + +"It means that I will make every effort to prevent a war between Russia +and Austria. If, in spite of all that I could do, there should be war +between you, it would not be possible for Prussia to remain neutral. +Were she to do so, she would deserve the contempt both of friend and +foe. I would fulfil my obligations to Russia, that I might secure the +duration of our alliance. But I sincerely hope that it may be my good +fortune to mediate with such results as will spare me the espousal of +either party's quarrel." + +"If so, Russia must abandon her ambitious projects in Turkey, and she +must speedily consent to secure peace to Poland," replied Kaunitz +warmly. + +The king smiled, and taking from the table a sealed packet, he presented +it to Kaunitz. + +"A letter for me!" exclaimed the minister, surprised. + +"Yes, your highness. A few moments before you came hither, a courier +arrived from Constantinople with dispatches for you and for me." + +"Does your majesty allow me to open them?" + +"I request you to read them while I read mine, Which are, as yet, +unopened. I have only read the report of my ambassador at +Constantinople. Let us see what news we have." + +The king, with a smiling inclination of the head, settled himself in his +arm-chair, and began to read. + +A long pause ensued. Both tried to seem absorbed in the dispatches from +Turkey, yet each one gave now and then a hasty, furtive glance at the +other. If their eyes met, they were quickly cast, down again, and so +they continued to watch and read; until there was no more excuse for +silence. + +"Bad news from Turkey," said Frederick, speaking first, and putting down +his letters. + +"The Porte has been unfortunate," said Kaunitz, shrugging his shoulders +and looking perfectly indifferent. "Russia has not only gained a great +victory on land, but has defeated him at sea, and has burnt his fleet." + +"The consequence of all this is, that Turkey now turns to Austria and +Prussia for help, "replied the king." Upon our intervention now, hangs +the peace of all Europe. We have a most important mission to perform." + +"Your majesty intends to undertake it?" asked Kaunitz carelessly. + +"I am resolved to do all that I can to prevent war. It is such a +terrible scourge, that no nation has a right to fold her hands and see +its horrors, if by any step of hers it can be averted or stopped. Turkey +asks for intervention, that she may be restored to the blessings of +peace. Shall we refuse her?" + +"Austria cannot mediate in this affair unless Russia first proposes it," +said Kaunitz, in a listless tone. "The court of Vienna cannot make +propositions to Russia. It therefore rests with your majesty to induce +the Empress Catharine to make the same request of Austria, as Turkey has +made of us both." + +"I will propose it to the empress," said the king eagerly; "and I feel +sure that she will agree to do so." + +Kaunitz bowed loftily. "Then," replied he, "Austria will mediate; but +let it be understood that the peace is to be an honorable one for +Turkey, and that Russia ceases any further aggression in that quarter." + +"The Porte will be under the necessity of making some concessions," said +the king, "since he it is whose arms have sustained reverses. But Turkey +may still remain a second-rate power, for I think that Russia will be +satisfied with the Crimea and the Black Sea for herself and a guaranty +of independent sovereigns for Wallachia and Moldavia." + +"Independent princes appointed by Russia!" cried Kaunitz. + +"My imperial sovereign will never consent to have a Russian province +contiguous to Austria; and should Moldavia and Wallachia be governed by +hospodars and petty despots, their pretended independence would soon +melt away into a Russian dependency. Austria, too, would esteem it a +great misfortune if Russia should come into possession of the Crimea and +the Black Sea. Her dominion over the Black Sea would be more dangerous +to Europe than an extension of her territory. Nothing, in short, would +be so fatal to that independence which is dear to all nations, as the +cession of this important outlet to Russia." [Footnote: The prince's +own words. Ferrand, i., p. 112. + +"Your highness may be right," said the king; "and Austria has more to +fear from this dominion than Prussia; for the Danube is a finger of the +Black Sea, which might be used to seize some of your fairest provinces. +We will keep this in view when we enter upon our negotiations with +Russia." + +"Before we begin them at all, we must exact of Russia to restore peace +to Poland." + +"Ali, you wish to draw Poland info the circle of intervention?" said +Frederick, laughing. + +"The court of Vienna cannot suffer Russia to oppress this unfortunate +people as she has hitherto done. Not only has she forced Stan islaus +Augustus upon them, but she has also compelled them to alter their +constitution, and, in the face of all justice, her armies occupy Poland, +devastating the country, and oppressing both royalists and +republicans." + +"You are resolved to speak of Poland," said Frederick, again taking so +large a pinch of snuff that it bedaubed not only his face, but his white +Austrian uniform. He brushed it off with his fingers, and shaking his +head, said: "I am not neat enough to wear this elegant dress. I am not +worthy of wearing the Austrian livery." He then resumed: "You interest +yourself in Poland. I thought that Polish independence had been thrown +to the winds. I thought, also, that your highness was of the same +opinion on this question as the Empress Catharine, who says that she +neither knows where Polish territory begins nor where it ends. Now I am +equally at a loss to know what is and what is not Poland, for in Warsaw +a Russian army seems to be perfectly at home, and in the south of Poland +an Austrian regiment affirms that they occupy Polish ground by command +of the Austrian government." + +"Your majesty is pleased to speak of the county of Zips. Zips has always +belonged to Hungary. It was mortgaged by the Emperor Sigismund to his +brother-in-law ZVladislaw Jagello for a sum of money. Hungary has never +parted with her right to this country; and, as we have been compelled to +send troops to our frontier to watch Russia, the opportunity presents +itself for us to demonstrate to Poland that Austria can never consent to +regard a mortgaged province as one either given or sold. Zips belongs to +Austria, and we will pay back to the King of Poland the sum for which it +was mortgaged. That is all." + +"Yes, but it will be difficult not only for Poland, but for all Europe, +which is accustomed to consider Zips as Polish territory, to remember +your highness's new boundaries. I, for my part, do not understand it, +and I will be much obliged to you if, according to your new order of +things, you will show the where Hungary ends and Poland begins." +[Footnote: The kng's own words. Ferrand, P. 112.] + +"Where the county of Zips ends, and where the boundaries of Hungary +began in olden times, there the line that separates Austria from Poland +should be drawn." + +"Ah!" sighed the king, "you speak of the olden time. But we must settle +all these things now with regard to the present. I happen, by chance, to +have a rnah of Poland on my table. Oblige me now by showing me Poland as +your highness understands its boundaries." + +The king stood up, and unfolding a map, laid it on the table. Kaunitz +also rose, and stood on the opposite side. "Now," said Frederick, "let +me see the county of Zips." + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +THE MAP OF POLAND. + +"HERE, your majesty, is Zips," said Kaunitz, as he passed his delicate +white finger over the lower part of the map. + +The king leaned over, and looked thoughtfully at the moving finger. For +some time he kept silence. Then he raised his head, and suet the gaze of +the prince. + +"A very pretty piece of land which Austria takes from her neighbor," said +he, with a piercing glance at Kaunitz. "Austria takes nothing from her +neighbor, sire, except that which belongs to her," replied Kaunitz, +quietly. + +"How very fortunate it is that this particular piece of land should +belong to Austria!" said the king; with a slight sneer. "You see that +Poland, who for so many centuries had supposed herself to be the +rightful owner of the Zips, has, in virtue of such ownership, projected +beyond the Carpathian Mountains quite to the interior of Hungary. Now a +wedge of that sort is inconvenient, perhaps dangerous, and it is lucky +for Austria that she has found out her right of possession in that +quarter. It not only contracts her neighbor's domains, but essentially +increases her own. It now concerns Austria to prove to Europe her right +to this annexation, for Europe is somewhat astonished to hear of it. " + +"In the court-chancery, at Vienna, are the documents to prove that the +Zips was mortgaged by the Emperor Sigismund to his brother-in-law +Wladislaw, in the year 1412, for the sum of thirty-seven thousand +groschen." + +"Since 1412!" cried Frederick. "Three hundred and fifty-five years' +possession on the part of Poland has not invalidated the title of +Austria to the Zips! My lawful claim to Silesia was of more modern date +than this, and yet Austria would have made it appear that it was +superannuated." + +"Your majesty has proved, conclusively, that it was not so," replied +Kaunitz, with a slight inclination of the head. + +"Will Austria take the course which I pursued to vindicate my right?" +asked the king, quickly. + +"Stanislaus will not allow us to proceed to extremities," replied the +Prince. "True, he complained at first, and wrote to the empress-queen to +demand what he called justice." + +"And will your highness inform me what the empress-queen replied in +answer to these demands?" + +"She wrote to the King of Poland that the time had arrived when it +became incumbent upon her to derive the boundaries of her empire. That, +in her annexation of the Zips to Austria, she was actuated, not by any +lust of territorial aggrandizement, but by a conviction of her just and +inalienable rights. She was prepared, not only to assert, but to defend +them; and she took this opportunity to define the lines of her frontier, +for the reason that Poland was in a state of internal warfare, the end +of which no man could foresee." [Footnote: Ferrand, i., p. 94.] + +"If I were King of Poland, such plain language as this would put me on +my guard." + +"Sire, if you were King of Poland, no foreign power would employ such +language toward you," said Kaunitz, with a half smile. + +"That is true," replied the king, shaking his head. "The King of Poland +is a weak, good-natured fellow. He cannot forget that he has been the +lover of Catharine of Russia, and I verily believe, that if she were to +make a sign, he would lay, not only himself, but all Poland, at her +feet." + +"Austria would never suffer her to accept it," cried Kauuitz. + +The king shrugged his shoulders. "And yet, it would appear that when +Zips lay at her feet, the Empress of Austria was ready to embrace it. +But everybody grows eccentric when Poland is in question. My brother +Henry, who is in St. Petersburg, was one day discussing this matter of +the annexation of Zips with the empress. As Catharine, like myself, has +never had the privilege of examining the records in the court of +chancery at Vienna, she expressed some doubt as to the justice of +Austria's appropriation in that quarter. 'It seems,' said she, 'as if +one had noting to do but stoop down to pick up something in +Poland.'[Footnote: Ruthfore's "History of Poland," vol. iv., p. 210.] +Now, when proud Austria and her lofty Kaunitz condescend to stoop and +pick up, why shall not other people follow their example? I, too, shall +be obliged to march my troops into Poland, for every misfortune seems +about to visit this unhappy land. Who knows that in the archives at +Berlin there may not be some document to prove that I, also, have a +right to extend the lines of my frontier?" + +While Frederick spoke, he kept his eyes fixed upon the face of Prince +Kaunitz, as though he would have read to the very bottom of his soul. +The latter pretended not to be aware of it; he looked perfectly blank, +while he affected to be still interested in examining the map. + +"It would be fortunate if your majesty could discover such documents in +YOUR archives," replied he, coolly. "I have been told that you have, +heretofore, sought for them in Warsaw; unhappily, without being able to +find any." + +The king could not repress a slight start as he heard this revelation of +his own machinations. Kaunitz again affected to see nothing, although he +was looking directly in the king's eyes. + +"I say," continued Kaunitz, "that it would be most fortunate if, JUST AT +THIS TIME, your majesty could recover your titles to that portion of +Poland which lies contiguous to Russia. Austria, I assure you, will +place no difficulties in the way." + +"Really," replied the king, "I must say that these lines form a better +natural frontier than my present boundaries." Here he passed his hand +somewhere through the north-western provinces of Poland, while he +continued: "Would my word suffice if I were to say to Austria that the +documents, proving my right to this territory, are to be found in the +archives at Berlin?" + +"Your majesty's word, as regards this question, is worth more than the +documents," said Kaunitz, deliberately. + +"But what would Catharine say?--she who looks upon Poland as her own?" + +"If she says any thing, it is high time she were undeceived in that +respect," said Kaunitz, hastily. "She must be satisfied to share equally +with others. Your majesty was pleased to relate to me a portion of the +conversation between the empress and Prince Henry. The empress said, 'It +seems as if one had nothing to do but stoop down to pick up something in +Poland.' But you forgot the sequel. She added these words: 'If the court +of Vienna begins the dismemberment of Poland I think that her neighbors +have a right to continue it.'" [Footnote: La Roche Aymon "Vie du Prince +Henry" p. 171.] + +"Vraiment, your highness has trusty reporters, and your agents serve you +admirably!" exclaimed the king. + +Kaunitz bowed haughtily. + +"We are your majesty's imitators," replied he. "First during the +Silesian war, then at the court of Dresden, we learned from you the +value of secret information. [Footnote: Through his ambassador at +Dresden, Frederick had bribed the keeper of the Saxon archives to send +him copies of the secret treaties between Austria and Saxony. He did +even worse, for the attache of the Austrian embassy at Berlin was in his +pay, and he sent the king copies of all the Austrian dispatches.--L. +Muhlbach, "Life of Frederick the Great."] Having been apprised of the +remarkable words of the empress, I began to fear that she might encroach +upon Poland without regard to the claims of Austria. Your majesty is +aware that the Russian army occupy Warsaw, and that a cordon of Russian +troops extend as far as the frontiers of Turkey." + +"And if I draw my cordon beyond the district of Netz," cried the king, +drawing his finger across the map as if it had been a sword, "and +Austria extends her frontier beyond Galicia and the Zips, the republic +of Poland will occupy but a small space on the map of Europe." + +"The smaller the better; the fewer Poles there are in the world the less +strife there will be. The cradle of the Poles is that apple of discord +which Eris once threw upon the table of the gods; they were born of its +seeds, and dissension is their native element. As long as there lives a +Pole on the earth, that Pole will breed trouble among his neighbors." + +"Ah!" said the king, taking a pinch of snuff, "and yet your highness was +indignant at Catharine because she would force the Poles to keep the +peace. She appears to ME to be entirely of one mind with yourself. She, +too, looks upon Poland as the apple of Eris, and she has found it so +over-ripe that it is in danger of falling from the tree. She has +stationed her gardener, Stanislaus, to guard it. Let him watch over it. +It belongs to him, and if it come to the ground, he has nobody to blame +but himself. Meanwhile, should it burst, we will find means to prevent +it from soiling US. Now let us speak of Turkey. That unlucky Porte must +have something done for him, and while we mediate in his behalf, I hope +to bring about a good understanding between Austria and Russia. Let us +do our best to promote a general peace. Europe is bleeding at every +pore; let us bind up her wounds, and restore her to health." + +"Austria is willing to promote the general welfare," replied Kaunitz, +following the king's example and rising from his chair, "but first +Russia must conclude an honorable peace with Turkey, and she must +abandon her rapacious designs upon the rest of Europe. But should the +Empress of Russia compel us to war with her on this question we will not +have recourse to arms until we have found means to alienate from her the +most formidable of her allies." + +The king laughed. "I approve your policy," said he, "but I am curious to +know how you would manage to prevent me from keeping my word. I am +certainly pledged to Russia, but I hope that the negotiations into which +we are about to enter will end in peace. I shall send a resume of our +conference to the empress, and use every effort to establish friendly +relations between you." + +"Will your majesty communicate her reply to me?" asked Kaunitz. + +"I certainly will; for I am a soldier, not a diplomatist, and I am so +much in love with truth that I shall be her devotee until the last +moment of my life." + +"Ah, sire, a man must be a hero like yourself to have the courage to +love so dangerous a mistress. Truth is a rose with a thousand thorns. He +who plucks it will be wounded, and woe to the head of him who wears it +in his crown!" + +"You and I have fought and bled too often on the field of diplomacy to +be tender about our heads. Let us, then, wear the crown of truth, and +bear with its thorns." + +So saying, the king reached out his hand, and Kaunitz took his leave. + +After the prince had left the room, Frederick remained for a few minutes +listening, until he heard the door of the farther anteroom closed. + +"Now, Hertzberg," cried he, "come out--the coast is clear." + +A gigantic screen, which divided the room in two, began to move, and +forth came Count Herizberg, the king's prime minister. + +"Did you hear it all?" asked Frederick, laughing. + +"I did, so please your majesty." + +"Did you write it down, so that I can send its resume to the Empress +Catharine?" + +"Yes, your majesty, as far as it was possible to do so, I have written +down every word of your conference," said Hertzberg, with a dissatisfied +expression of countenance. + +The king raised his large eyes with an inquiring look at the face of his +trusty minister. "Are you not satisfied, Hertzberg? Why do you shake +your head? You have three wrinkles in your forehead, and the corners of +your mouth turn down as they always do when something has displeased +you. Speak out, man. Of what do you complain?" + +"First, I complain that your majesty has allowed the old fox to perceive +that you, as well as himself, entertain designs upon Poland, and that in +a manner you are willing to guarantee to Austria her theft of the Zips. +I also complain that you have consented to induce Russia, through the +intervention of Austria, to make peace with Turkey." + +"Is that all?" asked the king. + +"Yes, your majesty; that is all." + +"Well, then, hear my defence. As regards your first complaint, I allowed +the old fox (as you call him) to scent my desire for Polish game, +because I wished to find out exactly how far I could venture to go in +the matter." + +"Yes, sire, and the consequences will be, that Austria, who has already +appropriated the Zips, will stoop down to pick up something else. She +has already had her share of the booty, why should she divide with your +majesty?" + +"Let Austria have her second share," cried the king, laughing. "It will +earn for her a double amount of the world's censure. [Footnote: The +king's own words. Coxe, "History of Austria," vol. v., p. 20.] As regards +your second complaint, let me tell you, that at this moment peace is +indispensable to us all, and for this reason I desire to bring Russia +and Austria into friendly relations with one another. I think it not +only wiser but more honorable to pacify Europe than to light the torch +of war a second time. It is not an easy matter to secure a general +peace, and we must all make some concessions to achieve a result so +desirable. Do you suppose that it is as easy to conciliate unfriendly +powers as it is to write bad verses? I assure you, Hertzberg, that I +would rather sit down to render the whole Jewish history into madrigals, +than undertake to fuse into unanimity the conflicting interests of three +sovereigns, when two out of the three are women! But I will do my best. +When your neighbor's house is on fire, help to put it out, or it may +communicate and burn down your own." [Footnote: The king's own +words. "Ceuvres Posthumes," vol. ii., p. 187] + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE COUNTESS WIELOPOLSKA. + +"You really think that he will come, Matuschka?" asked the Countess +Wielopolska of her waiting-woman, who, standing behind the chair, was +fastening a string of pearls in her lady's dusky hair. + +"I know he will come, your ladyship," replied Matuschka. + +"And you have seen the emperor and spoken to him!" exclaimed the +countess, pressing her delicate white hands upon her heart, as though +she strove to imprison its wild emotions. + +"Indeed I have, my lady." + +"Oh, tell me of it again, Matuschka; tell me, that I may not fancy it a +dream!" cried the countess, eagerly. + +"Well, then, my lady, I took your note to the palace, where the emperor +has given positive orders that every one who wishes it shall be admitted +to his presence. The guard before the door let me pass into the +antechamber. One of the lords in waiting told me that the emperor would +be there before a quarter of an hour. I had not waited so long when the +door opened and a handsome young man in a plain white uniform walked in. +I should never have taken him for the emperor, except that the lord +stood up so straight when he saw him. Then I knelt down and gave the +letter. The emperor took it and said: 'Tell your lady that I am not +prepared to receive ladies in my palace; but since she wishes to see me, +I will go to her. If she will be at home this evening, I will find time +to call upon her myself.'" + +"Ah!" cried the countess, "he will soon be here. I shall see him--speak +to him--pour out the longings of my bursting heart! Oh, Matuschka, as +the moment approaches, I feel as if I could fly away and plunge into the +wild waters of the Vistula that bear my husband's corpse, or sink +lifeless upon the battle-field that is reddened with the blood of my +brothers." + +"Do not think of these dreadful things, dear lady," said Matuschka, +trying to keep back her tears; "it is twilight, and the emperor will +soon be here. Look cheerful--for you are as beautiful as an angel when +you smile, and the emperor will be much more apt to be moved by your +smiles than by your tears." + +"You are right, Matuschka," cried the countess, rising hastily from her +seat. "I will not weep, for I must try to find favor in the emperor's +eyes." + +She crossed the room and stood before a Psyche, where for some time she +scrutinized her own features; not with the self-complacency of a vain +woman, but with the critical acuteness of an artist who contemplates a +fine picture. Gradually her eyes grew soft and her mouth rippled with a +smile. Like a mourning Juno she stood in the long black velvet dress +that sharply defined the outlines of her faultless bust and fell in +graceful folds around her stately figure. Her bodice was clasped by an +agrafe of richest pearls; and the white throat and the jewel lay +together, pearl beside pearl, each rivalling the snowy lustre of the +other. Had it not been for those starry eyes that looked out so full of +mournful splendor, her face might have seemed too statuesque in its +beauty; but from their dark depths all the enthusiasm of a nature that +had concentrated its every emotion into one master-passion, lit up her +face with flashes that came and went like summer lightning. + +"Yes, I am beautiful," whispered she, while a sad smile played around +her exquisite month. "My beauty is the last weapon left me wherewith to +battle for Poland. I must take advantage of it. Life and honor, wealth +and blood, every thing for my country!" + +She turned to her waiting-woman as a queen would have done who was +dismissing her subjects. + +"Go, Matuschka," said she, "and take some rest. You have been laboring +for me all day, and I cannot bear to think that the only friend left me +in this world should be overtasked for me. Sometimes you look at me as +my mother once did; and then I dream that I feel her hand laid lovingly +upon my head, and hear her dear voice exhorting me to pray that God +would bless me with strength to do my duty to my bleeding country." +Matuschka fell upon her knees and kissed the hem of her mistress's robe. + +"Do not give way," sobbed she, "do not grieve now." + +The countess did not hear. She had thrown back her head and was gazing +absently above. "Oh, yes, I am mindful of my duty," murmured she. "I +have not forgotten the vow I made to my mother and sealed upon her dying +lips with my last kiss! I have been a faithful daughter of my +fatherland. I have given every thing--there remains nothing but myself, +and oh, how gladly would I give my life for Poland! But God has forsaken +us; His eyes are turned away!" + +"Accuse not the Lord, dear lady," prayed Matuschka. "Put your trust in +Him, and take courage." + +"It is true. I have no right to accuse my Maker," sighed the +countess. "When the last drop of Polish blood is spent and the last +Polish heart is crushed beneath the tramp of the enemy's hosts, then it +will be time to cry to Heaven! Rise, Matuschka, and weep no more. All is +not yet lost. Let us hope, and labor that hope may become reality, and +Poland may be free!" + +She reached her hand to Matuschka and passed into an adjoining room. It +was the state apartment of the inn, and was always reserved for +distinguished guests. It had been richly furnished, but the teeth of +time had nibbled many a rent in the old-fashioned furniture, the faded +curtains, and the well-worn carpet. Matuschka, however, had given an air +of some elegance to the place. On the carved oak table in the centre +stood a vase of flowers; and, that her dear mistress might have +something to remind her of home, Matuschka had procured a piano, to +which the countess, when weary of her thoughts, might confide the hopes +and fears that were surging in her storm-tossed heart. + +The piano was open, and a sheet of music lay on the desk. As the +countess perceived it, she walked rapidly toward the instrument and sat +down before it. + +"I will sing," said she. "The emperor loves music, above all things the +music of Gluck." + +She turned over the leaves, and then said, softly: + +"`Orpheus and Eurydice!' La, Bernasconi told me that this was his +favorite opera. Oh, that I knew which aria he loved the best?" + +She struck a few chords, and in a low voice began to sing. Gradually her +beautiful features lost their sadness, she seemed to forget herself and +her sorrows, and to yield up her soul to the influence of Gluck's +heavenly music. And now, with all the power, the melody, the pathos of +her matchless voice, she sang, "Che faro senza Eurydice!" + +The more she sang, the brighter grew her lovely face. Forgetful of all +things around, she gave herself wholly up to the inspiration of the +hour, and from its fountains of harmony she drew sweetest draughts of +consolation and of hope. + +The door had opened, and she had not beard it. On the threshold stood +the emperor, followed by Matuschka, while the countess, all unmindful, +filled the air with strains so divine, that they might have been the +marriage-hymns of Love wedded to Song. + +The emperor had stopped for a moment to listen. His face, which at first +had worn an expression of smiling flippancy, now changed its aspect. He +recognized the music, and felt his heart heat wildly. With a commanding +gesture, he motioned Matuschka to withdraw, and noiselessly closed the +door. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXYI. + +THE EMPEROR AND THE COUNTESS. + +The countess continued to sing, although Joseph had advanced as far as +the centre of the room. The thickness of the carpet made his footfall +inaudible. He stood with his right hand resting upon the oak table, +while he leaned forward to listen, and one by one the dead memories of +his youthful love came thronging around his heart, and filling it with +an ecstasy that was half joy and half sorrow. + +More and more impassioned grew the music, while the air was tremulous +with melody. It softened and softened, until it melted away in sobs. The +hands of the enchantress fell from the keys; she bowed her head, and +leaning against the music, burst into tears. The emperor, too, felt the +tear-drops gather in his eyes; he dashed them away, and went rapidly up +to the piano. + +"Countess," said he, in his soft, mellow tones, "I felt it no +indiscretion to listen unseen to your heavenly music, but no one save +God has a right to witness your grief." + +She started, and rising quickly, the emperor saw the face of the lady +who had thrown him the wreath. + +"It is she!" cried he, "the beautiful Confederate! I thank you from my +heart for the favor you have done me, for I have sought you for some +days in vain." + +"Your majesty sought me?" said she, smiling. "Then I am sure that you +are ready to sympathize with misfortune." + +"Do you need sympathy?" asked he, eagerly. + +"Sire, I am a daughter of Poland," replied she. + +"And the Wielopolskas are among the noblest and richest of Poland's +noble families." + +"Noble! Rich! Our castles have been burned by the Russians, our fields +have been laid waste, our vassals have been massacred, and of our +kinsmen, some have died under the knout, while others drag out a life of +martyrdom in Siberia." + +"One of the Counts Wielopolska was a favorite of the king, was he not?" +asked Joseph, much moved. + +"He was my husband," replied she, bitterly. "Heedless of his +countrymen's warnings, he believed in the patriotism of Stanislaus. When +he saw his error, he felt that he merited death, and expiated his fault +by self-destruction. His grave is in the Vistula." + +"Unhappy wife!" exclaimed the emperor. "And had you no other kinsman?" + +"I had a father and three brothers." + +"You had them?" + +"Yes, sire, but I have them no longer. My brothers died on the field of +battle; my father, oh, my father!--God grant that he be no more among +the living, FOR HE IS IN SIBERIA!" + +The emperor raised his hands in horror; then extending them to the +countess, he took hers, and said in a voice of deepest sympathy "I thank +you for coming to me. Tell me your plans for the future, that I may +learn how best I may serve you." + +"Sire, I have none," sighed she. "Life is so mournful, that I long to +close my eyes forever upon its tragedies, but--" + +"But what?" + +"I should then be robbed of the sight of him who has promised succor to +my fatherland," cried she, passionately, while she sank upon her knees +and clasped her hands convulsively together. + +Joseph bent over, and would have raised her from the floor. "It ill +becomes such beauty to kneel before me," said he, softly. + +"Let me kneel, let me kneel!" exclaimed she, while her beautiful eyes +suffused with tears. "Here, at your feet, let me implore your protection +for Poland! Have mercy, sire, upon the Confederates, whose only crime is +their resistance to foreign oppression. Reach out your imperial band to +THEM, and bid them be free, for they must either be slaves, or die by +their own hands. Emperor of Austria, save the children of Sobieski from +barbarous Russia!" + +"Do not fear," replied Joseph, kindly. "I promised the Confederates that +Austria would recognize their envoy, and I will redeem my word. Rise, +countess, I implore you, rise, and may the day not be distant when I +shall extend my hand to Poland as I now do to you. You have a pledge of +my sincerity, in the fact that we have both a common enemy, and it will +not be my fault if I do not oppose her, sword in hand. Still, although +men call me emperor, I am the puppet of another will. The crown of +Austria is on my mother's head; its shadow, alone, is upon mine. I speak +frankly to you; but our acquaintance is peculiar, and, by its nature, +has broken down the ordinary barriers of conventional life. Your songs +and your tears have spoken directly to my heart recalling the oniy happy +days that I have ever known on earth. But I am growing sentimental. You +will pardon me, I know, for you are a woman, and have known what it is +to love." + +She slowly shook her head. "No, sire," replied she, "I have never known +what it was to love." + +The emperor looked directly in her eyes. SHE! Beautiful and majestic as +Hera,--SHE, not know what it was to love! "And your husband--" asked he. + +"I was married to him as Poland was given to Stanislaus. I never saw him +until he became my husband." + +"And your heart refused allegiance?" + +"Sire, I have never yet seen the man who was destined to reign over my +heart." + +"Ah, you are proud! I envy him who is destined to conquer that +enchanting domain." + +She looked for one moment at the emperor, and then said, blushing: +"Sire, my heart will succumb to him who rescues Poland. With rapture it +will acknowledge him as lord and sovereign of my being." + +The emperor made no reply. He gazed with a significant smile at the +lovely enthusiast, until she blushed again, and her eyes sought the +ground. + +"Ah, countess," said Joseph, after a pause, "if all the women of Poland +were of your mind, a multitudinous army would soon flock to her +standard." + +"Every Polish woman is of one mind with me. We are all the daughters of +one mother, and our love for her is stronger than death." + +The emperor shook his lead. "Were this true," replied he, "Poland would +never have fallen as she has done. But far be it from me to heap +reproaches upon the unfortunate. I will do what it lies in my power to +do for the Poles, provided they are willing to second my efforts for +themselves. If they would have peace, however, with other nations, they +must show strength and unity of purpose among themselves. Until they can +stand before the world in the serried ranks of a national unanimity, +they must expect to be assailed by their rapacious neighbors. But let us +forget politics for a moment. I long to speak to you of yourself. What +are your plans? How can I serve you?" + +"Sire, I have no plans. I ask nothing of the world but a place of +refuge, where I can sorrow unseen." + +"You are too young, and, pardon me, if I add, too beautiful, to fly from +the world. Come to Vienna, and learn from me how easy it is to live +without happiness." + +"Your majesty will allow me to go to Vienna?" cried the countess, +joyfully. "Ever since I have felt that I could do nothing for Poland, I +have longed to live in Vienna, that I might breathe the same atmosphere +with your majesty and the Empress Maria Theresa. You are the only +sovereigns in Europe who have shown any compassion for the misfortunes +of my country, and before your generous sympathy my heart bows down in +gratitude and admiration." + +"Say you so, proud heart, that has never bowed before?" exclaimed the +emperor, smiling, and taking the countess's white hand in his. "Come, +then, to Vienna, not to do homage, but to receive it, for nothing +becomes your beauty more than pride. Come to Vienna., and I will see +that new friends and new ties awaken your heart to love and happiness." + +"I have one relative in Vienna, sire, the Countess von Salmour." + +"Ah! one of the empress's ladies of honor. Then you will not need my +protection there, for the countess is in high favor with the empress; +and I may say, that she has more influence at court than I have." + +"Sire," said the countess, raising her large eyes with an appealing +look, "I shall go to Vienna, if I go under your majesty's protection and +with your sanction." + +"You shall have both," replied Joseph, warmly. "I will write to my +mother to-day, and you shall present my letter. When will you leave? I +dare not ask you to tarry here, for this is no place for lovely and +unprotected women. Moreover, the King of Prussia has no sympathy with +Poland, and he will like you the less for the touching appeal you made +in her behalf when you sang at the concert. Greet the empress for me, +and let me hope that you will stir her heart as you have stirred mine. +And now farewell. My time has expired: the King of Prussia expects me to +supper. I must part from you, but I leave comforted, since I am enabled +to say in parting, 'Au revoir.'" + +He bowed, and turned to quit the room. But at the door he spoke again. + +"If I ever win the right to claim any thing of you, will you sing for me +the aria that I found you singing to-night?" + +"Oh! your majesty," said the countess, coming eagerly forward. "you have +already earned the right to claim whatsoever you desire of me. I can +never speak my gratitude for your condescension; perhaps music will +speak for me. How gladly, then, will I sing when you command me!" + +"I shall claim the promise in Vienna," said he, as he left the room. + +The countess remained standing just where he had met her, breathlessly +listening to his voice, which for a while she heard in the anteroom, and +then to the last echoes of his retreating steps. + +Suddenly the door was opened, and Matuschka, with joyful mien, came +forward with a purse in her hand. + +"Oh, my lady," exclaimed she, "the emperor has given me this purse to +defray our expenses to Vienna!" + +The countess started, and her pale face suffused with crimson shame. + +"Alms!" said she, bitterly. "He treats me like a beggar!" + +"No, lady," said Matuschka abashed; "the emperor told me that he had +begged you to go to Vienna for business of state, and that he had a +right to provide the expenses of our journey there. He said--" + +The countess waved her hand impatiently. "Go back to the emperor," said +she haughtily. "Tell him that you dare not offer this purse to your +lady, for you know that she would rather die than receive alms, even +from an emperor." + +Matuschka cast down her eyes, and turned away. But she hesitated, and +looked timidly at her mistress, whose great, glowing eyes were fixed +upon her in unmistakable displeasure. + +"My lady," said she, with embarrassment, "I will do your bidding, but +you who have been so rich and great, know nothing of the troubles of +poverty. Your money is exhausted. I would rather melt my own heart's +blood into gold than tell you so; but indeed, dear lady, if you refuse +the emperor's gift you wilt be without a kreutzer in your purse." + +The countess raised her hands to her hair and unfastened the pearl +wreath with which Matuschka had decorated it in anticipation of the +emperor's visit. + +"There--take this and sell it. You will readily find a jeweller who +understands its value, and if he pays us but the half, it will be twice +the sum which you hold in the emperor's purse." + +"My lady, would you sell your family jewels? Have you forgotten that +your family are pledged not to sell their heirlooms?" + +"God will forgive me if I break my vow. It is more honorable to part +with my ancestral jewels than to receive alms. I have no heirs, and no +one will be wronged by the act. I have but my mother--Poland. For her I +am ready to sacrifice the little I possess, and when nothing else +remains, I shall yield my life. Go, Matuschka, go!" + +Matuschka took the wreath and wept. "I go, lady," sobbed she. "This will +last you for half a year, and then the armlets, then the diadem of +brilliants, the bracelets, and the necklace, must all go. God grant you +may live so long on these family treasures, that old Matuschka may be +spared the humiliation of selling the rest! I have lived too long, since +I must chaffer with a base-born tradesman for the jewels that were the +royal gift of John Sobieski to my lady's noble ancestors." + +She raised the countess's robe to her lips, and left the room. Her +mistress looked after her, but her thoughts were wandering elsewhere. +Slowly sinking on her knees, she began to pray, and the burden of her +prayer was this: + +"Oh, my God, grant that I may win his love!" + + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +MARIA THERESA. + +The pearls were sold, the countess had arrived in Vienna; and she was in +the presence of the empress, whom, although they had never met before, +she had so long regarded with affectionate admiration. + +"I rejoice to see you," said Maria Theresa, graciously extending her +hand. "It gives me pleasure to receive a relative of the Countess von +Salmour. But you have another claim upon my sympathy, for you are a +Polish woman, and I can never forget that, but for John Sobieski, Vienna +would have been a prey to the infidel." + +"Upon your majesty's generous remembrance of Sobieski's alliance rests +the last hope of Poland!" exclaimed the countess, kneeling and kissing +the hand of the empress. "God has inclined to her redemption the heart +of the noblest woman in Europe, and through her magnanimity will the +wicked Empress of Russia receive her check. Oh, your majesty, that +woman, in the height of her arrogance, believes to-day that you are only +too willing to further her rapacity and participate in her crimes!" + +"Never shall it be said that she and I have one thought or one object in +common!" cried Maria Theresa, her face glowing with indignation. "Let +her cease her oppression of Poland, or the Austrian eagle will seize the +Russian vulture!" + +The face of the countess grew radiant with joy. Raising her beautiful +arms to heaven, she cried out exultingly: "King of kings, Thou hast +heard! Maria Theresa comes to our help! Oh, your majesty, how many +thousand hearts, from this day, will bow down in homage before your +throne! Hereafter, not God, but Maria Theresa, will be our refuge!" + +"Do not blaspheme," cried the empress, crossing herself. "I am but the +servant of the Lord, and I do His divine will on earth. God is our +refuge and our strength, and He will nerve my arm to overcome evil and +work out good. I will countenance and uphold the Confederates, because +it is my honest conviction that their cause is just, and that they are +the only party in Poland who act in honor and good faith." [Foonote: The +empress's own words. See Ferrand, i., p. 72.] + +"Hitherto, they would have died to vindicate that honor and that faith; +now they will live to defend it from their oppressors. Oh, your majesty, +pardon me, if, in my rapture at your goodness, I forget what is due to +your exalted station. My heart will burst if I may not give utterance to +my joy. I am a lonely creature, with no tie but that which binds me to +my unhappy mother, Polonia!" + +"So young, and without home or kindred!" said the empress, kindly. "I +have already heard of your misfortunes, poor child, from my son the +emperor." + +At the name of the emperor, the countess's pale face was tinged with a +faint rosy color. The empress did not remark it, for she was already +thinking what a pity it was that such a surpassingly beautiful woman +should be a widow; that such an enchanting creature should be unloved +and unwedded. + +"You are too handsome," said she, "to remain single. Woman was made for +love and marriage. Happy is she who can devote her whole heart to the +sweet responsibilities of domestic life, and who is not called upon to +assume the duties that weigh down the head of royalty." + +While the empress spoke, her eyes were fixed upon the portrait of the +Emperor Francis, which still hung between the windows in the place of +the mirror, which had been removed from its frame. The Countess +Wielopolska had been admitted to the gay sitting-room. + +"Earthly grandeur," continued she, "is beset with pains and cares; but +the happy wife, whose subjects are her own dear children, is one degree +removed from the bliss of angels. You must marry, my dear, and I will +find for you a brilliant parti." + +"I am poor, your majesty, and am too proud to enter a rich man's palace +without a dowry. " + +"You shall have your dowry. I shall instruct my ambassador at St. +Petersburg to demand the return of your estates. It will be one good +deed by which that woman [Footnote: The words by which Maria Theresa +always designated Catharine.] may expiate some of her many crimes. Your +estates once restored, you will be an equal match for any nobleman in +Europe. " + +"If I should receive my estates through your majesty's intercession," +replied the countess, "my home would be an asylum for all the +unfortunate Poles. I should think it treason to dream of personal +happiness, while Poland lies shackled and bleeding." + +"But Poland shall be free!" cried the empress, with enthusiasm. "With +the cooperation of France, the voice of Austria will be so loud that +Russia will hear, and withdraw her unjust claims. We will strike off the +fetters of Poland, while we forge a gentle chain for the Countess +Wielopolska: a chain that falls so lightly upon woman, that its burden +is sweeter than freedom." + +"Your majesty must forgive me," reiterated the countess; "I have sworn +on my mother's grave, that as long as I can be useful, I will live for +Poland. Should she regain her freedom, I will retire to a convent, where +every breath I draw shall be a thanksgiving to God. Should she be doomed +to slavery, she will need her sons and daughters no more, and then I +will die. Your majesty sees that I am already betrothed. I shall soon be +the bride of Heaven, or the bride of Death." + +"The bride of Heaven!" repeated the empress, her eyes swimming with +tears. "Then be it so; it is not I who would entice Mary from her +Master's feet. The world is full of Marthas, troubled about many things. +Go, choose the better part, sweet enthusiast, and I will see that you +have cause for thanksgiving. " + +She reached her hand to the countess, who kissed it and withdrew. As she +opened the door, she felt the bolt turn from the outside. + +"His highness Prince Kaunitz," cried a page; and as the countess was +making one last inclination of the head, the tall, slender form of +Kaunitz filled the space behind her. + +"Have I permission to enter, your majesty?" said the minister. + +"You are always welcome, prince," replied the empress. + +Kaunitz bowed slightly, and as he raised his cold eye to the face of the +countess, a faint smile flitted over his features, but it was followed +by a sneer. Without acknowledging her presence by the smallest courtesy, +he advanced to the empress, and the door closed upon Poland forever. + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +MARIE ANTOINETTE AND COURT ETIQUETTE. + +"Letters from France, your majesty," said Kaunitz, and the face of the +empress grew bright as she recognized the handwriting of her daughter. + +"The dauphiness is well?" said she. "Next to her dear self, I love to +see her writing. Ah, I have grown very lonely since my little Antoinette +has left me! One by one my children go; one dear face alone remains," +continued she, pointing to the portrait of the emperor. Then looking at +the letters in the hands of the prince, she said: + +"Have you good news?" + +"Yes, your majesty. The dauphiness is adored by the French people. They +repeat her bon mots, write odes and madrigals to her beauty, and hang up +her portrait in their houses. When she drives out in her caleche they +impede its progress with their welcomes; and when she appears at the +theatre, the prima donnas are forgotten. Half a year ago, when she made +her entry into Paris and more than a hundred thousand people went out to +meet her, the Duke de Brissac said, 'Madame, you have one hundred +thousand lovers, and yet the dauphin will never be jealous of them.' +[Footnote: "Memoirs of Madame de Campan," vol. i., p. 60.] The dear old +Duke! He little knew what literal truth he spoke of the dauphin on that +occasion." + +"What do you mean?" asked the empress, hastily. "I know by the +expression of your face that you have something unpleasant to tell." + +"I mean to say the dauphin is not jealous, because he is the only man in +France who is not in love with the dauphiness." + +The empress turned scarlet. "This is a serious charge which you presume +to make against the dauphin," said she, frowning. + +"It is unhappily true," replied Kaunitz, coolly, + +"The dauphiness makes no mention of such a state of things in her letter. +It does not breathe a word of complaint." + +"Perhaps the dauphiness, in the innocence of her heart, has no idea of +the grounds which she has for complaint." + +The empress looked displeased. "Do you know that your language is +offensive?" said she. "You assert that the dauphin is insensible to the +charms of his beautiful young wife." + +"Your majesty well knows that I never assert a falsehood. The dauphin is +not in love with his wife, and I do not believe that she has an advocate +at the court of Louis XV. Since the shameless partisans of Du Barry have +triumphed over the noble Duke of Choiseul, the dauphiness is without a +friend. The Duke d'Arguillon is anti-Austrian, and your majesty knows +what an enemy to Austria was the father of the dauphin." + +"Why do you seek to torture me, Kaunitz?" said the empress, impatiently. +"You are not telling me all this for nothing. Say at once what you have +to say." + +"Your majesty has not yet read the letter which I had the honor of +handing to you just now, I believe," said Kaunitz. + +Maria Theresa took up the letter from the gueridon on which she had +laid it, and began to look it over. + +"It is true," sighed she. "The dauphiness complains of solitude. 'Since +the Duke de Choiseul has left,' writes she, 'I am alone, and without a +friend.' You are right. The dauphiness is in danger. She writes that her +enemies are intriguing to part her from the dauphin. They attempted in +Fontainebleau to assign her a suite of apartments remote from those of +her husband." + +"Yes, the anti-Austrian party, seeing that he is indifferent to her, are +doing their best to convert this indifference into dislike. But the +dauphiness saw through the affair, and complained to the king." + +"That was right and bold!" cried the empress, joyfully. + +"Yes, it was bold, for it gained another enemy for the dauphiness. She +should have spoken to the king through the Duke d'Arguillon, instead of +which she applied to his majesty herself. The duke will never forgive +her; and when the Duchess de Noailles reproved the dauphiness, she +replied that she would never take counsel of etiquette where her family +affairs were concerned. The consequence is that the duchess also has +gone over to the enemy." + +"To the enemy?" exclaimed the empress, anxiously. "Has she, then, other +enemies?" + +"Madame de Marsan, the governess of the sisters of the dauphin, will +never forgive her for having interfered in the education of the young +princesses." + +"But surely the daughters of the king will be kind to my poor Marie +Antoinette!" exclaimed the empress, ready to burst into tears. "They +promised to love her; and it is but natural and womanly that they should +shun the party which upholds the profligate woman who rules the King of +France!" + +Prince Kaunitz slightly elevated his shoulders. "Madame Adelaide, the +eldest, until the marriage of the dauphin, held the first place at +court. Now, the daupbiness has precedence of her, and the court +card-parties are held in her apartments. Madaine Adelaide, therefore, +has refused to be present, and retires to her own rooms, where she holds +rival card-parties which are attended by the anti-Austrians, who are +opposed to Du Barry. This is the second party who intrigue against the +dauphiness.--Madame Sophie perchance remembers her in her prayers; but +she is too pious to be of use to anybody. Madame Victoire, who really +loves the dauphiness, is so sickly, that she scarcely ever leaves her +room. For a while she held little reunions there, which, being very +pleasant, were for a while attended by the dauphiness; but Madame de +Noailles objected, and court etiquette required that they should be +discontinued." + +The empress had risen and was acing the floor in great agitation. "So +young, so lovely, and slighted by her husband!" murmured she, bitterly, +while large tear-drops stood in her eyes. "The daughter of the Caesars +in strife with a king's base-born mistress and a vile faction who hate +her without cause! And I--her mother --an empress, am powerless to help +her!" + +"No, your majesty," said Kaunitz, "not altogether powerless. You cannot +help her with armies, but you can do so with good advice, and no one can +advise her as effectually as her mother." + +"Advise her? What advice can I give?" cried the empress, angrily. "Shall +I counsel her to attend the petits soupers of the king, and truckle to +his mistress? Never! never! My daughter may be unhappy, but she shall +not be dishonored!" + +"I should not presume to make any such proposition to the dauphiness," +said Kaunitz, quietly. "One cannot condescend to Du Barry as we did to La +Pompadour. The latter was at least a woman of mind, the former is +nothing more than a vulgar beauty. But there is another lady whose +influence at court is without limit--one whom Du Barry contemns, but +whom the dauphiness would do well to conciliate." + +"Of what lady do you speak, Kaunitz?" + +"I speak of Madame Etiquette, your majesty. She is a stiff and tiresome +old dame, I grant you, but in France she presides over every thing. +Without her the royal family can neither sleep nor wake; they can +neither take a meal if they be in health, nor a purge if they be +indisposed, without her everlasting surveillance. She directs their +dress, amusements, associates, and behavior; she presides over their +pleasures, their weariness, their social hours, and their hours of +solitude. This may be uncomfortable, but royalty cannot escape it, and +it must he endured." + +"It is the business of Madame de Noailles to attend to the requisitions +of court etiquette," said the empress, impatiently. "And of the +dauphiness to attend to her representations," added Kaunitz. + +"She will certainly have enough discretion to conform herself to such +obligations!" + +"Your majesty, a girl of fifteen who has a hundred thousand lovers is +not apt to be troubled with discretion. The dauphiness is bored to death +by Madame de Noailles's eternal sermons, and therein she may be right. +But she turns the mistress of ceremonies into ridicule, and therein she +is wrong. In an outburst of her vexation the dauphiness one day called +her 'old Madame Etiquette,' and, as the bon mots of a future queen are +apt to be repeated, Madame de Noailles goes by no other name at court. +Again--not long ago the dauphiness gave a party of pleasure at +Versailles. The company were mounted on donkeys." + +"On donkeys!" cried the empress with horror. + +"On donkeys," repeated Kaunitz, with composure. "The donkey on which the +dauphiness rode was unworthy of the honor conferred upon it. It threw +its royal rider." + +"And Antoinette fell off?" + +"She fell, your majesty--and fell without exercising any particular +discretion in the matter. The Count d'Artois came forward to her +assistance, but she waved him off, saying with comic earnestness, 'Do +not touch me for your life! Send a courier for Madame Etiquette and wait +until she has prescribed the important ceremonies with which a +dauphiness is to be remounted upon the back of her donkey.' Every one +laughed of course, and the next day when the thing was repeated, +everybody in Paris was heartily amused--except Madame de Noailles. She +did not laugh." + +Neither could the empress vouchsafe a smile, although the affair was +ludicrous enough. She was still walking to and fro, her face scarlet +with mortification. She stopped directly in front of her unsympathizing +minister, and said: "You are right. I must warn Antoinette that she is +going too far. Oh, my heart bleeds when I think of my dear, +inexperienced child cast friendless upon the reef, of that dangerous and +corrupt court of France! My God! my God! why did I not heed the warning +I received? Why did I consent to let her go?" + +"Because your majesty was too wise to be guided by lunatics and +impostors, and because you recognized, not only the imperative necessity +which placed Marie Antoinette upon the throne of France, but also the +value and the blessing of a close alliance with the French." + +"God grant it may prove a blessing!" sighed the empress. "I will write +to-day, and implore her to call to aid all her discretion--for Heaven +knows it is needed at the court of France!" + +"It is not an easy thing to call up discretion whenever discretion is +needed," said Kaunitz, thoughtfully. "Has not your majesty, with that +goodness which does so much honor to your heart, gone so far as to +promise help to the quarrelsome Poles?" + +"Yes," said the empress, warmly, "and I intend to keep my promise." + +"Promises, your majesty, are sometimes made which it is impossible to +keep." + +"But I make no such promises, and therefore honor requires that I fulfil +my imperial pledge. Yes, we have promised help and comfort to the +patriotic Confederates, the defenders of liberty and of the true faith, +and God forbid that we should ever deceive those who trust to us for +protection!" + +Kaunitz bowed. "Then your majesty will have the goodness to apprise the +emperor that the army must be put upon a war footing; our magazines must +be replenished, and Austria must prepare herself to suffer all the +horrors of a long war." + +"A war? With whom?" exclaimed the astounded empress. + +"With Russia, Prussia, Sweden, perchance with all Europe. Does your +majesty suppose that the great powers will suffer the establishment of a +republic here, under the protection of Austria?--a republic upon the +body politic of a continent of monarchies, which, like a scirrhous sore, +will spread disease that must end in death to all?" + +"Of what republic do you speak?" + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +THE TRIUMPH OF DIPLOMACY. + +"I speak of Poland," said Kaunitz, with his accustomed indifference. "I +speak of those insolent Confederates, who, emboldened by the +condescension of your majesty and the emperor, are ready to dare every +thing for the propagation of their pernicious political doctrines. They +have been pleased to declare Stanislaus deposed, and the throne of +Poland vacant. This declaration has been committed to writing, and with +the signatures of the leading Confederates attached to it, has been +actually placed in the king's hands, in his own palace at Warsaw. Not +content with this, they have distributed thousands of these documents +throughout Poland, so that the question to-day, in that miserable +hornets' nest, is not whether the right of the Confederates are to be +guaranteed to them, but whether the kingdom of Poland shall remain a +monarchy or be converted into a republic." + +"If this be true, then Poland is lost, and there is no hope for the +Confederates," replied the empress. "I promised them protection against +foreign aggression, but with their internal quarrels I will not +interfere." + +"It would be a dangerous precedent if Austria should justify those who +lay sacrilegious hands upon the crown of their lawful sovereign; and, +for my part, my principles forbid me to uphold a band of rebels, who are +engaged in an insolent conspiracy to dethrone their king." + +"You are right, prince; it will never do for us to uphold them. As I +have openly declared my sympathy with the Confederates, so I must openly +express to them my entire disapprobation of their republican +proclivities." + +"If your majesty does that, a war with France will be the consequence of +your frankness. France has promised succor to the Confederates, and has +already sent Dumouriez with troops, arms, and gold. France is longing to +have a voice in the differences between Russia and Turkey, and she only +awaits cooperation from Austria to declare openly against Russia. She +will declare against ourselves, if, after your majesty's promises, we +suddenly change front and take part against the seditious Poles." + +"What can we do, then, to avert war?" cried the empress, anxiously. "Ah, +prince, you see that the days of my youth and my valor are past! I +shudder when I look back upon the blood that has been shed under my +reign, and nothing but the direst necessity will ever compel me to be +the cause of spilling another drop of Austrian blood. [Footnote: The +empress's own words. F. V. Raumor, "Contributions to Modern History." +vol. iv., p. 419.] How, then, shall we shape our course so as to avoid +war?" + +"Our policy," said Kaunitz, "is to do nothing. We must look on and be +watchful, while we carefully keep our own counsel. We propitiate France +by allowing her to believe in the continuance of our sympathy with the +Poles, while we pacify Russia and Prussia by remaining actually +neutral." + +"But while we temporize and equivocate," cried the empress, with fervor, +"Russia will annihilate the Poles, who, if they have gone too far in +their thirst for freedom, have valiantly contended for their just +rights, and are now about to lose them through the evils of disunion. It +grieves me to think that we are about to abandon an unhappy nation to +the oppression of that woman, who stops at nothing to compass her wicked +designs. She who did not shrink from the murder of her own husband, do +you imagine that she will stop short of the annexation of Poland to +Russia?" + +"We will not suffer her to annex Poland," said Kaunitz, slowly nodding +his head. "As long as we are at peace with Russia, she will do nothing to +provoke our enmity; for France is at our side, and even Prussia would +remonstrate, if Catharine should be so bold as to appropriate Poland to +herself alone." + +"You are mistaken. The King of Prussia, who is so covetous of that which +belongs to others, will gladly share the booty with Russia,." + +"Austria could never suffer the copartnership. If such an emergency +should arise, we would have to make up our minds to declare war against +them both, or--" + +"Or?" asked the empress, holding her breath, as he paused. + +"Or," said Kaunitz, fixing his cold blue eye directly upon her face, "or +we would have to share with them." + +"Share what?" + +"The apple of discord. Anarchy is a three-headed monster; if it is to be +destroyed, every head must fall. It is now devouring Poland; and I think +that the three great powers are strong enough to slay the monster once +for all." + +"This is all very plausible," said Maria Theresa, shaking her head, "but +it is not just. You will never convince me that good can be born of +evil. What you propose is neither more nor less than to smite the +suppliant that lies helpless at your feet. I will have nothing in common +with the Messalina who desecrates her sovereignty by the commission of +every unwomanly crime; and as for Frederick of Prussia, I mistrust him. +He has been my enemy for too many years for me ever to believe that he +can be sincerely my friend." + +"France was our enemy for three hundred years, and yet we are allied by +more than ordinary ties." + +"Our alliance will soon come to naught if we walk in the path to which +you would lead us, prince. France will not be dear to the misery of +Poland. She will hear the death-cry, and come to the rescue." + +"No, your majesty, France will wait to see what we propose to do until +it is too late, and she will perceive that a resort to arms will in no +wise affect a fait accompli. I, therefore, repeat that the only way to +prevent the Polish conflagration from spreading to other nations is for +us to preserve a strict neutrality, taking part with neither disputant." + +"War must be averted," exclaimed Maria Theresa, warmly. "My first duty is +to Austria, and Austria must have peace. To preserve this blessing to my +subjects, I will do any thing that is consistent with my honor and the +dictates of my conscience." + +"Ah, your majesty, diplomacy has no conscience; it can have but one +rule--that of expediency." + +"You concede, then, that the policy you advocate is not a conscientious +one?" + +"Yes, your majesty; but it is one which it is imperative for us to +follow. Necessity alone decides a national course of action. A good +statesman cannot be a cosmopolitan. He looks out for himself, and leaves +others to do the same. If Poland succumbs, it will be because she has +not the strength to live. Therefore, if her hour be come, let her die. +We dare not go to her relief, for, before the weal of other nations, we +must have peace and prosperity for Austria." + +"But suppose that France should insist that we define our position?" + +"Then we can do so--in words. It is so easy to hide one's thoughts, +while we assure our allies of our 'distinguished consideration!'" + +The empress heaved a deep sigh. + +"I see," said she, "that clouds are gathering over the political +horizon, and that you are resolved to shield your own house, while the +tempest devastates the home of your neighbor. Be it so. I must have +peace; for I have no right to sacrifice my people before the altars of +strange gods. This is my first great obligation, and all other claims +must give way to it.-- + +"THEY MUST GIVE WAY," continued the empress, slowly communing with +herself, "but oh! it seems cruel. I scarcely dare ask myself what is to +be the fate of Poland? Heaven direct us, for all human wisdom has come +to naught!" + +Then, turning toward Kaunitz, she held out her hand. + +"Go, prince," said she, "and be assured that what we have spoken to each +other to-day shall remain sacred between us." + +The prince bowed, and left he room. + +The empress was alone. She went to and fro, while her disturbed +countenance betrayed the violent struggle that was raging in her noble, +honest heart. + +"I know what they want," murmured she. "Joseph thirsts for glory and +conquest, and Kautnitz upholds him. They want their share of the booty. +And they will overrule my sympathy, and prove to me that I am bound to +inaction. Poland will be dismembered, and I shall bear my portion of the +crime. I shudder at the deed, and yet I cannot raise my hand without +shedding my people's blood. I must take counsel of Heaven!" + +She rang, and commanded the presence of her confessor. + +"Perhaps he will throw some light upon this darkness, and the just God +will do the rest!" + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +GOSSIP. + +The Countess Wielopolska was alone in her room. She walked to and fro; +sometimes stopping before a large pier-glass to survey her own person, +sometimes hastening to the window, at the sound of a carriage passing +by; then retiring disappointed as the vehicle went on. + +"He comes late," thought she. "Perhaps he has forgotten that he promised +to come. Gracious Heaven! what, if he should be proof against the +blandishments of woman! I fear me he is too cold--and Poland will be +lost. And yet his eye, when it rests upon me, speaks the language of +love, and his hand trembles when it touches mine. Ah! And I--when he is +by, I sometimes forget the great cause for which I live, and--no, no, +no!" exclaimed she aloud, "it must not, shalt not be! My heart must know +but one love--the love of country. Away with such silly, girlish +dreaming! I am ashamed--" + +Here the countess paused, to listen again, for this time a carriage +stopped before the door, and the little French clock struck the hour. + +"He comes," whispered she, scarcely breathing, and she turned her bright +smiling face toward the door. It opened, and admitted a young woman +whose marvellous beauty was enhanced by all the auxiliaries of a superb +toilet and a profusion of magnificent jewels. + +"Countess Zamoiska," exclaimed the disappointed hostess, coming forward, +and striving to keep up the smile. + +"And why such a cold reception, my dear Anna," asked the visitor, with a +warm embrace. "Am I not always the same Luschinka, to whom you vowed +eternal friendship when we were school-girls together?" + +"We vowed eternal friendship," sighed the Countess Wielopolska, "but +since we were happy school-girls, six years have gone by, and fearful +tragedies have arisen to darken our lives and embitter our young +hearts." + +"Pshaw!" said the lady, casting admiring glances at herself in the +mirror. "I do not know why these years should be so sad to you. They +have certainly improved your beauty, for I declare to you, Anna, that +you were scarcely as pretty when you left school as you are today. Am I +altered for the worse? My heart, as you see, has not changed, for as +soon as I heard you were in Vienna, I flew to embrace you. What a pity, +your family would mix themselves up in those hateful politics! You might +have been the leader of fashion in Warsaw. And your stupid husband, too, +to think of his killing himself on the very day of a masked ball, and +spoiling the royal quadrille!" + +"The royal quadrille," echoed the countess, in an absent tone; "yes, the +king, General Repnin, he who put to death so many Polish nobles, and the +brutal Branicki, whose pastime it is to set fire to Polish villages, +they were to have been the other dancers." + +"Yes and they completed their quadrille, in spite of Count Wielopolska. +Bibeskoi offered himself as a substitute, and sat up the whole night to +learn the figures. Bibeskoi is a delightful partner." + +"A Russian," exclaimed the countess. + +"What signifies a man's nation when he dances well?" laughed the lady. +"Tris done, ma chere, are you still mad on the subject of politics? And +do you still sympathize with the poor crazy Confederates?" + +"You know, Luschinka, that Count Pac was my father's dearest friend." + +"I know it, poor man; he is at the top and bottom of all the trouble. I +beseech you, chere Anna, let us put aside politics; I cannot see what +pleasure a woman can find in such tiresome things. Mon Dieu, there are +so many other things more pleasing as well as more important! For +instance: how do people pass their time in Vienna? Have you many lovers? +Do you go to many balls?" + +"Do you think me so base that I could dance while Poland is in chains?" +said the countess, frowning. + +The Countess Zamoiska laughed aloud. "Voyons--are you going to play +Jeanne d'Arc to bring female heroism into fashion? Oh, Anna! We have +never had more delightful balls in Warsaw than have been given since so +many Russian regiments have been stationed there." + +"You have danced with those who have murdered your brothers and +relatives?--danced while the people of Poland are trodden under foot!" + +"Ah, bah! Ne parlez pas du people!" cried the Countess Zamoiska, with a +gesture of disgust. "A set of beastly peasants, no better than their own +cattle, or a band of genteel robbers, who have made it unsafe to live +anywhere on Polish soil, even in Warsaw." + +"You are right," sighed the Countess Wielopolska, "let us drop politics +and speak of other things." + +"A la bonne heure. Let us have a little chronique scandaleuse. Ah, ma +chere, I am at home there, for we lead an enchanting life in Warsaw. The +king is a handsome man, and, in spite of the Empress Catharine, his +heart is still susceptible of the tender passion. You remember his +liaison with the Countess Kanizka, your sister-in-law?" + +"A base, dishonored woman, who stooped to be the mistress of the man who +has betrayed her country!" + +"A king, nevertheless, and a very handsome man; and she was inconsolable +when he ceased to love her." + +"Ah! she was abandoned, then, was she?" cried the Countess Wielopolska. + +"Oh no, dear Anna! Your sister-in-law was not guilty of the belise of +playing Queen Dido. As she felt quite sure that the king would leave her +soon or late, she anticipated the day, and left him. Was it not +excellent? She went off with Prince Repnin." + +"Prince Repnin!" exclaimed the countess with horror. "The Russian +ambassador!" + +"The same. You should have seen the despair of the king. But he was +amiable even in his grief. He tried all sorts of lover's stratagems to +win back the countess; he prowled around her house at night singing like +a Troubadour; be wrote her bushels of letters to implore an interview. +All in vain. The liaison with Repnin was made public, and that, of +course, ended the affair. The king was inconsolable. [Footnote: Wraxall, +"Memoirs of the Court of Vienna," vol. ii., p. 96.] He gave ball after +ball, never missed an evening at the theatre, gambled all night, gave +sleighing parties, and so on, but it was easy to see that his heart was +broken; and had not Tissona, the pretty cantatrice, succeeded in +comforting him, I really do believe that our handsome king would have +killed himself for despair." + +"Ah, he is consoled, is he?" said the countess with curling lips. "He +jests and dances, serenades and gambles, while the gory knout reeks with +the noblest blood in Poland, and her noblest sons are staggering along +the frozen wastes of Siberia! Oh Stanislaus! Stanislaus! A day of +reckoning will come for him who wears the splendor of royalty, yet casts +away its obligations!" + +"Vraiment, dear Anna, to hear your rhapsodies, one would almost believe +you to be one of the Confederates who lately attempted the life of the +king," cried the Countess Zamoiska, laughing. + +"Who attempted the king's life?" said the countess, turning pale. + +"Why three robbers: Lukawski, Strawinski, and Kosinski." + +"I never heard of it," replied the countess, much agitated. "Tell me +what you know of it, if you can, Luschinka." + +"It is an abominable thing, and long too," said Luschinka, with a shrug. +"The conspirators were disguised as peasants, and actually had the +assurance to come to Warsaw. There were thirty of them, but the three I +tell you of were the leaders. The king was on his way to his uncle's +palace, which is in the suburbs of Warsaw. They had the insolence to +fall upon him in the streets, and his attendants got frightened and ran +off. Then the conspirators tore the king from his coach and carried him +off, swearing that if he uttered one cry they would murder him. Wasn't +it awful? Do you think that the dear king didn't have the courage to +keep as quiet as a mouse while they took him off with them to the forest +of Bielani? Here they robbed him of all he had, leaving him nothing but +the ribbon that belonged to the order of the White Eagle. Then they +dispersed to give the news of his capture to their accomplices, and +Kosinski was left to dispatch him. Did you ever!" + +"Further, further!" said the countess, scarcely able to speak, as her +old school-mate paused in her narrative. + +Luschinka laughed. "Doesn't it sound just like a fairy tale, Anna? But +it is as true as I live, and happened on the third of November of this +blessed year 1771. So Kosinski and six others dragged and dragged the +king until he lost his shoes, and was all torn and scratched, and even +wounded. Whenever the others wanted to stop and kill the king, Kosinski +objected that the place was not lonely enough. All at once they came +upon the Russian patrol. Then the five other murderers ran off, leaving +the king and Kosinski alone." + +"And Kosinski?" asked the countess, with anxiety. + +"Kusinski went on with his sword drawn over the king's head, although he +begged him for rest. But the king saw that Kosinski looked undecided and +uneasy, so as they came near to the Convent of Bielani, he said to +Kosinski, 'I see that you don't know which way to act, so you had +better let me go into the convent to hide, while you make your escape by +some other way.' But Kosinski said no, he had sworn to kill him. So they +went on farther, until they came to Mariemont, a castle belonging to the +Elector of Saxony. Here the king begged for rest, and they sat down and +began to talk. Then Kosinkski told the king he was not killing him of +his own will, but because he had been ordered to do so by others, to +punish the king for all his sins, poor fellow! against Poland. The king +then said it was not his fault, but all the fault of Russia, and at last +he softened the murderer's heart. Kosinski threw himself at the king's +feet and begged pardon, and promised to save him. So Stanislaus promised +to forgive him, and it was all arranged between them. They went on to a +mill near Mariemont, and begged the miller to let in two travellers who +had lost their way. At first the miller took them to be robbers, but +after a great deal of begging, he let them in. Then the king tore a leaf +out of his pocket-book, and wrote a note to General Cocceji. The +miller's daughter took it to Warsaw, not without much begging on the +king's part; and you can conceive the joy of the people when they heard +that the king was safe, for everybody seeing his cloak in the streets, +and his hat and plume on the road, naturally supposed that he had been +murdered. Well, General Cocceji, followed by the whole court, hurried to +the mill; and when they arrived, there was Kosinski standing before the +door with a drawn sword in his hand. He let in the general, and there on +the floor, in the miller's shirt, lay the king fast asleep. So Cocceji +went down on his knees and kissed his hand, and called him his lord and +king, and the people of the mill, who had never dreamed who it was, all +dropped on their knees and begged for mercy. So the king then forgave +everybody, and went back to Warsaw with Cocceji. This, my dear, is a +true history of the attempt that was made by the Confederates on the +life of the handsomest man in Poland!" [Footnote: Wraxall, "Memoirs," +vol. ii., p. 76.] + +"A strange and sad history," said the Countess Anna. "However guilty the +king may be, it would be disgraceful if he were murdered by his own +subjects." + +"Oh, my love, these Confederates refuse to acknowledge him for their +king! Did you not know that they had been so ridiculous as to depose +him?" + +"What have the Confederates to do with a band of robbers who plundered +the king and would have murdered him?" asked Anna indignantly." Are they +to be made answerable for the crimes of a horde of banditti?" + +"Ma chere, the banditti were the tools of the Confederates. They have +been taken, and every thing has been discovered. Pulawski, their great +hero, hired the assassins and bound them by an oath. Letters found upon +Lukawski, who boasts of his share in the villany, shows that Pulawski +was the head conspirator, and that the plot had been approved by Zaremba +and Pac!" + +"Then all is lost!" murmured Anna. "If the Confederates have sullied the +honor of Poland by consenting to crime as a means to work out her +independence, Poland will never regain her freedom. Oh, that I should +have lived to see this day!" + +She covered her face with her hands, and sobbed aloud. + +"Vraiment, Anna," said the Countess Zamoiska pettishly, "I cannot +understand you. Instead of rejoicing over the king's escape, here you +begin to cry over the sins of his murderers. All Poland is exasperated +against them, and nothing can save them. [Footnote: Lukawski and +Strawinski were executed. They died cursing Kosinski as a traitor. +Wraxall, vol. ii., p. 83.] So, dear Anna, dry your eyes, or they will be +as red as a cardinal's hat. Goodness me, if I hadn't wonderful strength +of mind, I might have cried myself into a fright long ago; for you have +no idea of the sufferings I have lived through. You talk of Poland, and +never ask a word about myself. It shows how little interest you feel in +me, that you still call me by the name of my first husband." + +"Are you married a second time?" asked Anna, raising her head. + +"Ah, ma chere, my name has not been Zamoiska for four years. Dear me! +The king knows what misery it is to be tied to a person that loves you +no longer; and luckily for us, he has the power of divorce. He does it +for the asking, and every divorce is a signal for a succession of +brilliant balls; for you understand that people don't part to go on and +pout. They marry at once, and, of course everybody gives balls, routs, +and dinners, in honor of the weddings." + +"Have you married again in this way?" asked the countess, gravely. + +"Oh yes," replied the unconscious Luschinka; "I have been twice married +and twice divorced; but it was not my fault. I loved my first husband +with a depth of passion which he could not appreciate, and I was in an +agony of despair when six months after our marriage he told me that he +loved me no longer, and was dying for the Countess Luwiendo. She was my +bosom friend, so you can imagine my grief; mais j'ai su faire bonne mine +a mauvais jeux. I invited the countess to my villa, and there, under the +shade of the old trees in the park, we walked arm in arm, and arranged +with my husband all the conditions of the separation. Every one praised +my generous conduct; the men in particular were in raptures, and Prince +Lubomirski, on the strength of it, fell so desperately in love with me, +that he divorced his wife and offered me his hand." + +"You did not accept it!" exclaimed Countess Anna. + +"What a question!" said the ex-countess, pouting. "The prince was young, +rich, charming and a great favorite with the king. We loved each other, +and, of course, were married. But, indeed, my dear, love does seem to +have such butterfly wings that you scarcely catch it before it is gone! +My second husband broke my heart exactly as my first had done; he asked +me to leave him, and of course I had to go. Men are abominable beings, +Anna: scarcely were we divorced before he married a third wife." +[Footnote: Wraxall, ii., p. 110.] + +"Poland is lost--lost!" murmured the Countess Anna. "She is falling +under the weight of her children's crimes. Lost! O Poland, my unhappy +country!" + +"Au contraire, ma chere, Warsaw was never gayer than it is at present. +Did I not tell you that every divorce was followed by a marriage, and +that the king was delighted with the masquerades and balls, and all that +sort of thing? Why, nothing is heard in Warsaw at night but laughter, +music, and the chink of glasses." + +"And nevertheless you could tear yourself away" said the Countess +ironically. + +"I had to go," sighed the princess. "I am on my way to Italy. You see, +ma chere, it would have been inconvenient and might have made me +ridiculous to go out in society, meeting my husbands with their two +wives, and I--abandoned by both these faithless men. I should have been +obliged to marry a third time, but my heart revolted against it." "Then +you travel alone to Italy?" + +"By no means, mon amour, I am travelling with the most bewitching +creature!--my lover. Oh, Anna, he is the handsomest man I ever laid my +eyes upon; the most delightful! and he paints so divinely that the +Empress Catharine has appointed him her court painter. I love him beyond +all expression; I adore him! You need not smile, Anna, que voulez-vous? +Le coeur toujours vierge pour un second amour." + +"If you love him so dearly, why, then, does your heart revolt against a +marriage with him?" asked the Countess Anna. + +"I told you he was a painter, and not a nobleman," answered the +ex-princess, impatiently. "One loves an artist, but cannot marry him. Do +you suppose I would be so ridiculous as to give up my title to be the +respectable wife of a painter? The Princess Lubomirski a Madame Wand, +simple Wand! Oh, no! I shall travel with him, but I will not marry him." + +"Then go!" exclaimed the Countess Anna, rising, and casting looks of +scorn upon the princess. "Degenerate daughter of a degenerate +fatherland, go, and drag your shame with you to Italy! Go, and enjoy +your sinful lusts, while Poland breathes her last, and vultures prey +upon her dishonored corpse. But take with you the contempt of every +Polish heart, that beats with love for the land that gave you birth!" + +She turned, and without a word of farewell, proudly left the room. The +princess raised her brow and opened her pretty mouth in bewilderment; +then rising, and going up to the mirror, she smoothed her hair and began +to laugh. + +"What a pathetic fool!" said she. "Anybody might know that her mother +had been an actress. To think of the daughter of an artiste getting up a +scene because a princess will not stoop to marry a painter! Queulle +betise!" + +With these words she went back to her carriage and drove off. + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + +AN EXPLANATION. + +The Countess Anna, meanwhile, had retired to her room. Exhausted by her +own emotions, she sank into a chair, and clasping her hands +convulsively, she stared, with distended eyes, upon the blank wall +opposite. + +She was perfectly unconscious that, after a time, the door had opened +and Matuschka stood before her. It was not until the old woman had taken +her hand and raised it to her lips, that she started from her mournful +reverie. + +"What now, Matuschka?" said she, awakening from her dream. + +"My lady, I come to know what we are to do. The pearl necklace and +wreath are sold, and they have maintained the Countess Wielopolska as +beseems her rank; but we live upon our capital, and it lessens every +day. Oh, my lady, why will you conceal your poverty, when the emperor--" + +"Peace!" interrupted the countess. "When we speak of our poverty don't +name the emperor. If there is no more money in our purse, take the +diadem of brilliants, sell the diamonds and replace them with false +stones. They will bring a thousand ducats, and that sum will last us for +a whole year." + +"And then?" sobbed Matuschka. + +"And then," echoed the countess, thoughtfully, "then we will either be +happy or ready for death. Go, Matuschka, let no one know that I am +selling my diamonds; but replace them by to-morrow morning; for I must +wear them at the emperor's reception." + +"Your whole set, pearls and diamonds, are now false," said the +persevering servant. "What will the emperor say when he hears of it?" + +"He must never know of it. Now go, and return quickly." + +Matuschka, looking almost angrily at her lady, left the room. In the +anteroom stood a man wrapped in a cloak. She went quickly up to him with +the open etui. + +"The diamond coronet," whispered she. "I am to sell the jewels and have +their places filled with false ones. It is to be done before to-morrow." + +"How much does she expect for it?" asked the visitor in a low voice + +"A thousand ducats, sire." + +"I will send the sum to-night. Hide the coronet until to-morrow and then +return it to her. Where is she?" + +"In her cabinet, your majesty." + +"Let no one enter until I return." + +He then threw down his cloak, and without knocking opened the door. The +countess was still lost in thought. She still gazed at the blank wall, +still heard the flippant voice which had poured out its profanity as +though life had been a jest and immorality a dream. + +The emperor stopped to contemplate her for a moment, and his large, +loving eyes rested fondly on her noble form. + +"Countess Anna," said he, softly. + +"The emperor!" exclaimed she, rising and coming joyfully forward, while +a deep blush overspread her face. + +"What! Will you not respect my incognito? Will you not receive me as +Count Falkenstein?" + +"Is not the name of the emperor the first that is pronounced by the +priest when he prays before the altar for his fellow-creatures?" replied +she, with an enchanting smile. "Think of my heart as a priest, and let +that name be ever the first I speak in my prayers to Heaven." + +"By heaven, if priests resembled you, I should not hate them as I do. +Come, my lovely priestess, then call me emperor if you will, but receive +me as Count Falkenstein." + +"Welcome, count," replied she, cheerfully. + +"God be praised, then, my royalty has disappeared for a while," said +Joseph. + +"And yet, my lord and emperor, it is the privilege of royalty to heal +all wounds, to wipe away all tears, and to comfort all sorrow. What a +magnificent prerogative it is to hold in one's own hand the happiness of +thousands?" + +"What is happiness, sweet moralist?" cried Joseph. "Mankind are forever +in search of it, yet no man has ever found it." "What is happiness!" +exclaimed she, with enthusiasm. "It is to have the power of ruling +destiny--it is to stand upon the Himalaya of your might; when, +stretching forth your imperial hand, you can say to the oppressed among +nations, 'Come unto me, ye who strive against tyranny, and I will give +you freedom!'" + +"In other words," replied the emperor, with an arch smile, "it is to +march to Poland and give battle to the Empress of Russia." + +"It is, it is!" cried she, with the fervor of a Miriam. "It is to be the +Messiah of crucified Freedom, to redeem your fellows from bondage, and +to earn the blessings of a people to whom your name, for all time, will +stand as the type of all that is great in a sovereign and good in a man! +Oh, Emperor of Austria, be the generous redeemer of my country!" + +And scarcely knowing what she said, she took his hand and pressed it to +her heart. + +Joseph withdrew it gently, saying, "Peace, lovely enthusiast, peace! +Give politics to the winds! She is an abominable old hag, and the very +rustling of her sibylline leaves as she turns them over in the cabinet +of the empress makes me shudder with disgust. Let us drive her hence, +then. I came hither to taste a few drops of happiness at YOUR side, +sweet Anna." + +The countess sighed wearily as the emperor drew her to his side; and her +pale, inspired face was turned upon him with a look of unutterable +anguish. + +The emperor saw it, and leaned his head back upon the cushion of the +sofa. After a pause he said: "How sweet it is to be here!" + +"And yet you came late," whispered she, reproachfully. + +"Because I travelled by a circuitous route; got into one hackney-coach +and out of another; drove hither, thither, and everywhere, to baffle my +mother's spies. Do you suppose that any one of her bigoted followers +would believe in a chaste friendship like ours? Do you suppose they +would understand the blameless longings I have to see your lovely face, +and to listen to the melody of your matchless voice? Tell me, Countess +Anna, how have I deserved the rich boon of your friendship?" + +"Nay, Count Falkenstein," replied she, with a bewitching smile, "tell me +how I have earned yours? Moreover, who tells you that I am disinterested +in my sentiments? The day may come when you will understand how entirely +I rely upon you for assistance." + +"But you have not given your friendship exclusively for the sake of the +day that may come? Have you?" said the emperor, with a piercing glance +at her beautiful pale face. + +The countess cast down her eyes and blushed. "Do you mistrust me?" asked +she in a low, trembling voice. + +"Give me a proof of your confidence in me," said Joseph, rising and +taking both her hands in his. "You call me friend--give me, then, the +right of a friend. Let me in some degree replace to you the fortune of +which the Russian empress has robbed you." + +"You are mistaken, sire," said the countess, proudly; "the Russian did +not rob me of every thing. She took my lands, but I have invested funds +in foreign securities which yield me an ample income. I have also my +family jewels, and as long as you see me wearing them you may feel sure +that I have other means of support." + +The emperor shook his head. "You are not wearing your family jewels, +Anna," said he. + +"How, sire!" exclaimed she, blushing. + +He leaned over, and in a low voice said, "Your jewels are false, your +pearls are imitation, and there is not a single diamond in that coronet +you intend to wear at my mother's reception to-morrow." + +The cheeks of the countess grew scarlet with confusion, and her head +dropped with shame. The emperor laid his hand upon her arm. "Now, Anna," +said he, tenderly, "now that I know all, grant me the happiness of +relieving you from your temporary embarrassments. Gracious Heaven! You +who are not ashamed to confide your distress to pawnbrokers and +jewellers, you refuse to trust ME!" + +"I would rather be under obligations to a stranger than to a friend," +returned the countess in a voice scarcely audible. + +"But, Anna," cried the emperor, with a sudden burst of feeling, "you +would rattler be obliged to the man whom you loved than to a stranger. +Oh, if you but loved me, there would be no question of 'mine or thine' +between us! It is said--I have betrayed myself, and I need stifle my +passion no longer; for I love you, beautiful Anna, I love you from my +soul, and, at your feet, I implore you to give me that which is above +all wealth or titles. Give me your love, be mine. Answer me, answer me. +Do you love me?" + +"I do," whispered she, without raising her head. + +The emperor threw his arm around her waist. "Then," said he, "from this +hour you give me the right to provide for you. Do you not?" + +"No, sire, I can provide for myself." + +"Then," cried Joseph, angrily, "you do not love me?" + +"Yes, sire, I love you. You predicted that my heart would find its +master. It has bowed before you and owns your sway. In the name of that +love I crave help for Poland. She cries to Heaven for vengeance, and +Heaven has not heard the cry. She is threatened by Russia and Prussia, +and if noble Austria abandon her, she is lost! Oh, generous Austria, +rescue my native land from her foes!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed the emperor, sarcastically, "you call me Austria, and +your love is bestowed upon my station and my armies! It is not I whom +you love, but that Emperor of Austria in whose hand lies the power that +may rescue Poland. " + +"I love YOU; but my love is grafted upon the hope I so long have +cherished that in you I recognize the savior of my country." + +"Indeed!" cried the emperor, with a sneer. + +The countess did not hear him. She continued: "Until I loved you, every +throb of my heart belonged to Poland. She, alone, was the object of my +love and of my prayers. But since then, sire, the holy fire that burned +upon the altar is quenched. I am faithless to my vestal vow, and I feel +within my soul the tempest of an earthly passion. I have broken the oath +that I made to my dying mother, for there is one more dear to me than +Poland now, and for him are the prayers, the hopes, the longings, and +the dreams that all belonged to Poland! Oh, my lord and my lover, +reconcile me to my conscience! Let me believe that my loves are one; and +on the day when your victorious eagles shall have driven away the +vultures that prey upon my fatherland, I will throw myself at your feet, +and live for your love alone." + +"Ah, indeed," said the emperor, with a sardonic laugh: "you will go to +such extremity in your patriotism! You will sell yourself, that Poland +may be redeemed through your dishonor. I congratulate you upon your +dexterous statesmanship. You sought me, I perceive, that by the magic of +your intoxicating beauty, you might lure me to sacrifice the lives of my +people in behalf of yours. Your love is a stratagem of diplomacy, +nothing more." + +"Oh, sire," cried she, in tones of anguish, "you despise then?" + +"Not at all; I admire your policy, but unhappily it is only partially +successful. You had calculated that I would not be proof against your +beauty, your talents, your fascinations. You are right; I am taken in +the snare, for I love you madly." + +"And do I not return your love from my heart?" asked she. + +"Stay," cried Joseph, "hear me out. One-half your policy, I say, was +successful; the other has been at fault. As your lover I will do any +thing that man can do to make you happy; but my head belongs to my +fatherland, and you cannot rule it, through my heart." + +"Sire, I seek nothing that is inconsistent with Austria's welfare. I ask +help for Poland." + +"Which help might involve Austria in a ruinous war with two powerful +nations, and leave her so exhausted that she would have to stand by and +witness the partition of Poland without daring to claim a share for +herself." + +"The partition of Poland!" exclaimed the countess, with a cry of horror. +"Avenging God, wilt Thou suffer such culmination of human wickedness! +And you, sire, could you share in such a crime? But, no! no! no!--see +how misfortune has maddened me, when I doubt the honor of the noble +Emperor of Austria! Never would the lofty and generous Joseph stoop to +such infamy as this!" + +"If Poland must succumb, I will act as becomes my station and +responsibilities as the sovereign of a great empire, and I will do that +which the wisdom and prudence of my mother shall dictate to her son. But +Anna, dear Anna," continued he, passionately, "why should the sweet +confession of our love be lost in the turbid roar of these political +waters? Tell me that you love me as a woman ought to love, having no +God, no faith, no country, but her lover; losing her identity and living +for his happiness alone!" + +"I love you, I love you," murmured she, with indescribable tenderness; +and clasping her hands, she fell upon her knees and raised her eyes to +him with a look that made him long to fold her to his heart, and yield +up his empire, had she requested it, at his hands. + +"Help for Poland," prayed she again, "help for Poland, and I am yours +forever!" + +Joseph grew angry with himself and with her. "Love does not chaffer," +said he, rudely. "When a woman loves, she must recognize her master and +bow before his will--otherwise there is no love. For the last time I +ask, do you love me?" + +"More than life or honor." + +"Then be a woman, and yield yourself to me. Away with nationality--it +is an abstraction. What are Poland and the world to you? Here, upon my +heart, are your country and your altars. Come, without condition and +without reserve. I cannot promise to free Poland, but, by the bright +heaven above us, I swear to make you happy!" + +She shook her head mournfully, and rose from her knees. + +"Make me happy?" echoed she. "For me there can be no happiness while +Poland sorrows." + +"Say that again," thundered the emperor, "and we part forever!" + +"I say it again!" said she, with proud tranquillity, but pale as death. + +"And yet, if I am not ready to sacrifice my own people for yours, you +will not believe in my love! You are unwilling to give up an idle dream +of Polish freedom; and you ask of me, a man and an emperor, that I shall +bring to you the offering of my own honor and of my people's happiness!" + +She said nothing. + +"It is enough!" cried Joseph, his eyes flashing with anger. "Pride +against pride! We part. For the first thing I require of a woman who +loves me, is submission. It grieves me bitterly to find you so +unwomanly. I would have prized your love above every earthly blessing, +had you given it freely. Conditionally I will not accept it; above all, +when its conditions relate to the government of my empire. No woman +shall ever have a voice in my affairs of state. If, for that reason, she +reject me, I must submit; although, as at this moment, my heart bleeds +at her rejection." + +"And mine? MY HEART?" exclaimed the countess, raising her tearful eyes +to his. + +"Pride will cure you," replied he, with a bitter smile. "Go back to your +fatherland that you love so well and I shall imitate you, and turn to +mine for comfort. There is many a mourning heart in Austria less haughty +than yours, to which, perchance, I may be able to bring joy or +consolation. God grant me some compensation in life for the supreme +misery of this hour! Farewell, Countess Wielopolska. To-night I leave +Vienna." + +He crossed the room, while she looked after him as though her lips were +parting to utter a cry. + +At the door he turned once more to say farewell. Still she spoke not a +word, but looked as though, like Niobe, she were stiffening into marble. + +The emperor opened the door, and passed into the anteroom. + +As he disappeared, she uttered a low cry, and clasped both her hands +over her heart. + +"My God! my God! I love him," sobbed she, and reeling backward, she fell +fainting to the floor. + + + +CHAPTER LXXII + +FAMINE IN BOHEMIA. + +The cry of distress from Bohemia reached Vienna, and came to the +knowledge of the emperor. Joseph hastened to bring succor and comfort to +his unhappy subjects. + +The need great. Two successive years of short harvest had spread want +and tribulation throughout all Germany, especially in Bohemia and +Moravia, where a terrible inundation, added to the failure of the crops, +had destroyed the fruits and vegetables of every field and every little +garden. + +The country was one vast desert. From every cottage went forth the wail +of hunger. The stalls were empty of cattle, the barns of corn. The +ploughs lay empty on the ground, for there was neither grain to sow nor +oxen to drive. There were neither men nor women to till the soil, for +there was no money to pay nor food to sustain them. Each man was alone +in his want, and each sufferer in the egotism of a misery that stifled +all humanity, complained that no one fed him, when all were fainting for +lack of food. + +"Bread! bread!" The dreadful cry arose from hundreds of emaciated +beings, old and young, who, in the crowded cities, lay dying in the +streets, their wasted hands raised in vain supplication to the +passers-by. + +"Bread! bread!" moaned the peasant in his hut, and the villager at the +way-side; as with glaring eyes they stared at the traveller, who, more +fortunate than they, was leaving Bohemia for happier climes, and, +surely, in gratitude for his own rescue, would throw a crust to the +starving wretches whom he left behind. + +There they lay, watching for the elegant carriages, the horsemen, the +wagons, that were accustomed to pass there on their road to Prague. But +now the high-road was empty, for the famine had extended to Prague, and +no one cared to go thither. + +And yet on either side of the road were hundreds of beings who long ago +had left their miserable huts, and now lay in heaps upon the ground, the +heavens their only shelter, the wide world their home. These were the +inhabitants of the mountains, who had come down to the neighboring +villages for help, but had been rudely driven away by those whose +sufferings had maddened them, and turned their hearts to stone. + +They had lain there for a day, and yet not one trace of a traveller had +they seen. The mid-day sun had blistered their foreheads, but they had +not felt it, for the fiery pangs of hunger were keener than the sun; and +now the evening air that fanned their burning brows, brought no relief, +for fiercer and more cruel grew the gnawings of the fiend within. + +"There is no help on earth," cried an old woman, the grandmother of a +whole generation of stalwart mountaineers who lay stricken around her. +There were her son and his wife, once such a stately pair, now reduced +to two pale spectres; there were troops of grandchildren, once +round-cheeked as the carved angels on the altar of the village chapel, +now hollow-eyed and skinny, with their blanched faces upturned +imploringly to the parents who were scarcely conscious of their presence +there. Hunger had extinguished youth, strength, beauty, and had almost +uprooted love. Not only had it destroyed their bodies, but it had even +corrupted their souls. + +"There is no help on earth," cried the old woman again, with such energy +of despair that her voice found its way to the dull ear of every +sufferer around. And now from every hollow voice came back the mournful +chorus, "There is no help on earth!" + +"There is no help in heaven!" shrieked an old man, who with his family +was lying in a hollow, whence their moans were heard as though coming +from the grave. "There is no God in heaven, else He would hear our +cries? There is no God!" + +"There is no God!" echoed the maddened wretches, and many a wasted arm +was raised in defiance to heaven. + +"Peace, peace, my friends!" cried the grandmother, "let us not sin +because we starve. We can but die, and the Lord will receive us!" And as +she spoke, she raised her trembling body and stretched forth her poor, +withered arms, as though she would have calmed the tempest she had +raised. + +"Peace, Father Martin!" cried she, in a voice of authority. "There is a +God above, but He has turned away His face because of our sins. Let us +pray to see the light of His countenance. Come, friends, let its gather +up all our strength and pray." + +She arose and knelt, while, inspired by her example, the multitude knelt +also. Old and young, men and women, all with one supreme effort lifted +up their hands to heaven. + +But the prayer was over, the petitioners fell prostrate to the earth, +and still no sign of help from above! + +"You see, Mother Elizabeth," groaned Father Martin, "your prayers are +all in vain. Heaven is empty, and we must die." + +"We must die, we must die!" howled the famishing multitude, and, +exhausted by the might of their own despair, they fell to rise no more. +A long, tearful silence ensued. Here and there a faint moan struggled +for utterance, and a defiant arm was raised as though to threaten +Omnipotence; then the poor, puny creatures, whom hunger had bereft of +reason, shivered, dropped their hands, and again lay still. + +Suddenly the silence was broken by the faint sound of carriage-wheels. +Nearer and more near it came, until the horses' heads were to be seen +through the clouds of dust that enveloped the vehicle. The poor peasants +heard, but scarcely heeded it. They stared in mute despair, or +murmured, "It is too late!" + +Still the carriage rolled on, the dust grew thicker, and now it hid from +the travellers' view the miserable wretches that lay dying around them. +But. Heaven be praised, they stop! + +There were two carriages, followed by outriders. The first carriage +contained three persons, all clad in dark, plain civilian's clothes; but +it was easy to recognize, in the youngest of the three, the most +important personage of all. It was he who had given the order to halt, +and now without waiting for assistance, he leaped from the carriage and +walked at once to the foremost group of sufferers. He bent down to, the +old woman, who, turning her fever-stricken face to him, moaned feebly. + +"What is the matter?" said the traveller, in a gentle and sympathizing +tone. "How can I help you?" + +The old mother made a violent effort and spoke. "Hunger!" said she. "I +burn--burn--hunger!" + +"Hunger! hunger!" echoed the people around, shaking off their lethargy, +and awakening once more to hope. + +"Oh, my God, this woman will die before we can succor her!" exclaimed +the young man, sorrowfully. "Hasten; Lacy, and bring me some wine." + +"We have none," replied Lacy. "Your majesty gave away your last bottle +in the village behind." + +"But she will die!" exclaimed the emperor, as bending over the poor old +woman, he took her skinny hand in his. + +"We must die," murmured she, while her parched tongue protruded from her +mouth. + +"Sire, you are in danger," whispered Lacy, + +"Rise, your majesty," interrupted Rosenberg, "these unhappy people have +the typhus that accompanies starvation, and it is contagious." + +"Contagious for those who hunger, but not for us," replied Joseph. "Oh, +my friends," continued he, "see here are three generations all dying for +want of food. Gracious Heaven! They have lost all resemblance to +humanity. Hunger has likened them to animals. Oh, it is dreadful to +think that a crust of bread or a sip of wine might awaken these +suffering creatures to reason; but flour and grain can be of no avail +here!" + +"They may avail elsewhere, sire," said Rosenberg, "and if we can do +nothing for these, let us go on and help others." + +"It is fearful," said the emperor, "but I will not leave until I have +made an effort to save them." + +He signed to one of his outriders, and taking out a leaf of his +pocket-book, wrote something upon it. "Gallop for your life to Prague," +said he, "and give this paper to the lord steward of the palace. He must +at once send a wagon hither, laden with food and wine, and that he may +be able to do it without delay, tell him to take the stores from the +palace and all the viands that are preparing in the kitchen for my +reception. This paper will be your warrant. As soon as you shall have +delivered your message, fill a portmanteau with old Hungarian wine and +gallop back to me. Be here within two hours, if you kill two of my best +horses to compass the distance." + +The outrider took the paper and, setting spurs to his horse, galloped +off to Prague. + +"And now, my friends," continued the emperor, "although we have no wine, +we have bread and meat. Not much, it is true, but I think it will save +these people from death." + +The emperor hastened in the direction of his carriage. "Quick, Gunther, +hand me the camp-chest." + +"But your majesty has not eaten a morsel to-day," urged Rosenberg, +following him. "I cannot consent to see the food prepared for you, +bestowed upon any one. You will lose your health if you fast for such a +length of time. You owe it to your mother, the empress, and to your +subjects, not to deprive yourself of food." + +"Do you think I could eat in the presence of such hunger?" cried the +emperor, impatiently. "Come, Gunther, come all of you, and help me. Here +is a large fowl. Cut it into little morsels, and--oh, what a +discovery!--a jar of beef jelly. While you carve the fowl, I will +distribute the jelly. Come, Lacy and Rosenberg, take each a portion of +this chicken, and cut it up." + +"Good Heaven, Lacy, come to my relief!" cried Rosenberg. "The emperor is +about to give away his last morsel. We both have had breakfast, but he +has not tasted food for a day." + +"He is right, our noble emperor," replied Lacy, "in the presence of such +suffering he is right to forget himself; if he could not do so, he would +not be worthy to be a sovereign." + +The emperor heard none of this; he was already with the sufferers, +distributing his food. With earnest look, and firm and rapid hand, he +put a teaspoonful of jelly between the parched, half-opened lips of the +grandmother, while Gunther, imitating him, did the same for her son. + +For a moment the emperor looked to see the effect of his remedy. He saw +an expression of joy flit over the features of the poor old woman, and +then her lips moved, and she swallowed the jelly. + +"See, see!" cried the emperor, overjoyed, "she takes it. Oh, Gunther, +this will save them until help comes from Prague! But there are so many +of them! Do you think we have a hundred teaspoonfuls of jelly in the +jar?" + +And he looked anxiously at Gunther. + +"It is a large jar, your majesty," said Gunther, "and I think it will +hold out." + +"Be sparing of it at any rate, and do not heap up your spoons. And now, +not another word! We must go to work." + +He stooped down and spoke no more, but his face was lit up by the fire +of the Christian charity that was consuming his noble heart. He looked +as must have looked his ancestor Rudolph of Hapsburg, who, once meeting +a footsore priest bearing the viaticum to a dying parishioner, gave up +his horse to the servant of God, and continued his way on foot. + +While the emperor flew from group to group, resuscitating his expiring +subjects, Lacy and Rosenberg were carefully cutting up the fowl that had +been roasted for his dinner. A deep silence reigned around, all nature +seemed to be at peace, and over the reclining sufferers the evening sun +threw long rays of rosy light, that illumined their pallid faces with +the hue of hope and returning life. + +Gradually there was motion in the scene. Here and there a head arose +from the ground, then a body, and presently a gleam of intelligence shot +athwart those glaring, bloodshot eyes. The emperor watched them with a +happy smile. His errand of mercy was at an end. The jar was empty, but +every one had received a share, and all were reviving. + +"Now give them a morsel of chicken," said Joseph. "A small piece will +suffice, for after their long fast they can only eat sparingly of food; +and they will have had enough until help come to us from Prague." + +"Then," said Rosenberg, affectionately, "I hope that your majesty, too, +will take something. There will certainly be enough left for you to eat +your dinner without remorse." + +"Never mind me, Rosenberg," laughed the emperor. "I shall not die of +starvation, I promise you. When the creature cries out for nourishment, +I shall give it; but I think that my Maker will not love me the less for +having, voluntarily, felt the pangs of hunger for once in my life. I can +never forget this day in Bohemia; it has confirmed my resolution to +reign for the good of my people alone, and as God hears me, they shall +be happy when I govern them.--But your chicken is ready. To satisfy +you, I will go and beg my supper in yonder village, and, as there are +enough of you to attend to these poor sufferers, I will take Lacy to +keep me company. Come, Lacy." + +He took the arm of the field-marshal, and both presently disappeared +behind the trees. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + +THE BLACK BROTH. + +In a quarter of an hour they had reached the village. The same absence +of all life struck painfully upon the emperor's heart as they walked +along the deserted streets and heard nothing save the echo of their own +footsteps. Not the lowing of a cow nor the bleating of a sheep, not one +familiar rural sound broke the mournful stillness that brooded over the +air. Occasionally a ghastly figure in tattered garments, from whose +vacant eyes the light of reason seemed to have fled, was seen crouching +at the door of a hut, wherein his wife and children were starving. This +was the only token of life that greeted the eyes of the grave and silent +pair. + +"Lacy," at last sighed the emperor, "how fearful is this deadly silence! +One might fancy that he walked in Pompeii; and Pompeii, alas, is not +more lonely. To think that I, an emperor, must look on and give no +help!" + +"Oh, yes, sire, you can give help," said Lacy, encouragingly. "There +must be some means by which this fearful famine can be arrested." + +"I have ordered corn from Hungary, where the harvest has been abundant. +To encourage the importation of grain in Bohemia, I have promised, +besides good prices, a premium of one hundred guilders for each +well-laden, four-horse wagon of grain that arrives before the expiration +of three weeks." + +"But the people will be exhausted before three weeks." + +"I have also ordered the commissary store-houses to be opened in Prague, +and the grain to be distributed." + +"This will last but for a few days." returned Lacy, shaking his head. + +"Then what can I do?" exclaimed the emperor, sorrowfully. + +"The famine is so great that it can scarcely have arisen from natural +causes. Where scarcity is, there will always be found the extortioner, +who profits by it. Those who have grain are withholding it for higher +prices." + +"Woe to them, if I light upon their stores!" exclaimed Joseph, +indignantly. "Woe to those who traffic in the fruits of the earth, which +God has bestowed for the use of all men!" + +"Your majesty will not find them. They will be carefully hidden away +from your sight." + +"I will seek until I find," replied the emperor. "But look there, Lacy, +what a stately dwelling rears its proud head beyond that grove of trees! +Is it the setting sun that gilds the windows just now?" + +"No, your majesty, the light is from within. I suppose it is the castle +of the nobleman, who owns the village." + +They walked a few paces farther, when the emperor spoke again. "See, +Lacy, here is a hut, from whose chimney I see smoke. Perhaps I shall +find something to eat within." + +He opened the door of the cottage, and there on the floor, in a heap, +lay a woman with four children. Their hollow eyes were fixed without the +slightest interest upon the strangers, for they were in the last stage +of hunger-typhus, and saw nothing. + +Lacy hurried the emperor away, saying, "Nothing can help these except +death. I know this terrible fever. I saw it in Moravia in '62." + +They stepped from the cottage to the kitchen. A fire was burning in the +chimney, and before it stood a man who was stirring the contents of a +pot. + +"God be praised!" exclaimed the emperor, "here is food." + +The man turned and showed a sunken, famished countenance. + +"Do you want supper?" said he roughly. "I have a mess in my pot that an +emperor might covet." + +"He does covet it, my friend," said the emperor, laughing. "What have +you there?" + +The man threw sinister glances at the well-dressed strangers, who jarred +the funeral air of his cottage with untimely mirth. + +"Did you come here to mock me?" said he. "Fine folks, like you, are +after no good in a poor man's cottage. If you come here to pasture upon +our misery, go into the house, and there you will see a sight that will +rejoice the rich man's heart." + +"No, my friend," replied the emperor, soothingly, "we come to ask for a +share of your supper." + +The man broke out into a sardonic laugh. "My supper!" cried he. "Come, +then, and see it. It is earth and water!" + +"Earth and water!" cried the horror-stricken Joseph. + +The peasant nodded. "Yes," said he, "the earth gives growth to the corn, +and as I have got no corn, I am trying to see what it will do for me! I +have already tasted grass. It is so green and fresh, and seems so sweet +to our cattle, that we tried to eat the SWEET GREEN GRASS." And he +smiled, but it was the smile of a demon. + +"Oh, my God!" cried the emperor. + +"But it seems," continued the man, as though speaking to himself, "that +God loves cattle better than he does men; for the grass which +strengthens them, made us so sick, so sick, that it would have been a +mercy if we had all died. It seems that we cannot die, however, so now I +am going to eat the glorious earth. Hurrah! My supper is ready." + +He swung the kettle upon the table and poured the black mass into a +platter. + +"Now," said he, with a fiendish grin, "now will the great folks like to +sup with me?" + +"Yes," said the emperor, gravely, "I will taste of your supper." + +He stepped to the table, and took the spoon which the bewildered peasant +held out to him. Pale with excitement, the emperor put the spoon to his +mouth, and tasted. Then he reached it to Lacy. + +"Taste it, Lacy" said he. "Oh, to think that these are men who suffer +the pangs of starvation!" And completely overcome by his sorrowing +sympathy, the emperor's eyes overflowed with tears. + +The peasant saw them and said, "Yes, my lord, we are men, but God has +forsaken us. He has been more merciful to the cattle, for they have all +died." + +"But how came this fearful famine among you?" asked Lacy. "Did you not +plant corn?" + +"How could we plant corn when we had none? For two years our crops have +failed, and hunger has eaten our vitals until there is not a man in the +village who has the strength to raise a fagot." + +"But I saw a castle as we came thither," said Lacy. + +"Yes, you saw the castle of the Baron von Weifach. The whole country +belongs to him; but we are free peasants. As long as we made any thing, +we paid him our tithes. But we have nothing now." + +And with a groan he sank down upon the wooden settle that stood behind +him. + +"The baron does nothing for you, then?" + +"Why should he?" said the man, with a bitter laugh. "We pay no more +tithes, and we are of no use to him. He prays every day for the famine +to last, and God hears his prayers, for God forsakes the poor and loves +the rich." + +"But how does he profit by the famine?" asked Lacy. + +"We have been profitable laborers to him, my lord. For several years +past, his corn-fields have been weighed down with golden tassels that +made the heart leap with joy at sight of their beauty. He had so much +that his barns would not hold it, and he had to put up other great +barns, thatched with straw, to shelter it. This year, it is true, he has +reaped nothing, but what of that? His barns are still full to +overflowing." + +"But how comes there such famine, when his barns are full of corn?" +asked the emperor, who was listening with intense interest. + +"That is a question which does little honor to your head, sir," said the +peasant, with a grating laugh. "The famine in Bohemia is terrible +precisely because the extortioners hold back their grain and will not +sell it." + +"But there is a law against the hoarding of grain." + +"Yes, there are laws made so that the poor may be punished by them and +the rich protected," said the peasant, with a sinister look. "Oh, yes, +there are laws! The rich have only to say that they have no corn, and +there the law ends." + +"And you think that the Baron von Weifach has grain?" + +The peasant nodded. "I know it," said he, "and when the time comes, he +will put it in the market." + +"What time?" + +"When the need of the people will be so great that they will part with +their last acre of land or last handful of gold for a few bushels of +grain. Several years ago, when corn was cheap, he sent his corn abroad +to a country where the harvest had been short; but he will not do so +this year, for the rich men have speculated so well that corn is dearer +here than it is over the frontiers. [Footnote: Gross-Hoffinger, "Life +and Reign of Joseph II.," vol. i., p. 138. Carl Ramshorn, "Life and +Times of Joseph II.," p. 99.] But I have enough of your questions. Let +me alone, and go about your business." + +"Can you buy food with money?" asked the emperor, kindly. + +"Yes, indeed, sir," said the peasant, while a ray of hope entered the +dark prison of his desponding heart. "If I had money, the housekeeper of +the baron would sell me bread, wheat, meat--oh, she would sell me any +thing if I had money to pay for it." + +"Take this, then," said the emperor, laying several gold pieces on the +table. "I hope to bring you more permanent relief, later." + +The peasant, with a cry, threw himself upon the gold. He paid no +attention whatever to the donor. Shouting for joy at the same time that +he was shedding tears in profusion, he darted, with his prize, to his +starving wife and children, to bid them live until he brought them food. + +Without, stood the emperor and Lacy. "O God!" murmured he to himself, +"and I have thought myself a most unhappy man! What is the grief of the +heart to such bodily torture as this! Come, Lacy, come. The day of +reckoning is here, and, by the eternal God, I will punish the guilty!" + +"What means your majesty?" asked Lacy, as the emperor, instead of +returning to the village, strode forward toward the path that led to the +castle. + +"I mean to go at once to yonder castle," cried lie, with a threatening +gesture, "and my hand shall fall heavily upon the extortioner who +withholds his grain from the people." + +"But your majesty," urged Lacy, "the word of one discontented peasant is +not enough to convict a man. You must have proofs before you condemn +him." + +"True, Lacy, you are right. I must seek for proofs." + +"How, your majesty?" + +"By going to the castle. My plan is already laid. As they seem to be +feasting to-day, I am likely to find a goodly assemblage of rich men +together. I must get an invitation to the feast, and once there, if the +charge be just, I promise to furnish the proofs." + +"Your majesty's undertaking is not a safe one. I must, therefore, +accompany you," said Lacy. + +"No, Lacy, I intend that you shall meet me there. Return to the place +where we left Rosenberg and the others, take one of the carriages, and +drive with him to the castle. When you arrive there, ask for me, and say +that you are now ready to proceed on our journey. Gunther can remain +with the mountaineers, and if our provisions arrive from Prague, he can +dispatch a courier to let us know it." + +"Shall we ask for your majesty at the castle, sire?" + +"Not by my own name. Ask for Baron von Josephi, for by that title I +shall introduce myself. Now farewell, and au revoir." + + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + +THE EXTORTIONERS OF QUALITY. + +The drawing-room of the Freiherr von Weifach was splendidly illuminated. +Hundreds of wax lights were multiplied to infinity in the spacious +mirrors that lined the walls, and separated one from another the +richly-framed portraits of the freiherr's noble ancestors. In the +banquet-hall, the dinner-table was resplendent with silver and +gold--with porcelain and crystal. Flowers sent out their perfume from +costliest vases of Dresden china, and rich old wines sparkled in goblets +of glittering glass. Around the table sat a company of richly-dressed +ladies and gentlemen of rank. They had been four hours at dinner, and +the sense of enjoyment, springing from the satisfaction of appetite, was +visible, not only on the flushed faces of the men, but betrayed itself +upon the rosy-tinted faces of the elegant women who were their +companions. + +The dessert was on the table. The guests were indulging themselves in +some of those post-prandial effusions which are apt to blossom from +heads overheated by wine, and are generally richer in words than in +wisdom. The host, with flattering preliminaries, had proposed the health +of the ladies, and every goblet sparkled to the brim. Just at that +moment a servant entered the room and whispered a few words in his ear. +He turned, smiling to his guests and, apologizing for the interruption, +said: + +"Ladies and gentlemen, I leave it to you to decide the question just +proposed to me. A gentleman has at this moment arrived at the castle, +requesting permission to remain until some repairs can be made to his +carriage, which has met with an accident in the neighboring village. +Shall we invite him to join us while he awaits the return of his +vehicle?" + +"Let us not be rash in our hospitality," replied the freiherrin, from +the opposite side of the table. "In the name of the noble ladies +assembled here, I crave to know whether the stranger who comes so sans +fagon to our castle, is worthy of the honor proposed by my husband. In +other words, is he a personage of rank?" + +"He presents himself as the Baron von Josephi," said the freiherr. + +"One of the oldest families in Hungary!" exclaimed one of the guests. + +"Then he can be admitted," responded the hostess. "At least, if it be +agreeable to the ladies?" + +Unanimous consent was given, and the freiherr arose from his seat to +convey the invitation to the stranger. + +"The Baron von Josephi!" said he, reentering with the gentleman, and +leading him at once to the freiherrin. She received him with smiling +courtesy, while the rest of the company directed their glances toward +him, anxious to see how he would acquit himself in his rather +embarrassing position. He was perfectly self-possessed, and in every +gesture showed himself to be a man of the world. + +With quiet grace he took his seat at the side of the hostess, and, +as he looked around with his large blue eyes, he seemed rather to be +criticising than criticised. With a sharp, searching expression, his +glances went from one of the company to another, until they in their +turn felt not only embarrassed, but harassed and uneasy. + +"I do not know why," whispered one of them to the lady who sat next to +him, "but this newcomer's face seems very familiar to me. I must have +met him somewhere before this." + +"You certainly might remember him," replied the lady, "if it were only +for his beautiful eyes. I never saw such eyes in my life. His manners, +too, are distinguished. I judge that he must have lived at court." + +"In other words, you prefer a man who fawns at court to one who reigns +like a prince over his own estates," said the first speaker, warmly. +"I, for my part--" + +"Hush! Let us hear what he is saying," interrupted the lady. + +"I am under many obligations for your hospitality," said the Baron von +Josephi to the hostess. "For three days that I have travelled in +Bohemia, I have met with nothing but poverty and starvation. Thanks to +my entrance into your splendid home, I see that plenty still reigns in +the castle, although it may have departed from the cottage." + +"Yes, thank Heaven, we know how to take care of our own interests here," +said the freiherr, laughing. + +"And yet you see how things are exaggerated," replied the Baron von +Josephi, laughing. "Such dreadful tidings of the famine in Bohemia +reached Vienna that the emperor is actually on his way to investigate +the matter. I met him not far from Budweis, and he seemed very sad I +thought." + +"By the saints, he has reason to feel sad," exclaimed one of the guests. +"He will find nothing here for his howling subjects. He would have been +wiser had he stayed in Vienna!" + +"Yes, poor, sentimental little emperor!" cried another with a laugh. "He +will find that the stamp of his imperial foot will conjure no corn out +of the earth, wherewith to feed his starving boors." + +"I do not see why he should meddle with the boors at all," added a +third. "Hungry serfs are easy to govern; they have no time to cry for +rights when they are crying for bread." + +"If the gentlemen are going to talk of politics," said the hostess, +rising from her seat, "it is time for ladies to retire. Come, ladies, +our cavaliers will join us when coffee is served." + +The gentlemen rose, and not until the last lady had passed from the room +did they resume their seats. + +"And now, gentlemen," said Baron von Josephi, "as our political gossip +can no longer annoy the ladies, allow me to say that my presence here is +not accidental, as I had led you to suppose." + +"And to what are we indebted for the honor?" asked the host. + +"I will explain," said the baron, inclining his head. "You have received +me with the hospitality of the olden time, without inquiring my rank, +lineage, or dwelling-place. Permit me to introduce myself. I have +estates in Moravia, and they are contiguous to those of Count Hoditz." + +"Then," replied Freiherr von Weifach, "I sympathize with you, for +nowhere in Austria has the famine been more severe." + +"Severe, indeed! The poor are dying like flies, for they cannot learn to +live upon grass." + +"Neither will they learn to live upon it in Bohemia," said the freiherr, +laughing. "The people are so unreasonable! The noblest race-horse lives +upon hay and grass; why should it not be good enough for a peasant of +low degree?" + +"Mere prejudice on the part of the peasant!" returned the baron. "I have +always suspected him of affectation. I have no patience with grumblers." + +"You are right, baron," said his neighbor, nodding and smiling. "The +people are idle and wasteful; and if we were to listen to their +complaints, we would soon be as poor as they." + +"And what if a few thousand perish here and there?" interposed another. +"They never would be missed, for they multiply like potatoes." + +"You say, baron," resumed the host, "that you paid no attention to the +complaints of your peasantry?" + +"I did like Ulysses, gentlemen; I stopped my ears with wax, that my +heart might not grow weak." + +"A melodious siren song, to be sure," laughed the company; "a dirge of +bread! bread! bread!" + +"Ah, you know the song, I perceive," said the Baron von Josephi, joining +in the laugh. + +"Yes; and we do as you have done, baron. We stop our ears." + +"The consequence is," continued Josephi, "that my granaries are full to +overflowing. I was on my way to Prague to dispose of it, but the want +which I have seen on your estates, freiherr, has touched my heart. +Nowhere have I beheld any thing to equal it. Hundreds of starving +peasants are on the high-road, not a mile off." + +"Did you honor us with your presence to tell me this?" asked the host, +with lowering brow. "If so, you might have spared your trouble, for I +know it." + +"Oh no; I came to you with the best intentions. I have no pity for the +peasant, but some for yourself. The health of his workmen is the +nobleman's wealth. Now my own people are almost all dead, and as I +grieve to see your lands wasted, I offer you my corn." + +"Which means that you wish me to buy it," said the freiherr, with a +significant smile. + +"Yes; and you can have it at once. I know that I might do better by +waiting, but I have a tender heart, and am willing to part with it now. +I make you the offer." + +"How much a strich?" [Footnote: A strich, in Prague, was something more +than two bushels.] asked the freiherr. + +"Twenty florins. You will find it cheap." + +"Very cheap, forsooth!" cried the host, with a loud laugh, in which his +guests all joined. "You wish me to buy your corn for my peasants? Why, +it will be worth its weight in gold, and they have none wherewith to pay +me." + +"You are a humane landlord and a nobleman; and I take it for granted +that you will make it a gift to your peasantry." + +"Why did you not do as much yourself?" asked the freiherr, scornfully. +"Have you not just now said that your people were dying, while your +granaries are full? No, no; I want no corn; but when corn has truly +risen to twenty florins, then I shall open my granaries, and my crops +shall be for sale." + +And the freiherr filled his glass and drank a bumper. + +"You should not speak so loud," said Josephi "for you know that the +emperor has issued an edict, exacting that all those who have grain +shall meet him in Prague, that the government may buy their grain at a +reasonable price." + +"What fool would heed such an edict?" cried the freiherr. "The emperor +is not master of our granaries. In the rural districts the nobleman is +emperor, and God forbid that it should ever be otherwise!" + +"But the emperor has appointed commissioners, who go from place to +place, and inspect the crops." + +"Yes they came hither, and they came to all of us--did they not, my +lords?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried a chorus of merry noblemen. + +"But they found nothing--nothing but a few hundred florins that glided, +unaccountably, into their hands, and caused them to abscond in a hurry. +This people-loving emperor deserves the eternal gratitude of his +commissioners, for although they found no corn for him, they found an +abundance of gold for themselves." + +Josephi colored violently, and his whole frame trembled. His hand +clutched the wine-glass which he held, and he seemed to breathe with +difficulty. + +No one observed it. The company were excited by wine, and their senses +were dim and clouded. But for this sumptuous dinner, at which he had +indulged himself too far, the freiherr would never have betrayed the +secret of his overflowing barns. + +Josephi, meanwhile, controlled his indignation, and spoke again. "So, +freiherr, you all reject my proposal." + +"I do. God be praised, I have enough and to spare!" + +"Then, gentlemen." continued the baron, "I offer it to any one of you. +You are all from this unhappy district, and some one of you must be in +need of grain." + +"We are the freiherr's neighbors, and have borrowed his wisdom," said +one of the company, "and I can answer for all present that they are well +provided." + +"There are seven of you present, and none needing grain!" exclaimed Von +Josephi. + +"Yes. Seven noblemen, all abounding in grain." + +"Seven extortioners!" cried Josephi, rising from his seat, and looking +as if he would have stricken them to the earth with the lightning of his +flashing eyes. + +"What means this insolence?" asked the host. + +"It means that I have found here seven men of noble birth, who have +disgraced their caste by fattening upon the misery of their fellows. But +by the eternal God! the extortioner shall be branded throughout the +world. And be he gentle or base-born, he shall feel the weight of my +just indignation." + +While the emperor spoke, the company had been awaking from the stupor +caused by the wine they had been drinking. Gradually their heads were +raised to listen, and their eyes shot fire, until, at last, they sprang +from their seats, crying out: + +"Who dares speak thus to us? By what right do you come to insult us?" + +"By what right?" thundered the emperor. "The emperor has given me the +right--the little chicken-hearted emperor, whose commissioners you have +bribed, and whose subjects you have oppressed, until nothing remains for +him but to come among you and drag your infamy to daylight with his own +hands." + +"The emperor! it is the emperor!" groaned the terror-stricken +extortioners, while Joseph looked contemptuously upon their pale and +conscience-stricken faces. + +Suddenly the host burst into a maudlin laugh. + +"Do you not see," said he, "that our facetious guest is making game of +us to revenge himself for our refusal to buy his corn?" + +"True, true," cried the lords together. "It's a jest--a trick to--" + +"Peace!" cried the emperor. "The hour for jesting has passed by, and the +hour of retribution is here. I came to Bohemia to feed my starving +subjects, and I will feed them! But I shall also punish those who, +having bread, have withheld it from the poor. You shall not bribe ME +with your parchments of nobility or with your pride of family. The +pillory is for the criminal, and his rank shall not save him." + +"Mercy, gracious sovereign, mercy!" cried the freiherr, whose glowing +cheeks were now as pale as death. "Your majesty will not condemn us for +the idle words we have spoken from excesss of wine?" + +"What mercy had you upon the wailing wretches, of whose misery you have +made such sport to-day?" + +"Your majesty," said one of the noblemen, sullenly, "there is no law to +prevent a man from holding his own, and the Bohemian nobleman has his +own code of justice, and is amenable to no other." + +"The Bohemian nobleman shall enjoy it no longer!" exclaimed the outraged +emperor. "Before their earthly judges men shall be equal, as they are +before the throne of God." + +At that moment the door opened, and the emperor's suite came in. "Lacy, +Lacy!" cried Joseph, "you were right. The famine is not the result of a +short harvest. It is due to these monsters of wickedness, whom you see +before you in the enjoyment of every luxury that sensuality can crave." + +"Mercy, sire, mercy!" cried a chorus of imploring voices, and looking +behind him, the emperor saw the ladies, who all sank upon their knees at +his feet. + +While Joseph had been speaking with Lacy, the lord of the castle had +hastened to communicate their disgrace, and to bring the wives of the +criminals to their assistance. + +The emperor frowned. "Ladies," said he, "we are on the subject of +politics, the same subject which banished you hence not long ago. Rise, +therefore, and retire--this is no place for you." + +"No, sire," cried the Freiherrin von Weifach, "I will not rise until I +obtain pardon for my husband. I do not know of what he has been guilty, +but I know that our noble emperor cannot condemn the man under whose +roof he has come as an invited guest. I know that the emperor is too +generous to punish him, who, confiding in him as a man, little suspected +that he who came under a borrowed name was the sovereign lord of all +Austria." + +"Ah, madame, you reproach me with an hour spent at your table, and you +expect me to overlook crime in consideration of the common courtesy +extended to me as a man of your own rank. I was so fortunate as to +overhear the little discussion that preceded my entrance here. Rise, +madame, I am not fond of Spanish customs, nor do I like to see women on +their knees." + +"Mercy for my husband!" reiterated the freiherrin. "Forgive him for +thinking more of his own family than of others. What he did was for love +of his wife and children." + +"Ah!" exclaimed the emperor, "you call that love of his family! You +would elevate his cruel avarice into a domestic virtue. I congratulate +you upon your high standard of ethics! But rise, I command you. +Meanwhile, you are right on one point at least. I have eaten of your +salt, and I am too true a nobleman to betray you to the emperor. I will +merely tell him that the corn is found, and that his poor people may +rejoice. Open your granaries, therefore, my lords. Let each of you this +night send a courier to your tenants, proffering grain to all, free of +charge stipulating only that, as a return for the gift, the peasantry +shall bestow a portion of their corn upon their mother earth. [Footnote: +Gross-Hoffinger, vol. i., p. 141.] You will see how magical is the +effect of generosity. Your stores will scatter blessings over this +unhappy land, and the poor will bless you as their benefactors. Yes, +gentlemen, from this day forward you will be the friends of the needy; +for, God be praised, you have corn, and, for the sake of your corn, I +forgive you. But see that the future makes full atonement for the past." + +No one answered a word. With sullen mien and downcast eyes they stood, +while the emperor surveyed them with surprise. + +"What!" said he, after a long and painful pause, "not a word of thanks! +Joy has made you dumb, I perceive. And no wonder; for to feel (for the +first time) the pleasures of benevolence may well make you speechless +with happiness. As for you, madame," continued the emperor, addressing +his hostess, "I will not deprive you of a share in your husband's +generosity. You will be so kind as to call up your servants and bid them +load a wagon with the remains of our excellent dinner, not forgetting +the wines; and you will then send it, with your greetings, to your +tenants in yonder village. Your servants can go from house to house +until the store is exhausted." + +"I will do what your majesty commands," said the freiherrin, pale with +rage. + +"I do not doubt it," replied the emperor, laughing. "And as I will be +glad to hear how your bounty is received in the village, two of my own +attendants will accompany yours. Farewell, my lords, I must leave you, +for I have a large company on the high-road whom I have invited to +supper. The freiherrin will oblige me by receiving them to-night as her +guests. In this stately castle there are, doubtless, several rooms that +can be thrown open to these weary, suffering mountaineers. Have I your +permission to send them hither?" + +"I will obey your majesty's commands," sobbed the lady, no longer able +to control her tears. + +The emperor bowed, and turning to his attendants, said, "Come, my +friends, our messengers have probably arrived before this, and our +guests await us." + +He advanced to the door, but suddenly stopped and addressed the company. +"My lords," said he, "for once your wisdom has been at fault. It is well +that the sentimental little emperor did not remain, as you advised, in +Vienna; for the stamp of his imperial foot has struck abundance out of +the earth, and it will save the lives of his starving boors." + + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + +DIPLOMATIC ESOTERICS. + +Prince Kaunitz was in his cabinet. Baron Binder was reading aloud the +secret dispatches which had just come in from the Austrian ambassador at +Berlin, the young Baron van Swieten. Meanwhile, Kaunitz was busy with a +brush of peacock's feathers, dusting the expensive trifles that covered +his escritoire, or polishing its ebony surface with a fine silk +handkerchief which he kept for the purpose. This furbishing of trinkets +and furniture was a private pastime with the all-powerful minister; and +many a personage of rank was made to wait in the anteroom, while he +finished his dusting or rearranged his bijouterie, until it was grouped +to his satisfaction. + +The dispatches which were being read were of the highest importance; for +they related to a confidential conversation with the King of Prussia on +the subject of the political apple, at which all were striving for the +largest bite. The King of Prussia, wrote the ambassador, had spoken +jestingly of the partition of Poland. He had bespoken for himself the +district of Netz and Polish Prussia, premising that Dantzic, Thorn, and +Cracow were to be left to Poland. + +"Very well arranged," said Kaunitz, with his accustomed sang froid, +while he brightened the jewels of a Sevres inkstand which had been +presented to him by Madame de Pompadour. "Vraiment the naivete of this +Frederick is prodigious. He appropriates the richest and most cultivated +districts of Poland to himself; and then inserts, as an unimportant +clause, the stipulation that Cracow, with its adjacent territory, the +rich salt mines of Wieliczka, shall not belong to Austria." + +"Van Swieten would not agree to the arrangement," said Binder, "and he +furthermore declared to the king that such a distribution would be +prejudicial to Austria. He proposed, however, that Austria might be +indemnified by the possession of Bosnia and Servia, which the Porte +should be made to yield." + +"What a preposterous fool!" exclaimed Kaunitz. "Who gave him the right +to make such a proposition--" + +"Why, your highness, I suppose he thought--" + +"He has no right to think," interrupted Kaunitz. "I ask of no employe of +mine to think. My envoys have nothing to do but to work out MY thoughts, +and that without any intervention of their own fancies. It is very +presuming in my little diplomatic agents to think what I have not +thought, and of their own accord to make propositions to foreign courts. +Write and tell him so, Binder, and add, that neither our permanent +peaceful relations with Turkey, nor the sentiments of consideration +which are entertained by the empress for the Porte, will allow of any +attempt to lessen his territory." [Footnote: Wilhelm von Dohm, "Memoirs +of My Time," vol. i., 489.] + +"Then you are really in earnest, and intend to be a firm ally of the +Porte?" inquired Binder with astonishment. + +"In earnest!" repeated Kaunitz, with a shrug. "You statesman in +swaddling-clothes! You do not know the first principles of your +profession; and yet you have lived with me for thirty years! In +diplomacy there is no such thing as stability of policy. Policy shapes +itself according to circumstances, and changes as they change. The man +who attempted to follow fixed principles in international policy, would +soon find himself and his government on the verge of a precipice." + +"And yet there is no statesman in Europe who adheres so closely to his +principles as yourself," exclaimed Binder, with the enthusiasm of true +friendship. + +Kaunitz majestically inclined his head. "My principles are these: To +make Austria rich, great, powerful. Austria shall be quoeungue modo, the +first power in Europe; and in after-years the world shall say that the +genius of Kaunitz placed her on the mountain-peaks of her greatness. For +this end, it is indispensable that I remain at the head of European +affairs. Not only Austria, but all Europe, looks to me to guide her +through the storm that is threatening the general peace. I dare not +leave the helm of state to take one hour's rest; for what would become +of the great continental ship if, seeking my own comfort, I were to +retire and yield her fortunes to some unsteady hand? There is no one to +replace me! No one! It is only once in a century that Heaven vouchsafes +a great statesman to the world. This makes me fear for Austria when I +shall have gone from earth and there is no one to succeed me." +[Footnote: The prince's own words. See Swinburne, vol. i., p. 230.] + +"May you live many years to rule in Austria!" cried Binder, warmly; "you +are indispensable to her welfare." + +"I know it," said Kaunitz, gravely. "But there are aspirants for +political fame in Austria, who would like to lay their awkward hands +upon the web that I weave? No one knows how far the youthful impetuosity +and boundless vanity of such ambition may go. It might lead its +possessor to entertain the insane idea that he could govern Austria +without my guidance." + +"You speak of the Emperor Joseph?" + +"Yes, I do. He is ambitious, overbearing, and vain. He mistakes his +stupid longings to do good for capacity. He lusts for fame through war +and conquest, and would change every thing in his mother's empire, for +the mere satisfaction of knowing that the change was his own work. Oh, +what would become of Austria if I were not by, to keep him within +bounds? It will task all my genius to steer between the Scylla of a +bigoted, peace-loving empress, and the Charybdis of this reckless +emperor; to reconcile their antagonisms, and overrule their prejudices. +Maria Theresa is for peace and a treaty with the Porte, who has lately +been a good-natured, harmless neighbor--Joseph thirsts for war that he +may enlarge his dominions and parade himself before the world as a +military genius. If his mother were to die to-morrow, he would plunge +headlong into a war with Russia or Turkey, whichever one he might happen +to fancy. I am obliged to hold this prospect forever before his eyes to +keep him quiet. I must also pay my tribute to the whims of the reigning +empress; and if we declare war to pacify Joseph, we must also make it +appear to Maria Theresa that war is inevitable." + +"By Heaven, that is a delicate web, indeed!" cried Binder, laughing. + +"Yes, and let no presuming hand ever touch a thread of it!" replied +Kaunitz. "I say as much as I have said to you, Binder, because the +greatest minds must sometimes find a vent for their conceptions, and I +trust nobody on earth except you. Now you know what I mean by 'permanent +treaties with the Porte,' and I hope you will not ask any more silly +questions. You ignoramus! that have lived so long with Kaunitz and have +not yet learned to know him!" + +"Your highness is beyond the comprehension of ordinary men," said +Binder, with a good-humored smile. + +"I believe so," replied Kaunitz, with truthful simplicity; while he +carefully placed his paper, pens, lines, and penknife in the drawer +wherein they belonged. + +The door opened, and a servant announced his excellency Osman Pacha, +ambassador of the Ottoman Porte. + +"Very well," replied Kaunitz with a nod, "I will see him presently." + +"You see," said he to Binder, as the door closed upon the servant, "we +are about to begin in earnest with the Porte. I shall receive him in the +drawing-room. Meanwhile, remain here, for I shall need you again." + +He smiled kindly upon his friend, and left the room. Binder looked after +him with tenderest admiration. "He is a very great man," said he to +himself, "and he is right. But for him, Austria would fall to the rank +of a second power. What if he does know it and boast of it? He is a +truthful and candid man. Voild tout." + +And he sat down to write to Van Swieten in Berlin to beware of saying +any thing prejudicial to the interests of the Porte. + +He had just concluded his letter when Kaunitz returned. His countenance +was beaming with satisfaction and his lips were half parting with a +smile. "Binder," said he, laying a roll of papers on the escritoire, +"here are sugar-plums for the emperor. Can you guess what I have in +these papers?" + +"Not a declaration of war from Russia!" exclaimed Binder. + +"Hm; something very like it, I assure you. Listen! It is the secret +treaty that our minister at Constantinople, Herr von Thugut, has just +concluded with the Porte. The Sultan has already signed it, and to-day I +shall present it for signature to the empress. She will do it readily; +for although she may not absolutely dote on the infidel, she hates +Russia; and the unbelieving Turk is dearer to her than her Christian +cousin, the Empress Catharine." + +"Then, after all, we are the firm allies of Turkey?" said Binder. + +The prince gave a shrug, and trifled with the papers he had brought with +him. "We have bound ourselves," said he, reading here and there among +the leaves, "to bring about a peace between Russia and Turkey, by which +the former shall restore to the latter all the provinces which she has +conquered from the Porte; or, if not all, those which are indispensable +to preserve the honor of Turkey intact. We have furthermore bound +ourselves to secure the independence of the Republic of Poland." + +"But, prince, that contradicts all your previous understandings with +Prussia and Russia; it contradicts your plans for the partition of +Poland. It will certainly lead to war, for our highness has forgotten +that Prussia and Russia have already agreed, for the soi disant +pacification of Poland, to appropriate the greater part of her provinces +to themselves." + +"I beg you to believe, my verdant friend, that I never forget any +thing," said Kaunitz, somewhat haughtily. "I am perfectly au fait to the +Russo-Prussian treaty; but I have not been invited to the banquet, and I +do not intend to go uninvited. When they speak, we will consider their +offers. If they say nothing, we go to war. If they speak, we will allow +ourselves to be persuaded to share the booty which we cannot restore to +its owners. In that way, we are in a manner forced into this coalition, +and the opprobrium of the act falls upon those who devised it, while +Maria Theresa's scruples will be more easily overcome." + +"Prince," said Binder, with a sigh, "I give it up. I never will make a +statesman. I listen to your words as to a Delphic oracle, and do not +pretend to understand their ambiguous meaning. I understand, however, do +I not, that we are the allies of the Sultan? Now we thereby do him a +great favor--what does he give in return?" + +"Not much, but still something," said Kaunitz, with composure, while his +fingers again turned over the leaves. "The Porte, who, like yourself, +apprehends war with Russia, understands that if Austria is to befriend +him, she must put her army upon a war footing. If Austria is to do this +for the sake of Turkey, Turkey of course must furnish the means. The +Porte then, in the course of the next eight months, will pay us the sum +of twenty thousand purses, each containing five hundred silver piasters. +Four thousand purses will be paid down as soon as the treaty is signed." +[Footnote: Dohm, "Memoirs of My Time," vol. i., p. 471.] + +"Ten millions of piasters!" exclaimed Binder, with uplifted hands. "By +Heaven, prince, you are a second Moses. You know how to strike a rock so +that a silver fountain shall gush from its barrenness." + +"I shall make good use of it, too. Our coffers need replenishing, and +the emperor will rejoice to see them filled with the gold of the +infidel. It will enable him to raise and equip a gallant army, and that +will give him such unbounded delight that we are sure of his signature. +Besides this, the Porte presents us with a goodly portion of Wallachia; +he fixes the boundaries of Transylvania to our complete satisfaction, +and allows us free trade with the Ottoman empire, both by land and by +water." + +"But all these concessions will cost us a war with Russia. The rapacious +Czarina will be furious when she hears of them." + +"She will not hear of them," said Kaunitz, quietly. "I have made it a +stringent condition with Osman Pacha that the treaty with Turkey shall +be a profound secret. The Sultan and his vizier have pledged their word, +and the Mussulman may always be trusted. We will only make the treaty +public in case of a war with Russia." + +"Whence it follows that as Russia is much more likely to court our +friendship than our enmity, the treaty with the Porte is all moonshine." + +"With the exception of the ten millions of piasters, which are terrene +and tangible. It remains now to see whether Turkey will keep silence or +Russia will speak! In either case, the peace of all Europe now lies in +Austria's hands. We will preserve or destroy it as is most advantageous +to our own interests." + +At that moment the door leading to the anteroom was opened, and a page +announced Prince Gallitzin, ambassador of her majesty the Empress of +Russia. + +This announcement following the subjects which had been under +discussion, was so significant, that Kaunitz could not conceal his sense +of its supreme importance. He was slightly disturbed; but recovering +himself almost instantaneously, he said: + +"In five minutes I will receive his highness in this room. Now begone, +and open the door punctually." + +"What can the Russian minister want to-day?" said Binder. + +"He has come to speak at last," replied Kaunitz, taking breath. + +"Not of the partition of Poland, but of your Turkish treaty. You will +see that he if he gain any thing by talking, the Porte will not keep +silence." + +"Three minutes gone," said Kaunitz, taking out his watch. + +"Not another word, Binder. Step behind that screen and listen to our +discussion. It will save me the trouble of repeating it to you." + +While Binder was concealing himself, Kaunitz was composing his visage +before a looking-glass. It soon reached its accustomed serenity, and not +a lock of the peruke was out of place. + +In five minutes the page reopened the door and announced the entrance of +the Russian ambassador. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + +RUSSIA SPEAKS. + +Prince Kaunitz stood in the centre of the room when the Russian minister +made his appearance. He raised his cold blue eyes with perfect +indifference to the smiling face of the Russian, who bowed low, while +his host vouchsafed him a slight inclination of the head. Prince +Gallitzin seemed to be as unconscious of this haughty reception as of +the fact that Kaunitz had not moved forward a singe step to greet him. +He traversed with unruffled courtesy the distance that separated him +from Austria, and offered his hand with the grace of a finished +courtier. + +Kaunitz raised his languidly, and allowed it to rest for a moment in the +palm of his cordial visitor. + +"See, what a propitious incident," said Prince Gallitzin; "Austria and +Russia have given each other the hand. " + +"Pardon me, your highness," replied Kaunitz gravely, "Russia has offered +her hand, and Austria takes it." + +"But without returning my cordial pressure," said the Russian. + +Prince Kaunitz appeared not to hear this affectionate reproach. He +pointed to the arm-chairs on either side of the escritoire, saying, "Let +us be seated." + +Prince Gallitzin waited until Kaunitz had taken his seat, which he did +in a most deliberate manner, then he took the chair opposite. "Your +highness has been so good as to look over the new proposals for peace +which Russia has offered to Turkey?" asked Prince Gallitzin. + +"I have read them," replied Raunitz, curtly. + +"Your highness will then have remarked that, accommodating herself to +the wishes of Austria, Russia has retained only such of her conditions +as were necessary to the preservation of her dignity before the world. +But my imperial mistress has instructed me to say explicitly that her +moderation toward Turkey is exclusively the fruit of her consideration +for Austria. But for this consideration, Turkey would have felt the full +weight of the empress's vengeance; and it might have come to pass that +this Porte, who already totters with his own weakness, would have been +precipitated by Russia far into the depths of the Black Sea." + +"In that case Russia would have learned that Austra is a diver that +knows how to fish for pearls. We would have rescued the Porte from the +Black Sea, and if he had not been strong enough to sustain himself, we +would have exacted a tonic at your hands in the form of more +advantageous conditions of peace." + +"Then our conditions are not satisfactory?" + +"They are of such a nature that Austria cannot entertain them for a +moment. Turkey can never consent to the independence of the Crimea and +Wallachia, nor will Austria counsel her to such an indiscreet +concession. This would be so contrary to the interests of Austria that +we would oppose it, even should Turkey be forced by untoward +circumstances to yield the point." + +"Ah!" cried Gallitzin, laughing, "Austria would find herself in the +singular position of a nation warring with another to force that nation +to take care of its own interests. Will your highness then tell me, what +are the conditions which Austria is willing to accept for Turkey?" + +"They are these: that the right of the Sultan to appoint the Khan of the +Crimea and the Hospodar of Wallachia remain untouched. If Russia will +recognize the sovereignty of the Porte in that quarter, then Austria +will induce him to withdraw his pretensions in Tartary." + +"And to leave to Russia the territory she has conquered there?" asked +Gallitzin with his ineffable smile. "The czarina has no desire to +enlarge her vast empire. Russia does not war in the Crimea for herself, +but for a noble race of men who feel rich and powerful enough to elect +their own rulers. Her struggle in Tartary is simply that of civilization +and freedom against barbarism and tyranny." + +"How beautiful all this sounds in the mouth of a Russian!" said Kaunitz, +smiling. "You will acknowledge that Russia is not always consistent; for +instance--in Poland, where she does not perceive the right of a noble +race of men to elect their own rulers, but forces upon them a king whom +they all despise. I must now declare to you that my sovereign will enter +into negotiations with Turkey on one condition only: that the +territorial rights of Poland be left untouched, not only by Russia, but +by any other European power!" [Footnote: V. Dohm. "Memoirs" vol. i., p. +492.] + +Prince Gallitzin stared at Kaunitz as he heard these astounding words; +but the Austrian met his gaze with perfect unconcern. + +"Your highness defends the integrity of Polish territory," said +Gallitzin, after a short pause, "and yet you have been the first to +invade it. Is not the Zips a portion of the kingdom of Poland?" + +"No, your highness, no. The Zips was originally a Hungarian dependency, +and was mortgaged to Poland. We intend to resume our property and pay +the mortgage in the usual way. This is not at all to the point. We speak +of the fate of Poland. As for Austria, she aims at nothing but her +rights; and as soon as the Empress of Russia withdraws her troops from +Polish ground, we will withdraw ours, as well as all pretensions +whatever to the smallest portion of Polish territory." + +"And doubtless your highness intends to restore every thing for which +the Poles are now contending. Her ancient constitution, for instance; +that constitution which has been thrown upon the political system of +Europe like the apple of Eris, threatening discord and conflict without +end." + +"No," said Kaunitz, quickly, "their constitution must be modified as the +interests of their neighbors may require. We must unite on some +modifications that are suitable to us, and if Poland refuse to accept +there, she must be forced to do it." + +"Ah!" cried Gallitzin, much relieved, "if your highness is of this mind +we will soon understand one another; and I may, therefore, be permitted +to speak with perfect frankness on the part of Russia." + +"At last!" exclaimed Kaunitz, taking a long breath. "Russia will speak +at last! So far she has only acted; and I confess that her actions have +been inexplicable." + +"Russia keeps pace with Austria," said Gallitzin. "The court of Vienna +says that the integrity of Poland must be respected; nevertheless she is +the first to lay her hand upon it." + +"Some things we dare not do because they seem too difficult, others only +seem to be difficult because we dare not do them. We have taken our +slice of Poland because it belonged to us, and the difficulty of the +step has not deterred us." + +"Ah, your highness, as regards your right to the Zips, there is not a +kingdom in Europe that has not some old forgotten right to her +neighbor's territory! Russia and--Prussia, too, have similar claims on +Poland, so that if it be agreeable to the empress-queen and to--your +highness we will meet together to have an understanding on the subject. +Some little time may be required to define our several claims, but this +once settled, there will be no further difficulty in the way." + +"I see," said Kaunitz, with a satisfied air, "that we already understand +one another. As Russia has spoken and has made proposals, Austria is +ready to respond. But before we attend to our own affairs, let us give +peace to Turkey. The court of Vienna will negotiate between you. Let me +advise you to be exorbitant in your demands; go somewhat beyond your +real intentions, so that Austria may be obliged to decline your +proposals." + +"And in this way your highness proposes to bring about a peace with +Turkey?" asked Prince Gallitzin, astounded. + +"Certainly I do. Austria declines the proposals; Russia moderates her +demands, that is, she concedes what she never intended to exact, and +presents this as her ultimatum. Austria, satisfied with the concessions +now offered to her ally, is of opinion that he should accept them; and +if he prove unreasonable, must force him to do it." + +"Your highness is indeed a great statesman!" exclaimed Gallitzin, with +enthusiasm. + +"When a Russian ambassador says so it must be true," replied Kaunitz, +bowing. "As to Poland, the great question there is to preserve the +balance of power. I beg, therefore, that Russia and Prussia will make +known at once the extent of their claims there, that Austria may shape +hers accordingly. I shall enter at once into correspondence with the +King of Prussia, to ascertain his views as to the future boundaries of +Poland. Two things are indispensable to insure the success of this +affair." + +"What are they?" + +"First: perfect frankness between the three powers who are to act as +one; and celerity of action, lest Poland should be quieted before we +come in with our remedy." + +"I agree with you. And second?" + +"Second: profound secrecy. If France or England were to scent the +affair, there would be troublesome intervention, and we might all be +disappointed. Europe must not learn the partition of Poland until it is +a fait accompli." + +"I promise discretion both for Russia and Prussia," said Gallitzin, +eagerly. "Europe shall not hear of it until our troops are on the spot +to defend us from outside interference. All that is necessary now is to +find three equal portions, so that each claimant shall be satisfied." + +"Oh," said Kaunitz carelessly, as he played with the lace that edged is +cuffs, "if three equal parts are not to be found on Polish ground, we +can trespass upon the property of another neighbor who has too much +land; and if he resists, we can very soon bring him to reason." + +Prince Gallitzin looked with visible astonishment at the cold and calm +face of the Austrian. "Another neighbor?" echoed he, with embarrassment. +"But we have no neighbor unless it be the Porte himself." + +"Precisely the neighbor to whom I have reference," said Kaunitz, nodding +his head. "He is almost as troublesome as Poland, and will be the better +for a little blood-letting. I authorize your highness to lay these +propositions before your court; and I await the answer." + +"Oh!" cried Gallitzin, laughing while he arose from his chair, "you will +always find Russia ready for a surgical operation upon the body of her +hereditary enemy. The law, both of nature and of necessity, impels her +to prey upon Turkey, and the will of Peter the Great can never be +carried out until the foot of Russia rests upon the Sultans throne at +Stamboul." + +"Well," said Kaunitz, when Prince Gallitzin had taken his leave, "did +you understand our conference, Binder?" + +"Understand!" exclaimed Binder, coming from behind the screen. "No, +indeed! I must have been drunk or dreaming. I surely did not hear your +highness, who, not an hour since, concluded a treaty with Turkey by +which the independence of Poland was to be guaranteed--I surely did not +hear you agree to a partition between Russia, Prussia, and Austria!" + +"Yes, you did. We are driven to accept our share of Poland merely by way +of decreasing that of our neighbors." + +"Then I DID understand as regards Poland. But I must have been dreaming +when I thought you had told me that we had concluded a treaty with the +Porte by which he pays us ten millions of piasters for our good offices +with Russia." + +"Not at all. I certainly told you so." + +"Then, dear prince, I have lost my senses," cried Binder, "for indeed I +dreamed that you had proposed to Russia, in case there was not land +enough to satisfy you all in Poland, to take some from the Sultan. " + +"You have heard aright. You are very tiresome with your questions and +your stupid, wonder-stricken face. I suppose if a piece of Poland were +thrown at your feet, you would pick it up and hand it over to +Stanislaus; and if the Porte stood before you with a million of +piasters, you would say, 'Not for the world!' It is easy to see what +would become of Austria in your dainty hands! An enviable position she +would hold, if conscience were to guide her policy!" + +"No danger while YOU hold the reins, for there will never be a trace of +conscience in your policy," muttered Binder, gathering up his papers and +passing into the adjoining room. + +Prince Kaunitz shrugged his shoulders and rang his bell. + +"My new state-coach," said he to Hippolyte, who, instead of flying off +as usual to obey, remained standing at the door. + +"Why do you stand there?" asked the Prince. + +"Pardon me, your highness, the state-coach is not ready," stammered the +valet. + +"Not yet ready?" repeated the prince, accenting each word. "Did I not +order it to be here at two o'clock?" + +"Yes, your highness, but the upholsterer could not understand the +drawings which were given him. He began to work by them, but was obliged +to undo his work, and this caused the delay." + +"The man has the assurance to say that he could not work after the +drawings made by my own hand?" asked Kaunitz, with a firey glance of +anger in his eyes. "Because he is an ass does the churl dare to +criticise my drawings? Let him bring the body of the coach to the +palace, and I will show him that he is a bungler and knows nothing of +his trade." + +And the prince, in his rage, stalked to the door. Suddenly he stopped. +"What is the state of the thermometer to-day?" said he. + +The valet flew to the window and examined the little thermometer that +hung outside. + +"Sixty degrees, your highness." + +"Sixty degrees!" sighed the prince. "Then I dare not go to the +coach-house. Is the coach mounted on the wheels?" + +"No, your highness." + +"Then let the upholsterer have the carriage brought to my room, with the +drawings and his tools. Be off! In ten minutes all must be here!" + +Just ten minutes later the door opened, and in came a handbarrow, upon +which stood the body of the coach. It was one mass of bronze, +plate-glass mirrors, and gilding. Behind it appeared the upholsterer, +pale with fright, carrying on one arm a bundle of satin and velvet, and +in his right hand holding the drawings of the prince. "Set it down in +the centre of the room," said Kaunitz, imperiously, and then turning a +look of wrath upon the unhappy upholsterer, he said, with terrible +emphasis: "Is it true that you have the audacity to say that you cannot +work after my drawings?" + +"I hope your highness will forgive me," stammered the upholsterer, "but +there is not room in the inside of the coach for all the bows and +rosettes. I would have been obliged to make them so small that the coach +would have looked like one of the patterns we show to our customers. " + +"And you dare tell me that to my face? Do you suppose that I do not know +your miserable trade, or do you mean that it is easier to govern an +empire than to trim up a coach? I will prove to you that I am a better +upholsterer than you are. Open the door, and I will decorate the coach +myself." + +The upholsterer opened the richly-gilded glass door, and Kaunitz, as +much in earnest as when he had been giving and taking a kingdom, entered +the coach and seated himself. + +"Give me the satin and velvet, and hold up the drawings, that I may work +after them. Some of you hand me the nails, and some one have the needle +ready. You shall see how Prince Kaunitz, through the stupidity of his +upholsterer, is obliged to decorate the interior of his own coach." + +The prince began to work; and in the same room where he had signed +treaties and received ambassadors, the great Austrian statesman sewed +and hammered until he had decorated his carriage to his own +satisfaction. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + +THE LAST PETITION. + +Maria Theresa paced her cabinet in visible agitation. Her face was sad +beyond expression, and her eyes turned anxiously toward the door. + +"I tremble," murmured she; "for the first time in my life I mistrust the +deed I am about to do. All is not clear in the depths of my conscience; +the voice that whispers such misgivings to my heart, is one which shames +the worldly wisdom of my councillors. We are about to do a wicked deed, +and we shall answer for it before Heaven! Would that my right hand had +lost its cunning, ere ever it had been forced to sign this cruel +document! Oh, it is an unholy thing, this alliance with an unbelieving +king and a dissolute empress! And an alliance for what? To destroy a +kingdom, and to rob its unhappy people of their nationality forever!" + +"But what avails remorse?" continued she, heaving a deep sigh. "It is +too late, too late! In a few moments Joseph will be here to exact my +signature, and I dare not refuse it. I have yielded my right to protest +against this crime, and--ah, he comes!" cried the empress, pressing her +hands upon her heart, as she heard the lock of the door turning. + +She fell into an arm-chair and trembled violently. But it was not the +emperor who appeared as the door opened; it was the Baroness von +Salmour, governess to the archduchesses. + +"Baroness!" cried the empress, "it must be something of most imminent +importance that brings you hither. What is it?" + +"I come in the name of misfortune to ask of your majesty a favor," said +the baroness, earnestly. + +"Speak, then, and speak quickly." + +"Will your majesty grant an audience to my unhappy country-woman, the +Countess Wielopolska?" + +"The Countess Anna!" said the empress, with a shudder. Then, as if +ashamed of her agitation, she added, quickly. + +"Admit her. If the emperor comes, let him enter also." + +The baroness courtesied and withdrew, but she left the door open; and +now was seen advancing the tall and graceful figure of the countess. Her +face was pale as that of the dead. She still wore her black velvet +dress, and the long veil which fell around her person, hovered about her +like a dark, storm-heralding cloud. + +"She looks like the angel of death," murmured the empress. "It seems to +me that if those pale, transparent hands, which she folds over her +breast, were to unclasp, her icy breath would still the beatings of my +heart forever!" + +The countess glided in like a vision, and the door closed behind her. +The empress received her with an affable smile. + +"It is very long since I have seen you," said the proud Maria Theresa, +with an embarrassment to which her rank had hitherto made her a +stranger. + +"I was waiting to be summoned by your majesty," replied the countess. + +"And as I did not summon you, you came voluntarily. That was kind. I am +very glad to see you." + +The lady replied to these flattering words by an inclination of the +head, and a pause ensued. Each one seemed waiting for the other to +speak. As the empress perceived, after a while, that the lips of the +pale countess did not move, she resolved to break the irksome silence +herself. In her own frank way, scorning all circumlocution, she went at +once to the subject nearest their hearts. + +"I know why you are here to-day," said she, with a painful blush. "You +have heard of the fate which threatens Poland, and you have come to ask +if thus I fulfil the promises I made to you! Speak--is it not so? Have I +not rightly read the meaning of that lovely but joyless face?" + +"It is so," sighed the countess, and her voice trembled with unshed +tears. "Yes, from the solitude wherein I had buried my grief since last +I saw your majesty, I have heard the fatal tidings of my country's woe, +and yet I live! Oh, why should the body survive, when the soul is dead?" + +Her words died away upon her lips, and she seemed to grow paler and more +pale as though every drop of blood in her veins had stiffened and turned +to ice. But she heaved a sigh and rallied, for hope now touched her +heart, and the statue awoke to life. + +"Ah, great empress," said she, with fervor, "I come to you, in whose +powerful hand lies the issue of my country's fate, whose mighty word can +bid us live, or doom us to death." + +"Oh, were it so, you would not sue in vain!" cried the empress, +sorrowfully. "Had the fate of Poland lain in MY hands, she would have +risen triumphant from the arena, where she has battled so bravely for +her sacred rights!" + +"Poland's fate lies in your majesty's hand!" exclaimed the countess, +vehemently. "You have not yet signed the warrant for my country's +execution; you are still innocent of her blood; your hand is still free +from participation in the crime of her enemies and yours! Oh, let me +kiss that hand and bless it, while yet it is spotless and pure as your +noble heart." + +Hurried away by the might of the sorrow that overwhelmed her, the +countess darted forward, and throwing herself at the feet of the +empress, drew her hand fervently to her lips. + +"Rise, dear countess Anna, rise," said the empress, soothingly. "I cannot +bear to see you at my feet, when I can do nothing to avert the fate of +Poland." + +"Who, then, can help her, if not your majesty?" cried the countess. "Oh, +I did not come hither to reproach you; I came but to entreat you to +speak the word that will disenthrall my country!" + +"I cannot do it; as God hears me, I cannot," repeated Maria Theresa, in +a voice of anguish. "I have striven against it with all my might. What I +have suffered for your countrymen, no one will ever know! The anxious +days and wretched nights that I have spent for their sakes, have +threatened my life." [Footnote: The empress's own words. See Raumer, +"Contributions to Modern History," vol. iv., p. 539.] + +"I CANNOT!" echoed the countess, who seemed to have heard nothing but +these few words. "An empress!--an empress! who, with a wave of her hand, +sways millions of men, and is responsible for her actions to no earthly +power!" + +"Save that which resides in the claims of her subjects upon the +sovereign, who is bound to reign for their good. I am responsible to my +people for the preservation of peace. Too much blood has been shed since +I came to the throne; and nothing would induce me to be the cause that +the soil of Austria should be crimsoned by another drop." [Footnote: The +empress's own words. See Wolf, "Austria under Maria Theresa," p. 527.] + +"And to spare a drop of Austrian blood, your majesty will deal the blow +that murders a whole nation!" cried the countess, rising to her feet and +looking defiance at the empress. "In your egotism for Austria, you turn +from a noble nation who have as good a right to freedom as your own +people!" + +"Countess, you forget yourself. By what right do you reprove me?" + +"By the right which misfortune gives to truth," replied she, proudly, +"and by the right which your imperial word has given me to speak. For +now I recall to you that promise, and I ask where is the eagle that was +to swoop down upon the vultures which are preying upon Poland?" + +"Oh, they have caged the eagle," said the empress, sadly. "God in heaven +knows how manfully I have battled for Poland. When I threatened +interference, the answer was this: 'We have resolved to dismember +Poland, and you shall not prevent us.' What, then, could I do? Declare +war? That were to ruin my people. Remain passive, while my enemies +enlarged their frontiers, so as to endanger my own? We then had recourse +to stratagem. We defended our soil inch by inch, and gave up when +resistance became fanaticism. We required for our share more than we +desired, hoping to be refused. But no! To my sorrow and disappointment, +even more was apportioned than we had claimed. Oh! the whole thing has +been so repugnant to my sense of justice, that I refused to take any +share in its arrangements, and all the negotiations have been conducted +by the emperor, Prince Kaunitz and Marshal Lacy." [Footnote: This +discourse is historical. See Wolf, p. 825. Raumer, vol. iv., p. 540.] + +"And these are the ashes of the mighty promises of emperors and +empresses!" exclaimed the countess, bitterly. "Oh, empress, think of the +time when you shall appear before God, to give account of your deeds! +How will you answer, when the record of this day is brought before you? +For the last time I am at your feet. Oh, as you hope for mercy above, do +not sign the act that dismembers Poland!" + +She was again on her knees; her beautiful eyes drowned in tears, and her +hands clasped convulsively above her head. + +"Oh, my God!" exclaimed the empress, rising to her feet, "she does not +believe me." Then bending tenderly over the countess, she pressed her +hands between her own, and gently raised her to a seat. + +"Do you not see how deeply I suffer, when I have no spirit to chide your +hard words to me? It is because I comprehend your sorrow, poor child, +that I forgive your injustice. And now, to prove my sincerity," added +she, going to her escritoire and taking from it a letter, "read this! I +was about to send it to Prince Kaunitz when your visit caused me to +forget it. Read it aloud, that I may know whether you understand me at +last." + +The countess unfolded the letter and read: + +"When my own empire was threatened, and I knew not where to lay my head; +when the sorrows of childbirth were overtaking me, I threw myself upon +God and my just rights. But to-day, when humanity, justice, ay--reason +itself, cry aloud against our acts, I confess to you that my anxiety +transcends all that I have ever suffered in my life before. Tell me, +Prince Kaunitz, have you thought of the evil example we are giving to +the nations of earth, when, for the sake of a few acres of additional +territory, we cast away our reputation, our dignity, and our honor? + +"If I yield to-day, it is because I struggle alone, and no longer have +the vigor of mind to contend for right, as in years gone by I would have +done. I am overpowered, but I surrender with a bleeding heart." +[Footnote: This letter was written by Maria Theresa's own hand. See +Hormayer, "Pocket History of Our Native Land," 1831, p. 66.] + +The countess remained looking at the parer for a time, then she raised +her tearful eyes to the face of the empress. "I thank your majesty," +said she, deeply moved, "for allowing me to see this letter. It will +remain in history as a noble monument of Maria Theresa's rectitude. I +have no longer a word of blame for you; and once again, in love and +reverence, I kiss this hand, although I know that to-day it must sign +the death-warrant of unhappy Poland." + +She drew near, and raised the hand of the empress to her lips. But Maria +Theresa threw her arms around the countess, exclaiming: "To my heart, +dear, unhappy one! I cannot save Poland, but I can weep with her +loveliest and noblest daughter!" + +The countess, overcome by this unexpected tenderness, leaned upon the +bosom of the empress, and wept. Maria Theresa stroked her lustrous black +hair, and, as she kissed her marble cheek, the tears that had gathered +in her eyes, fell upon the head of the countess, where they glittered +like stars upon the darkness of the night. + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + +FINIS POLONIE. + +Neither saw the door open; but both heard a soft, melodious voice, +saying: "Pardon me, your majesty, I thought you were alone." + +The countess uttered a low cry, and trembled from head to foot. + +"Do not fear," said the empress, as she gently withdrew her arms, "it is +my son the emperor. We need not hide our tears from him, for he knows +that this is not the first time his mother has wept for Poland." + +The emperor said nothing; he stood staring at the pale and trembling +Anna. He, too, grew deathly pale as he looked, and now his trembling +limbs answered to the agitation that was overpowering her. Suddenly, as +though awaking from a painful dream, he approached, and offering his +hand, said: + +"I rejoice to see you. I have long sought you in vain." + +She did not appear to see him. Her arm hung listlessly at her side, +while her figure swayed to and fro like a storm-tossed lily. + +"I have not been in Vienna," answered she, in a voice scarcely audible. +"I had gone to bury my sorrow in solitude." + +"But her love for Poland brought her hither," said the empress, putting +her arm affectionately around the countess's waist. + +"I believe you," returned Joseph, bitterly. "The fate of Poland is the +only thing worthy of touching the Countess Wielopolska. She is not a +woman, she is a Pole--nothing more." + +One low wail struggled from the depths of her breaking heart, but she +spoke not a word. + +The emperor went on: "The Countess Wielopolska is not a woman. She is a +monad, representing patriotism; and he who cannot think as she does, is +a criminal unworthy of her regard." + +"You are cruel, my son," said the empress, deprecatingly. "If the +countess has been bitter in her reproaches to you, we must remember her +grief and her right to reproach us. We should be gentle with +misfortune--above all, when we can bring no relief." + +"Let him go on, your majesty," murmured the wretched Anna, while her +eyes were raised with a look of supreme agony upon the stern face of the +emperor. + +"Your majesty is right. I am nothing but a Pole, and I will die with my +fatherland. Your hands shall close our coffin-lids, for our fates will +not cost you a tear. The dear, noble empress has wept for us both, and +the remembrance of her sympathy and of your cruelty we will carry with +us to the grave." + +The emperor's eyes flashed angrily, and he was about to retort, but he +controlled himself and approached the empress. + +"Your majesty will pardon me if I interrupt your interesting +conversation, but state affairs are peremptory, and supersede all other +considerations. Your majesty has commanded my presence that I might sign +the act of partition. The courier, who is to convey the news to Berlin +and St. Petersburg, is ready to go. Allow me to ask if your majesty has +signed?" + +The countess, who understood perfectly that the emperor, in passing her +by, to treat with his mother of this dreadful act of partition, wished +to force her to retire, withdrew silently to the door. + +But the empress, hurt that her son should have been so unfeeling, went +forward, and led her back to her seat. + +"No, countess, stay. The emperor says that you represent Poland. Then +let him justify his acts to us both, and prove that what he has done is +right. I have suffered such anguish of mind over the partition of +Poland, that Joseph would lift a load from my heart, if he could show me +that it is inevitable. My son, you have come for my signature. Before +God, your mother, and Poland herself, justify our deed, and I will sign +the act." + +"Justify? There are many things which we may defend without being able +to justify them: and stern necessity often forces us to the use of +measures which conscience disapproves." + +"Prove to me, then, the necessity which has forced us to dismember a +country whose people have never injured us," said the empress, +authoritatively. + +"But whose disunion at home has become dangerous to their neighbors. +Poland lies like a sick man in our midst, whose dying breath infects the +land. When there is a fire in our neighborhood, we are sometimes obliged +to tear down the burning house lest the fire spread to our own." + +"Yes," interrupted the countess, "but you do not rob the neighbor of his +land. The soil belongs to him who owns the house." + +"But the Poles are not worthy to own their soil. What is Poland to-day? +A race of slaves and peasants, without law or order, driven hither and +thither by a lewd and corrupt aristocracy, who, instead of blushing for +the degeneracy of their caste, hold their saturnalia over the very +graves of their noble ancestors. And at the head of this degenerate +people is their king, the minion of a foreign court, who promulgates the +laws which he receives from his imperial Russian mistress. Verily, God +has weighed the Polish nation in His balance, and they have been found +wanting." + +"Enough!" faltered the countess, raising her hand in deprecation. "Why +will you vilify a people who are in the throes of death?" + +"No, it is not enough," said the emperor, sternly. "The empress says +that I must justify the acts of the three powers to Poland--that pale +and beautiful statue before me which lives--and yet is not a woman. I +say it again: a nation dies by its own corruption! Poland bears within +herself the seeds of her destruction. Her people have been false to +their antecedents, false to themselves, to their honor, and even to +their faith." [Footnote: Wolf. "Austria under Maria Theresa." p. 535.] + +"You accuse, but you bring no proofs!" exclaimed the countess, her eyes +now flashing with wounded pride. + +"It will not be difficult to collect my proofs," said the emperor, +sneering. "Look at what takes place in Poland, since your countrymen +have foreseen the fate of their fatherland. What are the Polish diet +doing since they anticipate the close of their sittings? Voting +themselves pensions, property, and every conceivable revenue, at the +expense of the republic, and giving her, with their own parricidal +hands, the coup de grace. Such shameless corruption has never come to +light in the history of any other nation. Freedom and fatherland are in +every mouth, but, in reality, no people care less for either than do the +Poles. Slaves, who, while they hold out their hands to be manacled, are +striving to reign over other slaves! [Footnote: Raumer, "Contributions," +Vol. iv., p. 551.] This is a picture of the Poland whom you love, and +through her own crimes she is dying." + +"It is not true!" cried the indignant countess. "She dies through the +covetousness and greed of her neighbors. It is they who have sown +dissension in Poland, while forcing upon her unhappy people a king who +is nothing but the despicable tool of their despicable intrigues." + +"All this has no reference to Austria," objected the emperor. "We had +nothing to do with the selection of the king--nothing to do with the +projects of dismemberment. They were resolved upon, with or without our +sanction, and the law of self-preservation demands that if we cannot +prevent, we must endeavor to profit by them. I know that the partition +of Poland has an appearance of gross outrage which is obvious to every +eye; while the stringent necessity which has driven Austria to +participate in it is known to few. I confess that I would be grieved if +the world should misjudge me on this question; for I try, both in public +and private life, to be an honest man; and I believe that honesty in +statesmanship is the wisest and soundest policy. [Footnote: The +emperor's own words. See Raumer, "Contributions," &c., Vol. iv., p. +539.] We could not do otherwise than we have done, and now, with the +full conviction of the exigency which has called for the act, I repeat +my question to your majesty, have you signed the act, or will you be so +kind as to sign it now?" + +The empress had listened with profound attention to her son's discourse, +and her countenance, which before had been pale with anxiety, had +assumed an expression of blended serenity and resolution. A pause +ensued. Marble-white and speechless the countess, with half-open mouth, +started and bent forward, her eyes fixed upon the empress; the emperor, +stern and proud, threw back his head and gazed defiantly. + +In the midst of this throbbing silence, Maria Theresa went forward and +took her seat at the escritoire. She dipped her pen in the silver +inkstand, and a sob, that sounded like the last death-sigh, escaped from +the lips of the countess. The empress turned quickly around; but the +glance of her eye was resolute and her hand was firm. + +She bent over the parchment and wrote; then, throwing her pen on the +floor, she turned to the emperor and pointed with her right hand to the +deed. "Placet," cried she, with her clear, ringing voice--"placet, since +so many great and wise men will have it so. When I am dead, the world +will learn what came of this violation of all that man holds sacred." +[Footnote: The empress's own words.] + +And either that she might conceal her own emotion, or avoid an outburst +of grief from the countess, the empress walked hastily through the room, +and shut herself up in her dressing-room. + +The countess moaned, and murmuring, "Finis Poloniae!" she, too, +attempted to cross the room. + +The emperor watched her, his eyes beaming with tenderness, his heart a +prey to violent anguish. As she reached the door, he saw her reel and +cling to a column for support. + +With one bound he reached her, and flinging his arms around her swaying +figure, she fell, almost unconscious, upon his bosom. For one +bewildering moment she lay there. + +"Finis Poloniae!" murmured she again, and, drawing herself up to her +full height, she again approached the door. + +"Farewell!" said she, softly. + +The emperor seized her hand. "Anna," said he, imploringly, "Anna, do we +part thus? Is this our last interview? Shall we never meet again?" + +She turned, and all the love that she had struggled to conquer was in +her eyes as they met his. "We shall meet once more," replied she. + +"When?" cried Joseph, frantic with grief. + +"When the hour has come for us to meet again, I will send for you. +Promise to be there to receive my last farewell." + +"I swear to be there." + +"Then, farewell." + +"Farewell, beloved Anna! Oh, let me touch your hand once more!" + +"No!" said she, harshly; and, opening the door, she disappeared, and the +emperor was left alone. + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + +THE MAD COUNTESS. + +Count Starhemberg paced his splendid drawing-room in a state of great +excitement. Sometimes he murmured broken sentences, then he sighed +heavily, and again he seemed to be a prey to fear. Occasionally, his +eyes glanced almost reproachfully toward the figure of a young man, who, +with folded arms and smiling countenance, stood in the embrasure of a +window watching the old man's agitation. + +As the clock on the marble mantel struck the hour, the count stopped +before his young visitor, and looked searchingly at his mild and +effeminate farce. + +"The half hour has elapsed, Count Esterhazy," said he, solemnly. "I have +told you frankly that my niece, although a beautiful and perchance a +good-hearted woman, has a temper which is the terror of my household. +She inherits this misfortune from her deceased father, and, unhappily, +her lovely and amiable mother did not long survive him. There has been +no one, therefore, to control her; and her terrible temper has never +been restrained. Do not say to me that I might have conquered it! I have +dedicated my whole life to her; and lest she should make another being +unhappy, I have remained a bachelor, as you perceive. But I had made a +solemn promise to her parents that I would be a father to her, and I +have kept my promise. It is not my fault if their child is less amiable +than other women. She has an energetic character, and I fear that if she +marries, she will find means to tyrannize over her husband. I repeat +this to you count, that we may clearly understand each other; and now +that the half hour has gone by, do you still urge your suit?" + +"Yes, count, I do," replied Esterhazy in a, soft, treble voice. "I +repeat to you the offer of my hand to the Countess Margaret +Starhemberg." + +The count bowed. "I have done my duty, and, being cleared of all +responsibility in the affair, I give my consent. You must now try to win +hers." + +"I would like to see the countess in your presence," said Esterhazy, +unmoved. + +Count Starhemberg rang the bell, and ordered a servant to bear a request +to his niece to join him in the drawing-room. + +"The countess would have the honor of joining her uncle immediately," +was the answer. + +"This promises well," said the old count, looking relieved. "She +generally practises her music at this hour; and I am surprised that--" + +Just then the sharp tones of an angry female voice were heard without, +then the jingling of glasses, then a crash, and the fall of some heavy +metallic body. + +"That is my niece," said the old man with a shiver. "With that fanfare +she usually announces her coming." + +Now the door was flung violently open, and a tall, magnificent woman +dashed into the room. Her features, marvellously chiselled as those of +the antique Venus, would have been irresistible in beauty, if their +expression had corresponded to their symmetry--But in her large black +eyes glared the fire of ungoverned passion, and her rosy mouth was +curled with contempt. + +Her tall figure was of exquisite proportions; and her arms, adorned but +not hidden by the lace which fell from the short sleeves of her crimson +velvet dress, were as fair and beautiful as those of the Venus of Milo. + +Count Esterhazy, intoxicated by the sight of her wondrous beauty, +withdrew abashed behind the window-curtain, while the countess, graceful +as an angry leopardess, bounded through the room, and stood before her +uncle. + +"Who has annoyed you, my child?" asked he timidly. + +"He is an idiot, an awkward animal, and shall be driven from the house +with the lash!" cried she. "Just imagine, uncle, that as I was coming +hither, I met him in the anteroom with a plateau of cups and glasses. +When he saw me, the fool fell to trembling as if he had seen an evil +spirit--the plateau shook; and my dear mother's last gift, the goblet +from which she had cooled her dying lips, fell to the floor and was +broken." + +Her voice, at first so loud and angry, was now soft and pathetic, and +her eyes glistened with tears. She shook them off impatiently. + +"I can well understand, dear child, how much it must have grieved you to +lose this precious relic," said her uncle, soothingly. + +She blushed as though she had been surprised in a fault. + +"Oh, it was not that," said she, pettishly, "it is all the same to me +whether the goblet was a relic or not, for I hate sentiment. But I +detest such an awkward fool. He never COULD carry any thing without +letting it fall." + +"Nay, my child, he has often carried you for hours in his arms, and yet +he never let you fall." + +"Uncle, your jests are insupportable," cried she, stamping with her +little satin-slippered foot upon the carpet. "You excuse this +gray-headed dunce merely to vex me, and to remind me that I am an orphan +without a home." + +"But my dear--" + +"Peace! I will not be interrupted. If I am tyrannized over in every +other way, I will at least claim the right to speak--I wish to say that +this old plague shall not remain here another day to torment my life +with his nonsense. This time, however, I made him feel the weight of my +hand. His face was as red as my dress after it." + +"You struck my faithful old Isidor?" cried the count, shocked. + +"Yes, I did," replied she, looking defiantly into her uncle's mild face. +"I beat him well, and then I threw the whole waiter of cups and glasses +upon the floor. Have you any fault to find with that, my sympathizing +uncle?" + +"None, none," said the old man. "If it gave you pleasure to break the +glasses, we will go out and buy others." + +"WE! No, indeed, we shall not. Isidor shall pay for them from his wages. +It was his fault that I was obliged to break them, and no one shall +suffer for it except himself. I claim that as an act of bare justice to +myself. " + +"But, my dear countess--" + +She stamped her foot again. "Great God! have you no object in life +except that of contradicting and ill-treating me?" + +The count sighed and approached the door. She heard him, and an exulting +smile lit up her beautiful, stormy face. + +"Well, as you will not tell him, I shall do it myself. Yes--I shall do +it myself. Do you hear, uncle? You shall not say a word to him." + +"I will say nothing, Margaret. Will you now allow me to speak of other +things? Is your vehemence--" + +"UNCLE!" + +"In your just displeasure, you have overlooked the fact that we are not +alone." + +He pointed to the window where, half hidden by the heavy silk drapery, +stood Count Frank Esterhazy. The countess followed her uncle's glance, +and as she became aware of the visitor's presence, burst into a merry +laugh. + +"Do not be frightened, young man," said she then; "you may come out from +your corner. I am not a cat, and I don't devour mice. Ah, you have heard +our discussion? What a pity you are not a dramatic poet, you have had +such an opportunity for depicting a foolish old guardian and his +spirited ward!" + +"Unfortunately, I am not a poet," said the young count, coming forward +and bowing to the floor. "If I were, I could write to-day a hundred +sonnets to the eyes of the majestic Hera whose anger heightens her +wonderful beauty." + +"Uncle," said the countess, suddenly assuming a stately and court-like +demeanor, "be so good as to present me this young stranger, who pays +such insipid compliments." + +"My dear niece, let me introduce Count Frank Esterhazy, a nobleman just +returned from Italy, who is in high favor with the empress." + +"The latter is no recommendation, uncle, for am I not also a favorite +with the empress? Have you not often told me so, when the empress was +humbling me with some of her tyrannical condescension?" + +"Certainly, my child, I have said so." + +"Then you see that it is not necessary to be estimable for one to gain +the empress's good-will. For my part, I wish she loved me less, for then +she would spare me some of the long sermons with which she edifies me, +when I happen to appear at court." + +"That, probably, is the reason you appear so seldom," said Count +Esterhazy. "I have heard your absence complained of." + +"By her majesty?" asked Count Starhemberg. + +"No, your excellency, by the emperor." + +"What did he say?" + +"Dare I repeat his words?" asked Esterhazy, appealing to the countess. +She bowed her head, and leaned against the back of an arm-chair. + +"I was yesterday at the empress's reception. The emperor was so kind as +to do the honors of the court to me. He pointed out the several beauties +of Vienna, who were all strangers to me--'But,' said he, 'the most +beautiful woman in Austria I cannot show you, for she is not here. The +Countess Margaret von Starhemberg has the beauty of Juno and Venus +united.'" + +The countess said nothing; she stood with downcast eyes. Her cheek had +paled, and her lips were firmly compressed together. Suddenly she +rallied and said, with a careless laugh + +"I wager that the empress and her ladies made some amiable commentary on +the emperor's words. Come, tell me, what said the empress?" + +"If you command me, countess, I will tell you. The empress added, with a +sigh, 'It is true, she is as beautiful as a goddess, but it is Eris whom +she resembles."' + +"Very witty!" exclaimed the countess, with a sneer. + +"And the emperor?" inquired the uncle. + +"The emperor frowned at the ladies, who began to laugh. 'Your majesty +may be right,' said he, 'but Grecian mythology has forgotten to say +whether the fierce goddess was ever vanquished by love. Love tames the +most turbulent of women."' + +The countess uttered a sharp cry, and caught with both her hands at the +back of the arm-chair. Her eyes closed, and a deadly paleness overspread +her countenance. Her uncle hastened to put his arm around her, inquiring +tenderly, "Dearest child, what ails you?" + +She leaned for a while upon his shoulder; then raising her head while +deep blushes crimsoned her cheeks, she said, haughtily: "It is nothing. +A sudden faintness to which I am subject." With an inclination of the +head to Count Esterhazy, she continued + +"You will be so good as not to mention this weakness of mine. It is +purely physical, and I hope to conquer it in time. I am rejoiced to +think that I have verified the words of the empress and have appeared +before you to-day as an Eris. I suppose you came hither to see me out of +curiosity." + +"No Countess Margaret, the purport of my visit was any thing but +curiosity. I come, with the sanction of your guardian, to offer you my +hand." + +The black eyes of the countess darted fire at the smiling suitor. + +"You do not answer me," said he blandly. "I say that I have won the +consent of your uncle, and respectfully solicit yours. It shall be the +study of my life to make you happy, and, perhaps, at some future day, my +untiring devotion may win a return of my love. Speak, then, countess; +say that you will be my wife." + +"Never, never!" cried she, stretching forth her arms as though to ward +away some threatening evil. "I shall never be the wife of any man. I was +not made for marriage, I cannot bow my will before that of any other +fellow-mortal." + +"I shall not require you to do so," replied the count, as though he had +now removed every objection. "You will be in my house as you are here, +absolute mistress of all things, and I shall claim nothing but the right +of being your humblest and most devoted servant." + +"Unhappily for you, you know not what you claim," exclaimed the countess +angrily. "Ask my uncle, ask his household, and they will tell you that I +am a tyrant, changing my will twenty times an hour; hating to-day the +thing I shall love to-morrow. You would aspire to be my husband, would +you? Have you no friends to warn you of the reefs upon which you are +running that poor little crazy bark of yours? Why the very people, as +they see me pass, tell of my frantic doings; and every child in Vienna +knows that I beat my servants, rage about my uncle's house like the foul +fiend, and dash through the streets on horseback like the Wild +Huntsman." + +"'Love tames the wildest hearts,' so says the emperor." + +Margaret started, and darted a fiery glance at his tranquil face. + +"But I do not love you, I tell you; and it is useless to say another +word on the subject." + +"Nay," said the count, taking her hand, "it is not useless. I beseech +you, do not deny my suit." + +At this moment the door opened, and a servant came in with a golden +tray, on which lay a letter. + +"From her majesty the empress," said the servant, handing it to Count +Starhemberg. The count took the letter and went into the embrasure of +the window, while the servant retired noiselessly. + +"Countess Margaret," said Count Esterhazy, in an imploring voice, "once +more I entreat you to accept me as your husband." + +She looked at him with withering contempt. "Have I not told you," cried +she, passionately, "that I do not love you? A man of honor ceases to +importune a woman after such an avowal." + +"A man of spirit never gives up; he perseveres, in the hope that sooner +or later, he will reach his goal. No man has the right to expect that he +will obtain a treasure without trouble." + +"Cant! miserable cant!" And the great glowing eyes that were looking +with such scorn at the alight figure of the count, encountered their own +image in the glass before which they both were standing. + +"Look!" cried she, pointing to the mirror, "yonder reflection gives its +answer to your suit. Do you see that tall woman, whose head towers above +the blond mannikin that stands beside her? Look at her black hair, her +fiery eyes, and resolute bearing! And now look at the little fair-haired +puppet, that resembles a man about as much as do the statuettes on my +toilet-table. Ah, sir count, if you were the woman and I the man there +might be marriage between us! But as it is, you would die of my +violence, or I of your insipidity. So, excuse me." + +She made a deep courtesy and turned to leave the room. But she felt a +touch upon her shoulder, and looking back, she saw her uncle gazing at +her with a face of great anxiety. + +"My child," said he, in a faltering voice, "do not send Count Esterhazy +so rudely away. He is rich, noble, and distinguished, and in every way +worthy of my lovely niece. Do not refuse him, Margaret." + +"The count has recovered from his stupid delusion, uncle; I have told +him how impossible it is for me to accept his hand." + +"But, my poor child, you must try to love him. You dare not reject his +offer." + +"What! _I_ dare not reject whom I please!" cried she, in a voice shrill +with passion. + +"No, you dare not. The empress commands you to accept the hand of Count +Esterhazy. Here is the note I have at this moment received from her +majesty." + +Margaret tore the paper savagely from her uncle's hand. With staring +eyes she read its contents, while her whole body trembled violently, and +her lips were bloody with the efforts she was making to suppress a +scream. + +At last she gave it back. "Read it," said she, hoarsely; "the letters +swim before my eyes." + +The count took the note and read: + +"Dear Count Starhemberg: It is my desire that your niece, the Countess +Margaret, shall become the wife of some honorable man. In this way she +may hope to conquer her ungovernable temper, and become a reasonable +woman. I have heard that Count Esterhazy intends to become her suitor, +and I command her to accept his hand. She has led a life of wild +independence, and it is time she were tamed by the cares, duties, and +responsibilities of matrimony. I am both her empress and godmother, and +I use my double right for her good. The marriage shall take place in one +week, or she goes into a convent. That is my ultimatum. "I remain yours +with sentiments of esteem, "MARIA THERESA." + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + +THE BETROTHAL. + +A long pause ensued after the reading of the letter. The countess stood +with her eyes riveted upon her uncle's face, as though she were waiting +for something more. The young count watched her furtively, but he looked +determined. + +"You see, my child," at last sighed the old count, "it is inevitable. +The empress must be obeyed." + +"No, no!" screamed the wretched girl, awaking from her stupor, "I will +not be the wife of that man." + +"Then you will have to go into a convent." + +"No!" cried she, her face suddenly lighting up with a flash of +hope--"no, I will do neither. There is a means of rescuing me from +both." + +She turned with a bewitching smile to Count Esterhazy, and in a voice +whose softness was music to his ear, she addressed him: + +"In your hands lies the power to rescue me from a forced bridal. You +have heard that despotic note from the empress. Match-making is a +monomania with Maria Theresa: it is useless, therefore, for me to appeal +to her, for on a question of marriage she is inexorable. But you, Count +Esterhazy," continued she, in tones of caressing melody, "you will +rescue me, will you not? I cannot be your wife, for I do not love you; I +cannot go into a convent, for I have no piety. Go, then, to the empress, +and tell her that you do not wish to marry me. You, at least, are free. +Refuse to accept me for your wife, and this miserable comedy is at an +end." + +She had clasped her little white hands, and was looking imploringly in +his face. + +The young man shook his head. "I cannot say this to the empress," said +he, quietly, "for it is she who sent me hither to woo you." + +"The empress sent you hither!" cried the countess, springing forward +like a lioness. "You came not as a free suitor, but as an obedient slave +of the empress." + +"I came at the command of the empress," said the young man, mildly. + +The countess burst into a loud laugh. + +"That, then, was the glowing love which you were describing just now; +that your tender wish to live for my happiness alone. Obedient +school-boy! You were told to come and ask for my hand, and you came--for +fear of being whipped--Oh! why am I not a man? By the heaven above! no +woman should inflict upon me such contumely!" + +"It is true," said Count Esterhazy, taking no note of her words, "that +the empress ordered me hither. But since I have seen you, I need no +prompting save that of my own heart." + +"Peace, fool! nobody believes you. You had consented to woo me, in +obedience to your despotic sovereign. But you have seen me; now you know +with how much justice I am called 'The Mad Countess,' and now, surely, +you have manhood enough to reject a termagant like me. Go, then, and +tell the empress that I was willing, but you were not--" + +"I would not thus belie you, lovely Margaret." + +"What do I care whether you belie me or not, so that I am rid of you?" +said she, contemptuously. + +"Submit, my dear child," said the old count, with tears in his eyes. +"'Tis the first time in your life that you have been thwarted, and +therefore it is hard for you to succumb." + +"I will not submit!" cried Margaret, flinging back her head. "I will not +marry this man. Uncle, dear uncle, leave me one moment with him. I have +something to say that he alone must hear." + +The count withdrew at once into another room. + +"Now, sir, that we are alone, I have a secret to reveal--to God and to +yourself. Swear by the memory of your mother that you will not betray +me." + +"I swear." + +She bowed her head, as though accepting the oath. "And now," raid she, +faltering and blushing, "I will tell you why I can never be your wife. +I--" she hesitated, and her head sank upon her bosom, while she stifled +a sigh. "I love another," whispered she, almost inarticulately. "Yes, I +love another. I love him with every throb of my heart, with all the +strength of my being. My every breath is a prayer for him. Every wish, +hope, and longing of my soul points to him alone. I would die to give +him one hour of joy. Now, that I have made this avowal, you retract your +suit, do you not? You will go now to the empress and say that you will +not accept me for your wife. You give me my freedom, surely--you give it +to me now." + +Count Esterhazy smiled compassionately. "This is a fable, countess, +which you have invented to escape me. A few moments ago you said that +you would never love." + +"I said that to disincline you to marry me." + +"I do not believe you," said Esterhazy, calmly. "You have invented this +story of your love for that end; but it is a falsehood, for you are as +cold as an icicle." + +"Oh, I wish that I were. For this love is my greatest misfortune. Look +at me, count. Does this seem like dissimulation?" + +And she raised up to his view a face, scarlet with blushes, and eyes +filled with burning tears. + +"No, countess," sail Esterbazy, after contemplating her earnestly, "I +will believe the tears that glisten in your speaking eyes. But now, +answer me one question. Your confidence gives me the right to ask it. Is +your love returned?" + +She remained silent, as if communing with herself, while every trace of +color vanished from her cheeks. + +"No," said she, at last, with quivering lips. "No, he does not know it; +and if he did, he could not offer me his hand." + +"Then," replied Esterhazy, coolly, "your love is no impediment to our +marriage. Cherish it, if you choose; raise altars to this unknown god, +and deck them with the brightest flowers of devotion. I will not inquire +the name of your deity. Your secret is safe, even from myself. I, on the +contrary, have never loved. My heart stands with doors and windows open, +ready to receive its mistress; and as the empress has selected you, it +waits joyfully for you to take possession." + +The countess laid her hand upon his arm, and grasped it like a vise. + +"You will not recede!" said she, hoarsely. "You still persist in +desiring me for your wife?" + +"You have told me that your love is hopeless, therefore is mine hopeful. +Perhaps one day it may succeed in winning yours." + +"But you do not love me," shrieked the maddened girl. "You are here by +command of the empress." + +"And the Esterhazys have always been the loyal servants of the empress. +Whenever she commands, they obey--were it at the cost of life and +happiness. Allow me, then, to persevere in my obedience, not only to her +desires, but to my own. I once more solicit the honor of your hand." + +"Woe to you if, after this, I yield!" cried she, with threatening +gesture. "I have stooped to entreat you, and my prayers have been vain. +I have withdrawn the womanly veil that concealed my heart's cherished +secret, and you have not renounced your unmanly suit. I said that I did +not love you. Look at me, and hear me, while I vow eternal hatred, +should I be forced to give you my hand." + +"There is but one step from hate to love. Allow me to hope that you will +think better of it, and take that step." + +A fearful cry rang from her lips, her eyes glowed like burning coals, +and she raised her clinched hand as though she had hoped it might fell +him to the earth. But suddenly it sank helpless to her side, and she +looked long and searchingly into Count Esterhazy's face. + +A long silence ensued. "It is well," said she, at length, in clear, +shrill tones. "You have challenged me to mortal combat, and it may be +that you will win. But, oh, believe me when I tell you that victory will +bring you no glory! Your strength is not your own; it lies in the +imperial hand of Maria Theresa. I swear to you that if I become your +wife, my whole life shall be consecrated to hatred and revenge. Count +Esterhazy, I hold my word inviolate, whether I pledge it to friend or +foe; tend when the blight shall fall upon your head that will grow out +of this hour we have spent together, remember that had you been a man of +honor you might have spared yourself the shame!" + +Without another word she lifted her proud head, and, with a look of +withering scorn, left the room. + +Count Esterhazy's eyes followed her retreating figure, and his placid +brow grew troubled. "Beautiful as she is," murmured he, "it is dangerous +to woo her. She has the beauty of Medusa. My heart positively seems to +petrify under her glance. I would be more than willing to renounce the +honor of wedding this beautiful demon, but I dare not refuse." + +And he drew out his delicate, embroidered handkerchief to wipe off the +big drops of sweat that stood upon his forehead. + +"Well?" asked Count Starhemberg, opening the door and putting through +his head. + +"Pray come in," said Esterhazy, in a piteous tone. + +"Ah, my niece has left! Well, I suppose that, as usual, she has +conquered, and you release her?" + +"Not at all," replied the unhappy mannikin; "I still beg for the honor +of her hand. The empress has spoken, and I have only to obey." + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI. + +FRANZ ANTONY MESMER. + +For some weeks great excitement had existed in Vienna. In all +assemblies, coffee-houses, and restaurants, in the streets and on the +public places, the topic of conversation had been the wonderful cures of +the Suabian physician, Mesmer. These cures contravened all past +experience, and set at naught all reason. Mesmer made no use of +decoction or electuary--he prescribed neither baths nor cataplasms; he +cured his patients by the power of his hand and the glance of his large, +dark eye. He breathed upon their foreheads, and forthwith they saw +visions of far-off lands; he passed the tips of his fingers over their +faces, and pain and suffering vanished at his touch. No wonder that +physicians denounced him as a charlatan, and apothecaries reviled him as +an impostor. + +No wonder that the populace, so prone to believe the marvellous, had +faith in Mesmer, and reverenced him as a saint. Why should he not +perform miracles with his hand, as did Moses with a rod, when he struck +the rock? Why should not the power of his eye master disease, as once +the glance of the Apostles gave speech to the dumb, and awakened life in +the dead? + +Mesmer, too, was an apostle--the apostle of a new faith. He bade +suffering humanity turn to heaven for relief. "The reflection from the +planets," said he, "and the rays of the sun, exercise over the human +system a magnetic power. The great remedy for disease lies in this +magnetic power, which resides in iron and steel, and which has its +highest and most mysterious development in man." + +The people believed, and sought his healing hand. He mastered their +infirmities, and soothed their sufferings. But the more the world +honored and trusted him, the more bitter grew the hatred of the faculty. +Each day brought him fresh blessings and fresh imprecations. The +physicians, who, in Salzburg, had hurled Paracelsus from a rock, dared +not attempt the life of Mesmer; but they persecuted him as an impostor, +and proved, by learned and scientific deduction, that his system was a +lying absurdity. + +Those who affected strength of mind, and refused to believe any thing +except that which could be demonstrated by process of reasoning, gave in +their adherence to the indignant physicians. Those, on the contrary, who +had faith in the mysteries of religion, were disciples of Mesmer; and +they reverenced him as a prophet sent from heaven, to prove the +supremacy of nature over knowledge. + +Mesmer's fame had reached the court, and the empress herself became +interested in his extraordinary achievements. In vain Van Swieten and +Stork besought her to silence the audacious quack, who was ruining a +great profession. She shook her head, and would have nothing to do with +the feud. + +"I shall wait and see," said she. "His system is harmless, and I shall +not fetter him. One thing is certain. His manipulations will never +poison anybody, as many a regular physician's prescription has done, and +he shall not be molested. He has voluntarily sought an ordeal which will +determine his position before the world. If he cures the blindness of my +little protege, Therese, I shall give in my adherence with the rest; for +he who restores the blind to sight, holds his skill from above." + +This young girl was known to all Vienna. In her second year, after an +attack of suppressed measles, she had become blind, and all attempts to +restore her sight had proved unavailing. But if sight had been denied to +her eyes, her soul was lit up by the inspiration of art. When Therese +sat before the harpsichord and her dexterous fingers wandered over its +keys--when, with undisturbed serenity, she executed the most difficult +music that could be written for the instrument, no one who saw her +beautiful eyes could have surmised their inutility. Her features were +expressive, and those sightless eyes apemed at times to brighten with +joy, or to grow dim with sorrow. Nevertheless, Therese von Paradies was +wholly blind; her eyes were merely the portals of her soul--they sent +forth light, but received none in return. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII. + +THERESE VON PARADIES. + +Therese von Paradies was in her room; her mother stood near, for, with +the assistance of a maid, she had just completed her daughter's toilet. +Therese was elegantly dressed, and she seemed to enjoy her splendor +although she was not permitted to see it. + +"Say, mother," said she, as the last touch had been given to her dress, +"of what material is my gown? It feels as soft as a young girl's cheek." + +"It is satin, my child." + +"Satin? And the color?" + +"White." + +"White!" repeated she, softly. "The color without color. How strange +that must be! I shudder when I think that I shall see it before long." + +"Why should you shudder?" said her mother, tenderly. "You should +rejoice, dear child, that the world, with all its beauties, is about to +become known to you." + +"I do not know," replied Therese, thoughtfully. "I shall enter upon a +new world which will astonish and perchance affright me by its +strangeness. Now I know you all in my heart, but when I see you I shall +no longer recognize you. Oh, mother, why do you wish me to be restored +to sight? I am very happy as I am." + +"Silly child, you will be still happier when you see. It is absurd for +you to dread an event which will add a hundredfold to your enjoyment of +life."' + +"And why absurd, dear mother? Does not the heart of the bride, on her +wedding-day, beat half in hope and half in fear? And is not her soul +filled with sweet apprehension? I am a bride--the bride of light--and I +await my lover to-day." + +"Ah, who knows if light will come?" sighed the mother. + +"It will come, mother," said Therese, confidently. "I felt it yesterday, +when, for a moment, Mesmer removed the bandage from my eyes. It was for +a second, but I SAW, and what I saw cut like a sharp sword athwart my +eyes, and I fell, almost unconscious." + +"That was a ray of light---the first glance of your bridegroom!" cried +the mother, joyfully. + +"Then I fear that I shall never be able to bear his presence," replied +Therese, sadly. "But tell me, mother, am I dressed as becomes a bride?" + +"Yes, Therese, you are beautifully dressed; for to-day we receive a +throng of distinguished guests. The empress herself has sent one of her +lords in waiting, to bear her the tidings of your restoration to sight. +The two great doctors, Van Swieten and Stork, will be here to see the +marvel; and princes and princesses, lords and ladies, ministers and +generals, will be around you." + +"How is my hair dressed?" + +"It is dressed as you like it, a la Matignon. Pepi has built a tower +upon your head at least three quarters of an ell high, and above that is +a blue rosette, with long ends." + +"It is indeed very high," replied Therese, laughing, "for I cannot reach +it with my hands. But I have another question to ask, dear mother. +Promise me that it shall be frankly answered." + +"I promise." + +"Well, then, tell me, is my appearance pleasing? Hitherto every one has +been kind to me because of my misfortune; but when I stand upon equal +footing with other women, do you think that I am pretty enough to give +pleasure to my friends?" + +"Yes, my dear, you are very handsome," said the mother, smiling +lovingly at her child's simplicity. "Your figure is graceful, your face +is oval, your features are regular, and your brow is high and +thoughtful. When the light of day shall be reflected from your large, +dark eyes, you will be a beautiful woman, my daughter." + +"Thank you, dear mother, these are pleasant tidings," said Therese, +kissing her. + +"I must leave you, dearest," said her mother, softly disengaging herself +from Therese's arms. "I have my own toilet to make, and some preparations +for our guests. I will send the maid." + +"No, dear mother, send no one. I need silence and solitude. I, too, have +preparations to make for the heavenly guest that visits me to-day. I +must strengthen my soul by prayer." + +She accompanied her mother to the door, kissed her again, and returning, +seated herself at the harpsichord. And now from its keys came forth +sounds of mirth and melancholy, of love and complaint, of prayers and +tear. At one time she intoned a hymn of joy; then came stealing over the +air a melody that brought tears to the eyes of the musician; then it +changed and swelled into a torrent of gushing harmony. + +Suddenly she paused, a tremor ran through her frame, and a blush slowly +mantled her cheek. Her hands fell, and her bosom heaved. As if drawn by +some invisible power, she rose from her instrument and went toward the +door. In the centre of the room she stopped and pressed her hands upon +her heart. + +"He comes," murmured she, with a smile of ecstasy, "he mounts the +staircase, now he is in the corridor, his hand is upon the door." + +Yes; the door opened so softly that the acutest ear could not have +detected a sound. But Therese felt it, and she would have gone forward, +but her feet were paralyzed, and she remained with outstretched arms. +With her heart she had seen him who now appeared upon the threshold. The +person, whose coming had so agitated the young girl, was a man of +scarcely forty years, of a lofty imposing carriage, and of prepossessing +features. His large, blue eyes rested upon Therese with a glance of +power, which thrilled through every fibre of her being. He held out his +right arm toward her; then slowly lowering it, he pointed to the floor. +Therese followed its motion and sank on her knees. A triumphant smile +beamed over Mesmer's face, and he raised his hand again. The girl arose, +and as though she had seen him open his arms, she darted forward and +laid her head upon his breast. + +"Mesmer, my friend, my physician," whispered she, softly. + +"Yes, it is I," replied Mesmer, in a rich, melodious voice. "Your heart +has seen me, your eyes shall see me too, my child." + +He led her to a sofa and seated her gently beside him. Then passing his +outstretched band before her, she trembled. + +"You are very much excited to-day, Therese," said he, with a slight tone +of disapprobation. + +"I am excited because you are so, dear friend," said the blind girl. +"Your eyes dart beams that threaten to consume the world." + +"A world of ignorance and of wickedness," said he, in reply. "Yes, +Therese, I will consume it to-day, and in its stead shall arise a +supernatural world; yet one to which banished Nature shall return and +claim her rights to man. Oh, will I have strength to say, 'Let there be +light!"' + +"Dear friend, if you doubt the result, do not expose yourself to the +humiliation of failure. I am satisfied with my blindness, for I have a +world of light in my heart." + +"No!" cried Mesmer, with energy, "the work is begun, it must be +completed. You MUST see, Therese, or all for which I have striven will +recoil upon my head, and bury me beneath its ruins. This day decides not +only your fate, poor child, but mine. To-day must Mesmer prove to the +world that the animal magnetism, which physicians deride as a quackery, +savans deny as impracticable, and the people ignorantly worship as +sorcery, is a golden link which binds humanity to heaven. To-day you +shall be healed by the magnetic power which binds you to me, and links +us both to God." + +"Heal me then, dear master!" cried the girl, inspired by his enthusiasm. +"Restore me to sight, and, in so doing, give light to those who cannot +see your Godlike gift." + +He laid his hand upon her shoulder, and gazed earnestly in her face. +"You have faith in me then, Theresa, have you not?" + +"I believe in you, and I comprehend you, master. I know that I shall +see; and when the scales fall from my eyes, the light of conviction will +dawn for others. They will then comprehend that there is a power in +Nature stronger than the craft of bare human wisdom." + +"Oh, you speak my very thoughts, dear Therese," said Mesmer, tenderly. +"You see into my mind, and its perceptions find birth upon your lips. +Let doctors sneer, and learned skeptics disbelieve, but the day will +come when all must acknowledge that magnetism is truth, and all human +wisdom lies. Physicians, though, will be its deadliest enemies, for they +are travellers, who, having strayed from the right path, go farther and +farther from truth, because they will not retrace their steps." +[Footnote: Mesmer's own words. See "Franz Anton Mesmer, of Suabia," by +Dr. Justinus Kerner. p. 58.] + +"But you will show them the path, my master, and the world will honor +you above other men." + +"If ingratitude do not blind it to truth. It is hard to find daylight in +the labyrinth of established faith. I, too, have wandered in this +labyrinth, but in all my divarications I sought for Truth. With +passionate longing I called her to my help. Far removed from the hum of +human imbecility, down among the solitudes of untrodden forests I sought +her. Here I was face to face with Nature, and listened for response to +the anxious questionings of my restless heart. It was well for me that +the trees were the only witnesses of my agitation, for my fellow-men, +had they met, would have chained me as a madman." + +"Not I, master. I would have understood your noble strife." + +Mesmer pressed her hand and went on: "Every occupation became +distasteful to me, every moment dedicated to aught else seemed to be +treason to truth. I regretted the time which it cost me to translate my +thoughts into words, and I formed the singular resolution of keeping +silence. For three months I reflected without speaking a word. At the +end of this time a new faculty unfolded itself in my mind, and I began +to see with rapture that the day of truth had dawned. I knew that +henceforth my life would be one long struggle against preconceived +error; but this did not affright me. So much the more did I feel the +obligation resting upon me to impart to my fellow-beings the gifts I had +received. I have suffered much from their prejudices; but most from the +sneers of envious physicians, who, sooner than receive a light from +other hands, would stumble in the night of their ignorance forever. +[Footnote: This whole conversation is in Mesmer's words. See Justinus +Kerner, p. 60.] But my day of triumph is here. You, Therese, are the +evangelist of my new faith, and your restored vision shall announce it +to the world!" + +"It shall, dear master, it shall; and against their will these infidels +shall believe. They will see that we have all been blind together--all +but you, who, questioning in faith, have received your answer from on +high. Take the bandage from my eyes and let me see the light of day! I +tremble no longer with apprehension of its splendor!" + +Mesmer held her back as she raised her hands to her head. "Not yet, +Therese. Your bandage must be removed in the presence of my enemies." + +"Whom do you expect, master?" + +"I have told you--I expect my enemies. Professor Barth will be there to +sneer at the charlatan who, by an invisible power, has healed the malady +which his couching knife would have sought in vain to remove. Doctor +Ingenhaus, my bitter rival, will be there, to find out by what infernal +magic the charlatan has cured hundreds of patients pronounced by him +incurable. Father Hell will be there, to see if the presence of a great +astronomer will not affright the charlatan. Oh, yes!--And others will be +there--none seeking knowledge, but all hoping to see me discomfited." + +"Do not call yourself so often by that unworthy name," said Therese +sorrowfully. + +"Men call me so; I may as well accept the title." + +"Perhaps they have called you so in days gone by; but from this day they +will call you 'Master,' and will crave your pardon for the obloquy they +have heaped upon your noble head." + +"How little you know of the world, Therese! It never pardons those who +convict it of error; and above all other hatred is the hatred that +mankind feel for their benefactors." + +"Gracious Heaven, master, if this is the world which is to open to my +view, in mercy leave me to my blindness!" + +She stopped suddenly, and sank back upon the cushion of the sofa. Mesmer +raised his hands and passed them before her forehead. + +"You are too much excited. Sleep!" + +"No, no, I do not wish to sleep," murmured she. + +"I command you to sleep," repeated Mesmer. + +Therese heaved a sigh; her head fell farther back, and her audible, +regular breathing soon proved that sleep had come at the bidding of her +master. + +Mesmer bent over her, and began his manipulations. He approached her +lips, and opening her mouth, breathed into it. She smiled a happy smile. +He then raised his hands and touching the crown of her head described +half-circles in the air; then stooping over her, he again inhaled her +breath, and breathed his own into her mouth. + +The door opened, and the mother of Therese came in. + +"The guests are here," said she. + +Mesmer inclined his head. "We are ready." + +"Ready and Therese sleeps so soundly?" + +"I will awake her when it is time. Where is my harmonicon?" + +"In the parlor, where you ordered it to be placed." + +"Let us go, then, and thence we will call Therese. " + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII. + +THE FIRST DAY OF LIGHT. + +The elite of Vienna were assembled in the drawing-room of Herr von +Paradies. The aristocratic, the scientific, and the artistic world were +represented; and the empress, as before intimated, had sent her +messenger to take notes of the extraordinary experiment which was that +day to be tried upon the person of her young pensioner. At the request +of Mesmer, some of the lower classes were there also, for it was his +desire that the cottage as well as the palace should bear testimony to +the triumph of animal magnetism over the prejudices of conventional +science. + +By order of Mesmer, the room had been darkened, and heavy green curtains +hung before every window. Seats were arranged around the room, in the +centre of which was a space occupied by a couch, some chairs, and a +table on which lay a box. + +Upon this box the eyes of the spectators were riveted; and Professor +Barth himself, in spite of his arrogant bearing, felt quite as much +curiosity as his neighbors, to see its contents. + +"You will see, Herr Kollege," said he to one who sat beside him, "you +will see that he merely wishes to collect this brilliant assemblage in +order to perform an operation in their presence, and so make a name for +himself. This box of course contains the instruments. Wait and watch for +the lancet that first or last is sure to make its appearance." + +"What will be the use of his lancet," replied Herr Kollege, "when there +is nothing upon which it can operate? The girl is irretrievably blind; +for neither knife nor lancet can restore life to the deadened optical +nerve." + +"If he attempts to use the lancet in MY presence," said the professor in +a threatening tone, "I will prevent him. I shall watch him closely, and +woe to the impostor if I surprise him at a trick!" + +"The box does not contain surgical instruments," whispered the +astronomer Hell. "I know what he has in there." + +"What?" asked the others eagerly. + +"A planet, my friends. You know be is given to meddling with planets. I +hope it is one unknown to science; for if he has carried off any of MY +stars, I shall have him arrested for robbery." + +This sally caused much laughter, which was interrupted by the entrance +of Mesmer with Frau von Paradies. Without seeming to observe the +spectators who now thronged the room, Mesmer advanced to the table where +lay the box. His face was pale, but perfectly resolute; and as his eyes +were raised to meet those of the guests, each one felt that whatever +might be the result, in the soul of the operator there was neither doubt +nor fear. + +Mesmer opened the box. A breathless silence greeted this act. Every +whisper was hushed, every straining glance was fixed upon that +mysterious coffer. He seated himself before it, and Professor Barth +whispered, "Now he is about to take out his instruments." + +But he was interrupted by the sound of music--music so exquisite that +the heart of the learned professor himself responded to its pathos. It +swelled and swelled until it penetrated the room and filled all space +with its thrilling notes. All present felt its power, and every eye was +fixed upon the enchanter, who was swaying a multitude as though their +emotions had been his slaves, and his music the voice that bade them +live or die. + +"Ah!" whispered the astronomer, "you made a mistake of a part of speech. +The man has not instruments, but AN instrument." + +"True," replied the professor, "and your planet turns out to be an +insignificant harmonicon." + +"And the lancet," added Inaenhaus, "is a cork, with a whale-bone +handle." + +Mesmer played on, and now his music seemed an entreaty to some invisible +spirit to appear and reveal itself to mortal eyes. At least, so it +sounded to the ears of his listeners. They started--for responsive to +the call, a tall white figure, whose feet seemed scarcely to touch the +floor, glided in and stood for a moment irresolute. Mesmer raised his +hand and stretching it out toward her, she moved. Still he played on, +and nearer and nearer she came, while the music grew louder and more +irresistible in its pleadings. + +A movement was perceptible among the spectators. Several ladies had +fainted; their nerves had given way before the might of that wonderful +music.[Footnote: It frequently happened that not only women, but men +also, fainted, when Mesmer played on the glass-harmonicon. Justinus +Kerner, p. 41.] But no one felt disposed to move to assist them, for all +were absorbed by the spell, and each one gazed in speechless expectation +upon Mesmer and Therese. + +He still played on, but he threw up his head, and his large eyes were +directed toward his patient with a look of authority. She felt the +glance and trembled. Then she hastened her steps, and smilingly advanced +until she stood close beside the table. He pointed to the couch, and she +immediately turned toward it and sat down. + +"This is well gotten up," said Professor Barth. "The scene must have +been rehearsed more than once." + +"If the blind are to be restored to sight by harmonicons," whispered +Doctor Ingenhaus, "I shall throw my books to the winds, and become an +itinerant musician." + +"If planets are to be brought down by a wave of the hand," said Hell, "I +will break all my telescopes, and offer my services to Mesmer as an +amanuensis." + +The harmonicon ceased, and the censorious professors were forced to stop +their cavilling. + +Mesmer arose, and, approaching Therese, made a few passes above her +head. + +"My eyes burn as if they were pierced with red-hot daggers," said she, +with an expression of great suffering. + +He now directed the tips of his fingers toward her eyes, and touched the +bandage. + +"Remove the bandage, and see!" cried he in a loud voice. + +Therese tore it off, and pale as death she gazed with wonder at the +"Master," who stood directly in front of her. Pointing to him, she said +with an expression of fear and dislike: + +"Is that a man which stands before me?" [Footnote: Therese's own words. +Justinus Kerner, p. 63.] + +Mesmer bowed his head. Therese started back, exclaiming, "It is fearful! +But where is Mesmer? Show me Mesmer!" + +"I am he," said Mesmer, approaching her. + +She drew back and looked at him with a scrutinizing expression. + +"I had supposed that the human face was radiant with joy," said she, +"but this one looks like incarnate woe. Are all mankind sad? Where is my +mother?" + +Frau von Paradies was awaiting her daughter's call; she now came +forward, her face beaming with love and joy. But Therese, instead of +meeting her with equal fervor, shrank, and covered her face with her +hands. + +"Therese, my daughter, look upon me," said the mother. + +"It is her voice," cried Therese, joyfully, removing her hands. Frau von +Paradies stood by, smiling. + +"Is this my mother?" continued she, looking up into her face. "Yes--it +must be so; those tearful eyes are full of love. Oh, mother, come +nearer, and let me look into those loving eyes!" + +Her mother leaned over her, but again Therese recoiled. "What a frightful +thing!" said she, with a look of fear. + +"What, Therese? What is frightful?" asked her mother. + +"Look at your mother, Therese," said Mesmer. She heard the well-beloved +voice, and her hands fell from her eyes. + +"Now tell me, what disturbs you," said Frau von Paradies. + +Therese raised her hand and pointed to her mother's nose. "It is that," +said she. "What is it?" + +"It is my nose!" exclaimed her mother, laughing, and her laugh was +echoed throughout the room. + +"This nose on the human face is horrible," said Therese. "It threatens +me as though it would stab my eyes." [Footnote: These are the exact +words of Therese. Justinus Kerner, p 68.] + +"I will show you the figure of a man who threatens," said Mesmer, +assuming an angry air, clinching his fists, and advancing a few paces. + +Therese fell upon her knees with a cry. "You will kill me!" exclaimed +she, cowering to the floor. + +The spectators were thunderstruck. Even Professor Barth yielded to the +overwhelming evidence of his senses. + +"By Heaven, it is no deception!" exclaimed he. "She sees!" + +"Since Professor Barth is convinced, no one will dare dispute the fact," +observed Mesmer, loud enough to be overheard by the professor. + +Barth frowned, and pretended not to hear. He already repented of what he +had said, and would have bought back his own words with a handful of +ducats. But it was too late. Every one had heard him, and on every side +murmurs of astonishment and of admiration grew into distinct applause. + +Meanwhile, Therese was greeting her father and her other relatives. But +she, who had always been so affectionate, was now embarrassed and cold. + +"I knew it," said she, sadly. "I knew that the gift of sight would not +increase my happiness. Imagination had drawn your images, and I loved +the pictures she had painted. But now that I see you with the eyes of +flesh, my heart recoils from participation in the sad secrets which your +careworn faces reveal. Ah, I believe that love, in its highest sense, is +known to the blind alone! But where is Bello? Let me see my dog, the +faithful companion of my days of dependence." + +Bello had been whining at the door, and as Frau von Paradies opened it, +he bounded to his mistress, caressing her with his paws, and licking her +hands. + +Therese bent over him, and the dog raised his eyes to hers. She stroked +his glossy, black coat and; for the first time since she had recovered +her sight, she smiled. + +"This dog is more pleasing to me than man," said she, communing with +herself. "There is truth in his eyes, and his face does not terrify me, +like those of my own race." [Footnote: Therese's own words. Justinus +Kerner, p. 63.] + +"I think we may take our leave," growled Professor Barth, "the comedy is +over, and the relations and friends can applaud the author and the +actress. I don't feel it my duty to remain for that purpose." + +"Nor I," added Doctor Ingenhaus, as he prepared to accompany the +professor. "My head is in a whirl with the antics of this devilish +doctor." + +"Take me with you," said Father Hell. "I must go and look after my +planets. I'm afraid we shall miss another Pleiad." + +So saying, the representatives of science took their leave. At the door +they met Count von Langermann, the messenger of the empress. + +"Ah, gentlemen," said he, "you are hastening from this enchanted spot to +announce its wonders to the world. No one will venture to doubt, when +such learned professors have seen and believed. I myself am on my way to +apprise the empress of Mesmer's success." + +"Pray inform the empress, also, that we have seen an admirable comedy, +count," said Barth, with a sneer. + +"A comedy!" echoed the count. "It is a marvellous reality. Yourself +confessed it, professor." + +"A careless word, prematurely uttered, is not to be accepted as +evidence," growled Barth. + +"Such astounding things demand time for consideration. They may be +optical delusions," added Ingenhaus. + +"Ah, gentlemen, the fact is a stubborn one," laughed Count Langermann. +"Therese von Paradies has recovered her sight without couching-knife or +lancet, and I shall certainly convey the news of the miracle to the +empress." + +"What shall we do?" asked the astronomer of his compeers, as Count +Langermann bowed and left them. + +Professor Barth answered nothing. + +"We must devise something to prop up science, or she will fall upon our +heads and crush us to death," said Ingenhaus. + +"What are we to do?" repeated Barth, slowly, as after an embarrassing +silence, the three had walked some distance together down the street. "I +will tell you what we must do. Treat the whole thing as a farce, and +maintain, in the face of all opposition, that Therese von Paradies is +still blind." + +"But, my honored friend, unhappily for us all, you have made this +impracticable by your awkward enthusiasm." + +"I spoke ironically, and the ass mistook sarcasm for conviction." + +"Yes, and so did everybody else." sighed Hell. "You will find it +difficult to convince the world that you were not in earnest." + +"Perhaps today and tomorrow I may fail to convince the world, but the +day after it will begin to reason and to doubt. If we do not oppose this +quack with a strong phalanx of learned men, we shall be sneered at for +our previous incredulity. Now I adhere to my text. Therese von Paradies +is blind, and no one shall prove to me that she can see. Come to my +study, and let us talk this provoking matter over." + +Meanwhile, Therese was receiving the congratulations of her friends. She +gazed at their unknown faces with a melancholy smile, and frowned when +it was said to her, "This is the friend whom you love so much"--"This is +the relative whose society has always been so agreeable to you." + +Then she closed her eyes, and said they were weary. "Let me hear your +voices, and so accustom myself to your strange countenances," said she. +"Speak, dear friends; I would rather know you with the heart than with +these deceiving eyes." + +Suddenly, as one of her female companions came up to greet her, Therese +burst into a merry laugh. "What absurd thing is that growing out of your +head?" asked she. + +"Why, that is the coiffure, which you like the best," replied her +mother. "It is a coiffure a la Matignon." + +Therese raised her hands to her own head. "True, the very same towering +absurdity. I never will wear it again, mother." + +"It is very fashionable, and you will become accustomed to it." + +"No, I shall never be reconciled to such a caricature. Now that I can +choose for myself, I shall attend less to fashion than to fitness in my +dress. But I have seen mankind--let me see nature and heaven. Mesmer, +may I look upon the skies?" + +"Come, my child, and we will try if your eyes can bear the full light of +day," replied Mesmer, fondly, and taking her arm he led her toward the +window. + +But Therese, usually so firm in her tread, took short, uncertain steps, +and seemed afraid to advance. + +"Gracious Heaven!" exclaimed she, clinging anxiously to Mesmer, "see how +the windows come toward us! We shall be crushed to death!" + +"No, Therese; it is we who advance, not they. You will soon acquire a +practical knowledge of the laws of optics, and learn to calculate +distances and sizes as well as the rest of us." + +"But what is this?" cried she, as they approached the tall mirror that +was placed between the windows. + +"That is a mirror." + +"And who is that man who is so like yourself?" + +"That is only the reflection of my person in the mirror." + +"And who is that ridiculous being with the coiffure a la Matignon?" + +"That is yourself." + +"I!" exclaimed she, quickly advancing to the mirror. But suddenly she +retreated in alarm. "Gracious Heaven! it comes so fast that it will +throw me down. "Then she stopped for a moment and laughed. "See," said +she, "the girl is as cowardly as myself. The farther I step back the +farther she retreats also." + +"All this is an optical delusion, Therese. The girl is nothing but a +reflection, a picture of yourself in the mirror." + +"True, I forgot. You told me that just now," replied Therese, drawing +her hand wearily across her forehead. "Well, let me contemplate myself. +This, then, is my likeness," said she, musing. "My mother was mistaken. +This face is not handsome. It is weary and soulless. Come, master, I +have enough of it--let me see the heavens." + +"Wait until I draw the curtain to see whether you are able to bear the +full light of day." + +The curtain was lifted, and Therese, giving a scream, hid her eyes. + +"Oh, it cuts like the point of a dagger!" cried she. + +"I thought so; you will have to become gradually accustomed to it. You +shall see the sky this evening. But now you must suffer me to bind up +your eyes, for they must have rest." [Footnote: The description of +Therese's impressions, and the words she used upon the recovery of her +sight, are not imaginary. They are all cited by Justinus Kerner, and +were related to him by her own father.] + + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. + +DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY. + +The Emperor Joseph was in his cabinet, engaged in looking over the +letters and documents of the day, when a page announced his highness +Prince Kaunitz. Joseph waved his hand in token of consent, and when the +prince appeared at the door, rose to meet him as he entered the room. + +"It must be business of state that brings your highness to my study at +this early hour," said the emperor. + +"It is indeed, sire," said Kaunitz, taking the chair which Joseph +himself had just placed for him. + +"And it must be a day of rejoicing with you, prince, for I see that you +wear every order with which you have been decorated by every court in +Europe. What does this display signify?" + +"It signifies, sire, that the day has come, which I have awaited for +twenty years, the day for which I have schemed and toiled, and which for +me shall be the proudest day of my life. I go out to battle, and if I am +to be victorious, your majesty must come to my assistance." + +"Is it a duel with the empress, in which I am to be your second? I thank +you for the honor, but you know that I have no influence with my lady +mother. I am an emperor without a sceptre. But tell me Kaunitz, what is +the cause of the trouble?" + +"You know it, sire, and I have come to prove to you that I am a man of +my word, and keep my promises." + +"I do not remember that you ever promised me any thing." + +"But I do. I remember a day on which my young emperor came to me to +complain of a wrong which had been inflicted upon him at court." + +"Marianne!" exclaimed the emperor, with a sigh. "Yes, yes, the day on +which I lost sight of her forever." + +"Yes, sire. The emperor, worthy of his high vocation, relinquished the +girl who had found favor in his eyes, and for this sacrifice I promised +him my loyal friendship. Three objects formed the ties that bound us +together on that day. Does your majesty remember?" + +"Yes. You promised to place Austria at the head of European affairs; you +have done so. You promised indemnity for Silesia; we have it in our +recent acquisitions in Poland." + +"I promised also to crush the priesthood, and to ruin the Jesuits," +cried Kaunitz, exultingly, "and I am here to fulfil my promise. The hour +has come; for I am on my way to obtain the consent of the empress to the +banishment of the Jesuits from Austria." + +"You never will obtain it. Attachment to the Order of Jesus is an +inheritance with the house of Hapsburg; and my mother styles me a +degenerate son because I do not participate in the feeling." + +"We will find means to alienate the empress," said Kaunitz, quietly. + +"I hope so, but I doubt it. Tell me what I am to do, and I am ready to +make another charge against them." + +Prince Kaunitz opened his pocket-book, and took thence a letter which he +handed to the emperor. + +"Will your majesty have the goodness to hand this to the empress? It is +a letter from Carlos III., in which he earnestly requests his +illustrious kinswoman to give protection no longer to the Jesuits, whom +he has driven from Spain." + +"Indeed?" said the emperor, smiling. "If that is all, the Spanish +ambassador might have delivered it quite as well as I." + +"No, sire, that is not all. It was the King of Spain's request that your +majesty should deliver the letter, and sustain it by every argument +which your well-known enmity to the Jesuits might suggest." + +"I am more than willing to undertake it; but to-day, as ever, my +representations to the empress will be vain." + +"Do your best, sire, and I will come to your relief with a reserved +force, which will do good service. Only allow me to request that you +will not quit the empress until the reserve comes up." + +"Then the parts we are to play are distributed and learned by heart?" + +"Just so; and Heaven be propitious, that the scenery may work well, and +the actors may know their cue!" + +"We have accomplices, then?" + +"I shall be accompanied by the papal nuncio, and if your majesty permits +me, I will go for him at once. In half an hour I shall come to the +rescue." + +"Go, then, and I fly to the empress," cried Joseph, with exultation. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV. + +DOMINUS AC REDEMPTOR NOSTER. + +True to their agreement, the emperor sought an interview with his +mother. Not enjoying, like her prime minister, the privilege of entering +the empress's presence without formal leave, Joseph was always obliged +to wait in her anteroom until the chamberlain returned with her +majesty's answer. To-day the empress was propitious, and gave word for +her son to be admitted to her private cabinet at once. That he might +enter promptly upon the object of his visit, the emperor opened the +interview by handing the letter of the King of Spain, and requesting her +majesty to read it in his presence. + +The empress, surprised at the urgency of the demand, sat before her +escritoire and read the missive of her royal relative; while her son, +with folded arms, stood near a window, and scrutinized her countenance. + +He saw how gradually her expression lowered, until heavy folds +corrugated her brow, and deep heavings agitated her chest. + +"Those are the sea-gulls that announce the coming storm," said he, to +himself. "I must be on my guard lest I be engulfed in the foaming +waves." + +As if she had guessed his thoughts, Maria Theresa raised her eyes from +the letter, and darted a look of displeasure at her son. + +"Is the emperor aware of the contents of this letter?" asked she. + +"I believe so, your majesty," replied he, coming forward and bowing. "It +is an urgent request on the part of the King of Spain to have the +Jesuits removed from Austria." + +"Nothing less," cried the empress, indignantly. "He expects me to assume +all his enmity toward the Jesuits, and urges it in a most unseemly +manner. Doubtless, he requested your majesty to present his letter in +person, because it is well known, that in this, as in all other things, +your opinions are at variance with those of your mother. I presume this +is a new tilt against my predilections, like that in which you overthrew +me but a few weeks since, when I signed the act that ruined Poland. +Speak out. Are you not here to sustain the King of Spain?" + +"I am, your majesty," cried Joseph, reddening. "I would do as the King +of Spain has done. I would importune you until the power of the Jesuits +is crushed in Austria, as it has been crushed in France and in Spain." + +"You will not succeed!" cried the empress, trying to control her rising +anger. "I make no protest against the action of the kings of France, +Spain, or Portugal, for I presume that they have decided according to +their convictions; but in Austria the Jesuits deserve all praise for +their enlightened piety, and their existence is so essential to the +well-being of the people, that I shall sustain and protect them as long +as I live." [Footnote: Peter Philip Wolf, "General History of the +Jesuits," vol. iv., p. 53.] + +"Then," cried Joseph, passionately, "Austria is lost. If I were capable +of hate, I should hate these Jesuits, who, propagating the senile +vagaries of an old Spanish dotard, have sought to govern the souls of +men, and have striven for nothing on earth or in heaven save the +extension of their own influence and authority." + +"It appears to me that my son has no reason to lament the softness of +his own heart," replied Maria Theresa, bitterly. "If he were absolute +sovereign here, the Jesuits would be exiled to-morrow; and the King of +Prussia, for whom he entertains such unbounded admiration, would be the +first one to offer them shelter. I will answer your vituperation, my +son, by reading to you a letter written by Frederick to his agent in +Rome. It relates to the rumor now afloat that the pope is about to +disperse the holy brotherhood. I have just received a copy of it from +Italy, and it rejoices me to be able to lay it before you. Hear your +demi-god." + +The empress took a paper from her escritoire, and unfolding it, read +aloud: + +"Announce distinctly, but without bravado, that as regards the Jesuits, +I am resolved to uphold them for the future, as I have done hitherto. +Seek a fitting opportunity to communicate my sentiments on the subject +to the pope. I have guaranteed free exercise of religion to my subjects +in Silesia. I have never known a priesthood worthier of esteem than the +Jesuits. Add to this, that as I am an infidel, the pope cannot dispense +me from the obligation of performing my duty as an honorable man and an +upright sovereign. "FREDERICK." [Footnote: Peter Philip Wolf, "General +History of the Jesuits," vol. iv., p. 53.] + +"Well," asked the empress, as she folded the letter, "shall the infidel +shame the Christian? Would you seriously ask of me to be less clement to +the priesthood than a Protestant prince? Never, never shall it be said +that Maria Theresa was ungrateful to the noble brotherhood who are the +bulwarks of order and of legitimate authority." + +Joseph was about to snake an angry retort, when the door opened and a +page announced, with great formality: + +"His highness Prince Kaunitz, and his eminence the papal nuncio, +Monsignore Garampi." + +The two ministers followed close upon the announcement, and the nuncio +was received by the empress with a beaming smile. + +"I am curious to know what has brought Prince Kaunitz and the papal +nuncio together," said she. "It is unusual to see the prime minister of +Austria in the company of churchmen. It must, therefore, be something +significant which has united church and state to-day." + +"Your majesty is right," replied Kaunitz, "the visit of the nuncio is so +significant for Austria, that the visit of your majesty's minister in +his company was imperative." + +"Your eminence comes to speak of state affairs?" inquired the empress, +surprised. + +The nuncio drew from his robe a parchment to which was affixed a ribbon +with the papal seal. + +"His holiness instructed me to read this document to your apostolic +majesty," said Monsignore Garampi, with a respectful inclination of the +head. "Will your majesty allow me?" + +"Certainly," said the empress, leaning forward to listen. + +The nuncio then unfolded the parchment, and amid the breathless +attention of all present, read the celebrated document, which in history +bears the name of its first words "Dominus ac Redemptor Noster." This +letter stated that in all ages the pope had claimed the right to found +religious orders or to abolish them. It cited Gregory, who had abolished +the order of the Mendicant Friars; and Clement V., who had suppressed +that of the Templars. It then referred to the Society of the Brotherhood +of Jesus. It stated that this society had hitherto been sustained and +fostered by the papal see, on acccount of its signal usefulness and the +eminent piety of its members. But of late, the brotherhood had +manifested a spirit of contentiousness amongst themselves, as well as +toward other orders, organizations, and universities; and had thereby +fallen under the displeasure of the princes from whom they had received +encouragement and protection. + +When the nuncio had read thus far, he paused and raised his eyes to the +face of the empress. It was very pale and agitated, while the +countenance of the emperor, on the contrary, was flushed with triumph. +Joseph tried to meet the glance of Prince Kaunitz's eye, but it was +blank as ever; sometimes fixed vacantly upon the nuncio, and then +turning with cold indifference toward the speaking countenances of the +devoted friend and inveterate enemy of the Order of Jesus. + +"Go on, your eminence," at length faltered the empress. + +The nuncio bowed and continued in an audible voice: "Seeing that between +the Holy See and the kings of France, Spain, Portugal, and the Sicilies, +misunderstandings have arisen which are attributable to the influence +of the Order of Jesus; seeing that the society at this present time has +ceased to bear the rich fruits of its past usefulness; the pope, after +conscientious deliberation, has resolved, in the fulness of his +apostolic right, to suppress the brotherhood." + +A loud cry burst from the lips of the empress, as overwhelmed by these +bitter tidings she covered her face with her hands. The emperor +approached as though he wished to address her, but she waved him off +impatiently. + +"Away, Joseph!" said she; "I will listen neither to your condolence nor +to your exultation. Let me advise you, too, to moderate your transports, +for this is Austrian soil, and no one reigns in Austria but Maria +Theresa. The Jesuits have been a blessing to mankind; they have +instructed our youth, and have been the guardians of all knowledge; they +have encouraged the arts and sciences, and have disseminated the +Christian faith in every part of the world. They have been the true and +loyal friends of my house; and in their day of adversity, though I may +not defend them against their ecclesiastical superiors, I will protect +them against malice and insult." + +Thus spoke the generous and true-hearted Maria Theresa; but her efforts +to sustain the Jesuits, as an organized brotherhood, were fruitless. +They were an ecclesiastic fraternity, and as such, their existence was +beyond the reach of civil authority. As individuals, they were her +subjects; but as a society, they were amenable to the laws of the +Church, and by that code alone, they stood or fell. + +Bravely she struggled; but the earnest representations of the nuncio, +the sharp, cutting arguments of Kaunitz, and her own reluctance to come +to a rupture with the pope in a matter essentially within ecclesiastical +jurisdiction, all these things united, bore down her opposition; and +with the same reluctance as she had felt in acquiescing to the partition +of Poland, she consented to the suppression of the Society of Jesus. + +"Come hither, my son," said the empress, reaching her hand to Joseph. +"Since I have seen fit to give my consent to this thing, I have nothing +wherewith to reproach you. As co-regent I hope that what I am about to +say will obtain your approbation. Monsignore, you have read to me the +order of his holiness, Clement XIV., for the suppression of the Jesuits. +For my part, nothing would ever have induced me to expel them from my +dominions. But since his holiness sees fit to do so, I feel it to be my +duty, as a true daughter of the Church, to allow the order to be put +into execution. [Footnote: The empress's own words. Gross-Horitnger, +vol. i., p. 195.] Acquaint his holiness with my decision, and remain a +few moments that you may witness the promptitude with which his +intentions shall be carried out." + +She sat down to her escritoire, and tracing a few lines upon a piece of +paper, handed it to Prince Kaunitz. + +"Prince," said she, "here is the order, which, in accordance to strict +form, must be in my own handwriting. Take it to Cardinal Migazzi. Let +him carry out the intentions of the pope, and himself perform the +funeral rites of the devoted Sons of Jesus." + +She turned away her head, that none might see the tears which were +streaming from her eyes. Then rising from her seat, she crossed the +room. Those who had brought this grief upon her, watched her noble form, +and as they saw how her step faltered, they exchanged silent glances of +sympathy. When she reached the door, she turned, and then they saw her +pale, sad face and tearful eyes. + +"When the cardinal visits the College of the Jesuits to read the papal +order, let an imperial commissarius accompany him," said Maria Theresa +in an imperative tone. "Immediately after its promulgation, he shall +promise to the Jesuits my imperial favor and protection, if they submit +to the will of the pope as becomes true servants of God and of the +Church. It shall also be exacted that the proceedings against the Order +of Jesus shall be conducted with lenity and due respect; and for the +future, I shall never suffer any member of the society to be treated +with contumely or scorn." [Footnote: The empress's words. Adam Wolf. +"Maria Theresa," p. 432.] + +She bowed her lofty head, and withdrew. + +Complete silence followed the disappearance of the empress. No one dared +to violate the significance of the moment by a word. The nuncio bowed +low to the emperor and retired; but as Kaunitz was about to follow, +Joseph came hastily forward and clasped him in his arms. + +"I thank you," whispered he. "You have fulfilled your pledges, and +Austria is free. My obligations to you are for life!" + +The two ministers then went down together to the great palace gate, +where their state-carriages awaited them. + +Prince Kaunitz greeted the nuncio with another silent bow; and shrinking +from the blasts of a mild September day, [Footnote: The papal order was +promulgated in Vienna on September 10, 1773.] wrapped himself up in six +cloaks, and sealed up his mouth with a huge muff of Rahles. He then +stepped into his carriage, and drove off. Once safe and alone within his +exhausted receiver, he dropped his muff for a moment, and, wonderful to +relate--he smiled. + +"Let Wings shape themselves as they will," said he, thoughtfully. "I am +absolute master of Austria. Whether the sovereign be called Maria +Theresa, or Joseph, it is all one to me. Both feel my worth, and both +have vowed to me eternal gratitude. Poland has fallen--the Jesuits are +dispersed; but Kaunitz is steadfast, for he is the pillar upon which the +imperial house leans for support!" + +Four weeks after the publication of the papal order by Cardinal Migazzi, +the great doors of the Jesuit College were opened, and forth from its +portals came the brotherhood of the Order of Jesus. + +Led by their superior, all in their long black cassocks, with rosaries +hanging at their blue girdles, they left the familiar home, which had +been theirs for a hundred years. Each one carried in his hands his Bible +and breviary. The faces of the brothers were pale and unspeakably sad, +and their lips were compressed as though to thrust back the misery that +was surging within their hearts. + +The multitude were mute as they. Not a word, whether of sympathy or of +animosity, greeted the silent procession. On went the noiseless, +spectre-like train until it reached the market-place. There the superior +stopped, and the brothers gathered around him in one vast circle. + +He uncovered his head, and all followed his example. All bowed their +heads in prayer to God who had willed that this great humiliation should +befall them. In one last petition to Heaven for resignation, they bade +adieu to their glorious past with its glorious memories; and the people, +overcome by the simple sublimity of the scene, fell upon their knees and +wept, repeating, while they wept, the prayers which they had learned +from the teachers with whom they were parting forever. + +The prayer was ended, and now the superior went from brother to brother, +taking the hand of each one. And every man faltered a blessing which +their chief returned. So he went from one to another, until he had +greeted them all; then passing from the crowd, with a Jesuit on either +side, he disappeared. + +So ended the dispersion of the Order of Jesus, whom the whole world +believed to be crushed forever. But they knew better; for, as crowding +around their chief, they had whispered: "Shall we ever be a brotherhood +again?" he had returned the pressure of their friendly hands, and had +replied with prophetic fervor: + +"Yes; whenever it is God's will to reinstate us. Wait patiently for the +hour. It will surely come; for Loyola's order, like the soul, is +immortal!" + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI. + +HEART-STRUGGLES. + +The week of delay which the empress had granted to the Countess Margaret +had passed away, and the eve of her bridal had dawned. During those +eight eventful days the countess had been more fitful than ever, and her +uncle's household had suffered accordingly. + +"She will take her life," whispered the servants among themselves, as +each day, like a pale spectre, she glided through the house, to mount +her wild Arabian. The two footmen who accompanied her on these +occasions, told how she galloped so madly that they could scarcely keep +pace with her; and then suddenly checked her horse, and with her head +bent over its neck, remained motionless and wept. + +Once the emperor had surprised her in tears, and when she became aware +of his presence, she started off on a mad run and left him far behind. +This occurred twice; but the third time the emperor came upon her so +quickly, that before she had time to fly, he had grasped her rein. The +footmen declared that they had never heard such a cry as she gave; and +they thought that the emperor would be highly offended. But he only +laughed, and said: + +"Now, countess, you are my prisoner; and I shall not allow my beautiful +Amazon to go, until she has told me why we never see her at court." + +The countess turned so pale that her servants thought she would fall +from her horse, and the emperor cried out: "Good Heaven! what is the +matter with you?" + +She broke into a loud laugh, and striking her horse with the whip, tried +to gallop off again. But the emperor put spurs to his horse, and the two +dashed on together. Neck and neck they ran; the countess lashing her +Arabian until he made wild leaps into the air, the emperor urging his +Barb with whip and spur, until his flanks were white with foam. At last +he came so near, that he made a grasp at her rein and caught it, +exclaiming, with a merry laugh: + +"Caught again!" + +The countess turned around with eyes that darted lightning. + +"Why do you laugh so immoderately?" said she. + +"Because we are enacting such a delightfully comic scene. But do not +look so angry; your bright eyes are on fire, and they make a man's heart +boil over. Answer my question, and I restore you to freedom. Why do you +shun me, and why do you never come to court?" + +Now the pale cheeks flushed, and the voice was subdued until its tones +were like plaintive music. "Sire, I do not visit the court, because I am +a poor, unhappy creature, unfitted for society, and because no one +misses me there." + +"And why do you fly from me as if I were Lucifer, the son of the +morning?" + +"Ah, your majesty, grief flies from the light of day, and seeks the +cover of friendly night! And now, free my horse, if you would not have +me fall dead at your feet!" + +Again she turned pale, and trembled from head to foot. When the emperor +saw this, he loosed her rein, and bowing to her saddle bow, galloped +away--out of sight. The countess turned her horse's head, and went +slowly home. + +All this Count Starhemberg learned from the footmen, for never a word +had his niece spoken to him since the unhappy day of Count Esterhazy's +visit. To say the truth, the old man was not sorry that her sorrow had +taken the shape of taciturnity; for her pale cheeks and glaring eyes +affrighted him; and he hugged himself close in his short-lived security, +as each day she declined to appear at table, and was served in the +solitude of her own room. She was served; but her food returned +untouched. Neither did she seem to sleep; for at all times of the night +she could be heard pacing her room. Then she would sit for hours before +her piano; and, although her playing and singing had been equally +renowned, her uncle had never suspected the genius that had lain +concealed in the touch of her hands and the sound of her voice. It was +no longer the "fierce countess," whose dashing execution had distanced +all gentler rivals; it was a timid maiden, whose first love was finding +utterance in entrancing melody. On the night following her last +encounter with the emperor, the music became more passionate in its +character. It was less tender, but far more sad; and often it ceased, +because the musician stopped to weep. + +Her uncle heard her sob, and following the impulse of his affection and +compassion, he opened the room, and came softly in. He called her, and +she raised her head. The light from the wax-candles that stood on the +harpsichord fell directly upon her face, which was bedewed with tears. +Her uncle's entrance seemed neither to have surprised nor irritated her. +With an expression of indescribable woe she merely murmured + +"See, uncle, to what the empress has reduced me." + +Her uncle took her in his arms, and, like a weary child, she leaned her +head upon his shoulder. Suddenly she started, and disengaging herself, +she stood before him, and took his hands in hers. + +"Oh, is it inevitable? Must I bow my head like a slave to this marriage, +while my heart proclaims an eternal NO!" + +The old count wiped his eyes. "I fear there is no hope, my child. I have +done all that I could." + +"What have you done?" + +"I first appealed to Count Esterhazy; but he declared himself to be too +intoxicated by your beauty to resign you. I then tried to interest some +of our friends at court; but no one dared to intercede for my darling. +The empress has received a severe blow in the expulsion of the Jesuits, +and no one has the courage to come between her and her mania for +match-making. I then appealed to her majesty myself; but in vain. Her +only answer was this: 'You were to marry the count, or go into a +convent.' She added, that to-morrow every thing would be prepared in the +court chapel for your marriage; that she, herself, would honor you by +giving you away; and that, if you did not come punctually, when the +imperial state coach was sent for you, she would have you taken instead +to a convent." + +"Is that all?" asked she, with a painful blush. + +"No, Margaret. I saw the emperor also." + +"What said he?" asked the countess, in a hoarse voice, pressing so +heavily upon the old man's shoulder, that he could scarcely stand under +the weight of her hands. "Word for word, tell me what he said." + +"I will tell you. The emperor said: 'Dear count, no one would serve you +sooner than I. But as regards her mania for marrying people, the empress +is inflexible. And, indeed, it seems to me that she has chosen admirably +for your beautiful niece. Count Esterhazy is young, handsome, immensely +rich, and a favorite at court. You will see, dear count, that she will +end by making him an affectionate and obedient wife; for a young girl's +hate is very often nothing but concealed love. Those were the emperor's +words, my dear. I protested against his interpretation of your dislike +to Count Esterhazy--but in vain." + +To this, Margaret replied not a word. Her hands had gradually fallen +from her uncle's shoulders, until they hung listless at her side. Her +graceful head was bowed down by the sharp stroke of the humiliation +which had just stricken her, and her whole attitude was that of hopeless +disconsolation. + +After a few moments she threw back her head with wild defiance. "He will +find that he is a false prophet," exclaimed she, with a laugh of scorn. +"I promise him that." + +"But, my dear girl--" began Count Starhemberg. "Will you, too, insult me +with prophecies of my future obedience to this fine young man? Do you, +too, wish to prove to me that I am a fortunate--" + +"My child, I wish nothing of the sort." + +"Then what means the 'but'? Does it mean that I am to be consoled by the +splendor that is to attend this--execution? Does it mean that my +maidenly blushes--the blushes that betray my secret love--are to be +hidden by a veil of priceless lace? Does it mean that the chains, with +which your peerless empress will fetter my arms, are to be of gold, +secured with diamonds? Have you taken care to provide the myrtle-wreath, +the emblem of love, wherewith to deck the bride's bow? O God! O God! May +some imperial daughter of this woman suffer worse than death for this!" + +The count shuddered, and left the room. He had not dared to say that, in +truth, her bridal-dress was all that she had described. It had all been +chosen. The rich robe, the costly veil, the golden bracelets, the +glittering diamonds, even the myrtle-wreath, the emblem of the humble as +well as the high-born bride--all were there, awaiting the morrow. + + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII. + +THE FORCED BRIDAL. + +The ceremony was to take place at eleven o'clock. The imperial carriage +of state was at the door; and behind it stood the gilded coaches of +Counts Esterhazy and Starhemberg. The former had been awaiting the +appearance of his bride for two hours; but to all his tender messages +she had curtly replied that she would come when she was ready. + +"I fear she will play us some dreadful trick," sighed the old count. + +"My dear count," returned Esterhazy, "no man would be so presuming as to +thwart the empress." + +"Perhaps not--but my niece has more character than some men." + +"What have I done for her to scorn me as she does!" cried the unhappy +little bridegroom. + +"You have opposed her, that is all. My niece is an Amazon, and cannot +bear to give up her heart at another's will! Had she been left free, it +might have been otherwise." + +"Do you really think she will come to love me?" asked Esterhazy, +surveying his diminutive comeliness in the mirror opposite. + +"I am quite sure of it, and so is the emperor. Take courage, then; bear +with her whims for a while; they are nothing but harmless summer +lightnings. Do not heed the storm; think of the flowers that will spring +up to beautify your life, when the showers of her tears shall have +passed away." + +"Oh, I will be patient. She shall exhaust herself." + +Here the door opened, and the countess's maid entered with a request +that Count Esterhazy would follow her to her lady's apartment. + +The count kissed his hand to Count Starhemberg and hurried away. When he +entered the countess's sitting-room, she was standing in all the pride +of her bridal attire, and seemed more transcendently beautiful than +ever. The court-dress, with its long trail, heightened the elegance of +her figure, and the silver-spotted veil, that fell to her feet, +enveloped her like a white evening cloud. But how little did her face +accord with this superb festive dress Her cheek was deadly pale; her +exquisite mouth was writhing with anguish, and her great, glowing eyes +darted glances of fiery hatred. + +"You really have the courage to persevere, Count Esterhazy? You will +perpetrate the crime of marriage with me?" + +"When a man opens his arms to receive the most enchanting woman that +ever was sent on earth, do you call that a crime?" said Esterhazy, +tenderly. + +An impatient shrug was the answer to this attempt at gallantry. + +"Have I not told you that you would earn nothing for your reward but my +hatred? In the despair of my heart, have I not told you that I love +another man? Oh, you have come to tell me that you spare me the +sacrifice--have you not? You will not force a helpless girl to marry +you, who does so only to escape a convent--will you? Oh, tell me that +you have summoned manliness enough to resist the empress, and to give me +my freedom!" + +"I have summoned manliness enough to resist you; and bearing your anger, +I am resolved to take the bewitching woman to wife whom my generous +empress has selected for me." + +"You are a contemptible coward!" cried she. + +"I forgive you the epithet, because I am in love," replied he, with a +smile. + +"But if you have no pity for me," cried she wildly, "have pity on +yourself. You have seen how I treat my uncle, and yet I love him dearly. +Think what your fate will be, since I hate you immeasurably." + +"Ah," said he, "can you expect me to be more merciful to myself than to +you? No, no! I rely upon my love to conquer your hate. It will do so all +in good time." + +"As there is a God in heaven, you will rue this hour!" cried Margaret +with mingled defiance and despair. + +"Come, countess, come. The empress and her son await us in the +court-chapel." + +Margaret shivered, and drew her veil around her. She advanced toward the +door, but as the count was in the act of opening it, she laid her two +hands upon his arm, and held him back. "Have mercy with my soul!" sobbed +she. "It is lost if I become your wife. I have a stormy temper, and +sorrow will expand it into wickedness. I feel that I shall be capable of +crime if you force me to this marriage." + +"Gracious Heaven!" cried the count, pettishly, "if you abhor me to such +a degree, why do you not go into a convent?" + +"I had resolved to do so, for the convent is less repulsive to me than a +home in your palace; but I could not bring myself to the sacrifice. +No!--Were I to be immured within those convent walls, I should forever +be shut out from the sight of him whom I love. Do you hear this? Do you +hear that I marry you only to be free to see him, to hear his voice, to +catch one glance of his eye as he passes me in the crowd? Oh, you will +not take to wife a woman who meditates such perjury as this! You will +not give your father's name to her who is going to the altar with a lie +upon her lips and a crime upon her soul! Go-tell all this to the +empress. Tell her that you will not disgrace your noble house by a +marriage with me! Oh, Count Esterhazy, be merciful, be merciful!" + +"Impossible, countess, impossible; were it even possible for me to belie +you by such language. I shall not see the empress until we stand before +the altar together, and then she will be in her oratorium, far beyond my +reach." + +"Yes, yes, you can reject nie at the altar. Oh, see how I humble myself! +I am on my knees before you. Spurn me from you in the face of the whole +world!" + +Count Esterhazy looked thoughtful. Unhappily, the countess on her knees +was more beautiful than ever; so that remembering her uncle's words, he +said to himself + +"Yes-I will humor her-I must feign to yield." + +He stretched out his hands, saying, "Rise, countess. It does not become +a sovereign to kneel before her slave. I have no longer the power to +oppose your will. Before the altar, I will say `No' to the priest's +question, and you shall be free." + +The countess uttered a loud cry of joy, and rose to her feet. And as her +pale cheek kindled with hope, and her eyes beamed with happiness, she +was more beautiful than she had ever been in her life before, and Count +Esterhazy exulted over it. + +"God bless you!" exclaimed she, with a heavenly smile. "You have earned +my affection now; for my life I vow to love you as a cherished brother. +Come, dear, generous, noble friend, come. Let us hasten to the chapel." + +It was she now who opened the door. Count Starhemberg awaited them in +the drawing-room. Margaret flew to meet him, and embracing him, said + +"Do I not look like a happy bride now? Come, uncle, come, dear Count +Esterbazy, let us go to our bridal." + +She took Esterhazy's arm, and be placed her in the carriage. The old +count followed, in speechless wonder. + +At the door of the chapel, they were met by the empress's first lady of +honor, who conducted the bride to the altar. The emperor walked by the +side of Count Esterhazy. The face of the countess was radiant with +happiness, and all who saw her confessed that she was lovely beyond all +description. + +And now the ceremonial began. The priest turned to Count Esterhazy and +asked him if he took the Countess Maragret von Starhemberg for his +wedded wife--to love, honor, and cherish her until death should them +divide. + +There was a pause, and Margaret looked with a bright smile at the face +of her bridegroom. But the eyes of the spectators were fixed upon him in +astonishment, and the brow of the empress grew stormy. + +"Will you take this woman for your wedded wife?" repeated the priest. + +"I will," said Esterhazy, in a loud firm voice. + +A cry escaped from the lips of Margaret. She was so faint that she +reeled and would have fallen, but for the friendly support of an arm +that sustained her, and the witching tones of a voice that whispered: +"Poor girl, remember that a cloister awaits you." She recognized the +voice of the emperor; and overcoming her weakness, the courage of +despair came to her help. + +She raised herself from Joseph's arms and taking the vinaigrette that +was tendered her by the lady of honor, she inhaled its reviving aroma; +then she looked at the priest. + +He continued, and repeated his solemn question to her. Etiquette +required that before she answered, she should have the sanction of the +empress. The countess turned, with a low inclination, to the lady of +honor, who, in her turn, courtesied deeply to the empress. + +Maria Theresa bowed acquiescence, and the bride, having thanked her with +another courtesy, turned once more to the priest and said, "Yes." + +The ceremony was over, and the young couple received the +congratulations of the court. Even the empress herself descended +from the oratorium to meet them. + +"I have chosen a very excellent husband for you," said she, smiling, +"and I have no doubt you will be a very happy woman." "It must be so, of +course, your majesty," replied the bride; "for had your majesty not +ascertained that this marriage had been made in heaven, you would not +have ordered it on earth, I presume." Maria Theresa darted a look of +anger at the countess, and turning her back upon such presumption, +offered her good wishes to the count. + +"What did you say, to irritate the empress so?" whispered Joseph to the +bride. + +Margaret repeated her words. "That was a bold answer," said he. + +"Has your majesty ever taken me for a coward? I think I have shown +preter-human courage this day." + +"What! Because you have married Count Esterhazy? Believe me, you will be +the happiest of tyrants, and he the humblest of your slaves." + +"I will show him that slaves deserve the lash!" cried she, with a look +of hatred at her husband, who came forward to conduct her to the palace, +where the marriage guests were now to be received. + +The festivities of the day over, the empress's lady of honor conducted +the countess to her new home. It was the duty of this lady to assist the +bride in removing her rich wedding-dress, and assuming the costly +neglige which lay ready prepared for her on a lounge in her magnificent +dressing-room. + +But the countess imperiously refused to change her dress. "Have the +goodness," said she, "to say to her majesty, that you conducted me to my +dressing-room. You can say further," added she, hearing the door open, +"that you left me with Count Esterhazy." + +She pointed to the count, who entered, greeting the ladies with a +respectful bow. + +"I will leave you, then," said the lady, kissing Marearet's forehead. +"May Heaven bless you!" + +Count Esterhazy was now alone with his wife. With a radiant smile and +both hands outstretched, he came toward her. + +"Welcome to my house, beautiful Margaret! From this hour you reign +supreme in the palace of the Esterhazys." + +The countess stepped back. "Do not dare to touch my hand. A gulf yawns +between us; and if you attempt to bridge it, I will throw you, headlong, +into its fiery abyss." + +"What gulf? Point it out to me, that I may bridge it with my love," +cried Esterhazy. + +"The gulf of my contempt," said she, coldly. "You are a coward and a +liar. You have deceived a woman who trusted herself to your honor; and +God in heaven, who would not hear my prayers, God shall be the witness +of my vengeance. Oh, you shall repent from this hour to come, that ever +you called me wife! I scorn to be a liar like you, and I tell you to +beware. I will revenge myself for this accursed treachery." + +"I do not fear your revenge, for you have a noble heart. The day will +come when I shall be forgiven for my deception. Heaven is always clement +toward the repentant sinner; and you are my heaven, Margaret. I await +the day of mercy." + +"Such mercy as Heaven has shown to me, I shall show to you," cried she. +"And now, sir, leave this room. I have nothing more to say to you." + +"What, Margaret!" said Esterhazy, with an incredulous smile, "you would +deny me the sweet right of visiting your room? Chide, if you will; but +be not so cruel. Let me have the first kiss--" + +As he attempted to put his arms around her, Margaret uttered a fearful +cry. Freeing herself with such violence that Esterhazy reeled backward +with the shock, she exclaimed: + +"You are worse than a coward, for you would take advantage of rights +which my hatred has annulled forever." + +"But, Margaret, my wife--" + +"Count Esterhazy," said Margaret slowly, "I forbid you ever to use that +word in this room. Before the world I must endure the humiliation of +being called your wife; but once over the threshold of my own room, I am +Margaret Starhemberg, and you shall never know me as any other Margaret. +Now go!" + +She pointed to the door; and as the count looked into her face, where +passion was so condensed that it almost resembled tranquillity, he had +not the hardihood to persist. He felt that he had gained his first and +last victory. + +As soon as he had passed the door, Margaret locked and bolted it; then, +alone with the supreme anguish that had been crushed for these long, +long hours, she fell upon her knees, and wept until the morning-star +looked down upon her agony. + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. + +PRINCE LOUIS DE ROHAN. + +The cardinal prince, Louis de Rohan, French ambassador at Vienna, had +petitioned the empress for a private audience, and the honor had been +granted him. It was the first time, since a year, that he had enjoyed +this privilege; and the proud prince had determined that all Vienna +should know it, for all Vienna was fully aware of the empress's dislike +to him. + +Accompanied by a brilliant cortege, the prince set out for the palace. +Six footmen stood behind his gilded carriage, while inside, seated upon +cushions of white satin, the prince dispensed smiles to the women, and +nods to the men who thronged the streets to get a glimpse of his +magnificence. Four pages, in the Rohan livery, dispensed silver coin to +the populace; while behind came four carriages, bearing eight noblemen +of the proudest families in France, and four other carriages which bore +the household of this haughty prince of church and realm. [Footnote: In +the beginning of the year 1780, Prince de Rohan was made cardinal and +grand almoner of France. Before that time, he had been Archbishop of +Strasburg. "Memoires sur la Vie Privee de Marie Antoinette," vol. i., p. +47.] + +The cortege moved slowly, and the people shouted. From every window, +burgher's or nobleman's, handsome women greeted the handsome cardinal +who was known to be a connoisseur in female beauty. The crowd outside +followed him to the palace-gates, and when his carriage stopped, they +shouted so vociferously, that the noise reached the ears of the empress; +and so long, that their shouts had not ceased when the cardinal, leaving +his brilliant suite, was ushered into the small reception-room where +Maria Theresa awaited him. + +She stood by the window, and half turned her head, as the prince, with +profoundest salutations, came forward. She received his obsequious +homage with a slight inclination of the head. + +"Can your eminence tell me the meaning of this din?" asked she, curtly. + +"I regret not to be able to do so, your majesty. I hear no din; I have +heard nothing save the friendly greetings of your people, whose piety +edifies my heart as a priest, and whose welcome is dear to me as a quasi +subject of your majesty. For the mother of my future queen must allow me +the right to consider myself almost as her subject." + +"I would prefer that you considered yourself wholly the subject of my +daughter; as I doubt whether she will ever find much loyalty in your +heart, prince. But before we go further, pray inform me what means all +this parade attendant upon the visit of the French ambassador here +to-day? I am not aware that we are in the carnival; nor have I an +unmarried daughter for whom any French prince can have sent you to +propose. " + +"Surely your majesty would not compare the follies of the carnival with +the solemnity of an imperial betrothal," said the archbishop, +deferentially. + +"Be so good as not to evade my question. I ask why you came to the +palace with a procession just fit to take its place in a carnival?" + +"Because the day on which the mother of the dauphiness receives me, is a +great festival for me. I have so long sued for an audience, that when it +is granted me, I may well be allowed to celebrate it with the pomp which +befits the honor conferred." + +"And in such a style that all Vienna may know it, and the rumor of your +audience reach the ears of the dauphiness herself." + +"I cannot hope that the dauphiness takes interest enough in the French +ambassador to care whether he be received at a foreign court or not," +replied the cardinal, still in his most respectful tone. "I request you +to come to the point," said Maria Theresa, impatiently. "Tell me, at +once, why you have asked for an audience? What seeks the French +ambassador of the empress of Austria?" + +"Allow me to say that had I appeared to-day before your majesty as the +French ambassador, I would have been accompanied by my attaches and +received by your majesty in state. But your majesty is so gracious as to +receive me in private. It follows, therefore, that the Cardinal de +Rohan, the cousin of the dauphin, visits the imperial mother of the +young dauphiness." + +"In other words, you come hither to complain of the dauphiness-consort; +again to renew the unpleasant topics which have been the cause of my +repeated refusals to see you here." + +"No, your majesty, no. I deem it my sacred duty to speak confidentially +to the mother of the dauphiness." + +"If the mother of the dauphiness-consort will listen," cried the proud +empress, sharply emphasizing the word "consort." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, the apparent oversight," said De ROhan, with a +smile. "But as a prince of the church, it behooves me, above all things, +to be truthful, and the Dauphiness of France is not yet +dauphiness-consort. Your majesty knows that as well as I do." + +"I know that my daughter's enemies and mine have succeeded so far in +keeping herself and her husband asunder," said the empress bitterly. + +"But the dauphiness possesses, in her beauty, worth, and sweetness, +weapons wherewith to disarm her enemies, if she would but use them," +said De Rohan, with a shrug. "Unhappily, she makes no attempt to disarm +them." + +"Come--say what you have to say without so much circumlocution," cried +Maria Theresa, imperiously. "What new complaint have the French against +my daughter?" + +"Your majesty is the only person that can influence the proud spirit of +the dauphiness. Marie Antoinette adores her mother, and your majesty's +advice will have great weight with her." + +"What advice shall I give her?" + +"Advise her to give less occasion to her enemies to censure her levity +and her contempt of conventional forms." + +"Who dares accuse my daughter of levity?" said the empress, her eyes +flashing with angry pride. + +"Those who, in the corruption of their own hearts, mistake for +wantonness that which is nothing more than the thoughtlessness of +unsuspecting innocence." + +"You are pleased to speak in riddles. I am Maria Theresa--not Oedipus. " + +"I will speak intelligently," said De Rohan, with his everlasting smile. +"There are many things, innocent in themselves, which do not appear so +to worldly eyes. Innocence may be attractive in a cottage, but it is not +so in a palace. An ordinary woman, even of rank, has the right, in the +privacy of her own room, to indulge herself in childish sport; but your +majesty's self cannot justify your daughter when I tell you that she is +in the habit of playing wild games with the young ladies who have been +selected as her companions." + +"My poor little Antoinette!" exclaimed the empress, her eyes filling +with compassionate tears. "Her enemies, who do not allow her to be a +wife, might surely permit her to remain a child! I have heard before +to-day, of the harmless diversions which she enjoys with her young +sisters-in-law. If there were any sense of justice in France, you would +understand that, to amuse half-grown girls, the dauphiness must herself +play the child. But I know that she has been blamed for her natural +gayety, poor darling; and I know that Madame de Marsan will never +forgive her for feeling a sisterly interest in the education of the +young princesses of France. [Footnote: Madame de Marsan was their +governess.] I know that the saloons of Madame de Marsan are a hot-bed of +gossip, and that every action of the dauphiness is there distorted into +crime. [Footnote: "Memoires de Madame de Campan." vol. i., p. 65.] If my +lord cardinal has nothing else to tell me it was scarcely worth his +while to come to the palace in so pompous a manner, with such a solemn +face." + +"I did not come to your majesty to accuse the dauphiness, but to warn +her, against her enemies; for unfortunately she HAS enemies at court. +These enemies not only deride her private diversions, but, with +affectation of outraged virtue, they speak of recreations, hitherto +unheard of at the court of France." + +"What recreations, pray?" + +"The dauphiness, without the sanction of the king; indulges in private +theatricals." + +"Private theatricals! That must be an invention of her enemies." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, it is the truth. The dauphiness and her +married sisters-in-law take the female characters, and the brothers of +the king the male. Sometimes Monsieur de Campan, the private secretary +of the deceased queen, and his son, who fills the same office for the +dauphiness, join the actors. The royal troupe give their entertainments +in an empty entre-sol, to which the household have no access. The Count +of Provence plays the jeune premier, but the Count d'Artois also is +considered a good performer. I am told that the costumes of the +princesses are magnificent, and their rivalry carried to the extreme." + +The empress, affecting not to hear the last amiable remark, said "Who +are the audience?" + +"There is but one spectator, your majesty, the dauphin himself." + +Maria Theresa's face lighted up at once, and she smiled. + +The cardinal went on: "The aunts of the dauphin themselves are not +admitted to their confidence, lest they might inform the king, and his +majesty forbid the indecorous representations." + +"I shall write to the dauphiness and advise her to give up these +representations," said Maria Theresa, calmly, "not because they are +indecorous, but because they are a pretext for her enemies. If she has +the approbation of her husband, that of itself ought to suffice to the +court; for it is not an unheard thing to have dramatic representations +by the royal family. Louis XIV. appeared on the boards as a dancer; and +even under the pious Madame de Maintenon, the princes and princesses of +France acted the dramas of Corneille and Racine." + +"But they had the permission of the king, and none of them were future +queens." + +"What of that? If the queen approved of the exhibition, the dauphiness +might surely repeat it. My daughter is doing no more at Versailles, than +she has been accustomed to do at Schonbrunn, in her mother's presence." + +"The etiquette of the two courts is dissimilar," said De Rohan, with a +shrug. "In Vienna, an archduchess is permitted to do that which, in +Paris, would be considered an impropriety." + +"Another complaint!" cried the empress, out of patience. + +"The dauphiness finds it a bore," continued De Rohan, "to he accompanied +wherever she goes, by two ladies of honor. She has, therefore, been seen +in the palace, even in the gardens of Versailles, without any escort, +except that of two servants." + +"Have you come to the end of your complaints?" said the empress scarcely +able to control her passion. + +"I have, your majesty. Allow me to add, that the reputation of a woman +seldom dies from a single blow--it expires gradually from repeated +pricks of the needle. And queens are as liable to such mortality as +other women." + +"It ill becomes the Prince de Rohan to pass judgment upon the honor of +women," cried Maria Theresa, exasperated by his lip-morality. "If the +French ambassador presumes to come to me with such trivial complaints as +I have heard to-day, I will direct my minister in Paris to make +representations to the king of another and a more serious nature." + +"Regarding the unpardonable indifference of the dauphin to his wife?" +asked the cardinal, with sympathizing air. + +"No. Regarding the unpardonable conduct of the French ambassador in +Vienna." exclaimed the empress. "If the cardinal is so shocked at a +slight breach of etiquette, he should be careful to conceal his own +deformities under its sheltering veil. Innocence may sin against +ceremony; but he, who leads a dissolute and voluptuous life, should make +decorum a shield wherewith to cover his own shame!" + +"I thank your majesty for this axiom so replete with worldly wisdom. But +for whom can it be intended? Certainly not for the dauphiness." + +"No; for yourself, prince and cardinal!" cried the empress, beside +herself with anger. "For the prelate who, unmindful of his rank and of +its obligations, carries on his shameless intrigues even with the ladies +of my court. For the ambassador who, leading a life of Oriental +magnificence, is treading under foot the honor of his country, by living +upon the credulity of his inferiors. All Vienna knows that your +household makes unworthy use of your privileges as a foreign minister, +by importing goods free of tax, and reselling them here. All Vienna +knows that there are more silk stockings sold at the hotel of the French +embassy than in all Paris and Lyons together. The world blames me for +having revoked the privilege enjoyed by foreign embassies to import +their clothing free of duty. It does not know that the abuse of this +privilege by yourself has forced me to the measure." + +"Your majesty is very kind to take so much trouble to investigate the +affairs of my household. You are more au fait to the details than +myself. I was not aware, for instance, that silk stockings were sold at +the embassy. No more than I was aware that I had had any amours with the +ladies of the court. I have a very cold heart, and, perhaps, that is the +reason why I have never seen one to whom I would devote a second +thought. As regards my manner of living, I consider it appropriate to my +rank, titles, and means; and that is all that I feel it necessary to say +on the subject." + +"You dispose of these charges in a summary manner. To hear you, one +would really suppose there was not the slightest ground for reproach in +your life," said the empress, satirically. + +"That this is quite within the range of possibility, is proved by the +case of the dauphiness," replied De Rohan. "If your majesty thinks so +little of her breaches of etiquette, it seems to me that mine are of +still less consequence. And allow me to say, that the French nation will +sooner forgive me a thousand intrigues with the ladies of Vienna, than +pass over the smallest deviation from court usages on the part of the +dauphiness. Marie Antoinette has defied them more than once, and I fear +me, she will bitterly repent her thoughtlessness. Her enemies are +watchful and--" + +"Oh, I see that they are watchful," exclaimed Maria Theresa, "I see it. +Do not deny it, you are one of those whose evil eyes see evil doings in +every impulse of my dear defenceless child's heart. But have a care, sir +cardinal, the friendless dauphiness will one day be Queen of France, and +she will then have it in her power to bring to justice those who +persecute her now!" [Footnote: "Memoires de Madame de Campan," vol. i., +p. 47.] + +"I hope that I shall never be accused of such fellowship," said De +Rohan, for the first time losing his proud self-possession. + +"I, the Empress of Austria, accuse you to-day of it!" cried Maria +Theresa, with threatening mien. "Oh, my lord, it does you little +honor--you, a royal personage and a prince of the church, to exchange +letters with a Du Barry, to whose shameless ears you defame the mother +of your future queen!" + +"When did I do this? When was I so lost to honor as to speak a +disrespectful word of the Empress of Austria?" + +"You deny it--do you? Let me tell you that your praise or your blame are +all one to me; and if I have granted you this interview, it was to show +you how little I am disturbed by your censorious language. I know +something of the intriguing at Versailles. I have even heard of the +private orgies of the 'Oeil de Boeuf,' where Louis entertains his +favorites. And I will tell you what took place at the last one. The +Countess du Barry was diverting the company with accounts of the +hypocrisy of the Empress of Austria; and to prove it, she drew from her +pocket-book a letter, saying: 'Hear what the Cardinal de Rohan says +about her.' Now, cardinal, do you still deny that you correspond with +her?" + +"I do deny it," said the prince, firmly. "I deny that I ever have +written her a word." + +The empress took from her pocket a paper, and read as follows + +"True, I have seen Maria Theresa weeping over the fate of Poland, but +this sovereign, who is such an adept in the art of dissimulation, +appears to have tears and sighs at her command. In one hand she holds +her pocket-handkerchief, and in the other the sword with which she cuts +off a third of that unhappy country." [Footnote: "Memoires de Weber +concernant Marie Antoinette," vol. viii., p. 803.] + +"Now, sir cardinal, upon your sacred honor, did you or did you not write +these words?" + +The prince turned pale, and grasped the arm of the chair on which he +sat. + +"Upon your honor and your conscience, before God!" reiterated the +empress. + +The cardinal raised his eyes slowly, and in a low voice, said "I dare +not deny it. I wrote them. In an unlucky hour I wrote them--but not to +Du Barry." + +"To whom, then?" + +"To one who has betrayed me to Du Barry. Far be it for me to name him. I +alone will bear the weight of your majesty's displeasure. I alone am the +culprit." + +"I know of no culprit in the matter," replied Maria Theresa, throwing +back her stately head. "I stand before God and before the world, and +every man has a right to pass sentence upon my actions--even the +Cardinal de Rohan. I merely wish to show him that the dauphiness and her +mother both know what to expect of his eminence." + +"The dauphiness knows of this letter?" cried De Rohan. + +"It is she who sent me this copy." + +The prince bowed his head down upon his hands. + +"I am lost!" murmured he. + +The empress surveyed him with mistrust. Such emotion on the part of such +a man astonished her, and she doubted its sincerity. + +"Why this comedy, prince?" said she. "I have already told you that I am +indifferent to your opinion." + +"But the dauphiness never will forgive me," said he, uncovering his +face. "My contrition is no comedy: for I look with prophetic eyes into +the future--and there I see anguish and tears." + +"For whom?" said Maria Theresa, scornfully. + +"For me, and perchance for the dauphiness. She considers me her enemy, +and will treat me as such. But hatred is a two-edged sword which is as +apt to wound the one who holds it as the one for whom it is unsheathed. +Oh, your majesty, warn the dauphiness! She stands upon the brow of a +precipice, and if she do not recede, her enemies will thrust her +headlong into the abyss below. Marie Antoinette is an angel of innocence +and chastity, but the world in which she lives does not understand the +language of angels; and the wicked will soil her wings, that her purity +may not be a reproach to their own foulness. Warn the dauphiness to +beware of her enemies. But, as God hears me, I am not one of them. Marie +Antoinette will never believe me, and, therefore, my fate is sealed. I +beg leave of your majesty to withdraw." + +Without awaiting the answer, the prince bowed and retired. + +Maria Theresa looked thoughtfully after him, and long after be had +closed the door, she remained standing in the centre of the room, a prey +to the anxious misgivings which his visit had kindled in her heart. + +"He is right," said she, after a time. "She wanders upon the edge of a +precipice, and I must save her. But, oh my God! where shall I find a +friend who will love her enough to brave her displeasure, and, in the +midst of the flattery which surrounds her, will raise the honest voice +of reproof and censure? Ah, she is so unhappy, my little Antoinette, and +I have no power to help her! Oh my God! succor my persecuted child!" + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX. + +THE POLES AT VIENNA. + +The three powers which had lived so long at variance, had united +themselves in one common cause--the pacification of Poland. In vain had +Stanislaus refused his assent to their friendly intervention. In vain +had he appealed to England and France for help. Neither of these powers +was willing, for the sake of unhappy Poland, to become involved in a war +with three nations, who were ready to hurl their consolidated strength +against any sovereign who would have presumed to dispute their joint +action. + +In vain King Stanislaus began, by swearing, that sooner than consent to +the dismemberment of Poland, he would lose his right hand. The three +powers, tired of his impotent struggles, informed him, through their +envoys at Warsaw, that there were limits to the moderation which decorum +prescribed to governments; that they stood upon these limits, and +awaited his speedy acquiescence to the act of partition. [Footnote: +Raumer, "Contributions to Modern History," vol. iv., p 516.] The Russian +empress added that, if Stanislaus did not call a convention of the +Polish Diet to recognize the act, she would devastate his land, so that +he would not have a silver spoon left to him. [Footnote: Raumer, +"Contributions to Modern History," vol. i., p. 507.] + +The unhappy king had no longer the nerve to brave such terrific threats. +He submitted to the will of his tyrants, and came in as a fourth power, +eager to obtain as much as he could for his own individual advantage. + +The wretched Poles took no notice of the edicts of a king who had been +forced upon them by a strange sovereign. Only a few cowards and +hirelings obeyed the call for a convention; so that in all, there were +only thirty-six members, who, under the surveillance of Austrian and +Prussian hussars, signed their names to the act of partition. + +The King of Prussia received Pomerelia, and the district of Nantz; +Russia took Livonia, and several important waywodeships; and Austria +obtained the county of Zips, a portion of Galicia and of Lodomeria, and +half of the palatinate of Cracow. + +Here and there an isolated voice was raised to protest against the +stupendous robbery; but it was lost amidst the clash of arms and the +tread of soldiery. Whenever a word was spoken that fretted the +sensibilities of Austria or Prussia, Catharine said she was willing to +bear all the blame of the thing; and, laughing heartily, she called the +protests that were sent on the subject, "moutarde apres diner." +Frederick resorted to self-deception, proclaiming to the world, "that +for the first tune the King and the Republic of Poland were established +on a firm basis; that they could now apply themselves in peace to the +construction of such a government as would tend to preserve the balance +of power between proximate nations, and prevent them from clashing." +[Footnote: Raumer, "Contributions," p. 542.] + +The Poles, in silent rancor, submitted to their fate, and took the oath +of allegiance to their oppressors. New boundary-lines were drawn, and +new names assigned to the sundered provinces of the dismembered +fatherland. The citadels were given over to their foreign masters, and +now the deed was consummated. + +Even Maria Theresa rejoiced to know it, and whether to relieve her +burdened heart, or to pretend to the world that she approved of the +transaction, she ordered a solemn "Te Deum" to be sung in the cathedral +of St. Stephen, in commemoration of the event. + +The entire court was to assist at this ceremony, after which the empress +was to receive the oath exacted from those of her new subjects who +desired to retain possession of their property. + +The ladies of the court were in the anteroom, awaiting the entrance of +the sovereigns. Their handsome, rouged faces were bright with +satisfaction; for they had all suffered from the misery which, for a +year past, had been endured by their imperial mistress. Now they might +look forward to serene skies and a renewal of court festivities, and +they congratulated one another in triumph. + +But they were cautious not to give too audible expression to their +hopes. They whispered their expectations of pleasure, now and then +casting stolen glances at a tall figure in black, which, sorrowful and +alone, stood tearfully regarding the crowds in the streets who were +hurrying to church to celebrate her country's downfall. This was the +Countess von Salmour, governess to the Archduchess Mariana. With the +other ladies of the palace, she was to accompany the empress to the +cathedral; but it was clear to all beholders that to her this was a day +of supreme humiliation. + +The great bell of St. Stephen's announced to her people that the empress +was about to leave the palace. The folding-doors were flung open, and +she appeared leaning on the arm of the emperor, followed by the princes, +princesses, generals, and statesmen of her realms. Silently the ladies +of honor ranged themselves on either side of the room to let the +imperial family pass by. Maria Theresa's eyes glanced hastily around, +and fell upon the pale, wan features of the Countess von Salmour. + +All eyes now sought the face of the unhappy lady, whose sad mourning +garments were in such striking contrast with the magnificent dresses of +the ladies around her. + +"Madame von Salmour," said the empress, "I dispense you from your duties +for this day. You need not accompany the court to church." + +The countess courtesied deeply, and replied: "Your majesty is right to +excuse me; for had I gone with the court to church, I might have been +tempted to utter treason to Heaven against the oppressors of my +country." + +The company were aghast at the audacity of the rejoinder, but the +empress replied with great mildness: + +"You are right; for the temptation would indeed be great, and it is +noble of you to speak the truth. I respect your candor." + +She was about to pass on, but paused as if she had forgotten something. + +"Is the Countess Wielopolska in Vienna?" asked she. + +"She arrived yesterday, your majesty." + +"Go to her while we are at church." said Maria Theresa, compassionately. + +Madame von Salmour glanced toward the emperor, who, with an expression +of painful embarrassment, was listening to their conversation. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," said the lady, "the Countess Wielopolska is +making preparations for a journey, and she receives no one. We parted +yesterday. To-morrow she leaves Vienna forever." + +"I am glad that she intends to travel," said Maria Theresa; approvingly. +"It will divert her mind;" and with a friendly smile, she took leave of +the governess, and passed on. + +Joseph followed with wildly throbbing heart; and neither the triumphant +strains of the Te Deum, nor the congratulatory shouts of his subjects, +could bring back serenity to his stormy brow. He knelt before the altar, +and with burning shame thought of his first entry into St. Stephen's as +Emperor of Austria. It had been the anniversary of the deliverance of +Vienna by John Sobieski and his Poles; and in the self-same spot where +the emperor had thanked God for this deliverance, he now knelt in +acknowledgment of the new principalities which were the fruits of his +own ingratitude to Poland. + +From these painful and humiliating retrospections, the emperor's +thoughts wandered to the beautiful being, who, like a hamadryad, had +blended her life with the tree of Polish liberty. He thought of that +face whose pallid splendor reminded him of the glories of waning day; +and he listened through the long, dim aisles of memory, to the sound of +that enchanting voice, whose melody had won his heart long ago on that +first, happy evening at Neustadt. + +The Countess Wielopolska was leaving Vienna forever, and yet there was +no message for him. A longing, that seemed to drown him in the flood of +its intensity, rushed over his soul. He would fly to her presence and +implore her to forgive the chant of victory that was rejoicing over her +country's grave! Oh, the crash of that stunning harmony, how it maddened +him, as kneeling, he listened to its last exultant notes! + +It was over, and Joseph scarcely knew where he was, until his mother +laid her hand upon his shoulder and motioned him to rise. + +In the great reception-room, with all the pomp of imperial splendor, +Maria Theresa sat upon her throne and received the homage of her new +subjects. Each one, as he passed, knelt before the powerful empress, and +as he rose, the chief marshal of the household announced his name and +rank. The ceremony over, Maria Theresa descended from the throne to +greet her Polish subjects in a less formal manner. No one possessed to a +greater degree than herself the art of bewitching those whom she desired +to propitiate; and to-day, though her youth and beauty were no longer +there to heighten the charms of her address, her elegant carriage, her +ever-splendid eyes, and graceful affability, were as potent to win +hearts as ever. Discontent vanished from the faces of the Poles, and by +and by they gathered into groups, in which were mingled Hungarians, +Italians, and Austrians, all the subjects of that one great empress. + +The majority of the Poles had adopted the French costume of the day. Few +had possessed the hardihood to appear before their new sovereign in +their rich national dress. Among these few was an old man of tall +stature and distinguished appearance, who attracted the attention of +every one present. + +While his countrymen unbent their brows to the sunshine of Maria +Theresa's gracious words, he remained apart in the recess of a window. +With scowling mien and folded arms, he surveyed the company; nor could +the empress herself, obtain from him more than a haughty inclination of +the head. + +The emperor was conversing gayly with two Polish noblemen, whose +cheerful demeanor bore evidence to the transitory nature of their +national grief, when he observed this old man. + +"Can you tell me," said he, "the name of yonder proud and angry +nobleman?" + +The faces of the two grew scarlet, as following the direction of the +emperor's finger, they saw the eyes of the old man fixed, with scorn, +upon their smiling countenances. + +"That," said one of them, uneasily, "is Count Kannienski." + +"Ah, the old partisan leader!" exclaimed the emperor. "As he does not +seem inclined to come to me, I will go forward and greet him myself." + +So saying, Joseph crossed over to the window where, the old count was +standing. He received him with a cold, solemn bow. + +"I rejoice to meet Count Kannienski, and to express to him my esteem for +his character," began the emperor, reaching out his hand. + +The count did not appear to perceive the gesture, and merely made a +silent bow. But Joseph would not be deterred from his purpose by a +hauteur which he knew very well how to excuse. + +"Is this your first visit to Vienna?" asked he. + +"My first and last visit, sire." + +"Are you pleased with the Austrian capital?" + +"No, your majesty, Vienna does not please me." + +The emperor smiled. Instead of being irritated at the haughtiness with +which his advances were met, he felt both respect and sympathy for the +noble old man who disdained to conceal his discontent from the eyes of +the sovereign himself. + +"I wonder that you do not like Vienna. It has great attractions for +strangers, and you meet so many of your countrymen here just now!--there +were never as many Poles in Vienna before." + +An angry glance shot athwart the face of the old man. "There were many +more when John Sobieski delivered Vienna from the hands of her enemies," +said he. "But that is almost a hundred years ago, and the memory of +princes does not extend so far to the obligations of the past. +[Footnote: This whole conversation is historical. It was often related +by the emperor who said that he had been so touched by Count +Kannienski's patriotism and boldness, that but for the fear of a +repulse, he would have embraced him. Swinburne, vol. i., page 349.] +But," continued he, more courteously, "I did not come here to speak of +my country. We must be resigned to the fate apportioned to us by +Providence, and you see how readily my countrymen adapt themselves to +the vicissitudes of their national life." + +"And yet, count, their smiles are less pleasing to me than your frowns. +In spite of the present, I cherish the past, and honor those who mourn +over the misfortunes of their native land." + +The old man was touched, and looked at the handsome, expressive face of +the emperor. "Sire," said he, sadly, "if Stanislaus had resembled you, +Poland would have been free. But I have not come hither to-day to whine +over the unalterable past. Nor did I come to pay homage to the empress." + +"Nevertheless the empress would rejoice to become acquainted with the +brave Count Kannienski. Allow me, count, to present you." + +Kannienski shook his gray locks. "No, sire, I came to Vienna purely for +the sake of a woman who will die under the weight of this day's anguish. +I came to console her with what poor consolation I have to bestow." + +"Is she a Pole?" asked Joseph, anxiously. + +"Yes, sire; she is the last true-hearted Polish woman left on earth, and +I fear she is about to die upon the grave of her fatherland." + +"May I ask her name?" + +"Countess Anna Wielopolska. She it is who sent me to the palace, and I +came because she asked of me one last friendly service." + +"You bring me a message?" faltered the emperor. + +"The countess begs to remind the emperor of the promise he made on the +day when the empress signed the act of--" + +"I remember," interrupted the emperor. + +"She asks, if mindful of his promise, he will visit her to-morrow +afternoon at six o'clock." + +"Where shall I find her?" + +"In the very same room which she occupied before. I have delivered my +message. Your majesty will, therefore, permit me to withdraw." + +He bowed and turned away. Slowly and proudly he made his way through the +giddy crowd, without a word of recognition for the frivolous Poles who +saluted him as he passed. + +"He is the last Polish hero, as she is the last Polish heroine," sighed +the emperor, as he followed the old man with his eyes. "Our destiny is +accomplished. She would bid me a last farewell." + + + + + +CHAPTER XC. + +THE LAST FAREWELL. + +Countess Anna Wielopolska was alone in her room, which, like herself, +was decked to receive some great and distinguished guest. A rich carpet +covered the floor, flowers bloomed in costly vases, the piano was +opened, and the music on the stand showed that the countess still found +consolation in her genius. But she herself was strangely altered since +the day on which she had thrown her bouquet to the emperor in Neustadt. +Nevertheless she wore the same dress of black velvet, the same jewels, +and in her bosom the same bouquet of white roses, bound with a long +scarlet ribbon. + +Her heart beat high, and her anxious eyes wandered to the little bronze +clock that stood upon a console opposite. The clock struck six, and her +pale cheek flushed with anticipated happiness. + +"It is the hour," said she. "I shall see him once more." And as she +spoke, a carriage stopped, and she heard his step within the vestibule +below. Trembling in every limb, she approached the door, and bent her +ear to listen. + +"Yes, he comes," whispered she, while, with a gesture of extreme +agitation she drew from her pocket a little case, whence she took a tiny +flask, containing a transparent, crimson liquid. She held it for a few +seconds to the light, and now she could hear the sound of his voice, as +he spoke with Matuschka in the anteroom. The steps came nearer and +nearer yet. + +"It is time," murmured she; and hastily moving the golden capsule that +covered the vial, she put it to her lips and drank it to the last drop. + +"One hour of happiness," said she, replacing the vial in her pocket, and +hastening back to the door. + +It was opened, and the emperor entered the room. Anna met him, with both +hands outstretched, and smiled with unmistakable love as he came forward +to greet her. Silent, but with visible agitation, the emperor looked +into those eyes, which were already resplendent with the glory of +approaching death. Long they gazed upon each other without a word, yet +speaking love with eyes and lips. + +Suddenly the emperor dropped her hands, and laying his own gently upon +her cheeks, he drew down her head, and rested it upon his breast. She +left it there, and looked up with a tender smile. + +"Do not speak, love," said he. "I am an astrologer, who looks into his +heaven to read the secrets there. And, oh," sighed he, after he had +gazed for a time. "I see sorrow and suffering written upon that snowy +brow. Tears have dimmed the splendor of my stars, but they have not been +able to lessen their beauty. I know you again, my queen of the night, as +you first appeared to me at Neustadt. You are still the same proud +being, Anna." + +"No, dearest, no. I am a trembling woman, craving nothing from earth +save the glance of my beloved, and the privilege of dying in his +embrace." + +"She who loves, desires to live for her lover," said he, pressing her +again and again to his heart. + +"Death is the entrance to eternal life, and she who truly loves will +love throughout eternity." + +"Speak not of death in this hour of ecstasy, when I have found you once +more as I had pictured you in dreams. Oh, Anna, Anna! will you part me +from you again? Have you indeed brought me hither to cheat me with +visions of love, and then to say farewell, forever!" + +"No, Joseph, I bid you eternal welcome. Oh, my lover, my soul has gone +forth to meet yours, and nothing shall ever part us again." + +"And are you mine at last!" cried Joseph, kissing her passionately. "Has +the statue felt the ray of love, and uttered its first sweet sound? Oh, +how I longed to hear that sound! I have gone about by day, wearing the +weight of sovereignty upon my fainting shoulders; and by night I have +wept like a lovesick boy for your sake, Anna; but no one suspected it. +No one knew that the emperor was unhappy." + +"I knew it," whispered she--"I knew it; for your sorrows have all been +mine." + +"No, no!" cried Joseph, awaking from his dream of bliss, "you told me +that Poland was dearer to you than I. I remember it now You refused me +your hand, and forsook me for the sake of your country." + +"But, now, beloved," said she, clinging to him, "now I am but a woman--a +woman who abandons her fatherland with all its memories, and asks but +one blessing of Heaven--the blessing of living and dying in her lover's +arms." + +"Oh, if you would not kill me, speak no more of dying, Anna! Now you are +mine--mine for life; and my heart leaps with joy as it did when first I +heard your heavenly voice. Let me hear it once more. Sing to me, my +treasure." + +She went to the harpsichord, and the emperor bent over her, smiling as +he watched the motion of her graceful hands upon the keys. She struck a +few full chords, and then glided into a melody of melancholy sweetness. +The emperor listened attentively; then, suddenly smiling, he recognized +the song which she had sung before the King of Prussia and himself. + +The words were different now. They represented Poland as a beggared +queen, wandering from door to door, repulsed by all. She is starving, +but she remembers that death will release her from shame and hunger. + +The countess was singing these lines-- + + "If life to her hath brought disgrace, + Honor returns with death's embrace--" + +when she stopped and her hands fell powerless from the instrument. The +emperor raised her head, and saw with alarm that her face was distorted +by pain. Without a word, he took her in his arms, and, carrying her +across the room, laid her gently upon the sofa. She raised her loving +eyes to his, and tried to steal her arm around his neck, but it fell +heavily to her side. Joseph saw it, and a pang of apprehension shook his +manly frame. + +"Anna!" groaned he, "what means this?" + +"Honor returns with death's embrace," whispered she. + +The emperor uttered a savage cry, and raised his despairing arms to +heaven. "And it was false," cried he, almost mad with grief--"it was +false! She had not forgotten Poland. Oh, cruel, cruel Anna!" and he +sobbed piteously, while she strove to put her trembling hand upon his +head. + +"Cruel to myself, Joseph, for I have just begun to value life. But I +swore to my mother that I would not outlive the disgrace of Poland; and +you would have ceased to love me had I violated my oath. Forgive the +pain I inflict upon you, dearest. I longed for one single hour of +happiness, and I have found it here. With my dying breath I bless you." + +"Is there no remedy?" asked he, scarcely able to speak. + +"None," said she, with a fluttering smile. "I obtained the poison from +Cagliostro. Nay--dear one, do not weep: you see that I could not live. +Oh, do not hide your face from me; let me die with my eyes fixed upon +yours!" + +"And," cried Joseph, "must I live forever?" + +"You must live for your subjects--live to be great and good, yet ever +mistrusted, ever misunderstood. But onward, my prince, and the blessing +of God be upon you! Think, too, that the Poles, my brethren, are among +your subjects, and promise me to love and cherish them?" + +"I promise." + +"Try to reconcile them to their fate--do not return their ill-will; +swear to me that you will be clement to my countrymen?" + +"I swear! I swear to respect their misfortunes, and to make them happy!" + +One last, beaming illuminated her face. "Thank you--dearest," said she, +with difficulty. "My spirit shall look out from the eye of every Pole, +to whom you will have given--one moment--of joy! Oh, what agony! +Farewell!" + +One more look--one shudder--and all was still. + +The emperor fell upon his knees by the body, and prayed long and +fervently. The little clock struck seven. The hour of happiness had +passed away forever. + +The following day, Joseph, pale, but perfectly calm, sought an interview +with his mother. + +"I come to ask leave of absence of your majesty," said he, languidly. + +"Leave of absence, my son? Do you wish to travel again so soon?" + +"I must travel, your majesty. I must make a journey to Galicia, to +become acquainted with our new subjects." + +"Perhaps it might be as well for us to show them some consideration at +this period. I had already thought of this; but I have been told that +Galicia is rather an uncivilized country, and that the people are +ill-disposed toward us." + +"We cannot expect them to love their oppressors, your majesty." + +"No--but it is a dreadful country. No roads--no inns--miles and miles of +uninhabited woods, infested by robbers. Oh, my son, postpone your +journey to a milder season! I shall be trembling for your safety." + +"There is no danger, your majesty. Give me your consent; I am very, very +desirous of visiting Poland." + +"But no vehicle can travel there at this time of year, my son." + +"I will go on horseback, your majesty." + +"But where will you get provisions, Joseph? Where will you rest at +night?" + +"I will rest wherever night overtakes me, either in a cottage, on my +horse, or on the ground. And as for food, mother, if there is food for +our people, there will be some for me; and if there should be scarcity, +it is but just that I should share their hardships. Let me go, I entreat +you." + +"Go, then, my son, and God's blessing be with you," said the empress, +kissing her son's forehead. + +"Joseph!" said she, as he was leaving the room, "have you heard that the +poor young Countess Anna has committed suicide on account of the +troubles in Poland?" + +"Yes, your majesty," replied Joseph, without flinching. + +"Perhaps you had better defer your journey for a day to attend her +funeral. All the Poles will be there; and as we both knew and admired +her, I think it would propitiate our new subjects if we gave some public +mark of sympathy by following the body to the grave. I have forbidden +mention to be made of the manner of her death, that she may not be +denied a resting-place within consecrated ground." + +How she probed his wound until the flesh quivered with agony! + +"The Countess Wielopolska is not to be interred in Austria, your +majesty," said he. "Count Kannienski will accompany the body to Poland. +Near Cracow there is a mound wherein it is said that Wanda, the first +Queen of Poland, was buried. Anna Wielopolska will share her tomb. Her +heroic spirit could rest nowhere save in Poland. When I visit Cracow I +will go thither to plant flowers upon her grave, that the white roses +she loved may grow from the consecrated earth that lies upon her heart." + + + +CHAPTER XCI. + +THE CONCERT. + +Therese Paradies was to give a concert, the first at which she had +performed since the restoration of her sight. Of course, the hall was +thronged, for in spite of the incontrovertible fact itself, and of its +corroboration by the Paradies family, there were two parties in +Vienna--one who believed in the cure, and the other who did not. Those +who did not, doubted upon the respectable testimony of Professor Barth, +Doctor Ingenhaus, and the entire faculty, who, one and all, protested +against the shameful imposition which Mesmer was practising upon an +enlightened public. + +The audience, therefore, was less interested in Therese's music, +wonderful as it was, than in her eyes; for her father had announced that +during the pauses Therese would prove to the incredulous that her cure +was no deception. + +Professor Barth, Doctor Ingenhaus, and the astronomer were there in the +front row, sneering away the convictions of all who were within hearing. +Herr Paradies now appeared, and as he stood reckoning the profits that +were to gladden his pockets on that eventful evening, Barth left his +seat and approached him. + +"You really believe, do you, that your daughter sees?" said the +professor. + +"She sees as well as I do. Were you not there to witness it yourself +when her bandage was removed?" + +"I humored the jest to see how far the impudence of Mesmer and the +credulity of his admirers would travel together. I hear curious accounts +of your daughter's mistakes, granting her the use of her eyesight. It is +said that some one presented her a flower, when, looking at it, she +remarked, 'What a pretty star!' And did she not put a hair-pin in her +mother's cheek while trying to fasten her hair?" + +"Yes, she did both these things, but I think they prove her to be making +awkward use of a new faculty. She is not likely to know the name of a +thing when she sees it for the first time; neither has she learned to +appreciate distances. Objects quite close to her she sometimes stumbles +upon, and those out of reach she puts out her hand to take. All this +will correct itself, and when Therese has become as familiar with +prospective illusions as the rest of us, she will go out into the +streets, and the world will be convinced." + +"You really believe it, then?" + +"I am as convinced of it as that I see myself." + +"It is very disinterested of you to publish it," said the professor, +looking significantly at the happy father. "This acknowledgment will +cost you a considerable sum." + +"How?" asked Von Paradies, frightened. "I do not understand." + +"It is very simple, nevertheless," said the professor, carelessly. "Does +the empress give your daughter a pension?" + +"Certainly. You know she does, and a handsome one, too." + +"Of course it is lost to her," replied Berth, enjoying the sudden +paleness which overspread the radiant face of Von Paradies. "A girl who +sees has no right to the money which is given to the blind, and I heard +Von Stork this very day saying that as soon as it was proved that your +daughter could see, he intended to apply to the empress for her pension +in behalf of another party." + +"But this pension is our chief support; it enables us to live very +comfortably. If it were withdrawn, I should be a beggar." + +"That would not alter the case. Pensions are granted to those who by +their misfortunes have a claim upon the public charity. The claim dies +from the moment that your daughter's infirmity is removed. Through the +favor of the empress she has become a scientific musician, and this now +must be her capital. She can teach music and give concerts." + +"But that will not maintain us respectably," urged Von Paradies, with +increasing uneasiness. + +"Of course it will not maintain you as you live with your handsome +pension. But you need not starve. Be that as it may, there is a blind +countess who is my patient, for whom Von Stork is to obtain the pension +as soon as you can convince the faculty that your daughter is no longer +in need of it. This patient, I assure you, will receive it as long as +she lives, for it will never enter into her head to fancy that she has +been cured by Master Mesmer." + +"But, my dear professor," entreated Von Paradies, "have mercy on me and +my family! For sixteen years we have received this income, and it had +been secured to us during Therese's lifetime." + +"Nevertheless, it goes to the countess, if she is not blind, I tell you. +The empress (so says Von Stork) has never refused a request of his +because he never asks any thing but that which is just and reasonable." + +"We are ruined!" exclaimed Von Paradies, in accents of despair. + +"Not unless you prove to us that your daughter IS NOT DECEIVING YOU," +replied Barth, with sharp emphasis. "If you can show her to be blind, +you are saved; and Von Stork would petition the empress, in +consideration of the shameful imposition practised upon your paternal +love, to increase the pension. Well--this evening's entertainment will +decide the matter. Meanwhile, adieu!" + +The professor lounged back to his seat, leaving his poisoned arrow +behind. + +"I think," said Barth, smiling, as he saw the victim writhe, "that I +have given him a receipt for his daughter's eyes that will be more +potent than Mesmer's passes. It will never do to restore the age of +miracles." + +"No, indeed; if miracles are to make their appearance upon the stage of +this world, what becomes of science?" asked Ingenhaus. + +"Let us await the end of the farce," said the professor. "Here she +comes." + +A murmur went through the hall as Therese entered. The guests rose from +their seats to obtain a sight of her. They had known her from infancy; +but to-night she was an object of new and absorbing interest, even to +the elegant crowd, who seldom condescended to be astonished at anything. + +Therese seemed to feel her position, for whereas she had been accustomed +to trip into the concert-room with perfect self-possession, she now came +timidly forward, with downcast eyes. The audience had always received +her with enthusiasm, for she was a great artiste; but now perfect +silence greeted her entrance, for nothing was remembered, save the +marvel which her appearance there was to attest. + +Whether accidentally or intentionally, several chairs were in her way as +she passed to the instrument. She avoided them with perfect confidence, +scarcely brushing them with the folds of her white satin dress. + +"She is cured! She is no longer blind!" murmured the spectators; and +with renewed curiosity, they watched her every motion. + +There were three people within the concert-room upon whom these murmurs +produced profound and dissimilar impressions. Barth frowned angrily; Von +Paradies grew paler and trembled like a coward as he was; while Mesmer, +who leaned against a pillar, fixed his eyes upon Therese with a glance +of supreme happiness. Therese returned the glance with one of such deep +trust and love, that no one who saw it could doubt her power of vision. +The audience burst out into one simultaneous storm of applause, and this +reminded the young girl that she was not alone with her "master." She +raised her eyes for the first time toward the spectators, and met every +glance directed toward herself. + +The sight of this sea of upturned faces so terrified the poor child, +that she felt faint and dizzy. She groped about with her hands, to find +a seat, for she could scarcely stand. + +The action attracted universal attention. A significant look passed +between Von Paradies and Barth, while Mesmer's brow darkened, and his +face flushed with disappointment. It was very unfortunate--that +faintness of Therese. She stood irresolute and alone, unable to advance, +and too weak to see the chair that stood close at hand. + +For some time, the audience surveyed her with breathless interest. +Suddenly the silence was broken by a voice in the crowd: + +"Will no one take pity upon the girl and lead her to the harpsichord? Do +you not see that she is as blind as ever?" + +Therese recovered herself when she heard these insulting words, and her +eyes flashed strangely for eyes that could not see. + +"I am not blind!" cried she, in a clear, firm voice, and as if the sneer +had restored her strength and self-possession, she came forward at once, +and took her seat. + +The audience applauded a second time, and Therese bowed and smiled. +While she drew off her gloves, she looked back at Mesmer, who returned +the glance with one of affectionate pride. + +Scarcely knowing what she did, Therese began to play. She kept her eyes +fixed upon Mesmer, and as she felt the power of his magnetic glance, she +soared into heights of harmony that ravished the ears of her listeners, +and left all her previous performances far behind. + +She ended with a sigh, as though awaking from some heavenly dream. Never +had she been so enthusiastically applauded as now. This time it was not +her vision, but her incomparable skill which had elicited the +acclamations of the public; and Therese, happy in her success, bowed, +and smiled again upon her admirers. + +And now the artistic exhibition was at an end. Herr von Paradies, +advancing, informed the public that they would now proceed to test the +genuineness of his daughter's cure. He then came to the edge of the +platform, and spoke in a loud, distinct voice: "I request the +distinguished company, who have brought books or music for the purpose, +to hand them to me, that we may discover whether in truth she sees, or +imagines that she sees. I beg so much the more for your attention, +ladies and gentlemen," continued he, in a faltering voice, "that this +night is to decide a fearful doubt in my own mind. Doctor Mesmer affirms +that my daughter's vision has been restored. I, alas! believe that she +is yet blind!" + +The audience expressed astonishment; Therese uttered a cry of horror, +and turned to Mesmer, who, pale and stunned by the shock of her father's +cruel words, had lost all power to come to the poor child's assistance. + +Barth was laughing behind his pocket-handkerchief. "The remedy works," +whispered he to Ingenhaus--"the remedy works." + +Two gentlemen arose. One handed a book, the other a sheet of music. As +Von Paradies turned the book over to his daughter, she gave him a +reproachful look. She opened it and read: "Emilia Galotti, by Gotthold +Ephraim Lessing." + +"And, now," continued she, "if one of the ladies present will select a +passage, and another will look over me as I read, the audience can thus +convince themselves that I see." + +One of the most distinguished ladies in Vienna approached Therese and +stood close by her side, while another, a celebrated actress, requested +her to open the book at page 71. + +Therese turned over the leaves and found the place. + +"That is right, my love," said the countess. "Now read." + +Therese began to read, and when she ended, the excitement of the people +knew no bounds. + +"She sees! She sees!" cried the people. "Who can doubt it?" + +And now from the crowd arose a voice: + +"We have enough proof. The fact is self-evident, and we may all +congratulate the fraulein upon the recovery of her sight. Let us have +more of her delightful music." + +"I am sorry that I cannot agree with Doctor Mesmer's invisible patron," +said Von Paradies. "I strive to forget that I am her father, and place +myself on the side of the incredulous public, who have a right to demand +whether indeed the days of miracles have returned." + +"My remedy does wonders," said Barth to the faculty. + +Herr von Paradies continued: "This being the case, it is easier for us +to suppose that the distinguished actress, who selected the page, has +been requested to do so, than to believe that my daughter has seen the +words just read; for this lady is known to be a follower of Doctor +Mesmer. Perhaps the countess did not remark that the corner of the leaf +is slightly turned down." + +He took the book and passed the leaves rapidly over his thumb. + +"Here it is," said he, holding it up. + +"Father!" exclaimed Therese, indignantly, "I saw you turn the leaf a few +minutes ago with your own hand." + +"SAW" cried Von Paradies, raising his hands. Then turning to the +audience, he continued: "As regards this book, it was handed to me just +now by Baron von Horka, one of Mesmer's most devoted adherents. He may +have been commissioned to select this particular work, and Therese may +be aware of it. If I am thus stringent in my acceptance of the evidence +in this case, it is because I long to possess the sweet assurance of my +dear child's complete cure." + +"Hear him," laughed Barth, touching Ingenhaus on the elbow. + +Therese, meanwhile, was growing embarrassed; and, looking to Mesmer for +encouragement she lost sight of every thing under the influence of his +eyes. Her father held the paper before her, but she was not aware of it. +The audience whispered, but Mesmer at that moment, turning away from +Therese, she sighed, and, recovering her self-possession, took the paper +and placed it before the harpsichord. + +"March, from 'OEdipus,'" said she, seating herself before the +instrument. + +"Why, Therese," cried her father, "you read the title without turning to +the title-page." + +"I saw the piece when it was handed to you by Ritter Gluck." + +"You are acquainted with Gluck?" asked Von Paradies. "He has never been +to our house." + +"I have seen him at Doctor Mesmer's," replied Therese. + +"Ah, indeed! Ritter Gluck, who hands the music, is like Baron von Horka, +who brought the book, a friend of Mesmer's," said Von Paradies, with a +sneer that affrighted his daughter and made her tremble. + +But she placed her hands upon the keys and began to play. + +The enraptured audience again forgot her eyes, and, entranced by the +music, hung breathless upon her notes, while she executed the +magnificent funeral march in "OEdipus." Suddenly, at the conclusion of a +passage of exquisite beauty, she ceased, and her hands wandered feebly +over the keys, Her father, who was turning the leaves, looked almost +scornfully at the poor girl; who, alarmed and bewildered by his +unaccountable conduct, grew deadly pale, and finally, with a deep sigh, +closed her eyes. + +After a few moments she began again. From her agile fingers dropped +showers of pearly notes, while, through all the fanciful combinations of +sound, was beard the solemn and majestic chant of the funeral march. The +audience could scarcely contain their raptures; and yet they dared not +applaud for fear of losing a note. + +She seemed to be astray in a wilderness of harmony, when her father, +with an impatient gesture, laid his hands upon her fingers and held them +down. + +"You are no longer playing by note!" exclaimed he, with affected +surprise. "You are giving us voluntaries from 'Orpheus,' instead of the +funeral march. I appeal to the public to say whether my daughter is +playing the funeral march?" + +There was a pause, then a voice, tremulous with emotion, said, "No, it +is no longer the funeral march; it is now a beautiful arrangement from +'Orpheus.'" + +Herr von Paradies, with an expression of profoundest anguish, threw his +arm around his daughter, exclaiming, "Oh, my beloved child, it is then +as I feared! We have been deceived, and you are blind for life." + +"Father!" screamed Therese, flinging him off; "father, you know--" + +"I know that you are blind," cried he, following her, and again clasping +her in his arms. "Come, my poor child, come, and fear nothing! Your +father will work for you; and his hand shall guide your faltering steps. +Oh, my child! May God forgive those who have brought this bitter +disappointment upon my head! My dream of hope is over. You are blind, +Therese, hopelessly blind, and your father's heart is broken!" + +The audience were deeply moved by this outburst of paternal grief and +tenderness. Here and there were heard half-audible murmurs of sympathy, +and many of the ladies had their handkerchiefs to their eyes. Everybody +was touched except Professor Barth. He, on the contrary, was chuckling +with satisfaction, and felt much more inclined to applaud than to +commiserate. He looked at Ingenhaus, who, not being in the secret, was +divided between sympathy for the father and indignation toward the +charlatan. Indeed, he had so far forgotten his own interest in the +scene, that he was weeping with the rest. + +"Console yourself, my friend," said Barth, "all this is the result of my +efforts in behalf of science. I deserve a public vote of thanks for +having out-mesmered Mesmer." + +He stopped--for Therese's voice was heard in open strife with her +father. "Let me go!" cried she, with passion. "I am not blind. As God +hears me, I see--but oh, how fearful have been the revelations that +sight has made to me this night!" + +Poor, poor Therese! The shock of her father's treachery had proved too +great for her girlish frame. She reeled and fell back insensible in his +arms. + +Von Paradies, with simulated anguish, turned to the audience and bowed +his stricken head. Then raising his daughter in his arms, he carried her +away from the stage. + + + + + +CHAPTER XCII. + +THE CATASTROPHE. + +Therese lay for several hours unconscious, while her mother wept, and +watched over her, and her father stood by, sullenly awaiting the result. + +At last she heaved a sigh and opened her eyes. "Where am I?" asked she, +feebly. + +"At home, darling," replied the tender mother, bending over and kissing +her. + +"No--I am in the fearful concert-room. They stare at me with those +piercing daggers which men call eyes; and oh, their glances hurt me, +mother! There they sit, heartlessly applauding my misery, because it has +shaped itself into music! Let me go; I am strong, and I SEE!" + +She attempted to rise, but her father held her back. "Lie still, my +child," said he, reproachfully; "it is in vain for you to carry this +deception further. Trust your parents, and confess that you are blind. +Were it otherwise, you would not mistake your own familiar chamber for +the vast concert-room. For Mesmer's sake, you have sought to deceive us, +but it is useless, for we know that you are blind." + +"You are blind--you are blind!" These oft-repeated words seemed fraught +with a power that almost made her doubt her own senses. She saw, and yet +she felt as if sight were receding from her eyes. + +"Oh, my God! Why will my father madden me!" cried the unhappy girl, +rising in spite of all efforts to detain her, and looking around the +room. "Ah--now I remember, I fainted and was brought home. Yes, father, +yes, I tell you that I see," cried she, wringing her hands, and writhing +with the agony he was inflicting upon her. "I see in the window the blue +flower-pot which Mesmer brought me yesterday--there opposite stands my +harpsichord, and its black and white keys are beckoning me to come and +caress them. Two open books lie upon the table, and over it are +scattered drawings and engravings. Oh, father, have I not described +things as they are?" + +"Yes, child--you have long been familiar with this room, and need not +the help of eyes to describe it." + +"And then," continued she, "I see you both. I see my mother's dear face, +tender as it was when first my eyes opened to the light of its love; +and, my father, I see you with the same frown that terrified me in the +concert-room--the same scowl that to my frightened fancy, seemed that of +some mocking fiend who sought to drive me back to blindness! What is it, +father? What has changed you so that you love your child no longer, and +seek to take the new life that God has just bestowed?" + +"God has bestowed nothing upon you, and I will no longer be the tool of +an impostor," replied he, morosely. "Am I to be the laughing-stock of +Vienna, while men of distinction see through the tricks of the +charlatan? I must and will have the strength to confess my folly, and to +admit that you are blind." + +Therese uttered a cry, and shook as though a chill had seized her. "O +God, help me!" murmured the poor girl, sinking in her mother's +outstretched arms, and weeping piteously. Suddenly she raised her head +and gradually her face brightened, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted +with a smile, and her large expressive eyes beamed with happiness. Once +more she trembled--but with joy, and leaning her head upon her mother's +shoulder, she whispered, "He comes." + +The door opened, and Mesmer's tall and commanding figure advanced toward +the group. Therese flew to meet him and grasped his hands in hers. + +"Come, master, come and shield me! God be thanked, you are here to +shelter me. If you leave again, I shall lose my sight." + +He passed his hands lightly over her face, and looked earnestly into her +eyes. + +"You are dissatisfied with me, master," said she anxiously. "You are +displeased at my childish behavior. I know that I was silly; but when I +saw those multitudinous heads so close together, all with eyes that were +fixed on me alone, I began again to feel afraid of my own race. It +seemed as if the walls were advancing to meet me--and I retreated in +terror." + +"What confused you at the harpsichord, child?" + +"The sight of the small, dazzling notes, and the singular motions of my +own fingers. I am so unaccustomed to see, that hands and notes appeared +to be dancing a mad Morrisco, until at last I grew confused and saw +nothing." + +"All this is so natural," said Mesmer sadly, "for the seat of your +infirmity lay in the nerves. And now that they require rest, you are a +prey to agitation and to tears. Unhappy Therese, there are some who seek +to plunge you back into the darkness from whence I have rescued you!" + +She put her arms upon his shoulders and sobbed, "Save me, master, save +me--I could not bear blindness now!" + +At the other end of the room stood Von Paradies and his wife. She laid +her hand upon his arm, saying imploringly: + +"What signifies all this mystery, husband? Why do you torture our little +Therese so cruelly? You know that she sees; why, then, do you--" + +"Peace!" interrupted Von Paradies angrily. "If Therese does not become +blind again, we shall lose our pension." + +"My poor child," sobbed the mother, "you are lost!" + +"I have come to your help, Therese," said Mesmer audibly. "I know all +that is passing under this roof," continued he, with a look of scorn at +her parents. "They are trying to deprive you of your sight, and they +well know that excitement and weeping will destroy it. But my name and +honor are linked with your fortunes, child; and I shall struggle for +both. I have come to take you to the villa, with my other patients. You +shall be under my wife's care, and will remain with us until your eyes +are fortified against nervous impressions. The carriage is at the door." + +"I am ready to go," replied Therese joyfully. + +"I will not suffer her to leave the house!" cried Von Paradies, striding +angrily forward. "Therese is my daughter, and shall not be torn from her +father's protection." + +"She goes with me," thundered Mesmer with eyes that flashed lightning, +like those of Olympian Zeus. "You gave her to me as a patient, and until +she is cured she belongs to her physician." + +He took Therese in his arms and carried her toward the door. But Von +Paradies, with a roar like that of some wild animal, placed himself +before it and defended the passage. + +"Let me pass," cried he. + +"Go--but first put down Therese." + +"No--you shall not deprive her of the sight I have bestowed." With these +words, he raised his muscular right arm, and swinging off Von Paradies +as if he had been a child, Mesmer passed the opening and stood outside. + +"Farewell, and fear nothing," cried he, "for your pension will not be +withdrawn. Therese is once more blind. But as God is just, I will +restore her again to sight!" + +Mesmer, however, was destined to be foiled. His enemies were richer and +more influential than he; and Von Paradies, in mortal terror for his +pension, sustained them. Von Stork obtained an order, commanding the +relinquishment of Therese to her natural guarians; and her father, armed +with the document, went and demanded his daughter. Therese flew to +Mesmer's arms, and a fearful scene ensued. It shall be described in +Mesmer's own words. + +"The father of Therese, resolved to carry her away by main force, rushed +upon me with an unsheathed sword. I succeeded in disarming him, but the +mother and daughter both fell insensible at my feet: the former from +terror, the latter because her unnatural father had hurled her against +the wall, where she had struck her head with such violence as to lose +all consciousness. Madame von Paradies recovered and went home; but poor +Therese was in a state of such nervous agony that she lost her sight +entirely. I trembled for her life and reason. Having no desire to +revenge myself upon her parents, I did all that I could to save her. +Herr von Paradies, sustained by those who had instigated him, filled +Vienna with the cry of persecution. I became an object of universal +contumely, and a second order was obtained by which I was commanded to +deliver Therese to her father." [Footnote: Justinus Kerner, "Fraaz Anton +Mesmer," p.70.] + +From this time Therese remained blind, and continued to give concerts in +Vienna, as she had done before. Barth and his accomplices were +triumphant; and Mesmer, disgusted with his countrymen, left Vienna, and +made his home in Paris. + +Therese von Paradies then, as her father asserted, was blind. Whether +she ever was any thing else, remains to this day an open question. The +faculty denied furiously that she had seen; Mesmer's friends, on the +contrary, declared solemnly that she had been restored by animal +magnetism; but that her cruel father, for the sake of the pension, had +persecuted her, and so succeeded in destroying her eyesight forever. + + + +MARIE ANTOINETTE + +CHAPTER XCIII. + +LE ROI EST MORT, VIVE LE ROI! + +It was the evening of the tenth of May, 1774. The palace of Versailles, +the seat of royal splendor, was gloomy, silent, and empty. Regality, +erst so pleasure-loving and voluptuous, now lay with crown all dim, and +purple all stained, awaiting the last sigh of an old, expiring king, +whose demise was to restore to it an inheritance of youth, beauty, and +strength. + +In one wing of the palace royalty hovered over a youthful pair, as the +genius of hope; in another it frowned upon the weak old king as the +implacable angel of death. + +Louis the Fifteenth was balancing the great account of his life--a life +of luxury, voluptuousness, and supreme selfishness. Yielding to the +entreaties of his daughters, he had sent for the Archbishop of Paris; +but knowing perfectly well that the sacraments of the church would not +be administered under a roof which was polluted by the presence of Du +Barry, the old libertine had banished her to the Chateau de Ruelles. + +But Monseigneur de Beaumontr required something more than this of the +royal sinner. He exacted that he should make public confession of his +scandalous life in presence of the court to which he had given such +shameful example. The king had struggled against such open humiliation, +but the archbishop was firm, and the fear of death predominating over +pride, Louis consented to make the sacrifice. + +For three days the courtiers had hung about the anteroom, afraid to +enter (for the king's disease was small-pox), yet afraid to take flight, +lest by some chance he should recover. But now the doors of the royal +apartments were flung wide open, and there was great trepidation among +the crowd. The archbishop in his canonicals was seen standing by the bed +of state; on one side of him stood the grand almoner, and on the other +the minister, the Duke d'Aiguillon. At the foot of the bed knelt the +daughters of the king, who in soft whispers were trying to comfort their +miserable father. + +"The king wishes to bid adieu to his friends!" cried the Duke +d'Aiguillon, in a loud voice. + +Here was a dilemma! Everybody was afraid of the small-pox, for the +handsome Marquis de Letorieres, whom Louis had insisted upon seeing, had +just died of the infection, and nobody desired to follow him. And yet +the king might outlive this attack, and then--what? + +Once more the Duke d'Aiguillon called out for the king's friends; and, +trembling from apprehension of results that might follow this latter +contingency, they entered the chamber of death. The atmosphere was +fearful. Not all the fumes of the incense which was sending its vapory +wreaths to the pictured ceilings could overpower the odor of approaching +dissolution. In vain the acolytes swung their golden censers--death was +there, and the scent of the grave. + +Breathless and with compressed lips the king's friends listened to his +indistinct mutterings, and looked upon his swollen, livid, blackened +face. Each one had hurried by, and now they all were free again, and +were preparing to fly as far as possible from the infected spot. But the +clear, solemn voice of the archbishop--that voice which so often had +stricken terror to their worldly hearts--was heard again, and he bade +them stay. + +"The king asks pardon of his subjects for the wicked and scandalous life +which he has led on earth," said the archbishop. "Although as a man he +is responsible to God alone for his deeds, as a sovereign he +acknowledges to his subjects that he heartily repents of his wickedness, +and desires to live only that he may do penance for the past and make +amends for the future." + +A piteous groan escaped from the lips of the dying monarch, but his +"friends" did not stay to hear it; they fled precipitately from the +frightful scene. + +While here a trembling soul was being driven from its earthly dwelling, +in another wing of the palace the other members of the royal family were +in the chapel at prayer. The evening services were over, and the +chaplain was reading the "forty hours' prayer," when the sky became +suddenly obscured, peal upon peal of thunder resounded along the +heavens, and night enveloped the chapel in its dismal pall of black. +Livid flashes of lightning lit up the pale faces of the royal +supplicants, while to every faltering prayer that fell from their lips +the answer came from above in the roar of the angry thunder-clap. + +There, before the altar, knelt the doomed pair, the innocent heirs of a +selfish and luxurious race of kings; whose sins were to be visited upon +their unconscious heads. No wonder they wept--no wonder they shuddered +on the dark and stormy night which heralded their reign. + +The rites were ended, and the dauphin and dauphiness went silently +together to their apartments. The few trusty attendants who were +gathered in the anteroom greeted them with faint smiles, and uttered +silent orisons in their behalf; for who could help compassionating these +two young creatures, upon whose inexperienced heads the thorny crown of +royalty was so soon to be placed? + +As they entered the door, a flash of lightning; that seemed like the +fire which smote the guilty cities of Israel, flashed athwart their +paths, and the thunder cracked and rattled above the roof as though it +had been riving that palace-dome asunder. The dauphiness cried out, and +clung to her husband's arm. He, scarcely less appalled, stood motionless +on the threshold. + +The violence of the wind at that moment had burst open some outer door. +The lights in the chandeliers were almost extinguished, and one solitary +wax-light, that had been burning in the recess of a window, went +entirely out. Regardless of etiquette, and of the presence of the royal +pair, Monsieur de Campan sprang to the chandelier, and, relighting the +candle, quickly replaced it in the window. + +The dauphin beheld the act with astonishment, for no one at that court +was more observant of decorum than Monsieur de Campan. + +"What means that light in the window?" inquired the dauphin, in his +clear, touching voice. + +"Pardon me, your highness, it is merely a ceremony," replied Monsieur de +Campan, confused. + +"What ceremony?" asked the dauphin, with surprise. + +"Your highness commands me?" + +"I request you--if the dauphiness permits," said Louis, turning to his +wife, who, almost exhausted, leaned for support against him, and bowed +her head. + +"Your majesty has given orders, that as soon as the event, which is +about to take place, has occurred, the whole court shall leave +Versailles for Choisy. Now it would not be possible to issue verbal +orders in such a moment as the one which we await; so that the master of +the horse and myself had agreed upon a signal by which the matter could +be arranged without speech. The garden du corps, pages, equerries, +coaches, coachmen, and outriders, are all assembled in the court-yard, +their eyes fixed upon this light. As soon as it is extinguished, it will +be understood that the moment has arrived when the court is to leave +Versailles." + +"The disappearance of the light, then, will communicate the tidings of +the king's death?" + +Monsieur de Campan bowed. Louis drew his wife hurriedly forward, and +passed into another room, where, with his hands folded behind him, he +walked to and fro. + +"God is just," murmured he to himself, "and there is retribution in +heaven." + +Marie Antoinette, whose large violet eyes had followed her husband's +motions, raised them to his face with a look of inquiry. She rose from +the divan on which she was sitting, and putting her small, white hand +upon the dauphin's shoulder, said: + +"What do you mean, Louis?" + +"I mean that this solitary light, for whose disappearance these people +are waiting, shines in retribution for the fearful death-bed of my +father." + +"I do not understand." + +"No, Antoinette, how should you? You have never heard the tragic story +of my father's death, have you?" + +"No, my husband," said she, tenderly; "tell it to me now." + +"I will, Antoinette. He was one of the best and truest hearts that ever +lived; and yet these selfish courtiers all forsook him in his dying +hour. He lay alone and abandoned in his room by all save my angelic +mother, who nursed him as loving woman alone can nurse. The court was at +Fontainebleau, and the dauphin's father announced that as soon as his +son had expired, they would all journey to Choisy. My father, who in an +arm-chair, was inhaling, for the last time, the balmy breath of spring, +saw these hurried preparations for departure from the open window where +he sat. He saw carriages, horses, trunks, lackeys, and equerries ready +at a moment's warning to move. He saw that the signal for the rushing +crowd to depart was to be his death. Turning to his physician, he said, +with a sad smile, 'I must not be too long in dying, for these people are +becoming impatient.'" [Footnote: Soulavie, "Memoires," etc., vol. i.] + +"Shameful!" cried Marie Antoinette, wiping away her tears. + +"Ay, more than shameful!" exclaimed Louis. "Now, you see, that the hour +of retribution has come, for once more the court grows impatient with +the length of a dying sovereign's agony. Oh, would that my noble father +were alive! How much more worthy was he to be a king than I." + +"From my heart I echo your wish," said Antoinette, fervently. "How was +it that he died so young?" + +Louis looked searchingly at the face of his young wife. "He died of a +malady whose name is an impeachment of the honor of those who survive +him," said the dauphin, sternly, "and my mother died of the same +disease. [Footnote: It was generally believed that the dauphin and his +wife were poisoned by a political party, whose leader was the Duke de +Choiseul. The royal couple belonged to the anti-Austrian party. +"Memoires de Campan," vol. i., p. 78.] But let us not throw any darker +shadows over the gloom of this heavy hour. I am stifled--I have a +presentiment of--" A loud shout interrupted the dauphin. It came nearer +and nearer, and now it reached the anteroom, where the crowding +courtiers were pouring in to greet King Louis XVI. + +The dauphin and his wife were at no loss to understand these shouts. +They exchanged glances of fear, and side by side they fell upon their +knees while, with tear-streaming eyes, they faltered. "O God have mercy +upon us, we are so young to reign!" [Footnote: "Memoires de Campan," +vol. i., p. 78.] + +The doors were thrown open, and the mistress of ceremonies of Marie +Antoinette appeared. Behind her came a multitude of lords and ladies, +their curious eyes peering at what they had never expected to see--a +royal couple assuming the purple, not with pomp and pride, but with +humility, distrust, and prayer. + +They rose, and faced their subjects. Madame de Noailles courtesied so +low that she was upon her knees. + +"Your majesties will forgive this intrusion," said she, with all the +aplomb of her dignity. "I come to request that your majesties will +repair to the state reception-room to receive the congratulations of +your royal relatives, and those of your court, who are all waiting +anxiously to do you homage." + +Such a request, from the lips of Madame de Noailles, was the exaction of +an indispensable form of court-etiquette, which the young couple dared +not evade. + +Arm in arm they went, Marie Antoinette hiding her tears with her +handkerchief, and looking inexpressibly lovely in her childish emotions, +while the loud greetings of a magnificent court hailed her as their +queen. + +While the consorts of the royal princes folded their sister-in-law in +their arms, the princes, with courtly decorum, bowed ceremoniously +before the king. + +"Permit us, sire," began the Count of Provence, "to be the first to lay +our homage at your majesty's feet, and to--" + +"My brothers, my brothers!" cried Louis, deeply affected, "is my crown +to rob me of the dear ties of kindred? Oh, do not call me king, for I +cannot afford to lose the dear companions of my childhood." + +"Sire," replied the Count of Provence, "you shall not lose them; and for +us, our gain is two-fold. We receive from God a gracious king, and +retain our much-loved brother." And the count embraced the king, who had +opened his arms to receive him. + +A quarter of an hour later, the chateau of Versailles was deserted. The +courtiers, pages, equerries, and lackeys, had all departed, delighted to +leave that infected atmosphere within whose poisonous influence the iron +rules of etiquette had detained them while Louis XV. lived. None of them +felt inclined to do homage to departed royalty. Even the Duke de +Villequier, first gentleman of the bed-chamber, in his terror, forgot +etiquette; and instead of watching the king's corpse, he, too, made +ready to go with the rest. + +"Monsieur," said the duke to Andouille, the king's physician, "I leave +you that you may be able to open and embalm the body." Andouille grew +pale, for he knew perfectly well that the performance of such a ceremony +as that, was his death-warrant. However, after a pause, he replied, "I +am ready, your grace, but you must remain to hold the king's head. It +is, as you know, a part of your duty as gentleman of the bedchamber." +[Footnote: Campan, vol. i., p. 79] + +The Duke de Villequier said nothing. He merely bowed and hurried from +the room. Andouille followed his example, but, more considerate than the +other attendants of the king, he made some provision for the deserted +corpse. He sent for one of the subordinates of the palace, and ordered +him to watch by the body. Then, going to his carriage, he saw several +hodmen lounging about, who were carrying mortar for some repairs that +were being made at the palace. The physician called them, and bade them +go tell the lord-Steward that the king's coffin must be saturated with +spirits of wine, and his winding-sheet also. + +Such were the preparations that were made for the obsequies of the +defunct king; and his body was watched by a few servants and these +hodmen whom Andouille had employed as messengers. + + + +CHAPTER XCIV. + +THE MEMORANDA. + +It was early in the morning. The court had accompanied the king and +queen to Choisy, and thither had flocked the representatives of every +class in Paris, to do homage to the king and wish him a prosperous +reign. + +The people seemed wild with joy, and nobody vouchsafed a thought to the +memory of the "Bien-aime," whose body was even now being taken to its +last rest, in the vaults of St. Denis. The funeral train was any thing +but imposing. The coffin, placed upon a large hunting-wagon, was +followed by two carriages, containing the Duke d'Ayen, the Duke +d'Aumont, and two priests. Twenty pages and as many grooms closed the +procession, which went along without attracting the notice of anybody. +The burial-service was read in the crypt, and the coffin hastily lowered +in the vault, which was not only walled up, but cemented also, for fear +the infection imprisoned within might escape from the dungeon of the +dead and infest the abodes of the living. + +Not one of the royal family had followed the body. The king was at +Choisy, and all hearts were turned to him. Thousands of men went in and +out of the palace, each one with his burden of fears, hopes, uneasiness +or expectations. Who was now to find favor at court! Would it be the +queen, or the aunts of the king? What fate awaited Du Barry? Who would +be prime minister? + +While these matters were being discussed without, the king, who had not +yet made his appearance, was in his cabinet. His disordered mien, +tangled hair, and red eyes, as well as the lights that still flickered +in the chaneliers, showed plainly that he had not been to bed that +night. + +He could not sleep. The future lowered dark and threatening before him, +and day had not brought comfort to his anxious mind. Great drops of +sweat stood upon his brow, and his face, never at the best of tunes +handsome, to-day was less attractive than ever. "I am so young!" thought +he, despondently. "I know of no man at this court, in whose honesty I +can confide. Every man of them has curried favor with that shameless +woman whose presence has defiled the throne of my ancestors, and +disgraced the declining years of my grandfather. To whom shall I turn? +Who will give counsel to a poor, inexperienced youth?" + +A slight knock was heard at the door. The king rose and opened it. + +"Monsieur de Nicolai," said Louis, surprised, as the old man stood. +before him with head inclined. "What brings you to me?" + +"The will of your deceased father, sire." + +The king stepped back and motioned him to enter. "Now speak," said he. +"I know that you were with my father on his death-bed; and I have often +sought to win your friendship, but until now leave sought in vain." + +"Sire, I was afraid that if I betrayed an interest in your majesty, I +might not be allowed to live long enough to fulfil the trust confided to +me by your father. I had sworn that on the day you ascended the throne +of France I would deliver his will to your majesty." + +"And you have preserved it? You have brought it to me?" + +"Sire, here it is," said the old nobleman, taking from his breast a +sealed package, and laying it in the king's hands. + +Louis grasped it eagerly, and deeply moved, read the address "Papers to +be delivered to whichever one of my sons ascends the throne of France." + +"Your majesty sees that I have kept my trust," said De Nicolai. + +"Oh, why is not my father here to reign in my stead!" exclaimed Louis. + +"He died, sire, that he might be spared the sight of the disgrace which +has overtaken France. He died that the world might bear witness to the +baseness of those who, since his death, have swayed the destinies of +France. He did not die in vain. Your majesty's self will profit by his +martyrdom." + +"Yes, I have heard of it all. I know the invisible hand that dealt the +death-blow to my father, my mother, and my grand-mother. I know it, +and--" + +"Sire, your majesty's father forgave his enemies; and, through me, he +prays your majesty to do likewise." + +"I will obey," said Louis, inclining his head, "and leave the guilty to +the vengeance of Heaven. " + +"And now, sire, that my mission is accomplished, allow me to retire, and +let me entreat you to lay your father's words to heart." + +"I will do so, I promise you. Can I do aught to serve you?" + +"No, your majesty, I have nothing to ask of man." + +The king gave him his hand, and followed him with wistful eyes until the +door had closed behind him. + +"Oh, how beggared seems a king, when he has nothing wherewith to +recognize the loyalty and love of his friends!" thought Louis, with a +weary sigh. + +He took up the packet and read: "Treaty concluded between Louis XV. and +Maria Theresa, on the 1st of May, 1756. Arguments to prove that, sooner +or later, the Austrian alliance will be an injury to France." + +The king turned over the pages and read the following: + +"Whichever one of my sons is called to the throne of Louis XV. let him +hearken to the warning of his father. Beware, my son, of entanglements +with Austria. Never seek the hand of an Austrian princess; for marriages +with Austria have brought no blessing to France." + +The king sighed heavily, and his head sank upon his breast. "Too +late--too late, my father! My fate is decided!" And Louis took up the +second memorandum. + +"List of persons whom I recommend to my son, the King of France." + +"Ah!--this is the guide I was seeking. Let me see. First,--`Monsieur de +Maurepas--a statesman who has steadily opposed the policy advocated by +La Pompadour.' That is well--I shall recall him from banishment. +'Messieurs de Machault, de Nivernois, de Muy Perigord, de Broglie, +d'Estaing, and others--all men of honor.' How far-sighted was my father, +in recommending these men! They are the very nobles who have kept aloof +from the late king's mistresses. With one exception, I adopt the list; +but there is one among them, who stooped to be a flatterer of Du Barry. +The Duke d'Aiguillon is certainly a statesman, but he cannot be of my +ministry." + +Here the king paused, perplexed to know who should be appointed in +D'Aiguillon's place. Suddenly his face brightened, and he rose from his +chair. + +"Marie Antoinette," thought he, "I will advise with her. Though we may +not love one another, we are friendly; and she has a right to my +confidence. Besides, she is intelligent and principled." + +Here the king took up his memoranda, and prepared to seek his wife. He +had gotten as far as the door, when his expression changed again, and +his face once more wore a look of blank despondency. With a grieved and +perplexed mind, he returned to the table. + +"No, no," sighed he, falling back into his chair, "that will never do. +She is an Austrian; and her policy would be in direct opposition to that +of my father." + +For some time the poor young king sat in profound discouragement. +Finally, with a long, weary sigh, he raised his head, and began to +reflect again. At last he solved he difficult problem. "Ah!--I have it +now," thought he, heartily relieved. "I will go to Madame Adelaide. She +was my mother's dearest friend and my father's favorite sister. She +shall be my counsellor. I believe that, with her assistance, I may +succeed in carrying out the policy dictated by my father." + +He gathered up his papers, and went into the anteroom, where he ordered +a page to go to Madame Adelaide, and say that the king would visit her +if she could conveniently receive him. [Footnote: Madame Adelaide, an +anti-Austrian, and, therefore, one of the queen's enemies was, +throughout his whole reign, the counsellor of her nephew.] + + + +CHAPTER XCV. + +FRANCE AND AUSTRIA. + +While the king was closeted with Madame Adelaide, the queen, on her +side, was receiving her royal household. This ceremony over, she had +gladly retired to the privacy of her own room, there to restore order to +her confused mind. + +But her rest was not of long duration, for presently came Monsieur de +Campan to announce the visit of the Austrian ambassador. + +The queen received him most cordially, rising from her seat, and +advancing a few steps to meet him. Madame de Noailles, who, conforming +to etiquette, had entered with Monsieur de Campan, and was to remain in +the room during the interview, was shocked at the queen, and frowned +visibly. + +Marie Antoinette paid no attention to her. She reached her hand to Count +von Mercy, and allowed him to press it to his lips. + +Again Madame de Noailles was horror-stricken. The kissing of the queen's +hand was a state ceremonial, and was inadmissible in private. + +The queen had forgotten the existence of her mistress of ceremonies. +With sparkling eyes and beaming smiles she greeted the old count, who, +to her, was the representative of all that she loved--her mother, her +sisters, and her native country. + +"Have you news for me from Vienna, count?" said she, in a voice whose +tones were strikingly like those of her mother. + +"I bring to your majesty letters of condolence and of congratulation +from the empress and the emperor." + +"Why, you must be a conjurer, count. Our reign is not twenty-four hours +old yet, and you bring us congratulations from Vienna?" + +"I will explain, your majesty," said the old count, with a smile. "You +remember, that more than a week ago the king lay in a stupor, which, for +some hours, was supposed to be death. During his stupor, my courier +started for Vienna, and the messenger sent after him, to stop the +dispatches, arrived too late. The answers had been sent, and there are +the congratulatory letters." + +The count handed his papers, and as the queen cast down her beautiful +eyes to read the address, she exclaimed, joyfully: + +"My mother's handwriting and my brother's!" + +She broke the seal of the empress's letter, and her countenance fell. + +"Nothing but official papers," said she, sighing and putting them on the +table. "I know the contents of Joseph's letter without reading it. Have +you no news for me from Vienna? Think of something to tell me from home, +dear count." + +Count von Mercy cast a stolen glance at the mistress of ceremonies, who, +stiff and watchful, stood close by the side of the queen's chair. Marie +Antoinette understood the look. + +"Madame de Noailles" said she, turning with a smile to address her, "you +will not, I hope, think me rude, if I request you to allow me a few +moments interview with Count von Mercy. He has something to say to me +that is of a strictly confidential nature." + +The mistress of ceremonies did not appear to have heard a word of this +address. Marie Antoinette reddened, and threw back her head. + +"I request Madame de Noailles," repeated she, changing her tone, "to +retire into the reception-room. I wish to speak with Count von Mercy +alone." + +"I must be permitted to say that your majesty's request cannot be +granted," replied Madame de Noailles. "No Queen of France is permitted +to receive a foreign ambassador otherwise than in the presence of the +court. I shall have to ask his majesty's pardon for a breach of decorum, +which I was too late to prevent--the reception of the ambassador here +with myself alone to witness the interview." + +The queen's eyes flashed with anger as she listened to this presumptuous +language. + +"You will have to ask pardon of no one but myself, madame, for your +unseemly language to your sovereign." + +"Excuse me, your majesty, I perform my duty, and this requires of me to +see that no one here commits any breach of court etiquette. The laws of +etiquette are as binding upon the queen as upon her subjects--and she +cannot infringe them." + +"I announce to you, madame, that no laws of yours shall be binding upon +me. The Queen of France is here to make laws--not to receive them. And +for the last time I command you to quit this room, and to leave me alone +with the representative of my imperial mother." + +Madame de Noailles made a deep courtesy, and backed out of the room. + +Marie Antoinette looked after her, until the last traces of her long +train had vanished, and the silk portiere had fallen in its place. + +"Ah!" said she, taking a long breath, "at last I have gained a victory. +It is now my turn to lecture, and madame has received her first +scolding. Well, count, now that she is fairly off, what have you to tell +me from Vienna?" + +Count von Mercy looked toward the door, and having convinced himself +that it was well closed, he drew from his pocket a package, and +presented it to the queen. + +Marie Antoinette hastily tore open the seals and began to read. + +"Oh!" said she, with a disappointed look, "this is no private letter. It +is nothing but a letter of instructions, directing me how to win the +king's confidence, so as to influence his policy and secure a new ally +to Austria. The empress need not remind me that I must look to the +interests of the house of Hapsburg. The Queen of France will never +forget that she is the daughter of Maria Theresa, and she will do all in +her power to promote an alliance between France and Austria. Tell my +mother that I never will cease to be her subject, and that her interests +shall always be mine. And now for the other mission." + +"Good Heaven!" cried she, after opening the letter, "more politics." She +looked down the page, and read: "Personages whom I recommend as suitable +for the counsellors and household of the king." + +This was quite a long list in the empress's handwriting, and at its head +stood the name of the Duke de Choiseul. "The Queen of France must use +every effort to secure his appointment as minister, for he is sincerely +attached to us." + +Many other distinguished names were there; but not one of those which +had been mentioned by the king's father. + +"I will preserve this paper with care," said Marie Antoinette, burying +her letters deep in her pocket. "No doubt, you know their contents, +count. A postscript says, 'Consult frequently with Mercy;' so let us +begin at once." + +"Will your majesty not read the letter of the emperor?" + +"Why should I read it now? It grieves me to see these political +documents from the hands of dear relatives who ought to write to me of +home and love. I will put it with the official letter of the empress for +the king to read." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, but I do not think it is official." + +"Read it for me, then," said the queen, throwing herself back in the +deep recesses of her arm-chair. "I have confidence enough in you to be +willing that you shall see my brother's letter, should it even be a +private one." + +Count von Mercy bowed, and unfolded the letter, which was as follows: + +"Madame: I congratulate you upon your husband's accession to the throne +of France. He will repair the faults of his predecessor's reign, and win +the love of his people. The French nation has groaned under the +inflictions of a king who not only proscribed parliament, but intrusted +every office of state to his favorites. He banished De Choiseul, +Malesherbes, and Chalotais; and in their stead elevated the Maurepas, +the D'Aiguillons, and that hateful Abbe Terray, who, for rapacity, were +none of them better than Du Barry--and thus he ended by losing the love +of his subjects. I have often pitied Louis XV. for degrading himself as +he did before the eyes of his family, his subjects, and the world. + +"Unite your efforts to those of your husband, that you may win the love +of the French nation. Leave no stone unturned to secure their affection, +for, by so doing, you will prove a blessing to your people. + +"Strengthen our alliance with France, and apply yourself to the mission +for which you were educated--that of peace-maker between two of the most +important powers of Europe. + +"I kiss your hands, and remain, with the highest esteem and +consideration, your majesty's friend and brother, + +"Joseph." [Footnote: "Letters of Joseph II, as Characteristic +Contributions," etc., p. 20.] + +"You are right, count," said the queen, as the ambassador concluded his +reading. "This is no official document, but a most significant letter of +instructions. I am expected to preserve peace between France and +Austria. Ah, I fear that I am not calculated to walk the slippery arena +of politics, and I confess to you that I feel in no wise drawn toward +it. It does seem to me that a queen of nineteen may be pardoned if she +feels some desire to enjoy life. I intend to begin by breaking the +fetters which have hitherto made such wretched puppets of the queens of +France; and before long you will see the workings of my court +revolution. But there is one thing near to my heart, which you must +assist me to compass. The Duke de Choiseul must be minister of foreign +affairs. I know that he desires it, and I am under obligations to him +which deserve some return. I owe it to him that I am Queen of France. +Now, if I succeed in elevating Choiseul to the ministry," continued the +queen, with an appealing smile, "I hope that Austria will be satisfied, +and will allow me to retire from the field. The Duke de Choiseul will be +a much abler auxiliary than I, near the king. We must, therefore, have +him recalled." + +"The duke arrived in Paris from Chanteloup this morning, but does not +think it advisable to present himself, until he receives a message from +the king." + +"I shall see that the message is sent," said Marie Antoinette, +confidently. "The king will not refuse me, I know. You shrug your +shoulders, count. Do you think it doubtful?" + +"Your majesty condescends to speak confidentially with me," said the +count, seriously. "I am an old servant of your house, and my hair has +grown gray in its service. In consideration, then, of the deep affection +which I have ever felt for your majesty, will you allow me to speak with +you frankly?" + +"I implore you, count, to do so." + +"Then, your majesty, let me warn you to be careful. Things do not work +at this French court as they ought to do. Your majesty has bitter +enemies, who await an opportunity to declare themselves openly. The +Count of Provence and the aunts of the king are at the head, and, +believe me, they are watchful spies." + +"Oh, my God!" cried the poor young queen, "what have I done to earn +their enmity?" + +"You are an Austrian princess, and that suffices for them. Your marriage +was a victory over the anti-Austrian party, for which the Duke de +Choiseul never will be forgiven; and as for yourself, if you give them +the opportunity, they will not scruple to take revenge upon your own +royal person. The Count of Provence has a sharp tongue, and his aunts +and himself will spare no means to wound or to injure you. Therefore, +pardon me, if again I bid you beware of your enemies. There is Madame de +Noailles, for instance, she belongs to the most powerful families in +France, and the French nation regard her as the palladium of the queen's +honor. Your majesty cannot afford to offend her. It would be a great +misfortune for you, if she should resign her office; for her resignation +would place on the list of your enemies all the most influential nobles +in France." + +"Is that all?" asked the queen, with a painful blush. + +"Yes, your majesty; and I thank you for your condescension in listening +so long." + +"Then hear me," said Marie Antoinette, rising and standing proudly +before him. "You tell me that I have enemies. Be it so, and may God +forgive them! But it were unworthy the daughter of Maria Theresa to +stoop to conciliate them. With visor raised, and front exposed, I stand +before them. My blameless life shall be my defence, for I will so live +that all France shall be my champions. As for Madame de Noailles, I will +make no concessions to her. My virtue needs no more protection from +etiquette than that of any other woman. Heretofore the Queens of France +have been nothing but Marionettes in the hands of their high-born +duennas. I intend to transform the puppets into women, whom the French +nation can love and esteem, for I wish my people to know that their +queen's virtue is not a thing of form, but the veritable overflowing of +a heart aspiring to perfection." + +"Right royally spoken!" said a soft voice behind, and the queen +starting, beheld the king, who, having opened the door quietly, had +heard her last words. + + + +CHAPTER XCVI. + +THE KING'S LIST. + +Marie Antoniette, with a happy smile, gave her hand to her husband. He +raised it to his lips, and kissed it so fervently that his young wife +blushed with pleasure. + +"Do you know what brings me to you, Antoinette?" said he gayly. "The +deadly anxiety of good Madame Etiquette. She met me in the anteroom, and +confessed that she had been guilty of the crime of leaving the queen +alone with a foreign ambassador. To relieve her mind, I promised to come +hither myself, and put an end to the treason that was hatching between +France ad Austria." + +"Ah!" said Marie Antoinette, with a bewitching pout, "then you came, not +to see me, but to save Madame Etiquette a fit of the vapors." + +"I made use of her as a pretext to intrude myself upon you," said the +king with embarrassment. + +"Oh, your majesty well knows that you need no pretext to come in my +presence!" said Marie Antoinette, eagerly. + +"Certainly, I require it just now, for I have broken up a charming +tete-a-tete," said the king, bowing to Von Mercy. + +"The count has brought me letters from the empress," said Marie +Antoinette, "And what do you suppose they were? Congratulations upon our +accession to the throne." + +The king smiled, but expressed no surprise. + +"What, you are not surprised!" said the queen. "Do you take the count +for a sorcerer?" + +"I take him for a true and loyal friend of his sovereign," said Louis, +"and I only wish that I possessed one as faithful. But I am not at all +astonished to hear of the congratulations, since the courier started off +with the news a week ago." + +"Your majesty knew it, then?" + +"A king must know all things," said he gravely. "Are you not of my +opinion, count? Is it not proper that a sovereign should possess a +knowledge of every important letter which comes into his kingdom or +leaves it?" + +"I believe so, your majesty," replied the count, somewhat confused. + +"I am convinced of it, and so is the Empress of Austria," said the king, +with a laugh. "She is admirably well posted in all that concerns foreign +courts, and not a document leaves the French embassy in Vienna of which +she has not a copy. Is it not so, Count von Mercy?" + +"I do not believe, sire, that there is any person in the French embassy +capable of betraying the interests of his country, or of revealing its +secrets." + +"Then change your creed, count, for in every country there are men open +to bribery. But," continued he, turning to the queen, "we have wandered +from our subject--your majesty's letters from Vienna. Have you good +news?" + +"It is merely official, sire," replied the queen, handing the letter to +the king. + +Louis looked it over; then replacing it upon the table, said, "And the +other letters?" + +"Which other letters?" asked the queen. + +"Did you not tell me there were several?" + +"No, sire," replied the queen, reddening. + +"What fables men do invent!" exclaimed the king. "A courier has just +arrived from the French embassy, in Vienna, with dispatches informing us +that Count von Mercy had received for your majesty one official letter +from the empress, and two private letters of instruction, one of which +contained a list of persons recommended by her majesty; and, finally, a +fourth missive, private, from the Emperor Joseph. And all this is pure +invention, Count von Mercy?" + +"It is, your majesty," said the count, with much embarrassment, while +Marie Antoinette cast down her eyes, and blushed. + +The king enjoyed their confusion for a while; he seemed to take pleasure +in this first triumph of his regal power, and a smile flitted over his +rather clumsy features. + +"You see, then," continued he, "that I have received false intelligence, +and it is evident that Austrians are less corrupt than Frenchmen, for I +am told that Count von Mercy and Prince Kaunitz are au fait to every +thing that transpires in the palace here. Be that as it may, we intend +to follow the example of the queen. Our policy shall be so frank and +honorable that all the world may know it and welcome. But--it occurs to +me that the mistress of ceremonies is in great anguish of mind. She will +not recover her equanimity until she sees you again, count." + +"In that case, your majesty, I beg leave to retire," replied the count. + +The king bowed, and the queen gave him her hand. + +As the count was about to raise the portiere, the king called him back. +"Do you send a courier to Vienna to-day?" asked his majesty. "Yes, sire, +in one hour." + +"Then let me impart to you a secret which I think will interest her +imperial majesty of Austria--my new ministry." + +"How! has your your majesty already chosen them?" asked Marie +Antoinette, anxiously. + +The king nodded. "It was my first sacred duty to seek guides for my +inexperience, and I have chosen ministers who are able statesmen, and +have already served before." + +The queen's eyes brightened, and even Count von Mercy seemed surprised +and pleased. + +"Do, your majesty, let us have their names," said Marie Antoinette. + +"First, Monsieur de Maurepas." + +The queen uttered an exclamation. "The minister of the regency, who has +been banished for forty years!" + +"The same. He was a friend of my father. He will be prime minister; and +as I am so unfortunate as to have to bear the weight of royalty at +twenty years, I have taken care to select old and experienced men as my +counsellors." + +"And who is to succeed the Duke d'Aiguillon?" cried Marie Antoinette, +"for I presume that your majesty intends to give him his dismissal." + +"I would be glad to retain him as my minister," said the king, +pointedly, "for his policy is identical with mine. He has the interests +of France at heart, and has never suffered himself to be led away by +foreign influence. But unluckily, he was too intimate with Du Barry, and +on this ground I shall dismiss him." + +"And his successor?" asked the queen, scarcely able to restrain her +bitter disappointment. + +"His successor is the Count do Vergennes." + +"De Vergennes!" cried the queen, scornfully. "He who married a slave in +Constantinople?" + +"Ah, you have heard that ridiculous story, which was invented by +Monsieur de Choiseul? Nobody here ever believed it; and let me tell you +that the Countess de Vergennes enjoys the esteem and consideration of +all who know her. Vergennes himself is a man of talent, and will do me +good service. The other ministers are: for the war department, Count de +Muy; for the minister of finance, instead of that hateful Abbe +Terray--(was not that the emperor's expression?)--I have chosen Count de +Clugny." + +"Count de Clugny!" said Marie Antoinette, again beginning to hope. "Does +your majesty mean the friend of the Duke de Choiseul?" + +"Himself, madame," said the king, coolly. "And while you are speaking of +Monsieur de Choiseul, I am reminded that this is not the first time his +name has been mentioned to-day. You, Count von Mercy, are a friend of +his--I am not. You can, therefore, tell me whether it is true that he +has left Chantoloup, wither the deceased king had banished him." + +"Yes, sire, the Duke de Choiseul arrived this morning in Paris." + +"What can he want in Paris?" asked the king, with an unconscious look. +"Why did he leave Chanteloup? It seems to me that for the man who is so +lucky as to have a landed estate, this is the very time of year to stay +there. You had better advise your friend to return to the country. And +now, count, you know all that I have to tell, and I will detain you no +longer. Madame de Noailles must be in despair. Comfort her by informing +her that you left the Queen of France in the company of her husband." + + + +CHAPTER XCVII. + +THE FIRST PASQUINADE. + +The court had left Choisy for the Chateau de la Muette, near Paris. Here +the queen was to hold her first public levee, and her subjects longed to +appear before her, for the Parisians were enthusiastic admirers of grace +and beauty. Marie Antoinette had won their hearts by refusing to accept +the tax called "La ceinture de la reine." This tax was the perquisite of +the Queen of France on her accession to the throne. But having +discovered that the nobles had managed to evade it and cast the burden +of taxation upon the poor, Marie Antoinette had requested her husband's +leave to relinquish her right to it. Like wildfire the news of the young +queen's generosity spread throughout Paris; and in all the streets, +cafe, and cabarets the people were singing this couplet + +"Vous renoncez, charmante souveraine, Au plus beau de vos revenus; A +quol vous serviraiio la celnture de refine, Vous avez celle de Venus." + +They sang, they shouted, and made merry, happy in the possession of a +young king, and a beautiful queen, casting never a thought toward him +who, years before, had been surnamed Le Bien-aime.[Footnote: "Memoires +de Weber," vol. i., p. 43.] + +One speculating jeweller, alone, honored the memory of the deceased +king, and made his fortune thereby. He manufactured a mourning +snuff-box, of black shagreen, whose lid was ornamented with a portrait +of the queen. He called his boxes "La consolation, dans le +chagrin,"[Footnote: "Mbmoires de Madame de Campan" vol. i., p. 91.] and +his portrait and pun became so popular, that in less than a week he had +sold a hundred thousand of these boxes.[Footnote: This word "chagrin," +signifies not only grief, but also that preparation of leather, which, +in English, is called "shagreen." Hence the pun.] + +Louis, also, had his share of the national good-will. He renounced the +tax called "Le joyeux avenement;" and to commemorate the act, another +snuff-box made its appearance in Paris as a pendant to the "Consolation +in Grief." The king's box contained the portraits of Louis XII. and +Henry IV. Below these, was his own likeness, with the following +inscription: "Les peres du peuple, XII et IV. font XVI." These boxes +were as popular as those of the queen, and Louis and Marie Antoinette +were the idols of the Parisians. + +"Long live the king!" was the cry from morn till night. Hope brightened +every eye, and reigned in every heart. The people dreamed of peace, +happiness, and plenty, and the fashions symbolized their state of mind. +The women dressed their heads with ears of wheat, and ate their dragees +from cornucopias. The men poured out their enthusiasm in sonnets and +addresses, and every thing in France was couleur de rose. + +Couleur de rose--with one exception. The anti-Austrian party frowned, +and plotted, and hated. Exasperated by the enthusiasm which the +beautiful young queen inspired, they watched her every motion, eager to +magnify the most trivial imperfection into crime; hoping, sooner or +later, to render her obnoxious to the French people, and finally, to +compass the end of all their wicked intrigues--a separation between the +king and queen, and the disgrace and banishment of Marie Antoinette to +Austria. + +It was the day of the grand reception, at La Muette, where every lady +having a right to appear at court might come uninvited and be presented +to the queen. The great throne-room was prepared for the occasion; and +although its decorations were black, they were tastefully enlivened with +white and silver. The throne itself was covered with black velvet, +trimmed with silver and fringe. Hundreds of ladies thronged the room, +all with their eyes fixed upon the door through which the queen and her +court must make their entrance. + +The folding-doors were thrown wide open, and, announced by her mistress +of ceremonies, Marie Antoinette appeared. + +A murmur of admiration was heard among the crowd. Never had the queen +looked so transcendently lovely as she did to-day in her dress of deep +mourning. She seemed to feel the solemnity of her position as +queen-consort of a great nation, and the expression of her face was +tranquil and dignified. No woman ever represented royalty with better +grace than Marie Antoinette, and the old coquettes of the regency and of +the corrupt court of Louis XV. were awed by her stateliness. They could +not but confess that they were in the presence of a noble and virtuous +woman; therefore they disliked her, whispering one to the other, "What +an actress!" + +Marie Antoinette took her seat upon the throne. On her right and left +were the royal family, and behind them the ladies of the court. Opposite +stood Madame de Noailles, whose duty it was to present those who were +unknown to the queen. + +The presentation began. Forth in their high-heeled shoes came the +noble-born widows, who, old and faded, were loath to forget that in the +days of the regency they had been blooming like the queen, and who, in +happy ignorance of their crow's feet and wrinkles, were decked in the +self-same costumes which had once set off their roses and dimples. + +It was a ludicrous sight--these ugly old women, with their jewels and +patches, their extraordinary head-dresses and their deep, courtesies, +painful by reason of the aching bones of three-score and ten. The young +princesses dared not raise their eyes to these representatives of +by-gone coquetry, for they were afraid to commit a crime--they were +afraid that they might laugh. But the ladies of honor, safe behind the +hoops of the queen and her sisters-in-law made merry over the +magnificent old ruins. Madame de Noailles was so busy with the front, +that she overlooked the rear, where the lively young Marquise de +Charente Tounerre, tired of standing, had glided down and seated herself +comfortably on the floor. Neither could she see that the marquise, in +the exuberance of her youthful spirits, was pulling the other ladies by +their skirts, and amusing them with mimicry of the venerable coquettes +before mentioned; so that while etiquette and ceremony were parading +their ugliness in front of the throne, behind it, youth and beauty were +tittering and enjoying the absurd pageant in utter thoughtlessness of +all consequences. + +The mistress of ceremonies was in the act of presenting one of the most +shrivelled and most elaborately dressed of the ancients, when the queen, +attracted by the whispering behind, turned her head in the direction of +her ladies of honor. There on the floor, sat the Marquise de Charente +Tounerre, imitating every gesture of the old comtesse; while the others, +including the princesses themselves, were pursing up their lips, and +smothering their laughter behind handkerchiefs and fans. The drolleries +of the marquise were too much for the queen. She turned away in terror, +lest they should infect her with untimely levity, and just at that +moment the comtesse made precisely such a courtesy as the marquise was +making behind her. + +Marie Antoinette felt that her dignity was departing. She straggled to +recall it, but in vain; and instead of the stately inclination which it +was her duty to return, she suddenly opened her fan to hide the mirth +which she was unable to control. + +The gesture was seen not only by the austere mistress of ceremonies, but +by the comtesse herself, who, furious at the insult, looked daggers at +the queen, and omitting her third courtesy, swept indignantly to her +place. + +A short pause ensued. Madame de Noailles was so shocked that she forgot +to give the signal for another presentation. The queen's face was still +buried under her fan, and the princesses had followed her example. +Discontent was manifest upon the countenances of all present, and the +lady whose turn it was to advance did so with visible reluctance. + +Marie Antoinette recovered her self-possession, and looked with perfect +serenity toward the high and mighty duchess, whose titles were being +pompously enumerated by the punctilious mistress of ceremonies. As ill +luck would have it, this one was older, uglier, and more strangely +bedizened than all the others together. The queen felt a spasmodic +twitch of her face; she colored violently, and opening her fan again, it +was evident to all that assemblage of censorious dames that for the +second time youth and animal spirits had prevailed over decorum. + +In vain Marie Antoinette sought to repair the contretemps. In vain she +went among them with her sweetest smiles and most gracious words. Their +outraged grandeur was not to be appeased--she had offended beyond +forgiveness. + +The Areopagus sent forth its fist. The queen was a frivolous woman; she +had that worst of failings--a taste for satire. She despised all +conventionalities, and trampled all etiquette under foot. + +On that day the number of her enemies was increased by more than a +hundred persons, who attacked her with tongues sharper than two-edged +swords. The first thrust was given her on the morning that followed the +reception; and the same people who a few days before had been singing +her praises on the Pont-neuf, were equally, if not better pleased with +the ballad of "La Reine moqueuse," of which the cruel refrain was as +follows: + +"Petite reine de vingt ails Vous qui traitez si mal les gens, Vous +repasserez la barriere Laire, laire, laire, lanlaire, lanla." [Footnote: +"Memoires de Madame de C'ampan," vol. i., pp. 90, 91.] + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII. + +THE NEW FASHIONS. + +The queen had submitted to a state of things which she felt to be +irremediable. She had renounced all idea of interceding with the king +for De Choiseul, for she felt that interference on her part would be +resented; and she could not afford to lessen, by so much as a shade, the +kindly feelings which her husband had begun to manifest toward her. + +Louis appeared to have no greater happiness than that which he found in +his wife's society. They were often seen wandering in the shady walks of +the palace gardens, talking, jesting, and laughing together, as might +have done any other young couple, unencumbered by the burden of royalty. +It had even happened to Louis to steal an arm around the graceful form +of the queen, and once or twice to bestow a shy kiss upon her ivory +shoulders. + +The heart of the king was thawing; and Marie Antoinette, who had so +longed and pined for his regard, sometimes blushed, while with beating +heart she indulged a hope that the king was falling in love. + +She sought, by every means in her power, to please him; and she who, +hitherto, had seemed indifferent to dress, now bestowed hours of thought +upon the toilet of the day. + +The anti-Austrian party, the royal aunts, the brothers of the king, and +the Orleans family, all her enemies, observed this new taste for dress +with secret satisfaction. Not one of them suspected that it was aimed at +the heart of the king; and that Marie Antoinette, whom they were +deriding as a coquette, was coquetting with her husband, and dressing +for him alone. So they flattered and encouraged her, hoping to divert +her mind from politics, and urge her on to ruin. + +The Duchess of Chartres had mentioned to the queen a Parisian modiste, +who had instituted a complete revolution in dress. This wonderful +modiste, whose taste in modes was exquisite, was Mademoiselle Bertin. +The duchess had described her dresses, laces, caps, and coiffures, with +so much enthusiasm, that Marie Antoinette grew impatient with curiosity, +ordered her carriage, and sent a message to Madauie de Noailles to +prepare to accompany her at once to Bertin's establishment. + +Madame received this message with indignation, and instead of making +ready to obey, went in hot haste to the queen's reception room. + +"I wish to drive to Bertin's to make some purchases," said Marie +Antoinette, as her tormentor appeared at the door. + +"That is impossible, your majesty," said the guardian of the inferno of +etiquette. "No Queen of France has ever set foot within the precincts of +a shop, or has ever appeared in a public place of that sort. It would be +such an egregious breach of etiquette, that I am convinced your majesty +will not be guilty of it." + +"Well," said the queen, with a scornful laugh, "I will not disturb your +virtuous convictions. I will not be guilty of that which no Queen of +France has ever stooped to do, so that you can have Bertin sent to the +palace, and I can examine her goods here." + +"Here! Your majesty would receive a modiste in your reception room!" +cried De Noailles, rolling up the whites of her eyes. "I beseech your +majesty to remember that none but the noble ladies, who have the +privilege of the tabouret, are allowed to enter the queen's +reception-room." + +The queen bit her rosy lips. "Well, then, madame," said she, "I will +receive Bertin in my own cabinet. I presume there can be no objections +to that; and, if there were, I should certainly not heed them." + +"The duty of my office, nevertheless, obliges me to remark to your--" + +"There is no office at this court which justifies any one in a direct +disobedience of the queen's orders. Go, then, madame, and order that +Bertin be sent to me in an hour." + +"Oh!" murmured Marie Antoinette, as the mistress of ceremonies slowly +retreated, "that woman's sole delight in life is to irritate and annoy +me!" + +An hour later, Mademoiselle Bertin made her appearance before the queen. +Four royal lackeys followed her, laden with band-boxes. + +"Mademoiselle," said the queen, "have you brought me the latest +fashions?" + +"No, your majesty," replied Bertin, reverentially, "I bring the +materials wherewith to fill your majesty's orders." + +"Were you not told to bring your samples of fashions?" asked Marie +Antoinette, with surprise. + +"Your majesty, there are no new fashions," said Bertin. "Your majesty's +word is necessary to create them. A queen does not follow the fashion, +it follows her." + +"Ah! you intend that I shall invent now fashions?" + +"Yes, your majesty. The Queen of France cannot stoop to wear that which +has already been worn by others." + +"You are right," said the queen, pleased by the flattery of the shrewd +modiste." Make haste, and show me your goods, that I may begin at once +to set the fashions to the court. It will be quite an amusement to +invent new modes of dress." + +Mademoiselle Bertin smiled, and, opening her boxes, exhibited her goods. +There were the beautiful silken fabrics of Lyons; the shimmering white +satin, besprinkled with bouquets that rivalled nature; there were heavy, +shining velvets, heightened by embroidery of gold and silver; laces, +from Alencon and Valenciennes, whose web was as delicate as though elfin +fingers, had spun the threads; muslins, from India, so fine that they +could only he woven in water; crapes, from China, with the softness of +satin and the sheen of velvet; there were graceful ostrich-plumes from +Africa, and flowers from Paris, so wondrous in their beauty that nothing +was wanting to their perfection save perfume. + +Marie Antoinette flitted from one treasure to another; her white hands +at one moment deriving new beauty from the dark velvets upon which they +rested; at another, looking lovelier than ever, as they toyed with the +transparent laces. There was nothing queenly about her now. She was +merely a charming woman, anxious to outshine all other women in the eyes +of one man. + +When Mademoiselle Berlin took her leave, the queen gave her orders to +return to the palace daily. "One thing I shall exact of you, +mademoiselle, you shall disclose the secret of my toilet for the day to +nobody; and the fashions shall be made public at the end of one week." + +Mademoiselle Bertin, with a solemnity befitting the importance of her +office, swore that henceforth the hands which had been honored by +carrying out the ideas of a queen, should never work for lesser mortals; +that her dresses should be made with closed doors, and that she would +rather be led to execution than betray to a living soul the mysteries of +her royal patroness's toilet. [Footnote: Mademoiselle Bertin, from that +day, became an important personage, and received many a rich present +from noble ladies anxious to imitate the queen in dress.] + + + + + +CHAPTER XCIX + +THE TEMPLE OF ETIQUETTE. + +The hour for the queen's toilet was one of ravishment to Madame de +Noailles; for it was a daily glorification of that etiquette which she +worshipped, and which Marie Antoinette abhorred. In that hour, its +chains were on her hands and feet. She could neither breathe, speak, nor +move, but within the narrow limits of its weary exactions. + +The queen's toilet, then, was Madame de Noailles' triumph; and she +always made her appearance in the dressing-room with an air of supreme +satisfaction. + +The first lady of honor poured the water into the golden basin, and +Marie Antoinette, who at least had the privilege of washing her own +hands, stood patiently waiting until the towel had been passed by a lady +of the bedchamber to the same lady of honor who had poured out the +water. The latter, on one knee, gave the towel, and the queen wiped her +hands. + +The second act of the royal toilet began at the solemn moment when the +queen changed her richly-embroidered night-chemise for the simpler one +she wore during the day. This changing of garments was a sublime +ceremonial, not only in the queen's dressing-room, but also in that of +the king. At the king's great levee, none but a prince of the blood had +the right to reach him his shirt. At the lesser levee, the nobleman whom +the king wished to honor, was called upon to fill this high office; and +the enviable mortal, thus honored, remained near the king's person for +the whole day; was entitled to dine at the royal table, and had a seat +in the king's hunting-wagon. + +Now, at the toilet of the queen, the ceremonial was different; and, as +in all such matters, more onerous for the woman than for the man. The +honor of presenting the chemise, devolved upon the lady present whose +rank was the highest. + +On the particular day to which we allude, it was the privilege of Madame +de Noailles. Marie Antoinette had allowed her night-dress to slip from +her shoulders, and stood, bare to the waist, awaiting the pleasure of +her mistress of ceremonies. She crossed her beautiful arms, and bent her +head in readiness to receive the chemise, which the lady of the +bedchamber was in the act of passing to Madame de Noailles. + +At this moment there was a knock at the door, and the Duchess of Orleans +entered the room. A triumphant smile lit up the face of Madame +Etiquette, for now the ceremony would be prolonged. It was no longer her +duty, it was that of the duchess, to wait upon the queen. But the proud +Countess de Noailles could not condescend to pass the garment to the +duchess. That was the duty of the aforesaid lady of the bedchamber. The +mistress of ceremonies motioned her to approach, and the duchess began +to draw off her gloves. + +Meanwhile, Marie Antoinette, with folded arms, stood beautiful as one of +Dian's nymphs, but very uncomfortable in her beauty; for she was +beginning to grow chilly, and her teeth chattered. At last the +preparations were made, and the duchess advanced with the coveted +garment. + +Suddenly she stopped, and stood perfectly still. She had heard the voice +of "Madame," the Countess of Provence; and it would have been an +unpardonable sin for the Duchess of Orleans to deprive a princess of the +blood, of handing the chemise to the queen. + +The door opened, and the sister-in-law of Marie Antoinette came in. The +duchess retreated--Madame de Noailles approached slowly and relieved her +of the chemise, and with unflinching deliberation, again gave it into +the hands of the lady of the bedchamber. + +And there stood the queen, shivering and waiting. Scarlet with shame and +anger, though trembling from head to foot, she murmured resentful words +against her tormentors. The princess saw it all, and hastened to her +relief. Without stopping to remove her gloves, she took the chemise, and +advancing, in great haste, to throw it over the queen's head, she struck +against her high toupet and disarranged the headdress. + +"Oh, my dear sister," said the queen, laughing, "my hair will have to be +dressed anew." + +Madame de Noailles drew down her eyebrows, as she was accustomed to do +when irritated by indecorum, and motioned to the second lady of the +bedchamber to put on the queen's shoes, The royal toilet now went on +more smoothly, and was completed according to form. This done, it became +the duty of the victim to pass into her reception-room, attended by her +ladies. Madame de Noailles had opened the door and stood before it like +a she-cerberus waiting for her prey to pass within, when the queen, +still laughing at her disordered coiffure, threw herself into a chair +before cheval-glass, and said: + +"I hope, madame, that etiquette does not require of the Queen of France +to appear before her court with dishevelled hair. If I may be permitted +to express a preference in the matter, I would like to have my hair in +order." + +Madame de Noailles closed the door, and turned stiffly to the first lady +of the bedchamber. + +"Oh, no," said Marie Antoinette, "I will not trouble my good Madame de +Campan today. Did my secretary fetch the hair-dresser from Paris?" + +"Yes, your majesty," said a lady in waiting, "the hair-dresser is in the +outer room." + +"Go and call him, De Campan. And now, ladies," said Marie Antionette to +the princesses, "you shall see one of the demi-gods. Leonard is called +in the world of fashion 'le dieu des coiffures.'" + +"Leonard!" exclaimed Madame de Noailles. "And has your majesty then +forgotten that the queen is not permitted to be waited upon by any but +womanly hands?" + +"The queen not permitted!" echoed Marie Antoinette, proudly. "We shall +see whether the Queen of France asks permission of her subjects to +employ a male or female hair dresser!" + +The door opened, and the discussion was stopped by the entrance of +Madame de Campan with Leonard. + +"Now, ladies," continued the queen, "be so good as to await me in the +reception-room." As she saw that the prim lips of De Noailles were about +to be opened, she added: "The mistress of ceremonies and the ladies of +the bedchamber will remain." + +Leonard's skilful hands were soon at work, loosening the queen's hair; +and it glistened, as it fell, like glimmering gold. He surveyed it with +such looks of enthusiasm as a statuary might bestow upon the spotless +block of marble, whence he will fashion, ere long, the statue of a +goddess. + +Marie Antoinette, from the mirror, saw his complacent face, and smiled. +"What style do you intend to adopt for me?" asked she. + +"The coiffure a la Marie Antoinette," said Leonard. + +"I have never seen it." + +Here Leonard sank the subject, and became the artiste. His head went +proudly back with a look of conscious power. + +"Your majesty must not think me so barren of invention that I should +deck the head of my queen with a coiffure that has been seen before by +mortal eyes." + +"Then you are about to invent a coiffure?" + +"If it please your majesty--if your majesty will condescend to leave its +fashion to the inspiration of my genius." + +"Follow your inspiration by all means," said the queen, highly amused, +and Leonard began his work. A long, solemn pause ensued, and all eyes +were strained to see the result. He combed the queen's hair over a +trellis of fine wire, then he introduced two down cushions, which he had +brought in his band-box, and after he had built him a tower of a foot +high, he took a long breath and surveyed the structure. Then he glanced +at the toilet-table where lay a mass of flowers, feathers, and laces, +which Bertin had left. + +"May I be allowed to select from these?" asked he. + +The queen nodded, and Leonard chose a bunch of white ostrich-feathers, +which he prepared to place in her head. + +"Feathers!" cried Marie Antoinette. "You surely are not going to put +feathers in my hair!" + +"Pardon me, your majesty," said Leonard, with an air of supreme wisdom, +"if I beg you to allow me to complete my coiffure, before you decide +upon its merits." And he went to work to fasten the feathers in his +tower. + +"This is really becoming," said the queen, not reflecting that her +beautiful face with its lofty brow and exquisite contour could bear any +abomination with which Leonard chose to invest it. + +"I adopt the feathers," said she, "and allow you to call the coiffure +after me. Poor ostriches, they will not thank me! From this day you are +in my service, Monsieur Leonard, and my steward will assign you your +apartments." + +Leonard bowed with the dignity of an artist who feels that in the favor +of his sovereign he receives his merited reward. + +"Come every morning at this hour, and every evening at seven o'clock," +said Marie Antoinette. "Meanwhile, you are at liberty to dress the hair +of as many ladies as you choose." + +"Pardon me, your majesty," interposed Madame de Noailles. "An old +immutable regulation of the French court forbids any person employed by +the royal family to serve a subject; and the coiffeur of the queen +cannot be allowed to dress the hair of any lady in France." + +"Nevertheless, I give him permission to dress as many heads as he +pleases, when he is not in attendance upon myself. What is the use of a +man's taste and talent if it is all to be wasted on one monotonous +employment? Let Monsieur Leonard exercise his ingenuity upon different +styles of women, that he may have scope for his imagination." + +The mistress of ceremonies sighed, and opened the door. Marie Antoinette +approached it gayly, for she was all anxiety to test the effect of her +coiffure upon the ladies in waiting. + + + + + +CHAPTER C. + +THE NEW FASHIONS AND THEIR UNHAPPY RESULTS. + +A murmur of surprise and admiration was heard among the ladies, when the +queen appeared in the reception-room. The Countess of Provence could +scarcely retain her discontent, as she surveyed the magnificent costume +of her beautiful sister-in-law. + +For a few moments the queen enjoyed the pleasure of being sincerely +admired. Then, advancing to the princess, she took her hand and said: +"Oblige me, dear sister, by dining with the king and myself en famille. +Let us have a social meal together to-day." + +"Certainly, your majesty, I will do so with pleasure; but what you are +pleased to call a family dinner will lose all its charm through the +curiosity of your majesty's admirers, who come from Paris, from +Versailles, and from all the ends of the earth, to look at the royal +family taking their dinner." + +"Not at all," said the queen, eagerly. "I look upon this daily +exhibition as a tyrannical custom, which must be abolished. It is too +hard that we cannot have our meals in private, but must be gazed at like +animals, and denied the privilege of confidential intercourse. I have +submitted to be stared at for four years, but the queen is not to be +ruled as the dauphiness has been. We shall dine to-day en famille, and +from this time the public have access to our dining-room no more." + +"That is delightful news," answered the princess, "but I pity the good +people who are coming in expectation of seeing your majesty at table." + +"They will return to their homes," said the queen, slightly raising her +shoulders, "and when they reflect coolly on the subject, they will +certainly not think less of me because I prefer to dine like the rest of +the world. I believe that if we desire popularity with the people, we +must show them that we have feeling hearts like themselves, and it is by +such means that I hope to gain the love of the French nation." + +The princess was secretly vexed at the honesty and purity of the queen's +motives, but she forced a smile, and replied: "You have already +succeeded in doing so: for the French people adore you; and if they +could only see you to-day in that piquant head-dress, they would verify +the saying of the mayor of Paris: 'Your majesty beholds in us a hundred +thousand lovers.' " + +Marie Antoinette laughed. "Quite a respectable army," said she slightly +blushing; "but to complete its worth it must be commanded by the king. +How surprised he will be to see us dining in private!" + +"His majesty has not been consulted?" + +"It is a surprise which I have in store for him. He has often bewailed +this stupid custom, but dared not complain, for fear of remarks. I am +less timid than he, and I am about to give you a proof of the same." + +"Madame de Noailles," added she, aloud, "inform the ushers that while +the royal family are at dinner no strangers will be admitted to the +dining-room. The privilege of entrance shall cease from to-day." + +The countess had been awaiting her opportunity to speak. + +"Your majesty," said she, with an expression of painful anxiety, "I +entreat of you not to revoke that privilege! Believe me when I tell you +that it is dangerous to interfere with customs which are so old that the +people have grown to look upon them as right. Ever since the days of +Francis I the royal family has dined in public, and every decently-clad +person has enjoyed the privilege of entering the banquet-room. Moreover, +allow me to observe to your majesty that this public meal is an express +ceremony of the French court, and it is indispensable to its dignity." + +"Etiquette, madame," replied Marie Antoinette, "is not made for +sovereigns, but regulated by them. You speak of the people's rights; +allow me to claim something for mine. It has ever been the habit of +kings and queens to give commands, not to receive them. Let me, +therefore, advise you to strike out from your code of etiquette the rule +which obliges us to dine in public, and to insert in its stead the +following: `On days of festivals or of public rejoicing, the people will +be admitted to the king's dining-room.' And now, sister, let us take a +turn in the park." + +So saying, the queen took the arm of the princess, and, followed by the +ladies in waiting, they went out upon the terrace. Madame de Noailles +remained behind in the large, empty reception-room. Her face was pale +and troubled, and she leaned despondently against the high back of an +arm-chair near that from which the queen had just risen. + +"Royalty totters on its throne!" murmured she, in a low voice. "This +woman's bold hand is shaking the pillars of her own temple, and when it +falls it will bury both king and queen under its fragments. She laughs +at etiquette as ridiculous despotism; she does not know that it is the +halo that renders her sacred in the eyes of the people. I see the +tempest lowering," continued the mistress of ceremonies, after a +thoughtful pause. "The queen is surrounded by enemies whom she defies, +and those who would be her friends she alienates by her haughtiness. In +the innocence of her thoughtless heart, what unhappy precedents has she +established this day! They are the dragon's teeth that will grow armed +men to destroy their sower. She despises conventionalities and braves +old customs. She does not know how dearly she will pay for her milliner, +her hair-dresser, and her dinners in private! I have done my duty. I +have warned and remonstrated, and will continue to do so as long as my +patience and honor can endure the humiliations to which I am +exposed--but no longer! By the Heaven that hears me--no longer!" + +The countess was right. The apparently trifling incidents of the day +were fraught with mournful consequences to the queen. Heretofore she had +been remarked for her simplicity of dress; from the introduction of +Bertin and Leonard into her household she dressed with rare +magnificence. Not only the ladies of the court, but those of the city, +followed her extravagance at a distance. They must wear the same jewels, +the same flowers, the same costly silks and laces. Ostrich-feathers +became the rage, and they were soon so scarce that fabulous prices were +paid to import them for the use of the Frenchwomen. + +The trousseau of a young beauty became as important as her dowry. +Mothers and husbands sighed, and at last ended by abusing the queen. It +was she who had set the example of this wasteful luxury in dress; she +who had bewitched all the women, so that they had gone mad for a feather +or a flower. Strife was in every house. Parents were at variance with +their children; marriages were broken off through the exactions of the +brides; and on all sides the blame of everybody's domestic troubles fell +upon the shoulders of the queen. + + + +CHAPTER CI. + +SUNRISE. + +The court had now moved to Marly. Each day brought its variety of +sports, and the palace became the very shrine of pleasure. Even the +king, fascinated by his wife's grace and gayety, lost his awkward +bearing, and became a devoted lover. He was ready to gratify every whim +of hers without ever inquiring whether it was consistent with the +dignity and station of a queen. True, all her whims were innocent in +themselves; but some of them were childish, and therefore inappropriate +to her position. + +The king grew so bold that he paid graceful compliments to the queen on +the subject of her beauty; and in the exuberance of his young, gushing +love, he went beyond his courtiers in felicity of expression, so that +finally he became more eloquent than D'Artois, more impassioned than De +Chartres, and more piquant than De Provence. + +Marie Antoinette beheld this transformation with rapture; and her little +innocent coquetries with the princes and noblemen of the court had but +one aim--that of heightening the effect of her charms upon her royal +husband. + +"One of these days," thought she, "he will learn to love me. I await +this day, as Nature throughout her dark winter nights, awaits the rising +of the glorious sun. Oh how happy will I be when the morning of my +wedded love has dawned!" + +"But,"--added she, interrupting herself and smiling, "what a simpleton I +am with my similes; like a blind man enraptured with a color! I talk of +sunrise--I, who am such a barbarian that I never saw the day dawn in my +life!--And to think that the French are so fond of comparing me to the +rising sun! I think I had better make acquaintance with the original of +which I hear so often that I am the copy!" + +So the queen, full of a new idea, sent for the Countessde Noailles. +"Madame," said she, "can you tell me at what hour the sun rises?" + +"When the sun rises!" exclaimed madame, who had hardly ever taken the +trouble to remember that the sun rose at all. + +"Yes, madame, I wish to know at what hour the sun rises; and I hope +there is nothing in your code of etiquette which forbids the Queen of +France to aspire to a knowledge of that very commonplace fact." + +"I regret, your majesty, that I cannot enlighten you, for I have never +felt any interest in the matter. But if you allow me, I will make the +necessary inquiries." + +"Do so, if you please, madame." + +Madame de Noailles was absent for some time. At last she returned. + +"Pardon me, your majesty, that I have been away so long. But no one in +the palace could give me the information I sought. Luckily, in passing +one of the corridors, I met a gardener coming in with fresh flowers for +your majesty's cabinet, and he was able to tell me. The sun rises at +present at three o'clock." + +"Thank you. Be so good as to make your arrangements accordingly. I shall +get up at three o'clock to-morrow morning and go out upon the hillock in +the garden to see the dawn of day." + +"Your majesty would go out into the garden at three o'clock in the +morning?" said madame, almost fainting with horror. + +"Yes, madame," said Marie Antoinette, with decision. "Is there any law +in France to forbid me a sight of the sun at that hour?" + +"No, your majesty, for such an extraordinary demand could never have +been presupposed. Since France was a kingdom, no Queen of France has +ever been known to indulge a wish to see the sun rise." + +"Unhappy queens! I suppose they were so profoundly engaged in the study +of your favorite code, that they had no time to admire the works of God. +But you see that I am an eccentric queen, and I would go in all humility +to adore Him through one of His glorious works. And as, luckily for me, +etiquette has never legislated on the subject, you have no grounds for +objection, and I shall commit the astounding indiscretion of going out +to see the sun rise." + +"Still, your majesty must allow me to say that for all extraordinary +cases not provided for in the code of etiquette, the queen must have the +consent of the king." + +"Do not concern yourself about that; I shall express my desire to the +king, and that will suffice. My ladies in waiting who keep diaries can +then note, with quiet conscience, that on this day the Queen of France, +with the consent of her husband, went into the garden to see the sun +rise." + +Marie Antoinette slightly inclined her head, and passed into her +dressing-room, there to put herself in the hands of Monsieur Leonard. +The skilful hair-dresser was in his happiest vein; and when he had +achieved the great labor of his day, the queen was inexpressibly +charming. + +Conformably to her wishes, many irksome court-customs had been laid +aside at Marly. The strict lines of demarcation between royalty and +nobility no longer hampered the daily intercourse of the sovereigns and +their subjects. The lords and ladies in waiting were at liberty to join +the queen's circle in the drawing-rooms, or to group themselves together +as inclination prompted. Some talked over the events of the day, some +discussed the new books which lay in heaps upon a table in one of the +saloons; others, again, played billiards with the king. + +To-day the court was assembled in an apartment opening into the garden; +and the queen, who had just made her appearance in all the splendor of +her regal beauty, was the cynosure of attraction and of admiration. She +stood in the centre of the room, her eyes fixed wistfully upon the +setting sun, whose dying rays were flooding park, terrace, and even the +spot on which she stood, with a red and golden light. By her side stood +the king, his mild countenance illumined with joy and admiration of his +young wife's surpassing loveliness. On the other side of the queen were +the princes and princesses of the blood; and around the royal group an +assemblage of the youngest, prettiest, and sprightliest women of the +aristocracy, escorted by their cavaliers, young nobles whose rank, +worth, and culture entitled them to all the favor which they enjoyed at +court. At the head of the wits were the Count de Provence, the Count +d'Artois, and their kinsman, the Duke de Chartres, known years afterward +as "Philippe Egalite." De Chartres and the witty Duke de Lauzun were +among the most enthusiastic admirers of the queen. + +The French court was in the zenith of its splendor. Youth and beauty +were the rule, age was the exception; and in the saloons of Marie +Antoinette, its solitary representatives frowned through the deep and +angry furrows that dented the wrinkled visage of Madame de Noailles. + +To-day the high-priestess of etiquette had taken advantage of the +liberty allowed to all, and had absented herself. Her absence was a +sensible relief to a court where no man was older than the king, and +many a woman was as young as the queen. + +For a time Marie Antoinette's glance lingered caressingly upon the +garden, through whose perfumed alleys the evening wind was rustling with +a sweet, low song. The court, following the mood of the queen, kept +perfectly silent. Of what were they thinking? that crowd of youthful +triflers, so many of whom were hurrying to the bloody destiny which made +heroes of coxcombs and heroines of coquettes + +Suddenly the expression of the queen's face, which had been thoughtful +and solemn, changed to its usual frankness and gayety. "Ladies and +gentlemen," said she, in that clear, rich voice of hers, which always +reminded one of little silver bells, "I have a riddle to propose." + +"A riddle!" echoed the company, crowding around to hear. + +"Yes, a riddle, and woe to those who cannot guess it! They will be +sentenced to sit up this whole night long. " + +"A severe sentence," said the king, with a sigh. "May I not be one of the +condemned? Well, then, lovely sphinx, tell us your riddle." + +"Listen all!" said Marie Antoinette, "and strain your every faculty to +its solution. Princes and princesses, lords and ladies, can you tell me +at what hour the sun will rise to-morrow?" + +The perplexed company looked at one another. Everybody seemed puzzled +except the king. He alone smiled, and watched the countenances of the +others. + +"Come, gentlemen, you who are fed on the sciences--come, ladies you so +expert to guess--will none of you solve my riddle?" tried the lively +queen. "You, brother Philip, who know all things, have you never asked +this question of the sun?" + +"I interest myself, dear sister, in matters which concern myself, my +family, and France," replied the Count de Provence, not over-pleased at +the appeal. "The sun, which belongs to another world, has no share in my +studies or my meditations." + +"Condemned," said the queen, with a merry laugh. "No sleep for you +tonight. And you, brother d'Artois, who are such a devotee of beauty, +have you never worshipped at the shrine of solar magnificence?" + +"The sun rose in this room, your majesty, about a quarter of an hour +ago," said Count d'Artois, bowing. "I can, therefore, safely say that in +the chateau of Marly it usually rises at eight o'clock." + +"Compliments will not save you, D'Artois; you shall not go to sleep this +night. And what say you, my sisters-in-law, and our dear Elizabeth?" + +"Oh, we dare not be wiser than our husbands!" said the Countess de +Provence, quickly. + +"Then you shall share their fate," returned Marie Antoinette. "And now," +continued she, "cousin de Chartres, it is said that your merry-making +sometimes lasts until morning. You, then, must be intimately acquainted +with the habits of the rising sun." + +"Ma foi," said the duke, with a careless laugh, "your majesty is right. +My vigils are frequent; but if returning thence, I have ever met with +the sun, I have mistaken it for a street-lantern, and have never given a +second thought to the matter." + +"Nobody, then, in this aristocratic assemblage, knows aught about the +rising of the sun," said the queen. + +A profound silence greeted the remark. The queen's face grew pensive, +and gradually deepened into sadness. + +"All!" exclaimed she, with a sigh, "what egotists we are in high life! +We expect heaven to shield and sustain us in our grandeur, and never a +thought do we return to heaven." + +"Am I not to be allowed the privilege of guessing, madame?" asked the +king. + +"You, sire!" said Marie Antoinette. "It does not become the king's +subjects to put questions to him, which he might not be able to answer." + +"Nevertheless, I request your majesty to give me a trial." + +"Very well, sire. Can you read my riddle, and tell me at what hour the +sun will rise to-morrow?" + +"Yes, your majesty. The sun will rise at three o'clock," said Louis, +with a triumphant smile. + +Everybody wondered. Marie Antoinette laughed her silvery laugh, and +clapped her little white hands with joy. "Bravo, bravo, my royal +OEdipus!" cried she, gayly. "The sphinx is overcome; but she will not +throw herself into the sea just yet. She is too happy to bend the knee +before her husband's erudition." + +With bewitching grace, the queen inclined her beautiful head and knelt +before the king. But Louis, blushing with gratification, clasped her +hands in his, and raised her tenderly to her feet. + +"Madame," said he, "if I had the tact and wit of my brother Charles, I +would say that the sun, which so lately has risen, must not set so soon +upon its worshippers. But answer me one question--what is the meaning +of the riddle with which your majesty has been entertaining us?" + +"May I answer with another question? Tell me, sire, have you ever seen +the sun rise?" + +"I? No, your majesty. I confess that I never have." + +"And you, ladies and gentlemen?" + +"I can answer for all that they have not," laughed D'Artois. + +"Now, sire," said the queen, again addressing her husband, "tell me one +thing. Is it unseemly for a Queen of France to see the sun rise?" + +"Certainly not," answered the king, laughing heartily. + +"Then will your majesty allow me to enjoy that privilege?" + +"It seems to me, madame, that you have no consent to ask save that of +your own bright eyes. If they promise to remain open all night, you have +no one to consult on the subject but yourself." + +"I thank your majesty," said the queen. "And now, as none of the company +were able to solve my riddle, all must prepare to sit up with me. May I +hope, sire, that you will be magnanimous enough to relinquish the right +you have earned to retire, and afford me the happiness of your presence +also?" + +Louis looked quite discomfited, and was about to stammer out some +awkward reply, when the marshal of the household threw open the doors of +the banquet-hall, and approaching the king, cried out, "Le roi est +servi." + +"Ah!" said he, much relieved, "let us refresh ourselves for the vigil." + +Dinner over, the company promenaded in the gardens for an hour, and then +returned to the drawing-room to await the compulsory privilege of seeing +the sun rise. Marie Antoinette, with the impatience of a child, was +continually going out upon the terrace to see how the night waned; but +the moon was up, and the gardens of Marly were bathed in a silver lizht +that was any thing but indicative of the dawn of day. + +The scene was so calm and lovely, that the young queen returned to the +drawing-room in search of the king, hoping to woo him to the enjoyment +of the beautiful nature, which was elevating her thoughts far above the +kingdoms of earth and peacefully leading her heart to Heaven. But the +king was nowhere to be seen, and as she was seeking him first in one +room, then in another, she met the Count de Provence. + +"I am charged, madame," said he, "with an apology from the king. His +majesty begs that you will pardon him for making use of his right to +retire. He hopes that your majesty will not enjoy your night the less +for his absence." [Footnote: Campan vol. i., p 38] + +The queen colored to her brows, and her expressive face gave token of +serious annoyance. She was about to dismiss the company, saying that she +had changed her mind, but she remembered that by so doing she might +become the subject of the ridicule of the court. Her pride whispered her +to remain, and smothered her instinctive sense of propriety. She looked +anxiously around for Madame de Noailles, but on the first occasion, when +her advice might have been welcome, she was absent. She had been told +that etiquette had nothing to do with the queen's party of pleasure, and +she, like the king, had retired to rest. + +Marie Antoinette then motioned to her first lady of honor, the Princess +de Chimay, and requested her to say to Madame de Noailles that her +presence would be required in the drawing-room at two o'clock, when the +court would set out for the hill, from whence they would witness the +dawn of the morrow. + +"It is an unconscionable time coming," yawned the Countess de Provence. +"See, my dear sister, the hand of the clock points to midnight. What are +we to do in the interim?" asked she, peevishly. + +"Propose something to while away the time," said the queen, smiling. + +"Let us depute D'Artois to do it. He is readier at such things than the +rest of us," said the princess. + +"Does your majesty second the proposal?" asked D'Artois. + +"I do with all my heart." + +"Then," said the thoughtless prince, "I propose that we play the most +innocent and rollicking of games--blindman's buff." [Footnote: Campan, +vol. i., p. 95.] + +A shout of laughter, in which the young queen joined, was the response +to this proposition. + +"I was charged with the duty of relieving the tedium of the court," +continued the prince gravely. "I once more propose the exciting game of +blindman's buff." [Footnote: This game was frequently played in the +courtly circles, and not only in aristocratic houses, but in all social +gatherings. It became the fashion. Madame de Gonlis, who was fond of +scourging the follies of her day, made this fashion the subject of one +of her dramas.] + +"We are bound to accede," replied the queen, forgetting her +embarrassment of the moment before. "Let us try to recall the happy days +of our childhood. Let us play blindman's buff until the sun rises and +transforms the children of the night once more into earnest and +reasoning mortals." + + + +CHAPTER CII. + +THE FOLLOWING DAY. + +The queen was alone in her cabinet, which she had not left since she had +seen the sun rise. She had taken cold in the garden, and as a souvenir +of the event, had carried home a fever and a cough. But it was not +indisposition alone which blanched her cheeks. Something mightier than +fever glowed in her flashing eyes, something more painful than malady +threw that deadly paleness over her sweet, innocent face. From time to +time she glanced at a paper lying on the table before her, and every +time her eye fell upon it her brow grow darker. + +There was a knock at the door. She started, and murmuring--"The +king!"--she flung her handkerchief over the papers, and throwing back +her head, compelled herself to calmness; while her husband, lifting the +silken portiere, advanced toward the table. She tried to rise, but Louis +came hastily to prevent it, saying: "I come to make inquiries concerning +your health; but if my presence is to disturb you, I shall retire." + +"Remain, then, sire--I will not rise," said the queen, with a languid +smile. + +"Are you still suffering?" said Louis. + +"Only from a cold, sire; it will pass away." + +"A cold, for which you are indebted to the chill night-air. It would +appear that the Queens of France, who lived and died without seeing the +sun rise, were not so stupid, after all." + +The queen gave a searching look at the king's face, and saw that it was +disturbed. + +"I went with your majesty's consent." + +"I believe that I was wrong to give it," returned he, thoughtfully; "I +should have remembered that for a hundred years past the court of France +has been so corrupt that unhappily the French nation have lost all faith +in chastity and purity of heart. You, madame, must teach them to +distinguish the innocence which has nothing to conceal, from the +depravity which has lost all shame. But we must be cautious, and so +conduct ourselves, that our actions may be beyond misconstruction." + +"Your majesty wishes me to infer that my harmless desire to behold one +of the glorious works of my Maker, has been misinterpreted?" said the +queen, opening her large eyes full upon her husband. + +The king avoided her glance. + +"No, no," said he, with embarrassment. "I speak not of what has been, +but of what might be." + +"And this most innocent of wishes has inspired your majesty with these +apprehensions?" + +"I do not say so, but--" + +"But your majesty knows that it is so," cried the queen. "It is very +generous of you to save my feelings by concealing that which you know +must subject me to mortification; but others here are less magnanimous +than you, sire. I have already seen the obscene libel to which my +pleasure party has given birth. I have read 'Le lever de l'aurore.'" + +"Who has dared to insult you by the sight of it?" asked Louis, +indignantly. + +"Oh, sire," said Marie Antoinette, bitterly, "there are always good +friends, who are ready to wound us with the weapons of others. I found +the lampoon on my table this morning, among my letters." + +"You shall not be exposed to a repetition of this. Campan shall look +over your papers before he presents them." + +"Do you think I am likely to find them often, sire? I hope not. But be +that as it may, I am no coward. I have courage to face any amount of +calumny--for my heart is pure, and my life will vindicate me." + +"It will, indeed," said the king, tenderly. "But you must keep aloof +from the poisonous atmosphere of slander. We must live less among the +multitude." + +"Ah, sire, how can we keep aloof from those who have the right to be +near us?" + +The king started, almost imperceptibly, and his anxious glance rested +upon his wife's honest, truthful eyes. Removing her handkerchief, she +pointed to a paper. + +"This is the envelope in which I found 'Le lever de l'aurore.' The +handwriting is disguised; but tell me frankly if you do not recognize +it. _I_ do." + +"I--really--I may be mistaken," began the king, "but--" + +"Nay, you see that it is the hand of the Count de Provence, your own +brother, sire. He it is, who enjoys the cruel satisfaction of having +forced this indecent libel upon my notice, and I doubt not for one +moment that he also is the one who sent it to you. " + +"Yes, no doubt, he did it to warn us, and we must be grateful and take +the warning to our hearts." + +The queen laughed scornfully. + +"Does your majesty suppose that these drawings were made with the same +benevolent intention?" said she, handing him a second paper. "Look at +these indecent caricatures, made still more obnoxious by the vulgar +observations attached to them. There is no disguise of his handwriting +here, for this was not intended for my eye. " + +"Too true," sighed the king--"the drawings and the writing are both my +brother's. But who can have sent you these shameful sketches?" + +"I told you just now, sire, that there are always people to be found, +who stab their friends with borrowed weapons. The drawings were +accompanied by a letter, informing me, that they were executed in the +saloons of Madame Adelaide, and that the remarks were the joint +productions of your majesty's brother and your aunts." + +The king passed his handkerchief over his forehead, to dry the heavy +drops of sweat that were gathering there, and rose up, with the paper in +his hand. + +"Where is your majesty going?" asked the queen. + +"To my brother," cried he, indignantly. "I will show him this +disgraceful paper, and ask by what right he outrages my wife and his +queen! I shall tell him that his actions are those of a traitor and--" + +"And when you have told him that, will you punish him as kings punish +traitors?" + +The king was silent, and the queen continued, with a sad smile. + +"You could not punish him; for the traitor who outrages the queen is the +brother of the king, and, therefore, he can outrage with impunity." + +"He shall not do it with impunity! I will force him to honor and love +you." + +"Ah, sire, love will not yield to force," said Marie Antoinette, in +atone of anguish. "Were I as pure as an angel, the Count de Provence +would hate me for my Austrian birth, and Madame Adelaide would use the +great influence she possesses over your majesty to rob me of the little +favor I am gaining in your sight." + +"Oh, Antoinette, do you not feel that my whole heart is yours?" said +Louis, affectionately. "Believe me, when I say that it is in the power +of no human being to sully your sweet image in my eyes. Do not fear the +royal family. I am here to protect you, and, soon or late, your worth +will overcome their prejudices." + +"No, sire, no. Nothing will ever win me their regard. But I am resolved +to brave their emnity, satisfied that, in the eyes of the world, my +conduct and my conscience both will sustain me." + +"Your husband also," said the king, kissing her hand. + +"Sire, I hope so," said Marie Antoinette, in a tremulous voice. "And +now," continued she, dashing away the tear-drops that were gathering in +her eyes, "now give me those caricatures. They have served to convince +your majesty that I know my enemies--and defy them. Their mission is +accomplished; let us try to forget their existence." + +She took the drawings from his hand, and, tearing them to pieces, +scattered them over the carpet. The king picked up a few of the +fragments. + +"Will you allow me to retain these as a souvenir of this hour?" said he, +gazing fondly upon her sweet face. + +"Certainly, sire." + +"But you know that princes can never receive a gift without returning +one. Therefore, do me the favor to accept this. It is paper for paper. " + +He drew from his bosom a little package, to which the royal seal was +affixed, and Marie Antoinette took it, with a glance of surprise. + +"What can it be?" said she, as she unfolded it. + +He watched her as she read; and thought how beautiful she was, as, +blushing and smiling, she held out her hand to thank him. + +"How, sire," said she, joyfully, "you make me this royal gift?" + +"If you will accept it. The chateau de Trianon is a small estate, but +its mistress may at least find it a home where she will have liberty to +enjoy nature without exciting the malevolence of her enemies. No one can +watch you there, Antoinette; for your castle is not large enough to +lodge your slanderers. It will scarcely accommodate your friends." + +"How can I ever thank you, sire?" said she, in grateful accents. "You +have understood my heart, and have gratified its weary longings for +occasional solitude. This, then, is my own private domain?" + +"Certainly." + +"And I may rule there without interference from state or etiquette?" + +"Assuredly. As chatelaine of Trianon, you alone will regulate its +customs, and all who visit you, must submit to your rules." + +"And no man can enter my chateau without an invitation?" + +"Not even the king himself." + +Marie Antoinette smiled until the pearls encased within her coral lips +dazzled the royal vision. + +"How delightful!" said she. "I do not think that the Count de Provence +will ever be invited to Trianon." + +"Nor I," replied Louis. + +"But the king will be asked so often, that he will certainly wish he +were the Count de Provence. Still, he must promise not to come until he +receives his invitation." + +"I promise, beautiful chatelaine." + +"And then to come whenever I invite him." + +"That I can promise more safely than the other." + +"Upon your royal word?" + +"Upon my royal word. And thus I seal it with a kiss upon your fair +hand." + +"Upon my hand only, sire?" asked she, while she turned a cheek, whose +hue was like the rosy lining of a sea-shell. + +Louis accepted the challenge, and pressed a kiss so passionate upon that +cheek, that it flushed to a deep, burning crimson, and the queen's eyes +were cast down, till nothing of them was visible except her long, dark +lashes. + +The royal lover, too, grew very red, and stammered a few inaudible +words. Then bowing, awkwardly, he stumbled over an armchair, and +retreated in dire confusion. + +Marie Antoinette looked after her clumsy king with a beating heart. + +"Am I, indeed, to be blessed with his love?" thought the poor, young +thing. "If I am, I shall be the happiest and most enviable of women." + + + + + +CHAPTER CIII. + +THE LAST APPEAL. + +The carriage of the Countess Esterhazy was returning from a ball which +the empress had given in honor of her son's departure from Vienna. +Joseph was about to visit France, and his lovely young sister was once +more to hear the sound of a beloved voice from home. + +It was long past midnight; but the Hotel Esterhazy was one blaze of +light. It had been one of the countess's first orders to her steward +that, at dusk, every chandelier in her palace should be lighted. She +hated night and darkness, she said, and must have hundreds of wax-lights +burning from twilight until morning. This was one of the whims of the +fair Margaret, which, although it amused all Vienna, was any thing but +comic to her husband, for it cost him one thousand florins a month. + +The hotel, then, from ground-floor to attic, was bright as noon-day. Six +lackeys, in silvered livery, stood on either side of the entrance, with +torches in their hands, to light their lady to the vestibule. From the +inner door to the staircase a rich Turkey carpet covered the floor; and, +here again, stood twelve more lackeys, performing the office of +candelabra to the light-loving countess. At the foot of the stairs stood +the steward and the butler of the household, awaiting such orders as she +might choose to fling at them on her way; and at the head of the stairs, +waiting to receive her, stood a bevy of dames de compagnie, and other +female attendants. + +The countess passed through this living throng without vouchsafing one +glance in acknowledgment of their respectful greetings. In profound +silence she swept up the stairway; her long, glossy train of white satin +following her as she went, like the foaming track that a ship leaves +upon the broad bosom of the ocean, and the diamonds that decked her +brow, neck, and arms, flinging showers of radiance that dazzled the eye +like lightning when the storm is at its height. Her head was thrown +back, her large black eyes were starry as ever, and her face was so pale +that its pallor was unearthly. + +At the landing-place she turned, and speaking to the steward, said: + +"Let Count Esterhazy know that in ten minutes I await him in the blue +room." Having said thus much, she continued her way, and disappeared +from the eyes of her staring household. + +Her disappearance was the signal for the transformation of the +candelabra into men. + +"Did you hear her?" whispered one. "She has sent for the count." + +"Never troubling herself whether he sleeps or wakes," said another. +"Poor man! He has been in bed for four hours." + +"No wonder he goes to bed early," remarked a third. "It is the only +place on earth where he has peace." + +"Nevertheless he will be obedient and come; he dare not refuse." "Oh, +no!" was the general response. "In ten minutes he will be here; or his +amiable countess will treat us to a scene like some we have witnessed, +wherein she flings handfuls of gold out of the windows, and gathers all +the people in Vienna before the hotel to see the show. " + +The servants were right; Count Esterhazy did not disobey his wife. He +trembled when he received her message, called nervously for his valet to +dress him, and at the end of the ten minutes was on his way to the +blue-room. + +The countess was there before him, looking like an angry queen about to +condemn a recreant vassal to death. And Esterhazy, with the mien and +gait of a culprit, carne into her presence with a bow that was almost a +genuflection. + +"You see, countess," said he, "with what haste I obey your commands. I +feel so honored at the call, that--" + +He paused--for really her fiery eyes seemed to burn him; and her +contempt dried up the stream of his commonplace flattery, as the breath +of the sirocco parches up the dew-drops. + +"Why do you not go on?" said she. + +"I am bewildered by my own joy," replied he, blandly. "Remember--it is +the first time since our marriage that you have allowed me the privilege +of an interview in private; and I may well lose my speech in the +intoxication of such a moment." + +"It is the first time. You have a good memory. Can you also recollect +how long it is since we had that interview?" + +"Can I recollect? Four long years!" + +"Four long years," sighed she, "to the day, and almost to the hour." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the count. "And can you forgive me for having +forgotten this charming anniversary?" + +"You are happy to have tasted of the Lethe of indifference. I--I have +counted the days and the hours of my slavery; and each day and hour is +branded upon my heart. Have you forgotten, too, Count Esterhazy, what I +swore to you on that wedding-night?" + +"Yes, Margaret--I have forgotten all the cruel words you spoke to me in +an outburst of just indignation." + +"I wonder that you should have forgotten them, for it has been my daily +care to remind you of the vow I then made. Have I not kept my word? Have +I not crossed your path with the burning ploughshares of my hatred? Have +I not cursed your home, wasted your wealth and made you the +laughing-stock of all Vienna?" + +"You judge yourself with too much severity, Margaret," said the count, +mildly. "True--we have not been very happy; since this is the first time +since our marriage-night, that we are face to face without witnesses. I +will not deny, either, that our household expenditures have cost several +millions, and have greatly exceeded our income. But the lovely Countess +Esterhazy has a right to exceed all other women in the splendor of her +concerts and balls, and the richness of her dress. Come, make me amends +for the past--I forgive you. There is still time to--" + +"No!" exclaimed she, "the time went by four years ago. You can never +make amends to me, nor I to you. Look at yourself! You were then a young +man, with high hopes and a light heart. Many a woman would have been +proud to be called your wife--and yet you chose me. Now, that four years +of accursed wedded life have gone over your head, you have passed from +youth to old age, without ever having known an interval of manhood. And +I--O God! What have I become through your miserable cowardice! I might +have grown to be a gentle woman, had fate united me to him whom I love; +but the link that has bound me to you has unsexed me. Our marriage was a +crime, and we have paid its penalty; you are as weak as a woman, and +I--as inflexible as a man." + +Two large tears glittered in her eyes, and fell slowly down her pale +cheeks. Count Esterhazy approached and caressed her with his hands. She +shuddered at his touch, recoiling as if from contact with a reptile. +Meanwhile, he was imploring her to begin a new life with him--to give +him her hand, to make him the happiest of men. + +"No, no, no!" cried she. "In mercy cease, or you will drive me mad. But +I will forgive you even your past treachery, if you will grant the +request I am about to make." + +"You will condescend to ask something of me! Speak, Margaret speak! What +can I do to make you happy?" + +"You can give me my freedom," replied the countess, in a soft, imploring +voice. "Go with me to the empress, and beg her to undo what she has +done. Tell her that she has blasted the lives of two human beings--tell +her that we are two galley-slaves, pining for liberty." + +Count Esterhazy shook his head. "The empress will never allow us to be +divorced," said he, "for I have too often assured her that I was happy +beyond expression, and she wouldn't believe me if I came with another +story." + +"Then let us go to the fountain head," said the countess, wringing her +hands. "Let us go to the pope, and implore him to loose the bands of our +mutual misery." + +"Impossible! That would be a slight which the empress never would +forgive. I should fall under her displeasure." + +"Oh, these servile hearts that have no life but that which they borrow +from the favor of princes!" cried Margaret, scornfully. "What has the +favor of the empress been worth to you? For what have you to thank her? +For these four years of martyrdom, which you have spent with a woman who +despises you?" + +"I cannot dispense with the good-will of my sovereign," said the count, +with something like fervor. "For hundreds of years, the Esterhazys have +been the favorites of the Emperors of Austria; and we cannot afford to +lose the station we enjoy therefrom. No--I will do nothing to irritate +the empress. She chose you for my wife, and, therefore, I wear my chains +patiently. Maria Theresa knows how I have obeyed and honored her +commands; and, one of these days, I shall reap the reward of my loyalty. +If Count Palfy dies, I am to be marshal of the imperial household; but +yet higher honors await us both. If I continue to deserve the favor of +the empress, she will confer upon me the title of 'prince.' You refuse +to be my wife, Margaret; but you will one day be proud to let me deck +that haughty brow with the coronet of a princess." + +Margaret looked more contemptuously at him than before. + +"You are even more degraded than I had supposed," said she. "Poor, +crawling reptile, I do not even pity you. I ask you for the last time, +will you go with me to Rome to obtain a divorce?" + +"Why do you repeat your unreasonable request, Margaret? It is vain for +you to hope for a divorce. Waste my fortune if you will--I cannot +hinder you--I will find means to repair my losses; and the empress, +herself, will come to my assistance, for--" + +"Enough!" interrupted the countess. "Since you will not aid me in +procuring our divorce, it shall be forced upon you. I will draw across +your escutcheon such a bar sinister as your princely coronet will not be +large enough to hide. That is my last warning to you. Now leave me." + +"Margaret, I implore you to forgive me if I cannot make this great +sacrifice. I cannot part from you, indeed I cannot," began the count. + +"And the empress will reward your constancy with the title of 'prince,"' +replied Margaret, with withering scorn. "Go--you are not worthy of my +anger--but I shall know where to strike. Away with you!" + +Count Esterhazy, with a deep sigh, turned and left the room. + +"The last hope to which I clung, has vanished!" said she, "and I must +resort to disgrace!" + +She bent her head, and a shower of tears came to her relief. But they +did not soften her heart. She rose from her seat, muttering, "It is too +late to weep! I have no alternative. The hour for revenge has struck!" + + + +CHAPTER CIV. + +THE FLIGHT. + +The countess passed into her dressing-room. She closed and locked the +door, then, going across the room, she stopped before a large picture +that hung opposite to her rich Venetian toilet-mirror. The frame of this +picture was ornamented with small gilt rosettes. Margaret laid her hand +upon one of these rosettes, and drew it toward her. A noise of machinery +was heard behind the wall. She drew down the rosette a second time, and +then stepped back. The whirr was heard again, the picture began to move, +and behind it appeared a secret door. Margaret opened it, and, as she +did so, her whole frame shook as if with a deadly repugnance to that +which was within. + +"I am here, Count Schulenberg," said she, coldly. + +The figure of a young man appeared at the doorway. + +"May I presume to enter paradise?" said he, stepping into the room with +a flippant air. + +"You may," replied she, without moving; but the hue of shame overspread +her face, neck, and arms, and it was plain to Count Schulenberg that she +trembled violently. + +These were to him the signals of his triumph; and he smiled with +satisfaction as he surveyed this lovely woman, so long acknowledged to +be the beauty par excellence of the imperial court at Vienna. Margaret +allowed him to take her hand, and stood coldly passive, while he covered +it with kisses; but when he would have gone further, and put his arm +around her waist, she raised her hands, and receded. + +"Not here," murmured she, hoarsely. "Not here, in the house of the man +whose name I bear. Let us not desecrate love; enough that we defile +marriage." + +"Come, then, beloved, come," said he, imploringly. "The coach is at the +door, and I have passes for France, Italy, Spain, and England. Choose +yourself the spot wherein we shall bury our love from the world's gaze." + +"We go to Paris," replied she, turning away her head. + +"To Paris, dearest? Why, you have forgotten that the emperor leaves for +Paris to-morrow, and that we incur the risk of recognition there." + +"Not at all--Paris is a large city, and if we are discovered, I shall +seek protection from the emperor. He knows of my unhappy marriage, and +sympathizes with my sorrows." + +"Perhaps you are right, dearest. Then in Paris we spend our honey-moon, +and there enjoy the bliss of requited love." + +"There, and not until we reach there," said she, gravely. "I require a +last proof of your devotion, count. I exact that until we arrive in +Paris you shall not speak to me of love. You shall consider me as a +sister, and allow me the privilege of travelling in the carriage with my +maid--she and I on one seat, you opposite." + +"Margaret, that is abominable tyranny. You expect me to be near you, and +not to speak of love! I must be watched by your maid, and sit opposite +to you!--You surely cannot mean what you say." + +"I do, indeed, Count Schulenberg." + +"But think of all that I have endured for a year that I have adored you, +cold beauty! Not one single proof of love have you ever given me yet. +You have tolerated mine, but have never returned it." + +"Did I not write to you?" + +"Write; yes. You wrote me to say that you would not consent to be mine +unless I carried you away from Vienna. Then you went on to order our +mode of travelling as you would have done had I been your husband. 