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Recollections of Mecklenburg + XI. Glad Tidings + XII. The Oath + + + +CHANCELLOR VON HARDENBERG. + + XIII. The Interrupted Supper + XIV. The Defection of General York + XV. The Warning + XVI. The Diplomatist + XVII. The Clairvoyante + XVIII. An Adventuress + XIX. The Two Diplomatists + XX. The Attack + XXI. The Courier's Return + + + +THE VOLUNTEERS. + + XXII. The Manifesto + XXIII. Leonora Prohaska + XXIV. Joan of Orleans + XXV. The National Representatives + + + +WAR AND AN ARMISTICE. + + XXVI. Theodore Korner + XXVII. The Heroic Tailor + XXVIII. The General-in-Chief of the Silesian Army + XXIX. The Ball at the City Hall of Breslau + XXX. The Appointment + XXXI. After the Battle of Bautzen + XXXII. Bad News + XXXIII. The Traitors + XXXIV. Napoleon and Metternich + + + +DELIVERANCE OF GERMANY. + + XXXV. On the Katzbach + XXXVI. Blucher as a Writer + XXXVII. The Revolt of the Generals +XXXVIII. The Battle of Leipsic + XXXIX. The Nineteenth of October + + + +HANNIBAL ANTE PORTAS. + + XL. Blucher's Birthday + XLI. Passage of the Rhine + XLII. Napoleon's New-Year's-Day + XLIII. The King of Rome + XLIV. Josephine + XLV. Talleyrand + XLVI. Madame Letitia + + + +FALL OF PARIS. + + XLVII. The Battle of La Rothiere + XLVIII. The Diseased Eyes + XLIX. On to Paris! + L. Departure of Maria Louisa + LI. The Capitulation of Paris + LII. Night and Morning near Paris + LIII. Napoleon at Fontainebleau + LIV. A Soul in Purgatory + + + + + + +NAPOLEON AND BLUCHER. + + + + +NAPOLEON AT DRESDEN. + + +CHAPTER I. + +FREDERICK WILLIAM AND HARDENBERG. + + +It was a fine, warm day in May, 1812. The world was groaning under +the yoke of Napoleon's tyranny. As a consolation for the hopeless +year, came the laughing spring. Fields, forests, and meadows, were +clad in beautiful verdure; flowers were blooming, and birds were +singing everywhere--even at Charlottenburg, which King Frederick +William formerly delighted to call his "pleasure palace," but which +now was his house of mourning. At Charlottenburg, Frederick William +had spent many and happy spring days with Queen Louisa; and when she +was with him at this country-seat, it was indeed a pleasure palace. + +The noble and beautiful queen was also now at Charlottenburg, but +the king only felt her presence--he beheld her no more. Her merry +remarks and charming laughter had ceased, as also her sighs and +suffering; her radiant eyes had closed forever, and her sweet lips +spoke no more. She was still at Charlottenburg, but only as a +corpse. The king had her mausoleum erected in the middle of the +garden. Here lay her coffin, and room had been left for another, as +Frederick William intended to repose one day at the side of his +Louisa. + +From the time that the queen's remains had been deposited there-- +from that day of anguish and tears--the king called Charlottenburg +no longer his "pleasure palace." It was henceforth a tomb, where his +happiness and love were buried. Still, he liked to remain there, for +it seemed to him as though he felt the presence of the spirit of his +blessed queen, and understood better what she whispered to his soul +in the silent nights when she consoled him, and spoke of heaven and +a renewed love. The bereaved husband, however, did not prefer to +dwell in the magnificent abode of his ancestors, where he had +formerly passed in spring so many happy days with his beloved +Louisa. He had, therefore, a small house near the palace; it was +into this plain and humble structure that he had retired with his +grief-stricken heart. Here, in his solitude, he had already passed +two springs. + +The second year had nearly elapsed since the queen's death, and +Frederick William's heart was still overburdened with sorrow, but +yet he had learned what time teaches all mortals--he had learned to +be resigned. Yes, resignation in these melancholy days was the only +thing that remained to the unfortunate King of Prussia. It was a sad +and difficult duty, for he had lost happiness, love, greatness, and +even his royal independence. It is true, he was still called King of +Prussia, but he was powerless. He had to bow to the despotic will of +Napoleon, and scarcely a shadow of his former greatness had been +left him. The days of Tilsit had not yet brought disgrace and +humiliation enough upon him. The Emperor of the French had added +fresh exactions, and his arrogance became daily more reckless and +intolerable. In the face of such demands it only remained for +Frederick William to submit or resist. He looked mournfully at his +unhappy country, at those whom the last war had deprived of their +husbands and fathers; at his small army; at the scanty means at his +disposal, compared with the resources of Napoleon, and--the king +submitted. + +He had indeed hesitated long, and struggled strongly with his own +feelings. For, by submitting to Napoleon's behests, he was to become +the open enemy of the Emperor Alexander, and the King of Prussia +was, jointly with the Emperor of the French, to arm against the +Emperor of Russia. It was a terrible necessity for Frederick William +to sacrifice his friend to his enemy, and at the very moment when +Alexander had offered his hand for a new league, and proposed to +conclude an offensive and defensive alliance with Prussia and +England. + +But such an alliance with distant Russia could not strengthen +Prussia against neighboring France, whose armies were encamped near +her frontiers. The danger of being crushed by Napoleon was much more +probable than the hope of being supported by Russia. Russia had +enough to do to take care of herself. She was unable to prevent +France from destroying Prussia, if Napoleon desired, and the crown +might fall from the head of Frederick William long before a Russian +army of succor could cross the Prussian frontier. He submitted +therefore, and accepted with one hand the alliance of France, while +threatening her with the other. + +On the 24th of February, 1812, the Prussian king signed this new +treaty. As was stipulated by the first article, he entered into a +defensive alliance with France against any European power with which +either France or Prussia should hereafter be at war. Napoleon, the +man who had broken Queen Louisa's heart, was now the friend and ally +of King Frederick William, and the enemies of France were henceforth +to be the enemies of Prussia! + +It was this that the king thought of to-day, when, in the early part +of May, he was alone, and absorbed in his reflections, at his small +house in Charlottenburg. It was yet early, for he had risen before +sunrise, and had been at work a long time, when he ceased for a +moment and yielded to his meditations. Leaning back in his easy +chair, he gazed musingly through the open glass-doors, now on serene +sky, and again on the fragrant verdure of his garden. + +But this quiet relaxation was not to last long; the door of the +small anteroom opened, and the footman announced that his excellency +Minister and Chancellor von Hardenberg requested to see his majesty. + +"Let him come in," said the king, as he rose, turning his grave +eyes, which had become even gloomier than before, toward the door, +on the threshold of which the elegant and somewhat corpulent form of +the chancellor of state appeared. He bowed respectfully. His noble +and prepossessing countenance was smiling and genial as usual; the +king's, grave, thoughtful, and sad. + +"Bad news, I suppose?" asked the king, briefly. "You come at so +early an hour, something extraordinary must have happened. What is +it?" + +"Nothing of that kind, your majesty," said Hardenberg, with his +imperturbable smile. "Yet, it is true, we are constantly in an +extraordinary situation, so that what otherwise might appear unusual +is now nothing but a very ordinary occurrence." + +"A preamble!" said Frederick William, thoughtfully. "You have, then, +to tell me something important. What is it? Take a seat and speak!" +The king pointed to a chair, and resumed his own. Hardenberg seated +himself, and looked down for a moment with an air of embarrassment. + +"Any thing the matter in Berlin?" asked the king. "Perhaps, a +quarrel between the citizens and the French?" + +"No, your majesty," said Hardenberg, to whose thin lips came his +wonted smile. "The people of Berlin keep very quiet, and bear the +arrogance of the French with admirable patience. I have to report no +quarrels, and, on the whole, nothing of importance; I wished only to +inform your majesty that I received a courier from Dresden late last +night." + +The king started, and looked gloomy. "From whom?" he asked, in a +hollow voice. + +"From our ambassador," replied Hardenberg, carelessly. "Surprising +intelligence has reached Dresden. They are expecting the Emperor +Napoleon. He left Saint Cloud with the Empress Maria Louisa on the +9th of May, and no one knew any thing about the object or +destination of the journey. It was generally believed that the +emperor, with his consort, intended to take a pleasure-trip to +Mentz, but immediately after his arrival there he informed his suite +that he was on his way to a new war, and would accompany his wife +only as far as Dresden, where they would meet their Austrian +majesties. Couriers were sent from Mentz to Vienna, to Dresden, to +King Jerome, and to all the marshals and generals. The columns of +the army have commenced moving everywhere, and are now marching from +all sides upon Dresden. As usual, Napoleon has again succeeded in +keeping his plans secret to the very last moment, and informing the +world of his intentions only when they are about to be realized." + +"Yes," exclaimed the king, in a tone of intense hatred and anger-- +"yes, he wears a kind, hypocritical mask, and feigns friendship and +pacific intentions until he has drawn into his nets those whom he +intends to ruin; then he drops his mask and shows his true arrogant +and ambitious face. He caressed us, and protested his friendship, +until we signed the treaty of alliance, but now he will insist on +the fulfilment of the engagements we have entered into. He commences +a new war, and, by virtue of the first article of our treaty, I have +to furnish him an auxiliary corps of twenty thousand men and sixty +field-pieces." + +"Yes, your majesty, it is so," said Hardenberg, composedly. "The new +French governor of Berlin, General Durutte, came to see me this +morning, and demanded in the name of his emperor that the Prussian +auxiliary troops should immediately take the field." + +"Auxiliary troops!" exclaimed the king, angrily. "The Prussian +victims, he ought to have said, for what else will my poor, +unfortunate soldiers be but the doomed victims of his ambition and +insatiable thirst for conquest? He will drive them into the jaws of +death, that they may gain a piece of blood-stained land, or a new +title from the ruin of the world's happiness; he does not care +whether brave soldiers die or not, so long as his own ambition is +served." + +"Yes," said Hardenberg, solemnly, "his path leads across corpses and +through rivers of blood, but the vengeance of God and man will +finally overtake him, and who knows whether it may not do so during +this wild Russian campaign?" + +"My evil forebodings, then, are proving true," said the king, +sighing; "the expedition is directed against Russia?" + +"Yes, against Russia," said Hardenberg, sneeringly; "the master of +the world intends to crush Russia also, because she ventured to +remain an independent power, and the Emperor Alexander was so bold +as to demand the fulfilment of the promises of Tilsit and Erfurt. +Providence is always just in the final result, your majesty. It +punishes the Emperor Alexander for suffering himself to be beguiled +by the flatteries and promises of Napoleon, and the territories +which he allowed Napoleon to give him at Tilsit, at the expense of +Prussia, will be no precious stones in his crown." + +"Not a word against Alexander!" exclaimed the king, imperiously. +"However appearances may be against him, he has always proved a true +friend of mine, and perhaps especially at a time when we suspected +it the least. His keen eyes penetrated the future, and behind the +clouds darkening our horizon he believed he could descry light and +safety. He yielded, in order to lull Napoleon to sleep; he pretended +to be fascinated, in order to convince him of his attachment and +devotedness. He wished to be regarded as Napoleon's friend until ho +had armed himself, and felt strong enough to turn against the +usurper. Hush! do not contradict me. I have heard all this from +Alexander's own lips. On his return from Erfurt he confided the +plans of his future to me and the queen, under the seal of secrecy. +Louisa carried the secret into her grave, and I have preserved it in +my breast. Now I may communicate it to you, for the hour of decision +has come; it finds me on the side of France, and God has decreed +that I should turn my arms against my friend, against Alexander! Ah, +happy the queen, because she did not live to see this day and +witness my new humiliation and disgrace! And was it, then, +unavoidable? Was it, then, really necessary for me to enter into +this hateful alliance? Was there no way of avoiding it?" + +And as the king put this question to himself rather than to +Hardenberg, he laid his head against the back of his easy-chair, and +looked gloomy and thoughtful. + +"There was no way, unfortunately, of avoiding it," said Hardenberg, +after a short pause. "Your majesty knows full well that we submitted +to stern necessity only; to act otherwise would have been too +dangerous, for the crown on the head of your majesty would have been +menaced." + +"It is better to lose the crown and die a freeman than live a +crowned slave!" exclaimed the king, impetuously. + +"No, pardon me, your majesty, for daring to contradict you," said +Hardenberg, smiling; "it is better to keep the crown, and submit to +necessity as long as possible, in order to be able to take future +revenge on the oppressor. At times I am likewise tortured by the +doubts and fears now disquieting the noble soul of your majesty. But +at such hours I always repeat to myself, in order to justify our +course, a few words from the letter which the Duke de Bassano +addressed to our ambassador, Baron von Krusemark, as the ultimatum +of the Tuileries. I have learned this letter by heart, and, if you +will graciously permit me, I will repeat a few words." The king +nodded assent, and Hardenberg added: "This letter read: 'My dear +baron, the moment has come when we must give you our views about the +fate of Prussia. I cannot conceal from you that this is a matter of +life and death for your country. You know that the emperor +entertained already at Tilsit very unfriendy intentions against +Prussia. These intentions still remain the same, but will not be +carried out at this time, on the condition that Prussia become our +ally, and a faithful one. The moments are precious, and the +circumstances very grave.'" [Footnote: "Memoires d'un Homme d'Etat," +vol. xi., p. 324] + +"An outrageous letter!" muttered Frederick William to himself. + +"Yes, an outrageous letter," repeated Hardenberg, bowing, "for it +contained a serious threat, and yet, on the other hand, it offered +us a sort of guaranty. Prussia was lost, in case she refused to join +the alliance, for Austria had likewise acceded to it, and, by +holding out against the wishes of France, Prussia would have run the +risk of being crushed by two armed enemies in the north, as well as +in the south, and blotted out from the list of nations. We, +therefore, were obliged to submit; we had no other choice." + +"But what did we gain by submitting?" asked the king, angrily. "In +order to preserve my people from the horrors of war, I bowed to +Napoleon's will, and accepted the disgraceful alliance. I thereby +wished to secure peace to my unfortunate country, which stands so +greatly in need of it. Instead of attaining this object, the +alliance plunges us into the very abyss which I intended to avoid, +and I am compelled to send my soldiers into the field for an unjust +cause against a monarch who is my friend, and under the orders of a +commander-in-chief who is my enemy, and has always shown his bitter +hostility to me." + +"But your majesty has at least prevented your own country from being +devastated by war. It is true, you send out your army, but the war +will not lay waste the fields of Prussia; it will not trample in the +dust the crops of the Prussian farmer, interrupt the labors of the +mechanic, or carry its terror into our cities and villages, our +houses and families. The enemy is at least far from our own +country." + +"You only wish to palliate the calamity," exclaimed the king. "The +enemy is here, and you know it. He is dogging every step of ours; he +is listening to every word of mine, and watching every movement. An +inconsiderate word, an imprudent step, and the French gendarmes will +rush upon me and conduct the King of Prussia as a prisoner to +France, while no one can raise his hand to prevent them. We have the +enemy in Berlin, in Spandau, and in all our fortresses. Our own +soldiers we have to send into the field, and our cities and +fortresses are occupied by French garrisons. An army of four hundred +and eighty thousand infantry and seventy thousand cavalry cover +Prussia like a cloud of locusts; Berlin, Spandau, Konigsberg, and +Pillau, have received French garrisons; only Upper Silesia, Colberg, +and Graudenz, have remained exempt from them. The whole country, as +though we were at war, is exposed to the robberies, extortions, and +cruelties in which an enemy indulges: this time, however, he comes +in the garb of a friend, and, as our ally, he is irritating and +impoverishing the farmers, and plundering the mechanics and +manufacturers. And I am not only obliged to suffer all this in +silence, but I must send my own soldiers, the natural defenders of +our states, into a foreign country, and command them to obey the man +who has heaped the vilest insults not only on myself, but on the +whole of Prussia, and has broken the heart of my beloved wife!" And +the king, quite exhausted, breathless with his unusually long +speech, and almost ashamed of his own tremulous excitement, buried +his face in his hands and groaned aloud. + +Hardenberg gazed upon him for a moment with an expression of +profound sympathy; he then looked around the room with searching +glances, which seemed to pierce every niche, every fold of the +curtains, and every piece of furniture and sculpture. "Is your +majesty sure that no one can hear and watch us here?" he asked in a +low voice. + +The king dropped his hands from his face, and looked at him in +surprise. + +"Your majesty, you yourself say that you are surrounded by spies, +and eavesdroppers," added Hardenberg. "Does your majesty suspect any +such to be here?" + +"No," said the king, with a mournful smile, "it is the last blessing +of my Louisa that she has secured me this quiet asylum. The spies do +not venture to penetrate here--this retreat is not desecrated by +their inquisitive and lurking glances." + +"Well," said Hardenberg, almost joyously, "if we need not be afraid +of the eyes and ears of spies, your majesty will permit me to speak +freely to you. My king, great events are maturing; while +impenetrable darkness still seems to surround us, morning is +gradually dawning, and the day of retribution is not distant. Europe +is utterly tired of war, and this incessant bloodshed; she has +practised forbearance until it is exhausted and converted into an +intense indignation. Thanks to his unscrupulous machinations, +Napoleon has hitherto succeeded in bringing about wars between the +different nations of Europe in order to derive benefits for France +alone from these fratricidal struggles. It was he who drove the +Poles and Turks into a war against the Russians, the Italians +against the Austrians, the Danes against the Swedes and English, and +armed the princes of the Rhenish Confederation against their German +countrymen and brethren. He instigated all against each other; he +made them continue the struggle until they sank from loss of blood, +for he knew that he would then be able to take the property of those +whom he had made murder each other. And who could prevent him? The +warriors, exhausted by their long and bloody work--the starving +people, to whom, in their hunger and anguish, only he who brought +them peace and a little bread seemed a true friend! Italy wished to +deliver herself from the Austrian yoke, and after long struggles the +liberty that Napoleon had promised her consisted but in entire +submission to his own behests. To Poland, too, he promised +deliverance, and, after the unfortunate country had risen, and spent +her last strength and her best blood in the war against Russia, she +became exhausted, and offered no resistance when he claimed her as +his spoil, and declared the Poles, who had dreamed that they were +free, to be subjects of France. The princes of the Rhenish +Confederation were compelled to send their German troops to Spain, +to wage war against a nation that was struggling for independence; +and Napoleon in the meantime placed a French adventurer upon a +throne in the middle of Germany, and erected a kingdom for him from +the spoils he had taken from German princes. Holland, which had +endeavored to preserve some vestiges of liberty, was suddenly +deprived of her sovereign, and converted into a French province; and +when Napoleon had succeeded in bringing about a war between Sweden +and Russia, and instigating unfortunate Finland to resist the latter +power, he profited by the favorable moment, and took Stralsund and +the Island of Rugen, both of which belonged to the King of Sweden, +who had been his ally up to that time. In Italy only the Pontifical +states and the holy father at Rome still resisted him, after the +remainder of the peninsula had awakened from its dreams of liberty +under the rule of French marshals and Napoleonic princes. He +instigated Naples and Sardinia against Rome, and when the struggle +had commenced, he magnanimously hastened to the assistance of his +brother-in-law Murat, arrested the pope, conveyed him as a prisoner +to France, and declared Rome to be the property of that country +until the pope should submit to his will. No country, no nation, +escaped his intrigues--conflagrations, devastation, and death +accompanied him everywhere! But the nations, as I have stated +already, are at length impatient; they are wearied of fighting; or, +rather, if they still fight, they intend to do so only in order to +conquer peace for themselves, and bring retribution on him who was +the sole cause of all this bloodshed." + +"And they commenced by rushing, at his command, into the field--by +entering upon another war!" exclaimed Frederick William, shrugging +his shoulders with a sneer. + +"Your majesty," said Hardenberg, solemnly, "they will do so now for +the last time. Napoleon is digging his own grave, and, by +consolidating the forces of all countries into one vast army, he +makes friends of those whom he hitherto successfully tried to make +enemies and adversaries of each other. But when the nations have +once found out that they are really brethren, it only needs a voice +calling upon them to unite for one grand object--that is to say, for +the deliverance of Europe from the tyrant's yoke!" + +"Those are Utopian dreams," said the king. "Whence should this voice +come? Who would be so audacious as to utter it?" + +"Whence should this voice come?" asked Hardenberg. "Your majesty, it +will come from heaven, and find an echo on the whole earth. It will +resound from the hundred thousand graves of the soldiers killed in +battle; from the breasts of sorrowing widows and orphans, and, like +the noise of the tempest, it will come from the lips of thousands of +humiliated and disgraced men. This voice will not be that of a +single man; but God, Nature, and all nations, will unite, and +millions will utter that one shout of 'Liberty! Let us rise and +expel the tyrant!'" + +"But, then, the story of the tower of Babel will be reenacted," said +Frederick William, sighing; "the nations will not understand each +other; an endless confusion of languages will ensue, and, finally, +the building, which they intended jointly to erect, will fall to +ruins and they be dispersed." + +"In order to prevent this, a chieftain must gladly place himself at +their head, and direct their will," exclaimed Hardenberg. "I hope +God will intrust this leadership to your majesty." + +"To me?" asked the king, almost angrily. "Will you take the liberty +of mocking my distress, or do you believe that I ought to be +consoled in the calamities of the present by such hopes of the +future?" + +"No, your majesty, I am only convinced that God will one day intrust +the task of retribution to Prussia, because it is she that has +suffered most." + +"Let us leave retribution to God," said the king, gently. + +"No, your majesty," exclaimed Hardenberg, "let us now take upon +ourselves the task of avenging our wrongs, and only pray to Heaven +for a blessing on our efforts. And that God is with us, that He at +last averts His face from the man who has so long trampled the world +under foot, is shown by the new war into which Napoleon is about to +enter. This expedition to Russia is the first step to his ruin!" + +"Oh, you are mistaken!" exclaimed the king, almost indignantly. "It +will be a new triumphal procession for Napoleon. Russia will succumb +to him, as we all have done. He marches upon the position of his +enemy with the armies of all his allies--half a million of warriors +and thousands of cannon--while Russia stands alone; she has no force +compared with his, and no allies whatever." + +"She has one friend more powerful than any Napoleon has," said +Hardenberg, solemnly--"NATURE. When this ally appears, with its +masses of ice and snow-storms, Napoleon is lost." + +"But he will take good care not to wait for this reenforcement," +exclaimed the king. "As always, he will finish the war in a few +weeks, vanquish the feeble forces of Alexander with his own +tremendous columns in one or two decisive battles, and then, on the +ruins of the Russian empire, dictate terms of peace to the +humiliated emperor. This has been the course of events ever since +Bonaparte commanded, and so it will be hereafter." + +"Your majesty, it will not; for, during twelve years, he has been +the instructor of the world, and the nations have learned from him +not only the art of war, but his special strategies. His secret +consists in the rapidity of his movements. He has made +Macchiavelli's words his own: 'A short and vigorous war insures +victory!' He must, therefore, be opposed by a protracted and +desultory war--his enemies must fight long, not with heavy columns, +but with light battalions, now here, now there; they must take care +not to bring on a general battle, but slowly thin the ranks of his +army, and exhaust his resources and his patience. This was the +course which the Spaniards pursued, and their hopes are, therefore, +promising; they are carrying on a guerilla warfare, and he is +obliged to renew the struggle every day without being able to defeat +them in a decisive battle. Russia will adopt a similar plan. She +will take pains to draw Napoleon farther and farther into the +interior of the country, incessantly alluring him forward by +insignificant victories, rendering him eager for a great battle. In +strict obedience to the plans he has adopted, she will especially +endeavor to weaken Napoleon, and cut him off from his supplies and +base of operations. She will successively fight him at every +important point with a strong army, supported by large reserves, +tire him out, and ruin him in detail. This plan she will adhere to +until her great ally approaches from Siberia--grim Winter, covering +Russia with an invulnerable defence, so that her sons may at last +take the offensive, and expel the terrified enemy." + +"That is a grand, but an infernal scheme!" exclaimed the king, who +had risen, and was walking up and down with hasty steps. "Who +conceived it?" + +"No single brain; it is the result of the consultations of the most +eminent Russian generals. They also have studied Macchiavelli, and +found that significant axiom, 'He who knows how to resist will +conquer in the end.' The Russians, therefore, will resist, and they +will conquer." + +"But who tells you that this is the plan which Russia will adopt?" +asked the king. "Whence have you derived such accurate information?" + +"Your majesty," said Hardenberg, smiling, "though we publicly act as +the enemies of Russia, and are compelled to send our army against +her, she secretly regards us as her ally, and knows well that we are +only waiting for the favorable moment to drop the mask and become +the open enemy of the usurper. We have, therefore, warm friends in +Russia, who will keep us informed about every thing going on, that +we may prudently use the favorable moment when we also can take up +arms against Napoleon." + +"No rash steps--no coups de main," exclaimed Frederick William, +gravely and imperiously, standing in front of Hardenberg, and +looking him full in the face. "I am opposed to any sort of underhand +games; when you are not strong enough to attack your enemy openly +and honestly, you ought to be too proud to shoot at him from an +ambuscade, like a coward and bandit. The bullet may miss him, and he +who fired it dies as a traitor, overwhelmed with disgrace. I have +concluded this alliance with France; I am now her ally, and thereby +compelled to furnish her an auxiliary corps of twenty thousand men +against Russia; so long, therefore, as this campaign lasts, I must, +by virtue of the pledges I have given, stand by France, and woe to +the general of mine who should forget this, and disobey the orders I +have given him!" + +"There may be circumstances, however, your majesty," said +Hardenberg, in an embarrassed tone, "circumstances--" + +"There can be none," interrupted the king, "justifying us to turn +traitors. A man has but one word to pledge, and that I have pledged +to Napoleon. When my soldiers forsake the colors under which I have +placed them, they shall be punished as deserters. No one knows the +anguish with which I say this, but as a man who must keep his word, +and as a commander-in-chief who, above all, must maintain discipline +and subordination, I cannot speak otherwise. Tell your friends in +Russia so. I am sad and dejected enough, compelled as I am to become +Napoleon's ally. But I will not perjure myself!" + +"Your majesty, I bow in admiration of these noble words of my king," +exclaimed Hardenberg, enthusiastically; "I wish the whole world +could hear them. At this hour you obtained a greater victory than +Napoleon ever gained on the battlefield--a victory of duty and +fidelity over your own inclinations and wishes! Far be it from me to +oppose this magnanimous resolution. Our army, then, will march out +side by side with the French troops and will return, if it ever +should, as an auxiliary corps of the grand army. But then, your +majesty, the new day will dawn, for which we must prepare while +Napoleon is in Russia. It must be in secret--in the dead of night-- +but the rising sun will find us ready. The world is now united for +the great work; brethren are offering their hands to brethren from +the shores of the Mediterranean to those of the Atlantic and the +Baltic. Their common sufferings have filled their hearts with the +same love and hatred. All the nations are uniting into one family, +and in their wrath will destroy him who is menacing all alike. +Secret messengers keep the brethren in the west and north, in the +south and east, well informed of what is done by their friends. +Patriotic poets are arousing the nations from the lethargy that +enthralled them during so many years; they make them hear the gospel +of liberty, and awaken them from their indifference. In secret +workshops the brethren are forging arms; in the night the sisters +are at work upon uniforms, and their children are making lint for +warriors to be wounded in the holy war of liberation. They are +quietly preparing for it in the offices, the students' halls, and +the workshops. At the first call they will fling aside their pens +and tools, take up the sword, and hasten into the field, to deliver +the fatherland. All Europe, at the present moment, is but one vast +secret society, which has even in France active and influential +members. Napoleon stands on a volcano, which will soon engulf him." + +"Enough!" exclaimed the king, anxiously. "Say no more; I will know +nothing about secret societies and conspiracies. They are perhaps an +inevitable evil in these times, but still they ARE an evil, +destroying those for whose benefit they were intended." + +"May God in His mercy favor them in advancing our cause," exclaimed +Hardenberg, "that from them may arise the army that is to deliver +the nations from the yoke of the tyrant! I am convinced that it will +be so, and that the moment will come when Prussia will be able to +redeem the oath which I am sure every Prussian took when he saw the +coffin of the august Queen Louisa. On the day, your majesty, when I +saw it, I resolved to strive for no other object than to deliver my +country. For this I will devote my whole strength--my life, if need +be! Heaven heard my oath, and I shall not die before its +fulfilment." + +The king gazed long and mournfully upon the queen's portrait which +hung over his desk, and represented her in the attire in which +Frederick William had seen her for the first time. "But she died +before the hour of deliverance struck," he said, gloomily, to +himself. "Her heart was broken, and she did not even take hope with +her into the grave. She,--" he stopped suddenly, and turned his eyes +toward Hardenberg. "I will communicate something to you," he said +briefly and impulsively; "I will confess to you that I comprehend +your oath; for I also took one when I held the queen's corpse in my +arms. In the beginning the terrible blow paralyzed my soul, and I +felt as though I had been hurled into a dark abyss. Suddenly I +heard, as from a voice resounding in my ears, 'You must not die +before you avenge her death upon him who broke her heart!' I bent +over her, and kissing her lips, swore that I would live only to +obey. I have not forgotten that oath and that hour, and, you may +depend on it, I shall ever remember it; but I will wait for the +favorable moment and it must not be supposed that I can allow myself +to be carried away by imprudent projects." + +"No one would wish that, your majesty," said Hardenberg hastily. "On +the contrary, prudence, above all, is necessary at the present time, +and for this reason I would entreat you to overcome your feelings +and go to Dresden, to pay your respects to the emperor." + +"Never!" exclaimed Frederick William, starting up and blushing with +indignation. "No, nowhere else than in battle can I meet again this +man, who has destroyed my happiness, my honor, and my hopes! Do not +allude to this any more. It cannot be. How can I meet him, whom I +have not seen since the days of Tilsit? Who can ask me to go to +Dresden, to stand there as a courtier at the door of an arrogant +victor, and mingle with the crowd of his trainbearers?" + +"Your majesty, the Emperor of Austria will also go to Dresden," said +Hardenberg, entreatingly. + +"The Emperor of Austria does so, because he is unfortunate enough to +be Napoleon's father-in-law." + +"Nevertheless, the Emperor Francis saw his son-in-law for the last +time on the day when, after the battle of Austerlitz, he repaired as +a supplicant to the bivouac-fire of Napoleon, and implored the +conqueror to grant him peace. That was even worse than Tilsit, and +still the Emperor of Austria comes to Dresden, to become, as your +majesty said, the trainbearer of the victor." + +"Why does he do so?" asked the king, shrugging his shoulders. +"Because he must--because at the present time every wish of Napoleon +is almost an order, even for princes. Napoleon caused his ambassador +at Vienna verbally to inform the emperor that he wished to see his +father-in-law at Dresden, and witness the meeting of his consort, +Maria Louisa, with her parents. The Emperor Francis hastened to +comply with this request, and is expected to arrive to-morrow." + +"Well, Bonaparte, fortunately, expressed to me no such wish, and it +will not be expected that I should go thither without being +requested to do so." + +"Pardon me, your majesty, our ambassador at Dresden received a +similar communication from the French envoy at the court of Saxony. +The Emperor Napoleon desires likewise to see your majesty at +Dresden. Here is the letter from the ambassador." + +The king took the paper and hastily glanced over it. He then heaved +a profound sigh, and, returning it to Hardenberg, fixed his eyes +once more upon the portrait of the queen. He gazed steadfastly upon +it. Gradually the expression of his features became milder, and his +gloomy eye more cheerful. With a wave of his hand he called +Hardenberg to his side; looking again at the portrait, and saluting +it with a gentle nod, he said, "She overcame her feelings, and went +to Tilsit, because she believed it necessary, for the welfare of +Prussia, to pacify the wrath of Napoleon. I will follow the example +of my beloved Louisa. I will conquer myself, and go to Dresden. But +you, Hardenberg, must accompany me." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WHITE LADY. + + +Great commotion reigned at the palace of Baireuth. Servants hurried +through the brilliantly-decorated rooms, spreading out here and +there an additional carpet, placing everywhere vases filled with +fragrant flowers, or dusting the finely-polished furniture. It was a +great and important day for Baireuth. All felt it, and excitement +and curiosity drove the inhabitants into the streets. No one cared +to stay at home, or be absent at that historic hour which was to +shed upon Baireuth a ray of her ancient glory. + +The man at whose feet the world was prostrate, to whom kings and +princes were bowing, before whom empires trembled and thrones passed +away, who had only to stretch out his hand to establish new +dynasties, and whom the world admired while it hated--Napoleon--was +to arrive at Baireuth. The quartermasters had arrived already early +in the morning, and ordered in the name of the emperor that the +rooms at the palace should be put in readiness, because he intended +to reach Baireuth in the afternoon of the 14th of May, and stop +overnight. + +The whole population seemed to be in the streets. The windows of the +houses along the route of the emperor were open, crowded with the +most distinguished ladies of the city; they were dressed in their +most beautiful toilets, and held in their hands bouquets, with which +they intended to salute Napoleon. But the greatest commotion, as we +have remarked, reigned at the new palace, for the emperor had given +express orders that apartments should be prepared for him there, and +not at the old palace of the Margraves of Brandenburg. Count +Munster, intendant of the palaces, had, of course, complied with +these orders, and four brilliant rooms were ready for the reception +of Napoleon. All the arrangements were completed, and the intendant, +followed by the castellan, walked for the last time through the +imperial rooms to satisfy himself that every thing was in good +order. + +"No, nothing has been left undone," said the count, when he stepped +into the bedchamber destined for the emperor. "Every thing is as +comfortable as it is splendid; the arrangement reflects a great deal +of credit upon you, my dear Schluter, and will, doubtless, procure +you a liberal reward from the emperor, who is said to be very +munificent." + +"I do not wish to accept any presents at the tyrant's hands," +growled the castellan, with a gloomy face; "I do not want to stain +my hands with the plunder which he brings from foreign lands, and +which is accompanied with a curse rather than a blessing." + +"You are a fool, my dear Schluter," exclaimed the count, laughing. +"You see at least that curses do not incommode the emperor, for his +power and authority are constantly on the increase. He is now going +to Dresden, to see at his feet all the princes of Germany; and he +will then hasten northward, to gain new victories and humiliate the +only man in the world who still dares to defy him, the Emperor +Alexander of Russia." + +"I know some one else who will not bow to him, and whom he will not +humiliate," said the castellan, contemptuously shrugging his +shoulders. + +"Well, and who is that?" asked Count Munster, quickly. + +"It is the White Lady!" exclaimed the castellan, solemnly and +loudly. + +Count Munster shuddered and glanced around in evident terror, "For +Heaven's sake, hush!" he said, hastily. "Pray forget these foolish +hallucinations, and, above all, do not venture to talk about them at +the present time." + +The castellan shook his head slowly. "You ought not to talk of +hallucinations, count," he said, solemnly. "The White Lady is awake +and walking, and she knows that the enemy of her house, the house of +Brandenburg, will spend the coming night at this palace. I repeat it +to your excellency, she is walking, and her eyes are filled with +wrath, and there is a curse on her lips against the enemy of the +Hohenzollerns. I would not be surprised if she should shout to-night +into the ears of the tyrant, and, by her words, awaken him from his +slumber." + +"Gracious Heaven, Schluter, do not talk so audaciously!" exclaimed +the count, anxiously. "If one of the attendants of the emperor +overhear your words, you would perish. Napoleon is said to be +somewhat superstitious; he, who otherwise is afraid of nothing in +the world, is said to be easily terrified by ghosts, and to believe +in all sorts of omens and prophecies. He has already heard of the +White Lady of Baireuth, and therefore given express orders that +apartments should be prepared for him at the new palace, and not at +the old one, and rooms selected in which she was not in the habit of +walking. [Footnote: Historical.--Vide Minutoli, "The White Lady," p. +17.] I hope that you have punctually carried out this order, and +that these rooms are exempt from the visits of the apparition?" + +"Who has the power to give orders to spirits, and command them, 'So +far and no farther?'" asked the castellan, almost scornfully. "She +goes whither she desires, and the doors closed against her she opens +by a breath. The walls disappear before her, and where you expect +her least of all, there you suddenly meet her tall, majestic form in +the white dress, her head covered with a black veil, under which her +large angry eyes are flashing." + +"Hush, Schluter!" exclaimed the count, anxiously, "I know the +portrait of the White Lady, which hangs in the cabinet adjoining the +audience-hall, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for you to describe +her appearance to me." + +"Your excellency knows that we have two portraits of the White +Lady," said the castellan, laconically. + +"Yes, the one with the white dress is at the hermitage; the other, +representing her in a dark dress, is here at the palace. Thank +Heaven! there is but one portrait of her here, and I hope it is in +the other wing of the building." + +"That is to say, I saw the portrait there this afternoon, but who +knows whether it is still there?" + +"How so? Who knows?" asked the count impatiently. "What do you +mean?" + +"I mean, count, that it is in fact no portrait, but only the bed in +which the White Lady sleeps until it pleases her to walk, and that, +while she is walking, it will certainly not be found at its place. +Did I not report to your excellency six months since that the +portrait had again broken the nail and fallen? It was an entirely +new nail, count, so firm and strong, that half a regiment of French +soldiers might have been hung upon it at the same time; I had had +the nail made by the blacksmith, and the mason fixed it. I myself +hung up the portrait, and it seemed as firm as though it had grown +in the wall. But that very night a noise like a thunder-clap rolling +over my head awakened me, and when I opened my eyes, the White Lady +stood at my bedside; her right hand raised menacingly, her black +veil thrown back, she stared at me with a face flashing with anger. +I uttered a cry, and shut my eyes. When I opened them again, she had +disappeared. In the morning I went into the hall to look after the +portrait. It was gone. Where the nail had been fixed nothing but a +blood-red stain was to be seen; the nail itself, broken into small +pieces, lay on the floor. The portrait had walked to the small +cabinet adjoining the hall, and was quietly leaning there against +the wall as though nothing had happened." + +"And I told you to let it stand there, and not try again to hang it +up. The large painting is too heavy." + +"If the large painting wanted to hang on the wall it would allow the +smallest nail to hold it," said Schluter, shaking his head. "But the +White Lady wishes to stand on her own feet, and no human power is +able to prevent her." + +"Schluter, I repeat to you, you are a dreamer," exclaimed the count, +impatiently. "Let us speak no more of the apparition. It makes one +feel quite curious. Tell me now whether you have really removed the +portrait far enough that it cannot be seen by the emperor?" + +"When I was an hour ago at the cabinet adjoining the audience-hall, +the portrait was still there. But who knows what may have happened +since then?" + +"Well, it is a fixed idea of yours," said the count, shrugging his +shoulders. "I do not wish to hear any more of it. These rooms are +finely arranged, and I have no fault to find with them. Now lock the +entrance-door, and let us go out through the Gallery of Palms, by +which the emperor will have to enter." + +"Pray, your excellency, lead the way; I shall lock the door and +immediately follow you," said the castellan, walking hastily through +the opened rooms. + +Count Munster slowly walked on, thoughtfully looking down, and +shuddering inwardly at the immovable superstition of the castellan, +whom his reason vainly endeavored to deride. + +"And still it is folly, nothing but folly," he muttered to himself, +while opening the high hall-door, and stepping into the anteroom, to +which, on account of its length and narrowness, and the fresco +paintings of tropical plants on the walls, the name of the "Gallery +of Palms" had been given. + +All was silent in this gallery; the setting sun shed its beams +through the windows, covered with dark curtains, and drew trembling +shining lines across the high room. The footsteps of the count +resounded so loudly that he himself was frightened, and glanced +anxiously around. Suddenly he started in dismay, and quickly +advanced several steps. He had seen something moving at the lower +end of the gallery, and it seemed to him as though he had heard +approaching footsteps. Yes, he was not mistaken; now he saw it quite +distinctly! A lady approached. The sun illuminated her tall form, +and shed a golden light over the white dress falling down in ample +folds over her feet. She approached with slow steps, quite +regardless of the count, who at first looked at her in surprise, and +then turned with an angry face toward the castellan, who just then +entered. + +"You did not comply, then, with my orders, Schluter?" exclaimed the +count, vehemently. "I told you expressly to keep the rooms shut +until the emperor's arrival, and not to admit any one. How could you +dare disobey my instructions?" + +"But, your excellency, I did obey them," answered Schluter. "Not a +human being besides the footmen has been permitted to enter here, +and even those I drove out two hours ago, and shut the doors." + +"If that be true, how does it happen that there is a lady here in +the gallery," asked Count Minister, stretching out his arm toward +the lower end of the apartment. + +"A lady?" asked Schluter, greatly amazed. "Where is she, your +excellency?" + +The count fixed his eyes searchingly on the large arched window, in +the bright light of which he had distinctly seen the lady. She was +gone--the gallery was empty. "You forgot to shut the lower door, and +while I turned and scolded you, the lady escaped!" he exclaimed. He +hastily rushed forward, and tried to open the door leading into the +corridor: but this was locked. The count vainly shook the lock. +"That is strange," he muttered, dropping his hand. "I know I saw her +distinctly; it is impossible that I could have been mistaken. Where +can she be? What has become of her? Where has she concealed +herself?" + +"What becomes of the last sigh of a dying person, your excellency," +asked Schluter, solemnly. "Where does the soul conceal itself after +escaping from the body?" + +"Ah, nonsense!" ejaculated Count Munster. "It could not have been a +spectre. Why, it is not a spectre's hour, and, besides, I certainly +saw the lady plainly; it was a decidedly earthly figure. Her face +was pale and grave, but there was nothing spectral about it. She +wore a black veil thrown back from her face; the upper part of her +body was covered with--" + +"A dark pelisse trimmed with fur," interrupted Schluter, composedly. +"Below this dark pelisse protruded a white silk dress, falling to +the ground in full folds." + +"Yes, yes, that was the costume," exclaimed the count. "But how do +you know it without having seen her?" + +"It is the costume of the White Lady, your excellency," said +Schluter, "and it was she who just walked through the gallery. Pray, +count, go with me to the other wing of the palace and look at her +portrait; your excellency will then be convinced that I tell the +truth." + +"No, no, I do not wish to see it," replied Count Munster, whose +cheeks turned pale, and who felt his heart frozen with terror. +"Unlock the door, Schluter! The air here is sultry and very +oppressive! Quick! quick! open the door!" The castellan obeyed, and +the count rushed out into the corridor, where he opened a window and +inhaled the fresh air in eager draughts. + +At this moment shouts were heard at a distance, and at the same time +the count's footman rushed breathlessly down the corridor. "Your +excellency, the emperor is coming. He has already passed through the +gate, and the people are loudly cheering him. I have run as fast as +I could, in order to inform your excellency." + +"I am coming," said the count, advancing rapidly. But, having +proceeded a few steps, he turned again and beckoned the castellan to +his side. "Schluter," he whispered to him, "if you love your life, +do not say a word about what has just happened here. It must remain +a secret." + +"A secret!" muttered Schluter to himself, gazing after the count, +who hurried away. "The White Lady will manage the affair in such a +manner that he at least will hear of the secret, and the +bloodthirsty tyrant will not sleep well in the palace of the +Margraves of Brandenburg." He violently closed the door and stepped +out into the large staircase-hall, the doors of which opened upon +the street. Uttering incoherent words of indignation in an +undertone, the castellan pushed open one of the windows and looked +gloomily down on the street. An immense crowd were in front of the +palace; all eyes were turned to the side from which the emperor was +to approach. Breathless with curiosity, the people waited for the +arrival of the hero who had conquered nearly all the world. + +"How those fools are gaping!" growled Schluter. "Idle and lazy as +usual; they like to complain and lament, but they never think of +doing anything. If only each one would take up a single stone from +the pavement and throw it as a greeting at the tyrant's iron head, +all this distress and wretchedness would be at an end. But no one +thinks of that, and I should not wonder if those fellows, instead of +cursing him, should enthusiastically cheer him." + +The shouts drew nearer at this moment, as the crowd rushed from the +lower part of the street, their acclamations growing constantly more +deafening. French lancers galloped up to keep the people back, and +several carriages, preceded by a plain calash, came in view. A +negro, dressed in a richly-embroidered livery, sat on the box by the +side of the coachman; two plainly-dressed gentlemen occupied the +inside of the carriage. + +"That is he!" growled Schluter. "The Evil One brings him hither--he +is his best friend. Yes, that is he, and he looks pale, grave, and +incensed, as though he would like to wither by a single glance the +whole miserable rabble staring at him." + +"That is he!" shouted the people. "Long live Napoleon! Long live the +emperor!" + +Napoleon gazed coldly arid impassively upon the crowd, whose cheers +came to him as a sound to which he had long been accustomed, and +which was by no means agreeable. It was not worth while for him to +smile on these inhabitants of a small city; a cold, quick nod was a +sufficient acknowledgment. "Long live Napoleon!" shouted the crowd +again, when the emperor, having left the carriage, now turned again +in front of the palace-gate, and gazed long and indifferently upon +the spectators. + +The castellan closed his window. "Ah!" he said, "he dares to enter +this palace. The White Lady will bid him welcome, and know how to +hasten the flight of this arrogant tyrant. Napoleon is coming! Do +you hear that, White Lady? Napoleon is coming!" He burst into +laughter, and, opening the door of the corridor, took a position at +the one leading into the Gallery of Palms. + +Footsteps resounded on the staircase, and various persons appeared. +Generals, adjutants, and lackeys hurried in and formed on both +sides, as it were, in line of battle. The emperor then entered the +lower end of the corridor; Count Munster walked by his side in the +most respectful and submissive manner. All bowed their heads +reverentially, but the emperor took no notice of them, and slowly +passed the saluting officers and servants. + +"I hope you have punctually fulfilled my orders, count?" he asked, +in his sonorous voice. "This is the new palace, is it not?" + +"It is, sire. And this man will testify that no one has set foot +into the imperial rooms," said Count Munster, pointing with a smile +to the castellan, who, holding his bunch of keys in his uplifted +arm, stood at the entrance of the Gallery of Palms. + +"Who is it?" asked Napoleon, whose eagle eye was fixed upon +Schluter. + +"Sire, it is the castellan of this palace, a faithful, reliable man, +who has been on service here for more than thirty years. He has +guarded and locked the rooms, and they open now only to your +majesty's orders." + +"Open," ordered the emperor, with a quick wave of his hand. The +castellan obeyed, and Napoleon entered. Count Munster followed, and +the attendants crowded in after them. Advancing quickly into the +middle of the gallery, the emperor stood directly in front of the +arched window in which Count Munster had before seen the strange +apparition. + +"The White Lady, then, never appears in this wing of the palace?" +asked Napoleon, abruptly. + +"No, sire--never," said Count Munster, solemnly. "On the whole, +sire, no one here believes in the absurd old story, and I am sure no +one knows of the White Lady otherwise than from hearsay." + +The emperor nodded, and passed on. "Let us soon have supper; you +will be my guest," he said, turning on the threshold to Count +Munster and dismissing the gentlemen of his suite. + +The door closed. He was now a guest at the palace of the ancestors +of the royal family of Prussia, the Margraves of Brandenburg. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +NAPOLEON AND THE WHITE LADY. + + +The emperor had long risen from the supper-table. The imperial suite +had been allowed to withdraw. Alone he sat in a comfortable night- +dress on the high, antiquated easy-chair, in front of the fire- +place, in which, at his express order, notwithstanding the warm +weather, a large fire had been kindled. He liked heat; the sun of +Egypt and the desert had never been too warm for him; in the hottest +summer days in France he frequently felt chilly, and called for a +fire. It seemed as though the inflamed blood in his veins made the +world appear cold to him; he saw the light of the sunbeams, but did +not feel their warmth. He now sat close to the fire, his face bent +over the large map that lay on the table. It was a map of Russia. He +rapidly drew several lines across it, marking positions with the +colored pins, taken from the small boxes beside him. "Yes, this is +my plan," he said to himself, after a long pause. "Three of my corps +must be placed on the Niemen; Davoust, Oudinot, and Ney, will +command them. There, farther to the left, the cavalry reserves, +under Nansouty and Montbrun, will take position. Here the old guard, +under Lefebore; there the young guard, under Mortier and Bessieres, +with the cavalry of the guard. At this point, farther to the south, +the fourth corps, composed of the Italians and Bavarians, will +operate, and the Viceroy of Italy, Eugene, will be its general-in- +chief. Farther down, here at Grodno and Bialys tock, I will place +the Poles, Westphalians, and Saxons; the fifth, seventh, and eighth +corps to be commanded by my brother Jerome. The Prussians will halt +at Tilsit, and form the extreme left wing; Macdonald will be their +leader; and below there, at Drochiczyn Schwartzenberg with his +Austrians will form the extreme right wing. The preparations are +complete, and the thunder-cloud is ready to burst over Russia if +Alexander should persist in his obstinacy. Like the waves of the +tempestuous ocean, my armies are rolling toward the shores of +Russia. They can still be stopped by a suppliant word from +Alexander. If he refuses, let his destiny be fulfilled, and let the +roar of my cannon inform him that his hour has struck, and that the +end of his imperial power draws nigh. It was his own will. He +himself has brought destruction upon his head! He--" + +A loud noise above his head, making the walls tremble and the +windows rattle suddenly interrupted the stillness. The emperor rose +from his seat and shouted "Roustan!" The door of the adjoining room +opened and the Mameluke appeared on the threshold. + +"What was it?" asked Napoleon hastily. + +"Sire, it was as if a wall fell in above us; the noise was as loud +as though a cannon were fired in the palace. I rushed immediately +into the corridor, but every thing there was quiet. Only the +castellan of the palace appeared in the utmost haste in his night- +gown, and asked whether an accident had happened in the rooms of the +emperor." + +"Where is the castellan now?" + +"Sire, when I told him that the noise was on the upper floor, he +immediately went thither in order to see what had occurred." + +"Go and bring him to me," ordered Napoleon; and when Roustan had +withdrawn, the emperor fixed his eyes steadfastly on the door, and +his compressed lips quivered with impatience. + +Finally, the door opened again; Roustan appeared, followed by the +castellan, pale and trembling, behind the Mameluke, and clinging +with his hands to the door to support himself. + +Napoleon cast upon him one of his quick glances. "What was this +noise, and why do you tremble so violently?" + +"Pardon me, your majesty," faltered Schluter, "but my terror--the +surprise--I am afraid I have lost my senses. I have just seen +something so unheard of, so incredible, that I--" + +"What have you seen?" asked Napoleon. "Speak! What was this noise?" + +The castellan slowly raised his head, and stared with terrified eyes +at the emperor. "Your majesty," he said, solemnly, "the White Lady +made the noise!" + +Napoleon started, and his brow grew clouded. "But did they not tell +me that the miserable spectre never haunted this part of the +palace?" he asked. "Did I not issue orders that rooms should be +given me where I should not be disturbed by this apparition?" + +"Your majesty, she has hitherto never entered these rooms," +exclaimed Schluter. "Never before has the White Lady directed her +steps hither, and this afternoon her portrait stood quietly in a +cabinet of the other wing of the palace. I can take an oath that +this is true." + +"What portrait do you refer to?" asked Napoleon, impatiently. + +"The portrait of the White Lady," said Schluter. "I saw it this very +day in the cabinet on the other side; all the doors were locked, and +now I suddenly find this large painting in the room above you; it +was lying on the floor as if in walking it had stumbled over +something and fallen. It is the first time that the White Lady +appears in this wing of the palace; her portrait has come from the +other side, and Heaven alone knows how it has happened. Whenever we +wished to convey the painting, with its enormous wooden frame, from +one room to another, no less than six men were required to carry it, +and now it is here as though it had flitted through the air: and it +is lying on the floor as if struck down by lightning." + +"And you think the fall of the painting produced the noise?" + +"I feel convinced of it. If your majesty wishes me to do so, I will +get a few men, go up-stairs to raise the painting, and let it fall +again, that your majesty may judge whether it is the same noise or +not." + +"Ah, you do not feel much respect for your walking portrait," +exclaimed the emperor, smiling. "You want to abuse it, and make +experiments with it. We will suppose that the fall of the painting +was the sole cause of the noise. Now, that it is on the floor, I +believe it will lie still and disturb us no longer, unless it be +that your portrait should fall asleep and snore. What do you know +about that?" + +"Your majesty," said Schluter, gravely, "the White Lady never +sleeps!" + +The emperor cast a searching glance upon him, and then turned away, +folded his hands, and slowly paced the room. Suddenly he stood in +front of the castellan. + +"What about this White Lady?" he asked, hastily. "Who was she, and +what is her history?" + +"Ah, sire, it is a long and melancholy history concerning the +ancestors of the Margraves of Brandenburg," said Schluter, sighing. + +"You know the history?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I know it well." + +"Tell it to me, but very briefly," said Napoleon, throwing himself +on the easy-chair in front the fireplace, and ordering Roustan, by a +wave of his hand and the word "Fire!" to add fresh fuel. + +"Now, tell me all about it." + +"Your majesty," replied Schluter, hesitatingly, "I do not know how +to narrate a story in fine words, and you must pardon me if I do not +acquit myself very satisfactorily." + +"Who was this White Lady?" + +"Sire, her name was Cunigunda, Countess von Plassenburg. Her parents +had compelled her to marry the old Count von Plassenburg, and when +her husband died, after two years of unhappy wedded life, the +Countess Cunigunda of Orlamunde and Plassenburg was a young widow, +twenty-four years of age, heiress of the splendid Plassenburg, and +mother of two children. She was a gay-spirited lady, and looked +around for another husband. Her eyes fell on the Burgrave of +Nuremberg, the distinguished nobleman Albert the Handsome. The whole +German people called him so; and all the girls, far and near, +daughters of the nobility, as well as those of the citizens of +Nuremberg, loved the fine-looking Burgrave of Nuremberg, who was the +ancestor of the House of Hohenzollern. But the noble Count Albert +loved only one young lady, beautiful Beatrice of Hainault, and would +marry none but her. The Countess Cunigunda of Orlamunde, however, +was not aware of this, and sent him a message, asking him whether he +would not like to marry her. She would give him, besides her hand, +the splendid Plassenburg and all her other property. Burgrave Albert +the Handsome smiled when he heard the message; shrugging his +shoulders, he said: 'Tell your countess I regard her as very +amiable, and should like to marry her, provided four eyes were not +in existence. But as it is, I cannot do so.' The burgrave referred +to the eyes of his parents, who did not like the Countess of +Orlamunde, and he wished to make them responsible for his refusal, +so as not to offend the beautiful widow. But Cunigunda interpreted +the words differently, and thought the four eyes, which the Burgrave +said were in the way of their marriage, were those of her two +children. She loved the handsome Burgrave so intensely, that she +henceforth hated the children, because she believed them to be the +sole obstacles to her marriage. The Evil One and her passion +whispered into her ear, 'Go and kill your children.' So Cunigunda +rose from her couch; in a long white night-dress, her head covered +with a black veil, she crept to the bed of her children, and, +drawing from her raven hair a long golden pin, set with precious +stones (a gift which she had once received at the hands of Burgrave +Albert), she pierced the heads of her children, penetrating the +brain to the vertebra." + +"Medea!" ejaculated Napoleon, staring into the fire. "This, then, is +the history of the Medea of the Hohenzollern." + +"No, sire, the name of the countess was not Medea, but Cunigunda," +said Schluter, respectfully. + +Napoleon smiled. "Proceed," he said. + +"On the following morning there was great wailing at the +Plassenburg, for the two sweet little children lay dead in their +bed; not a vestige of violence was to be seen, and the physician of +the countess decided that a stroke of apoplexy had killed them. The +Countess of Orlamunde sent a mounted messenger to Nuremberg to +Burgrave Albert the Handsome, requesting him to come and see her. +And when the burgrave came she met him in a white bridal dress, and +looked at him with radiant eyes; in her uplifted right hand she had +the golden hair-pin, and said, 'The four eyes are no longer in +existence. For your sake I have stabbed my two children with this +pin, your first love-gift; the four eyes are extinguished forever. +Now, marry me!' But the burgrave recoiled in terror, and pushed back +the murderess, who was about to embrace him. He then dragged her +through the rooms to the dungeon of the castle. She begged and +cried, but the burgrave had no mercy upon the infanticide, and +hurled her down into the dungeon. He then informed the courts of the +crime that had been committed. The Countess von Orlamunde, the last +member of her family, was put on trial, and sentence of death passed +upon her. The burgrave of Nuremberg sent the first executioner from +the city to the Plassenburg, and the countess was beheaded in the +presence of the burgrave, and in the same room in which she had +murdered her children. Before putting her head on the block she +glanced at the handsome burgrave, raised both her arms toward +heaven, and took a fearful oath that she would avenge herself on him +and his house; that, whenever one of his descendants was at the +point of death, she would be present, as the burgrave himself was +now present at her death; that she would never rest in her grave, +but live and walk, though the burgrave had her executed, and that, +as she was before him now at her last hour, she would appear to him +at his last hour. After uttering these words, she put her head +calmly on the block. The burgrave then had her buried at the convent +of Himmelskron, and, by virtue of an old treaty, the Burgraves of +Nuremberg now succeeded to the fiefs of the Counts of Orlamunde, +whose line had become extinct. The Plassenburg, with Baireuth and +Burgundy, and all the possessions of the Counts of Orlamunde, +therefore passed into the hands of Burgrave Albert the Handsome. He +did not enjoy the inheritance a long time, for, a few years +afterward, shortly after he had married the beautiful Countess +Beatrice of Hainault, he died very suddenly. His wife was awakened +by a loud cry he uttered. He then exclaimed, 'Cunigunda, do you come +already to take me away? Woe to me! Woe to me!' All became still; +the countess called for the servants and a light. They rushed into +the room with torches. Burgrave Albert the Handsome lay in his bed +dead. That, your majesty, is the history of the White Lady of +Baireuth." + +"This lady, then, followed the Hohenzollern from the Plassenburg to +Baireuth and Berlin?" asked Napoleon. "For she appears sometimes at +Berlin, does she not?" + +"At Berlin, and all places where members of the house of +Hohenzollern, the descendants of the Burgraves of Nuremberg, are +about to die." + +"Oh, the dear lady, then, appears only to the family of the +Hohenzollern," exclaimed Napoleon, smiling. "Is it not so?" + +"No, your majesty, at times she appears also to others," said +Schluter; "she walks about the palace, and if there is any one in +her way whom she dislikes, she tells them so, and angrily orders him +away. She forgets no insult heaped upon her house, and she is +terrible in her wrath." + +"I have heard of it," exclaimed the emperor, gloomily. "My generals +complained vehemently of the annoyances they had suffered here in +1806, owing to the movements of this lady. You were here at that +time, were you not?" + +"I was, sire, and so I was when General d'Espagne, in 1809, +established his headquarters at this palace." + +"Ah, I remember," said Napoleon to himself. "Duroc told me the +horrible story at that time. Tell me what was it that befell General +d'Espagne here?" + +"Sire, the general had arrived late at night, and, being weary, had +immediately retired. In the night terrible cries were heard in his +room. The orderlies hastened into it; the general's bed, which, when +he retired for the night stood at the wall, was now in the middle of +the room; it was upset, and, having fainted, he lay under it. He was +placed on a couch, and a doctor sent for, who bled him, and, when he +awoke, gave him sedative powders. The general declared that the +White Lady had appeared to him, and tried to kill him. While +struggling with her, his bed was upset, and, when about to succumb, +he uttered loud cries for assistance. He described all the +particulars of the countenance, form, and dress of the apparition, +and, at his express request, I had to conduct him to her portrait. +As soon as he saw it, he turned pale, and almost sank to the floor, +muttering, 'It is she! She looked exactly like that when she +appeared to me! Her apparition, doubtless, indicated my impending +death!' His officers tried to dissuade him from this belief, but he +adhered to his conviction, and left the palace that very night in +order to establish his headquarters at the 'Fantaisie,' the king's +little villa near the city. On the following morning General +d'Espagne sent a large detachment of soldiers to this palace; they +had to open the floor under the direction of their officers, and +take down the wall-paper, in order to see whether there were any +secret trap-doors or hidden entrances. [Footnote: Vide Minutoli, +"The White Lady," p. 17.] But they found nothing, for the White Lady +needs no theatrical apparatus; she goes where she pleases, and walls +and locked doors open to her. General d'Espagne, however, was unable +to overcome his horror. He left Baireuth on the following day, and +when he rode out of the gate he said, 'I heard my own death-knell +here at Baireuth. I shall soon die!'" + +"And he really died shortly after, for he was killed at the battle +of Aspen," [Footnote: Ibid., p.17.] said Napoleon to himself, +staring gloomily into the fire. A pause ensued; suddenly the emperor +rose. "It is all right," he said. "Go! Your story of the White Lady +was quite entertaining. I hope she will keep quiet now. Go!--And +you, too, Roustan! I will afterward call you!" Long after the two +had withdrawn, the emperor walked slowly up and down the room. He +stood at length in front of the fireplace, and stared moodily into +the blazing flames. His face was pale and gloomy. "Foolish stories, +which no man of sense can believe! but which, nevertheless, are +fulfilled now and then," he added, in a lower voice. "Was it not +predicted to Josephine that she would become an empress; and that +not death, but a woman, would hurl her from the throne? The prophecy +was fulfilled! Poor Josephine! I had to desert you, and, at your +lonely palace of Malmaison, you are perhaps praying for me at this +hour, because you know I am about to brave new dangers. Poor +Josephine!--you were my good angel, and, since you are no longer at +my side--no matter!" the emperor interrupted himself; "I will retire +to rest." He advanced several steps toward the door leading into his +bedroom, where Roustan and Constant were waiting for him, but +stopping said, "No, I will first arrange my plans, and fight my +decisive battles with the Emperor Alexander." He returned with rapid +steps to the table covered with maps, and resumed his seat in the +easy-chair. The tapers were burning dimly; the flames in the +fireplace flickered, shedding a dark-red lustre on the marble face +of the emperor, who, bending over the map, sat motionless. Perhaps +it was the heat, or the profound silence, that lulled him to sleep. +His head fell back into the chair, and his eyes closed. The emperor +slept, but his sleep was not calm, and his features, which when +awake were so firm and motionless, were restless, and expressive of +various emotions. Once he exclaimed in a tender voice, "My father! +Do you at last come to me? Oh, welcome, father!" And a joyous +expression overspread the countenance of the sleeper; but it soon +faded away, and he appeared angry, and his lips quivered. "No, no," +he said, with a faltering tongue, impeded by sleep, "no, father, you +are mistaken! my luck does not resemble the changing seasons; I am +not yet in autumn, when the fruits drop from the trees and winter is +at hand." He paused again, and his face assumed the expression of an +attentive listener. "What!" he then exclaimed in a loud voice, "you +say my family will leave me, and betray me in adversity? No, that is +impossible, I have lavished kindnesses on them, I--" He paused, and +seemed to listen again. "Ah," he exclaimed, after a short interval, +starting violently, "that is too much! All Europe is unable to +overthrow me. My name is more powerful than Fate!" + +Awakened, perhaps, by the loud sound of his own voice, he opened his +eyes and looked around uneasily. "Ah," he said, putting his hand on +his moist forehead, "what a terrible dream it was! My father stood +before me, and predicted what would befall me. He prophesied my +ruin! He cautioned me against my relatives, and the ingratitude of +my marshals! [Footnote: "Le Normand." vol. ii, p. 421.] It is the +second time that this is predicted to me, and just as I now saw and +heard my father in my dream, the old sorceress spoke to me by the +pyramids of Egypt." And the emperor, absorbed in his reflections, +muttered in a hollow voice: "'You will have two wives,' said the +Egyptian sorceress to me; 'your first wife you will unjustly desert. +Your second wife will bear you a son, but your misfortunes will +nevertheless begin with her. You will soon cease to be prosperous +and powerful. All your hopes will be disappointed; you will be +forcibly expelled, and cast upon a foreign soil, hemmed in by +mountains and the sky. Beware of your relatives! Your own blood will +revolt against you!' [Footnote: This prophecy is historical. Vide +"Le Normand," vol. ii., p. 487.] Nonsense," exclaimed the emperor, +quickly raising his head; "all this is folly. The palace, with its +weird traditions, has infected me, and I scent ghosts in the air, +and transform my dreams into prophecies. I will retire!" + +For the second time he approached the door of the bedroom, but +suddenly recoiled and stood with dilated eyes. In front of it +appeared a tall female figure, her arms spread out before the door, +as if she wished to prevent the emperor from passing out. A long +white dress covered her slender form, a black veil concealed her +bosom and her erect head; but behind the transparent tissue of the +veil was a pale, beautiful face, the eyes of which were flashing +like swords' points. Breathless with horror, he fixed his eyes +steadfastly on the apparition, that approached him now with uplifted +arms. Trembling in spite of himself, he drew back, and, putting his +hand on the back of the easy-chair, gazed searchingly at the +approaching figure. + +"You dare set your foot into the house of the Hohenzollerns?" asked +the spectre in a hollow, menacing voice. "You come hither to disturb +the repose of the dead? Flee, audacious man--flee, for destruction +is pursuing you; it will seize and destroy you! Your last hour has +come! Prepare to stand before your Judge!" + +"Ay, you will kill me, then, beautiful lady?" asked Napoleon, +sneeringly. "You will revenge the defeats I have inflicted on the +descendants of Burgrave Albert the Handsome, on the battle-fields of +Jena, Eylau, and Friedland? In truth, I should have thought that +beautiful Cunigunda of Orlamunde would rather welcome me as a +friend, for was it not I who avenged her on the faithless house of +Hohenzollern?" + +"You try to mock me," said the spectre, "for your heart is filled +with doubt, and your soul with pride. But beware, Bonaparte--beware, +I tell you for the last time--your hour has come, and every step you +advance is a step toward your ruin. Turn back, Bonaparte, if you +intend to be saved, for ruin awaits you on the battle-fields of +Russia! Turn back, for the souls of your victims cry to God for +vengeance, and demand your blood for theirs--your punishment for the +ruthlessly destroyed happiness of whole nations! Bonaparte, escape +from the soil of Germany, and dare no longer to set foot upon it, +for disgraceful defeats are in store for you! Return to France, and +endeavor to conciliate those who are cursing you as a perjurer and +renegade!" + +"Who are they who dare call me a perjurer and renegade?" asked +Napoleon, hastily. + +"Who are they?" repeated the spectre, advancing a step toward the +emperor and fixing her menacing eyes upon him. "The men to whom you +once vowed eternal fidelity, and whom you called your brethren-- +Philadelphians!" + +The emperor started in terror, and his cheeks turned livid. His +features, which had hitherto had a sneering, scornful air, were now +gloomy, and he stared with an expression of undisguised fear at the +lady who stood before him in an imposing attitude, with her arm +lifted in a menacing manner. + +"The Philadelphians?" asked Napoleon, timidly. "I do not know them." + +"You do!" said the spectre, solemnly. "You do know that the +invisible ones are watching you, and will punish you because you +have broken your oath!" + +"I know of no oath!" + +"Woe to you if you have forgotten it. I will repeat it to you! It +was in 1789, at the forest of Fontainebleau, that you appeared at +the meeting of the brethren and requested to be initiated. The +Philadelphians admitted you into their league and received your +oath. Shall I repeat this oath to you?" + +"Do so if you can!" + +"You swore that never again should a freeman obey kings, and that +death to tyrants under all titles and in all governments is +justifiable." + +"That was the formality of the oath of every club and secret society +at that time," exclaimed Napoleon, contemptuously. + +"But the Philadelphians demanded still another written oath of you. +It read as follows: 'I consent that my life be taken if I ever +become reconciled to royalty. In order to contribute to its +eradication in Europe, I will make use of fire and sword, and, when +the society to which I belong asks me to do so, sacrifice even what +is most precious to me.' You wrote this and affixed your name to it +with your blood." [Footnote: "Le Normand" vol. ii., p. 516.] + +"It is true, I did!" muttered Napoleon. "I was a fool, dreaming, +like all the others, of the possibility of a republic." + +"You were a believer, and have become a renegade," exclaimed the +spectre, in a threatening voice. "The invisible ones will judge and +punish you, unless you make haste to conciliate them. You have +forgotten that you stand under the yoke of the Philadelphians. The +Emperor Napoleon believes that he has power to blot out with the +blood of subjugated nations the words of the sacred oath which +Lieutenant Bonaparte swore to the Philadelphians in the forest of +Fontainebleau." + +"And I HAVE the power to do so!" exclaimed Napoleon, proudly. "I +stretch out my arm over Europe, and she bows before me." + +"But the Philadelphians will break your arm, and convert your crowns +into dust, unless you make haste to conciliate them," exclaimed the +spectre. "Turn back, for it is yet time. Return to France, renounce +conquests: France wants no more wars; she is cursing the tyrant who +refuses peace to her and to Europe. There has been bloodshed enough. +Take an oath at this hour that you will renounce your ambition, and +no longer pursue a career of crime and blood! Swear that you will +return to France to-morrow!" + +"Never!" ejaculated Napoleon, vehemently, and coloring with anger. + +"Swear that you will return, or I will kill you!" cried the spectre. +"I will kill you as a wolf. Swear that you will return!" + +"Never!" + +"Ah, you will not swear--you prefer to die, then," and at a bound +she was by the Emperor's side, grasped him with iron hands, and +threw him down on the easy-chair. "You prefer to die!" she repeated +wildly, tearing the black veil from her head and showing her face +unveiled. It was livid as that of a corpse, the bloodless lips +quivering, and her red eyes flaming with rage. + +"You prefer to die!" exclaimed the spectre, for the third time. +"Well, die!" And her arms encircled Napoleon's breast like iron +rings, her glance seemed to pierce his face, her lips opened and +exhibited terrible teeth, as if ready to tear his breast. The +emperor was unable to breathe; he felt his strength giving way, and, +with a last effort, he uttered a shrill cry calling for help. + +"Sire, sire, awake!" cried an anxious voice by his side. Napoleon +started up, and violently pushed back the hand which touched his +arm. "Who is there?" he asked, angrily. + +"Sire, it is I--Constant!" said the faithful valet de chambre. "I +heard in the antechamber your majesty's groans and cries; I rushed +in and saw you writhing on the easy-chair. A bad dream seemed to +torment your majesty, and I therefore ventured to awaken you." + +"And I am glad you did, Constant," said the emperor. "Ah, my friend, +what a terrible dream it was! The White Lady was here; she threw +herself upon me like a tigress; she wanted to tear me and drink my +heart's blood." + +"Your majesty had once before a similar dream," said Constant, +smiling. + +"Where--where was it?" asked Napoleon, hastily, wiping the cold +sweat from his brow. + +"Sire, it was at Erfurt, when the Emperor Alexander was there." +[Footnote: Constant, "Memoires," vol. iv., p. 79.] + +"Yes, I remember," said the emperor, in a low voice. "It seems this +bad dream returns as soon as I approach Alexander. Does Fate intend +to warn me? Is he to be the wolf that will one day lacerate my +breast? Ah, it was an awful dream, indeed, and even now it seems to +me as really seen and heard." He glanced around the gloomy room. +Every thing was in precisely the same condition as when he had +entered it. The maps lay undisturbed on the table before him; the +colored pins stood in long rows like little armies, and opposite +each other, drawn up in line of battle. But the tapers had burned, +down, and the fire was nearly extinguished. Napoleon rose +shudderingly from his easy-chair. "I will go to rest," he said. + +Constant, taking a candlestick, preceded the emperor, and opened the +door of the adjoining room. Fifteen minutes afterward Napoleon was +in bed, and Constant and Roustan had withdrawn into the antechamber. + +But this sleep was not to be of long duration. A loud cry, uttered +by his master, awakened Constant, and caused him to rush into the +bedroom. The emperor had raised himself in bed. "Constant," he said, +"it was no dream this time. The White Lady was here--I saw her +distinctly--I had not fallen asleep, my eyes and all my senses were +awake. I saw the tall, white figure, her head covered with the black +veil, at the wall there, as though she had grown from the ground. At +a bound she was at my bedside, and raised her hands. I quickly +seized her and called for you. She then glided from my fingers and +disappeared. Like General d'Espagne, I say there must he a trap-door +somewhere in this room. Call Roustan, take lights, and examine the +walls and the floor." + +The valet de chambre hastened to fetch Roustan: they took lights and +made a thorough examination, but in vain. The oaken planks of the +floor were firmly joined, and the dark velvet hangings glued to the +walls. + +"Well, then, the White Lady has fooled me in another dream," said +the emperor. "Go! Let us sleep." The two servants withdrew. + +About an hour had elapsed, when another cry, uttered by the emperor, +called Constant back into the bedroom. Seized with dismay, he halted +at the door. The bed was in the middle of the room; the table which +stood beside it was upset, and the night-lamp lay thrown on the +floor. + +"I hope that no accident has befallen your majesty," said Constant, +rushing toward the emperor. + +"No," said Napoleon. "But this accursed white spectre was here +again. It wanted to treat me like General d'Espagne; to upset my bed +and throttle me. I awoke just when this horrible monster of a woman +pushed the bed with the strength of a giant into the middle of the +room. I called for you, and she disappeared. As the White Lady +apparently does not like several persons to be in the room, you and +Roustan must remain here to-night." + +"And, with your majesty's leave, each of us will hold a pistol in +his hand, that we may fire at the apparition if it return." + +"Ah, my friend, you know little of the power of spectres," said +Napoleon, smiling. "When you have fired at them, they laugh +scornfully, throw the bullet back to you and pass on entirely +uninjured. That is their fashion. But you may take your pistols, and +if she has still a human heart in her breast, she will feel some +respect for it." + +And the White Lady really seemed to have a human heart. Constant and +Roustan, who sat on the floor beside the emperor's bed with cocked +pistols, waited in vain for the return of the apparition. Every +thing remained quiet; nothing stirred in the room, where the +emperor, guarded by his faithful servants, now at last enjoyed +repose. + +When he rose on the following morning, his face was even paler and +gloomier than usual. He who generally on being dressed conversed in +an affable manner with his servants, remained silent and grave that +day, and muttered only occasionally, "The accursed palace! The +miserable spectre-hole!" [Footnote: Historical.--Vide Minutoli, "The +White Lady," p. 17.] + +Constant and Roustan, having finished the emperor's toilet, were +about leaving the room, when he called them back by a gesture. "You +will not mention any thing about what happened here last night!" he +said, imperiously. "If I find out that you disobey my order, I shall +be very angry. Go!" And the emperor went into the Gallery of Palms +in order to receive the reports of his suite and give the usual +audiences. With a nod and a dismal look he greeted Count Munster, +who inquired, with the fawning smile of a true courtier, whether his +majesty had passed an agreeable night. + +"Your castellan, then, has not informed you of the horrible noise +last night in the palace?" asked Napoleon, angrily. "You ought to +get better nails, count, to hang up paintings, so that they do not +fall down. He who wants to hang anybody or any thing, even though it +be but a painting, ought to have at least a substantial gallows." + +"Sire," faltered Count Munster, "I do not comprehend--this palace--" + +"Is not even fit to be a gallows, for it drops those who have been +hung in it," exclaimed Napoleon, vehemently. "It is an accursed +place, and the air in it as sultry and oppressive as in a rat-hole. +Have the carriages brought to the door. Let us depart!" He did not +deign the count another glance, and returned into the adjoining +room, whither none but the grand marshal and his adjutants were +permitted to follow. + +Fifteen minutes afterward, the emperor, with his numerous suite, +left the palace of Baireuth and set out for Plauen, where he +intended to join the Empress Maria Louisa, who had stopped there +over night, and continue with her the journey to Dresden. The +streets of Baireuth, which had presented so animated a spectacle the +day before, were at this early hour quiet and deserted; all the +windows were closed; only here and there a wondering, inquisitive +face appeared behind the panes and looked at the carriages that +rolled through the streets, and at the melancholy countenance of the +emperor, who sat in his open calash. When out of the gate, he turned +again, and cast an angry glance on the palace, whose high gray walls +were brightened by the morning sun. "An accursed old palace!" he +muttered to himself. "I shall never spend there another night." +[Footnote: Napoleon's own words.--Vide Minotoli, p. 17.] And leaning +back in a corner of the carriage he gazed in silence at the sky. + +Count Munster, however, stood inside the palace of Baireuth, at the +window of the Gallery of Palms, and looked anxiously after the +emperor. The carriages disappeared at a bend in the road behind the +green willows, and the count turned to Castellan Schluter, who was +standing behind him. + +"But tell me, for Heaven's sake, Schluter," exclaimed the count, +"what did the emperor refer to? What happened to him last night?" + +"There happened to him what will happen to all those who dare +disquiet the White Lady of Baireuth or defy her power," said +Schluter, solemnly. + +"You really believe, then, that she appeared to him?" asked the +count, in terror. + +"The emperor sent for me late last night, and again this morning. +Shall I tell your excellency what it was for? The portrait of the +White Lady, which I had put yesterday into the cabinet adjoining the +audience-hall in the other wing of the palace, had walked over to +this side, and, in the room directly above the emperor, had thrown +itself down with so much violence, that the noise resounded through +the whole building." + +"But that is altogether impossible," exclaimed Count Munster, in +dismay. "Why, you told me that the portrait was standing in the +other wing of the palace, and that you had carefully locked all the +doors." + +"But I told your excellency also that locks and bolts are unable to +impede her progress, and that, when she intends to wander, the walls +open to her, and that all obstructions give way. The air wafted her +over to the enemy of her house, and, by the thunder of her wrath, +she awakened him from his slumber." + +"And that was the reason why the emperor sent for you last night?" + +"Yes, I had the honor of narrating to him the history of the White +Lady," said Schluter, laughing scornfully. "I did so, and told him +also what happened here to General d'Espagne." + +"But did you not say the emperor has sent for you again this +morning?" + +The castellan nodded. + +"Well, what did he want again?" + +"I had to describe to him the costume in which the White Lady is in +the habit of walking--her dress, her veil, her countenance--in +short, I had to tell him all about her appearance. I proposed at +last that I would have the portrait brought to him, that he might +himself look at it; but, when I did so, he cast a furious glance on +me, and said in an angry voice, 'No, no, I do not want to see it! +Let me alone with your doomed portrait!'[Footnote: Historical.--Vide +Minutoli, p. 17.] In truth, I believe the all-powerful emperor was +frightened, and the White Lady had paid him a visit. In fact, he +turned quite pale!" And Schluter burst into loud and scornful +laughter. + +Count Munster shook his head gravely, and hastened to leave the +Gallery of Palms and the haunted palace. + +The castellan remained there and listened until the count's +footsteps died away. He then hurried to the rooms which the emperor +had occupied. When he arrived at Napoleon's bedroom, he pushed the +bed aside, and stooped down to the floor, at which he looked with +searching eyes. "It is all right! Nothing is to be seen!" he +muttered to himself. "The White Lady will yet be able often to walk +here!" He burst into loud laughter and left the imperial apartments +to return to his own rooms, which were situated on the ground-floor. +"I will now put away my dear treasures, that no uninitiated eye may +behold them," he said, carefully locking the door. "Come, my +mysterious treasures! Come!" He drew from his bed a long white +dress, a small cloak trimmed with fur, and a long black veil, +[Footnote: These articles, belonging to the toilet of the White +Lady, were found in Schluter's trunk when he died, in 1880.--Vide +Minutoli, p. 17.] and while carefully folding up these articles, +which he locked in a trunk standing under the bed, He sang in a loud +and merry voice: + +[Footnote: A comic song, sung in Germany in 1812.] + "Ein Korsl, Ihr kennt den Namen schon, + Seit vierzehn Jahr und druber, + Spricht allen Nationen Hohn, + Giebt Fursten--Nasenstuber, + Sturzt Throne wie ein Kartenhaus + Und treibt das Wesen gar zu Kraus, + Nicht Bona--Malaparte!" + +[Footnote: + A Corsican--you know his name-- + For more than fourteen years + Has scorned the nations, to their shame, + And pulled their princes' ears. + He plays sad tricks upon his toes, + And, marching with his guards, + He casts down kingdoms as he goes + Like houses made of cards, + A better name for him would be + Not BONA, but MALA-parte] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NAPOLEON AT DRESDEN. + + +Joy, happiness, and love, reigned at the court of the King of +Saxony, Napoleon had honored the royal house of Saxony with a visit; +he had come to Dresden to spend a few days in the family circle of +Frederick Augustus, whom he flatteringly called his "cher papa." He +had also come to embrace his father-in-law, the Emperor of Austria, +before setting out for Russia, and to shake hands with his ally the +King of Prussia; and, finally, to gather around him again his +vassals, the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine, and, in the +face of Europe, to receive the homage of kings, emperors, and +princes. + +Amid the ringing of bells and the light of torches, Napoleon and +Maria Louisa made their entry into Dresden. The late hour of the +night, when the imperial couple arrived, prevented the population +from greeting them with cheers. But the good people of the Saxon +capital were not to be deprived of the happiness of bidding Napoleon +welcome, and seeing his beautiful young empress. The court, +therefore, arranged a drive in open calashes on the day after; and +everywhere on the streets through which the procession passed the +people stood in vast crowds. The windows of the houses were opened, +and beautiful ladies looked out of them. The imperial and royal +carriages made but slow headway, for thousands of excited spectators +preceded them, and thousands more surrounding the carriages looked +up with inquisitive eyes to the distinguished persons who, greeting +and smiling, bowed to them on all sides. But the multitude were +silent; not a cheer resounded--not a "Vive l'empereur"--and the +praise of Napoleon, that was uttered by the lips of princes, lacked +the wonted accompaniment of popular enthusiasm. + +Good-natured King Frederick Augustus felt all this as a rebuke +administered to himself, as a reflection on his hospitality, and he +looked with an expression full of uneasiness and affection at the +emperor, who was sitting beside him. But Napoleon's countenance was +as calm and cold as it always was. Not a flash of inward anger was +seen in those unfathomable eyes. He conversed quietly and almost +smilingly with his consort, the Empress Maria Louisa, and did not +even seem to notice that the people received him in silence. + +"Well, he shall have a most gratifying compensation at the theatre +to-night," said Frederick Augustus to himself. "The audience will +there at least receive the great Napoleon with enthusiastic cheers; +and when, on his return, he sees all Dresden glittering in the +illumination that is to take place, he will have to admit, after +all, that my good Saxons, like their king, love and admire him." + +King Frederick Augustus was not mistaken.--The vast and brilliant +audience, that in the evening assembled at the royal theatre, +received the members of the court, on their appearance, with +deafening cheers; all rose from their seats and shouted with +constantly recurring enthusiasm, "Long live Napoleon: Long live the +Emperor Francis! Long live our dear King Frederick Augustus!" The +band accompanied these cheers, the ladies waved their bouquets, and +the gentlemen their hats and handkerchiefs, and when this outburst +subsided, hundreds of eyes were fixed on the royal box, to watch +every motion of Napoleon's countenance, and admire him in the circle +of his family; for this large gathering of princes and kings were +now his family, and the son of the Corsican lawyer was its head. +There was the Emperor Francis of Austria, who had arrived but a few +hours before, to greet his beloved son-in-law, whom he had not seen +since the battle of Austerlitz. The emperor was accompanied by his +young consort, the Empress Ludovica. Every one knew that she hated +Napoleon; that her proud heart never could forgive him the +humiliations which he had inflicted on Austria, and that she had +consented only with the utmost reluctance, and with bitter tears, to +the marriage of her step-daughter, the Archduchess Maria Louisa, +with the conqueror of Austria. And yet, notwithstanding her hatred, +grief, and humiliated pride, the Empress Ludovica had likewise come +to Dresden to witness the triumph of Napoleon, to be the second lady +at this court, and the first in the suite of the Empress Maria +Louisa. There were the King and Queen of Westphalia, sister-in-law +of Napoleon and daughter of the King of Wurtemberg, who deemed +himself happy that Napoleon was a relative of his. There were, +besides, the Grand-Duke of Wurzburg, brother of the Emperor Francis, +and now uncle of Bonaparte; the Grand-Duke of Baden, Napoleon's +nephew, and the King of Saxony, the cher papa of Napoleon; and +finally, the crowd of the petty German princes of the Confederation +of the Rhine, who had eagerly hurried to Dresden in order to do +homage to their protector, and seek after new gifts of territories +and titles from the all-powerful master of Germany. But these +personages formed only part of the suite; no one paid attention to +them; they stood humbly and modestly in the background, and only the +two emperors and empresses, the Queens of Saxony and Westphalia, and +the King of Saxony, occupied front seats. The King of Saxony +conducted Napoleon to the first gilded easy-chair on the right side; +to him belonged the seat of honor here as everywhere. He was first +in the line of emperors and kings. By his side sat Maria Louisa, +sparkling with diamonds, which covered her head, neck, arms, and the +golden belt around her slender waist. Her countenance was joyful, +and never had she feasted her eyes on her husband with more heart- +felt pride than during this evening, when, sitting beside him, she +eclipsed her imperial step-mother in the magnificence of her toilet +and the splendor of her rank. It was only when Napoleon had taken +his seat that the Emperor and Empress of Austria, and all the other +kings and princes, followed his example. The band immediately +commenced the overture, and the festive cantata began. On the stage +was seen the radiant temple of the sun, surrounded by the +brilliantly-adorned crowd of priests and priestesses. They raised +their arms, not to the temple of the sun, but toward Napoleon's box, +and, amid their soul-stirring chorus, the high-priest stepped forth +from the temple. Advancing to the edge of the stage, he bowed to the +imperial sun, and commenced singing in a powerful voice, "The sun +rises gloriously on the firmament, illuminating and heating the +world; but thou, his greater brother, thou conquerest him, and he +drives back his car, acknowledging that, since thou art here, the +world needs no other sun." While the high-priest sang these words +the temple on the stage suddenly paled, and over its entrance the +following words appeared in large letters of gold: "Di Lui men +grande e men chiaro il Sole." [Footnote: "Less great and brilliant +than he is the sun." The author of this cantata, performed in honor +of Napoleon, was Orlandi, an Italian; Morlacchi bad composed the +music.] + +At this sight, cheers burst from all sides of the brilliantly +decorated house; the audience rose from their seats and turned +toward the imperial box to salute Napoleon; the Emperor of Austria, +the King of Saxony, and the princes of the Confederation of the +Rhine, joined in the applause. But Napoleon, to whom these cheers +were addressed, did not even seem to notice them. He had suddenly +risen and turned his back to the stage, regardless of the high- +priest and his emphatic words. Heedless of the cheers and applause, +he left his place and hastened to the Emperor Francis, who was +sitting on the left side, close to the two empresses. "Sire," said +Napoleon, "I request your majesty to exchange seats with me, and +pardon me for erroneously taking the chair that was intended for +you." + +"No, no; it is no mistake at all," exclaimed the Emperor Francis, +hastily. "It is all right as it is, and your majesty must stay +there, for that easy-chair is the seat of honor." + +"That is precisely the reason why it should be occupied by your +majesty, the august Emperor of Austria, my beloved and revered +father-in-law," said Napoleon, bowing his head lower than he had +ever before done to any prince in the world. "Come, sire, permit me +to conduct you to the seat that is due to you alone." With gentle +violence he took the emperor's hand and conducted him to the seat at +the right side of Maria Louisa. + +"My dear Louisa," he said, turning to his consort, "I renounce the +happiness of sitting beside you, because this seat is due to the +head of our family, the father of my consort, the grandfather of my +son. You may embrace the opportunity to tell our dear papa all about +the little King of Rome." He greeted Maria Louisa with a beaming +smile, and then repaired to the seat which the Emperor Francis had +occupied, at the left side of the Empress Ludovica. The smile was +still on his face; he sat down on this chair, and, turning to the +empress, his mother-in-law, asked her, almost humbly, if she would +grant him the happiness of sitting by her side. + +Ludovica felt flattered; the gentle, suppliant voice of the emperor, +his smile, and flashing eyes, exerted their wonted charm upon her. +She had armed her heart against the arrogant master of the world, +but, before the kind and almost humble bearing of Napoleon, her arms +sank to the ground, and she who had hitherto felt nothing but hatred +against him, regarded him now with mingled astonishment and +admiration. + +Napoleon seemed to have read the depths of her heart, for his face +grew even milder, and his smile more fascinating. "Your majesty has +hated me intensely, I suppose?" he asked, in a low voice. "Oh, do +not deny it; I have been portrayed to you in very repulsive colors?" + +Ludovica looked at him admiringly. "I must confess, sire," she said, +"that not one of the portraits of your majesty which I have seen, is +like you." + +"Oh, I believe so," exclaimed Napoleon, hastily; "they have always +painted me too dark, and the portraits shown to your majesty +doubtless have been of that description; but before you, madame, the +Moor would like to wash his face, and I wish you could see me +painted less repulsively." + +"Sire," said the empress, smiling, "did we not see but a few minutes +since that your image is even more radiant than the sun?" + +"Ah, those are silly coups de theatre," exclaimed Napoleon. "It is +no great honor, indeed, to surpass the splendor of a sun made out of +paper. If the lamplighter had approached too close to it it would +have burned, while I think that I can stand in fire without running +the risk of perishing. However, the fire of anger flashing from your +eyes, madame, would annihilate me, and I pray you, therefore, to +have mercy on me. Pray, let us be frank. Why do you hate me?" He +looked at the empress with so mild and smiling an expression, that +she felt confused by it, and a faint blush suffused her beautiful +face. + +"No," she said, in a low voice, "who tells you that? How would it be +possible to hate the man to whom all Europe bows in admiration?" + +"I have put my foot on the neck of Europe; I have tamed the wild +horse, and it acknowledges me as its master," said Napoleon, +proudly. "But is that a reason why you should hate me? Let all lie +in the dust before me, but Austria shall stand erect by my side, for +the Emperor of Austria is my father-in-law, and though I do not +venture to say that the beautiful young Empress of Austria is my +mother-in-law, I may be allowed to say that she is the mother of my +consort, and that I admire and esteem her with all my heart. Austria +has nothing to fear, so long as she is friendly toward me. She shall +share my triumphs; and, when at last all Europe is prostrate, the +Emperors of France and Austria will stand side by side, and divide +the world between them." + +"And one will take his Herculaneum, and the other his Pompeii," said +the empress, sarcastically. + +"Ah, you mean to say that the world we shall have conquered will +consist only of ruined cities and dead subjects?" asked Napoleon, +gloomily. + +"Sire," said Ludovica, gently, "I mean that when Vesuvius shows +itself to the wondering world in its whole majesty and beauty, it +cannot prevent the molten lava, which rises from its crater, as a +natural consequence, from rushing down its sides, and spreading +everywhere death and destruction." + +"Well," exclaimed Napoleon, smiling, "if your simile is correct, the +molten lava will soon inundate Russia, and carry terror, death, and +destruction into the empire of the arrogant czar." + +"Ah, sire," said Ludovica, gravely, "Russia is so very cold that I +believe even the fires of Vesuvius would be extinguished there, the +molten lava would freeze, or, flowing back, injure Vesuvius itself." + +"Oh, no, madame," exclaimed Napoleon, hastily, "Vesuvius will not be +extinguished, for divine fire is burning in its heart." + +"And Russia will not thaw, for it is a divine frost that freezes +every thing approaching her," said Ludovica, gently. + +Napoleon cast on her one of his quick, angry glances. "Madame," he +said, "I--" + +At this moment the whole audience burst into loud and enthusiastic +cheers, and shouted, "Long live the emperor! Long live the hero who +conquers the world!" + +Napoleon interrupted himself, and turned his eyes toward the stage. +The temple of the sun was still dark, but a new brilliant light was +beaming over it; in its middle was the word "Napoleon" in large +flaming letters, which illumined the whole scene. In this sight the +audience were unable to restrain their delight, and burst into the +deafening cheers which had interrupted Napoleon's words. + +The King of Saxony was evidently pleased with this outburst of +enthusiasm. "Now," he thought, "the great Napoleon will forget the +disagreeable scene of this morning. The people then were silent, and +admired, but to-night they have recovered their speech; and when we +leave the theatre, and behold the whole city in a flood of light, +Napoleon will feel convinced that my subjects love him sincerely.-- +But what is that? The emperor rises. Does he intend already to leave +the theatre?" And he hastened to Napoleon, who advanced toward him. +"Let us leave, sire," he said. "These flatteries are more than +enough. You see the sun has set here." + +"But he is still among us, sire," said Frederick Augustus. "And if +it has grown dark on the stage, the reason is simply, that all the +light now fills the streets of Dresden, to prove to the great +Napoleon that there is no night where he is--that his presence turns +darkness into light, and night into day." + +"Ah," said Napoleon, in a tired, wearied tone, "an illumination then +has been arranged?" + +"Sire, my people, as well as I, cannot find words to utter to your +majesty the transports with which your visit has filled our hearts, +and I hope you will see this in the lights shining at every window. +I request your majesty not to return directly to the palace, but +first ride through the city." + +Napoleon nodded assent. "Let us do so, cher papa," he said; "let us +take a look at your illumination!" He offered his arm to Maria +Louisa, and left the box with her. The crowd of kings, dukes, and +princes, followed him in haste. + +As the King of Saxony descended the staircase with his consort, +Chamberlain von Planitz met him with a pale and frightened face. + +"Well," asked the king, "I suppose the illumination has already +commenced? It must be a splendid spectacle!" + +"Your majesty," said the chamberlain, in a low voice, "the royal +palace and the public buildings are brilliantly lit up, but the +houses of the citizens are dark, and the streets are deserted." + +"But," exclaimed the king, in dismay, "did not the police command +the citizens to illuminate their houses?" + +"Yes, your majesty, the police have done their duty." + +"And yet--" + +"And yet, sire, all the houses are dark. It is as if the whole +population had conspired to disobey the order. The police have again +given orders; they received everywhere the same reply, that neither +oil nor candles were to be had any where." + +"The stubborn people ought to have been told that they would be +punished for this." + +"The police tried this, too, your majesty, threatening that every +citizen who did not obey should be fined a dollar, and all declared +their readiness to pay rather than illuminate." + +"That is open rebellion," said the king, sighing. "The streets, +then, are dark?" + +"Yes, sire." + +"Then we must not take the intended ride through the city," +exclaimed the king, anxiously. "Make haste, baron, countermand the +ride, and--" + +At this moment the first carriage rolled from the portal. "It is too +late," groaned the king. "The emperor has already started. He will +witness our humiliation." + +"Possibly, he may drive immediately to the palace," said the queen. +"He seemed tired and exhausted--" + +"No, no," said the king, "he consented to see the illumination, and +the outriders are instructed accordingly. I myself marked out the +route. But, an expedient occurs to me. Quick, Baron von Planitz! Go +to the outrider of my carriage. Tell him to follow the imperial +carriage as fast as he can ride. He must overtake it, though his +horse die under him. He must order the driver to turn and pass down +Augustus Street to the Linden, and then slowly across the square, to +the palace. Make haste!" The chamberlain hastened to carry out the +king's orders. + +"And we?" asked the queen--"shall we also follow him?" + +"No, we return to the palace, and will wait for him there. The +others, of course, will follow the imperial carriage, and I hope we +shall soon see the two emperors again." Profoundly sighing, the king +conducted his consort to the carriage, and drove with her toward the +palace. A flood of light beamed upon them in the palace square. Huge +pillars, covered with festoons of colored lamps, stood in front of +the long palace bridge, and were connected with each other by +brilliant girandoles. Four similar pillars were in front of the main +portal of the Catholic church at the entrance of Augustus Street. +Around the square altars were erected, on which naphtha was burning. +On the royal palace the Austrian and French coats-of-arms displayed +all their colors with heraldic accuracy. It was a dazzling +spectacle, and even the king himself rejoiced at the beautiful and +imposing effect. "I think," he said, pointing to the pillars, "I +think this will be agreeable to him." + +"Yes, but I am afraid that will be disagreeable to him," said the +queen, pointing to the Neustadt, lying dark on the other side of the +Elbe. + +"Heaven grant that he may not see it!" said the king, sighing; he +then leaned back and closed his eyes until they halted in front of +the portal. "I shall remain here until the emperors arrive," he +added, bowing to his consort. With anxious eyes he gazed upon the +place, and listened in suspense to any distant noise. After waiting +fifteen minutes, the roll of approaching wheels was heard, and now +they thundered across the square and entered the palace portal. King +Frederick Augustus, hat in hand, stepped up with a most submissive +air to the first carriage, the door of which was just opened by +lackeys in gorgeous liveries. He lifted the young empress Maria +Louisa out, and then offered his hand almost timidly to Napoleon to +assist him also. With a quick wave of his hand he refused +assistance, and alighted. Anger was burning in his eyes. + +"We left the theatre at an earlier hour than the citizens expected," +said the king, timidly, "and that is the reason why the illumination +has not yet generally commenced." + +"Oh, no," said Napoleon, in a petulant voice; "YOUR illumination is +magnificent; as to the inhabitants of Dresden, it seems to me, they +are the children of the sun that we saw at the theatre--their lights +have gone out." And the emperor, coldly bowing to the king, and +offering his arm to his consort, walked with her into the palace. + +"He is not in good humor," muttered Frederick Augustus, in dismay. +"Oh, he is incensed at me!" + +At this moment the Emperor Francis, with his consort, met him. "A +very pretty idea," said the emperor, with a laughing face, "to unite +the coats-of-arms of Austria and France in such a blaze of +variegated light! It gladdens one's heart to behold them. I thank +your majesty for having thus exhibited my coat-of-arms. It looks +admirably by the side of that of France." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +NAPOLEON'S HIGH-BORN ANCESTORS. + + +A new guest had arrived at Dresden to do homage to Napoleon--the +King of Prussia, accompanied by the young crown prince, and +Chancellor von Hardenberg. The two inimical friends, the Emperor of +France and the King of Prussia, met for the first time at the rooms +of the Queen of Saxony, and shook hands with forced kindness. They +exchanged but a few words, when Napoleon withdrew, inviting the king +to participate in the gala dinner and ball to take place that day. +The king accepted the invitation with a bow, without replying a +word, and repaired to the Marcolini palace, where quarters had been +provided for him and his suite. Not a member of the royal family +deemed it necessary to accompany him. He went away quietly and +alone. His arrival had not been greeted, like that of Napoleon and +the Emperor of Austria, with ringing of bells and cannon salutes, +nor had the soldiers formed in line on both sides of the streets +through which he passed on entering the city. The court had not +shown any attention to him, but allowed him to make his entry into +Dresden without any display whatever. + +But if the court thought they might with impunity violate the rules +of etiquette because Frederick William was unfortunate, the people +indemnified him for this neglect, and honored him. Thousands hurried +out of the gate to cheer him on his arrival, and escorted him amid +the most enthusiastic acclamations to the royal palace. When he left +it again, the crowd followed him to the Marcolini palace, and +cheered so long in front of it that the king appeared on the +balcony. It is true, the anterooms of the king were deserted; no +smiling courtiers' faces, no chamberlains adorned with glittering +orders, no dignitaries, no marshals, princes, or dukes, were there; +but below in the street was his real anteroom--there his devoted +courtiers were waiting for their royal master, looking up to his +windows, and longing for his coming. The smiles with which they +greeted Frederick William were no parasites' smiles, and the love +beaming from those countless eyes was faithful and true. + +Beneath the residence of Napoleon the people did not stand, as +usual, in silent curiosity staring at the windows, behind which from +time to time the pale face of the emperor showed itself. The street +was empty--those who formerly stood there were now joyously +thronging in front of the King of Prussia's quarters; they had +recovered their voices, and often cheered in honor of Frederick +William III. + +The anterooms of Napoleon indeed presented an animated spectacle. A +brilliant crowd filled them at an early hour; there were generals +and marshals, the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine, the +dukes, princes, and kings of Germany, whom Napoleon had newly +created--all longing for an audience, in order to wrest from +Napoleon's munificence a province belonging to a neighbor, a title, +or a prominent office. Germany was in the hands of Napoleon, and to +bow the lower to him was to be raised the higher. In these rooms of +the emperor there was the unwonted spectacle of German sovereigns +soliciting instead of granting favors; and, instead of being +surrounded by, were themselves courtiers, who, in the most +submissive manner, sought the intercession of adjutants and +chamberlains, to procure admission to the imperial presence and +favor. + +And all these courtiers gave vent to their love and admiration for +Napoleon in terms of the most extravagant praise. They spoke with +prophetic ecstasy of the fresh laurels that Napoleon was to bind +upon his brow, and of Alexander's madness to resist a conqueror +destined to make new triumphs for the glory of France and the +humiliation of Russia. Yet, when two or three of these expectant +gentlemen stood in some window-niche, and believed themselves beyond +the reach of indiscreet ears, they dared to ask each other, in a low +and anxious tone, whether all this splendor would not soon vanish as +a meteor--whether one might not see the aurora of a new day dawning- +-whether the battles into which Napoleon was about to plunge so +recklessly would not result in the downfall of him whom they +publicly extolled, but secretly cursed. But, to these whispered +questions the brilliant anterooms, the marshals of the empire, +crowned with victory, the dukes and princes, the court of Napoleon, +composed of the sovereigns of Germany, made a triumphant reply. +Secret hope could hardly survive in the recollection of the +greatness and invariable good fortune of Napoleon, and they who +desired the humiliation of the conqueror yielded to submission. +Returning to the crowd of princely courtiers, they renewed their +enthusiasm, and joined in the plaudits of Napoleon's admirers. + +When the emperor, with Maria Louisa, entered the room, all pressed +forward, anxious to receive a glance, a smile, or a pleasant +salutation. Rank and etiquette were overlooked; there was but one +master, one sovereign, to whom all were doing homage. Rushing toward +him, each one tried to outstrip the other; and many a high +dignitary, prime minister, prince, duke, or king, was pushed aside +by an inferior. Napoleon stood in the centre of the room, uttering +words of condescending affability to the fortunate men nearest him. + +Suddenly cheers resounded in the streets, rattling the window-panes. +Napoleon looked in the direction of the windows. "What is that?" he +asked, turning to the Duke de Bassano. + +"Sire," said the duke, "the good people of Dresden are impatient to +see their imperial majesties of France, and pay them their +respects." + +More deafening shouts were heard. Napoleon smiled, and hastily +walking with his consort through the circle of the courtiers stepped +to the open window. He frowned as he looked down. An immense crowd +had gathered below, but their faces were not turned toward the +windows of the royal palace, and their cheers were not intended for +the emperor. The multitude crossed the square, and in their midst +drove slowly an open carriage surrounded by the enthusiastic people. +In this carriage sat the King of Prussia, to whom were given the +loud greetings mistaken by Napoleon. He understood it at a glance, +and, stepping back from the window with the empress, turned to +Grand-Marshal Duroc, who was standing by his side. "See that the +populace go home," he said, hastily, "and that they no longer +disturb the people of the city by indecent and riotous proceedings. +I do not wish to hear any more yelling near the palace!" + +Duroc bowed, and withdrew to instruct the police officers not to +tolerate any similar conduct on the part of the citizens. The +emperor meanwhile turned to Duke Augustus of Gotha, who had just +succeeded in penetrating through the ranks of courtiers, with his +broad shoulders and colossal form. + +"Ah, you are back again, duke?" asked the emperor, kindly. "Did you +attend thoroughly to your government affairs?" + +"I did, sire," said the duke, nearly bowing to the ground, and then +seizing the emperor's hand to press it to his lips. + +"Well, I must confess that you accomplished your task with great +rapidity. Was it not three days since you took leave of us to go to +Gotha?" + +"Yes, sire, I set out three days ago." + +"And you are back already! You performed the trip and your official +business in so short a time! How large is your duchy, then?" + +"Sire," said the Duke of Gotha, quickly, "it is as large as your +majesty commands it to be." [Footnote: This reply is historical] + +Napoleon's smile was reflected in the faces of those seeking his +favors. + +At this moment the doors of the outer anteroom opened, and on the +threshold appeared the grave and dignified form of King Frederick +William. The courtiers, with an impatient expression, receded +anxiously, as though afraid of contact with this unfortunate man, +who had no territories, no riches, no honors to offer them, but had +come as a vassal to pacify the wrath of Napoleon, and save at least +a remnant of his kingdom. But the king did not come with craven +heart; he did not hasten his approach to the emperor with fawning +submissiveness, but slowly, with his head proudly erect, and a grave +air. + +Napoleon received him with a haughty nod. "Your majesty, you must +have had a troublesome drive from your quarters to the royal +palace," he said harshly. "I noticed that the gaping crowd were +thronging about your carriage and annoying you." + +"Pardon me, sire," said the king, "the people did not annoy me. They +did me the honor of bidding me welcome, and this was the more +generous, as I am not one of those who are favored by Fortune. But +the German people yield sometimes to generous impulse, and show +thereby how little they know of the etiquette and sagacity of +courtiers." + +While uttering these words, the king glanced with his clear, calm +eyes--in which a slightly sarcastic expression was to be seen--at +the multitude of brilliantly adorned and distinguished gentlemen who +tried to get as far as possible from him. Napoleon smiled. He +himself despised sycophancy sufficiently to be pleased with this +rebuke. But his severe look returned, and he gazed with some +indignation upon the tall form of the King of Prussia. He noticed +that, while himself appeared in silk stockings and buckled shoes, +the king had come in long trousers and boots. + +"Your majesty, doubtless, was not informed that there would be a +ball after the banquet?" asked Napoleon, pointing to the king's +boots. + +"I was, sire, but since the death of my consort I have not danced." + +"But etiquette," exclaimed Napoleon, vehemently, "etiquette is--" + +"Sire," interrupted the king, in a calm and dignified tone, +"etiquette is intended for parasites and people of the court, and it +is very proper for them to adhere to it. But a sovereign king, I +should think, has a right to disregard it, and follow the promptings +of his own inclinations." + +The door of the anteroom opened again, and the grand marshal +appeared to announce dinner. The emperor offered his arm to Maria +Louisa, preceded by the high dignitaries and the officers of his +household, and followed by the swarm of princes and gentlemen of the +courts. The King of Prussia, taking the place to which his rank +entitled him, walked on the other side of the empress, and entered +the dining-hall at the same time with Napoleon, amid the notes of +the imperial band. Napoleon walked with his consort to his guests, +who were waiting for him in the centre of the hall--the Emperor and +Empress of Austria, and the King and Queen of Saxony. + +The banquet was a distinguished one, and the French cooks of +Napoleon's household had displayed all their culinary skill to +satisfy the palate of even the most fastidious epicures. Napoleon, +as usual, gave his guests but little time to revel in the delicacies +prepared for them. Scarcely half an hour had elapsed since the +commencement of the dinner, when he rose, and thereby gave the +signal that the gala-dinner was at an end. + +The Emperor Francis, who was almost always in good humor, could not +refrain from frowning, and, after offering his arm to his consort to +conduct her to the saloon, where coffee was to be served, he +muttered, "I do not know, but it seems to me that the Emperor +Napoleon eats too little." + +"And yet he has so hearty an appetite, that he is able to swallow +and digest the territories of sovereigns," whispered the Empress +Ludovica, with a sneer. "He is now as satisfied as an anaconda after +devouring an ox." + +"Yes, but we poor mortals are still hungry," said Francis, +thoughtfully. "It does not do us any good that his appetite is +satisfied." + +"There will be a day when our hunger shall be appeased, and he +starve," said the empress. + +"Hush!" whispered Francis, "not a word against him! He is my son-in- +law, Ludovica. And, besides, he has an appetite strong enough yet to +swallow another ox." + +"He will get it in Russia, I suppose?" said Ludovica, quickly. + +"Yes," said Francis. "He explained his whole plan to me and +Metternich for over an hour to-day, and proved to us that four weeks +hence there would be no Russian emperor; that Russia would fall to +ruins and decay. He dwelt on a great many other things, and told us +of gigantic schemes, which, to tell the truth, I did not comprehend +very well. Let me confess to you," he whispered, standing near the +door of the reception-room, "that his words almost frightened me. +His heart may be all right, but as to his head, I am afraid there is +something wrong about it." [Footnote: The emperor's own words,--Vide +Hormayer's "Lebensbilder," vol. iii.] + +Ludovica smiled. "Do you believe, then, my husband, that he has +really a heart?" she asked. "But as to his head, the princes and +nations of Europe, I hope, will soon find an opportunity to set it +right." + +"Hush!" said Francis again; "he is my son-in-law." + +"And because he is your son-in-law, your majesty should hesitate no +longer to deliver to him, or rather to his consort, the precious +gift which you ordered for her, and which arrived to-day." + +"It is true," exclaimed Francis. "Let us at once present the gift to +Maria Louisa." + +He entered the saloon and hastily approached his daughter, who stood +with Napoleon in the centre of the room, and was just handing him a +cup of coffee, to which she herself had added sugar and cream. +[Footnote: The Empress Josephine, in her tender care for Napoleon, +who frequently forgot to take his coffee, was in the habit of +preparing a cup for him after dinner, and presenting it to him, +Maria Louisa had adopted Josephine's habit.] + +"Louisa," said Francis, kindly nodding as he approached her, "I have +a little gift for you, which I hope will be acceptable. I ordered it +several months since, but when we set out from Vienna it was not +ready. To-day, however, it has arrived, and, as we are now in a +family circle, I may as well present it to you. That is to say," +added the emperor, bowing to Napoleon, "if your majesty permits me +to do so." + +"Your majesty was right in saying that we are here a family circle," +said Napoleon, smiling; "and as the father is always the head and +master, I have nothing to permit, but only to pray that your majesty +may make what present your love has chosen for her." + +"And I assure you, father," exclaimed Maria Louisa, smiling, "I am +as anxious to know what you have for me as I was at the time when I +was a little archduchess, and when your majesty promised me a +surprise. Let me, therefore, see your gift." + +Francis smiled, and, walking to the open door of the adjoining room +(where the dukes, who did not belong to the imperial family, the +princes, the marshals, and courtiers, were assembled), made a sign +to one of the gentlemen, who stood near the door. The latter +immediately left the room, and returned after a few minutes with an +oblong, narrow something, carefully wrapped in a piece of gold +brocatel, which he presented to the emperor with a respectful bow. +Francis took it hastily, and approached Maria Louisa with a solemn +air. "Here, Louisa," he said, kindly, "here is my present. It will +show you what, it is true, every day proves to admiring Europe, +namely, that genuine royal blood is flowing in the veins of your +husband." + +Maria Louisa opened the covering with inquisitive impatience, and +there appeared under it a golden box, ornamented with diamonds and +pearls. "What magnificent diamonds!" she exclaimed. "What skilful +work!" said Napoleon, smiling. + +"The box was made by Benvenuto Cellini," said Francis; "it was +highly prized by my lamented father, the Emperor Leopold, who +brought it from Florence to Vienna. But that is not the principal +thing--the contents are more important. Here is the key, Louisa; +open the box!" He handed her a golden key, and Maria Louisa applied +it to the key-hole, adorned with large oriental turquoises. Around +her stood the Emperor and Empress of Austria, the King and Queen of +Saxony, the King of Prussia, and the Grand-duke of Wurzburg; +Napoleon was close beside her. All eyes were expressive of curiosity +and suspense. Nothing was there but a roll of parchment. Maria +Louisa unfolded it. "A pedigree!" she exclaimed, wonderingly. + +"Yes, a pedigree," said the Emperor Francis, merrily, "but a very +precious and beautiful one, which you may put into the cradle of the +little King of Rome, and from which he may learn his letters. Sire," +he then added, turning to Napoleon, "your majesty must allow me to +add another jewel to your imperial crown. I mean, this pedigree. It +proves irrefutably that your majesty is the descendant of a glorious +old sovereign family, which ruled over Treviso during the middle +ages. Signor Giacamonte, the most renowned genealogist in all Italy, +devoted himself, at my request, for a whole year to this study, and +succeeded in proving that the Bonaparte family is of ancient and +sovereign origin." + +"That is a splendid discovery," exclaimed Maria Louisa, with +delight; "my little King of Rome, consequently, has a very +respectable number of distinguished ancestors?" + +"More than fifty!" exclaimed her father, proudly. "Look here; this +is the founder of the whole family, the Duca di Buon et Malaparte; +he lived in the twelfth century." + +He pointed to the genealogical trunk of the beautifully painted and +ornamented pedigree, of which Maria Louisa held the lower end, while +the King and Queen of Saxony obligingly took hold of the upper end. +The King of Prussia stood beside them and witnessed this strange +scene with a scarcely perceptible smile, while the Empress Ludovica +looked with undisguised scorn into the joy-excited countenance of +her step-daughter. Napoleon surveyed the faces of all present with a +rapid glance, and an expression of sublime pride overspread his +countenance. + +"Look," exclaimed the Emperor Francis, bending over the pedigree, +"there is his name! There is the founder of Napoleon's family." + +At this moment Napoleon laid his hand gently on his shoulder. "Oh, +no," he said, "the founder of that family stands here." + +"Where, then?" asked Francis, eagerly, still bending over and +looking for the name. + +"If your majesty desires to see him, you must be so kind as to avert +your eyes from that piece of parchment, and turn them toward me," +said Napoleon, raising his voice. + +Francis looked up and gazed wonderingly upon his son-in-law. +Napoleon smiled; it was a triumphant smile. "I, and I alone, am the +founder of Napoleon's family," he said, slowly and solemnly. "I am +the ancestor of those who bear my name. The King of Rome needs no +other, unless it be that your majesty should count every victory +which his father gained an ancestor, and compose his pedigree from +the laurels I have obtained in Europe and Africa. My son has a right +to despise ancestors invisible in the darkness of by-gone centuries, +whom history does not mention, while the vainest genealogy can +scarcely discover that they lived and died. My grandsons and great- +grandsons need not seek the name of the founder of their family on +decayed parchments and confused pedigrees; they only need read the +pages of history. They will also find it at night in the marshalled +host of heaven, where twinkles a star which science names Napoleon. +I think, sire, that star will never set; it will illuminate the path +of your grandson better than the lamp flickering in the tombs of +mouldering ancestors." + +Maria Louisa at the first words of Napoleon withdrew her hands from +the pedigree, and stood half sullen and ashamed by the side of her +husband. The royal couple of Saxony hastened to roll up the pedigree +as quickly as possible, and put it back into the golden box. + +Napoleon offered his arm to his consort. "Come, madame," he said, +"let us go to the ball-room." While he was walking away with her, +the Emperor Francis turned to Ludovica, and, tapping his forehead, +whispered cautiously, "I was right! There is something wrong in +Napoleon's head." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +NAPOLEON'S DEPARTURE FROM DRESDEN. + + +The brilliant court ball ended, and Napoleon retired to his cabinet. +He seemed more careworn than he had ever allowed any of his +attendants to notice. He was slowly walking his room, casting an +occasional glance on the map marked with the positions of the +various corps now near the frontiers of Russia. "Narbonne has not +yet arrived," he muttered to himself. "Alexander seems really to +hesitate whether to make peace or not. My four hundred thousand men, +who have reached the Niemen, will frighten him, and he will submit +as all the others. He will not dare to bid me defiance! He will +yield! He--" Suddenly Napoleon paused and stepped hastily to the +window on which he had happened to fix his eyes. A strange spectacle +presented itself. The large square directly in front of his windows, +which on the day of his arrival had been so splendidly lit up, was +dark and silent; but, on the other side of the river, the Neustadt +was now in a flood of light, and it seemed to him as if he heard +cheers. He opened the window, and, leaning out, saw the houses +illuminated--even the residences of the neighboring Palace Street. +These houses, like those in the other parts of the city, had given +previously no token of joy, and remained in darkness. The emperor +shut the window angrily and rang the bell. "Tell the grand marshal I +wish to see him," he said to the footman. + +A few minutes afterward Duroc entered. "Duroc," exclaimed the +emperor, in an angry voice, and pointing his arm at the window, +"what is the meaning of that illumination? In whose honor is it?" + +"Sire," said Duroc, slowly, "I suppose it is in honor of the King of +Prussia, who arrived to-day." + +The emperor stamped on the floor, and his eyes flashed. "The +inhabitants of Dresden are rebels, and ought to be brought to their +senses by bomb-shells!" he shouted, in a thundering voice. "What +does the King of Prussia concern them? And why do they show him this +honor?" + +"Sire," said Duroc, smiling, "the people, as the King of Prussia +said to-day, know but little of etiquette, and are not so wise as +courtiers." + +"'People!'" growled Napoleon. "There are no 'people;' there are only +subjects, and they ought to be punished with fire and sword if they +think of playing the part of 'the people.' Did I not issue orders +to-day to the effect that all demonstrations should be prohibited? +Why were my orders disobeyed?" + +"Sire, they were obeyed so far as it was in our power. The police +managed to prevent the populace from gathering and shouting in the +street, but they are unable forcibly to enter the houses, because +the inmates, without making any further demonstration, placed a few +lights at their windows. Our agents, nevertheless, went to the +proprietors of some of the houses, and asked for the reason of this +sudden and unexpected demonstration. They replied that it was in +honor of the Emperor Napoleon, the guest of their king." + +"The villains! They dare to falsify!" exclaimed Napoleon. "The facts +are against them. On the day when they were to illuminate in honor +of my arrival, all the houses were gloomy as the grave, on account +of hostility to me. The same feeling is the reason of to-day's +illumination. It seems, then, that the king of Prussia is +exceedingly popular in Saxony?" + +"Yes, sire. The king, as I positively know, had instructed the +inhabitants of the Prussian places through which he had to pass on +his journey to Dresden, not to receive him in any formal manner +whatever; but, of course, he was unable to issue such orders in +regard to the cities and villages of Saxony. Well, so soon as he +crossed the Saxon frontier, he was everywhere received in the most +ardent manner. All the bells were rung in the towns of Juterbogk and +Grossenhayn on his arrival, and the whole population, headed by the +municipal authorities, and all the other functionaries, came to meet +him on the outskirts of the towns, and cheered him in the most +jubilant manner." + +"And how did he receive these honors?" + +"He thanked the citizens, in plain and simple words, for the +disinterested respect they were good enough to pay to a German +prince." + +"A German prince?" repeated Napoleon, vehemently; "ah, this little +King of Prussia still braves me! I was too generous at Tilsit! I +must cut his wings still shorter! I will show him what the French +emperor can do with a German prince, when he dares to bid me +defiance!" + +"Sire," said Duroc, in a suppliant voice, "I beseech your majesty +not to go too far! The King of Prussia is backed by the sympathies +of the whole German nation. His misfortunes cause the people to look +on him as a martyr. They also believe that he participates but +reluctantly in this Russian war, and this increases the love with +which they regard him, for I venture to say to your majesty that +this nation is opposed to the war." + +"I have not appointed the German nation my secretary of war," +exclaimed Napoleon, "and I have not asked my grand marshal to give +me his advice. Carry out my orders, and do your duty. Tell Berthier +to come to me!" + +Duroc hung his head mournfully, and turned toward the door. The +flaming eyes of Napoleon followed him. Just as the grand marshal +opened the door, he heard the emperor calling him. "Sire?" he asked, +turning, and standing at the door. There was now beaming so much +love and mildness in the emperor's face, that Duroc was unable to +resist, and. as if attracted by a magnetic power, returned. + +"Duroc, my old friend," said Napoleon, offering him his hand, "I +thank you for your good advice, for, though I did not ask it, it was +well meant. I know full well that the so-called German people, as +well as their princes, however they may cajole me, are opposed to +this war. Oh, I know those treacherous princes! I know that those +who flatter me today in the most abject manner, are only watching +for an opportunity to avenge themselves for their sycophancy; but I +have chained them to me with iron bands, and extracted their teeth, +so that they are unable to bite--their teeth, that is to say, their +soldiers, whom I am taking with me into this last and decisive war. +For I tell you, Duroc, it will be our last campaign. On the ruins of +Moscow I will compel Alexander to submit, and then peace will bo +restored to Europe for years to come. And who knows, it may not be +necessary to go so far? Perhaps it may be sufficient for me to march +my army as far as the Niemen, to awaken Alexander from his reveries, +and bring him to his senses." + +"Alas, sire!" said Duroc, sighing, "Alexander has loved your majesty +too tenderly not to feel irritated in the highest degree." + +"Is it I, then, who broke this friendship?" exclaimed Napoleon, +vehemently. "Is it I who brought about this war? Have I not rather +resorted to all means in order to avoid it? Have I not twice sent +Lauriston to Alexander, and offered him peace in case he should +fulfil my conditions: to shut his ports against British ships, to +lay an embargo upon British goods, and give up commercial +intercourse with England? But, emboldened by his victories over the +Turks, the Emperor of Russia takes the liberty of dictating +conditions to me! He asks me to give him an indemnity for +confiscating the states of his brother-in-law, the Prince of +Oldenburg; he demands that I should not engage to reestablish the +kingdom of Poland! He wants to impose on me the terms by which peace +is to be maintained! Conditions! I am the man to make them, but not +to accept any! That would be a humiliation I could not submit to! +You see, therefore, Duroc, I have been compelled to enter upon this +war; I did not seek it, but I cannot avoid it. You see the justice +of it, do you not? You know that I desired, and am still desiring +peace, and that it is with a heavy heart I shed the blood of my +brave soldiers." + +"Sire," said Duroc, with a faint smile, "I see at least that it is +too late now to speak of peace, inasmuch as an army of four hundred +thousand men is waiting on the Niemen for the arrival of your +majesty." + +"Let Alexander speak; let him accept my terms, and it will not be +too late," exclaimed Napoleon. "I am looking for Narbonne, who may +arrive at any moment. He will bring us either peace or war, for he +will have Alexander's final reply. As soon as he arrives he must be +admitted, no matter whether I am asleep or awake. Go, now, Duroc! +Tell Berthier to come to me!" + +When Berthier entered, the emperor was standing at the window, and +looking over to the Neustadt, which was still in a blaze of light. +The marshal remained respectfully at the door, waiting to be +addressed. A long pause ensued. Suddenly Napoleon turned his pale +countenance to Berthier, and exclaimed: "Berthier, you will set out +immediately. Go to Berlin, and convey my order to the Duke de +Belluno. Tell him that I recommend the utmost vigilance, and that it +is his task to maintain order in Prussia. The population of that +country are very seditious. They are constantly ready to conspire +and rise in rebellion, and who knows whether Frederick William will +not make common cause with the insurgents? This ought to be +prevented by all means; war is at hand; hence we must redouble our +firmness and vigilance, that no revolution may annoy us in our rear. +You will repeat all this to the duke, and take him my instructions." + +"Sire," said Berthier, "if your majesty has no further orders, I +shall set out immediately." + +"You will tell the Duke de Belluno that it is my will that no +Prussian general or officer shall command at Berlin, and that the +French general alone must give all necessary orders. Sit down; I +will dictate to you the other instructions." + +Berthier took a seat at the desk, and waited, pen in hand, for the +emperor's words. Casting again a glance on the city honoring the +King of Prussia, he dictated: "Special care is to be taken that +neither at Berlin nor in its vicinity shall there be a depot of +small-arms or cannon, which the populace might take possession of. +No Prussian troops whatever shall be left at Berlin, and what few +regular soldiers remain at the capital shall exclusively perform the +military service at the palace. The French troops at Berlin shall +not be lodged with the citizens, but take up their quarters at the +barracks, and, if these should be insufficient for their +accommodation, encamp in the open field. You will constantly keep +some field-pieces ready for immediate use, in order to suppress any +seditious movements that might take place. Every insult heaped upon +a Frenchman will be punished by a court-martial according to the +laws of war. Besides, it is necessary that the governor-general of +Berlin should organize a secret police, that he may know what is +going on, and have a vigilant eye on all dangerous attempts at +disturbing the public peace. You will inform the Duke de Belluno +that the administration of the country will be entirely left to the +king's ministers, but that the surveillance of the newspapers, as +well as all other publications, and the whole organization of the +police, must be in the duke's hands, that nothing may give a +dangerous impulse to the people, and that they may have no +opportunities of entering into a rebellion. Prussia must be kept +down by all means at our command. You will tell the Duke de Belluno +that I have given orders that three or four well-informed French +officers should stay at Colberg and Graudenz. The right of having a +Prussian garrison was reserved only to Colberg, and Potsdam is the +only city through which the French troops are not allowed to pass; +but the inhabitants of Potsdam should be accustomed to see many +French officers in their midst. The latter must frequently stop +there overnight on the pretext of seeing the city, and, if their own +curiosity should not impel them to do so, their commander should +induce them to pursue the course I have indicated. The duke shall, +under all circumstances, show the greatest deference to the King of +Prussia, and even to affectation at festivals and on all public +occasions. He shall, besides, frequently invite to his table the +Prussian ministers, and what few Prussian officers will be left at +Berlin, and always treat them in the most polite and obliging +manner. But at all hours a vigilant eye must be had on the king as +well as on the authorities and the people, and the duke ought always +to be ready to put down the slightest demonstration or disorder. I +have done," said Napoleon. "Go, Berthier, and comply carefully with +my instructions. No confidence can be reposed in Frederick William +or in his people. We have subjugated Prussia, but it may perhaps be +necessary to crush her. At the slightest provocation this must be +done; if she will not be an honest ally, I will prove to her that I +am an honest enemy, and, to give her this proof, put an end to her +existence. Go, Berthier; set out immediately." + +Berthier withdrew, while Napoleon returned to the window with a +triumphant air. "Ah, my little King of Prussia," he said, +scornfully, "they kindle lights here under my eyes in honor of your +petty majesty, but my breath can extinguish them and leave you in a +profound darkness. Another such provocation, and your throne breaks +down. Another--" + +The door of the antechamber was hastily opened, and Roustan +appeared. "Sire," he said, "his excellency Count de Narbonne +requests an audience." + +"Narbonne!" ejaculated Napoleon, joyously. "Come in, Narbonne, come +in!" And he hastened to meet the count, who entered the cabinet, +and, as an experienced cavalier of the court of Louis XVI., made his +bows in strict accordance with etiquette. + +"Omit these unnecessary ceremonies," said Napoleon, quivering with +impatience and anxiety. "I have been looking for you a long time. +What results do you bring me?" + +"Sire," said the count, with his imperturbable, diplomatic smile, "I +am afraid the result of my mission will be war." + +"What!" exclaimed Napoleon, eagerly, and, for a moment, a faint +blush tinged his cheeks. "What! The Emperor Alexander will not +yield? He refuses to comply with my conditions?" + +"Sire, your majesty will permit me to repeat to you the emperor's +own words," said the count, with composure. "When I had laid your +propositions before his majesty, and told him that if the czar +should shut his ports against British ships, continue the war with +England, lay an embargo on all British goods, and give up all direct +and indirect commercial intercourse with England, your majesty then +would make peace with Russia, the Emperor Alexander exclaimed +vehemently, 'Such a peace I would accept only after having been +forced into the interior of Siberia!'" [Footnote: Alexander's own +words.--Vide "Memoires d'un Homme d'Etat," vol. xiii., p. 375.] + +"Ah," exclaimed Napoleon, "I will give him the pleasure of that +journey. He will become acquainted with Siberia, and there I mean to +dictate terms of peace, unless I prefer to leave him there forever. +Did you bring any other dispatches?" + +"I did, sire. Here is the official reply of Minister Count Romanzoff +to the letter of the Duke de Bassano, of which I was the bearer. It +is nothing but a repetition of the phrases which the Russian +ambassador at Paris made to us up to the day of his departure. Here +is Romanzoff's letter. Will your majesty be so gracious as to read +it?" + +Napoleon took the paper and glanced over it. "You are right," he +said, flinging the paper contemptuously on the table. "Nothing but +the same phrase: 'Alexander wants peace, but is unable to fulfil my +conditions.' Well, then, he shall have war! The first shot +discharged at my soldiers will be answered by a thousand cannon, and +they will announce to the world that Napoleon is expelling the +barbarians from Europe." + +"Sire," said Narbonne, smiling, "if your majesty intends to wait +until the Russians fire the first gun, there will be no war, and may +it be so! The Emperor Alexander has made up his mind not to take the +initiative. Only when the armies of your majesty have crossed the +frontier of Russia, when you have forcibly entered his states, will +Alexander look upon the war as begun, but he will not carry it +beyond the boundaries of his country: he will not meet the enemy, +whom he would still like so much to call his friend, outside the +frontiers of his empire." + +"Ah, I knew well that Alexander is hesitating," exclaimed Napoleon, +triumphantly. "He dares not attack me, and his vacillation will give +me time to complete my preparations, and surround him so closely +that he cannot escape. While he is still dreaming at the Kremlin of +the possibility of peace, I shall be at the gates, and ask him in +the thunder of my cannon whether he will submit, or bury himself +beneath the ruins of his throne." + +"He will choose the latter," exclaimed Narbonne, quickly. + +"He will not!" said Napoleon, proudly. "He will submit! A terrible +blow struck in the heart of the empire, Moscow--holy Moscow-- +delivers Russia into my hands. I know Alexander; I exerted formerly +great influence over him. I must dazzle his imagination by boldness +and energy, and he will return to my friendship." + +"Heaven grant that it may be so!" said Narbonne, sighing. + +"It is so!" said Napoleon, confidently, walking with rapid steps and +proud head; "yes, it is so! Fate has intrusted me with the mission +of ridding Europe of the barbarians. The logic of events +necessitates this war, and even family ties, such as we proposed to +form at our interview at Erfurt, would not have prevented it. The +barbarism of Russia is threatening the whole of Europe. Think of +Suwarrow and his Tartars in Italy! Our reply ought to be, to hurl +them back beyond Moscow; and when would Europe be able to do so, +unless now and through me." [Footnote: Napoleon's own words.--Vide +"Souvenirs du Comte Villemain," vol. i., p. 168] "But, sire, +Europe, in the madness of her hatred, would prefer to make common +cause with Russia. Suppose she should offer her hand to the Tartars +and Cossacks, to deliver herself from the yoke which the glory and +greatness of Napoleon have imposed upon her neck? Sire, at this +decisive hour you must permit me to tell you the truth: I am afraid +the hatred, the cunning malice and rage of your enemies, will this +time be stronger than the military skill of your majesty, and the +bravery of the hundreds of thousands who have followed you with such +enthusiasm. Your majesty says that Alexander is hesitating, and that +may, perhaps, be true; but his people are the more resolute, and so +is the emperor's suite. They are bent on having war, and with the +whole strength of mortal hatred and patriotic fanaticism. The +people, instigated by their venomous and impassioned priests, regard +this as a holy war, commanded by God Himself. Their priests have +told them that the Emperor of the French is coming with his armies +to devastate Russia, to destroy the altars and images of the saints, +and to dethrone the czar, in order to place himself on the throne. +The Russian people, who, in their childlike innocence, believe to be +true whatever their priests tell them, feel themselves profoundly +wounded in their most sacred sympathies: love for the fatherland, +the church, and the czar, and they are rising to a man to save them. +Sire, this war which your majesty is about to commence is no +ordinary war: the enemy will not oppose you in the open field; like +the Parthian, he will seemingly flee from his pursuer; he will decoy +you forward, but in the thicket or ravine he will conceal himself, +and when you pass by will have you at an advantage. He will never +allow you to fight him in a pitched battle, but every village and +cottage will be an obstacle, a rampart obstructing your route. Every +peasant will regard himself a soldier, and believe it his bounden +duty to fight, however sure he may be to die. Sire, the terrible +scenes in Spain may be renewed in Russia, for all Russia will be a +vast Saragossa; women, children, and old men, will participate in +this struggle; they will die eating poisoned bread with the enemy, +rather than give him wholesome food." + +"You are exaggerating!" exclaimed Napoleon, sneeringly. "In truth, +it is mere imagination to compare the Russian serf--the blood in +whose veins is frozen by Siberian cold, and whose back is cut up and +bowed by the knout--with the Spaniard, passionate and free beneath a +torrid sun, and who in his rags still feels himself noble and a +grandee. But these exaggerations shall not influence me! The die is +cast: I cannot recede! Great Heaven! this tedious old Europe! I will +bring from Russia the keys to unlock a new world. Or do you believe, +you short-sighted little men, that I have undertaken, merely for the +sake of Russia, this greatest expedition that military history will +ever engrave upon its tablets? No; Moscow is to me but the gate of +Asia! My route to India passes that way. Alexander the Great had as +long a route to the Ganges as I shall have from Moscow, and yet he +reached his destination. Should I shrink from what he succeeded in +accomplishing? Since the days of St. Jean d'Acre I have thought of +this scheme; if it had not been for the discontinuance of the siege +and the plague, I should at that time have conquered one-half of +Asia, and have thence returned to Europe for the thrones of Germany +and Italy. Do not look at me so wonderingly, Narbonne. I tell you +nothing but my real schemes. They shall be carried into effect, and +then you and the world will have to acknowledge that my words are +oracles, my actions miracles, and every day a new one! [Footnote: +Napoleon's own words.--Vide Villemain, "Souvenirs," vol. i, p. 180.] +In the morning I set out early and repair to the headquarters of my +army. Do not say a word, Narbonne! I leave Dresden early in the +morning. The fate of Russia is decided! Go!" He waved his hand +toward the door, and turned his back to Narbonne. + +The count left the imperial cabinet with a sigh. In the corridor +outside he met Berthier and Duroc, who seemed to await him. "Well," +both of them asked eagerly, "were your representations successful? +Will the emperor, at the eleventh hour, make peace?" + +Narbonne shook his head sadly. "It was all in vain," he replied. "He +wishes war, and you do not even dream how far he means to carry it. +When listening to him, one believes him to be either a demigod, to +whom temples should be built, or a lunatic, who should be sent to +Bedlam!" [Footnote: Count Louis de Narbonne's own words.--Vide +"Souvenir," vol. i.] + + + + +THE LAST DAYS OF 1812 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE CONSPIRATORS OF HELGOLAND. + + +The storm was howling over the ocean, revealing its depths, and +hurling its foaming waves to the sky. They dashed wildly against +yonder lofty rock that calmly overlooked the anger of the tempest. +It was the rock of Helgoland. In times of old, it towered even more +proudly above the unruly element surrounding it. It was then a +terror to seafaring nations, and when the ships of the rich +merchants of Hamburg, Bremen, Holland, and Denmark, passed it at as +great a distance as possible, the masters made the sign of the +cross, and prayed God would deliver them from this imminent danger. +In ancient days Helgoland was ten times larger than it its now, and +on this old rocky island, which had been the last aslyum of the gods +of northern paganism, lived a warlike people, who knew no other laws +than those, of their own will, no other toil than piracy, and who +submitted to no other master than the chieftain chosen from among +their most colossal fellows. The pirates of Helgoland were desperate +men, who had selected for themselves as a coat of arms a wheel and a +gallows, which they wore embroidered on the sleeves of their +jackets: and their last chieftain, who especially terrified the +hearts of sea-captains passing the island, called himself: "I, by my +own grace, and not that of God, Long Peter, Murderer of the Dutch, +Destroyer of the Hamburgers, Chastiser of the Danes, and Scourge of +the Bremen Ships." But Long Peter, "by his own grace, and not that +of God," had at length fallen a victim to the vicissitudes of life. +The women of Helgoland, revolting against his cruelty, baseness, and +tyranny, surrendered the island, the seat of the ancient gods, to +Admiral Paulsen, of the Danish navy. This occurred in 1684, and +since then Helgoland remained under the authority of the Danish +crown until 1807. The conflagration of Copenhagen melted the chains +that fastened the old gray rock to Denmark, and England, that +triumphantly conveyed the whole Danish fleet to her own shores, +annexed Helgoland. + +The island had become much smaller ever since Long Peter, its last +chieftain, died. The storms had swept over it, tearing rocky masses +from its shores, and flinging them far into the sea, which had +undermined the foundations of Helgoland, and hidden the conquest +beneath the waves. Although small, it was the beacon of Europe. In +the last days of 1812 the eyes of all German patriots were fixed +longingly and hopefully upon that lonely rock in the North Sea. It +was British territory--the first advance which England had made to +the shores of suffering Germany, and, her proud flag waving over it, +made it the asylum of persecuted patriots and members of the secret +leagues. To the red rock, in the midst of the sea, came no French +spies; there were no traitors' ears, for the pilot at the light- +house kept a good lookout, and no suspicious ship was permitted to +anchor; no one was allowed to land without having given a good +account of himself, and satisfying the authorities that confidence +might be reposed in him. Those allowed to disembark were heartily +welcomed, for, by setting foot on the rocky island, they had become +members of the vast family of Napoleon's enemies--of the brethren +who had united against his power--of the conspirators whose sworn +duty it was to oppose Napoleon with the weapons of cunning as well +as force--of intrigue creeping in the dark, or of brave and manly +defiance. + +In Helgoland the swarms of smugglers sheltered, who had taken upon +themselves the risk of trading English goods, against which +Napoleon's hatred tried to shut the entire continent. There came the +crowd of foreign merchants, to purchase of English dealers the goods +which Napoleon's decrees had prohibited in his own dominions, as +well as in those of his allies. Every British manufacturer and +wholesale dealer had his counting-house and depot at Helgoland. Vast +warehouses, resembling palaces, rose on the plateau of the island, +and approaching ships beheld them from afar. In these warehouses +were stored all the articles which British industry was able to +offer to the rest of Europe, and which the people of the whole +continent desired the more ardently, the more rigorously they were +forbidden to purchase them. A very large commercial firm of London +and Manchester had branches of their business on the island; every +wealthy banker had an office there, and people were justified in +calling Helgoland "Little London." You would have thought yourself +in the city of London, when passing through the narrow streets of +the island, lined on both sides with vast warehouses, and reading on +each the names of the most celebrated London firms. You would almost +have fancied you were in the gigantic harbor of the Thames, when +looking at the forest of masts, the animated crowds, the ships and +boats, where from three to four hundred vessels cleared and entered +every day. + +Not only merchants and smugglers, adventurers and speculators, +flocked to Helgoland, but diplomatists, politicians, and patriots +found on the rocky island a refuge and convenient point, where they +might meet their brethren and reunite kindred hearts. The members of +the great secret league hastened from the north and the south of +Europe to Helgoland, to hold meetings there, concert plans, and +communicate to each other what they had succeeded in accomplishing. + +On one of the last days in September, 1812, an unusual commotion +prevailed on the island. It was noon, and yet more than two hundred +ships had arrived and cast anchor. All the stores were open and the +goods displayed; brokers and speculators elbowed themselves in busy +haste through the multitude of merchants, owners of ships, +smugglers, and sailors, that filled the whole upper part of the +island, offering goods for sale in all languages; and among them +were to be seen the beautiful girls of Helgoland, dressed in their +strange costume, and carrying in baskets and on plates all sorts of +delicacies, for which they sought purchasers. + +At a distance from the throng stood three men, who paid but little +attention to the merry, excited crowd. They were closely wrapped in +cloaks, with their hats drawn over their foreheads, and looked +steadfastly upon the sea. Far on the horizon there appeared another +small dark speck, which gradually assumed a definite shape. + +"A ship!" ejaculated one of the three men, eagerly. + +"Yes, a ship," repeated his two companions. They paused, looking +eagerly at the vessel, which rapidly darted across the waves, and +could now be discerned by the unaided eye. + +"Look," said one of the three, "she is a man-of-war. I see the port- +holes." + +"But I do not see her flag," said one of his companions. + +"I do," exclaimed the third, who had hitherto looked at the ship +through a large telescope. "Yellow and blue, the Swedish colors." + +"At length!" exclaimed the first speaker, joyously. "I hope it is +he!" + +"There is another ship," said the second speaker, pointing his hand +to a different part of the horizon. "How she is dashing along!--her +keel cuts the waves so that their foaming crests sweep like a silver +chain behind her. Oh, I like that ship! it seems to me as though she +brings us glad tidings, and comes for our sake, and not for +commercial purposes." + +"Now she unfurls her flag!" exclaimed the third speaker. "It is the +union jack! Oh, you are right, she comes for our sake, and I hope +some friend is on board. But we are forgetting the Swedish vessel. +Where is she?" + +"There! The little fish has become a whale. And see, the English +ship, too, is much larger, and is dancing along like a beauty. Both +are very fast, and in half an hour they will be at anchor in the +harbor." + +"Heaven grant that the friends for whom we are looking may be on +board!" said his two companions, sighing. + +"Your wish will be granted," said their friend. "God is with us and +blesses our league. Has He not already for twelve days bidden the +sea be calm, and not detain us or one of ours by adverse winds? Have +we not all arrived to-day, as we had agreed to, from three different +parts of the world? Why should the other brethren of our league not +be able to do the same?" + +"Yes, you are right," said the first speaker, smiling. "Heaven does +seem to be with us, and it is apparently for our sake that this rock +emerged from the waves as a snug little boudoir for our European +rendezvous. Bonaparte may often enough cast angry glances in this +direction, but the lightning of his eyes and the thunder of his +words do not reach our sea-girt asylum, which God Himself has built +and furnished for us. Grim Bonaparte cannot hurt us here, but we +will try to hurt him, and one day he will find out what we are doing +at the political boudoir of Helgoland." + +"Look," exclaimed his friend, "the two ships have reached the island +at the same time, and are now anchoring." + +"They are lowering their boats," exclaimed the third speaker. "The +passengers are going ashore." + +"Let us go to the place agreed upon, and see whether they are the +brethren we are looking for," said the first speaker. + +"Yes, let us go," exclaimed his two companions. + +Without exchanging another word, they turned and walked hastily +through the busy crowds to the staircase leading from the upper part +of the island to the lower shore. Here they passed through the +streets of small, neat fishermen's huts, and then entered the last +building. A footman in a gorgeous livery received them in the small +hall, and opened with reverential politeness the door leading into +the only room of the hut. The three men walked in, and locked the +door carefully. One of them took off his hat and cloak, and now +stood before his two companions in splendid uniform, his breast +covered with orders. "Permit me, gentlemen," he said, smiling-- +"permit me to greet you here as guests of mine, for you are now at +my house. I have bought this building for the purpose of holding the +meetings of the members of our league. Up to this time we have +recognized each other as friends only by the signs and passwords +that had been agreed on; but now, if you please, we will drop our +incognito. I am Count Munster, minister of the Elector of Hanover +and the King of England." + +"And I," said the second gentleman, taking off his cloak--"I have +the honor of introducing myself to your excellency as the chief of +the Berlin police, who was proscribed and exiled by Bonaparte. My +name is Justus Gruner." + +"A name that I have known a long time, though I was not acquainted +with the man himself," said Count Munster, kindly offering him his +hand. "Let me bid you welcome as a faithful and zealous adherent of +the good cause--as a noble patriot in whom Germany confides and +hopes." + +"It is my turn now to unmask," said the third, whose countenance had +hitherto been almost entirely invisible, so closely had he muffled +himself. Taking off his cloak and hat and bowing to his companions, +he said, "My name is Frederick William of Brunswick." + +"I had the honor to recognize your highness when you were yet in the +boat, and I stood on the shore," said Count Munster, smiling and +bowing respectfully. + +"And why did you not tell me so?" asked the duke, eagerly. + +"Because I respected your incognito, your highness," said the count. + +The duke shook his head, which was covered with dark, curly hair. +"No etiquette, count," he said, almost indignantly. "I am nothing +but a poor soldier, who scarcely knows where to lay his head, whom +grief is tormenting, and whose hunger for vengeance is not +appeased." + +"There will be a time when all those who are hungry, like your +highness, will be satisfied," said Justus Gruner, solemnly. + +"If you speak the truth, my friend," exclaimed the duke, with +emphasis, "the eyes of my blind father, who died in despair, will +reopen, and he will look down with blissful tears upon the delivered +world. And they will blot out his last dying words, that are burning +like fire in my heart. 'Oh, what a disgrace! what a disgrace!' were +the last words my father uttered. I hear them night and day; they +are always resounding in my ears like the death-knell of Germany; +they are ever smarting in my heart like an open wound. Germany is +groaning and lamenting, for Napoleon's foot is still on her neck, +and, mortally wounded and blinded like my father, we are all crying, +'Oh, what a disgrace! what a disgrace!'" + +"But the time will soon come when our wounds will heal," said Count +Munster, gravely. "Our night is passing, the morning dawns, and the +star of Bonaparte will fade forever." + +"I do not think it," said the duke, sighing. "It is still shining +over our heads--he is rather like a threatening meteor, and its +eccentric course is over the snow-fields of Russia. But hush! +footsteps are approaching." The duke was not mistaken. They heard +the door of the hut violently open and close, and shortly after some +one rapped at the locked door. + +"The password!" shouted Count Munster, putting his hand on the key. + +"Il est temps de finir!" replied a sonorous voice outside. + +Count Munster opened the door. A gentleman of imposing stature +entered the room. "Count Nugent," exclaimed Count Munster, joyously, +offering both his hands to the friend whom he had known for many +years. "Was it you who arrived on the last English ship?" + +"Yes," said the count, saluting the other gentlemen. "But I believe +there will be more guests here directly. I saw close behind me two +men wrapped in cloaks, who were also moving hither. Ah, they are +passing the window at this moment." + +"And now they are entering the house," said the count, listening. + +Another rapping was heard, and the call for the password was +answered again by the shout of "Il est temps de finir!" + +"They are the passengers from the Swedish vessel, as I hoped they +would be," said Count Munster, opening the door. Two men in cloaks +entered, and bowed silently to the others. + +"Gneisenau! My dear Gneisenau!" exclaimed Count Munster, tenderly +embracing the gentleman who had entered last. "Then, you have really +kept your word! You have come in spite of all dangers! I thank you +in the name of Germany!" + +"You will thank me only after having learned what new ally I have +enlisted for our holy cause," said Gneisenau, smiling, and pointing +to his companion, who, still closely muffled, was standing by his +side silent and motionless. + +"You come from Stockholm," said Count Munster, joyously, "you bring +us a delegate of the crown prince of Sweden, the noble Bernadotte, +do you not? My heart does not deceive me--I am sure!" + +"No, your heart does not deceive you," said Gneisenau, smiling. +"This gentleman is an envoy of the crown prince of Sweden, who +promises us his friendship and assistance." + +"No," said the stranger, slowly and solemnly. "At this hour there +must be truth between us. I am not an envoy of the crown prince of +Sweden, I am he himself, I am Bernadotte!" He took off his hat and +cloak, and bowed to the astonished gentlemen. "I wish to prove to +you, and to those whom you are representing, that I am in earnest," +said Bernadotte, in the most dignified manner. "My French heart had +to undergo a long and painful struggle, but the crown prince of +Sweden conquered it. I must think no longer of the blood that is +flowing in my veins, but remember only that, by the decree of the +noble Swedish nation, I have been destined to become its king, and +that, therefore, the interests of Sweden must be more important and +sacred to me than my own heart. The Emperor of the French has +offered me an alliance. But Russia and Prussia are urging me to +espouse their cause. The interest of Sweden requires me to ally +myself with those who have justice, strength, and honor on their +side; I shall, therefore, side with Russia, England, and Prussia. +This is the reply which I made to the Russian ambassadors, and +likewise to the Prussian General Gneisenau here. But, at the same +time, I asked opportunity to complete my preparations, and until +that can be done, I have requested the ambassadors to keep secret my +accession to the northern alliance. It seemed to me as though this +request of mine were looked upon as a proof of my vacillation, and +as a want of candor, and as though doubts were entertained as to my +ultimate decision. Hence I wished to manifest my true spirit by +coming myself to you instead of sending a delegate. Now, you have +heard my political confession. Are you content with it, and may I +participate in your deliberations?" And the crown prince of Sweden, +uttering the last words, turned with a winning smile to Count +Munster, and sank his head as a prisoner waiting for sentence. + +"I pray your royal highness, in the name of my friends present, to +remain and participate in our discussions," said Count Munster. "We +are now waiting for no further arrivals--all the invited guests have +come. Let us take our seats. Let the conference commence. But first +permit me to introduce the gentlemen to each other." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE EUROPEAN CONSPIRACY. + + +The six gentlemen sat down on chairs placed around the table +standing in the middle of the room. Count Munster bowed to them. "As +it was I who invited you to attend this conference," he said, "I +must take the liberty of addressing you first. I must justify myself +for having called upon you in the name of Germany, in the name of +Europe, to come hither notwithstanding the dangers and hardships of +the journey. Yes, gentlemen, Germany stands in need of our +assistance. But not only Germany--Spain, drenched in the blood of +her patriots; poor, enslaved Italy; Holland, ruthlessly annexed to +France; in short, all the states that are groaning under the +tyrant's yoke; yea, France herself!--all are crying for deliverance +from slavery. But whence is help to come when every one shuts his +eyes against the despairing wail of Europe; when every one idly +folds his hands and waits for some one else to be bold enough to +call upon the people to take up arms? Every individual must be +animated with this courage; must regard himself as chosen by +Providence to commence the task of liberation. Each one must act as +though it were he who is to set the world in motion, and were the +head of the great and holy conspiracy by which mankind is to be +delivered from the tyrant. I told myself so when I saw all Germany +sinking; I repeat it to myself every day, and it is my excuse now +for having ventured to invite thither men who are my superiors in +every respect. But to Germany alone we shall give an account of what +we have hitherto done for her liberation; for her let us deliberate +as to what we further ought to do, and what plans we should pursue. +The world lies prostrate, but we must raise it again; the nations +are manacled, but we must be the files that imperceptibly cut +through the fetters, and we must then tell the people that it is +easy for them to gain their independence; that it is only necessary +to take the sword, and prove by deeds that they feel themselves +free--then they will be free. This is our task--the task of all +generous patriots. Every one has been conscious of this, but also, +that there should be a bond connecting all the members of this +secret league, to which every patriot belongs. That was the idea +which caused several friends and myself to unite our efforts. We did +so, and this union made us feel doubly strong; we conferred as to +our duties and schemes, and by doing so they became clearer to us, +and better matured. We made ourselves emissaries of the sacred cause +of the fatherland, and went into the world to enlist soldiers, to +create a new nation, awaken the sleepers, enlighten the ignorant, +bring back the faithless, undeceive the deceived, and console the +despairing. For this purpose I have struggled for years, and so have +all my friends, and so do all good and faithful patriots, without +perhaps being fully conscious of it. But it is necessary, too, that +those who, like us, are fully alive to their duty, should from time +to time give each other an account of what they have accomplished, +that they may agree upon new plans for the future. I, therefore, +requested my friends Count Nugent and General Gneisenau, to come +hither; I wrote to Minister von Stein, who is now at Prague, either +to come himself, or send a reliable representative, and I requested +another in Northern Germany to send one of his intimate friends. +Four months ago I dispatched my invitations; the meeting was to take +place to-day, and we have all promptly responded to the call. My +friend in Northern Germany induced the noblest and most faithful +soldier of the fatherland, Duke Frederick William of Brunswick, to +go to Helgoland. Minister von Stein, who, in the mean time, was +obliged to go to Russia, sends us a noble representative in the +person of Justus Gruner, and the magnanimous crown prince of Sweden +offers us, by his voluntary appearance in our midst, a new guaranty +for the success of our schemes. We know now what has called us +hither. Let us communicate to each other what we have hitherto done, +in order to attain the object for which we are striving, and what +plans we shall adopt. In this respect, the two noble princes now in +our midst are especially able to make valuable suggestions, and it +is to them principally that we shall apply. The former question, +however, concerns chiefly ourselves, who have for years been members +of the league, and have jointly tried to promote its objects. In +order to know what we should do, we must be informed exactly of what +we have already done. To be able to conceive plans for the future, +we must carefully weigh, and render ourselves perfectly familiar +with, the present political situation, and communicate our +observations and adventures to each other. Let us do so now. Let the +gentleman who arrived last speak first. General Gneisenau, tell us, +therefore, what hopes do you entertain in regard to Prussia? What +are the sentiments of the king? What has Germany or Prussia to hope +from the ministers of Frederick William? What is the spirit of the +people and the soldiers?" + +"You ask a great deal," said Gneisenau, sighing, "and I have but +little to reply. I have no hopes whatever in regard to Prussia. That +is the result of the observations during my present journey. Every +thing is in about the same condition as it was in 1811; the same men +are still ruling, and the same state of affairs, on account of which +I left the Prussian service at that time, is still prevailing. The +king is the noblest and best-meaning man, but his indecision and +distrust in his own abilities are his own curse, as well as that of +his country. When, in 1808, we heard at Konigsberg the news of the +events of Bayonne, the king said, 'Bonaparte will assuredly not +catch me in such a manner!' and now he has delivered himself into +the hands of his most relentless enemy, who, if Russia should be +defeated, would dethrone him, or, if Bonaparte should not be +successful, keep him as a hostage. [Footnote: Gneisenau's own +words.--Vide "Lebensbilder," vol. i., p. 261.] The friends of the +French, the timid, and the cowards, are still besieging the king's +ears, and enjoying his confidence to a greater extent than +Hardenberg does. Hardenberg is all right, but he intends, after the +fashion of diplomatists, to attain the great object slowly and +cautiously, instead of struggling for it boldly, and sword in hand. +He is secretly on our side; he hates Napoleon and curses the chains +that are fettering Prussia; he is always planning as to the best +means of breaking them, but publicly he negotiates with the +diplomatists of Napoleon to bring about a marriage between the crown +prince and one of Napoleon's nieces. There can be no question of any +army in Prussia, for the forty thousand men whom Napoleon permitted +the King of Prussia still to retain under arms, had either to +accompany the French army to Russia, or are at least stationed, as +Napoleon's reserves, on the extreme frontiers. Berlin, as well as +all larger cities, and the fortresses, are garrisoned by French +troops, keeping down the national spirit of the population, and +rendering any attempt at insurrection an utter impossibility, even +though the people should intend to strike. But they think no longer +of rising. They are exhausted in their misery, and have lost their +energy. They feel only that they are suffering, but they inquire no +more for the cause. And thus Prussia will perish, unless some +powerful impetus from abroad, some dispensation of Providence, +should arouse her from her lethargy, and restore her to the +consciousness of her disgrace and her strength. I hope that this +will occur; for only this and England's energy will be able to save +us. But other hopes I do not entertain. I, therefore, shall leave +Prussia again and accompany you to England, Count Minister, when you +return thither." + +"I shall set out for England this day, as soon as our conference is +at an end," said Count Munster, "and you will be a most welcome and +agreeable companion. It is only now that I perceive how necessary a +personal interview was, and how good it is that we are here +assembled. Many things, which cannot be explained in the longest +letters, may be perfectly understood after an interview of fifteen +minutes. I believe and hope, my friend, that your view of the +present state of affairs is by far too gloomy. You are hoping for an +impetus from abroad; but that will scarcely be needed to arouse the +nations from their lethargy. A new spirit is animating Germany, and +it is Spain, with her heroic victories, that has awakened this +spirit. The immortal defence of Saragossa has passed like a magic +song throughout Europe, and has told the oppressed and enslaved +nations that Bonaparte is not invincible, and that a nation which +will not suffer itself to be enslaved has the strength to defend +itself against the most powerful tyrant. Looking upon Spain, the +nations recollect these noble words of Tacitus: 'It is not the +tyrants who make nations slaves, but the nations degrading +themselves voluntarily to the abject position of slaves make +tyrants.' And the nations will have no more tyrants, but are +determined to annihilate him who has put his foot upon their neck. +Tell us, Count Nugent--you who, in the service of holy liberty, have +been wandering about the world for the last two years--tell us +whether I am not justified in asserting that the nations are about +to awake?" + +"Yes, I believe so," said Count Nugent, joyously. "For the third +time during two years I have finished a journey through Europe. From +Vienna I went by way of Trieste, Corfu, and Malta, to the British +generals in Sicily, Spain, and Portugal, thence to England, and from +England I returned to Vienna under an assumed name and all sorts of +disguises. During my first two journeys I saw everywhere only that +the nations submitted unhesitatingly, as though Bonaparte were the +scourge which God Himself had sent to chastise them, and against +whom they were not allowed to revolt, although rivers of blood were +spilled. But I saw no prince who had the strength or courage, or +even the wish to rule as a free and independent sovereign over a +free people. The princes were everywhere content with being the +vassals of France; they deemed themselves happy to have secured by +their humiliation at least a title; they were striving to obtain by +base sycophancy additional territories and orders, and betraying +their own country and their own people in order to serve the Emperor +of France. It was a terrible, heart-rending spectacle presented by +Germany during these last years, and which could not but fill the +heart of every patriot with shame and despair. And yet this period +of degradation was necessary and even salutary, for it blinded +Napoleon by the glaring sunshine of his power; it rendered him +overbearing and reckless; he dared every thing, because he believed +he would succeed in every thing, and that the world had utterly +succumbed to his power. He dared all, trampled on every feeling of +justice, and thereby finally goaded the nations to resist him. In +1810 he exclaimed triumphantly, 'Three years yet, and I shall be +master of the world!' And when he lately took the field against +Russia, he said, 'After humiliating Russia and reducing her to an +Asiatic power, I shall establish at Paris a universal European court +and universal archives!' He believes himself to be the master of the +world; he thinks the thunderbolts of heaven are in his hands, and +his arrogance will drive him to destruction, for 'the gods first +blind him whom they intend to destroy.' And Napoleon is blind, for +he does not see the wrath of the nations; he is deaf, for he does +not hear the imprecations which all nations, from the Mediterranean +to the North Sea and the Baltic, are uttering against him. Yes, the +morning is dawning, and the nations are awaking; Napoleon has +already passed the zenith of his glory; his star does not now dazzle +mankind; they have commenced to doubt the stability of his power. I +saw a curious instance of this last year in Vienna at Metternich's +saloon. When the courier who brought the news of the birth of the +King of Rome, still exhausted by the rapid ride from Nancy, entered +and held up Champagny's letter containing nothing but these words, +'Eh bien, le Roi de Rome est arrive!' every one cried, 'Is not the +hand of God there? The wonderful man has the son he wished for. +Whither will the madmen and demagogues direct their hopes now?' But +a courageous and merry native of Vienna exclaimed in the midst of +the diplomatists, 'Oh! ten years hence this King of Rome will be a +poor little student in this city!'[Footnote: Historical.--Vide +"Lebensbilder." vol. i., p. 80.] The diplomatists were silent; the +former ambassador of Hanover, however, Count Hardenberg, brother of +the chancellor of state, burst into loud laughter. These words were +circulated among the people, and the Viennese say now smilingly, +though as yet in a low tone, 'The King of Rome will come as a poor +student to Vienna.' And the same words are repeated more boldly by +the faithful Tyrolese, the guardians of the fires of patriotism. The +Italians are whetting their swords, and France herself is preparing +for the possibility of a new state of affairs. The military ardor of +her marshals is exhausted; like the whole country, they are longing +for repose; they begin to curse him whom they have hitherto +idolized; they want peace, and are determined to compel Napoleon to +comply with their demands." + +"And is our friend. Baron von Stein, also of this opinion?" asked +Count Munster, turning to Justus Gruner. + +"Yes, he is," said Gruner. "When the Emperor Alexander invited him +to come to St. Petersburg, he went thither not so much because he +needed an asylum, but because he believed he could serve the cause +of Germany in a more efficacious manner in Russia than anywhere +else, and was convinced that Alexander needed a firm and energetic +adviser to fan his hostility to Napoleon, and keep all pacific +influences away from him. Nothing but a crushing defeat of Napoleon +in Russia can deliver Germany; Stein feels convinced of it, and +therefore he stands as an immovable rock by the side of Alexander, +and never ceases to influence the emperor by soul-stirring and +courageous advice. Here is a letter which Stein requested me to +deliver to Count Munster." + +Count Munster took the letter and quickly glanced over it. "Ah," he +exclaimed, joyously, "Stein, too, believes the day to be at hand +when Germany will and must rise; he, too, prophesies that Napoleon +will speedily fall. It is, therefore, time for us to think of the +future, and agree as to the steps to be taken. And now I take the +liberty of asking the crown prince of Sweden what assistance he +offers us, and what the nations enslaved by Napoleon may hope from +him?" + +"All the assistance which I and my country are able to offer," said +the crown prince, ardently. "The king has authorized me to take all +necessary measures for an active campaign. Already I have chartered +transports; the troops which are to participate in the campaign have +been concentrated in their camps, and will soon march to the various +points of embarkation. When the German powers call me--when it is +sure that England entertains honest intentions toward us, and will +stand faithfully by us, I shall be ready to embark with my troops +and participate in the great struggle, provided that the annexation +of Norway to Sweden be guaranteed." + +"I am authorized to do so in the name of England," exclaimed Count +Munster. + +"In that case the Swedes will regard this campaign as a national +affair," said Bernadotte, "and will joyously rally round the banner +of their crown prince, who, on his part, longs for nothing more than +to follow the footsteps of the great Gustavus Adolphus, and give +Sweden fresh claims to her ancient glory and the gratitude of the +nations. [Footnote: Bernadotte's own words.--Vide "Memoires d'un +Homme d'Etat," vol. xi] I am waiting for the call of the allied +powers to hasten to the point where I may do good service." + +"And so am I," said the Duke of Brunswick, eagerly. "I have nothing +to offer to Germany but my hatred against Napoleon, my burning +thirst for vengeance, my name, and my sword." + +"But those will be the dragon's teeth, from which, in due time, will +spring up mail-clad warriors," exclaimed Munster--"warriors who, +with the most ardent enthusiasm, will follow the hero whose +audacious expedition from the forests of Bohemia to the Weser will +never be forgotten by the patriots of Germany. Let us prepare every +thing as secretly as possible; let us enlist soldiers for the great +and holy army; its chieftains are ready; Gneisenau, Frederick +William of Brunswick, the crown prince of Sweden, and, in due time, +Blucher, Schwarzenberg, and Wellington, will join them." + +"Yes, let us prepare for the great task of the future," exclaimed +Gneisenau. "I feel now reanimated with hope, patience, and courage. +I go to London, but not to brood over my fate; I go to enlist an +English legion for Germany; to tell the English ministers that the +British government can take no step more conducive to the liberation +of the nations and the safety of Great Britain than make Germany the +principal seat of war, and transfer thither Wellington, with all the +troops in Spain, and those which can be spared from the islands of +the United Kingdom. Let them consider me a visionary; the future +will, perhaps, prove to them that I was right. Oh, a victory over +Napoleon in Germany would loosen the fetters of all governments, +throw the most determined efforts of many millions of people into +the scales of Great Britain, and deliver us, perhaps forever, from +the monster equally terrible in his strength and in his poison." +[Footnote: Gneisenau's own words.--Vide "Lebensbilder," vol. i., p. +274.] + +"And I go to Vienna to influence, together with my friends, the +patriotic impulses of the emperor," said Count Nugent. "I go to +Austria to tell the noble Archdukes John and Charles that they ought +to hold themselves in readiness, and to inform the Tyrolese that the +war of liberation is at hand." + +"Baron von Stein has sent me to Germany to enlist there an +intellectual army, and set in motion for Germany not only swords but +pens," said Justus Gruner, smiling. "Stein says the sword will only +do its work when the mind has paved the way for it. The mind and the +free word, these are the generals that must precede the sword, and, +before raising an army of soldiers, we must raise an army of ideas +and minds to take the field. And there can be no better mental +chieftain than noble Baron von Stein. He has placed a worthy +adjutant at his side; I refer to Ernst Moritz Arndt, whom Stein has +called to St. Petersburg, and who is thence to send his patriotic +songs into the world, and by his soul-stirring writings kindle the +ardor of the Germans. I have brought with me some of Arndt's +pamphlets that have been printed in St. Petersburg, and his +catechism for German soldiers, which gives instructions as to what a +Christian warrior ought to be, and has been circulated, in spite of +Napoleon's power, in all the German divisions of his army. To +influence public opinion in Germany is the task which Stein and the +Emperor Alexander have intrusted to me. I am to report about every +thing that takes place in the rear of the French army, and try to +obtain correct information concerning its reinforcements and the +condition of the fortresses. My principal task, however, will be to +direct public opinion, exasperate the people against their +oppressors, and the accomplices of the latter, support isolated +risings, and organize flying corps for the purpose of intercepting +the couriers." [Footnote: Pertz, "Life of Baron von Stein," vol. +iii., p. 117.] + +"That is a plan strictly in accordance with the indomitable spirit +of Baron von Stein. However, the influence and power of one person +will not suffice to carry it into effect." + +"I am, therefore, authorized to enlist agents whom the Emperor of +Russia will pay," said Gruner. "Hired observers and spies must be +spread all over Germany. I must everywhere have my confidants--my +agents and instruments. Such I have already engaged in some forty +cities. I furnish them instructions, telling them what to do, in +order to participate in the liberation of Germany; they have to send +me weekly reports, written of course in cipher and with chemical +ink, and, on my part, I address reports to the Emperor Alexander and +Baron von Stein, which I forward every week by special couriers to +Russia. My agents, as well as myself, will endeavor to hold +intercourse with all prominent patriots, and our noble Stein has +referred me especially to the eminent gentlemen here assembled. +General Scharnhorst, too, is aware of our enterprise; President von +Vinke supports it in the most enthusiastic and active manner, and we +find everywhere friends, assistance, and advice. Already the net- +work is spread over the country; this will every day become more +impenetrable--a fatal trap in which, if it please God, we shall one +day catch Bonaparte." + +"But beware of traitors," exclaimed Count Nugent, anxiously. "All +your agents are not reticent, for, to tell you the truth, I have +already heard of your bold scheme, and Austria is highly indignant. +Count Metternich, a few days since, addressed a complaint to the +Prussian cabinet about what he calls your revolutionary intrigues, +and the Prussian Minister von Bulow, who is friendly to France, is +greatly exasperated against Justus Gruner and his guerilla warfare. +Be on your guard, sir, that, while weaving this net-work of +conspiracy, you may not yourself fall into the snares of the +insidious police." + +"And if I do, what matters it if one dies, provided the cause he +served lives?" exclaimed Justus Gruner, enthusiastically. "This +sacred cause cannot die; it is strong enough to succeed, even +without me. It is spreading everywhere, and will remain, though the +little spider that wove it should be crushed. There is but one part +of Germany in which my work still lacks the necessary points where I +might secure it." + +"You allude to Austria, do you not?" + +"I do; there my agents are distrustfully turned away from the +frontier, and I have so far been unable to enlist special and active +allies. I pray you, therefore, give me the names of some reliable, +honest, and faithful men to whom I may apply; for I must go to +Austria." + +"That is to say," exclaimed Count Nugent, "you are going to prison. +Let me warn you, do not go to Austria; Metternich's spies have keen +eyes, and if they catch you, you are lost." + +"I must go to Austria," said Gruner, smiling; "the cause of the +fatherland demands it. Dangers will not deter me, and if the +Austrian police are on the lookout for me--well, I have been myself +a police-officer, and may outwit them. In the first place, however, +I shall go to Leipsig, to have the second volume of Arndt's +excellent work, 'The Spirit of the Times,' secretly printed, and +cause a printing-office to be established on the Saxon frontier for +the purpose of issuing the war bulletins which I am to receive from +Russia. But then I shall go to Prague and Vienna." + +"And may God grant success to your enterprise!" said Count Munster. +"We shall all, I am satisfied of it, help in carrying out your +schemes wherever we can. We will try to liberate you if you are +imprisoned, and avenge you if killed. Shall we not?" + +"We shall!" exclaimed Gneisenau and Bernadotte, Nugent, and +Frederick William of Brunswick, and all four offered their hands to +Gruner. + +"Henceforth we all act for one, and one for all," exclaimed the Duke +of Brunswick, enthusiastically, "and my noble father is looking down +and blessing us. Oh, may the hour of liberation soon strike! We have +our hands on our swords, and wait for Germany to call us." + +"We are ready, and wait for our country to call us," they said, +shaking hands with determined eyes and smiling lips. + +"And now, if the gentlemen have no objection, I will adjourn the +conference," said Count Munster, after a pause. "We well know each +other, and what we have to do. Here is the cipher in which we may +write to each other whenever important communications are to be +made. Justus Gruner will see to it that his agents will promptly +forward the letters to us." + +"I will," said Justus Gruner, "and as long as I am not in prison, or +dead, you may be sure that your letters will not fall into the hands +of enemies or traitors." [Footnote: The predictions and +apprehensions of Count Nugent were fulfilled but too soon. Gruner +went as far as Prague, but there he was arrested in the last days of +October, at the special request of the Prussian police, deprived of +his papers and his funds, and sent to an Austrian fortress. The +Emperor of Russia succeeded only nine months afterward in obtaining +his release.--Vide Pertz's "Life of Baron von Stein," vol. iii, p. +181.] + +"And now let us go. God save us and Germany!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +GEBHARD LEBERECHT BLUCHER. + + +It was a cold and unpleasant morning in December. The dreary sky +hung like a pall over the oppressed world. How beautiful and +fragrant had been the summer park of the estate of Kunzendorf! now +it was bereft of its flowers, and the cold gray trees were moaning +in the winter blasts. How bright had been this large room on the +lower floor of the mansion of Kunzendorf, when the summer morning +flung its beams into the windows, while a merry company were +chatting and laughing there! But, on this day, no guests were +assembled in it. It contained but two persons, an old gentleman and +lady. The gentleman was sitting at the window and looking out +mournfully into the cold; he seemed to count the snow-flakes slowly +falling. A large military cloak enveloped his tall, powerful form; +his right leg, encased in a heavy cavalry-boot, rested on a cushion; +his head was leaning against the high back of the easy-chair on +which he sat. His bearing and appearance indicated suffering, age, +and disease; he who did not look at his countenance could not but +believe that he was in the presence of a sick and decrepit old man; +but when his face turned to the beholder, with its large, fiery blue +eyes, high and scarcely-furrowed brow, Roman nose, and florid +complexion, he thought he saw the head of a man of about fifty +years. It is true, the hair which covered his temples in a few thin +tufts was snow-white, and so was the mustache which shaded his mouth +and hung down on both sides of it, imparting a vigorous and martial +expression to the whole face, and contrasting with his bronzed +cheeks and flashing eyes. + +Opposite him, in the niche of the other window, sat a lady in a +plain, yet elegant toilet. Small brown ringlets, threaded here and +there with white, peeped forth from the lace cap, trimmed with blue +ribbons, and a gray silk dress, reaching to the neck, enveloped her +slender and graceful form. Her countenance, which still showed +traces of former beauty, was bent over her embroidery, and her +white, tapering fingers, adorned with many rings, busily plied the +needle. + +The old gentleman blew dense clouds of smoke from his long clay +pipe, and nothing broke the silence save the parrot (in a large +gilded cage on a marble pedestal in the third window-niche), +uttering from time to time a loud scream, or exclaiming in a sharp +voice, "Good-morning!" The ticking of the bronze clock on the +mantel-piece at the other end of the room could be distinctly heard. +Suddenly the old gentleman struck the window-board so violently with +his right hand that the panes rattled, the lady gave a start, and +the parrot screeched. "Well, now it is all right," he exclaimed +savagely,--"it snows so thickly that nothing can be seen at a +distance of twenty yards. The roads will be blocked up again, and no +one will come to us from Neisse to-day. We shall be left alone, and +the time will hang as heavily with us as with a pug-dog in a +bandbox. But," he exclaimed, jumping up so hastily that his long +clay pipe broke on his knee and fell in small pieces on the floor, +"it is all right. If the guests from Neisse do not come to me I will +go to them." While uttering these words, he fixed his lustrous eyes +on the lady, and seemed to wait for a reply from her; but she +remained silent, and seemed to ply her needle even more +industriously. "Well," he asked at last, hesitatingly, "what do you +say to it, Amelia?" + +"Nothing at all, Blucher," she replied, without looking at him; "for +you did not ask me about it." + +"Why, that is an agreeable addition to this horrible weather, that +my wife should pout!" exclaimed Blucher, casting a despairing glance +at the sky. He then looked again at his wife. She was still bending +over her embroidery and remained silent. He approached, and seizing +both her hands with gentle violence, took the embroidery and threw +it away. "Why is your attention directed to that old rag, Amelia, +instead of looking at me?" he said, with ill-restrained anger. +"Wife, you know I am not rude; when with you I am as gentle as a +lamb; but you must not pout, Amelia, for that makes me angry. And +now speak--tell me honestly--what is it? What have I done to you!" + +"Nothing," she said, fixing her dark eyes upon him with a sad +expression, "nothing at all!" + +"Aha! you do not want to tell me," exclaimed Blucher, looking at her +uneasily, "but I know it nevertheless. Yes, I know what ails you, +and why you are in bad humor with me. Will you give me a kiss, if I +guess what it is?" She nodded, and an almost imperceptible smile +played around her finely-formed lips. "Now, listen," he said, +drawing her to himself, and putting his hand under her chin. "You +are angry because I came home from Neisse so late last night?" + +"Last night?" she asked. "I believe it was at five o'clock this +morning." + +"Yes, I promised you to be back at five o'clock in the afternoon, +because the doctor said the night air is injurious to me, and would +increase my pains. But, you see, Amelia, it would not do. We went to +the 'Ressource,' and there I met some old friends--" + +"And there we played faro," his wife interrupted him, "and I lost +the two hundred louis d'ors with which I desired to buy four new +carriage-horses." + +"Yes, it is all true," said Blucher, soothingly. "But what matters +it? In the first place, I am quite well, which proves what fools the +doctors are; they think they know every thing, and, in fact, know +nothing. I feel no pain, and yet have inhaled the night air. And as +to the two hundred louis d'ors--well, I am almost glad that I lost +them, for I amused myself. Do you know who was among the gamblers? +Ex-Major von Leesten!" + +"Major von Leesten?" asked his wife, wonderingly. "But he never +plays--he is so sensible a gentleman, that--" + +"That he does not deal cards, you mean?" interrupted Blucher, +smiling. "Yes, you see, I am also a sensible man, but I deal cards +sometimes, and, for the rest, to tell you the truth, I seduced Major +von Leesten to play last night." + +"That was very wrong," said Madame von Blucher, in a tone of gentle +reproach. "Leesten is poor; he has a large family--five full-grown +daughters, who, of course, will not be married because they have no +fortune. And now you seduce the poor man, and he will lose the last +penny belonging to his family. For the most terrible consequences of +this gambling passion are, that it deprives men of reflection, +attachment to their family, and prudence. A man who is addicted to +playing cards, loves nothing but his cards; every thing else seems +unimportant to him; see it in your case, Blucher, and it makes my +heart ache. You do not love me, your time hangs heavy in my +presence; the card-table is your only pleasure, and I believe, when +the passion seizes you, and you have lost all your money, you would +stake the remainder of your property on a card, and your wife to +boot!" + +Blucher burst into loud laughter. "Why," he exclaimed, "what an odd +idea that is! I stake you on a card, you--" + +"You suppose that no one would care about winning me?" asked Madame +von Blucher, smiling. + +"No, I do not think that," replied Blucher, suddenly growing +serious. "Why should no one care about winning you? You are still a +very pretty and charming little woman; your eyes still flash so +irresistibly, your lips are still so red and full, and--" + +"And my hair is beautifully gray," she interrupted him, laughing, +"and I am so astonishingly young, scarcely fifty years of age!" + +"Well, that is not so very old," said Blucher, merrily. "I have read +somewhat a story about one Ulysses, who, in times gone by, was a +very famous and shrewd captain. He set out to wage war with the +barbarians, and his wife, whose name was Penelope, remained at home +with his son Telemachus. Ulysses was absent for twenty long years, +and when he returned home he found fifty suitors who were all +courting his beautiful wife Penelope. Do you see, fifty suitors, one +for every year of Penelope's age, for she must have been well-nigh +fifty years old when Ulysses returned, and yet she was still +beautiful, and men were gallanting about her. Why should not the +same thing happen to you, as you are scarcely forty-eight? And who +knows whether the wife of Ulysses was as beautiful and good as you? +I am sure she was not. For it seems to me you are the dearest and +best little woman, and look precisely as you did twenty years ago, +when you were foolish enough to marry that rough old soldier +Blucher, who was already fifty years of age." + +"Well, that was not so very foolish," said Madame von Blucher, +smiling; "on the contrary, it was very well done, and but for those +abominable playing-cards, nothing could be better." + +"Ah, the shrewd little general has, by an adroit movement, brought +us back to the old battle-ground," exclaimed Blucher. "We have +arrived again at last night's faro! Now, tell me first of all--did I +guess right? Were you not angry with me because I returned late?" + +"Yes," said his wife, "that was the reason." + +"Hurrah! Just as I thought!" shouted Blucher, jubilantly. "Now, +quick, pay me for my correct guess! You know, you were to give me a +kiss!--a kiss such as you used to give me twenty years ago!" He +encircled his wife with his arms, and pressed a long and tender kiss +on her lips. + +"Well, are you pacified now?" he then asked. "I see in your eyes +that you are, and now, come, I will tell you all that occurred last +night. You see the money is gone, and what matters it! Money is +destined to be spent; that is what the good Lord gave it to us for, +and men made it round that it might roll away more rapidly. If it +were to remain, they would have made it square, when the fingers +could hold it better. And, then, why should I hold it? We have +enough--more than enough; our two daughters are married to rich men; +our two sons are provided for; our estate at Kunzendorf will not +roll away, for it is not round and brings us lots of money, and I am +sure there will be a day when I shall win very large sums. I do not +mean at the gaming-table, Amelia, but on the battle-field. I shall +reconquer to the king his cities and provinces. I shall take from +Bonaparte all that he has stolen from Prussia; I--" + +"You intended to tell me what occurred last night," interrupted his +wife, who heard him, to her dismay, beginning again the philippie +against Napoleon which he had repeated to her at least a hundred +times. + +"Yes, that is true," said Blucher, breathing deeply, "I wished to +tell you about Major von Leesten. At the 'Ressource' I met yesterday +in the afternoon an old friend of his, who told me how sad and +unhappy Leesten was. His eldest daughter is betrothed to a young +country gentleman: the two young folks would like to marry, but they +have no money. If the young man had only a thousand dollars, he +might rent an estate in this vicinity; but, in order to do so, he +must give a thousand dollars security, and he is not possessed of +that sum. Leesten's friend told me all this, and also how +disheartened Leesten was. He said he had gone to all sorts of +usurers, but no one would lend him any thing, because he could not +furnish security, for he has nothing but his pension." + +"Poor man! And could not his friends collect the amount and give it +to him?" + +"His friends have not any thing either! Who has any thing? Every one +is poor since the accursed French are in the country, and Bonaparte- +-" + +"You forget again your story of Major von Leesten, my friend." + +"Oh, yes. His friends have not any thing either, and even if they +had, Leesten would not accept presents. No, believe me, Amelia, when +the poor are exceedingly proud, they would die of hunger sooner than +accept alms at the hands of a good friend, or ask him for a slice of +bread and butter. I know all about it, for I was poor, too, and +starved when my pay was spent. And Leesten is proud also; alms and +presents he would not accept, or if he did, for the sake of his +daughter, his heart would burst with grief. That was what his friend +told me; I pitied him, and thought I should like to call on the dear +major and shake hands with him, that he might feel that I like him, +and that he has friends, how poor soever he may be. Well, I went +with his friend to the major. He was glad to see us and took pains +to be merry, but I saw very well that he was sad; that his laughter +was not genuine, and that, as soon as some one else spoke, he grew +gloomy. But I did not ask what ailed him; I feigned not to see any +thing, and begged him to accompany us and spend a pleasant evening +with a few friends. He refused at first to do so, but I succeeded in +overcoming his resistance, and I am not sorry by any means that I +did, for the poor major grew quite cheerful at last; he forgot his +grief, drank some good wine with us,--more, perhaps, than he had +drunk for a year, and then played a little faro with us for the +first time in his life. Well, we were all in the best spirits, and +that was the reason why I remained so long and came home so late. It +was Major von Leesten's fault, and now my story is at an end!" + +"No, it is not!" exclaimed Amelia. "You have not yet told me every +thing, Blucher. You have not told me who won your two hundred louis +d'ors for which you intended to purchase four new carriage-horses?" + +"Yes, that was curious," said Blucher, composedly, stroking his long +white mustache--"that was really curious. Leesten had never before +handled a card; he did not know the game, and yet he won from such +an old gambler as I am two hundred louis d'ors in the course of a +few hours. Leesten won the money that was to pay for the carriage- +horses, and you may give him thanks for being compelled to drive for +six months longer with our lame old mares." + +A sunbeam, as it were, illuminated Amelia's countenance; her eyes +shone, and her cheeks were glowing with joy. Quickly putting her +hands on Blucher's shoulders, she looked up to him with a smile. +"You made him win the money, Gebhard," she said, in a voice +tremulous with emotion. "Oh, do not shake your head--tell me the +truth! You made Leesten win, because you wished to preserve him from +the necessity of accepting alms. You made him win, that his daughter +might marry." + +"Nonsense!" said Blucher, growlingly, "how could I make him win when +he did not really win? He would have found it out, and, besides, I +would have been a cheat." + +"He did not find it out because you made him drink so much wine, and +because he knows nothing about the game; and you are no cheat, +because you intentionally made him win; on the contrary, you are a +noble, magnanimous man whom Heaven must love. Oh, dear, dearest +husband, tell me the truth; let me enjoy the happiness that I have +guessed right! You did so intentionally, did you not? The cards did +not bring so much good luck to Leesten, but Blucher did!" + +"Hush! do not say that so loudly," exclaimed Blucher, looking +anxiously around; "if any one should hear and repeat it, and Leesten +should find out how the thing occurred, the fellow would return the +money to me." + +"Ah, now you have betrayed yourself--you have confessed that you +lost the money intentionally," exclaimed Amelia, jubilantly. "Oh, +thanks, thanks, my noble and generous friend!" She took his hands +with passionate tenderness, and pressed them to her lips. + +"But, Amelia, what are you doing?" said Blucher, withdrawing his +hands in confusion. "Why, you are weeping!" + +"Oh, they are tears of joy," she said, nodding to him with a +blissful smile--"tears which I am weeping for my glorious, dear +Blucher!" + +"Oh, you are too good," said Blucher, whose face suddenly grew +gloomy. "I am nothing but an old, pensioned soldier--a rusty sword +flung into a corner. I am an invalid whom they believe to be +childish, because he thinks he might still be useful, and the +fatherland might need him. But I tell you, Amelia, if I ever should +become childish it would be on account of the course pursued toward +me; why, I am dismissed from the service; I am refused any thing to +do; I am desired to be idle, and the king has given me this accursed +estate of Kunzendorf, not as a reward, nor from love, but to get rid +of me, and because he is afraid of the French. When he gave it to me +last spring, he wrote that I ought to set out for Kunzendorf +immediately, and live and remain there, as it behooved every +nobleman, in the midst of my peasants. But his real object was to +send me into exile; he did not wish me to remain in Berlin!" + +"Well, he had to comply with the urgent recommendations of his +ministers," said Madame von Blucher, smiling. "You know very well +that all the ministers of the king, with the sole exception of +Hardenberg, are friends of the French, and think that Prussia would +be lost if she should not faithfully stand by France." + +"They are traitors when they entertain such infamous sentiments," +cried Blucher, wildly stamping with his foot; "they should hang the +fellows who are so mean and cowardly as to think that Prussia would +be lost if her mortal enemy did not condescend to sustain her. Ah, +if the king had listened to me only once, we should have long since +driven the French out of the country, and our poor soldiers would +not freeze to death in Russia as auxiliaries of Bonaparte. When the +danger is greatest, every thing must be risked in order to win every +thing, and when a fellow tries to deceive and insult me, I do not +consider much whether I had better endure him because may be weaker +than he is, but, before he suspects it, I knock him down if I can. +You see, that is defending one's life; this is what the learned call +philosophy. But, dearest Amelia, there is but one philosophy in +life, and it is this: 'He who trusts in God and defends himself +bravely will never miserably perish.' Now, the king and his +ministers know only one-half of this philosophy, and that is the +reason why the whole thing goes wrong. They mean to trust in God, +even though, from their blind trust alone, all Prussia fall to +ruins; but as for bravely defending themselves, that is what they do +not understand. It is too much like old Blucher's way of doing +things, and that is the reason why the learned gentlemen do not like +it. Ah! Amelia, when I think of all the wretchedness of Prussia, and +that I may have to die without having chastised Bonaparte--without +having wrested from him, and flung into his face, the laurels of +Jena, Eylau, and Friedland--ah, then I feel like sitting down and +crying like a boy. But Heaven cannot be so cruel; it will not let me +die before meeting Bonaparte on the field of battle, and avenging +all our wrongs upon him. No, I trust I will not die before that-- +and, after all, I am quite young! Only seventy years of age! My +grandfather died in his ninetieth year, and my mother told me often +enough that I looked exactly like my grandfather; I shall, +therefore, reach my ninetieth year. I have still twenty years to +live--twenty years, that is enough--" Just then the door opened, and +a footman entered. + +"Well, John," asked Blucher, "what is it? Why do you look so merry, +my boy? I suppose you have good news for us, have you not?" + +"I have, your excellency," said the footman. "There is an old man +outside, an invalid, attended by a young fellow who, I believe, is +his son. The two have come all the way from Pomerania, and want to +see General von Blucher. He says he has important news for your +excellency." + +"Important news?" asked Blucher. "And he comes from Pomerania? John, +I hope it will not be one who wants to tell me the same old story?" + +"Your excellency, I believe that is what he comes for," said John, +grinning. + +"Amelia," exclaimed Blucher, bursting into loud laughter, "there is +another fellow who wants to tell me that he took me prisoner fifty +years since. I believe it is already the seventh rascal who says he +was the man." + +"The seventh who wants to get money from you and swindle you," said +Madame von Blucher, smiling. + +"No, I believe they do not exactly want to swindle me," said +Blucher, "but I know they like to get a little money, and as they do +not want to beg--" + +"They come and lie," interrupted Amelia, smiling. "They know already +that General Blucher gives a few louis d'ors to every one who comes +and says, 'General, it was I who took you prisoner in Mecklenburg in +1760, and brought you to the Prussians. You, therefore, are indebted +to me for all your glory and your happiness.'" + +"Yes, it is true," said Blucher, laughing and smoothing his +mustache. "That is what all six of them said. But one of them did +take me prisoner, for the story is true, and if I turn away one of +those who tell me the same thing, why, I might happen to hit +precisely the man who took me, and that would be a great shame. +Therefore, it is better I imagine a whole squadron had taken me at +that time, and give money to every one who comes to me for it. Even +though he may not be the man, why, he is at least an old hussar, and +I shall never turn an old hussar without a little present from my +door." [Footnote: Blucher's own words.--Vide "Life of Prince Blucher +of Wahlstatt, by Varnhagen von Ense," p. 6.] + +"Well, I see you want to bid welcome to your seventh hero and +conqueror," said Amelia, smiling. "Very well, I will quit the field +and retire into my cabinet. Farewell, my friend, and when your hero +has taken leave of you, I will await you." She nodded pleasantly to +her husband, and left the room. + +"Well, John," said Blucher, sitting down again on his easy-chair at +the window, "now let the men come in. But first fill me a pipe. You +must take a new one, for I broke the one I was smoking this +morning." + +John hastened to the elegant "pipe-board" which stood beside the +fireplace, and took from it an oblong, plain wooden box; opening the +lid, he drew a new, long clay pipe from it. + +"How many pipes are in it yet?" asked Blucher, hastily. "A good lot, +John?" + +"No, your excellency, only seven whole pipes, and eight broken +ones." + +"You may ride to Neisse to-morrow, and buy a box of pipes. Now, give +me one, and let the hussar and his son come in." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RECOLLECTIONS OF MECKLENBURG. + + +John, the footman, opened the door of the anteroom, and shouted in a +loud and solemn voice, "Your excellency, here is Hennemann, the +hussar, and his son Christian!" + +"Well, come in!" said Blucher, good-naturedly, puffing a cloud of +smoke from his pipe. + +An old man with silver-white hair, his bent form clad in the old and +faded uniform of a hussar, and holding his old-fashioned shako in +his hand, entered the room. He was followed by a young man, wearing +the costume of a North-German farmer, his heavy yellow hair combed +backward and fastened with a large round comb; his full, vigorous +form dressed in a long blue cloth coat, reaching down almost to his +feet, and lined with white flannel; under it he wore trousers of +dark-green velvet that descended only to the knees, and joined there +the blue-and-red stockings in which his legs were encased; his feet +were armed with thick shoes, adorned with buckles, while their soles +bristled with large nails. + +"Where do you come from?" asked Blucher, fixing his eyes with a kind +expression on the two men. + +"From Rostock, your excellency," said the old man, making a +respectful obeisance. + +"From Rostock?" asked Blucher, joyously. "Why, that is my native +city." + +"I know that very well, general," said the old hussar, who vainly +tried to hide his Low-German accent. "All Rostock knows it, too, and +every child there boasts of Blucher being our countryman." + +"Well," said Blucher, smiling, "then you come from Rostock. Do you +live there?" + +"Not exactly in Rostock, your excellency. My daughter Frederica is +married to a tailor in Rostock, and I was with her for four weeks. I +myself live at Polchow, a nobleman's estate four miles from Rostock; +I am there at the house of my eldest son." + +"Is that your eldest son?" asked Blucher, pointing with his clay +pipe at the young man, who stood by the side of his aged father, and +was turning his hat in his hand in an embarrassed manner. + +"No, sir, he is my youngest son, and it is just for his sake that I +have come to you. Christian was a laborer in the service of our +nobleman at Polchow, and he desired to marry a girl with whom he had +fallen in love. But the nobleman would not permit it; he said +Christian should wait some ten years until there was a house vacant +in the village, and some of the old peasants had died. This drove +him to despair; he wanted to commit suicide, and said he would die +rather than be a day laborer on an estate in Mecklenburg, which is +no better than being the nobleman's slave." + +"Yes," cried Christian, indignantly, "that is true, general. A day +laborer on an estate in Mecklenburg is a slave, that is all. The +nobleman owns him. If he wants to do so, he may disable him, nay, he +may kill him. Such a laborer has no rights, no will, no property, no +home, no country; he is not allowed to live anywhere but in his +village: he cannot settle in any other place, and is not permitted +to marry unless the nobleman who owns the village gives his consent, +nor can he ever be any thing else than what his father and +grandfather were, that is to say, the nobleman's laborers. And I do +not wish to be such and do nothing else than putting the horses to +the plough. I want to marry Frederica, and become a free man, and if +that cannot be I will commit suicide." + +"Ahem! he has young blood," said Blucher, well pleased and smiling, +"fresh Mecklenburgian blood. I like that! But you must not abuse +Mecklenburg, Christian; I love Mecklenburg, because it is my native +country." + +"It is a good country for noblemen who have money," said Christian, +"but for day laborers who have none it is a poor country. And that +was the reason why I said to the old man, 'Vatting [Footnote: +"Vatting," Low-German for "papa."], shall I commit suicide or run +away and enlist.'" + +"And I then said, 'Well, my son, in that case it will be better for +you to enlist,'" added the old man, "'and, moreover, you shall +enlist under a good general. I will show you that my life is yet +good for something; I will do for your sake what I have purposed to +do all my lifetime: I will go to General Blucher, tell him whom I +am, and ask him to reward my boy for what I did for him.'" + +Blucher looked with a good-natured smile at the poor old man who +stood before him in the faded and threadbare uniform of a private +soldier. + +"Well, my old friend," he said, "what have you done for me, then?" + +The old man raised his head, and a solemn expression overspread his +bronzed and furrowed countenance. "General," he said, gravely, "it +was I who took you prisoner in Mecklenburg in 1760, and to me, +therefore, you are indebted for all your glory and happiness." + +Blucher covered his face with his hands, that the old man might not +see his smile. "It is just as Amelia told me it would be," he said +to himself. He then added aloud: "Well, tell me the story, that I +may see whether it was really you who took me prisoner." + +"It is a long story," said the old man, sighing, "and if I am to +tell it, I must ask a favor of your excellency." + +"Well, what is it? Speak, my old friend," said Blucher, puffing a +cloud from his pipe, and satisfied that the old hussar would apply +to him for money. + +"I must beg leave to sit down, general," said the old man, timidly. +"We have come on foot all the way from Rostock, and it is only +fifteen minutes since we reached this village. We took only time +enough at the tavern to change our dress; I put on my uniform, and +Christian put on his Sunday coat. I am eighty years old, general, +and my legs are not as strong as they used to be." + +"Eighty years old!" exclaimed Blucher, jumping up, "eighty years +old, and you have come on foot all the way from Rostock! Why, that +is impossible! Christian, tell me, that cannot be true!" + +"Yes, general, it is true. We have been on the way for three weeks +past, for the old man cannot walk very fast, and we had not money +enough to ride. We had to be thankful for having enough to pay for +our beds at the taverns. And my father is more than eighty years of +age! We have brought his certificate of birth with us." + +"Eighty years of age, and he came on foot all the way from Rostock, +and I allow the old man to stand and offer him no chair!" exclaimed +Blucher,--"I do not ask whether he is hungry and thirsty! John! +John!" And Blucher rushed to the bell-rope and rang the bell so +violently that John entered the room in great excitement. "John, +quick!" shouted Blucher. "Quick, a bottle of wine, two glasses, and +bread, butter, and ham; and tell them in the kitchen to prepare a +good dinner for these men, and have a room with two beds made ready +for them in the adjoining house. Quick, John! In five minutes the +wine and the other things must be here! Run!" + +John hastened out of the room, and Blucher approached the old man, +who looked on, speechless and deeply moved by the kind zeal the +general had displayed in his behalf. + +"Come, my dear friend," said Blucher, kindly, taking him by the hand +and conducting him across the room to his favorite seat at the +window. "There, sit down on my easy-chair and rest." + +"No, general, no; that would be disrespectful!" + +"Fiddlesticks!" replied Blucher; "an octogenarian is entitled to +more respect than a general's epaulets are. Now do not refuse, but +sit down!" And with his vigorous arms he pressed him into the easy- +chair. He then quietly took his clay pipe from the window, and sat +down on a cane chair opposite the old hussar. "And now tell me the +story of my arrest as a prisoner. I promise you that I will believe +it all." + +"General, you may believe nothing but what is true," replied the old +man, solemnly. + +Blucher nodded. "Commence," he said, "but no--wait a while! There is +John with the wine and the bread and butter. Now eat and drink +first." + +"I cannot eat, for I am not hungry. But, if the general will permit +me, I will drink a glass of wine." + +"Come, John, two glasses!