'Be +here at such an hour; have your passes for various countries. Describe +me therein as your sister. Come through the garden and await me at the +head of the secret stairway.' Is this a love-letter? It is a mere note +of instructions. For one week I have waited for a look, a sigh, a +pressure of the hand; and when I come hither to take you from your home +forever, you receive me as if I were a courier. No, Margaret, no--I will +not wait to speak my love until we are in Paris." + +"Then, Count Schulenberg, farewell. We have nothing more to say to one +another." + +She turned to leave the room, but Schulenberg darted forward and fell at +her feet. "Margaret, beloved," cried he, "give me one single word of +comfort. I thirst to know that you love me." + +"Can a woman go further than I am going at this moment?" asked Margaret, +with a strange, hollow laugh. + +"No. I acknowledge my unspeakable happiness in being the partner of your +flight. But I cannot comprehend your love. It is a bitter draught in a +golden beaker." + +"Then do not drink it," said she, retreating. + +"I must--I must drink it; for my soul thirsts for the cup, and I will +accept its contents." + +"My conditions?" + +"Yes, since I must," said Schulenberg, heaving a sigh. "I promise, then, +to contain my ecstasy until we reach Paris, and to allow that guardian +of virtue, your maid, to sit by your side, while I suffer agony +opposite. But oh! when we reach Paris--" + +"In Paris we will talk further, and my speech shall be different." + +"Thank you, beloved," cried the count passionately. "This heavenly +promise will sustain me through my ordeal." He kissed the tips of her +fingers, and she retired to change her ball-dress for a travelling +habit. + +When she had closed the door, the expression of Count Schulenberg's face +was not quite the same. + +"The fierce countess is about to be tamed," thought he. "I shall win my +bet, and humble this insolent beauty. Let her rule if she must, until we +reach Paris; but there I will repay her, and her chains shall not be +light. Really, this is a piquant adventure. I am making a delightful +wedding-tour, without the bore of the marriage-ceremony, at the expense +of the most beautiful woman in Europe; and to heighten the piquancy of +the affair, I am to receive two thousand louis d'ors on my return to +Vienna. Here she comes." + +"I am ready," said Margaret, coming in, followed by her maid, who held +her mistress's travelling-bag. + +Count Schulenberg darted forward to offer his arm, but she waved him +away. + +"Follow me," said she, passing at once through the secret opening. +Schulenberg followed, "sighing like a furnace," and looking daggers at +the confidante, who in her turn looked sneeringly at him. A few moments +after they entered the carriage. The windows of the Hotel Esterhazy were +as brilliantly illuminated as ever, while the master of the house +slumbered peacefully. And yet a shadow had fallen upon the proud +escutcheon which surmounted the silken curtains of his luxurious +bed--the shadow of that disgrace with which his outraged wife had +threatened him! + + + +CHAPTER CV. + +JOSEPH IN FRANCE. + +A long train of travelling carriages was about to cross the bridge which +spans the Rhine at Strasburg, and separates Germany from France. It was +the suite of the Count of Falkenstein, who was on his way to visit his +royal sister. + +Thirty persons, exclusive of Count Rosenberg and two other confidential +friends, accompanied the emperor. Of course, the incognito of a Count of +Falkenstein, who travelled with such a suite, was not of much value to +him; so that he had endured all the tedium of an official journey. This +was all very proper in the eyes of Maria Theresa, who thought it +impossible for Jove to travel without his thunder. But Jove himself, as +everybody knows, was much addicted to incognitos, and so was his terrene +representative, the Emperor of Austria. + +The imperial cortege, then, was just about to pass from Germany to +France. It was evening, and the fiery gold of the setting sun was +mirrored in the waves of the Rhine which with gentle murmur were toying +with the greensward that sloped gracefully down to the water's edge. The +emperor gave the word to halt, and rising from his seat, looked back +upon the long line of carriages that followed in his wake. + +"Rosenberg" said he, laying his hand upon the count's shoulder, "tell me +frankly how do you enjoy this way of travelling?" + +"Ah, sire, I have been thinking all day of the delights of our other +journeys. Do you remember our hunt for dinner in the dirty little +hamlet, and the nights we spent on horseback in Galicia? There was no +monotony in travelling then!" + +"Thank you, thank you," said the emperor, with a bright smile. "I see +that we are of one mind." + +He motioned to the occupants of the carriage immediately behind him, and +they hastened to obey the signal. + +The emperor, after thanking them for the manner in which they had +acquitted themselves of their respective duties, proposed a change in +their plans of travel. + +"Then," replied Herr von Bourgeois, with a sigh, "your majesty has no +further use for us, and we return to Vienna." + +"Not at all, not at all," said the emperor, who had heard and understood +the sigh wafted toward Paris and its thousand attractions. "We will only +part company that we may travel more at our ease, and once in Paris, we +again join forces. Be so good as to make your arrangements accordingly, +and to make my adieux to the other gentlemen of our suite." + +Not long after, the imperial cortege separated into three columns, each +one of which was to go independent of the other, and all to unite when +they had reached Paris. As the last of the carriages with which he had +parted, disappeared on the other side of the bridge the emperor drew a +long breath and looked radiant with satisfaction. + +"Let us wait," said he, "until the dust of my imperial magnificence is +laid, before we cross the bridge to seek lodgings for the night. +Meanwhile, Rosenberg, give me your arm and let us walk along the banks +of the Rhine." + +They crossed the high-road and took a foot-path that led to the banks of +the river. At that evening hour every thing was peaceful and quiet. Now +and then a peasant came slowly following his hay-laden wagon, and +occasionally some village-girl carolled a love-lay, or softly murmured a +vesper hymn. + +The emperor, who had been walking fast, suddenly stopped, and gazed with +rapture upon the scene. + +"See, Rosenberg," said he, "see how beautiful Germany is to-day! As +beautiful as a laughing youth upon whose brow is stamped the future +hero." + +"Your majesty will transform the boy into a hero," said Rosenberg. + +The emperor frowned. "Let us forget for a moment the mummery of +royalty," said he. "You know, moreover, that royalty has brought me +nothing but misery. Instead of reigning over others, I am continually +passing under the Caudine Forks of another's despotic will." + +"But the day will come when the emperor shall reign alone, and then the +sun of greatness will rise for Germany." + +"Heaven grant it! I have the will to make of Germany one powerful +empire. Oh, that I had the power, too! My friend, we are alone, and no +one hears except God. Here on the confines of Germany, the poor unhappy +emperor may be permitted to shed a tear over the severed garment of +German royalty--that garment which has been rent by so many little +princes! Have you observed, Rosenberg, how they have soiled its majesty? +Have you noticed the pretensions of these manikins whose domains we can +span with our hands? Is it not pitiable that each one in his +principality is equal in power to the Emperor of Austria!" + +"Yes, indeed," said Rosenberg with a sigh, "Germany swarms with little +princes!" + +"Too many little princes," echoed Joseph, "and therefore their lord and +emperor is curtailed by so much of his own lawful rights, and Germany is +an empty name among nations! If the Germans were capable of an +enlightened patriotism; if they would throw away their Anglomania, +Gallonmania, Prussomania, and Austromania, they would be something more +than the feeble echoes of intriguers and pedants.[Footnote: The +emperor's own words. See "Joseph II., Correspondence," p. 176.] Each one +thrusts his own little province forward, while all forget the one great +fatherland!" + +"But the Emperor Joseph will be lord of all Germany," cried Rosenberg, +exultingly, "and he will remind them that they are vassals and he is +their suzerain!" + +"They must have a bloody lesson to remind them of that," said the +emperor, moodily. "Look behind you, Rosenberg, on the other side of the +Rhine. There lies a kingdom neither larger nor more populous than +Germany; a kingdom which rules us by its industry and caprices, and is +great by reason of its unity, because its millions of men are under the +sway of one monarch." + +"And yet it was once with France as it is to-day with Germany," said +Count Rosenberg. "There were Normandy, Brittany, Provence, Languedoc, +Burgundy, and Franche-Comte, all petty dukedoms striving against their +allegiance to the king. Where are their rulers now? Buried and +forgotten, while their provinces own the sway of the one monarch who +rules all France. What France has accomplished, Germany, too, can +compass." + +The emperor placed his hand affectionately upon Rosenberg's shoulder. +"You have read my heart, friend," said he, smiling. "Do you know what +wild wishes are surging within me now? wishes which Frederick of Prussia +would condemn as unlawful, although it was quite righteous for him to +rob Austria of Silesia. I, too, have my Silesia, and, by the Lord above +me! my title-deeds are not as mouldy as his!" + +"Only that your Silesia is called Bavaria," said Rosenberg, with a +significant smile. + +"For God's sake," cried Joseph, "do not let the rushes hear you, lest +they betray me to the babbling wind, and the wind bear it to the King of +Prussia. But you have guessed. Bavaria is a portion of my Silesia, but +only a portion. Bavaria is mine by right of inheritance, and I shall +take it when the time comes. It will be a comely patch to stop some of +the rents in my imperial mantle. But my Silesia lies at every point of +the compass. To the east lie Bosnia and Servia--to the south, see +superannuated Venice. The lion of St. Mark is old and blind, and will +fall an easy prey to the eagle of Hapsburg, This will extend our +dominions to the Adriatic sea. When the Duke of Modena is gathered to +his fathers, my brother, in right of his wife, succeeds to the title; +and as Ferrara once belonged to the house of Modena, he and I together +can easily wrest it from the pope. Close by are the Tortonese and +Alessandria, two fair provinces which the King of Sardinia supposes to +be his. They once formed a portion of the duchy of Milan; and Milan is +ours, with every acre of land that ever belonged to it. By Heaven, I +will have all that is mine, if it cost me a seven years' war to win it +back! This is not all. Look toward the west, beyond the spires of +Strasburg, where the green and fertile plains of Alsatia woo our coming. +They now belong to France, but they shall be the property of Austria. +Farther on lies Lorraine. That, too, is mine, for my father's title was +'Duke of Lorraine.' What is it to me that Francis the First sold his +birthright to France? All that I covet I shall annex to Austria, as +surely as Frederick wrested Silesia from me." + +"And do you intend to let him keep possession of Silesia?" asked +Rosenberg. + +"Not if I can prevent it, but that may not be optional with me. I +will--but hush! Let us speak no more of the future; my soul faints with +thirst when I think of it. Sometimes I think I see Germany pointing to +her many wounds, and calling me to come and heal her lacerated body. And +yet I can do nothing! I must stand with folded arms, nor wish that I +were lord of Austria; for God knows that I do not long for Maria +Theresa's death. May she reign for many years; but oh! may I live to see +the day wherein I shall be sole monarch not only of Austria, but of all +Germany. If it ever dawns for me, the provinces shall no longer speak +each one its own language. Italians, Hungarians, and Austrians, all +shall be German, and we shall have one people and one tongue. To insure +the prosperity of my empire, I will strengthen my alliance with France. +I dislike the French, but I must secure their neutrality before I step +into possession of Bavaria, and assert my claims to my many-sided +Silesia. Well--these are dreams; day has not yet dawned for me! The +future Emperor of Germany is yet a vassal, and he who goes to France to +day is nothing but a Count of Falkenstein. Come, let us cross the bridge +that at once unites France with Germany, and divides them one from the +other." [Footnote: These are Joseph's own words. See "Letters of Joseph +II.," p. 175.] + + + +CHAPTER CVI. + +THE GODFATHER. + +There was great commotion at the post-house of the little town of Vitry. +Two maids, in their Sunday best, were transforming the public parlor of +the inn into a festive dining-room; wreathing the walls with garlands, +decking the long dining-table with flowers, and converting the huge +dresser into a buffet whereon they deposited the pretty gilt china, the +large cakes, the pastries, jellies, and confections, that were designed +for the entertainment of thirty invited guests. The landlord and +postmaster, a slender little man with an excellent, good-humored face, +was hurrying from buffet to table, from table to kitchen, superintending +the servants. The cook was deep in the preparation of her roasts and +warm dishes; and at the kitchen door sat a little maiden, who, with +important mien, was selecting the whitest and crispest leaves from a +mountain of lettuce which she laid into a large gilt salad-bowl beside +her; throwing the others to a delighted pig, who, like Lazarus, stood by +to pick up the leavings of his betters. In the yard, at the fountain, +stood the man-of-all-work, who, as butler pro tem., was washing plates +and glasses; while close by, on the flags, sat the clerk of the +post-office polishing and uncorking the bottles which the host had just +brought from the cellar in honor of his friends. + +Monsieur Etienne surveyed his notes of preparation, and gave an +approving nod. His face was radiant as he returned to the house; gave +another glance of satisfaction around the dining-room, and passed into +an adjoining apartment. This was the best-furnished room in the +post-house; and on a soft lounge, near the window, reclined a pale +young woman, beautifully dressed, whose vicinity to a cradle, where lay +a very young infant, betokened her recent recovery from confinement. + +"Athanasia, my goddess," said Monsieur Etienne, coming in on tiptoe, +"how do you feel to-day?" + +She reached out her pale hand and answered in a languid voice: "The +doctor says that, so far, I am doing pretty well, and, by great +precautions, I may be able, in a few weeks, to resume my household +duties." + +Monsieur Etienne raised his eyebrows, and looked thoughtful. "The doctor +is over-anxious, my dear," said he: "he exaggerates your weakness. Our +little angel there is already three weeks old, and will be standing on +his legs before long." + +"The doctor is more sympathizing than you, Monsieur Etienne," began the +wife. + +"My treasure," interrupted her husband, "no one can wish to spare you +premature exertion more than I. But I do entreat of you, my angel, to do +your best to remain with the company to-day as long as you can." + +"I will do all in my power to oblige you," said Madame Etienne, +condescendingly, "and if you require it. I will sit up from first to +last." + +"It will be a great festival for us, provided no passengers arrive +to-day. Good Heaven! if they should come, what could I do with them? +Even the best of those we receive here are scarcely fit to introduce +among our respectable guests; and then, as for post-horses, I want every +one of them for the company. Heaven defend us, then, from passengers, +for--oh! oh! is it possible! Can it be!" said Etienne, interrupting +himself. "Yes, it is the sound of a post-horn." + +"Perhaps it is some of our guests," suggested Madame Etienne. "No no, +for our postilions to-day play but one air, 'Je suis pere, un pere +heureux,'" said Monsieur Etienne, listening with all his might to the +approaching horn. + +"It is a passenger," said he, despondingly, "Athanasia, my angel, we are +lost!" + +So saying, Monsieur Etienne darted out of the room, as if be were +rushing off to look for himself; but he stopped as soon as he had +reached his front door, for there was no necessity to go farther. A dark +caleche, with three horses, dashed up to the door, while not far behind +came another chaise, whose post-horn was sounding "Je suis pere, un pere +heureux." + +"Is it possible?" thought the discomfited postmaster. "Yes, here they +come at the very moment when the guests are arriving." + +Just then another horn was heard, and "Je suis peree, un pere heureux," +made the welkin ring. + +On every side they came, but the unlucky passenger caleche blocked up +the passage. Monsieur Etienne, following the impulses of his heart, +rushed past the strangers, and ran to greet the most important of his +guests, the village curate and the pastor of the next market-place. But +just then the bewildered little man remembered his duty, and darted back +to the passengers. + +There were two gentlemen in the carriage, and on the box, near the +postilion, a third person, who had the air of a valet. + +"The gentlemen wish to go on to the next stage?" said Etienne, without +opening the door. + +"No, sir," said one of the passengers, raising his dark-blue eyes to the +post-house. "Your house looks inviting, and we would like a room and a +cosy dinner." + +Monsieur Etienne scarcely knew what reply to make to this untimely +request. "You wish to dine here--here--you would--" + +Down came another post-chaise, thundering on the stones, and louder than +ever was the sound of "Je suis pere, un pere heureux." + +Certainly, at that moment, the song was a mockery, for Monsieur Etienne +was a most unhappy and distracted father. + +"Gentlemen," said he, pathetically, "oblige me by going on to the next +town. Indeed--" + +"Why, will you not give us dinner?" asked the gentleman who had spoken +before. "I see a number of people passing us and entering the house. How +is that?" + +"Sir, they are--that is--I am," stammered the landlord; then suddenly +plunging into a desperate resolve, he said, "Are you a father?" + +A shade passed over the stranger's face as he replied, "I have been a +father. But why such a question?" + +"Oh, if you have been a father," answered Etienne, "you will sympathize +with me, when I tell you that to-day we christen our first-born child." + +"Ah, indeed!" exclaimed the passenger, with a kind smile. "Then these +persons are--" + +"My guests," interrupted the landlord and postmaster, "and you will know +how to excuse me if--" + +"If you wish us to the devil," returned the blue-eyed stranger, laughing +merrily. "But, indeed, I cannot oblige you my excellent friend, for I +don't know where his infernal majesty is to be found; and if I may be +allowed a preference, I would rather remain in the society of the two +priests whom I see going into your house." + +"You will not go farther, then--" + +"Oh, no, we ask to be allowed to join your guests, and attend the +christening. The baptism of a first-born child is a ceremony which +touches my heart, and yours, also, does it not?" said the stranger to +his companion. + +"Certainly," replied the other, laughing, "above all, when it is joined +to another interesting ceremony--that of a good dinner. " + +"Oh, you shall have a good dinner!" cried Etienne, won over by the +sympathy of the first speaker. "Come in, gentlemen, come in. As the +guests of our little son, you are welcome." + + + +CHAPTER CVII. + +THE GODFATHER. + +"We accept with pleasure," said the strangers, and they followed the +host into the house. The door of the room where the guests were +assembled was open, and the strangers, with a self-possession which +proved them to be of the aristocracy, walked in and mingled at once in +the conversation. + +"Allow me, gentlemen," said the host, when he had greeted the remainder +of his guests, "allow me to present you to Madame Etienne. She will he +proud to receive two such distinguished strangers in her house to-day." + +Madame Etienne, with a woman's practised eye, saw at once that these +unknown guests, who were so perfectly unembarrassed and yet so +courteous, must belong to the very first ranks of society; and she was +happy to be able to show off her savoir vivre before the rest of the +company. + +She received the two travellers with much grace and affability; and +whereas the curates were to have been placed beside her at table, she +assigned them to her husband, and invited the strangers to the seats +instead. She informed them of the names and station of every person +present, and then related to them how the winter previous, at the ball +of the sub-prefect, she had danced the whole evening, while some of the +prettiest girls in the room had wanted partners. + +The gentlemen listened with obliging courtesy, and appeared deeply +interested. The blue-eyed stranger, however, mingled somewhat in the +general conversation. He spoke with the burgomaster from Solanges of the +condition of his town, with the curates of their congregations, and +seemed interested in the prosperity of French manufactures, about which +much was said at table. + +All were enchanted with the tact and affability of the strangers. +Monsieur Etienne was highly elated, and as for madame, her paleness had +been superseded by a becoming flush, and she never once complained of +over-exertion. + +The dinner over, the company assembled for the baptism. It was to take +place in the parlor, where a table covered with a fine white cloth, a +wax-candle, some flowers, a crucifix, and an improvised font, had been +arranged for the occasion. + +The noble stranger gave his arm to Madame Etienne. "Madame," said he, +"may I ask of you the favor of standing godfather to your son?" + +Madame Etienne blushed with pleasure, and replied that she would be most +grateful for the honor. + +"In this way," thought she, "we shall find out his name and rank." + +The ceremony began. The curate spoke a few impressive words as to the +nature of the sacrament, and then proceeded to baptize the infant. The +water was poured over its head, and at last came the significant +question: "What is the name of the godfather?" All eyes were turned upon +him, and Madame Etienne's heart beat hard, for she expected to hear the +word "count" at the very least. + +"My name?" said he. "Joseph." + +"Joseph," repeated the priest. "Joseph--and the surname?" + +"I thought Joseph would be enough," said the stranger, with some +impatience. + +"No, sir," replied the priest. "The surname, too, must be registered in +the baptismal records." + +"Very well then--Joseph the Second." + +"The Second?" echoed the curate, with a look of mistrust. "The SECOND! +Is that your surname?" + +"Yes, my name is 'The Second.'" + +"Well, be it so," returned the curate, with a shrug. "Joseph-- +the--Second. Now, what is your profession--excuse me, sir, but I ask the +customary questions." + +The stranger looked down and seemed almost confused. The curate mildly +repeated his question. "What is your profession, or your station, sir?" + +"Emperor of Austria," replied Joseph, smiling. + +A cry of astonishment followed this announcement. The pencil with which +the priest was about to record the "profession" of the godfather fell +from his hands. Madame Etienne in her ecstasy fell almost fainting into +an arm-chair, and Monsieur Etienne, taking the child from the arms of +the nurse, came and knelt with it at the emperor's feet. + +This was the signal for a renewal of life and movement in the room. All +followed the example of the host, and in one moment old and young, men +and women, were on their knees. + +"Your majesty," said Etienne, in a voice choked with tears, "you have +made my child famous. For a hundred years the honor you have conferred +upon him will be the wonder of our neighborhood, and never will the +people of Vitry forget the condescension of your majesty in sitting +among us as an equal and a guest. My son is a Frenchman at heart he +shall also be a German, like our own beautiful queen, who is both +Austrian and French. God bless and preserve you both! Long live our +queen, Marie Antoinette, and long live her noble brother, the Emperor of +Austria!" + +The company echoed the cry, and their shouts aroused Madame Etienne, who +arose and advanced toward her imperial visitor. He hastened to replace +her gently in her arm-chair. + +"Where people are bound together by the ties of parent and god-father," +said he, "there must be no unnecessary ceremony. Will you do me one +favor, madame?" + +"Sire, my life is at your majesty's disposal." + +"Preserve and treasure it, then, for the sake of my godson. And since +you are willing to do me the favor," continued he, drawing from his +bosom a snuff-box richly set with diamonds, "accept this as a +remembrance of my pleasant visit to you to-day. My portrait is upon the +lid, and as I am told that all the lovely women in France take snuff +perhaps you will take your snuff from a box which I hope will remind you +of the giver. + +"And now," continued the emperor, to the happy Monsieur Etienne, "as I +have been admitted to the christening, perhaps you will accommodate me +with a pair of horses with which I may proceed to the next stage." + + + +CHAPTER CVIII. + +THE ARRIVAL AT VERSAILLES. + +The French court was at Versailles, it having been decided by the king +and queen that there they would receive the emperor's visit. A +magnificent suite of apartments had been fitted up for his occupation, +and distinguished courtiers appointed as his attendants. He was +anxiously expected; for already many an anecdote of his affability and +generosity had reached Paris. + +A courier had arrived too say that the emperor had reached the last +station, and would shortly be in Versailles. The queen received this +intelligence with tears of joy, and gathered all her ladies around her +in the room where she expected to meet her brother. The king merely +nodded, and a shade of dissatisfaction passed over his face. He turned +to his confidential adviser, Count Maurepas, who was alone with him in +his cabinet. + +"Tell me frankly, what do you think of this visit?" + +The old count raised his shoulders a la Francaise. "Sire, the queen has +so often invited the emperor, that I presume he has come to gratify her +longings." + +"Ah, bah!" said Louis, impatiently. "He is not so soft-hearted as to +shape his actions to suit the longings of his family. Speak more +candidly." + +"Your majesty commands me to be perfectly sincere?" + +"I entreat you, be truthful and tell me what you think." + +"Then I confess that the emperor's visit has been a subject of much +mystery to your majesty's ministers. You are right in saying that he is +not the man to trouble himself about the state of his relatives' +affections. He comes to Paris for something nearer to his heart than any +royal sister. Perhaps his hope is that he may succeed in removing me, +and procuring the appointment of De Choiseul in my stead." + +"Never! Austria cannot indulge such vain hopes, for her watchful spies +must ere this have convinced the Hapsburgs that my dislike toward this +duke, so precious in the eyes of Maria Theresa, is unconquerable. My +father's shade banished him to Chanteloup, and I will follow this shade +whithersoever it leads. If my father had lived (and perchance Choiseul +had a hand in his death) there would have been no alliance of France +with Austria. I am forced to maintain it, since my wife is the daughter +of Maria Theresa; so that neither the Austrian nor the anti-Austrian +party can ever hope to rule in France. Marie Antoinette is the wife of +my heart, and no human being shall ever dislodge her thence. But my love +for her can never influence my policy, which is steadfast to the +principles of my father. If Joseph has come hither for political +purposes, he might have spared his pains." + +"He may have other views besides those we have alluded to. He may come +to gain your majesty's sanction to his ambitious plans of territorial +aggrandizement. The emperor is inordinately ambitious, and is true to +the policy of his house." + +"Which, nevertheless, was obliged to yield Silesia," said Louis, +derisively. + +That is the open wound for which Austria seeks balsam from Turkey. If +your majesty does not stop him, the emperor will light the torch of war +and kindle a conflagration that may embrace all Europe. " + +"If I can prevent war, it is my duty to do so; for peace is the sacred +right of my people, and nothing but imperative necessity would drive me +to invade that right." + +"But the emperor is not of your majesty's mind. He hopes for war, in +expectation of winning glory." + +"And I for peace, with the same expectation. I, too, would win +glory--the glory of reigning over a happy and prosperous people. The +fame of the conqueror is the scourge of mankind; that of the legislator, +its blessing. The last shall be my portion--I have no object in view but +the welfare of the French nation." + +"The emperor may endeavor to cajole your majesty through your very love +for France. He may propose to you an extension of French territory to +reconcile you to his acquisitions in Turkey. He may suggest the +Netherlands as an equivalent for Bosnia and Servia." + +"I will not accept the bribe," cried Louis hastily. "France needs no +aggrandizement. If her boundaries were extended, she would lose in +strength what she gained in size; so that Joseph will waste his time if +he seeks to awaken in me a lust of dominion. I thirst for conquest, it +is true--the conquest of my people's hearts. May my father's blessing, +and my own sincere efforts enable me to accomplish the one purpose of my +life!" + +"You have accomplished it, sire," replied De Maurepas, with enthusiasm. +"You are the absolute master of your subjects' hearts and affections." + +"If so, I desire to divide my domains with the queen." said Louis, with +a searching look at De Maurepas. The minister cast down his eyes. The +king went on: "You have something against her majesty--what is it?" + +"The queen has something against me, sire. I am an eyesore to her +majesty. She thinks I am in the way of De Choiseul, and will try every +means to have me removed." + +"You know that she would try in vain. I have already told you so. As a +husband, I forget that Marie Antoinette is an Archduchess of Austria, +but as my father's son--never! It is the same with her brother. I may +find him agreeable as a relative; but as Emperor of Austria, he will +know me as King of France alone. Be his virtues what they may, he never +can wring the smallest concession from me. But hark!--I hear the sound +of wheels. You know my sentiments-communicate them to the other +ministers. I go to welcome my kinsman." + +When the king entered the queen's reception-room, she was standing in +the midst of her ladies. Her cheeks were pale, but her large, expressive +eyes were fixed with a loving gaze upon the door through which her +brother was to enter. When she saw the king, she started forward, and +laying both her hands in his, smiled affectionately. + +"Oh, sire," said she, "the emperor has arrived, and my heart flutters +so, that I can scarcely wait for him here. It seems to me so cold that +we do not go to meet him. Oh, come, dear husband, let us hasten to +embrace our brother. Good Heaven! It is not forbidden a queen to have a +heart, is it?" + +"On the contrary, it is a grace that well becomes her royalty," said +Louis, with a smile. "But your brother does not wish us to go forward to +meet him. That would be an acknowledgment of his imperial station, and +you know that he visits us as Count of Falkenstein." + +"Oh, etiquette, forever etiquette!" whispered the queen, while she +opened her huge fan and began to fan herself. "There is no escape from +its fangs. We are rid of Madame de Noailles, but Madame Etiquette has +stayed behind to watch our every look, to forbid us every joy--" + +Just then the door opened, and a tall, manly form was seen upon the +threshold. His large blue eyes sought the queen, and recognizing her, +his face brightened with a bewitching smile. Marie Antoinette, heedless +of etiquette, uttered a cry of joy and flew into his arms. "Brother, +beloved brother!" murmured she, in accents of heartfelt tenderness. + +"My sister, my own dear Antoinette!" was the loving reply, and Joseph +drew her head upon his breast and kissed her again and again. The queen, +overcome by joy, burst into tears, and in broken accents, welcomed the +emperor to France. + +The bystanders were deeply affected, all except the king--he alone was +unmoved by the touching scene. He alone had remarked with displeasure +that Marie Antoinette had greeted her brother in their native tongue, +and that Joseph had responded. It was a German emperor and a German +archduchess who were locked in each other's arms--and near them stood +the King of France, for the moment forgotten. The position was +embarrassing, and Louis had not tact enough to extricate himself +gracefully. With ruffled brow and downcast eyes he stood, until, no +longer able to restrain his chagrin, he turned on his heel to leave the +room. + +At this moment a light hand was laid upon his arm, and the clear, +sonorous voice of the queen was heard. + +"My dear husband, whither are you going?" + +"I am here too soon," replied he, sharply. "I had been told that the +Count of Falkenstein had arrived, and I came to greet him. It appears +that it was a mistake, and I retire until he presents himself." + +"The Count of Falkenstein is here, sire, and asks a thousand pardons for +having allowed his foolish heart to get the better of his courtesy," +said Joseph, with the superiority of better breeding. "Forgive me for +taking such selfish possession of my sister's heart.. It was a momentary +concession from the Queen of France to the memories of her childhood; +but I lay it at your majesty's feet, and entreat you to accept it as +your well-won trophy." + +He looked at the king with such an expression of cordiality, that Louis +could not withstand him. A smile which he could not control, rippled the +gloomy surface of the king's face; and he came forward, offering both +hands. + +"I welcome you with my whole heart, my brother," said he in reply. "Your +presence in Versailles is a source of happiness both to the queen and to +myself. Let me accompany you to your apartments that you may take +possession at once, and refresh yourself from the fatigues of +travelling." + +"Sire," replied Joseph, "I will follow your majesty wheresoever you +please; but I cannot allow you to be inconvenienced by my visit. I and a +soldier, unaccustomed to magnificence, and not worthy of such royal +accommodation as you offer." + +"How!" cried the queen." You will not be our guest?" + +"I will gladly be your guest at table if you allow it," replied the +emperor, "but I can dine with you without lodging at Versailles. When I +travel, I do not go to castles but to inns." + +The king looked astounded. "To inns?" repeated he with emphasis. + +"Count Falkenstein means hotels, your majesty," cried the queen, +laughing. "My brother is not quite accustomed to our French terms, and +we will have to teach him the difference between a hotel and an inn. But +to do this, dear brother, you must remain with us. Your apartments are +as retired as you could possibly desire them." + +"I know that Versailles is as vast as it is magnificent," said Joseph, +"but I have already sent my valet to take rooms for me in Paris. Let us, +then, say no more on the subject. [Footnote: "Memoires de Madame de +Campan," vol. i., p. 172.] I am very grateful to you for your +hospitality, but I have come to France to hear, to see, and to learn. I +must be out early and late, and that would not suit the royal etiquette +of Versailles." + +"I thought you had come to Paris to visit the king and myself," said +Marie Antoinette, looking disappointed. + +"You were right, dear sister, but I am not so agreeable that you should +wish to have me constantly at your side. I wish to become acquainted +with your beautiful Paris. It is so full of treasures of art and wonders +of industry, that a man has only to use his eyes, and he grows +accomplished. I am much in need of such advantages, sire, for you will +find me a barbarian for whose lapses you will have to be indulgent." + +"I must crave then a reciprocity of indulgence," replied Louis. "But, +come, count--give your arm to the queen, and let her show you the way to +dinner. To-day we dine en famille, and my brothers and sisters are +impatient to welcome Count Falkenstein to Versailles." + + + +CHAPTER CIX. + +COUNT FALKENSTEIN IN PARIS. + +A modest hackney-coach stood before the door of the little Hotel de +Turenne, in the Rue Vivienne. The occupant, who had just alighted, was +about to enter the hotel, when the hunt, who was standing before the +door, with his hands plunged to the very bottom of his breeches pockets, +stopped the way, and, not very politely, inquired what he wanted. + +"I want what everybody else wants here, and what your sign offers to +everybody--lodgings, "replied the stranger. + +"That is precisely what you cannot have," said mine host, pompously. "I +am not at liberty to receive any one, not even a gentleman of your +distinguished appearance." + +"Then, take in your sign, my friend. When a man inveigles travellers +with a sign, he ought to be ready to satisfy their claims upon his +hospitality. I, therefore, demand a room." + +"I tell you, sir, that you cannot have it. The Hotel de Turenne has been +too highly honored to entertain ordinary guests. The Emperor of Austria, +brother of the beautiful queen, has taken lodgings here." + +The stranger laughed. "If the emperor were to hear you, he would take +lodgings with someone more discreet than yourself. He travels incognito +in France." + +"But everybody is in the secret, sir; and all Paris is longing for a +sight of Count Falkenstein, of whom all sorts of delightful anecdotes +are circulated. He is affability itself, and speaks with men generally +as if they were his equals." + +"And pray," said the stranger, laughing, "is he made differently from +other men?" + +The host eyed his interrogator with anger and contempt. "This is very +presuming language," said he, "and as his majesty is my guest, I cannot +suffer it. The French think the world of him, and no wonder, for he is +the most condescending sovereign in Europe. He refused to remain at the +palace, and comes to take up his abode here. Is not that magnanimous?" + +"I find it merely a matter of convenience. He wishes to be in a central +situation. Has he arrived?" + +"No, not yet. His valet is here, and has set up his camp-bed. I am +waiting to receive the emperor and his suite now." + +"Is the valet Guther here?" + +"Ah, you know this gentleman's name! Then perhaps you belong to the +emperor's suite?" + +"Yes," said the stranger, laughing, "I shave him occasionally. Now call +Gunther." + +There was something rather imperious in the tone of the gentleman who +occasionally shaved the emperor, and the landlord felt impelled to obey. + +"Of course," said he, respectfully, "if you shave the emperor, you are +entitled to a room here." + +The stranger followed him up the broad staircase that led to the first +story of the hotel. As they reached the landing, a door opened, and the +emperor's valet stepped out into the ball. + +"His majesty!" exclaimed he, quickly moving aside and standing stiff as +a sentry by the door. + +"His majesty!" echoed the landlord. "This gentleman--this--Your +majesty--have I--" + +"I am Count Falkenstein," replied the emperor, amused. "You see now that +you were wrong to refuse me; for the man whom you took for an ordinary +mortal was neither more nor less than the emperor himself." + +The landlord bent the knee and began to apologize, but Joseph stopped +him short. "Never mind," said he, "follow me, I wish to speak with you." + +The valet opened the door, and the emperor entered the room, the +frightened landlord following. + +"These are my apartments!" continued Joseph, looking around. + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"I retain four of them--an anteroom, a sitting-room, a bedroom, and a +room for my valet. I will keep them for six weeks, on one condition." + +"Your majesty has only to command here." + +"Well, then, I command you to forget what I am in Austria. In France, I +am Count Falkenstein; and if ever I hear myself spoken of by any other +name, I leave your house on the spot." + +"I will obey your instructions, count." + +"You understand, then, that I desire to be received and regarded as an +ordinary traveller. Whence it follows that you will take in whatever +other guests apply to you for lodging. You have proved to me to-day how +unpleasant it is to be turned away, and I desire to spare other +applicants the--same inconvenience." + +"But suppose the Parisians should wish to see Count Falkenstein?" + +"They will have to submit to a disappointment." + +"Should any one seek an audience of--the count?" + +"The count receives visitors, but gives audience to no one. His visitors +will be announced by his valet. Therefore you need give yourself no +trouble on that head. Should any unfortunate or needy persons present +themselves, you are at liberty to admit them." + +"Oh!" cried the host, with tears in his eyes, "how the Parisians will +appreciate such generosity!" + +"They will not have the opportunity of doing so, for they shall not hear +a word of it. Now go and send me a barber; and take all the custom that +presents itself to you, whether it comes in a chariot or a +Hackney-coach." + +The host retired, and as the door was closing, Count Rosenberg appeared. +The emperor took his hand, and bade him welcome. + +"I Have just been to the embassy," said Rosenberg, "and Count von Mercy +says--" + +"That I told him I would take rooms at the Hotel of the Ambassadors, but +I also reserve to myself this nice little bachelor establishment, to +which I may retreat when I feel inclined to do so. The advantage of +these double quarters is, that nobody will know exactly where to find +me, and I shall enjoy some freedom from parade. At the Hotel of the +Ambassadors I shall be continually bored with imperial honors. Here, on +the contrary, I am free as air, and can study Paris at my leisure." + +"And you intend to pursue these studies alone, count? Is no one to +accompany you to spare you inconvenience, perchance to assist you in +possible peril?" + +"Oh, my friend, as to peril, you know, that I am not easily frightened, +and that the Paris police is too well organized to lose sight of me. +Monsieur de Sartines, doubtless, thinks that I need as much watching as +a house-breaker, for it is presumed at court that I have come to steal +the whole country, and carry it to Austria in my pocket." + +"They know that to Count Falkenstein nothing is impossible." replied +Rosenberg. "To carry away France would not be a very hard matter to a +man who has robbed the French people of their hearts." + +"Ah, bah! the French people have no hearts. They have nothing but +imagination. There is but one man in France who has genuine +sensibility--and that one is their poor, timid young king. Louis has a +heart, but that heart I shall never win. Heaven grant that the queen +have power to make it hers!" + +"The queen? If Louis has a heart, it surely cannot be insensible to the +charms of that lovely young queen!" + +"It ought not to be, for she deserves the love of the best of men. But +things are not as they should be here. I have learned that in the few +hours of my visit to Versailles. The queen has bitter enemies, and you +and I, Rosenberg, must try to disarm them." + +"What can I do, count, in this matter?" + +"You can watch and report to me. Swear to me, as an honest man, that you +will conceal nothing you hear to the queen's detriment or to mine." + +"I swear it, count." + +"Thank you, my friend. Let us suppose that our mission is to free my +sister from the power of a dragon, and restore her to her lover. You are +my trusty squire, and together we shall prevail over the monster, and +deliver the princess." + +At that moment a knocking was heard at the door. It was opened, and an +elegant cavalier, with hat and sword, entered the room, with a sweeping +bow. The emperor stepped politely forward, and inquired his business. + +The magnificent cavalier waved his hat, and with an air of proud +consciousness, replied: + +"I was requested to give my advice regarding the arrangement of a +gentleman's hair." + +"Ah, the barber," said the emperor. "Then be so good, sir, as to give +your advice, and dress my hair." + +"Pardon me, sir, that is not my profession," replied the cavalier, +haughtily. "I am a physiognomist. Allow me to call in my subordinate." + +"Certainly," said the emperor, ready to burst with laughter, as he +surveyed the solemn demeanor of the artiste. The latter walked +majestically to the door, and opened it. + +"Jean!" cried he, with the voice of a field-marshal; and a youth +fluttered in, laden with powder-purses, combs, curling-tongs, ribbons, +pomatum, and the other appurtenances of a first-rate hair-dresser. + +"Now, sir," said the physiognomist, gravely, "be so good as to take a +seat." Joseph obeyed the polite command, upon which the physiognomist +retired several paces, folded his arms, and contemplated the emperor in +solemn silence. + +"Be so kind as to turn your head to the left--a little more--so--that +is it--I wish to see your profile," said he after a while. + +"My dear sir, pray inform me whether in France it is customary to take a +man's portrait before you dress his hair?" asked the emperor, scarcely +able to restrain his increasing mirth; while Rosenberg retired to the +window, where Joseph could see him shaking, with his handkerchief before +his mouth. + +"It is not customary, sir," replied the physiognomist, with grave +earnestness. "I study your face that I may decide which style becomes +you best." + +Behind the chair stood the hair-dresser in a fashionable suit of +nankeen, with lace cuffs and ruffles, hovering like a large yellow +butterfly over the emperor, and ready at the signal to alight upon the +imperial head with brush and comb. + +The physiognomist continued his study. He contemplated the head of the +emperor from every point of view, walking slowly around him, and +returning to take a last survey of the front. Finally his eye rested +majestically upon the butterfly, which fluttered with expectation. + +"Physiognomy of a free negro," said he, with pathos. "Give the gentleman +the Moorish coiffure." [Footnote: "Memoires d'un Voyageur qui se +Repose," vol. iii., p. 42.] And with a courtly salute he left the room. + +The emperor now burst into shouts of laughter, in which he was heartily +joined by Rosenberg. + +Meanwhile the butterfly had set to work, and was frizzing with all his +might. + +"How will you manage to give me the Moorish coiffure?" asked the +emperor, when he had recovered his speech. + +"I shall divide your hair into a multitude of single locks; curl, friz +them, and they will stand out from your head in exact imitation of the +negro's wool," answered the butterfly, triumphantly. + +"I have no doubt that it would accord charmingly with my physiognomy," +said the emperor, once more indulging in a peal of laughter, "but to-day +I must content myself with the usual European style. Dress my hair as +you see it, and be diligent, for I am pressed for time." + +The hair-dresser reluctantly obeyed, and in a few minutes the work was +completed and the artiste had gone. + +"Now," said Joseph to Count Rosenberg, "I am about to pay some visits. +My first one shall be to Monsieur de Maurepas. He is one of our most +active opponents, and I long to become acquainted with my enemies. Come, +then, let us go to the hotel of the keeper of the great seal." + +"Your majesty's carriages are not here," replied Rosenberg. + +"Dear friend, my equipages are always in readiness. Look on the opposite +side of the street at those hackney-coaches. They are my carriages for +the present. Now let us cross over and select one of the neatest." + +Perfect silence reigned in the anteroom of Monsieur de Maurepas. A +liveried servant, with important mien, walked forth and back before the +closed door of the reception-room, like a bull-dog guarding his master's +sacred premises. The door of the first anteroom was heard to open, and +the servant turned an angry look toward two gentlemen who made their +appearance. + +"Ah," said he, "the two gentlemen who just now alighted from the +hackney-coach?" + +"The same," said the emperor. "Is monsieur le comte at home?" + +"He is," said the servant pompously. + +"Then be so good as to announce to him Count Falkenstein." + +The man shrugged his shoulders. "I am sorry that I cannot oblige you, +sir. Monsieur de Taboreau is with the count; and until their conference +is at an end, I can announce nobody." + +"Very well, then, I shall wait," replied Joseph, taking a seat, and +pointing out another to Count Rosenberg. + +The servant resumed his walk, and the two visitors in silence awaited +the end of the conference. + +"Do you know, Rosenberg," said Joseph, after a pause, "that I am +grateful to Count de Maurepas for this detention in his ante-room? It is +said that experience is the mother of wisdom. Now my experience of +to-day teaches me that it is excessively tiresome to wait in an +anteroom. I think I shall be careful for the future, when I have +promised to receive a man, not to make him wait. Ah! here comes another +visitor. We are about to have companions in ennui." + +The person who entered the room was received with more courtesy than +"the gentlemen who had come in the hackney-coach." The servant came +forward with eagerness, and humbly craved his pardon while informing him +that his excellency was not yet visible. + +"I shall wait," replied the Prince de Harrai, advancing to a seat. +Suddenly he stopped, and looked in astonishment at Count Falkenstein, +who, perfectly unconcerned, was sitting in a corner of the room. + +"Great Heaven! his majesty, the emperor!" cried he, shocked, but +recovering himself sufficiently to make a deep inclination. + +"Can your majesty pardon this unheard of oversight!" + +"Peace, prince," replied the emperor, smiling; "you will disturb the +ministers at their conference." + +"Why, man, how is it that his excellency is not apprised of his +majesty's presence here?" said the Prince de Harrai to the lackey. + +"His excellency never spoke to me of an emperor," stammered the +terrified lackey. "He desired me to admit no one except a foreign count, +whose name, your highness, I have been so unlucky as to forget." + +"Except Count Falkenstein." + +"Yes, your highness, I believe--that is, I think it--" + +"And you leave the count to wait here in the anteroom!" + +"I beg monsieur le comte a thousand pardons. I will at once repair my +error." + +"Stay," said the emperor, imperatively. Then turning to the Prince de +Harrai, he continued good-humoredly: "If your highness is made to wait +in the anteroom, there is no reason why the Count of Falkenstein should +not bear you company. Let us, then, wait together." + +The ministerial conference lasted half an hour longer, but at last the +door opened, and Monsieur de Maurepas appeared. He was coming forward +with ineffable courtesy to receive his guests, when perceiving the +emperor, his self-possession forsook him at once. Pale, hurried, and +confused, he stammered a few inaudible words of apology, when Joseph +interrupted and relieved him. + +He offered his hand with a smile, saying: "Do not apologize; it is +unnecessary. It is nothing but right that business of state should have +precedence over private visitors." [Footnote: The emperor's own words. +Hubner. "Life of Joseph H.," p. 141.] + +"But your majesty is no private individual!" cried the minister, with +astonishment. + +"Pardon me," said the emperor, gravely. "As long as I remain here. I am +nothing more. I left the Emperor of Austria at Vienna: he has no concern +with the Count of Falkenstein, who is on a visit to Paris, and who has +come hither, not to parade his rank, but to see and to learn where there +is so much to be learned. May I hope that you will aid Count Falkenstein +in his search after knowledge?" + + + +CHAPTER CX. + +THE QUEEN AND THE "DAMES DE LA HALLE." + +A brilliant crowd thronged the apartments of the Princess d'Artois. The +royal family, the court, and the lords and ladies of high rank were +assembled in her reception-rooms, for close by an event of highest +importance to France was about to transpire. The princess was giving +birth to a scion of royalty. The longings of France were about to be +fulfilled--the House of Bourbon was to have an heir to its greatness. + +The accouchement of a royal princess was in those days an event that +concerned all Paris, and all the authorities and corporations of the +great capital had representatives in those reception-rooms. It being +only a princess who was in labor, and not a queen, none but the royal +family and the ministers were admitted into her bedchamber. The +aristocracy waited in the reception-rooms, the people in the corridors +and galleries. Had it been Marie Antoinette, all the doors would have +been thrown open to her subjects. The fishwives of Paris, the laborers, +the gamins, even the beggars had as much right to see the Queen of +France delivered, as the highest dignitary of the land. The people, +then, who thronged both palace and gardens, were awaiting the moment +when the physician should appear upon the balcony and announce to the +enraptured populace that a prince or princess had been vouchsafed to +France. + +From time to time one of the royal physicians came out to report the +progress of affairs, until finally the voice of the accoucheur +proclaimed that the Princess d'Artois had given birth to a prince. + +A cry of joy followed this announcement. It was that of the young +mother. Raising her head from her pillow, she cried out in ecstasy, "Oh, +how happy, how happy I am!" [Foreword: Madame de Campan, vol. i., p 216. +The prince whose advent was a source of such triumph to his mother, was +the Duke de Berry, father of the present Count de Chambord. He it was +who, in 1827, was stabbed as he was about to enter the theatre, and died +in the arms of Louis XVIII., former Count de Provence.] + +The queen bent over her and kissed her forehead, whispering words of +affectionate sympathy in her ear; but no one saw the tears that fell +from Marie Antoinette's eyes upon the lace-covered pillow of her +fortunate kinswoman. + +She kissed the princess again, as though to atone for those tears, and +with tender congratulations took her leave. She passed through the +reception-rooms, greeting the company with smiling composure, and then +went out into the corridors which led to her own apartments. Here the +scene changed. Instead of the respectful silence which had saluted her +passage through the rooms, she encountered a hum of voices and an eager +multitude all pressing forward to do her homage after their own rough +fashion. + +Every one felt bound to speak a word of love or of admiration, and it +was only by dint of great exertion that the two footmen who preceded the +queen were able to open a small space through which she could pass. She +felt annoyed--even alarmed--and for the first time in her life regretted +the etiquette which once had required that the Queen of France should +not traverse the galleries of Versailles without an escort of her ladies +of honor. + +Marie Antoinette had chosen to dispense with their attendance, and now +she was obliged to endure the contact of those terrible "dames de la +halle," who for hundreds of years had claimed the privilege of speaking +face to face with royalty, and who now pressed around her, with jokes +that crimsoned her cheeks while they were rapturously received by the +canaille. + +With downcast eyes and trembling steps, she tried to hurry past the +odious crowd of poissardes. + +"Look, look," cried one, peering in her face, "look at the queen and see +her blushing like a rose-bud!" + +"But indeed, pretty queen, you should remember that you are not a +rose-bud, but a full-blown rose, and it is time that you were putting +forth rose-buds yourself." + +"So it is, so it is," shouted the multitude. "The queen owes us a +rose-bud, and we must have it." "See here, pretty queen," cried another +fish-wife, "it is your fault if we stand here on the staircases and out +in the hot sun to-day. If you had done your duty to France instead of +leaving it to the princess in yonder, the lackeys would have been +obliged to open the doors to us as well as to the great folks, and we +would have jostled the dukes and princes, and taken our ease on your +velvet sofas. The next time we come here, we must have a tramp into the +queen's room, and she must let us see herself and a brave dauphin, too." + +"Yes, yes," cried the fish-wives in chorus, "when we come back we must +see the young dauphin." + +The queen tried to look as though she heard none of this. Not once had +she raised her eyes or turned her head. Now she was coming to the end of +her painful walk through the corridors, for Heaven be praised! just +before her was the door of her own anteroom. Once across that threshold +she was safe from the coarse ribaldry that was making her heart throb +and her cheeks tingle; for there the rights of the people ended, and +those of the sovereign began. + +But the "dames de la halle" were perfectly aware of this, and they were +determined that she should not escape so easily. + +"Promise us," cried a loud, shrill voice, "promise us that we shall have +a young dauphin as handsome as his mother and as good as his father." + +"Yes, promise, promise," clamored the odious throng; and men and women +pressed close upon the queen to see her face and hear her answer. + +Marie Antoinette had almost reached her door. She gave a sigh of relief, +and for the first time raised her eyes with a sad, reproachful look +toward her tormentors. + +Just then a strapping, wide-shouldered huckster, pushed her heavy body +between the queen and the door, and barring the entrance with her great +brown arms, cried out vociferously: "You to not pass until you promise! +We love you and love the king we will none of the Count de Provence for +our king; we must have a dauphin." + +The queen still pretended not to hear. She tried to evade the poissarde +and to slip into her room; but the woman perceived the motion, and +confronted her again. + +"Be so kind, madame," said Marie Antoinette, mildly, "as to allow me to +pass." + +"Give us the promise, then," said the fish-wife, putting her arms +a-kimbo. + +The other women echoed the words, "Give us the promise, give us the +promise!" + +Poor Marie Antoinette! She felt her courage leaving her--she must be rid +of this fearful band of viragos at any price. She would faint if she +stood there much longer. + +Again the loud cry. "Promise us a dauphin, a dauphin, a dauphin!" + +"I promise," at last replied the queen. "Now, madame, in mercy, let me +have entrance to my own rooms." + +The woman stepped back, the queen passed away, and behind her the people +shouted out in every conceivable tone of voice, "She has promised. The +queen has promised a dauphin!" + +Marie Antoinette walked hurriedly forward through the first anteroom +where her footman waited, to the second wherein her ladies of honor were +assembled. + +Without a word to any of them she darted across the room and opening the +door of her cabinet, threw herself into an arm-chair and sobbed aloud. +No one was there excepting Madame de Campan. + +"Campan," said she, while tears were streaming down her cheeks, "shut +the door, close the portiere. Let no one witness the sorrow of the Queen +of France." + +With a passionate gesture, she buried her face in her hands and wept +aloud. + +After a while she raised her tearful eyes and they rested upon Madame de +Campan, who was kneeling before her with an expression of sincerest +sympathy. + +"Oh, Campan, what humiliation I have endured today! The poorest woman on +the street is more fortunate than I; and if she bears a child upon her +arm, she can look down with compassion upon the lonely Queen of +France,--that queen upon whose marriage the blessing of God does not +rest; for she has neither husband nor child." + +"Say not so, your majesty, for God has smitten your enemies, and with +His own tender hand He is kindling the fire of love in the heart of the +king your husband." + +Marie Antoinette shook her head sadly. "No--the king does not love me. +His heart does not respond to mine. He loves me, perhaps, as a sister, +but no more--no more!" + +"He loves your majesty with the passion and enthusiasm of a lover, but +he is very timid, and waits for some token of reciprocity before he +dares to avow his love." + +"No, he does not love me," repeated Marie Antoinette with a sigh. "I +have tried every means to win his heart. He is indulgent toward my +failings, and kindly anticipates my wishes; sometimes he seems to enjoy +my society, but it is with the calm, collateral affection of a brother +for his sister. And I!--oh, my God! my whole heart is his, and craves +for that ardent, joy-bestowing love of which poets sing, and which noble +women prize above every earthly blessing. Such love as my father gave to +my happy mother, I would that the king felt for me." + +"The king does not know the extent of his love for your majesty," said +De Campan soothingly. "Some fortunate accident or dream of jealousy will +reveal it to him before long." + +"God speed the accident or the dream!" sighed the queen; and forthwith +her tears began to flow anew, while her hands lay idly upon her lap. + +Those burning tears at last awakened her from the apathy of grief. +Suddenly she gave a start and threw back her head. Then she rose from +her seat, and, like Maria Theresa, began to pace the apartment. +Gradually her face resumed its usual expression, and her demeanor +became, as it was wont to be, dignified and graceful. Coming directly up +to Madame de Campan, she smiled and gave her hand. "Good Campan," said +she, "you have seen me in a moment of weakness, of which I am truly +ashamed. Try to forget it dear friend, and I promise that it shall never +be repeated. And now, call my tire-women and order my carriage. Leonard +is coming with a new coiffure, and Bertin has left me several beautiful +hats. Let us choose the very prettiest of them all, for I must go and +show myself to the people. Order an open carriage, that every one may +see my face, and no one may say that the queen envies the maternal joys +of the Countess d'Artois. Tonight we are to have the opera of +'Iphigenia'--it is one of my magnificent teacher's chefs-d'oeuvre. The +emperor and I are to go together to listen to our divine Gluck's music, +and Paris must believe that Marie Antoinette is happy--too happy to envy +any woman! Come, Campan, and dress me becomingly." + + + + + +CHAPTER CXI. + +THE ADOPTED SON OF THE QUEEN. + +An hour later, the queen entered her carriage in all the splendor of +full dress. Leonard had altered her coiffure. Instead of the three-story +tower, her hair was low, and she wore a most becoming hat, chiefly made +up of flowers and feathers. She also wore rouge, for she was very pale; +and to conceal the traces of weeping she had drawn a faint dark line +below her lower lashes which greatly increased the brilliancy of her +eyes. + +She ordered her coachman to drive through the town. Wherever the royal +outriders announced her coming, the people gathered on: either side of +the streets to wave their hats and handkerchiefs, and greet her with +every demonstration of enthusiasm and love. + +Marie Antoinette greatly enjoyed her popularity, she bowed her head, and +smiled, and waved her hand in return, calling upon the ladies who +accompanied her to sympathize with her happiness. + +"Indeed," said she to the Princess de Lamballe, [Footnote: The Princess +de Lamballe was subsequently beheaded, and her head was carried through +the streets of Paris on a pike.--Trans.] "the people love me, I do +believe. They seem glad to see me, and I, too, like to see them." + +"Your majesty sees that in Versailles, as in Paris, you have thousands +of lovers," replied the princess. + +"Ah," said the queen, "my lovers are there to be seen; but my enemies, +who lie concealed, are more active than my friends. And how do I know +that they are not now among the crowd that welcomes me! How dreadful it +is to wear a mask through life! They, perhaps, who shout `Long live the +queen,' are plotting against her peace, and I, who smile in return, dare +not trust them!" + +The royal equipage had now reached the gates, and was passing into the +country. Marie Antoinette felt a sense of relief at the change. She +gazed with rapture upon the rich foliage of the trees, and then looking +pensively above for a few moments, she watched the floating clouds of +blue and silver, and then followed the flight of the birds that were +soaring in such freedom through the air. + +"How I wish that I could fly!" said she, sighing. "We mortals are less +privileged than the little birds--we must creep along the earth with the +reptiles that we loath! Faster, tell the coachman to drive faster!" +cried she, eagerly, "I would like to move rapidly just now. Faster, +still faster!" + +The command went forward, and the outriders dashed ahead at full speed. +The carriage whirled past the cottages on the wayside, while the queen, +leaning back upon her satin cushions, gave herself up to the dreamy +enjoyment which steals over the senses during a rapid drive. + +Suddenly there was an exclamation, and the horses were reined in. The +queen started from her reverie, and leaned forward. + +"What has happened?" cried she of the equerry, who at that moment sprang +to the side of the caleche. + +"Your majesty, a child has just run across the road, and has been +snatched from under the horses' feet." + +"A child!" exclaimed the queen, starting from her seat. "Is it killed?" + +"No, your majesty. It is luckily unhurt. The coachman reined up his +horses in time for one of the outriders to save it. It is +unhurt--nothing but frightened. Your majesty can see him now in the arms +of the old peasant-woman there." + +"She is about to return to the cottage with it," said the queen. Then +stretching her arms toward the old woman, she cried out in an imploring +voice: "Give me the child--bring it here! Heaven has sent it to me as a +comfort! Give it to me, I entreat you." + +Meanwhile the old woman, recalled by the equerry, was approaching the +carriage. "See," exclaimed the queen to her ladies, "see what a lovely +boy!" And, indeed, he was a beautiful child, in spite of his little +tattered red jacket, and his bare brown legs, of dark with dirt as with +sunburn. + +"Where is his mother?" asked Marie Antoinette, looking compassionately +at the child. + +"My daughter is dead, madame," said the peasant. "She died last winter, +and left me the burden of five young children to feed." + +"They shall burden you no longer," exclaimed the queen kindly. "I will +maintain them all, and this little angel you must give to me. Will you +not?" + +"Ah, madame, the child is only too lucky! But my little Jacob is so +wilful that he will not stay with you." + +"I will teach him to love me," returned the queen. "Give him to me now." + +She leaned forward and received the child from his grandmother's arms. +It was so astounded, that it uttered not a cry; it only opened its great +blue eyes to their utmost, while the queen settled it upon her lap. + +"See," exclaimed the delighted Marie Antoinette, "he is not at all +afraid of me. Oh, we are going to be excellent friends! Adieu, my poor +old grandmother. I will send you something for your children as soon as +I reach home. And now, Monsieur de Vievigne, let us return to +Versailles. Tell your grandmamma good-by, little Jacob. You are going to +ride with me." + +"Adieu, my little one," said the grandmother. "Don't forget your--" + +Her words were drowned in the whirr of the carriage, which disappeared +from her wondering eyes in a cloud of dust. + +The motion, the noise, and the air brushing his curls into his face, +awakened the boy from his stupor. He started from the queen's arms, and +looking wildly around, began to yell with all his might. Never had such +unharmonious sounds assailed the ears of the queen before. But she +seemed to be quite amused with it. The louder little Jacob screamed and +kicked, the closer she pressed him to her heart; nor did she seem to +observe that his dirty little feet were leaving unsightly marks upon her +rich silk dress. + +The caleche arrived at Versailles, and drew up before the doors of the +palace. With her newly acquired treasure in her arms, the queen +attempted to leave the carriage, but the shrieks and kicks became so +vigorous, that she was obliged to put the child down. The pages, +gentlemen, and ladies in waiting, stared in astonishment as her majesty +went by, holding the refractory little peasant by the hand, his rosy +cheeks covered with many an arabesque, the joint production of tears and +dirt. Little cared Jacob for the splendor around him; still less for the +caresses of his royal protectress. + +"I want to go to my grandmother," shrieked he, "I want my brother Louis +and sister Marianne!" + +"Oh, dear little one!" cried the queen, "what an affectionate heart he +has! He loves his relatives better than all our luxury, and the Queen of +France is less to him than his poor old grandmother!--Never mind, +darling, you shall be loved as well and better than you ever were at +home, and all the more that you have not learned to flatter!" + +She bent down to caress him, but he wiped off her kisses with +indignation. Marie Antoinette laughed heartily, and led the child into +her cabinet, where she placed him on the very spot where she had been +weeping a few hours earlier. + +"Campan," said she, "see how good God has been to me to-day! He has sent +me a child upon whom I can lavish all the love which is consuming my +poor, lonely heart. Yes, my little one, I will be a mother to you, and +may God and your own mother hear my vow! Now, Campan, let us take +counsel together as to what is to be done. First, we must have a nurse, +and then his face must be washed, and he must be dressed as becomes my +pretty little adopted son." + +The child, who had ceased his cries for a moment, now broke out into +fresh shrieks. "I want to go home! I won't stay here in this big house! +Take me to my grandmother!" + +"Hush, you unconscionable little savage!" said Madame de Campan. + +"Oh, Campan!" cried, the queen deprecatingly, "how can you chide the +little fellow! His cries are so many proofs of the honesty of his heart, +which is not to be bribed of its love by all that royalty can bestow!" +[Footnote: The queen kept her word. The boy was brought up as her own +child. He always breakfasted and dined by her side, and she never called +him by any other name save that of "my child." When Jacques grew up, he +displayed a taste for painting, and of course had every advantage which +royal protection could afford him. He was privileged to approach the +queen unannounced. But when the Revolution broke out, this miserable +wretch, to avoid popularity, joined the Jacobins, and was one of the +queen's bitterest enemies and most frenzied accusers.] + + + +CHAPTER CXII. + +"CHANTONS, CELEBRONS NOTRE REINE." + +The opera-house was full to overflowing. In the lowest tier were the +ladies of the aristocracy, their heads surmounted by those abominable +towers of Leonard's invention. Above them sat the less distinguished +spectators; and the parquet was thronged by poets, learned men, +students, and civil officers of various grades. Almost every class found +some representatives in that brilliant assemblage; and each one felt +keenly the privilege he enjoyed in being present on that particular +occasion. But it was not altogether for the sake of the music that all +Paris had flocked to the opera. The Parisians were less desirous to hear +"Iphigenia," than to see the emperor, who was to be there in company +with his sister. + +Since his arrival in the capital, Joseph had been the theme of every +conversation. Every one had something to relate of his affability, his +condescension, or his goodness. His bon mots, too, were in every mouth; +and the Parisians, who at every epoch have been so addicted to wit, were +so much the more enraptured with the impromptu good things which fell +from Joseph's lips, that the Bourbons were entirely deficient in +sprightliness. + +Every man had an anecdote to relate that concerned Joseph. Yesterday he +had visited the Hotel-Dieu. He had even asked for admission to the +apartments of the lying-in women, and upon being refused entrance by the +sisters, he had said, "Do let me see the first scene of human misery." +The sisters, struck by the words as well as by the noble bearing of the +stranger, had admitted him; and upon taking leave he had remarked to the +nun who accompanied him, "The sufferings which you witness in this room, +reconcile you without doubt to the vows you have made." It was only +after his departure that his rank was discovered, and this by means of +the gift he left in the hands of the prioress--a draft upon the imperial +exchequer of forty-eight thousand livres. + +A few days previous, he had sought entrance to the "Jardin des Plantes;" +but the porter had refused to open the gates until a larger number of +visitors should arrive. So the emperor, instead of discovering himself, +took a seat under the trees and waited quietly until the people had +assembled. On his return, he had given eight louis d'ors to the porter; +and thus the latter had learned his majesty's rank. + +Again--the emperor had called upon Buffon, announcing himself simply as +a traveller. Buffon who was indisposed, had gone forward to receive his +guest in a dressing-gown. His embarrassment, as he recognized his +imperial visitor, had been very great. But Joseph, laughing, said, "When +the scholar comes to visit his teacher, do you suppose that he troubles +himself about the professor's costume?" + +That was not all. He was equally affable with artists. He talked daily +with the painters in the Louvre; and having paid a visit to the great +actor Le Kain, whom he had seen the night before in the character of a +Roman emperor, he found him like Buffon in a dressing-gown. + +When Le Kain would have apologized, the emperor had said, "Surely +emperors need not be so fastidious one toward the other!" + +"The emperor goes everywhere," cried a voice in the crowd. "Yesterday he +paid a visit to one of the tribunals and remained during the sitting. He +was recognized, and the president would have assigned him a seat among +the council, but the emperor declined and remained in a trellised-box +with the other spectators." + +"How!" cried another voice, "the emperor sat in a little common +trellised-box?" + +"Yes," replied the first speaker, "he was in one of those boxes called +lanterns. Even Marsorio and Pasquin had something to say on the +subject." [Foreword: Marsorio and Pasquin were the anonymous wits of the +people, the authors of all the epigrams and pasquinades which were +pasted about the streets and originated with--nobody. Marsorio and +Pasquin still exist in Rome.] + +"What did they say? Tell us what said our good friends, Marsorio and +Pasquin." + +"Here it is. I found it pasted on a corner of the Palais Royal and I +tore it down and put it in my pocket. Shall I read it?" + +"Yes, yes," cried the multitude; and it was whispered among them that +this was Riquelmont, the author of the satires that were sung on the +Pont-Neuf, and were attributed to Marsorio and Pasquin. + +"Now, gentlemen, listen!" + +And with a loud voice, Riquelmont began to read: + +"MANSORIO.--Grand miracle. Pasquin. Le soleil dans une lanterne! + +PASQUIN.--Allons done, to me Hernes! + +MANSORIO.-Pour to dire le vrai, tiens: Dioggne en vain Cherehait jadis +un homme, une lanterne a la main, Eh bien, a Paris ce matin Il l'eut +trouve dans la lanterne." + +"Good, good!" cried the listeners, "the emperor is indeed a wonderful--" + +Just then the bell for the curtain was heard, and the crowd pressed into +the parterre. Amid the profoundest stillness the opera began. Before the +first scene had ended, a slight rustling of chairs was heard in the +king's box, and all eyes were turned thither. The whole royal family, +with the exception of the king, were there; and in their midst, +loveliest of all, appeared the, young queen, brilliant with youth, +grace, and beauty as she bent her head, and, with bewitching smiles, +returned the greetings of her subjects. + +The audience broke out into a storm of rapturous applause, and Marie +Antoinette, kissing her fair hand, took her seat and prepared to listen +to the music. + +But the spectators were less interested in "Iphigenia" than in the +imperial box. Their eyes were continually seeking the emperor, who, +concealed behind the heavy velvet draperies, was absorbed in the +performance. At one stage of the representation, Iphigenia is led in +triumph through the Greek camp, while a chorus of Thessalians sing-- +"Que d'attraits que de majeste; Que de graces l que de beaute! Chantons, +celebrons notre reine!" + +The audience took the cue and transformed themselves into actors. Every +eye and every head turned to the royal box, and for the sea and time +every hand was raised to applaud. From boxes, galleries, and parquet, +the cry was, "Da capo, da capo! Again that chorus!" + +The singer who represented Achilles comprehended that the enthusiasm of +the spectators was not for the music. + +Enchanted with the idea, of being the mouthpiece of the people, he +stepped to the front of the stage, and raising his arm in the direction +of the royal box, he repeated the line, + +"Chantons, celebrons notre reine!" + +The heart of the young queen overflowed with excess of joy. She leaned +toward the emperor, and gently drawing him forward, the brother and +sister both acknowledged the graceful compliment. The emperor was +saluted with shouts, and the singers began for the second time, +"Chantons, celebrons notre reine!" The people, with one accord, rose +from their seats, and now, on every side, even from the stage, were +heard the cries of "Long live our queen! Long live the emperor!" + +Marie Antoinette, leaning on her brother's arm, bent forward again, and, +for the third time, the singers, and with them the people sang, +"Chantons, eelebrons notre reine!" + +This time, every occupant of the imperial box rose to return +acknowledgments, and the audience began for the fourth time, + +"Chantons, celebrons notre reine!" + +The queen was so overcome, that she could no longer restrain her tears. +She tried to incline her head, but her emotion overpowered her, and +covering her face with her handkerchief, she leaned upon the shoulder of +her brother, and wept. + +The applause ceased. The emotion of Marie Antoinette had communicated +itself to her worshippers, and many an eye was dimmed with sympathetic +tears. + +Suddenly, in the parterre, a tall, manly form arose from his seat, and, +pointing to the queen, recited the following couplet + +"Si le peuple pout esperer Qu'il hui sera permis de rire, Ce n'est que +sons l'heureux empire Des princes qui savent pleurer." + +This happy impromptu was enthusiastically received. Marie Antoinette had +dried her tears to listen, and as she prepared to leave the theatre, she +turned to her brother, and said + +"Oh! that I could die now! Death would be welcome, for in this proud +moment I have emptied my cup of earthly joy!" [Footnote: "Memoires de +Weber," vol i., p. 45.--Memoires de Madame de Campan, vol. i., p. 127. +--Hubner, "Life of Joseph II," page 142.] + + + +CHAPTER CXIII. + +THE HOTEL TURENNE. + +The host of the Hotel Turenne had punctually obeyed the orders of Count +Falkenstein. He had taken every applicant for rooms, whether he came in +an ignominious hackney-coach or in a magnificent carriage. + +But now every room was taken, and the host, fearful of consequences, was +waiting for the emperor to appear, that he might be informed of the +important fact. + +In ten or fifteen minutes, his imperial majesty was seen coming down the +staircase, and Monsieur Louis approached, with a low bow. + +"May I have the honor of speaking with Count Falkenstein?" + +"Certainly," said the count. "What is it?" + +"I wished to inform monsieur le comte, that my hotel is full to the +garret. Should monsieur le comte, then, see a traveller leaving my door, +he will know that I am not infringing his imp--his orders, I mean. I +have not a single room left." + +"Your hotel is popular. I congratulate you. But I am not at all +surprised, for you make your visitors exceedingly comfortable." + +"A thousand thanks, monsieur le comte, but that is not the reason. I +have never been so thronged before. It is all owing to the honor +conferred upon me by your--, I mean by monsieur le comte. It will be a +heavy disappointment to all who apply to hear that I have no room." + +"Monsieur Louis," said the emperor, "you are mistaken. There are two +empty rooms, opening into mine." + +"But monsieur le comte, it is impossible for me to let those rooms, for +not only every word spoken in your own room can be overheard there, but +yourself will be disturbed by hearing all that is said by the occupants. +You see that these rooms cannot be occupied, monsieur le comte." + +"I see nothing of the sort," said Joseph, laughing. "Not only are you +welcome to let those two rooms, but I request you to do so. Let no man +be incommoded on my account. I shall know how to submit to the +inconvenience which may be entailed upon me." + +"Well, he certainly is the most condescending and humane prince that I +ever heard of," thought Monsieur Louis, as the emperor's carriage drove +off. "And one thing is certain--I shall be careful whom I give him for +neighbors. I do not believe a word of what the Count de Provence's valet +says, that he wants to take Alsace and Lorraine, and has come to France +to change the ministry. The king's brothers are not over-fond of the +queen nor of the emperor but the people love them, and everybody in +Paris envies me, now that I have the great emperor as my guest." + +And Monsieur Louis, with head erect and hands folded behind him, went up +and down his entrance hall, enjoying the sunshine of his favor with +princes. + +"I do wish nobody else would come here," thought he, in an ecstasy of +disinterestedness. "Suppose that the enemies of his majesty should +introduce a murderer in my house, and the emperor should lose his life! +I should be eternally disgraced. I am really responsible to his +majesty's subjects for his safety. I am resolved, since he has commanded +me to let these rooms, to allow none but ladies to occupy them." + +Filled with enthusiasm at this fortunate idea, the host walked to the +door, and shook his fist at mankind in general--above all to that +segregate of the male species who might happen to be entertaining +thoughts of lodging at the Hotel Turenne. + +Presently a travelling-chariot came thundering to the door. Monsieur +Louis peered with his keen, black eyes into the vehicle, and, to his +great relief, saw two ladies. + +The gentleman who accompanied them asked to be accommodated with two +rooms; and the host, in his joy, not only opened the coach door himself, +but took the huge silver candelabrum from the butler's hand, and lighted +the company himself to their apartments. As they reached the landing, a +carriage stopped before the door, and a manly voice was heard in the +vestibule below. + +"How lucky for me that these happened to be women," thought Monsieur +Louis, "for there is the emperor already returned from the theatre!" + +He opened the door of the anteroom, and his guests followed him in +silence. Not a word had been spoken by either of the ladies, and nothing +was to be seen of their faces through the thick veils which covered +them. + +"Do the ladies require supper?" inquired the host. + +"Certainly," replied the gentleman whom Monsieur Louis took to be the +husband of the lady who had seated herself. "The best you can provide; +and let it be ready in quarter of an hour." + +"Will madame be served in this room?" + +"Yes; and see that we have plenty of light. Above all, be quick." + +"This gentleman is very curt," thought the host, as he left the room. +"What if he should entertain evil designs?--I must be on my guard." Then +returning, he added, "Pardon, monsieur, for how many will supper be +served?" + +The stranger cast a singular glance at the lady in the arm-chair, and +said in a loud and somewhat startling voice, "For two only." + +"Right," thought the host, "the other one is a lady's maid. So much the +worse. They are people of quality, and all that tribe hate the emperor. +I must be on my guard." + +So Monsieur Louis determined to warn the emperor; but first he attended +to his professional duties. "Supper for the guests just arrived!" cried +he to the chief butler. "Plenty of light for the chandeliers and +candelabra! Let the cook be apprised that he must be ready before +fifteen minutes." + +Having delivered himself of these orders, the host hastened to inform +the emperor's valet, Gunther, of his uneasiness and suspicions. + +Meanwhile, the garcons were going hither and thither preparing supper +for the strangers. Scarcely ten minutes had elapsed before the first +course was upon the table, and the butler, with a bow, announced the +supper. + +The singular pair for whom these costly preparations had been made, +spoke not a word to each other. The lady, motionless, kept within the +privacy of her veil; and the gentleman, who was watching the waiters +with an ugly frown, looked vexed and impatient. + +"Retire, all of you," said be, imperiously. "I shall have the honor of +waiting on madame myself." + +The butler bowed, and, with his well-bred subordinates, left the room. + +"Now, madame," said the stranger, with a glance of dislike, to the +lady's maid, "do you leave the room also. Go and attend to your own +wants. Good-night." + +The maid made no reply, but remained standing in the window as though +nothing had been said. + +"You seem not to hear," said the stranger. "I order you to leave this +room, and, furthermore, I order you to return to your place as a +servant, and not to show yourself here in any other capacity. Go, and +heed my words!" + +The lady's maid smiled derisively and replied, "Count, I await my lady's +orders." + +The veiled lady then spoke. "Gratify the count, my good Dupont," said +she, kindly. "I do not need you to-night. Let the host provide you with +a comfortable room, and go to rest. You must be exhausted." + +"At last, at last we are alone," exclaimed the count as the door closed +upon his enemy, the lady's maid. + +"Yes, we are alone," repeated the lady, and, throwing off her wrappings, +the tall and elegant form of the Countess Esterhazy was disclosed to +view. + + + + + +CHAPTER CXIV. + +THE DENOUEMENT. + +For a moment they confronted each other; then Count Schulenberg, with +open arms, advanced toward the countess. + +"Now, Margaret," cried he, "you are mine. I have earned this victory by +my superhuman patience. It is achieved--I am rewarded--come to my +longing heart!" + +He would have clasped her in his arms, but she stepped back, and again, +as in her dressing-room at Vienna, her hands were raised to ward him +off. "Do not touch me," said she, with a look of supreme aversion. "Come +no nearer, Count Schulenberg, for your breath is poison, and the +atmosphere of your proximity is stifling me." + +The count laughed. "My beautiful Margaret, you seek in vain to +discourage me by your charming sarcasm. Oh, my lovely, untamed angel, +away with your coldness! it inflames my passion so much the more. I +would not give up the triumph of this hour for a kingdom!" + +"It will yield you nothing nevertheless, save my contempt. You must +renounce your dream of happiness, for I assure you that it has been but +a dream." + +"You jest still, my Margaret," replied the count, with a forced laugh. +"But I tell you that I intend to tame my wild doe into a submissive +woman, who loves her master and obeys his call. Away with this mask of +reluctance! You love me; for you have given me the proof of your love by +leaving kindred and honor to follow me." + +"Nay, count I have given you a proof of my contempt, for I have +deliberately used you as a tool. You, the handsome and admired Count +Schulenberg--you who fancied you were throwing me the handkerchief of +your favor, you are nothing to me but the convenient implement of my +revenge. You came hither as my valet, and as I no longer need a valet, I +discharge you. You have served me well, and I thank you. You have done +admirably, for Dupont told me to-day that you had not yet exhausted the +money I gave you for the expenses of our journey. I am, therefore, +highly satisfied with you, and will recommend you to any other woman +desirous of bringing disgrace upon her husband." + +The count stared at her in perfect wonder. He smiled, too--but the smile +was sinister and threatened evil. + +"How!" said the countess. "You are not yet gone! True--I forgot--a lady +has no right to discharge her valet without paying him." + +With these words she drew a purse from her pocket and threw it at his +feet. + +A loud grating laugh was the reply. He set his foot upon the purse, and +folding his arms, contemplated the countess with a look that boded no +good to his tormentor. + +"You do not go, Count Schulenberg?" said she. + +"No--and what is more, I do not intend to go." + +"Ah!" cried Margaret, her eyes glowing like coals, "you are dishonorable +enough to persist, when I have told you that I despise you!" + +"My charming Margaret, this is a way that women have of betraying their +love. You all swear that you despise us; all the while loving us to +distraction. You and I have gone too far to recede. You, because you +allowed me to take you from your husband's house; I, because I gave in +to your rather exacting whims, and came to Paris as your valet. But you +promised to reward me, and I must receive my wages." + +"I promised when we should reach Paris to speak the truth, Count +Schulenberg; and as you are not satisfied with as much as I have +vouchsafed, hear the whole truth. You say that in consenting to +accompany you, I gave a proof of love. Think better of me, sir! Had I +loved you, I might have died for you, but never would I have allowed you +to be the partner of my disgrace. You have shared it with me precisely +because I despise you, precisely because there was no man on earth whom +I was less likely to love. As the partner of my flight, you have freed +me from the shackles of a detested union, to rupture which, I underwent +the farce of an elopement. The tyranny of Maria Theresa had compelled me +to marriage with a wretch who succeeded in beguiling me to the altar by +a lie. I swore to revenge myself, and you have been the instrument of my +revenge. The woman who could condescend to leave her home with you, is +so doubly-dyed in disgrace that Count Esterhazy can no longer refuse to +grant her a divorce. And now, count, that I have concealed nothing, +oblige me by leaving me--I need repose." + +"No, my bewitching Margaret, a thousand times no!" replied the count. +"But since you have been so candid, I shall imitate your charming +frankness Your beauty, certainly, is quite enough to madden a man, and +embolden him to woo you, since all Vienna knows how the Countess +Esterhazy hates her husband. But you seemed colder to me than you were +to other men, all of whom complained that you had no heart to win. I +swore not to be foiled by your severity, and thereupon my friends staked +a large wager upon the result. Fired by these united considerations, I +entered upon my suit and was successful. You gave me very little +trouble, I must say that for you, countess. Thanks to your clemency, I +have won my bet, and on my return to Vienna, I am to receive one +thousand louis d'ors." + +"I am delighted to hear it, and I advise you to go after them with all +speed," replied the countess quietly. + +"Pardon me if I reject the advice--for, as I told you before, I really +love you. You have thrown yourself into my arms, and I would be a fool +not to keep you there. No, my enchantress, no. Give up all hope of +escaping from the fate you have chosen for yourself. For my sake you +have branded your fair fame forever, and you shall be rewarded for the +sacrifice." + +"Wretch," cried she, drawing herself proudly up to her full height, "you +well know that you had no share in the motives of the flight! Its shame +is mine alone; and alone will I bear it. To you I leave the ridicule of +our adventure, for if you do not quit my room, I shall take care that +all Vienna hears how I took you to Paris as my valet." + +"And I, Countess Esterbazy, shall entertain all Vienna with the contents +of your album, which I have taken the liberty not only of reading, but +of appropriating." + +The countess gave a start. "True," murmured she, "I have missed it since +yesterday." + +"Yes, and I have it. I think a lover has a right to his mistress's +secrets, and I have made use of my right. I have been reading your +heavenly verses to the object of your unhappy attachment, and all Vienna +shall hear them. What delicious scandal it will be to tell how +desperately in love is the Countess Esterhazy with the son of her +gracious and imperial godmother!" + +"Tell it then," cried Margaret, "tell it if you will, for I do love the +emperor! My heart bows down before him in idolatrous admiration, and if +he loved ME, I would not envy the angels their heaven! He does not +return my love--nor do I need that return to make me cherish and foster +my passion for him. No scorn of the world can lessen it, for it is my +pride, my religion, my life! And now go and repeat my words; but beware +of me, Count Schulenberg, for I will have revenge!" + +"From such fair hands, revenge would fall quite harmless," exclaimed the +count, dazzled by the splendor of Margaret's transcendent beauty; for +never in her life had she looked lovelier than at that moment. "Revenge +yourself if you will, enchantress, but mine you are doomed to be. Come, +then, come!" + +Once more he approached, when the door was flung violently open, and a +loud, commanding voice was heard: + +"I forbid you to lay a finger upon the Countess Esterhazy," exclaimed +the emperor. + +Margaret uttered a loud cry, the color forsook her cheeks, and closing +her eyes she fell back upon the sofa. + + + +CHAPTER CXV. + +THE PARTING. + +The emperor hastened to her assistance, but finding her totally +insensible, he laid her gently down again. + +"She is unconscious," said he; "kind Nature has lulled her to +insensibility--she will recover." Then taking the veil from the +countess's hat, he covered her face, and turned toward the terrified +count, who, trembling in every limb, was powerless to save himself by +flight. + +"Give me the countess's album!" said the emperor sternly. Count +Schulenberg drew it mechanically forth, and, with tottering steps +advanced and fell at the emperor's feet. + +Joseph tore the book from his hands, and laid it on the sofa by the +countess. Then returning, he cried out in a tone of indignation, "Rise! +You have behaved toward this woman like a dishonorable wretch, and you +are unworthy the name of nobleman. You shall be punished for your +crimes." + +"Mercy, sire, mercy," faltered the count. "Mercy for a fault which--" + +"Peace!" interrupted Joseph. "The empress has already sent a courier to +order your arrest. Do you know what is the punishment in Austria for a +man who flies with a married woman from the house of her husband?" + +"The punishment of death," murmured the count inaudibly. + +"Yes, for it is a crime that equals murder," returned the emperor; +"indeed, it transcends murder, for it loses the soul of the unhappy +woman, and brands her husband with infamy." + +"Mercy, mercy!" prayed the wretch. + +"No," said Joseph sternly, "you deserve no mercy. Follow me." The +emperor returned to is own room, and opening the door that led to the +anteroom he called Gunther. + +When the valet appeared, Joseph pointed to the count, who was advancing +slowly, and now stopped without daring to raise his head. + +"Gunther," said the emperor, "I give this man in charge to you. I might +require him on his honor not to leave this room until I return; but no +man can pledge that which he does not possess; I must, therefore, leave +him to you. See that he does not make his escape." + +The emperor then recrossed his own room, and closing the door behind +him, entered the apartment of the countess. She had revived; and was +looking around with an absent, dreamy expression. + +"I have been sleeping," murmured she. "I saw the emperor, I felt his arm +around me, I dreamed that he was bending over me--" + +"It was no dream, Countess Esterhazy," said Joseph softly. + +She started, and rose from the sofa, her whole frame tremulous with +emotion. Her large; glowing eyes seemed to be searching for the object +of her terror, and then her glance rested with inexpressible fear upon +the door which led into the emperor's room. + +"You were there, sire, and heard all--all?" stammered she, pointing with +her hand. + +"Yes--God be praised, I was there, and I am now acquainted with the +motives which prompted your flight from Count Esterhazy. I undertake +your defence, countess; my voice shall silence your accusers in Vienna, +and if it becomes necessary to your justification, I will relate what I +have overheard. I cannot blame you, for I know the unspeakable misery of +a marriage without love, and I comprehend that, to break its fetters, +you were ready to brave disgrace, and to wear upon your spotless brow +the badge of dishonor The empress must know what you have undergone, and +she shall reinstate you in the world's estimation; for she it is who has +caused your unhappiness. My mother is too magnanimous to refuse +reparation where she has erred." + +"Sire," whispered the countess, while a deep blush overspread her face, +"do you mean to confide all--all to the empress?" + +"All that concerns your relations with your husband and with Count +Schulenberg. Pardon me that I overheard the sweet confession which was +wrung from you by despair! Never will I betray it to living mortal; it +shall be treasured in the depths of my heart, and sometimes at midnight +hour I may be permitted to remember it. I--Come back to Vienna, +countess, and let us seek to console each other for the agony of the +past!" + +"No, sire," said she mournfully, "I shall never return to Vienna; I +should be ashamed to meet your majesty's eye." + +"Have you grown so faint-hearted?" said the emperor, gently. "Are you +suddenly ashamed of a feeling which you so nobly avowed but a few +moments since? Or am I the only man on earth who is unworthy to know +it?" + +"Sire, the judgment of the world is nothing to me; it is from your +contempt that I would fly and be forgotten. Let other men judge me as +they will--I care not. But oh! I know that you despise me, and that +knowledge is breaking my heart. Farewell, then, forever!" + +The emperor contemplated her with mournful sympathy, and took both her +hands in his. She pressed them to her lips, and when she raised her +head, her timidity had given place to strong resolution. + +"I shall never see your majesty again," said she, "but your image will +be with me wherever I go. I hope for great deeds from you, and I know +that you will not deceive me, sire. When all Europe resounds with your +fame, then shall I be happy, for my being is merged in yours. At this +moment, when we part to meet no more, I say again with joyful courage, I +love you: May the blessing of that love rest upon your noble head! Give +me your hand once more, and then leave me." + +"Farewell, Margaret," faltered the emperor, intoxicated by her tender +avowal, and opening his arms, be added in passionate tones, + +"Come to my heart, and let me, for one blissful moment, feel the +beatings of yours! Come, oh, come!" + +Margaret leaned her head upon his shoulder and wept, while the emperor +besought her to relent and return to Vienna with him. + +"No, sire," replied she, firmly. "Farewell!" + +He echoed "farewell," and hastily left the room. + +When the door had closed upon him, the countess covered her face with +her hands and sobbed aloud. But this was for a moment only. + +Her pale face resumed its haughty expression as she rose from her seat +and hastily pulled the bell-rope. A few minutes later, she unbolted the +door, and Madame Dupont entered the room. + +"My good friend," said the countess, "we leave Paris to-night." + +"Alone?" asked the maid, looking around. + +"Yes; rejoice with me, we are rid of him forever. But we must leave this +place at once. Go and order post-horses." + +"But dear lady, whither do we journey?" + +"Whither?" echoed Margaret, thoughtfully. "Let the will of God decide. +Who can say whence we come, or whither we go?" + +The faithful servant hastened to her mistress, and taking the hand of +the countess in hers, pressed it to her lips. "Oh, my lady," said she, +"shake off this lethargy--be your own brave self again." + +"You are right, Dupont," returned Margaret, shaking back her long black +hair, which had become unfastened and fell almost to her feet, "I must +control my grief that I may act for myself. From this day I am without +protector, kindred, or borne. Let us journey to the Holy Land, Dupont. +Perhaps I may find consolation by the grave of the Saviour." + +One hour later, the emperor, sitting at his window, heard a carriage +leave the Hotel Turenne. He followed the sound until it was lost in the +distance; for well he knew that the occupant of that coach was the +beautiful and unfortunate Countess Esterhazy. + +Early on the following morning another carriage with blinds drawn up, +left the hotel. It stopped before the Austrian embassy, and the valet of +the emperor sprang out. He signified to the porter that he was to keep a +strict watch over the gentleman within, and then sought the presence of +the Count von Mercy. + +A quarter of an hour went by, during which the porter had been peering +curiously at the pale face which was staring at the windows of the +hotel. Presently a secretary and a servant of the ambassador came out +equipped for a journey. The secretary entered the carriage; the servant +mounted the box, and Count Schulenberg was transported a prisoner to +Vienna. [Footnote: Count Schulenberg was sentenced to death; and Maria +Theresa, who was inexorable where a breach of morals was concerned, +approved the sentence. But Count Esterhazy hastened to intercede for his +rival, acknowledging at last that Schulenberg had freed him from a tie +which was a curse to him.] + + + +CHAPTER CXVI. + +JOSEPH AND LOUIS. + +The emperor was right when he said that his sister would derive little +pleasure from his visit to Paris. Her happiness in his society had been +of short duration; for she could not be but sensible of the growing +dislike of the king for his imperial brother-in-law. Joseph's easy and +graceful manners were in humiliating contrast to the stiff and awkward +bearing of Louis; and finally, Marie Antoinette felt many a pang as she +watched the glances of aversion which her husband cast upon her brother, +at such times as the latter made light of the thousand and one +ceremonies which were held so sacred by the royal family of France. + +The king, who in his heart had been sorely galled by the fetters of +French etiquette, now that the emperor ridiculed it, became its warmest +partisan; and went so far as to reprove his wife for following her +brother's example, and sacrificing her royal dignity to an absurd +longing for popularity. + +The truth was, that Louis was envious of the enthusiasm which Joseph +excited among the Parisians; and his brothers, the other members of the +royal family, and his ministers, took every opportunity of feeding his +envy, by representing that the emperor was doing his utmost to alienate +the affections of the French from their rightful sovereign; that he was +meditating the seizure of Alsace and Lorraine; that he was seeking to +reinstate De Choiseul, and convert France into a mere dependency upon +Austria. + +Louis, who had begun to regard his wife with passionate admiration, +became cold and sarcastic in his demeanor toward her. The hours which, +until the emperor's arrival in Paris, he had spent with Marie +Antoinette, were now dedicated to his ministers, to Madame Adelaide, and +even to the Count de Provence--that brother whose enmity to the queen +was not even concealed under a veil of courtly dissimulation. + +Not satisfied with filling the king's ears with calumnies of his poor +young wife, the Count de Provence was the instigator of all those +scandalous songs, in which the emperor and the queen were daily +ridiculed on the Pont-Neuf; and of the multifarious caricatures which, +hour by hour, were rendering Marie Antoinette odious in the eyes of her +subjects. The Count de Provence, who afterward wore his murdered +brother's crown, was the first to teach the French nation that odiouus +epithet of "d'Autrichienne," with which they hooted the Queen of France +to an ignominious death upon the scaffold. + +The momentary joy which the visit of the emperor had caused to his +sister had vanished, and given place to embarrassment and anxiety of +heart. Even she felt vexed, not only that her subjects preferred a +foreign prince to their own rightful sovereign, but that Joseph was so +unrestrained in his sarcasms upon royal customs in France. Finally she +was obliged to confess in the silence of her own heart, that her +brother's departure would be a relief to her, and that these dinners en +famille, to which he came daily as a guest, were inexpressibly tedious +and heavy. + +One day the emperor came earlier than usual to dinner--so early, in +fact, that the king was still occupied holding his daily levee. + +Joseph seated himself quietly in the anteroom to await his turn. At +first no one had remarked his entrance; but presently he was recognized +by one of the marshals of the household, who hastened to his side, and, +apologizing, offered to inform the king at once of Count Falkenstein's +presence there. + +"By no means," returned the emperor, "I am quite accustomed to this sort +of thing. I do it every morning in my mother's ante-room at Vienna." +[Footnote: Memoires de Weber, vol. i., p. 98.] + +Just then the door opened, and the king, who had been apprised of the +emperor's arrival, carne forward to greet him. + +"We were not aware that we had so distinguished a guest in our +anteroom," said Louis, bowing. "But come, my brother." continued he +cordially, "the weather is beautiful. Let us stroll together in the +gardens. Give me your arm." + +But Joseph, pointing to the crowd, replied, "Pardon me, your majesty, it +is not yet my turn; and I should be sorry to interrupt you in your +duties as sovereign." + +Louis frowned; and all traces of cordiality vanished from his face. "I +will receive these gentlemen to-morrow," said he, with a slight nod to +his courtiers; and they, comprehending that they were dismissed, took +their leave. + +"Now, count," pursued the king, trying to smile, but scarcely succeeding +in doing so, "we are at liberty." + +So saying, he bowed, but did not repeat the offer of his arm; he walked +by the emperor's side. The usher threw open the doors, crying out in +aloud voice: + +"The king is about to take a walk!" + +"The king is about to take a walk," was echoed from point to point; and +now from every side of the palace came courtiers and gentlemen in +waiting, to attend their sovereign; while outside on the terrace the +blast of trumpets was heard, so that everybody in Versailles was made +aware that the king was about to take a turn in his garden, and his +anxious subjects, if so disposed, might pray for his safe return. + +The emperor looked on and listened with an amused smile, highly diverted +at the avalanche of courtiers that came rushing on them from corridor +and staircase. Meanwhile the sovereigns pursued their way in solemn +silence until the brilliant throng had descended the marble stairs that +led from the terrace to the gardens. Then came another flourish of +trumpets, one hundred Swiss saluted the king, and twelve gardes de corps +advanced to take their places close to the royal promenaders. + +"Sire," asked Joseph, stopping, "are all these people to accompany us?" + +"Certainly, count," replied Louis, "this attendance upon me when I walk +is prescribed by court etiquette." + +"My dear brother, allow me to state that it gives us much more the +appearance of state prisoners than of free sovereigns enjoying the fresh +air. In the presence of God let us be simple men--our hearts will be +more apt to be elevated by the sight of the beauties of nature, than if +we go surrounded by all this `pomp and circumstance' of royalty." + +"You wish to go without attendants?" asked Louis. + +"I ask of your majesty as a favor to let me act as a body-guard to the +King of France to-day. I promise to serve him faithfully in that +capacity--moreover, have we not this brilliant suite of noblemen to +defend us in case of danger?" + +The king made no reply. He merely turned to the captain of the Swiss +guard to inform him that their majesties would dispense with military +escort. The officer was so astounded that he actually forgot to make his +salute. + +At the gate of the park the king also dismissed the gardes de corps. +These were quite as astonished as the Swiss had been before there; for +never until that day had a King of France taken a walk in his gardens +without one hundred Swiss and twelve body-guards. [Footnote: Hubner, i., +p. 148.] + + + +CHAPTER CXVII. + +THE PROMENADE AND THE EPIGRAM. + +The royal brothers-in-law then were allowed to promenade alone; that is +to say, they were attended by twenty courtiers, whose inestimable +privilege it was to follow the king wherever he went. + +"It is not then the custom in Austria for princes to appear in public +with their escort?" asked the king, after a long pause. + +"Oh, yes, we have our body-guards, but they are the people themselves, +and we feel perfectly secure in their escort. You should try this +body-guard, sire; it is more economical than yours, for its service is +rendered for pure love." + +"Certainly," replied the king carelessly, "it is a very cheap way of +courting popularity: but the price would be too dear for a king of +France to pay--he cannot afford to sell his dignity for such small +return." + +The emperor raised his large blue eyes, and looked full in the king's +face. "Do you really think," he said, "that a king compromises his +dignity by contact with his subjects? Do you think that to be honored by +your people you must be forever reminding them of your `right divine?' +I, on the contrary, believe that the sovereign who shows himself to be a +man, is the one who will be most sincerely loved by the men whom he +governs. We are apt to become dazzled by the glare of flattery, sire, +and it is well for us sometimes to throw off our grandeur, and mix among +our fellows. There we will soon find out that majesty is not written +upon the face of kings, but resides in the purple which is the work of +the tailor, and the crown, which is that of the goldsmith. I learned +this not long ago from a shoemaker's apprentice." + +"From a shoemaker's apprentice!" exclaimed Louis, with a supercilious +smile. "It would be highly edifying to hear from the Count of +Falkenstein how it happened that the Emperor of Austria was taught the +nothingness of royalty by a shoemaker's lad!" + +"It came quite naturally, sire. I was out driving in a plain cabriolet, +when I remarked the boy, who was singing, and otherwise exercising his +animal spirits by hopping, dancing, and running along the road by the +side of the vehicle. I was much diverted by his drollery, and finally +invited him to take a drive with me. He jumped in--without awaiting a +second invitation, stared wonderfully at me with his great brown eyes, +and in high satisfaction kicked his feet against the dash-board, and +watched the motion of the wheels. Now and then he vented his delight by +a broad smile, in which I could detect no trace of a suspicion as to my +rank of majesty. Finally I resolved to find out what place I occupied in +the estimation of an unfledged shoemaker; so I questioned him on the +subject. He contemplated me for a moment, and then said, `Perhaps you +might be an equerry?'--'Guess higher,' replied I. 'Well, a count?'--I +shook my head. 'Still higher.'--'A prince?'--'Higher yet.'--'Well, +then, you must be the emperor.'--'You have guessed,' said I. Instead of +being overcome by the communication, the boy sprang from the cabriolet +and pointing at me with a little finger that was full of scorn and dirt, +he cried out to the passers-by, 'Only, look at him! he is trying to pass +himself off for the emperor.'" [Footnote: "Characteristics and Anecdotes +of Joseph II, and his Times," p. 106.] + +Louis had listened to this recital with grave composure, and as his face +had not once relaxed from its solemnity, the faces of his courtiers all +wore a similar expression. As Joseph looked around, he saw a row of +blank countenances. + +There was an awkward pause. Finally the king observed that he could not +see any thing diverting in the insolence of the boy. + +"I assure your majesty," replied the emperor, "that it was far more +pleasing to me than the subservience of a multitude of fawning +courtiers." He glanced sharply at the gentlemen of their suite, who knit +their brows in return. + +"Let us quicken our pace if it be agreeable to you, count," said Louis, +with some embarrassment. The attendants fell back, and the two monarchs +walked on for some moments, in silence. The king was wondering how he +should manage to renew the conversation, when suddenly, his voice, +tremulous with emotion, Joseph addressed him. + +"My brother," said he, "accident at last has favored me, and I may speak +to you for once without witnesses. Tell me, then, why do you hate me?" + +"My brother," exclaimed Louis, "who has dared--" + +"No one has intimated such a thing," returned Joseph, vehemently; "but I +see it, I feel it in every look of your majesty's eyes, every word that +falls from your lips. Again, I ask why do you hate me? I who came hither +to visit you as friend and brother! Or do you believe the idle rumors of +your courtiers, that I came to rob aught besides the heart of the King +of France? I know that I have been represented as unscrupulous in my +ambition, but I entreat of you, dear brother, think better of me. I will +be frank with you and confess that I DO seek for aggrandizement, but not +at the expense of my allies or friends. I strive to enlarge my +territory, but I shall claim nothing that is not righteously my own. +There are provinces in Germany which are mine by right of inheritance, +others by the right which Frederick used when he took Silesia from the +crown of Austria." + +"Or that which Joseph used when he took Galicia from the King of +Poland," interrupted Louis, significantly. + +"Sire, we did not take Galicia. It fell to us through the weakness of +Poland, and by reason of exigencies arising from an alliance between the +three powers. My claim to Bavaria, however, is of another nature. It is +mine by inheritance--the more so that the Elector of Zweybrucken, the +successor of the Elector of Bavaria, is willing to concede me my right +to that province. The Bavarians themselves long for annexation to +Austria, for they know that it is their only road to prosperity. They +look with hope and confidence to Maria Theresa, whose goodness and +greatness may compensate them for all that they have endured at the +hands of their pusillanimous little rulers. The only man in Germany who +will oppose the succession of Austria to Bavaria, is Frederick, who is +as ready to enlarge his own dominions as to cry 'Stop thief!' when he +sees others doing likewise. But he will not raise a single voice unless +he receive encouragement from other powers. If my visit to France has +any political significance, it is to obtain your majesty's recognition +of my right to Bavaria. Yes, sire, I DO wish to convince you of the +justice of my claim, and to obtain from you the promise of neutrality +when I shall be ready to assert it. You see that I speak without +reserve, and confide to you plans which heretofore have been discussed +in secret council at Vienna alone." + +"And I pledge my royal word never to betray your majesty's confidence to +living mortal," replied Louis, with undisguised embarrassment and +anxiety. "Believe me when I say that every thing you have spoken is as +though I had never heard it. I shall bury it within the recesses of my +own heart, and there it shall remain." + +The emperor surveyed his brother-in-law with a glance of mistrust. He +thought that the assurance of his secrecy was given in singular +language. He was not altogether satisfied to hear that what he had been +saying was to be treated as though it had never been said at all. + +"Will your majesty, then, sustain me?" asked he of Louis. This direct +question staggered his majesty of France. He scarcely knew what he was +saying. + +"You ask this question," replied he, with a forced smile, "as if the +elector was dead, and our decision were imperative. Fortunately, his +highness of Bavaria is in excellent health, and the discussion may +be--deferred. Let us think of the present. You were wise, my dear +brother, when you remarked that the beauties of Nature were calculated +to elevate our minds. What royalty can be compared to hers?" + +The emperor made no reply. He felt the full significance of the king's +ungracious words, and more than ever he was convinced that Louis +regarded him with dislike and ill-will. Again there was a painful +silence between the two, and every moment it weighed more heavily upon +both. + +At last Louis, awaking to a sense of what was due from host to guest, +made a desperate resolution, and spoke. + +"Have you made any plans for this evening, my brother?" asked he +timidly. + +"No!" was the curt reply. + +"You would be very amiable if, instead of visiting the theatres, you +would join the queen in a game of cards." + +"I never play," returned Joseph. "A monarch who loses money at cards, +loses the property of his subjects." [Footnote: Joseph's own words. +Hubner, part i., page 151.] + +"Since you do not like cards, we have other recreations at hand. How +would you relish a hunt in the woods of Meudon?" + +"Not at all," said Joseph. "Hunting is no recreation for a monarch. HIS +time is too precious to be frittered away in such idle sport." + +"Ah," said Louis, whose patience was exhausted, "you imitate your old +enemy, the King of Prussia, who for twenty years has been crying out +against the sins of hunting and gambling." + +The emperor's face grew scarlet, and his eyes flashed. "Sire;" replied +he, "allow me to observe to you that I imitate nobody, and that I am +resolved now as ever to conduct myself as I see fit." + +To this the king bowed in silence. He was so weary of his walk that he +led the way to a road by which a short-cut might be made to the palace. +This road was crossed by an avenue of trees which bordered a large iron +gate leading to the front entrance of the palace. Here the people were +accustomed to assemble to obtain a view of their sovereigns; and to-day +the throng was greater than usual, for they had learned from the Swiss +guard that the two monarchs were out together, and thousands of eager +eyes were watching for the glittering uniforms of the gardes de corps. + +Great was their astonishment to see two individuals alone; apparently +independent of the courtiers at some distance behind them. + +"Who could they be--these two gentlemen advancing together? Certainly +not the emperor and the king, for the latter never took a step without +his life-guards." + +"But it is the emperor!" cried a voice in the crowd. "I know his +handsome face and his dark-blue eyes." + +"And the other is the king!" exclaimed another voice. + +"It cannot be," said a third. "The King of France never moves in his own +palace without a wall of guards around him--how much less in the open +parks, where he is exposed to the danger of meeting his subjects!" + +"I suppose we are indebted to the emperor for this bold act of his +majesty to-day" said another critic. + +"Yes, yes, he it is who has persuaded the king to trust us," cried the +multitude. "Let us thank him by a hearty welcome." + +The two princes were now quite near, and the crowd took off their hats. +The emperor greeted them--with an affable smile; the king with several +nods, but without a shadow of cordiality. Suddenly the air was rent with +shouts, and a thousand voices cried out, "Long live the emperor!" + +The king reddened, but dared not give vent to his displeasure. His eyes +sought the ground, while Joseph, gently shaking his head, looked at the +people and pointed furtively at their sovereign. They understood him at +once, and, eager to repair the inadvertence, they shouted, "Long live +the emperor! Long live our king, the father of his people!" + +The emperor now smiled and waved his band; while the king still +displeased, bowed gravely and turned toward Joseph. + +"You are quite right," said he, in sharp, cutting accents, "popularity +is a cheap commodity. A king has only to ride about in hackney-coaches +and put on the people's garb, to become the idol of the lower classes. +The question, however, is, how long will a popularity of this sort last? +" + +"If it be called forth by a hackney-coach and an ordinary dress, sire, +it may be of short duration; but if it is to last, it must be accorded +to real worth," replied Joseph, sympathizing with the discontent of the +king. + +"Which no one would presume to deny in your majesty's case," rejoined +Louis with a constrained and awkward bow. + +"Oh," exclaimed Joseph, blushing, "I had not understood that your +majesty's irony was intended for me, else I should not, have answered as +I did. I do not strive after popularity. My actions flow naturally from +my convictions. These teach me that my natural condition is not that of +an emperor, but of a man, and I conduct myself accordingly." [Footnote: +The emperor's own words. Ramshorn's "Joseph II.," page 146.] + +So saying, the emperor turned once more to salute the people, and then +ascended the white marble steps which led to the terrace of the palace. +The two monarchs and the glittering courtiers disappeared amid the +"vivas" of the multitude, and now they became suddenly silent. + +In the midst of this silence, the same voice which had so sharply +criticised the king, was heard. Again it spoke as follows + +"Marsorio has made another epigram, and mistaking me for Pasquin has +just whispered it in my ear!" + +"What did he say? Tell us what our good Marsorio says! Repeat the +epigram!" saluted the speaker on every side. + +"Here it is," returned the voice. + +"A nos yeux etonnes de sa simplicite Falkenstein a montre la majeste +sans faste; Chez nous par un honteux contraste Qu'a-t'il trouve? Faste +sans majeste." [Footnote: Ramshorn, page 146.] + + + +CHAPTER CXVIII. + +THE DINNER EN FAMILLE. + +Meanwhile the king and the emperor reached the apartment which opened +into the private dining-room of the royal family. The princes with their +wives were already there; but Marie Antoinette always came at the last +moment. She dreaded the sarcasm of the Count de Provence, and the sullen +or contemptuous glances of the king. She would have given much to return +to the old stiff, public ceremonial which she had banished, but that she +could not do. It would have been too great a concession to the court. +Her only refuge was to stay away as long as decorum allowed, and after +the emperor's arrival she never entered the room until he had been +announced. + +To-day she was even later than usual; and the king, who like other +mortals, was hungry after his walk, began to grow sulky at the delay. +When at last she entered the room, he scarcely vouchsafed her an +inclination of the head as he rose to conduct her to the table. The +queen seemed not to perceive the omission. She gave him her hand with a +sweet smile, and despite his ill-humor, Louis could not suppress a throb +as he saw how brilliantly beautiful she was. + +"You have made us wait, madame," said he, "but your appearance to-day +repays us for your tardiness." + +The queen smiled again, for well she knew that she was bewitchingly +dressed, and that the new coiffure which Leonard had contrived, was +really becoming, and would heighten her charms by contrast with the +hideout towers that were heaped, like Pelion upon Ossa, over the heads +of the princesses. + +"I hope that your majesty will forgive me for being late," said she, +secure in the power of her fascinations. "My little Jacques is to blame. +He is sick to-day, and would have no one to put him to sleep but +myself." + +"Your majesty should feel flattered," cried the Count de Provence. "You +are expected to put off your dinner until a little peasant is pleased to +go to sleep." + +"Pardon me, your highness," said the queen, coloring, "Jacques is no +longer a peasant--he is my child." + +"The dauphin, perchance, which your majesty promised not long since to +the dames de la halle?" answered the king's brother. + +The queen blushed so deeply that the flush of her shame overspread her +whole face and neck; but instead of retorting, she turned to address her +brother. + +"You have not a word of greeting for me, Joseph?" + +"My dear sister," said the emperor, "I am speechless with admiration at +your coiffure. Where did you get such a wilderness of flowers and +feathers?" + +"They are the work of Leonard." + +"Who is Leonard?" + +"What!" interrupted the Countess d'Artois, "your majesty does not know +who Leonard is--Leonard the queen's hair dresser--Leonard the autocrat +of fashion? He it is who imagined our lovely sister's coiffure, and +certainly these feathers are superb!" + +"Beautiful indeed!" cried the Countess de Provence, with an appearance +of ecstasy. + +"Are these the costly feathers which I heard your majesty admiring in +the hat of the Duke de Lauzun?" asked the Count de Provence, pointedly. + +"That is a curious question," remarked the king. "How should the +feathers of the Duke de Lauzun be transported to the head of the queen?" + +"Sire, I was by, when De Guemenee on the part of De Lauzun, requested +the queen's acceptance of the feathers." + +"And the queen?" said Louis, with irritation. + +"I accepted the gift, sire," replied Marie Antoinette, calmly. "The +offer was not altogether in accordance with court-etiquette, but no +disrespect was intended, and I could not inflict upon Monsieur de Lauzun +the humiliation of a refusal. The Count de Provence, however, can spare +himself further anxiety in the matter, as the feathers that I wear +to-day are those which were lately presented to me by my sister, the +Queen of Naples." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the emperor, "I was not aware that Caroline gave +presents, although I know that she frequently accepts them from her +courtiers." + +"The etiquette at Naples differs then from that of Paris," remarked the +king. "No subject has the right to offer a gift to the Queen of France." + +"Heaven be praised!" cried the Count de Provence, "nobody here pays any +attention to court-customs! Since Madame de Noailles gave in her +resignation we have been free to do all things. This inestimable freedom +we owe to our lovely sister-in-law; who, in defiance of all prejudice, +has had boldness enough to burst the fetters which for so many hundred +years bad impeded the actions of the Queens of France." + +At that moment the first lady of honor, on bended knee, presented the +queen her soup, and this relieved Marie Antoinette from the painful +embarrassment which this equivocal compliment occasioned. But the +emperor interposed. + +"You have reason to be thankful to my sister that she has had the +independence to attack these absurdities," said Joseph, warmly. "But +pardon me if I ask if etiquette at Versailles approves of the conversion +of the corridors, galleries, and staircases of the palace into booths +for the accommodation of shopkeepers and tradesmen." [Footnote: This +custom was subsequently abolished by Marie Antoinette, and the lower +classes never forgave her for withdrawing this extraordinary privilege +from the hucksters of Palls.] + +"It is an old privilege which custom has sanctioned," returned the king, +smiling. + +"But which violates the sanctity of the king's residence," objected the +emperor. "The Saviour who drove the money-changers from the temple, +would certainly expel these traders, were he to appear on earth to-day." + +This observation was received in sullen silence. The royal family looked +annoyed, but busied themselves with their knives and forks. A most +unpleasant pause ensued, which was broken by the queen, who turning to +her brother, asked him what he had seen to interest him since his +arrival in Paris. + +"You well know," said he, "that Paris abounds in interesting +institutions. Yesterday I was filled with enthusiasm with what I saw in +the course of my morning ramble." + +"Whither did you go, count?" asked Louis, appeased and flattered by the +emperor's words. + +"To the Invalides; and I confess to you that the sight of this noble +asylum filled me with as much envy as admiration. I have nothing in +Vienna that will bear comparison with this magnificent offering of +France to her valiant defenders. You must feel your heart stir with +pride whenever you visit those crippled heroes, sire." + +"I have never visited the Invalides," said the king, coloring. + +"What?" cried Joseph, raising his hands in astonishment, "the King of +France has never visited the men who have suffered in his behalf! Sire, +if you have neglected this sacred duty, you should hasten to repair the +omission." + +"What else did you see?" asked the queen, striving to cover the king's +displeasure, and the contemptuous by-play of the Count de Provence. + +"I visited the Foundling Hospital. To you, Antoinette, this hospital +must possess especial interest." + +"Oh, yes. I subscribe yearly to it from my private purse," said the +Queen. + +"But surely you sometimes visit the pious sisters upon whom devolves the +real burden of this charity, to reward them by your sympathy for their +disinterested labors?" + +"No, I have never been there," replied the queen, confused. "It is not +allowed to the Queens of France to visit public benevolent +institutions." + +"And yet it is allowable for them to attend public balls at the +opera-house!" + +Marie Antoinette blushed and looked displeased. This sally of the +emperor was followed by another blank pause, which finally was broken by +himself. + +"I also visited another noble institution," continued he, "that of the +deaf mutes. The Abbe de l'Epee deserves the homage of the world for this +monument of individual charity; for I have been told that his +institution has never yet received assistance from the crown. My dear +sister, I venture to ask alms of you for his unfortunate proteges. With +what strength of love has he explored the dark recesses of their minds, +to bear within the light of intelligence and cultivation! Think how he +has rescued them from a joyless stupor, to place them by the side of +thinking, reasoning and happy human beings! As soon as I return to +Vienna, I shall found an institution for the deaf and dumb; I have +already arranged with the abbe to impart his system to a person who +shall be sent to conduct the asylum I propose to endow." + +"I am happy to think that you meet with so many things in France worthy +of your approval, count," remarked the king. + +"Paris, sire," said Joseph, "is rich in treasures of whose existence you +are scarcely aware." + +"What are these treasures, then? Enlighten me, count." + +"They are the magnificent works of art, sire, which are lying like +rubbish in your royal store-houses in Paris. Luckily, as I have been +told, etiquette requires that the pictures in your palaces should, from +time to time, be exchanged, and thus these masterpieces are sometimes +brought to view. In this matter, I acknowledge that etiquette is +wisdom." [Footnote: The emperor's words. Campan, vol. i., p. 178] + +"Etiquette," replied Louis, "is often the only defence which kings can +place between themselves and importunate wisdom." + +"Wisdom is so hard to find that I should think it impossible for her to +be importunate," returned Joseph. "I met with her yesterday, however, in +another one of your noble institutions--I mean the military school. I +spent three hours there, and I envy you the privilege of visiting it as +often as you feel disposed." + +"Your envy is quite inappropriate," replied Louis, sharply, "for I have +never visited the institute at all." + +"Impossible!" cried the emperor, warmly. "You are unacquainted with all +that is noblest and greatest in your own capital, sire! It is your duty +as a king to know every thing that concerns the welfare of your +subjects, not only here in Paris, but throughout all France." [Footnote: +The emperor's words. Campan, vol. i., p. 79.] + +"I disagree with you, and I am of opinion that wisdom is often +exceedingly offensive," replied the king, frowning, as with a stiff bow, +he rose from the table. + +Marie Antoinette looked anxiously at Joseph to see the effects of her +husband's impoliteness; but the emperor looked perfectly unconscious, +and began to discuss the subject of painting with the Count d'Artois. + +The queen retired to her cabinet, heartily rejoicing that the diner en +famille had come to an end: and almost ready to order that the royal +meals should be served in the state dining-room, and the people of Paris +invited to resume their old custom of coming to stare at the royal +family! + +She sat down to her escritoire, to work with her treasurer and private +secretary; that is, to sign all the papers that he placed before her for +that purpose. + +The door opened and the emperor entered the room. The queen would have +risen, but he prevented her, and begged that he might not feel himself +to be an intruder. + +"I came, dear sister," said he, "to ask you to accompany me to the +theatre to-night. Meanwhile it will give me great pleasure to see you +usefully employed." + +So the queen went on signing papers, not one of which she examined. The +emperor watched her for a time in astonished silence; finally he came up +to the escritoire. + +"Sister," said he, "I think it very strange that you put your name to so +many documents without ever looking at their contents." + +"Why strange, brother?" asked the queen, opening her large eyes in +wonder. + +"Because it is a culpable omission, Antoinette. You should not so +lightly throw away your royal signature. The name of a sovereign should +never be signed without deliberation; much less blindly, as you are +signing yours at present." [Footnote: The emperor's own words.] + +Marie Antoinette colored with vexation at this reproof in presence of +one of her own subjects. "Brother," replied she hastily, "I admire the +facility with which you generalize on the subject of other people's +derelictions. Unhappily, your homilies are sometimes misapplied. My +secretary, Monsieur d'Augeard, has my full confidence; and these papers +are merely the quarterly accounts of my household expenditures. They +have already been approved by the auditor, and you perceive that I risk +nothing by affixing my signature." + +"I perceive further," replied Joseph, smiling, "that you are of one mind +with your husband, and find wisdom sometimes very offensive. Forgive me +if in my over-anxiety I have hurt you, dear sister. Let us be friends; +for indeed, my poor Antoinette, you are sorely in need of friends at +this court." + +The queen dismissed her secretary, and then came forward and took her +brother's hand. "You have discovered then," said she, "that I am +surrounded by enemies?" + +"I have indeed; and I tremble for your safety. Your foes are powerful, +and you--you are not sufficiently cautious, Antoinette." + +"What is it in me that they find to blame!" exclaimed she, her beautiful +eyes filling with tears. + +"Some other day, we must talk of this together. I see that you are +threatened; but as yet, I neither understand the cause of your danger +nor its remedy. As soon as I shall have unravelled the mystery of your +position, I will seek an interview with you; and then, dear sister, we +must forget that we are sovereigns, and remember but one thing--the ties +that have bound us together since first we loved each ether as children +of one father and mother." + +Marie Antoinette laid her head upon her brother's bosom and wept. "Oh, +that we were children again in the gardens of Schonbrunn!" sobbed she; +"for there at least we were innocent and happy!" + + + +CHAPTER CXIX. + +A VISIT TO JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU. + +Before the door of a small, mean house in the village of Montmorency, +stood a hackney-coach from which a man, plainly dressed, but +distinguished in appearance, had just alighted. He was contemplated with +sharp scrutiny by a woman, who, with arms a-kimbo, blocked up the door +of the cottage. + +"Does Monsieur Rousseau live here?" asked the stranger, touching his +hat. + +"Yes, my husband lives here," said the woman, sharply. + +"Ah, you are then Therese Levasseur, the companion of the great +philosopher?" + +"Yes, I am; and the Lord knows that I lead a pitiful life with the +philosopher." + +"You complain, madame, and yet you are the chosen friend of a great +man!" + +"People do not live on greatness, sir, nor on goodness either. Jean +Jacques is too good to be of any use in this world. He gives away every +thing he has, and leaves nothing for himself and me." + +The stranger grew sad as he looked at this great, strapping woman, whose +red face was the very representative of coarseness and meanness. + +"Be so good as to conduct me to Monsieur Rousseau's presence, madame," +said he, in rather a commanding tone. + +"I shall do no such thing," cried Therese Levasseur, in a loud, rough +voice. "People who visit in hackney-coaches should not take airs. +Monsieur Rousseau is not to be seen by everybody." + +"A curious doctrine that, to be propounded before a philosopher's door!" +said the stranger, laughing. "But pray, madame, excuse me and my +hackney-coach, and allow me to pass." + +"You shall first tell your business. Do you bring music to copy?" + +"No, madame, I come merely to visit monsieur." + +"Then you can go as you came!" exclaimed the virago. "My husband is not +a wild animal on exhibition, and I am not going to let in every idle +stranger that interferes with his work and cuts off my bread. God knows +he gives me little enough, without lessening the pittance by wasting his +time talking to you or the like of you." + +The stranger put his hand in his pocket, and, drawing it out again, laid +something in the palm of Therese's broad, dirty hand. He repeated his +request. + +She looked at the gold, and her avaricious face brightened. + +"Yes, yes," said she, contemplating it with a greedy smile, "you shall +see Jean Jacques. But first you must promise not to tell him of the +louis d'or. He would growl and wish me to give it back. He is such a +fool! He would rather starve than let his friends assist him." + +"Be at ease--I shall not say a word to him." + +"Then, sir, go in and mount the stairs, but take care not to stumble, +for the railing is down. Knock at the door above, and there you will +find Jean Jacques. While you talk to him I will go out and spend this +money all for his comfort. Let me see--he needs a pair of shoes and a +cravat--and--well," continued she, nodding her head, "farewell, don't +break your neck." + +"Yes," muttered she, as she went back to the street, "he wants shoes and +cravats, and coats, too, for that matter, but I am not the fool to waste +my money upon him. I shall spend it on myself for a new neckerchief; and +if there is any thing left, I shall treat myself to a couple of bottles +of wine and some fish." + +While Therese stalked through the streets to spend her money, the +stranger had obtained entrance into the little dark room where sat Jean +Jacques Rousseau. + +It was close and mouldy like the rest of the house, and a few straw +chairs with one deal table was the only furniture there. On the wall +hung several bird-cages, whose inmates were twittering and warbling one +to another. Before the small window, which looked out upon a noble +walnut-tree, stood several glass globes, in which various worms and +fishes were leading an uneasy existence. + +Rousseau himself was seated at the table writing. He wore a coat of +coarse gray cloth, like that of a laborer, the collar of his rough linen +shirt was turned down over a bright cotton scarf, which was carelessly +tied around his neck. His face was pale, sad, and weary; and his scant +gray hairs, as well as the deep wrinkles upon his forehead, were the +scroll whereon time had written sixty years of strife and struggle with +life. Imagination, however, still looked out from the depths of his dark +eyes, and the corners of his mouth were still graceful with the +pencillinga of many a good-humored smile. + +"Pardon me, air," said the stranger, "that I enter unannounced. I found +no one to precede me hither." + +"We are too poor to keep a servant, sir," replied Rousseau, "and I +presume that my good Therese has gone out on some errand. How can I +serve you!" + +"I came to visit Jean Jacques Rousseau, the poet and philosopher." + +"I am the one, but scarcely the other two. Life has gone so roughly with +me, that poetry has vanished long ago from my domicile, and men have +deceived me so often, that have fled from the world in disgust. You see, +then, that I have no claim to the title of philosopher." + +"And thus speaks Jean Jacques Rousseau, who once taught that mankind +were naturally good?" + +"I still believe in my own teachings, sir," cried Rousseau warmly. "Man +is the vinculum that connects the Creator with His creation, and light +from heaven illumes his birth and infancy. But the world, sir, is evil, +and is swayed by two demons--selfishness and falsehood. [Footnote: This +is not very philosophical. If the fraction man be intrinsically good, +how is it that the whole (the world which is made up of nothing but men) +is so evil? Is there a demiurge responsible for the introduction of +these two demons?] These demons poison the heart of man, and influence +him to actions whose sole object is to advance himself and prejudice his +neighbor." + +"I fear that your two demons were coeval with the creation of the +world," said the stranger, with a smile. + +"No, no; they were not in Paradise. And what is Paradise but the +primitive condition of man--that happy state when in sweet harmony with +Nature, he lay upon the bosom of his mother earth, and inhaled health +and peace from her life-giving breath? Let us return to a state of +nature, and we shall find that the gates of Paradise have reopened." + +"Never! We have tasted of the tree of knowledge, and are for ever exiled +from Eden." + +"Woe to us all, if what you say is true; for then the world is but a +vale of misery, and the wise man has but one resource-- +self-destruction! But pardon me, I have not offered you a chair." + +The stranger accepted a seat, and glanced at the heaps of papers that +covered the rickety old table. + +"You were writing?" asked he. "Are we soon to receive another great work +from Rousseau's hands?" + +"No, sir," replied Rousseau, sadly, "I am too unhappy to write." + +"But surely this is writing," and the stranger pointed to the papers +around. + +"Yes, sir, but I copy music, and God knows that in the notes I write, +there is little or no thought. I have written books that I might give +occasion to the French to think, but they have never profited by the +opportunity. They are more complaisant now that I copy music. I give +them a chance to sing, and they sing." [Footnote: This is Rousseau's own +language. Ramshorn, p. 140.] + +"It seems to me that there is great discord in their music, sir. You who +are as great a musician as a philosopher, can tell me whether I judge +correctly." + +"You are right," replied Rousseau. "The dissonance increases with every +hour. The voice which you hear is that of the people, and the day will +come when, claiming their rights, they will rend the air with a song of +such hatred and revenge as the world has never heard before." + +"But who denies their rights to the people?" + +"The property-holders, the priests, the nobles, and the king." + +"The king! what has he done?" + +"He is the grandson of that Louis XV., whose life of infamy is a foul +blot upon the fame of France; and nothing can ever wash away the +disgrace save an ocean of royal blood." + +"Terrible!" exclaimed the visitor, with a shudder. "Are you a prophet, +that you allow yourself such anticipations of evil?" + +"No, sir, I predict what is to come, from my knowledge of that which has +gone by." + +"What do you mean?" + +Rousseau slowly shook his head. "Fate has threatened this unhappy king +from the day of his birth. Warning after warning has been sent and +disregarded. Truly, the man was a wise one who said, 'Whom the gods +destroy, they first blind!'" + +"I implore you, speak further. What evil omens have you seen that lead +you to apprehend misfortune to Louis XVI.?" + +"Have you never heard of them? They are generally known." + +"No, indeed, I beseech you, enlighten me, for I have good reason for my +curiosity." + +"Louis was not born like his predecessors, and it is generally believed +that he will not die a natural death. Not a single member of the royal +family was present at his birth. When, overtaken by the pangs of +childbirth, his mother was accidentally alone in the palace of +Versailles; and the heir of France, upon his entrance into life, was +received by some insignificant stranger. The courier who was sent to +announce his birth fell from his horse and was killed on the spot. The +Abbe de Saujon, who was called in to christen the infant, was struck by +apoplexy while entering the chapel door, and his arm and tongue were +paralyzed. [Footnote: "Memoires de Madame de Creque," vol. iii., p. +179.] From hundreds of healthy women the physician of the dauphiness +chose three nurses for the prince. At the end of a week two of them were +dead, and the third one, Madame Guillotine, after nursing him for six +weeks, was carried of by small-pox. Even the frivolous grandfather was +terrified by such an accumulation of evil omens, and he was heard to +regret that he had given to his grandson the title of Duke de Berry, +'For,' said he the 'name has always brought ill-luck to its +possessors.'" [Footnote: Creque, vol. iii., p. 180.] + +"But the king has long since outlived the name, and has triumphed over +all the uncomfortable circumstances attending his birth, for he is now +King of France." + +"And do you know what he said when the crown was placed upon his head?" + +"No, I have never heard." + +"He was crowned at Rheims. When the hand of the archbishop was withdrawn +from the crown, the king moaned, and turning deadly pale, murmured, 'Oh, +how it pains me!' [Footnote: Campan, vol. i., p. 115.] Once before him, +a King of France had made the same exclamation, and that king was Henry +III." + +"Strange!" said the visitor. "All this seems very absurd, and yet it +fills me with horror. Have you any thing more of the same sort to point +out?" + +"Remember all that occurred when the dauphin was married to the +Archduchess Marie Antoinette. When she put her foot upon French ground, +a tent had been erected, according to custom, where she was to lay aside +her clothing and be attired in garments of French manufacture. The walls +of the tent were hung with costly Gobelin tapestry, all of which +represented scenes of bloodshed. On one side was the massacre of the +innocents, on the other the execution of the Maccabees. The archduchess +herself was horror-stricken at the omen. On that night, two of the +ladies in waiting, who had assisted the queen in her toilet, died +suddenly. Think of the terrible storm that raged on the dauphin's +wedding night; and of the dreadful accident which accompanied his +entrance into Paris; and then tell me whether death is not around, +perchance before this unhappy king?" + +"But to what end are these omens, since they cannot help us to avert +evil?" + +"To what end?" asked Rousseau, as with a smile he contemplated the +agitated countenance of his guest. "To this end--that the emperor Joseph +may warn his brother and sister of the fate which threatens, and which +will surely engulf them, if they do not heed the signs of the coming +tempest." + +"How, Rousseau! you know me?" + +"If I had not known you, sire, I would not have spoken so freely of the +king. I saw you in Paris at the theatre; and I am rejoiced to be able to +speak to your majesty as man to man, and friend to friend." + +"Then let me be as frank as my friend has been to me," said Joseph +extending his hand. "You are not situated as becomes a man of your +genius and fame. What can I do to better your condition?" + +"Better my condition?" repeated Rousseau absently. "Nothing. I am an old +man whose every illusion has fled. My only wants are a ray of sunshine +to warm my old limbs, and a crust of bread to appease my hunger." + +At this moment a shrill voice was heard without: "Put down the money and +I will fetch the music, for we are sadly pressed for every thing." + +"Good Heaven!" exclaimed Rousseau, anxiously. "I am not ready, and I had +promised the music to Therese for this very hour. How shall I excuse +myself?" Here the unhappy philosopher turned to the emperor. "Sire, you +asked what you could do for me--I implore you leave this room before +Therese enters it. She will be justly displeased if she finds you here; +and when my dear good Therese is angry, she speaks so loud that my +nerves are discomposed for hours afterward. Here, sire, through this +other door. It leads to my bedroom, and thence by a staircase to the +street." + +Trembling with excitement, Rousseau hurried the emperor into the next +room. The latter waved his hand, and the door closed upon him. As he +reached the street Joseph heard the sharp, discordant tones of Therese +Levasseur's voice, heaping abuse upon the head of her philosopher, +because he had not completed his task, and they would not have a sou +wherewith to buy dinner. + + + +CHAPTER CXX. + +THE PARTING. + +The visit of the emperor was drawing to a close. He had tasted to its +utmost of the enjoyments of the peerless city. He had become acquainted +with its great national institutions, its industrial resources, its +treasures of art and of science. The Parisians were enthusiastic in his +praise; from the nobleman to the artisan, every man had something to say +in favor of the gracious and affable brother of the queen. Even the +fish-wives, those formidable dames de la haile, had walked in procession +to pay their respects, and present him a bouquet of gigantic +proportions. [Footnote: On this occasion Madame Trigodin, one of the +most prominent of the poissurdes, made an address on behalf of the +sisterhood. Hubner, i., p. 151.] + +The emperor was popular everywhere except at court. His candor was +unacceptable, and his occasional sarcasms had stung the pride of the +royal family. The king never pardoned him the unpalatable advice he had +bestowed relative to the hospitals, the Invalides, and the military +schools. The queen, too, was irritated to see that whereas her brother +might have expressed his disapprobation of her acts in private, he never +failed to do so in presence of the court. The consequence was, that, +like the king and the rest of the royal family, Marie Antoinette was +relieved when this long-wished-for visit of the emperor was over. This +did not prevent her from clinging to his neck, and shedding abundant +tears as she felt his warm and loving embrace. + +The emperor drew her close to his heart, whispering meanwhile, "Remember +that we must see each other in private. Send some one to me to conduct +me to the room in the palace which you call your 'asylum.'" + +"How!" said the queen with surprise, "you have heard of my asylum? Who +told you of it?" + +"Hush, Antoinette, you will awaken the king's suspicion, for all eyes +are upon us! Will you admit me?" + +"Yes, I will send Louis to conduct you this afternoon." And withdrawing +herself from her brother's arms, the queen and the royal family took +leave of Count Falkenstein. + +His carriages and suite had all left Paris, and Joseph, too, was +supposed to have gone long before the hour when he was conducted to the +queen's "asylum" by her faithful servant Louis. This "asylum" was in an +obscure corner of the Tuileries, and to reach it the emperor was +introduced into the palace by a side door. He was led through dark +passages and up narrow staircases until they reached a small door that +Louis opened with a key which he took from his pocket. He clapped his +hand three times, and the signal being answered, he made a profound +inclination to the emperor. + +"Your majesty can enter. The queen is there." + +Joseph found himself in a small, simple apartment, of which the +furniture was of white wood covered with chintz. On the wall was a +hanging etagere with books; opposite, an open harpsichord, and in the +recess of the window, a table covered with papers. The emperor hastily +surveyed this room, and no one coming forward, he passed into another. + +Here he found his sister, no longer the magnificent queen whose rich +toilets were as proverbial as her beauty; but a lovely, unpretending +woman, without rouge, without jewels, clad in a dress of India muslin, +which was confined at the waist by a simple sash of pale lilac ribbon. + +Marie Antoinette came forward with both hands outstretched. "I am +dressed as is my custom," said she, "when the few friends I possess come +to visit me here--here in my asylum, where sometimes I am able to forget +that I am Queen of France." + +"You have no right ever to forget it, Antoinette, and it was expressly +to remind you of this that I asked for a private interview with my +sister." + +"You wished to see this asylum of which you had heard, did you not?" +asked the queen with a shade of bitterness. "I have been calumniated to +you, as I have been to the king and to the French people. I know how my +enemies are trying to make my subjects hate me! I know that about these +very rooms, lewd songs are sung on the Pont-Neuf which make the Count de +Provence hold his sides with laughter." + +"Yes, Antoinette, I have heard these things, and I came hither expressly +to visit this 'asylum.'" + +"Well, Joseph, it is before you. The room through which you passed, and +this one, form my suite. The door yonder leads to the apartments of the +Princess de Lamballe, and I have never opened it to enter my retreat +except in her company." + +"You had never the right to enter it at all. A retreat of this kind is +improper for you; and woe to you, Antoinette, if ever another man beside +myself should cross its threshold! It would give a coloring of truth to +the evil reports of your powerful enemies." + +"Gracious God of Heaven!" cried the queen, pale with horror, "what do +they say of me?" + +"It would avail you nothing to repeat their calumnies, poor child. I +have come hither to warn you that some dark cloud hangs over the destiny +of France. You must seek means to disperse it, or it will burst and +destroy both you and your husband." + +"I have already felt a presentiment of evil, dear brother, and for that +very reason I come to these little simple rooms that I may for a few +hours forget the destiny that awaits me, the court which hates and +vilifies me, and in short--my supremest, my greatest sorrow--the +indifference of my husband." + +"Dear sister, you are wrong. You should never have sought to forget +these things. You have too lightly broken down the barriers which +etiquette, hundreds of years ago, had built around the Queens of +France." + +"This from YOU, Joseph, you who despise all etiquette!" + +"Nay, Antoinette, I am a man, and that justifies me in many an +indiscretion. I have a right to attend an opera-ball unmasked, but you +have not." + +"I had the king's permission, and was attended by my ladies of honor, +and the princes of the royal family." + +"An emperor may ride in a hackney-coach or walk, if the whim strike him, +but not a queen, Antoinette. " + +"That was an accident, Joseph. I was returning from a ball with the +Duchess de Duras, when our carriage broke, and Louis was obliged to seek +a hackney-coach or we would have returned to the palace on foot." + +"Let it pass, then. An emperor or a king, were he very young, might +indulge himself in a game of blind man's buff without impropriety; but +when a queen ventures to do as much, she loses her dignity. +Nevertheless, you have been known to romp with the other ladies of the +court, when your husband had gone to his room and was sound asleep." + +"But who ever went to bed as early as the king?" said Marie Antoinette +deprecatingly. + +"Does he go to bed too early, Antoinette? Then it is strange that on one +evening when you were waiting for him to retire so that you and your +ladies might visit the Duchess de Duras, you should have advanced the +clock by half an hour, and sent your husband to bed at half-past ten, +when of course he found no one in his apartments to wait upon him. +[Footnote: Campan. 129.] All Paris has laughed at this mischievous prank +of the queen. Can you deny this, my thoughtless sister?" + +"I never tell an untruth, Joseph; but I confess that I am astounded to +see with what police-like dexterity you have ferreted out every little +occurrence of my private life;." + +"A queen has no private life. She is doomed to live in public, and woe +to her if she cannot account to the world for every hour of her +existence! If she undertake to have secrets, her very lackeys +misrepresent her innocence and make it crime." + +"Good Heaven, Joseph!" cried the queen, "you talk as if I were a +criminal before my accusers." + +"You are a criminal, my poor young sister. Public opinion has accused +you; and accusation there is synonymous with guilt. But I, who give you +so much pain, come as your friend and brother, speaking hard truths to +you, dearest, by virtue of the tie which binds us to our mother. In the +name of that incomparable mother, I implore you to be discreet, and to +give no cause to your enemies for misconstruction of your youthful +follies. Take up the load of your royalty with fortitude; and, when it +weighs heavily upon your poor young heart, remember that you were not +made a queen to pursue your own happiness, but to strive for that of +your subjects, whose hearts are still with you in spite of all that your +enemies have done or said. Give up all egotism, Antoinette--set aside +your personal hopes; live for the good of the French nation; and one of +these days you will believe with me, that we may be happy without +individual happiness." + +The queen shook her head, and tears rolled down her cheeks. "No, no, +dear Joseph, a woman cannot be happy when she is unloved. My heart is +sick with solitude, brother. I love my husband and he does not return my +love. If I am frivolous, it is because I am unhappy. Believe me when I +tell you that all would be well if the king would but love me." + +"Then, Antoinette, all shall be well," said a voice behind them; and, +starting with a cry of surprise and shame, the queen beheld the king. + +"I have heard all," said Louis, closing the door and advancing toward +Joseph. With a bright, affectionate smile, he held out his hand, saying +as he did, "Pardon me, my brother, if I am here without your consent, +and let me have a share in this sacred and happy hour." + +"Brother!" repeated Joseph, sternly. "You say that you have overheard +us. If so, you know that my sister is solitary and unhappy. Since you +have no love for her, you are no brother to me; for she, poor child, is +the tie that unites us! Look at her, sire; look at her sweet, innocent, +tear-stricken face! What has she done that you should thrust her from +your heart, and doom her to confront, alone, the sneers and hatred of +your cruel relatives? She is pure, and her heart is without a stain. I +tell you so--I, who in unspeakable anxiety have watched her through +hired spies. Had I found her guilty I would have been the first to +condemn her; but Antoinette is good, pure, virtuous, and she has but one +defect--want of thought. It was your duty to guide her, for you received +her from her mother's hands a child--a young, harmless, unsuspecting +child. What has she ever done that you should refuse her your love?" + +"Ask, rather, what have I done, that my relatives should have kept us so +far asunder?" replied Louis, with emotion. "Ask those who have poisoned +my ears with calumnies of my wife, why they should have sought to deny +me the only compensation which life can offer to my royal station--the +inestimable blessing of loving and being loved. But away with gloomy +retrospection! I shall say but one word more of the past. Your majesty +has been watched, and your visit here discovered. I was told that you +were seeking to identify the queen with her mother's empire--using your +influence to make her forget France, and plot dishonor to her husband's +crown. I resolved to prove the truth or falsehood of these accusations +myself. I thank Heaven that I did so; for from this hour I shall honor +and regard you as a brother." + +"I shall reciprocate, sire, if you will promise to be kind to my +sister?" + +The king looked at Marie Antoinette, who, seated on the sofa whence her +brother had risen, was weeping bitterly. Louis went toward her, and, +taking both her hands in his, pressed them passionately to his lips. +"Antoinette," said he, tenderly, "you say that I do not love you. You +have not then read my heart, which, filled to bursting with love for my +beautiful wife, dared not ask for response, because I had been told that +you--you--but no--I will not pain you with repetition of the calumny. +Enough that I am blessed with your love, and may at last be permitted to +pour out the torrent of mine! Antoinette, will you be my wife?" + +He held open his arms, and looked--as lovers alone can look. The queen +well knew the meaning of that glance, and, with a cry of joy, she rose +and was pressed to his heart. He held her for some moments there, and +then, for the first time in their lives, the lips of husband and wife +met in one long, burning kiss of love. + +"My beloved, my own," whispered Louis. "Mine forever--nothing on earth +shall part us now." + +Marie Antoinette was speechless with happiness. She leaned her head upon +her husband's breast and wept for joy, while he fondly stroked and +kissed tier shining hair, and left the trace of a tear with every kiss. + +Presently he turned an imploring look upon the emperor, who stood by, +contemplating the lovers with an ecstasy to which he had long been a +stranger. + +"My brother," said Louis, "for I may call you so now--seven years ago, +our hands were joined together by the priest; but, the policy that would +have wounded Austria through me, has kept us asunder. This is our +wedding-day, this is the union of love with love. Be you the priest to +bless the rites that make us one till death." + +The emperor came forward, and, solemnly laying his hands upon the heads +of the king and queen, spoke in broken accents "God bless you, beloved +brother and sister--God give you grace to be true to each other through +good and evil report. Be gentle and indulgent one toward the other, +that, from this day forward, your two hearts may become as one! +Farewell! I shall take with me to Austria the joyful news of your +happiness. Oh, how Maria Theresa will rejoice to know it, and how often +will the thought of this day brighten my own desolate hearth at Vienna! +Farewell!" + + + + + +CHAPTER CXXI. + +DEATH OF THE ELECTOR OF BAVARIA. + +A large and brilliant assemblage thronged the state apartments of the +imperial palace at Vienna. The aristocracy not only of the capital, but +of all Austria, had gathered there to congratulate the emperor upon his +safe return. + +It was the first of January, 1778, and as New Year's day was the only +festival which Joseph's new ordinance allowed, the court took occasion +to celebrate it with all the pomp of embroidery, orders, stars, and +blazing jewels. + +The empress had never thrown off her mourning, so that her dark gray +dress with its long train was in striking contrast with the rich, +elegant costumes, the flowers and diamonds of the other ladies present. +Still, there was something in this tall, noble form which distinguished +it above the rest, and spoke to all beholders of the sovereign will that +resided there. Maria Theresa was still the majestic empress--but she was +now an old woman. + +Time as well as disease had marred her beauty, and the cares, anxieties, +and afflictions of sixty years had written their inexorable record upon +the tablet of her once fair brow. Not only these, but accident also had +destroyed the last lingering traces of Maria Theresa's youthful +comeliness. Returning from Presburg, she had been thrown from her +carriage, and dashed with such force against the stones on the road, +that she had been taken up bloody, and, to all appearances, lifeless. +Her face had suffered severely, and to her death she bore the deep-red +scars which had been left by her wounds. Her figure, too, had lost its +grace, and was now so corpulent that she moved slowly and heavily +through the rooms, where, in former years, she had stood by the side of +her "Francis," the most beautiful woman of her own or of any European +court. + +Her magnificent eyes, however, had defied time, they were large, +flashing, expressive as ever--as quick to interpret anger, enthusiasm, +or tenderness as in the days of her youth. + +On the evening of which we speak, the empress was at the card-table. But +those great, glowing eyes were roving from one side of the room to the +other in restless anxiety. Sometimes, for a moment, they rested upon the +emperor who was standing near the table in conversation with some +provincial nobleman. The cheerful and unconcerned demeanor of her son +seemed to reassure the empress, who turned to her cards, and tried to +become interested in the game. Not far off, the archduchesses, too, were +at cards, and the hum of conversation subsided almost to a whisper, that +the imperial party might not be disturbed. Gradually the empress became +absorbed in her cards, so that she was unobservant of the entrance of +one of the emperor's lords in waiting who whispered something in +Joseph's ear, whereupon the latter left the room in haste. + +Not very long after the emperor returned pale and excited, and +approached the card-tables. Maria Theresa, at that moment, had just +requested Count Dietrichstein to deal for her, and she was leaning back +in her chair, awaiting the end of the deal. + +The emperor bent over and whispered something in her ear, when she +started, and the cards, which she was just gathering, fell from her +hands. With unusual agility she rose, and taking the emperor's arm, +turned away without a word of apology, and left the room. + +The archduchesses had not yet perceived their mother's absence, when +Count Dietrichstein, on the part of the emperor, came forward, and +whispered a few words to each one of them. Precisely as their mother had +done the princesses rose, and without apology retired together. + +The company started, and whispered and wondered what could have happened +to discompose the imperial family; but no one present was competent to +solve the mystery. + +Meanwhile Maria Theresa had retired to her cabinet, where she met Prince +Kaunitz, furred like a polar bear, by way of protection from the +temperature of the palace, which was always many degrees below zero, as +indicated by the thermometer of his thin, bloodless veins. The minister +was shaking with cold, although he had buried his face in a muff large +enough to have been one of his own cubs. The empress returned his +greeting with an agitated wave of her hand, and seated herself in an +arm-chair at the large round table that always stood there. + +Exhausted by the unusual haste with which she had walked as well as by +the excitement, which, in her old age, she was physically inadequate to +bear, she leaned back to recover her breath. Opposite stood the emperor, +who, with a wave of his hand, motioned to Kaunitz to enter also. + +Maria Theresa's large eyes were fixed upon him at once. + +"Is it true." said she. "that the Elector of Bavaria is dead?" + +"Yes, your majesty," said Kaunitz. "Maximilian reigns no longer in +Bavaria. Here are the dispatches from our ambassador at Munich." + +He held them out, but the empress put them back, saying: + +"I am not sufficiently composed to read them. Give them to my son, and +have the goodness to communicate their contents to me verbally." + +The face of Kaunitz grew pale, as he turned with the dispatches to the +emperor. The latter at once comprehended the prince's agitation, and +smiled. + +"I beg of your majesty," said he, "to excuse the prince, and to allow me +to read to you the particulars of Maximilian's demise. His highness must +be fatigued, and, doubtless, your majesty will allow him to retire +within the embrasure of yonder window, until I have concluded the +perusal of the dispatches." + +Kaunitz brightened at once as the empress gave her consent, and he +gladly withdrew to the window which was far enough from the table to be +out of reach of the emperor's voice. + +Joseph could not restrain another smile as he watched the tall, stiff +form of the old prince, and saw how carefully he drew the window +curtains around him, lest a word of what was going on should reach his +ears. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," said Joseph, in a low voice, "but you know +what a horror Kaunitz has of death and the small-pox. As both these +words form the subject of our dispatches, I was glad to relieve the +prince from the necessity of repeating their contents." + +"That you should have remembered his weakness does honor to your heart, +my son," replied Maria Theresa. "In my agitation I had forgotten it. +Maximilian, then, must have died of small-pox." + +"He did, your majesty, like his sister, my unhappy wife." + +"Strange!" said Maria Theresa, thoughtfully. "Josepha has often spoken +to me of the presentiment which her brother had that he would die of the +small-pox." + +"It proves to us that man cannot fly from his destiny. The elector +foresaw that he would die of small-pox, and took every precaution to +avert his fate. Nevertheless, it overtook him." + +The empress sighed and slowly shook her head. "Where did he take the +infection'?" asked she. + +"From the daughter of the marshal of his household, who lived at the +palace, and took the small-pox there. Every attempt was made to conceal +the fact from the elector, and indeed he remained in total ignorance of +it. One day while he was playing billiards, the marshal, who had just +left his daughter's bedside, entered the room. The elector, shuddering, +laid down his cue, and turning deathly pale, murmured these words: 'Some +one here has the small-pox. I feel it.' He then fell insensible on the +floor. He recovered his consciousness, but died a few days afterward. +[Footnote: Wraxall, "Memoirs of the Courts of Berlin, Vienna, etc.," +vol. i., p. 306.] This is the substance of the dispatches. Shall I now +read them?" + +"No, no, my son," said the empress, gloomily. "Enough that the son of my +enemy is dead, and his house without an heir." + +"Yes; he is dead," replied Joseph, sternly. "The brother of my enemy--of +that wife with whom for two years I lived the martyrdom of an abhorred +union! He has gone to his sister, gone to his father, both our bitter, +bitter foes. I hated Josepha for the humiliation I endured as the +husband of such a repulsive woman; but to-day I forgive her, for 'tis +she who from the grave holds out to me the rich inheritance which is the +fruit of our marriage." + +The empress raised her eyes with an expression of alarm. + +"What!" exclaimed she, "another robbery! Lies not the weight of one +injustice upon my conscience, that you would seek to burden my soul with +another! Think you that I have forgotten Poland!--No! The remembrance +of our common crime will follow me to the bitter end, and it shall not +be aggravated by repetition. I am empress of Austria, and while I live, +Joseph, you must restrain your ambition within the bounds of justice and +princely honor." + +The emperor bowed. "Your majesty must confess that I have never +struggled against your imperial will. I have bowed before it, sorely +though it has humiliated me. But as there is no longer any question of +death before us, allow me to recall Prince Kaunitz, that he may take +part in our discussion." + +Maria Theresa bowed in silence, and the emperor drew the minister from +his retreat behind the curtains. + +"Come, your highness," whispered Joseph. "Come and convince the empress +that Bavaria must be ours. We are about to have a struggle." + +"But I shall come out victor," replied Kaunitz, as he rose and returned +to the table. + +Maria Theresa surveyed them both with looks of disapprobation and +apprehension. "I see," said she, in a tremulous voice, "that you are two +against one. I do not think it honorable in Kaunitz to uphold my son +against his sovereign. Tell me, prince, do you come hither to break your +faith, and overthrow your empress?" + +"There lives not man or woman in the world who can accuse Kaunitz of bad +faith," replied the prince. "I swore years ago to dedicate myself to +Austria, and I shall keep my word until your majesty releases me." + +"I suppose that is one of your numerous threats to resign," said the +empress, with irritation. "If there is difference of opinion between us, +I must yield, or you will not remain my minister. But be sure that to +the last day of my life I shall retain my sovereignty, nor share it with +son or minister; and this conceded, we may confer together. Let the +emperor sit by my side, and you, prince, be opposite to us, for I wish +to look into your face that I may judge how far your tongue expresses +the convictions of your conscience. And now I desire the emperor to +explain his words, and tell me how it is that the succession of Bavaria +concerns the house of Hapsburg." + +"Frankly, then," cried Joseph, with some asperity, "I mean that our +troops must be marched into Bavaria at once; for by the extinction of +the finale line of Wittelsbach, the electorate is open to us as an +imperial thief, and--" + +"Austria, then, has pretensions to the electorate of Bavaria," +interrupted Maria Theresa, with constrained calmness. + +The emperor in his turn looked at his mother with astonishment. "Has +your majesty, then, not read the documents which were drawn up for your +inspection by the court historiographer?" + +"I have seen them all," replied the empress, sadly. "I have read all the +documents by which you have sought to prove that Austria has claims upon +Lower Bavaria, because, in 1410, the Emperor Sigismund enfeoffed his +son-in-law, Albert of Austria, with this province. I have read further +that in 1614 the Emperor Matthias gave to the archducal house the +reversion of the Suabian estate of Mindelheim, which subsequently, in +1706, when the Elector of Bavaria fell under the ban of the empire, was +actually claimed by the Emperor of Austria. I have also learned that the +Upper Palatinate, with all its counties, by the extinction of the +Wittelsbach dynasty, becomes an open feoff, to which the Emperor of +Austria thinks that he may assert his claims." + +"And your majesty is not convinced of the validity of my claims?" +exclaimed the emperor. + +Maria Theresa shook her head. "I cannot believe that we are justifies in +annexing to Austria an electorate which, not being ours by indisputable +right of inheritance, may be the cause of involving us in a bloody war." + +"But which, nevertheless, is the finest province in all Germany," cried +Joseph impatiently; "and its acquisition the first step toward +consolidation of all the German principalities into one great empire. +When the Palatinate, Suabia, and Lower Bavaria are ours, the Danube will +flow through Austrian territory alone; the trade of the Levant becomes +ours; our ships cover the Black Sea, and finally Constantinople will be +compelled to open its harbor to Austrian shipping and become a mart for +the disposal of Austrian merchandise. Once possessed of Bavaria, South +Germany, too, lies open to Austria, which like a magnet will draw toward +one centre all its petty provinces and counties. After that, we approach +Prussia, and ask whether she alone will stand apart from the great +federation, or whether she has patriotism and magnanimity enough to +merge her name and nationality in ours. Oh, your majesty, I implore you +do not hesitate to pluck the golden fruit, for it is ours! Think, too, +how anxiously the Bavarians look to us for protection against the +pretensions of Charles Theodore, the only heir of the deceased elector. + +"The people of Bavaria well know what is to be their fate if they fall +into the hands of the elector palatine. Surrounded by mistresses with +swarms of natural children, his sole object in life will be to plunder +his subjects that he may enrich a progeny to whom he can lave neither +name nor crown. Oh, your majesty, be generous, and rescue the Bavarians +from a war of succession; for the elector palatine has no heir, and his +death will be the signal for new strife." + +"Nay, it seems to me that the Duke of Zweibrucken [Footnote: Called in +English history, Duke of Deux-ponts.--Trans.] is the natural heir of +Charles Theodore, and I suppose he will be found as willing to possess +his inheritance as you or I, or any other pretender, replied Maria +Theresa. "But if, as you say, the Bavarians are sighing to become +Austrian subjects, it seems to me that they might have character enough +to give us some indication of their predilections; for I declare to you +both that I will not imitate the treachery of Frederick. I will not +bring up mouldy documents from our imperial archives to prove that I +have a right to lands which for hundreds of years have been the property +of another race; nor will I, for mad ambition's sake, spill one drop of +honest Austrian blood." + +"And so will Austria lose her birthright," returned Joseph angrily. "And +so shall I be doomed to idle insignificance, while history ignores the +only man who really loves Germany, and who has spirit to defy the malice +of his contemporaries, and in the face of their disapproval, to do that +which is best for Germany's welfare. Is it possible that your majesty +will put upon me this new humiliation? Do you really bid me renounce the +brightest dream of my life?" + +"My dear son," said the empress, "I cannot view this undertaking with +your eyes; I am old and timid, and I shudder with apprehension of the +demon that follows in the wake of ambition. I would not descend to my +grave amid the wails and curses of my people--I would not be depicted +in history as an ambitious and unscrupulous sovereign. Let me go to my +Franz blessed by the tears and regrets of my subjects--let me appear +before posterity as an upright and peace-loving empress. But I have said +that I am old--so old that I mistrust my own judgment. It may be that I +mistake pusillanimity for disinterestedness. Speak, Kaunitz--so far you +have been silent. What says your conscience to this claim? Is it +consistent with justice and honor?" + +"Your majesty knows that I will speak my honest convictions even though +they might be unacceptable to the ear of my sovereign," replied Kaunitz. + +"I understand," said the empress, disconsolately. "You are of one mind +with the emperor." + +"Yes," replied Kaunitz, "I am. It is the duty of Austria to assert her +right to an inheritance which her ancestors foresaw, hundreds of years +ago, would be indispensable to her future stability. Not only your +majesty's forefathers, but the force of circumstances signify to us that +the acquisition is natural and easy. It would be a great political error +to overlook it; and believe me that in no science is an error so fatal +to him who commits it as in the science of government. Bavaria is +necessary to Austria, and your majesty may become its ruler without so +much as one stroke of the sword." + +"Without a stroke of the sword!" exclaimed Maria Theresa, impetuously. +"Does your highness suppose that such a stupendous acquisition as that, +is not to provoke the opposition of our enemies?" + +"Who is to oppose us?" asked Kaunitz. "Not France, certainly; she is too +closely our relative and ally." + +"I do not rely much upon the friendship of France," interrupted the +empress. Marie Antoinette is mistress of the king's affections; but his +ministers guide his policy, and they would gladly see our friendly +relations ruptured." + +"But France is not in a condition to oppose us," continued Kaunitz. "Her +finances are disordered, and at this very moment she is equipping an +army to aid the American rebellion. We have nothing to fear from Russia, +provided we overlook her doings in Turkey, and look away while she +absorbs the little that remains of Poland. England is too far away to be +interested in the matter, and Frederick knows by dear-bought experience +that her alliance, in case of war, is perfectly worthless. Besides, +George has quite enough on his hands with his troubles in North America. +Who, then, is to prevent us from marching to Bavaria and taking +peaceable possession of our lawful inheritance?" + +"Who?" exclaimed the empress. "Our greatest and bitterest enemy--the +wicked and unprincipled parvenu who has cost me so many tears, my people +so many lives, and who has robbed me of one of the fairest jewels in my +imperial crown." + +Kaunitz shrugged his shoulders. "Your majesty is very magnanimous to +speak of the Margrave of Brandenburg as a dangerous foe." + +"And if he were a dangerous foe," cried Joseph vehemently, "so much the +more glory to me if I vanquish him in battle and pluck the laurels from +his bead!" + +Kaunitz looked at the emperor and slightly raised his finger by way of +warning. "The King of Prussia," said he, "is no longer the hero that he +was in years gone by; he dare not risk his fame by giving battle to the +emperor. He rests upon his laurels, plays on the flute, writes bad +verses, and listens to the adulation of his fawning philosophical +friends. Then why should he molest us in Bavaria. We have documents to +prove that the heritage is ours, and if we recognize his right to +Bayreuth and Anspach, he will admit ours to whatever we choose to +claim." + +Maria Theresa was unconvinced. "You make light of Frederick, prince; but +he is as dangerous as ever, and after all I think it much safer to fear +our enemies than to despise them." + +"Frederick of Prussia is a hero, a philosopher, and a legislator," cried +Joseph. "Let me give him battle, your majesty, that I may win honor by +vanquishing the victor." + +"Never will I give my consent to such measures, unless we are forced to +adopt them in defence of right." + +"Our right here is indisputable," interposed Kaunitz. "Copies of our +documents have already been circulated throughout Germany; and I have +received from Herr von Ritter, the commissioner of Charles Theodore, the +assurance that the latter is ready to resign his pretensions in +consideration of the advantages we offer." + +"What are these advantages?" asked Maria Theresa. + +"We offer him our provinces in the Netherlands, and the privilege of +establishing a kingdom in Burgundy," replied Joseph. "We also bestow +upon his multitudinous children titles, orders, and a million of +florins." + +"And shame all virtue and decency!" cried the empress, coloring +violently. + +"The elector loves his progeny, and cares little or nothing for +Bavaria," continued Joseph. "We shall win him over, and Bavaria will +certainly be ours." + +"Without the shedding of one drop of blood," added Kaunitz, drawing from +his coat-pocket a paper which he unfolded and laid upon the table. + +"Here is a map of Bavaria, your majesty," said Kaunitz, "and here is +that portion of the electorate which we claim, through its cession to +Albert of Austria by the Emperor Sigismund." + +"We must take possession of it at once," cried Joseph; "at once, before +any other claimant has time to interpose." + +The empress heaved a sigh. "Yes," said she, as if communing with +herself, "it all looks smooth and fair on paper. It is very easy to draw +boundary lines with your finger, prince. You have traced out mountains +and rivers, but you have not won the hearts of the Bavarians; and +without their hearts it is worse than useless to occupy their country." + +"We shall win their hearts by kindness," exclaimed the emperor. "True, +we take their insignificant fatherland, but we give them instead, the +rich inheritance of our own nationality; and future history will record +it to their honor that theirs was the initiatory step which subsequently +made one nation of all the little nationalities of Germany." + +The empress answered with another sigh, and looked absently at the +outspread map, across which Kaunitz was drawing his finger in another +direction. + +"Here," said he, "are the estates which the extinct house held in fief +from the German emperor." + +"And which I, as Emperor of Germany, have a right to reannex to my +empire," cried Joseph. + +"And here, finally," pursued Kaunitz, still tracing with his finger, +"here is the lordship of Mindelheim, of which the reversion was not only +ceded to Austria by the Emperor Matthias, but actually fell to us and +was relinquished to the Elector of Bavaria by the too great magnanimity +of an Austrian sovereign. Surely, your majesty is not willing to abandon +your inheritance to the first comer?" + +Maria Theresa's head was bent so low that it rested upon the map whereon +her minister had been drawing lines of such significance to Austria. +Close by, stood the emperor in breathless anxiety; while opposite sat +Kaunitz, impassable as ever. + +Again a deep sigh betokened the anguish that was rending the honest +heart of the empress; and she raised her head. + +"Alas for me and my declining energies!" said she, bitterly. "Two +against one, and that one a woman advanced in years! I am not convinced, +but my spirit is unequal to strife. Should we fail, we will be made to +feel the odium of our proceedings; should we triumph, I suppose that the +justice of our pretensions will never be questioned. Perhaps, as the +world has never blamed Frederick for the robbery of Silesia, it may +forgive us the acquisition of Bavaria. In the name of God, then, do both +of you what you deem it right to do; but in mercy, take nothing that is +not ours. We shall be involved in war; I feel it, and I would so gladly +have ended my life in the calm, moon-like radiance of gentle peace." +[Footnote: The empress's own sentiments. Wraxall, i, p. 311.] + +"Your majesty shall end your life in peace and prosperity; but far in +the future be the day of your departure!" cried Joseph, kissing the hand +of the empress. "May you live to see Austria expand into a great empire, +and Germany rescued from the misrule of its legions of feeble princes! +The first impulse has been given to-day. Bavaria is rescued from its +miserable fate, and becomes an integral portion of one of the most +powerful nations in Europe." + +"May God be merciful, and bless the union!" sighed the empress. "I shall +be wretched until I know how it is to terminate, and day and night I +shall pray to the Lord that He preserve my people from the horrors of +war." + +"Meanwhile Kaunitz and I will seek a blessing on our enterprise by +taking earthly precautions to secure its success. You, prince, will use +the quill of diplomacy, and I shall make ready to defend my right with a +hundred thousand trusty Austrians to back me. To-night I march a portion +of my men into Lower Bavaria." + +"Oh," murmured the unhappy empress, "there will be war and bloodshed!" + +"Before your majesty marches to Bavaria," said Kaunitz inclining his +bead, "her majesty, the empress, must sign the edict which shall apprise +her subjects and the world of the step we meditate. I haves drawn it up, +and it awaits her majesty's approbation and signature." + +The prince then drew from his muff a paper, which he presented to the +empress. Maria Theresa perused it with sorrowful eyes. + +"It is nothing but a resume of our just claims to Bavaria," said Joseph, +hastily. + +"It is very easy to prove the justice of a thing on paper," replied +Maria Theresa; "may God grant that it prove to be so in deed as well as +in word. I will do your bidding, and sign your edict, but upon your head +be all the blood that follows my act!" + +She wrote her name, and Joseph, in an outburst of triumph, shouted, +"Bavaria is ours!" + + + +CHAPTER CXXII. + +A PAGE FROM HISTORY. + +Maria Theresa's worst apprehensions were realized, and the marching of +the Austrian troops into Bavaria was the signal for war. While all the +petty sovereigns of Germany clamored over the usurpation of Austria, +pamphlet upon pamphlet issued from the hands of Austrian jurists to +justify the act. These were replied to by the advocates of every other +German state, who proved conclusively that Austria was rapacious and +unscrupulous, and had not a shadow of right to the Bavarian succession. +A terrible paper war ensued, during which three hundred books were +launched by the belligerents at each other's heads. [Footnote: +Schlosser's History of the Eighteenth Century, vol. iv., p. 363.] This +strife was productive of one good result; it warmed up the frozen +patriotism of all the German races. Bavarians, Hessians, Wurtembergers, +and Hanoveriana, forgot their bickerings to join the outcry against +Austria; and the Church, to which Joseph was such an implacable enemy, +encouraged them in their resistance to the "innovator," as he was called +by his enemies. + +Of all the malcontents, the noisiest were the Bavarians. The elector +palatine, whose advent all had dreaded, was greeted upon his entrance +into Munich with glowing enthusiasm; and the people forgot his +extravagance and profligacy to remember that upon him devolved the +preservation of their independence as a nation. + +But Charles Theodore was very little edified by the sentiments which +were attributed to him by the Bavarians. He longed for nothing better +than to relieve himself of Bavaria and the weight of Austrian +displeasure, to return to the palatinate, and come into possession of +the flesh-pots that awaited his children in the form of titles, orders, +and florins. He lent a willing ear to Joseph's propositions, and a few +days after his triumphant entrance into Munich, he signed a contract +relinquishing in favor of Austria two-thirds of his Bavarian +inheritance. Maria Theresa, in the joy of her heart, bestowed upon him +the order of the Golden Fleece, and on January 3, 1778, entered into +possession of her newly acquired territory. + +Meanwhile, in Bavaria, arose a voice which, with the fire of genuine +patriotism, protested against the cowardly compliance of the elector +palatine. It was that of the Duchess Clemens, of Bavaria. She hastened +to give information of his pusillanimity to the next heir, the Dune of +Zweibrucken, and dispatched a courier to Berlin asking succor and +protection from the crown of Prussia. + +The energy of this Bavarian patriot decided the fate of the Austrian +claim. The Duke of Zweibrucken protested against the cession of the +smallest portion of his future inheritance, and declared that he would +never relinquish it to any power on earth. Frederick pronounced himself +ready to sustain the duke, and threatened a declaration of war unless +the Austrian troops were removed. In vain Maria Theresa sought to +indemnify the duke by offers of orders, florins, and titles, which had +been so successful with Charles Theodore--in vain she offered to make +him King of Burgundy--he remained incorruptible. He coveted nothing she +could bestow, but was firm in his purpose, to preserve the integrity of +Bavaria, and called loudly for Frederick to come to the rescue. + +Frederick responded: "He was ready to defend the rights of the elector +palatine against the unjust pretensions of the court of Vienna," +[Footnote: Dohm's Memoirs, vol. i.] and removed his troops from Upper +Silesia to the confines of Bohemia and Saxony. This was the signal for +the advance of the Austrian army; and despite her repugnance to the act, +Maria Theresa was compelled to suffer it. She was also forced to allow +Joseph to take command in person. This time her representations and +entreaties had been vain; Joseph was thirsting for military glory, and +he bounded like a war-horse to the trumpet's call. The empress felt that +her hands were now powerless to restrain him, and she was so much the +feebler, that Kaunitz openly espoused the side of the ambitious emperor. + +With convulsive weeping Maria Theresa saw her son assume his command, +and when Joseph bade her farewell, she sank insensible from his arms to +the floor. + + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIII. + +THE EMPEROR AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. + +The Emperor Joseph was pacing the floor of his cabinet. Sometimes he +paused before a window, and with absent looks surveyed the plain where +his troops were encamped, and their stacked arms glistened to the sun; +then he returned to the table where Field-Marshal Lacy was deep in plans +and charts. + +Occasionally the silence was broken by the blast of a trumpet or the +shouts of the soldiery who were arriving at headquarters. + +"Lacy," said the emperor, after a long, dreary pause, "put by your +charts, and give me a word of consolation." + +The field-marshal laid aside his papers and rose from the table. "Your +majesty had ordered me to specify upon the chart the exact spot which +Frederick occupies by Welsdorf, and Prince Henry by Nienberg." + +"I know, I know," answered Joseph impatiently. "But what avails their +encampment to-day, when to-morrow they are sure to advance?" + +"Your majesty thinks that he will make an attack?" + +"I am sure of it." + +"And I doubt it. It is my opinion that he will avoid a collision." + +"Why then should he have commenced hostilities?" cried Joseph angrily. +"Have you forgotten that although the elector palatine is ready to +renounce Bavaria, Frederick opposes our claims in the name of Germany +and of the next heir?" + +"No, sire; but Frederick has spies in Vienna, who have taken care to +inform him that Maria Theresa is disinclined to war. He has, therefore, +declared against us, because he hopes that the blast of his coming will +suffice to scatter the armies of Austria to the winds." + +"The time has gone by when the terror of his name could appal us," cried +Joseph, proudly throwing back his head. "I hope to convince him ere long +that I am more than willing to confront him in battle, Oh, how weary is +the inactivity to which my mother's womanish fears condemn me! Why did I +heed her tears, and promise that I would not make the attack? Now I must +wait, nor dare to strike a blow, while my whole soul yearns for the +fight, and I long either to lead my troops to victory or perish on the +field of battle." + +"And yet, sire, it is fortunate that you have been forced to inactivity. +To us time is every thing, for Frederick's army outnumbers ours. He has +seventy thousand men with him near the Elbe, and fifty thousand under +Prince Henry near Nienberg." + +"Yes, but I shall oppose his hundred and twenty thousand men with twice +their number," cried Joseph impatiently. + +"Provided we have time to assemble our men. But we must have several +days to accomplish this. At the end of a week our army will be complete +in numbers, and we can then await the enemy behind our intrenchments, +and the natural defences afforded us by the steep banks of the Elbe." + +"Await--nothing but await," said Joseph scornfully. "Forever condemned +to delay." + +"In war, delay is often the best strategy, sire. The great Maurice, of +Saxony, has said that fighting is an expedient by which incompetent +commanders are accustomed to draw themselves out of difficult positions. +When they are perplexed as to their next move, they are apt to stumble +into a battle. I coincide with the great captain, although I well know +that I shall incur your majesty's displeasure thereby. Our policy is to +remain upon the defensive, and await an attack. Frederick has been +accustomed to win his laurels by bold and rapid moves, but we have now +for us an ally who will do better service in the field against him than +our expertest generalship." + +"Who is that?" asked Joseph, who was listening in no amiable mood to +Lacy's dissertation on strategy. + +"It is old age, sire, which hourly reminds Frederick that his hand is +too feeble to wield a sword or pluck new laurels. Frederick accompanied +his army in a close carriage; and yesterday, as he attempted to mount +his horse, he was so weak that he had to be helped into the saddle; in +consequence of which he reviewed his troops in an ill-humor, cursed the +war, and wished Austria to the devil." + +"And this is the end of a great military chieftain," said Joseph sadly; +"the close of a magnificent career! May God preserve me from such a +fate! Sooner would I pass from exuberant life to sudden death, than drag +my effete manhood through years of weariness to gradual and ignominious +extinction! + +"But," continued the emperor, after a pause, "these are idle musings, +Lacy. Your picture of the great Frederick has made me melancholy; I +cannot but hope that it is overdrawn. It cannot be that such a warrior +has grown vacillating; he will surely awake, and then the old lion will +shake his mane, and his roar--" + +At this moment a horseman at full speed was seen coming toward the +house. He stopped immediately before the window. A little behind came +another, and both dismounting, spoke several words to the soldiery +around, which evidently produced a sensation. + +"Lacy," said Joseph, "something has happened; and from the countenances +of the men, I fear that these messengers have brought evil tidings. Let +us go out and see what has occurred." + +As the emperor was about to lay his hand upon the door, it opened, and +one of his adjutants appeared. + +"Sire," said he, almost breathless, "a courier has arrived from the +borders of Bohemia, and he brings startling intelligence." + +"Tell us at once what it is," said the emperor. + +"The King of Prussia has left the county of Glatz and has marched into +Bohemia." + +The emperor's face brightened instantaneously. "That is glorious news!" +cried he. + +"Glorious news, sire?" exclaimed the astounded adjutant. "The courier +who brings the intelligence has no words strong enough to depict the +terror of the inhabitants. They were gathering their effects and flying +to the interior, while the Prussian troops occupied the villages without +opposition." + +"The count is correct," said Lacy, who just then reentered the room. "I +have spoken with the man who brought the tidings. He is the mayor of his +village, and he fled as the staff of the king entered the place." + +"I must speak with him myself," cried Joseph quickly; and the adjutant +opening the door, the villager was introduced into the room. + +"Did you see the King of Prussia?" asked the emperor. + +"Yes, sire, I saw him," replied the man, gloomily. "I heard him order +his men to forage their horses from our barns, and to strip our gardens +of their fruit and vegetables. I heard him give orders to spare nothing; +for, said he, 'the people must be made to feel that the enemy is in +their midst.'" [Footnote: Frederick's own words. Dohm's Memoirs, vol. +i., p. 130.] + +"I shall remember the king's words," said Joseph, while his eyes flashed +with anger. "How did he look?" + +"Like the devil in the likeness of an old man," said the peasant. "His +voice is as soft as that of a bridegroom; but his words are the words of +a hangman, and his eyes dart fire like those of an evil spirit. Even his +own men have nothing good to say of him. His generals call him a selfish +old man, who wants to do every thing, and knows nothing. He has not even +appointed a general staff, and has no one to attend to the wants of his +army." [Footnote: Historical. See Dohm, vol. i., p. 183.] + +"Further, further!" cried Joseph, as the man paused. + +"I have nothing further to tell, sire. As the king and his people left +my house, it was growing dark, so I slipped out. The curates were in the +churches with the women and children, and we men ran to the next +village, where the people gave us horses; and I have come to entreat the +emperor not to let the King of Prussia take us, as he did Silesia." + +"I give you my word that you shall not be given over to Prussia. Remain +true to your country, and oppose the enemy whenever and wherever you +can. Go back to your village, greet your friends for me, and promise +them my protection. Count, be so good as to see that these men get some +refreshment before they start." + +The adjutant bowed, and, followed by the villager, left the room. + +"Lacy," cried the emperor, "the time for deliberation has gone by. The +hour for decision has struck, and I am free to give battle. It is +Frederick who has thrown down the glove, and I too, shall emerge from +obscurity, and prove to the world that others besides the King of +Prussia are worthy to lead their men to victory. It would be +dishonorable to refuse the challenge he has sent through his invasion of +Bohemia. Let orders be given to march to Jaromirs. We shall await the +enemy there; and there at last I shall measure swords with the greatest +captain of the age!" + + + +CHAPTER CXXIV. + +SECRET NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. + +After the departure of the emperor for the seat of war, the court of +Vienna became supremely dull. All the state apartments were closed, the +gentlemen and ladies in waiting went about silent as ghosts, the +archduchesses were pale and sad, and the empress, disconsolate, spent +all her days in the solitude of her own apartments. + +Not only at court, but in the city were all sounds of joy hushed into +speechless anxiety. Above all, since it had become known that Frederick +had invaded Bohemia, the Viennese were in a state of painful excitement, +convinced as they were that the warlike king would never stop his +marches until they brought him to the gates of Vienna. + +Finally the panic reached the palace. The rich were conveying their +treasures to places of security, and the archduchesses and ladies of +honor were importuning the empress to leave Vienna, and remove the court +to Presburg. [Footnote: Dohm's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 187.] + +Maria Theresa turned a deaf ear to these entreaties. Her eyes, which had +grown dull through weeping, flashed with defiant courage as she replied: +"I remain here in Vienna, and if the King of Prussia lays siege to my +capital, I shall die like an empress in imperial panoply. I have never +known what it was to fear for my life, and if now my heart throbs with +uneasiness, it is for my people, it is not for myself. I mourn for my +subjects, should Heaven, in its wrath, permit Frederick to prevail. For +this it is that my life is spent in seclusion and prayer. Come, my +daughters, come, ladies all, let us betake ourselves to the house of +God." + +And leaning upon the arms of the Archduchesses Elizabeth and Christina, +the empress proceeded to the chapel. Behind them, with downcast eyes and +reluctant steps, came the ladies of the court, all of one mind as to the +weariness of too much godliness and too much praying. + +"When will the empress's private chapel be completed?" whispered one of +the ladies to another. "When will this daily martyrdom cease? Is it not +too bad to be forced to church five times a day?" + +"You may thank fortune for your headache yesterday. It was my turn to +accompany the empress to the chapel, and we stayed so long that the +Archduchess Elizabeth told me that toward the end her senses began to +fail her, and she was scarcely able to utter the responses. How is the +Archduchess Marianna to-day?" + +"Her highness," whispered the first lady, "is too sensible to recover in +a hurry. The wound in her cheek has reopened, and she really suffers a +great deal at present. But she bears her pain with great fortitude. +Yesterday the English ambassador was paying her a visit of condolence, +and as he was expressing his sympathy, the archduchess interrupted him +with a laugh. 'Believe me,' said she, 'for a princess of forty, who is +an old maid, even a hole in her own cheek is a godsend. Nothing that +varies the dull uniformity of my life comes amiss.'" [Footnote: The +archduchess's own words. See "Courts of Europe at the Close of the Last +Century," by Henry Swinburne, vol. i., p. 342.] + +Both ladies tittered, but perceiving that the empress was turning her +head, they resumed their sanctimonious faces, and folded their hands. + +"Was it you, ladies," said Maria, Theresa, with severity, "who were +interrupting our solemn silence by frivolous whisperings?" + +"Yes, your majesty," replied the first lady of honor. "We were preparing +ourselves for prayer by edifying conversation." + +The empress smiled kindly upon the speaker. "I know that you are +inclined to religion," said she, "and I am glad that you have had so +good an influence over the Countess Julia, for she is not wont to be too +zealous at prayer. I will remember you both for your piety, dear +children and will see that you are both well married. There is the young +Baron of Palmoden and Count--", + +But the empress, who, in her darling schemes of marriage, had forgotten +for a moment whither they were going, suddenly crossed herself, saying, +"Forgive me, ladies; let us hasten our steps." + +On this day the empress remained for three hours in the chapel, and +while her attendants, worn out by ennui, were some sleeping, or others +whispering to keep themselves awake, Maria Theresa, before the altar, +was on her knees, praying with all the fervor of her honest and +believing soul. As she prayed, she heaved many a sigh, and many a tear +fell unheeded from her eyes upon her tightly-clasped hands. + +Certainly her prayers proved consolatory, for when they were ended, she +rose from her knees, calm and resolved. As she reached the door of her +own room, she turned to her favorite daughter. "Is your heart still +disconsolate, Christina`?" said she, with a look of supreme tenderness. + +"How can it be otherwise, my mother?" said Christina, sobbing. "Has not +my cruel and avaricious brother forced my husband into this wicked war? +Oh, dearest mother, if you would but speak the word, Albert might be +relieved from the disgraceful contingency of appearing in arms against +his native land! He has no alternative, he must either become a traitor +to his own country, or perjure himself by deserting his colors. Oh, your +majesty, have mercy upon your subjects, and force the rapacious emperor +to forego his unjust claims, and obey your imperial commands!" + +"Dry your tears, my daughter," replied the empress, kissing her +tenderly; "I have prayed so fervently for wisdom in this matter, that I +feel as if my prayers had been answered. What He has commanded I will +do, and may His grace strengthen and guide me! Hope for the best, my +child, and do not speak so unkindly of your brother. He is not as cruel +as you represent him; he has always been a dear, obedient son, and I +trust, I may find him so to the end. Go, now, Christina, and remember +that God directs all things." + +The empress dismissed her daughters and entered her room, passing +rapidly to the place where hung the portrait of the Emperor Francis. For +a long, long while she looked at it without any thing but a vague +yearning to be united to her adored husband. Finally, as was her custom, +she began to speak to it. + +"Franz, I have prayed from my soul for light. It seems to me that God +has spoken, but, oh, my darling, if what I am about to do is unwise, +whisper me one word of warning, and I shall be passive. Sometimes I +think that you visit me, beloved, and whisper words of angelic sweetness +in my ear. Speak now, my Franz, speak if I am wrong--I will obey your +voice." + +She clasped her hands, and looked imploringly at the picture. Finally +she sighed. "Your dear face still smiles upon me," murmured she, "and I +must believe that I have decided for the best. I will act." + +So saying, she rang her bell, and a page answered the summons. + +"Send hither my private secretary, and let a carriage be dispatched for +Baron Thugut. I wish to see him immediately." + +A few moments afterward, Koch made his appearance, and in half an hour +after a page announced Baron Thugut. + +"Baron," said the empress, "I wish to put a serious question to you. +Remember that God hears you, and answer me without reservation." + +"Your majesty has forgotten," replied Thugut, "that I have been so long +in the kingdom of unbelief that I am an unbeliever myself. I do not know +whether God hears me or not; but as I know that your majesty exacts of +me to be candid, I shall obey your commands." + +"Then, tell me what is your opinion of the war of the Bavarian +succession. Do you think it an equitable one?" + +The baron's small black eyes turned from the empress to the secretary. +Maria Theresa understood the glance. + +"Speak without reserve; Baron Koch is loyal, and knows all my secrets. +Do you think, then, that our claims to Bavaria are just?" + +"Just, your majesty?" repeated Thugut, in his sharp, cutting tones. +"Their success or their failure must decide that question. He who wins +will have proved his right. If we succeed in holding Bavaria, Germany +will uphold us--for Germany never raises her voice against a fait +accompli. Should Frederick unhappily defeat us, not only Germany, but +all Europe will cry out against the greed and injustice of ambitious +Austria." + +"I do not wish to expose myself to this contingency," replied the +empress. "I must have peace with God, the world, and my conscience, and +you must come to my assistance, Thugut." + +An ironical smile played over Thugut's face. "With God and your +majesty's conscience, I would be a poor mediator," said he, "but toward +the world I am ready to serve your majesty in any shape or form." + +"Then you shall mediate between myself and Frederick." + +"Between your majesty and the King of Prussia!" said Thugut, astonished. + +The empress nodded her head, and, just then, the door opened, admitting +a page who handed two letters on a golden plate. "The answer of Prince +Gallitzin," said he, bowing and retiring. + +Maria Theresa opened the letters, which were unsealed, saving + +"Now we have every thing requisite. Here is a passport for you as +private secretary to the Russian ambassador; and here is a letter which +you are to bear from Gallitzin to the king. This is the pretext of your +visit to Frederick." + +"And the real motive is--" + +"You will find it in the letter which I shall intrust to you for him. +Read my letter aloud, Koch." + +The secretary read as follows + +"From the recall of Baron von Reidsel and the marching of your majesty's +troops into Bohemia, I perceive with profoundest sorrow that we are on +the eve of another war. My age, and sincere love of peace, are known to +all the world, and I can give no greater proof of this love than I do by +writing to your majesty. My maternal heart, too, is sorely grieved with +the thought that I have two sons and a beloved son-in-law in the army. I +have taken this step without the knowledge of the emperor, and whatever +its result, I exact that it shall remain a secret between us. It is my +desire to resume the negotiations which were broken off by my son. Baron +Thugut, who will deliver this into your majesty's hands, has received my +instructions, and is empowered to treat with you. I trust that your +majesty may deem it consistent with our common dignity to meet my wishes +in this matter, and hope that you also correspond to the earnest desire +which I cherish for a continuation of friendly relations with your +majesty. With this hope I remain, "Your majesty's affectionate sister +and cousin, "MARIA THERESA." [Footnote: This letter was written in the +French language, and is to be found in Cross-Hoffinger's "Life and +History of the Reign of Joseph II.," vol. iv., p. 89.] + +"Your majesty wishes me to bring about a peace. But what sort of peace?" +asked Thugut. "A conditional one, or peace at any price?" + +Maria Theresa's eyes flashed fire. + +"Is Austria so weak that she should crave peace at any price?" cried +she, proudly. + +"No, indeed, your majesty. She seems, on the contrary, so powerful that +she undertakes war at any price. But Bavaria is well worth a war with +Prussia. Allow me one more question. What is the emperor to do with his +army, while we negotiate?" + +"They must await the result. I have written to Leopold to use all his +influence to reconcile Joseph, for he will be indignant when he hears +what I have done. But until it becomes evident that we cannot treat with +Frederick, the emperor and his generals must remain passive. Should I +fail, my son may then give battle, while his mother intercedes for him. +If the medicine of diplomacy fails this time, we shall have to resort to +the knife to heal our political wounds." + +"Your majesty is right," said Thugut, with a heartless laugh. "When +medicine fails we use the cold steel; and if that is not enough, fire is +the last resort. What are your majesty's conditions with Prussia, +medicine, iron, or fire?" [Footnote: Thugut's own application of the +old-fashioned method of cure. See Hormayer's "Contributions to the +History of my Fatherland."] + +"Balsam, I trust," replied the empress. "Koch has drawn out my +propositions. And now go and make your preparations to depart, for I +long for peace with the whole world." + + + +CHAPTER CXXV. + +FRATERNAL DISCORD. + +Very different were the preparations making by the empress's warlike +son. In company with Lacy and his staff, he had reviewed his troops for +the last time, and had ridden from one end of their encampment to the +other, that he might personally inspect the condition of his army. He +had found it cheerful, spirited, and eager for the fray, the officers +assuring him that their men were impatient to meet the enemy, and end +the campaign by one decisive blow. + +Even Lacy himself ceased to preach caution. He saw in the triumphant +smile and flashing eyes of Joseph that counsel would be worse than +useless, and warning would only drive him to some deed of mad daring, +which might peril his life, or the safety of his army. The emperor +himself had planned the attack, and his generals had approved his +strategy. + +On the other side of the Elbe was the King of Prussia, afraid to cross, +lest the Austrian army, from their secure heights on the opposite shore, +should annihilate his troops as they attempted the passage. + +But what Frederick hesitated to undertake, Joseph was resolved to +accomplish. He had determined to cross the Elbe, and force the king to +give him battle. His columns were to move under cover of night, to ford +the river below, and, by rapid marches, to reach the Prussian army at +break of day. + +"We shall be victorious, I feel it," said the emperor to Lacy, on their +return from the encampment. "I have a joy within my heart that is the +forerunner either of victory or of death." + +"Of death!" echoed Lacy, with surprise. "Does your majesty mean to say +that man can encounter death joyfully?" + +"Why not?" said the emperor. "When a man dies, has he not won the long +and bloody battle of life?" + +"These are disconsolate words to fall from YOUR lips, sire. To you life +must present a bright array of hopes and useful deeds. None but an old +and decrepit man should take such gloomy views of the world." + +"I have suffered as much as older men, Lacy," returned the emperor, +laying his hand upon his friend's shoulder "But all my sufferings are +forgotten in the anticipated joy of the morrow. Let the dead past bury +its dead the birth of my happiness is at hand. I shall no mote rest my +title to the world's homage upon the station to which I was born. It +shall know at last that I am worthy to be the friend of Lacy and of +Loudon. All the years that have intervened have never yet sufficed to +blot out the remembrance of that fearful day on which the empress +recalled the consent she had given for me to meet Frederick in the +field. I have never looked upon my mother since without feeling the +wound reopen. But to-day I can forgive her. I can even forgive the hated +priests who were the cause of my misfortune. Lacy, I love the whole +world. I--" + +The emperor interrupted himself to stare with astonishment at the figure +of a man, who just then had opened the door. + +"The Grand Duke of Tuscany!" exclaimed Lacy. + +"My brother Leopold," murmured Joseph, in a low, tremulous voice, but +without rising from his seat, or offering his hand. A cloud passed over +the pale, sickly face of the grand duke, and the smile vanished from his +lips. + +"Your majesty does not invite me to enter?" asked he, reproachfully. +"You do not bid me welcome?" + +The emperor gazed upon his brother in silence, and Leopold shrank from +the keen and searching glances of Joseph's inquiring eyes. + +"My brother," cried the emperor, suddenly, "you have come hither to +bring me some evil tidings." + +"I have come to greet your majesty, and to enjoy a few hours of family +intercourse with you," replied the grand duke, while, without awaiting +the courtesy which Joseph would not extend, be closed the door, and +advanced into the room. + +"No, no," cried the emperor, "that is false. We are not such a pair of +loving brothers that you should seek me for affection's sake." + +And approaching Leopold as he spoke, he stopped just before him, and +continued: + +"I implore of you be generous and tell me what you want. You have +letters from the empress, have you not?" + +"I have. I have not only letters from our imperial mother to deliver to +your majesty, I am also the bearer of verbal messages, but-" + +"But what?" cried Joseph, as Leopold paused. + +"But I must request of your majesty to grant me a private interview." + +"With his majesty's permission, I shall withdraw," said Lacy. Joseph +inclined his head, and, as Lacy disappeared, he turned his eyes once +more upon the pale, embarrassed countenance of his unwelcome relative. + +"Now we are alone," said he, breathing fast. "Now--but no. Give me one +moment to collect my strength. My God! what evil has the empress in +store for me now, that she should select you as the messenger of her +cruelty? Peace--I do not wish to hear your voice until I am ready to +listen to its discordant sounds." + +"I await your commands," replied Leopold, with a respectful inclination. + +The emperor crossed the room several times forth and back. His cheeks +were blanched, his mouth quivered, while quick and gasping came the +breath from his heaving chest. + +"Air, air!" said he in a stifled voice. "I shall suffocate!" He +approached the window, and leaning far out, inhaled the cold winter +blast, whose icy breath was welcome to his hot and fevered head. After a +while, he closed the window and turned to his brother, who, with folded +arms, still stood near the door. + +"Now," said Joseph, gloomily, "I am ready to hear. Speak out, your +infernal errand!" + +"I must first beg pardon of your majesty if the intelligence which I am +compelled to communicate is unwelcome," began Leopold, in a deprecating +voice. + +Joseph cast a rapid, searching look athwart the perplexed face of his +brother. "You are forgiven," replied he, contemptuously. "Your message +seems to be punishment enough of itself, if I judge by your countenance. +Let us be quick, then, and be done with one another. Give me the letter, +and say at once what you have to say." + +The grand duke took from his coat-pocket a sealed dispatch which he +delivered to the emperor. + +"Here are the letters of the empress, but she ordered me to accompany +them with a few words explanatory of her motives. She commissioned me to +tell what she found it difficult to write." + +"She was afraid," muttered Joseph. + +"Yes, she was afraid to commit an injustice," returned Leopold. "She was +afraid to offend her Maker by continuing a war whose object was to break +one of His holy commandments--" + +"Oh, my brother!" interrupted Joseph, sarcastically, "you are yourself +again--I recognize the dutiful son of the priests who denounce me +because I would disturb them in their comfortable Bavarian nest. I see +plainly that if I should be so unfortunate as to fall to-morrow on the +battle-field, you will throw yourself into the arms of Frederick and of +that frantic amazon, the Duchess Clemens, beg pardon for my sins, and +hand over the fairest portion of Germany to pope and Jesuits. Oh, what a +favorite you would become with the black-coats! Doubtless they would +give you absolution for all the sins you are accustomed to commit +against your wife, but, my virtuous brother, I shall outlive the +morrow, that I promise you, and shall gain such a victory over +Frederick as will astound you and the whole popedom." + +"You were about to give battle to Frederick?" + +"I am about to do so," replied Joseph, defiantly. + +"Then it was time for me to come!" exclaimed Leopold, solemnly. + +"The mercy of God has sent me to stop the carnage! My brother, the +empress earnestly entreats you, by the tears she has shed for your sake, +to desist from fighting! As your empress she commands you to sheathe +your sword until you hear the result of the negotiations now pending +between herself and the King of Prussia." + +The emperor uttered a cry of rage, and the angry blood darted to his +very brow. "The empress has opened negotiations without my consent!" +cried he, in a voice of mingled indignation and incredulity. + +"The empress requires the consent of no one to regulate her state +policy. In the supremacy of her own power, she has reopened negotiations +with the King of Prussia, and hopes to terminate the war honorably +without bloodshed." + +"It is false, I will not believe it!" again cried Joseph. "My mother +would not offer me such indignity, when she herself placed in my hand +the sword with which I seek to defend my rights. It is a priest's lie, +and you have been commissioned to be its interpreter. But this time your +pious frauds will come to naught. Take back your packet. It is not the +empress's handwriting." + +"It is that of her private secretary." + +"I am not bound to respect his writing, and I have no time to listen to +your stupid remonstrances. Wait till day after to-morrow. When a man is +flushed with victory, he is generous and ready to pardon. When I have +beaten Frederick, I shall have leisure to inquire into the authenticity +of your papers. Remain with me, not as the emissary of priests and +Jesuits, but as the brother of the emperor, who to-morrow is to win his +first victory and his first budding laurels. Give me your hand. On the +eve of a battle, I am willing to remember that we are brothers." + +"But this is not the eve of a battle, your majesty. The empress commands +you to await the result of her efforts to end the war." + +"I have already told you that I see through your intrigues." + +"But I have the proofs of my veracity in these papers. You will not read +them?" + +"No, I will not!" + +"Then I shall read them myself," returned Leopold, breaking the seal. +"The empress commands you, and it is your duty as her subject to obey." + +"I shall obey when I am convinced that the empress commands. But in this +case I am convinced that it is not my mother, the high-spirited Maria +Theresa, who intrusts you with such an abject commission." + +"You surely will not deny her handwriting?" returned Leopold, extending +an open letter to his brother. + +Joseph looked imploringly at his brother's calm face. + +"You are resolved to show me no mercy," said he. "You will not +understand my refusal to believe. Listen to me, Leopold. Show that you +love me for once in your life. Think of my joyless youth, my sorrowing +manhood, my life of perpetual humiliation, and give me one day of +independent action." + +"What does your majesty mean'?" asked the grand duke. + +The emperor came up to him, and putting both his hands upon Leopold's +shoulder, he said in a voice of deep emotion; "Majesty asks nothing of +you, but your brother entreats you to serve him this day. See, Leopold, +it is too late, I cannot retract upon the very eve of battle. The army +knows that we are about to engage the enemy, and my men are wild with +enthusiasm. The presence of Frederick upon Austrian soil is an indignity +which I am pledged as a man to avenge. If I allow him to retreat from +his present disadvantageous position, my name is gone forever, and all +Europe will cry out upon my incapacity to command. Remember, Leopold, +that it concerns not my honor alone, but the honor of Austria, that this +battle should be fought. Rescue us both by a magnanimous falsehood. Go +back to the empress. Tell her that you lost her letters and that I would +not take your word. Meanwhile, I shall have humiliated the enemy, and +Maria Theresa will have been forced to submit to an event which she +cannot recall. Let us burn these papers, Leopold," continued Joseph, +passionately clasping his hands, "and God will forgive you the innocent +deception by which your brother shall have won fame and glory." + +"God will never pardon me for sinning so deeply against my conscience," +replied Leopold, unmoved. "You require of me to burn those papers and +consign thousands of your own subjects to death and worse than +death--the lingering agonies of the battle-field. Never! Oh, my dear +brother, have pity on yourself, and bethink you that you peril your own +salvation by such thirst of blood--" + +"Peace!--and answer my question," cried Joseph, stamping his foot. "Will +you do what I ask of you?" + +"No, Joseph, I will not do it. The empress desires to spare the blood of +her people, and we must obey her just demands." + +"I will not obey!" cried Joseph with such violence that his face was +empurpled with passion. "I am co-regent, and as a man and a commander, +it is my right to defend the honor of the crown. I will not read those +letters, and I choose to assert the superiority of my manhood by doing +that which they forbid. In your eyes and those of the empress, I may be +a rebel, but the world will acquit me, and I shall be honored for my +just resistance. You will not destroy the papers as I implored you to +do?--then give them to me, and so satisfy your tender conscience." + +"No," replied Leopold, who had replaced the dispatches in his pocket, +"for I see that you intend to destroy them." + +"That need not concern you. Give me the letters." + +"No, Joseph, I will not give them." + +The emperor uttered a hoarse cry, and darted toward his brother with +uplifted arm. + +"Give me the papers!" said he, with his teeth set. + +"What! you would strike me!" said Leopold retreating. + +"Give me the papers!" thundered the emperor, "or I fell you to the earth +as I would a beast!" and he came yet nearer. + +Pale and panting, their eyes flashing with anger, the brothers stood for +a moment confronting each other. + +"Refuse me once again," hissed Joseph in a low, unnatural voice, "refuse +me once again, and my hand shall smite your cowardly face and disgrace +you forever; for, as God hears me, you shall never have satisfaction for +the affront." + +Leopold was silent, but with his eyes fixed upon Joseph, he retreated, +farther and still farther, followed by the emperor, who, still with +uplifted hand, threatened his brother's face. Suddenly Leopold reached +the door and, bursting it open, rushed into the anteroom. With a +tiger-bound he sprang forward to Lacy who had remained there in +obedience to the emperor's orders. + + + +CHAPTER CXXVI. + +THE DEFEAT. + +"Field-Marshal Lacy," said the grand duke, "I claim your protection--the +protection of a man whom the empress has honored, and who has sworn to +obey her as his lawful sovereign." + +"Even unto death," added Lacy solemnly. + +The emperor groaned aloud, and his upraised arm fell powerless to his +side. A triumphant smile flickered over the pale features of Leopold. He +thrust his hand into his pocket and drew forth the dispatches of the +empress. + +"The empress charged me," said he, "in case the emperor refused to read +these letters, to deliver them to you, Marshal Lacy, and to bid you, in +my presence, read them to him. Come, then, your excellency, let us obey +the commands of our sovereign." + +Lacy bowed, and followed the grand duke in silence. The emperor +retreated to his cabinet, and, sinking upon a sofa, buried his face in +his hands. Nothing interrupted the stillness save the measured footsteps +of Lacy and the grand duke, who entered and closed the door behind them. +A long pause ensued. The grand duke retired to a window, where, with his +arms folded, he awaited the development of affairs with recovered +composure. Joseph still sat with his face hidden by his hands, while +Lacy with military decorum stood at the door with his letters, silent +until the emperor should signify that he might read. Finding that Joseph +would not speak, Lacy took a few steps forward. "Does your majesty allow +me to read the letters which, in the name of the empress, his imperial +highness, the grand duke, has delivered to me?" + +"Read," said Joseph hoarsely, but without removing his hands. Lacy +approached the table, and from the various documents which he unfolded +and examined, selected the letter which was in the empress's own hand-- + +"My Dearest Emperor and Son: As co-regent and heir to my throne, I +hasten to advise you of the negotiations which have just been renewed +between the King of Prussia and myself. I have every hope that they will +terminate to our satisfaction, and thus not only save the lives of many +of our subjects, but relieve my heart of the pangs it has endured during +the absence of my beloved son. The King of Prussia has promised that, +pending our diplomatic correspondence, he will not attack our armies. I +therefore hope that you, my son, will concede as much, and scrupulously +avoid all collision that might interrupt our negotiations. I send you +copies of our correspondence, and will continue to do so regularly. +Hoping that God in His goodness will restore to me my imperial son, I +remain now as ever, your affectionate mother and empress, "MARIA +THERESA." + +A deep sign that was almost a sob was heaved by the emperor. Slowly his +hands fell from his face, while with tearful eyes he turned to Lacy, and +said, "Is it really so? Are my hopes of glory all frustrated?" + +Lacy answered with another sigh and a slight raising of the shoulder. + +"Read on, Lacy," continued the emperor, mildly; "my eyes are dim and I +cannot see." + +Lacy continued reading the correspondence: first the letter of the +empress; then the reply of the king, in which he promised that Maria +Theresa should have nothing to fear for the life of her beloved son. + +When the emperor heard this he started; the color mounted to his face, +then faded away and left it pale as before. His lips moved, but with a +convulsive twitch he closed them again, and listened in silence. Two +more letters followed, full of mutual and distinguished consideration; +then came the propositions of the empress and the comments of the king. + +Maria Theresa pledged herself, from that portion of Bavaria of which +Austria had possession, to retain only so much as would yield a revenue +of one million, offering to cede the remainder to the elector palatine, +or to exchange with him for territory situated elsewhere. + +Then followed Frederick's conditions. He stipulated that Austria should +renounce all pretensions to Bavaria, contenting herself with a small +portion of Upper Bavaria, and recognizing and upholding the claims of +Charles Theodore, as well as those of his heir, the Duke of Zweibrucken. + +"Further, further!" exclaimed Joseph, as Lacy paused. + +"There is nothing further, sire; the correspondence ceases there." + +"And to these disgraceful propositions we are not permitted to make the +only answer of which they are deserving--that is, to wipe them out with +blood! Oh, Lacy, Lacy, is it not fearful to be compelled like a +schoolboy to submit to the punishment which my tormentor judges fit to +inflict?" + +"It is a painful duty, sire; but it is a duty, and your majesty must +submit." + +"I must not submit!" exclaimed Joseph in bitter anguish, while he sprang +from the sofa. But suddenly his eager, fluttering glances were turned +toward the window where stood the grand duke quietly surveying his +movements. + +"Have you not gone?" asked the, emperor. "I thought that your mission +being fulfilled, your imperial highness had nothing more to do here." + +"I await your majesty's answer," replied the grand duke. "Oh, you wish +to mock me, do you?" cried Joseph, trembling with passion, "for well you +know there is but one answer to the empress's commands, and that +is--obedience. But since you are anxious to take a message, here is one, +and mark it well. Say to the empress that I submit as becomes her +subject, and so long as it suits her without my knowledge and behind my +back to hold conferences with the enemy, I will abstain from engaging +him in battle, although by so doing I shall ruin my reputation forever. +Tell her furthermore that should she accept the dishonorable proposals +made by Frederick and conclude a peace upon the basis of his conditions, +she need never expect to see me again in Vienna. I never shall go near +her so long as I live, but shall take up my abode in Aix la Chapelle, or +in some other free city, as it was once the custom of the Emperors of +Germany to do."' [Footnote: Joseph's own words. See Dohm's Memoirs vol. +i., p. 143.] + +"Oh, sire!" exclaimed Lacy, shocked, "retract those words, I implore of +you!" + +"I will not retract them," replied Joseph, imperatively; "I order the +envoy of the empress to repeat them faithfully." + +"I shall obey your majesty, the co-regent of the empress," said the +Grand Duke of Tuscany. "Has your majesty any other commands?" + +"Yes!" shouted the emperor, fiercely. "When you shall have accomplished +your mission in Vienna, go home to your priests in Tuscany, and bid them +say a mass for the repose of your brother's soul, for from this day you +have lost him who was called Joseph. He is dead to you forever." + +The grand duke returned his brother's look with one of equal hatred. "I +can scarcely lose that which I have never possessed," replied he with +composure. "Had the affront which your majesty has put upon me to-day +come from a brother, we should have measured swords together before the +sun had set upon the insult. But he who stands before me is my emperor, +and of him I am prohibited from demanding satisfaction." + +"Our paths in life lie apart, and I trust that we shall never be forced +to look upon each other again," said Joseph in reply. + +"Since we can never meet as brothers, I am compelled to echo the wish," +returned Leopold. "Farewell!" + +"Farewell--and let it be farewell forever!" + +The grand duke crossed the room and opened the door, while Joseph +watched his disappearance with glaring eyes and stormy brow, and Lacy in +anguish of heart looked first at one brother, then at the other. The +door closed, and the jar it made caused Lacy of start. He recovered +himself and hastened to the emperor's side. + +"Call him back, sire," implored he. "Call him back. He is your brother +and the son of your mother. He is also the hope of those who tremble +with apprehension of your majesty's reign." + +"Oh, yes--he is the leader of my enemies, the head of the pious +conspirators who have cursed my life by their diabolical opposition. But +a day will come when I shall crush the whole brood in their owl's nest, +and put my house in order. In that day I shall remember this interview +with the Grand Duke of Tuscany." [Footnote: The two brothers never met +again. Although Leopold was next heir to the crown, Joseph would not +allow him to receive the title of King of Rome, but bestowed it upon +Leopold's son and heir, Francis. Even upon his death-bed the emperor +refused to see his brother. By his explicit commands, it was only when +his death had taken place, that a courier was sent to inform Leoold of +his accession to the throne.] + +"Sire," insisted Lacy, "I entreat of you, recall him--if not as your +brother, as the envoy of your sovereign. Before it is too late, retract +those fearful words, which in a moment of--" + +"Lacy!" interrupted the emperor, in a loud, angry voice, "I have this +day lost a brother and a battle. Am I also to lose a friend?" + +The tears rose to Lacy's eyes. "Sire," said he in a voice of emotion, +"forgive your truest friend if he has presumed to oppose you. I have no +kindred to love: my heart is bound to you, and if I lose your regard, I +am desolate and alone in the world!" + +"You shall not lose it, my dear, dear friend," exclaimed Joseph, +throwing his arms around Lacy's neck. "O God, you do not know how I +suffer I I feel as if I had lost some beloved friend. And is it not so? +Have I not buried to-day the hopes of a whole life? The hopes which from +my youth I had cherished of winning glory and fame through Frederick's +humiliation!--I would give years of my life to have measured swords with +him, for--let me tell you a secret, Lacy--I hate that man as much as I +once fancied that I loved him. He is the cause of every misfortune that +has befallen our house for forty years past. His fame is our shame, his +splendor our obscuration. I might forgive him his robbery of Silesia, +but that he has reduced me to the role of an imitator, I can never +forgive! Every thing on earth that I imagine, he executes before me. If +I desire to free my people from the dominion of the clergy, he has +already liberated his; if I seek to advance art, literature, or +manufactures, he has just afforded them protection in Prussia; if I +recommend toleration, lo! he has removed the disabilities of the Jews, +and has pronounced all sects equal before the law. Would I excel in +music, or yearn for military glory, the world has long since pronounced +him a hero, and his flute was heard before I learned the violoncello. +Oh, I hate him, I hate him, for his greatness is the rock upon which my +originality is fated to split; and his shadow projects forever before me +and my unborn deeds. He forces me to pass for a counterfeit of his true +coin, and yet I feel that my individuality is as marked as his! He is +the evil genius of my destiny, vanquishing me even in that which I would +have done for the good of my subjects and the advancement of the world!" + +"Your majesty goes too far," said Lacy, smiling. "There is one thing +which Frederick has never dreamed of doing, and it is precisely there +that you are destined to eclipse him. He has never sought to do any +thing for Germany. A German prince, the ruler of a German people, he is +the patron of foreign industry, literature, and art. The most +insignificant writer in France is better known to him than Lessing or +Winklemann; and while he is perfectly familiar with the composers of +Italy, be has blundered into depreciation of Gluck's inspired music. +There is the great and glorious contrast which your majesty presents to +Frederick of Prussia; and the German people, whom he has despised, will +look up to you, sire, as to the Messiah of their decaying greatness." + +"He will foil me there as in all else," replied Joseph, disconsolately. +"Has he not already guessed my plans in Germany, and has he not torn my +banner from my hand to flaunt it above his own head, as the defender of +German liberties! And Maria Theresa, too, is deceived by his infernal +logic. Oh, Lacy! I hate him beyond expression. I hate him for the letter +wherein he promises to spare her son, a man whom he loves, although he +differs with him on the subject of German nationality. [Footnote: +Gross-Hoffinger, "Records of the Life of Joseph II.," p. 41.] The +cowardly remnant of a warrior! He takes refuge under my mother's hooped +petticoat, and whispers in her credulous ear that this war is a great +sin. Do you really think that I am bound to sheathe my sword at the ipse +dixit of my mother?" + +"Your mother is the reigning empress, sire, and it is for you to give to +her other subjects an example of loyalty and obedience." + +"Ah," sighed Joseph, "I must still the throbbings of my bursting heart, +and suffer in silence!" + +For a while he paced the room with hasty, uncertain steps, murmuring +inaudible words, and darting despairing looks toward the window, whence +gay throngs of soldiery were to be seen preparing to leave the +encampment, while they sang their martial songs, and speculated together +upon the events of the morrow. Suddenly the emperor turned his head +toward Lacy, and said: + +"Field-marshal, I withdraw my plans of battle. The empress-queen has +spoken, it is for us to obey. Apprise the army of the change. We remain +where we are." + +"Sire," exclaimed Lacy enthusiastically, "your victory has been won +to-day. A victory over self!" + +The emperor raised his eyes with a sad, weary expression, and shook his +head: "It was harder to win than could have been that which I +contemplated for to-morrow. Go, Lacy, go, we must still hope and +pray--pray God to grant that at some future day we may be revenged." + + + +CHAPTER CXXVII. + +THE REVENGE. + +Lacy had assembled the generals and the staff-officers to communicate +the decision of the emperor; while the latter, overcome by this supreme +disappointment, was pacing his cabinet with heavy and measured step. +Then he stood at the window, and watched the movements of his soldiers. + +"They have heard it now," thought he, "and the word has gone forth, 'The +emperor is afraid to meet the old hero.' Yes, my brave soldiers, I know +full well that you despise me! Your songs have ceased--your spirit is +crushed, and, ah, mine also! This unfought battle is worth a victory to +Frederick; for the army will think that my courage failed me, and the +King of Prussia will still remain in their estimation the invincible foe +of Austria! Oh, when will the hour of retribution sound?" + +At this moment a knock was heard at the door, and an adjutant announced +to the emperor that a hussar, belonging to a Galician regiment stationed +directly opposite to the Prussian encampment, wished to communicate +something of importance. + +"Admit him," said Joseph, wearily. + +The adjutant bowed, and returned, accompanied by a stalwart figure, +attired in the fanciful and becoming costume of a Galician hussar. The +emperor returned his salute with a slight bend of the head, and motioned +him to approach. The adjutant withdrew, and Joseph was alone with the +man. + +"Now speak," said the emperor, "and if you have important tidings, let +me hear them." + +The soldier raised his head, and spoke. "I have come to do your majesty +a service, but first you must promise to reward me as becomes an +emperor." + +"If your service is great, your reward shall be in proportion." + +The soldier bowed. "I am on picket duty immediately on the bank, of the +Elbe. As I have lain among the bushes, I have more than once seen the +King of Prussia just opposite to me, taking a survey of our strength. +Little thinks he, as he reins in his horse, that a sharpshooter's ball +is not too far off to bring him down. But I have thought of it." + +"You have thought of WHAT?" exclaimed Joseph, shocked. + +"I have thought that my ball has never yet missed its man, and what a +rich man I might become if I were to free Austria from its worst enemy. +I was turning this over in my mind yesterday, when here comes the king +on his gray horse, and halts directly in front of me. He held a cane in +his hand, and pointed with it toward our encampment, and beat the air +with it, as though he were showing his officers how he was going to +thrash the Austrian army. When I saw this, my blood began to boil, and I +rose half up, and cocked my gun. Many a Bosnian have I brought down with +it." + +"Go on," said the emperor, as the soldier paused, and threw an admiring +glance upon his musket. + +"Yes, sire, I raised my gun, and took aim, when I began to reflect +that--" + +"That what?" exclaimed Joseph, upon whose forehead great drops of sweat +had begun to gather. + +"That it would be better first to ask the emperor's permission, and get +the promise of a reward," said the hussar, with a salute. + +"Ah!" cried the emperor, breathing freely, "that was a lucky thought of +yours." + +The soldier bowed low. "I put down my musket, and when the hour came +round for me to be relieved, I asked leave of my captain to come here to +see an old acquaintance. And, indeed, your majesty, I was not telling a +lie, for you once slept under my father's roof, and paid him so well for +the night's lodging, that he was able to buy some land to settle me upon +it, and thereupon I married my sweetheart. So that I did come to see an +old acquaintance; and now, your majesty, I have a firm hand and a sharp +eye, and if you say so, Frederick shall bite the dust before this day +week." + +"What said your captain to such a proposal?" + +"Does your majesty suppose that I am such a fool as to give another man +the chance of stepping in my shoes?" + +"It follows thence that I am the only person in your confidence," said +Joseph, much relieved. + +"The only one, sire, and I believe that you will not misuse it." + +"No, I will not, and as a reward for your trust in me, here are two gold +pieces." + +At first the soldier smiled as he received the gold, but presently his +brow darkened, and casting a dissatisfied look at the emperor from +behind his busby eyebrows, he said, "Is the life of the King of Prussia +worth but two ducats?" + +"It is worth more than all the gold in my imperial treasury," replied +the emperor, with energy; "and no man on earth is rich enough to pay for +it. I gave you these ducats to repay what you spent in coming from your +camp hither. But I shall reward you still further if you will promise +not to divulge what you have confided to me. Not only that, but I will +also give you your discharge from the army, send you home, and give you +a situation as imperial huntsman. If you break your promise, I will +punish you with death." + +"Sire, I promise, and I shall never break my word." + +"Swear it in the name of God and of the Blessed Virgin." + +"I swear," said the soldier, raising his right hand to heaven. "And now, +your majesty, that no one is to know it except us two, when shall I +shoot the King of Prussia, and return to my home?" + +The emperor looked sternly upon the unconscious hussar. "Soldier," said +he, in loud and solemn tones, "keep the gold I have given you in +remembrance of the warning which your good angel whispered, when you +forbore to murder the King of Prussia. I hope and believe that every man +among you would risk his life in battle to take him prisoner, but God +forbid that any one of you should stoop so low as to become his +murderer!" + +The man stared at the emperor in utter bewilderment, and not a word of +reply was be able to make to this incomprehensible harangue. + +The emperor continued: "I pardon your evil thought because it did not +germinate into an evil deed. But had you followed your impulse to murder +the king, I would have hung you without giving you time to see a priest. +Thank God for your escape, and let us dismiss the disgraceful subject +forever. You can remain here for the night." + +"But I have only six hours' leave of absence, sire." + +The emperor looked distrustfully at the soldier. "I have discharged you +from the service, and will see that you are not molested. " + +"And I am really to go home?" cried the man, overjoyed. "And the emperor +really means to fulfil his promise in spite of the dreadful reprimand I +have received?" + +"Yes, I mean to fulfil my promise. But you also must swear to live a +peaceful life, and never try to kill another man save in open fight, +were he even a Bosnian." + +"From my heart, I swear," replied the soldier, solemnly. + +"Now you can go." + +The emperor then rang his bell, when the door opened, and Gunther +entered the room. + +"Gunther," said he, "give this man his supper and a bed in your room, +and, while he remains here, see that his wants are attended to." + +Gunther bowed, and retired with the hussar. The emperor followed the +gigantic figure of the soldier until the door closed upon him, then he +raised his eyes to heaven with a look of unspeakable gratitude. + +"Lord," said he, "I have suffered cruelly since the sun rose to-day, but +oh! how I thank Thee that Thou hast preserved my name from eternal +infamy! How would the world have spurned me, if, refusing to give him +battle, I had taken the life of my enemy through the hands of an +Austrian soldier! My God! my God! the life of Frederick has become more +precious to me than my own--for HIS life is one with MY honor. + +"But what, if another should execute what this Galician has conceived?" +continued the emperor, shuddering. "What if, in his ignorance, another +one of these wild huntsmen should deem it his duty to take the life of +Frederick?" The emperor grew pale with the thought, and his hand was +lifted as if to protest against the crime. "I must find means to shield +myself from such disgrace, for his safety and my honor are cast on the +same die." + +Far into the night Gunther heard the tread of his Imperial master, and +he waited in vain to be called in to attend him. He watched until the +dawn of day, and when, at last, unable to contain his anxiety, he opened +the door of the cabinet, he saw the emperor asleep in an arm-chair. He +was in full uniform, and the rays of the rising sun lit up his pale +face, which, even in sleep, wore an anxious and painful expression. + +Gunther approached, and touched him lightly. + +"Sire," said he, in a voice of tender entreaty, "let me assist you to +undress. This is the fourth night that your majesty has slept in your +uniform. You must lie down, indeed you must." + +Joseph opened his eyes, and looked at Gunther. + +"Ah!" sighed he, "during three of these nights I might just as well have +slept in my bed as any respectable burgher who has nothing to trouble +him but his growing corpulence. But last night I dared not undress, for +I have much to do this morning. Good Heaven! Gunther," continued the +emperor, suddenly remembering the hussar, "what has become of the man +whom I gave into your custody last evening?" + +"Your majesty's second valet is in the same bed with him, and they are +both asleep. The door between our sleeping-room and the anteroom has +been open all night, so that, while I sat there awaiting your majesty's +call, I had the hussar directly under my eyes. He seems to have pleasant +dreams, if I judge by his smiles and snatches of songs." + +"Let him sleep, Gunther, and when he awakes, allow no one to hold any +conversation with him. Now give me a glass of fresh water for my +breakfast." + +Gunther hastened to obey, and returned in a very few minutes. The +emperor emptied the glass at a draught. + +"Oh!" exclaimed he, refreshed, "how delightful it is! I have not a cook +in my palace capable of brewing me such a beverage." + +"And yet the meanest of your subjects, sire, would grumble if he had +nothing better than a glass of water for breakfast." + +"No doubt of it, Gunther. Men set no value upon that which is easily +obtained. If I were to close up the fountains, and forbid them to drink +water for breakfast, they would raise a howl, and protest that they +could drink nothing else. And if I desired to give them a taste for +assafoetida, I would have nothing to do but forbid its use. Once +forbidden to the multitude, the multitude would go mad for it. But see, +the sun has sent a ray through the window to bid us good-morning, and to +warn me that it is time to depart. Order my horse to be saddled: Tell +some of the staff to prepare to accompany me, and then go to +Field-Marshal Lacy, and request him to go with me this morning on a tour +of inspection." + +"Lacy," said the emperor, as they galloped off together, "you must +prepare yourself for a long ride. We had anticipated an early start +to-day, and we are punctual. To be sure, we are minus an army, and +neither our hearts nor our trumpets are sounding triumphant blasts of +victory. Ah, friend, what miserable puppets we are in the hands of +Almighty God! Yesterday I was gazing exultingly upon the heaven of the +future, so clear, so blue, so silver-bright--when lo! the rustling of a +woman's dress is heard, and the sky of my destiny grows black as night. +Yesterday I fancied myself a man--to-day I am a schoolboy in disgrace +upon my knees. Oh, Lacy, those weary knees ache me so, that I could sob +for pain, were it not laughable for a commander-in-chief to put his +handkerchief to his eyes. + +"Good God! Lacy," shouted the emperor, suddenly, while he reined in his +horse until the animal almost fell upon his haunches, "why do you not +laugh? You see that I am doing my best to divert you." + +"I cannot laugh, sire, when you yourself are suffering almost to +madness!" + +The emperor made no reply, but rode cu, relaxing his speed until his +horse ambled gently over the road. "Lacy," said he, finally, "I am +unreasonable when I murmur against destiny, for yesterday Providence was +most benign toward me. Some other time, you shall hear in what manner. +Let us quicken our pace, for to-day I must visit all the outposts. I +have an order to promulgate to the pickets, of which I shall explain to +you the reason when we return." + +Shortly after the emperor had spoken, they reached the front. Joseph +sprang forward to the very edge of the river-bank, and looked earnestly +toward the opposite shore. Nothing was to be seen, save far away on the +horizon, a few black specks which showed the outposts of the enemy. The +emperor signed to the officer on duty to approach. + +"Do the Prussians ever venture any nearer?" asked he. + +"Yes, sire. They seem to be officers of high rank making a +reconnaissance, probably with a view to finding a crossing for their +army. They sometimes approach so close that the sharpshooters, who have +eyes like telescopes, recognize the King of Prussia in the group." + +"It is quite possible that in the excitement of a survey, the king may +approach the shore. In the event of such an accident, I have a command +to give to your men. As soon as they recognize the king, they shall +present arms, and remain thus until he is entirely out of sight. I +desire, through this courtesy, to express the respect due to a crowned +head, a great general, and a personal friend of my own. This order must +be strictly enforced by the officer of the day." [Footnote: The +emperor's own words. See Gross-Hoffinger, i., p 431.] + +The emperor then inclined his head, and rode off with his staff. At each +outpost the order for presenting arms to Frederick was repeated, and the +officers charged with its execution to the letter. + +Late in the day Joseph returned from his long and tiresome visit of +inspection. But so far from suffering fatigue, he sprang from his horse +with a light bound, and his countenance was as free from gloom as it had +been before the arrival of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. + +"Lacy," said he, taking the arm of the field-marshal, "I am about to +explain to you the cause of my over-politeness to my abhorred enemy. You +must have been astounded at the orders I have been giving to-day." + +"To tell the truth, I was surprised. But I thought that in the nobleness +of your heart, sire, you were proving to me that you had relinquished +all thoughts of revenge." + +"Nevertheless, Lacy, my hate is unappeased and I have kept my word. I +have already had my revenge. I have saved the King of Prussia from the +bullet of an assassin." [Footnote: This whole chapter is historical. See +Riedler's archives for 1831, and Gross-Hoffinger, i., p. 427.] + + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVIII. + +A LETTER TO THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. + +With flushed face and panting bosom, Maria Theresa paced her cabinet, +sometimes glancing with angry eyes at the heaps of papers that covered +her escritoire; then wandering hastily to and fro, perfectly insensible +to the fatigue which in her advancing years generally overwhelmed her +whenever she attempted to move otherwise than leisurely. The empress had +received bad news from every quarter; but worst of all were the tidings +that came from Bohemia. For more than a year the Austrian and Prussian +armies had threatened one another; and yet nothing had been accomplished +toward the settlement of the Bavarian succession. + +Maria Theresa, shocked by the threat which Joseph had made to her +through the Grand Duke of Tuscany, had broken off her negotiations with +Frederick, and had sacrificed the dearest wishes of her heart to appease +the fury of her imperial son. Notwithstanding this, no battle had been +fought, for Frederick was quite as desirous as the empress could be, to +avoid an engagement. He had declared war against his old adversary with +the greatest alacrity; but when it became necessary to manoeuvre his +army, the hero of so many fights was obliged to confess in the secrecy +of his own heart that his gouty hand was impotent to draw the sword, and +his tottering limbs were fitter to sink into an arm-chair than to +bestride a war-horse. + +Irritable, crabbed, and low-spirited, his campaign had proved a +disastrous failure. Instead of planning battles, he had planned +pillaging and foraging expeditions, and his hungry and disaffected army +had converted the rich fields of Bohemia into a gloomy and desolate +waste. At last succoring winter came to the help of the oppressed +Bohemians, and both armies went into winter quarters. Maria Theresa had +employed the season, which forced her ambitious son to inactivity, in +new negotiations for peace. Count von Mercy had sought for intervention +on the part of France, and Baron Thugut had made new proposals to +Prussia. Until to-day the empress had indulged the hope of terminating +this unhappy and ridiculous war; but her hopes had been frustrated by +the dispatches she had just received from France and Bohemia. Count von +Mercy wrote that so far from accepting the role of mediator, the French +king expostulated with him upon the injustice of the claims of Austria, +and earnestly recommended their total relinquishment as the only road to +peace. + +Another courier from Joseph announced that the winter season having +almost closed, he hoped that he might now be permitted to prosecute the +war with firmness and vigor. Circumstances were favorable to Austria, +for General Wurmser had succeeded in surprising the Prince of +Philippsthal, and in driving the Prussian garrison from their +stronghold. The emperor, therefore, declared his intention of giving +battle to Frederick, that he might at one stroke free Bohemia from the +presence of a tyrannical and merciless enemy. + +These were the tidings which had flooded the heart of the empress with +anguish. + +"I must have peace," thought she, as, perfectly unconscious of the fact, +she still paced the floor of her cabinet. "I cannot go to my grave +burdened with the crime of an unrighteous war. Peace! peace! Heavenly +Father, send us peace! Something I must do, and that at once; and if my +son still vituperates his unhappy mother, I know that my subjects, the +people of Germany, and all Europe, will sustain me by their +approbation." + +Filled with the idea, she approached her escritoire, and again her eyes +rested upon the papers and pamphlets that lay there. Her cheeks flushed +and her eyes flashed fire, as lifting from the desk a heavy package, she +threw it down with violence, exclaiming: + +"Has that Schrotter been printing another absurd pamphlet, braying to +the world of our rights to Bavaria? I must stop that man's mouth, and +teach him discretion!" + +Here the empress rang and gave two messages to the page who answered the +summons. "Let Prince Kaunitz be informed that I would be happy to see +his highness as soon as possible. Send a messenger to Counsellor von +Schrotter, and let him be here in an hour." + +So saying, the empress, who at last began to feel that she was +exercising her limbs beyond all power of endurance, sank into an +arm-chair and continued her reflections. They were any thing but +consolatory. She could not humble herself to make any more proposals to +Frederick. He was so arrogant that he might answer in such a way as to +make war the only alternative for Austria. But where to go for a +mediator? France had refused, and Marie Antoinette had with difficulty +obtained from her husband a promise not to sustain Prussia. + +"I have a most disobliging son-in-law in Louis," thought the empress, +"and if Marie Antoinette were not in a condition where anxiety of mind +might be fatal to her life, I should very soon speak plainly to the +king, and let him understand distinctly how little I care for his +approval or disapproval! But I must be patient for my daughter's sake; +and if she gives birth to a dauphin, I shall be too happy to quarrel +with her stubborn king. I had reckoned upon France, however, and I am +disappointed and grieved." + +So saying, the empress bent once more over her papers, and this time she +opened a dispatch from her ambassador at St. Petersburg. She began to +read: + +"The King of Prussia is asking succor from Russia. The empress is quite +ready to grant it, and has already marched an auxiliary force into +Galicia. But she exacts that her troops shall act independently of +Frederick, and requires of him for the prosecution of her war with +Turkey, a subsidy of two million of thalers. The king is indignant at +her exactions, so that the opportunity now offers to dissolve this +dangerous alliance. If the empress-queen could bring herself to pen a +letter to Catharine requesting her intervention--" + +"No," exclaimed Maria Theresa, interrupting herself, "to such +degradation I cannot stoop! It would be too base!" She threw down the +letter, and frowning leaned her head upon her hand. "How," thought she, +"could a virtuous woman write to that abandoned wretch who degrades the +divine birthright of royalty by a dissolute life? How could Maria +Theresa so humiliate herself as to ask succor of such a Messalina!" + +The entrance of a page interrupted the empress's meditations. His +highness Prince Kaunitz regretted that he was unable to obey her +majesty's commands, as he was sick and not able to leave his room. + +The empress dismissed the page, and frowned anew. + +"I know perfectly well the nature of his malady," thought she. "Whenever +he desires to consult with the emperor before seeing me, he falls sick. +Whenever danger is ahead and affairs look stormy he retreats to his hole +like a discreet fox. I wish to Heaven that I too could take to my bed +and shut my eyes to all that is transpiring around us! But no," +continued the empress with a pang of self-reproach, "I have no right to +retire from the post of danger. I must act, and act quickly, or Joseph +will be before me. Oh, my God, help me in my great need." + +She re-read the dispatches from her different ambassadors, and each one +breathed the same spirit. From every court in Europe camp disapprobation +and blame. Every one of the great powers counselled peace--speedy peace, +lest all should be drawn into the strife, and Austria left to the +humiliation of struggling single-handed against every other nation in +Europe. + +The tears of the empress flowed fast. She could see no help on earth, +and how could she feel otherwise than resentful toward the minister and +the son who had brought her into this mortifying position? Suddenly she +dried her tears and once more took up the dispatch from St. Petersburg. +The silence in that little room was broken only by her sighs, and the +rustling of the papers which she held in her hand. She paused, and those +trembling hands fell into her lap. She threw back her head as if trying +to make a difficult resolve. + +"There is one way--but oh, how disgraceful!" murmured she. Again the +gathering tears were dashed from her eyes, and she tried to read. + +"It must be," sighed she, as she replaced the paper on the desk; "and if +so, it must be done quickly. Oh, my Creator! Thou alone knowest how +fearful to my heart is this sacrifice of womanly pride; but thou willest +my humiliation, and I submit! Let me drink the chalice!" + +She took up her pen and began to write. Often she hesitated--threw +aside her sheet, and took another. Sometimes she read aloud what she had +written; then starting at the sound of the words, resumed her writing in +silence. At last the task was accomplished, and her eyes scanned the +concluding paragraph + +"With the conviction that my honor could be intrusted to no abler hands, +I leave it to your majesty, in conjunction with France, to make such +propositions as you may esteem best calculated to promote peace. In this +trust I remain, + +"Your majesty's true and devoted sister, + +"MARIA THERESA." [Footnote: This letter of the empress is yet in the +archives of St. Petersburg. Coxe, who copies it word for word, saw it +there himself. See Coxe's "History of the House of Austria," vol. iv., +page 592.] + +As she read these words, the cheeks of the empress crimsoned with shame, +and, burying her face in her hands, she sobbed aloud. When the paroxysm +of her grief was over, her face was very pale and her eyes dim and +swollen. "I must complete the humiliation," thought she; then folding +the letter, it was directed "To Her Majesty the Empress of Russia." + +She took up a tiny gold bell, and ringing it so that it gave out but a +few strokes, a portiere was raised, and Koch entered the room. + +"Take a copy of this letter, and send a courier with it to St. +Petersburg. I have at last yielded to the wishes of my counsellors, and +have written to the Empress of Russia. Peace, Koch--not a word!--my +heart is not yet strong enough to bear the grief and shame of this +hour." + +The private secretary had scarcely left the room, when the page +reentered, announcing Counsellor von Schrotter. + +"Ah," said the empress, "he comes at the right moment. I am just in the +mood to castigate those who have displeased me." + + + +CHAPTER CXXIX. + +THE GRATITUDE OF PRINCES. + +The message of the empress had been received by Counsellor von Schrotter +with rapture. His heart throbbed so joyfully that its every beat sent +the quick blood bounding through his veins. The hour for acknowledgment +of his long-tried services had arrived. For years he had lived a life of +labor, research, and patient investigation. Among the deeds, parchments, +and dusty green tables of the chancery, his youth had faded to middle +age, and of its early hopes had retained but one single earthly +ambition: it was that of taking a place among learned men, and becoming +an authority of some weight in the judicial world. His pamphlets on the +Bavarian succession had lifted him to fame, and now among his countrymen +his name was beginning to be quoted as that of a great and accomplished +jurist. Nothing was needed to complete the measure of his simple joys, +save the approbation of the court, and some acknowledgment on the part +of his sovereign of the fidelity with which he had labored for so many +years in her behalf. + +This precious tribute he was called upon to receive. He was to speak +himself with the Empress of Austria. So excited was he by the thought, +that the strong man trembled from head to foot; he was even more +agitated than he had been twenty years before, when he had received his +diploma as doctor of laws. Pale, but inexpressibly happy, he stood upon +the threshold of the empress's cabinet, and awaited her permission to +approach and kiss her beloved and honored hand. + +Maria Theresa saw him and spoke not a word. She sat immovable in her +arm-chair, darting lightning glances upon the unconscious counsellor, +and growing every moment more enraged at the thought of his impertinent +researches, until the storm burst with all its fury upon his head. The +empress clutched the pamphlets which lay near her upon the table, and +rising from her chair, strode through the room to the door where the +unhappy author stood. + +"Did you write these brochures?" asked she. + +"Yes, your majesty," said Von Schrotter with a happy smile. + +"Read the title-page." + +Von Schrotter read: "The rights and measures of her imperial, royal, and +apostolic majesty in reference to the Bavarian succession." + +"Now read the title of your first pamphlet." + +"Impartial thoughts on the various questions arising from the succession +of Maximilian Joseph." + +"You acknowledge the authorship of these two brochures?" + +"I am proud to acknowledge them, your majesty." + +"Whence it follows that you are proud to be the cause of the unholy war +which now rages throughout Germany," said the empress in a voice of +indignation. "It is you, then, whose pen has metamorphosed itself into a +sword wherewith to take the lives of thousands of good and honest men! +What right had you to publish impartial thoughts upon the Bavarian +succession? I suppose you had an idea that in so doing, you were +proving to the world what an important part you play in the affairs of +the nation!" + +"Your majesty," stammered Von Schrotter, utterly at a loss to understand +his crime--"your majesty, through Prince Kaunitz, conveyed to me your +entire satisfaction with my researches into the imperial archives, and +the emperor himself requested me to write the second pamphlet." + +"I am in no wise indebted to you for your complaisance," replied the +empress; "for your ink has changed itself into blood, and your stupid +vagaries, hatched in the comfortable quiet of your own room, have driven +my poor soldiers from their homes, out into the pitiless storm of +hardship, danger, and death. What right had you to meddle with the +difficulties of the succession? Did you expect that, in gratitude for +your valuable services to the crown, I would reward you with a title and +an estate in Bavaria?" + +"No, your majesty," replied Von Schrotter, blushing, I was but doing my +duty as a jurist and civil officer of the crown." + +"And do you suppose you have succeeded in proving any thing with your +rubbish?" asked the empress, scornfully. "Do you imagine that any one +word take the trouble to read your balderdash?" + +"In defending the claims of the crown, I was performing an act of +sacrred duty toward my country," replied Von Schrotter, emboldened to +reply, by a just sense of the indignity offered him. + +"Oh, yes, I know something of the vanity of authors," said the empress. +"They imagine themselves to be Atlas, each one with the world upon his +shoulders, which must certainly fall, if they are not there to uphold +it. I, however, take the liberty of judging that if they were all to be +blown to atoms, nobody would be the worse for their disappearance. What +has come of your writings? A paper war of such dimensions, that I think +the foul fiend must have plucked all the geese in Avernus, and have +thrown their quills at your heads. What with your imbecile pens, nobody +knows who is right!" + +"But, your majesty, "remonstrated Von Schrotter, "discussion is +indispensable to the discovery of truth, and as I am sure that I have +contributed to this discovery, I cannot regret what I have done." + +"Ah, indeed!" exclaimed the enraged empress. "You think you have +contributed to the discovery of truth! I will tell you to what you have +contributed, sir: you are the cause that the emperor became so +headstrong on the subject, that sooner than give up Bavaria he has +involved me in war; you are the cause that the whole world has had +something to say on the subject of our claims; whereas, had you held +your tongue, they might have passed for what they are not--just. You +are the cause that my days are spent in sorrow, and my nights are +sleepless; that in the despair of my heart, I have been reduced to write +to a woman whom I despise! Yes, of all this you are the cause, and more +than this--you will be guilty of my death; for I repeat to you that this +war has broken my heart, and will be the last nail in my coffin. +[Footnote: Maria Theresa's own words.] When my people, then, mourn for +my death (and I hope that they will regret me), you may boast of having +compassed it yourself; and from my grave I shall arise to--" + +"No more, your majesty, no more! Spare me, in mercy," sobbed he, "if you +would not see me die at your feet!" + +"And I presume you would consider it a great misfortune for Austria if +you were no longer able to unsheathe your goose-quill in her defence. +There is no danger of your dying from the wounds inflicted by my tongue; +but I am resolved that you shall carry their marks to the grave with +you. This is all I had to say to you; you are dismissed." + +"But, your majesty," replied Von Schrotter, "I have something to say--I +must defend myself." + +"You must defend yourself!" cried Maria Theresa, surveying him with a +look of ineffable disdain. "Defend yourself to God--I am not disposed to +listen to your defence." + +"But, your majesty--" + +"Peace!" thundered the empress. "Who dares speak when I have ordered him +from my presence? Go home, and ponder my words." + +So saying, she walked back to her seat. But seeing that Von Schrotter's +lips were parted as if in an attempt to say something, she snatched her +bell, and rang it so loud that in its clang his words were lost. + +"Counsellor Von Schrotter is dismissed," said she to the page. "Open the +doors, that he may pass." + +Von Schrotter gasped out a convulsive sigh, and scarcely knowing what he +did, turned one last sad look upon his cruel sovereign, and bowing his +head, left the room. + +When his tall, majestic form had disappeared from her sight, the empress +said: + +"Ah!--that outburst has done me good. And now that I have driven away +humiliation by anger, I shall go and pray to God to bless the sacrifice +I have made to-day for the good of my people." + +She rang the bell, assembled her ladies of honor, and with them entered +the private chapel which had lately been added to her own apartments. +She knelt before the first prie-Dieu that presented itself, and her +attendants knelt around her. + +Whilst the empress was praying, Von Schrotter returned to the home, +which an hour sooner, he had left with a heart so full of hope and +ecstasy. He had not a word for his old house-keeper, who opened the door +to admit him; and motioning away the servant who would have shown him +into the dining-room, he ascended the staircase with slow, uncertain +steps, his hands clinging to the balustrade, his head so heavy that he +scarce could bear its weight. The servants stood below in sorrowful +amazement. They had never seen their master so agitated in his life +before; they could scarcely believe that this ghastly being was the +dignified and stately man who had left them but an hour before. Suddenly +they started, for surely they heard a loud laugh from the study, but +what a laugh!--so wild, so unearthly, that it sounded like the dreadful +mirth of a madman!--Then all was silent. Presently there came the sound +of a heavy fall. + +"That is our master! Some misfortune has befallen liim," cried the +servants, hurrying up the stairs and bursting into the room. On the +floor, surrounded by the books which had been the pride and solace of a +harmless life, lay the counsellor weltering in his blood. + +"He has broken a blood-vessel!" cried the house-keeper, with a sob, +while the other servant ran for a physician. The old woman raised her +dear master's head, and his bloody lips parted with a ghastly smile. + +"This is the gratitude of princes!" murmured he almost inaudibly. "Such +is the reward of him who loves his country!" + +"What is it, my dear, dear master?" faltered the faithful servant, in +vain seeking to penetrate the meaning of his words. "Why do you stare at +me so horribly? What has distressed you?" + +He moved as though he would have raised his head. "This is Austria's +gratitude!" cried he in a loud voice; then, forth from his lips gurgled +the purple stream of life, and his words died into hoarse, inaudible +mutterings. + +The physician came in, followed by the valet, and together they raised +the sufferer and placed him upon his bed. The doctor then felt his pulse +and his chest, and bent down to catch his breathings. He shook his head +mournfully and called to the weeping servants. + +"He is dying," said he. "Some fearful shock that he has received has +induced a hemorrhage, which in a few hours will end his life." + +Maria Theresa rose from her prayers, comforted and light of heart. And +as she left the chapel, the man whom she had crushed to the earth by her +unjust anger, drew his last sigh. [Footnote: This whole chapter is +historical. Hormayer "Austrian Plutarch," vol. vi.] + + + +CHAPTER CXXX. + +FREDERICK THE GREAT. + +King Frederick and his Prussians were still encamped at Wildschutz. His +army was weary of inactivity, and every morning the longing eyes of his +soldiers turned toward the little gray house at the end of the village +where the king and his staff were quartered, vainly hoping to see their +Fritz in the saddle, eager, bold, and daring as he had ever been until +now. The men were destitute of every thing. Not only their food was +exhausted, but their forage also. Bohemia had been plundered until +nothing remained for man or beast. The inhabitants had fled to the +interior, their villages and farms were a waste, and still the King of +Prussia insisted that his army should subsist upon the enemy. + +The men were in despair, and the officers began to apprehend a mutiny, +for the former were surly, and no amount of conciliatory words could +appease their hunger or feed their horses. + +"We must see the king, we must speak to old Fritz!" cried the +malcontents; and with this cry a crowd of artillerymen made their way to +headquarters. + +"We must see the king! Where is old Fritz? Has he ceased to care for his +soldiers?" repeated the crowd. + +"No, friends, I am ready to listen," said a soft voice, which, +nevertheless, was heard above the din, and the king, clad in his +well-known uniform, appeared at the window. + +The soldiers received him with, a cheer, and at the sight of the +well-beloved countenance, they forgot their need, and shouted for joy. + +"What is it?" said Frederick, when the tumult had died away. + +One of the men, as spokesman, stepped forward. "We wanted to see our old +Fritz once more; we can scarcely believe that he sees our wants and yet +will do nothing to relieve them." "You see mine," said Frederick, +smiling, "and, as you perceive, I am scarcely better off than +yourselves. Do you think this a fit residence for a king?" + +"It is a dog-kennel!" cried the soldiers. + +"And is that all you have to say to me?" + +"No, sire, it is not. If our king can do nothing for us, at least let +him rescue our horses from starvation. We are men, and our reason helps +us to bear privations; but it is a sin to keep our horses here without +food. We beseech your majesty, give us forage for our horses!" And the +others repeated in chorus; "Forage, forage, give us forage for our +horses!" + +Meanwhile, the king had closed his window and had retired to the other +end of his house. This made the soldiers frantic, and they screamed and +shouted louder than ever + +"Give us forage for our horses!" + +Suddenly the voice which had so often led them to victory, was heard at +the door + +"Peace, you noisy rebels, peace, I say!" + +And on the steps before his wretched cabin, stood Frederick, surrounded +by the principal officers of his army. + +"Sire," said one of the king's staff, "shall we disperse them?" + +"Why-so?" replied Frederick, curtly. "Have my poor soldiers not the +right to appeal to me for help? Speak, my children, speak without fear!" +"Forage, sire, forage--our horses are dying like flies!" + +"You see," said the king to his officers, "these poor fellows ask +nothing for themselves. Why is it that they have no forage for their +horses?" + +"Sire," replied the officers, deprecatingly, "as long as there remained +a hay-stack or a storehouse in this part of Bohemia, your majesty's army +was fed by the enemy. But the country is stripped of every thing. The +inhabitants themselves have been obliged to fly from starvation." + +"Starvation!" echoed the king. "I will warrant that, while the horses of +the privates are suffering for food, those of the officers are well +provided." + +"Your majesty!" + +"Do not interrupt me, but let all the forage belonging to the chief +officers of the army be brought at once, and placed before these men. +They can wait here until it comes, and then divide it between them. Are +you satisfied, my children?" + +"Yes, yes," cried the men, shouting for joy at the prospect of the +abundance about to be vouchsafed to them. + +The officers, on the contrary, were deeply humiliated, and beheld the +proceedings with gloomy discontent. + +Frederick pretended not to perceive their dissatisfaction. He stood with +his hat drawn down over his brows, leaning for support upon the +crutch-cane which, of late, had been his inseparable companion. + +Occasionally, when a soldier came up with his bundle of hay, the king +glanced quickly around, and then looked down again. The artillerymen +gradually ceased their noisy demonstrations, and now, with anxious, +expectant faces, they looked at the king, the officers, and then at the +very small amount of forage which was being placed before them. + +Just then an adjutant bowed to the king, and announced that the last +bundle of hay had been set before his majesty. + +Frederick raised his eyes, and sadly contemplated the miserable little +heap of forage which betokened with so much significance the destitution +of his brave army. + +"Is this all?" said he. + +"Yes, sire, all--" + +"It is well. Now," continued he to the artillerymen, "divide this +between you. Had my officers been more selfish, your horses would have +fared better. But you see that my generals and adjutants are as noble +and self-sacrificing as yourselves; and unless you manage to forage for +us all, we shall all starve together. I have called for this hay to +prove to you that your officers were not revelling in plenty while you +were suffering for want. Take it, and do not ask for that which I cannot +give you." + +The artillerymen looked almost ashamed of their clamor, while the faces +of the officers brightened, and their eyes turned with love and +admiration upon the man whose tact had so entirely justified them to +their men. + +The king pretended to see their delight as little as he had feigned to +see their mortification. He seemed wholly absorbed watching the +soldiers, who were now striving together as to who was to have the +remnants of forage that was far from being enough to allow each man a +bundle. [Footnote: Dohm's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 158.] + +Finally Frederick withdrew to his cabin, and, once alone, he fell into +the leathern arm-chair which was the only piece of furniture in the room +besides a bed and a table. + +"This will never do," thought he, sorrowfully. "We must either retreat +or advance. This war is a miserable failure--the impotent effort of a +shattered old man whose head is powerless to plan, and his hand to +execute. How often since I entered upon this farcical campaign, have I +repeated those words of Boileau: + +`Malheureux, laisse en paix ton cheval vicillissant De peur quo tout a +coup essoufle, sans haleine, Il ne laisse en tombant, son maitre sur +l'arbne.' [Footnote: Frederick's own words.] + +"Why did I undertake this war? Why had I not discretion enough to remain +at home, and secure the happiness of my own people?" + +The king sighed, and his head sank upon his breast. He sat thus for some +time in deep discouragement; but presently he repeated to himself: + +"Why did I undertake this war--why?" echoed he aloud. "For the honor and +safety of Germany. How sorely soever war may press upon my age and +infirmities, it is my duty to check the ambition of a house whose greed +has no bounds, save those which are made for it by the resistance of +another power as resolute as itself. I am, therefore, the champion of +German liberties, and cannot, must not sheathe my sword. But this +inactivity is demoralizing my army, and it must come to an end. We must +retreat or advance--then let us advance!" + +Here the king rang his bell. A valet entered, whom he ordered to go at +once to the generals and staff-officers and bid them assemble at +headquarters in fifteen minutes from that time. + +"Gentlemen," said the king, "we cross the Elbe to-morrow." + +At these words every countenance there grew bright, and every voice was +raised in one long shout: + +"Long live the king! Long live Frederick the Great!" + +The king tried his best to look unmoved. + +"Peace! peace! you silly, old fellows," said he. "What do you suppose +the boys will do out there, if you raise such a clamor indoors? Do you +approve of the move? Speak, General Keller." + +"Sire, while out on a reconnaissance yesterday, I discovered a crossing +where we may go safely over, without danger from the enemy's bullets." + +"Good. Are you all of one mind?" + +A long shout was the answer, and when it had subsided, the king smiled +grimly and nodded his head. + +"We are all of one mind, then. To-morrow we engage the enemy. And now to +horse! We must reconnoitre the position which General Keller has chosen, +and part of our troops must cross to-night." + + + +CHAPTER CXXXI, + +"THE DARKEST HOUR IS BEFORE DAY." + +A few moments later the officers were mounted, and the king's horse +stood before his door. Frederick, coming forward, with something of his +youthful elasticity, tried to raise himself in the saddle; but he +stopped, and with an expression of great suffering withdrew his foot +from the stirrup. + +The old hero had forgotten that the gout was holding him prisoner. His +face flushed with disappointment, as he called his lackeys to his help. +But once in the saddle, the king struck his spurs with such violence +into his horse's flanks, that the animal leaped into the air, and +bounded off in a swift gallop. + +Whether Frederick had intended to prove to his officers that he was as +bold a horseman as ever, or whether be had yielded to a momentary +impulse of anger, he suffered keenly for his bravado; for at every bound +of the horse, his agony increased. Finally he could endure no more. He +came to a complete stand, and requested his suite to slacken their pace. +They rode on in perfect silence, the officers casting stolen glances at +the king, whose lips quivered, while his face grew every moment paler +with suppressed anguish. But he bore it all without a sigh, until they +had reached the point for which they started. Having accurately surveyed +it, Frederick turned his horse's head, and rode back to his quarters. + +This time he had not only to be lifted from his horse, but to be carried +to his room. Once there, he signed to his attendants to leave him. He +felt the imperious necessity of being alone with his afflicted mind and +body. He leaned his head back, and murmured + +"Malheureux, laisse en paux ton cheval vieillissant!" + +Then, closing his eyes, he quoted the sacred Scriptures for the first +time in his life without irreverent intention. + +"The spirit is willing," sighed the wretched unbeliever, "but the flesh +is weak." + +He remained pondering over those truthful words for several moments; +then casting his eyes over the various objects that lay upon his table, +they lit upon the little leather-covered box, which contained his flute. +For some time past his perplexities had been so great that he had held +no intercourse with this object of his life-long affection; but now he +felt as if its tones would be consolatory. And with trembling, eager +hands he unfastened the case, and raised the instrument to his lips. But +alas! the flute, like its adorer, was superannuated. Wearily came its +feeble notes upon the air, each one hoarse as the wind whistling through +a ruined abbey. [Footnote: It was during the war of the Bavarian +Succession that Frederick found himself compelled to give up the flute. +His embouchure had been destroyed by the loss of his front teeth, and +his hands trembled so that he could scarcely hold the instrument.] + +Frederick had played but a few bars of his adagio when his hands fell +slowly, and the flute rolled upon the table. He contemplated it for +awhile, then his eyes filled with tears, which fell rapidly down his +cheeks. A mournful smile flickered over his countenance. + +"Well," said he, in a low voice, "I suppose there is nothing disgraceful +in the tears of an old man over the last, faithful friend of his youth." + +With these words he replaced the flute in the case, and locked it, +murmuring: + +"Farewell, forever, my life-long solace!" + +Just then, a thousand voices shouted: + +"Long live the king! Long live old Fritz!" + +"They are rejoicing over the approaching battle," thought Frederick. +"But their hopes, like mine, are destined to be crushed. Instead of +crossing the Elbe, we must retire to Silesia. Old age has vanquished +me--and from such a defeat no man can ever rally. + +"Well, well! We must take the world as it comes, and if I can neither +light nor play on the flute, I can still talk and write. My eulogy on +Voltaire is not yet completed--I must finish it to-day, that it may be +read before the Academy at Berlin, on the anniversary of his death." +[Footnote: Voltaire died in May, 1779 and Frederick, while in camp in +Bohemia, wrote a poem on his death.] + +Selecting from among his papers the manuscript he wanted, Frederick took +up his pen and began to write. + +Gradually the songs and shouts of the soldiers ceased, and the king was +consoling himself for the loss of music by flinging himself into the +arms of poetry, when a knock was heard at his door, and his valet +announced the secretary of Count Gallitzin. + +Frederick's heart throbbed with joy, and his great eagle eyes were so +strangely lit up, that the valet could not imagine what had caused such +an illumination of his royal master's features. + +"Thugut," cried the king; "is Thugut here again? Admit him immediately." + +By the time that Baron Thugut had appeared at the door, Frederick had so +forced down his joy, that he received the envoy of the empress-queen +with creditable indifference. + +"Well, baron," said he, with a careless nod, "you come again. When the +foul fiend comes for the third time, he must either bag a man's soul, or +give it up forever." + +"I feel flattered, sire, by the comparison your majesty makes of me to +so great and powerful a potentate," replied the baron, laughing. + +"You believe in the devil, then, although you deny the Lord." + +"Certainly, sire, for I have never yet seen a trace of the one, and the +other I meet everywhere." + +"For an ambassador of Maria Theresa, your opinions are tolerably +heterodox," said Frederick. "But tell me what brings you hither? You +must not expect me to continue our interrupted negotiations. If the +empress-queen sends you to claim ever so small a portion of Bavaria, I +tell you, beforehand, that it is useless to say a word. Austria must +renounce her pretensions or continue the war." + +"Sire, I come with new propositions. Here are my credentials, if your +majesty is at leisure to examine them, and here is a letter from the +hand of my revered sovereign." + +"And what is that?" asked Frederick, pointing to a roll of papers, tied +up with twine. + +"Those are my documents, together with the papers relating to the past +negotiations." + +"I think that I have already refused to go over these negotiations," +said Frederick, sharply; and without further ceremony, he broke the seal +of the empress's letter. While the king read, Thugut busied himself +untying his roll and spreading his papers out upon the table. + +"This is nothing but a letter of credentials," observed the king, +putting it down. "The empress refers me to you for verbal explanations. +I am ready to hear them." + +"Sire, the empress-queen, animated by a heartfelt desire to restore +peace to Germany, has called upon France and Russia to settle the +difficulties which, to her sincere regret, have arisen between herself +and your majesty. These two powers, having responded favorably to my +sovereign's request--" + +"Say, rather," interrupted Frederick, "that these two powers having +given to her majesty of Austria the somewhat peremptory advice to +relinquish her pretensions to Bavaria--" + +Baron Thugut bowed, and resumed: "That the two powers may have the +opportunity of conducting their negotiations without any new +complications from military movements, her majesty, the empress, +proposes an armistice, to begin from to-day." + +Up to this moment the king's eyes had been fixed upon Thugut; but as he +heard these few last words, he dropped them suddenly. He was so +overjoyed, that he was afraid to betray his raptures to the diplomatist. +He recovered himself in time. "Did you come through my camp?" said he to +the baron. + +"Yes, sire." + +"You heard the, shouts and songs of my brave Prussians. Were you told +that I intend to cross the Elbe, and offer battle to your emperor +to-morrow?" + +"Yes, sire, I was told so." + +"And at the very moment when I am prepared to fight, you come to me with +proposals of armistice! You perceive that I could only be brought to +consent to a truce through my consideration for the empress, provided +she offered sound guaranties for the conclusion of an honorable peace. +Let us hear your proposals." + +The interview between the king and the secret envoy of the empress was +long and animated. When the latter was about to take leave, Frederick +nodded condescendingly, saying: + +"Well! I consent to make this sacrifice to the wishes of the empress. +You can inform her, that instead of giving battle to the emperor, as I +had hoped to do on the morrow, I shall retreat to Silesia, and retire +into winter quarters." + +"And your majesty promises equitable conditions, and will consult with +the Russian ambassador?" + +"I promise, and the empress-queen may rely upon me. Farewell." The envoy +turned to depart, but before he reached the door the king called him +back. + +"Baron," said he with a significant smile, "you have forgotten +something." Here he pointed to the twine which had fallen on the floor, +and lay near the baron's chair. "Take what belongs to you; I never +enrich myself with the possessions of others." + +When the door closed, the king raised his eyes to heaven. "Is it chance, +or Providence, that has succored me to-day?" thought he. "Which of the +two has vouchsafed me such honorable deliverance in my extremity?" + + + +CHAPTER CXXXII. + +THE EMPEROR AND HIS MOTHER. + +It was a day of double rejoicing in Vienna, at once the celebration of +peace, and of Maria Theresa's sixty-second birthday. For three months +the seven envoys of Austria, Prussia, Russia, France, Bavaria, +Zweibrucken, and Saxony, had been disentangling the threads of the +Bavarian succession. For three months Joseph had hoped and prayed that +the debates of the peace congress might come to naught, and its +deliberations engender a veritable war. But he was destined to new +disappointment. The love of peace had prevailed. Austria had renounced +all her inheritance in Bavaria, save the Innviertel, and had declared +her treaty with Charles Theodore to be null and void. + +The people of Vienna were overjoyed. They, like their empress, preferred +peace to increase of domain; and they hastened to offer her their +sincerest congratulations. All the European ambassadors were in full +uniform, and Maria Theresa was seated on a throne, in all her imperial +regalia. + +She was radiant with smiles, and happiness flashed from her still bright +eyes; but on this day of rejoicing there was one void that pained the +empress--it was the absence of her eldest son. Since his return to +Vienna, three months before, there had never yet been a word of +explanation between Joseph and his mother. He had studiously avoided +being alone with her, had never made his appearance in council, and when +documents had been presented to him for signature, he had no sooner +perceived the sign-manual of the empress, than he had added his own +without examination or comment. + +It was this cold submission which tortured the heart of Maria Theresa. +She would have preferred recrimination to such compliance as this; it +seemed so like aversion, so like despair! + +When the ceremonies of the day were over, the empress sent a messenger +to request the presence of her son, in her own private apartments. The +messenger returned, and a few moments after, was followed by the +emperor. + +He entered the room, and his mother came eagerly forward, her two hands +outstretched to greet him. "Thank you, my dearest child," said she, +affectionately, "for coming so promptly at my request. My heart has been +yearning for my son, and I have longed all day to see my co-regent and +emperor at my side." + +She still held out her hands, but Joseph, affecting not to see them, +bowed with grave ceremony. "I am neither emperor nor co-regent," replied +he; "I am but the son and subject of the empress, and as such I have +already congratulated your majesty with the rest." + +"Were your congratulations for my birthday, or for the restoration of +peace, my son?" + +"The birthday of my empress is, above all others, a day of gratulation +for you," replied Joseph, evasively. + +"Then peace is not agreeable to you?" + +"Pardon me, I have every reason to be satisfied. Have we not exchanged +compliments with all the powers of Europe, and have not the people of +Vienna sung ninety-nine thousand TE DEUMS in honor of the peace of +Teschen?" [Footnote: Joseph's own words.] + +"I see that you do not approve of it, Joseph," said the empress, who was +anxious to come to an understanding on the subject. + +"I was under the impression that I had signed all your majesty's acts +without giving any trouble whatever," was the cold reply. + +"But you did it unwillingly, I fear, and thought of your mother as a +weak and timid old woman. Is it not so, my son?" + +"When I signed the treaty I thought of my ancestor, Charles V. After a +disastrous campaign in Africa, he was obliged to return with his fleet +to Spain. He sailed, it is true, but he was the last man to go on board. +So with me--I signed the articles of peace, but was the last one who +signed." [Footnote: Ibid.] + +"Have you nothing more to say on the subject? Are you not glad that +there is to be no bloodshed?" + +"A son and subject has no right to sit in judgment upon the actions of +his mother and empress." + +"But you are more than a subject, you are an emperor." + +"No, your majesty; I am like the Venetian generals. In war, they +commanded the armies, and received their salaries from the republic. +When their campaigns were over, their pensions were paid and they sank +back into obscurity." + +"Oh, my son, these are hard and bitter words," exclaimed the empress, +pressing her hands upon her heart. "I see plainly that you are +displeased because I have exchanged a doubtful war for an honorable +peace." + +"I am not so presuming as to be displeased with your majesty's acts, and +if you have obtained an honorable peace, I wish you joy of it." + +Maria Theresa sighed heavily. "I perceive," said she, disconsolately, +"that you are resolved not to let me see into your heart." + +"Oh, your majesty," cried Joseph, with a bitter smile, "I have no heart. +Where my heart once was, there stands an open grave, and, one by one, my +hopes have all been buried there." + +"I think it strange that the future Emperor of Austria should speak of +buried hopes." + +"I said nothing of an emperor, your majesty, I spoke of poor Joseph of +Hapsburg and of his personal wishes. As regards the future emperor, he +of course has many hopes for Austria. First among them is the wish that +the epoch of his reign may be very far off! Second, is his desire to +serve his country. As we are now to enjoy the blessings of peace, and I +am on the list of your majesty's pensioned officers, I should like, if +it do not conflict with your views, to receive an appointment as +minister to some foreign power." + +"Oh," exclaimed Maria Theresa, sorrowfully, "would you leave me so soon +again?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I desire a long leave of absence." + +"Whither would you then journey, my dear child?" + +"I desire to visit the Empress Catharine." + +"The Empress Catharine!" echoed Maria Theresa, starting and coloring +violently. "You would visit that woman?" + +"Yes, your majesty. I would visit that woman as Baron Thugut did the +King of Prussia; with this exception, that I do not go secretly--I first +consult your majesty." + +Maria Theresa would not notice this thrust of her son. She contented +herself with replying: "What object can you have in going on a mission +to Russia?" + +"I propose to win the friendship of the empress." + +"The friendship of that degraded woman! I do not covet it." + +"And yet your majesty was the first to request her mediation in our +affairs with Germany. As you have raised the foul fiend, and he has come +at your call, you must abide the consequences, and accept him as a +friend. Since Russia is to have a voice in German politics, it is better +that she speak for us, than sustain our enemy, Prussia." + +"But she has long been the ally of Prussia," objected the empress. + +"So much the more incumbent is it upon us to disturb the alliance. To do +this, is the purpose of my journey to Russia. I repeat my request for +your majesty's consent." + +For some moments Maria Theresa contemplated her son with inexpressible +tenderness. At length she said with a sigh, "You really desire, then, to +go to Russia?" + +"Such is my wish, your majesty." + +"Well, my child, since you desire it, I consent; but I do it +unwillingly. I wish to prove to my son how gladly I gratify him, when I +can do so without conflicting with my duties as a sovereign." + +The emperor bowed, but spoke not a word. Maria Theresa sighed again, and +an expression of deep pain crossed her face. + +"When do you expect to start?" said she, sadly. + +"As soon as possible; for if I am not mistaken, the time is now +propitious for stepping in between Prussia and her beloved ally." + +"Then I am to lose my dear son at once?" asked the mother, with tearful +eyes. "I fear he leaves me without a pang; and will seldom bestow a +thought upon the mother whose anxious heart follows his every movement +with love." + +"I shall bestow my thoughts upon my sovereign, and remember that I am +pledged to obtain for her a powerful ally. But I have much to do before +I start. Above all things I must see Prince Kaunitz. I beg therefore of +your majesty the permission to retire." + +"As the emperor pleases," said Maria Theresa, with quivering lip. + +Joseph bowed, and without a word or look at his mother's sorrowing +countenance, turned toward the door. Up to this moment the empress had +controlled her distress, but she could master her grief no longer. She +looked at the emperor with dimmed eyes and throbbing heart; and in the +extremity of her maternal anguish, she cried out, + +"Oh, my son, my precious boy!" + +The emperor, who was opening the door, turned around. He saw his mother, +her tears falling like rain, standing close by with outstretched arms. +But he did not respond to the appeal. With another ceremonious bow, he +said, "I take leave of your majesty." and closed the door behind him. + +Maria Theresa uttered aloud cry and sank to the floor. "Oh," sobbed she, +"I am a poor, desolate mother. My child loves me no longer!" + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIII. + +PRINCE POTEMKIN. + +Prince Potemkin was just out of bed. In front of him, two pages, richly +dressed, bowed down to the floor as they opened the door for him to pass +into his cabinet. Behind him, two more pages held up the train of his +velvet dressing-gown, which, all bedecked with jewels, came trailing +behind his tall, graceful figure. Behind the pages were four valets with +breakfast and Turkish pipes. + +And in this wise Prince Potemkin entered his cabinet. He threw himself +upon an ottoman covered with India cashmere shawls, and received from a +kneeling page a cup of chocolate, which was handed to his highness upon +a gold waiter set with pearls. Then, as if the cup had been too +troublesome to hold, he replaced it on the waiter, and ordered the page +to pour the chocolate down. + +The page, apparently, was accustomed to the order, for he rose briskly +from his knees, and approaching the cup to Potemkin's lips, allowed the +chocolate to trickle slowly down his princely throat. Meanwhile the +three pages, four valets, and six officers, who had been awaiting him in +his cabinet, stood around in stiff, military attitudes, each one +uncomfortably conscious that he was momentarily exposed to the possible +displeasure of the mighty favorite of the mighty Czarina. + +Potemkin, meanwhile, vouchsafed not a look at any one of them. After he +had sipped his chocolate, and the page had dried his mouth with an +embroidered napkin, he opened his lips. The valet whose duty it was to +present it, stepped forward with the Turkish pipe, and depositing its +magnificent golden bowl upon the Persian carpet by the ottoman, placed +the amber mouth-piece between the lips of his master. + +Again a dead silence; and again those stiff forms stood reverentially +around, while Potemkin, with an air of ennui and satiety, watched the +blue wreaths that rose from his pipe to the ceiling. + +"What o'clock is it?" asked he moodily. + +"Mid-day, your highness," was the prompt reply. + +"How many people in the anteroom?" + +"A multitude of nobles, generals, and lesser petitioners, all awaiting +your highness's appearance." + +"How long have they been there?" + +"Three hours, your highness." + +His highness went on smoking, impelled probably by the reflection that +three hours was too short a time for the court of Russia to wait for the +ineffable blessing of his presence. + +After a while he became weary of the pipe, and raised his head. Three +valets rushed forward, each with an embroidered suit, to inquire whether +his highness would wear the uniform of a field-marshal, that of a +lord-chamberlain, or the magnificent costume of a Russian prince. +Potemkin waved them off, and rose from the ottoman. His long brown hair, +which flowed like the mane of a lion around his handsome face, bore here +and there the traces of the down pillow upon which he had slept; his +open dressing-gown exposed to view his slovenly undergarments; and his +pearl-embroidered slippers were worn over a pair of soiled stockings +which, hanging loosely around his legs, revealed his powerful and +well-shaped calves. + +In this neglige, Potemkin approached the door of his anteroom. As soon +as he had been announced, a hundred weary faces grew bright with +expectation; and princes, dukes, and nobles bowed before the haughty man +who was even mightier than the empress; for HE bent before no mortal, +while she was the slave of one will--of Potemkin's. + +Silent and disdainful, Potemkin walked through the lines of obsequious +courtiers that fell back as he passed, here and there condescending to +greet some nobleman of wealth or influence. As for the others who raised +their imploring eyes to his, he affected not to know of their +insignificant presence, and returned to his cabinet without having +vouchsafed a word to anybody. + +"Is the jeweller there?" asked he of the officer at the door, and as the +latter bowed his head, Potemkin added, "Admit him, and after him the +minister of police." + +With these words he passed into his cabinet, and his valets began to +dress him. While his long mane was being combed into order, Potemkin +amused himself playing like a juggler with three little golden balls, +while the pale and trembling jeweller stood wondering what new robbery +awaited him now. + +"Ah, Artankopf, you are there?" said the prince, when his toilet had +been completed. "I have an order for you." + +The jeweller made a salam, and muttered some unintelligible words of +which Potemkin took no notice. + +"I saw a magnificent service of gold yesterday in your showcase." + +"It is an order, your highness," said Artankopf, quickly. + +"Then I cannot buy it?" + +"Impossible, your highness." + +"Then I order one exactly like it, above all in weight. The statuettes +which ornament that service are exquisitely moulded. How much gold is +there in it?" + +"Sixty thousand rubles, your highness." + +Potemkin's eyes sparkled. "A considerable sum," said he, stroking his +mane. "I order two services of the same value. Do you hear? They must be +ready on this day week." + +"And the payment?" Artankopf ventured to inquire. + +"I shall pay you in advance," replied Potemkin, with a laugh. "I appoint +you first court-jeweller to the empress." + +The jeweller did not appear to appreciate the mode of payment; he seemed +terrified. + +"Oh, your highness," said he, trembling, "I implore you not to make such +fearful jests. I am the father of a large family, and if you exact of me +to furnish you a service worth a fortune, the outlay for the gold alone +will ruin me." + +"You will be irretrievably ruined if you do not furnish it," laughed +Potemkin, while he went on throwing his balls and catching them "If +those two services are not here on the day you take a journey to +Siberia, friend Artankopf." + +"I will be punctual, your highness," sighed the jeweller. "But the +payment--I must buy the gold." + +"The payment! What, the devil--you are not paid by the appointment I +give you! Go: and if you venture to murmur, think of Siberia, and that +will cure your grief." + +With a wave of his hand, Potemkin dismissed the unhappy jeweller, who +left that princely den of extortion a broken-hearted, ruined man. + +The robber, meanwhile, was counting his gains and donning his +field-marshal's uniform. "One hundred and twenty thousand rubles' worth +of gold!" said he to himself. "I'll have the things melted into coin--it +is more portable than plate." + +The door opened, and Narischkin, the minister of police, entered. + +"Out, the whole gang of you!" cried Potemkin; and there was a +simultaneous exodus of officers, pages, and valets. When the heavy, +gold-bordered silken portiere had fallen, the tyrant spoke. + +"Now let us hear your report," said he, seating himself before his +toilet-mirror, where first he cleaned his dazzling white teeth, and then +pared his nails. + +The minister of police, in an attitude of profound respect, began to go +over the occurrences of the past two days in St. Petersburg. + +Potemkin listened with an occasional yawn, and finally interrupted +him. "You are an old fool. What do I care for your burglars and +bankrupts! You have not so much as a murder to relate to me. Can you not +guess that there are other things of which I wish to hear?" + +"Doubtless your highness wishes me to report the doings of the Emperor +of Austria." + +"You are not quite such a dunce, then, as you seem to be. Well, what has +the emperor been about these two days past?" + +"He leads the same life as he did in Moscow," said Narischkin. "He goes +about as Count Falkenstein." + +"He comes as his own ambassador," cried Potemkin, laughing, "and he +could not have chosen a worse one than Count Falkenstein. [Footnote: +Potemkin's own words.] What a wretched country Austria must be when its +emperor travels about like an ordinary Russian gentleman!" + +"He arrived in St. Petersburg with one servant carrying his portmanteau, +and engaged two rooms at a hotel." + +"Oh, yes. I have heard of his passion for living at hotels. It all +proceeds from avarice. Were he the guest of the empress, he would be +obliged to make some imperial presents here and there. When our great +czarina invited him to Sarskoe-Selo, he accepted, on condition that he +should be allowed to lodge at an inn. Now there happens to be no inn at +Sarskoe-Selo; so the imperial gardener has hung out a sign, and the +little Count of Falkenstein is to take up his lodging with him. He never +will be the wiser, and will fancy himself at an inn. So that in trifles, +as in matters of state, the czarina shall befool Austria, and lead him +by the nose. Tell me something more of his eccentricities. Have you +dazzled him with a sight of our wealth?" + +"He is not to be dazzled, your highness. Even the homage he has received +seems to give him no pleasure." + +"Ah! Has he, then, been the object of so much consideration?" + +"Her majesty ordered it, and she has even devised some delicate +compliments wherewith to surprise him." + +"Ah!--she seems to be inclined toward this little emperor," muttered +Potemkin. "She indulges in fanciful projects of aggrandizement with him, +and forgets--Well--what were the surprises which the czarina prepared +for his countship?" + +"Day before yesterday, he visited the Academy of Sciences. An atlas was +presented to him; and when he opened it, he found a map of his own +journey from Vienna to St. Petersburg, with engravings illustrating the +various details of the journey." [Footnote: Theodore Mundl, "Conflicts +for the Black Sea," p. 141] + +"Pretty good," sneered Potemkin, "but unfortunately not original, for +the little count received a similar compliment in Paris. Go on." + +"Then the emperor visited the Academy of Arts, and there he found a +portfolio of engravings, among which was an excellent portrait of +himself with this inscription: 'Multorum providus urbes et mores +honaivum inspexit.'" + +"Who wrote the inscription?" asked Potemkin, hastily. + +"Her majesty's self," replied Narischkin, with a deep inclination at the +name. "But the emperor greets every thing with a quiet smile. When he +visited the mint and saw the enormous piles of bullion there, he merely +said: 'Have you always as much silver in the mint as there is to-day?'" + +Potemkin laughed aloud. "That was a sly question, and shows that little +Falkenstein has been peeping behind the scenes and has discovered that +we were prepared for his coming." + +"Yes, your highness. It would appear that Count Falkenstein does not +quite believe in our enormous wealth; for after seeing the mint, he put +on that mocking smile of his, and asked whether the Imperial Bank was in +a condition to redeem its issue." + +"What was the answer?" + +"'Yes,' of course, your highness." + +"It was a masterpiece of effrontery then, and I shall take the +opportunity of testing its truth. Go to the bank, Narischkin, and say +that I need one hundred thousand rubles for an entertainment I propose +to give to the czarina. I must have it in coin. Quick--begone." + +"I fly, your highness, but first be so kind as to give me the imperial +order. You well know that no coin can leave the bank without the +signature of the empress." + +"I should like to see whether they will dare to return MY signature," +cried Potemkin, fiercely. + +He wrote the order, and handing it to Narischkin, said: "Take this to +the bank directors; and if they ask for the signature of the empress, +tell them she will send it to-morrow, but I must have the money to-day." + +Narischkin bowed lower than he had ever been seen to do toward the son +of the empress himself, and left the room on reverential tiptoes. + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIV. + +THE PRUSSIAN AMBASSADOR. + +When Potemkin felt himself quite alone, he leaned back in his arm-chair +with an ugly frown. + +"Something is going on to my disadvantage here," muttered he. "I saw it +yesterday in Panin's exulting countenance.. How I hate that man! Almost +as much as I do Orloff! It is a blessing for me that both are not here +to plot together. Singly, I do not fear them; but together--Orloff is +the loaded cannon, and Panin the lighted match, and if I am not wary--" + +Here, as though he had felt the shock of the ball, Potemkin sprang from +his seat, and swung his hands above his head. But presently he sank back +into his chair, and continued his meditations. "I must spike Orloff +before he destroys me. But to spike a cannon, one must be able to reach +it; and Orloff is far away on his estates, like a spider in her wicked +web. Oh, if I could but reach it, I would soon tear it to pieces! But +where are its threads? How shall I find them?--Panin, too, is getting +intimate with the grand duke, and so, is currying favor with the +empress. Yesterday when I entered the parlor without saluting him, Paul +called after me with an oath, and turned to his mother with a complaint +of my insolence. And the empress did not utter one word of reproof, +although she saw me near enough to hear. That is significant--it means +that Catharine fears me no longer. But, by the eternal God! she shall +learn that she has a master, and that her master is Potemkin! + +"How dare she take Panin into her confidence? He it is who inclines her +to the King of Prussia. This fancy for Prussia is the only thing she has +in common with the grand duke. Love of Frederick is the bridge which +Panin has built to unite them. I must try to lead her into another road +of policy, and so remove Orloff and Panin. Orloff hates Austria, and +if--pshaw! Why is that Joseph so niggardly that one cannot feel the +slightest interest in him? If after refusing all other invitations he +had paid me the compliment of accepting mine--but, no!--this haughty +Austrian treats me with as little consideration as be does the rest of +the world; and forces me, in spite of myself, to the side of Frederick. +But there I find Orloff and Panin, and we cannot work together. They +must be disgraced, and Catharine made to follow me. How shall I +commence? What shall I do?" + +A knock at the door put an end to his communings. + +"His excellency the Count von Gortz, ambassador of his majesty the King +of Prussia," said the officer, who announced the visitors of Potemkin. + +"Show his excellency into the little parlor," said the latter, +carelessly, "and tell him that I will receive him there." + +"Ah!--Count von Gortz," thought Potemkin. "That signifies that my +enemies have not yet triumphed, and that the King of Prussia thinks me +powerful enough to conciliate. Well--I must have time for reflection." + +And without the slightest regard to the station of his visitor, Potemkin +sat for half an hour, revolving in his mind what sort of reception he +should give to Frederick's overtures. In spite of the slight, Count von +Gortz came forward with a gracious smile, as Potemkin, slightly nodding, +passed on to a seat, and waved his hand for the count to take another. + +"I am commissioned by my sovereign, the King of Prussia, to request an +interview of your highness," began Von Gortz. + +Potemkin nodded, but said nothing. + +"His majesty has intrusted me with a most flattering commission," +continued the ambassador. + +"Let us hear it," replied Potemkin, with indifference. + +Count von Gortz bowed, rose, and drew from his bosom a rich velvet etui +which he handed to the prince. + +"His majesty, my august sovereign, in acknowledgment of your highness's +great and glorious deeds, wishes to convey to you a token of his +admiration and friendship," said Count von Gortz, solemnly. "He has +bestowed upon your highness the order of the Black Eagle, and I have the +Honor to present it to you with the insignia." + +Potemkin took the etui and without opening it laid it on the table +beside him. "Ah," said he, with a shrug, "his majesty sends me the Black +Eagle. I am much obliged to him, but really I have so many orders that I +have nowhere left to wear them, and how to dispose of this new one I +scarcely know. See for yourself," continued he smiling, and pointing to +his breast, which indeed was covered with crosses, "do I not look like a +vender of orders, carrying about his samples?" [Footnote: All Potemkin's +own words. Dohm's Memoirs. vol. i., p 4l3] + +"If I may be allowed to use your excellency's words, you carry about +samples, not only of your treasures, but of your heroism and +statesmanship. It would be a pity if among them, you should not wear a +decoration of my august sovereign." + +"Very well, then, to oblige the King of Prussia, I will wear the cross, +and, I beg you return him my thanks. Have you anything more to say, +count?" + +Count von Gortz cast a searching glance around the apartment, especially +upon the heavy velvet window-curtains. + +"Get up and look for yourself, if you suspect the presence of any body, +"said the prince. + +"Your highness's word is sufficient. Allow me then to speak openly and +confidentially." + +"In the name of your sovereign?" + +"Yes, your highness. You know that the treaty, which for eight years has +allied Russia and Prussia is about to expire." + +"Is it?" said Potemkin, carelessly. "I was not aware of it, for I take +no interest in minor politics." + +"Your highness has in view the great whole only of the field of +diplomacy," replied the complaisant minister. "But for Prussia this +alliance is a most important one, and my sovereign has nothing more at +heart than the renewal of his alliance with Russia. He knows how much +his interests here are threatened by the visit of the Emperor Joseph; and +he desired me to ask of your highness whether it would be advisable for +him to send Prince Henry to counteract it." + +Potemkin replied to this question by a loud laugh. "What a set of timid +people you are!" said he. "What formalities about nothing! When the +emperor was about to visit us, the czarina must know whether it was +agreeable to the King of Prussia: now the king wishes to know from me +whether the visit of Prince Henry is expedient." + +"Yes. His majesty wishes advice from your highness alone, although there +are others who would gladly be consulted by him." + +"Others? you mean Panin--have you, then, asked counsel of no one, +count?" + +"Of no one. My sovereign wishes to consult with no one excepting your +highness." + +For the first time Potemkin betrayed his satisfaction by a triumphant +smile. "If your king comes to me exclusively--mark me well, +EXCLUSIVELY--for advice, I am willing to serve him." + +"Your highness may see that my sovereign addresses himself to you +alone," replied the minister, handing him a letter in Frederick's own +handwriting. + +Potemkin, without any appearance of surprise, took it and broke the +seal. The king began by saying that he had every reason to believe that +the object of Joseph's visit to Russia was to alienate Russia from her +old ally. Then he went jnto ecstasies over the genius and statesmanship +of Potemkin, and besought him to uphold the interests of Prussia. +Furthermore he promised his interest and influence to the prince, not +only for the present, but for the future, when it was probable that he +(Frederick) could serve Potemkin substantially. [Footnote: This letter +is historical, and is to be found in Dohm's Memoirs, vol. i., p. 412.] + +A long pause ensued after the reading of this letter. Potemkin threw +himself back, and in an attitude of thoughtfulness raised his eyes to +the rich pictured ceiling above him. + +"I do not entirely understand the king," said he, after some time. "What +does he mean by saying that he will try to make that possible which +seems impossible?" + +"His majesty has learned that your highness is desirous of being created +Duke of Courland. He will use all his interest with Stanislaus to this +effect, and indemnify the Duke de Biron, who would lose Courland, by +augmenting his possessions in Silesia. The king also means that he is +ready to find a bride for the future Duke of Courland among the +princesses of Germany." + +"Really," said Potemkin, laughing, "the mysterious phrase is +significant. But the king lays too much stress upon that little duchy of +Courland; if I wanted it, I could make it mine without troubling his +majesty in the least. As to the bride, I doubt whether it would be +agreeable to the czarina for me to marry, and this matter I leave to +herself. What does the king mean by a proffer of friendship for the +future?" + +Count Gortz leaned forward and spoke scarcely above his breath. "His +majesty means to promise his influence with the grand duke, so that in +the event of his mother's death, your highness would be secure of your +person and property." [Footnote: Raumer's Contributions, etc., vol. v., +p. 485.] + +This time the prince was unable to suppress his real feelings; he +started, and a deep flush overspread his face. + +"How?" said he, in a whisper, "has the king the power to read my +thoughts--" + +He did not conclude his sentence, but sprang from his seat and paced the +room in hurried excitement. Count von Gortz also had risen and +contemplated him in anxious silence. + +"Did the courier from Berlin bring any letters to the czarina?" asked +Potemkin, as he ceased walking and stood before Von Gortz. "Yes, your +highness, and I shall deliver them, as soon as I receive the assurance +of your influence with the empress." + +"Very well, you have it. I will go to her at once. Meanwhile go to Count +Panin, to whose department this affair belongs, and induce him to lay +before the czarina a proposition for the renewal of the Prussian +alliance. Then ask an audience of the empress and present your +credentials. You see that I am in earnest, for I work in conjunction +with my enemy; but before I make one step, you must write out the king's +last promise to me, adding that you are empowered to do so by his +majesty of Prussia and having signed the promise, you must deliver me +the paper." + +"May I inquire the object of these papers?" + +Potemkin approached the count, and whispered in his ear. "It is a matter +of life and death. If the grand duke should come to the throne, from the +unbounded regard which he has for the King of Prussia, I know that this +paper will protect me from his vengeance." + +"Your highness shall have it." + +"At once? For you understand that I insist have some guaranty before I +act. Your king's words are not explicit." + +"I shall draw up the paper, and send it to your highness before I ask an +audience of the czarina." + +"Then the King of Prussia may reckon upon me, and I shall serve him +to-day, as I hope that in future he will serve me. Go now and return +with the paper as soon as it is ready." + +"I believe that Prussia means fairly," said Potemkin, when he found +himself once more alone. "But that only means that Prussia needs me, and +that," cried he, exultingly, "means that I am mightier than Panin, +mightier than the grand duke--but am I mightier than Orloff?