--fill them to the brim! And now, my +friend, let us drink. Here's to our native country!" Blucher filled +his glass with claret; his eyes flashed, and his face kindled with +the fire of youth, when he, the young septuagenarian, touched with +his glass that of the feeble octogenarian. "Hurrah, my old +countryman," he shouted, jubilantly, "long live Mecklenburg! long +live Rostock and the shore of the Baltic! Now empty your glass, my +friend, and you, John, fill it again, and then put the wine and the +bread and butter on the table beside the fireplace, that Christian +may help himself. Eat and drink, Christian, but do not stir, or say +a word, for we two old ones have to speak with each other. Now tell +me the story, my old friend!" + +"Well," said the old man, putting down his empty glass, "I had run +away from my parents because I was just in the same difficulty as +Christian: I did not wish to remain a day laborer. I also wanted to +marry, and the nobleman would not let me. Well, I ran away, and +enlisted in Old Fritz's army, in Colonel Belling's regiment of +hussars. It was in 1760; we had a great deal to do at that time; we +were every day skirmishing with the Swedes, for we were stationed in +Mecklenburg, and the Swedes were so dreadfully bold as to make raids +throughout Brandenburg and Mecklenburg. One day, I believe it was in +August, 1760, just when we, Belling's hussars, occupied the towpath +close to Friedland in Mecklenburg, another detachment of Swedish +hussars approached to harass us. They were headed by a little +ensign--a handsome young lad, scarcely twenty years of age, a very +impertinent baby! And this young rascal rode closely to the old +hussars, and commenced to crow in his sweet little voice, abusing +us, and told us at last, if we were courageous enough, to come on; +he had not had his breakfast, he said, and would like to swallow +about a dozen of Belling's hussars. Well, the other hussars rejoiced +in the pluck of the young fellow, and a handsome lad he was, with +clear blue eyes and red cheeks. But his saucy taunts irritated me, +and when the little ensign continued laughing, and telling us we +were cowards, I became very angry, galloped up to him and shouted: +'Now, you little imp, I will kill you!'" + +"Sure enough," exclaimed Blucher, in surprise, "that was what the +hussar shouted. It seems to me as though I hear it still sounding in +my ears. But none of the other hussars told me this; it is new, and +it is true. Hennemann, could it be possible that you should really +be the man who took me prisoner at that time?" + +"Listen to the remainder of my story, general, and you will soon +find out whether it was I or not. I galloped up to him, and while +the Prussians and Swedes were fighting, I fixed my eyes on my merry +little ensign; when I was quite close to him, I shot down his horse. +The ensign was unable then to offer much resistance, and, besides, I +was a very strong, active man. I took him by the collar and put him +on my horse in front of me." + +"And the ensign submitted to that without defending himself?" asked +Blucher, angrily. + +"By no means! On the contrary, he was as red in the face as a +crawfish, and resisting struck me. I held his arms fast, but he +disengaged himself with so violent a jerk that the yellow facings of +his right sleeve remained in my hand." + +"That is true," exclaimed Blucher. + +"Yes, it is true," said the old man, calmly; "but it is true also +that I got hold again of the ensign and took him to Colonel von +Belling, to whom I stated that I had captured the handsome lad. The +colonel liked his face and courageous bearing; he kept the Swedish +ensign at his headquarters, where he appointed him cornet the next +day, and made the little Ensign Blucher apply to the Swedes for +permission to quit their service." + +"And I got my discharge," exclaimed Blucher, quite absorbed in his +reminiscences, "and became a Prussian soldier. Good, brave Colonel +Belling bought me the necessary equipment, and appointed me his +aide-de-camp and lieutenant. The Lord have mercy on his dear soul! +Belling was an excellent man, and I am indebted to him for all I +am." + +"No, general," said Hennemann, "it is to me that you are indebted, +for if I had not taken you prisoner at that time--" + +"Sure enough," exclaimed Blucher, laughing, "if you had not taken me +prisoner, I should now be a poor old pensioned Swedish veteran. But +you certainly took me prisoner, I really believe you did!" + +"I have the proofs that I did," said the old man solemnly. +"Christian!" + +"Here I am, vatting," said Christian, rising. "What do you want?" + +"Give me the memorandum-book with the papers." + +Christian drew from his blue coat a red morocco memorandum-book and +handed it to his father. "Here, vatting," he said, "every thing is +in it, the certificate of birth, the enlistment paper, the +discharge, and the other thing." + +"I just want to get the other thing," said the old man, opening the +memorandum-book, "and here it is!" He took out a yellow piece of +cloth and handed it to Blucher. + +"It is a piece of my sleeve!" exclaimed Blucher, joyously, holding +up the piece of cloth. "Yes, Hennemann, it was really you who took +me prisoner, and I am indebted to you for being a Prussian general +to-day! And I promise you that I will now pay you a good ransom. +Give me your hand, old fellow; we ought to remain near each other. +Fifty-two years since you took me prisoner, but now I take you +prisoner in turn, and you must remain with me; you shall live at +ease, and at times in the evening you must tell me of Mecklenburg, +and how it looks there, and of Rostock, and--well, and when you are +in good spirits, you must sing to me a Low-German song!" + +"Mercy!" exclaimed the old man, in dismay; "I cannot sing, general. +I am eighty years old, and old age has dried up the fountain of my +song." + +"Sure enough, you are eighty years old," said Blucher, puffing his +pipe, "and at that age few persons are able to sing. But I should +really like to hear again a merry native song. I have not heard one +for fifty years, for here, you see, Hennemann, people are so stupid +and ignorant as not even to understand Low-German." + +"I believe that," said the old man, gravely, "and it is not so easy +to understand--one must he a native of Mecklenburg to understand +it." + +"It is a pity that you cannot sing," said Blucher, sighing. + +"But, perhaps Christian can," said old Hennemann. "Tell me, +Christian, can you sing?" + +"Yes, vatting," replied Christian, clearing his throat. + +"'Vatting!'" exclaimed Blucher. "What does that mean?" + +"Well, it means that he loves his father, and therefore calls him, +in good Mecklenburg style, 'vatting.'" + +"Sure enough, I remember now," exclaimed Blucher. "Vatting! mutting! +[Footnote: "Mutting," mamma] Yes, yes; I have often used these +words, 'mutting--my mutting!' Ah, it seems to me as though I behold +the beautiful blue eyes of my mother when she looked at me so mildly +and lovingly and said, 'You are a wild, reckless boy, Gebhard; I am +afraid you will come to grief!' Then I used to beg her, 'My mutting, +my mutting! I will no longer be a bad boy! I will not be naughty! Do +not be angry any more, my mutting!' And she always forgave me, and +interceded for me with my father, whenever he was incensed against +me, and scolded me, because, instead of studying my books and going +to school, I was always loitering about the fields or hunting in the +woods. At last, when I was fourteen years old, and was still an +incorrigible scapegrace, they sent me to the island of Rugen, to my +sister, who was married to Baron von Krackwitz. But I did not stay +there very long. The Swedes came to the island, and I could not +withstand the desire to become a soldier; therefore, I ran away from +the island and enlisted in the Swedish army. Well, I had to do so, I +could not help it, for it was in my nature. Up to that time I was +like a fish on dry land, moving his tail in every direction without +crushing a fly; when I got into the water it was all right. If I had +been kept much longer out, I would have died very soon [Footnote: +Blucher's own words]. When I was now in the water--that is to say, +when I was a soldier, I lost my mother; I never saw her again, and +know only that she wept a great deal for me. And I never was able to +beg her to forgive me, and tell her, 'Do not be angry, my dear +mutting!' I was a dashing young soldier, and she was weeping for me +at Rostock, for she believed I would come to grief. Well, I was +first lieutenant in some Prussian fortress when they wrote to me +that my mother was dead. Yes, she had died and I was not at her +bedside; I was never able to say to her for the last time, 'Forgive +me, my mutting!' But now I say so from the bottom of my heart." +While uttering these words, Blucher raised his head and fixed his +large eyes with a touching and childlike expression on the wintry +sky. + +Old Hennemann devoutly clasped his hands, and tears ran slowly down +his furrowed cheeks. Christian stood at the door, and dried his eyes +with his coat-sleeve. + +"Thunder and lightning," suddenly exclaimed Blucher, "how foolish I +am! That is the consequence of being absorbed in one's +recollections. While talking about Mecklenburg I had really +forgotten that I am an old boy of seventy years, and thought I was +still the naughty young rascal who longed to ask his mutting to +forgive him! Well, Christian, now sing us a Low-German song." + +"I know but one song," said Christian, hesitatingly. "It is the +spinning-song which my Frederica sang to me in the spinning-room." + +"Well, sing your spinning-song," said Blucher, looking at his pipe, +which was going out. + +Christian cleared his throat, and sang: + +Spinn doch, spinn doch, min lutt lewes Dochting, + Ick schenk Di ock'n poor hubsche Schoh! + Ach Gott, min lewes, lewes Mutting, + Wat helpen mi de hubschen Schoh! + Kann danzen nich, un kann nich spinnen. + Denn alle mine teigen Finger, + De dohn mi so weh, + De dohn mi so weh! + +Spinn doch, spinn doch, min lutt, lewes Dochting, + Ick schenk Di ock'n schon Stuck Geld. + Ach Gott, min lewes, lewes Mutting, + Ick wull, ick wihr man ut de Welt, + Kann danzen nich, un kann nich spinnen + Denn alle mine teigen Finger, + De dohn mi so weh, + De dohn mi so weh! + +Spinn doch, spinn doch, min lutt, lewes Dochting. + Ick schenk Di ock'n bubschen Mann! + Ach ja, min lewes, lewes Mutting, + Schenk min lewsten, besten Mann. + Kann danzen nu, un kann ock spinnen, + Denn alle mine teigen Finger, + De dohn nich mihr weh, + De dohn nioh mihr weh! + +[Footnote: The song is translated as follows: + +Spin, spin, my little daughter, dear! + A pretty pair of shoes for thee!-- + Alas, my mother! let me hear + What use are pretty shoes to me! + I cannot dance--I cannot spin: + And why these promised shoes to win! + O mother mine. I will not take + Thy kindly gift. My fingers ache! + +Spin, spin, my little daughter dear! + And a bright silver-piece is thine!-- + Alas, my mother's loving care + Makes not this shining money mine! + I cannot dance--I cannot spin; + What use such wages thus to win? + O mother dear! I cannot take + This silver, for my fingers ache. + +Spin, spin, my little daughter dear! + For thee a handsome husband waits.-- + Oh, then, my mother, have no fear; + My heart this work no longer hates. + Now can I dance, and also spin, + A handsome husband thus to win. + Thy best reward I gladly take! + No more--no more, my ringers ache.] + +"A very pretty song," said Blucher, kindly. "And I believe I heard +the girls sing it when I was a boy. Thank you, Christian, you have +sung it very well. But, tell me now, old Hennemann, what is to +become of Christian? You yourself shall remain here at Kunzendorf, +and I will see to it that you are well provided for. But what about +Christian?" + +"He is anxious to enlist, general," said Hennemann, timidly, "and +that is the reason why I brought him to your excellency. I wanted to +request you to take charge of him, and make out of him as good a +soldier as you are yourself." + +Blucher smiled. "I have been successful," he said, "but those were +good days for soldiers. Now, however, the times are very +unfavorable; the Prussian soldier has nothing to do, and must +quietly look on while the French are playing the mischief in +Prussia." + +"No, general," said Hennemann, "it seems to me the Prussian soldier +has a great deal to do." + +"Well, what do you think he has to do?" asked Blucher. + +"To expel the French from Prussia, that is what he has to do," said +the old man, raising his voice. + +"Yes," said Blucher, smiling, "if that could be done, I should like +to be counted in." + +"It can be done, general; every honest man says so, and it ought to +be, for the French are behaving too shamefully. They must be +expelled from Germany. Well, then, my Christian wishes to assist you +in doing so; he wishes to become a soldier, and help you to drive +out the French." + +"Alas, he must apply to some one else if he wishes to do that," said +Blucher, mournfully. "I cannot help him, for they have pensioned me. +I have no regiments. I--but, thunder and lightning! what is the +matter with my pipe today? The thing will not burn." And he put his +little finger into the bowl, and tried to smoke again. + +"The pipe does not draw well, because it was not skilfully filled," +said Christian. "I know it was badly filled." + +"Ay?" asked Blucher. "What do you know? John has been filling my +pipes for four years past." + +"John has done it very poorly," said Christian, composedly. "To fill +such a clay pipe is an art with which a good many are not familiar, +and when it is smoked for the first time it does not burn very well. +It ought first to be smoked by some one, and John ought to have done +so yesterday if the general wished to use his pipe to-day." + +"Why, he knows something about a clay pipe," exclaimed Blucher, "and +he is right; it always tastes better on the second day than on the +first." + +"That is the reason why the second day always ought to be the first +for General Blucher," said Christian. + +"He is right," exclaimed Blucher, laughing, "it would surely be +better if the second were always the first day. Well, I know now +what is to be made of Christian; he is to become my pipe-master." + +"Pipe-master?" asked old Hennemann and Christian at the same time. +"Pipe-master, what is that?" + +"That is a man who keeps my pipes in good order," said Blucher, with +a ludicrously grave air--"a man who makes the second my first day-- +who smokes my pipes first--puts them back into the box at night, +preserves the broken ones, and fills them, however short they may +be. He who does not prize a short pipe, does not deserve to have a +long one. A good pipe and good tobacco are things of the highest +importance in life. Ah! if, in 1807, at Lubeck, I had had powder for +the guns and tobacco for my men, I would have raised such clouds +that the French could not have stood. [Footnote: Blucher's own +words.--Vide "Marshall Forward," a popular biography.] Well, +Christian, you shall therefore become my pipe-master, and I hope you +will faithfully perform the duties of your office." + +"I shall certainly take pains to do so," said Christian, "and you +may depend on it, general, that I shall preserve the broken, short +pipes; I will not throw them away before it is necessary. But +suppose there should be war, general, and you should take the field, +what would become of me in that case?" + +"Well, in that case you will accompany me," said Blucher. "What +should I do in the field if I could not get a good pipe of tobacco +all the time? Without that I am of no account. [Footnote: Blucher's +own words.] But it is necessary to do good service for Prussia, and +hence I need, above all, a good pipe of tobacco in the field. Well, +then, tell me now plainly, will you accept the office I offer you in +peace and in war, Christian?" + +"Yes, general," said Christian, solemnly. "And I swear that General +Blucher shall never lack a well-lighted pipe, even though I fetch a +match from the French gunners to kindle it." + +"That is right, Christian; you are in my service now, and may at +once enter upon the duties of your office. You, Hennemann, stay here +and do me the favor of living as long and being as merry as +possible. Now, pipe-master, ring the bell!" + +The new pipe-master rang the bell, and John entered the room. + +"John!" said Blucher, "I owe a reparation of honor to this aged +hussar. It was he who took me prisoner in 1760. He brought me the +proof of it--the yellow facing of the sleeve here. Take it and +fasten it to the old uniform of Blucher, the Swedish ensign, which I +have always preserved; it belongs to it. You see that hussar +Hennemann is an honest man, and that I owe him the ransom. He will +stay here, and have nothing to do but eat and drink well, sit in the +sun, and, in the evening, when it affords him pleasure, tell you +stories of the Seven Years' War, in which he participated. If other +hussars come and tell you they took me prisoner, you know it is not +true, and need not admit them. But you must not abuse the poor old +fellows for that reason, nor tell them that they are swindlers. You +will give them something to eat and drink, a bed overnight, and, in +the morning, when they set out, a dollar for travelling expenses. +Now take the old man and his son to the adjoining building, and tell +the inspector to give them a room where they are to live. And then," +added Blucher, hesitatingly, and almost in confusion,--"you have too +much to do, John; you must have an assistant. It takes you too much +time to fill my pipes, and this young man, therefore, will help you. +I have appointed Christian Hennemann my pipe-master. Well, do not +reply--take the two men to the building, and be good friends--do you +hear, good friends!" + +John bowed in silence, and made a sign to the two Mecklenburgians to +follow him. Blucher gazed after them with keen glances. "Well, I am +afraid their friendship will not amount to much," he said, smiling +and stroking his beard. "John does not like this pipe-master +business, and will show it to Christian as soon as an opportunity +offers. I do not care if they do have a good fight. It would be a +little diversion, for it is horribly tedious here. Ah, how long is +this to last? How long am I to sit here and wait until Prussia and +the king call upon me to drive Napoleon out of the country? How long +am I to be idle while Bonaparte is gaining one victory after another +in Russia? I have not much time to spare for waiting, and--well," he +suddenly interrupted, himself, quickly stepping up to the window, +"what is that? Is not that a carriage driving into the court-yard?" +Yes, it really is, just entering the iron gate, and rolling with +great noise across the pavement. "I wonder who that is?" muttered +Blucher, casting a piercing glance into the carriage which stopped +at this moment in front of the mansion. He uttered a cry of joy, and +ran out of the room with the alacrity of a youth. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GLAD TIDINGS. + + +"It is he, it is he!" exclaimed General Blucher, rushing out of the +front door, and hastening with outstretched arms toward the +gentleman, who, wrapped in a Russian fur robe, alighted with his two +servants. "My beloved Scharnhorst!" And he clasped his friend in his +arms as if it were some longed-for mistress whom he was pressing to +his bosom. + +"Blucher, my dear friend, let me go, or you will choke me!" +exclaimed Scharnhorst, laughing. "Come, let us go into the house." + +"Yes, come, dearest, best friend!" said Blucher, and encircling +Scharnhorst's neck with his arm, drew him along so hastily that, +gasping for breath, the latter was scarcely able to accompany him. + +On entering the sitting-room, Blucher himself divested his friend of +his fur robe, and, throwing it on the floor in his haste, took off +Scharnhorst's cap. "I must look at you, my friend," he exclaimed. "I +must see the face of my dear Scharnhorst, and now that I see it, I +must kiss it! To see you again does me as much good as a fountain in +the desert to the pilgrim dying of thirst." + +"Well, but now you must allow me to say a word," said Scharnhorst. +"And let me look at yourself. Remember, it is nearly a year since I +saw anything of you but your hand-writing." + +"And that is very illegible," said Blucher, laughing. + +"It is at least not as legible and intelligible as your dear face," +said Scharnhorst. "Here, on this forehead and in these eyes, I can +read quickly and easily all that your excellent head thinks, and +your noble heart feels. And now I read there that I am really +welcome, and need not by any means apologize for not having +announced my visit to you." + +"Apologize!" exclaimed Blucher. "You know full well that you afford +me the most heart-felt joy, and that I feel as though spring were +coming with all its blessed promises." + +"Well, let us not wish spring to come too early this year. We need a +good deal of ice and cold weather, to build a crystal palace for +Bonaparte in Russia." + +Blucher cast a flashing glance upon his guest. "Scharnhorst," he +asked, breathlessly, "you have come to bring me important news, have +you not? Oh, pray, speak! I am sure you have come to tell me that +the time has come for rising against the French!" + +"No; I have simply come to see you," said Scharnhorst, smiling. "And +you are in truth a cold-hearted friend to think any other motive was +required than that of friendship." + +"I thought it was time for Providence to bring about a change. But +it was kind of you to come to me merely for my sake, and, moreover, +in weather so cold as this, and at your age." + +"At my age!" exclaimed Scharnhorst, smiling. + +"Why, yes, my friend, at your age. If I am not mistaken, you must be +well-nigh sixty, and at that time of life travelling in a season +like this is assuredly somewhat unpleasant, and--but why do you +laugh?" + +"As you refer to my age, my dearest friend, I suppose you will +permit me to speak of yours?" + +"Why not? We are no marriageable girls on the lookout for husbands." + +"Well, then, my dear General Blucher, how old are yon?" + +"I? I am a little over seventy." + +"And I am fifty-six, and yet you think old age is weighing me down, +while a wreath of snow-drops is overhanging your brow." + +"Yes, that is true," said Blucher, in confusion. "I had really +forgotten my age." + +"The reason is, that your heart is still young and fresh," exclaimed +Scharnhorst, looking at him tenderly, and laying his hand on +Blucher's broad shoulder. "Thank God! you are still young Blucher, +with his fiery head and heroic arm--young Blucher whose eagle eye +gazes into the future, and who does not despair, however +disheartening the present may be." + +"I am sure you have brought news," said Blucher. "I can see it in +your eyes--Heaven knows whether good or bad. But you have news, I +know it." + +"No, my young firebrand," exclaimed Scharnhorst, "I bring only +myself, and this self I should like now above all to lay at the feet +of your respected wife." + +"Yes, that is true," said Blucher; "in my joy I almost forgot that +my Amelia ought to share it. Come, general, let me conduct you to my +wife." He took Scharnhorst's arm and conducted him rapidly across +the sitting-room toward the apartments of Madame von Blucher. "Tread +softly; you know what an admirer of yours my wife is, and how glad +she will be to see you. We will, therefore, surprise her. She +doubtless did not notice your arrival, for her windows open upon the +garden. She does not yet know that you are here, and how glad she +will be! Hush!" + +He glided to the door and rapped. "Amelia," he said, "are you there, +and may I come in?" + +"Of course I am here," exclaimed Madame von Blucher, "and you know +well that I have already been looking for you for two hours past. +Come in!" + +"I have a visitor with me; do you allow me to enter with him, +Amelia?" + +"A visitor?" asked Madame von Blucher, opening the door. "General +von Scharnhorst!" she exclaimed, hastening to him and offering him +both her hands. "Welcome, general, and may Heaven reward you for the +idea of visiting an old woman and her young husband in their wintry +solitude. Come, general, do my room the honor of entering it." She +took the general's arm and drew him in. + +"Scharnhorst," said Blucher, "let me give you some good advice. Do +not make love in too undisguised a manner to my wife, for she is +right in saying that I am still a young man, and I may become +jealous; that would be a pity! I should then have to fight a duel +with my friend, and one of us would have to die; and yet we are +destined to deliver Prussia, and to drive that hateful man Bonaparte +out of Germany." + +"See, madame, what a shrewd and self-willed intriguer he is!" +exclaimed Scharnhorst. "He avails himself of the boundless adoration +I feel for you to assist him in wandering into his favorite sphere +of politics. Madame, the barbarian believes it to be altogether +impossible that I come merely from motives of friendship, and +insists that it was politics that brought me!" + +"Yes," said Madame von Blucher, smiling, "Blucher loves politics, he +has no other mistress." + +"No," said Blucher, laughing, "I know nothing at all about politics, +and believe the world would be better off if there were no +politicians. They originate all our troubles. Those diplomatists are +always sure to spoil what the sword has achieved. Politics have +brought all these calamities upon Germany; otherwise, we should long +since have risen against the French, instead of allowing our +soldiers to fight for Bonaparte in Russia. I say it is absurd, and I +am so angry at it that it will make me consumptive. I say all those +diplomatists ought to be sent into the field against Russia in order +to study new-fangled politics in Siberia. I say--" + +"You will say nothing further about the matter, my friend, for there +is John, who wishes to tell us that dinner is ready," Madame von +Blucher interrupted her husband, who, glowing with anger, and +trembling with excitement, was fighting with his arms in the air and +with a terrible expression of countenance. "Come, general, let us go +to the dining-room," said Madame von Blucher, giving her hand to +Scharnhorst. "And you, my valorous young husband, give me your hand, +too!" + +"Wait a moment," Blucher replied. "I must first give vent to my +anger, or it will choke me." At a bound, he rushed as a passionate +boy toward the sofa, and, striking it with both fists, so that the +dust rose from it in clouds, shouted: "Have I got you at length, you +horrible butcher--are you at length under my scourge? Now you shall +find out how Pomeranians whip their enemies, and what it is to treat +people as shamefully as you have done. I will whip you--yes, until +you cry, 'Pater, peccavi!' There, take that for Jena, and this blow +for compelling me to capitulate at Lubeck; and this and this for the +infamies you have perpetrated upon our beautiful queen at Tilsit! +This last blow take for the Russian treaty to which you compelled +our king to accede, and now a few more yet! If Heaven does not +strike you, Blucher must; you ought not to be left unpunished!" + +"Ah, well, that is enough, my friend," exclaimed Amelia, hastening +to him and seizing his arm, which he had already raised again. "You +are very capable of destroying my sofa, and you believe that you +have gained a campaign by tearing my beautiful velvet in shreds." + +"Well, yes, it is enough now, and I feel better. Well, my friend," +he said, turning to Scharnhorst, who had witnessed his foolish +antics with a grave and mournful air, "you need not look at me in so +melancholy a manner. I suppose they have told you, too, that old +Blucher at times gets crazy, and strikes at the flies on the wall, +and beats chairs and sofas, because, in his insanity, he believes +them to be Napoleon. [Footnote: Owing to this peculiarity and the +strange ebullitions of rage in which he indulged from time to time, +Blucher was really believed to be deranged for several years +previous to the outbreak of the war of liberation.] But it is +assuredly no madness that makes me act in this manner, as stupid +fools assert, but it is simply a way in which I relieve my anger, +that it may not break my heart. It is the same as if a man who has +to fight a duel should take fencing-lessons, and practise with the +sword, in order to hit his adversary. But I have satisfied my anger, +and will again be as gentle as a lamb." + +"Yes, as a lamb which reverses the order of things, and, instead of +allowing the wolf to devour it, is quite ready to devour the wolf," +said Scharnhorst, laughing. + +"Let us go to dinner, generals," cried Amelia; "but on one +condition! During the repast not a word must be said about my +hateful rival, politics, nor will you be permitted to sprinkle +Napoleon as cayenne pepper over our dishes. Blucher is too hot- +blooded, and pepper does not agree with him." + +"But a glass of champagne agrees with him when a dear friend is +present," exclaimed Blucher. "Oh, John, come here! Accompany my +wife, Scharnhorst; I have only to tell John what he is to fetch from +the wine-cellar." + +While Blucher gave his orders to John in a hurried and low voice, +instructing him to place a substantial battery of bottles of +champagne in front of the two generals, Scharnhorst preceded him +with Madame von Blucher to the dining-room. + +"Madame von Blucher," whispered Scharnhorst, after satisfying +himself by a quick side glance that Blucher was too far from them to +overhear his words, "permit me to ask a question. Is your husband +strong and healthy enough, both physically and mentally, for me to +talk to him about politics? May I communicate to him some important +news which I have received today, or would I thereby excite him too +much?" + +"Do you bring glad tidings?" asked Amelia. + +"I believe we may consider them so; at all events, they are +encouraging." + +"In that case, general, you may unhesitatingly communicate them; +but, pray, do so only after dinner, and when he has somewhat +recovered from the excitement with which your welcome but unexpected +visit has filled him. Blucher's mind is perfectly strong and +healthy, but his body is feeble, and he is still affected with a +disease of the stomach, which, precisely at dinner, very often gives +him severe pain: Pray, therefore, no excitement and no politics at +the dinner-table." + +"So, here I am," said Blucher, who had followed them, and now took +the general's arm; "now, children, quick, for I long to take wine +again with my dear Scharnhorst." + +Scharnhorst faithfully complied with the wishes of Madame von +Blucher. No allusion to politics was made during the dinner, and +their conversation was harmless, merry, and desultory. They left the +dining-room, and took coffee in the cozy sitting-room of Madame von +Blucher. + +"And now," said Blucher, who was sitting on the sofa by the side of +Scharnhorst, while his wife sat in the easy-chair opposite them, +"let us fill our pipes, or rather smoke them, for they have already +been filled." + +"But shall we he permitted to do so in your wife's room?" asked +Scharnhorst. + +"Oh, I have been accustomed to it for twenty years past," exclaimed +Amelia, laughing. "When I wished to have Blucher in my room, and by +my side, I could not show the door to his pipe; and therefore, as a +good soldier's wife, I have accustomed myself to the odor of +tobacco-smoke." + +"Well," said Blucher, pointing to the two clay pipes which lay on +the silver tray beside the burning wax-candle and the cup filled +with paper-kindlers, "take a match and fire the cannon; luckily it +makes no noise, but only smoke." + +Madame von Blucher handed each of the gentlemen a clay pipe, and +then held a burning paper close to the tobacco. + +"Now, the guns are ready, and the battle may commence," said +Blucher, puffing a cloud from his pipe. + +"You see, general," said Amelia, turning to Scharnhorst with a +significant glance, "madcap Blucher cannot refrain from talking all +the time about battles and politics. Now, indulge him in his whim, +general, and talk a little with him about these topics." + +"I believe it will amount to little," growled Blucher. "If +Scharnhorst had brought good news he would not have kept me so long +from knowing it. No; the news is always the same; I know it already! +New bulletins favorable to Napoleon--nothing else!" + +Scharnhorst smiled. "Why, my friend, what is the reason of your +sudden despondency? Have you, then, lost all your faith in the +approach of better times?--you who used to be more courageous than +any of us, you who hitherto cherished the firm belief in a change +for the better, and were to us a shining beacon of honor, hope, and +courage! What shall we do, and what is to become of us, when Blucher +gets discouraged and ceases to hope?" + +"Well," said Blucher, "I am not yet discouraged; I still hope for a +change for the better, and know that it will surely come, for +Scharnhorst still lives and paves the way for more prosperous times. +Yes, certainly, there will be better times; Scharnhorst is secretly +creating an army for us, and when the army has been organized, he +will call me, and I shall put myself beside him at the head of the +troops, and we shall then march against the French emperor with +drums beating; we shall defeat him--drive him with his routed +soldiers beyond the frontiers of Germany, so that he never again +shall dare to return to the fatherland. Providence has spared me so +long for this purpose; I believe that I am chosen to chastise the +insolent Napoleon for all his crimes committed against Germany and +Prussia. I am destined to overthrow him, deliver my country, and +victoriously reestablish my dear king in all his former states. +Napoleon must be hurled from his throne, and I must assist in +bringing about his downfall; and before that has been accomplished I +will and cannot die. [Footnote: Blucher's own words.--Vide his +biography by Varnhagen von Ense, p. 128.] Yes, laugh at me as much +as you please; I am already accustomed to that when talking in this +style; but it will, nevertheless, prove true, and my prophecies will +be fulfilled. You may deride me, but you cannot shake my firm belief +in what I tell you." + +"But I do not deride you," said Scharnhorst. "I am glad of your +reliance on Heaven, which, while all were discouraged and +despairing, stood as a rock in the midst of the breakers. I always +looked to you, Blucher; the thought of you always strengthened and +encouraged me, and when I at times felt like giving way to despair, +I said to myself, 'For shame, Scharnhorst! take heart and hope, for +Blucher still lives, and so long as he lives there is hope!'" + +"Henceforth," exclaimed Blucher, with radiant eyes, giving his hand +to his friend, "henceforth no one will deny that God has made us for +each other. What you said about me I have repeated to myself every +day about you. What was my consolation when Prussia, after the +treaty of Tilsit, was wholly prostrated and ruined? 'Scharnhorst +still lives!' What did I say to myself when the cowardly ministers, +in the beginning of the present year, had concluded the abominable +alliance with France? 'Scharnhorst still lives!' And when our poor +regiments had to march to Russia as Bonaparte's auxiliaries, I said +to myself: 'Scharnhorst is still there to create a new army, and God +is there to give victory one day to this army, which I shall +command.' Oh, tell me, my friend, what are your plans? What have you +been able to accomplish in regard to the reorganization of the army? +And what about the new officers' regulations which you are having +printed?" + +"They have already been printed, and I have brought a copy for you," +said Scharnhorst, drawing a printed book from his breast-pocket, and +handing it to his friend. + +Blucher gazed on it long with grave and musing eyes, read the title- +page, and glanced over the contents. "Scharnhorst," he then said, +solemnly, "this is a great and important work, and posterity only +will appreciate its whole importance, and thank you deservedly for +it. Our old military structure was utterly rotten, and the first +storm, therefore, caused it to break down and fall to pieces. But +Scharnhorst is an architect who knew how to find among the ruins +material for a new and solid structure, and this structure will one +day cause the power of Bonaparte to disappear. This book, which +entirely changes the duties and relations of the officers of all +arms, and transforms our whole military system, is the splendid plan +of the building which you are about to erect. By the introduction of +these regulations the antiquated system which brought upon Prussia +the defeats of Jena and Auerstadt, is abolished; the great +simplicity of the scheme, and its practical spirit, are the best +antidotes against the prevalence of the old-fashioned notions which +have proved so disastrous. You have performed a great work, +Scharnhorst, and Prussia must thank you for it as long as she has an +army." + +"I may say at least that I have striven for a grand object," said +Scharnhorst, "and I have left nothing undone in order to attain it. +Many changes had to be made, and many evils eradicated, when the +king, after the calamitous days of Tilsit, placed me at the head of +the commission which was to reorganize the whole Prussian army. We +had to work night and day, for it was incumbent upon us to arrange a +new system of conscription, organize the levies, draw up new +articles of war, and complete the battalions, squadrons, and +batteries. It was, besides, our task to give the army an honorable +position, to constitute the soldier the sacred guardian of the +noblest blessing of all nations--Liberty and nationality; and to +give him a country for which he was to fight. The soldier, +therefore, had to be a citizen; the army was no longer to consist of +hirelings, but of the sons of the country, and to these had to be +intrusted the sacred and inevitable duty of learning the profession +of arms, and of devoting for some time their services to the +fatherland. The citizens had to be transformed into soldiers, and +the name of 'soldier' had, as it was among the Romans, to become a +title of honor. In order to bring this about, it was necessary, too, +that the distinction of birth, to which the government, in +commissioning officers and hitherto paid so much attention, should +be entirely discarded. Every recruit had to know that by bravery, +courage, industry, and intelligence, he might attain the highest +positions, and that the private soldier might become a general." + +"That is the very thing by which the aristocratic officers of the +old regime became intensely exasperated against your new system," +said Blucher. "I know what you had to suffer and contend against, +how many stumbling-blocks were cast in your way, and how they +charged you with being an innovator, and even a republican, trying +to transfer the liberty, equality, and fraternity of the French +sans-culottes into the Prussian army, and to put generals' epaulets +into the knapsack of the low-born recruit. But all these arrows +glanced off from your dear head, which was as hard as a golden +anvil, and they were unable to prevent Scharnhorst from becoming the +armorer of German liberty!" + +"But his head has received many a blow," said Scharnhorst, smiling. +"However, he who wages war must expect to be wounded, and it was a +terrible war upon which I entered--one against prejudice and old +established customs--against the rights and privileges of the +aristocracy. God was with me and gave me strength to complete my +work; He gave me, in Blucher, a friend who never refused me his +advice, and, to whose sagacity and courage I am indebted for one- +half of what I have achieved. Without your aid I would often have +given way; but it strengthened me to think of you, and your applause +was a reward for my labors. May we soon be enabled to carry into +effect the new organization of the army!" + +"My friend," said Blucher, shaking his head, "God has forgotten us, +I fear, and averted His eyes from Prussia and the whole of Germany. +Napoleon is an instrument in His hands, just as the knout is an +instrument of justice in the hand of the Russian executioner. And it +seems as though the nations deserved much punishment, for He still +holds his instrument firmly in His hands. But patience!--there will +be a time when He will cast it aside, and when we shall arise from +our prostration to take revenge upon our scourge." + +"Who knows whether this new era will not dawn at an earlier moment +than we hope and look for," said Scharnhorst, smiling. + +Blucher started, and cast a quick glance on his guest. +"Scharnhorst," he said, hastily, "you have brought news, after all. +I felt it as soon as I saw you, and it is no use to deny it any +longer. You know, and want to tell me something. Well, speak out! I +am prepared for every thing! What is it? Has Napoleon gained another +victory? Has he transported the Emperor Alexander to Siberia, and +put the Russian crown on his head at the Kremlin? Have the Russian +people prostrated themselves before him, and, like other nations, +recognized him as their sovereign and emperor? You see, I am +prepared for every thing; for I insist upon it, how high soever he +may build his throne, he must at last descend, and it will be I who +will bring him down. Now, speak out! Has he again obtained a great +victory?" + +"No, general," said Scharnhorst, solemnly, "God has obtained a +victory!" + +Blucher raised his head, and laid his clay pipe slowly on the table. +"What do you mean, general?" he asked. "What do you mean by saying, +'God has obtained a victory'?" + +"I mean to say that He has sent into the field troops whom even +Napoleon is unable to defeat." + +"What troops do you refer to?" + +"I refer to the cold, the snow, the ice, the howling storm blowing +from Siberia, like the angry voice of Heaven, striking down men and +beasts alike." + +"And these troops of God have defeated Napoleon?" + +"They have, general!" + +Blucher uttered a cry, and, jumping up from his chair, drew himself +up to his full height. "The troops of God have defeated Napoleon!" +he exclaimed, solemnly. "I have always believed in divine justice-- +slow sometimes, but sure. Tell me every thing, my friend, tell me +every thing," he added, sinking back into the chair, quite +overwhelmed by what he had heard. "Commence at the beginning, for I +feel that my joy renders this old head confused, and I must +gradually accustom myself to it. Tell me the whole history of the +Russian campaign, for it is the preface I ought to read in order to +be able to understand the book. And, then, in conclusion, tell me +what the good Lord has done, and whether He will now employ His old +Blucher. I feel as though an altar-taper had been suddenly lighted +in my heart, and as though an organ were playing in my head. I must +collect my thoughts. Speak, Scharnhorst, for you see this surprising +news may make me insane." He pressed his hands against his temples +and drew a deep breath. + +His wife hastened to him, and with her soft hand caressed his face, +and looked with anxious and tender glances into his wild eyes. "Be +calm, Blucher," she said. "Calm your great, heroic heart, else you +shall and must not hear any thing further. General Scharnhorst, I am +sure you will not tell him anything as long as he is so agitated." + +"I will be calm," said Blucher. "You see that I am so already, and +that I sit here as still as a lamb. Scharnhorst, tell me, therefore, +every thing. I am all attention." + +"And while listening to him, take again your old friend, which has +so often comforted you in your afflictions--put your pipe again into +your mouth," said Amelia, handing it to him. + +But Blucher refused it, almost indignantly. "No," he said, "one does +not smoke at church, nor when the Lord speaks, and Scharnhorst is +about to tell me that the Lord has spoken. While listening to such +words, the heart must be devout, and the lips may bless or pray, but +they must not hold a pipe. And now speak, Scharnhorst; I am quite +calm and prepared for good and bad news." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE OATH. + + +"Speak," said Blucher, once more. "I am prepared for every thing. +Tell me about Bonaparte in Russia." + +"You know how victoriously and irresistibly Napoleon penetrated with +the various columns of his army into the interior of Russia," said +Scharnhorst. "Nothing seemed to have been able to withstand him-- +nothing powerful enough to arrest his triumphant progress. The +Russian generals, as if panic-stricken, retreated farther and +farther the deeper Napoleon advanced into the heart of the empire. +Neither Kutusoff, nor Wittgenstein, nor Barclay, dared risk the fate +of Russia in a decisive battle; even the Emperor Alexander preferred +to leave the army and retire to Moscow to wait for the arrival of +fresh reenforcements, and render new resources available. Napoleon, +in the mean time, advanced still farther, constantly in search of +the enemy, whom he was unable to find anywhere, and everywhere +meeting another enemy whom he was nowhere able to avoid or conquer. +This latter was the Russian climate. The scorching heat, the +drenching rains, bred diseases which made more havoc in the ranks of +the French than the swords of living enemies would have been able to +do. At the same time supplies were wanting, so that the immense host +received but scanty and insufficient rations. The soldiers suffered +the greatest privations, and the Russian people, incited by their +czar and their priests to intense hatred and fanatical fury, escaped +with their personal property and their provisions from the villages +and the small towns rather than welcome the enemy and open to him +their houses in compulsory hospitality. The French army, reduced by +sickness, privations, and hunger, to nearly one-half of its original +strength, nevertheless continued advancing; it forced an entrance +into Smolensk after a bloody struggle; after taking a short rest in +the ruined, burning, and entirely deserted city, it marched upon +Moscow. In front of this ancient capital of the czars it met at +length on the 7th of September the living enemy it had so long +sought. Bagration, Kutusoff, and Barclay, occupied with their army +positions in front of it in order to prevent the approaching foe +from entering holy Moscow. You know the particulars of the bloody +battle on the Moskwa. The Russians and the French fought on this 7th +of September for eleven long hours with the most obstinate +exasperation, with truly fanatical fury; whole ranks were mowed down +like corn under the harvester's scythe; their generals and +chieftains themselves were struck down in the unparalleled struggle; +more than seventy thousand killed and wounded covered the battle- +field, and yet there were no decisive results. The Russians had only +been forced back, but not defeated and routed in such a manner as to +stand in need of peace, in order to recover from the terrible +consequences of the struggle. To be sure, Napoleon held the battle- +field, and, on the 14th of September, made his entry into Moscow, +but no messengers came to him from Alexander to sue for peace; no +submissive envoys to meet him, as he had been accustomed to see in +other conquered cities, and surrender him the keys; the streets were +deserted, and no excited crowd appeared either there or at the +windows of the houses to witness his entry. The city, whence the +inhabitants and authorities had fled, was a vast gaping grave." + +"But the grave soon gave signs of animation," exclaimed Blucher, +excitedly; "the desert was transformed into a sea of fire, and the +burning city gave a horrible welcome to the French. The governor of +Moscow, Count Rostopchin, intended to greet the entering conqueror +with an illumination, and, as he had no torches handy, he set fire +to the houses. He removed the stores and supplies, compelled the +inhabitants to leave, had the fire-engines concealed, ordered +inflammable oils and rosin to be placed everywhere in order to +intensify the fury of the conflagration, and then released the +convicts that they might set fire to the city. The first house +kindled was Rostopchin's own magnificent palace, close to the gates +of Moscow. Well, it is true, Rostopchin acted like a barbarian; but +still the man's character seems grand, and his ferocity that of the +lion shaking his mane, and rushing with a roar upon his adversary. +To be sure, it was no great military exploit to burn down a large +city, but still it was a splendid stratagem, and, in a struggle with +a hateful and infamous enemy, all ways and means are permitted and +justifiable. I do not merely excuse Rostopchin, but I admire his +tremendous energy, and believe, if I were a Russian, I would +likewise have done something of the sort. His act compelled the +enemy soon to leave, as he could not establish his winter-quarters +amid smoking ruins, and to retreat instead of advancing, and obliged +the Emperor Alexander to cease his vacillating course--inasmuch as, +after the conflagration, further attempts at bringing about a +compromise and reconciliation between the belligerents were entirely +out of the question." + +"No, general, Rostopchin did not bring this about," exclaimed +Scharnhorst, "but it was our great friend Stein who did it. God +Himself sent Minister von Stein to Russia, that he might stand as an +immovable rock by the side of the mild and fickle Alexander, and +that his fiery soul might strengthen the fluctuating resolutions of +the czar, and inspire him with true faith in, and reliance on, the +great cause of the freedom of the European nations, which was now to +be decided upon the snowy fields of Russia. We owe it to Stein alone +that the peace party at the Russian headquarters did not gain the +emperor over to their side; we owe it to Stein that Alexander +determined to pursue a manly, energetic course; that he refused to +allow the diplomatists to interfere, but left the decision to the +sword alone, and constantly and proudly rejected all the offers of +peace which Napoleon now began to make to him. And Stein found a new +ally in the climate uniting with him in his inexorable hostility to +the French. Napoleon felt that he ought not to await the approach of +winter at Moscow, and on the 18th of October he left the +inhospitable city with the remnants of his army. But winter dogged +his steps; winter attached itself as a heavy burden to the feet of +his soldiers; it laid itself like lead on their paralyzed brain, and +caused the horses, guns, and caissons, to stick fast in the snow and +ice. Winter dissolved the French army. Men and beasts perished by +cold; discipline and subordination were entirely disregarded; every +one thought only of preserving his own life, of appeasing his +hunger, and relieving his distress. Piles of corpses and dead horses +marked the route of this terrible retreat of the French; and when, +on the 9th of November, they entered Smolensk, the whole grand army +consisted only of forty thousand armed men, and crowds of stragglers +destitute of arms and without discipline." + +"And still this cruel tyrant and heartless braggart, the great +Napoleon, dared to boast of his victories, and the splendid +condition of his army," exclaimed Blucher, angrily. "And he sent +constantly new bulletins of pretended victories into the world, and +the stupid Germans believed them to be true, the supposed successes +causing them to tremble. I have read these lying bulletins, and the +perusal made me ill. They dwelt on nothing but the victories, the +glorious conduct, and the fine condition of the grand army." + +"But now you shall read a new one, friend Blucher," exclaimed +Scharnhorst; "here is the twenty-ninth bulletin, and I will +communicate to you also the latest news from the grand army and the +great Napoleon, which couriers from Berlin and Dresden brought me +last night, and which induced me to set out so early to-day in order +to reach my Blucher, and tell him of a new era. Here is the twenty- +ninth bulletin, and in it Napoleon dares no longer boast of +victories; he almost dares tell the truth." + +"Let me read it!" exclaimed Blucher, impatiently seizing the printed +sheet which Scharnhorst handed to him. Gasping with inward emotion, +he began to read it, but his hands soon trembled, and the letters +swam before his eyes. + +"I cannot read it through," said Blucher, sighing. "There is a storm +raging in my heart, and it blows out the light of my eyes. Read the +remainder to me, my friend. I have read it to the engagement on the +Beresina, where Napoleon says that General Victor gained another +victory on the 28th of November." + +"But this victory consisted only in the fact that General Victor, +with his twelve thousand men, prevented the Russians from reaching +the banks of the Beresina, so that two bridges could be built across +it, and that the ragged wretches composing the grand army could +reach the opposite side of the river. That passage of the Beresina +was a terrible moment, which will never be forgotten by history--a +tragedy full of horrors, wretchedness, and despair. Stein's agents +have sent me Russian reports of this event, which contain the most +heart-rending and revolting details. Books will be written to depict +the dreadful scenes of that day; but neither historians, nor +painters, nor poets, will find words or colors to portray those +unparalleled horrors." + +"And does he describe those scenes in his bulletin?" asked Blucher. +"Read me its conclusion. Does he allude to those horrors of the +Beresina?" + +"No, general; he speaks only of the victory and the passage across +the river, and then continues: 'On the following day, the 29th of +November, we remained on the battle-field. We had to choose between +two routes: the road of Minsk, and that of Wilna. The road of Minsk +passes through the middle of a forest and uncultivated morasses; +that of Wilna, on the contrary, passes through a very fine part of +the country. The army, destitute of cavalry, but poorly provided +with ammunition, and terribly exhausted by the fatigues of a fifty +days' march, took with it its sick and wounded, and was anxious to +reach its magazines.'" + +"That is to say," exclaimed Blucher, "they died of hunger, and, as +he says that they were terribly exhausted by a fifty days' march, +dropped like flies. Oh, it is true, the Emperor Napoleon is very +laconic in his account of that retreat, but he who knows how to +penetrate the meaning of his few lines cannot fail to receive a deep +impression of the wretchedness that unfortunate army had to undergo. +Read on, dear Scharnhorst." + +Scharnhorst continued: "'If it must be admitted that it is necessary +for the army to reestablish its discipline, to recover from its long +fatigues, to remount its cavalry, artillery, and materiel, it is +only the natural result of the events which we have just described. +Repose is now, above all, indispensable to the army. The trains and +horses are already arriving; the artillery has repaired its losses, +but the generals, officers, and soldiers, have suffered intensely by +the fatigues and privations of the march. Owing to the loss of their +horses, many have lost their baggage; others have been deprived of +it by Cossacks lying in ambush. They have captured a great many +individuals, such as engineers, geographers, and wounded officers, +who marched without the necessary precautions, and exposed +themselves to the danger of being taken prisoners rather than +quietly march in the midst of the convoys.'" + +"And the Cossacks have spared HIM!" exclaimed Blucher, impatiently. +"They did not take him prisoner! What is he doing, then, that the +Cossacks cannot catch him? Tell me, Scharnhorst--the bulletin, then, +does not, like its predecessors, dwell on the heroic exploits of the +great emperor? He does not praise himself as he formerly used to +do?" + +"Oh, he does not fail to do so. Listen to the conclusion: 'During +all these operations the emperor marched constantly in the midst of +his guard, the marshal Duke d'Istria commanding the cavalry, and the +Duke de Dantzic the infantry. His majesty was content with the +excellent spirit manifested by the guard, always ready to march to +points where the situation was such that its mere presence sufficed +to check the enemy. Our cavalry lost so heavily, that it was +difficult to collect officers enough, who were still possessed of +horses, to form four companies, each of one hundred and fifty men. +In these companies, generals performed the services of captains, and +colonels those of non-commissioned officers. The "Sacred Legion," +commanded by the King of Naples and General Grouchy, never lost +sight of the emperor during all these operations. The health of his +majesty never was better.'" [Footnote: Fain, "Manuscrit de 1812."] + +"And he dares to proclaim that!" exclaimed Blucher, indignantly. +"His army is dying of hunger and cold, and he proclaims to the +world, as if in mockery, that his health never was better! It is his +fault that hundreds of thousands are perishing in the most heart- +rending manner, and he boasts of his extraordinary good health! He +must have a stone in his breast instead of a heart; otherwise, a +general whose army is perishing under his eyes cannot be in +extraordinary good health. He will be punished for it, and will not +always feel so well." + +"He has already been punished, my friend," said Scharnhorst, +solemnly. "It has pleased God to chastise the arrogant tyrant and to +bow his proud head to the dust." + +Blucher jumped up, and a deep pallor overspread his cheeks. "He has +been punished?" he asked, breathlessly. "Napoleon in the dust! What +is it? Speak quickly, Scharnhorst; speak, if you do not want me to +die! What has happened?" + +"He has left his army, and secretly fled from Russia!" + +Blucher uttered a cry, and, without a word, rushed toward the door. +Scharnhorst and Amelia hastened after him and kept him back. + +"What do you wish to do?" asked Scharnhorst. + +"I wish to pursue him!" exclaimed Blucher, vainly trying to +disengage himself from the hands of his wife and the general. "Let +me go--do not detain me! I must pursue him--I must take him +prisoner! If he has fled from his army, he must return to France, +and if he wants to return to France, he must pass through Germany. +Let me go! He must not be permitted to escape from Germany!" + +"But he has already escaped," said Scharnhorst, smiling. + +"What! Passed through Germany?" asked Blucher. "And no one has tried +to arrest him?" + +"No one knew that he was there. He left his army on the 6th of +December; attended only by Caulaincourt and his Mameluke Roustan, +recognized by no one, expected by no one, he sped in fabulous haste +in an unpretending sleigh through the whole of Poland and Prussia. +Only after he set out was it known at the places where he stopped +that he had been there. He travelled as swiftly as the storm. On the +6th of December he was at Wilna, on the 10th of December at Warsaw, +and in the night of the 14th of December suddenly a plain sleigh +stopped in front of the residence of M. Serra, French ambassador at +Dresden: two footmen were seated on the box, and in the sleigh +itself there were two gentlemen, wrapped in furred robes, and so +much benumbed by the cold that they had to be lifted out. These two +gentlemen were the Emperor Napoleon and Caulaincourt. Napoleon had +an interview with the King of Saxony the same night, and, continuing +his journey, reached Erfurt on the 15th, and--" + +"And to-day is already the 17th of December," said Blucher, sighing; +"he will, therefore, be beyond the Rhine. And I must allow him to +escape! I am unable to detain him! Oh, that the little satisfaction +had been granted me of capturing Napoleon! Well, it has been decreed +that this should not be; but one thing at least is settled. Napoleon +has been deserted by his former good luck; Dame Fortune, who always +was seated in his triumphal car, has alighted from it, and now we +may hope to see her soon restored to her old place on the top of the +Brandenburg gate at Berlin. Hurrah, my friend! we are going to rise; +I feel it in my bones, and the time has come when old Blucher will +again be permitted to be a man, and will no longer be required to +draw his nightcap over his ears." + +"Yes, the time has come when Prussia needs her valiant Blucher," +said Scharnhorst, tenderly laying his arm on Blucher's. "Now raise +your head, general--now prepare for action, for Blucher must +henceforth be ready at a moment's notice to obey the call of +Prussia, and place himself at the head of her brave sons, who are so +eager for the fray." + +"Yes, yes, we shall have war now," exclaimed Blucher. "Soon the +drums will roll, and the cannon boom--soon Blucher will no longer be +a childish and decrepit old man whom wiseacres think they can mock +and laugh at--soon Blucher will once more be a man who, sword in +hand, will shout to his troops, 'Forward!