--Oh, this +Orloff is the spectre that forever threatens my repose! He or I must +fall, for Russia is too small to hold us both. But which one? Not I--by +the Eternal--not I!" + +Just then there was a knock at the door, and Potemkin, who was standing +with his fist clinched and his teeth set, fell back into his seat. + +"How dare you disturb me?" cried he, savagely. + +"Pardon me, your highness, but this is your day for receiving the +foreign ambassadors, and his excellency of Austria craves an audience?" + +"Cobenzl? Is he alone?" + +"Yes, your highness." + +"In ten minutes, admit him here." + + + +CHAPTER CXXXV. + +THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR. + +Ten minutes later the door was opened, and Count Cobenzl, on the point +of his toes, tipped into the room. Potemkin, on the sofa, was looking +the picture of indifference; his eyes half-shut and his tall form +stretched out at full length, he seemed just to have awakened from +sleep. But during those ten minutes he had been doing any thing but +sleeping. He had been decorating himself with the cross of the Black +Eagle, and had allowed the broad ribbon to which it was attached to +trail upon the carpet. + +"It is well, Count Cobenzl," said Potemkin, greeting the minister, "that +you did not come five minutes later, for you would not have met me at +all." + +"Pardon me, I should then have had but five minutes to wait in your +anteroom," replied Cobenzl. "I detest anterooms, and wish that I had +come ten minutes later, that I might have been introduced to your +presence at once." + +"You would not have seen me at all, I tell you; for I am about to have +an audience of the empress." + +"Ah, indeed!" cried Cobenzl. "That accounts for all these brilliant +decorations, then." + +"You certainly did not suppose that I was wearing them in Honor of YOUR +visit, did you?" asked Potemkin, with quiet insolence. + +"Oh, no, I thought it a mere mise en scene." + +"Ah, Count Cobenzl is still mad on the subject of the drama," replied +Potemkin, laughing. "What new comedy are you about to get up at the +Austrian embassy, eh?" + +"A very pretty thing, just from Paris, your highness. It is called, 'The +Disgraced Favorite, or the Whims of Fortune.'" + +Potemkin's eyes flashed fire, but he controlled himself, and said, +"Where is the scene of the drama laid?" + +"I do not precisely remember. In Tartary, or Mongolia, or--" + +"Or in the moon," interrupted Potemkin, laughing. "But come be seated, +and let us be serious." So saying, Potemkin threw himself back again +upon the divan, and pointed to an arm-chair, which Cobenzl quietly +accepted. The chair happened to be close to the spot where the ribbon of +the Black Eagle was lying. Cobenzl seeing that it was under his feet, +picked it up, and presented it to the prince. + +"You know not what you do, count. You raise your enemy when you raise +that ribbon. It has just been sent to me by the King of Prussia. I am +quite in despair at being obliged to wear it, for it takes up so much +room. The star of the Black Eagle is very large. Do you not think so?" + +"Yes, your highness, and I congratulate you upon its possession, for the +close King of Prussia does not often give away his diamonds." + +"It would appear that diamonds do not abound in Prussia," replied +Potemkin, with a gesture of slight toward the cross on his breast. +"These brilliants are rather yellow." + +"Do you prefer Austrian diamonds?" asked Cobenzl, significantly. + +"I have never seen any," answered Potemkin, with a yawn. + +"Then I am happy to be the first to introduce them to your notice," said +Cobenzl rising, and taking from his pocket a turkey-morocco case. "My +august emperor has commissioned me to present to you this little +casket." + +"Another order!" said Potemkin, with affected horror. + +"No, your highness. Orders are toys for grown-up children. But you are a +great man, and a toy for you must have some scientific significance. My +emperor has heard that your highness has a costly collection of minerals +and precious stones. His majesty, therefore, with his own hand has +selected the specimens which I have the honor to present in his name." + +Potemkin, whose indifference had all vanished as he listened, opened the +casket with some eagerness; and an exclamation of rapture fell from his +lips, as he surveyed its costly contents. There were Indian diamonds of +unusual size and brilliancy; Turkish rubies of fiery crimson; +magnificent sapphires; turquoises of purest tint; large specimens of +lapis-lazuli, all veined with gold; and translucent chrysoprase of +bright metallic green. + +"This is indeed a princely gift," cried the covetous Potemkin, perfectly +dazzled by the magnificence, and intoxicated by the possession of all +these riches. "Never have I seen such jewels. They blaze like the stars +of heaven!" + +Cobenzl bowed. "And this sapphire!" continued the prince, "the empress +herself has nothing to compare to it!" + +"The czarina looks upon your highness as the brightest jewel in her +crown--as her incomparable sapphire. But observe this turquoise; it is +one of the greenish hue so prized by connoisseurs, and its like is not +to be purchased with money." + +Suddenly Potemkin, ashamed of his raptures, closed the casket with a +click and pushed it aside. + +"You can tell your emperor," said he, "that you were an eyewitness of +the gratification I have received from this superb addition to my +scientific collections. And now, count, without circumlocution, how can +I serve you, and what does the emperor desire of me? Such gifts as these +indicate a request." + +"Frankly, then, the emperor seeks your highness's friendship, and wishes +you to further his majesty's plans." + +"What are these plans?" + +"Oh, your highness is too shrewd a statesman not to have guessed them, +and not to understand that we merely shift the scene of the war. We +pitch our tents at St. Petersburg with the object of winning Russia to +our side." + +"But here Prussia holds the battle-field; you will have to fight against +superior numbers." + +"Not if Prince Potemkin be our ally," replied Dobenzl, courteously. +"True, Prussia has Orloff, Panin, and the grand duke--" + +"And who tells you that Prussia has not Potemkin also?" cried the +prince, laughing. "Do you not see that I wear the Black Eagle?" + +"Yes; but your highness is too wise to be the ally of Prussia. You are +too great a statesman to commit such a bevue. Orloff, who has never +forgiven you for succeeding him in Catharine's favor, Orloff asks no +greater triumph than that of harnessing your highness to the ear of HIS +political proclivities." + +"He shall never enjoy that triumph," muttered Potemkin. + +"Not if the emperor can prevent it; and, therefore, his majesty hopes +that your highness will sustain Austria." + +"But what are Austria's plans?" + +"Austria wishes to occupy the place which Prussia now enjoys as the ally +of Russia. Prussia, while wooing the czarina, ogles the grand duke, and +it is her interest to bring them together. I know that the matter was +thoroughly discussed yesterday between Count Panin and the Prussian +ambassador." + +"The Prussian ambassador was yesterday in conference with Panin?" + +"Not only yesterday, but to-day, I met him coming from Panin's with his +order of the Black Eagle, and a letter for your highness from the king." + +"Truly your spies are great detectives," cried Potemkin. + +"They are well paid," was the significant reply. + +"And what, for example, were the proposals of Von Gortz?" + +"Von Gortz stated that as Panin, the grand duke; and himself were not a +match for the emperor and your highness, you were to be won over by +flattery, orders, and promises." + +"True!" cried Potemkin. "Your spies are right. What else?" + +"Another powerful friend of Prussia has been recalled from his estates, +and summoned to Petersburg." + +Potemkin sprang from the sofa with a howl of rage. + +"What! Orloff summoned by Von Gortz; he who--" + +"Who was enticing your highness with vain promises, had suggested to the +czarina the imperative necessity of recalling Orloff, with the express +intention of holding you in check." + +"What an infernal plot! But it bears the stamp of Panin's treachery upon +its face," muttered Potemkin, while with hasty strides he walked up and +down the room. + +Cobenzl watched him with a half smile, and taking up the ribbon of the +Black Eagle, he passed it through his hands by way of pastime. + +After much going to and fro, Potemkin stopped, and his countenance was +expressive of courage and resolve. + +"Count Cobenzl, I know what are the plans of Austria, and they shall be +sustained. Your interests are mine, for it is no longer a question of +Austria or Prussia, but of Potemkin or Orloff! You see, therefore, that +I am sincere; but Austria must sustain me, and we must tread our +political path together." + +"Austria will go hand and heart with your highness." + +"Austria must sustain me, I say, and our password shall be, `The +Conquest of Turkey.' That is the spell by which I rule the czarina. My +enemies often fill her mind with distrust of me, but that great project +shields me from their weapons. Still I am in danger; for here in Russia, +we look neither to the past nor to the future; the excitement of the +hour reigns absolute. A good subject never knows how to regulate his +conduct. If I were sure of blame for doing evil, or of approbation for +doing good. I might know what to expect from the czarina. But when a +sovereign is the slave of her passions, all ordinary modes of deducing +effect from cause fall to the ground. [Footnote: Potemkin's own words. +Raumer, vol. v., p. 573.] I live in a whirlpool, from which I can devise +no means of escape; but, by the grave of my mother, this life shall +cease! I shall resume my power over the empress, and I shall trample my +enemies underfoot, were they to take shelter under the throne itself!" + +While Potemkin spoke thus, he clinched his fist, and his herculean arm +was raised as if to fell his invisible enemies. + +"Whosoever be the foe, Austria will be at your side," said Cobenzl. + +"I believe you," replied Potemkin, with returning calmness, "for it is +your interest to be there. I know what you desire. First you supplant +Prussia with Russia, and that entails a coolness with France, Prussia's +dearest friend. Then you also dissolve with France, and we both court +the alliance of England, so as to isolate France and Prussia from +European politics. The plan is good, and will succeed if you are +discreet." + +"How discreet?" + +"You must weigh well your behavior toward the czarina. I dare not advise +the emperor, but let me advise you. You have often occasion to see the +empress. Before you see her consult with me as to the topics of your +discourse with her, and so we shall always be enabled to act in concert. +Avoid ail dissimulation; let her perceive that you leave craft to the +lovers of Prussia. Flatter as often as you see fit; flatter Catharine, +however, not for what she is, but what she ought to be. [Footnote: Ibid.] +Convince her that Austria is willing to further her ambition, +not to restrain it, as Prussia has always done. Do this, and in a few +months Austria will have changed roles with Prussia, and your enemies +and mine shall be overthrown together." + +A knock was heard at the, door, and an officer entered. + +"How dare you interrupt me?" cried Potemkin, stamping his foot. + +"Pardon, your highness. The private secretary of the Emperor of Austria +has orders from his sovereign to hand a note to Count Cobenzl in your +highness's presence." + +"A very singular order. But we will gratify the emperor. Admit his +majesty's messenger." + +Gunther was introduced, who bowed low to Potemkin, passed on, and +delivered his note. + +"From his majesty's hand," said he. "Your excellency is to read it at +once. It requires no answer." Then, bowing deeply, the secretary backed +out of the room, and the discreet portiere fell, preventing the +transmission of the slightest sound. + +"Read," said Potemkin, "for doubtless the emperor has good reason for +his haste." + +Count Cobenzl broke the seal; but instead of a note for himself, a +sealed dispatch within, bore the address of the prince. The count +presented it at once, and Potemkin eagerly tore it open. He seemed +electrified by its contents; so much so that Cobenzl started forward to +his assistance, exclaiming: "Gracious Heaven, what has happened? Your +highness is ill!" + +"No, no," said Potemkin, "but read this, that I may be sure I do not +dream." + +Cobenzl took the letter and read: + +"My dear Prince: To win your friendship, I have neither flattery, +decorations, duchies, princesses, nor promises for the future; convinced +as I am that your highness is able to reach the summit of your desires +without help from other mortals. But I have something to impart which +will prove the sincerity of my intentions toward you. An hour ago, Count +Orloff arrived in St. Petersburg, and he is now in secret conference +with the czarina. "Joseph II" + +"I was right; it was not my secret apprehensions which conjured those +spectral letters," cried Potemkin; "they are really the writing of the +emperor, and Gregory Orloff is here." + +He sprang forward like a bull rushing to the attack. + +"Gregory Orloff is with Catharine, and I cannot slay him at her feet. +But stay," exclaimed he, exultingly, and then his words resolved +themselves back into thought. "My key--my key--I will force her to hear +me. Count," continued he aloud, "I beg of you to excuse me, for I must +go at once to the empress. Tell the emperor that if I weather the storm +that is bursting over my head, I will prove to him my eternal gratitude +for the service he has rendered me this day. Farewell! Pray for me; or +if you like better, go home and get up a fine drama for the day of my +burial." + +"Nothing less than Voltaire's 'Death of Julius Caesar' would suit such +an occasion; but God forbid that your highness should come to harm! I +hasten to do your bidding." + +Potemkin, trembling with impatience, stood watching Count Cobenzl, as +with his mincing gait he tripped out of the room, and turned again at +the door to make his last bow. Scarcely had the portiere fallen when he +sprang across the room, and darted toward his sleeping-chamber. Near his +bed stood an escritoire. He flung it open and taking thence a casket +filled with gold chains, diamonds, and other jewels, he turned out the +contents with such violence that they flew over the room in every +direction. He found what he sought; it was a little secret compartment. +He pressed the spring and it opened, revealing nothing but a key! But +Potemkin snatched it up, and, unheeding the treasures worth a million, +that lay scattered about the room, he passed into a little dark +anteroom, thence into a corridor, up and down staircases, forward, +forward, rapidly forward! + +Finally he reached the end of a long, narrow corridor. Nothing here was +to be seen save a blank, white wall, which separated Potemkin's dwelling +from the palace of the czarina. But in the corner of this wall was a +scarcely perceptible recess. He pressed it with his finger, when the +wall parted, revealing a door--the door which led to Catharine's own +private apartments. Potemkin's key unlocked it, and he darted through +the opening--on, on, until he reached another door, which also yielded +to his key; and then, breathing freely, he looked around the cabinet of +the czarina, and exclaimed, "I am saved!" + + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVI. + +THE EMPRESS CATHARINE. + +The magnificent state-apartments of the empress were silent and empty, +for she had given out that she needed solitude to work, she would hold +no levee to-day. But she was not alone; she was in a cabinet which led +to her bedchamber; and with her was Count Orloff, her former lover and +the murderer of her husband. + +The empress lay half buried in the depths of a crimson velvet couch; and +her large blue eyes were fixed with an expression of tenderness upon +Orloff, who sat opposite to her. In spite of her fifty years, Catharine +was a very handsome woman. Age had respected her fair, imperial brow, +and the fingers of time had relented as they passed over it. Her eyes +were as bright and beautiful as ever; her lips as red, and their smile +as fascinating, as in the days of her youth; and in her bosom beat the +passionate, craving, restless heart of a maiden of seventeen. This heart +was as capable of love as of hate, and her graceful person as fitted to +inspire love as it had ever been. Just now Catharine was anxious to +please. She thought over the golden hours of her youthful passion, and +tried to win a smile from Orloff's stern face. She forgot in him the man +who had placed a bloody crown upon her head, she saw but the paramour +who had wreathed her brow with the myrtles and roses of requited love. + +They had spoken of indifferent things, but Catharine had grown silent, +and the silence was becoming embarrassing to Orloff. + +"Your majesty commanded my presence," began he. + +Catharine raised her beautiful white arm from the cushion where it lay, +and motioned him to approach. + +"Hush, Orloff," said she, in a low voice. "No one hears us, do not call +me majesty." + +"My revered sovereign," stammered Orloff, "I--" + +"Sovereign! Do I look as if I were your sovereign, Orloff? No, no, I am +here as the woman who is not ashamed of the love we once cherished for +each other. The world says that I am not pious, and verily I believe +that Voltaire has corrupted me; but I have one steadfast faith, and I +cling to it as fanatics do to Christianity. My religion is the religion +of memory, Gregory; and you were its first hierophant." + +Orloff muttered some unintelligible words; for truth to tell, he did not +quite comprehend the vagaries of his imperial mistress. He was a man of +deeds, fit for action and strife; but there was neither imagination nor +poetry in his nature. He saw, however, that Catharine smiled and +beckoned. He hastened forward, and bending the knee, kissed her hand. + +"Gregory," said she, tenderly, "I sent for you to talk of the prospects +of your son." + +"Your majesty speaks of Basil Bobinsky?" asked Orloff, with a smile. + +"Yes," replied Catharine, "of your son, or rather, if you prefer it, of +our son." + +"Your majesty acknowledges him, and yet you have thrust his father from +your heart. You sacrificed me to a man whom I hate--not because he is +my successful rival, but because he does not deserve the love of my +empress; because he is a heartless spendthrift, and a wretch who is +ready to sell his sovereign's honor at any moment, provided the price +offered him be worth the treachery. Oh! it maddens me when I think that +Gregory Orloff was displaced for a Potemkin!" + +Catharine laid her jewelled hand upon Orloff's lips. "Hush, Orloff, do +not vituperate. I have called for you to-day to give me peace. I do not +wish the two men who share my heart to stand forever glaring at each +other in implacable hatred. I wish to unite you through the sweet +influences of a young couple's love. I beseech you, Gregory, do not +refuse me the boon I crave. Give your consent for Basil to marry the +Countess Alexandra, Potemkin's niece." + +"Never!" thundered Orloff, starting to his feet, and retreating like an +animal at bay. "Never will I consent for my bastard to marry the wench +of such a contemptible fool as Potemkin!" [Footnote: Orloff's own words. +Raumer's Contributions, etc., vol. v., p. 412.] + +Catharine rose from her couch with a look of tender reproach. "You will +not grant my heart's dearest wish?" said she. + +"I cannot do it, Catharine." cried Orloff, wildly. "My blood boils at +the very thought of being connected to Potemkin. No, indeed! No tie +shall ever bind me to him, that hinders my hand, should you one day ask +of me, to sever his head from his body." + +Catharine again put her hand before Orloff's mouth. "Hush, you +fulminating Jove!" said she. "Must you be forever forging thunderbolts, +or waging war with Titans? But you know too well that in your godlike +moods you are irresistible. What a triumph it is to win a boon from such +a man! Invest me with this glory Orloff; and I give up my plan for a +marriage between Basil and Potemkin's niece." + +"Niece," echoed Orloff, "say his mistress!" + +"Not so," exclaimed Catharine. "So treacherous, I will not believe +Potemkin to be!" + +"Nevertheless, Alexandra is his mistress, and the whole court knows it." + +"If I find it so, Potemkin shall feel the weight of my vengeance, and +nothing shall save him!" cried Catharine, her eyes darting fire. "But I +tell you it is not so. He has his faults, but this is not one of them." + +"Then you confess that the great Potemkin has faults, do you!" + +"It was precisely because of his faults that I sent for you!" + +"Me!" + +"You--Gregory Orloff, the truest of the true! You have done me good +service in your life; to you I am indebted for my crown, and you are its +brightest jewel. But I have a favor now to ask of you which concerns my +happiness more than any thing you have ever done for me before, my +Gregory." + +"Speak, my empress, speak, and I will die to serve you;" replied Orloff, +inspired by Catharine's earnestness. + +She laid her white hand upon his shoulder, and said in her most enticing +tones: "Be the friend of Potemkin. Let him learn by your example to be +more careful of the great trusts which he holds from me; more +conciliating, and more grateful. For, indeed, in return for all the +favors I bestow upon him, he makes my life one long martyrdom. For God's +sake, Orloff, be friendly with Potemkin, and try to rescue me from the +tempests which daily and hourly burst over my devoted head." [Footnote: +Catharine's own words.] She leaned her head upon his bosom, and looked +imploringly into his face. + +"Your majesty," said Orloff, warmly, "you know that I am your slave. If +Potemkin is obnoxious to you, speak the word, and I annihilate him. But +my reputation will not permit me to consort with a man whom I despise, +and whom I should be forced, nevertheless, to regard as the first +subject of the empire. Pardon me if I cannot grant your majesty's +petition." + +"Go, then, cruel man, and leave me to my fate," said Catharine in tears. + +"Since your majesty desires it, I retire." And Orloff bowing, turned to +leave the room, but Catharine threw herself upon the sofa with a sob and +he returned. + +"Do you weep for Potemkin?" said he. "Spare your tears. He loves no one +but himself, and his only aim in life is to enervate and weaken YOUR +mind, that he may reign in your stead." + +"Oh, Orloff, be merciful!" said Catharine, clasping her hands. + +But Orloff continued: "Potemkin has essentially damaged your fleet; he +has ruined your army; and what is worse, he has lowered you in the +estimation of your subjects, and of the world. If you are willing to be +rid of so dangerous a man, my life is at your disposal: but if you must +temporize with him, I do nothing to further measures which are to be +carried out by flattery and hypocrisy." + +"I believe you, unhappily I believe you," said Catharine, weeping. +"Potemkin deserves all that you say of him, but I have not the heart to +punish him as he deserves. I cannot bid you destroy the giant whose +shadow darkens my throne. You see, Orloff, that I am a poor, weak woman, +and have not the strength to punish the guilty." + +"I see that your majesty prizes the oppressor of my country far more +than that country's self; and since it is so, I have nothing more to do +here. Farewell, Catharine--I must return to Gatzchina." + +He kissed the hand of the empress, and passed into the adjoining +apartment. He went slowly through the magnificent state-rooms, through +which he had to pass to the corridor, and with weeping eyes Catharine +followed his tall form from door to door. She would have leaned for +support upon that strong man, but he refused to shelter her, and she +felt a sense of desolation which seemed to her a presentiment of evil. + +"Orloff, Orloff!" cried she, imploringly; and she hastened after him. He +was passing out into the corridor, when he heard her voice, and saw her +coming fleet as a dove toward him. + +"Orloff," said she, panting for breath, "do not leave St. Petersburg +to-day. Remain for three days, and, perhaps, in that time I may gather +courage to accept your help, and rid myself of this man." + +"I will await your majesty's decision," replied Orloff; "and if then my +sword is not required in your service, I shall leave St. Petersburg +forever." + +He bowed, and the heavy portiere fell behind him as he passed from the +czarina's sight. Slowly she returned to her cabinet, murmuring, "Three +days he will wait to know if--" + +But suddenly she started, appalled at the sight of an apparition that +occupied the divan on which she was about to repose her weary limbs. She +uttered a wild scream of terror, for on this divan sat--Potemkin. + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVII. + +THE CZARINA AND HER MASTER. + +With flashing eyes, folded arms, and pale, stern, face, sat Potemkin, +and his glance seemed about to annihilate the terrified woman, who had +neither strength to call for help nor self-possession to greet her +unwelcome visitor. He rose, however, and came forward. Catharine +trembled and shuddered as he passed her by, locked the door and put the +key in his pocket. + +The empress looked around, and in deadly fear saw that there was no hope +of rescue. She was alone with Potemkin, entirely alone! + +Not a word had yet been spoken, but this fearful silence affrighted her +more than a tempest of angry words would have done. + +At last Potemkin stood directly before her, and spoke. "If Potemkin is +obnoxious to you, speak the word, and I annihilate him." + +"Oh!" screamed Catharine, "he knows all." + +"Yes, I know all--I heard Orloff offer to be my executioner. Pray, why +did you not accept the offer at once?" + +He had come so near, that Catharine felt his hot breath upon her brow, +like the blast from a furnace. + +"I ask you again," said he, stamping his foot with fury, "why do you not +let the axe of your executioner fall upon my neck? Answer me!" + +Catharine was speechless with fright, and Potemkin, exasperated at her +silence, raised his clinched hand, and looked so fierce, that the +czarina fell backward almost upon her knees, murmuring--"Potemkin, +would you kill me!" + +"And if I did," cried he, grinding his teeth, "would death not be the +just punishment of your treachery? Your treachery to me, who have given +you my heart, my soul, my life, while you betray and accuse me, not face +to face, as would an honorable woman, but behind my back as becomes a +coward and a hypocrite! Look at me, and answer my question, I command +you!" + +Again he raised his hand, and his deep voice rolled like angry thunder +in her ear. Catharine, against her will, obeyed his voice, and raised +her eyes to his. She saw his lofty brow, like that of an angry demi-god, +his dark, dangerous, fiery eyes, his glistening teeth, his magnificent +frame, lithe, athletic, and graceful as that of "The statue that +enchants the world," and a sensation of shuddering ecstasy flooded her +whole being. Forgotten were her fears, her terror, her dream of +vengeance; and, regardless of the hand which was still raised to +threaten her, she cried out, in tones of mingled love and anguish: + +"Oh, Alexandrowitsch, how preter-human is your beauty! You stand, like +an avenging god, before me; and I--I can only worship and tremble!" + +With faltering steps she approached, and folding her arms around his +stalwart form, she laid her head upon his breast, and wept. + +"See," murmured she, "I am here to receive the stroke. Let me die by +your hand, Gregory Alexandrowitsch, for since you love me no longer, I +am weary of life!" + +Potemkin heaved a sigh, and freeing himself from Catharine's arms, fell +back upon the sofa, buried his face in his hands, and sobbed +convulsively. + +"Why do you weep, Potemkin?" said Catharine, hastening to his side. + +"Why I weep!" exclaimed he. "I weep because of my own crime. Despair had +well-nigh made of me a traitor. Why does not this hand wither, which was +uplifted to touch the anointed of the Lord! Why does not Heaven smite +the wretch whose misery had tempted him to such irreverence of his +sovereign!" + +And Potemkin flung himself at Catharine's feet, crying out: + +"Kill me, Catharine, that I may not go mad for remorse of my treason!" + +Catharine smiled, and tried to raise him up. + +"No," said she, tenderly, "live, and live for me." + +But Potemkin still clung to her feet. + +"No, let me lie here as the sinner lies before the altar of the Most +High! I am a traitor--but despair has made me criminal. As I stood +behind the tapestry, and heard how my empress accused me, I felt that +the spectral hand of madness was hovering above my brain. Oh, Catharine, +it is you whom I adore, you who have made of me a lunatic!" + +Again he buried his face in Catharine's robes, and wept. She, perfectly +disarmed, leaned over him, caressing him with her hands, and imploring +him to be comforted. + +"Let me lie here and weep," continued her Alexandrowitsch, "not for me, +but for my Catharine--the star of my life! She, whom my enemies would +deceive; that deceiving they might ruin her, when her only friend is +lost to her forever!" + +"Of whom do you speak?" asked the czarina, frightened. + +"I speak of those who hate me, because I will not join them in their +treachery toward my empress--of those who hold out to me gold and +diamonds, and who hate me because I will not sell my loyalty for pelf. +Oh, I was flattered with orders and honors, promises and presents. But I +would not listen. What cared I for future security? What mattered it to +me that I was to be the victim of Paul's vengeance? I thought of you +alone; and more to me was the safety of your crown than that of my +worthless life! I was loyal and incorruptible!" + +Catharine had listened with distended eyes and lips parted in suspense. +When Potemkin named her son, her whole bearing changed. From the +love-stricken woman she leaped at once into the magnificent Czarina. + +"Potemkin," said she, imperiously, "I command you to rise and answer my +questions." + +Potemkin rose with the promptness of a well-trained slave, and said, +humbly: + +"Imperial mistress, speak--and, by the grave of my mother, I will answer +truthfully." + +"What means your allusion to the Grand Duke Paul? Who are the enemies +that sought to corrupt you? What are their aims?" + +"The grand duke is weary of his subordinate position, and yearns for the +crown which he thinks it is his right to wear." + +Catharine's two hands clutched at her head, as though to defend her +crown. + +"He shall not have it!" she screamed. "He will not dare to raise his +impious hands to snatch his mother's rights away!" + +"He will find other hands to do it; for you well know, Catharine, that +the crime from which we recoil ourselves, we transfer to other hands, +while we accept its fruits." + +Catharine shuddered, and grew pale. + +"Yes, yes," murmured she to herself, "yes, I know it--well I know it, +for it has murdered sleep for me!" + +"And the grand duke has accomplices, Catharine. Not one, nor two--but +half of your subjects mutter within themselves that the crown you wear +has been Paul's since his majority. Russia is one grand conspiracy +against you, and your enemies have pitched their tents at the foot of +your throne. They may well hate the only man who stands between you and +destruction. Their arrows have glanced harmlessly from the adamantine +shield of his loyalty, and there remained but the alternative of +calumniating him to his empress. Oh, Catharine, my angel; beware of +Paul, who has never forgotten how his father lost his life! Beware of +Orloff, who has never forgiven you for loving me! Both these traitors, +with Panin to truckle to them, are in league with Von Gortz to force you +into a league destructive of Russian aggrandizement. Oh, my beloved! sun +of my existence! mount into the heaven of your own greatness, and let +not the cloud of intrigue obscure your light. And when safe in the +noonday of your splendor, you think of this day, let one warm ray of +memory stream upon the grave of the man who died because his empress +ceased to love him!" + +At the conclusion of his peroration, Potemkin knelt down and +passionately kissed the hem of Catharine's robe. Then, springing up, he +clasped his hands, and turned away. But the empress darted after him +like an enraged lioness, and, catching his arm, gasped: + +"What! you would leave me, Alexandrowitsch?" + +"Yes--I go to Orloff, to receive my death! The empress has willed it, +and she shall find me obedient even unto my latest breath." + +"No, Gregory," said Catharine, weeping profusely, "you shall remain to +shield me from my enemies." + +So saying, she put her arms around his neck, but he drew them away. + +"No, Catharine, no! After what I have heard to-day. I do not desire to +live. Let me die! let me die!" + +"Potemkin," cried she, struggling to detain him, "I shall never, never +mistrust you again. And I promise you that Gregory Orloff shall never +pass this threshold again." + +"How? Do you promise to sacrifice Orloff to me?" cried Potemkin, +eagerly, cured in a thrice of his desire for death. + +"I do, Gregory, I do. There shall be but one Gregory to reign over my +court and my heart, and he shall be Gregory Potemkin!" + +"You swear it, Catharine?" + +"My imperial word thereupon. Now will you remain and protect me?" + +"Yes, I remain, to confound your enemies. It shall not be said that I am +flown in the hour when your noble head is endangered. I shall remain for +your sake, for the peril is very great, Catharine." + +"Gracious Heaven, Gregory, what danger threatens me?" + +"You ask me such a question while Paul lives, and has Orloff and Panin +for his accomplices, and Frederick for his friend?" + +"Oh, no, dear Gregory, your anxiety leads you into error. I know that +Paul hates me, but I do not believe that Prussia is his ally; for it is +clearly the interest of Prussia to conciliate me, and he is too wise to +entangle himself in such conspiracies just at the expiration of our +treaty." + +"Oh, you noble, unsuspecting woman!" cried Potemkin, ardently, "you know +nothing of the egotism of the world. You believe in the honesty of +Frederick, while he speculates upon the consequences of your death!" + +The empress grew pale and her eyes flashed with anger. "Prove it to me," +said she, imperiously. + +Potemkin drew from his bosom the letter he had that morning received +from Frederick. Catharine read it, and then said, "Much flattery, and +many mysterious promises. What do they mean?" + +"Count von Gortz was so good as to explain. The king offered to make me +Duke of Courland, to give me a German princess in marriage, and to +secure me the favor of your successor." + +"That is not possible!" exclaimed Catharine, "those were idle words." + +"Oh, no, your majesty, I will prove to you that they are not, as soon as +Von Gortz is announced." + +The empress looked at the clock, which pointed to two. + +"It is exactly the hour I appointed to receive him." said she. "He must +be in the anteroom." + +"Have I your permission to go to him?" + +The empress nodded, and Potemkin, drawing the key from his pocket, +unlocked the door and disappeared. Catharine locked after him, and +heaving a bitter sigh, said: "No more hope of rescue! He rules over me +like irresistible destiny!" + +In a few moments Potemkin returned with the paper. Catharine having +looked over it, returned it with a smile. + +"I thank the King of Prussia for this," said she, gently, "for my last +hours will no longer be embittered by anxiety for your safety, +Alexandrowitsch. Preserve this paper with care." + +Potemkin took it from her hand and tore it to pieces. + +"Are you mad?" cried Catharine, "that you tear this promise of +protection from Paul?" + +"When Catharine dies, I no longer desire to live, and I hope that Paul +may release me of life at once--I shall die rejoicing." + +"Oh, Gregory," exclaimed Catharine, again moved to tears, "I shall never +forget these words! You have sacrificed much for me, and you shall have +princely reward; on my word you shall! Let the grand duke be careful to +utter no inconsiderate words, for the steppes of Siberia are as +accessible to the prince as to the peasant; and every traitor, were he +the heir of the crown itself, is amenable to justice before me! And +Panin, with his eternal pratings of honesty and frankness, let him, too, +beware, for he wavers on the edge of a precipice!" "And Prussia?" asked +Potemkin, with a significant smile. + +Catharine smiled in return. "I cannot chide HIM, Potemkin, for he would +have befriended YOU." + +"And the treaty? Do you intend to renew it with this wise, far-seeing +prince?" + +"I cannot say. It depends upon the offers he makes. Stay in this room, +Gregory; and I will receive Von Gortz in the next one, where you can +hear what passes between us." + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVIII. + +A DIPLOMATIC DEFEAT. + +The empress entered the small audience-chamber adjoining her cabinet, +and ringing a bell, gave orders that Count von Gortz and Count Partin +should be admitted. Then she glided to an arm-chair, the only one in the +room, and awaited her visitors, who, conformable to the etiquette of the +Russian court, bowed three times before the all-powerful czarina. +Panin's salutation was that of a serf who is accustomed to kiss the dust +from his tyrant's feet; Von Gortz, on the contrary, had the bearing of a +man of the world, accustomed to concede homage and to exact it. + +"Well, count," said the empress, graciously, "what pleasant news do you +bring from Sans-Souci? Has your accomplished sovereign recovered from +his indisposition?" + +"The king has recovered, and will be overjoyed to learn that your +majesty takes so much interest in his health." + +"Oh," exclaimed Catharine, "the great Frederick knows how much interest +I feel in his life--perhaps as much as he has in my death!" + +Count von Gortz looked in astonishment at the smiling face of the +empress. "What! Your majesty says that my sovereign has an interest in +your majesty's death!" + +"Did I say so?" said Catharine, carelessly. "It was a slip of the +tongue, my dear count. I should have said TAKES, not HAS; for many +people fancy they have what they would like to take. I should have said +then, that the king cannot TAKE more interest in my death than I do in +his life." + +"The king, your majesty, is much older than you, and war has added to +his years." + +"If war adds to our years," replied Catharine, laughing, "then I +certainly must be superannuated." + +"I trust that the time has arrived when their majesties of Russia and +Prussia may sheathe the sword, and enjoy the unspeakable blessings of +permanent peace," said Von Gortz, with emphasis. + +"Are you of the same mind, Panin?" asked Catharine, quickly. + +"I know from my sovereign's noble heart that she would gladly bestow +peace upon the world, and I believe that the time has come when that is +possible," replied Panin, evasively. + +"It is true, we have for the moment no pretext for war. The troubles +between the Porte and myself were settled at the last peace convention, +and he will take good care not to provoke a renewal of hostilities. We +have no reason to apprehend any breach of peace in Poland, and our +relations with the other European powers are equally friendly. England, +Holland, and France seek our good-will; Prussia is our firm ally; and +Austria, by sending her emperor himself, has given the most flattering +proof of her consideration for Russia. It would appear that we enter +upon an epoch of universal concord." + +"And to give stability to this great blessing," replied Von Gortz, "it +is the duty of all sovereigns to fuse their separate interests into one +great alliance, whose watchword shall be 'Peace!' In presence of those +who are bound together by the tie of one common policy, no ambitious +enemy will venture to disturb the great international rest." + +"I think we are already able to present the scarecrow of such an +alliance to covetous princes, for we have a firm ally in Prussia, have +we not?" said Catharine, smiling. + +"Our treaty was but for eight years, your majesty," interposed Panin, +"and the eight years have expired." + +"Have they, indeed?" exclaimed Catharine, surprised. "Well--certainly +years do fly, and before we have time to think of death, our graves open +to receive us. I feel that I am growing old, and the King of Prussia +would be wise if he were to direct his new negotiations toward my +successor, and make him the partner of his magnanimous schemes for +universal peace." + +"Your majesty is pleased to jest," said Von Gortz, reverentially. "But +to show you how heartily my sovereign desires to cement his friendship +with the mighty Empress of Russia, I am empowered by him to make new +proposals for a renewal of the eight years' treaty." + +"Are you acquainted with these proposals, Panin?" asked Catharine. + +"No, your majesty. I only know from Count von Gortz that his proposals +are merely preliminary, and not until they obtain your majesty's +approbation, will the king present them formally." + +"Very well, count, let us hear your preliminaries," said Catharine. + +"My sovereign desires nothing so much as a permanent alliance with +Russia, which shall give peace to Europe, and deter over-ambitious +princes from trenching upon the possessions of other crowns. To secure +this end, my sovereign thinks that nothing would be so favorable as an +offensive and defensive alliance, with a guaranty of permanent +boundary-lines between Russia, Prussia, Poland, and Turkey. Such an +alliance, in the opinion of my sovereign, would give durable peace to +Western Europe. If the conditions be acceptable to your majesty, my +sovereign will make like propositions to Poland and Turkey, and the +treaty can be signed at once; for it has been ascertained that France +approves, and as for Austria, the very nature of the alliance and its +strength will force her to respect the rights of nations, and give up +her pretensions to territorial aggrandizement." + +The czarina had listened to this harangue with growing displeasure. Her +impatience had not escaped the eyes of Panin, and he saw that the scheme +would be unsuccessful. He had promised to second the proposals of the +Prussian minister, but the stormy brow of the empress was mightier than +his promise, and he boldly determined to change his front. + +When Count von Gortz ceased, a silence ensued; for the czarina was too +incensed to speak. She looked first at the Prussian ambassador, and then +at her minister of foreign affairs, who was turning over in his mind +what he should say. + +"And these are the proposals of the King of Prussia?" cried she, when +she found breath to vent her indignation. "Instead of a simple renewal +of our mutual obligations, you wish to entangle us into alliances with +Turkey! Count Panin, you are my minister. I therefore leave it to you to +answer the Prussian ambassador as beseems the dignity and interest of my +crown." + +She leaned back in her arm-chair, and bent a piercing glance upon the +face of her minister. But he bore the test without change of feature, +and turning with perfect composure to his ex-confederate, he said: + +"As my sovereign has commanded me to deliver her reply, I must express +my surprise at the extraordinary preliminaries presented by your +excellency. His majesty of Prussia proposes an alliance of Russia with +Turkey. The thing is so preposterous that I cannot conceive how so wise +a prince as your sovereign could ever have entertained the idea!" +[Footnote: Panin's own words. "Dohm's Memoirs," vol. i. pp. 400, 401] + +"Good, Panin!" said Catharine, nodding her head. + +Panin, encouraged by the applause, went on: "Peace between Russia and +Turkey can never be any thing but an armistice; an alliance with the +Porte, therefore, is incompatible either with our policy or with the +sentiments of my revered sovereign." [Footnote: Panin's own words. +"Dohm's Memoirs." vol. i.. pp. 400, 401] + +"In this case," replied Von Gortz, bowing, "my sovereign withdraws the +proposal which was merely thrown out as an idea upon which he was +desirous of hearing the opinion of his august ally, the empress." + +"Then you know my opinion upon this 'idea.'" cried Catharine, rising +from her seat, and darting fiery glances at the ambassador. "Count Panin +has expressed it distinctly, and I desire you to repeat his words to the +King of Prussia. And that the great Frederick may see that I make no +secret of my policy, he shall hear it. Know, then, that my last treaty +of peace with Turkey was but a hollow truce, whereby I hoped to gain +time and strength to carry out the plans which I shall never abandon +while I live. The king has guessed them, and therefore he has sent me +these unworthy proposals. Russia has not reached the limit of her +boundaries; her ambition is co-extensive with the world, and she means +to grow and prosper, nor yet be content when Poland bows her neck to the +yoke, and the crescent has given place to the Greek cross!" + +So saying, the czarina bowed her bead, and haughtily left the room. When +she raised the portiere, there sat Potemkin in the fulness of his +satisfaction, ready to greet her with his most beaming smiles. Catharine +motioned him to follow, and they returned to the cabinet. Once there, +the czarina threw herself upon the divan and sighed: + +"Shut the door, Potemkin, close the portiere, for in good sooth I know +not whether I am about to laugh or cry. I feel as if I had been hearing +a fable in which all my schemes were transformed into card houses, and +were blown away by the wind! But indeed I must laugh! The good King of +Prussia! Only think, Gregory, an offensive and defensive alliance with +Turkey. Is it not enough to make you laugh until you cry?" + +"I cannot laugh at such a disregard for the sacred rights of man," +replied Potemkin, "This proposal of Prussia is an outrage to the faith +of the whole Russian nation, and a challenge to you, my noble sovereign, +whose bold hand is destined to tear down the symbol of the Moslem, and +replace it with that of the Christian!" + +"And believe me, dearest friend, I am ever mindful of that destiny," +replied Catharine. + +"And the treaty between Russia and Prussia--" + +"Will not be renewed." + +"Check to the king, then," cried Potemkin, "and checkmate will soon +follow." + +"Yes, the king is old, and would gladly end his days in a myrtle-grove; +while I long to continue my flight, higher and higher, till I reach the +sun. But who will go with me to these dizzy heights of power--" + +"His majesty, the Emperor of Austria," said the loud voice of a +gentleman in waiting, who knocked at the door of the cabinet. + +"The emperor!" exclaimed Catharine. "You know I granted his request to +come to me unannounced; but I have given orders to the sentries to send +the word forward, nevertheless, so that I always know when he is about +to appear." + +"Farewell, Catharine," said Potemkin. "The crow must give place to the +imperial falcon. Why am I not an emperor, to offer you my hand, and be +your only protector?" + +"Could I love you more if you were an emperor, Gregory? But, hush! He +comes, and as soon as his visit is ended, return to me, for I must see +you." + +Potemkin kissed her hand again and again, and vanished through the +tapestry by a secret door, which led to a small corridor connected with +the czarina's private apartments. But instead of crossing this corridor, +he turned into a little boudoir, through which the emperor would have to +pass and there awaited his appearance. He came, and seeing Potemkin, +looked surprised, but bowed with a gracious smile. + +Potemkin laid his finger upon his lip, and pointed to the cabinet. +"Sire," said he in a whisper, "I have anticipated you. Prussia has +received an important check, and the treaty will not be renewed. It +rests with your majesty now, to improve the opportunity and supplant the +King of Prussia. Be sympathetic and genial with the czarina--ABOVE ALL +THINGS flatter her ambition, and the game is yours. Depend upon my +hearty co-operation." + +"A thousand thanks," whispered Joseph in return. Potemkin made a deep +and respectful salutation, and left the room. As he closed the door +noiselessly behind him, the emperor crossed the threshold of the +imperial cabinet. + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIX. + +THE CZARINA AND THE KAISER. + +When Joseph entered, he found the empress reclining with careless grace +upon the divan, perfectly unconscious that he was anywhere within her +palace walls. But when she saw him, she sprang up from the cushion on +which she lay, and, with protestations of delighted surprise, gave him +both her hands. He bent over those soft white hands, and kissed them +fervently. + +"I come to your majesty because I am anxious and unhappy, and my heart +yearned for your presence. I have bad news from Vienna. My mother is +ill, and implores me to return home." + +"Bad news, indeed!" exclaimed Catharine, sadly. "The noblest and +greatest woman that ever adorned a throne is suffering, and you threaten +to leave me? But you must not go, now that the barriers which have so +long divided Austria from Russia have fallen." + +"Your majesty may well speak of barriers," laughed Joseph, "for we were +parted by a high Spanish wall, and the King of Prussia walked the +ramparts, that we might never get a glimpse at each other. Well! I have +leaped the walls, and I consider it the brightest act of my life that I +should have journeyed thither to see the greatest sovereign of the age, +the woman before whom a world is destined to succumb." + +"Do not give me such praise, sire." replied Catharine, with a sigh; "the +soil of Maria Theresa should not bestow such eulogium upon me. It is the +Empress of Austria who unites the wisdom of a lawgiver and the bravery +of a warrior with the virtues of a pure and sinless woman! Oh, my +friend, I am not of that privileged band who have preserved themselves +spotless from the sins of the world! I have, bought my imperial destiny +with the priceless gem of womanly innocence!--Do not interrupt me--we +are alone, and I feel that before no human being can I bow my guilty +head with such a sense of just humiliation as before the son of the +peerless Empress of Austria!" + +"The Empress of Austria is still a woman, reigning through the +promptings of her heart, while Catharine wears her crown with the vigor +of a man. And who ever thought of requiring from an emperor the primeval +innocence of an Arcadian shepherdess? He who would be great must make +acquaintance with sin; for obscurity is the condition of innocence. Had +you remained innocent, you had never become Catharine the Great. There +are, unhappily, so many men who resemble women, that we must render +thanks to God for vouchsafing to our age a woman who equals all and +surpasses many men." + +"You have initiated a new mode of flattery, sire," said Catharine, +blushing with gratification; "but if this is your fashion of praising +women, you must be a woman-hater. Is it so?" + +"I would worship them if they resembled Catharine; but I have suffered +through their failings, and I despise them. You know not how many of my +bold schemes and bright hopes have been brought to naught by women! I am +no longer the Joseph of earlier days--I have been shorn of my strength +by petticoats and cassocks." + +"How can you so belie yourself?" said Catharine. "It is but a few months +since we had good proof that the ambition of the Emperor Joseph was far +from being quenched forever." + +"Ah! your majesty would remind me of that ridiculous affair with +Bavaria. It was my last Quixotism, the dying struggle of a patriotism +which would have made of Germany one powerful and prosperous nation! And +it was YOU who opposed me--YOU who, of all the potentates in Europe, are +the one who should have understood and sustained me! Believe me, when I +say, that had Catharine befriended me there, she would have won the +truest knight that ever broke a lance in defence of fair ladye. But, for +the sake of a dotard, who is forever trembling lest I rob him of some of +his withered bays, the bold Athene of the age forgot her godlike origin +and mission, and turned away from him whom she should have countenanced +and conciliated. Well! It was the error of a noble heart, unsuspicious +of fair words. And fair words enough had Frederick for the occasion. To +think of such a man as HE, flaunting the banner of Germany in my +face--he who, not many years ago, was under the ban of the empire as an +ambitious upstart! He thought to scare me with the rustling of his dead +laurel-leaves, and when he found that I laughed at such Chinese warfare, +lo! he ran and hid himself under my mother's petticoats; and the two old +crowns fell foul of one another, and their palsied old wearers plotted +together, until the great war upon which I had staked my fame was +juggled into a shower of carnival confetti! Oh, you laugh at me, and +well may you laugh! I am a fool to waste so much enthusiasm upon such a +fool's holiday!" + +"No, I do not laugh at you," replied Catharine, laying her arm upon his. +"I laugh for joy, to see how lustily you hate. A man who hates fiercely, +loves ardently, and my whole heart glows with sympathy for such a being. +So, then, you hate him soundly, this King of Prussia?" + +"Hate him," cried Joseph, clinching his hand, "ay, indeed, I hate him! +He has instigated Germany to oppose me; he wrested Bavaria from me, +which was mine by right of twofold inheritance; and I detest him the +more that he is so old, so gouty, and so contemptible, that to defeat +him now would not add one hair's breadth to my reputation as a general." + +"It is true," said Catharine, thoughtfully, "Frederick is growing very +old. Nothing remains of the former hero but a dotard, who is incapable +of comprehending the march of events--" + +"And, yet, is ambitious to legislate. Oh, Catharine, beware of this old +king, who clings to you to support his own tottering royalty, and to +obstruct your schemes of conquest. But he will not succeed with you as +he has done by me. You have no mother to thrust you aside, while she +barters away your rights for a mess of pottage! I see your eagle +glance--it turns toward the south, where roll the stormy waves of the +Black Sea! I see this fair white hand as it points to mosques of +Constantinople, where the crescent is being lowered and the cross is +being planted--" + +Catharine uttered a cry of ecstasy, and putting her arms around Joseph's +neck, she imprinted a kiss upon his brow. + +"Oh, I thank you, Joseph!" exclaimed she, enthusiastically. "You have +comprehended the ambitious projects which, identified as they are with +my existence as a sovereign, I never yet have dared to speak above my +breath!" + +"I have guessed and I approve," said Joseph, earnestly. "Fate has +assigned you a mission, and you must fulfil it." + +"Oh, my God!" ejaculated Catharine, "I have found a friend who has read +my heart." + +"And who will aid you, when you call him to your side." + +"I accept the offer, and here is my hand. And so, hand in hand, we shall +conquer the world. God be praised, there is room enough for us both, and +we will divide it between us. Away with all little thrones and their +little potentates! Oh, friend, what joy it must be to dwell among the +heights of Olympus, and feel that all below is ours! I am intoxicated +with the dream! Two thrones--the throne of the Greek and the throne of +the Roman emperors; two people so mighty, that they dare not war with +one another; while, side by side, their giant swords forever sheathed, +they shed peace and happiness upon the farthermost ends of the earth! +Will you realize with me this godlike dream?" + +"That will I, my august friend, and may God grant us life and +opportunity to march on to victory together!" + +"To victory," echoed Catharine, "and to the fulfilment of the will of +Peter the Great! He enjoined it upon his successors to purge Europe of +the infidel, and to open the Black Sea to Christendom. In Stamboul I +shall erect the throne of my grandson, Constantine, while in Petersburg, +Alexander extends the domains of Russia in Europe and in Asia. You do +not know all that I have already done for classic Greece. From his +birth, I have destined Constantine to the Greek throne. His nurses, his +playfellows, and his very dress are Greek, so that his native tongue is +that of his future subjects. Even now, two hundred boys are on their way +from Greece, who are to be the future guards of the Emperor Constantine! +As the medal which was struck on the day of his birth prefigured his +destiny, so shall his surroundings of every kind animate him to its +glorious fulfilment. Look--I have already a chart on which Constantine +is to study the geography that my hand is to verify for him and for his +brother." + +The empress had risen and approached her escritoire. From a secret +drawer within another drawer she took a roll of parchment which, after +beckoning to the emperor, she placed upon the table. They unrolled it, +and both bent over it with beating hearts. + +"Observe first the marginal illustrations," said Catharine. "Here stands +the genius of Russia, leaning upon the Russian shield. To the left you +see arrows, horses' tails, Turkish banners, and other trophies--here at +the top, you see the Black Sea, where a Russian ship is in the act of +sinking a Turk. + +"Here in the centre, are the empire of Greece and the Archipelago. Take +notice of the colors on the map, for they show the boundaries. The +yellow is the boundary-line of the Greek empire. It begins in the +northwest by Ragusa, takes in Skopia, Sophia Phillippolis and Adrianople +as far as the Black Sea. It then descends and includes the Ionian +islands, the Archipelago, Mitylene, and Samos. That is the empire of +Constantine, whose capital is to be Constantinople. The red lines show +the future boundaries of Russia. They pass through Natolia, beginning in +the north by Pendavaschi, and end with the Gulf of Syria." + +The emperor, who had been following Catharine's jewelled hand with +anxious scrutiny, now looked up with a significant smile. + +"Your majesty's map reminds me of an incident among my travels. In the +beginning of my unhappy regency, I was inspecting the boundaries of my +own empire. In Moravia I ascended a steep mountain whence I had a view +of the surrounding country. 'To whom belongs the pretty village?' said +I. 'To the Jesuits,' was the reply. 'And this tract with the chapels?' +'To the Benedictines.' 'And that abbey?' 'To the Clarissarines.' 'But +where then are my possessions?' said I." + +"And your majesty would put the same question to me," interrupted the +czarina. "Look at the colors of the map. We have appropriated the yellow +and the red, but there is another color to be accounted for." + +"I see a boundary of green, which includes Naples and Sicily," said +Joseph, looking down upon the map with new interest. + +"Those are the boundary-lines of new Austria," said the empress, with a +triumphant smile. "As I hope for the reestablisbment of empire in +Greece, so must your majesty accomplish that of Rome. Since you have no +objection to give me the Black Sea, I shall make no opposition to the +extension of your empire to the shores of the Mediterranean. Italy, like +Germany, is a prey to petty princes. Rescue the Italians from their +national insignificance, sire, and throw the aegis of your protection +over the site of the old Roman empire. Do you not bear the title of King +of Rome? Give to that title, meaning and substance. Yours is the south +and west, mine is the east, and together we shall govern the world." + +Joseph had listened with breathless attention. At first he grew pale, +then a flush of triumph suffused his face, and he took the hand of the +czarina and drew it to his heart. + +"Catharine!" cried he, deeply moved, "from my soul I thank you for this +inspiration! Oh, my heart's interpreter, you have read my secret +yearnings to be in deed, as well as in word, 'King of Rome!' Yes--I +would free Italy from the oppression of the church, and lead her on to +greatness that shall rival her glorious past! God is my witness, I would +have done as much for Germany; but Germany has rejected me, and I leave +her to her fate. For the future I remain Emperor of Austria; and my +empire shall be so vast, so prosperous, and so powerful, that Catharine +of Russia shall esteem me an ally worthy of the greatest woman of modern +times." + +"Two faithful allies," exclaimed Catharine--"allies bound by one common +policy, whose watchword shall be 'Constantinople and Rome!'" + +"Ay," returned Joseph, with a laugh, "though while YOU raise the +standard of the cross in Constantinople, _I_ shall overturn it in Rome. +As soon as my shackles fall, I shall set to work!" + +"I see that you have faith in my plans," cried Catharine, joyfully. + +"Such faith that I would aid them from my heart, were they even to +require the cooperation of Frederick." [Footnote: Raumer. Contributions, +etc., vol. v., p. 444.] + +"I shall have no cooperation but yours," was the reply. "Besides, I know +that you owe a grudge to Turkey." + +"I do; for she has taken Belgrade, and I must retake it. The Danube is +my birthright, as the Black Sea is yours. I give up Germany, to +concentrate my forces upon Turkey and Italy." + +"Let us await the proper time, and when I see it, I shall call upon you +to come with me and crush the intrusive Moslem." + +"Look upon me as your general, and upon my army as yours," replied +Joseph, kissing the hand which the czarina extended. "And now," +continued he, "I must say farewell, and I fear it is for a long +separation." + +"Indeed!" cried Catharine. "Must I lose you so soon?" + +"My mother is sick, and yearns for my presence," said Joseph. "The +emperor parted from her in displeasure; but the son must not slight the +call of a mother, who perchance is on her death-bed. I start for Vienna +to-day; and before I leave, at the risk of being accused of flattery, I +must express to your majesty the admiration, respect and love which I +feel for the noblest woman I have ever known." [Footnote: The emperor's +own words. Raumer, vol. v., p. 552.] + +The empress, overcome, put her arms around Joseph's neck, and folded him +to her heart. + +"Oh, were you my son!" whispered she, "I might thank Heaven for the gift +of a noble child who was soul of my soul! Were you mine, I should not be +the victim of courtiers' intrigues, but with my proud arm within yours, +I might defy the world." + +As she spoke these words, Catharine raised the emperor's hand to her +lips. + +Joseph uttered a cry, and sinking on his knees, kissed the hem of her +robe. Then rising, as if reluctant to break the solemnity of their +parting by a sound, he turned and left the room. + +Catharine looked after him with tearful eyes. "O God, he has left me! I +have found a noble heart, only to grieve that it can never be mine. I am +alone, alone! It is so dreadful to be--" + +Suddenly she ceased, for a deep, melodious voice began to sing. +Catharine knew that the voice was Potemkin's, and that he was calling +her to the secret apartments which she had fitted up, for her lover. + +The song awakened bitter memories. Potemkin had written it in former +years, and she had shed tears of emotion when she heard it--tears which +at that time were as precious to him as were his finest diamonds to-day. + +The music ceased, and two tears which had gathered in the czarina's eyes +stole down her cheeks. As if drawn by an invisible hand, she crossed the +room, and, stooping down, pressed a tiny golden button which was +fastened to the floor. A whirr was heard, the floor opened and revealed +a winding staircase which led from her cabinet to the room of her +favorite. + +As her foot touched the first step, she raised her eyes with a look of +despair to heaven, and her trembling lips murmured these words, +"Catharine once more in chains!" + + + +THE REIGN OF JOSEPH. + +CHAPTER CXL. + +THE OATH. + +Maria Theresa was no more. On the 29th day of November, of the year +1780, she went to rejoin her much-loved "Franz"--him to whom her last +words on earth were addressed. In her dying moments, her pale +countenance illuminated by joy, the empress would have arisen from the +arm-chair in which she sat awaiting her release. The emperor, who had +devoted himself to her with all the tenderness of which hid nature was +capable, held her bank. + +"Whither would your majesty go?" asked he, terified. + +Maria Theresa opened her arms, exclaiming, "To thee, to thee, I come!" +Her head fell back, and her dying lips were parted ones more. Her son +bent his head to catch the fluttering words, "Franz, my Franz--" + +Maria Theresa was no more! The tolling of bells, and the roll of the +muffled drum, announced to Vienna that the body of their beloved empress +was being laid in the vault of the Capuchins, and that after so many +years of parting, she rested once more by the side of the emperor. + +The iron doors of the crypts were closed, and the thousands and tens of +thousands who had followed the empress to her grave, had returned to +their saddened homes. The emperor, too, followed by his confidants Lacy +and Rosenberg, had retired to his cabinet. His face was inexpressibly +sad, and he paced his room with folded arms, utterly forgetful of his +friends, whom nevertheless he had requested to follow him, and who, both +in the embrasure of a window, were silently awaiting the awakening of +the emperor from his dumb grief. + +At last he remembered their presence. Directing his steps toward the +window he stood before them, and looked anxiously first at one, then at +the other. + +"Was I an undutiful son?" asked he, in a faltering voice. "I implore +you, my friends, make me no courtier's reply, but speak the plain, +unvarnished truth, and tell me whether I was an ungrateful son to my +noble mother. Lacy, by the memory of your own mother, be honest." + +"By the memory of my mother, sire," said Lacy, solemnly, "no! You bore +the burden of your filial duty with exemplary patience, and bowed your +will to the will of your mother, even when you knew that she erred in +judgment." + +"And you, Rosenberg?" asked Joseph, with a sad smile. + +"My opinion, sire, is that you were a noble, all-enduring son, whose +heart was not hardened against his mother, although from your childhood +it had provocation to become so. Your majesty bore with more than any +other man would have done whose lips had not been locked by filial +tenderness." + +"I was silent but resentful," said Joseph, mournfully. "I bore my +burdens ungraciously, and Maria Theresa was aware of it. I have often +been angered by her, but she has often wept for my sake. Oh, those tears +disturb my conscience." + +"Your majesty should remember that the empress forgave and forgot all +the dissensions of by-gone years, and that in her last illness she +expressed herself supremely happy in your majesty's care and +tenderness." + +"You should remember also, that with the sagacity which is often +vouchsafed to the dying, Maria Theresa confessed that she had +unwillingly darkened your majesty's life by her exactions, and in the +magnanimity of her regret asked your forgiveness." + +"I have said all this to myself," replied Joseph, "I have repeated it +over and over in these wretched sleepless nights; but still the dagger +of remorse is in my heart, and now I would gladly give years of my life, +if my mother were living, that I might redeem the past by cheerful +submission to her every wish." + +"Let the great empress rest in peace!" exclaimed Lacy. "She was weary of +life, and died with more than willingness. Your majesty must cherish +YOUR life, mindful of the vast inheritance which your mother has left +you." + +"You are right, Lacy," cried Joseph, warmly. "It is a noble inheritance, +and I swear to you both to cherish it, not for my own sake, but for the +sake of the millions of human beings of whose destinies I shall be the +arbiter. I swear to be a good sovereign to my people. By the tears which +my mother has shed for me, I will dry the tears of the unfortunate, and +the blessing she left me with her dying breath, I shall bestow upon the +Austrians whom she loved so well. If I should ever forget this vow, you +are here to remind me of it. And now that my reign begins, I exact of +you both a proof of your loyalty." + +"Speak, sire," said Lacy, with a bright and affectionate smile. + +"Put me to the test," cried Rosenberg, "and I shall not flinch." + +The emperor laid his hands upon the shoulders of his friends, and looked +at them with unmistakable affection. "Happy is the man who possesses two +such friends. But hear what I exact of you. I stand upon the threshold +of a new order of things. I am at last an emperor, free to carry out the +designs which for so many long years I have been forced to stifle in my +sorrowing heart. I am resolved to enlighten and to elevate my subjects. +But if in my zeal to do well. I should lack discretion, it is for you to +check and warn me. And if I heed not your warnings, you shall persist, +even if your persistence becomes offensive. Will you promise me to do +so, dear friends?" + +"We promise," said both with one breath. + +"God and the emperor have heard the promise. Give me your honest hands, +my best and truest friends. You, at least, I shall never doubt; I feel +that your friendship will be mine until the day of my death!" + +"Your majesty is the youngest of us three," said Lacy, "and you speak as +if we would outlive you." + +"Age is not reckoned by years," replied the emperor, wearily, "but by +wounds; and if I count the sears that disappointment has left upon my +heart, you will find that I have lived longer than either of you. +Promise, then, to be with me to the last, and to close my eyes for me." + +"Your wife and children will do that for you, sire," said Rosenberg. + +"I will never marry again. My nephew Francis shall be my heir, and I +shall consider him as my son. The Empress of Russia has consented to +give him her adopted daughter in marriage, and I trust that Francis may +be happier in wedlock than his unfortunate uncle. My heart is no longer +susceptible of love." + +"And yet it beats with such yearning love toward mankind!" exclaimed +Rosenberg. + +"Yes--my heart belongs to my people, and there is nothing left of it for +woman. For my subjects alone I shall live. Their souls shall be free +from the shackles of the church, and they shall no longer be led like +children by the hands of priests or prelates! You have tranquillized my +conscience, and I have received your vow of fidelity till death. With +two such mentors to advise me, I may hope, at last, to do something for +fame!" + + + +CHAPTER CXLI. + +PRINCE KAUNITZ. + +For three days Prince Kaunitz had not left his cabinet. No one was +allowed to approach him, except the servant who brought the meals, which +the prince sent away almost untouched. His household were sorely +troubled at this, for no one had as yet ventured to communicate the +tidings of the empress's death. Still he seemed to know it, for +precisely on the day of her demise, Kaunitz had retired to his cabinet, +whence he had not emerged since. + +To-day the tolling of bells and the dull sound of muffed drums had +doubtless revealed to him that the funeral was at hand. Still he had +questioned nobody, and sat in stupid silence, apparently unmindful of +the tumult without. Even when the procession passed his own house, he +remained rigidly in his chair, his large eyes glaring vacantly at the +wall opposite. + +Baron Binder, who had noiselessly entered the room, and had been +watching the prince, saw two large tears rolling slowly down his face, +and the sight of these tears emboldened him to approach the solitary +mourner. + +When he saw Binder, his lips quivered slightly, but he made no other +sign. Binder laid his hand upon the shoulder of the prince, and felt a +start. + +"Take compassion upon us who love you," said he, in a low, trembling +voice. "Tell us what it is that grieves you, dear friend." + +"Nothing," replied Kaunitz. + +"This is the first time that I have ever known your highness to speak an +untruth," cried Binder, boldly. "Something grieves you; if not--why +those blanched cheeks, those haggard eyes, and the tears that even now +are falling upon your hands?" + +Prince Kaunitz moved uneasily, and slowly turned his head. + +"Who gave you the right to criticise my behavior?" asked he, in a +freezing tone of displeasure. "Does it become such as you to measure or +comprehend the sufferings of a great mind? If it pleases you to parade +your troubles go out and ask sympathy of the contemptible world, but +leave to me the freedom of sorrowing alone: My grief is self-sustaining. +It needs no prop and no consolation. Attend to your affairs of state, +and go hence. I wish no spies upon my actions." + +"Ah!" said Binder, tenderly, "'tis not my eyes that have acted the +spies, but my heart, and--" + +"Baron Binder," interrupted Kaunitz, "you are not under this roof to +dissect my sentiments, or to confide to me your own; you are here to +assist me as a statesman. Go, therefore, and confine your efforts to the +business of your office." + +Binder heaved a sigh, and obeyed. It was useless to offer sympathy when +it provoked such stinging resentment. + +The state referendarius had scarcely reached his study, before the +folding-doors of Prince Kaunitz's entrance-rooms were flung wide open, +and the valet in attendance announced-- + +"His majesty the emperor." + +A shudder was perceptible through the frame of the prince, and he +clutched at the arms of the chair in an attempt to rise. + +"Do not rise," said Joseph, coming forward; "I have intruded myself upon +you without ceremony, and you must receive me in like manner." + +Kaunitz sank back, and inclined his head. He had not the power to make a +reply. Joseph then motioned to the valet to withdraw, and drew a chair +to the prince's side. + +There was a short silence and the emperor began: "I bring you greetings +from my mother." + +Kaunitz turned and gazed at the emperor with a look of indescribable +anguish. "Her last greeting," said he, almost inaudibly. + +"You know it, then? Who has been bold enough to break this sad +intelligence to you?" + +"No one, your majesty. For three days I have received no bulletins. When +they ceased, I knew that--Maria Theresa was no more." + +"Since you know it, then, my friend, I am relieved from a painful task. +Yes, I bring you the last greetings of a sovereign who loved you well. " + +A sigh, which was rather a sob, indicative of the inner throes that were +racking the statesman's whole being, burst from his heart. His head fell +upon his breast, and his whole body trembled. Joseph comprehended the +immensity of his grief, and made no ineffectual attempt to quell it. + +"I know," said he, "that you grieve, not only for her children, but for +Austria." + +"I grieve for you--I grieve for Austria--and, oh! I grieve for myself," +murmured Kaunitz. + +"You have been a faithful friend to my mother," continued Joseph, "and +the empress remembered it to her latest hour. She bade me remind you of +the day on which you dedicated your life to Austria's welfare. She told +me to say to you that the departure of your empress had not released +you. It had increased your responsibilities, and she expected of you to +be to her son what you have ever been to her, a wise counsellor and a +cherished friend. Do you accept the charge and transfer the rich boon of +your services to me?" + +The prince opened his lips, but not a sound came forth. For the second +time an expression of agony fluttered over his face, and no longer able +to control his feelings, he burst into tears. The sight so moved the +emperor, that he, too, shed tears abundantly. + +Kaunitz gradually recovered himself. With an impatient movement he +dashed away the last tears that had gathered in his eyes, and dried his +moist cheeks with his delicate cambric handkerchief. He was himself +again. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," said he, respectfully inclining his head. +"You see how grief has mastered me. I have behaved like a child who is +learning his first difficult lesson of self-control. Forgive this +momentary weakness, and I promise that you shall never see me so +overwhelmed as long as I live." + +The emperor, with an affectionate smile, pressed the old statesman's +hand. "I have nothing to forgive, dear prince. I have to thank you for +permitting me to view the penetralia of a great man's heart. And still +more have I to thank you for the sincerity with which you have loved +Maria Theresa. I accept it as a pledge of your obedience to her last +wishes. May I not?" + +Kaunitz looked up, and answered with firmness, "Sire, this is the hour +of unreserve, and I will speak the unvarnished truth. I have been +expecting the last greeting of my empress, and had I not received her +command to serve your majesty, I should have known that Austria had need +of me no more, and ere long I would have followed my peerless mistress +to the grave." + +"How! you would have laid violent hands upon your life?" + +"Oh, no, sire--I would simply have starved to death; for I never could +have tasted food again, had I once obtained the conviction that I had +become superannuated and useless. Your majesty has saved my life, for I +have eaten nothing since she--went; and, now, since I must still live +for Austria, let me implore you to forget what you have seen of me +to-day. If I have ever served Austria, it has been in virtue of the mask +which I have always worn over my heart and features. Let me resume it +then, to wear it for life. Had we worn our political mask a little +longer, Frederick would not have foiled us in our Bavarian projects. We +must beware of him, old though he be, for he is a shrewd, far-seeing +diplomatist." + +"Oh, I do not fear his prying propensities!" cried Joseph. "Let him +watch our proceedings--and much good may it do him. He will see a new +order of things in Austria. Will you stand by me, prince, and lend me a +helping hand until my stately edifice is complete?" + +"Your edifice, above all things, will need to be upon a secure +foundation. It must be fast as a mountain, behind which we can intrench +ourselves against the stormings of the clergy and the nobility." + +The emperor gave a start of joyful surprise. "You have guessed my +projects of reform, and I have not yet uttered a word!" + +"I had guessed them long ago, sire, I had read them more than once upon +your countenance when priests and nobles were by; and I triumphed in +secret, as I thought of the day that was to come, when you would be the +sole arbiter of their destinies." + +"The day has come! it has come!" exclaimed Joseph, exultingly. "Now +shall begin the struggle in church and convent, in palace and castle; +and we shall shake off ambitious prelates and princes as the lion does +the insect that settles upon his mane!" + +"Let the lion beware, for the insect bears a sting, and the sting bears +poison!" + +"We shall rob it of its sting before we rob it of its treasures. And +whence comes the sting of these troublesome gnats? It resides in the +riches of the church and the privileges of the nobles. But the noble +shall bow his haughty head to my laws, and the church shall yield up her +wealth. The lord of the soil shall come down to the level of his serf, +and by the eternal heavens above me, the priest shall he made as +homeless as Christ and His apostles!" + +"If your majesty can compass this, your people will adore you as a +second Messiah." + +"I will do it! I will free my people from bondage, and if I am made to +die the death of the cross, I shall exult in my martyrdom," exclaimed +Joseph, with flashing eyes. "The internal administration of Austria +calls for reform. The empire over which I am to reign must be governed +according to my principles. Religious prejudices, fanaticism, and party +spirit must disappear, and the influence of the clergy, so cherished by +my mother, shall cease now and forever. Monks and nuns shall quit their +idle praying, and work like other men and women; and I shall turn the +whole fraternity of contemplatives into a body of industrious burghers." +[Footnote: This whole conversation is historical. The expressions are +those of the emperor. See "Letters of Joseph II.," p. 98.] + +"Oh, sire," exclaimed Kaunitz, "your words affright me. Bethink you that +you throw the brand of revolt among a numerous and influential class." + +"We will strip them of their armor, and so they shall become innoxious," + +"Gracious Heaven!" ejaculated Kaunitz, "your majesty, will--" + +"Capture the convents, and carry off the booty." + +"But that will be tantamount to a declaration of war against Rome!" + +"Exactly what I propose to bring about. I desire to teach this servant +of God that I am absolute monarch of my own dominions, and that his--" + +"True, sire, true, but be cautious, and go warily to work." + +"I have no time to temporize," cried Joseph. "What is to be done shall +be done at once. So much the more quickly that this question of +stripping the convents is not only one of principle but of expediency +also. They abound in objects of value, and my treasury needs +replenishing. The state debt is large, and we must retrench. I shall +not, like my gracious mother, require a budget of six millions. I intend +to restrict myself to the expenditure which suffices for the King of +Prussia. Of course. I shall not, like the munificent Maria Theresa, +dispense ducats and smiles in equal profusion. My people must be +satisfied with a greeting that is not set to the music of the chink of +gold. Neither shall I, like my imperial lady-mother, keep two thousand +horses in my stables. Moreover, the pension-list shall be decreased--let +the retrenchment fall upon whom it may. But all this will not suffice to +straighten my financial affairs. I need several millions more. And as +they are to be found in church and convent, I shall seek them there." + +Prince Kaunitz had listened to this bold harangue with perfect +astonishment. Several times in the course of it, he had nodded his head, +and more than once he had smiled. + +"Sire," said he, "you have such an intrepid spirit that my seared old +heart beats responsive to the call like an aged war-horse that neighs at +the trumpet's note. Be it so, then. I will fight at your side like a +faithful champion, happy, if, during the strife, I be permitted to ward +off from my emperor's head a blow from his adversary's hands. Remember +that we go forth to fight thousands. For the people are with the clergy, +and they will cry out even more bitterly than they did at the expulsion +of the Jesuits." + +"And they will cease to cry, as they did on that occasion," exclaimed +the emperor, with a merry laugh. "Courage, Kaunitz, courage! and we +shall prevail over Rome and all monkdom; and when we shall have utilized +their treasures, the people will return to their senses, and applaud the +deed." [Footnote: Joseph's own words. See Letters, etc., p. 49.] + +"So be it then, your majesty. I will help you to pluck the poisonous +weeds, and sow in their places good secular grain." + + + +CHAPTER CXLII. + +THE BANKER AND HIS DAUGHTER. + +The beautiful daughter of the Jewish banker was alone in her apartments, +which, from the munificence of her wealthy father, were almost regal in +their arrangements. + +Rachel, however, was so accustomed to magnificence that she had lost all +appreciation of it. She scarcely vouchsafed a glance to her inlaid +cabinets, her oriental carpets, her crystal lustres, and her costly +paintings. Even her own transcendent beauty, reflected in the large +Venetian mirrors that surrounded her, was unheeded, as she reclined in +simple muslin among the silken cushions of a Turkish divan. + +But Rachel, in her muslin, was lovely beyond all power of language to +describe. Her youth, grace, and beauty were ornaments with which +"Nature's own cunning hand," had decked her from her birth. What diamond +ever lit up Golconda's mine with such living fire as flashed from her +hazel eyes? What pearl upon its ocean-bed ever glittered with a sheen +like that of the delicate teeth that peeped from between her pouting +coral lips? When she wandered in her vapory white dresses through her +father's princely halls, neither pictures nor statues there could +compare in color or proportion with the banker's queenly daughter +herself. + +She lay on the dark silk cushions of the divan like a swan upon the +opalline waters of the lake at sunset. One arm, white and firm as +Carrara marble, supported her graceful head, while in her right hand she +held an open letter. + +"Oh, my beloved!" murmured she, "you hope every thing from the +magnanimity of the emperor. But in what blessed clime was ever a Jewess +permitted to wed with a Christian? The emperor may remove the shackles +of our national bondage, but he can never lift us to social equality +with the people of another faith. There is nothing to bridge the gulf +that yawns between my beloved and me. It would kill my father to know +that I had renounced Judaism, and I would rather die than be his +murderer. Oh, my father! oh, my lover! My heart lies between you, and +yet I may not love you both!--But which must I sacrifice to the other?" + +She paused and raised her eyes imploringly to heaven. Her cheeks +flushed, her bosom heaved, and no longer able to restrain her agitation, +she sprang from her divan, and light as a gazelle, crossed the room, and +threw open the window. + +"No, my lover," said she, "no, I cannot renounce you! A woman must leave +father and mother, to follow him who reigns over her heart! I will leave +all things, then, for you, my Gunther!" And she pressed his letter to +her lips; then folding it, she hid it in her bosom. + +A knock at the door caused her to start slightly, and, before she had +time to speak, the Jewish banker entered the room. + +"My dear father!" exclaimed Rachel, joyfully, flying to him and putting +her arms around his tall, athletic form. + +Eskeles Flies stroked her dark hair, and pressed a kiss upon her brow. +"I have not seen you for two days, father," said Rachel, reproachfully. + +"I have been absent inspecting my new factories at Brunn, my daughter." + +"And you went away without a word of adieu to me!" + +"Adieu is a sorrowful word, my daughter, and I speak it reluctantly; but +a return home is a joy unspeakable, and you see that my first visit is +to YOU, dear child. To-day I come as a messenger of good tidings." + +Rachel raised her head, and a flush of expectation rose to her face. + +"Do the good tidings concern us both?" asked she. + +"Not only ourselves, but our whole people. Look at me, Rachel, and tell +me wherein I have changed since last we met." + +Rachel stepped back and contemplated her father with an affectionate +smile. "I see the same tall figure, the same energetic, manly features, +the same dear smile, and the same--no, not quite the same dress. You +have laid aside the yellow badge of inferiority that the Jew wears upon +his arm." + +"The emperor has freed us from this humiliation, Rachel. This burden of +a thousand years has Joseph lifted from our hearts, and under his reign +we are to enjoy the rights of men and Austrians!" + +"The emperor is a great and magnanimous prince!" exclaimed Rachel. + +"We have been trampled so long under foot," said the banker, scornfully, +"that the smallest concession seems magnanimity. But of what avail will +be the absence of the badge of shame? It will not change the peculiarity +of feature which marks us among men, and betrays us to the Christian's +hate." + +"May our nation's type be ever written upon our faces!" exclaimed +Rachel. "The emperor will protect us from the little persecutions of +society." + +"He will have little time to think of us, he will have enough to do to +protect himself from his own enemies. He has decreed the dispersion of +the conventual orders, and as he has refused to yield up the goods of +the church, his subjects are becoming alienated from a man who has no +regard for the feelings of the pope. Moreover, he has proclaimed +universal toleration." + +"And has he included us among the enfranchised, dear father?" + +"Yes, my child, even we are to be tolerated. We are also to be permitted +to rent estates, and to learn trades. Mark me--not to BUY estates, but +to rent them: We are not yet permitted to be landed proprietors. +[Footnote: Ramshorn, "Joseph II," p. 259.] But they cannot prevent the +Jew from accumulating gold--'yellow, shining gold;' and riches are our +revenge upon Christendom for the many humiliations we have endured at +its pious hands. They have withheld from us titles, orders, and rank, +but they cannot withhold money. The finger of the Jew is a magnet, and +when he points it, the Christian ducats fly into his hand. Oh, Rachel! I +look forward to the day when the Jews shall monopolize the wealth of the +world: when they shall be called to the councils of kings and emperors, +and furnish to their oppressors the means of reddening the earth with +one another's blood! We shall pay them to slaughter one another, Rachel; +and that shall be our glorious revenge!" + +"My dear, dear father," interposed Rachel, "what has come over you that +you should speak such resentful words? Revenge is unworthy of the noble +sons of Israel; leave it to the Christian, whose words are love, while +his deeds are hate." + +"His words to the Jew are as insolent as his deeds are wicked. But I +know very well how to exasperate and humble the Christians. I do it by +means of my rich dwelling and my costly equipages. I do it by inviting +them to come and see how far more sumptuously I live than they. The +sight of my luxuries blackens their hearts with envy; but most of all +they envy the Jewish banker that his daughter so far outshines in beauty +their Gentile women!" + +"Dear father," said Rachel, coloring, "you go to extremes in praise, as +in blame. You exaggerate the defects of the Christian, and the +attractions of your daughter." + +Her father drew her graceful head to him, and nestled it upon his +breast. "No, my child, no, I do not exaggerate your beauty. It is not I +alone, but all Vienna, that is in raptures with your incomparable +loveliness." + +"Hush, dear father! Would you see me vain and heartless?" + +"I would see you appreciate your beauty, and make use of it." + +"Make use of it! How?" + +"To help your father in his projects of vengeance. You cannot conceive +how exultant I am when I see you surrounded by hosts of Christian +nobles, all doing homage to your beauty and your father's millions. +Encourage them, Rachel, that they may become intoxicated with love, and +that on the day when they ask me for my daughter's hand, I may tell them +that my daughter is a Jewess, and can never be the wife of a Christian!" + +Rachel made no reply; her head still rested on her father's bosom, and +he could not see that tears were falling in showers from her eyes. But +he felt her sobs, and guessing that something was grieving her, he drew +her gently to a seat. + +"Dear, dear child," cried he, anxiously, "tell me why you weep." + +"I weep because I see that my father loves revenge far more than his +only child; and that he is willing to peril her soul by defiling it with +wicked coquetry. Now I understand why it is that such a profligate as +Count Podstadsky has been suffered to pollute our home by his visits!" + +The banker's face grew bright. "Then, Rachel, you do not love him?" said +he, pressing his daughter to his heart. + +"Love him!" exclaimed Rachel, with a shudder, "love a man who has +neither mind nor heart!" + +"And I was so silly as to fear that your heart had strayed from its +duty, my child, and that the tears which you are shedding were for him! +But I breathe again; and can exult once more in the knowledge of his +love for you." + +"No, father," said Rachel, "he does not love me. He loves nothing except +himself; but he wearies me with his importunities." + +"What has he done to you, my daughter?" + +"During your absence he came three times to see me. As I denied myself, +he had resort to writing, and sent me a note requesting a private +interview. Read it for yourself, father. It lies on the table." + +The banker read, and his eyes flashed with anger. "Unmannerly wretch!" +exclaimed he, "to use such language to my daughter! But all Vienna shall +know how we scorn him! Answer his note favorably, Rachel; but let the +hour of your interview be at mid-day, for I wish no one to suppose that +my daughter receives Christians by stealth." + +"I will obey you, father," replied Rachel, with a sigh; "but I would be +better satisfied to thrust him, without further ceremony, from the door. +I cannot write to him, however, that would be a compromise of my own +honor; but I will send him a verbal message by my own faithful old +nurse. She knows me too well to suspect me of clandestine intercourse +with a wretch like Podstadsky." + +"Why not send the girl who delivered his letter?" + +"Because I discharged her on the spot for her indiscretion." + +"Bravely done, my precious child! You are as wise and as chaste as +Israel's beauteous daughters have ever been. I shall reward you for +despising the Christian count. But I must go. I must go to double my +millions and lay them all at my Rachel's feet." + +He kissed his daughter's forehead, and rose from the divan. But as he +reached the door he turned carelessly. + +"Has the emperor's private secretary visited you of late?" + +"He was here yesterday," said Rachel, blushing. + +"Did you receive him?" + +"Yes, dear father, for you yourself presented him to me." + +Eskeles Flies was silent for a while. "And yet," resumed he, "I believe +that I was wrong to invite him hither. In your unconscious modesty, you +have not perceived, my child, that Gunther loves you with all the fervor +of a true and honest heart. He may have indulged the thought that I +would bestow my daughter upon a poor little imperial secretary, whose +brother enjoys the privilege of blacking the emperor's boots. Although I +laugh at this presumption, I pity his infatuation, for he is an +excellent young man. Be careful--or rather, receive him no longer. You +see, Rachel, that toward an estimable man, I do not encourage coquetry; +on the contrary, I plead for poor Gunther. He must not be exposed to a +disappointment. It is understood, then, that you decline his visits." + +He smiled kindly upon his daughter, and left the room. + +Rachel looked after him with lips half parted, and face as pale as +marble. She stood motionless until the sound of her father's foot-steps +had died away: then sinking upon her knees, she buried her face in her +hands, and cried out in accents of despair + +"Oh, my God! I am to see him no more!" + + + +CHAPTER CXLIII. + +THE COUNTESS BAILLOU, + +The beautiful Countess Baillou was about to give a ball. She had invited +all the haut ton of Vienna, and they had accepted the invitations. And +yet the countess had been but four weeks in the Austrian capital; she +had no relations there, and none of the aristocracy had ever heard her +name before. But she had come to Vienna provided with letters of +introduction, and money; and these two keys had opened the saloons of +the fashionables to the beautiful stranger. + +Her splendid equipage had been seen in the parks, and her magnificent +diamonds at the theatre. All the young men of fashion had directed their +lorgnettes toward her box, admiring not only her extraordinary beauty, +but the grace and abandon of her attitude, as she leaned back in her +velvet arm-chair. She had not long been seated when the door of the box +opened, and a young man entered whom the lady greeted with a cordial +smile. Every one knew the visitor to be Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein. +the richest, haughtiest, and handsomest cavalier in all Vienna. +Podstadsky was the son of a distinguished nobleman, high in the +emperor's favor; he had just returned from his travels, and all the +Viennese gallants were eager to imitate him in every thing. To see him +in the box of the beautiful stranger was to fire the ambition of every +man to know her; the more so that the haughty Podstadsky, instead of +accepting a seat, was standing in an attitude of profound respect, which +he maintained until he took his leave. + +Podstadsky, of course, was assailed with questions in relation to the +countess. He had known her in Italy as the wife of a wealthy old +nobleman to whom her parents had sacrificed her before she was eighteen. +She had been sincerely admired in Rome, not only on account of her +beauty, but of her wit, goodness, and above all of her admirable +behavior toward her repulsive old husband. Her conduct had been so +exemplary that she had been called "La contessa del cuore freddo." +[Footnote: The countess with the cold heart.] Podstadsky confessed that +even he had been desperately in love with her, but finding her +unapproachable, had left Rome in despair. What then was his delight +when, a few moments ago, he had learned from her own lips that she was a +widow, and had come to spend a season in Vienna! + +The consequence of this recital was that Podstadsky's young +acquaintances were clamorous for presentation to la contessa. He stepped +into her box to inform the lady of their wishes, but soon returned with +the unwelcome tidings that the countess would receive no male visitor +unless he came in the company of a lady. This, of course, increased the +longing of the gallants tenfold, and the next day when her equipage was +seen coming in the park, it was followed by many an eager horseman, +jealous beyond expression of Count Podstadsky, who was admitted to the +blessed privilege of riding near the lady of their thoughts. + +Some days later the young countess left her cards and letters of +introduction, and as they were from Orsinis, Colonnas, and other +grandees of Rome, her hotel was crowded with elegant equipages, and she +was admitted into the charmed circles of the first society in Vienna. + +As for the furniture of her hotel, it surpassed anything in the city. + +Her orders of every kind had been princely. Her sofas and chairs were of +embroidered satin; her tables of inlaid wood and verde antique; her +carpets the richest Persian; her paintings and statuary of rarest value. +She had bespoken several services of gold, and jewellers were revelling +in her orders for parures such as princesses would have been proud to +possess. + +One quality which the Countess Baillou possessed gave her unbounded +popularity with those whom she patronized. Her purchases were all +promptly paid in new Austrian bank-notes, and tradesman vied with +tradesman as to who should have the privilege of her custom. + +Finally, her palace was furnished, and the day of her ball had dawned. +Every invitation had been accepted, for the world was curious to see the +splendors of her fairy abode, and to behold the fairy emerge from the +retreat wherein she had buried herself up to the date of this grand +reception. + +And now the long suites were lit up, and room after room was one blazing +sea of light, gold, crystal, bronze, and marble. Here and there were +charming boudoirs, where those who were weary of splendor could retire +to converse in the soft, subdued light that was shed upon them from +veiled lamps. The whole was closed by magnificent conservatories, where +flourished the flowers and fruits of every clime; where tropical birds +were seen fluttering among the branches of the orange-trees, or dipping +their beaks in the classic basins of the fountains that were gently +plashing there. + +The countess had just emerged from her dressing-room. Her dress for the +evening was of white satin, and the coronal of brilliants which flashed +among the braids of her black hair was worthy to be the bridal-diadem of +a queen. The Countess Baillou was tall and stately in her beauty, hers +was the fascination of the dark-eyed Italian, united to the majesty of a +daughter of ancient Rome, and the union was irresistible. Her throat was +slender, her head small, and her classic oval face was of a pale, pearly +hue, without a tinge of the rose, which, while it lends animation to a +woman's face, detracts from the camelia-like purity of genuine patrician +beauty. + +The countess glided across the room, and throwing back her head took a +critical survey of her apartments. They presented a combination of taste +with magnificence, and their mistress was satisfied. + +She turned to her steward, who was breathlessly awaiting the result of +his lady's inspection. "Not bad," said she, in a rich, melodious voice. +"I am quite pleased with your labors." + +"Will my lady walk through the rooms to see the conservatories?" asked +the steward. + +"Why so?" replied she, with indifference. "I have no doubt that all is +as it should be, I am too weary of splendor to take much interest in it. +See, however, that the tables are spread with every luxury that can +tempt the palates of my guests." + +"I hope your ladyship will be satisfied. The two cooks from Paris +profess, the one to have learned his art under the Prince de Soubise, +the other to have received his receipts for pastry from the Duke de +Richelieu?" + +"Let them both do their best," said the countess, languidly, "and +remember that expense is to be no obstacle to the carrying out of my +orders." + +With these words she dismissed the steward, and sank back into the +recesses of an arm-chair. But when he had fairly left, and she knew that +she was alone, her aspect changed. She rose quickly from the chair, and +walked through her rooms, surveying their splendor with visible +exultation. + +How peerless was her beauty as she swept through those empty rooms, her +diamonds reflected from mirror to mirror, her rich dress falling in +heavy folds about her form! He who had seen her there would have taken +her for the princess who had just awakened from her hundred years' +sleep, looking around her palatial solitude to see who it was that had +broken the spell of her enchanted trance. Her face was lit up with +triumph as she went, and at times, when something of rare value met her +eyes, in the ecstasy of her pride she laughed aloud. + +Suddenly the stillness was broken by the sound of a man's footstep. The +laugh of the countess ceased, and she drew on her mask of indifference. +She turned slowly around, and dropped it again--for the intruder was +Count Podstadsky. + +Just in the midst of the dancing room, tender the blaze of a crystal +chandelier, they met. The countess gave him her hand, and he grasped it +in his own, looking earnestly at her fair, bewitching face. She returned +the glance with her large, flashing eyes, and so they stood for a time +together. There was a secret between those two. + +The countess spoke first. Her mouth relaxed into a scornful smile. +"Count Carl von Podstadsky-Liechtenstein," said she, "you are a man, and +yet you tremble." + +"Yes, Arabella, I tremble, but not for myself. As I look upon you, in +the fulness of your incomparable beauty, my blood freezes with terror, +and a voice whispers to me, 'Have mercy on this woman whose beauty is so +akin to that of angels! You both stand upon the edge of a precipice: +shield her at least from the ruin which threatens you!'" + +The countess raised her snowy shoulders. "German sentimentality," said +she. "If you mix sentiment with your cards, we shall lose the game, +Count Podstadsky. Hear, then, what I have to say to you. It is true that +we stand upon the brow of a precipice; but we must contemplate it +fearlessly, and so we shall grow accustomed to our danger, and learn to +escape it. Why do you wish to rescue me, Carl? I do not wish to be +rescued. I like the giddy brink, and look down with defiance into the +abyss that blackens the future before me." + +"Give me some of your courage," sighed the count. "Let me drink +confidence from the depths of your fearless, flashing eyes, my angel." + +"Angel!" said Arabella, with a mocking laugh. "If so, call me your +fallen angel; for when I took the unfathomable leap which leads from +innocence to guilt, your arms were outstretched to receive me. But +pshaw! what bootless retrospection! I am here, Carl, true as steel; +ready to stand or fall at your side. Feel my hand, it is warm--feel my +pulse, it beats as evenly as though I had never slept a night out of +Eden." + +"You are a heroine, Arabella. The magnificence around us affrights my +cowardly soul; while you--surely I heard your silvery laugh when I +entered this room awhile ago." + +"To be sure you did, faint-hearted knight of the card-table! I laughed +for joy when I thought of former misery; and compared it with present +splendor; the more so, that I am the bold architect who raised the +edifice of my own fortune. We need not be grateful to Heaven for our +luck, Carl, for we are not in favor with the celestial aristocracy; we +have no one to thank for our blessings but ourselves." + +"And will have no one to thank but ourselves when ruin overtakes us." + +"Possibly," said Arabella, with a shrug. "But remember that we have +already been shipwrecked, and have not only saved ourselves, but have +brought glorious spoils with us to shore. So away with your misgivings! +they do not become the career you have chosen." + +"Right, Arabella, right. They do not, indeed! But promise me that I +shall always have you at my side to share my fate, whatever it bring +forth." + +"I promise," said she, raising her starry eyes to his, and clasping with +her small, firm hand his cold and clammy fingers. "By the memory of +Rome, and the dark-rolling waters of the Tiber, from which you rescued +me that night, I promise. And now let us pledge each other in a draught +from the depths of the Styx. Look around you, Carl, and realize that all +this magnificence is ours, and to-night I play the hostess to the proud +aristocracy of Vienna. But one question before the curtain rises. How +goes the affair with the banker's lovely Rachel?" + +"Gloriously! She loves me, for she has consented to receive me day after +to-morrow, during her father's absence." + +"Go, then, and the blessings of your fallen angel go with you! Play your +game cautiously, and let us hear the chink of Herr Eskeles Flies' gold +near the rustling of our fragile bank-notes. And now go. Return in half +an hour, that I may receive you in presence of our fastidious guests. +They might not approve of this tete-a-tete, for you are said to be a sad +profligate, Carl!" + +She kissed her little jewelled hand, and while her Carl disappeared +through a secret door on one side of the room, she glided forward with +grace and elegance inimitable, to receive the high-born ladies who were +just then passing the portals of her princely abode. + + + +CHAPTER CXLIV. + +THE EXPULSION OF THE CLARISSERINES. + +The stroke so long apprehended by the church had fallen. Joseph had +thrown down the gauntlet, and had dealt his first blow at the chair of +St. Peter. This blow was directed toward the chief pastors of the +Austrian church--the bishops. Their allegiance, spiritual as well as +temporal, was due to the emperor alone, and no order emanating from Rome +could take effect without first being submitted for his approval. The +bishops were to be reinstated in their ancient rights, and they alone +were to grant marriage dispensations and impose penances. + +But this was only one step in the new "reformation" of the Emperor +Joseph. He dissociated all spiritual communities whatever from +connection with foreign superiors, and freed them from all dependence +upon them. They were to receive their orders from native bishops alone, +and these in their turn were to promulgate no spiritual edict without +the approbation and permission of the reigning sovereign of Austria. + +These ordinances did away with the influence of the head of the church +in Austria, but they did not sufficiently destroy that of the clergy +over their flocks. This, too, must be annihilated; and now every thing +was ready for the great final blow which was to crush to the earth every +vestige of church influence within the dominions of Joseph the Second. +This last stroke was the dispersion of the religious communities. Monks +and nuns should be forced to work with the people. They were no longer +to he permitted to devote their lives to solitary prayer, and every +contemplative order was suppressed. + +The cry of horror which issued from the convents was echoed throughout +the land, from palace to hovel. The people were more indignant--they +were terror-stricken; for the emperor was not only an unbeliever +himself, he was forcing his people to unbelief. The very existence of +religion, said they, was threatened by his tyranny and impiety. + +Joseph heard all this and laughed it to scorn. "When the priests cease +their howls," said he, "the people, too, will stop, and they will thank +me for what I am doing. When they see that the heavens have not fallen +because a set of silly nuns are startled from their nests, they will +come to their senses, and perceive that I have freed them from a load of +religious prejudices." + +But the people were not of that opinion. They hated the imperial +freethinker who with his brutal hands was thrusting out helpless women +from their homes, and was robbing the very altars of their sacred +vessels, to convert them into money for his own profane uses. + +All this, however, did not prevent the execution of the order for the +expulsion of the nuns. In spite of priests and people, the decree was +carried out on the 12th of January, of the year 1782. A multitude had +assembled before the convent of the Clarisserines whence the sisters +were about to be expelled, and where the sacred vessels and vestments +appertaining to the altars were to be exposed for sale at auction! + +Thousands of men were there, with anxious looks fixed upon the gates of +the convent before which the deputies of the emperor, in full uniform, +stood awaiting the key which the prioress was about to deliver into +their hands. Not far off, the public auctioneers were seated at a table +with writing-materials, and around them swarmed a crowd of Jewish +tradesmen eagerly awaiting the sale! + +"See them," said a priest to the multitude, "see those hungry Jews, +hovering like vultures over the treasures of the church! They will drink +from the chalice that has held the blood of the Lord, and the pix which +has contained his body they will convert into coin! Alas! alas! The +emperor, who has enfranchised the Jew, has disfranchised the Christian! +Unhappy servants of the Most High! ye are driven from His temple, that +usurers and extortioners may buy and sell where once naught was to be +heard but praise and worship of Jehovah!" + +The people had come nearer to listen, and when the priest ceased, their +faces grew dark and sullen, and their low mutterings were heard like the +distant murmurings of a coming storm, while many a hand was clinched at +the Jews, who were laughing and chattering together, greatly enjoying +the scene. + +"We will not permit it, father," cried a young burgher, "we will not +allow the sacred vessels to be bought and sold!" + +"No, we will not allow it," echoed the people. + +"You cannot prevent it," replied the priest, "for the emperor is +absolute master here. Neither can you prevent the expulsion of the pious +Clarisserines from the home which was purchased for them with the funds +of the church. Well! Let us be patient. If the Lord of Heaven and Earth +can suffer it, so can we. But see--they come--the victims of an +unbelieving sovereign!" + +And the priest pointed to the convent-gates through which the procession +had begun to pass. At their head came the prioress in the white garb of +her order, her head enveloped in a long veil, her face pale and +convulsed with suffering, and her hands, which held a golden crucifix, +tightly clasped over her breast. Following her in pairs came the nuns, +first those who had grown gray in the service of the Lord, then the +young ones, and finally the novices. + +The people looked with heart-felt sympathy at the long, sad procession +which, silent as spectres, wound through the grounds of the home which +they were leaving forever. + +The imperial commissioners gave the sign to halt, while, their eyes +blinded by tears, the people gazed upon the face of the venerable +prioress, who, obedient to the emperor's cruel decree, was yielding up +the keys and the golden crucifix. She gave her keys with a firm hand; +but when she relinquished the emblem of her office and of her faith, the +courage of the poor old woman almost deserted her. She offered it, as +the commissioner extended his hand, she shrank involuntarily, and once +more pressed the cross to her quivering lips. Then, raising it on high, +as if to call upon Heaven to witness the sacrilege, she bowed her head +and relinquished it forever. + +Perhaps she had hoped for an interposition from Heaven; but alas! no +sign was given, and the sacrifice was complete. + +The priest who had addressed the crowd, advanced to the prioress. + +"Whither are you going, my daughter?" said he. + +The prioress raised her head, and stared at him with vacant, tearless +eyes. + +"We must go into the wide, wide world," replied she. "The emperor has +forbidden us to serve the Lord." + +"The emperor intends you to become useful members of society," said a +voice among the crowd. "The emperor intends that you shall cease your +everlasting prayers, and turn your useless hands to some account. +Instead of living on your knees, he intends to force you to become +honest wives and mothers, who shall be of some use to him by bearing +children, as you were told to do when your mother Eve was driven from +HER paradise." + +Every head was turned in eager curiosity to discover the speaker of +these bold words; but in vain, he could not be identified. + +"But how are you going to live?" asked the priest, when the murmurs had +ceased. + +"The emperor has given us a pension of two hundred ducats," said the +prioress, gently. + +"But that will not maintain you without--" + +"It will maintain honest women who deserve to live," cried the same +voice that had spoken before. "Ask the people around you how they live, +and whether they have pensions from the crown. And I should like to know +whether a lazy nun is any better than a peasant's wife? And if you are +afraid of the world, go among the Ursulines who serve the emperor by +educating children. The Ursulines are not to be suppressed." + +"True," said some among the crowd; "why should they not work as well as +we, or why do they not go among the Ursulines and make themselves +useful?" + +And thus were the sympathies of the people withdrawn from the unhappy +nuns. They, meanwhile, went their way, chanting as they walked: + +"Cujus animam gementem, contristanten et dolentem pertransivit gladius." + +While the Clarisserines were passing from sight, the people, always +swayed by the controlling influence of the moment, returned quietly to +their homes. + +Three men with hats drawn over their brows, pressed through the crowd, +and followed the procession at some distance. + +"You see," said one of the three, "how a few words were sufficient to +turn the tide of the people's sympathies, and to confound that fanatic +priest in his attempt to create disturbance." + +"Which he would have succeeded in doing but for your majesty--" + +"Hush, Lacy, hush! We are laboring men, nothing more." + +"Yes," growled Lacy, "and you put us to hard labor, too, when you +embarked in this dangerous business. It was a very bold thing to come +among this excited multitude." + +"I was determined to watch the people, and counteract, if possible, the +effect of the sly blackcoats upon my subjects. Was it not well that I +was there to rescue them from the miseries of revolt?" + +"Yes. I think there was danger at of a time that mischief would result +from the pious comedy of the prioress." + +"To be sure there was," cried the emperor. "But this time I won the +field through a few well-directed words. And now let us go and see the +show at the two other convents. Perhaps we may come in time to send +another well-directed arrow in the midst of the sisterhoods." + + + +CHAPTER CXLV. + +COUNT PODSTADSKY'S ESCORT. + +"You promise that he shall remain but five minutes in my room, father?" +said Rachel. + +"I give you my word that he shall stay just long enough for me to +complete my preparations to escort him home." + +"What mean you, dear father? At least tell me what you intend to do." + +"I merely intend a jest, dear child," said Eskeles Flies, laughing. "A +jest which shall announce to the people of Vienna that the Jewish banker +has no desire to receive the visits of the Christian count. Ah, eleven +o'clock! The hour for your interview. Farewell, my daughter, your lover +comes." + +The banker disappeared through a tapestry-door, and scarcely had he +closed it when Count Podstadsky was announced. + +Rachel had so unconquerable an aversion to Podstadsky that, instead of +going forward to greet him, she actually stepped back and raised her +hand as if to ward him off. But the count was not easily repulsed. + +"At last, my angel," said he, "my hour of happiness is here--at last you +are mine. And I am the happiest of mortals." + +"Who tells you that I am yours?" said Rachel, still retreating. + +"Yourself, my houri, when you consent to receive me alone. How shall I +prove to you the extent of my adoration?" + +"Oh, you can easily do that," said Rachel, "by becoming a Jew for the +love of me." + +At the idea of his becoming a Jew, Podstadsky burst out into a fit of +laughter; but Rachel affected not to hear it. + +"You know that by becoming a Jew," continued she, "you would be at +liberty to marry me, and inherit my father's ducats." + +At mention of her father's wealth Podstadsky felt that he had laughed +too soon. The thought of the banker's millions made him feel rather +grave. They were worth any thing short of such a lese noblesse as +apostasy. + +"What to me are your father's ducats?" cried he, vehemently. "I love +nothing here but his daughter, and my love is sufficient for me. I ask +nothing but the priceless treasure of your heart. Come, sweet one, +come!" + +"Away with you!" cried Rachel, unable to endure his insolence longer. +"If I have permitted you to sully the purity of my home with your +presence, it was that I might tell you once for all how I despise you! +Now, begone, sir." + +"And allow me to accompany you home," said a mocking voice behind; and +as Podstadsky turned with a start to see whence it came, he met the +fiery black eyes of Eskeles Flies, who approached with a tall wax-light +in his hand. + +The count trembled inwardly, but recovering his self-possession, he +asked, with a haughty smile: "Are we in the carnival, and do you +represent the Israelitish god of love?" + +"Yes, count," said the banker, "and his torch shall light you home, lest +you stumble on your way, and fall into the pit of dishonor. Come and +receive the ovation prepared for you." + +So saying, Eskeles Flies opened the door, and the count looked out with +dismay. + +The long hall was lined on both sides with the liveried servants of the +banker, each holding in his hand a wax-light, whose yellow flame flared +to and fro, as the air from the open door below came in fitful puffs up +the wide marble staircase. + +"Come," said the banker, advancing with his flambeau. Podstadsky +hesitated. If his sense of honor was dead, his vanity was not; and it +winced at the slightest touch of ridicule. Was there no escape from this +absurd escort? He looked around and saw no hope of rescue. Behind him +Rachel had locked the door, and the servants were so closely ranged +together that it was vain to attempt a passage through that living wall +of fire. He had no alternative but to laugh derisively and step into the +ranks. The procession moved on, and gathered strength as it moved; for +on the staircase in the lower hall, and at the front of the house, they +were joined by throng after throng, each man of which, like the +commander-in-chief, was armed with a flambeau. This was bad enough of +itself, but the count's body-guard were all in a titter, and every man +enjoyed the jest except himself. + +By this time they had reached the street, and what was the rage and +mortification of the proud Austrian grandee, when he saw that curiosity +had drawn thither a concourse of people, who kept up with the +procession, wondering what on earth could be the meaning of it! +[Footnote: This scene is historical. See "Letters of a French +Traveller," vol. i., p. 405. Frieders "Letters from Vienna," vol. ii., +p. 30.] + +"See," cried one, "Herr Eskeles Flies has caught a marten in his +hen-roost and is lighting him home." + +"And the marten is the fine Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein," cried +another. "I know him. He rejoices in the title of 'woman-killer.' Only +look how he sneaks along as the tribe of Israel are dogging him home!" + +"The Israelites are escorting him home," jeered the multitude, and the +procession moved on, never stopping until it reached the count's own +hotel. Once there, Eskeles Flies, in a loud voice, bade him adieu, and +requested to know whether he should accompany him farther. + +"No," replied Count Podstadsky, trembling with passion, "and you shall +answer to me for this outrage. We shall see whether the unbelieving Jew +can mock the Christian with impunity!" + +"Accuse me before the public tribunals," answered the banker, "and I +shall enter MY complaint against you." + +"Indeed!" said Podstadsky, contemptuously. "The Jew will be allowed to +accuse an Austrian nobleman, will he?" + +"Yes, by the God of Israel, he will," replied Eskeles Flies, so loud +that his voice was heard by the people around. "Yes, thanks to the +emperor, his subjects before the law are all equal, and Jew and +Christian are alike amenable to its judgments. Long live Joseph the +Second, the father of his people!" + +"Long live the father of his people!" shouted the fickle multitude; and +glad that the attention of the crowd had been diverted from himself, +Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein slunk away to ruminate over the +mortifying occurrences of the morning. + + + +CHAPTER CXLVI. + +THE LAMPOON. + +The emperor, with his confidential secretary, had been at work through +the entire night. Day had dawned, and still he wrote on, nor seemed to +be conscious of the hour. In his restless zeal, he felt no fatigue, no +exhaustion, nor yet any excitement, and not until the last document had +been read and signed, did he rise from his chair to take a few turns +around the room, while Gunther was sorting the papers, and placing them +in a portfolio. + +"Gunther," said the emperor, "what is the matter? You look pale and +suffering." + +Gunther raised his head, and smiled. "Nothing, sire, is the matter, but +want of rest. A few hours' sleep will restore me" + +"Not so, Gunther; you belie yourself when you say so, for never in my +life have I seen such an indefatigable worker as you. Ah! you look down, +so that I know you are not frank with me. Come, have you no confidence +in me?" + +"Oh, sire, I have the most unbounded confidence in your goodness; but +since you force me to speak, I am uneasy about yourself." + +"How so, Gunther?" + +"Because, your majesty strides forward in your projects of reform +without the least apprehension of the danger that attends such changes. +You rush through the flames without ever dreaming that they may some day +consume you." + +The emperor shrugged his shoulders. "Always the same song--an echo of +Lacy and Rosenberg. I have no time to temporize as you would advise me +to do. Who knows how long I shall live to carry out my own free will?" + +"Certainly, if your majesty works as you have done of late, your chance +for life is not very great. You seem to forget that mind is subordinate +to matter--not matter to mind--that physical nature must have her +rights, and no man can withstand her exactions. Pardon me these bold +words, sire, but if I speak at all, I must speak the truth. You have +begun a gigantic edifice, and if you die, it must remain forever +incomplete." + +"For that very reason, I must complete it myself; for, indeed, Gunther, +you are right--when I die, I leave no man worthy to succeed to my +stupendous undertakings. I shall, therefore, live until I have +accomplished them all." + +"Then your majesty must work less," exclaimed Gunther, warmly. "You do +not believe that in pleading for you, sire, I give one thought to +myself, for nothing is too laborious for me when I work for my emperor." + +Joseph laid his hand softly upon Gunther's shoulder. "I believe you, +Gunther. I esteem you as one of my best friends, and well you know that +from you I have no political secrets." + +"I would sooner die than betray your majesty, even unwittingly," said +Gunther, looking with his large, honest eyes into the emperor's face. + +"I know it, Gunther; but as you enjoy my confidence without reserve, you +ought to know that I have too much to do to think of rest. Oh, it would +be dreadful for me to die before my structure is complete! Gunther, +Gunther, the priests would transform my fairy palace into a gloomy +church; and from its towers, in lieu of the noble clock which is to +strike the hour of reformation for my people, would frown the cross that +is the symbol of the unenlightened past. Oh, let me not hear in my dying +moments the crash of the temple I would rear to Truth!" + +"Then recreate your mind, sire, with literature or art. It is long since +the speaking tones of your violoncello have been heard in the palace." + +"Very true, Gunther, but I cannot invite the Muses into my study. A +prince has no right to associate with such frivolous ladies, for he is +not on earth to pass away time. The King of Prussia heads a royal sect +who devote themselves to authorship. The Empress of Russia follows after +him with Voltaire in her hand. I cannot emulate their literary +greatness. I read to learn, and travel to enlarge my ideas; and I +flatter myself that as I encourage men of letters, I do them a greater +service than I would, were I to sit at a desk and help them to weave +sonnets. [Footnote: The emperor's own words. "Letters of Joseph," p. +67.] So let us eschew Apollo and his light-footed companions; I aim to +be nothing but an imperial statesman. But," continued the emperor, +frowning, "I get little sympathy from my subjects. Counsellors, nobles, +burghers, priests, all heap obstacle upon obstacle in my path, and the +work advances slowly. The revenues, too, are inadequate to the state. +The financial affairs of the crown are disordered, and it is only by the +strictest economy that I am able to sustain the army. The people call me +a miser, because Maria Theresa's prodigality of expenditure forces upon +me measures of retrenchment, and necessitates unusual expedients for the +raising of funds." + +"Which unhappily were extorted from convents and shrines." + +"Unhappily! HAPPILY, you mean to say. The treasures which were wasted on +convent-chapels and shrines, have saved us from bankruptcy; and God will +look down with favor upon the sacrifice which dead superstition has made +to living love, and will bestow a blessing upon the work of my hands! +True, those heroes of darkness, the monks and priests, will cry +Anathema! and the earth will be filled with their howls." + +"Like that which greeted Alcides, when he stormed the gates of +Tartarus," said Gunther, smiling. + +"You are right. The work is worthy of Alcides, but with the blessing of +God it shall be done. Little care I for the wail of nuns or the groans +of priests; let them shriek and tear their hair, or, if they like it +better, let them vent their spleen in lampoons and caricatures. See, +Gunther, what a compliment I received yesterday." + +And the emperor drew from his escritoire a paper which he unfolded. +"Look at this. It takes off one of my great crimes. You know I have +deprived the court of the privilege of living in the palace, and I have +given them wherewith to find lodgings in the city. Here go the ladies +with their bundles under their arms, and the lord high-steward has a +broom sweeping after them as they go. This charming individual in the +corner with a hunting-whip, is myself. And here is the pith of the joke. +'Rooms to let here. Inquire of the proprietor on the first floor.' +[Footnote: Hubner, i., p. 190.] What do you think of it?" + +"Abominable! Inconceivable!" ejaculated Gunther. "As unjust as it is +stinging." + +"It does not sting me. I have a sound hide. When it itches it is cured +by scratching. [Footnote: Joseph's own words.] Here is another +pasquinade. It was thrown before my horse's feet as I was riding in the +park." + +"'Joseph Premier, aimable et charmant: Joseph Seconde, scorpion et +tyran.'" + +"How can your majesty laugh at such unparalleled insolence?" cried the +indignant secretary. + +"No one can deny that I have stung priests and nuns," said Joseph, +laughing, "so they are welcome to roar, since their tongues are the only +weapons wherewith they may revenge themselves upon their tyrant. As I +have proclaimed freedom of speech and press, you see they take advantage +of the privilege." + +"Well, if your majesty takes so magnanimous a view of these insulting +lampoons," said Gunther, drawing a paper from his pocket, "I must show +you one which yesterday was posted on the wall of the Konigskloster." + +"So the Konigskloster irritates the servants of the lord, does it?" +laughed Joseph. "They cannot forgive me for selling it to the banker +Flies, to transfigure into a Jewish palace!--Well, let us see the +pasquinade!" + +"Sire, my tongue refuses to pronounce the words," replied Gunther, +handing it to the emperor. + +"Nay, you must accustom your tongue to pronounce them, for we are likely +to have many more of the same sort to read. So go on, and speak out +boldly." + +The emperor threw himself into an arm-chair, and making himself +comfortable, prepared to listen. + +The lampoon denounced him as the persecutor of the brides of the Lord, +and the enemy of the church. It accused him of having converted a holy +temple into the abode of sin, that he might gratify his greed for money. + +When Gunther had concluded, he cried out impatiently, "This time at +least your majesty will show your enemies that forbearance has its +limits, and that the liberty of the press shall not degenerate into +license." + +"By no means. That would look as if I were afraid. I commission you to +have the lampoon reprinted and to expose it for sale in the bookstores +at six kreutzers a copy, the proceeds to be given to the poor." +[Footnote: Historical.] + +"Oh that your majesty's enemies were here to sink with shame at your +feet, and beg your forgiveness!" cried Gunther. + +"Hush," said Joseph. "Were my enemies to hear you, they would liken me +to other princes, who make a parade of their good qualities so that +flatterers may immortalize them in laudatory dithyrambics.--But the time +for chatting and resting has expired," continued Joseph, rising from his +chair. "The labors of the day call me. I must go to receive my +petitioners, who must be weary with waiting, for I am a quarter of an +hour behind the time." + + + +CHAPTER CXLVII. + +THE PETITIONERS. + +The wide corridor in which Joseph was accustomed receive his petitioners +was crowded. People of all ages and conditions were there, waiting with +trembling impatience the appearance of the emperor, who received the +applications of his subjects every day from nine o'clock until twelve. +Suddenly a commotion was perceptible among the crowd, and a pressure was +felt toward the door which led to the cabinet of the emperor. The ears +of those who have suits to urge are keen; and every one of that motley +throng heard the footsteps of him who held their destinies in his hand. + +The door opened, and Joseph was before them. At once every hand that +held a paper was eagerly stretched forward. The emperor went from one to +another, and, while he collected their petitions, entered into friendly +converse with the applicants. + +The last petitioner was an old man in the garb of a Hungarian peasant. +His white hair fell in locks from beneath his wide-brimmed hat of dark +brown, and the cloak which was thrown carelessly over his stalwart +shoulders was embroidered with shells and silver spangles. His sun-burnt +face was free from the Runic characters which the slow finger of Time is +apt to trace upon the brow of the human race; and but for the color of +his hair, he would have been mistaken for a man in the prime of life. + +The emperor was favorably struck with his bearing, and smiled with more +than usual benignity. + +"Whence come you?" said he. + +"From Hungary, sire," replied the peasant, with a smile that revealed +two rows of regular, white teeth. "I was one week on my journey; at +night the open field my bed, and by day a drink of water more than once +my only breakfast." + +"You must have had important business in Vienna." + +"Yes, sire. I was sent with this petition to your majesty." + +"It must be urgent, to have induced you to travel so far." + +"Urgent, indeed, sire. I promised the peasants of our district to give +it into your majesty's own hand. It has the name of every man in the +district; but if I had had time to go around with it, I might have +brought with me the name of every peasant in Hungary. It was arranged +that I should present the petition this morning, and now, while we stand +here, every man, woman, and child at home is praying for my success. " + +"What can I do for you? Speak, and if possible, I will grant your +petition." + +"Then, your majesty, read it aloud, that I may say to my brethren, that +our cry of distress has reached the imperial ear." + +Joseph smiled, and opening the paper, read aloud: + +"Compassionate emperor! Four days of hard labor as socmen; the fifth day +at the fisheries; the sixth day following our lords in the hunt--the +seventh day is the Lord's. Judge, then, whether we are able to pay our +taxes." + +"Yes, yes," murmured the man to himself, "he cannot say that if we are +oppressed, he knows nothing of it." + +"I will not say so, my friend," said the emperor, with emotion. "The +whole history of your wrongs is written in these few touching lines. I +know that you are oppressed, and that, when you sink with exhaustion at +your tasks, you are roused with the lash. I know that you are treated +like cattle, that you have neither property nor rights, and that +agriculture suffers sorely from the obstacles which your masters place +in your paths. I know all; and by the God above us, to whom your wives +and children are even now at prayer, I swear to free the Hungarian serf +from bondage!" + +"To free the Hungarian serf!" shouted the peasant. "Do I hear aright? +Does your majesty promise freedom to the Hungarian serf?" + +"As God hears me, I will free him," replied the emperor, solemnly. +"Servitude shall cease, and free socage shall replace villeinage. Your +tax-bill shall be revised, and your rights guaranteed by the crown. If, +after this, you are oppressed, come confidently to me, and your tyrants +shall be punished; for under my reign all men shall be equal before the +law." + +The peasant sank on his knees and looked up with glistening eyes. "Oh, +my lord and emperor," said he, "I had heard of tears of joy, but, until +to-day, I knew not what they meant. I have been scourged for refusing to +kneel to my lord; but I bend the knee to you for I feel that you are a +mighty sovereign and a merciful father to your people. God bless you for +the words by which you have recognized our right to live and to be +free!" + +He bent down and kissed the emperor's feet; then rising, he said +"Farewell, gracious lord of Hungary. I must return home." + +"Will you not remain a day or two to see the beauties of Vienna?" asked +the emperor. + +"No, your majesty. I carry too much joy with me to tarry on my way; and +what could I see in Vienna to rival the snow-white mountains that mirror +themselves in the blue lakes of Hungary?" + +"Then, at least, take this purse to defray your expenses." + +"No, your majesty, I cannot take gold to defray the expenses of a holy +pilgrimage. Farewell! And may the blessings of a grateful people be +echoed for you in heaven!" + +The emperor laid his hand upon the peasant's shoulder. + +"Tell me the name of my Hungarian friend!" + +"My name? It is Horja, [Footnote: Unhappy Horja! This sentimental +interview cost him his life.] sire." + +"Farewell, then, Horja; let me hear from you." + + + +CHAPTER CXLVIII. + +THE PETITIONERS. + +As the door closed behind Horja, the emperor continued his rounds, but +no more petitions were presented. Here and there, however, was heard a +request for an audience, which Joseph granted, and then retired to his +cabinet, leaving the door open. + +"Have the goodness to walk in," said he to the lady, who was in advance +of the others. She obeyed, and the emperor, closing the door, took a +seat at his escritoire. + +"Now, madam, I am ready to hear you; but, as there are nine persons to +follow, I must request you to be brief. What is your name?" + +"I am the widow of the President von Kahlbaum." + +"He was a worthy man. Have you any children, madam?" + +"Yes, your majesty; I have two daughters and a son." + +"Two daughters? I once had a little maiden of my own, but she is dead," +said the emperor, sadly. "How can I serve you and your children?" + +"Oh, sire, the fearful ordinance by which the pensions from her late +majesty's privy-purse were withdrawn, has ruined me. I beseech of you, +sire, restore to me my pension extraordinary." + +"Are you not aware that the pensions extraordinary are abolished?" + +"Yes, sire; but through your majesty's liberality, I hope to retain the +pension I held from the empress. The loss of it heightens my grief for +the death of my husband, and makes life unendurable. Without it I should +have to part with my carriage, with a portion of my household, and live +in complete retirement. I am sure that your majesty's own sense of +justice will plead for me." + +"Justice is the motive power of all my actions, madam," replied the +emperor, curtly, "and for that very reason you cannot retain your +pension." + +"Sire, I am sorely stricken. The merits of my husband--my position--" + +"Your husband's merits have earned you the pension you already receive +from the crown; and as for your position, that can in no way concern me. +I grant that your loss is great; but your special pension will maintain +three poor families, and I cannot allow you to receive it longer." + +"Alas!" cried the lady, "what are my daughters to do?" + +"They can become good house-keepers or governesses, if they have +received good educations." + +"Impossible, sire. My daughters are of noble birth, and they cannot +descend to the humiliation of earning a living." + +"Why not? I am sure I earn my living, and earn it by hard work, too. No +one is too good to work; and since the aristocracy cannot shield their +children from want, it is clear that they cannot free them from the +necessity of labor." + +"Then, your majesty, have mercy upon my son--the only son of a man of +noble extraction." + +"What profession has he chosen?" + +"He wishes to be an officer in the army; but he was so severely dealt +with in his examination, that he has not been able to obtain a +commission. Oh, your majesty, I beseech of you, grant him a command in +the infantry!" + +"Madam," cried the emperor, impatiently, "a man may be the son of a +distinguished father without having the slightest claim to serve as an +officer. As your son was not able to stand his examination, he must +content himself with being the 'son of a man of noble extraction.' +Excuse me, but time is limited. I regret to refuse your requests, but +justice compels me to do so." + +The lady burst into tears, and making her inclination to the emperor, +left the room. The latter, following her, said, "Let the next petitioner +advance." + +This was an old hussar, a captain of cavalry, with lofty bearing and +snow-white beard. He came in, making a military salute. + +"What can I do for you, my friend?" asked Joseph. + +"I come to ask of your majesty not to deprive me of the pension +extraordinary which the empress of blessed memory bestowed upon me from +her privy purse," said the old soldier, bluntly. + +"Oh, another pension extraordinary!" said the emperor, with a laugh. +"That cannot be, captain. The privy purse of the empress, which, in the +goodness of her heart, was thrown indiscriminately to all who asked for +alms, this purse exists no longer. It has a large hole in it, and its +contents have all run out." + +The old hussar gave a grim look to the emperor, and raised his peruke. +Pointing with his finger to three wide, purple scars upon his head, he +said: + +"Sire, my head is somewhat in the condition of your privy-purse, it has +several holes in it. They were made by your majesty's enemies." + +"To stop such holes as those is my sacred duty," said Joseph, smiling, +"and enough remains yet in the bottom of the privy-purse to satisfy the +wants of a brave officer, who has served me to his own prejudice. +Forgive my refusal. The petition which you wear on your head is more +eloquent than words, and your pension shall be returned to you." + +"I thank your majesty," said the captain, and with another stiff salute, +he marched out. + +The emperor looked after him, laughing heartily. + +As he disappeared, a pale, delicate woman came forward, accompanied by +several young children, two of which were hiding their heads in her +skirt. The group filed up the door like a picture, and the children +clung so to the pallid mother that she could not advance a step. + +"As you cannot come to me, I will go to you," said the emperor, +contemplating them with a benevolent smile. "Give me your petition, +madam." + +"These are my petitions, your majesty," said the woman pointing to her +children. "My husband served for many years in the twelfth regiment, and +died of the wounds he received in the Bavarian war. He left me nothing +but these orphans." + +The emperor looked kindly at the little golden heads that were peeping +from among the folds of their mother's dress, and a cloud came over his +face. "You grieve for your poverty, poor woman," said he, "and know not +how I envy your riches. How many millions would I give if one of those +children were mine! Children are a great blessing." + +"Yes, sire, when they have fathers to work for them." + +"I will be their father," said Joseph, and at the sound of these loving +words, the children raised their bashful heads, to steal a look at the +speaker. "Come, boys," continued he, offering his hand, "will any of you +be soldiers?" + +"Yes, yes," replied the two eldest, standing erect and making the +military salute. + +"That is right. You are brave fellows, and if you behave well, you shall +belong to my body-guard.--Come to-morrow," continued he to the mother, +"and the lord-chancellor will attend to the maintenance and education of +your four eldest. Meanwhile, you shall have a pension for yourself and +the youngest. In a few years I will do as much for the little one there. +Be punctual in your visit to the chancery. You will be received at ten +o'clock." + +"God reward your majesty!" faltered the happy mother. "Oh, my children, +my dear children, the emperor is the father of the orphan! Reward your +gracious sovereign by being good, and pray for him with all your +hearts!" + +With these words the woman courtesied and withdrew, and the audience for +that day was at an end. + +"And pray for him with all your hearts," whispered the emperor. "May God +hear the petitions of these innocents! Perchance they may weigh against +the curses of others. They are the little roses which I sometimes find +beneath my crown of thorns. But away with sentiment! I have no time to +indulge in heart-reveries. My vocation is to work. Here is a portfolio +filled with petitions. Gunther must help me to examine them." + +He rang the bell, and Gunther seated himself and went to work. +Meanwhile, the emperor had taken up one of the papers and was reading +it. Suddenly he put it down and began to laugh. + +"Listen, Gunther," said he, "listen to this touching appeal. One of the +discharged counselors orders me to give him a larger pension that he may +live in a manner befitting his position. Now hear the conclusion of the +petition. 