--charge the enemy!' Great +Heaven, Scharnhorst, and I have not even dressed becomingly--I still +wear a miserable civilian's coat! Suppose war should break out to- +day, and they should come and call me to the army? Why, Blucher +would have to hang his head in shame, and acknowledge that he was +not ready!--John! John!--my uniform! Come to my bedroom, John! I +want to dress!--to put on my uniform!" + +Fifteen minutes afterward Blucher returned to the sitting-room, +where his wife was gayly chatting with Scharnhorst. He was not now +the sick, suffering old man whom we saw this morning sitting on the +easy-chair at the window, but he was once more a fiery soldier and a +hero. His head was proudly erect, his eyes were flashing, a proud +smile was playing round his lips; his broad-shouldered form was +clothed in the uniform of a Prussian general; orders were glittering +on his breast, and the long rattling sword hung at his left side. + +Blucher approached his wife and General Scharnhorst with dignified +steps, and, giving his hands to both, said in a grave and solemn +voice, "The time for delay, impatience, and folly, is past. With +this uniform I have become a new man. I am no longer an impatient +septuagenarian, cursing and killing flies on the wall because he has +no one else on whom to vent his wrath; but I am a soldier standing +composedly at his post, and waiting for the hour when he will be +able to destroy his enemy. Come, my friends,--come with me!" + +He drew the two with him, and walked so rapidly through the rooms +that they were scarcely able to accompany him. They entered the +large reception-room, opened only on festive occasions. It contained +nothing but some tinselled furniture, a few tables with marble tops, +and on the pillars between the windows large Venetian mirrors. +Otherwise the walls were bare, except over the sofa, where hung, in +a finely-carved and gilded frame, a painting, which however was +covered with a large veil of black crape. + +Blucher conducted the two to this painting; for a moment he stood +still and gazed on it gravely and musingly, and, raising his right +hand with a quick jerk, he tore down the mourning-veil. + +"Queen Louisa!" exclaimed Scharnhorst, admiring the tall and +beautiful lady smiling on him. "Yes," said Blucher, solemnly, "Queen +Louisa! The guardian angel of Prussia, whose heart Napoleon broke! +This pride and joy of all our women had to depart without hoping +even in the possibility that the calamities which ruined her might +come to an end. On the day she died I covered her portrait with this +veil, and swore not to look again at her adored countenance until +able to draw my sword, and, with Prussia's soldiers, avenge her +untimely death. The time has come! Louisa, rise again from your +grave, open once more your beautiful eyes, for daylight is at hand, +and our night is ended. Now, my beautiful queen, listen to the oath +of your most faithful servant!" He drew his sword, and, raising it +up to the painting, exclaimed: "Here is my sword! When I sheathed it +last, I wept, for I was to be an invalid, and should no longer wield +it; I was to sit here in idleness, and silently witness the +sufferings of my fatherland. But now I shall soon be called into +service, and I swear to you, Queen Louisa, that I will not sheathe +this sword before I have avenged your death, before Germany and +Prussia are free again, and Napoleon has received his punishment. I +swear it to you, as sure as I am old Blucher, and have seen the +tears which Prussia's disgrace has often wrung from your eyes. May +God help me! may He in His mercy spare me until I have fulfilled my +oath! Amen!" + +"Amen!" repeated Scharnhorst and Amelia, looking up to the portrait. + +"Amen!" said Blucher again. "And now, Amelia," he added, quickly, +"come and give me a kiss, and, by this kiss, consecrate your +warrior, that he may deliver Germany and overthrow Napoleon. For +Napoleon must now be hurled from the throne!" + + + + +CHANCELLOR VON HARDENBERG. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER. + + +It was on the 4th of January, 1813. The brilliant official +festivities with which the beginning of a new year had been +celebrated, were at an end, and, the ceremonious dinner-parties +being over, one was again at liberty to indulge in the enjoyment of +familiar suppers, where more attention was paid to the flavor of +choice wines and delicacies than to official toasts and political +speeches. Marshal Augereau gave at Berlin on this day one of those +pleasant little entertainments to his favored friends, to indemnify +them, as it were, for the great gala dinner of a hundred covers, +given by him on the 1st of January, as official representative of +the Emperor Napoleon. + +To-day the supper was served in the small, cozy saloon, and it was +but a petit comite that assembled round the table in the middle of +the room. This comite consisted only of five gentlemen, with +pleasant, smiling faces, in gorgeous, profusely-embroidered +uniforms, on the left sides of which many glittering orders +indicated the high rank of the small company. There was, in the +first place, Marshal Augereau, governor of Berlin, once so furious a +republican that he threatened with death all the members of his +division who would address any one with "monsieur," or "madame"--now +the most ardent imperialist, and an admirer of the Emperor Napoleon. +The gentleman by his side, with the short, corpulent figure and +aristocratic countenance, from which a smile never disappeared, was +the chancellor of state and prime minister of King Frederick William +III, Baron von Hardenberg. He was just engaged in an eager +conversation with his neighbor, Count Narbonne, the faithless +renegade and former adherent of the Bourbons, who had but lately +deserted to Napoleon's camp, and allowed himself to be used by the +emperor on various diplomatic missions. Next to him sat Prince +Hatzfeld, the man on whom, in 1807, Napoleon's anger had fallen, and +who would have been shot as a "traitor" if the impassioned +intercession of his wife had not succeeded in softening the emperor, +and thus saving her husband's life. Near him, and closing the +circle, sat Count St. Marsan, Napoleon's ambassador at the court of +Prussia. + +These five gentlemen had already been at the table for several +hours, and were now in that comfortable and agreeable mood which +epicures feel when they have found the numerous courses palatable +and piquant, the Hock sufficiently cold, the Burgundy sufficiently +warm, the oysters fresh, and the truffles well-flavored. They had +got as far as the roast; the pheasants, with their delicate sauce, +filled the room with an appetizing odor, and the corks of the +champagne-bottles gave loud reports, as if by way of salute fired in +honor of the triumphant entry of Pleasure. + +Marshal Augereau raised his glass. "I drink this in honor of our +emperor!" he exclaimed, in an enthusiastic tone. The gentlemen +touched each other's glasses, and the three representatives of +France then emptied theirs at one draught. Prince Hatzfeld followed +their example, but Baron von Hardenberg only touched the brim of his +glass with his lips, and put it down again. + +"Your excellency does not drink?" asked Augereau. "Then you are not +in earnest?" + +"Yes, marshal, I am in earnest," said Hardenberg, smiling, "but you +used a word which prevented me from emptying my glass. You said, 'In +honor of OUR emperor!' Now, I am the devoted and, I may well say, +faithful servant of my master, King Frederick William, and therefore +I cannot call the great Napoleon my emperor." + +"Oh, I used a wrong expression," exclaimed Augereau, hastily. "Let +us fill our glasses anew, and drink this time 'the health of the +great emperor Napoleon!'" he touched glasses with the chancellor of +state, and then fixed his keen eyes upon the minister. + +Baron von Hardenberg raised the glass to his lips, but then withdrew +it again, and, bowing smilingly to Marshal Augereau, said: "Permit +me, marshal, to add something to your toast. Let us drink 'the +health of the great emperor, and a long and prosperous alliance with +Prussia!'" + +"'And a long and prosperous alliance with Prussia,'" repeated the +four gentlemen, emptying their glasses, and resuming their chairs. + +"We have just drunk to the success of our divulged secret," said +Prince Hatzfeld, smiling. "For I suppose, your excellency," turning +to Baron von Hardenberg, "this new happy alliance between Prussia +and France is now not much of a secret?" + +"I hope it will soon be no secret at all," said Hardenberg. "Prussia +has received the proposition of France with heartfelt joy, and will +hail the marriage of her crown prince Frederick William as the +happiest guaranty of an indissoluble union. Only the crown prince is +too young as yet to marry, and at the present time, at least, +allusions to the happiness of his future should be avoided. His +thoughts should belong only to God and religion, for you know, +gentlemen, that the crown prince will be solemnly confirmed in the +course of a few days. Only after he has pledged his soul to God will +it be time for him to pledge his heart to love; only then +communications will be made to him as to the brilliant future that +is opening for him, and, no doubt, he will, like the king, be ready +to bind even more firmly the ties uniting Prussia with France. He +will be proud to receive for a consort a princess of the house of +Napoleon, for such a marriage will render him a relative of the +greatest prince of his century!" + +"Of a prince whom Heaven loves above all others, as it lavishes upon +him greater prosperity than upon others," exclaimed Prince Hatzfeld, +emphatically. "God's love is visibly with him, and protects His +favorite. Who but he would have been able to overcome the terrible +dangers of the Russian campaign, and, with an eagle's flight, return +to France from the snowy deserts of Russia, without losing a single +plume of his wings?" + +"It is true," responded Augereau, thoughtfully. "Fortune, or, if you +prefer, Providence, is with the emperor; it protects him in all +dangers, and allows him to issue victoriously from all storms. In +Russia he was in danger of ruining his glory and his army, but the +battle of Borodino, and still more that on the banks of the +Beresina, saved his laurels. The emperor travelled deserted roads, +without an escort or protection, through Poland and Germany, in +order to return to France. If he had been recognized, perhaps it +might have entered the heads of some enthusiasts to attack and +capture him on his solitary journey; but the eyes of his enemies +seemed to have been blinded. The emperor was not recognized, and +appeared suddenly in Paris, where the greatest excitement, +consternation, and confusion, were prevailing at that moment. For +Paris had just then been profoundly moved by the deplorable +conspiracy of General Mallet, and the Parisians were asking each +other in dismay whether General Mallet might not have been right +after all in announcing that Napoleon was dead, and whether his +death was not kept a secret merely from motives of policy. Suddenly +Napoleon appeared in the streets of Paris. All rushed out to behold +the emperor, or touch his horse, body, hands, or feet, to look into +his eyes, to hear his voice, and satisfy themselves that it was +really Napoleon--not an apparition. Their cheers rang, and, in their +happiness at seeing him again in their midst, they pardoned him for +having left their sons and brothers, fathers and husbands, as frozen +corpses on the plains of Russia. Never before had Napoleon enjoyed a +greater triumph as on the day of his return from the Russian +campaign. Fortune is the goddess chained to the emperor's triumphal +car, and the nations therefore would act very foolishly if they +dared rise against him." + +"Happily, they have given up all such schemes," said Hardenberg, +smiling, and quietly cutting the pheasant's wing on his silver +plate. "They are asking and longing only for peace in order to dress +their wounds, cultivate their fields, and peaceably reap the +harvest." + +"And the word of the Emperor Napoleon is a pledge to nations that +they shall be enabled to do so," exclaimed St. Marsan. "He wants +peace, and is ready to make every sacrifice to conclude and maintain +it." + +"The German princes, of course, will joyously offer him their hands +for that purpose," said Hardenberg, bowing his head. "In truth, I +could not say at what point of Germany war could break out at this +juncture. The princes of the German Confederation of the Rhine have +long since acknowledged the Emperor of the French as their master, +and themselves as his obedient vassals. Powerful Austria has allied +herself with France by the ties of a marriage, and the hands of +Maria Louisa and Napoleon are stretched out in blessing over the two +countries. Poor Prussia has not only proved her fidelity as an ally +of France, but is now, forgetful of all her former humiliations, +ready to consent to a marriage of her future king with a Napoleonic +princess. Whence, then, could come a cause for a new war between +France and Germany? We shall have peace, doubtless--a long and +durable peace!" + +"And that will be very fortunate," said Count Narbonne, "for then it +will no longer be necessary for us to allow miserable politics to +poison our suppers. 'Politics,' said my great royal patron, King +Louis XVI, the worthy uncle of the Emperor Napoleon, 'politics know +nothing of the culinary art; they spoil all dishes, and care, +therefore, ought to be taken not to allow them to enter the kitchen +or the dining-room. One must not admit them even directly after +eating, for they interfere with digestion; only during the morning +hours should audiences be given to them, for then they may serve as +Spanish pepper, imparting a flavor to one's breakfast.' That was a +very sagacious remark; I feel it at this moment when you so cruelly +sprinkle politics over this splendid pheasant." + +"You are right," exclaimed Hardenberg, laughing, "I therefore beg +your excellency's pardon; for Spanish pepper, which is very +palatable in Cumberland sauce, and a few other dishes, is surely +entirely out of place when mixed with French truffles." + +"Unhappy man," exclaimed Narbonne, with ludicrous pathos, "you are +again talking politics, and moreover of the worst sort!" + +"How so?" asked Count St. Marsan. "What displeases you in the +remarks of Minister von Hardenberg?" + +"Well, did you not notice that his excellency alluded to our +unsuccessful efforts in Spain? Spanish pepper, he said, is surely +entirely out of place when mixed with French truffles, but very +palatable in English sauces. That is to say, Spain and England are +good allies, and Spain and France will never be reconciled. And it +is true, it is a mortal war which Spain is waging against us, and +unfortunately one which, offers us but few chances of success. The +Spaniards contest every inch of ground with the most dogged +obstinacy, and they have found very valuable auxiliaries in Lord +Wellington and his English troops. They--" + +"Ah, my dear count," exclaimed Marshal Augereau, smiling, "now it is +you who talk politics, and it behooves you no longer to accuse us." + +"You are right, and I beg your pardon," said Narbonne; "but you see +how true the old proverb proves: 'Bad examples spoil good manners.' +Let us talk no longer about pepper, but truffles. Just compare this +truffle from Perigord with the Italian truffle at the entremets, and +you will have to admit that our Perigord truffle is in every respect +superior to the latter. It is more savory and piquant. There can be +no doubt of it that Perigord furnishes the most palatable fruit to +the world." + +"What fruit do you allude to?" asked Hardenberg, smiling. "Do you +refer to the Perigord truffle, or to the Abbot of Perigord, the +great Talleyrand?" + +"I see you are lost beyond redemption," said Narbonne, sighing, +while the other gentlemen burst into laughter. "Even in the face of +a truffle you still dare to amuse yourself with political puns, and +confound intentionally an abbot with a truffle! Oh, what a blasphemy +against the finest of all fruits--I allude, of course, to the +truffle--oh, it is treason committed--" + +Just then the door of the saloon was hastily opened, and the first +secretary of the French embassy entered the room. + +"What, sir!" shouted Count St. Marsan to him, "you come to disturb +me here? Some important event, then, has taken place?" + +The secretary approached him hurriedly. "Yes, your excellency," he +said, "highly important and urgent dispatches have arrived. They +come from the army, and an aide-de-camp of Marshal Macdonald is +their bearer. He has travelled night and day to reach your +excellency at an earlier moment than the courier whom General von +York no doubt has sent to the King of Prussia. Here are the +dispatches which the aide-de-camp of the marshal has brought for +you, and which he says ought immediately to be read by your +excellency." He handed the count a large sealed letter, which the +latter eagerly accepted and at once opened. + +A profound silence now reigned in the small saloon. The faces of the +boon companions at the table had grown grave, and all fixed their +eyes with an anxious and searching expression upon the countenance +of Count St. Marsan. He read the dispatch at first with a calm and +indifferent air, but suddenly his features assumed an expression of +astonishment--nay, of anger, and a gloomy cloud covered his brow. + +"All right," he then said, turning to the secretary. "Return to the +legation. I will follow you in a few minutes." The secretary bowed +and withdrew. The five gentlemen were again alone. + +"Well," asked Marshal Augereau, "were the dispatches really +important?" + +Count St. Marsan made no immediate reply. He looked slowly around +the circle of his companions, and fixed his eyes with a piercing +expression on the countenance of Chancellor von Hardenberg. "Yes," +he said, "they contain highly important news, and I wonder if his +excellency the chancellor of state has not yet received them, for +the dispatches concern above all the Prussian army." + +"But I pledge your excellency my word of honor that I do not know +what you refer to," said Hardenberg, gravely. "I have received no +courier and no startling news from the Prussian army." + +"Well, then," said St. Marsan, bowing, "permit me to communicate it +to you. General York, commander of the Prussian troops belonging to +the forces of Marshal Macdonald, has refused to obey the marshal's +orders. He has gone even further than that, concluding a treaty with +Russia, with the enemy of France and Prussia; and signed at +Tauroggen, with the Russian General von Diebitsch, a convention by +virtue of which he severs his connection with the French army, and, +with the consent of Russia, declares that the Prussian corps +henceforth will be neutral." + +"But this impossible," exclaimed Hardenberg, "he would not dare any +thing of the kind; he would not violate in so flagrant a manner the +orders given him by his king!" + +"But he did so," said Augereau, "and if your excellency should have +any doubts as to the truth of what Count St. Marsan said, here is +the autograph letter in which General von York informs Marshal +Macdonald of his defection; and, besides, another letter in which +the commander of the cavalry, General von Massenbach, notifies +Marshal Macdonald that he has acceded to York's convention, and +henceforth will no longer obey the marshal's orders. Conformably to +this convention, the Prussian troops have already left the positions +assigned them by Marshal Macdonald, and returned to Prussian +territory." + +"It is true; there can be no doubt of it," said Hardenberg, with a +deep sigh, and handing back to the marshal the papers which he had +rapidly glanced over. He then rose from his chair and said: "This is +so unparalleled and unexpected an event, that I am at the present +moment almost unable to collect my thoughts. You will pardon me, +therefore, for leaving you; above all, I have to inform his majesty, +the king, of this important intelligence, and receive his orders in +regard to it. But then I beg leave to see Count St. Marsan at his +residence, to confer with him as to the measures to be taken +concerning this terrible event." + +"I will await you at whatever hour of the night it may be," said +Count St. Marsan; "I am now about to return to my residence." + +"And I to the king!" exclaimed Hardenberg, taking leave. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DEFECTION OF GENERAL YORK. + + +King Frederick William had just returned to his cabinet after +attending to the last business, which he never neglected to perform +on any day of the year; that is to say, he had repaired to the +bedrooms of his children, and bidden the little sleepers "good- +night" by gently kissing them. In former times he did this by the +side of his wife, with a happy heart and a smiling face; it had +been, as it were, the last seal both pressed, at the close of every +day of their common happiness, upon the foreheads of their sleeping +children. But since Louisa had left him, to bid this "good-night" +had become, as it were, a sacred pilgrimage to his most precious +recollections. When he passed through the silent corridors at night, +and entered the rooms of his sons and daughters, he thought of her +who had left him three years before, but whom he believed he saw, +with her sweet smile and loving eyes. He took pains to remind such +of his children as he found awake of their dear departed parent, +whispering to them, "Remember your noble mother, whose eyes behold +you." And on the lips of those asleep he never failed to press two +kisses--one for himself and the other for Louisa. + +The king had just returned to his cabinet, and, like a dying glimmer +of twilight, a faint smile was illuminating his countenance, which, +since the queen's death, had grown grave and sad. He seated himself +on the sofa where she had so often sat by his side, and cast a +mournful glance upon the vacant place beside him. "Alone! Always +alone!" he said in a low voice. "Nothing around me but intrigues, +quarrels, and malice! No one who loves me! Alone!" With a quick +motion he turned his head toward the side of the wall where hung +over his desk the portrait of Queen Louisa, in her white dress, and +a rose on her bosom. "Where are you, then, Louisa!" he exclaimed; +"why did you leave me, though you had sworn to bear joy and grief +with me? You are not here to share them, and--" Suddenly the king +paused and turned his eyes toward the door. It seemed to him as +though he heard hasty footsteps, and some one softly rapping at his +door. Who, at this unusual hour, could ask for admittance? Who could +dare now interrupt his solitude, when it was well understood he +desired to be left alone? + +The rapping was repeated, louder than before, and a timid, imploring +voice asked, "Has his majesty returned to his cabinet?" + +"It is Timm, my chamberlain," said the king. "What can he want of +me?" + +Ordering him in a loud tone to walk in, the door was immediately +opened, and the chamberlain appeared on the threshold. "Pardon me, +sire," he said, "but his excellency Chancellor von Hardenberg is in +the anteroom, and urgently requests your majesty to grant him an +immediate audience." + +"Hardenberg!" exclaimed the king, anxiously. "What has happened; +what--" He interrupted himself: "I will see the chancellor. Admit +him at once." + +The chamberlain withdrew. The king arose and advanced several steps +toward the door; then, as if ashamed of his own impatience, he +stopped, while his face expressed the agitation of his mind. + +Hardenberg entered, and, closing the door rapidly, approached the +king. "Your majesty," he said, "I beg pardon for daring to disturb +you at so late an hour; but the extraordinary importance of the news +I bring to you will be my excuse. I was at the supper-table of +Marshal Augereau, in company with the French ambassador, Count St. +Marsan, when important dispatches, just arrived from the army, were +delivered to the ambassador." + +"A battle has been fought, has it not? Has my corps been routed?" +asked the king, breathlessly. + +"No, your majesty, there has been no battle. A much more +extraordinary event has taken place, General von York has concluded +a convention with the Russian General Diebitsch, and signed a treaty +by which the troops commanded by York separate from the French, and +engage to remain neutral for two months." + +"That is not true!" exclaimed the king. "A mere rumor!--an +impossibility!" + +"Your majesty, it is but too true. I myself have read the autograph +letters in which Generals York and Massenbach inform Marshal +Macdonald of their resolution not to obey his orders longer." + +The king pressed his hands against his temple, and exclaimed, in a +tremulous voice: "Oh, this is enough to throw one into a state of +apoplexy! [Footnote: The king's own words.--Vide Droysen's "Life of +York, "vol. ii., p. 36.] It is unheard of, contrary to military law, +contrary to all international obligations! It is open rebellion, +revolutionary resistance to his king and commander-in-chief! A +general who dares commit so terrible a crime must be tried by court- +martial, and sentence of death passed upon him. I cannot pardon +him!" + +"Your majesty," said Hardenberg, in dismay, "it is possible that +General York may have committed a crime against discipline, but, +nevertheless, it is an heroic and magnanimous deed, and no Prussian +court-martial will dare inflict punishment on him. We do not yet +know the urgent circumstances obliging the general to make this +decision; we do not yet know from what dangers he may have preserved +the Prussian army by his quick and resolute step." + +"But we know that he has committed an unparalleled crime against +discipline!" + +"A crime by which he may perhaps have saved Prussia from utter +destruction! The general will be able to justify his deed." + +"But it seems that he does not even deem it necessary to inform me +of his proceedings," exclaimed the king, indignantly. "He appears to +have made himself dictator, and as he does not recognize my military +laws, he refuses also to acknowledge me as commander-in-chief, to +whom he owes obedience." + +"Your majesty, I believe there is his justification already," said +Hardenberg, pointing at Timm the chamberlain, who reentered the room +at this moment. + +"Well, what is it, Timm?" asked the king, hastily. + +"Your majesty, a courier from General von York has just arrived; he +is bearer of dispatches, which he is to deliver to your majesty in +person." + +"Who is the courier?" asked the king. + +"The general's aide-de-camp, Major Thile." + +"Let him come in," said the king. + +The jingle of spurs, and heavy, weary footsteps were heard +approaching; Major von Thile entered. His uniform was covered with +dust and mud; his hair hung in wet locks upon his forehead, and +there shone in his mustache the snow-flakes with which the stormy +night had adorned it. + +"Did you arrive now?" asked the king, eying him closely. + +"I did, your majesty, and, agreeably to the orders of General von +York, have had myself driven directly to the royal palace, for the +general deemed it of the highest importance that I should deliver my +dispatches as soon as possible to your majesty. Hence I rode night +and day, and, my horse breaking down today, I was obliged to take a +carriage." + +"But the French courier reached Berlin earlier than you did," said +the king, gruffly. "How does that happen? Have the French quicker +horses or more devoted soldiers?" + +"No, your majesty, their road to Berlin was shorter than mine, that +is all. As I could not ride across the French camp, I had to take a +roundabout road by way of Gumbinnen. This caused a delay of four +hours." + +"Give me your dispatches," said the king. + +Major Thile handed him a large sealed paper. The king extended his +hand to take it, but suddenly withdrew it again and started back. + +"No," he said, "it does not behoove a king to receive letters from a +traitorous subject--a rebellious soldier. Take this dispatch, M. +Chancellor; open and read it to me. Give it to his excellency." + +Major Thile handed Hardenberg the letter, and, while he was doing +so, the eyes of the two men met. The major's eyes expressed an +anxious question, those of Hardenberg made him a sad and painful +reply, and both were unable to restrain a sigh. + +"Read," said the king, stepping into the window-niche, folding his +hands on his breast, and placing himself so that the curtains shaded +his face, and screened it from the two gentlemen. + +Hardenberg unfolded the paper and read as follows: + +"To his Majesty the King:--Tauroggen, December 30, 18l2.--Placed in +a very unfavorable position by setting out at a later day than the +marshal did, and being ordered to march from Mitau to Tilsit, for +the sole purpose of covering the retreat of the seventh division, I +have been compelled, on account of impassable roads, and very severe +weather, to conclude with the Russian commander, Major-General +Diebitsch, the enclosed convention, which I beg leave to lay before +your majesty. Firmly convinced that a continuation of the march +would have unavoidably brought about the dissolution of the whole +corps, and the loss of its entire artillery and baggage, as was the +case of the retreat of the grand army, I believe it was incumbent +upon me, as your majesty's faithful subject, to regard your +interest, and no longer that of your ally, for whom our auxiliary +corps would only have been sacrificed without being able to afford +him any real assistance in the desperate predicament in which he was +placed. The convention imposes no obligations whatever upon your +majesty, but it preserves to you a corps that gives value to the old +alliance, or a new one, if such should be concluded, and prevents +your majesty from being at the mercy of an ally at whose hands you +would have to receive as a gift the preservation or restoration of +your states. I would willingly lay my head at the feet of your +majesty if I have erred; I would die with the joyous conviction of +having at least committed no act contrary to my duty as a faithful +subject and a true Prussian. Now or never is the time for your +majesty to extricate yourself from the thraldom of an ally whose +intentions in regard to Prussia are veiled in impenetrable darkness, +and justify the most serious alarm. That consideration has guided +me. God grant it may be for the salvation of the country!--YORK." +[Footnote: Droysen's "Life of York," vol. i., p. 493.] + +A pause ensued. The king still stood with folded arms in the window- +niche, his face shaded by the curtains, and inaccessible to the +anxious and searching glances of Hardenberg and the major. + +"Does your majesty now command me to read the convention?" asked the +minister. + +"No," said the king, sternly, "what do I care for a convention drawn +up by a traitor? I would not be at liberty to accept it even though +it should secure me new provinces.--Major Thile!" + +"Your majesty!" said the major, advancing a few steps with stiff, +military bearing. + +"Were you present at the negotiations preceding this convention? Are +you familiar with the circumstances that led to it?" + +"Yes, your majesty; General von York deigned to repose implicit +confidence in me; I am perfectly familiar with the course of the +negotiations, and was present when the convention was concluded. I +observed the inward struggles of the general; I witnessed the +terrible conflict that took place in his breast between his duty as +a soldier and his conscience as a faithful subject of your majesty. +As a soldier he was conscious of the crime he was about to commit +against discipline; as a faithful subject, he felt that he ought to +commit it if he wished to avoid plunging a corps of ten thousand +men, belonging to your majesty alone, into utter and irretrievable +destruction." + +"Did the negotiations last a long time? Speak! I want to know all; +but, understand me well, the truth. No protestations! Speak now!" + +"Yes, your majesty, the negotiations had been going on for some +time; in fact, ever since the so-called 'grand army' made its +appearance in miserable, ragged, and starving squads--mere crowds of +woe-begone, famished beggars--while the splendid and powerful +Russian forces were constantly approaching closer to our positions +and the Prussian frontier. The Russian generals, Prince Wittgenstein +and General Diebitsch, were sending one messenger after another to +York and informing him of the dangers of his position, surrounded on +all sides by Russian troops. They advised him therefore to yield, +unless he wished needlessly to expose the soldiers of your majesty +to inevitable destruction. They urged him, for the salvation of +Prussia, to grasp the saving hand that was being held out to him, +and compel Prussia to forsake an utterly ruined ally, who, in order +to secure a brief respite, would assuredly not hesitate to sacrifice +for his own benefit Prussia's last strength and resources. But the +general was still unable to make up his mind to take a step which +might be disavowed by your majesty. In the mean time, however, the +news came that Memel had been taken and occupied by the Russians, +and Prince Wittgenstein simultaneously sent word that he had placed +a corps of fifty thousand men on the banks of the Niemen, and was +ready to pursue the French army, which would now seek safety in +Prussia. Prince Wittgenstein, therefore, demanded categorically +whether York would leave the French army, or whether he was to be +considered a part of it, and an enemy of Russia." + +"And what did York reply?" asked the king, hastily. + +"Your majesty, he was silent. Even we, his confidants, did not know +what decision he had come to. Suddenly a messenger from Marshal +Macdonald, who had succeeded in getting into our lines, appeared at +York's headquarters. He informed the general that the French troops +of the marshal were near Piktupohnen, and brought orders that York +should march to that place, where Macdonald would await him, and +that the French and Prussian forces should then be united. +Henceforth further hesitation was out of the question. The +messengers, both of the Russian General Diebitsch and the French +Marshal Macdonald, were at his headquarters, and insisted that he +should make up his mind as to the course to be pursued by his corps. +York either had to set out at once and force a passage through the +Russian lines, in order to join the French marshal at Piktupohnen, +or to refuse to obey the marshal's orders, and, instead of marching +upon Piktupohnen, join the Russians, and proceed to Prussia. But +General York had not yet made up his mind. Toward nightfall another +messenger from General Diebitsch arrived at his headquarters. This +messenger was Lieutenant-Colonel Clausewitz, whom Diebitsch had sent +to insist again on a categorical reply. York received him sullenly, +and said to him: 'Keep aloof from me. I do not wish to have any +thing to do with you. Your accursed Cossacks have allowed a +messenger from Macdonald to pass through your lines, and he has +brought me orders to march upon Piktupohnen, and there join him. All +doubts are at an end. Your troops do not arrive; you are too weak; I +decline continuing negotiations which would cost me my head.'" +[Footnote: York's own words.--Vide Droysen, vol. i., p. 486.] + +"Did the general really say so?" asked the king, quickly. "Do you +tell me the truth?" + +"Yes, your majesty, it is the whole truth. General York said so; I +was present when Clausewitz came to him. I remained with Colonel +Roden in the room when Clausewitz, at last, at his urgent request, +received from General York permission to deliver to him at least the +letters he had brought with him from Generals d'Anvray and +Diebitsch. The general read them; he then fixed his piercing eyes on +Clausewitz, and said: 'Clausewitz, you are a Prussian! Do you +believe that General d'Anvray's letter is sincere, and that +Wittgenstein's troops will be on the Niemen on the 31st of December? +Can you give me your word of honor upon it?' Lieutenant-Colonel +Clausewitz gave him his word of honor. York was silent, and +repeatedly paced the room, absorbed in his reflections; he then gave +Clausewitz his hand, and said in a firm voice, and with a sublime +air, 'You have me! Tell General Diebitsch that we will hold an +interview in the morning at the mill of Poscherun, and that I have +made up my mind to forsake the French and their cause. I will not go +to Piktupohnen!' When he said so, we who witnessed that great moment +were no longer able to restrain our transports. Forgetful alike of +etiquette and discipline, Roden, Clausewitz, and myself, rushed up +to the general to embrace him, thanking him with tearful eyes, and +telling him that he had fulfilled the most ardent wishes of the +whole corps, and that all Prussian officers would receive with +heart-felt rejoicings the news that we were to be delivered from the +French alliance. But York gazed on us with grave, gloomy eyes, and +said, with a faint smile; 'It is all very well for you, young men, +to talk in this way. But the head of your old commander is tottering +on his shoulders.' [Footnote: This whole scene is historical.--Vide +Droysen, vol. i., p. 487.] In the morning he summoned all the +officers of his corps to his headquarters, and informed them in an +affecting speech of the decision he had come to." + +"What did he say?" asked the king. "Can you repeat his words to me?" + +"I can, your majesty; for, after returning to my room, I wrote down +the speech I had heard in my memorandum-book, and I believe every +word of it was engraven in my memory." + +"Have you your memorandum-book here?" + +"I have, your majesty.'" + +"Read!" + +Major Thile drew his memorandum-book from his breast-pocket, and +read as follows: "'Gentlemen, the French army has been annihilated +by Heaven's avenging hand; the time has come for us to recover our +independence by uniting with the Russian army. Let those who share +my sentiments, and are ready to sacrifice their lives for the +fatherland and for liberty, follow me; those who are unwilling to do +so may remain with the French. Let the issue of our cause be +whatever it may, I shall always esteem and honor even those who do +not share my sentiments, and who prefer to remain. If we succeed, +the king may, perhaps, pardon me for what I have done; if we are +unsuccessful, then I must lose my head. In that case, I pray my +friends to take care of my wife and children.' Your majesty," said +Major Thile, closing his memorandum-book, "that was the whole +speech." + +"And what did the officers reply to it?" asked the king. "Mind! the +truth!--I want to know the truth!" + +"And I am courageous enough to tell you the truth, although I am +afraid that your majesty will be displeased. All the officers +received the general's speech with unbounded transports and with +tears of joy. They shook hands, they embraced, and greeted each +other, as if they had suddenly returned from a foreign country to +their beloved fatherland; as if their tongues had suddenly been +loosened, and liberty to use the language of their country had been +restored to them. No one thought of remaining with the French; every +one was animated with enthusiasm at the thought that he should at +length risk his life for the cause of his country and his king; +every one had in his heart, and on his lips, a fervent prayer for +the new sacred cause which he was to serve again, and an imprecation +for that which he had been obliged to serve. When the general +exclaimed, in a ringing voice, 'Let us then, with the assistance of +Providence, enter upon and achieve the task of liberation,' all +shouted 'Amen! We will die rather than serve the enemy longer!' Your +majesty, I have now told you nothing but the whole truth. If the +general deserves punishment, all the officers of his corps deserve +it. He called upon us to part with him if we did not share his +convictions. But none of us did so, for his convictions were ours, +and we are ready to share his punishment, too, if your majesty +should punish York for what he did, as a noble and devoted patriot!" + +"Your remarks are impertinent, major," said the king sternly. "I +will not allow myself to be dazzled by your tirades. Go! You need +repose. Report to me early in the morning. You will then return with +dispatches to the army. Good-by!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE WARNING. + + +"Well, M. Chancellor," said the king, when Thile had left the room, +"tell me your opinion--the best way by which we may counteract this +senseless and rash step, and succeed in preserving our country from +the disastrous consequences." + +"Your majesty, then, is not willing to approve of the bold act York +has taken?" asked Hardenberg. + +"I hope you did not indulge for a moment in such a belief," +exclaimed the king. "York was perhaps justified in preserving his +troops from being needlessly sacrificed; but he should have based +his conduct solely on this idea, and from it have explained his +action. Instead of doing so, he justifies it by political motives, +and thereby compromises and endangers my own position. Now, I am +myself entirely at the mercy of France, and utterly destitute of +means to brave the anger of Napoleon." [Footnote: The king's words.- +-Vide Droysen, vol. i., p. 488.] + +"No," said Hardenberg, "your majesty is not entirely at the mercy of +France, and Napoleon's anger must no longer be allowed to terrify +Prussia. You have only to raise your voice and call out your +faithful subjects, and the whole nation will rise as one man; +thousands will rally round their king, and you will enter with an +invincible army upon the holy war of liberation. It will not be with +a visible army only that you will take the field--an invisible army +will accompany you--the army of minds and hearts, the grand army +whose chieftain is public opinion, whose soldier is every beggar on +the street, whose cannon is every word that is uttered, every love- +greeting and every blessing. Oh, your majesty, this 'grand army' +will pave the way for you, and will enlist everywhere new recruits, +fill your military chests, clothe and feed your soldiers, and, under +your colors, fight the enemy whom all Germany--all Europe hates +intensely, and whose yoke every one feels weighing upon his neck. +Oh, let me assure your majesty that it is only for you to be +willing, and all Prussia will rally round you for the war of +liberation!" + +"But I must not be willing," said the king; "it is contrary to my +honor and my conscience. I pledged my word to the Emperor Napoleon; +I am his ally; I am deeply impressed with the sanctity of my +existing treaties with France, and feel, as every man of honor +would, that the obligation to maintain them inviolate is only +rendered the more sacred by the disasters which have overwhelmed the +imperial armies. Besides, you look at things in a light by far too +partial and rose-colored. Do not confound your enthusiastic hopes +with stern reality. The 'grand army of public opinion,' to which you +refer, is an ally which cannot be depended upon--it is fickle, +turning with every wind--it is an ally prodigal of words, but not of +deeds. If my soldiers were to be clothed, and fed by public opinion, +they would likely go naked and die of hunger. If my military chests +wait for public opinion to fill them, they would remain empty. +Public opinion, by the way, has always been on my side and against +Napoleon; it has, for six years past, disapproved--nay, indignantly +condemned his course toward Prussia, and still it has permitted +Napoleon to halve my states; to take much more than he was entitled +to by the treaty of Tilsit; to leave his troops in my states, in +spite of the express stipulations of the treaties; to impose +contributions on Prussia and extort their payment. Public opinion +deplored it as a terrible calamity that I should be, as it were, a +prisoner here in the capital of my own monarchy, and at the palace +of my ancestors, and live under the cannon of Spandau, a fortress +unlawfully occupied by the French. Public opinion, I say, deplored +my fate, but it did not come to my assistance; it did not preserve +me from the humiliations which, at Dresden, I had to endure, not +only at the hands of Napoleon, but of all the German princes. Do +not, therefore, allude again to your 'grand army of public opinion;' +I despise it, and know its fickle and faithless character. By virtue +of the existing treaties, I made my troops participate in Napoleon's +campaign against Russia. More than one-half of my soldiers have been +devoured by wolves on the fields of Russia; the other half are now +in open insurrection. And these are the troops with whom I am to +conquer!--conquer that powerful France which is able to call up +fresh armies as from the ground, and into the treasury of which her +unlimited resources are pouring millions! No, no; I will not plunge +into so hazardous an enterprise. I will not, for the sake of a +chimera, risk my last provinces, the inheritance of my children; I +could joyously give up my life in order to bring about a change of +our present deplorable situation, but I am not at liberty to +endanger my crown--the crown of my successor. Prussia must not be +blotted from the map of nations; she shall not be swallowed by +France, and I am therefore obliged patiently to bear the burden of +these times and submit to circumstances. Hence, I am not at liberty +to pardon General York's crime, but must punish him for his conduct +in accordance with the laws of war. I must give satisfaction to the +Emperor of France for the unheard-of conduct of my general, and he +shall have it! General von York shall be superseded in his command, +cashiered, and put on his trial before a military commission. +General Kleist will take command of the troops in his place." + +"And will your majesty cashier likewise all the officers who +received the announcement of the bold resolution of their general +with enthusiastic cheers?" asked Hardenberg. "Will your majesty +likewise put on trial the spirit of resistance pervading the whole +Prussian corps? I beseech you again, in the name of your army and +your people--in the name of the magnanimous queen whose inspiring +eyes are gazing upon us from yonder portrait--take a bold and +sublime stand! Risk every thing in order to win every thing! Approve +York's step, place yourself at the head of the army, call upon the +Prussians--the Germans--to rally round your flag! Oh, your majesty, +believe me, Germany is only waiting for your war-cry. Every thing is +prepared, all are armed--all weapons, all hands are ready--all eyes +are fixed upon your majesty! Oh, do not hesitate longer; make our +night end, and the new day commence. Declare war against France-- +leave her to her destiny!" + +The king walked with rapid steps and in visible agitation; and, +whenever he passed the queen's portrait, he raised his eyes toward +it with an anxious expression. Standing in front of Hardenberg, and +laying his hand on his shoulder, he looked gravely into his pale, +quivering face. "Hardenberg," he said at last, in an undertone, "I +cannot allow General York to remain unpunished; I am not at liberty +to approve his course, even--well, yes, even though I should wish to +do so. As commander-in-chief of my army it is above all incumbent on +me to maintain discipline. York acted without regard to his +instructions, and without having received any orders from me to +enter into so dangerous a course, and I ought not afterward to +approve what one of my generals has done in so reckless and +arbitrary a manner. That would be rendering obedience dependent on +the whims and inclinations of every officer of my army. +Unconditional obedience, entire subordination of the individual +will--that is the bond which keeps armies together, and I cannot +loosen it. Where sacred and necessary principles are at stake, I +must not listen to the voice of my heart!" + +"But still you ought to listen to the voice of prudence, your +majesty," exclaimed Hardenberg, emphatically. "Now, prudence renders +it necessary for you to fight at this juncture against the +perfidious enemy, who never fulfilled his treaties, never kept his +word, and is even now plotting mischief." + +"What do you mean?" asked the king, hastily. + +"I mean that your majesty is every day in danger of being arrested +at the slightest symptom that may appear suspicious to the French +gentlemen, and of being secretly conveyed to France. I mean that the +French are anxious that you should give them such a pretext, so that +they might charge you with secret machinations, send you to France, +and appropriate the whole of Prussia. Little King Jerome is tired of +his improvised kingdom of Westphalia. He longs for a more exalted +throne, the existence of which has already been consecrated by +centuries, and for a crown which need not, like his present one, be +specially created for him. Napoleon has promised his brother the +crown and throne of Prussia in case your majesty should give him the +slightest ground for complaint. He has therefore here in Berlin a +host of spies charged with watching every word, movement, and step +of your majesty. Oh, believe me, you are at all hours in danger of +seizure and secret removal. I am familiar with the whole plot; by +means of bribery, dissimulation, and cunning, I have wormed myself +into the confidence of, and gained over to my side, some of these +spies. They have informed me that every day, shortly before +nightfall, a closed carriage drives up to the royal palace, and +waits there all the night long; that, at a short distance from it, +soldiers are posted in isolated groups behind the trees, on the +opera place, and the corners of the streets intersecting the Linden; +that the royal palace is surrounded constantly by a number of agents +of the French police, and that some of these men always find means +to slip into the palace, where they conceal themselves in dark +corners and in the garden, or the yard, in order to watch every +movement of your majesty. What should be the object of all these +proceedings, but, on the first occasion, at the slightest symptom of +your defection, to seize the sacred person of your majesty, to carry +into effect Jerome's ambitious schemes, and transform the theatre +king into a real king?" + +Frederick William's face grew pale and gloomy; he compressed his +lips as he used to do when any thing displeasing was communicated to +him. "You have told me one of the absurd stories with which nurses +try to frighten their children," he said, harshly. "But I do not +believe it, nor shall I allow myself to be frightened and take +imprudent steps. No one will dare attack or arrest me. I am the +faithful ally of France, and have proved by my actions that I am +animated with honest intentions toward her, and stand sincerely by +the alliance which I have pledged my word to maintain." + +"But suppose France should look upon this defection of General York +as brought about by the secret orders of your majesty? Suppose +Napoleon, in his incessant distrust, and Jerome, in his ardent +desire for the possession of Prussia, should, notwithstanding all +protestations of your majesty to the contrary, believe in an +understanding between York and his king, and therein find a welcome +pretext for carrying into effect their infamous schemes, seizing +your majesty, and annihilating Prussia?" + +"I shall give them such convincing proofs of my sentiments that it +will be impossible for them to believe in an understanding between +myself and York," exclaimed the king. "Enough! I adhere to my +resolution. York must be removed from his command, and General +Kleist will be his successor. I shall, besides, address an autograph +letter to Murat, the emperor's lieutenant at the head of the army, +and express to him my profound indignation at what has occurred, and +inform him of the penalty which I am about to inflict on York." + +"Very well," said Hardenberg, sighing, "if your majesty so resolves, +it must be done; but it should be done in haste--this very hour. +Count St. Marsan is waiting for me at his residence, to learn from +me the decisions of your majesty before sending off his couriers to +the Emperor Napoleon. It will be necessary for us to lay before him +the letter which your majesty intends to write to the King of +Naples, as well as the formal order in regard to the removal of +General York. You ought also at once to name the courier who is to +convey your majesty's orders and letters to the two camps in Old +Prussia." + +"You are right; all this must be done immediately," said the king, +seizing his silver bell and ringing. The door opened, and Timm the +chamberlain entered. "Go to my aide-de-camp, Major Natzmer," said +the king to him. "Inform him that he is to set out immediately on a +journey, and should, therefore, quickly prepare. In four hours every +thing must be done, and Major Natzmer must then be in my anteroom. +Go yourself to him, Timm, and inform him of my orders. This one +courier will be sufficient," said the king, turning again to +Hardenberg, after Timm had left the room. "Natzmer will first repair +to the headquarters of the King of Naples, deliver my letter to him, +show him the orders intended for Kleist and York, and then go to the +Russian camp in order to deliver these orders to my generals." + +"Will your majesty not write also a letter to the Emperor Alexander, +begging him to spare your troops, whom Wittgenstein henceforth will +consider enemies, and to address a word of consolation and +encouragement to the emperor, whose magnanimous heart will bitterly +feel this new disappointment?" + +"Very well," said the king, after a brief reflection, "I will write +such a letter to Alexander, and Natzmer shall himself take it after +previously seeing Murat, Wittgenstein, and York." + +An hour afterward the king wrote his letters, and Hardenberg drew up +the decree removing York from the command of the army. The +chancellor of state then left the king's cabinet to repair to the +residence of the French ambassador, and inform him of the +resolutions of his majesty. The king looked after him long and +musingly, and, folding his hands behind him, paced his room. A +profound silence reigned around him; the storm of the cold January +night swept dense masses of snow against the windows, making them +rattle as if spectral hands were tapping at the panes: the wax- +tapers on the silver candelabra, standing on the king's desk, had +burned low, and their flickering light flashed on the noble portrait +of the queen. The king noticed the fitfully illuminated face gazing +upon him, as it were, with a quick and repeated greeting; he could +not help gently nodding, as if to return the salutation, and then +approached the portrait with slow steps. + +"Louisa," he said, in a loud, solemn voice, "God has counted your +tears, and taken upon Himself the revenge of your wrongs. It was at +Piktupobnen where you first met Napoleon, and where the overbearing +man bowed your noble head in the dust. At Piktupobnen the Queen of +Prussia implored the emperor of the French to spare her country, and +grant her lenient terms of peace. It was France now that was waiting +for Prussia at the same place, asking Prussia for assistance, and +Prussia refused it. Where the disgraceful alliance commenced has +been seen its bitter end. God is just; He has counted your tears, +and He is preparing your revenge. It began at Piktupobnen." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE DIPLOMATIST. + + +During an hour Chancellor von Hardenberg, in the cabinet of the +French ambassador, Count St. Marsan, conferred in an animated and +grave manner as to Prussia's new position, and the guaranties she +offered to France for the sincerity of her alliance. Count St. +Marsan felt entirely satisfied, after reading the letter which King +Frederick William had written to the King of Naples, and the decree +removing York from his command. He cordially shook hands with the +chancellor, and assured him that this disagreeable affair would not +leave the least vestige of distrust; that his august emperor would +also feel entirely satisfied of the sincerity of the king's +sentiments. + +"And you may add that this will also satisfy the emperor of the +sincerity of my sentiments toward him," said Hardenberg, smiling. "I +know that Napoleon has unfortunately often distrusted me, and has +believed me to be animated with feelings hostile to his greatness. +Henceforth, however, his majesty will have to admit that I am one of +his most reliable and faithful adherents. It was I who prevailed +upon the king to stand by France so firmly and constantly. You are +aware of it, and I need not conceal it from you, that King Frederick +William loves the Emperor Alexander, and would be happy, if +circumstances enabled him, to renew his alliance with his friend +Alexander. The Emperor of Russia has already stretched out his hand +toward him, and is only waiting for Frederick William to grasp it. +York's defection was carefully prepared on the part of Russia; it +was to be the impulse which should cause the king to take +Alexander's hand. And let me tell you, confidentially, he was not +only greatly inclined to do so, but even the enthusiasm of those +gentlemen of his suite, who, heretofore, had always been ardent +adherents of the Emperor of the French, had cooled down since the +disasters of the grand army in Russia, and they believed it to be +incumbent on them to advise the king to join Russia. But I--I have +obtained a victory over them all, and, by my zeal and eloquence, +have succeeded in convincing Frederick William that just now a firm +maintenance of the alliance with France is most advantageous both to +the honor and welfare of Prussia. The king saw the force of my +arguments, and the consequence was that he rejected the proposals of +Russia, and declared in favor of a faithful continuance of the +alliance with France, as is proved by this letter to Murat, and this +decree, removing York, which I have drawn up, and which is already +signed. France may now confidently count on Prussia, for you see we +have passed through our ordeal, and have proved faithful." + +"Yes, you have," exclaimed Count St. Marsan, "and the reward and +acknowledgment due to your fidelity will soon be conferred on you. +The emperor knows full well that the magnanimous and disinterested +character of your excellency will not permit him to bestow upon you +any other rewards and thanks than those of honor and of the heart. +As for the latter, please let me return them to you now in the name +of the emperor and of France, and perhaps you will authorize me to +inform him that your excellency will consider the grand cross of the +Legion of Honor as a sufficient acknowledgment." + +"Great Heaven!" exclaimed Hardenberg, with a face radiant with joy, +"you have divined the object of my most secret wishes. You have read +my mind, and understood my ambition. There is but one order to wear +which is a proud honor, and this order has not as yet decorated my +breast." + +Count St. Marsan bent closer to the ear of the chancellor. "My noble +friend," he said, smiling, and in a low voice, "we shall fasten this +order to the breast of the chancellor of state on the day when we +sign the marriage-contract of the crown prince and a princess of the +house of Napoleon." + +"Yes," exclaimed Hardenberg, "let it be so. I accept this condition. +I shall not claim, nor deem myself worthy of receiving this longed- +for order before the day when the Prussian crown prince will be +betrothed to an imperial princess of France. To bring about this +joyful event will henceforth be for me an affair of the heart, and, +moreover, to such an extent that, if this honor should previously be +offered me, I would refuse it, because I first wish to deserve it." + +"And does your excellency believe that you will have to wait long?" +asked Count St. Marsan. "Do you believe that the day when the +betrothal will take place is yet remote?" + +"I hope not. The crown prince will be confirmed next month, and +after his confirmation it will be time to speak of his marriage. I +am satisfied that all will turn out well, and conformably to our +wishes, provided--" + +"Well?" asked St. Marsau, when Hardenberg suddenly paused. "Pray, +your excellency, confide in me, and tell me the whole truth. You may +rest assured of my most heart-felt gratitude, my entire discretion, +and the most unreserved confidence on my part. I beseech you, +therefore, to speak out." + +"Well, then," said Hardenberg, in a low voice, and with an air of +entire sincerity, "I was going to say that every thing would turn +out conformably to your wishes, provided the king do not listen to +the incessant secret entreaties and insinuations of Russia, and the +new Russian party at our court. So long as _I_ remain here, I am +afraid of nothing; but if those gentlemen should succeed in +persuading the king to leave Berlin, and repair to a city where he +would be closer to Russia, then I would really be afraid." + +"And your excellency believes that the king might entertain such an +intention?" asked Count St. Marsan, in breathless suspense. + +Hardenberg shrugged his shoulders. "I do not want to believe it," he +said, "but I am almost afraid of it. However, both you and I will be +vigilant. But listen, your excellency, the clock is striking two! +Two o'clock in the morning! Both of us have yet to send off +couriers, and then we may well be allowed to seek an hour's sleep +for our exhausted bodies. Good-night, then, my dear count and ally!- +-good-night! I hasten to the king to tell him that France will be +content with the satisfaction which we offer her, and thereby I +shall procure him a quiet and peaceful slumber for the present +night." + +"Ah, you are in truth a magician, your excellency!" said St. Marsan, +gayly, "for you understand both how to take away and give sleep. So +long as I am near you, I forget all weariness; and after you have +left me I shall, thanks to your words and promises, be able to sleep +more quietly than I have done for a long time. You have quieted my +soul, and my body therefore will also find rest. Bid me good-night +again, for when you say so I will be sure to have it." + +"Good-night, then, my dear count," said Hardenberg, shaking hands +with his friend, and withdrawing, with a smile, from the room. + +This affectionate smile was still playing round the lips of the +chancellor when he entered his carriage. But no sooner had its door +closed and the carriage was moving, than an expression of gloomy +hatred overspread his features. "I hope I have quite succeeded in +misleading St. Marsan and arousing his suspicions in regard to the +king," he said to himself. "As the king refuses to listen to my +warnings and supplications, and does not believe it to be possible +that France should dare seize him, it is time to give him some +irrefutable proofs. Perhaps he may then make up his mind to leave +Berlin. I may sign this longed-for betrothal at some other place, +too, and then fasten on my breast the order for which I am longing. +In truth," he added, laughing, "it is no fault of mine that dear +Count St. Marsan interprets my desire in the way he does. I did not +name to him the order I wish to wear. It is no fault of mine that he +imagines I wish for the grand cross of the Legion of Honor. To be +sure, I wish to obtain an order of honor, but one of a German +patriot, and that I can only obtain from the gratitude of my +countrymen and impartial history." + +The carriage stopped in front of the royal palace, and Hardenberg +hastened to the king. Silence reigned in the anteroom; a few sleepy +footmen were sitting on the cane chairs beside the door, and +scarcely took notice of the arrival of the chancellor, who passed +them with soft, hurried steps, and entered the small reception-room. +Here, too, all was still, and the two candles on the table, which +had burned low, shed but a dim light in the room. The chancellor +noticed two figures sitting on both sides of the door leading into +the adjoining room, and slowly swinging to and fro, like the +pendulum of a clock. He softly approached the two sleepers. "Ah," he +whispered, with a smile, "there sleeps Timm, the chamberlain, who is +to announce my arrival to the king; and here sleeps Major Natzmer, +to whom I want to say a word before he sets out." he laid his hand +gently on the major's shoulder. Natzmer jumped up at once and drew +himself up in a stiff, military attitude. "You are very prudent in +nodding a little now," said Hardenberg, kindly giving him his hand, +"for I am afraid you will not find much time for it during the +remainder of the night. You are ready to set out immediately, are +you not?" + +"I am, your excellency." + +"And your dispatches, I believe, are ready, too.--My dear Timm," he +then said to the chamberlain, "pray announce my arrival to his +majesty." + +"I believe it is unnecessary," said Timm, with the familiarity of a +favorite servant. "His majesty is waiting for your excellency." + +"You had better announce my arrival," said Hardenberg, smiling, "for +it might be possible that I surprise the king in the same manner as +I did these two gentlemen here, and that would be disagreeable." + +"That is true," said Timm, hastily approaching the door. "I will +immediately announce your excellency." + +No sooner had he left the room, than the chancellor laid his hand on +the major's arm, and bent over him. "My friend," he said, in a low, +hurried voice, "I know you share my views." + +"Your excellency knows that I adore you as the statesman who holds +the future happiness of Prussia in his hands, and that I abhor the +French, who have brought Prussia to the brink of ruin." + +"Will you do something to bring her back from this brink?" + +"Yes, your excellency, though it cost my life." + +"That would be a high price. No; we stand in need of your life and +your arm, for Prussia will soon need all her soldiers. What I ask of +you is not near so valuable. Listen to me. The king sends you as a +courier to Old Prussia. Repair, in the first place, to Murat's +headquarters, and deliver the king's letter to him. Go to the +Russian headquarters, and call upon Prince Wittgenstein. All I ask +of you is to inform Prince Wittgenstein that you are the bearer of +two dispatches. Tell him that one is an autograph letter from the +king to the Emperor Alexander, and the other a decree removing +General York from his command, and ordering him to be put on his +trial before a military commission." + +"What!" exclaimed Natzmer, in dismay. "Our noble York is to be +removed from his command?" + +"Yes; the king has resolved to remove and cashier him, because he +has gone over with his corps to the Russians." + +"York gone over to the Russians!" exclaimed Natzmer, joyously. "And +for this wondrously bold step I am to bring him a decree superseding +and cashiering him?" + +"That is what the king orders you to do, and, of course, you will +have to obey. But, I repeat to you, the only thing I ask of you is +to inform Prince Wittgenstein what dispatches are in your hands, and +what their contents are." + +"But suppose the king should not tell me any thing about them? +Suppose their contents, therefore, should be unknown to me?" + +"The king himself will communicate the contents to you, and even +order you to mention everywhere on the road that you are the bearer +of a decree cashiering York, the criminal general. It is of great +importance to his majesty that every one, and, above all, France, +should learn that he is highly incensed at York's defection, and +that--Hush! I hear Timm coming! You will comply with my request?" + +"I shall inform Prince Wittgenstein of the contents of my +dispatches." + +"In that case, I hope York will be safe! Hush!" + +The door opened again, and the chamberlain entered. "Your excellency +was quite right," he said; "it was well that I announced your +arrival. His majesty, like ourselves, had fallen asleep. But now he +is awaiting you." He opened the folding-doors, and Hardenberg +hastened across the adjoining room to the king's cabinet, to +communicate to him the result of his interview with the French +ambassador. + +An hour afterward Major Natzmer received three dispatches at the +hands of the king. The first was a letter to Napoleon's lieutenant +at the head of the French army, the King of Naples. In this +Frederick William informed Murat that he was filled with the most +intense indignation at the step York had taken, and that he had +commissioned Major Natzmer to deliver a royal decree to General +Kleist, authorizing him to take command of the troops and arrest +General York. He declared further in this letter that, as a matter +of course, he refused to ratify the convention, and that the +Prussian troops, commanded by General Kleist, should be, as they had +been heretofore, subject to the orders of the Emperor Napoleon, and +his lieutenant, the King of Naples. [Footnote: Droysen's "Life of +York," vol. ii., p. 37.] The second dispatch was confidential, to +the Emperor Alexander, the contents of which the king had not +communicated even to his chancellor of state. The third was, the +decree superseding York, and ordering Kleist to take command of the +troops. "I think," said the king, after Natzmer had withdrawn, "we +have now done every thing to appease Napoleon's wrath, and avert +from Prussia all evil consequences. Are you not also of this +opinion, M. Chancellor?" + +"It only remains to send a special envoy to Napoleon himself and +assure him of your majesty's profound indignation," said Hardenberg, +gloomily. "The proud emperor, perhaps, expects such a proof of the +fidelity of your majesty." + +The king cast a quick and searching glance on the gloomy countenance +of the chancellor, and then gazed for some time musingly. "You are +right," he said, after a pause; "I must send a special envoy to +Paris. When it is necessary to appease a bloodthirsty tiger, no +means should be left untried. I myself will write to Napoleon and +assure him that I will faithfully adhere to the alliance. Prince +Hatzfeld will depart with this letter for Paris early in the +morning." + +"Your majesty will then have done every thing to satisfy the French +of the sincerity of your friendly intentions toward them, but I am +afraid they do not care to be satisfied." + +"You believe, then, seriously that the French are menacing me?" +asked the king, with a contemptuous smile. + +"I am convinced of it, your majesty." + +"But what do you believe, then? What are you afraid of?" + +"As I said before, I am afraid they will dare abduct the sacred +person of your majesty, and I beseech you to be on your guard; never +leave your palace alone and unarmed; never go into the street +without being attended by an armed escort." + +"Ah," said the king, with a sad smile, "do not the French always see +to it that I am attended by an escort? Am I not always surrounded by +their spies and eavesdroppers?" + +"If your majesty is aware of this, why do you not yield to my +entreaties? Why do you not leave Berlin?" + +"Perhaps to go to Potsdam? Shall I be less watched there by the +spies? Shall I there be less a prisoner?" + +"No, your majesty ought to leave Berlin in order to deliver yourself +at one blow, and thoroughly, from this intolerable espionage. Your +majesty ought to make up your mind to go to Breslau. There you would +be nearer your army; there your faithful subjects and followers +would rally round you, and the Emperor Alexander perhaps would soon +come thither. At all events, your majesty would there be secure from +the French spies, and your adherents would be delivered from their +anxiety for the personal safety of your majesty." + +"To Breslau!" exclaimed the king, anxiously. "That is impossible!-- +that would be pouring oil into the fire--that would be to advance on +the path into which York has entered." + +"It would be another step toward the deliverance of your majesty, +the salvation of the country, and the annihilation of the tyrant!" +said Hardenberg, raising his voice. + +The king made no reply; he stepped to the window, and, turning his +back to the chancellor, looked out musingly into the night. +Hardenberg looked now at him, and then on the queen's portrait. +Suddenly his features grew milder, and an indescribable, imploring +expression was to be seen in his eyes. "Help me, queen," he +whispered, in a fervid tone. "Direct his heart, guardian angel of +Prussia; render it strong and firm, and--" + +The king turned again to the chancellor and approached him. "I +cannot comply with your request," said Frederick William, "for, if I +should go to Breslau, it would be equivalent to a declaration of +war, and we are, unfortunately, not in a position to justify that. I +must not rashly plunge myself and my country into a danger which +probably would bring about our utter ruin. But I pledge you my word +that, if your apprehensions should really be verified--if I really +obtain proofs that my person and liberty are menaced, I shall then +deem it incumbent on me to escape from this danger, and remove the +seat of government to a safer place--perhaps Breslau." + +"Is your majesty in earnest?" exclaimed Hardenberg, joyously. "You +really intend, after having satisfied yourself that dangers are +threatening you here, to leave Berlin and place yourself beyond the +reach of the French?" + +"I pledge you my word of honor that such is my intention," said the +king, solemnly. "And now, enough! I believe both of us need a few +hours' rest. In the course of the forenoon I will write the letter +which Prince Hatzfeld is to take to Paris. Good-night, M. +Chancellor!" + +"Drive me home as fast as your horses can run," shouted Hardenberg +to his coachman, on entering his carriage. + +"We shall be there in five minutes," muttered the coachman, whipping +his horses into a gallop. + +Precisely five minutes afterward the carriage stopped in front of +the chancellor's residence, and a well-dressed young man, hastily +pushing aside the footman, opened the coach door. + +"Ah, is it you, my dear Richard?" said Hardenberg, surprised. "Why +have you not yet gone to bed?" + +"Because I could not sleep while your excellency had not returned," +said the young man, assisting the minister in alighting. "It is +nearly four o'clock; the whole house was greatly alarmed." + +"Well, and what were you afraid of, you dear fools?" asked +Hardenberg, smilingly, while ascending the staircase. + +"That your enemies had found means to kidnap you, and that the +French had resorted to such an outrage to get rid of their most +dangerous and powerful adversary." + +"Ah, you big children!" exclaimed Hardenberg, laughing. "How could +you give way to such senseless apprehensions while I was supping in +a friendly way at the house of the French marshal?" + +"Just for that reason, your excellency," said Richard, smiling. "We +may know well how to get into a mouse-trap, but we do not know how +to get out again. A panic prevailed among your servants, and the +footmen had already made up their minds to arm themselves, go to the +house of Marshal Augereau, and forcibly deliver your excellency." + +"I was lucky, therefore, in escaping from such ridicule," said +Hardenberg, gravely. "A minister who is taken home by his servants +vi et armis, because he takes the liberty not to return at an early +hour--what a splendid farce that would be! Pray be kind enough to +tell my servants that their anxiety was very foolish. The greatest +cordiality prevails between myself and the French gentlemen, and +never before has there been such a friendly understanding between +France and Prussia. My servants should always remember that, and +commit no follies." + +He intentionally said this in so loud a tone that the two footmen +who preceded him with lights, as well as the two servants who +followed, heard and understood every word he uttered. Hardenberg +knew, therefore, that all his servants, fifteen minutes afterward, +would be informed of the new entente cordials between Prussia and +France; that all Berlin would be aware of it on the following day, +and that he would thus have attained his object. + +"Your excellency will not yet retire?" asked Richard, when the +minister, instead of going down the corridor to his bedroom, now +halted at the door of his cabinet. + +"No, M. Private Secretary," said Hardenberg, smiling. "As you are +still awake, and apparently not sleepy, let us hold a little +business conference. Come!" + +No sooner had the servants put the lights on the table and left the +room, than the face of the chancellor suddenly assumed a grave air. +Ordering, with an imperious wave of his hand, his private secretary +to be silent, he hastened to his desk and quickly wrote a few lines. +"Richard," he said, casting the pen aside, and turning his head +toward the young man, who witnessed his mysterious proceedings in +great surprise, "Richard, come here!" + +The young man hastened to him, and when Hardenberg gave him his +hand, with a kind smile, Richard stooped down and pressed a tender +kiss on it. + +"Ah, lips as glowing as yours are, should kiss only beautiful +girls," said Hardenberg, smiling. + +"But these lips like better to kiss the hand of my benefactor, my +protector," exclaimed the young man, "the kind hand of the man who +extricated me from poverty, distress, and despair; who caused me to +be fed, educated, and instructed; and who (until I myself, by his +liberal kindness, was enabled to discharge this sacred duty) secured +to my poor sick mother an existence free from cares." + +"Do not allude to these trifles," said Hardenberg, carelessly. "Tell +me, rather, do you regard me with respect and love?" + +"Indescribably, your excellency; with the tenderness of a son, with +the devotedness and fidelity of an old servant." + +"Will you give me a proof of it?" + +"I will, your excellency, and should you demand my heart's blood, I +would willingly spill it for you!" + +"Listen to me, then! In five minutes you must be on horseback and +ride at a gallop, night and day, until you reach the Russian camp." + +"In three days," said Richard, gravely, "but the journey will kill +my horse." + +"I will give you two horses for him, provided you arrive sooner than +Major Natzmer at the headquarters of Prince Wittgenstein, commander- +in-chief of the Russian troops!" + +"Has Natzmer left Berlin already?" + +"Yes, about an hour since, and you know that he is considered the +most dashing and reckless horseman among all our officers. He has, +moreover, another advantage. He will ride through the French camp, +and will thence go to the Russian array, which is in the rear of it; +but you must ride around the French camp, and go by way of +Gumbinnen, unnoticed by the French, to the Russian headquarters. But +the main point is, that you arrive there sooner than Major Natzmer." + +"I will arrive there sooner. Your excellency knows that I have often +been in Konigsberg and its surroundings; I know all the by-ways and +short cuts, and am, moreover, a good horseman." + +"I know all that. I presume, therefore, that you will be with +Wittgenstein before Natzmer reaches him. But you will tell no one +that it is I who sent you. It is your task to find means to speak to +him alone. But wait--I will give you your credentials. Take this +ring. General Wittgenstein knows it; he has often seen it on my +finger, and he is familiar with my coat-of-arms. Send him this ring +by his aide-de-camp, and he will admit you." + +"He will admit me, should I have to shoot down the sentinels." + +"As soon as you are face to face with the general, deliver to him +this little note, which I have penned. Read it, and then I will +direct and seal it." He handed the paper to the young man. "Read it +aloud," he said. + +"In one or two hours Major Natzmer will arrive at the headquarters +of your excellency, and beg leave to pass through the Russian camp +in order to repair to General York. If your excellency should grant +his request, and allow him to reach York's headquarters, the hopes +of Prussian patriots would be annihilated at one fell swoop. But if +York remains at the head of his troops, so enthusiastically attached +to him--if the whole nation and the whole corps may from this fact +derive the hope that York acted in compliance with the secret +instructions of his king, then we may hope for a speedy change in +our affairs. The fate and the future of Prussia therefore lie in the +hands of noble General Wittgenstein." + +"Now read over the letter twice for yourself," said Hardenberg, +"that you may engrave it on your memory. For in case you should +happen to lose the letter, or if it should be stolen from you, you +must verbally repeat its contents to Prince Wittgenstein." + +"I shall not lose it, and no one can steal it from me, for I shall +carry it in my heart. I have nothing further to do than to deliver +this letter to him?" + +"You have to say yet to the general a few words which I dare not +intrust to paper, but only to your memory. You will say to him: +'Every thing is ready, and the period of procrastination and +hesitation is drawing to a close. In a few days the king will leave +Berlin, where he was in danger of being arrested by the French, and +repair to Breslau. At Breslau he will issue a manifesto to his +people and call them to arms.' Hush, young man, hush! no joyous +exclamations, no transports! You must set out! It is high time! +Beware of the bullets of the French, and the thievish hands of the +Russians! You must reach Wittgenstein sooner than Natzmer does; do +not forget that!" + +"I shall not. Farewell, your excellency!" + +"Farewell, my young friend. For a week at least, then, I shall not +see your dear face greeting me every morning in my cabinet. You must +indemnify me for it." + +"In what way, your excellency?" + +"You must embrace me, my young friend," exclaimed Hardenberg, +stretching out his arms toward the young man. + +"Oh, how kind, how generous you are!" exclaimed Richard, encircling +the minister with his arms, and then reverentially kissing his +shoulders and his hands. + +"Now, your excellency," he said, rising quickly, "now I am ready to +brave all dangers. Farewell!" He waved his hand again to the +minister, and left the room. + +"He will outstrip Natzmer," said Hardenberg, gazing after him; "it +is an arrow of love which I have discharged, and it will not miss +its aim. And now let us see how it is about the other arrow of love, +which mes chers amis mes ennemis would like to discharge at me!" He +rang the bell. Conrad, his faithful old footman, entered the room. + +"Has there no note come for me?" asked Hardenberg. + +"Yes, there has, your excellency," said Conrad, in a low and anxious +tone. "Two letters, your excellency." + +"Give them to me." + +Conrad cast a searching glance over the room; he then drew two tiny, +neatly-folded letters from his bosom and handed them to the +minister. "She herself was here," he whispered, "and seemed very sad +when I told her his excellency was not at home, and at first she +refused to believe what I said. Only when I swore to her it was +true, she gave me the first note. She returned afterward and brought +the second letter." + +"But why do you tell me all this in so mysterious and timid a +manner? Are you afraid lest some one has concealed himself, and +plays the eavesdropper?" + +"Not that exactly, your excellency," whispered Conrad; "but--the +walls might have ears!" He pointed furtively at the ceiling of the +room. + +"Ah, we are here under my wife's bedroom," said Hardenberg, +laughing. "You are afraid lest she should be awake, and overhear our +words through the floor of her room." + +"Madame von Hardenberg sees, hears, and divines every thing," said +Conrad, with an air of dismay. + +"It is true," muttered Hardenberg to himself, "her jealousy gives +her a thousand eyes, and the events of her own life have +familiarized her with all sorts of cabals and intrigues. In this way +she succeeded in becoming my wife and in bearing my name before the +world. But, no matter! I am not afraid of her Argus eyes, nor shall +she prevent me from pursuing my own path, and adorning my dreary +private life with a flower or two of pleasure." + +"I believe and fear, your excellency," whispered Conrad, "Madame von +Hardenberg has found out that the young lady was here, and that I +received these letters from her." + +"What makes you believe so?" + +"Madame von Hardenberg sent for me at eleven o'clock tonight, and +asked me when your excellency would return, and whither you had +gone. When I told her I could not inform her, because I did not +know, she was pleased to box my ears and threaten that she would +before long turn me out of the house." + +"These are, indeed, very valid reasons for your suppositions," said +Hardenberg, smiling. "But do not be alarmed. I know how to protect +you from being turned out, and as to having your ears boxed, it is +no insult, by the soft little hands of a lady. Any other news?" + +"Yes, your excellency, the physician of the young lady was here at a +late hour in the evening, in order to tell me that she had again +fallen asleep, and, before doing so, had announced she would be +clairvoyant at eight o'clock in the morning." + +"At eight o'clock!" exclaimed Hardenberg. "Do you hear, Conrad?--I +must be there at eight o'clock. That is to say, you must awaken me +at seven o'clock." + +"But, your excellency, you will then have slept scarcely two hours," +said Conrad, sadly. + +"My old friend," said Hardenberg, "shall we not have time enough for +sleeping in our graves? Let us be awake here on earth as long as +possible. You will awaken me at seven o'clock. And now, come and +assist me in retiring." + +Fifteen minutes afterward Hardenberg was in bed. A neat little +table, with a night-lamp burning on a golden plate, was standing at +his bedside. Before falling asleep, the chancellor read the two +notes which Conrad had delivered to him. "Protestations of love!" he +whispered, smiling and folding them up. "Protestations of love--that +is to say, falsehoods. But I must confess that this arrow, which mes +chers amis mes ennemis have discharged at me, is at least very +finely feathered and very attractive. At eight o'clock in the +morning, then! Well, I shall see whether I do not succeed in playing +my hostile friends a little trick, and in returning the arrow to +their own breast." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE CLAIRVOYANTE. + + +For some time past the inhabitants of Berlin had paid a great deal +of attention to the doings of Doctor Binder, and told each other +wonderful stories of the new medical system of this strange +physician. He treated his patients in an entirely novel way, and +performed his cures in a manner bordering strongly on the romantic +and miraculous. He neither felt the pulse of his sick friends, nor +did he examine their tongue; he only gazed on them for a minute with +his sombre, flaming eyes, and the patients then felt as if +fascinated by them. Their pain ceased, their blood burned less +ardently, and an indescribable feeling pervaded their body for a +moment. When the doctor perceived this, he would raise both his +hands, and with the palms softly and repeatedly stroke his subject's +face. Then the sufferer's cheeks colored; a wondrous, long-forgotten +smile played round the lips which, for many months, had opened only +to utter prayers, or sighs and complaints; the dimmed eyes began to +brighten, and fixed themselves with a radiant expression on the face +of the doctor, whose steadfast, piercing glances seemed to penetrate +the sick one's countenance, and reach down into his soul, in order +to divine, in its innermost recesses, his most secret feelings and +thoughts. By and by a sweet peace pervaded the soul of the patient; +his aching limbs relaxed; he folded his hands, which had hitherto +moved convulsively and restively on the counterpane; the eyes, which +had steadfastly rested on the face of the wonderful physician, +closed gradually, and soon his long and regular breathings indicated +that he had at length found the slumber which, during his sickness, +he had so long sought and yearned for. + +It is true, the patient awoke after a time, and his sufferings +returned; the end of his slumber was often accompanied by painful +convulsions, an indescribable feeling of depression, and the most +profound sadness, but Dr. Binder was present; his eyes exorcised the +patient's pain, his hands quieted the quivering limbs, and chased +away the tears, and the sufferer fell again into a sweet and +refreshing slumber. This lulling the patient to sleep, this +fascinating gaze, and laying on of hands, were the only medicines +which the doctor administered, and by which he succeeded in freeing +them from their sufferings and diseases. People related the most +wonderful cures which he had performed; they spoke of persons who +had been blind ever since their birth, and whom he had caused to +see--of deaf-mutes, to whom he had given the power of speech and +hearing after a few days' treatment--of lame men, who suddenly, +after being touched by the doctor's hands, had thrown away their +crutches, and walked freely and easily. + +But the public's attention was particularly riveted by the case of a +young girl who had been for some time past under Dr. Binder's +treatment. She had come from a distant city to seek a cure at the +hands of the famous physician and pupil of Mesmer. A bad cold had +brought about a paralysis of all her limbs; she was unable to move +her hands and feet, and had for months lain on her bed as +motionless, rigid, and dumb, as a marble statue. Her parents had, in +the anguish of their heart, at length applied to Dr. Binder. The +doctor received her into his house. He publicly invited all the +physicians of Berlin to visit his patient, to examine her condition, +and to satisfy themselves of the efficacy of his cure, he also +requested the public to watch the progress of it, and to come to his +house at the hours when he lulled his patient to sleep. The +physicians had disdainfully refused to have any thing to do with the +"quack doctor," who pretended to cure diseases without medicines; +but the public appeared the more eagerly. + +And this public enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing that the +motionless form of the young girl, who at first had lain on the bed +as rigid as stone, very slowly commenced to move. It was seen that, +a few days afterward, she raised her right hand, and, shortly after, +her right foot; gradually life and motion were restored to her +limbs, and at length, at a truly solemn hour, the young girl, at the +doctor's loudly-uttered command, arose from her couch and paced the +room with firm and steady steps. It is true she uttered a piercing +cry, and fell at the feet of the doctor, her limbs quivering as +though she were seized with convulsion, but gradually she grew more +quiet; a peaceful expression beamed from her features, and she +commenced talking in a tone of joyous enthusiasm. She spoke of the +wonderful world on which she was gazing with her inward eyes, of the +visions which burst on her soul, and her lips whispered strange +prophecies. This condition of the patient repeatedly occurred every +day, and with unfailing regularity followed every "crisis." + +The young woman had become a clairvoyante; and it was a truly +wonderful fact that she, who, according to the statements of her +relatives, had never cared for politics or public affairs, and to +whom it was entirely indifferent whether Napoleon or any other +sovereign ruled Germany, suddenly, in her clairvoyant state, devoted +her whole attention to political questions, and that she had, as it +were, become a prophetess of the destinies of states. + +It was not very strange, therefore, that this phenomenon excited +even the attention of statesmen, and that they too went to see the +clairvoyante in her political ecstasy, and to put to her questions +on public affairs, which she answered always with truly wonderful +tact, and with the most profound insight into all such questions. + +Among those who took an interest in her was the chancellor of state, +Minister von Hardenberg. Curiosity had at first induced him to call +upon her; then her clever and piquant remarks struck him as +something very strange, and at last he became a regular visitor. Of +late, at his special request, the room of the patient, during her +crises and clairvoyant trances, had been shut against all other +visitors, and only the chancellor and the physician were present. + +The young woman, who, during her trances, regularly announced at +what hour of the following day she would relapse into this +condition, had predicted that she would awake from her magnetic +slumber at eight o'clock in the morning, and would then be in a +state of clairvoyance. This hour had not yet arrived; the clock +which stood in her room on the bureau under the looking-glass +indicated that about ten minutes were still wanting to the stated +time. A profound silence reigned in the room of the young patient. +The physician sat reading on a high-backed chair at her bedside--his +book contained the history and revelations of Swedenborg, the great +Swedish ghost-seer. From time to time, however, he turned his large, +flashing eyes toward the young woman, and seemed to watch her +slumber with searching glances. + +The patient was motionless and rigid. A white, neat negligee +enveloped her slender figure, which was stretched out on the bed +without being covered with a counterpane. Her small, beautifully- +shaped hands were folded on her breast, her head was thrown back +sideways, and rested on a pillow of crimson velvet, which contrasted +strangely with her pale face, and black hair, that overhung her +marble cheeks in long tresses. The clock was striking eight. The +doctor cast a quick glance on the patient, and then slowly closed +his book. She began to stir and opened her lips, from which issued a +long, painful sigh. At this moment there was heard the roll of a +carriage on the street. The noise ceased, the carriage seemed to +stop in front of the house. The clairvoyante shuddered, and joy +kindled her countenance. "He is coming! he is coming!" she said, in +a deep, melodious voice. "I see him ascending the staircase. He is +pale and exhausted, and his eyes are dim, for he has slept but +little. Government affairs have kept him awake. Oh, now I am well, +for there he is!" + +In fact, the door softly opened, and the chancellor cautiously +entered. By a quick wave of his hand, he ordered the doctor not to +meet him, and then approached the bed softly and on tiptoe. + +The young woman did not change her position; her eyelashes did not +quiver, nor did she open her eyes, and yet she seemed to see +Hardenberg, for she said in a mournful and tremulous voice: "Well, +doctor, was I not right? Just see how pale he looks, and how the +sweet smile with which he formerly used to come to us is to-day very +faintly playing round his lips like a little will-o'-the-wisp! But I +told you already he has slept only two hours; he had to be so long +minister of state as to find scarcely two hours' rest for the poor, +exhausted man." + +The physician cast an inquiring glance on the chancellor. Hardenberg +nodded smilingly. "You are right. Frederica," he said. "I was +minister of state all day long yesterday." + +"No, no," she exclaimed, "not all the day. At the commencement of +Marshal Augereau's supper you were merry, and succeeded in +forgetting your onerous business; and had not the secretary of Count +St. Marsan made his appearance and brought the dispatches, you would +have finished your pheasant's wing with good appetite and in the +best of spirits." + +The minister's face assumed an air of astonishment, and almost of +terror. "Ah," he said, "it seems you were present at that supper?" + +"Certainly I was, for my soul is accompanying you all the time, and +my soul is the eye of my body. I see all you do, and know all your +thoughts." + +"Well, then," said Hardenberg, smiling, "tell me what you saw last +night. Look backward, Frederica, and tell me where I was, and what I +did." + +"Then you doubt my words?" she asked, reproachfully. "You want to +see whether I am able to tell you the truth? You know that it makes +my eyes ache to look backward, and that my spirit soars with easier +flight into the future than the past!" + +"Do so nevertheless, Frederica," said Hardenberg, imperiously. "I +wish you to do so!" He laid his hand upon her arm, and the contact +made her start as an electric shock. + +"I will obey," she whispered, in an humble tone. "I see you sitting +at the table of Marshal Augereau. You are in excellent spirits; you +are just telling the marshal that the betrothed of the crown prince +with a princess of the house of Napoleon will take place before +long; Count Narbonne is complaining of the political conversations +with which you are spicing the supper in too piquant a manner; +dispatches arrive and disturb your mirth." + +"From whom do these dispatches come?" asked Hardenberg. + +"From Marshal Macdonald, who addressed them to the French +ambassador, Count St. Marsan." + +"Do you know their contents?" + +"I am reading them. There is, in the first place, a letter from +General York--" + +"Hush!" interrupted Hardenberg; "we will speak of that hereafter; do +not allude to it now. Tell me what else I did last night." + +"After reading the dispatches, you hastened to the king to inform +him of the dreadful news. Scarcely had you been with him for a few +minutes, when a courier from General York arrived and delivered +dispatches concerning the same subject to which the others had +referred. After a protracted interview with the king, you went to +the French ambassador, and informed him of the sentiments and +resolutions of his majesty. The count declared himself satisfied +with what you told him, and you then hastened back to the king. You +there met Major Natzmer, whom the king intended to dispatch as a +courier to Murat and General York. You entered the king's room and +had another protracted interview with him. Thereupon you returned to +your residence." + +"With whom did I speak there first of all?" + +The clairvoyante was silent for a moment. "I do not see it," she +said, "the night is so dark." + +"Open your eyes until you see!" + +"Ah, I see now!" she exclaimed. "Your excellency spoke with old +Conrad. He accompanied you to your bedroom and handed you two +letters." + +"She is right," muttered the chancellor, loudly enough to be heard +by the young woman and the physician. "Yes, she is right; it is all +precisely as she says." He then asked aloud: "Did I speak with any +one else than Conrad?" + +"No," she said; "I do not see anybody else. Conrad told you that I +would open the eyes of my soul and see at eight o'clock this +morning. You ordered him to awaken you at seven o'clock, and went to +bed." + +"What did I do before falling asleep?" + +"You read the two little notes," she said, with a coy smile. + +The chancellor turned his eyes toward the physician, who witnessed +this scene in silent and solemn earnestness. "Doctor Binder," he +said, "all that this young lady told me just now is strictly true. +All my doubts are henceforth dispelled, and from this hour I am one +of the believers. No; I say this is no deception, no imposition; it +is a mystery of nature, which I am unable to explain, but in which I +am compelled to believe. It is given to this young lady to look with +the eyes of her soul into the past, as well as into the future, and +to perceive and penetrate the most secret things. I believe in her, +and shall henceforth allow myself to be directed and instructed by +her revelations. I thank you for having brought this wonderful girl +to my notice, and you may always count on my heart-felt gratitude." + +"Belief in the high art of my science and doctrines is the only +gratitude I am yearning for, and my only desire is not to be +prevented from healing poor patients and making suffering humanity +happy by my holy science." + +"No one shall be allowed to prevent you from doing so as long as _I_ +am minister, I pledge you my word," said Hardenberg, gravely. "Take +heart, therefore, and do not be afraid. I am your disciple, and at +the same time your protector. But now grant me a request: I should +like to put to our charming seer yet a few questions in regard to +last night's events. She shall, in her inspired and prophetic +prescience, give me her advice and tell me what course I must +pursue; but, in doing so, I shall have to allude to state secrets, +and to speak of affairs which no one is allowed to know but the king +and his ministers, and--" + +"I pray your excellency to permit me to leave you alone with our +young seer," interrupted Doctor Binder, with a polite smile. "I have +to see several patients, and my presence is required at the 'Hall of +Crises' below, for my two young assistants are scarcely able to +restrain our female patients when the crisis sets in." + +"Go, then, to your patients," said Hardenberg; "I shall stay here +with our clairvoyante until she awakes." + +"If your excellency needs any thing," said the doctor, approaching +the door, "it will only be necessary for you to ring the bell; the +nurse is in the reception-room, and will immediately call my +assistants." + +He bowed to Hardenberg, bent once more with a searching glance over +the couch of his patient, drew with his hands a few circles over her +head, and left the room with noiseless steps. The chancellor and the +clairvoyante were alone. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AN ADVENTURESS. + + +When the physician left the room, the chancellor returned to the +bedside of the young woman; her position was the same, and her eyes +were still closed. She did not see, therefore, the sarcastic smile +with which Hardenberg looked down upon her, or the proud, triumphant +expression that was beaming from his eyes. Hers were closed, and, +notwithstanding her clairvoyance, she saw nothing, nor did +Hardenberg's voice betray to her aught of the expression of his +countenance or the character of his thoughts. + +"Frederica," he said, in his soft, gentle voice, "speak to me now, +my seer; be my prophetess now, and let me see the future. Tell me +what I must do in order to reconcile all these dissensions, and +harmonize all these clashing interests. On which side is justice, +prosperity, and peace?" + +"On the side of the great man whose gigantic strength has lifted the +world out of its hinges, and given it a new aspect," she said, +gravely. "Stand faithfully by the alliance with France, unless you +wish the crown to fall from the head of your king, and Prussia to be +divided into two provinces, one annexed to the kingdom of +Westphalia, and the other to the duchy of Warsaw." + +"But will France then still have power to do so?" asked Hardenberg; +"is not France herself on the brink of the abyss into which she has +hurled all states, princes, and crowns?" + +"France is as powerful to-day as she ever was," responded the seer. +"New armies at the beck of Napoleon will spring from the ground, his +military chests will be filled with new millions, and the invincible +chieftain will lead his legions to new victories. Woe then to +Prussia if she proves faithless--woe to her, if, in insensate +infatuation, she turns her back upon France, and allows herself to +listen to the insinuations and promises by which Russia is trying to +gain her over to her side! Russia herself is weak and exhausted; she +will be unable to afford Prussia any adequate support. Be on your +guard! Russia has always been a perfidious ally; she has always +crushed the hand of her allies in her grasp, while seemingly giving +a pledge of her good faith. France alone is offering to Prussia +substantial guaranties of peace; Napoleon alone must remain the +protector of Prussia. Banish, therefore, the insidious thoughts that +are troubling your soul; try no longer to dissuade the king from +adhering to the alliance. Do not try to persuade him to approve +York's defection! He is a traitor, whose head must fall; for such is +the decree of the laws of war. To approve his defection is to throw +down the gauntlet to France, and annihilate Prussia!" + +"You have played your part to perfection!" exclaimed Hardenberg, +laughing. "Please accept my sincere congratulations, my dear child; +the greatest actress in the world could not perform her role any +better than you have done to-day, and ever since I became acquainted +with you." + +At the first words of the chancellor, the clairvoyante gave a +violent start; a tremor pervaded her whole frame, and a deep blush +suffused her cheeks for a moment; but all this quickly passed away, +and now she was again as rigid and motionless as she was before. + +Hardenberg's eyes were fixed on her. "You do not desire to +understand me, Frederica," he said. "Well, then, I will speak +somewhat more lucidly. Will you permit me to ask two additional +questions?" + +"You know very well that I must reply when your soul commands me to +do so," said the young woman, in a perfectly calm voice, "for your +soul has power over mine, and I must obey it." + +"Well, then--my first question: did I really, last night, on +returning to my residence, speak with no one but old Conrad? Was no +one but he in my room until I went to bed? Look sharp, open the eyes +of your soul as wide as you can, and then reply!" + +"I see," she said, after a pause; "but I see that you were alone +with Conrad, and with the thoughts of a lady who loves you." + +"I am very glad that you tell me so," said Hardenberg, calmly, "for +I understand from it that my enemies, who are furnishing you with +correct reports as to all my doings, have yet remained ignorant of +an affair in which I was engaged last night. For there really was +another person with me, and your patrons would give a great deal to +find out what instructions I gave to that person. Now, as to my +second question; but I hope you hear my words, ma toute belle, and +have not yet passed from an unnatural sleep into a natural one!" + +"I hear you, and I am ready to answer if your soul commands me." + +"Well, then," said Hardenberg, bending over her, and fixing his +piercing eyes upon her countenance, "my question is this: How much +do your protectors give you for playing the part which you performed +before me?" + +A pause ensued. Suddenly the clairvoyante opened her eyes, gazing +with an indescribable expression on the face of the minister still +bending over her. + +"They give me nothing," she said, in a firm, sonorous voice, "but +the hope of acquiring a brilliant position in the future." + +"You confess, then, that you have played a considerable farce?" +asked Chancellor von Hardenberg, smiling. + +"I confess that I have played my part very badly, and that your +eagle eye is able to penetrate every thing. I confess that I adore +you for having unmasked me," she exclaimed, quickly encircling +Hardenberg's neck with her arms, drawing his head down to her, and +pressing a glowing kiss on his lips. Then, still keeping her arms +around his neck, she raised herself from the couch, and leaned for a +moment against the manly form of the chancellor. + +Disengaging herself from him, she jumped from the bed to the floor, +and, spreading out her arms, and throwing back her head, she +exclaimed in a jubilant voice: "I am free! I need no longer play my +irksome role! Oh, I am free!" + +Leaping into the middle of the room, as light-footed as a sylph, and +fascinating as one of the graces, she began to dance, raising her +feet and moving her arms in a slow, measured mariner, at the outset; +but, turning more rapidly, with more passionate movement and +increasing ardor, her countenance grew more glowing and animated. +Her large black eyes flashed fire--an air of wild, bacchantic +ecstasy pervaded her whole appearance, her cheeks were burning, her +beautiful red lips were half opened, and revealed her ivory teeth, +and her uplifted arms (from which the wide sleeves of her negligee +had fallen back to the shoulders) were of the most charming contour. +Concluding her dance, she glided breathless and with panting bosom +toward Hardenberg, who had sunk into the easy-chair, and was looking +on with wondering eyes. Bursting into loud, melodious laughter, she +sat at his feet, and, pressing her glowing face against his knees, +looked searchingly and suppliantly into his eyes. + +"You are angry with me," she said; "oh, pardon me, but I had first +to give vent to my exultation. Now I will be quite sensible." + +"And what do you call sensible, then?" asked Hardenberg, who, under +the power of the woman's glances, vainly tried to impart to his +countenance an air of gravity and sternness. + +"I call it sensible to reply honestly to the questions your +excellency will put to me now," she said, in a caressing tone. + +"Well, then, let us see whether you are really sensible or not," +said Hardenberg. "In the first place, please rise." + +She shook her head slowly. "No," she said, "I will remain at your +feet until you have heard my confession and granted me absolution." + +"And suppose I refuse to grant you absolution?" + +"Then I shall die at your feet!" + +"Ah, it is not so easy to die." + +"It is easy to die when one wants to, and has such a friend as this +is," she exclaimed, drawing from her hair one of the two long silver +pins with which her heavy black tresses were partially fastened. + +"Strange girl!" murmured Hardenberg, surprised, while she was +looking up to him with radiant eyes, and a smile playing on her +lips. + +"Will you ask me now?" she then said, gently and almost humbly. "I +am lying here at your feet as if you were my confessor, and I am +longing with trembling impatience for my absolution." + +"Well, then, tell me, in the first place, who you are." + +"Who am I?" she asked. "A cheat, who, by intrigues, cabals, and +cunning, tried to attain the object she yearned for so intensely, +namely, to lie at the feet of a noble and eminent man, as she is +doing now, and to tell him that she loves him. Who am I? An +adventuress, who has gone out into the world to seek her fortune; to +play, if possible, a prominent part; to acquire a distinguished +name, and to obtain riches, power, and influence. Who am I? A diver, +who