'Our emperor is a poor callow mouse.'" [Footnote: Hubner, i., +p. 199.] + +"And your majesty can laugh at such insolence!" exclaimed Gunther, +coloring with indignation. + +"Yes, I do," replied Joseph. "Nothing can be franker and more to the +point." + +"And I, pardon me, sire, think that the writer of this insolent letter +should be severely--" + +"Nay," interrupted the emperor. "You would not have me punish him for +being man enough to say to my face what thousands say of me behind my +back, would you? Now, I am so disinclined to punish him that I intend to +increase his pension just because he is an honest, plain-spoken fellow. +You need not make such a grimace, Gunther. If you feel badly, console +yourself with your work." + +The emperor seated himself at the table and went on looking over his +petitions, occasionally murmuring to himself, "Our emperor is a poor, +callow mouse!" + + + +CHAPTER CXLIX. + +THE LADY PATRONESS. + +The days of the Countess Baillou glided away in one continued round of +pleasure. She was the cynosure of all eyes at concert, ball, or +festival. Even women ceased to envy the conquering beauty, and seemed to +think it just that all mankind should succumb to her unparalleled +attractions. The emperor had shared the common enthusiasm, and, at a +ball given by Prince Esterbazy, had danced twice with the countess. +Those therefore who, through their rank or station, were ambitious of +the emperor's presence at their entertainments, hastened one and all to +issue pressing invitations to the enchantress of whom their sovereign +had said that she was the most fascinating woman in Vienna. + +Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein was about to give a ball, and the +Countess Baillou had consented to receive his guests. It would perhaps +have been more natural that the mother of the count should play the +hostess on this occasion, but it was known that the old couple were at +variance with their only son; and the more lavish he grew in his +expenditure, the more penurious became his parents. The avarice of the +latter was as well known as the extravagance of the former, and whenever +there was a new anecdote current, illustrative of the prodigality of the +son, another was related to exemplify the increasing parsimony of the +father. + +It was no wonder, therefore, that the bewitching countess should have +been selected to preside over the ball given by her aristocratic friend. +Everybody was delighted. The emperor was to be there, and it was to be +the most magnificent entertainment of the season. Long before the hour +fixed for the arrival of the guests, the street before the count's +palace was thronged with people, eager to obtain a glance at any thing +appertaining to the fairy spectacle. While they were peering through the +illuminated windows at a wilderness of flowers, mirrors, silk, and +velvet, a carriage drawn by four splendid horses came thundering down +the street, and drew up before the door of the palace. Two footmen in +sky-blue velvet picked out with silver, leaped down to open the door, +and in a trice the large portals of the palace were thrown open, and a +rich carpet rolled to the carriage door, while six liveried servants +ranged themselves on either side. + +And now from the carriage emerged the lady patroness, resplendent in +silver gauze, and diamonds that glittered like a constellation just +fallen from the heavens. The people enraptured by the beauty of the +countess, gave vent to their admiration without stint. As she reached +the top of the marble steps, she turned and smiled upon her worshippers, +whereupon they shouted as an audience is apt do at the appearance of a +favorite prima donna. + +In the midst of this applause, the lady entered the hotel, and until the +door closed and shut out the enchanted scene within, the crowd watched +her graceful form as it glided along followed by a train of lackeys. +Count Podstadsky came forward to meet her with ceremonious courtesy. +They entered the gay saloons, but, as if led by one common impulse, both +traversed the long suite of apartments in silence, and approached a door +which led into a small boudoir evidently not lit up for the occasion. +Once within, the door was closed, and the purple velvet portiere was +dropped before it. + +"Do not be afraid," said the countess, with a bewitching smile, "we are +alone. You are at liberty to congratulate me upon my appearance, for I +see by your eyes that you are dying to tell me how beautiful I am." + +"Neither eyes nor tongue could give expression to a hundredth part of +the rapture which my heart feels at your approach, Arabella," replied +Podstadsky, gazing upon her with passionate admiration. "Surely every +woman must hate you, and every man be intoxicated by your charms." + +"They are intoxicated, Carlo," replied she. "They are such fools! To +think that they are willing to commit any deed of folly for the sake of +a fair face and two bright eyes." + +"And you, my angel, are cruel to all, and for me alone has the proud +Countess Baillou a heart." + +"A heart!" ejaculated the countess, with irony. "Do you believe in +hearts, silly Carlo? My dear friend, I at least am without such an +inconvenience. If I love any thing it is gold. Its chink to my ear is +sweetest harmony, its touch thrills through my whole being." + +"How you have changed, Arabella! The time was when your lips murmured +words of love and despair, too?" + +"Ay, Carlo! But the woman who murmured of love and despair--she who +believed in innocence and loyalty, is buried in the Tiber. She whom you +rescued thence has received the baptism of shame; and you, Count +Podstadsky, were her sponsor. You taught me the art of lying and +deceiving, and now you prate to me of a heart!" + +"It is because your maddening beauty will not suffer me to forget that +mine is still susceptible of love," replied Podstadsky. + +The countess laughed, but there was no mirth in her voice. "Podstadsky," +said she, throwing back her superb head, "you have about as much heart +as a hare, who runs from a rustling leaf, taking it to be the clink of +the hunter's rifle." + +"And yet, Arabella," replied Podstadsky, with a sickly smile, "I am +here, although sometimes I do start, and fancy that I hear the hunter's +step behind me." + +"Hare-like fright," said Arabella, raising her shoulders. "I wonder at +you, Carlo, when you look upon what we are, and reflect upon what we +have been. Everybody in Vienna admires and envies us. The highest nobles +of the land are our willing guests, and the emperor himself (dit-on) has +fallen in love with the Countess Baillou. Oh, Carlo! Is it not enough to +make all the gods of Olympus laugh?" + +"You are right," replied Podstadsky, encouraged. "The emperor's visit +here to-night will silence the clamor of my creditors." + +"Creditors! What of them? Was there ever a nobleman without creditors! +They are one of the appendages of rank. And, then, Carlo--if your +creditors annoy you, what prevents you from paying them?" + +Podstadsky shuddered. "Do you mean--" + +"What is the matter with the man?" asked Arabella, as he paused, and she +saw how ghastly he looked. "Of course, I mean you to pay as you have +paid before. Pay, and pay promptly. Then when every thing--furniture, +plate, jewels, horses, and equipages are ours, we sell out, and realize +our fortune in GOLD--(no bank-notes, Carlo)--and, then, we take up our +abode in the city of cities--Paris! Gold--gold! There is--" + +A light knock was heard at the door. The countess disappeared, and the +count put out his head. It was his steward, who announced that a lady, +closely veiled, wished to speak with Count Podstadsky on urgent business. + +"Show her into the anteroom. The Countess Baillou will do me the favor +to receive her." + +"My lord," said the steward, "the lady wishes to see you alone." + +"Indeed? Then show her in here." + +The steward retired, and the count stepped into one of the lighted +rooms. The countess came forward, smiling. + +"I heard it all," said she playfully, threatening him with her finger. +"I am not going to allow you to have a tete-a-tete in the dark. No, no, +my Jupiter, your mysterious beauty shall be received just here under the +light of the chandelier, and I shall watch you both from the boudoir. +That will be safer for all parties. I suspect a certain dark-eyed beauty +of this stratagem, and I long to see the haughty prude." + +"Do you suspect Rachel Eskeles?" + +Arabella nodded affirmatively. "Doubtless she comes to implore +forgiveness for her father's insolence, and to deny all complicity with +the old Jewish dragon. Here she comes, Carlo, but mark me! if I see +danger ahead, I come to the rescue." + +The countess, like a graceful gazelle, then bounded into the boudoir, +while the count advanced to meet the veiled visitor. + + + + + +CHAPTER CL. + +MOTHER AND SON. + +With the bow and smile of a veritable libertine, Count Podstadsky +offered his arm to the lady, whose face was completely hidden by a long +black veil. The accommodating steward retired in haste, and the lady, +looking around with anxiety, murmured, "Are we alone?" + +"Entirely alone, my charming sphinx," replied Podstadsky. "The god of +love alone shall hear the secrets which are to fall from your coral +lips. But, first, let me remove this envious veil, my mysterious +charmer." + +The lady stood perfectly still, while Podatadsky, by way of exordium, +embraced her affectionately. Neither did she offer any opposition to his +daring hands, as first they removed her long mantilla, and then threw +back her black crape veil which had so faithfully concealed her +features. + +When he saw her face, he started back with a cry of remorse. + +"My mother, oh, my mother!" exclaimed he, covering his face with his +hands. + +Behind the portiere there was the faint sound of a mocking laugh, but +neither mother nor son heard it. They heard naught but the insufferable +throbs of their own hearts; they saw, each one, naught but the +death-like face of the other. + +"Yes, it is your unhappy mother--she who once vowed never again to cross +your threshold--but maternity is merciful, Carl, and I come hither to +pardon and to rescue you, while yet there is time for flight." + +The young count made no reply. At the astounding revelation made by the +dropping of that black veil, he had retreated in mingled shame and +surprise. He had accosted his own mother in the language of libertinism, +and he stood gazing upon her with looks of sorrow and regret. He had +scarcely heard her speak, so absorbed was he in self-reproach. And now +as she ceased, he murmured: + +"Is that my mother? My mother, with the wrinkled brow and the white +hair!" + +The countess returned his gaze with a mournful smile. "You have not seen +me for two years, Carl, and since then sorrow has transformed me into an +old woman. I need not tell you why I have sorrowed. Oh, my child! Whence +comes the gold with which this fearful splendor is purchased? Your +father--" + +"My father!" echoed the count, recalled to self-possession by the word. +"What am I to him, who cursed me and forbade me his house! Tell him," +cried he, fiercely, "that if I am lost, it is he who shall answer to +Heaven for my soul!" + +"Peace!" exclaimed the mother, in a tone of authority. "Nor attempt to +shift your disgrace upon him who has been, not the cause of your crimes, +but their victim. Why did he curse you, reprobate, tell me why?" + +The count was so awed by her words and looks that he obeyed almost +instinctively. + +"Because I had forged," was the whispered reply. + +"Yes--forged your father's name for a million, and forced him, for the +honor of his house, to sell all that he possessed. We are so poor that +we have scarcely the necessaries of life; nevertheless, we have borne in +silence the contumely of the world that scorns us as misers. And now, +although you have nothing to inherit, we hear of your wealth, the +magnificence of your house, of your unbounded expenditure!" + +"Yes, mother," replied the count, beginning to recover from his shock, +"it is plain that I have discovered a treasure--somewhere." + +"Then you will have to explain the nature of your discovery, for your +father is about to reveal the state of his affairs to the world." + +"If he does that, I am lost!" cried Podstadsky, in tones of despair. + +"Ah!" gasped the unhappy mother. "Then we were right in fearing that +your wealth was ill-gotten. Oh, Carl, Carl! look into the face of the +mother who bore you, and has loved you beyond all things earthly--look +into her face, and say whence comes this magnificence." + +The count tried to raise his eyes, but he could not meet his mother's +glance. Alas! he remembered how often in childhood, after some trifling +misconduct, he had looked into those loving eyes, and read forgiveness +there! + +The mother trembled, and could scarcely support her limbs. She caught at +a chair, and leaned upon it for a moment. Then, with faltering steps she +approached her son, and raised his head with her own hands. It was a +touching scene, and Count Podstadsky himself was not unmoved by its +silent eloquence. His heart beat audibly, and his eyes filled with +repentant tears. + +"Tell me, my child, tell me whence comes your wealth? I will not betray +you, for I am your unhappy mother!" + +"You can do nothing for me, mother," sobbed the count. "I am lost beyond +power of redemption." + +"Alas! alas! Then, you are guilty! But, Carl, I will not ask you any +questions--only let me save you from public disgrace. Your father is +inexorable, but I can save you, my beloved child. I will leave +home--country--name--every thing for your sake; even the husband of my +life-long love. Come, my son, let us go together where no one shall ever +hear your story, and where, with the grace of God, you may repent of +your sins and amend." + +The strength of her love lent such eloquence to the words of the +countess that her son was borne away by the force of her pleadings. + +"Oh, my mother! if I could--if I could--" but here his voice faltered, +and the tears, which he had been striving to keep back, gushed out in +torrents. He covered his face with his hands, and sobbed aloud. + +His mother smiled and made a silent thanksgiving to Heaven. "God will +accept your tears, my dear prodigal child. Come, ere it be too late. +See, I have gold. My family diamonds have yielded enough to maintain us +in Switzerland. There, among its solitudes--" + +A clear, musical laugh was heard, and the melodious voice of a woman +spoke these scornful words: + +"Count Podstadsky a peasant! a Swiss peasant! Ha! ha!" + +The old countess turned, and saw, coming from the boudoir, a vision of +such beauty as dazzled her eyes. The vision came forward, smiling, and, +Podstadsky dashing away his tears, passed in one instant from the +heights of saving repentance to the unfathomable depths of hopeless +obduracy. + +The two women, meanwhile, faced each other: the one laughing, +triumphant, beautiful, alas, as Circe; the other pale, sorrowful a, the +guardian angel of the soul which has just been banished from the +presence of God forever! + +"Pray, Carlo, introduce me to your mother," said Arabella. "You are not +yet a Swiss peasant. Pending your metamorphosis, be a little more +observant of the conventions and courtesies of high life!" + +"She has been eaves-dropping," exclaimed the Countess Podstadsky, +contemptuously. + +"Yes," said Arabella, with perfect equanimity. "I have enjoyed the +privilege of witnessing this charming scene. You, madame, have acted +incomparably, but your son has not sustained you. The role you have +given him is inappropriate. To ask of him to play the repentant sinner, +is simply ridiculous. Count Podstadsky is a gentleman, and has no taste +for idyls." + +"Who is this woman?" asked the old countess. + +Her son had regained all his self-possession again. He approached +Arabella, and, taking her hand, led her directly up to his mother. + +"My mother, I beg to present to you the Countess Baillou, the +lady-patroness of the ball I give to-night." + +The old countess paid no attention to Arabella's deep courtesy. She was +too much in earnest to heed her. + +"Will you come, Carl? Every moment is precious." + +"My dear lady," exclaimed Arabella, "you forget that not only the +aristocracy of Vienna, but the emperor himself, is to be your son's +guest to-night." + +"Do not listen to her, my son," cried the wretched mother. "Her voice is +the voice of the evil spirit that would lure you on to destruction. +Carl! Carl!" cried she, laying her vigorous grasp upon his arm, "be not +so irresolute! Come, and prove yourself to be a man!" + +"Ay!" interposed Arabella, "be a man, Carl, and suffer no old woman to +come under your own roof and chide you as if you were her naughty boy. +What business, pray, is it of this lady's, where you gather your riches? +And what to the distinguished Podstadsky are the clamors of two +unnatural parents, who have long since lost all claim to his respect?" + +"Carl! Carl!" shrieked the mother, "do not heed her. She is an evil +spirit. Come with me." + +There was a pause. Arabella raised her starry eyes, and fixed them with +an expression of passionate love upon the count. That simulated look +sealed his fate. + +"No, mother, no. Importune me no longer, for I will not leave Vienna. +Enough of this tragi-comedy--leave me in peace!" + +Arabella flung him a kiss from the tips of her rosy fingers. + +"Spoken like a man, at last," said she. + +For a while not a word was beard in that gorgeous room, where the +chandeliers flung their full red glare upon the group below--the +white-haired mother-the recusant son--the beautiful enchantress--whose +black art had just sundered them forever. + +At length she spoke, that broken-hearted mother, and her voice was +hollow as a sound from the grave. + +"Thou hast chosen. God would have rescued thee, but thou hast turned +away from His merciful warning! Farewell, unhappy one, farewell!" + +She wrapped her dark mantle around her, and concealed her face again in +the veil. + +Her son dared not offer his hand, for evil eyes were upon him, and he +allowed her to depart without a word. Slowly she traversed the scene of +sinful splendor, her tall, dark figure reflected from mirror to mirror +as she went; and before the receding vision of that crushed and +despairing mother the lights above seemed to pale, and the gilding of +those rich saloons grew dim and spectral. + +Farther and farther she went, Podstadsky gazing after her, while +Arabella gazed upon him. She reached the last door, and he started as if +to follow. His tempter drew him firmly back, and calmed his agitation +with her magic smile. + +"Stay, beloved," said she, tenderly. "From this hour I shall be mother, +mistress, friend--all things to you!" + +He clasped her passionately to his heart, sobbing, "I wish for nothing +on earth but your love, the love which will follow me even to the +scaffold!" + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed Arabella, "what an ugly word to whisper to these +beautiful rooms! Look here, Carl, the diamonds we own in common are +worth half a million. We must do a good business to-night. When the +emperor has retired, the hostess will have a right to preside over the +faro table, and you know that my cards never betray me." + +"I know it, my enchantress," cried Carl, kissing her. "Let us make haste +and grow rich. I would go anywhere with you, were it even to +Switzerland." + +"But not as a peasant, Carl. First, however, we must have our millions. +Now, be reasonable to-night, and don't play the Italian lover. Colonel +Szekuly is desperately enamored of me, and he will be sure to sit next +to me at the faro-table. The place he covets shall cost him a fortune." + +At that moment the steward entered the room. + +"A message from the emperor, my lady." + +"What can it be?" + +"His majesty regrets that he cannot keep his engagement this evening +with Count Podstadsky." + +"This is a disappointment. What else?" asked the countess, as the +servant still stood there. + +"Several other excuses, my lady. The two Princesses Lichtenstein, +Countess Thun, and Princess Esterhazy also have sent apologies." + +"Very well, Duval. Go, for the guests will be corning." + +The steward went, and the pair looked at each other in anxious silence. +Both were pale, both were frightened. + +"What can it mean? What can it mean?" faltered the countess. + +"What can it mean?" echoed the count, and he stared, for again he +thought that he saw his mother's shadow darkening the splendor of those +princely halls, whose lights were flickering as though they were about +to be extinguished and leave the guilty accomplices in irretrievable +darkness. + +"Arabella, something threatens us!" whispered Podstadsky. + +"Nonsense! Our guests are arriving." said she, rallying "Cour age, Carl, +courage! A smooth brow and bright smile for the aristocratic world, +Count Podstadsky!" + +The doors opened, and crowds of splendid women, accompanied by their +cavaliers, floated in toward the lady patroness, who received them all +with bewitching grace, and won all hearts by her affability. + + + +CHAPTER CLI. + +THE TWO OATHS. + +"Already, beloved? Think that for three long weeks I have not seen you, +Gunther! It is so early: no one misses me in the house, for my father +returns from his bank at nine only. Who knows when we shall meet again?" + +"To-morrow, my Rachel, if you will permit me to return, and every +morning at this hour, I shall be here behind the grove, waiting for my +angel to unlock the gates of Paradise, and admit me to the heaven of her +presence." + +"I will surely come! Nor storm nor rain shall deter me. Here, in this +pavilion, we are secure from curious eyes. God alone, who blesses our +love, shall see into our hearts!" + +"Oh, Rachel, how I honor and love your energetic soul! When I am with +you, I fear nothing. But away from the influence of those angelic eyes, +I tremble and grow faint." + +"What do you fear, Gunther?" + +"The pride of riches, Rachel. Your father would laugh me to scorn were +he to hear that his peerless daughter is loved by a man without rank or +fortune." + +"But whose heart has a patent of nobility from God!" exclaimed Rachel, +with enthusiasm. "And besides, Gunther, are you not a confidential +friend of the emperor?" + +"Yes," said Gunther, bitterly. "The emperor calls me 'friend,' and in +'grateful acknowledgment of my services,' he has raised my salary to +three thousand florins. But what is that to your father, who pays twice +the amount to his book-keeper! Why are you the daughter of a man whose +wealth reflects discredit upon my love!" + +"No one who looks into your noble face will suspect the purity of your +love, dear Gunther. But, alas, my lover! there is an obstacle greater +than wealth, to part us--the obstacle of your cruel faith, which does +not permit the Christian to wed with the Jew." + +"If you were poor, my Rachel, I would try to win you over from the +Jewish God of vengeance to the merciful God of the Christian. Would I +could bring such an offering to Jesus as that of your pure young heart!" + +"My father would die were I to renounce my faith," said Rachel, suddenly +growing sad. "But before he died, he would curse me." + +"How calmly you speak, and yet your words are the death-warrant of my +hopes!" exclaimed Gunther, despairingly. + +"I speak calmly, because I have long since resolved never to be the wife +of another man," replied Rachel. "If I must choose between father and +lover, I follow you. If my father drives me from his home, then, +Gunther, I will come and seek shelter upon your faithful heart." + +"And you shall find it there, my own one!--I dare not call you, beloved, +but oh! I await with longing the hour of your coming--the hour when, of +your own free will, your little hand shall be laid in mine, to journey +with me from earth to heaven! Adieu, sweetest. I go, but my soul remains +behind." + +"And mine goes with you," replied Rachel. He clasped her in his arms and +over and over again imprinted his passionate kisses upon her willing +lips. + +"To-morrow," whispered she. "Here is the key of the gate. I shall be in +the pavilion." + +Again he turned to kiss her, and so they parted. Rachel watched his +tall, graceful figure until it was hidden by the trees, then she clasped +her hands in prayer: + +"O God, bless and protect our love! Shelter us from evil, but if it must +come, grant me strength to bear it!" + +Slowly and thoughtfully she returned to the house. Her heart was so +filled with thoughts of her lover, that she did not see the stirring of +the blind, through which her father's dark, angry eyes had witnessed +their meeting. It was not until she had entered her room that she +awakened from her dream of bliss. Its splendor recalled her senses, and +with a sob she exclaimed: + +"Why am I not a beggar, or a poor Christian child? Any thing--any thing +that would make me free to be his wife!--" + +She ceased, for she heard her father's voice. Yes, it was indeed he! How +came he to be at home so soon? His hand was upon the door, and now he +spoke to her. + +"Are you up, my daughter? Can I come in?" + +Rachel hastened to open the door, and her father entered the room with a +bright smile. + +"So soon dressed, Rachel! I was afraid that I might have disturbed your +slumbers," said he, drawing her to him, and kissing her. "Not only +dressed, but dressed so charmingly, that one would suppose the sun were +your lover, and had already visited you here. Or, perhaps you expect +some of your adoring counts this morning--hey!" + +"No, father, I expect no one." + +"So much the better, for I have glorious news for you. Do you remember +what I promised when you consented to let me punish Count Podstadsky +after my own fashion?" + +"No, dear father, I do not remember ever to have been bribed to obey +your commands." + +"Then, I will tell you my news, my glorious news. I have become a +freiherr." + +"You were always a free man, my father; your millions have long ago made +you a freiherr." + +"Bravely spoken, my Jewess," cried Eskeles Flies. "I will reward you by +telling you what I have bought for you. A carriage-load of illuminated +manuscripts decorated with exquisite miniatures, that you may enrich +your library with Christian Bibles and papal bulls of every size and +form." + +"My dear father, how I thank you for these treasures!" + +"Treasures, indeed! They are part of the library of a convent. The +emperor has destroyed them as the Vandals once did the treasures of the +Goths. I bought them from one of our own people. And that is not all. I +have a communion-service and an ostensorium for you, whose sculptures +are worthy of Benvenuto Cellini. I purchased these also from a Jew, who +bought them at one of the great church auctions. Ha, ha! He was going to +melt them up--the vessels that Christian priests had blessed and held +sacred!" + +"That was no disgrace for him, father; but it is far different with the +emperor, who has desecrated the things which are esteemed holy in his +own curch. The emperor is not likely to win the affections of his people +by acts like these." + +"Pshaw! He wanted gold, and cared very little whence it came," cried +Eskeles Flies, with a contemptuous shrug. "His munificent mother having +emptied the imperial treasury, the prudent son had to replenish it. +True, his method of creating a fund is not the discreetest he could have +chosen; for while teaching his people new modes of financiering, he has +forgotten that he is also teaching them to pilfer their own gods. What +an outcry would be raised in Christendom, if the Jew should plunder his +own synagogue. But I tell you, Rachel, that when the lust of riches +takes possession of a Christian's heart, it maddens his brain. Not so +with the Jew. Were he starving, he would never sell the holy of holies. +But the Jew never starves--not he! He lays ducat upon ducat until the +glistening heap dazzles the Christian's eyes, and he comes to barter his +wares for it. So is it with me. My gold has bought for me the +merchandise of nobility." + +"Are you really in earnest, father? Have you thought it necessary to add +to the dignity of your Jewish birthright the bawble of a baron's title?" + +"Why not, Rachel? The honor is salable, and it gives one consideration +with the Christian. I have bought the title, and the escutcheon, as I +buy a set of jewels for my daughter. Both are intended to dazzle our +enemies, and to excite their envy." + +"But how came it to pass?" asked Rachel. "How came you to venture such +an unheard-of demand? A Jewish baron is an anomaly which the world has +never seen." + +"For that very reason I demanded it. I had rendered extraordinary +services to the emperor. He sent for me to repay me the millions I had +lent him without interest; and I took occasion there to speak of my +thriving manufactures and my great commercial schemes. 'Ah,' said he, +putting his hand affectionately upon my shoulder (for the emperor loves +a rich man), 'ah, if I had many such merchant-princes as you, the Black +Sea would soon be covered with Austrian ships.' Then he asked what he +could do in return for the favor I had done him." + +"And you asked for a baron's title!" + +"I did. The emperor opened his large eyes, and looked knowingly at me. +He had guessed my thoughts. 'So,' said he, 'you would like to provoke +the aristocracy to little, would you? Well--I rather like the idea. +They are in need of a lesson to bring down their rebellious spirit, and +I shall give it to them. You are a more useful man to me than any of +them, and you shall be created a baron. I shall also elevate several +other distinguished Jews to the rank of nobles, and the aristocracy +shall understand that wherever I find merit I reward it.'" + +"So then it was your worth, and not your gold, that earned for you the +distinction!" cried Rachel, gratified. + +"Nonsense! 'Merit' means wealth, and I assure you that titles cost +enormous sums. I must pay for my patent ten thousand florins, and if I +should wish to be a count, I must pay twenty thousand. But enough of all +this. Suffice it that I shall prove to the nobles that my money is as +good as their genealogical trees, and now we shall have crowds of noble +adorers at the Baroness Rachel's feet. But be she baroness or countess, +she is forever a Jewess, and that parts her eternally from any but a +wooer of her own faith. Does it not, my Rachel, my loyal Israelitish +baroness?" + +"Do you doubt me, my father?" asked Rachel in a faltering voice, while +she averted her face. + +"No, my child, for if I did, I would curse you on the spot." + +"Dear, dear father, do not speak such fearful words!" cried Rachel, +trembling with fright. + +"You are right, child. I am childish to indulge the supposition of my +Hebrew maiden's treachery. She is pure before the Lord, loyal and true +to the faith of her fathers. But we must be armed against temptation, +and before we part for the day, we must both swear eternal fidelity to +our creed. These wily Christians may come with flattery and smiles, and +some one of them might steal my Rachel's heart. I swear, therefore, by +all that is sacred on earth or in heaven, never to abandon the Jewish +faith, and never to enter a Christian church. So help me God!" + +Rachel gazed upon her father with blanched cheeks and distended eyes; +her muscles stiffened with horror, until she seemed to be turning to +stone. + +"Did you hear my oath, Rachel?" said he. + +She parted her lips, and they faltered an inaudible "Yes." + +"Then," said he, gently, "repeat the oath, for we both must take it." + +She raised her head with a quick, convulsive motion, and stammered, +"What--what is it, father?" + +"Swear, as I have done, never to leave the faith of your fathers, never +to enter a Christian church." + +Rachel made no reply. She stared again as though her senses were +forsaking her. She thought she would go mad. Her father's brow +contracted, and his mien grew fierce as he saw that his daughter's heart +had gone irrevocably from him. There was a long, dreadful pause. + +"Are you at a loss for words?" asked the baron, and his voice was so +savage that Rachel started at the ominous sound. + +"Repeat my words, then," continued he, seeing that she made no answer, +"or I--" + +"Say, on, my father," replied the despairing girl. + +Baron Eskeles Flies repeated his oath, and the pale victim spoke the +words after him. But at the end of the ordeal she reeled and fell to the +floor. Her father bent over, and raising her tenderly, folded her to his +heart. His voice was now as loving as ever. + +"My precious child, we are truly united now. Nothing can part us, and +your happy father will surround you with such splendor as you have never +beheld before." + +"Oh, my father!" exclaimed she, "what has splendor to do with +happiness?" + +"Everything," replied her father, with a careless laugh. "Misfortune is +not near so ugly in a palace as in a cottage; and I do assure you that +the tears which are shed in a softly-cushioned carriage are not half so +bitter as those that fall from the eyes of the houseless beggar. Wealth +takes the edge from affliction, and lends new lustre to happiness. And +it shall shed its brightest halo over yours, my daughter. But I must +leave you, for I expect to earn a fortune before I return, when I hope +to see you bright and beautiful as ever." + +He kissed her forehead and stroked her silky hair. "The Baroness Rachel +will be a Jewess forever! Oh, how can I thank you for that promise, my +adored child! What new pleasure can I procure for my idol to-day?" + +"Love me, father," murmured Rachel. + +"What need you ask for love, you who are to me like the breath of life? +To show how I anticipate your wishes, I have already prepared a +gratification for you. I have remarked how much pleasure you take in the +gardens and little pavilion yonder. Since my Rachel loves to take her +morning walk there, it shall be changed into a paradise. The brightest +fruits and flowers of the tropics shall bloom in its conservatories: and +instead of the little pavilion, I shall raise up a temple of purest +white marble, worthy of the nymph who haunts the spot. For a few weeks +your walks will be somewhat disturbed, darling, for the workmen will +begin to-morrow; but they aced not be much in your way, for while the +walls are down, I shall set a watch at every gate to make sure that no +one intrudes upon your privacy. In a few months you shall have a +miniature palace wherein to rest, when you are tired of roaming about +the grounds: Farewell, my child. I shall send the workmen +to-morrow--early to-morrow morning." + +"He knows all," thought poor Rachel, as he closed the door. "The oath +was to part me from Gunther; the changes in the garden are to prevent us +from meeting." + +For a long time she sat absorbed in grief. But finally she made her +resolve. + +"I have sworn to love thee forever, my Gunther," said she. "When the +hour comes wherein my choice must be made, I go with thee!" + + + +CHAPTER CLII. + +NEW-FASHIONED OBSEQUIES. + +The emperor's horse was saddled, and he was about to take his daily +ride. But as he was leaving his cabinet, a page announced Field-Marshal +Lacy. + +"Admit him," said Joseph, and he hastened to the anteroom to greet his +favorite. + +Lacy received the cordial greeting of the emperor with a grave, troubled +expression. + +"Sire," said he, "may I beg for an audience?" + +"Certainly, my friend," replied Joseph. "I am just about to ride, and +you can accompany me. We can converse together in some of the shady +alleys of the park. I will order a horse for you at once." + +"Pardon me, sire, our interview must be here. I saw your majesty's horse +in readiness for your ride, but that did not prevent me from coming, for +the matter which brought me hither is one of supreme importance." + +"And you cannot put it off until we take our ride?" + +"Sire, my first request is that your majesty will relinquish the ride +altogether. You must not be seen in the streets to-day." + +"Bless me, Lacy! you speak as if I were Louis of France, who is afraid +to show himself in public, because of the murmurs of his discontented +subjects." + +"Sire, assume that you are Louis, then, and give up the ride. Do it, if +you love me, my sovereign." + +"If I love you!" repeated Joseph, with surprise. "Well, then, it shall +be done." And he rang, and ordered his horse to be put up. "Now speak. +What can have happened here, that I should be threatened with a +discontented mob?" + +"Sire," began Lacy, "you remember the day on which we swore to speak the +truth to your majesty, even if it should become importunate, do you +not?" + +"Yes, I do, Lacy; but neither of you have kept the promise up to this +time." + +"I am here to redeem my word, sire. I come to warn your majesty that you +are proceeding too rashly with your measures of reform." + +"And you also, Lacy!" cried Joseph, reproachfully. "You, the bravest of +the brave, would have me retreat before the dissatisfaction of priests +and bigots." + +"The malcontents are not only priests and bigots, they are your whole +people. You attempt too many reforms at once." + +"But my reforms are all for the people's good. I am no tyrant to oppress +and trample them under foot. I am doing my best to free them from the +shackles of prejudice, and yet they harass and oppose me. Even those who +understand my aims, place obstacles in my path. Oh, Lacy, it wounds me +to see that not even my best friends sustain me!" + +"I see that your majesty is displeased," replied Lacy, sadly, "and that +you reckon me among your opponents--I who am struck with admiration at +the grandeur of your conceptions. But you are so filled with the +rectitude of your intentions, that you have no indulgence for the +weakness and ignorance of those whom you would benefit, and you snake +too light of the enmity of those whom your reforms have aggrieved." + +"Whom have I aggrieved?" cried Joseph, impatiently. "Priests and nobles, +nobody besides. If I have displeased them, it is because I wish to put +all men on an equality. The privileged classes may hate me--let them do +it, but the people whom I befriend will love and honor me." + +"Ah, sire, you think too well of the people," said Lacy. "And mindful of +my promise, I must say that you have given cause for dissatisfaction to +all classes, plebeian as well as patrician." + +"How so?" cried Joseph. + +"You have despised their prejudices, and mocked at customs which in +their superstitious ignorance they hold as sacred. They do not thank you +for enlightening them. They call you an unbeliever and an apostate. Do +not be displeased, sire, if I speak so plainly of things which the +stupidity of your subjects regards as a crime. I come as your majesty's +accuser, because I come as the advocate of your people, imploring you to +be patient with their blindness and their folly." + +"What now? Is there any special complaint against me?" + +"Yes, sire. Your majesty has issued an edict which has wounded the +people in those relations which the world holds sacred; an edict which +is (forgive me if I speak plain)--which is--so entirely free from +prejudice, that it trenches almost--upon the limits of barbarism." + +"What edict can you mean?" + +"That which concerns the burial of the dead, sire. I beseech you, revoke +it; for the people cry out that nothing is sacred to the emperor--not +even death and the grave! Leave them their cemeteries and their tombs, +that they may go thither and pray for the souls of the departed!" + +"That they may go thither and enjoy their superstitious rites!" cried +Joseph, indignantly. "I will not allow my subjects to seek for their +dead underground. They shall not solemnize the corruption of the body; +they shall turn their eyes to Heaven, and there seek for the immortal +spirit of the departed! They shall not love the dust of their +forefathers, but their souls!" + +"Sire, you speak of an ideal people. To bring mankind to such a state of +perfection would require the reign of a Methusaleh! It is too soon for +such edicts. The people, so far from appreciating, abhor them." + +"Are you really in earnest, Lacy?" exclaimed the emperor, with flashing +eyes. + +"Yes, sire, they are indignant. Yesterday the first burial, according to +your majesty's edict, took place, and since then the people are in a +state of revolt. To-day there are of course other bodies to be interred. +There is not a vagrant in the streets that does not utter threats +against your majesty. From the burgher to the beggar, every man feels +that his sacred rights have been invaded. They feel that the prohibition +of coffins and burying-grounds does not reach the rich, who have their +hereditary tombs in churches and chapels, but the people, who have no +such privileges." + +"The people for whose sakes I would have converted the mould of the +burying-ground into fertile fields, and spared them the cost of a +useless coffin, which, instead of rotting in the ground, would have been +so much more wood to warm them in winter, and cook the food for their +hungry, living bodies!" + +"But, your majesty, they are not sufficiently enlightened to comprehend +your ideas. Revoke the order, sire--in mercy to their ignorance, revoke +the order!" + +"Revoke it!" cried Joseph, furiously. "Never will I make such a +concession to stupidity and malice!" + +"Then," said Lacy, gravely, "it is possible that the flames of a +revolution may burst forth to consume this unhappy land. Oh, sire, have +mercy upon the poor people, whose eyes cannot endure the light of +reform! Preserve yourself and your subjects from the horrors of a +revolt, which, although it would be ultimately quelled, might cost +bloodshed and misery! I have never seen such excitement as prevails +throughout the streets of Vienna. Thousands of men and women throng the +quarter where the body lies." + +"When does the funeral take place?" + +"At three o'clock this afternoon, sire." + +"In one hour, then," said the emperor, glancing at the clock. + +"Yes, sire; and it may be an hour of tribulation, unless your majesty +has the magnanimity to prevent it! To discourage idle assemblages, your +majesty has forbidden the people to follow funerals. The effect of this +prohibition is, that the poor woman who is to be buried this afternoon +will be followed, not by her friends, but by thousands who have never +seen or known her. The police have done their best to disperse the +rioters, but so far in vain." + +"Then there is already a revolt," cried the emperor. + +"But for this I never should have presumed to deter your majesty from +enjoying your ride to-day." + +"Do you suppose that I would retreat before my own subjects?" + +"Sire, the wrath of the populace is like that of a tiger just escaped +from its cage. In its bloodthirstiness it tears to pieces every thing +that comes in its way." + +"I am curious to witness its antics," replied the emperor, touching the +bell. + +"Sire," exclaimed Lacy, staying Joseph's hand, "what would you do?" + +"Mount my horse, and go to the funeral." + +"What! To exasperate the crowd! To endanger yourself, and drive these +poor, half-frantic creatures to desperation! Oh, by the love you bear us +all, I beseech you, have mercy upon those whose only possession on earth +is oftentimes the grave! You would deprive their children of the only +comfort left them--that of praying over the ashes of the departed. You +would deprive those who are condemned to live like brutes, of the +comfort of dying like men. You would have their bodies sewed in sacks +and thrown into ditches where they are not even allowed to moulder, but +must be destroyed by lime. No tombstone permitted over their remains, +nothing to remind their weeping relatives that they were ever alive! Oh, +this is cruel! It may be a great thought, sire, but it is a barbarous +deed! I know how bold I am, but my conscience compels me to speak; and +were I to lose the emperor's favor, I must obey its faithful monitions. +Revoke the edict, sire! There is yet time. In one hour it will be too +late!" + +The emperor looked despondently at Lacy's agitated countenance. Then, +without a word, he turned to his escritoire and hastily began to write. +His writing concluded, he handed the paper to Lacy, and commanded him to +read it aloud. Lacy bowed and read as follows: + +"As I have learned that the living are so material in their ideas as to +set great store upon the privilege of having their bodies rot and become +carrion after death, I shall concern myself in no way as to the the +manner of their burying. Let it be known, therefore, that having shown +the wisdom of disposing of the dead after the manner described in my +edict, I shall force no man to be wise. Those who are not convinced of +its expediency, are free to dispose of their carcasses as they see fit." +[Footnote: Hubner, "Life of Joseph II.," vol. ii., p. 525.] + +When Lacy had read to the end, the emperor called imperatively for +Gunther. He obeyed the summons at once. + +"This letter to the lord high chancellor, Prince Kaunitz," said he, "I +wish this writing to be printed and posted at the corners of the +streets. Then hasten to the Leopold suburbs, where anyone of the police +will show you to the house whence the funeral is to take place. Go +within, and tell the relatives of the deceased that I give them +permission to bedizen their corpse in whatever style they may choose, +and to bury it in a coffin. Take a carriage and drive fast." + +Gunther bowed and turned to leave. "Stop a moment," continued the +emperor. "Go to the chief of police, and tell him that the people must +not be disturbed in any way. They must be allowed to disperse at their +pleasure. Now, Gunther, be quick." + +With a look of unspeakable affection Joseph gave his hand to Lacy. +"Lacy," said he, "if I have made this great sacrifice to-day, it is +neither from conviction nor fear; it is to show you what influence your +words have over me, and to thank you for the manliness with which you +have ventured to blame my acts. Few princes possess the jewel of a +faithful friend. I thank God that this jewel is mine!" [Footnote: The +burial edict was as follows: "As the burial of the dead has for its +object the speedy dissolution of the body, and as nothing hinders that +dissolution more than the casing of the corpse in a coffin, it is +ordained that all dead bodies shall be stripped of their clothing, and +sewed up in a linen sack, laid in an open coffin, and brought to the +place of interment. A hole shall be dug six feet long and four feet +wide, and the corpse being taken out of the coffin, shall be put into +this grave, strewed plentifully with quick-lime, and covered with earth. +If more than one corpse is to be buried, the bodies can all be put in +the same grave."--Gross-Hoffinger, "History of the Life and Reign of +Joseph II.," vol. ii., p. 146.] + + + +CHAPTER CLIII. + +THE POPE IN VIENNA. + +A report, almost incredible, was obtaining currency in Vienna. It was +said that the pope was about to visit the emperor. Many a German +emperor, in centuries gone by, had made his pilgrimage to Rome; but +never before had the vicar of Christ honored the sovereign of Austria by +coming to him. + +Pius VI., confounded by the headlong innovations of Joseph, and +trembling lest his reforms should end in a total subversion of religion, +had resolved, in the extremity of his distress, to become a pilgrim +himself, and to visit the enemy in his own stronghold. + +To this intent he had dispatched an autographic letter announcing his +intention, to which the emperor had replied by another, expressive of +his extreme anxiety to become personally acquainted with his holiness, +and to do him all filial reverence. Furthermore, he begged that the pope +would relinquish his intention of taking up his abode at the nuncio, and +would consent to be the guest of the imperial family. + +The pope having graciously acceded to this wish, the apartments of the +late empress were prepared for his occupation. Now Joseph was quite +aware that these apartments abounded in secret doors and private +stairways, by which Maria Theresa's many petitioners had been accustomed +to find their way to the privy purse of the munificent empress, and so +had diminished the imperial treasury of several millions. + +The emperor, dreading lest these secret avenues should be used by the +friends of the church to visit the pope in private, caused the stairways +to be demolished, and all the doors to be walled up. He allowed but one +issue from the apartments of his holiness. This one led into the grand +corridor, and was guarded by two sentries, who had orders to allow +nobody to enter who was unprovided with a pass signed by Joseph himself. +He was quite willing to receive the pope as a guest; but he was resolved +that he should hold no communication with his bishops, while on Austrian +soil. [Footnote: It was to Joseph's manifest advantage that the pope +should not reside outside of the palace; and the emperor showed his +ingenuity in the various strategic movements by which he defeated the +purpose of his visit. One of the pope's most zealous adherents was the +Bishop of Gortz. When the pope left Rome for Vienna, he would pass +through Gortz. Joseph summoned the bishop to Vienna, and so prevented a +meeting between them at Gortz; and on the day of the pope's arrival in +Vienna, the bishop received peremptory orders to return to his diocese. +He was not allowed to communicate with the pope, not even to see him as +he passed,--Friedel's "Letters from Vienna," vol. i., p. 223.] + +Meanwhile, every outward honor was to be paid to the head of the church. +Not only had his rooms been superbly decorated, but the churches, also, +were in all their splendor. The vestments of the clergy had been +renewed, new altar-cloths woven, and magnificent hangings ordered for +the papal throne erected for the occasion. + +Finally, the momentous day dawned, and Vienna put on its holiday attire. +The houses were wreathed with garlands, the streets were hung with +arches of evergreen. A hundred thousand Viennese pressed toward the +cathedral, where the pope was to repair for prayer, and another throng +was hastening toward the palace, where the pope and the emperor were to +alight together. In their impatient curiosity the people had forsaken +their work. No one was content to remain within doors. Everybody said to +everybody, "The pope has come to Vienna;" and then followed the +question: + +"Why has his holiness come to Vienna?" + +"To bless the emperor, and approve his great deeds," said the friends of +Joseph. + +"To bring him, if possible, to a sense of his sacrilegious persecution +of the church." said his enemies. + +This question was not only verbally agitated, but it formed the subject +of thousands of pamphlets, which fluttered from many a window toward the +crowds who, in breathless anxiety, were awaiting the advent of Pius VI. + +"The Arrival of the Pope." + +"Why has the Pope come to Vienna?" + +"What is the Pope?" + +These were the titles of the brochures which were converting the streets +into a vast reading-room, and preparing the minds of the readers for the +impressions it was desirable to create on the subject. + +At last the deep bells of St. Stephen's opened their brazen throats. +This signified that the pope and the emperor were at the gates of the +city. The consent of the latter having been asked in the matter of the +bell-ringing, he had replied to Cardinal Megazzi: "By all means. I +wonder you should ask me the question, when bells are the artillery of +the church." [Footnote: Friedel's Letters, vol. i., p. 213.] + +The people received the tidings with such wild joy that, in their +eagerness, several persons were trampled to death. But on they rushed, +seeing and hearing nothing until eight lives were sacrificed to the +fierce curiosity of the mob. + +And now the iron tongues of every bell in Vienna proclaimed that the +pope had entered the city. The crowd, who, up to this moment, had +laughed, sung, and shouted, suddenly ceased their clamor. Nothing was +heard save the musical chime of the bells, while every eye was fixed +upon a small white spot which was just becoming visible. The point grew +larger, and took form. First came the outriders, then the imperial +equipage drawn by eight milk-white horses caparisoned with crimson and +gold. Nearer and nearer came the cortege, until the people recognized +the noble old man, whose white locks flowed from under his velvet cap, +the supreme pontiff, Antonio Braschi, Pope Pius VI. + +Never, throughout his pontifical career, had the pope beheld such a +crowd before. And these hundreds of thousands had assembled to bid him +welcome. A smile of gratification flitted over his handsome features, +and he raised his eyes to the face of his companion. + +The countenance of the emperor wore a satisfied expression; by some it +might have been regarded as derisive. + +He had seen what the pope, in the simple joy of his heart, had not +observed. The people who, in the presence of the high dignitaries of the +church, had been accustomed to kneel and ask a blessing, were standing, +although the prelate who stood in their midst was the sovereign pontiff +himself; and Joseph, as he contemplated his subjects, exulted in secret. + +The cortege, impeded by the throng, moved slowly toward the imperial +palace. When it drew up before the gates, Joseph, springing from the +carriage, assisted the pope to alight, and accompanied him to his +apartments. Occasionally Pius raised his mild eyes to the emperor's face +and smiled, while Joseph, in nowise discomposed by the honor of +receiving the chief pastor of Christendom, walked proudly by his side. + +They passed through the magnificent state apartments designed for the +occultation of the pope; but not until they had reached his private +sitting-room, did the emperor invite him to rest after his fatiguing +walk. + +"It has not fatigued me," replied Pius. "It has interested me, on the +contrary, to traverse a palace which has been the residence of so many +pious princes. I esteem it a great privilege to inhabit these rooms +whose deceased occupants have each in his turn received the benediction +of my honored predecessors--" + +"But who never were blessed by the love of their subjects," replied +Joseph, interrupting him. "To my mind, this is a blessing better worth +striving for than a papal benediction; and it is the aim of my life to +deserve it." + +"Doubtless your majesty will reach your aim," replied the pope, with +courtesy. "I have confidence in the rectitude of your majesty's +intentions, and if I have made this pilgrimage to Vienna, it is because, +relying upon your honesty of purpose, I hope to convince you that it has +been misapplied. The visit of the pope to the Austrian emperor is a +concession which I cheerfully make, if by that concession I can induce +him to pause in a career which has sorely wounded my heart, and has been +the occasion of so much scandal to our holy mother the church." + +"I fear that your holiness has been mistaken in your estimate of me," +replied Joseph, turning his flashing eyes upon the imploring face of the +pope. "However I might be moved by the pathos of your words, a sovereign +has no right to listen to the pleadings of his heart. 'Tis the head that +must guide and influence his conduct. I fear, therefore, that your +holiness will be disappointed in the result of your visit here. I accept +your journey to Vienna as a distinguished mark of your papal good-will, +and am rejoiced to have it in my power to show all possible filial +reverence to your holiness. Neither I nor my subjects will deny the +consideration which is due to the SPIRITUAL head of the church; but he +on his part must refrain from touching with his consecrated hand the +things of this world which concern him not." + +"It is my duty to attend to all the affairs of holy church, whether +spiritual or temporal," replied the pope, gently. + +"The temporal affairs of the church concern your nuncio and my +minister," said Joseph, with impatience. "And as your holiness has +entered at once upon a controversy with me respecting my acts toward the +church, I declare distinctly to you that I shall not recede from the +least of them; and that your journey to Vienna, if its object is to +influence my policy as sovereign of these realms, is already a failure. +The reasons for my conduct are satisfactory to me, and no power on earth +shall move me from the position I have taken." [The emperor's words. +-Hubner. i. p. 119.] + +"I will not altogether give up the hope I have cherished of moving your +majesty's heart," replied the pope, earnestly. "I shall continue to pray +that it may be my privilege to convince you of your errors and lead you +back to the path of justice and of religion." + +"Which means that you expect me to retract!" cried Joseph, impetuously. +"Never will I retract what I have said or done, for I act from +conviction, and conviction does not slip off and on like a glove! But +let us speak no more on this subject. If your holiness will write down +your canonical objections to my proceedings against the church, I will +lay them before my theologians for examination. My chancellor shall +reply to them ministerially, and the correspondence can be published for +the edification of my subjects. Meanwhile, I shall endeavor to deserve +the good-will of your holiness by acting toward my honored guest the +part of an obliging and hospitable host. This reminds me that I have +already trespassed upon your time, and have deprived you of the repose +which a traveller always craves after a long journey. I hope that your +holiness will overlook this intrusion, and pardon me if my great anxiety +to enjoy your society has caused me to forget the consideration due to +my tired guest." + +With these words the emperor retired. The pope followed his retreating +figure with a glance of profound sadness. + +"I fear," thought he, "that Joseph is indeed irreclaimable." Here he +raised his soft dark eyes to heaven, and continued in a low murmur, "For +a time the Lord endureth with mildness, but His mighty overcometh the +blasphemer, and he vanisheth: while holy church remaineth unchangeable +forever!" + + + +CHAPTER CLIV. + +THE FLIGHT. + +"You persist in your refusal?" cried Eskeles Flies, in an angry voice. +"You dare to oppose the will of your father?" + +"I persist in my refusal," replied Rachel firmly, lifting her dark, +tearful eyes to her father's excited countenance. "I must rebel against +your authority, my father, for you would compromise my earthly happiness +and my salvation. Oh, dear father, do not harden your heart against me! +In mercy heed my prayers!" + +With these words Rachel would have thrown herself upon her father's +bosom. But he thrust her from him. + +"'Tis you who have hardened your heart against the law of God which bids +the child obey her father," cried he. + +"I cannot recognize my father's authority when he oversteps his rights, +and trenches upon mine as a human being," urged Rachel. "I cannot +perjure myself by accepting, as a husband, a man whom I do not love. He +is a coarse, illiterate creature, who honors nothing but wealth, loves +nothing but gold!" + +"He is the son of the richest merchant in Brussels, and the emperor has +made a nobleman of his father. He is your equal, or rather he is your +superior, for he is richer, much richer than we." + +"He my equal! He cannot understand me," cried Rachel. + +Her father laughed. "Not your equal, because he does not go into +raptures over young Mozart, and does not indulge in speculative +theology, but worships God after the manner of his fathers!--a Jew, in +short, who hates the Christian and glories in his Jewish birthright!" + +"Yes," said Rachel, shuddering, "a Jew in feature, speech, and spirit. +Not such a noble Israelite as you, my father, but a man possessing every +repulsive peculiarity which has made the Jew the pariah of the civilized +world. Oh, father, dear father, do not barter me for gold! Let me remain +your child, your darling; living and dying in the home which your love +has made like Eden to my girlhood!" + +"I have promised your hand to Baron von Meyer," was the curt reply. + +"I will not give it!" cried Rachel, frantically. "You force me to +disobedience, by requiring of me that which is impossible." + +"I shall force you to obedience, rebellious girl, for our laws invest +the father with absolute authority over his child, and I shall use my +right to rescue you from dishonor. I read your heart, Rachel, and +therein I see written the history of your perfidy and shame." + +"Then you have read falsely," exclaimed Rachel, with indignation. "Up to +this day I have kept the oath I made to remain a Jewess! And no mortal, +were he ten times my father, has the right to couple my name with +perfidy or shame!" + +"You dare look me in the face and deny your disgrace!" said her father, +trembling with anger. "You, who at early morning in my own garden have +listened to the vows of a false-tongued Christian! You who have sworn to +be no man's wife, if not his!" + +"Ah, you know all!" cried Rachel, in accents of supreme joy. "God be +praised, there need be no more concealment between us! Yes, father, I +love Gunther, and if I be not permitted to become his wife, in the might +of my love I would not scorn to be his handmaid! I have loved him since +you first brought him hither, and proudly presented him as the emperor's +favorite. Oh, my father, we were not rich then!" + +"No--and he would have scorned to ask you to wed him. Now he would +degrade the heiress of my wealth by seeking to make her his wife." + +"Degrade me!" echoed Rachel, with a blush of indignation. "I should be +honored by bearing his name, not because he is the emperor's favorite, +but because he is worthy of my love." + +"And yet, God be praised, Rachel Eskeles can never be the wife of a +Christian!" shouted the banker, triumphantly, "for she has sworn by the +memory of her mother to die a Jewess!" + +"She will keep her oath unless her father release her," replied Rachel. +"But oh!" added she, falling on her knees and raising her white arms +above her head, "he will have pity upon the misery of his only child; he +will not condemn her to despair! Have mercy, have mercy, dear father! Be +your generous self, and take me to your heart. Release me, and let me +become a Christian and the wife of my lover! He cares nothing for your +wealth, he asks nothing but my hand!" + +Her father glared at her with a look that seemed almost like hate. "You +are a Jewess," hissed he, "and a Jewess you shall die!" + +"I am no Jewess at heart, father. I have been educated in a Christian +country, and after the manner of Christian women. And you, too, have +renounced your birthright. You have eaten and drunk with the Gentiles; +you have cut your hair, and have adopted their dress. Nay, more! You +have parted with your name, and have accepted a Christian title. Why, +then, have you not the manliness to abjure the god of revenge and hate, +and openly adore the Christian God of love and mercy?" + +"I will live and die a Jew!" cried the banker, choking with rage. "I +swear it again, and may I be accursed if I ever break my oath!" + +"Then, father, release me from the lie that follows me like an evil +shadow, blasting my life here and hereafter. Give me to my lover. Keep +your wealth to enrich your tribe, but give me your blessing and your +love!" + +"You shall remain a Jewess!" thundered her father. + +"Is this your last word?" cried Rachel, springing to her feet. "Is this +your last word?" + +"It is," replied he, eying her with cold cruelty. + +"Then hear my determination. I have sworn fidelity to Gunther, and if I +must choose between you, I give myself to him. I will not become a +Christian, for such was my oath; but I will abjure Judaism." + +"And become a Deist?" + +"Call it what you will. I shall adore the God of love and mercy." + +"A Deist! Then you have never heard what punishment awaits the Deist +here. You do not know that the emperor, who affects toleration, has his +vulnerable heel, and will not tolerate Deism. The gentle punishment +which his majesty awards to Deism is--that of the lash. [Footnote: +Gross-Hoffinger, ii., p. 160.] So that I scarcely think you would dare +me to accuse you of that! But pshaw! I go too far in my fears. My +daughter will recognize her folly, and yield her will to mine. She will +be, as she has ever been, my adored child, for whose happiness I can +never do too much; whose every wish it shall be my joy to gratify." + +"I have but one wish--that of becoming the wife of Gunther." + +Her father affected not to hear her. "Yes," continued he, "she will +verify my promise, and take the husband I have chosen. This marriage +will be a fine thing for both parties, for I give my daughter one-half +million of florins, and Baron von Meyer gives his son a million cash +down. Then the father-in-law gives three hundred florins a month for +pin-money, and I seven hundred; so that Rachel has a thousand florins a +month for her little caprices, and of this she is to render no account. +That is a pretty dower for a bride. I give my daughter a trousseau equal +in magnificence to that of a princess. Upon her equipage, the arms of +our two houses are already emblazoned, and to-morrow four of the finest +horses in Vienna will conduct the Baroness von Meyer to her husband's +palace. I congratulate you, baroness. No Christian woman in Vienna shall +have an establishment like yours." + +"I shall never be the Baroness von Meyer," said Rachel, calmly, but an +icy chill ran through her veins, for she loved her father, and felt that +they must shortly part forever. + +"Yes, you will be the Baroness von Meyer to-morrow. I have anticipated +all your objections. The rabbi that is to marry you is a Pole. He will +not understand your reply, and the young baron has magnanimously +consented to overlook any little informality of which your folly may be +the cause; for he likes money, and is too good a Jew not to aid me in +rescuing my heiress from disgrace. You see that your poor little +struggles will all be in vain. Resign yourself, then, and accept the +brilliant destiny which awaits you." + +"I will sooner die than consign myself to misery and disgrace!" + +"Be easy on that subject. God will shield you from misery, and your +father's watchful eye will see that you do not consign yourself to +disgrace," replied the banker, coldly. "But enough of words. Night sets +in, and I have yet a few preparations to make for tomorrow. It is proper +that you pass the last evening of your maiden life in solitude, and that +you may not spend it in weariness, I have ordered your drawing-rooms to +be lighted, and your trousseau to be laid out for your inspection. Go, +and gladden your heart with its magnificence. Good-night." + +So saying, Baron Eskeles Flies left the room. Rachel heard him turn the +key in the lock, and withdraw it. She then remembered that the +drawing-rooms were lighted. Perhaps her father had neglected to fasten +some of the doors leading thence into the hall. She sprang to the door +of communication, and flung it open. The rooms were brilliantly +illuminated, and the sparkling chandeliers of crystal looked down upon a +wilderness of velvet, satin, flowers, lace, and jewels--truly a +trousseau for a princess. + +But what cared Rachel for this? Indeed, she saw nothing, save the +distant doors toward which she sped like a frightened doe. Alas! they, +too, were locked, and the only answers to her frantic calls were the +mocking echoes of her own voice. + +For a few moments she leaned against the wall for support; then her +glance took in the long perspective of magnificence which was to gild +the hideous sacrifice of a whole human life, and she murmured, softly: + +"I must be free. I cannot perjure myself. I shall keep my vow to Gunther +or die! My father is no father--he is my jailer, and I owe him no longer +the obedience of a child." + +She went slowly back, revolving in her mind what she should do. +Unconsciously she paused before a table resplendent with trinkets, whose +surpassing beauty seemed to woo the young girl to her fate. But Rachel +was no longer a maiden to be allured by dress. The exigencies of the +hour had transformed her into a brave woman, who was donning her armor +and preparing for the fight. + +"Gunther awaits me," said she, musing. + +But why--where? that she could not say. But she felt that she must free +herself from prison, and that her fate now lay in her own hands. + +At that moment she stood before a large round table which was just under +the principal chandelier of her superb reception-room. Here lay dainty +boxes containing laces, and caskets enclosing jewels. Not for one moment +did she think of their contents. She saw but the gilt letters which were +impressed upon the red morocco cases. + +"RACHEL VON MEYER" was on every box and case. In her father's mind she +already bore another name. + +"Rachel von Meyer!" said she, with a shudder. "My father denies me his +name! Who, then, am I?" + +A flush of modest shame overspread her face, as scarcely daring to +articulate the words, she knelt, and murmured: + +"I am Rachel Gunther. And if such be my name," continued she, after a +pause of rapture, "I have no right to be here amid the treasures of the +Baroness von Meyer. I must away from this house, which is no longer a +home for me. Away, away! for Gunther awaits me." + +And now she looked with despair at the locked doors and the lofty +windows, so far, far from the ground. + +"Oh, if I had but wings!--I, who am here a prisoner, while my heart is +away with him!" + +Suddenly she gave a start, for deliverance was possible. She looked from +the window as if to measure its height, and then she darted through the +rooms until she saw a table covered with silks. She took thence a roll +of white, heavy ribbon, and, throwing it before her, exclaimed joyfully: + +"It is long, oh, it is quite long enough. And strong enough to support +me. Thank Heaven! it is dark, and I shall not he seen. A gold ducat will +bribe the guard at the postern--and then I am free!" + +She returned to her sitting-room, and, with trembling haste, threw a +dark mantle around her. Then, looking up at her father's portrait, her +eyes filled with bitter tears. + +"Farewell, my father, farewell!" + +Scarcely knowing what she did, she fled from her room, and returned to +the only object which possessed any more interest for her there, the +long, long ribbon which, like a gigantic serpent, lay glistening on the +floor where she had unrolled it. She stooped to pick it up, and trailing +it after her, she flew from room to room, until she came to the last one +of the suite which overlooked the park. She opened a window, and +listened. + +Nothing was heard there save the "warbling wind," that wooed the young +branches, and here and there a little bird that ventured its note upon +the night. + +Rachel secured the ribbon to the crosswork of the window, and then let +it fall below. Once more she listened. She could almost hear the +beatings of her own heart, but nothing else broke the silence of the +house. + +She gave one quick glance around her beautiful home were lay all the +splendor that might have been hers, and grasping the ribbon firmly in +her hands, she dropped from the window to the ground. + + + + + +CHAPTER CLV. + +THE MARRIAGE BEFORE GOD. + +Gunther had returned from the palace to his own lodgings in the city. +Here, the labors of the day over, he sat dreaming of his love, wondering +whether she thought of him during these dreary weeks of their forced +parting. + +He had stretched himself upon a divan, and, with his head thrown back +upon the cushion, he gave himself up to thoughts of that love which was +at once the greatest grief and the greatest joy of his life. + +"Will it ever end?" thought he. "Will she ever consent to leave that +princely home for me?" + +Sometimes a cloud came over his handsome, noble features, sometimes the +sunlight of happiness broke over them, and then he smiled. And on he +dreamed, happy or unhappy, as he fancied that Rachel was his, or was +parted from him forever. + +The door-bell rang with a clang that startled him. But what to him was +the impatience of those who sought admittance to his house? He had +almost begun to fancy that Rachel was before him, and he was vexed at +the intrusion. + +Meanwhile, the door of his room had been softly opened, but Gunther had +not heard it. He heard or saw nothing but his peerless Rachel. She was +there with her lustrous eyes, her silky hair, her pale and beautiful +features. She was there. + +What! Did he dream? She was before him, but paler than her wont, her +dark eyes fixed upon him with a pleading look, her lithe figure swaying +from side to side, as with uncertain footsteps she seemed to be +approaching his couch. Good God! Was it an apparition? What had +happened? + +Gunther started to his feet, and cried out, "O my Rachel, my beloved!" + +"It is I," said she, in a faltering voice. "Before you take me to your +heart, hear me, Gunther. I have fled from my father's house forever--for +he would have sold me to a man whom I abhor, and whom I could never have +married, had my heart been free. I bring neither gold nor jewels. I come +to you a beggar--my inheritance a father's curse, my dowry naught but my +love and faith. So dowered and so portioned, will you take me, Gunther?" + +Gunther looked upon his love with eyes wherein she must have read +consolation for all her trials, for her sweet lips parted with a happy +smile. + +"My treasure!" was his reply, as he took her little trembling hand, and +pressed it fondly within his own. "Come, my Rachel, come and see how I +have longed for this day." + +He drew her forward, and opened a door opposite to the one by which she +had entered. + +"Come, your home is ready, my own." + +They entered together, and Rachel found herself in a drawing-room where +taste and elegance amply atoned for the absence of splendor. + +"Now, see your sitting-room." + +Nothing could be more cheerful or homelike than the appointments of this +cosy apartment, lighted like the drawing-room by a tasteful chandelier. + +"There," said Gtinther, pointing to a door, "is your dressing-room, and +within, your chamber, my Rachel. For six months this dwelling has +awaited its mistress, and that she might never enter it unawares, it has +been nightly lighted for her coming. I was almost tempted to despair, +beloved. You have saved me from a discouragement that was undermining my +health. Now you are here, and all is well. When shall the priest bless +our nuptials! This very night, shall he not, my bride?" + +"He can never bless them," replied Rachel, solemnly. + +Gunther turned pale. + +"Never? You have not, then, come to be my wife?" + +"I cannot be your wife according to human rites, Gunther, for well you +know that I have sworn never to become a Christian. But I am yours for +time and eternity, and knowing my own heart, I accept the world's scorn +for your dear sake. Earth refuses to bless our nuptials, but God will +hear our vows. Gunther, will you reject me because I am a Jewess?" + +Gunther imprinted a kiss upon her forehead, and sank on his knees before +her. + +"Rachel," said he, raising his right hand to heaven, "I swear to love +you for better or for worse, devoting my life to your happiness. On my +knees I swear before God to honor you as my wife, and to be faithful and +true to you until death does us part." + +Rachel then knelt at his side, and, laying her hand in his repeated her +vows. Then they kissed each other, and Gunther, taking her in his arms, +pressed her to his throbbing heart. + +"We are husband and wife," said he. "God has received our vows, and now, +Rachel, you are mine, for He has blessed and sanctioned your entrance +into my house!" + + + +CHAPTER CLVI. + +THE PARK. + +The first days of a smiling spring had filled the park with hundreds of +splendid equipages and prancing horsemen. There was the carriage of the +Princess Esterhazy, with twenty outriders in the livery of the prince; +that of the new Prince Palm, whose four black horses wore their harness +of pure gold; there was the gilded fairy, like vis-a-vis of the +beautiful Countess Thun, its panels decorated with paintings from the +hands of one of the first artists of the day; the coach of the Countess +Dietrichstein, drawn by four milk-white horses, whose delicate pasterns +were encircled by jewelled bracelets worthy of glittering upon the arm +of a beauty. In short, the aristocracy of Austria, Hungary, and Lombardy +were there, in all the splendor of their wealth and rank. It seemed as +though Spring were holding a levee, and the nobles of the empire had +thronged her flowery courts. + +Not only they, but the people, too, had come to greet young Spring. They +crowded the footpaths, eager to scent the balmy air, to refresh their +eyes with the sight of the velvet turf, and to enjoy the pageant +presented to their wondering eyes by the magnificent turn-outs of the +aristocracy. Thousands and thousands filled the alleys and outlets of +the park, all directing their steps toward the centre, for there the +emperor and his court were to be seen. There the people might gaze, in +close proximity, at the dainty beauties, whom they knew as the denizens +of another earthly sphere; there they might elbow greatness, and there, +above all, they might feast their eyes upon the emperor, who, simply +dressed, rode to and fro, stopping his horse to chat, as often with a +peasant as with a peer. + +The emperor dismounted, and this was the signal for all other cavaliers +to dismount and accompany him. The ladies also were compelled to rise +from their velvet cushions and to tread the ground with their +silken-slippered feet. Their equipages were crowded together on one side +of the square, and around them the horses, now held by their liveried +jockeys, were champing their bits and pawing the ground with restless +hoofs. + +The crowd was so dense, that the patrician and plebeian stood side by +side. The people, in their innocent enjoyment of the scene, broke +several times through the ranks of titled promenaders, who, vainly +hoping to find some spot unprofaned by the vicinity of the vulgar herd, +were moving toward the centre of the garden. + +The emperor saw the lowering brows of his courtiers, and knew that their +angry glances were directed toward the people. + +"What is the matter with you, my lords?" asked he. "You are the picture +of discontent. Pray, Count Furstenberg, speak for the court. What has +happened to discompose your equanimity?" + +"I do not know, your majesty," stammered the count. + +"And yet you frown terribly," laughed Joseph. "Come--no concealment. +What has vexed you all?" + +"Your majesty commands?" + +"I do." + +"If so, sire, we are annoyed by the vulgar curiosity of the populace, +who gape in our faces as if we were South Sea Islanders or specimens of +fossil life." + +"True, the curiosity of the Viennese is somewhat troublesome," replied +the emperor, smiling: "but let us call this eagerness to be with us, +love, and then it will cease to be irksome." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, if I venture to say that under any aspect it +would be most irksome to us. If your majesty will excuse my freedom, I +think that in opening all the gardens to the people, you have made too +great a concession to their convenience." + +"You really think so?" + +"Yes, sire, and I beg you to hear the request I have to prefer." + +"Speak on, count." + +"Then, your majesty; in the name of every nobleman in Vienna, and, above +all, in the name of our noble ladies. I beseech of you grant us the +exclusive privilege of ONE garden, where we may meet, unmolested by the +rabble. Give us the use of the Prater, that we may have some spot in +Vienna where we can breathe the fresh air in the company of our equals +alone." + +The emperor had listened with a supercilious smile. "You desire to see +none but your equals, say you? If I were to indulge in a similar whim, I +should have to seek companionship in the crypts of the Capuchins. +[Footnote: The emperor's own words. Ramshorn's "Life of Joseph II."] But +for my part I hold all men as my equals, and my noble subjects will be +obliged to follow my example. I shall certainly not close any of the +gardens against the people, for I esteem and love them." [Footnote: When +the emperor opened the park to the people, he caused the following +inscription to be placed over the principal entrance: "Dedicated to all +men, by one who esteems them."] + +The emperor, as he concluded, bowed and turned to greet the Countess +Pergen. + +"Welcome, countess, to Vienna," said he, bowing. "You have been away for +some time. May I inquire how you are?" + +"Tres-bien, volre majeste," replied the countess, with a profound +courtesy. + +The emperor frowned. "Why do you not speak German?" said he, curtly. "We +are certainly in Germany. " + +And without saying another word to the discomfited lady, he turned his +back upon her. Suddenly his face brightened, and he pressed eagerly +through the crowd, toward a pale young man, who met his smiling gaze +with one of reciprocal friendliness. + +Joseph extended his hand, and his courtiers saw with surprise that this +person, whose brown coat was without a single order, instead of raising +the emperor's hand to his lips, as was customary at court, shook it as +if they had been equals. + +"See," cried Joseph, "here is our young maestro, Mozart. Did you come to +the park to-day to teach the nightingales to sing?" + +"Heaven forbid, your majesty; rather would I learn from the tuneful +songsters whom God has taught. Perhaps some of these days I may try to +imitate their notes myself." + +The emperor laid his hand upon Mozart's shoulder and looked with +enthusiasm into his pale, inspired countenance. "Mozart has no need to +learn from the nightingale," said he, "for God has filled his heart with +melody, and he has only to transfer it to paper to ravish the world with +its strains. Now for your 'Abduction from the Auge Gottes'--nay, do not +blush; I am a child of Vienna, and must have my jest with the Viennese. +Tell me--which gave you most trouble, that or your opera 'Die Entfuhrung +aus dem Serail?'" [Footnote: On the day of the representation of the +opera "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail," in Vienna, Mozart ran away with +his Constance. He conducted her to the house of a common friend, where +they were married. This same friend brought about a reconciliation with +the mother of Constance. The house in which the widow and her daughter +lived was called "Das Auge Gottes," and the Viennese, who knew the +history of Mozart's marriage, had called it "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Auge +Gottes."--Lissen's "Life of Mozart."] + +"Truly," replied Mozart, still somewhat embarrassed, "the abduction from +the Auge Gottes, sire. I had to sigh and sue until I was nigh unto +despair before I was successful." + +"But you concluded both works on the same day." + +"Yes, sire. First, that which lay in my head, and then that which was +nearest my heart." + +"I congratulate you upon the success of both. 'Die Entfuhrung aus dem +Serail' is a charming opera. Charming, but it contains too many notes." + +"Only as many as were necessary, sire," said Mozart, looking full in the +emperor's face. + +Joseph smiled. "Perhaps so, for you must be a better judge of the +necessity than I. For that very reason," added he, lowering his voice to +a whisper, "I have sent you my sonata for revision. Like all +inexperienced composers, I am anxious to know my fate. Tell me, what do +you think of my sonata, Herr Kapellmeister?" + +Mozart was silent, while the emperor waited anxiously for his reply. +"Why do you not speak?" said he, impatiently. "Tell me, what do you +think of my sonata?" + +"The sonata, sire, is--good," returned Mozart, with some hesitation; +"but he who composed it," added he, smiling, "is much better. Your +majesty must not take it ill if you find some of your passages stricken +out." + +The emperor laughed. "Ah!--too many notes, as I just now remarked of +your opera--only that from your judgment there can be no appeal. +Well--give us a new opera, and let it be comic. Music should rejoice, +not grieve us. Addio." [Footnote: This interview is strictly +historical.--Lissen's "Life of Mozart."] + +He then returned to the group which he had left, none of whom seemed to +have been much comforted by the familiarity of the emperor with a poor +little kapellmeister. + +"My hour of recreation is over," said Joseph, "but as you know that I am +no lover of etiquette, let no one retire on my account. I know where to +find my equerry, and prefer to find him alone." With these words he +turned away. + +Suddenly he was seen to stop and frown visibly. With a quick motion of +the hand he signed to Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein to approach. + +As Podstadsky was about to make a profound inclination, the emperor +interrupted him roughly. "No ceremony--we have no time to be +complimentary. What are you doing in Vienna?" + +The count saw that his sovereign was angry. "Sire," replied he, "I spend +my time just as it happens--" + +"That is, you ride, walk, gamble, and carouse, when you are doing +nothing worse. I thought you had left Vienna. You had better go upon +your estates and attend to the welfare of your vassals. Idleness is the +parent of crime, and I fear that if you remain another day in Vienna, +you will bring disgrace upon your father's name. Go at once." [Footnote: +The emperor's own words to Podstadsky.--"Anecdotes, etc., of the +Emperor Joseph II."] + +Count Podstadsky looked in wonder after the emperor. "Is this accident +or design? Does he suspect something, or is he only trying to induce me +to work, as he does every nobleman? Ah, bah!--I must see Arabella, and +hear what she thinks of it!" + + + +CHAPTER CLVII. + +THE PARTING. + +They sat together in the little boudoir which had so often rung with +their laughter, and where they had so often sneered at their titled +dupes in Vienna. + +There was no laughter to-day: the beautiful features of the Countess +Baillou were contracted with alarm, and the frivolous Podstadsky was +thoughtful and serious. + +The countess was superbly dressed. A rich robe of velvet, embroidered +with gold, fell in heavy, glistening folds around her graceful figure; a +diadem of brilliants sparkled like a constellation upon the blackness of +her luxuriant hair, and her exquisite neck and arms were covered with +costly gems. She had just completed her toilet for a dinner given by the +Princess Karl Liechtenstein, when Podstadsky had met her with the +alarming intelligence which had obliged her to send an excuse. + +For one whole hour they had been considering their situation-- +considering those words of the emperor; now planning one method of +escape, now another, + +"Then you do not believe that the danger is imminent?" said Podstadsky, +after along, anxious pause. + +"I do not," replied the countess, "The emperor has always been fond of +advising other people, and of humbling the Austrian aristocracy above +all, when the people are by to hear him, and he can make capital out of +it to increase his popularity. I suppose his rudeness to you was all +assumed, to make an impression upon the foolish populace. That is all." + +Podstadsky shook his head. "The tone of the emperor was so pointed--it +seemed as though some special meaning lay in his words." + +"That, my dear Carlo, simply means that fear caused you to interpret +them significantly." + +"The words themselves were significant enough; and his look!--Oh, +Arabella, we are in danger! Dearest let us fly, fly at once!" + +He had risen, and, in his anguish, had tried to draw her to himself. She +put him quietly away, and contemplated him with a sneer. "No folly!" +said She. "Even if the emperor had meant to warn you, his warning came +too late to save you from the watchful police of Vienna." + +"No, no, Arabella. I tell you that the emperor will facilitate my escape +for my parents' sake. Oh, why did I not obey, and mount my horse at +once, and fly to some sequestered vale where I might have found refuge +from dishonor?" + +"And where you might realize your mother's touching dream of becoming a +boor, and repenting your sins in sackcloth and ashes! That maternal idyl +still troubles your poor, shallow brain, does it? For my part, I think +no spectacle on earth is so ridiculous as that of the repentant sinner. +It is the most humiliating character in which a man can appear before +the world, and it is unworthy of you, Carlo. Hold up your head and look +this phantom of dancer in the face. It is but a phantom. The bright, +beautiful reality of our luxurious life is substantially before us. Away +with cowardice! He who treads the path which we have trodden, must cast +all fear behind him. Had we been scrupulous, or faint-hearted, you would +have been to-day a ruined nobleman, dependent upon the pittance doled +out to you from parental hands, or upon some little office pompously +bestowed by the emperor; and I--ha! ha!--I should have been a +psalm-chanting nun, with other drowsy nuns for my companions through +life, and a chance of dying in the odor of sanctity! We were too wise +for that; and now the structure of our fortunes is complete. Its gilded +dome reaches into the heaven of the most exclusive circles; princes, +dukes, and sovereigns are our guests. In the name of all for which we +have striven, Carlo, what would you have more?" + +"I am afraid that the structure will fall and bury us under its ruins," +said Carlo, shivering. + +"Better that than inglorious flight. Stay where you are; show a bold +front, and that will disarm suspicion. Why do you gaze at me so +strangely?" + +"I gaze at you because you are so beautiful," replied he, with a faint +smile, "as beautiful as was that fallen angel who compassed the ruin of +man!" + +"I AM a fallen angel," returned she, proudly, "and you know it. Together +we fell, together we have risen. So long as we smile, we shall compass +the ruin of many men; but if once we frown, we shall be known as evil +spirits, and our power is at an end. Smiles are the talismans that +insure victory; so smile, Carlo, smile and be gay." + +"I cannot, I cannot. My veins are chilled with vague terror, and ever +before my eyes comes the pale and anguish-stricken face of my mother! +Arabella, if you will not leave this accursed spot, let us die. Better +is death than the dungeon and disgrace!" + +He threw his arms around her, and pressed his hot, parched lips to hers. +Again she disengaged herself, and her musical laugh rang out upon the +stillness--clear, merry, silvery as ever. "Die! Are you tired of +pleasure? I am not. I shall yet have many an intoxicating draught from +its golden beaker. Die! As if we knew what came after death! But come; I +pity your state of mind, and since you can no longer be happy in Vienna, +we shall travel. Mark you! I say TRAVEL; but there shall be no flight " + +Count Podstadsky uttered a cry of wild joy, and pressed the hand she +gave him to his lips. "When shall we travel? Now?" + +She shook her head. "That were flight. We start to-morrow " + +"To-morrow!" cried he, exultingly, "to-morrow, at dawn of day?" + +"By no means. To-morrow at noon, in the sight of the whole world." + +"Be it so, then," sighed the count. "We go by different roads, and meet +at Neustadt." + +"Yes, at Neustadt. And now go, Carlo. We both have important +arrangements to make before we leave." + +"_I_ have very little to do," laughed Podstadsky, who had already +recovered his spirits. "My valuables all belong to the usurers. For some +time past they have stationed an agent of theirs in my house as steward. +He watches over their property; I have no interest in it." + +"Why don't you pay them with your nice new bank-notes--hey, Carlo?" + +Carlo grew troubled again. "I did try to do so, but they refused. They +had given me gold, and must have gold in return." + +"So much the better. Your bank-notes will meet with a better reception +elsewhere," said Arabella, hurriedly. "But come, let us go to work. Burn +all indiscreet papers, and take every thing that you can secrete. And +now away with you! I must be alone, for I have enough to do to keep me +up this livelong night. Clear your brows, my Carlo, and sleep free from +anxiety. To-morrow we leave Vienna, and your trials will be at an end. +Addio, caro amico mio, addio!" + +He kissed her hand, and she accompanied him to the door. He closed it +behind him, while she stood breathless, listening to his retreating +footsteps. Now he was on the staircase. The heavy street door closed--a +moment's delay, and his carriage rolled away. Yes, he was off at last. +Thank Heaven, he was off! + + + + + +CHAPTER CLVIII. + +COLONEL SZEKULY. + +Arabella listened--listened until the sound of the wheels had died away; +then she laughed. "He thinks me fool enough to share his disgrace! As if +I had not long ago foreseen that this was to be the end of that +hair-brained fool! In expectation of HIS fate, I have been countermining +with Szekuly, and his foolish old hands have flung up shovelfuls of gold +as we went along--bright, shining ducats, which shall go with me to +Paris. Now I am free, free from my dangerous accomplice, free from my +tiresome old adorer, whose love for me so nearly approaches insanity +that it may lead him to compromise himself in more ways than one. But he +must not compromise me! For the world, as yet, I am the modest, virtuous +Countess Baillou, chaste as I am beautiful!" + +While she soliloquized thus, the countess walked hurriedly through the +room, with folded arms, fiery eyes, and on her lips a smile--but what a +smile! Alone in that gorgeous apartment, with her sinister beauty and +her angry, flashing jewels, she might have been mistaken for a malign +spirit who had just left her kingdom of darkness to visit the earth with +ruin! + +"It is evident," said she, musing, "that the emperor meant to warn him; +and it follows that as he has not fled to-day he is lost! And he SHALL +be lost, for I must be free. I cannot afford to share my hardly-earned +winnings with him. He must away to prison; it is my only chance for +freedom." + +"But if, after all, the emperor should connive at his escape! Or if he +should be seized with a fit of suspicion, and return! Good Heaven! now +that fortune favors me, I must snatch security while it lies within my +grasp." + +Here she rang so violently, that the valet, who was in the anteroom +almost precipitated himself into her presence. + +"If Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein calls, say that I am not at home. +Apprise the other servants, and add that be is never to find admittance +into this house again. Whosoever, after this, admits him even to the +vestibule, shall leave my service. Away with you!" + +"And now," continued she, as the valet closed the door, "now to work." +She went toward a mirror, and there unfastened her diadem, then her +necklace, brooch, and bracelets. With her hands full of jewels, she flew +to her dressing-room and deposited them in their respective cases. Then +she opened a large, brass-bound casket, and counted her treasures. + +The first thing that came to light was a necklace of diamond solitaires. +"These three stars of the first magnitude," said she, contemplating the +centre stones, "are the involuntary contribution of the Princess Garampi +I borrowed her bracelet for a model, giving my word that it should not +pass from my hands. Nor has it done so, for I have kept her brilliants +and returned her--mine. She is never the wiser, and I am the richer +thereby. For this string of pearls, with the superb ruby clasp, I am +indebted to her highness the Princess Palm. One evening, as I welcomed +her with an embrace, I made out to unfasten it while I related to her a +piquant anecdote of her husband's mistress. Of course she was too much +absorbed in my narrative to feel that her necklace was slipping, for I +was not only entertaining, but very caressing on the occasion. There was +music in the room, so that no one heard the treasure fall. The necklace, +a perfect fortune, lay at my feet; I moved my train to cover it, and +signed to Carlo, who, I must say, was always within call. He invited the +princess to dance, and--the pearls found their way to my pocket. What a +talk that loss made in Vienna! What offers of reward that poor woman +made to recover her necklace! All in vain, and nobody condoled more +affectionately with her than the charming, kind-hearted Countess +Baillou. This sorrow--but, pshaw! what a child I am, to be gloating over +my precious toys while time passes away, and I must be off to-night!" + +She closed her boxes, replaced them in her strong, well-secured casket, +and, having locked it, hung the key around her neck. "Here lies the +price of a princely estate," said she, "and now I must attend to my +ducats." + +She stood upon a chair, and took from the wall a picture. Then, pressing +a spring behind it a little door flew open, revealing a casket similar +to the one containing her jewels. She took it down, and, placing it on +the table, contemplated the two boxes with profound satisfaction. + +"Twenty thousand lovers' eyes look out from this casket," said she, with +a laugh; "all promising a future of triumphant joy. Twenty thousand +ducats! The fruits of my savings! And dear old Szekuly has made economy +very easy for some months past, for one-half of these ducats once +belonged to him. To be sure, I gave him in return the deeds of an entail +which I own in Italy, and which he can easily reconvert into money. At +least he thinks so. Well--I owe him nothing. We made an exchange, and +that is all." + +After this edifying monologue, the countess exchanged her elegant +costume for a simple travelling-dress, and as she completed her toilet +the clock struck eight. Every thing being ready, she returned to her +boudoir and rang once. This signified that her confidential valet was +wanted. In a few moments the door opened, and an old man, whose dark +hair and eyes marked his Italian birth, entered noiselessly. The +countess bade him close the door and approach. He obeyed without the +least manifestation of surprise, muttering as he went, "Walls have +ears." + +"Giuseppe," said his mistress, "are you still willing to follow me?" + +"Did I not swear to your mother, my beloved benefactress, never to +abandon you, signora?" + +"Thanks, amico; then we leave Vienna to-night." + +"I heard the order forbidding Count Podstadsky the house, signora, and I +made ready to depart." + +"Good and faithful Giuseppe! Since you are ready, nothing need detain +us. Go at once and order post-horses, and come with the travelling +carriage to the corner of the street above this." + +"Si, signora; I shall leave the carriage there, and return for the two +caskets; you will then go out by the postern, and having joined us, we +are off. Is that your will?" + +"Yes, Giuseppe, yes. Go for your life!" + +"Be ready to leave the house in one hour, signora, for you know that I +am a swift messenger." + +The old man bowed and retreated as silently as he came. His mistress +looked after him, saying, "There goes a jewel which I have neither +borrowed nor stolen: it comes to me by the inalienable right of +inheritance. Now I can rest until he returns." + +With a deep sigh of relief, she threw herself upon the divan, and, +closing her eyes, gave herself up to rosy dreams. She had not lain long, +before the door opened and a valet announced "Colonel Szekuly." + +"I cannot receive him," exclaimed she, without rising. + +"You must receive him, countess," said a voice behind her, and starting +from the divan, she beheld the tall form of her "tiresome old adorer," +enveloped in a military cloak, with his plumed hat drawn far over his +brow. Before she had time to speak, he had dismissed the valet and +closed the door. + +"You presume strangely upon your influence," cried Arabella, half +amused, half angry. "Because you reign over my heart, you aspire to +reign over my domestics, I perceive." + +"Peace!" cried the colonel, imperatively. "I have not come hither to +suck poison from your honeyed lips. I have already had enough to cause +my death. Though you have cruelly deceived me, I come to give you a last +proof of my love. Do not interrupt me." + +"I will not breathe." said she, with a smile so bewitching, that Szekuly +averted his eyes, for it maddened him. + +"You know," said he, and the old man's voice faltered as he spoke, "that +the director of police is my friend. I had invited him to dine with me. +He came but half an hour ago to excuse himself because of an arrest of +some importance. Do you guess whose arrest?" + +"How should I guess?" said she, still with that enchanting smile. "I +have no acquaintance with the police." + +"God grant that you may never make their acquaintance!" ejaculated he, +hoarsely. "They have just now arrested Count Podstadsky." + +Not a feature of her face changed, as she replied: "Ah! Count Podstadsky +arrested? I am sorry to hear it. Can you tell me why?" + +"For forging bank-notes to the amount of a million of florins." + +"I suspected as much; I have several times been the victim of his +thousand-florin notes." + +"The victim, countess? Is that an appropriate expression?" + +"I think it is," replied she, quietly. "Is that all the news?" + +"No, countess. The count is taken, but his accomplice--" + +She breathed quickly and her mouth quivered, but she rallied and made +answer. "He had accomplices?" + +"He had an accomplice, and--hush! we have no time for falsehood. Every +moment is precious to you. Perhaps the director of the police came to me +because knowing how--I have loved you, he would rescue you from shame. +Let us hope that he did, for he told me that he had orders to arrest the +Countess Baillou." + +"When?" asked she, almost inaudibly; and now her face was pale as death. + +"At dusk, that you might be spared the curiosity of a crowd." + +Arabella sprang from her couch. "It is already night!" cried she, her +voice rising almost to a scream. + +"Yes," replied her lover, "but I hope we have time. I have prepared +everything for your flight. My carriage and postilions await you in the +next street. Be quick, and you may escape." + +"Yes, yes," exclaimed she. "Give me but one moment." She flew to her +dressing-room, and tried to carry her two boxes. But the ducats were too +heavy. + +"I must leave the jewels," said she; and climbing up again with her +casket, she concealed it in the wall, and replaced the picture. "It is, +at all events, perfectly safe, and Giuseppe will come for it." + +"Come!" cried Szekuly from the drawing-room. + +"I come," answered she, while she wrapped a cloak about her and with +trembling hands tied on her travelling-hat. + +"Give me your box," said Szekuly, "it will impede your movements." + +But she held it fast, and said: "No--they are my jewels, now my only +riches." + +"And you are afraid to trust them with me?" asked he, with a bitter +smile--"to me, who will die of your treachery!" + +"People do not die so easily," said she, trying to smile; but her teeth +chattered, as she flew rather than ran down the grand staircase and +arrived breathless before the door. The porter opened it in wonder. The +night-air blew into her face, and revived her courage. Now she might +breathe freely, for she was-- + +But no! From the dark recesses of the stone portico emerged three +muffled figures, and one of them laid his rough grasp upon the delicate +arm of the countess and dragged her back into the vestibule. + +"Too late, too late!" murmured the colonel, passively following, while +his heart bled for the treacherous woman whom he would have died to +save. + +"Countess Arabella Baillou," said one of the figures, "I arrest you in +the name of the emperor." + +She looked defiance at him. "Who are you that dare arrest me?" + +He took off his hat and bowed derisively. "I am the director of police, +countess, very much at your service. Here is my authority for your +arrest." + +He would have shown her the emperor's signature, but she dashed away the +paper, and fastening her angry eyes upon Szekuly, who was leaning +against a marble pillar, she said: + +"That is your dear friend, is it? You have been playing the detective, +have you? Inducing me to fly, that my flight might expose me to +suspicion!" + +The colonel cried out as though he had been wounded. "By all that is +sacred in heaven, I would have saved you!" sobbed he. + +"And for your attempt I am obliged to detain you also, my poor, unhappy +friend," said the director of the police. "But you will soon be able to +prove your innocence. Let one of these men accompany you home and there +remain under arrest until you hear from me. Now, madame, follow me, if +you please." + +"Allow me first to speak a word of consolation to my generous +protector," said the countess. + +"Certainly, madame." + +Arabella bowed her beautiful head and approached Szekuly, who was +scarcely able to stand, so great was his emotion. + +"Colonel Szekuly," said she, in a whisper, "you lent me fifty thousand +florins upon some Italian securities of mine. They are all forgeries. I +forged them myself, as well as all the fine letters of introduction with +which I befooled the aristocracy of Vienna." + +Szekuly stared for one moment at his tormentor, then hastily pressing +his hand to his heart, he sank with a low sigh upon the marble floor. + +The countess laughed out loud. "He has fainted!" exclaimed she. +"Contemptible world, wherein men act like women, and women like men! +Come, gentlemen, I am ready to follow you; but my innocence will +speedily be reestablished, and the emperor, then, will owe me an apology +for his want of courtesy." + + + +CHAPTER CLIX. + +THE POPE'S DEPARTURE. + +The people of Vienna were enraptured to the last with the visit of the +pope. Whenever he appeared, they sank upon their knees, as, with his +bewitching smile, he gave them his benediction. But these accidental +meetings did not satisfy the zeal of the Viennese: they longed to +receive a formal and solemn blessing, pronounced in the cathedral from +the papal throne. + +High upon his throne sat the holy father in his pontifical robes, his +triple crown upon his head, and the diamond cross of his order upon his +breast. His canopy was of velvet, richly embroidered with gold, and +around him were grouped the princes of the church. But the pope, his +large expressive eyes fixed upon the altar, seemed isolated from all +ecclesiastical pomp, mindful alone of the God whose representative on +earth he was. And when he rose to give the papal benediction, the +handsome face of Pius Sixth beamed with holy inspiration, while the +people, filled with love and joy, knelt to receive the blessing which +had been transmitted to them in uninterrupted succession from the holy +Apostles themselves. + +But however the loving heart of the pope might rejoice at his reception +by the people, there were two men in Vienna who resisted him with all +the pride of individuality and all the consciousness of their own worth +and consequence. + +The first of these was the emperor. He had sought continually to remind +the sovereign pontiff that although the head of Christendom might be his +guest, he, Joseph, was sole lord of his own domains. He had ordered that +all ecclesiastic ordinances, before being printed, should receive the +imperial exequatur. The pope had desired during his stay to issue a bull +in relation to the newly-erected church of St. Michael. The bull had +been returned for the signature of the emperor. + +Other humiliations besides this had been endured by the head of the +church. Perhaps in the two solemn benedictions which he had given--the +first in the palace-court, the second in the cathedral, Pius had hoped +to appear in public with the emperor as his spiritual vassal; but Joseph +was careful not to allow him this gratification. He had no sooner +learned that the throne of the pope in the cathedral was being erected +higher than his own, than he ordered the imperial throne to be removed, +and excused himself from attendance at high mass upon the pretext that +he was suffering from severe pain in the eyes, and dared not encounter +the blaze of light. It was an obstinate case of ocular malady, for it +had already prevented him from appearing in the palace-court, when +decorum would have exacted of him to walk behind the pope. + +The other man who had completely ignored the pope's presence in Vienna, +was Kaunitz. In vain had his visit been expected; he never came; and +finally the day of the departure of his holiness arrived. He had +received the adieus of the nobles and had taken leave of the clergy. At +two o'clock he expected the emperor, who was to accompany him as far as +Mariabrunn. It was now eleven, and he had, therefore, three hours of +leisure. + +He rang for his valet and bade him send a messenger to Prince Kaunitz, +apprising him that in half an hour the pope would visit him. A few +moments after this, the door reopened and the papal master of ceremonies +entered the room. Pius received him with a friendly smile. "I know why +you are here," said he. "You have heard from Brambilla that I +contemplate a visit to Prince Kaunitz, and you come to remonstrate with +me." + +"Yes, I entreat your holiness not to take this step which--" + +"Which is beneath the dignity of the head of the church," interrupted +Pius. "You can well imagine that I have already said as much to myself. +I know, that in going to visit this proud man, I humble myself. But if +humility becomes any one of the servants of God, it becomes the +successor of Peter, and I have no right to shrink from personal +humiliation, when, perchance, it may win something from haughtiness in +favor of the church of God. Perhaps the advances I make to Kaunitz may +move his cold heart, and teach him to do unto others as others have done +unto him." + +"But if your holiness intends to bestow such an unheard-of honor upon +the prince, you should at least have given him a day wherein to make +suitable preparations for your coming." + +The pope smiled. "Dear friend, I see farther into this man's heart than +you. I have taken him unawares, precisely because he would gladly have +added to my humiliations by neglecting the hint which such an +announcement would have conveyed. It was, therefore, better to forestall +the slight by making it impossible for him to offer it as a matter of +choice." + +"But why does your holiness confer upon this disdainful Austrian an +honor which he is unworthy to receive?" + +"Why? Because I feel it my duty to leave nothing undone which can be +conducive to the interests and glory of our holy mother, the church. Who +knows but that the Lord may have sent me to convert an erring sinner +from his ways? Go, my friend, go, and send my messenger. I must see this +man who, from youth to old age, has defied the Lord of heaven and +earth!" + +A half an hour later an imperial state carriage was before the palace of +Prince Kaunitz, and the pope, followed by his chaplain, entered its +lofty vestibule. + +The prince had been diligent, for there, in their richest liveries of +state, were his whole household, and at the foot of the staircase, over +which a rich Turkey carpet had been spread for the occasion, stood the +young Countess Clary in full dress, who knelt, and in soft, trembling +accents begged of his holiness a blessing. + +He laid his hand upon her head, and then extended it that she might +press to her lips the ring of St. Peter. He then raised her, and begged +her to accompany him to the presence of her uncle, the prince. + +As they walked together from one magnificent apartment to another, the +countess was apologizing for her uncle who, not having left his room for +some weeks, was unable to come out to receive his holiness from dread of +encountering the cold air of the halls. + +The pope bowed, and followed the countess until she stopped before a +closed door, and said: + +"In this room, my uncle awaits the gracious visit of your holiness." + +The pope entered, but he was not met on the threshold as he had +anticipated. No, indeed. Far from the door, with the entire length of +the room between them, close to the chimney where a huge fire was +burning, stood Kaunitz. He was in an undress coat, with his hat upon his +head, [Footnote: Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 38.] and so absorbed in +thought that he was quite unaware of the entrance of his guest, until +the Countess Clary, in a loud voice, said: + +"His holiness the pope." + +Kaunitz moved, and measuring his advance by that of Pius, he managed to +meet him just half way, and, as he bowed, he at last condescended to +take off his hat. + +Pius returned the bow, and, as is customary with all independent +princes, extended his hand to be kissed. + +Kaunitz, with an assurance almost inconceivable, took it within his own, +and giving it a hard shake, after the English fashion, exclaimed: + +"De tout mon coeur! de tout mon coeur!" [Footnote: Historical.--See +Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 39.] + +At this familiarity an expression of pain flitted over the handsome, +noble features of the pope, and the smile died upon his lips. But he had +expected humiliation, and had armed himself to endure it. + +"I have come to visit your highness," said he, mildly, "because, +although you have not asked it, I would fain leave with you the blessing +of the church." + +"I thank your holiness for the consideration you are pleased to show +me," replied Kaunitz. "But before all things let me request your +permission to resume my hat. The cold air is injurious to my weak head." +[Footnote: The prince's own words.--See Bourgoing, "Pius VI. and his +Pontificate," p. 225.] + +And whether to ward off the cold air or the blessing of the church, the +old sinner replaced his hat without waiting to hear the pope's reply. + +Pius could only affect not to perceive the rudeness, while he seated +himself, and invited the prince to be seated also. There was a pause. +Kaunitz took the chair, and then looking full into the eyes of his +guest, awaited with perfect indifference the opening of the +conversation. + +The expression of pain deepened upon the face of the pope; but again he +recovered himself, and made a second effort at conciliation. + +"I have come to give to your highness a proof of my esteem and +consideration," said he. + +Kaunitz bowed stiffly. "I am so much the more surprised at this mark of +consideration, that I have never been able to see in your holiness's +state-papers the least recognition of my claims to statesmanship." + +"Perhaps we may have misjudged one another. I have desired, in visiting +Vienna, to heal all misunderstandings, and to afford to my son in +Christ, the emperor, every facility for his reconciliation to the holy +church. I have also prayed to Almighty God to touch the heart of your +highness, that you also might turn your steps toward the 'one fold.'" + +"I hope that I have never strayed from the path of right. The object of +my life has been to make Austria great and independent, and to aid my +emperor in freeing his subjects from foreign dominion. To-day no earthly +potentate has a voice in Austria, save Joseph; he is absolute master +here, and as all his acts have been for Austria's good, she has entered +at last upon a career of indisputable prosperity. But there is nothing +wonderful in this, when he had me as a coadjutor." + +Pius looked with profound sadness at this haughty statesman, who had not +a thought beyond the present world. + +"You speak of things that are of the earth, earthy. And yet your hair is +white as snow, and you an old man hastening to the grave! At your +advanced age it would become your highness, who have done so much for +your sovereign, to do something now to reconcile yourself to your +Maker." [Footnote: The pope's own words to Kaunitz.--See "Pius VI. and +his Pontificate," p. 226.] + +Kaunitz grew deathly pale; not all the paint that besmeared his wrinkles +could conceal his pallor. His forehead contracted, and hung in heavy +folds, while his breath came fast and gasping. The pope had spoken of +THE GRAVE, and the vulnerable heel had received a wound. + +It was some time before he could recover his self-possession--some time +again before he could force down his fury, and so remain master of the +situation. At last the victory was won, and he spoke calmly. + +"I hope," said he, "that having done nothing to offend my Maker, it is +unnecessary for me to seek reconciliation with Him. I have done all that +I could for religion; it is not my fault if her interests are not +identical with those of the church. But pardon me that I should have +strayed to themes so unbecoming to my character as host, and yours as my +guest. Let us speak of science, art, life, and its multitudinous +enjoyments. Your holiness, I know, is a distinguished patron of the fine +arts. And as you are fond of painting, allow me to offer you a sight of +my pictures. You will find them quite worth your inspection." + +With these words, Kaunitz rose, and, without waiting for the pope's +consent, stepped as hastily forward as his infirmities would permit, and +opened the door which led to his picture-gallery. The pope followed him +leisurely, and after him came the chaplain, the Countess Clary, and +Baron Binder. + +Kaunitz did the honors, passing with visible haste from one painting to +another. "Here," said he, "is a masterpiece of Murillo, which the +Vatican might envy me--Murillo, who was equally successful, whether he +tried his hand at Virgin or vagabond. Just look at this! Did ever the +earth bestow upon longing man a more voluptuously-beautiful woman than +this dark-eyed Madonna!" + +"It is a beautiful picture," murmured Pius, approaching with the hope of +being spared any more such comments on art. + +"But your holiness has not the proper light," cried Kaunitz, familiarly. +"Come a little more to the left." + +And, in the excitement of his enthusiasm, the prince was so forgetful of +the rank of his visitor as to catch him by the arm, and drag him to the +spot he advised. Pius started, and for one moment his eyes darted fire, +for, to the very depths of his soul, he felt the indignity; but he +remembered his resolve to "bear all things," and stood quietly +contemplating the picture until his tormentor spoke again. + +He, on his part, affected not to perceive that he had done any thing +amiss; and with an appearance of great empressement, he followed the pope +from picture to picture, dragging him first to one point, then to +another, as he pretended to think that the best light for seeing his +paintings was to the right or to the left. [Footnote: Bourgoing, "Pius +VI. and his Pontificate." p. 227.] + +The pope made no resistance, perhaps because he was astounded at the +insolence of the proceeding, perhaps because he judged it best to affect +unconsciousness of the insults which were being heaped upon his head. +But he was wounded to the heart, and raised his eyes to his chaplain, +who, indignant at the contumely offered to his beloved pontiff, at once +came forward to his relief, by reminding him that the emperor would +shortly visit his rooms. + +"You are right, my friend," said Pius. Then turning to Kaunitz, he +continued: "I must go, and cannot have the pleasure of completing my +survey of your paintings. Had I known that you possessed so many +treasures, I would have come earlier, that I might have been allowed to +visit them a little more at my leisure. I am under many obligations to +you for your politeness, and for the very unusual courtesies which I +have received at your hands." + +He took the arm of his chaplain, and left the room. At the door he was +met by the Countess Clary, and as she knelt a second time before him, he +laid his hand upon her head, with a gesture full of nobleness and grace. + +"I leave you my blessing, my child, and I leave it to all who inhabit +this house. May those whose hearts have been hardened by sin, return in +humility to the Lord: for humility is the crown of Christian graces, and +he who hath it not can never aspire to life eternal." + +He went on without ever turning his head or seeming to know that Kaunitz +was behind, excusing himself from going farther with his holiness, by +reason of the danger to which he would be exposed, etc., etc. + +At the portal of the palace the pope was received by his master of +ceremonies, who accompanied him to his cabinet. One glance at his pale +countenance had revealed to him the inutility of the condescension of +the supreme pontiff, who with a weary sigh sank back into the depths of +an arm-chair. + +"You were quite right," said he, after a pause, "and I was wrong. I +ought never to have gone to this man. God has punished me for my vanity, +and has used him as an instrument to remind me that I am but a poor +miserable creature, full of projects, but empty of results! Ah, +Battista! with what bright hopes of touching the emperor's heart I +started upon this pilgrimage to Vienna, priding myself upon my humility, +and building thereupon my trust! Nothing has come of my +efforts--nothing! I have learned one thing, however, of the emperor. He +is no Christian, but he is not a bad man. I really believe that he acts +from a sense of mistaken duty." + +The master of ceremonies shook his head, and was about to reply, when +there was a knock at the door, and the emperor asked admittance. The +master of ceremonies retired to the anteroom, where the suites of the +pope and the emperor were awaiting the signal for departure. Joseph +approached his holiness, and gave into his hand a case which he begged +him to accept as a souvenir of his visit to Austria. + +Pius, bewildered by all that he had endured on that day, opened it in +silence. But he was astonished when he saw the magnificence of he gift. +It was a large cross of pure, white brilliants, upon a bed of dark +crimson velvet. [Footnote: This cross was valued at 200,000 +florins.--See Hubner, i., p. 128.] + +"I beg of your holiness," said Joseph, "to wear this in remembrance of +me." + +Pius raised his head, and looked anxiously into the smiling face of the +emperor. "Oh, my son," said he, "would this were the only cross I was +forced take back with me to Rome!" + +"Your holiness must be content to take with you my love and regard," +replied Joseph, evasively; "and I would gladly give you another pledge +of them before we part. Will you allow me to bestow upon your nephew, +Luigi Braschi, the title and diploma of a prince?" + +Pius shook his head. "I thank your majesty; but my nephew cannot accept +the honor you would confer upon him. It was not to advance the interests +of my family, but the glory of the church, that I came to Vienna. +[Footnote: Pius's own words.--See Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 40.] Your +majesty would make a prince of my nephew, and yet you seek to humble his +uncle, who is the vicar of Christ on earth." + +"What have I done, your holiness?" + +"You have suppressed the order of the Mendicant Friars, and you have +called Cardinal Megazzi to account, because he printed one of my bulls +without submitting it to you for your approbation." + +"I consider that the Mendicants lead a contemptible life, and we have no +use for them in Austria. As to the bull, no law is permitted to go forth +in my dominions unless it is approved by me, for the laws of my land +must be subject to no power but my own." + +The pope heaved a sigh, for it was useless to argue with Joseph. "Is it +also true that your majesty has confiscated and sold all the property of +the convents and churches, and that it is your intention to give +salaries to the clergy?" + +"Yes, that is my plan; I may as well be frank with you, and avow it. But +I am very far from its accomplishment; I have taken nothing but the +property of the convents as yet." + +"And woe to your sacrilegious hand that you have done so!" cried Pius, +rising to his feet and confronting the emperor. "I cannot conceal from +your majesty that your conduct has inflicted a serious wound upon the +church, and has scandalized all good Christians. The robbing of the +church is an error condemned by ecclesiastic councils, and execrated by +the fathers of the church. Shall I remind you of the words which John, +the patriarch of Alexandria, spoke to a sovereign who would have robbed +the clergy of their temporal goods? 'How canst thou, a perishable +mortal, give unto another that which is not thine own? And when thou +givest that which belongs to God, thou rebellest against God himself. +What man endowed with reason will not pronounce thine act a +transgression, a signal and sinful injustice? How can a man presume to +call himself a Christian who desecrates the objects consecrated to +Christ!' Thus has God spoken through the mouth of His servant, and his +words are appropriate to the acts of your majesty!'" [Footnote: This +harangue of the pope is historical.--Hubner, i., p. 285.] + +The voice of the pope was choked by tears, and in the excess of his +grief he sank back upon the chair and leaned his head upon his hand. + +The emperor had listened with profound indifference. It was not the +first time he had seen the pope thus moved, and he was perfectly aware +that it was better to make no reply until the violence of his emotion +had exhausted itself. + +"Your holiness goes too far in your apostolic zeal," said he, after a +pause of some length. "I shall neither quote the Scriptures nor the +Fathers in my defence; for you and I would not be apt to interpret them +in the same sense. I shall content myself with observing that, in spite +of all your anger, I shall hearken to the voice of my own conscience, +which tells me that my acts are those of a wise lawgiver, and of a +faithful defender of religion. With this voice, my own reason, and help +from above, I am not afraid of being in error. [Footnote: Joseph's own +words.--Hubner, i., p. 287.] At the same time, I assure your holiness of +my sincerest regard. You may not have attained the object of your visit, +but I hope that you carry away at least the conviction of my honesty and +integrity of purpose. The interests of state and church may be at +variance, but we need not be personal enemies; and over the gulf which +separates us as princes, we may join hands as friends, may we not?" + +With these words, the emperor extended his hand, and the pope did not +refuse to take it. + +"It is time for me to be going," replied he. "This cross, which in the +prodigality of your friendship, you have bestowed upon me, I shall wear +for your sake, and it shall remind me to pray daily that God may +enlighten you, and lead you back to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. +For in the church alone is true peace to be found. He who strives +against her, strives against Christ. Farewell, and may He mercifully +bring you to a sense of your errors!" + + + +CHAPTER CLX. + +THE REPULSE. + +The aristocracy of Vienna were in a state of extreme excitement. It was +whispered from one noble to another, that the Aulic Council had +condemned Count Podstadsky-Liechtenstein for life to the house of +correction, and he was to sweep the streets in the garb of a common +criminal. [Footnote: This was in accordance with the new Josephine +code.] This was not all. Another fearful announcement had fallen like a +bolt upon the heads of the most illustrious families in Vienna. For some +weeks past, Count Szekuly had been missing. His servants had given out +that he had gone to visit his relatives in Hungary; but they seemed so +embarrassed and uneasy, that no one believed them. Colonel Szekuly had +many powerful friends. He was an intimate associate of all the Hungarian +noblemen in Vienna, and hard long been a welcome guest wherever the +fashionable world had assembled. Moreover, he was the adorer of the most +admired woman in Vienna, the lovely Countess Baillou. + +She, too, had disappeared. Where could they be? Was it accident, or had +she responded to his love, and left a world of worshippers, to live for +him alone? + +Finally the mystery was solved. A few days after the arrest of +Podstadsky, Szekuly also had been arrested. It was now well known that +Podstadsky had forged notes; but it was impossible to suspect a man of +Szekuly's unimpeachable character of any connection with a crime of that +nature. + +Unhappily, however, though less in degree, the accusation against +Szekuly was similar in kind. He was a defaulter; and from the coffers of +his regiment (which were confided to his care) sixty thousand florins +had disappeared. + +The Countess Baillou was his accuser. She had been charged with being a +party to Podstadsky's fraud, but he, as well as Szekuly, had loudly +declared her innocence. Both had avowed themselves to be her lovers, and +it was ascertained that her household had been maintained at +Podstadsky'a cost. As his mistress, she had received many of his +bank-notes, but he protested that she knew nothing of his forgeries. He +confessed his own guilt, but firmly upheld her innocence. So far from +being his accomplice, Podstadsky declared that she had been his victim. + +But a coffer containing twenty thousand ducats had been found upon the +person of the countess. This money had not been given her by Podstadaky, +since he had nothing but forged notes to give. The countess, when +questioned, answered unhesitatingly, that one half the sum she had won +at play, and the other half she had received as a present from Colonel +Szekuly. It was well known that Szekuly had not the means of bestowing +such princely gifts; yet, when informed of the countess's charge, he had +grown pale, but replied that the countess had spoken nothing but truth. + +Suspicion was aroused; the strong box of the regiment was examined, and +found empty! Von Szekuly acknowledged that he had taken the money, +believing in good faith that, by the sale of certain deeds in his +possession, he would be able to replace it at short notice. But where +were these papers? They could not be found, and Szekuly refused to give +any account of them. He was guilty, he said, and must submit to his +fate. Colonel von Szekuly, a Hungarian baron, under sentence for theft! +This was a blot upon the escutcheon of more than one illustrious family. +But the emperor, in framing his severe code, had reserved to himself the +right to pardon; and this right, it was hoped, he would exercise in +favor of the high-born criminals. It was not possible that he intended +to humiliate the nobility of Austria so cruelly as to condemn two of +them to the pillory, to the sweeping of the streets, to be chained to +two common felons for life! [Footnote: Hubner, ii., p. 383] + +No!--this was an outrage which the emperor would never dare to +perpetrate, for it would arouse the bitter animosity of the whole +aristocracy. Still it would be better to petition him at once, and warn +him of his peril. + +He was petitioned, but his invariable reply was, that the law must +decide. It was known, however, that the sentence was not signed, and +there was still hope. But how to reach the emperor? Since the council +had pronounced judgment on the criminals, Joseph had granted audience to +no one; he had avoided all proximity to the nobles, and to secure +himself from importunity, had ceased to ride in the park, contenting +himself with a daily drive in his cabriolet. Finally the petitioners +remembered the "Controlorgang," and thither they repaired early in the +morning. Ladies, as well as lords, came on foot, that the emperor might +not be warned by the sound of their rolling equipages to deny himself +again. They were the first to enter the palace on that day, and were so +numerous that no other petitioners could obtain entrance. On that +occasion, then, they were among their peers, and the canaille would +never know how count and countess, baron and baroness, had humbled +themselves for the sake of their caste. + +As soon as Gunther opened the door, they rushed into the small room +which was called the Controlorgang, and there, with beating hearts, +awaited the entrance of the all-powerful emperor. + +He came, and when he saw who were the petitioners of the day, his +countenance expressed astonishment: but he did not depart from his usual +habit, and walked slowly down the middle of the room, extending his hand +to receive the petitions. + +"How?" said he, when he had reached the last person, "Count Lampredo, +you have nothing to present! You all desire to speak with me? I fear +that my time is too short to gratify you." + +"Sire, we have but one petition to make," said the count, speaking for +the others. "One common misfortune threatens us all--" + +"What can it be" + +"Oh, your majesty," cried he, fervently, "have mercy upon Count +Podstadsky and Baron von Szekuly!" + +"Mercy, sire, mercy for Podstadsky and Szekuly!" cried the noble +petitioners with one accord, while all knelt before the astounded +emperor. + +He surveyed them with an angry frown. "Rise, all of you," said he. "Have +you forgotten that kneeling has been abolished here? The Spanish customs +which were once so popular in the palace, are unbecoming in this room, +where all who enter it are nothing but petitioners seeking justice at my +hands." + +"And mercy, sire!" added Count Lampredo, imploringly. + +"And mercy which can be conceded only so far as it is perfectly +compatible with justice." + +"Mercy, gracious emperor, mercy for Podstadsky and Szekuly!" reiterated +the petitioners. + +"You ask for mercy which wounds justice, and I repeat that I cannot +grant the one without the other. Count Podstadsky, through his frauds, +has ruined thousands of my subjects; Baron von Szekuly has stolen sixty +thousand florins, and both these men have disgraced their births and +titles." + +"Allow Szekuly to be tried by a military court, sire. They at least +would shield him from dishonor, for they would sentence him to death." + +"He has committed a vulgar crime and he shall be punished according to +the burghers' code. That code ignores capital punishment." + +"But its punishments are more fearful than death, sire. A man is thrice +dead who has lost liberty, honor, and name. The man who in manacles +sweeps the public streets, or tugs at the car, is a thousand times more +to be pitied than he who lays his head upon the block. Oh, sire, it +cannot be that you would consign a nobleman to such contumely!" + +"No, I honor the nobleman too much to brand him with such infamy," +replied the emperor, hastily. "But if a cavalier commits a crime, I +disfranchise him at once; and, stripped of name, title, and privileges, +I hand him over to the law which regards him exactly as it does any +other base-born villain. [Footnote: Joseph's own words. See Hubner, ii., +p. 432.] Be comforted, then. These criminals are no longer noblemen, and +have nothing in common with you." + +"Oh, sire, do not say so; for their shame is reflected upon us all!" + +"How?" exclaimed Joseph, with affected surprise, "are you all thieves +and forgers?" + +"No, sire; but our honor suffers through their dishonor. Oh, your +majesty, in the name of the illustrious families who for centuries have +been the loyal subjects of your house, save our escutcheons from this +foul blot!" + +"Save us, sire, save us from infamy!" echoed the others. + +"No!" exclaimed the emperor. "He who is not ashamed of the crime will +not be ashamed of the disgrace. If, for the sake of his rank, a man is +to have the privilege of being a villain, where, then, is justice? +[Footnote: Ibid.] Not another word of this! My forbearance is exhausted; +for I have sought by every means to convince you that, as a sovereign, I +shall show partiality to no order of men. Podstadsky and Szekuly shall +suffer to the full extent of the law, for the worth of their ancestors +cannot wipe out their own unworthiness." + +The emperor withdrew, and when the door closed behind him, many an eye +there flashed with hatred, and many a compressed lip told of meditated +vengeance for the indignity suffered by a powerful order at his hands +that day. + +"Our humiliation, then, has been of no avail!" muttered Count Lampredo, +"and the nobles of Austria must suffer disgrace because of the obstinate +cruelty of the man who should uphold them." + +"But we will be revenged!" whispered Count Hojada, a near relative of +Szekuly's. "The sovereign who, like Joseph, heaps obloquy upon a +nobility, some of whom are his equals in descent, is lost! The emperor +shall remember this hour, and rue it also!" + +"Yes," said another, "he shall repent this day. We are all of one mind, +are we not, friends?" + +"Ay," muttered they, with gnashing teeth. "He shall pay dearly for +this!" + + + +CHAPTER CLXI. + +THE COUNT IN THE PILLORY. + +Crowds of people gathered around the street corners to read the large +hand-bills posted there. The bills announced that Count +Podstadsky-Liechtenstein had been condemned to three days of pillory, to +public sweeping of the streets, and ten years' detention in the house of +correction. Colonel von Szekuly to three days of pillory, and four +years' detention. + +The guilt of the Countess Baillou not having been fully established, she +was pardoned by the emperor. But she was ordered to be present at +Podstadsky's exposition in the pillory, and then to leave Vienna +forever. + +The people read these fearful tidings in dumb amazement and vague +apprehension of evil to themselves. Never had they so completely +realized the new order of things as at this moment. One of the +privileged, whom they had hitherto beheld at a distance in splendid +equipages, on elegant horses, in brilliant uniforms around the person of +the emperor, one of these demi-gods was to be trailed in the dust like a +criminal from the dregs of the populace. A count, in the gray smock of +the felon, was to sweep the streets, which, perchance, his aristocratic +foot had never trodden before. A proud Hungarian nobleman, a colonel of +the guard, was to be exposed in the pillory for three days. These were +terrible and startling events. Not a trace of exultation was upon the +gloomy faces of the multitude: this abasement of two men of illustrious +birth to an equality with boors, seemed an invasion of the conservative +principles of society. It was an ugly dream--the people could not +realize it. They must go to the spot where the sentence was to be +executed, to see if indeed Olympus had been levelled to the earth. +Hurried along by one common impulse, the silent multitude wound in a +long stream through the streets, until they reached the market-place +where the sentence was to be carried out. Neither idle curiosity nor +malice had led the people thither; it was a pilgrimage to the new era +which at last was dawning upon the world. + +There, in the centre of the great open square, was the throne of infamy +upon which an Austrian nobleman was about to bid adieu to name, honor, +family, and the associations which had surrounded his boyhood, and to be +thrust into the revolting companionship of robbers and murderers! + +Not a smile was seen upon those appalled faces; men whispered to one +another that the count was the only son of one of the proudest families +in Hungary; and that the countess, his mother, had died of her son's +shame. The eyes of the women filled with tears, and, for the sake of the +martyred mother, they forgave the guilty son. The weeping of the women +deepened the sympathies of the men; and they began to murmur against the +heartless emperor, who degraded an illustrious subject, and sent a noble +countess broken-hearted to the grave! + +And now appeared the criminal. Culprit though he was, his beauty and air +of distinction were indisputable. + +"Poor young man!" murmured the women, sobbing. + +"He will not long survive his disgrace," said the men, sorrowfully. "He +looks like a ghost, and the emperor will soon have to bury him by the +side of his mother." + +No one remembered that this man had committed an infamous crime; no one +thanked the emperor for having bestowed upon the Austrian people the +inestimable gift of equality before the law. The commoner himself felt +aggrieved at the monarch who had treated a nobleman no better than he +would have done a serf. + +Count Podstadsky was still in the elegant costume of the day. Graceful +and distinguished in his bearing, he leaned his weary body, against the +stake that supported the scaffold on which he was to suffer the last +degree of public infamy. But now the executioner approached, holding a +pair of large glistening shears. He gathered the soft brown curls of the +count in his rough grasp, and very soon the glossy locks fell, and there +remained nothing but the shorn head of the felon. This done, the +executioner drew off the gold-embroidered coat which became the young +nobleman so well, and threw over his shoulders the coarse smock, which, +henceforth, was to designate him as a miscreant. + +How changed, alas, was the high-born Carlo! How little this chattering +creature, disguised in serge, resembled the cavalier who had enlisted +the sympathy of the multitude! He was no longer a man, and name he had +none. His number, in scarlet list upon the left sleeve of his smock, was +the only mark that distinguished him from his brethren--the other +malefactors. But the fearful toilet was not yet at an end. The feet and +hands were yet to be manacled. As the handcuffs clicked around those +delicate wrists, the executioner looked up in amazement. Heretofore he +had been accustomed to hear the jeers and loud mockery of the multitude, +as they applauded the completion of the felon's toilet; but today there +was not a sound! Nothing to be seen but pale, sorrowful faces--nothing +to be heard but sobs and murmurs of sympathy. + +Still one more torture! The executioner gave him the broom, the baton of +his disgrace, and he grasped its handle for support. He could scarcely +stand now! + +At this moment, in fiendish contrast with the behavior of the people, a +loud, mocking laugh was heard. Shudderingly they looked around, +wondering who it was that could add the weight of a sneer to the supreme +misery which was rending their hearts. It came from above; and every +face, even that of the wretched Podstadsky, as uplifted in horror. He +caught at the stake, and his vacant eyes rested upon the house whence +the cruel laugh had issued. There, on a balcony, guarded by several men +in black, stood a beautiful young woman. She it was who had dealt the +blow. In the hour of his agony her rosy lips had mocked him! + +"Arabella!" shrieked the despairing man; and with this cry he sank +insensible to the earth. [Footnote: Count Podstadsky did not long +survive his disgrace. His delicate body soon sank under the hardships of +his terrible existence. One day while sweeping the streets he ruptured a +blood-vessel and died there, with no mourners save his +fellow-criminals.--See Hubner ii., pp. 583-591. "Characteristic and +Historical Anecdotes of Joseph II." "Friedel's Letters from Vienna," +vol. i., p. 68.] + +While all this was transpiring at the market-place, an imperial +state-carriage had been hurrying through the streets until it stopped +before a gloomy house, of which the doors and window-shutters were all +closed. A footman, in the imperial livery, was seen to ring, and then an +old man in faded black livery opened the door. A few whispered words +passed between them; then a cavalier, in an elegant uniform, sprang from +the carriage and entered the house. The old butler went before, and +showed him up the creaking staircase, and through a suite of mouldy +rooms until they reached one with closed doors. + +"So please your majesty," said the old man, "Count +Podstadsky-Liechtenstein is in there." + +The emperor nodded. "Do not announce me," said he, and he knocked at the +door. A feeble voice from within responded to the knock, and the emperor +entered without further ceremony. A tall, venerable man in deep mourning +came forward and looked at him with hollow, staring eyes. + +"The emperor!" exclaimed he, recognizing his unexpected guest. + +"Yes, Count Podstadsky, it is I," said the emperor, bowing, as he would +have done before a mighty monarch. "I come to express my profound regret +for the great misfortune which has lately befallen you. No man knows +better than myself what grief it is to lose a beloved wife. And yours +was such a noble, such a devoted wife!" [Footnote: Hubner, ii., p. 391.] + +"Devoted!" exclaimed the old count, sadly. "Alas, sire, there was +something on earth which was nearer to her heart than I, else she had +not died and left me alone. I loved nothing but her, and in losing her I +lose all that made life endurable. I would wish to die now; but I have +still a principle to defend--the honor of my family." + +"We both have a principle to defend!" replied the emperor, deeply moved +at the excessive grief of which he was a witness. "The principle of +honor and justice--let us both teach the world that justice attacks the +individual criminal and not his family; and that the honor of a family +requires that justice should be satisfied. The name of +Podstadsky-Liechtenstein has ever been an illustrious one, and I desire +to prove to you my regard for your race. Give me your hand, count, and +let us be friends." + +He extended his hand, and with quiet solemnity the old count took it and +looked up into his sovereign's face. + +"I thank your majesty," said he, after a pause. "Your conduct toward me +is noble and magnanimous, and I shall be grateful for it to my latest +breath. You have acted as became a sovereign who has no right to set at +defiance the laws he has made. Had I been his judge, I should myself +have condemned the criminal who was once my son, and to-day is the +murderer of his mother. Years ago I sat in judgment over this +transgressor and when I did so, I lost my only child. As for the man who +to-day has suffered the penalty of his crimes, I know him no longer." + +"And YOUR honor is unspotted," said the emperor. "Give me your arm, +count, and let me conduct you to my carriage. It is a lovely day. We +will take a drive together, and then dine at Schonbrunn. Come--I am +resolved that you shall spend this whole day with me. Give me your arm." + +"Sire," whispered the old man, hesitating and looking gloomily toward +the window, "the day is so bright and the sun shines so fiercely, I fear +that my eyes cannot bear the glare. I beg of you allow me to remain at +home." + +The emperor shook his head. "Nay, your eyes are not weak. You can bear +the fullest light of day; you have no need to hide your honored head +from the gaze of the world. Take courage, dear friend, and think of what +we both have said. Have we not our principles to defend? And must we not +both assert them courageously?" + +"Your majesty is right," cried the old count. "I am ready to follow +you." + +And while Carl Podstadsky, awaking from his swoon, looked up into the +face of the malefactor, who from henceforth was to be the companion of +his sleeping and waking, and the witness of his despair--while one of +along train of outlawed felons, he dragged his misery through the hot, +dusty streets, his father drove with the emperor to Schonbrunn, and +among all the brilliant guests who dined with him on that day, to none +was the emperor so deferential in his courtesy as to the old Count +Podstadsky-Liechtenstein. + + + +CHAPTER CLXII. + +THE NEMESIS. + +Meanwhile where was the siren who had lured Szekuly to destruction? +Where was she for whose sake Carl Podstadsky had precipitated himself +into the waters of obloquy? When the waves had engulfed him, she had +disappeared, and the last sounds that had rung in his ears were the +sounds of her cruel mirth! + +Was there no punishment in reserve for such atrocity? No punishment for +this woman without heart, without pity, without remorse? Would no hand +unmask this beautiful fiend? + +The hand is ready, but it is invisible; and Arabella, in her newfound +security, is dazzled at the magnitude of her own good fortune. "Whom the +gods wish to destroy they first blind." True, she had lost her gold, the +price of Szekuly's good fame; but she was not poor; her jewels were +worth many such a coffer of ducats. Once in possession of her casket, +she was again rich, happy, and courted. Not a creature, save Giuseppe, +knew the whereabouts of this precious casket, and with it they must away +to Paris! + +It was dusk, and Giuseppe, with a travelling carriage, once more awaited +his mistress at the corner of the street. There remained nothing to do +now but to remove the coffer from its hiding-place, and that was the +work of half an hour. Arabella had the key of the little postern, and +there was no danger of spies, for the house was empty. Having avowed +herself to be the pensioned mistress of Podstadsky, the law had placed +its seal upon her effects, and they were all to be sold for the benefit +of the count's creditors. + +The night was dark, and the street lanterns were propitiously dim. Here +and there was heard the step of a solitary foot-passenger, and from time +to time the monotonous tramp of the patrol. One of these patrols had +just passed the garden-wall of the hotel, of which the Countess Baillou +had been the presiding goddess. He looked up at the darkened windows as +he went, wondered whither the goddess had flown, and walked on. When the +echo of his step had died away from the pavement, and the last beams of +the lantern were flickering out, a dark, slender form emerged from one +of the pillars of the wall, and glided toward the little side-door, +which opened on that narrow street. The key was in the door, it clicked +in the lock, and the figure disappeared within. All was quiet. + +"I am safe," thought she; "not a sound is within hearing. Now for my +treasures, and away I away from this hateful city forever!" + +"Whom the gods would destroy, they first blind." + +Arabella never suspected that, under cover of darkness, others besides +herself were lurking in that garden; and now as she advanced toward the +house, two tall figures approached the postern, and stationed themselves +on either side of it. + +"She is caught," whispered one. + +"Yes," replied another, "the bird has come of its own accord into the +net. We must wait now until we receive further orders." + +Arabella, meanwhile, looked exultingly at the dark clouds which overhung +the sky, and almost laughed. "Thank you, fair moon," said she, "for +withdrawing your splendor at my behest. Tomorrow you shall shed your +soft beams upon my flight, for then I shall need your friendly light. +Far away from Vienna, I shall be rich, happy, and free!" + +Now she was at the servants' entrance. Oh, how the hinges creaked, as +she opened the door! But what of it? No one was there to hear the sound. +How foolishly her heart was beating! Now she was inside, and, with +spasmodic haste, she bolted herself within. The darkness was intense. +She could not see her hand before her, and in spite of herself a cold +chill ran through her frame, and her knees trembled with vague terror. +What if, through this black expanse, a hand should suddenly touch hers! +and--"Oh, how dreadful is this darkness!" thought she. "I might die +here, and no one could come to my help! I feel as I did once before, on +that night of horror in Italy!" + +She shuddered, and, almost swooning with fright, cowered under the +shelter of the marble balustrade, to which she had by this time groped +her way. And now, before her terrified soul, swept phantom after +phantom, all from the miserable spirit-land of the past. Once more she +lived through a night dark as this, when a wretched, betrayed, +dishonored girl, she had slunk through the streets of Rome in search of +death--death and annihilation in the black waves of the Tiber. She felt +the waters engulf her, she heard her own death-cry, the last protest of +youth against self-destruction; and then she felt the grasp of +Podstadsky--Podstadsky who, in restoring her to the world, had laid a +new curse upon her life. Until then she had been luxurious, frivolous, +pleasure-loving; but in the Tiber she had found a new and terrible +baptism--the baptism of crime. Without love she had consented to become +Podstadsky's mistress, and so became the partner of his guilt. Together +they had planned their bold schemes of fraud, and, oh, how successful +they had been until this last misfortune! At all events, her connection +with Podstadsky was at an end. The pillory had liberated her, and +now--now she would lead a blameless life. No more fraud--no more theft. +Crime was too dangerous; she saw that it must inexorably lead to shame. +She would be satisfied with what she had, and become a virtuous woman. +She was quite rich enough to be good, and it would be such bliss to live +without a guilty secret! + +She laughed, and then shivered at the sound of her own voice, and a +supernatural terror took such violent hold of her imagination, that she +could no longer bear the darkness. She must see, or she would die of +fear. Giuseppe had provided her with a dark lantern, a vial of +phosphorus, and some matches. + +"How delightful it is to have this new invention!" thought she, as, +touching the phosphorus, she struck a light. With this light she felt a +little reassured, but could she have seen her blanched, terror-stricken +face, she would have screamed, and fancied it a spectre! + +Hush! Was there a muffled sound behind her? She paused and listened, her +eyes glaring as though they would start from their sockets. Pshaw! it +was only the rustling of her own silk mantle as it went trailing up the +marble staircase. Nothing in human shape was there, save two pale +statues, which stood like dead sentinels at the head of the stairs. As +she passed these she shuddered, and almost fancied that they had stepped +from their pedestals to follow her. Giving one quick glance behind, she +sped like a hunted doe through those halls, of which so lately she had +been the pride, and arrived breathless at the door of her boudoir. She +darted in, and there, safe in its place, was the picture. + +This gave her courage. But she must have rest after her fearful +pilgrimage through that dark, empty house. She sank upon her satin +lounge, and abandoned herself to the joy and security of the hour. She +had just come to the end of a perilous journey. Night and danger were +behind, the rosy morning of safety was about to dawn. She was so full of +joyous emotion, that scarcely knowing what she did, her lips began to +move in unconscious prayer! + +Prayer! She had no right to such a privilege as that; and starting from +her seat, lest she should falter in the purpose of her visit, she +quickly removed the picture, touched the spring, and the precious coffer +stood revealed. + +No, no, she could never give it up! She stretched out her arms, and +pressed it to her heart, as a mother does her only child. Trembling with +eager joy, she placed it on the table, and opening it, contemplated her +treasures on their beds of crimson velvet. + +How they sparkled! How they seemed to burn with splendor as the rays of +the little lantern coquetted with their beauty! She was repaid for all +her terrors, she was happy and secure! + +"Whom the gods would destroy, they first blind." + +She was so absorbed in the magnificence of her diamond necklace for +which she had been indebted to the Princess Garampi, that she did not +hear the footfall of the men who were close behind her. They smiled, and +pantomimed one to another as they watched her toying with her flashing +jewels. + +Then suddenly springing forward, as if they feared she might escape +through the secret opening in the wall, they grasped her with their +powerful hands, and she was once more a prisoner. + +"The emperor can no longer defend his beautiful countess," said the one +who seemed to direct the others. "We have caught her in the act of +robbing Count Podstadsky's creditors. And, unless I am mistaken, we +shall find among her booty all the jewels that were missing at last +winter's entertainments; for, as I had the honor of reminding his +majesty, the Countess Baillou was at every ball where jewels were lost. +I told the emperor that if he would give you freedom, I engaged to find +something more than a mare's nest when I tracked you hither. I was sure +you would come, and my spies have been within, waiting for you since +this morning." + +"What reward was promised by the emperor for my detection?" said +Arabella, now self-possessed. + +"Five hundred ducats," was the reply. + +"Five hundred ducats?" repeated she, tossing back her beautiful head. "A +beggarly reward for the person of a lady of rank like me! Take this +necklace, and divide it between you. Each one will then have more than +the frugal emperor has promised to all. Take it and give me my freedom. +Your generous act will never be known." + +"How, lady! You would bribe us, as you have bribed so many noble +cavaliers? No, no. Your game is at an end, and if ever you appear in +public again, it will be as a criminal. You must come with me. You, men, +take up this coffer." + +She strove no longer. Without another word she took the arm of the +police-officer and went firmly forward. + +Her lips moved, and she murmured: "Alas he is right. My career is at an +end." [Footnote: This beautiful woman, "the ornament of the most elegant +circles in Vienna," as she is called by the chroniclers of the times, +was condemned to three days of pillory, the same punishment as that +suffered by the victim of her wickedness and coquetry. She was then sent +guarded to the confines of Austria, from whence she was banished for +life.--See Hubner, ii., 392. Gross-Hoffinger, iii.] + + + +CHAPTER CLXIII. + +HORJA AND THE REBELLION IN HUNGARY. + +Four years had gone by since Joseph had reigned sole monarch of Austria. +For four years he had devoted himself to the Austrians, having but one +object, that of making them a free, enlightened, and happy people, +emancipating them from the influence of the church, and breaking the +fetters of serfdom; granting them equality before the law, and enriching +them by his encouragement of manufactures and the privileges he accorded +to merchants. + +What was his reward? Dissatisfaction and opposition from every class of +society; ingratitude and ill-will from all parties. The nobles disliked +him because he had sought every opportunity of humbling them before the +people; the clergy opposed him because of his sequestration of church +property, and his assumption of spiritual authority. But his bitterest +enemies were the bureaucratie. He had invaded all their customs, +discharging every man who had not studied at the university, and +requiring constant labor from the first as well as the last of the +employes. He was the terror of all aspirants for civil office, and the +whole body hated him, embarrassed his steps, and ruined his plans by +voluntary misconception of all his orders. + +As yet, there was no outburst of dissatisfaction. The discontent was +latent, and Joseph still indulged the hope of outliving opposition, and +proving to his subjects that all the innovations which they had so +ungratefully endured were for the ultimate good of the Austrian nation. + +He was therefore ill-prepared for the news which reached him from +Hungary. He had freed the people from slavery and taxation, and had +exacted that the nobles should pay their share of the imperial taxes. He +had instituted a general conscription, and the most powerful Magyar in +Hungary was bound to serve, side by side, with the lowest peasant. +Finally he had forbidden the use of any other language in Hungary save +the German. + +A cry of indignation was heard from every turreted castle in the land. +They were wounded in the rights hitherto guaranteed to them by every +emperor of Austria. And above all other oppression, they were to be +robbed of their mother tongue, that they might lose their nationality, +and become a poor Austrian dependency. [Footnote: That was precisely +Joseph's object: and yet he wondered that this people did not love him.] + +But Joseph's enactments were detested not only by the nobles, they were +equally unwelcome to the people. The latter were horror-stricken by the +general conscription, and fled by thousands to take refuge among the +mountains from the conscribing officers. + +One of their own class, however, succeeded in drawing them from their +hiding-places. The loud voice of Horja rang throughout every valley, and +ascended to every mountain-summit. He called them to liberty and +equality. He asserted that nobility was to be destroyed in Hungary. +There were to be no more castles, no more magnates of the land. The +emperor had promised as much in Vienna. He had sworn to free the +Hungarian peasantry, and to bring the proud noble down to an equality +with his serf. + +The hour for fulfilment had arrived. All the new laws regarded the +nobles alone, they had no reference to the peasantry whom the emperor +had promised to make free, happy, and rich. He needed the help of his +Hungarians. They must complete what he had begun. The peasant was to be +free, happy, rich. + +This was the magic song which attracted the boor from his thatch under +the hill, and the goat-herd from his hut amid the mountain-peaks. + +Horja was the Arion who sang--and now to his standard flocked thousands +of deluded beings, all eager to complete the work which the emperor had +begun. Joseph had made them free--it remained for themselves to plunder +the nobles, and appropriate their long-hoarded wealth. It was the +emperor's will. He hated the Magyars, and loved the peasantry. + +If ever any of those poor, ignorant wretches held back, Horja showed +them a massive gold chain to which the emperor's portrait was attached. +This had been sent to him by Joseph himself, and in proof thereof he had +a parchment full of gilt letters, with a great seal attached to it, +which made him Captain-General of Hungary. They could all come and read +the emperor's own writing if they chose. + +Poor fellows! None of them knew how to read, so that Krischan, a friend +of Horja and a priest of the Greek Church, read it for all who doubted. + +This brought conviction to the most skeptical. That a Greek priest could +read a lie, never once entered the heads of these simple children of +nature. + +Now commenced the carnage. The nobles were imprisoned and murdered, +their castles burned, and their fields laid waste. The aristocracy of +the borders, whose territorial domains the insurgents had not yet +reached, armed themselves, and having captured some of the rebels, put +them to death under circumstances of exaggerated cruelty, executing them +by the power which the Magyar possessed of administering justice as an +independent prince. + +These executions, unsanctioned by the emperor, raised the indignation of +the people to ungovernable fury, and they now demanded the entire +extinction of the nobles. They were summoned to resign their titles, +and, until the coronation of Joseph, the rightful King of Hungary, they +were to obey their lawful ruler, Horja. + +The nobles, not having condescended to take any notice of Horja's +summons, the people began to pillage and murder with redoubled fury. +They spared every thing, however, belonging to the emperor--the only +nobleman who, for the future, was to be suffered to own land in Hungary. + +Joseph could no longer turn a deaf ear to the remonstrances of the +Magyars. He had hoped to be able to quell the rebellion by lenity, +offering a general amnesty to all offenders with the exception of Horja, +for whose capture a reward of three hundred ducats was offered. + +But the poor, deluded peasantry, having faith in no one but Horja, +thought that the offer of pardon was nothing but an artifice of the +enemy. The emperor, then was obliged to march the imperial troops +against the people, and to bring about with musket and cannon what he +had hoped to accomplish through moral suasion. + +Horja, finding that he had nothing more to hope from the clemency of the +emperor, tried to induce the disaffected nobles to accept his peasantry, +and rebel against Joseph. But they rejected the offer with disdain, and +gave their support to the imperial troops. + +Thousands delivered themselves up, imploring mercy, which was granted +them. Thousands fled to the mountains, and thousands were taken +prisoners. Among these latter were Horja and Krischan. Both were +condemned to death. Horja pleaded hard to be allowed to see the emperor, +alleging that he had something of importance to communicate to him, but +his prayer was not granted. + +Perhaps Joseph suspected that Horja would prove to him, what he already +dreaded to know, namely, that the nobles had connived at this +insurrection of the peasantry to frighten him with the consequences of +his own acts. + +Horja was not permitted, then, to see his sovereign. He was broken on a +wheel on the market-place at Carlsburg, and two thousand of the cap-bared +insurgents were forced to witness the cruel spectacle. [Footnote: On the +3d of January, 1785.] + +Thus ended this fearful outbreak, by which four thousand men perished, +sixty-two villages and thirty-two castles were consumed; and the deluded +peasantry, instead of freedom, happiness, and wealth, found threefold +oppression at the hands of their masters. The magnates and nobles, +meanwhile, stood upon the ruins of their castles, and cried out: + +"This is the work of Joseph! These are the fruits of his insensate +reforms!" [Footnote: Hubner, i., p. 273 Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 135. +Ramshorn, p. 138.] + + + +CHAPTER CLXIV. + +THE JEW'S REVENGE. + +The emperor paced his cabinet in unusual agitation. Contrary to his +daily habits, the Controlorgang was closed, and his secretaries had been +ordered to remain in the chancery, and do their writing there. + +The emperor had been weeping; and he wished his anguish to be hidden +from any eye save that of God. + +A great sorrow had befallen him. Gunther, his indefatigable co-laborer, +the trustiest of counsellors, the man whom, next to Lacy and Rosenberg, +he loved best on earth--Gunther had betrayed him! He had sold a secret +of state for gold! + +There, before him on the table, lay the reports of the secret police, +whose duty it was to open all letters passing through the post, and to +present such as looked suspicious. [Footnote: "The Emperor Franz and +Metternich: a Fragment." (From Hormayer, p. 795)] Among these letters +was one which strongly inculpated Gunther. It was written by Baron +Eskeles Flies to a commercial friend in Amsterdam. It stated that he +(Eskeles Flies) had just received a communication of such vital +importance that it was worth much more to him than the thousand ducats +he had paid to his informer. The emperor, tired of his contention with +Holland regarding the navigation of the Scheldt, had agreed to accept +the ten millions offered by Holland in return for his guaranty that she +should still preserve her right to demand toll of all ships passing +through that portion of the river which was within the Dutch boundaries. +[Footnote: Joseph had claimed from Holland the right to navigate the +Scheldt and the canals dug by the Dutch, free of toll. These latter +refused, and the emperor forth-with marched his troops into Holland. He +had expected to be sustained by the other maritime powers of Europe, but +they protecting the Dutch, Joseph was obliged to withdraw his troops. +But he claimed an indemnity for the expenses incurred by putting his +regiments upon a war-footing, and demanded twenty millions. He then +agreed to take fifteen, but was finally obliged to be content with ten, +which was all that the Dutch would allow him. Whereupon Frederick the +Great said that Joseph had cried out for a great sum, but had been +obliged to come down to a "pour boire."] + +Eskeles Flies besought his Amsterdam correspondent to procure him this +loan, which he was ready to advance to the republic in four instalments. +He bound his friend to strict secrecy, for the information he imparted +was not to be made public for twenty-four hours, and the possession of +this secret gave them signal advantage over all other bankers. + +Now Gunther alone had been intrusted by the emperor with this secret of +state. With the exception of Prince Kaunitz, not another man in Austria +knew that Joseph intended to accept the proffered indemnity. + +It was clear, then, that Gunther was the traitor, and yet his imperial +master would not believe. He clung to the hope that something might yet +occur to exculpate his favorite, though how or whence exoneration was to +come, he could not conceive. + +The banker had been summoned, and the emperor awaited his coming. In the +impatience of his heart he had sent a courier, and after the courier his +own carriage, for he could not endure his suspense one moment longer +than was unavoidable. + +Often as he paced the room, his heart throbbing violently, he paused to +listen, and then glanced again and again at the clock to see if the +banker could be nigh. + +"If it be true," thought he, resuming his agitated walk, "I never shall +trust man again. I believed that Gunther's heart was as noble as his +face. Is it possible that such a countenance should lie? Gunther, the +generous, disinterested Gunther--can it be that he has sold my secrets? +I cannot, will not believe it. I must see himself, and hear his defence +from his own lips." + +Hurried along by this magnanimous impulse, the emperor approached the +door. But he paused, and shook his head. + +"No, no. Conviction must come from testimony, not from assertion. Men +are all actors, and often have I seen how skilfully they wear the mask +of innocence. I have been too often deceived. Ah! there at last is the +banker." + +Yes, it was he. The page flung open the door, and announced: + +"Baron von Eskoles Flies." + +The baron entered the room. He had grown old since Rachel's flight. +Scarcely a year had elapsed since then; but in that year her father's +raven locks had become white as snow, and the stalwart man of fifty had +grown old and feeble. + +The emperor came forward, and extended his hand. + +"Look at me, Eskeles," said he, in his quick, eager way; "do not bow so +ceremoniously, we have no time to waste on formalities. Look at me, and +let me see whether you are an honest man scorning falsehood, even though +it might shield a fellow-creature from harm." + +The banker looked the emperor full in the face, and bore the scrutiny of +his searching eyes without wincing. + +"I see that you can look me in the face," said Joseph. "You will speak +the truth." + +"The Jew is forbidden by his religious code to lie," was the reply. + +Joseph crossed the room quickly, and taking a letter from his +escritoire, gave it to the banker. + +"Is this your writing?" + +Eskeles lifted his eyes slowly to the paper, and seemed surprised. + +"Yes, that is my writing. I posted this letter yesterday. How, then, do +I find it here? Its detention is a serious inconvenience to me." + +He said this with the demeanor of a merchant whose mind is upon his +business, and who has no idea that it can concern any other person. + +"The letter was sent to me by the secret police," said the emperor. The +banker looked up in astonishment. "Ah!" exclaimed he. "then the tales +which are told of the opening of all our letters by detectives, are not +fables!" + +"No--they are not fables, and I am justified in the scrutiny. Men are so +corrupt that our only defence against treachery is espionage. It is a +pity that it should be so; but as long as the people are base, their +sovereigns must stop short of no means to foil them." + +"But I have never sinned against your majesty. Why, then, is my letter +open to suspicion?" + +"Every man is suspected by the secret police," replied Joseph, with a +shrug. "For that reason they had orders to stop every letter addressed +to Holland. The precaution had been made imperative by our +misunderstandings with that country. And you see yourself that your +letter betrays a secret of state." + +"Betrays!" repeated the banker. "We betray that which we are expected to +bury within the recesses of our own heart. But this news was to go out +into the world, and was a subject for percentage. I should have made at +least half a million had my letter not been unluckily detained by your +majesty." + +"I shall not prevent you from earning your percentage," replied Joseph, +scornfully. "Your letter shall go to-day, and my dispatches shall be +detained until to-morrow. In that way you can still make your half +million." + +The banker bowed. "I thank your majesty for your exceeding +condescension," said he. + +"I will do you this favor, but you must do me a service in return." + +"It is not necessary for your majesty to concede me the right to earn +half a million, to buy my services," said Eskeles, with a slight shade +of reproach. "I hope that I have always been ready to serve your +majesty, even when no percentage was to be gained thereby." + +"And I have recognized it, BARON Eskeles Flies. But I do not speak of +pecuniary services to-day. I ask a favor of another nature. Tell me, +then, without reserve, who is the man that receives a thousand ducats +for revealing a secret of state to you." + +The banker started as if he had received a shot, and glanced inquiringly +at the emperor. "Was that in the letter?" asked he. + +Joseph gave it into his hands. Eskeles perused it eagerly, and then, +murmured in a voice of exceeding contrition, "Ay, it is there. I was +indiscreet." Then, as if overcome by his fault, his head sank upon his +breast. + +"I await your answer," said the emperor. "Who betrayed me to you for a +thousand ducats?" + +The banker raised his head as if making a difficult resolve. "Your +majesty, that was an idle boast of mine to enhance the value of my +news." + +"Mere evasion, baron!" replied Joseph, angrily. "Even if you had not +written the words in that letter, I should still ask of you, who it is +that betrays my secrets?" + +"No one, sire," replied Eskeles, uneasily. "I guessed it. Yes, +yes,"--continued he, as though a happy idea had just struck him--"that +is it--I guessed. Every one knows of your majesty's difficulty with +Holland, and I might well guess that you would be glad to end this +strife by accepting the ten millions, and so save your subjects from the +horrors of war." + +"You are not the truthful man I had supposed. There is no logic in your +lies, Baron Eskeles. You might guess that I would accept the ten +millions, but as you are not omniscient, you could not say positively +that I had written my dispatches yesterday, and would sign them to-day. +Your inventions are clumsy, baron, and I must say that they do you +honor; for they prove that you have little experience in the art of +lying. But the truth I must have, and as your lord and emperor, I +command you to speak. For the third time, who betrayed my secrets to +you?" + +"Oh, sire, I swore not to betray him," said Eskeles, in a faltering +voice. + +"I absolve you from the oath." + +"But the God of Israel cannot absolve me. I cannot speak the name of the +man, but--your majesty can guess it." + +He was silent for a few moments, then raising his head, the emperor saw +that his face had become deadly pale. In a low, unsteady voice he +continued: "Your majesty knows that I once had a daughter." + +"HAD? You have a daughter, baron." + +"She is dead to me," murmured Eskeles so inaudibly that the emperor +scarcely heard him. "She left me a year ago for a man whom she loved +better than her father." + +"But she left because you would have married her to a man whom she +hated. Gunther told me so." + +"Yes, sire. I had no idea that my unhappy child would go to such +extremity. Had she entreated me as she should have done, I would have +yielded; but her lover had hardened her heart against me, and she +abandoned me--not to become the honorable wife of any man, but to lead a +life of shame and reproach. Rachel is not married, she is the mistress +of that man." + +"This, too, is your fault, baron. You made her swear never to become a +Christian, and by our laws she could not marry him. But he considers her +as his wife. You see that I know all. Gunther, to justify himself, +confided to me the whole history of his love." + +"He did not tell the truth, sire. My daughter herself is unwilling to +become a Christian." + +"Then she is a conscientious Jewess?" + +"No, sire, she does not attend the synagogue." + +"What is she, then?" asked the emperor, astonished. + +"She is a Deist; and precisely because I required of her to profess +either Judaism or Christianity, she fled to that man whom she cannot be +made to believe is the suitor of her wealth and not of herself." + +"Do you think, then, that Gunther is interested?" + +"I know it, sire. He offered for a hundred thousand florins to renounce +Rachel and deliver her up to me--Here is his letter; your majesty can +see it." + +The emperor took the letter, and read it. "It is his writing," murmured +he, sorrowfully; "it is too true." + +"I refused," continued Eskeles. "I would not buy my daughter back. I +therefore waited to see what would follow." + +"What followed?" + +The banker was silent for a moment; then sighing, he said, in low, +trembling tones: "Not long after, I received another letter. He said he +was straitened in means, that Rachel was pampered, and required so many +luxuries that she had exhausted his purse. As I would not listen to his +first proposition, he had another to make. I would give him a certain +sum, and he would do me a substantial service." + +"He offered a thousand ducats, did he not?" + +"I do not remember. The sum is stated in the letter. Here it is, your +majesty." And with these words Eskeles drew a paper from his bosom. + +"It is, it is," said the emperor, in a voice of anguish. "I can no +longer doubt his treachery." + +Eskeles Flies returned the paper to his bosom. "I keep this on my +person," said he, "because when Rachel returns to me, it will cure her +of her love for such a villain. " + +"Gunther, then, received the money?" said Joseph. + +"He did, sire." + +"Then you no longer deny that he was the Judas." + +"Your majesty can remember which of your secretaries was charged with +the copying of your dispatches." + +The emperor sighed. "I know, I know," murmured he; "and yet it pains me +so to believe it, for I have loved him sincerely." + +"And I have loved my daughter," returned Eskeles. "This man stole her +from me, and has converted my child into a Deist." + +"She shall be returned to you, and Gunther shall receive the punishment +of his crimes," cried Joseph, in a loud and angry voice. "No mercy for +him! I shall know how to act as becomes a wronged and outraged +sovereign." + +"But that will not restore my child" said Eskeles, disconsolately. +"What good is it to me that this wretch is to suffer? It will not bring +back Rachel. And even if she should be forced to seek my protection, +what comfort can I derive from one who is a Deist--a creature who mocks +at religion?" + +"She will be obliged to become one thing or the other, if she would +shield herself from the fearful consequences of her skepticism." + +"That is it," cried Eskeles, joyfully. "Your majesty has found the +remedy. Rachel must be threatened with the disgrace of legal punishment, +and then she will repent, and return to her father. Sire, I accuse her +of Deism. I exact that she be brought to judgment." + +"To judgment!" exclaimed the emperor. "Do you know the punishment for her +offence?" + +"Fifty lashes on the offender's back! But fear will save her. My Rachel +will never dare avow herself a Deist." + +"Perhaps not; but I, as a Christian, cannot allow you to force her back +to Judaism." + +"Then try to make a Christian of her, sire--Oh, I beseech you, lend +yourself to my paternal stratagem for her restoration to honor! Act upon +my accusation; have her imprisoned in her home; and for four weeks, let +a priest visit her daily to instruct her in your majesty's faith. Then +let her decide whether she will become a Christian or remain a Jewess." + +"Bethink you that if she should prove contumacious, I cannot rescue her +from punishment. If you persist in your accusation, remember that the +law must take its course." + +"I persist, and demand investigation." + +"It shall be granted you. And now here is your letter. Post it to-day, +and it will still be twenty-four hours in advance of mine. We must both +perform our duty, you as a merchant, I as a sovereign; and, believe me, +you shall have revenge for the wrongs, inflicted upon you by the double +traitor who has betrayed his emperor and his mistress." + +"I care nothing for his punishment," repeated Eskeles, wearily; "all +that I ask is my daughter." + +The emperor gave his hand, and the banker, pressing it to his lips, +backed out of the cabinet. Joseph looked after him with sympathizing +eyes. "Poor man! Grief has made him old. Sorrow lengthens days to years, +and wrinkles many a brow which time has never touched." + +But without, Baron Eskelies Flies had changed his mien. No longer bowed +down with grief, he stood triumphantly reviewing the success of his +strategy. + +"I am revenged!" thought he. "Short-sighted emperor, you do not dream +that you arc the tool wherewith the Jew has wreaked his vengeance upon +the Christian! Go on, and ruin your faithful friend! Go on, hot-headed +judge; punish the man who loves you, without giving him a hearing; and +imagine yourself to be administering justice, while you inflict the +grossest injustice. It is so Christian-like. Follow the instincts of +your love and hate, your passion or your pleasures, ye children of the +moment, while the calculating Jew plays upon your credulity!--And now, +God of my fathers, let the Christian priest but irritate my child with +his importunities, and she will seek refuge from his persecutions in the +synagogue!" + + + + + +CHAPTER CLXV. + +THE FAVOR OF PRINCES. + +The emperor thrust open the door which led from his cabinet to the +chancery. There at the long, green table, immersed in their business, +sat the four imperial secretaries; and next to the arm-chair, which was +surmounted by the Austrian crown, sat the unconscious Gunther. Had +Gunther seen the look with which Joseph regarded him as he sat quietly +writing, his heart would have grown chill with apprehension. But not an +eye there was raised. One of the emperor's most stringent orders forbade +the secretaries, when in the chancery, to raise their heads on any +account. They were to take no note of the entrance of Joseph himself; +they were co-workers, and no time was to be wasted in ceremonial. + +Joseph seated himself in silence, and taking up a pen, wrote a few hasty +lines upon a sheet of paper. He then rang, and delivered the paper to a +page. + +"Take this to the colonel commanding the recruits," said he, and his +voice trembled as he spoke these few words. There was a long silence; +the secretaries continued to write, and Gunther, always obedient to +orders, had not once raised his head. His countenance was as tranquil as +it had ever been. "Gunther." said the emperor, in an imperious tone, +"begin a new sheet, and write what I shall dictate." + +Gunther bowed, and prepared to obey. The others went on with their work. +Had Joseph not been so blinded by indignation against his private +secretary, he might have seen how one of the others raised his head and +glanced furtively around; how his face was pale, and his lips were +twitching; and how his hand was so tremulous that he was scarcely able +to hold his pen. No one observed it. The other secretaries were writing; +the emperor, in his wrath, saw nothing but Gunther. + +And now with flashing eyes, he called upon Gunther to write. + +"To his Eminence, Cardinal Megazzi; + +"It has come to my knowledge that the absurd sect which originated in +Bohemia, is spreading its pernicious tenets even to our capital. A +heart-broken father has this day come before me to accuse his daughter +of Deism. To what extremes the Deists go in their imbecility, is shown +by the fact, that this girl, who has defied Heaven, the laws of her +country, and the authority of her father, has left the paternal roof, +and is now living a life of shame with her paramour. She must either +profess some faith, or be punished as the law directs. To this end, your +eminence will commission an intelligent priest to visit and instruct her +in the tenets of Christianity. From this day she is a prisoner in her +own house; but as she is of Jewish birth (and I do not wish to have it +said that we have forced her into Christianity), a Jewish rabbi can also +have daily access to this unhappy infidel. I give to both priests four +weeks to convert her. If, at the end of that time, she continues +contumacious, she must be punished as the Josephine Code directs, with +fifty lashes." [Footnote: Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 116.] + +The emperor had dictated this letter in sharp biting tones, while +Gunther, nothing apprehending, had written it. Once only, when the +accused had been designated as a Jewess, his pen faltered, and his +handsome, noble face was contracted for a moment by pain. But the pang +had been sympathetic and momentary. + +"Have you written?" asked the emperor, striking the table with his +clinched hand. + +"I have written, sire," replied Gunther, in his fine, sonorous voice, +whose familiar tones, in spite of himself, stirred the innermost depths +of his misguided sovereign's heart. + +"Now, answer me one question," continued Joseph, hoarsely. "have you +ever received a thousand ducats from Eskeles Flies?" + +Again the head of one of the secretaries was furtively raised, the hands +shook like aspen-leaves, and the eyes gave one rapid glance toward the +side of the table where Gunther sat. + +The emperor, as before, was too blinded by passion to see any thing save +the innocent object of his wrath. Gunther was surprised at the tone in +which the question had been asked; and seemed at last to be aware that +it was one full of significance. But his reply was prompt and calm. + +"Yes, sire, I received that sum yesterday. Not for me, but for a lady +whose name is well known to your majesty. It was a legacy left by her +mother." + +Joseph laughed scornfully. "Give me the note to the cardinal," cried he. +Gunther presented it, and having signed it, the emperor gave it into the +hands of the secretary opposite. "Fold and address the letter," said he. +"But stop--write first the address of the person who presumes to avow +herself a Deist in the face of my laws. Her name is Rachel Eskeles +Flies." + +A cry of anguish burst from Gunther's lips, and in his madness he would +have snatched the horrid missive from the secretary's hands. But he +recollected himself, and turning his blanched face toward the emperor, +he exclaimed: + +"Mercy, gracious sovereign, mercy for my Rachel! You have been wickedly +deceived." + +"Ay," cried Joseph, "I have been wickedly deceived; but he who has dared +to betray me, shall be made to suffer for his crime. Rise from this +table and leave this room. You are dismissed from my service as a false +traitor!" + +"What, your majesty!" cried Gunther, in tones that were proud and +defiant. "You defame me without so much as telling me of what I am +accused! without allowing me the right of justification Tell me--what +have I done?" + +"Ask your own conscience, if you have one, and find an answer there!" +cried Joseph, furious at the lofty bearing of his victim. + +"If your majesty refuses me that poor boon," continued Gunther, "I +appeal to the laws. My legal judges will be bound to hear me publicly +accused, and to listen to my defence!" + +"I am your accuser and your judge--your only judge," replied Joseph, +with concentrated passion. "I have already found you guilty, and have +already sentenced you." + +"But why, why?" cried Gunther. "If you would not drive me mad, tell me +why?" + +"I shall do nothing but carry out your sentence," cried Joseph ringing a +bell. "Are the men without?" said he to the page who answered his +summons. + +"Yes, your majesty. A subaltern of the third regiment is without, with +four soldiers." + +"Show them in!" The page opened the door, and the men entered. + +"You march to Hungary to your new garrison to-day, do you not?" said the +emperor. + +"Yes, sire--we march in one hour," was the reply. + +"Take this man with you as a recruit." + +Gunther started forward, and with an exclamation of horror fell at the +emperor's feet. "Mercy! mercy!" gasped he. + +"No mercy, but justice for all men!" cried Joseph, stamping his foot. +Then motioning to the soldiers, he said: "Take him away and watch him +closely, lest he escape. Equip him and put him in the ranks. Away with +you!" + +The men advanced, and Gunther, seeing that any further appeal was vain, +suffered himself to be led away in silence. The door closed behind them, +and the emperor was alone with his three secretaries. There was a long, +fearful pause, through which the retreating steps of the soldiers and +their victim were heard. When the echoes had died away, the emperor +spoke in hard, cold tones: + +"Gunther was a traitor, who betrayed the secrets of the state for gold. +I discovered his treachery, and have punished him accordingly. Take +warning by his fate!" + +So saying, he passed into his cabinet, and once more gave vent to his +bitter grief. + +"I could not do otherwise," thought he. "I, who would not spare +Podstadsky and Szekuly, could not spare this traitor, though he has been +very dear to me indeed. He must suffer, but I shall suffer with him. +Mercy is so much more natural to man than justice! Still, mercy is the +prerogative of Heaven alone. I am here to be equitable to all." + +An hour later the third regiment left Vienna for Szegedin, their new +garrison. A few wagons followed with the luggage and the sick men who +were unable to encounter the hardships of that formidable march to +Hungary. In one of these wagons lay the new recruit. His eves glared +with delirium, and his lips were parched with raging fever. For a moment +he seemed to awake from his dream of madness, for he raised himself a +little, and murmured, "Where am I?" No one answered him, but a flash of +memory revealed to him the horrors of his situation, and falling back +with a shudder, he cried out, "Rachel, my Rachel!" and then relapsed +into delirium. + +The same evening, Baron Eskeles Flies left his hotel on foot, and +hastily traversing the streets, stopped before a house where, ascending +to the second story, he rang the bell. A richly-liveried servant opened +the door at the head of the staircase. + +"Is the imperial secretary Warkenhold within?" asked the baron. + +The servant did not know--he would see; but the banker saved him the +trouble by putting him aside, and entering the little vestibule. + +"Show me the way," said he; "you need not announce me. A rich man is +welcome everywhere." + +The servant obeyed, and conducted the banker through a suite of +apartments whose splendor he contemplated with a sneer. "Now go," said +he, as the servant pointed to a portiere. "I shall announce myself." + +He drew the portiere and knocked. Then, without waiting for an answer, +he entered the room. + +"Eskeles Flies!" cried the occupant, who was lounging on a sofa, and was +no other than the secretary that had been so disturbed by the emperor's +words in the morning. "Eskeles Flies!" repeated he, springing from the +sofa, and hastening forward. + +"Yes, Baron Eskeles Flies," replied the banker, proudly. + +"But what brings you to me?" cried Warkenhold, terrified. "Your visit +exposes me to danger." + +"Nobody knows of my visit, for I came on foot; and let me tell you, Herr +Warkenhold, that my presence in your house is an honor which is not apt +to endanger you." + +"Only, to-day, only at this time," murmured Warkenhold, apologetically. + +"Then you should have come to me for your money. You said you were in +great want, having lost every thing at cards, and so I hasten to acquit +myself of my debt. Here is a draft for one thousand ducats." + +"Hush, for the love of Heaven!"--whispered Warkenhold. + +"What can I do with a draft? I never would dare present it for payment, +for you know that the emperor keeps spies with a hundred eyes to track +his employes. And suppose I go to your office, I expose myself to +discovery." + +"Not at all," interrupted the banker, laughing. "Who should betray you? +Not I. And no one but us two are in the secret. Who, then, should tell +the emperor that you were hidden behind the door while he dictated his +dispatches, and that you are such a skilful imitator? I swear that +Gunther himself would have been staggered had he seen those letters! +They are capital, and I congratulate you. You are a genius." + +"Great God! must you annoy me with repetition of all that I did?" cried +the secretary, with asperity. "Is it not enough that I am already +wretched, as I look back to the terrible scenes of the morning? I cannot +banish the image of that unhappy Gunther from my mind. I felt at one +time as if I must confess and save him." + +"Ha, ha! did you? Then it was terrible, was it? He thundered like +another Rhadamanthus, did he, that sapient emperor? And forced poor, +innocent Gunther to drink of the chalice we had prepared for him? Oh, +rare, far-seeing judge!--Tell me all about it, Warkenhold." + +Warkenhold, shuddering, repeated what had taken place. When he spoke of +the question relating to the thousand ducats, Eskeles Flies interrupted +him. + +"And of course he had to say yes. Gunther is of knightly veracity, and I +invented the story of the legacy, in anticipation of that question. Oh, +how admirably my calculations have been made! Let me hear the rest." + +Warkenhold went on, and when he had concluded his woful narrative, the +banker nodded and said: + +"You are a genius. You narrate as well as you eavesdrop and forge! Upon +my word, you have entertained as well as you have served me! My success +in this affair is entirely owing to you. You are as skilful as your +great Christian ancestor, Judas; but as I hope you are not such a fool +as to go out and hang yourself, here are fifty ducats above our bargain. +They are for your mistress." + +He drew out his purse and counted the gold. + +"I thank you," said Warkenhold, almost inaudibly. "I must take the money, +for I am sorely pressed; but I would give my right hand not to have been +forced to do this thing!" + +"Pray say the left. Your right hand is a treasure not lightly to be +parted with," said the banker, laughing. "But a truce to sentiment. It +is useless for you to drape yourself in the toga of honor or +benevolence. Our business is at an end. You have nothing more to claim, +I believe?" + +"Nothing whatever; I am--" + +"Then," said the banker taking up his hat, "we have nothing further to +say to each other. You have been the instrument of my righteous +vengeance; but as I have an antipathy to villains, let me never see so +much as a glance of recognition from you again. From this hour we are +strangers. Adieu!" + + + +CHAPTER CLXVI. + +THE DEPUTATION FROM HUNGARY. + +In the great reception-room of the imperial palace, a deputation of the +most illustrious magnates of Hungary awaited an interview with the +emperor. For one whole year the Hungarian nobles had withdrawn from +court; but now, in the interest of their fatherland, they stood once +more within the walls of the palace; and in their magnificent +state-uniforms, as the representatives of all Hungary, they were +assembled to demand redress for their national grievances. + +When the emperor entered the reception-room, he came alone, in a plain +uniform. He greeted the deputies with a smile which they returned by +profound and silent inclinations of their aristocratic heads. Joseph +looked slowly around at the brilliant assemblage of magnates before him. + +"A stately deputation of my loyal Hungarians," observed he. "I see all +the proudest families of the kingdom represented here to-day. Count +Palfy, for example, the son of him whom the empress was accustomed to +call her champion and father. Count Batthiany, the heir of my favorite +tutor. I rejoice to see you, and hope that you are here to-day to greet +me as ever, in the character of loyal subjects." + +There was a short pause, after which, Count Palfy, stepping a little in +advance of the others, addressed the emperor. + +"Sire, we are sent by the kingdom of Hungary to lay our wrongs before +your majesty, and request redress." + +"Does the count represent your sentiments?" asked the emperor, +addressing the delegates. A unanimous affirmative was the reply, and +Joseph then continued: "Speak on. I will hear your complaints and reply +to them." + +Count Palfy bowed and resumed. "We have come to remind your majesty that +when, in November, 1780, you ascended the throne of Austria, we received +a written declaration from your imperial hand, guaranteeing our rights +under the national constitution of Hungary. Nevertheless, these rights +have been invaded, and we come before your majesty's throne in the hope +that our just remonstrances may not appear offensive in the eyes of our +king." [Footnote: These are the words of the Hungarian protest.--See +Hubner, ii., p. 265.] + +"But, what if they do appear offensive?" cried the emperor, chafed." +What if I should refuse to hear those complaints which are nothing but +the fermentation of your own pride and arrogance?" + +"If your majesty refuses to hear us to-day," said Count Palfy, with +firmness, "we shall return to-morrow, and every day; for we have sworn +to present the grievances of the states to your notice, and must keep +our oath." + +"I am quite as well acquainted with the grievances as you, and to prove +it to you, I will state them myself. First, you are aggrieved because I +have not gone to Hungary to be crowned, and to take the constitutional +oath." + +"Yes, sire, we are; and this grievance leads us to the second one. We +venture to ask if, secretly and without the consent of the states, the +crown of St. Stephen has been removed to Vienna?" + +"Yes, it has been removed," cried Joseph, with increasing irritation. +"It has been brought to me, to whom it belongs; but I shall return it to +Ofen, when the structure which is to receive it is completed." + +"That is an unconstitutional act," said Count Palfy. "Is it not, my +friends?" + +"It is," cried a chorus of Magyars. + +"I have never taken the oath to the constitution," was Joseph's reply. +"Hungary would have to undergo signal changes before I ever go there to +be crowned as your king. You are not content with reigning over your +vassals; you desire, in your ambitious presumption, to reign over me +also. But I tell you that I am no royal puppet in the hands of a +republic of aristocrats. I am lord and king of all my provinces. Hungary +has no claim to a separate nationality, and, once for all, I shall no +more take the coronation oath there, than I shall do it in Tyrol, +Bohemia, Galicia, or Lombardy. All your crowns are fused into the +imperial crown of Austria, and it is proper that I, who own them all, +should preserve them with my regalia at Vienna. All strife and jealousy +between the provinces composing my empire must cease. [Footnote: The +Emperor's own words.--"Letters of Joseph II."] Provincial interests +must disappear before national exigencies. This is all that I have to +say to the states; but I will say to yourselves, that when I find myself +absolute lord of Hungary, as well as of Austria, I will go thither to be +crowned. And now, Lord Chancellor of Hungary, what other grievance have +you to present?" + +"Our second grievance, sire, is, that to the great humiliation of all +Hungary, our native tongue and the Latin language have been superseded +by the German. This, too, is unconstitutional, for it has shut out all +Hungarians, in a measure, from public office, and has placed the +administration of our laws in the hands of Austrians, perfectly ignorant +of our constitution." [Footnote: The words of the Hungarian +protest.--Hubner. ii, p. 267] + +"To this I have to say that German shall be the language of all my +subjects. Why should you enjoy the privilege of a national language? I +am Emperor of Germany, and any tongue shall be that of my provinces. If +Hungary were the most important portion of the empire, its language, +doubtless, would be Hungarian; but it is not, and, therefore, shall you +speak German. [Footnote: The emperor's own words.--See "Letters of +Joseph II.," p. 76.] I will now pass on to your third grievance, for you +see that I am well posted on the subject of your sufferings. I have +numbered and taxed your property, and that, too, in spite of your +constitution, which exempts you from taxation. In my opinion, the +privileges of an aristocracy do not consist in evading their share of +the national burdens; on the contrary, they should assume it +voluntarily, and, for the weal of the nation, place themselves on an +equality with the people, each class striving with the other as to who +shall best promote the prosperity of the government. [Footnote: The +emperor's own words.--See "Letters of Joseph II.," p. 76.] I cannot +exempt you, therefore, from paying taxes." + +"But, sire, this tax violates our rights and our constitution," replied +Count Palfy. + +"Has Hungary a Constitution? A tumultuous states-diet, privileged +aristocracy, the subjection of three-fifths of the nation to the +remainder--is this a constitution?" + +"It is the constitution of Hungary, and we have your majesty's written +promise that you would respect it. But even had we received no solemn +declaration of the sort, upon the security of our national freedom +depends the Austrian right of succession to the throne of Hungary." +[Footnote: The words of the Hungarian protest.--Hubner, ii., p. 263.] + +"You dare threaten me?" cried Joseph, furiously. + +"No, sire, we do not threaten; we are in the presence of a truth-loving +monarch, and we are compelled to speak the unvarnished truth. We have +already borne much from your majesty's ancestors. But, until the death +of Maria Theresa, our fundamental laws remained inviolate. True, in the +last years of her life she refused to allow the states-diet to assemble; +but she never laid her hand upon our constitution. She was crowned Queen +of Hungary, and took the coronation oath. Charles the Sixth and Joseph +the First did likewise. Each one guaranteed us the right of inheritance, +and our national freedom." + +"There is no such thing as national freedom in Hungary. It contains +nothing but lords and vassals, and it is vassalage that I intend to +abolish." + +"Does your majesty think that the general freedom of the state is +promoted by your conscription laws?" + +"Ah! here we have grievance the fourth," exclaimed Joseph. + +"Yes, the conscription is a thorn in your sensitive sides, because it +claims you as the children and servants of your country, and forces you +to draw your swords in her defence." + +"We have never refused our blood to the country," replied Count Palfy, +proudly throwing back his head, "and if her rights are intact to-day, it +is because we have defended and protected them. We have fought for our +fatherland, however, not as conscripts, but as freemen. Our people are +unanimous in their abhorrence of the conscription act. When we weigh the +motives and consequences of this act, we can draw but one inference from +either: that we, who were born freemen, are to be reduced to slavery, +and to be trampled under foot by every other province of Austria. Rather +than submit to such indignity we will lay down our lives, for we are of +one mind, and would sooner die than lose our liberty!" + +"And I," cried Joseph, his eye flashing and his face scarlet with +passion, "I say to you all, that you shall live, for I, your king and +master, command you to do so." + +An angry murmur was heard, and every eye looked defiance at the emperor. +"Ah," said he, scornfully, "you would ape the Polish diet, and dispute +the will of your king! You remember how the King of Poland succumbed to +dictation! I am another and a different man, and I care neither for your +approbation nor for your blame. It is my purpose to make Hungary +prosperous, and therefore I have abolished the feudal system which is +unfavorable to the development of the resources of the country. You +Magyars would interfere with me. You have a constitution at variance +with my laws, and for the sake of a piece of rotten parchment three +hundred years old, Hungary must be suffered to remain uncivilized +forever! Away with your mediaeval privileges and rusty escutcheons! A +new century has dawned, and not only the nobly born shall see its light, +but the people who, until now, have been thrust aside by your arrogance! +If enlightenment violates your ancient privileges, they shall be swept +away to give place to the victorious rights of man! And this is my +answer to all your grievances. Go home, ye Magyars, assemble your peers, +and tell them that my decision is unalterable; and that what I have done +with deliberation I shall never revoke. Go home and tell them that the +emperor has spoken, and they have nothing to do but to submit!" + +With a slight inclination Joseph turned his back; and before the +magnates had time to recover themselves and to reply to this haughty +harangue, the emperor had disappeared and closed the door. + +In speechless indignation they glanced at one another. They had expected +difficulty; but such insulting rejection of their petition they had not +anticipated. They remembered the day when, with this same Joseph in her +arms, Maria Theresa had appealed to their fathers for succor; they +remembered, too, how in the enthusiasm of their loyalty they had sworn +to die for Maria Theresa, their king! + +"He never revokes!" muttered Palfy, after a long silence. "You heard +him, Magyars, he never revokes! Shall we suffer him to oppress us?" + +"No, no!" was the unanimous reply. + +"So be it," said Palfy, solemnly. "He has thrown down the gauntlet; we +raise it, and strip for the fight. But for Hungary this man had been +ruined. To-day he would ruin us, and we cast him off. Henceforth our cry +is--'Moriamur pro rege nostro constitutione!'" + +"'Moriamur pro rege nostro constitutione!'" echoed the Magyars, every +man with his right hand raised to heaven. + + + +CHAPTER CLXVII. + +THE RECOMPENSE. + +For four weeks Rachel had been a prisoner in her own house; all persons, +with the exception of a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, having been +refused access to her. But at the expiration of this time a deputy from +the imperial chancery was admitted, who had a long interview with the +poor girl, and at dusk another visitor presented himself at the door of +that gloomy abode. This last one was Baron Eskeles Flies. + +The sentinels had allowed him to pass, and the guards in Rachel's +anteroom gave way also, for the baron's permit to visit his daughter was +from the emperor. With a respectful inclination they presented the key +of the prisoner's room and awaited her father's orders. + +"Go below, and wait until I call you," said he. + +"Of course, as we are commanded in the permit to obey you, we follow the +emperor's order." + +Herr Eskeles thanked them, and putting a ducat in the hand of each, the +men departed in a state of supreme satisfaction. They had scarcely left, +when the banker bolted the door from the inside, and crossed the room +toward the opposite door. His hand trembled so that he could not +introduce the key to open it, and he was obliged to retreat to the sofa, +and there recover himself. + +"How will she receive me?" thought he. "They say that she is sadly +changed, and that her father would scarcely know his beautiful child +again. Oh, my child, will I be able to bear the sight of your grief +without falling at your feet, and acknowledging my guilt? But pshaw! She +is safe now. I shall take her home; and for every tear that she has +shed, I will give her a diamond bright as a star She shall have gold, +pearls, riches, and be once more the envy of all the women in Vienna. +Yes, my Rachel, yes--gold, diamonds, and happiness!" + +He turned the key, and the door opened. Not a sound greeted his entrance +into that dismal room, wherein four funeral-looking wax-lights were +burning at each corner of a square table. Even so had the lights burned +in the room where Rachel's mother once lay head. The banker thought of +this, as between those flaring lights he saw the pale, wan figure on the +sofa, that seemed as rigid, as motionless, and as white as a corpse. + +Was it indeed Rachel? Those pinched features, those hollow eyes; that +figure, so bowed with sorrow, could that be his peerless daughter? What +had diamonds and pearls in common with that pale spectre? + +The banker could scarcely suppress a cry of angwish as he gaze a upon +the wreck of so much beauty. But he gathered courage to cross the room, +and stood before her. + +"Rachel," said he, in a soft, imploring voice, "do you know me?" + +"I know you," replied she, without moving; "do you know me?" + +"My beloved child, my heart recognizes yon, and calls you to itself. +Come, darling, come and rest within you father's protecting arms. See, +they are open to receive you. I have forgiven all, and am ready to +devote my whole life to your happiness." + +He opened his arms, but Rachel did not stir. She looked at him, and when +he saw the look, his hands dropped nerveless to his side. + +"Where is Gunther?" asked she. "What have you done with him?" + +"I, my child?" exclaimed Eskeles. "The emperor has detected him in some +dishonorable act (I know not what), and has sent him recruit to +Hungary." + +"I have heard this fable before," said Rachel, with a glance of mourn. +"The priest who was sent to convert, has tried to console me for my +loss, by dinning in my ears that Gunther was a traitor; but I know +better. He is the victim of a Jew's revenge. It is you who have accused +him with false witnesses, false letters, with all that vengeance can +inspire, and wicked gold can buy. You are the accuser of my noble +Gunther!" By this time she had arisen, and now she stood confronting her +father, her wasted finger pointing toward him, and her sunken eyes +glowing like lights from a dark, deep cave. "Who says so? Who has dared +accuse me?" said he. + +"Your face accuses you!--your eyes, that dare not encounter mine! +Nay--do not raise your hand in sacrilegious protest, but answer me. By +the faith of your ancestors, are you not the man who denounced him?" + +He could not meet her scrutinizing glance. He averted his face, +murmuring: "He who accused him is no better than himself. But it is the +emperor who condemned him." + +"The emperor is miserably befooled," cried Rachel. "He knows not the +subtlety of Jewish revenge. But I am of the Jewish race, and I know it. +I know my father, and I know my lover!" + +"In this hour of reunion we will not discuss the innocence or guilt of +the emperor's secretary," said the banker, gently. "I am thankful that +the dark cloud which has hidden you so long from my sight is lifted, and +that all is well with us again." + +"All is not well, for between us lies the grave of my happiness, and +that grave has sundered us forever. I cannot come to you, my father: the +memory of my lover is between us, and that memory--oh, do not call it a +cloud! 'Tis the golden beam of that sun which has set, but whose rays +are still warm within my breaking heart. I say nothing to you of all +that I have endured during these four weeks of anguish; but this I can +tell you, my father, that I have never repented my choice. I am +Gunther's for life, and for death, which is the birth of immortality!" + +"He is a dishonored man!" said Eskeles, frowning. + +"And I, too, will be dishonored to-morrow," replied Rachel. + +Her father started. He had forgotten the disgrace which threatened her. + +"Rachel," said he, with exceeding tenderness, "I come to rescue you from +shame and suffering." + +"To rescue me?" echoed she. "Whither would you have me fly?" + +"To the house of your father, my child." + +"I have no father," replied she, with a weary sigh. "My father would +have forced my heart, as the priest and the rabbi would have forced my +belief. But I am free in my faith, my love, and my hate; and this +freedom will sustain me to-morrow throughout the torture and shame of a +disgraceful punishment." + +"You surely will not brave the lash!" cried her father, his cheeks +blanched with horror at the thought. "You will be womanly, my child, and +recant." + +"I must speak the truth," said she, interrupting him. "The doors of the +synagogue, as well as those of the church, are closed against me. I am +no Jewess, and you forced me to swear that I would never become a +Christian. But what matters it?" continued she, kindling with +enthusiasm, "I believe in God--the God of love and mercy; and to-morrow +I shall see His face!" + +"You would destroy yourself!" cried her father, his senses almost +forsaking him. + +"No. But do you suppose that I shall survive the severity and +humiliation of the lash which it is the pleasure of the emperor to +inflict upon me? No, my father, I shall die before the executioner has +time to strike his second blow." + +"Rachel, my Rachel, do not speak such dreadful words!" cried Eskeles, +wringing his hands in despair. "You cannot be a Christian, I know it; for +their belief is unworthy of a pure soul. How could you ever give the +hand of fellowship to a race who have outlawed you, because you scorn to +utter a falsehood! But confess yourself a Jewess, and all will be well +with us once more." + +"I shall never return to the Jewish God of wrath and revenge! MY God is +all love. I must acknowledge Him before the world, and die for His +sake!" + +There was a pause. Rachel was calm and resolute; her father almost +distracted. After a time he spoke again. + +"So be it, then," cried he, raising his hand to heaven. "Be a Christian. +I absolve you from your oath, and oh, my Rachel! if I sought the world +for a proof of my overweening love, it could offer nothing to compare +with this sacrifice. Go, my child, and become a Christian." + +She shook her head. "The Christian's cruelty has cured me of my love for +Christianity. I can never be one of a race who have persecuted my +innocent lover. As for you, the cause of his martyrdom, hear my +determination, and know that it is inflexible. I am resolved to endure +the punishment; and when the blood streams from my back, and my frantic +cries pierce the air until they reach your palace walls;--when in the +midst of the gaping populace, my body lies stretched upon the +market-place, dishonored by the hand of the executioner,--then shall +your revenge have returned to you; for the whole world will point at you +as you pass, and say, 'He is the father of the woman who was whipped to +death by the hangman!' " + +"Alas!" sobbed the father, "I see that you hate me, and yet I must +rescue you, even against your own will. The emperor has given me a pass +to Paris. It is himself who allows me to escape with my poor, misguided +child. Come, dear Rachel, come, ere it be too late, and in Paris we can +forget our sorrows and begin life anew!" + +"No! he has made the law, and he must bear the consequences of his own +cruelty. He need not think to rescue himself from the odium of his acts, +by conniving at my escape! I hate that emperor, the oppressor of my +beloved; and as he dishonored Gunther, so shall he dishonor me. Our woes +will cry to Heaven for vengeance, and--" + +But Rachel suddenly ceased, and fell hack upon a chair. She had no +strength to repulse her father, as he raised her in his arms, and laid +her upon the sofa. He looked into her marble face, and put his lips to +hers. + +"She has swooned," cried he in despair. "We must fly at once. Rachel, +Rachel, away! The time is almost up. Come, we must away!" + +She opened her eyes, and looked around. "Come, my daughter," said her +father, kissing her wasted hands. + +She said nothing, but stared and smiled a vacant smile. Again he took +her hands, and saw that they were hot and dry. Her breath, too, was hot, +and yet her pulse was feeble and fitful. + +Her father, in his agony, dropped on his knees beside the unconscious +girl. But this was no time for wailing. He rose to his feet again, and +darting from the room, offered a handful of gold to the sentry, if he +would but seek a physician. Then he returned to Rachel. She lay still +with her eyes wide, wide open, while she murmured inaudible words, which +lie vainly strove to understand. + +At length came the physician. He bent over the patient, examined her +pulse, felt her forehead, and then turning to the banker, who stood by +with his heart throbbing as if it would burst-- + +"Are you a relative of the lady?" asked he. + +"I am her father," replied Eskeles, and even in this terrible hour he +felt a thrill of joy as he spoke the words. + +"I regret, then, to say to you that she is very ill. Her malady is +typhoid fever, in its most dangerous form. I fear that she will not +recover: she must have been ill for some weeks, and have concealed her +illness. Has she suffered mentally of late?" + +"Yes, I believe that she has," faltered the banker. "Will she die?" + +"I am afraid to give you any hope--the disease has gone so far. It is +strange. Was there no relative near her to see how ill she has been for +so long a time?" + +Gracious Heaven! What torture he inflicted upon the guilty father! At +that moment he would have recalled Gunther, and welcomed him as a son, +could his presence have saved the child whom himself had murdered! + +"Doctor," said he, in husky, trembling tones, "doctor, you must save my +child. Ask what you will--I am rich, and if you restore her to me, you +shall have a million!" + +"Unhappily, life cannot be bought with gold," replied the physician. +"God alone can restore her. We can do naught but assist Nature, and +alleviate her sufferings." + +"How can we alleviate her suffering?" asked Eskeles humbly, for his +spirit was broken. + +"By cool drinks, and cold compressions upon her head," said the +physician. "Are there no women here to serve her?" + +"No," murmured the banker. "My daughter is a prisoner. She is Rachel +Eskeles Flies." + +"Ah! The Deist who was to have suffered to-morrow? Poor, poor child, +neither church nor synagogue can avail her now, for God will take her to +himself." + +"But there is a possibility of saving her, is there not?" asked the +father imploringly. "We must try every thing, for--she must be saved!" +"Must?" repeated the physician. "Think you because you are rich that you +can bribe Heaven? See, rather, how impotent your wealth has been to make +your beautiful child happy (for I know her story). And, now, in spite of +all the gold for which you have sacrificed her, she will die of a broken +heart!" + +Just then Rachel uttered a loud shriek, and clasping both her hands +around her head, cried out that her brain was on fire. + +"Cold compressions--quick," exclaimed the physician imperatively; and +the banker staggered into Rachel's dressing-room (the room which Gunther +had so daintily fitted up), and brought water and a soft fine towel, +which his trembling hands could scarcely bind upon his poor child's +head. Then, as her moaning ceased, and her arms dropped, he passed into +an ecstasy of joy, for now he began to hope that she would be spared to +him. + +"We must have female attendance here," said the physician. + +"She must be put to bed and tenderly watched. Go, baron, and bring your +servants. I will see the emperor, and take upon myself the +responsibility of having infringed his orders. Before such imminent +peril all imprisonment is at an end." + +"I cannot leave her," returned the baron. "You say she has but a few +days to live; if so, I cannot spare one second of her life. I entreat of +you, take my carriage, and in mercy, bring the servants for me. Oh, +listen! she screams again--doctor go, I entreat! Here--fresh +compressions--water! Oh, be quick!" + +And again the wretched man bent over his child, and laid the cloths upon +her head. The physician had gone, and he was alone with his treasure. He +felt it a relief to be able to kiss her hands, to weep aloud, to throw +himself upon his knees, and pray to the God of Israel to spare his idol! + +The night went by, the servants came, and the physician, examining his +patient again, promised to return in a few hours. Rachel was carried to +her bed, and, hour after hour, the banker sat patient and watchful, +listening to every moan, echoing every sigh; afraid to trust his +precious charge to any one, lest the vigilance of another might fail. + +A day and another night went by, and still no sleep had come over those +glaring eyes. But she wept bitter tears, and when he heard her broken, +murmured words of anguish, he thought he would go mad! + +But sometimes in her fever-madness she smiled and was happy. Then she +laughed aloud, and spoke to her beloved, who was always at her side. She +had not once pronounced the name of her father; she seemed to have +forgotten him, remembering nothing in all her past life save her love +for Gunther. + +Often her father knelt beside her, and with tears streaming from his +eyes, implored a look, a word--one single word of forgiveness. But +Rachel laughed and sang, heedless of the despairing wretch who lay +stricken to the earth at her side; while the lover whom she caressed was +far away, unconscious of the blessing. + +Suddenly she uttered a wild cry, and starting up, threw her arms +convulsively about. Now she invoked the vengeance of Heaven upon +Gunther's murderers and at last--at last, was heard the name of her +father! She cursed him! + +With a cry as piercing as that of the poor maniac, Eskeles Flies sank +upon his knees, and wept aloud. + +Gradually Rachel grew more tranquil: and now she lay back on her pillow +with a happy smile on her lips. But she spoke not a word. Once more she +sighed "Gunther," and then relapsed into silence. + +Into a silence that seemed so breathless and so long, that her father +arose, frightened, from his knees. He bent over his smiling child, and +her face seemed transfigured. Not a sigh stirred he, bosom, not a moan +fluttered from her lips. But that smile remained so long unchanged, and +her eyes--surely they were glazed! Yes!--Rachel was dead. [Footnote: The +sad fate of Gunther and of his beloved Rachel is mentioned by Hormayer +in his work, "The Emperor Francis and Metternich: a Fragment," p 78] + + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVIII. + +THE REBELLION IN THE NETHERLANDS. + +The Emperor Joseph was in the Crimea on a visit to the Empress of +Russia. Here he witnessed a great triumph prepared for Catharine by +Potemkin. It was her first greeting at Sebastopol from that navy which +was to confer upon Russia the dominion of the Black Sea. + +Potemkin invited Catharine and Joseph to dinner served in a pavilion +erected for the occasion. The festivities were interrupted by the clash +of military music; and the Russian empress and the Austrian emperor +stepped out of the pavilion, the fleet, arranged in line of battle, was +before them, and greeted them with a salute of a hundred guns. As they +ceased, Potemkin turned to Catharine, and cried out in tones of joyful +enthusiasm: + +"The voice of the cannon proclaims that the Black Sea has found its +mistress, and that ere long the flag of Russia shall wave triumphant +over the towers of Constantinople!" [Footnote: See "Conflict for the +Possession of the Black Sea."--Theodore Mundt, pp. 253, 255.] + +On another occasion, Joseph was sailing around the bay of Sebastopol, in +company with the empress, Potemkin, and the French ambassador. As they +neared the fleet, Potemkin, pointing out the five-and-twenty +vessels-of-war, exclaimed + +"These ships await my sovereign's word to spread their sails to the +wind, and steer for Constantinople!" [Footnote: Ibid.] + +As Potemkin spoke, Catharine's eyes were turned to the south, where +Stamboul still defied her rule, and ambitious aspirations filled her +heart. Joseph, however, looked down upon the foaming waters, and no one +saw the curl of his lip, as Catharine and Potemkin continued the +subject, and spoke of the future Greek empire. + +For Joseph had lost all faith in the brilliant schemes with which +Catharine had dazzled his imagination at St. Petersburg. + +The enthusiasm with which he had followed her ambitious vagaries, had +long since died out, and he had awakened from his dreams of greatness. + +All the pomp and splendor which Potemkin had conjured from the ashes of +a conquered country, could not deceive Joseph. Behind the stately +edifices which had sprung up like the palaces of Aladdin, he saw the +ruins of a desolated land; in the midst of the cheering multitudes, whom +Potemkin had assembled together to do homage to Catharine, he saw the +grim-visaged Tartars, whose eyes were glowing with deadly hatred of her +who had either murdered or driven into exile fifty thousand of their +race. + +Nevertheless, he entered with his usual grace and affability into all +Catharine's schemes for the improvement of her new domains. Not far from +Sebastopol she proposed to lay the foundations of a new city, and the +emperor was invited to take a part in the ceremonies. + +Amid the booming of cannon, the loud strains of martial music, and the +cheers of her followers, the empress laid the first stone of the city of +Caterinoslaw, and after her, the emperor took up the mortar and trowel, +and laid the second one. He performed his part of the drama with +becoming solemnity; but, about an hour later, as he was taking his +customary afternoon walk with the French ambassador, M. de Sigur, he +laughed, and said + +"The empress and I have been working magic to-day; for in the course of +a few minutes we built up an entire city. She laid the first stone of +the place, and I the last." [Footnote: Masson, "Memoires Secretes sur la +Russie," vol. i.] + +But in the very midst of these festivities, a courier arrived with +letters for the emperor from Prince Kaunitz. The prince besought him to +return at once, for the discontent which had existed from the +commencement of his reign in the Netherlands, had kindled into open +rebellion, which threatened the imperial throne itself Joseph took hasty +leave of Catharine, but renewed his promise to sustain and assist her +whenever she put into execution her designs against Turkey. + +On the emperor's arrival at Vienna, he found new couriers awaiting him, +with still more alarming intelligence. The people were frantic, and, +with the clergy at their head, demanded the restoration of the "Joyeuse +Entree." [Footnote: The "Joyeuse Entree" was the old constitution which +Philip the Good, on his entrance into Brussels, had granted to the +Belgians.] + +"And all this," cried the emperor, "because I have summoned a +soap-boiler to Vienna for trial!" + +"Yes, your majesty, but the Joyeuse Entree exacts that the people of +Brabant shall be tried in their own country," said Prince Kaunitz, with +a shrug. "The Brabantians know every line of their constitution by +heart." + +"Well, they shall learn to know me also by heart," returned Joseph, with +irritation. "Brabant is mine; it is but a province of my empire, and the +Brabantians, like the Hungarians, are nothing but Austrians. The Bishop +of Frankenberg is not lord of Brabant, and I am resolved to enlighten +this priest-ridden people in spite of their writhings." + +"But, unhappily, the priests in Belgium and Brabant are mightier than +your majesty," returned Kaunitz. "The Bishop of Frankenberg is the +veritable lord of Brabant, for he controls the minds and hearts of the +people there, while your majesty can do nothing but command their +ungracious obedience. It is the Bishop of Frankenberg who prejudiced the +people against the imperial seminaries." + +"I can well believe that they are distasteful to a bigot," cried Joseph; +"for the theological course of the priests who are to be educated there +is prescribed by me. I do not intend that the children of Levi shall +monopolize the minds and hearts of my people any longer. This haughty +prelate shall learn to know that I am his emperor, and that the arm of +the pope is powerless to shield where I have resolved to strike." + +"If your majesty goes to work in this fashion, instead of crushing the +influence of the bishop, you may irretrievably lose your own. Belgium is +a dangerous country. The people cherish their abuses as constitutional +rights, and each man regards the whole as his individual property." + +"And because I desire to make them happy and free, they cry out against +me as an innovator who violates these absurd rights. Oh my friend! I +feel sometimes so exhausted by my struggles with ignorance and +selfishness, that I often think it would be better to leave the stupid +masses to their fate!" + +"They deserve nothing better," replied Kaunitz, with his usual phlegm. +"They are thankless children whom he can win who feeds them with sugar. +Your majesty, perhaps, has not sufficiently conciliated their weakness. +You have been too honest in your opposition to their rotten privileges. +Had you undermined the Joycuse Entree by degrees, it would have fallen +of itself. But you have attempted to blow it up, and the result is that +these Belgian children cry out that the temple of liberty is on fire, +and your majesty is the incendiary. Now, had you allowed the soap-boiler +to be tried by the laws of his own land, the first to condemn and punish +him would have been his own countrymen: but your course of action has +transformed him into a martyr, and now the Belgians are mourning for him +as a jewel above all price." + +"I cannot make use of artifice or stratagem. With the banner of Truth in +my hand, I march forward to the battle of life." + +"But, with your eyes fixed upon that banner, you may fall into the +precipices which your enemies have dug for you. I have often told your +majesty that politics can never be successful without stratagem. Let +your standard be that of Truth, if you will, but when the day looks +unpropitious, fold it up, that fools may rally around it unawares." + +"Perhaps you are right," sighed the emperor; "but all this is very sad. +I have meant well by my subjects, but they misinterpret my actions, and +accuse me of tyranny. I go to them with a heart full of love, and they +turn upon the as though I were an enemy. But I will not relent! I must +be free to act as seems best to myself. The Joyeuse Entree is in my way. +'Tis a gordian knot which must be unloosed before Belgium can be truly +mine; I have no time to untie it--it must be cut in twain!" + +Just then the door of the chancery opened, and one of the secretaries +came forward. + +"Sire," said he, "a courier has arrived from Brussels, with dispatches +from Count Belgiojoso to his highness." + +"I had ordered my dispatches to be sent after me, your majesty," paid +Kaunitz, taking the papers, and motioning the secretary to withdraw. +"Does your majesty allow me to read them?" + +"By all means. Let us hope that they bring us good news. I gave +stringent orders to Belgiojoso to see that my will was carried out in +Belgium. I bade him inform the people that they should not: have their +precious soap-boiler back; that he was my subject, and I intended to +have him tried here. I told him, moreover, that, like all my other +subjects, the Belgians must pay new taxes without expecting to be +consulted as to the expediency of the measure." + +"Belgiojoso has obeyed your majesty's commands," remarked Kaunitz, who +had just finished the first dispatch. "And the consequence is, that the +good people of Brussels broke his windows for him." + +"They shall pay dear for those windows." cried Joseph. + +"He told them, furthermore, that in spite of the eighth article of their +constitution, they should pay extraordinary taxes; whereupon they +answered him with the fifty-ninth article." + +"What says the fifty-ninth article?" + +"It says that when the sovereign violates, in any serious way, the +rights guaranteed by the Joyeuse Entree, the people are released from +all obligations toward him." + +"That is the language of treason!" cried Joseph. + +"And treason it is," returned Kannitz, folding the second dispatch. "The +people collected in the streets, and the burghers, arming themselves, +marched to the palace of the governor-general, and demanded admittance." + +"And he, what did he do?" + +"He received them, sire," said Kaunitz, respondingly. + +"And what said he to the insolent demands of the rebels?--You are +silent, Kaunitz, and I see in your countenance that you have bad news +for me. I know my brother-in-law, Albert of Saxony, or rather, I know my +sister Christina. From her youth she has been my enemy, forever crossing +me in every purpose of my life! Christina was sure to prompt him to +something in opposition to my wishes." + +"It would appear that you are right, sire," replied Kaunitz. + +"The burghers exacted of the governor-general that they should be +reinstated in all the rights of the Joyeuse Entree, without exception +whatsoever." + +"Their Joyeatse Entree is nothing but a mass of impertinent privilege; +which Christina herself could not desire to concede," cried Joseph. "I +am curious, then, to know how my brother-in-law crept out of the +difficulty. What was his answer?" + +"He asked time for reflection, sire--twelve hours. It was eleven o'clock +in the morning when the burghers came to him." + +"Did they go quietly home then?" + +"No, sire. They surrounded the palace, their numbers continually +increasing until the place was tilled with armed men, supported by +thousands of insurgents, who rent the air with cries of 'Give us the +Joyeuse Entree! The Joyeuse Entree forever!'" + +"Kaunitz, the answer of the Elector of Saxony must have been a +disgraceful one, or you would not be at such pains to describe the +clamors of the rebellious multitude. Tell me at once what occurred." + +"Sire, when the twelve hours had expired, the burghers forced the palace +doors, and two hundred armed men rushed unannounced into the presence of +the duke." + +"Well--well!" cried Joseph, breathing heavily. + +"The governor was obliged to yield, and to promise them that their +constitution should be reinstated." + +The emperor uttered a cry of fury, and grew pale with rage. "He +reinstated the Joyeuse Entree! He presumed to do it! Did I not tell you +that Christina was my enemy? She it is who has brought this humiliation +upon me! She has dared revoke what I had commanded!--Oh, how those +vulgar rebels must have laughed to see that with their pestiferous +breath they lead power to blow away my edicts like so many card-houses!" + +"Not at all, sire," said Kaunitz, with composure. "There was no jesting +among the people, although they were very happy, and passed the night in +shouts of joy. Brussels was illuminated, and six hundred young men drew +the carriage of the elector and electress to the theatre, amid cries of +'Long live the emperor! Long live the Joyeuse Entree!'" + +"'Long live the emperor!"' cried Joseph, contemptuously. "They treat me +as savages do their wooden idols, When they are unpropitious they beat +them; when otherwise, they set them up and adore them again. Those over +whom I reign, however, shall see that I am no wooden idol, but a man and +a monarch, who draws his sword to avenge an affront from whomsoever +received. Blood alone will extinguish the fire; of this rebellion, and +it shall be quenched in the blood of the rebels." + +"Many a throne has been overturned by the wild waves of human blood," +said Kaunitz thoughtfully; "and many a well-meaning prince has been +branded by history as a tyrant, because he would have forced reform upon +nations unprepared to receive it. The insurgent states have some show of +justice on their side; and if your majesty adopts severe measures toward +them, they will parade themselves before the world as martyrs." + +"And yet I alone am the martyr," cried Joseph, bitterly--"the martyr of +liberty and enlightenment. Oh, Kaunitz, how hard it is to be forever +misunderstood!--to see those whom we love, led astray by the wickedness +of others! I must crush this rebellion by force, and yet the real +criminals are the clergy." + +"If you think so," said Kaunitz, shrewdly, "then be lenient toward the +misguided people. Perhaps mildness may prevail. Belgium is united to a +man, and if you enforce your will, you must crush the entire nation. +Such extreme measures must be resorted to only when all other means +shall have been exhausted." + +"What other means do you counsel?" asked Joseph, irritated. "Would you +have me treat with the rabble?" + +"No, sire, but treat with the, people. When an entire nation are united, +they rise to equality with their rulers, and it is no condescension then +on the part of the sovereign if he listen to their grievances and +temporize with the aggrieved. You have not yet tried personal +negotiations with your Netherlanders, sire. Call a deputation of them to +Vienna. We shall thereby gain time, the insurgents will grow more +dispassionate, and perhaps we may reason them into acquiescence. Once +get as far as an armistice with your rebels, and the game is yours; for +insurgents are poor diplomatists. Let me advise your majesty to +dissimulate your anger, and send conciliatory messages." + +"Well, well," said the emperor, with a deep sigh, "be it so. I will do +as you like, but I must for ever and ever yield my will to that of +others. Call a deputation of the provinces, and cite the +governor-general and his wife, also to Vienna. I will investigate as a +father before I condemn as a judge. But if this last proof of my +goodness should be of no avail, then I shall strike; and if blood flow +in torrents-upon their heads and not mine, be the sin." [Footnote: +Joseph's own words. Seo Hubner, ii., p. 454.] + + + +CHAPTER CLXIX. + +THE IMPERIAL SUITOR. + +A half year had passed away. The deputation from the Netherlands had +visited Vienna, and had been deeply impressed with the affability of the +emperor. They returned home, taking with them his assurance that their +time-honored usages should be respected, and that Joseph himself would be +the guardian of their ancient rights. He merely desired to free them +from "certain abuses which in the lapse of time had crept into their +constitution." To this end he promised that an imperial delegation +should visit Brussels to consult with the states. + +The two envoys publicly sent by the emperor were Count von +Trautmannedorf and General d'Alton. But to these he added a secret envoy +in the person of Count Dietrichstein, the former marshal of Maria +Theresa's household. + +"I know that my two ambassadors will find a wise mentor in you, count," +said Joseph as Dietrichstein was taking leave of him. "I thank you for +sacrificing your pleasant home with its associations to my interest; for +no man so well as you can enlighten public opinion as to my character +and intentions." + +"Your majesty knows that not only my comfort but my life are at the +disposal of my emperor," replied the count. "I deserve no credit for +this; it comes to me as a proud inheritance from an ancestry who have +ever been the loyal subjects of the house of Habsburg." + +"I wish that I knew how to testify my sense of your loyalty, and to +prove to you that the Hapsburgers have grateful hearts," exclaimed the +emperor. + +"Sire," said Count Dictrichstein, solemnly, "it is in your power to do +so. If your majesty really thinks that my family are deserving of it, +you can confer upon us a very great favor." + +"Speak, then," replied Joseph, eagerly--" speak, for your wish is +already granted. I well know that Count Dietrichstein can ask nothing +that I would not accord!" + +"I accept your majesty's kindness," said Dietrichstein, in the same +solemn tone. "My request is easy of fulfilment, and will give but little +trouble to my beloved sovereign. It concerns my daughter Therese, whom I +shall leave behind in Vienna." + +"You leave Therese?" said Joseph, coloring. + +"Yes, your majesty. My daughter remains under the protection of her +aunt." + +"Ah! Therese is to be left!" cried the emperor, and an expression of +happiness flitted over his features. + +Count Dietrichstein saw it, and a cloud passed over his face. "I leave +her here," continued he, "because the mission with which your majesty +has intrusted me might possibly become dangerous. Unhappily, however, +for young girls there is danger everywhere; and for this reason I +scarcely deem the protection of her aunt sufficient." + +While Count Dietrichstein had been speaking, Joseph had seemed uneasy; +and finally he had walked to the window, where he was now looking out +upon the square. The count was annoyed at this proceeding; he frowned, +and, crossing the room, came directly behind the emperor. + +"Sire," said he, in a distinct voice, "I wish to marry Therese." + +"With whom?" asked Joseph, without turning. + +"With your majesty's lord of the bedchamber, Count Kinsky." + +"And Therese?" asked Joseph, without turning around. "Does she love the +count?" + +"No, sire, she has never encouraged him. She affects to have a +repugnance to marriage, and has continually urged me to allow her to +enter a convent. But I will not give my consent to such a ridiculous +whim. Count Kinsky is a man of honor; he loves Therese, and will make +her happy. Therese is the true daughter of my house, sire; a wish of +your majesty to her would be a law. I therefore beg of you, as the +greatest favor you could bestow, to urge her to accept Count Kinsky. " + +The emperor turned hastily around, and his face was scarlet. + +"How?" said he, in a faltering voice. "You exact of me that I should woo +your daughter for Count Kinsky?" + +"It is this favor, sire, which you have so graciously promised to +grant." + +The emperor made no reply. He gazed at the count with gloomy, searching +eyes. The latter met his glance with quiet firmness. A long pause +ensued, and the emperor's face changed gradually until it became very +pale. He sighed and seemed to awake from a reverie. + +"Count Dietrichstein," said he, in a trembling voice, "you have pointed +out to me the means of serving you. I will do your behest, and urge your +daughter to be the wife of Count Kinsky." + +"There spoke my noble emperor!" cried the count, deeply moved, while he +pressed the hand, which had been extended by Joseph, to his lips. "In +the name of my ancestors, I thank you, sire." + +"Do not thank me, my friend," said Joseph, sadly. "You have understood +me, and I you--that is all. When shall I see your daughter?" + +"Sire, I leave Vienna this evening, and I would gladly leave Therese an +affianced bride. The marriage can take place on my return." + +"Very well," said Joseph, with a smothered sigh, "I will go at once. Is +the countess in the city?" "No, sire, she is at the villa near +Schonbrunn. But I will send for her, and when she arrives, she shall +have the honor of an interview with your majesty." + +"No, no," said Joseph, hastily; "let her remain at the villa, and enjoy +one more day of maiden freedom. I myself will drive there to see her. I +shall be obliged to renounce the pleasure of your company thither, for I +know that you have important business to-day to transact with Prince +Kaunitz." + +A distrustful look was the reply to this proposition. The emperor +divined the cause, and went on: "But if you CANNOT accompany, you can +follow me with Count Kinsky; that is, if you really think that I can +persuade the countess to accept him." + +"I know it, sire. Therese will be as docile to the wishes of your +majesty as her father. As I am ready, at your desire, to renounce the +happiness of accompanying you to my villa, so she, if you speak the +word, will renounce her foolish fancies, and consent to be Kinsky's +wife." + +"We can try," said the emperor, moodily. But he smiled as he gave his +hand to Count Dietrichstein, who, perfectly reassured, went off to his +affairs of state. + +When the count had left the room, the expression of Joseph's face +changed at once. With a deep sigh he threw himself into an arm-chair, +and for some time sat there motionless; but when the little French clock +on the mantelpiece struck the hour, he started up, exclaiming: "Eleven +o'clock! Time flies, and my word has been given, Alas, it must be +redeemed!--An emperor has no right to grieve; but oh, how hard it is, +sometimes, to perform one's duty!--Well--it must be:--I am pledged to +fulfil the motto of my escutcheon: 'Virtute et exemplo.'" + +A quarter of an hour later, the emperor was on his way to the villa, +which was situated in the midst of a fine park, not far from the palace +of Schounbrunn. Joseph drove himself, accompanied by a jockey, who stood +behind. The people on the road greeted their sovereign as he passed. He +returned the greeting, and no one saw how pale and wretched he looked; +for he, like his mother, was fond of fast driving, and to-day his horse +sped like the wind. + + + +CHAPTER CLXX. + +THE LAST DREAM OF LOVE. + +Therese von Dietrichstein was alone in the little pavilion which her +father had built expressly for her. It consisted of a parlor and a +boudoir. The parlor was fitted up without magnificence, but with great +elegance. Herein Therese was accustomed to receive her intimate +associates. But no one ever entered the boudoir without an express +invitation; for it was her sanctuary and studio. There the countess was +transformed into an artist; there she studied music, and painting, in +both of which she excelled. Her father and her very dear friends knew of +her great proficiency in art, but her reputation went no further, for +Therese was as shy as a gazelle, and as anxious to conceal her talents +as many women are to parade them. + +At her father's hotel, Therese received the distinguished guests who +visited there, with the stately courtesy befitting a high-born countess; +but in her little pavilion she was the simple and enthusiastic child of +art. Her boudoir contained little besides a harp, a harpsichord, and an +easel which stood by the arched window opening into a flower-garden. +Near the easel was a small marble table covered with palettes, brushes, +and crayons. When Therese retired to this boudoir, her maid was +accustomed to keep watch lest she should be surprised by visitors. If +any were announced, Therese came out of her boudoir, and, carefully +closing the door, awaited her friends in the parlor. + +To-day she sat in this boudoir, feeling so secure from visitors that she +had raised the portiere leading to her parlor, and had flung wide the +casement which opened upon the park. The sweet summer air was fanning +her brow as she sat at the harp, singing a song of her own composition. +She had just concluded; her little white hands had glided from the +strings to her lap, and her head rested against the harp, above the +pillar of which a golden eagle with outstretched wings seemed to be +keeping watch over the young girl, as though to shield her from +approaching misfortune. + +With her head bent over her harp, she sat musing until two tears, which +had long been gathering in her eyes, fell upon her hands. As she felt +them, she raised her head. Her dark-blue eyes were full of sorrow, and +tier cheeks were glowing with blushes. + +"What right have I to weep over a treasure which is as far from me as +heaven is from earth?" said she. "I will not repine, so long as I am +free to dream of him without crime. But what if I should lose that +freedom? What if my father should wish to force me into marriage? Oh, +then, I should take refuge behind the friendly portals of a convent!" + +"Why take refuge in a convent?" said a soft voice behind her. + +Therese sprang up with such wild agitation, that the harp, with a clang, +fell back against the wall. Too well she knew this musical voice--it was +the voice which spoke to her in dreams; and as its tones fell so +suddenly upon her ear, she felt as if a bolt from heaven had struck her +heart, and knew not whether she would die of ecstasy or fright. + +"Joseph!" exclaimed she, all unconscious of the word, and she sank back +into her chair, not daring to raise her eyes. With one bound the emperor +was at her side, taking her hands, and pressing them within his own. + +"Pardon me, countess," said he, tenderly, "I have startled you. It was +wrong of me to send away your maid, and to present myself unannounced. +In my selfishness, I would not wait for form, and forgot that my visit +was totally unexpected. Say that you forgive me; let me read my pardon +in your heavenly eyes. " + +Slowly Therese raised her head, and tried to speak. She longed to say +that she had nothing to forgive; but had not the courage to meet the +glances of those eyes which were fixed upon her with an expression of +passionate entreaty, and seemed to be gazing into her heart, reading its +most cherished, most consecrated secrets. + +Did he understand the language of her agitation? "Look at me, Therese," +whispered he." It is an eternity since we met, and now--one more look +at your angel-face, for I come to bid adieu to it forever." + +She started, repeating his words, "Bid adieu--adieu!" + +"Yes, sweet one, adieu. Some wiseacre has guessed the secret which I had +fondly imagined was known to God and to myself only. And yet, Therese, I +have never even told myself how passionately I love you! My eyes must +have betrayed me to others; for since that happy day at Sclionbrunn when +I kissed the rose which had dropped from your hair, you have not been +seen at court. I never should have told you this, my best beloved, but +the anguish of this hour has wrung the confession from me. It will die +away from your memory like the tones of a strange melody, and be lost in +the jubilant harmony of your happy married life." + +He turned away that she might not see the tears which had gathered in +his eyes and were ready to fall. As for Therese, she rose to her feet. +For one moment, her heart stood still--the next, her blood was coursing +so wildly through her veins that she thought he must surely hear its mad +throbbings in the stillness of that little room. The emperor turned +again, and his face was grave, but calm. He had mastered his emotion, +and, ashamed of the weakness of the avowal he had made, he determined to +atone for it. He took the hand of the countess and led her to a divan, +where he gently drew her down, while she obeyed, as though her will had +suddenly been merged into his. She was conscious of one thing only. He +was there!--he whose name was written upon her heart, though she had +never uttered it until that day! + +He stood before her with folded arms, and contemplated her as an +enthusiast might look upon the statue of a saint. + +"Therese," said he, after a long silence, "why did you say that you +would go into a convent?" + +Therese grew pale and shivered, but said nothing. Joseph, bending down +and looking into her eyes, repeated his question. + +"Because my father wishes me to marry a man whom I do not love," replied +Therese, with a candor which yielded to the magic of his glance as the +rose gives her heart's sweet perfume to the wooing of the summer breeze. + +"But, Therese," said the emperor, mindful of his promise, "you must obey +your father. It is your duty." + +"No--I shall never marry," returned Therese, eagerly. + +"Marriage is the only vocation fit for a woman," replied Joseph. "The +wife is commanded to follow her husband." + +"Yes, to follow the husband of her love," interrupted she, with +enthusiasm. "And oh, it must be heaven on earth to follow the beloved +one through joy and sorrow, to feel with his heart, to see with his +eyes, to live for his love, or, if God grant such supreme happiness, to +die for his sake!" + +"Therese!" exclaimed Joseph, passionately, as, gazing upon her inspired +countenance, he forgot every thing except his love. + +She blushed, and her eyes sought the floor. "No," said she, as if +communing with herself, "this blessing I shall never know." + +"And why not?" cried he. "Why should one so young, so beautiful, so +gifted as you, cast away the ties of social life and pass within the +joyless portals of a convent?" + +Therese said nothing. She sat ashamed, bewildered, entranced; and, in +her confusion, her beauty grew tenfold greater. The emperor's +resolutions were fast melting away. + +Again he besought her in tender tones. "Tell me, my Therese; confide in +me, for I swear that your happiness is dearer to me than my life." He +bent closer, and seized her hands. His touch was electric, for a tremor +took possession of them both, and they dared not look at each other. +Joseph recovered himself, and began in low, pleading tones: "Look at me, +beloved, and let me read my answer in your truthful eyes. Look at me, +for those eyes are my light, my life, my heaven!" + +Therese could not obey. Her head sank lower and lower, and deep, +convulsive sighs rent her heart. The emperor, scarcely knowing what he +did, knelt before her. She met his glance of intoxicated love, and, +unable to resist it, murmured: + +"Because I love--thee." + +Had he heard aright? Was it not the trees whispering to the summer air, +or the birds cooing beneath the eaves? Or had an angel borne the message +from that heaven which to-day was so radiant and so silver-bright? + +He still knelt, and pressed her trembling hands to his lips, while his +face was lit up with a joy, which Therese had never seen there before. + +"Have I found you at last, star of my dark and solitary life?" said he. +"Are you mine at last, shy gazelle, that so long have escaped me, +bounding higher and higher up the icy steeps of this cheerless world? +Oh, Therese, why did I not find you in the early years of life? And yet +I thank Heaven that you are mine for these few fleeting moments, for +they have taken me back to the days of my youth and its beautiful +illusions! Ah, Therese, from the first hour when I beheld you advancing +on your father's arm to greet me, proud as an empress, calm as a vestal, +beautiful as Aphrodite, my heart acknowledged you as its mistress! Since +then I have been your slave, kissing your shadow as it went before me, +and yet riot conscious of my insane passion until your father saw me +with that rose--and then I knew that I loved you forever! Yes, Therese, +you are the last love of an unfortunate man, whom the world calls an +emperor, but who lies at your feet, as the beggar before his ideal of +the glorious Madonna! Bend to me, Madonna, and let me drink my last +draught of love! I shall soon have quaffed it, and then--your father +will be here to remind me that you are a high-born countess, the +priceless treasure of whose love I may not possess! Kiss me, my Therese, +and consecrate my lips to holy resignation!" + +And Therese, too bewildered to resist, bent forward. Their lips met, and +his arms were around her, and time, place, station, honor--every thing +vanished before the might of their love. + +Suddenly they heard an exclamation--and there, at the porture, stood the +father and the suitor of Therese, their pale and angry faces turned +toward the lovers. + +The emperor, burning with shame and fury, sprang to his feet. Therese, +with a faint cry, hid her face in her hands, and, trembling with fear, +awaited her sentence. + +There was a deep silence. Each one seemed afraid to speak, for the first +word uttered in that room might be treason. With dark and sullen faces, +the two noblemen looked at the imperial culprit, who, leaning against +the window, with head upturned to heaven, seemed scarcely able to +sustain the weight of his own anguish. The stillness was insupportable, +and it was his duty to break it. He glanced at the two men who, +immovable and frowning, awaited this explanation. + +Joseph turned to Therese, who had not yet withdrawn her hands. She felt +as if she could never face the world again. + +"Rise, Therese, and give me your hand," said he, authoritatively. + +She obeyed at once, and the emperor, pressing that trembling hand within +his own, led her to her father. + +"Count Dietrichstein," said he, "you reminded me to-day of the +long-tried loyalty of your house, and asked me, as your reward, to +advise your daughter's acceptance of the husband you have chosen for +her. I have fulfilled my promise, and Therese has consented to obey your +commands. She promises to renounce her dream of entering a convent, and +to become the wife of Count Kinsky. Is it not so, Therese? Have I not +your approval in promising these things to your father?" + +"It is so," murmured Therese, turning pale as death. + +"And now, Count Dietrichstein," continued Joseph, "I will allow you to +postpone your mission to Brussels, so that before you leave Vienna you +may witness the nuptials of your daughter. In one week the marriage will +be solemnized in the imperial chapel. Count Kinsky, I deliver your bride +into your hands. Farewell! I shall meet you in the chapel." + +He bowed, and hurried away. He heard the cry which broke from the lips +of Therese, although he did not turn his head when her father's voice +called loudly for help. But seeing that the countess's maid was walking +in the park, he overtook her, saying, hastily, "Go quickly to the +pavilion; the Countess Therese has fainted." + +Then he hastened away, not keeping the walks, but trampling heedlessly +over the flowers, and dashing past the lilacs and laburniuns, thinking +of that fearful hour when Adam was driven from Paradise, and wondering +whether the agony of the first man who sinned had been greater than his +to-day, when the sun was setting upon the last dream of love which he +would ever have in this world! + + + +CHAPTER CLXXI. + +THE TURKISH WAR. + +The bolt had fallen. Russia had declared war against Turkey. On the +return of the emperor from his unfortunate pilgrimage to Count +Dietrichstein's villa, three couriers awaited him from Petersburg, +Constantinople, and Berlin. Besides various dispatches from Count +Cobenzl, the courier from Petersburg brought an autographic letter from +the empress. Catharine reminded the emperor of the promise which he had +made in St. Petersburg, and renewed at Cherson, announced that the hour +had arrived for its fulfilment. The enmity so long smothered under the +ashes of simulated peace had kindled and broken out into the flames of +open war. + +The Porte himself had broken the peace. On account of some arbitrary act +of the Russian ambassador, he had seized and confined him in the Seven +Towers. Russia had demanded his release, and satisfaction for the +insult. The sultan had replied by demanding the restoration of the +Crimea, and the withdrawal of the Russian fleet from the Black Sea. + +The disputants had called in the Austrian internuncio, but all diplomacy +was vain. Indeed, neither Russia, Turkey, nor Austria had placed any +reliance upon the negotiations for peace; for while they were pending, +the three powers were all assiduously preparing for war. In the spring +of 1788, the Austrian internuncio declined any further attempt at +mediation, and hostilities between Russia and Turkey were renewed. + +Joseph received the tidings with an outburst of joy. They lifted a load +of grief from his heart; for war, to him, was balsam for every sorrow. + +"Now I shall be cured of this last wound!" exclaimed he, as he paced his +cabinet, the dispatches in his hand. "God is merciful--He has sent the +remedy, and once more I shall feel like a sovereign and a man! How I +long to hear the bullets hiss and the battle rage! There are no myrtles +for me on earth; perchance I may yet be permitted to gather its laurels. +Welcome, O war! Welcome the march, the camp, and the battle-field!" + +He rang, and commanded the presence of Field-Marshal Lacy. Then he read +his dispatches again, glancing impatiently, from time to tine, at the +door. Finally it opened, and a page announced the field-marshal. Joseph +came hurriedly forward, and grasped the hands of his long-tried friend. + +"Lacy," cried he, "from this day you shall be better pleased than you +have been with me of late--I have seen your reproving looks--nay, do +not deny it, for they have been as significant as words; and if I made +no answer, it was perhaps because I was guilty, and had nothing to say. +You have sighed over my dejection for months past, dear friend, but it +has vanished with the tidings I have just received I am ready to rush +out into the storm, bold and defiant as Ajax!" + +"Oh, how it rejoices my heart to hear such words!" replied Lacy, +pressing Joseph's hand. "I recognize my hero, my emperor again, and +victory is throned upon his noble brow! With those flashing eyes, and +that triumphant bearing, you will inspire your Austrians with such +enthusiasm, that every man of them will follow whithersoever his +commander leads!" + +"Ah," cried Joseph, joyfully, "you have guessed, then, why I requested +your presence here! Yes, Lacy, war is not only welcome to you and to me, +but I know that it will also rejoice the hearts of the Austrian army. +And now I invite you to accompany me on my campaign against the Turks, +and I give you chief command of my armies; for your valor and patriotism +entitle you to the distinction." + +"Your majesty knows that my life is consecrated to your service," +replied Laoy, with strong emotion. "You know with what pride I would +fight at your side, secure that victory must always perch upon the +banners of my gallant emperor." + +"And you rejoice, do you not, Lacy, that our foe is to be the Moslem?" + +Lacy was silent for a while. "I should rejoice from my soul." replied +he, with some hesitation, "if Austria were fighting her own battles." + +"Our ally is distasteful to you?" asked Joseph, laughing. "You have not +yet learned to love Russia?" + +"I have no right to pass judgment upon those whom your majesty has +deemed worthy of your alliance, sire." + +"No evasions, Lacy. You are pledged to truth when you enter these palace +walls." + +"Well, sire, if we are in the palace of truth, I must confess to a +prejudice against Russia, and Russia's empress. Catharine calls for your +majesty's assistance, not to further the cause of justice or of right, +but to aid her in making new conquests." + +"I shall not permit her to make any new conquests!" cried Joseph. "She +may fight out her quarrel with Turkey, and, so far, I shall keep my +promise and sustain her. But I shall lend my sanction to none of her +ambitious schetney. I suffered the Porte to code Tauris to Catharine, +because this cession was of inestimable advantage to me. It protected my +boundaries from the Turk himself, and then it produced dissension +between the courts of St. Petersburg and Berlin and so deprived the +latter of leer powerful ally. [Footnote: The emperor's own words.--See. +Gross-Hofflnger, iii., pp. 428, 429.] But having permitted Russia to +take possession of the Crimea, the aspect of affairs is changed. I never +shall suffer the Russians to establish themselves in Constantinople. The +turban I conceive to be a safer neighbor for Austria than the bat. +[Footnote: The emperor's own words.--See" Letters of Joseph ll.," p. +135.] At this present time Russia offers me the opportunity of retaking +Belgrade, and avenging the humiliation sustained by my father at the +hands of the Porte. For two hundred years these barbarians of the East +have been guilty of bad faith toward my ancestors, and the time has +arrived when, as the avenger of all mankind, I shall deliver Europe from +the infidel, and the world from a race which for centuries has been the +scourge of every Christian nation." + +"And in this glorious struggle of Christianity and civilization against +Islamism and barbarism, I shall be at my emperor's side, and witness his +triumph! This is a privilege which the last drop of my blood would be +inadequate to buy!" + +The emperor again gave his hand. "I knew that you would be as glad to +follow me as a war-horse to follow the trumpet's call. This time we +shall have no child's play; it shall be war, grim, bloody war! And now +to work. In one hour the courier must depart, who bears my manifesto to +the Porte. No, Lacy," continued the emperor, as Lacy prepared to leave, +"do not go. As commander-in-chief, you should be thoroughly acquainted +with the premises of our affair with Turkey, and you must hear both the +manifestoes which I an about to dictate. The first, of course, declares +war against the Porte. The second is, perhaps, a mere letter to the +successor of the great Frederick. His majesty of Prussia, foreseeing, in +his extreme wisdom, that I am likely to declare war against Turkey, is +so condescending as to offer himself as mediator between us! You shall +hear my answer, and tell me what you think of it." + +Lacy bowed, and the emperor opening the door leading to the chancery, +beckoned to his private secretary. He entered, took his seat, and held +his pen ready to indite what Joseph should dictate. Lacy retired to the +embrasure of a window, and with his arms crossed stood partly hidden by +the heavy crimson velvet curtains, his eyes fixed upon leis idolized +sovereign. + +Joseph went restlessly to and fro, and dictated his manifesto to the +Porte. Referring to his alliance with Russia, and the failure of his +attempts at intervention, he went on to say that as the sincere friend +and ally of the empress, he was compelled to fulfil his obligations, and +reluctantly to take part in the war which Catharine had declared against +Turkey. [Footnote: Hubner. ii., p. 468.] + +"Now," said the emperor, "take another sheet and write 'To his majesty, +the King of Prussia.'" + +"My Royal Brother-- + +"It is with feelings of profound regret that I find myself forced to +decline your majesty's most friendly offers of mediation with Turkey. I +am obliged to unsheathe my sword, and I shall not return it to the +scabbard until it shall have won full reparation for all the wrongs +sustained by my forefathers at the hands of the Porte. Your majesty is a +monarch, and as such, you are acquainted with the rights of kings. And +is this undertaking of mine against Turkey any thing more than an +attempt to resume the rights of which my throne has been dispossessed? + +"The Turks (and perhaps not they alone) have a maxim, that whatever they +lose in adverse times, they must win back when opportunity is favorable. +By such means the house of Hohenzollern has attained its present state +of prosperity. Albert of Brandenburg wrested the duchy of Prussia from +its order, and his successors, at the peace of Oliva, maintained their +right to the sovereignty of that country. + +"Your majesty's deceased uncle, in like manner, wrested Silesia from my +mother at a time when, surrounded by enemies, her only defences were her +own true greatness and the loyalty of her subjects. + +"What equivalent for her lost possessions has Austria received at the +hands of those European courts who have blown so many blasts on the +balance of power? + +"My forefathers were forced at different times to yield up Spain, +Naples, Sicily, Belgrade, the principality of Silesia, Parma, Piacenza, +Guastalla, Tortona, and a portion of Lombardy. What has Austria taken in +return for these heavy loses? + +"A portion of the kingdom of Poland! And one of less value than that +assigned to Russia. + +"I hope that you will not dispute the justice of my resolve to make war +upon the Porte, and that you will not hold me less a friend because I +may do some injury to the Ottoman. Your majesty may rest assured that +under similar circumstances, I should apply the same principles to +myself, were I possessed of any of YOUR territory. + +"I must also announce to you that, for some years to come, diplomacy +must give place to war. + +"Hoping for a continuation of your majesty's friendship, I am, with +highest esteem, your friend and brother, JOSEPH." [Footnote: "Letters of +Joseph II.," page 121, and the following.] + +The letter concluded, the emperor dismissed his secretary and threw +himself into an arm-chair. + +"Well Lacy," said he, "are you pleased with my letter? Have I convinced +the king that it is my duty to declare war against the Moslem?" + +"Sire," said Lacy, approaching, "I thank you from my heart for the +privilege of hearing that letter. I know not which to admire most, your +majesty's admirable knowledge of the history of your house, or the quiet +sharpness with which you have made your statements. But this I know, +that had you forbidden me to accompany you, I should have been, for the +first time in my life, rebellious; for if I had not been allowed to +fight as an officer, I should have done so as a private." + +"There spoke my Lacy, my own gallant Austrian!" exclaimed Joseph. "To +work, then, to work! Promulgate your orders and set your men in motion. +In two days we must have two hundred thousand men on our frontiers. We +must draw a gigantic cordon from the Dniester to the Adriatic. The main +body, however, must go forward to Semlin and Futak. We two follow the +main army, and day after to-morrow we must set out, and--no," said the +emperor, interrupting himself, while all the light died out from his +countenance. "No--I cannot set out for a week yet. I must first bid +adieu to the last tie that binds my heart (as a man) to this life! That +tie riven, I live as all emperor and a warrior. Once in camp, I shall, +Heaven be praised! forget all things else, and be myself again!" + + + +CHAPTER CLXXII. + +MARRIAGE AND SEPARATION. + +The eight long, weary days had gone by, the preparations for war were +complete, and the emperor was ready to join his army. He had worked day +and night, refusing to rest, and answering all remonstrances with a sad +smile. + +"I was not born a sovereign to devote my life to my own comfort," said +he, "but to consecrate it to my empire. When I become too feeble to do +my duty, I shall ask for a pension and retire to a convent, like Charles +the Fifth. I have no taste, however, for the vocation, sincerely hoping +to die as I have lived--an emperor." + +"But, sire," said the imperial physician, Von Quarin, "your first duty +is to preserve your life for Austria's sake. You have a hot fever, and +your eyes and cheeks are hollow." + +"Give me a cool drink, doctor, perchance it may refresh my burning +heart," said Joseph, with sad irony. + +"Cool drinks will do no good unless your majesty consents to take some +rest. Sleep is the sovereign remedy of which you are in need, sire. " + +"I do not wish to sleep," replied Joseph, gloomily. "Sleep brings happy +dreams, and I hate them because of their falsehood! Who would dream of +bliss, to wake and find it all a lie!" + +"Your valet told me that you did not lie down last night." + +"My valet is a chatterbox, and knows not what he says." + +"But, your majesty, I know that you have not been to bed." + +"Then I slept in an arm-chair! But no, I will not deny it. I sat up all +night, Quarin, for I had an important duty to perform before leaving +Vienna. I was making my will." + +"Your will!" repeated Von Quarin. "Surely your majesty does not fear--" + +"No, I fear nothing--certainly not death," returned the emperor. "It +must be sweet to die, and part from the disappointments of life; for man +either goes to eternal sleep, or wakes forever to eternal happiness! I +am not afraid of death, but I must put my house in order, for bullets +respect no man, and they have never yet been taught that an emperor is +not to be approached without ceremony. One might strike me on the head +and send me to my eternal rest. Why, what a doleful face you wear, +Quarin! `L'Empereur est mort!--Vive l'Empereur!' I shall bequeath to you +a noble young emperor and a beautiful arid charming empress. Is not that +better than a surly old fellow like myself? Francis is my pride, and his +sweet Elizabeth is like a daughter to me. I must then make my will and +provide for my children. Now, doctor, have you forgiven me for sitting +up all night?" + +"I have nothing to forgive, sire; but I implore you grant me one +request." + +"You wish to dose me with medicine! It is in your face; you carry an +apothecary's shop in your eyes just now." + +"No, sire, I wish to ask permission to follow you as your surgeon, that +if any thing should happen, I may be there." + +"No, Quarin, you must not follow me. I cannot he guilty of the egotism +which would monopolize your valuable services. A soldier in the field +has no right to be sick, lest he be suspected of cowardice and as for +casualties--why, if a ball should strike me, there are plenty of army +surgeons who will dress my wounds as they dress those of my men. Remain +at home, then, my friend, and do better service by far than you could +render me on the battle-field. Farewell now. In two hours I leave, but +before that time I have some important business on hand. First, I must +go with my will to Prince Kaunitz." + +"Did your majesty hear that he had almost struck the Countess Clary, and +had banished her from his presence for a week, because she had +pronounced the word `testament' in his hearing?" + +"Yes, I was told of it, and I shall take good care not to bring down the +vials of his wrath upon my head," said Joseph, laughing. + +"I shall not pronounce the word 'testament,' I shall speak of my treaty +of peace with life, and use every precaution to save his highness's +feelings. Strange mystery of life!" continued the emperor, musing, +"forever changing shape and hue, like the nimble figures of a +kaleidoscope! Well, I must use stratagem in this matter of the +'testament,' for Kaunitz must assume the regency of the empire, and +then--then--I must attend a wedding. After that, the battlefield! Adieu, +Quarin--if we meet no more on earth, I hope that we shall meet above." + +One hour later the emperor returned from the hotel of his prime +minister, and entered the imperial chapel. He was in full dress, decked +with all his orders. It was only on state occasions that Joseph appeared +in his magnificent uniform; he had not worn it since the marriage of his +nephew to the Princess Elizabeth of Wurtemberg. But his face was very +pale, and when he perceived the bride, he leaned for one moment against +a friendly pillar that saved him from reeling. This weakness, however, +lasted but a moan, he walked firmly up to the altar, where the bridal +party stood awaiting the imperial entrance. + +The emperor approached Count Dietrichstein, and greeted him cordially; +then turning to Count Kinsky he extended his hand. The bridegroom did +not appear to see this, for he cast down his eyes, and made a deep +inclinatiou, while Joseph, with a sad smile, withdrew his hand. + +He had not dared to look upon the trembling bride, who, seated on a +chair, and surrounded by her attendants, had just recovered from a +swoon. Her aunt, the Countess Dietrichstein, explained that from +Therese's childhood, she never had been able to overcome her terror of +lightning; and certainly, if this were so, she had every reason for +terror now. The whole sky was darkened by one dense pall of heavy +clouds; the stained windows of the chapel were fiery with angry +lightning, while fierce above their heads the rolling thunder boomed +along the heavens, and then died away in low mutterings that made the +earth tremble. + +There was no time to await the passing away of the storm, for the guests +at that hurried bridal were impatient to depart. The carriages of the +emperor and of Count Dietrichstein here without, and neither could tarry +long in Vienna. At the altar stood Therese's uncle, Count Leopold von +Thun, Bishop of Passau, and around him was grouped a stately array of +prelates and priests. Count Dietrichstein whispered in his daughter's +ear. She rose from her seat, but her light figure swayed to and fro like +a slender tree before the advancing storm, and her lovely face was pale +as that of a statue, just leaving the hand of the sculptor. Therese's +fear of lightning was no fiction, and she almost sank to the floor as a +livid flash glanced across the form of the emperor, and enveloped him in +a sheet of living flame. Unheeding it, he moved on toward the unhappy +girl, and without a word or a look extended his hand. Therese, +trembling, gave him hers, and started when she felt the burning clasp +that closed upon her icy fingers. The emperor led her to the altar; +behind came the aunt and father of the bride, and between them Count +Kinsky, whose jealous eyes watched every movement of those hands which +joined together for the space of a moment, were about to be sundered +forever. + +Nothing, however, was to be seen. The emperor's eyes were fixed upon the +altar, those of Therese were cast down. Neither saw the other. Only the +burning pressure of one hand and the clammy coldness of the other +revealed to both the extent of the sacrifice they were making to the +Moloch of the world's opinion. + +Now they stood before the altar. The emperor gave the bride into the +hands of the bridegroom, and stepped aside to take his place. + +The ceremony over, the bishop pronounced the blessing, and all present +knelt to receive it. Joseph and Therese were side by side. With a sigh +they raised their eyes to heaven, each praying for the other. The +emperor's eyes were dim with tears, but he dashed them away, and, rising +from his knees, prepared to congratulate the bride. + +A peal of thunder drowned the few words which he murmured. But her heart +caught the meaning, and she whispered in return + +"Yes, in heaven." + +Then he dropped her hand, and addressed himself to the bridegroom. + +"Count Kinsky," said he, authoritatively, "I wish to speak with you in +private." + +The count, with a scowl, followed his sovereign to the nave of the +chapel, where, at a distance from the bridal party, they were in no +danger of being overheard. + +"Count," said the emperor, gravely, "you love the Countess Therese?" + +Count Kinsky was silent for a while. Then, suddenly, he replied in +sharp, cutting accents + +"I have loved her." + +The emperor repeated his words. + +"You have loved her? Do you, then, love her no longer?" + +"No. I love her no longer." + +"When did you cease to love her?" + +"On this day week, your majesty," said the count, defiantly. Joseph +would not seem to observe the look which accompanied these words. His +voice was unchanged, as he replied + +"Count, although you feel resentful toward me, you believe me to be a +man of honor, do you not?" + +"I do, sire." + +"Then I swear to you by all that is sacred to me as man and sovereign, +that Therese is as pure in the sight of Heaven as its brightest angel. I +swear to you that she is as worthy as ever she was to be loved and +esteemed by her husband as his wife and the future mother of his +children." + +"Your majesty must have formed an intimate acquaintance with the +countess, to be able to answer for her purity of heart," returned +Kinsky, coldly. + +Joseph looked up, pained. + +"Ah!" said he, "you are implacable. But you believe me, do you not?" + +The count inclined his head. + +"I dare not doubt my sovereign's word." + +"Then you will love Therese as she deserves to be loved?" + +"Love is not to be controlled--not even by an emperor. My love and hate +are not to be drawn off and on like a glove!" + +"Hate!" cried the emperor, shocked. "Great God! it cannot be possible +that you hate the woman whom you have voluntarily chosen, and whom even +now, before yonder altar, you have sworn to love. Why, then, did you +marry her?" + +"Sire, you commanded me to do so just one week ago, and, as a loyal +subject, I was compelled to obey. You gave me no alternative, and I +married her." + +"She will make you happy," replied Joseph, in a faltering voice. "I +beseech of you, be gentle with her. Her heart is not at ease, and she +needs all your tenderness to restore her to happiness." + +Count Kinsky bowed frigidly. + +"Will your majesty allow me to ask a favor of you?" said he. + +"It will gratify me to do any thing for you," replied Joseph, his eyes +lighting up with pleasure. + +"Then I ask of your majesty, on your Honor, to answer the question I am +about to ask." + +"On my honor, count, I will answer it," said Joseph, smiling. + +"What did your majesty say to the countess just now, and what was her +reply?" + +The emperor was thunderstruck--he could not articulate a word. + +"Your majesty was so obliging as to promise an answer." + +"Yes, count, yes," faltered the emperor. "You shall be satisfied. I +said, 'Farewell, Therese, I shall claim thee in heaven.'" + +"Your majesty was so condescending as to address my wife in this +familiar strain? And her reply was--" + +"Only these words, `Yes, in heaven.'" + +"I thank your majesty." + +They both returned to the company. Joseph cast one last look at Therese, +who, pale and rigid, was receiving the congratulations of her +unsuspecting friends, and then he addressed her father. + +"Well, count, I believe that our furlough has expired, and we must +return to our commands. Farewell! and may we both return victorious to +Vienna!" + +A half an hour later, an imperial caleche conveyed him to the array, and +to Field-Marshal Lacy, who had preceded him there by several days. + +At the same moment, the travelling-carriage of Count Kinsky drove up to +his hotel. Count Dietrichstein, before setting out, had accompanied his +daughter to her husband's residence, and had bidden her adieu. Therese +was now alone. She shuddered as she heard Count Kinsky's step, and +wished from her soul that death would release her from the hateful tie +which bound them together. + +The door opened, and he appeared. She uttered a faint cry, and pressed +her hands to her throbbing heart. Count Kinsky answered the cry with a +laugh of scorn. + +"Are you afraid?" said he, striding toward her, and contemplating her +with a face indicative of smothered passion. + +Therese raised her eyes, and looked fearlessly into his eyes + +"No, Count Kinsky, I am not afraid, nor would I fear, if you had come to +kill me." + +The count laughed aloud. "Ah!" cried he, in a harsh, grating voice, "you +think that I might do like Prince Bragation and the Duke of Orleans, who +strangled their young wives because they suspected them of infidelity! +My dear madame, these romantic horrors belong to a bygone century. In +this sober and prosaic age, a nobleman avenges his wounded honor, not by +murder, but by contempt. I have only intruded myself to ask if you are +ready to start?" + +"I am ready," replied Therese, wearily. + +"Then allow me to accompany you to the carriage." + +"My father having given you my hand, I have no right to refuse your +escort." + +"Before we go, be so condescending as to say which one of my estates you +prefer for a residence." + +"Select my residence yourself, count; you know that I have never visited +your estates." + +"Then I choose for you my castle in Hungary, near the Turkish frontier, +for there you will have the latest news from the army and its +commanders." + +Therese made no reply to this sarcasm. She bent her head, and said: "I +am ready to submit myself to your decision in all things." + +"I hope that the Countess Therese will not long have to live in +subjection to her husband," continued he, "and that the journey which I +am about to undertake will result happily for us both. You go to +Hungary, I go to Rome. I go to implore of the pope a divorce." + +"You are going to sue for a divorce?" asked Therese, "Perhaps you can +spare yourself the trouble of a journey to Rome, count, for I have +already anticipated your wishes. My petition to his holiness went +several days ago, and--" + +"His majesty, the emperor, was so obliging as to send it by an imperial +courier. Is that what you were about to say?" + +Therese continued as though she had not heard the interruption "My +application went through Monsignore Garampi, the papal nuncio, who +promised to use his influence in my behalf." + +"What an edifying couple!" exclaimed Kinsky, with another scornful +laugh. "How congenial! The same wishes, and, unconsciously, the very +same deeds! What a pity we must part so soon, for, I leave you to-day; +nor shall I have the pleasure of seeing you again until I bring you a +decree of divorce." + +"You will be most welcome," returned Therese, calmly. "Now be so good as +to escort me to my carriage." + +"Pray give me your arm. I have but one more observation to make. I hope +that you will now be able to prove substantially to the emperor that it +was quite useless for him to shelter himself behind the words, 'I shall +claim thee in heaven!' But if I may presume so far, I request that you +will defer these demonstrations until I return from Rome with my letters +of divorce." + +Therese had no strength to retort. She hung down her head, and large +scalding tears fell from her eyes. Count Kinsky placed her in the +carriage, closed the door, and then returned to his own +travelling-chariot, which was a few paces behind. The two equipages +thundered down the streets together, but at the gates they parted, the +one taking the road for Hungary, the other for Rome. [Footnote: This +whole story is Historical. The "heavenly Therese," as she is called by +Hormayer, was really married and thus abandoned by her husband, who +persisted in believing that the connection between herself and the +emperor was not guiltless. But the count met with no success in the +matter of the divorce. The pope refused.] + + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIII. + +THE LAST DREAM OF GLORY. + +Destiny was testing the fortitude of the emperor with unrelenting +harshness. It would seem that inflexible fate stood by, while one by one +this man's hopes of fame, honor, and love were wrested away, that the +world might see and know how much of bitterness and disappointment it is +in the power of one human heart to endure. + +In the Netherlands and in Hungary he was threatened with rebellion. The +Magyars especially resented the violation of their constitutional +rights; in Tyrol, too, the people were disaffected; and Rome had not yet +pardoned him the many indignities she had endured at his hands. This +very war, which he had welcomed as a cure for his domestic sorrows, was +yielding him naught but annoyance and misery. + +Yes, destiny had decreed that nothing which he undertook should prosper. +His army, which was encamped in the damp marshes that lie between the +Danube and Save, was attacked by a malarious fever more destructive by +far than the bloodiest struggle that ever reddened the field of battle. +The hospitals were crowded with the sick and dying, and the enfeebled +soldiers, who dragged themselves about their ramps, wore sullen and +discontented faces; a spirit of insubordination was beginning to +manifest itself among the troops, and the very men who would have rushed +to the cannon's mouth, grew cowardly at the approach of the invisible +foe that stole away their lives, by the gradual and insidious poison of +disease. The songs and jests of the bivouac were hushed, the white tents +were mournful as sepulchres, and the men lost all confidence in their +leaders. They now accused the emperor and Lacy of incapacity, and +declared that they must either be disbanded or led against the enemy. + +This was precisely what Joseph had been longing to do, but he was +compelled to await the advance of the Russians, with whom it had been +arranged that the Austrians were to take a junction before they marched +into Turkey. The Russians, however, had never joined the emperor; for +some misunderstanding with Sweden had compelled the czarina to defend +her northern frontier, and so she had as yet been unable to assemble an +army of sufficient strength to march against Turkey. Joseph then was +condemned to the very same inaction which had so chafed his spirit in +Bavaria; for his own army of itself was not numerous enough to attack +the enemy. He could not snake a move without Russia. Russia tarried, and +the fever in the camp grew every day more fatal. + +Instead of advancing, the heart-sick emperor was forced to retreat. His +artillery was withdrawn to Peterwardein, and the siege of Belgrade +entirely relinquished. Disease and death followed the Austrians to +their new encampment, and louder grew the mutterings of the men, +and more bitter their denunciations of the emperor. + +They little knew that while they were assailed by physical infirmities, +their hapless chieftain was sick both in body and mind. He shared all +their hardships, and watched them with most unremitting solicitude. He +erected camp hospitals, and furnished the sick with wine and delicacies +which he ordered from Vienna for their use. All military etiquette was +suspended; even the approach of the emperor for the time being was to be +ignored. Those who were lying down were to remain lying, those who were +sitting were to keep their seats. + +Meanwhile Joseph walked daily through the hospitals, bestowing care and +kindness upon all, and no man there remarked that the deadly malaria had +affected him in an equal degree with his troops. Heat, hardships, and +disappointment had done their work as effectually upon the +commander-in-chief as upon the common soldier; but no one suspected that +fever was consuming his life; for by day, Joseph was the Providence of +his army, and by night, while his men were sleeping, he was attending to +the affairs of his vast empire. He worked as assiduously in camp as he +had ever done at home in his palace. Every important measure of the +regency was submitted to him for approval; the heads of the several +departments of state were required to send him their reports; and many a +night, surrounded by heaps of dispatches, he sat at his little table, in +the swampy woods, whose noxious atmosphere was fitter for the snakes +that infested them than for human beings of whatever condition in life. +[In the archives of Vienna is preserved a dispatch of Joseph, written in +the open woods on the night before the taking of +Sabacz.--Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 464.] + +One little ray of light relieved the darkness of this gloomy period. +This was the taking of the fortress of Sabacz where Joseph led the +assault in person. Three cannoneers were shot by his side, and their +blood bespattered his face and breast. But in the midst of danger he +remained perfectly composed, and for many a day his countenance had not +beamed with an expression of such animated delight. This success, +however, was no more than a lightning-flash relieving the darkness of a +tempestuous night. The fortress won, the Austrians went back to their +miserable encampment in the sickly morasses of Siebenburgen. + +Suddenly the stagnant quiet was broken by the announcement that the +Turks had crossed the Danube. This aroused the army from their sullen +stupor, and Joseph, as if freed from an incubus, joyfully prepared +himself for action. + +The trumpet's shrill call was heard in the camp, and the army commenced +their march. They had advanced but a few miles when they were met by +several panic-stricken regiments, who announced that the Austrian lines +had been broken in two places, that General Papilla had been forced to +retreat, and that the victorious Turks were pouring their vast hordes +into Hungary. + +Like wildfire the tidings spread through the army, and they, too, began +their retreat, farther and yet farther back; for, ever as they moved, +they were lighted on their way by the burning villages and towns that +were the tokens of a barbarous enemy's approach. The homeless fugitives, +too, rent the air with their cries, and clamored for protection against +the cruel infidel. + +No protection could they find, for the Austrians were too few in number +to confront the devastating hosts of the invading army. They were still +compelled to retreat as far as the town of Lugos, where at last they +might rest from the dreadful fatigues of this humiliating flight. With +inexpressible relief, the soldiers sought repose. They were ordered, +however, to sleep on their arms, so that the artilleryman was by his +cannon, the mounted soldier near his horse, and the infantry, clasping +their muskets, lay in long rows together, all forgetting every thing +save the inestimable blessing of stretching their limbs and wooing +sleep. + +The mild summer moon looked down upon their rest, and the emperor, as he +made a last tour of inspection to satisfy himself that all lights were +extinguished, rejoiced to think that the Turks were far away, and his +tired Austrians could sleep secure. + +Joseph returned to his tent, that is, his caleche. He, too, was +exhausted, and closed his eves with a sense of delicious languor. The +night air, blowing about his temples, refreshed his fevered brow, and he +gave himself up to dreams such as are inspired by the silvered +atmosphere, when the moon, in her pearly splendor, looks down upon the +troubled earth, and hushes it to repose. + +The emperor, however, did not sleep. For a while, he lay with closed +eyes, and then, raising himself, looked up toward the heavens. Gradually +the sky darkened; cloud met cloud and obscured the moon's disk, until at +last the firmament was clothed in impenetrable blackness. The emperor, +with a sad smile, thought how like the scene had been to the panorama of +his life, wherein every star had set, and whence every ray of light had +fled forever! + +He dreamed on, while his tired men slept. Not all, however, for, far +toward the left wing of the army, a band of hussars were encamped around +a wagon laden with brandy, and, having much more confidence in the +restorative powers of liquor than of sleep, they had been invigorating +themselves with deep potations. Another company of soldiers in their +neighborhood, awakened by the noisy mirth of the hussars, came forward +to claim their share of the brandy. It was refused, and a brawl ensued, +in which the assailants were repulsed. + +The hussars, having driven them from the field, proceeded to celebrate +their victory by renewed libations, until finally, in a state of +complete inebriation, they fell to the ground, and there slept the sleep +of the intoxicated. + +The men who had been prevented from participating in these drunken +revels resolved to revenge themselves by a trick. They crept stealthily +up to the spot where the hussars were lying, and, firing off their +muskets, cried out, "The Turks! the Turks!" + +Stupefied by liquor, the sleepers sprang up, repeating the cry. It was +caught and echoed from man to man, while the hussars, with unsheathed +sabres, ran wildly about, until hundreds and hundreds were awakened, +each one echoing the fearful words-- + +"The Turks! the Turks!" + +"Halt! halt!" cried a voice to the terrified soldiers. "Halt, men, +halt!" + +The bewildered ears mistook the command for the battle-cry of the Turks, +"Allah! Allah!" and the panic increased tenfold. "We are surrounded!" +shrieked the terror-stricken Austrians, and every sabre was drawn, and +every musket cocked. The struggle began; and the screams of the +combatants, the groans of the wounded, the sighs of the dying filled the +air, while comrade against comrade, brother against brother, stood in +mortal strife and slew each other for the unbelieving Turk. + +The calamity was irretrievable. The darkness of the night deceived every +man in that army, not one of whom doubted that the enemy was there. Some +of the terrified soldiers fled back to their camps, and, even there, +mistaken for Turks, they were assaulted with sabre and musket, and +frightful was the carnage that ensued! + +In vain the officers attempted to restore discipline. There was no more +reason in those maddened human beings than in the raging waves of the +ocean--The emperor, at the first alarm, had driven in his caleche to the +place whence the sound seemed to come. + +But what to a panic-stricken multitude was the voice of their emperor? +Ball after ball whistled past his ears, while he vainly strove to make +them understand that they were each one slaying his brother! And the +night was so hideous, so relentless in its darkness! Not one star +glimmered upon the face of the frightful pall above--the stars would not +look upon that fratricidal stuggle! + +The fugitives and their infuriated pursuers pressed toward a little +bridge which spanned a stream near the encampment. The emperor drove +rapidly around, and reached the banks of the river before them, hoping +thence to be heard by his men, and to convince them that no Turks were +by. + +But they heeded the sound of his voice no more than the sea heeded that +of the royal Canute. Trey precipitated themselves toward the bridge, +driving the carriage of the emperor before them to the very edge of the +steep river-bank. It wavered; they pushed against it with the butt-ends +of their muskets. They saw nothing--they knew nothing save that the +carriage impeded their flight! + +It fell, rumbling down the precipice into the deep waters which bubbled +and hissed and then closed over it forever. No man heeded its fall. Not +one of all that crowd, which oft had grown hoarse with shouts at his +coming, paused to save the emperor from destruction. But he, calm and +courageous, although at that moment he could have parted with life +without a sigh, had made a desperate spring backward, and had alighted +on the ground. + +When he recovered from the violence of the fall, he found himself +unhurt, but alone. Not one of his suite was to be seen; in the mad rush +of the men for the crossing, they had been parted from him. The little +rustic bridge bad fallen in, and those who remained behind had rushed +with frantic yells in search of some other crossing. The emperor could +hear their cries in the distance, and they filled his heart with anguish +inexpressible. + +With desponding eyes he gazed upward, and murmured, "Oh, that I could +die before the sun rises upon the horrors of this night My soul is +weary--my every hope dead. Why did I turn back when death was smiling +from the crystal depths of that placid stream? Even now, I may still +find rest. Who will ever know how the emperor met his fate?" He paused, +and looked around to see if any thing was nigh. Nothing! He made one +step forward, then shuddering, recoiled with an exclamation of horror at +his miserable cowardice. + +"No!" cried he, resolutely, "no, I will not die--I must not, dare not +die. I cannot go to the grave misjudged and calumniated by my own +subjects! I must live, that, sooner or later, they may learn how +faithfully I have striven to make them happy! I must live to convince +them that the promotion of their welfare has been the end and aim of my +whole life!" [Footnote: The emperor's own words.--Hubner, ii., p. 488.] + +At that moment there was a rent in the blackened firmament, and the moon +emerged, gradually lighting up the dark waters and the lonely woods, +until its beams shone full upon the pale, agitated features of that +broken-hearted monarch. + +"The emperor!" cried a loud voice, not far away. "The emperor!" and a +rider, galloping forward, threw himself from his horse. + +"Here, your majesty, here is my horse. Mount him. He is a sure and fleet +animal." + +"You know me, then?" asked Joseph. + +"Yes, sire; I am one of your majesty's grooms. Will you do me the honor +to accept my horse?" + +The emperor replied by swinging himself into the saddle. "But you, my +good fellow, what will you do?" + +"I shall accompany your majesty," replied the groom, cheerfully. "There +is many a horse seeking its master to-night, and it will not be long +before i capture one. If it please your majesty, I will conduct you to +Karansches. The moon has come out beautifully, and I can easily find the +way." + +"I have found MY way," murmured the emperor to himself. "God has pointed +it out to me, by sending help in this dark, lonely hour. Well, life has +called me back, and I must bear its burdens until Heaven releases me." + +Just then a horse cane by, at full speed. The groom, who was walking by +the emperor's side, darted forward, seized the reins, and swung himself +triumphantly into the saddle. + +"Now, sire," said he, "we can travel lustily ahead. We are on the right +road, and in one hour will reach Karansebes." + +"Karansebes!" mused the emperor. "'Cara mini sedes!' Thus sang Ovid, and +from his ode a city took her name--the city where the poet found his +grave. A stately monument to Ovid is Karansebes; and now a lonely, +heart-sick monarch is coming to make a pilgrimage thither, craving of +Ovid's tomb the boon of a resting-place for his weary head. Oh, Cara +mihi sedes, where art thou?" + +In the gray of the morning they reached Karansebes. Here they found some +few of the regiments, the emperor's suite, and his beloved nephew Franz, +who, like his uncle, had been almost hurried to destruction by the +hapless army, but had been rescued by his bold and faithful followers. +They had shielded the archduke with their own bodies, forming a square +around his person, and escorting him, so guarded, until they had +penetrated the dangerous ranks of the demented fugitives. [Footnote: +Hubner, ii:, p. 477.] + +All danger was past, but the events of that night were too much for the +exhausted frame of the emperor. The fever, with which he had wrestled so +long, now mastered his body with such violence that he was no longer +able to mount his horse. Added to this, came a blow to his heart. The +army refused to follow him any longer. They called loudly for Loudon, +the old hero, who, in spite of his years, was the only man in Austria +who would lead them to victory. + +The emperor, stung to the soul by the mistrust of his men, gave up his +last hope of military glory. He sent for Loudon; and Loudon, despite his +infirmities, came at the summons. + +The old hero was received with shouts of welcome. The huzzas reached the +poor, mean room where Joseph lay sick with a burning fever. He listened +with a sad smile, but his courage gave way, and scalding tears of +disappointed ambition moistened his pillow. "Loudon has come," thought +he, "and the emperor is forgotten! No one cares for him more!--Well--I +must return to Vienna, and pray that the victory and fame, which have +been denied to me, may be vouchsafed to Loudon!" + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIV. + +THE HUNGARIANS AGAIN. + +Destiny had broken the emperor's heart. He returned from the army +seriously ill, and although he had apparently recuperated during the +winter, the close of the year found him beyond all hope of recovery. + +Even the joyful intelligence of Loudon's victories was powerless to +restore him to health. Loudon had won several battles, and had +accomplished that for which Joseph had undertaken the war with Turkey. +He had once more raised the Austrian flag over the towers of Belgrade. +[Footnote: The conquest of Belgrade was accompanied by singular +coincidences. The Emperor Francis (the husband of Maria Theresa) had +been in command when, in 1739, the Turks took it from Austria. His +grandson, Francis, with his own hand fired the first gun, when it was +retaken by Loudon. In 1789 General Wallace surrendered the fortress to +Osman Pacha. In 1789 Osman Pacha, the son of the latter, surrendered it +to General (afterward Field-Marshal) Wallace, son of the +former.--Hubner, ii., p. 492.] + +Vienna received these tidings with every demonstration of joy. The city +was illuminated for three days, and the emperor shared the enthusiasm of +the people. He took from his state-uniform the magnificent cross of +Maria Theresa--the cross which none but an emperor had ever worn--and +sent it to London with the title and patent of generalissimo. [Footnote: +This cross was worth 24,000 ducats.--Gross-Hotfinger, iii., p. 500.] He +attended the Te Deum, and to all appearances was as elated as his +subjects. But once alone with Lacy, the mask fell, and the smile faded +from his colorless lips. + +"Lacy," said he, "I would have bought these last superfluous laurels of +Loudon with my life. But for me no laurels have ever grown; the cypress +is my emblem--the emblem of grief." + +He was right. Discontent reigned in Hungary, in the Netherlands, and +latterly in Tyrol. On every side were murmurs and threats of rebellion +against him who would have devoted every hour of his life to the +enlightenment of his subjects. All Belgium had taken up arms. The +imperial troops had joined the insurgents, and now a formidable army +threatened the emperor. Van der Noot, the leader of the revolt, +published a manifesto, declaring Belgium independent of the Austrian +empire. The insurgents numbered ten thousand. They were headed by the +nobles and sustained by the clergy. Masses were said for the success of +the rebels, and requiems were sung for those who fell in battle or +otherwise. [Footnote: Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p. 289.] The cities of +Brussels, Antwerp, Louvain, Mechlin, and Namur, opened their doors to +the patriots. The Austrian General D'Alton fled with his troops to +Luxemburg, and three millions of florins, belonging to the military +coffers, fell into the hands of the insurgents. [Footnote: D'Alton was +cited before the emperor, but on his way to Vienna he took poison and +died four days before Joseph.] + +Such was the condition of the Austrian empire toward the close of the +year 1789. The emperor resolved to make one more attempt to bring the +Belgians to reason, and to this end he sent Count Cobenzl to Brussels, +and, after him, Prince de Ligne. + +The prince came to take leave of the emperor. "I send you as a mediator +between myself and your countrymen," said Joseph, with a languid smile. +"Prove to those so-called patriots that you, who endeavor to reconcile +them to their sovereign, are the only Belgian of them all who possesses +true patriotism." + +"Sire, I shall say to my misguided countrymen that I have seen your +majesty weep over their disloyalty. I shall tell them that it is not +anger which they have provoked in your majesty's heart, but sorrow." + +"Yes," replied Joseph, "I sorrow for their infatuation, and they are +fast sending me to the grave. The taking of Ghent was my death-struggle, +the evacuation of Brussels my last expiring sigh. Oh!" continued he, in +tones of extreme anguish--"oh, what humiliation! I shall surely die of +it! I were of stone, to survive so many blows from the hand of fate! Go, +De Ligne, and do your best to induce your countrymen to return to their +allegiance. Should you fail; dear friend, remain there. Do not sacrifice +your future to me, for you have children." [Footnote: The emperor's own +words--"Envres du Prince de Ligne,"] + +"Yes, sire," replied De Ligne, with emotion, "I have children, but they +are not dearer to me than my sovereign. And now, with your majesty's +permission, I will withdraw, for the hour of my departure is at hand. I +do not despair of success. Farewell, sire, for a while." + +"Farewell forever!" murmured Joseph, as the door closed behind the +prince. "Death is not far off, and I have so much to do!" + +He arose hastily from his arm-chair, and opening the door that led into +the chancery, called his three secretaries. + +"Let us to work," said he, as they entered. + +"Sire," replied one of them, in faltering tones, "Herr von Quarin +desired us, in his name, to implore of your majesty to rest for a few +days." + +"I cannot do it," said Joseph, impatiently. "If I postpone this writing +another day, it may never be accomplished at all. Give in your reports. +What dispatches have we from Hungary?" + +"They are most unsatisfactory, sire. The landed proprietors have refused +to contribute their share of the imposts, and the people rebel against +the conscription-act, and threaten the officers of the crown with +death." + +"Revolt, revolt everywhere!" exclaimed the emperor, shuddering. "But I +will not yield; they shall all submit!" + +The door of the cabinet opened, and the marshal of the household +entered, announcing a deputation of Magyars. + +"A deputation! From whom?" asked Joseph, eagerly. + +"I do not know, sire, but Count Palfy is one of the deputies." + +"Count Palfy again!" cried the emperor, scornfully. "When the Hungarians +have a sinister message to send, they are sure to select Count Palfy as +their ambassador. Show them to the reception-room which opens into my +cabinet, count. I will see them there." + +He dismissed the secretaries, and rang for his valet. He could scarcely +stand, while Gunther was assisting him to change his dressing-gown for +his uniform. [Footnote: This was the brother of him who was the lover of +Rachel.] His toilet over, he was obliged to lean upon the valet for +support, for his limbs were almost failing him. + +"Oh!" cried he, bitterly, "how it will rejoice them to see me so weak +and sick! They will go home and tell their Hungarians that there is no +strength left in me to fight with traitors! But they shall not know it. +I will be the emperor, if my life pay the forfeit of the exertion. Lead +me to the door, Gunther. I will lean against one of the pillars, and +stand while I give audience to the Magyars." + +Gunther supported him tenderly to the door, and then threw it wide open. +In the reception-room stood the twelve deputies, not in court-dress, but +in the resplendent costume of their own nation. They were the same men +who, several years before, had appeared before the emperor, and Count +Palfy, the Chancellor of Hungary, was the first one to advance. + +The emperor bent his head, and eyed his visitors. + +"If I am not mistaken," said he, "these are the same gentlemen who +appeared here as Hungarian deputies several years ago." + +"Yes, sire, we are the same men," replied Count Palfy. + +"Why are you here again?" + +"To repeat our remonstrances, sire. The kingdom of Hungary has chosen +the same representatives, that your majesty may see how unalterable is +our determination to defend our rights with our lives. Hungary has not +changed her attitude, sire, and she will never change it." + +"Nor shall I ever change mine," cried Joseph, passionately. + +"My will to-day is the same as it was six years ago." + +"Then, sire, you must expect an uprising of the whole Hungarian nation," +returned Count Palfy, gravely. "For the last time we implore your +majesty to restore us our rights." + +"What do you call your rights?" asked Joseph, sarcastically. + +"All that for centuries past has been guaranteed to us by our +constitution; all that each king of Hungary, as he came to the throne, +has sworn to preserve inviolate. Sire, we will not become an Austrian +province; we are Hungarians, and are resolved to retain our nationality. +The integrity of Hungary is sorely threatened; and if your majesty +refuse to rescue it, we must ourselves hasten to the rescue. Not only +our liberties are menaced, but our moneyed interests too. Hungary is on +the road to ruin, if your majesty does not consent to revoke your +arbitrary laws, or--" + +"Or?"--asked Joseph, as Palfy hesitated. + +"On the road to revolution," replied the deputy firmly. + +"You presume to threaten me!" cried Joseph, in a loud voice. + +"I dare deliver the message intrusted to me, and, had I been too weak to +speak it, intrusted to those who accompany me. Is it not so, Magyars?" + +"It is, it is," cried all, unanimously. + +"Sire, I repeat to you that Hungary is advancing either toward ruin or +revolution. Like the Netherlanders, we will defend our constitution or +die with it. Oh, your majesty, all can yet be remedied! Call a +convention of the states--return the crown of St. Stephen, and come to +Hungary to take the coronation oath. Then you will see how gladly we +shall swear allegiance to our king, and how cheerfully we will die for +him, as our fathers did before us, in defence of the empress-queen, his +mother." + +"Give us our constitution, and we will die for our king!" cried the +Magyars in chorus. + +"Yes, humble myself before you!" exclaimed Joseph, furiously. + +"You would have the sovereign bow before the will of his vassals!" + +"No, sire," returned Count Palfy, with feeling. "We would have your +majesty adopt the only means by which Hungary can be retained to the +Austrian empire. If you refuse to hear us, we rise, as one man, to +defend our country. We swear it in the name of the Hungarian nation!" + +"We swear it in the name of the Hungarian nation!" echoed the Magyars. + +"And I," replied Joseph, pale and trembling with passion, "I swear it in +the name of my dignity as your sovereign, that I never will yield to men +who defy me, nor will I ever forgive those who, by treasonable +importunity, have sought to wring from me what I have not thought it +expedient to grant to respectful expostulation!" + +"Sire, if you would give this proof of love to your subjects, if, for +their sakes, you would condescend to forget your imperial station, you +cannot conceive what enthusiasm of loyalty would be your return for this +concession. In mortal anxiety we await your final answer, and await it +until to-morrow at this hour." + +"Ah!--you are so magnanimous as to grant me a short reprieve!" shouted +the infuriated emperor, losing all command of himself. "You--" + +Suddenly he ceased, and became very pale. He was sensible that he had +burst a blood-vessel, and he felt the warm stream of his life welling +upward, until it moistened his pallid lips. With a hasty movement he +drew out his handkerchief, held it for a moment before his mouth, and +then replaced it quickly in his bosom. Large drops of cold sweat stood +out from his brow, and the light faded from his eyes. But these haughty +Magyars should not see him fall! They should not enjoy the sight of his +sufferings! + +With one last desperate effort he collected his expiring energies, and +stood erect. + +"Go," said he, in firm, distinct tones; "you have stated your +grievances, you shall have my answer to-morrow." + +"We await your majesty until to-morrow at noon," returned Count Palfy. +"Then we go, never to return." + +"Go!" cried the emperor, in a piercing voice; and the exasperated +Magyars mistook this last cry of agony for the culmination of his wrath. +They bowed in sullen silence, and left the room. + +The emperor reeled back to his cabinet, and fell into a chair. He +reached the bell, and rang it feebly. + +"Gunther," said he to his valet, and now his voice was hardly audible, +"send a carriage for Quarin. I must see him at once." + + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXV. + +THE REVOCATION. + +When Quarin entered the emperor's cabinet, he found him quietly seated +before his escritoire half buried in documents: The physician remained +standing at the door, waiting until he should be ordered to approach. + +Suddenly Joseph was interrupted in his writing by a spell of coughing. +He dropped his pen, and leaned back exhausted. Quarin hastened to his +side. + +"Your majesty must not write," said he, gravely. "You must lay aside all +work for a time." + +"I believe that I shall have to lay it aside forever," replied Joseph, +languidly. "I sent for you to say that I have a lawsuit with my lungs, +and you must tell me which of us is to gain it." [Footnote: Joseph's own +words.--"Characteristics of Joseph II." p. 14] + +"What am I to tell your majesty?" asked the physician, disturbed. + +The emperor looked up with eyes which glowed with the flaming light of +fever. "Quarin, you understand me perfectly. You must tell me, in regard +to this lawsuit with my lungs, which is to gain it, myself or death? +Here is my evidence." + +With these words he drew out his handkerchief and held it open between +his wan, transparent hands. It was dyed in blood. + +"Blood!" exclaimed Quarin, in a tone of alarm. "Your majesty has +received a wound?" + +"Yes, an interior wound. The Hungarians have dealt me my death-blow. +This blood is welling up from a wounded heart. Do not look so mournful, +doctor. Let us speak of death as man to man. Look at me now, and say +whether my malady is incurable." + +"Why should it be incurable?" asked the physician, faltering. "You are +young, sire, and have a sound constitution." + +"No commonplaces, Quarin, no equivocation," cried Joseph, impatiently. +"I must have the truth, do you hear me?--the truth. I cannot afford to +be surprised by death, for I must provide for a nation, and my house +must be set in order. I am not afraid of death, my friend; it comes to +me in the smiling guise of a liberator. Therefore be frank, and tell the +at once whether my malady is dangerous." + +Again he raised his large, brilliant eyes to the face of the physician. +Quarin's features were convulsed with distress, and tears stood in his +eyes. His voice was very tremulous as he replied + +"Yes, sire, it is dangerous." + +The emperor's countentance remained perfectly calm. "Can you tell me +with any degree of precision how long I have to live?" + +"No, sire; you may live yet for several weeks, or some excitement may +put an end to your existence in a few days. In this malady the patient +must be prepared at any moment for death." + +"Then it is incurable?" + +"Yes, sire," faltered Quarin, his tears bursting forth afresh. + +The emperor looked thoughtfully before him, and for some time kept +silence. Then extending his hand with a smile, he said, + +"From my soul I thank you for the manly frankness with which you have +treated me, Quarin, and I desire now to give you a testimony of my +gratitude. You have children, have you not?" + +"Yes, sire--two daughters." + +"And you are not rich, I believe?" + +"The salary which I receive from your majesty, united to my practice, +affords us a comfortable independence." + +The emperor nodded. "You must do a little commission for me," said he, +turning to the escritoire and writing a few lines, which he presented to +Quarin. + +"Take this paper to the court chancery and present it to the bureau of +finances. You will there receive ten thousand florins wherewith to +portion your daughters." + +"Oh, sire!" exclaimed Quarin, deeply moved, "I thank you with all the +strength of my paternal heart." + +"No," replied Joseph, gently, "it is my duty to reward merit. [Footnote: +These are the emperor's words. This scene is historical.--Hubner. ii., +p. 496.] In addition to this, I would wish to leave you a personal +souvenir of my friendship. I bestow upon you, as a last token of my +affection, the title of freiherr, and I will take out the patent for you +myself. Not a word, dear friend, not a word! Leave me now, for I must +work diligently. Since my hours are numbered, I must make the most of +them. Farewell! Who knows how soon I may have to recall you here?" + +The physician kissed the emperor's hand with fervor, and turned hastily +away. Joseph sank back in the chair. His large eyes were raised to +heaven, and his wan face beamed with something brighter than +resignation. + +At that moment the door of the chancery was opened, and the first +privy-councillor came hastily forward. + +"What is it?" said Joseph, with a slight start. + +"Sire, two couriers have just arrived. The first is from the Count +Cobenzl. He announces that all Belgium, with the exception of Luxemburg, +is in the hands of the patriots; that Van der Noot has called a +convention of the United Provinces, which has declared Belgium a +republic; her independence is to be guaranteed by England, Prussia, and +Holland. Count Cobenzl is urgent in his request for instructions. He is +totally at a loss what to do." + +The emperor had listened with mournful tranquillity. "And the second +courier?" said he. + +"The second courier, sire, comes from the imperial stadtholder of +Tyrol." + +"What says he?" + +"He brings evil tidings, sire. The people have rebelled, and cry out +against the conscription and the church reforms. Unless these laws are +repealed, there is danger of revolution." + +The emperor uttered a piercing cry, and pressed his hands to his breast. +"It is nothing," said he, in reply to the anxious and alarmed looks of +the privy-councillor. "A momentary pang, which has already passed +away--nothing more. Continue your report." + +"This is all, your majesty. The stadtholder entreats you to quiet this +rebellion and--" + +"And to revoke my decrees, is it not so? The same croaking which for +eight years has been dinned into my ears. Well--I must have time to +reflect, and as soon as I shall have determined upon my course of +action, you shall learn my decision." + +"Rebellion in Tyrol, in Hnngary, in the Netherlands!" murmured the +emperor, when he found himself alone. "From every side I hear my +death-knell! My people would bury me ere I have drawn my last sigh. My +great ancestor, Charles, stood beside his open grave, and voluntarily +contemplated his last resting-place; but I! unhappy monarch, am forced +into mine by the ingratitude of a people for whom alone I leave lived! +Is it indeed so? Must I die with the mournful conviction that I have +lived in vain? O my God, what excess of humiliation Thou hast forced +upon me! And what have I done to deserve such a fate? Wherein have I +sinned, that my imperial crown should have been lined with so many cruel +thorns? Is there no remedy? must I drink this last bitter chalice? Must +I revoke that which I have published to the world as my sovereign will?" + +He ceased, and folding his arms, faced his difficult position. For one +hour he sat motionless, his face grooving gradually paler, his brow +darker, his lips more rigidly compressed together. + +At length he heaved one long, convulsive sigh. "No--there is no other +remedy. I have toiled in vain--my beautiful structure has fallen, and my +grave is under its ruins! O my God, why may I not have a few months more +of life, wherewith to crush these aspiring rebels? But no!. I must die +now, and leave them to triumph over my defeat; for I dare not leave to +my successor the accursed inheritance of civil war. To the last hour of +my life I must humble my will before the decree of that cruel destiny +which has persecuted me from boyhood! Be it so!--I must clutch at the +remedy--the fearful remedy--I must revoke!" + +He shuddered, and covered his face with his hands. There had been one +struggle with his will, there was now another with his despair. He +moaned aloud--scalding tears trickled through his poor, wasted fingers, +and his whole being bowed before the supremacy of this last great +sorrow. Once--only once, he uttered a sharp cry, and for a moment his +convulsed countenance was raised to heaven. Then his head fell upon the +table, and his wretchedness found vent in low, heart-rending sobs. + +And thus he spent another long hour. Finally he looked up to heaven and +tried to murmur a few words of resignation. But the spectre of his +useless strivings still haunted his mind. "All my plans to be buried in +the grave--not one trace of my reign left to posterity!" sighed the +unhappy monarch. "But enough of repining. I have resolved to make the +sacrifice--it is time to act!" + +He clutched his bell, and ordered a page to summon the privy-councillor +from the adjoining room. + +"Now," said the emperor, "let us work. My hand is too tremulous to hold +a pen; you must write for me.--First, in regard to Hungary. Draw up a +manifesto, in which I restore their constitution in all its integrity." + +He paused for a few moments, and wiped the large drops of cold sweat +which were gathering over his forehead. "Do you hear?" continued he; "I +revoke all my laws except one, and that is, the edict of religious +toleration. I promise to convoke the imperial diet, and to replace the +administration of justice upon its old footing. I repeal the laws +relating to taxes and conscription, I order the Hungarian crown to be +returned to Ofen, and, as soon as I shall have recovered from my +illness, I promise to take the coronation-oath. [Footnote: This is the +revocation edict, which, promulgated a few weeks before the death of +Joseph, caused such astonishment throughout Europe--Gross-Hoffinger, +iii., p. 290.] Write this out and bring it to me for signature. Then +deliver it into the hands A Count Palfy. He will publish it to the +Hungarians. + +"So much for Hungary!--Now for Tyrol. Draw up a second manifesto. I +repeal the conscription-act, as well as all my reforms with respect to +the church. When this is ready, bring it to me for signature; and +dispatch a courier with it to the imperial stadtholder. Having satisfied +the exactions of Hungary and Tyrol, it remains to restore order in the +Netherlands. But there, matters are more complicated, and I fear that no +concession on my part will avail at this late hour. I must trample my +personal pride in the dust, then, and humble myself before the pope! +Yes--before the pope! I will write, requesting him to act as mediator, +and beg his holiness to admonish the clergy to make peace with me. +[Footnote: Gross-Hoffinger, iii., p.379] Why do you look so sad, my +friend? I am making my peace with the world; I am drawing a pen across +the events of my life and blotting out my reforms with ink. Make out +these documents at once, and send me a courier for Rome. Meanwhile I +will write to the pope. Appearing before him as a petitioner, it is +incumbent upon me to send an autographic letter. Return to me in an +hour." + +When, one hour later, the privy-councillor re-entered the cabinet, the +letter to the pope lay folded and addressed on the table. But this last +humiliation had been too much for the proud spirit of the emperor to +brook. + +He lay insensible in his chair, a stream of blood oozing slowly from his +ghastly lips. + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVI. + +THE DEATH OF THE MARTYR. + +He had made his peace with the world and with God! He had taken leave of +his family, his friends, and his attendants. He had made his last +confession, and had received the sacraments of the church. + +His struggles were at an end. All sorrow overcome, he lay happy and +tranquil on his death-bed, no more word of complaint passing the lips +which had been consecrated to the Lord. He comforted his weeping +relatives, and had a word of affectionate greeting for every one who +approached him. With his own feeble hand he wrote farewell letters to +his absent sisters, to Prince Kaunitz, and to several ladies for whom he +had an especial regard; and on the seventeenth of February signed his +name eighty times. + +He felt that his end was very near; and when Lacy and Rosenberg, who +were to pass the night with him, entered his bedchamber, he signed them +to approach. + +"It will soon be over," whispered he. "The lamp will shortly be +extinguished. Hush! do not weep--you grieve me. Let us part from each +other with fortitude." + +"Alas, how can we part with fortitude, when our parting is for life!" +said Lacy. + +The emperor raised his eyes, and looked thoughtfully un to heaven. "We +shall meet again," said he, after a pause. "I believe in another and a +better world, where I shall find compensation for all that I have +endured here below." + +"And where punishment awaits those who have been the cause of your +sorrows," returned Rosenberg. + +"I have forgiven them all," said the dying monarch. "There is no room in +my heart for resentment, dear friends. I have honestly striven to make +my subjects happy, and feel no animosity toward them for refusing the +boon I proffered. I should like to have inscribed upon my tomb, 'Here +lies a prince whose intentions were pure, but who was so unfortunate as +to fail in every honest undertaking of his life.' Oh, how mistaken was +the poet, who wrote, + + `Et du trone au cerenell le passage est terrible!' + +"I do not deplore the loss of my throne, but I feel some, lingering +regret that I should have made so few of my fellow-beings happy--so +many of them ungrateful. This, however, is the usual lot of princes!" +[Footnote: The emperor's own words.--"Characteristics of Joseph II.," p. +23.] + +"It is the lot of all those who are too enlightened for their times! It +is the lot of all great men who would elevate and ennoble the masses!" +cried Lacy. "It is the fate of greatness to be the martyr of stupidity, +bigotry, and malice!" + +"Yes, that is the word," said Joseph, smiling. "I am a martyr, but +nobody will honor my relics." + +"Yes, beloved sovereign," cried Rosenberg, weeping, "your majesty's love +we shall bear about our hearts, as the devotee wears the relic of a +marytred saint." + +"Do not weep so," said Joseph. "We have spent so many happy days +together, that we must pass the few fleeting hours remaining to us in +rational intercourse. Show me a cheerful countenance, Rosenberg--you +from whose hands I received my last cup of earthly comfort. What blessed +tidings you brought me! My sweet Elizabeth is a mother, and I shall +carry the consciousness of her happiness to the grave. I shall die with +ONE joy at my heart--a beautiful hope shall blossom as I +fall!--Elizabeth is your future empress; love her for my sake; you know +how unspeakably dear she is to me. And, now that I think of it, I have +not heard from her since this morning. How is she?" + +The two friends were silent, and cast down their eves. + +"Lacy!" cried the emperor, and over his inspired features there passed a +shade of human sorrow. "Lacy, speak--you are silent--O God, what has +happened? Rosenberg, tell me, oh tell me, how is my Elizabeth, my +darling daughter?" + +So great were his anxiety and distress, that he half rose in his bed. +They would not meet his glance, but Rosenberg in a low voice replied: + +"The archduchess is very sick. The labor was long and painful." + +"Ah, she is dead!" exclaimed Joseph, "she is dead, is she not?" + +Neither of his weeping friends spoke a word, but the emperor +comprehended their silence. + +Falling back upon his pillow, he raised his wasted arms to heaven. +--"O God, Thy will be done! but my sufferings are beyond expression! +I thought that I had outlived sorrow: but the stroke which has come to +imbitter my last moments exceeds all that I have endured throughout a +life of uncheckered misery!" [Footnote: The emperor's own words.] + +For a long time he lay cold and rigid. Then raising himself upon his +arm, he signed to Rosenberg to approach. His eyes beamed as of erst, and +his whole demeanor was that of a sovereign who had learned, above all +things, to control himself. + +"She must be buried with all the tenderness and honor of which she was +deserving," said he. "Rosenberg, will you attend to this for me? Let her +body be exposed in the court-chapel to-morrow. After that, lay her to +rest in the imperial vaults, and let the chapel be in readiness to +receive my own remains." [Footnote: Joseph's own words.--See Hubner, +ii., p. 491.] + +This was the last command given by the emperor. From that hour he was +nothing more than a poor, dying mortal, whose last thoughts are devoted +to his Maker. He sent for his confessor, and asked him to read something +appropriate and consolatory. With folded hands, his large violet eyes +reverently raised to heaven, he listened to the holy scriptural words. +Suddenly his countenance brightened, and his lips moved. + +"Now here remain faith, hope, and love," read the priest. + +The emperor repeated the three last words, "faith--hope" and when he +pronounced the word "love," his face was illumined with a joy which had +its source far, far away from earth! + +Then all was silent. The prayer was over, and the dying emperor lay +motionless, with his hands folded upon his breast. + +Presently his feeble voice was heard in prayer. "Father, Thou knowest my +heart--Thou art my witness, that I meant--to do--well Thy will be done!" +[Footnote: Ramshorn, p. 410] + +Then all was still. Weeping around the bed stood Lacy, Rosenberg, and +the Archduke Francis. The emperor looked at them with staring eyes, but +he recognized them no longer. Those beautiful eves were dimmed forever! + +Suddenly the silence was broken by a long, long sigh. + +It was the death-sigh of JOSEPH THE SECOND! + +Joseph died on the 20th of February, 1790. But his spirit outlived him +and survives to the present day. His subjects, who had so misjudged him, +deplored his loss, and felt how dear he had been to them. Now that he +was dead--now that they had broken his heart, they grieved and wept for +him. Poets sang his praises in eulogies, and wrote epitaphs laudatory of +him who may be considered the great martyr of political and social +enlightenment + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext Joseph II. and His Court, by L. 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