has plunged with reckless audacity into the foaming sea, to find +at its bottom either pearls or a grave." + +"But, my child," said Hardenberg, "do you not know that the divers, +when plunging into the sea to seek pearls, always gird a safety-rope +around their waist for the purpose of being drawn to the surface +whenever they are in danger of drowning?" + +"The man who loves me will be my safety-rope and draw me up," she +said, gravely. + +Hardenberg laughed. "In truth," he said, "I must admire your +sincerity and naivete. You must be very courageous to utter such +truths about yourself." + +"Certainly, it would have been easier to play the virtuous, +forsaken, and unfortunate girl," she said, with a contemptuous +smile. "It would have been less troublesome to throw myself at your +feet, bathed in a flood of tears, and to say, 'Oh, have mercy upon +me! Free me from this unworthy role which has been forced upon me! +Save me from the torture of being compelled to dissimulate, to lie, +and to cheat. Virtue dwells in my heart, innocence and truth are +upon my lips. I have been forced to play a part that dishonors me. +Have mercy upon me, save me from the snares threatening me!'" While +saying so, she imparted to her features precisely the expression +that was adapted to her words; she had spoken in a tremulous, +suppliant voice, with folded hands and tearful eyes. + +"Poor child," exclaimed Hardenberg, surprised, "you weep, you are +deeply moved! Ah, now at last you show me your true face, now you +cause me to see the poor, innocent, and unfortunate child that you +really are!" + +She shook away her tears and burst into laughter. "No," she +exclaimed, "I have only proved to you that I would be able to play +the virtuous and innocent girl to perfection, and that I might, +perhaps, thereby succeed in touching your noble heart. But you have +commanded me to tell you the truth, and I have pledged you my word +to do so. I tell you, then, I am no persecuted, virtuous girl, no +innocent angel; I am a woman, carrying a heaven and a hell in her +bosom; I can be an angel, if happiness and love favor me; I will be +a demon, if fate be hostile to me. Yes," she exclaimed, jumping up +and pacing the room in great agitation, "there are hours and days +when I myself believe that I am a demon, an angel hurled down from +heaven, and doomed to walk the earth on account of some crime. There +are hours when heavenly recollections fill my imagination, when an +indescribable, blissful yearning is, as it were, enveloping me in a +veil--when there are resounding in my heart the sweetest and most +enchanting notes of sacred words and devout prayers, and when it +seems to me as though I were sitting in the midst of radiant angels, +surrounded by luminous clouds, at the feet of God, His breath upon +my cheek, and looking down with compassionate, merciful love upon +the world, lying at an unfathomable distance under my feet. And then +I say to myself: 'You have reviled and slandered yourself; you are, +after all, a good angel; God is with you, and prayer, love, and +innocence, are in your heart.' Then it suddenly seems to me as if my +heart were rent, and I heard loud, scornful laughter. I fall from my +heaven; I look around and behold men, with their bittersweet faces, +smiling on, and lying to each other; I see all their duplicity and +their infamy; I laugh at my own transports and swear never to be +human with humanity, but a demon with demons--to cheat as they +cheat, to lie, and win from them as much happiness, honor, and +wealth, as I can with some mimic talent, a cool and sharp mind, a +pretty figure, and an ugly face." + +"Ah, you are slandering yourself," exclaimed Hardenberg, smiling. +"You have no ugly face." + +She hastened to the looking-glass, and gazed on herself with +searching glances. "Yes," she said, "I am really ugly. My mouth is +too large, my lips too full, my face is angular and by no means +prepossessing, my nose is vulgar, my forehead too low and too wide, +these bushy eyebrows become rather a grenadier than a young lady, +and these large black eyes look like a couple of sentinels, which, +with sharp glances, have to watch the rabble of nose, mouth, ear, +and cheek, lest one should try to escape from disgust at the +ugliness of the others. But I do not regret my want of beauty, for +it is uncommon and piquant, and I can imagine that a gifted, eminent +man, who is tired of the pretty faces of so-called virtuous women, +may feel attracted by my ugliness. Beauty at least always becomes +tiresome, for it treats you at once to all that it is and has, but +ugliness excites your curiosity more and more from day to day, for, +at certain moments, it may be transformed into beauty!" + +"Your own case shows that," said Hardenberg, "for, although you call +yourself ugly, there is a fascinating beauty in your whole +appearance." + +She gazed on him with a long and radiant look. "You are a great man, +a genius, and you are, therefore, able to understand me. I will tell +you my history now, that you may at last grant me the blessing of +your forgiveness." + +"Well, tell me your history," exclaimed Hardenberg. "Come, +Frederica, sit down by my side here on the couch on which you have +so often reposed as a modern Pythia, and proclaimed to me the +oracles which your mysterious priest had whispered to you. Now you +are no priestess uttering equivocal wisdom, but a young woman +telling the truth, and making me listen to the revelations of her +heart." + +"A young woman," she repeated, sighing and reclining on the bed +close to the easy-chair on which Hardenberg was sitting. "Am I +young, then? It seems to me sometimes as though I were old--so old +as no longer to have any illusions, any hopes or wishes; as though I +were the 'Wandering Jew' who has been travelling through the world +so many centuries, seeking perpetually for the rest which he can +nowhere find. But still you are right; I am young, for I am only +twenty years old.". + +"And who are your parents? Where do they live?" + +"Who are my parents?" she asked, laughing. "My father was a holy +man, a high-priest in the temple of Time. It depended on him when +men were to awake or sleep, eat or work. It was his will that +regulated rendezvous and weddings, parties and arrests, and he had +no other master than the sun. He allowed the sun alone to guide him, +and still he was no Persian!" + +"But he was a watchmaker?" asked Hardenberg, smiling. + +"Yes, he was a watchmaker, and, thanks to him, the whole town where +he lived knew exactly what time it was. Only my mother did not know +it. She believed herself to be a great lady, although she was only a +poor watchmaker's wife, but was unable to efface the recollections +of her youth. She was the daughter of a French marquis, who, after +gambling away his whole fortune at the court of Louis XV., had +emigrated with his young wife and daughter to Berlin, in order to +seek another fortune at the court of Frederick the Great. But +Frederick the Great had already become somewhat distrustful of the +roving marquises and counts whom France sent to Berlin. Marquis de +Barbasson, my worthy grandfather, received, therefore, no office and +no money, and a time of distress set in, such as he would previously +have deemed utterly unlikely to befall the descendant of his +ancestors. He left Berlin with his family, to make his living +somewhere else as a teacher of languages. He travelled from one +place to another, and arrived at length at a small town called New +Brandenburg. There he remained, for his feet were weary, and his +poor wife was sick and tired of life. Well, Madame la Marquise de +Barbasson died, and the marquis taught the young ladies of New +Brandenburg how to conjugate avoir and etre; his daughter assisted +him, and, as she was very pretty, she taught many a young man how to +conjugate aimer. But who would have thought of marrying the daughter +of a French adventurer, who, it is true, styled himself marquis, but +was as poor as a beggar! He was unable long to bear the privations +and humiliations of his life; he fled from his creditors, and +perhaps also from his remorse, by committing suicide; and his +daughter, who was twenty years of age at that time, remained alone, +and without any other inheritance than the debts of her father. One +of the principal creditors of the marquis was the proprietor of the +house in which father and daughter had lived for three years without +paying rent, or refunding the small sums he had lent to them. This +proprietor was a young watchmaker, named Hahn, an excellent young +man, who had given the family of the French marquis not only his +money, but his heart. He loved the young Marquise de Barbasson, +unfortunate, or, if you prefer, fortunate man! for his courtship was +successful. Now, after the death of the old marquis, he played the +part of an importunate creditor, and told her she had the +alternative of paying or marrying him. The young Marquise de +Barbasson married him, and then paid the poor watchmaker in a manner +which was not very pleasant to him. She never forgave him for having +reduced her to the humble position of a watchmaker's wife, and found +it disgusting to be obliged to call herself Hahn, after having so +long borne the aristocratic name of Barbasson. However that might +be, she was his wife, and I have the honor to represent in my humble +person the legitimate daughter of Hahn, the watchmaker, and the +Marquise de Barbasson." + +"And I must confess that you are representing your mother and your +father in a highly becoming manner," said Hardenberg. "You have the +bearing and the savoir vivre of a French marquise, and from your +oracular sayings I have seen that you are as familiar with the time +as a watchmaker is. But I can imagine that the descent of your +parents produced many a discord in your life." + +"Say rather that my whole life was a discord," she exclaimed, +vehemently, "and that I have lived in an unending conflict between +my head and my heart, my reality and my imagination. Oh, how often, +when lying in dreary loneliness, in the shade of an oak on the shore +of the charming lake near the small town in which we lived--how +often did I utter loud cries of anguish, and say to the billows that +washed the shore with a low, murmuring sound: 'I am a French +marquise; there is aristocratic blood in my veins; it is my vocation +to shine at the courts of kings, and to see counts and princes at my +feet!' Yet none but the waves of the lake believed my words; men +treated me never as a Marquise de Barbasson, but only as little +Frederica Hahn, daughter of a poor watchmaker. I felt this as a +personal insult, and at many a bitter hour it seemed to me as +though, like my mother, I hated my poor father because he had robbed +us of our brilliant name and our nobility. My father bore my whims +patiently, for he loved me, and I believe he loved nothing on earth +better than his daughter. He saw that I was pining away in the +wearisome loneliness of our dull life; he knew that ambition was +burning in my heart like a torrent of fire, and he wept with me and +begged my pardon for being a poor watchmaker, and no nobleman. He +did all he could to make amends for this wrong; he treated me not as +his daughter, but as his superior; and, although we were scarcely in +easy circumstances, he surrounded me with all comforts becoming an +aristocratic young lady. I had my servants, my own room, a tolerably +fashionable toilet, a piano, a small library; and my father was +proud of being able to have me instructed by the best and most +expensive teachers, and of hearing that I was their most industrious +and talented pupil. But what good did all this do me? I remained +what I was--Frederica IIahn, the watchmaker's daughter--and the +blood of the Barbassons revolted against my position in life; and +the marquises and viscounts, my distinguished ancestors, appeared to +my inward eye, and seemed to beckon me and call me to the proud +castles which had formerly belonged to our family. But how should I +get thither?--how escape from my small native town?--how rid myself +of the burden of my name and my birth? That was the question which +put my brain night and day on the rack, and to which my intellect +was unable to make a satisfactory reply. An accident, however, came +to my assistance." + +"Ah, in truth, I am anxious to hear this," exclaimed Hardenberg, +"for I am listening to you in breathless suspense, and am as eager +to learn the conclusion of your history as though it were the +denouement of a drama. An accident, then, furnished you with a +reply, my beautiful Marquise de Barbasson?" + +"Yes, your excellency, and never shall I forget the day and the +hour. It was on a beautiful day last autumn. As I was in the habit +of doing every day, I had gone with my book into the forest on the +shore of the lake. I lay in my favorite place under a large oak, in +the dark foliage of which the birds were singing, while the waves of +the lake at my feet were a sweet accompaniment. I was reading the +lately published poetry of my favorite bard, Goethe, and had just +finished 'The Wandering Fool.' This poem struck my heart as +lightning. I dropped the book, looked up to the clouds and shouted +to them: 'What are you but wandering fools! Oh, take me with you!' +But the clouds did not reply to me; they passed on in silence, and +my sad eyes turned to the lake extended before me like a polished +mirror, and mingling with the blue mists of the horizon, and I said +to the murmuring waves, as I had said to the clouds: 'Take me with +you, wandering fools! I am suffocating in my captivity! I must leave +this small town; it is a prison--an open grave!' At this moment, the +oak above me shook its foliage; a wind drove the waves faster, until +they broke on the shore; and a sheet of paper, which some wanderer +might have lost, was blown toward me. I took it, and suddenly the +wind was silent as though it had accomplished its mission; the oak +stirred no more, the lake was tranquil, and even the clouds seemed +to pause and look on while I unfolded and read the paper." + +"Oh, I imagine what it was!" exclaimed Hardenberg. "A love-letter +from one of your admirers, who knew that the beautiful nymph of the +lake had selected that spot for her sanctuary." + +"Ah, you do not imagine very well, your excellency. It was no love- +letter, but a newspaper! It was a copy of your dear, venerable +Vossische Zeitung. [Footnote: The Vossische Zeitung, one of the +oldest Berlin newspapers, is still published.] I read it at first +very carelessly, but suddenly I noticed an article from Berlin, +which excited my liveliest attention. It alluded to the strange +cures performed by Doctor Binder, a magnetizer. It related that many +sufferers came to Berlin from distant cities to be cured by the +doctor, whose whole treatment consisted of laying his hands and +fixing his eyes on his patients. It dwelt especially upon the +adventures of a young woman whose strange disease had riveted the +attention of all Berlin, and who, in consequence of the doctor's +treatment, had become a clairvoyante. It said that the truly +wonderful sayings and predictions of the young woman were creating +the greatest sensation, and that even ministers and distinguished +functionaries were visiting Doctor Binder's 'Hall of Crises,' in +order to listen and put questions to the clairvoyante." + +"Ah, that was little Henrietta Meyer, who died a few months ago," +said Hardenberg. + +"Yes, she was so accommodating as to die and make room for me," +exclaimed Frederica, smiling. "When I had read this article about +her, it seemed to me as though a veil dropped from my eyes, and I +were only now able to descry my future distinctly. I jumped up and +uttered a single loud cry that sped over the lake like a storm-bird, +and was repeated many times by the distant echo. Thereupon I ran +back to town, as if carried on the wings of the wind. The men on the +streets, who saw me running past, gazed wonderingly after me. Some +of them hailed and tried to speak to me, but I took no notice of +them, ran on, reached at last the humble dwelling of my parents, and +there I fell panting and senseless. They lifted me up, and carried +me to my bed. I lay on it motionless, and with dilated eyes. No one +knew my thoughts, or heard the voices whispering in my breast and +ominously laughing. I stared upward, and matured my plan of +operations. My poor father sat all night long at my bedside, weeping +and imploring me to look at him, and tell him only by a single word, +a single syllable, that I recognized him. My tongue remained silent, +but my eyes were able to glance at and greet the poor man. But why +tell you all the particulars of my wonderful disease? In short, all +my limbs were paralyzed, and even my mind seemed affected and +confused. I could eat and sleep, but I was unable to rise, and could +not utter a word. The physicians of our small town tried all the +remedies of their science to cure me. In vain! I remained dumb. Only +once, four weeks afterward, I recovered the power of speech. It was +in the night-time, and no one was with me but my poor father, who +passed nearly every night at my bedside, always hoping for a moment +when I might get better--when the spell would leave my tongue, and +the power of speech be restored. This moment had come now; I +intimated it to my father with my eyes, stared at him, and said in a +slow and solemn voice, 'Doctor Binder, at Berlin, is alone able to +cure me!'" + +"Ah," exclaimed Hardenberg, drawing a deep breath, "I give you +permission to laugh at me. I was just as foolish as your father was. +Up to this time I believed in the reality of your sickness, and felt +quite anxious and alarmed. The words you uttered during that night +quiet me again, and illuminate the gloom, like a welcome miner's +lamp in a deep shaft. I hope, however, that they did not exert the +same effect upon your father." + +"No, your excellency, fortunately they did not, and the proof of it +is that I rode, a week afterward--in a comfortable carriage, and +accompanied by my father--to Berlin, to place myself under the +treatment of Doctor Binder." + +"Did the doctor promise to cure you?" + +"He gave me hopes at least that he would be able to do so, and, +after accepting three months' pay in advance, received me into his +house, and the cure commenced. I willingly submitted to his piercing +glances and to his laying-on of hands. I was so obliging as to fall +asleep, and scarcely three days elapsed when I began already to +become slightly clairvoyant. The doctor was himself surprised at the +rapid effect of his cure; he informed some of his distinguished +patrons of the presence of a new clairvoyante at his house, and +invited them to witness my next awakening. Among these patrons were +some influential courtiers, Prince Hatzfeld and Field-Marshal +Kalkreuth. I had been told that these gentlemen were the most +zealous adherents of the French alliance, and the most ardent +admirers of Napoleon. It was but natural, therefore, that when I +became clairvoyant on that day, in the presence of these gentlemen, +I was the enraptured prophetess of a golden future for Prussia, +provided we maintained the alliance with France. The two courtiers +were visibly surprised and delighted at my prophecies; and when the +doctor had left the room for a moment, I heard Prince Hatzfeld say +to Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, 'Ah, I wish Hardenberg were here, and +heard the predictions of this wonderful girl! He believes in +clairvoyance, and her words, therefore, would make a profound +impression upon him!' ' We must try to have him brought hither,' +said Field-Marshal Kalkreuth; 'we must try to influence the stubborn +fellow in this way.' " + +"That was a very clever idea," said Hardenberg, smiling; "I almost +envy those gentlemen their very pretty intrigue. They then made +offers to you, did they not?" + +"No, I made offers to them." + +"How so?" + +"Listen to me. When the gentlemen left, and I was again alone with +the doctor, I suddenly awoke from my trance; rising from my couch, I +stepped up to him, and made him a respectful obeisance. He looked at +me in dismay, and seemed paralyzed with stupefaction, for you know +all my limbs were palsied, and I could only move my tongue. 'My dear +doctor,' I said, very calmly, 'I hope I have proved to you now that +I am possessed of considerable talent as an actress, and that I am +as well versed in playing my part as you are in yours. Both of us +try to obtain fame and wealth, you as a magnetizer, I as a +clairvoyante, and we stand mutually in need of each other. You are +the stage-manager, and possessed of a theatre that suits me, and I +am the leading actress, without whom you would be unable to perform +your play in a satisfactory manner. Let us, therefore, come to an +understanding and make an agreement.' Eh bien, your excellency, we +did come to an understanding; we did make an agreement. With a view +to a better position that soon would be accessible to me, I remained +temporarily the first actress, and, thanks to my performances, I +attracted an audience as distinguished as it was munificent." + +"Now I comprehend every thing. You must permit me, however, another +question. Are Prince Hatzfeld and Field-Marshal Kalkreuth aware that +you are nothing but an--actress?" + +"By no means, your excellency. They are so kind as to take me for a +bona fide clairvoyante. The doctor told them that, by my spiritual +connection with him, I was compelled to say, think, and do whatever +he wanted and commanded me, and that, if he gave me my instructions +while I was awake, I had to act and speak in my clairvoyant state in +strict accordance with them. In this way it happened, your +excellency, that I was used as the fox-tail with which the +electrical machine is set in motion--to make an impression upon you, +and to cure you of your hostility to France. The doctor became the +confidant of these gentlemen, who desired to cure you. They +surrounded your excellency with spies, a minute diary was kept of +your movements, and this diary was brought early every morning to +the doctor, who read it to me, and we agreed then as to the manner +in which I should avail myself of the information." + +"And dupe me!" exclaimed Hardenberg, laughing. "Fortunately, I did +not allow myself to be thus dealt with, but penetrated the handsome +little swindle at the outset; yet I made up my mind to continue +playing the farce for some time, because it afforded me an +opportunity to discover and foil the intentions, wishes, and schemes +of my adversaries. But tell me now, my pretty young lady, what would +have happened if I had not allowed you to perceive to-day that I was +aware of the whole trick?" + +"In that case I myself would have disclosed the intrigue to your +excellency. Did I not send my young nurse twice to your house +yesterday, in order to pray you to come to me, if possible, last +night, because I had important news to communicate to you? Did I not +write to you that the doctor would not be at home during the whole +evening, and that I might, therefore, communicate an important +secret to you without being disturbed?" + +"Unfortunately, I was not at home, and the supper at Marshal +Augereau's, which you used so skilfully during your pretended +trance, deprived me of an hour of important disclosures! But suppose +I had come, and met you alone; what would you have told me then?" + +"Precisely what I tell you now. I would have fallen down before you +as I do now, and, clasping your knees in this manner, would have +said what I say now: 'Mercy, my lord and master, mercy! I can lie +and dissimulate no longer before your noble face; your eyes +embarrass me; your smile overwhelms me with shame; the farce is at +an end, and the truth commences. The truth, however, is that I adore +you; that I will no longer unite with your adversaries against you; +that I will serve you and none but you, and devote to you my whole +life and every pulsation of my heart!'" She attempted to conceal her +face, bathed in a flood of tears; but Hardenberg softly laid his +hands upon her cheeks, and, gently raising her head, gazed at her +long and smilingly. + +"What talent!" he said; "in truth, I admire you! It was a charming +performance. True love and passion could express themselves no +better, or surpass your imitation." + +She arose from her knees and looked at him with eyes flashing with +anger. "You do not believe me?" she asked, almost menacingly. "You +suspect me, although I have revealed my heart to you as sincerely as +I have ever revealed it to Heaven itself." + +"Foolish girl, how can I believe you?" he asked. "Have you not gone +out into the world to plunge into adventures, and to seek your +fortune? Have you not dived into the sea to find pearls? Can you +wish me to play the agreeable part of your safety-rope--that is +all!" + +"No, no!" she exclaimed, wildly stamping with her feet; "that is a +vile slander! Why should I choose precisely you for my safety-rope?- +-why reveal my soul to you? Do you not believe that those gentlemen +who are using me against you, who worship and admire me, would not +be ready to assist me? But I have rejected their homage and their +offers; I despise and abhor them all, for they are your enemies. I +hate France, I detest Napoleon, for you are opposed to the French +alliance, and you have been reviled by Napoleon; I am longing for an +alliance with Russia, for I know this to be your wish, and I have no +wishes but yours, no will but your will!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Hardenberg, laughing, "this is the strangest +political declaration of love which woman ever made to man!" + +"Great Heaven! you are laughing!" she cried angrily. "You do not +believe me, then? How shall I be able to convince you?" + +"I will show you a way to do so," said Hardenberg, suddenly growing +very grave. + +"Tell me, and I swear to you that I will try it!" + +"Serve me in the same manner as you have hitherto served my enemies. +Become the prophetess of my policy, as you have been the prophetess +of the policy of my opponents. Permit me to become the prompter of +the clever clairvoyante, and play now as inimitably against my +adversaries as you have played for them." + +Frederica Hahn burst into loud laughter. "In truth, that is a +splendid idea," she said, "a revenge which your excellency has +devised against the other gentlemen. Here is my hand. I swear to +serve and to be faithful to you as long as I live. Do you now +believe in the truth of my love?" + +"Let me first see the actions inspired by this love," said +Hardenberg, smiling. "I will prove to you immediately that I confide +in your head, although I am not vain enough to believe in your +heart. Listen to me, then! It is my most ardent desire that the king +should leave Berlin, and be withdrawn from the influence of the +French. Prince Hatzfeld and old Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, however, +insist that he remain at Berlin, and thereby manifest the adhesion +of Prussia to the alliance with France. I suspect, nay, I might say, +I know, that the king is in danger, and that, as soon as he utters a +free and bold word, the French will use it as a pretext to seize his +person and imprison him, as they have done Charles and Ferdinand of +Spain. Caution, therefore, the sanguine and credulous gentlemen; +point out to them the dangers menacing the king here; tell them +that. it is the bounden duty of his majesty to save himself for his +people; shout with your inspired and enthusiastic voice: 'Go! +Destruction will overwhelm you at Berlin! Save the king! Convey him +to Breslau!'" + +"I will play my part so skilfully that even the boldest will be +filled with dismay," cried Frederica, with flaming eyes, "and that +dear old Field-Marshal Kalkreuth will implore the king on his knees +to leave Berlin, and go to Breslau. But, when I have played this +part for you--when you have attained your object, and I have given +you proofs of my fidelity and obedience--will you then believe that +I love you?" + +"We shall see," he said, smiling. "I am, perhaps, not as wise as +Ulysses, and shall not fill my ears with wax, but listen to the song +of the siren, even at the risk of perishing in the whirlpool of +passion. Let us not impose upon ourselves any promises concerning +the destiny of our hearts; but your position in the world is an +entirely different question. As to this, I must make you promises, +and swear that I shall fulfil them. You promise that you will serve +me, enter into my plans, and support my policy?" + +"Yes, your excellency, I swear to you that your opponents themselves +shall beseech the king to leave Berlin, and renounce France." + +"Well, then, on the day the king arrives safely at Breslau, you will +receive from me a document securing you an annuity on which you will +be able to live independently here at Berlin." + +"And is that all?" she asked, in a contemptuous tone. "You promise +me nothing but money to keep me from starvation?" + +"No," said Hardenberg, smiling, "I promise you more than that. I +promise that little Frederica Hahn, the watchmaker's daughter, shall +be transformed into an aristocratic lady, and that I will procure +you a husband, who will give you so distinguished a name that the +daughter of the Marquise de Barbasson need not be ashamed of it. Are +you content with that, my beauty?" + +"Would it be necessary for me to love and honor the husband whom +your excellency will give me?" asked Frederica, after a pause. + +"Suppose I reply in the affirmative?" asked Hardenberg. + +"Then I answer: I prefer remaining Frederica Hahn. for then I shall +at least have the right to sit at your feet and worship you, and no +troublesome husband will be able to prevent my doing so." + +"Well, then, my charming little fool, I shall select for you a +husband who will, like a deus ex machina, appear only in order to +confer his name upon you at the altar, and who will then disappear +again. Do you consent to that?" + +"Your excellency, that would be precisely such a husband as I would +like to have, and as my imagination has dreamed of--a husband sans +consequence--not a man, but a manikin!" + +"I shall, however, see to it that this manikin, besides his name, +will lay at your feet another splendid wedding-gift, and a corbeille +de noce, which will he worthy of you. You accept my offers, then, my +friend?" + +"No, unless you add something to them." + +"What is it, Frederica?" + +"Your love, your confidence, your belief in my love!" she exclaimed, +sinking down at his feet. + +"Ah," said Hardenberg, "let us not be so audacious as to attempt to +raise the veil that may perhaps conceal a magnificent future from +our eyes!" [Footnote: This scene is not fictitious, but based upon +the verbal statements and disclosures of the lady who played so +prominent a part in it.--L. M.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE TWO DIPLOMATISTS. + + +The royal family celebrated an important festival at Potsdam on the +20th of January. Crown-Prince Frederick William had been confirmed +at the palace church. In the presence of the whole royal family, of +all high officers and foreign ambassadors, the prince, who was now +seventeen years of age, had made his confession of faith and taken +an oath to the venerable and noble Counsellor Sack that he would +faithfully adhere to God's Word, and worship Him in times of weal +and woe. After the ceremonies at church were over, a gala-dinner was +to take place at court, and invitations had been issued not only to +the members of the royal family, but to the dignitaries and +functionaries, as well as the ambassadors, who had come over from +Berlin. This dinner, however, was suddenly postponed. The king was +said to have been unexpectedly taken ill. It was asserted that the +excitement which he had undergone at church had greatly affected his +nerves, bringing on a bleeding at the nose, which had already lasted +several hours, and which even the most energetic remedies were +unable to relieve. + +The ambassadors repaired to the palace in order to ascertain more +about the health of the king, and the principal physician of his +majesty was able at least to assure them that his majesty's +condition was not by any means alarming or dangerous, but that the +king needed repose, and could not, according to his intention, go to +Berlin that day, but would remain at Potsdam, and, for a few days, +abstain entirely both from engaging in public affairs and receiving +visitors. This news did not seem to alarm any one more seriously +than the French ambassador, Count St. Marsan. He left the royal +palace in depressed spirits, and, entering his carriage, ordered the +driver in a hurried tone to return to Berlin as fast as possible. +Scarcely three hours elapsed when the carriage stopped in front of +the French legation, and the footman hastened to open the coach- +door. Count St. Marsan, however, did not rise from his feet, but +beckoned his valet de chambre to come to him. "Have no letters +arrived for me?" he asked. + +"Yes, your excellency; this was brought to the legation a few +minutes since," said the valet, handing a small, neatly-folded +letter to the count. + +St. Marsan opened the note hastily. It contained nothing but the +following words: "I have just returned from Potsdam. I am probably +an hour ahead of your excellency, for I had caused three relays to +be kept in readiness for me. As soon as your excellency has arrived, +I pray you to inform me of it, that I may hasten to you.--H." + +"To the residence of Chancellor von Hardenberg!" said the count, +putting the letter into his breast-pocket, and leaning back on the +cushions. The carriage rolled away, and ten minutes afterward it +stopped in front of the residence of the chancellor of state. St. +Marsan alighted with youthful alacrity, and, keeping pace with the +footman who was to announce his arrival, hastened into the house and +ascended the staircase. At the first anteroom the chancellor met +him, greeting him with polite words and conducting him into his +cabinet. "You have anticipated me, your excellency," he said; "my +carriage was in readiness, and I only waited for a message from you +to repair immediately to your residence." + +"It is, then, highly important news that your excellency will be +kind enough to communicate to me?" asked St. Marsan, uneasily. + +"On the contrary, I hoped you would communicate important news to +me. I cannot conceal from you that we are all in great suspense and +excitement; and I suppose it is unnecessary for me to confess to so +skilful and experienced a diplomatist as your excellency, that the +king's illness and bleeding at the nose were mere fictions, and that +his majesty thereby wished only to avoid meeting you." + +"Indeed, that was what I suspected," exclaimed St. Marsan; "for the +rest, every thing at Potsdam appeared to me very strange and +inexplicable; I confess, however, that I do not comprehend what has +aroused the king's indignation, and rendered my person so offensive +to him?" + +"What!" asked Hardenberg, with an air of astonishment. "Your +excellency does not comprehend it? It seems to me, however, that +this indignation is but too well-grounded. You know the fidelity and +perseverance with which Prussia has adhered to the French alliance; +that the king has withstood all promises of Russia, however alluring +their character, and has proved by word and deed that he intends to +remain faithful to his system, and never to dissolve the alliance +with France. And now, when my zeal, eloquence, and untiring +expositions of the utility of this alliance have succeeded in +rendering him deaf to all promises, and attaching his heart more +sincerely to France, you mortify and insult the king in so defiant a +manner! Ah, count, this is to postpone the attainment of my object +to a very distant period, and to take from me, perhaps forever, the +order I am longing for. For how can I keep my word?--how can I +obtain the king's consent to the betrothal of the crown prince with +a princess of the house of Napoleon, if France treats him with so +little deference and respect, and proves to him that she herself +does not regard the treaties which she has concluded with Prussia as +imposing any obligations upon her?" + +"But your excellency drives me to despair," exclaimed Count St. +Marsan, "for I confess to you again that I do not comprehend what +act of ours would justify such grave reproaches." + +"Well, permit me, then, to remind you of what has happened, and +request a kind explanation. Your excellency, I suppose, is aware +that the division of General Grenier, nineteen thousand strong, has +approached by forced marches from Italy and occupied Brandenburg?" + +"Yes, I am aware of that," said St. Marsan, hesitatingly; "but these +troops will rest there but a few days, and continue their march." + +"On the contrary," replied Hardenberg, "they are destined to remain +in Brandenburg. Their commanders declare emphatically that they will +be stationed in this province, and Brandenburg is already so full of +French soldiers that I do not see how quarters and sustenance are to +be provided for an additional corps of nineteen thousand men. +Besides, this augmentation of the French forces is contrary to the +express stipulations of the existing treaties, and it is, therefore, +but natural that this fact, which in itself would seem to point to a +hostile intention, should have excited the serious displeasure of +the king." "But the extraordinary circumstances in which the French +army has been placed ever since the disastrous campaign of Russia, I +believe ought to excuse extraordinary measures," said St. Marsan, in +his embarrassment. "His majesty the Emperor Napoleon, on learning +how offensive to the king is this increase in the number of troops +stationed in the province of Brandenburg, will assuredly hasten to +explain the necessity of the measure, and, however late it may be, +request his ally's consent to it." + +"Ah," exclaimed Hardenberg, quickly, "you admit, then, that this +reinforcement in Brandenburg is intended to be permanent? But I have +not yet laid all my complaints before your excellency. I believe you +are aware that, according to the last convention between France and +Prussia, no French troops at all are to occupy Potsdam and its +environs, and that they are not to stay there even for a single +night?" + +"Yes; I am aware of this stipulation, and believe it has hitherto +been carefully observed." + +"Hitherto--that is to say, until to-day! But this fore-noon, at the +very hour we were at church witnessing the confirmation of the +prince, whom you wish to be as a new tie between France and Prussia, +this stipulation was violated in as incomprehensible as mortifying a +manner. Four thousand men of Grenier's division have marched this +morning from Brandenburg to Potsdam, and have tried forcibly--do you +understand me, your excellency?--forcibly to occupy this city. The +municipal authorities vainly endeavored to assure them that this was +entirely inadmissible, and it was only after a very stormy scene +that they succeeded in prevailing upon the troops to leave Potsdam, +and withdraw several miles from the city [Footnote: Beitzke's +"History of the War of Liberation," vol. i. p. 162.]. If no blood +was shed, it was not owing to the disposition of your troops, but to +the prudence and moderation of the Prussian authorities. Now, count; +you fully comprehend the exasperation of my master, the king; and I +hope you will give me the satisfactory explanation which he has +commissioned me to request." + +"Your excellency," said St. Marsan, greatly surprised, "I really do +not comprehend why the king should be so irritated at this trifling +deviation from the stipulation of the treaties. You yourself said it +would be impossible to find quarters and sustenance for so large a +number of troops in the province of Brandenburg. This fact involved +the military commanders in difficulties, and explains why they at +last thought of sending a detachment to Potsdam, where there are so +much room and so many vacant barracks. We could not suppose that the +king would object to this, and that the sight of the brave French +soldiers would fill the ally of the Emperor of the French with +feelings of displeasure and indignation. But, you see, the troops +yielded to the will of the king, and left the city." + +"But they remained near enough to be able to reoccupy it at the +first signal." + +"And does your excellency believe that the French authorities might +have occasion to call troops to their assistance?" asked Count St. +Marsan, casting a quick, searching glance at the chancellor. + +But Hardenberg's countenance remained perfectly calm and unchanged; +only the faint glimmer of a smile was playing round his thin lips. +"I do not know," he said, "what motives might induce the French +authorities to call troops to their assistance, as they are not in a +hostile country, but in that of an ally, unless it were that they +look upon every free expression of the royal will as an unfriendly +demonstration, and interpret as an act of hostility, for instance, +the king's determination not to reside at Berlin, but at Potsdam, +or, according to his pleasure, in any other city of the kingdom." + +"The king, then, intends to leave Potsdam and remove to another +city?" inquired St. Marsan, quickly. + +"I do not say that exactly," replied Hardenberg, smiling and +hesitating: "but I should not be greatly surprised if, to avoid the +quarrels between the French and Prussian authorities, and not to +witness perhaps another violation of the treaties, and a repeated +attempt of the French commanders to occupy Potsdam, he should remove +to another city, where his majesty would be safe from such +annoyances." + +"The king intends to leave Potsdam," said St. Marsan to himself. He +added aloud: "I do not know, however, of any city in the kingdom of +Prussia where, owing to the present cordial relations between +Prussia and France, there are no French authorities and French +troops.--Yes, it occurs to me that, according to the treaties +concluded last year, there are no French troops in the province of +Silesia, except on the military road from Glogau to Dresden, and +that they and their auxiliaries are expressly forbidden to pass +through Breslau. Breslau, then, would be a city where the king would +not run the risk of meeting French troops." + +"You admit, then, that it is dangerous for the king to meet them? In +that case it would truly be a very justifiable and wise step for the +king to repair to Breslau." + +"It is settled, then, that the king will go to Breslau?" asked St. +Marsan. "Your excellency intended to be so kind as to intimate this +to me?" + +"It is settled, then, that the king is in danger near the French +troops?" asked Hardenberg. "Your excellency intended to be so kind +as to intimate this to me? Ah, it seems to me we have been playing +hide and seek for half an hour, while both of us really ought to be +frank and sincere." + +"Well, then, let us be," exclaimed St. Marsan. "I have likewise +reason to complain, and must demand explanations. What does it mean +that the Prussian government has suddenly dispatched orders to all +provincial authorities to recall the furloughed soldiers and proceed +to another draft; that artillery-horses are bought, and a vast +quantity of uniforms made?" + +"It means simply, your excellency, that the King of Prussia expects +to be requested by his ally, the Emperor of the French, to furnish +him additional auxiliaries, and that he hastes to make the necessary +preparations, to be able to comply at the earliest moment. These +preparations, moreover, had to be made in so hasty a manner, +because, as soon as the Russians advance farther into the interior +of Prussia, of course both a conscription and the recall of the +furloughed soldiers would be impossible." + +"But this is not all. The king yesterday authorized the minister of +finance to issue ten million dollars in treasury-notes, to be taken +at par. What is this enormous sum destined for, M. Chancellor? Why +does the king suddenly need so many millions?" + +"You ask what the king needs so much money for? Sir, the clause +ordering these treasury-notes at par would be a sufficient reply to +your question. When a government is unable to procure funds in any +other way than by compelling its subjects to take its treasury-notes +at par, it proves that it has no credit to negotiate a loan--no +property which it might render available; it proves that not only +its treasury, but the resources of the country, are completely +exhausted, and that it has reached a point where it must either go +into hopeless bankruptcy or endeavor to maintain itself by +palliatives. Prussia has come to this. Let us not examine by whose +fault or by what accumulation of expenses and obligations, this +condition of affairs has been brought about; but the fact remains, +and, as the king is unwilling that the state should be declared +bankrupt, he resorts to a palliative, and issues ten million dollars +in treasury-notes. In this manner he obtains funds, is enabled to +relieve the distress of his subjects, and to procure horses and +uniforms for the new regiments to join the forces of his ally, the +Emperor Napoleon. Does not this account for the issue? Are you +satisfied with this explanation, count?" + +"I am; for I have no doubt that your excellency is sincere." + +"Have we not yet proved that we are sincere?" exclaimed Hardenberg, +in a tone of virtuous indignation. "Notwithstanding all allurements +and promises by which Russia is trying to gain us over to her side, +we are standing by France--and, please do not forget, at a time when +she is overwhelmed with calamities, we give her our soldiers, and, +the old ones having perished, recruit and equip new ones for her; we +make all possible sacrifices--nay, we even run the risk of making +the king lose the sympathies of his own subjects, who, you know, are +not very favorable to a continuation of this alliance! And still +France doubts the king's fidelity and my own heartfelt devotion! he +entertains such doubts at a moment when I declare it to be my chief +object to effect a marriage of the crown prince with an imperial +princess; and when I have already succeeded so far that I believe I +may almost positively promise that the king will give his consent." + +"What!" exclaimed St. Marsan, surprised. "The king consents to such +a marriage?" + +"He will," said Hardenberg, smiling, "provided France make the first +overtures, secure him important advantages, and raise the kingdom to +a higher rank among the states of Europe." [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. +i., p. 159] + +"Oh, the emperor, will grant Prussia all this," said St. Marsan, +joyously. "It is too important to his majesty, when a princess of +his family ascends the throne of Prussia, that he should not +willingly comply with all the wishes of his future brother, the King +of Prussia." + +"Then we are agreed," exclaimed Hardenberg, offering his hand to the +count, "and all misunderstandings have been satisfactorily +explained. Only confide in us--firmly believe that the system of the +king has undergone no alteration--that no overtures, direct or +indirect, have been made to Russia, and that he has rejected the +offers which she has made to him. The repudiation of General York's +course is a sufficient proof of all this. Only believe our +protestations, count, and entreat your emperor to dismiss the +distrust he still seems to feel, and which alienates the hearts of +the greatest emperor and the noblest king." + +"I will inform his majesty of the very words your excellency has +addressed me, and I have no doubt that the emperor on reading them +will have the same gratification with which I have heard them. +Thanks, therefore, your excellency! And now I will not detain you +longer from enjoying your dinner. Both of us have returned from +Potsdam without dining, and it is but natural that we should make up +for it now. Therefore, farewell, your excellency!" + +Hardenberg gave him his arm, and conducted him with kind and +friendly words into the anteroom. + +"Does your excellency think," said St. Marsan, on taking leave, +"that I may venture to-morrow to go to Potsdam and personally +inquire about his majesty's health?" + +"Your excellency had better wait two or three days," said +Hardenberg, after a moment's reflection. "By that time I shall have +succeeded in overcoming the king's displeasure, and if the French +troops in the mean time have made no further attempts to occupy +Potsdam, but, on the contrary, have withdrawn still farther from the +city, it will be easy for me to persuade the king that the whole +occurrence was a mere misunderstanding. Have patience, then, for +three days, my dear count!" + +"Well, then, for three days. But then I shall see the king at +Potsdam, shall I not?" + +"Ah," exclaimed Hardenberg, smiling, "how can I know where it will +please his majesty to be three days hence? The king is his own +master, and I should think at liberty to go hither and thither as he +pleases, provided he does not go to the Russian camp, and I would be +able to prevent that." + +"It is certain," muttered Count St. Marsan, when he was alone in his +carriage, "it is certain that the king will no longer be at Potsdam +three days hence, but intends to remove secretly, and establish his +court at a greater distance. The moment, therefore, has come when we +must act energetically. The troops have come for this very purpose, +and the emperor's orders instruct us, in case the king should +manifest any inclination to renew his former alliance with Russia, +and to break with France, immediately to seize the king's person, in +order to deprive the Prussian nation, which is hostile to us, of its +leader and standard-bearer. Well, then, the orders of the emperor +must be carried into execution. We must try to have the king +arrested to-day. I shall immediately take the necessary steps, and +send couriers to Greiner's troops." The carriage stopped, and Count +St. Marsan, forgetful of his dinner, hastened into his cabinet, and +sent for his private secretaries. An hour afterward two couriers +left the French legation, and shortly after an elegant carriage +rolled from the gateway. Two footmen, who did not wear their +liveries, were seated on the high box; but no one was able to +perceive who sat inside, for the silken window-curtains had been +lowered. + +Chancellor von Hardenberg, after the French ambassador left him, +instead of going to the dining-room, returned to his cabinet. Like +Count St. Marsan, he seemed to have forgotten his dinner. With his +hands folded behind him, he was slowly pacing his room, and a proud +smile was beaming in his face. "I hope," he said to himself, "I have +succeeded in reassuring, and yet alarming the count. He believes in +me and in the sincerity of my sentiments, and hence in the fidelity +of Prussia to France, and this reassures him; but he understood very +well the hints I dropped about the possibility of the king leaving +Potsdam and going to Breslau, and this alarms him. He may, perhaps, +be hot-headed enough to allow himself to be carried away by his +uneasiness, and make an attempt to seize the king. If he should, I +have won my game, and shall succeed in withdrawing the king from his +reach by conveying him to Breslau. Well, fortunately, I have a +reliable agent at the count's house, and if any thing should happen, +he will take good care to let me know it immediately. I may, +therefore, tranquilly wait for further developments." At this moment +the door opened, and Conrad, the old valet de chambre, entered, +presenting a letter on a silver tray to the chancellor of state. + +"From whom?" asked Hardenberg. + +"From her!" whispered Conrad, anxiously. "Her nurse brought the +letter a few minutes ago, and she says it ought to be at once +delivered to your excellency." + +"Very well," said Hardenberg, beckoning to Conrad to leave the room. +But Conrad did not go; he remained at the door, and cast imploring +glances on his master. + +"Well," inquired Hardenberg, impatiently, "do you want to tell me +any thing else?" + +"I do," said Conrad, timidly; "I just wished to tell you that her +excellency Madame von Hardenberg has condescended again this morning +to box my ears, because I refused to tell her whither his excellency +the chancellor went every evening." + +"Poor Conrad!" said Hardenberg, smiling, "my wife will assuredly pat +your cheeks until they are insensible. There, take this little +golden plaster." + +He offered a gold-piece to Conrad, but the faithful servant refused +to accept it. "No, your excellency, I do not wish it, for I have as +much as I need, and I know that your excellency will take care of me +when I am too old and feeble to work. I only intended to take the +liberty to caution your excellency, so that you may be a little on +your guard. Madame von Hardenberg has told her lady's-maid that she +intends to follow the chancellor to-night, in order to find out +whither he goes, and that she then would go in the morning to the +lady and make such a fuss as to deter her from receiving your +excellency any more. The lady's-maid has confided this to me, und +ordered me to report it immediately, for you know that we all would +willingly die for you, and that even the female servants of her +excellency remain with her only because they love and adore you, and +because it is a great honor to belong to the household of a master +whom all Berlin loves and reveres." + +"I thank you and the others for your attachment and fidelity," said +Hardenberg, nodding kindly to his old servant. "Tell my wife's maid +that I am especially obliged to her, and that I desire her to +continue serving me faithfully. For what you all have to suffer by +the displeasure of my wife, I shall take pains to indemnify you, +particularly if you mention as little as possible to outsiders any +thing about the state of affairs prevailing in my family, and the +sufferings we all have to undergo in consequence of it. Go, Conrad; +be reticent and vigilant! I shall profit by your advice, and my wife +will be none the wiser." He nodded once more to Conrad, and, when +the servant left the room, Hardenberg turned his eyes again toward +the little note which he still held unopened in his hand. He +unfolded it hastily and read. It contained only the following words: +"My predictions are producing a good effect. Dear Kockeritz is +greatly alarmed for the safety of his beloved king, and even old +Kalkreuth was startled by the terrible prophecies of the +clairvoyante. I am sure both of them will advise the king to shun +the danger, and transfer the seat of government to some other place. +Heaven grant that their words may be impressive, and that we may +attain our object--for you, the liberty of Prussia; for me, the +thraldom of my heart! For what else do I wish than to be your slave, +and to lie at your feet, to narrate to you the story of my love? For +you I wish to be an humble slave; for all others, Diavolezza +Frederica, the watchmaker's daughter--and when shall I become a +marquise?" + +"It is true," said Hardenberg, smiling, and tearing the paper in +small pieces; "it is true, she is a diavolezza, but one of the most +amiable and charming sort, and perhaps ere long I shall, +notwithstanding her deviltry, consider her an angel, and believe her +charming comedy to be entirely true and sincere. But this is no time +for thinking of such things. The grave affairs of life require our +exclusive attention. Kockeritz, then, has been convinced, and even +Kalkreuth has been shaken in his stupid belief in the French! Well, +may we at length succeed in taking the fortress of this royal +heart!--Ah, some one raps again at the door! Come in! What, Conrad, +it is you again? Do you come to tell me that my wife has again boxed +your ears?" + +"No," said Conrad, smiling. "This time I have to announce a French +soldier, who insists on seeing your excellency. He says he has found +a precious ornament which you have lost, and for which he would +himself get his reward." + +"Well, let him come in; we shall see what he brings me," said +Hardenberg. + +A few minutes afterward Conrad opened the door, and a French soldier +entered the room. "Now, let us see what you have found, my friend," +said Hardenberg, "and what you bring back to me before I have missed +it." + +"Your excellency, it is a precious ornament," said the soldier; "but +I must give it to you in secret." + +"Withdraw, Conrad," said Hardenberg, beckoning to the servant, who +had remained at the door, and was distrustfully and anxiously +watching every motion of the soldier. + +Conrad obeyed, but he left the door ajar, and remained close to it, +ready to reenter the cabinet at the first word of his beloved +master. + +"Now we are alone. Speak!" said Hardenberg. + +"Your excellency," whispered the soldier, advancing several steps, +"the valet de chambre of Count St. Marsan--that is to say, my +brother--has sent me to you. He dares not himself come, for the +house of your excellency is watched by spies, and he would instantly +be suspected, if he were seen entering it. I am to ask your +excellency whether you will give me twenty louis d'ors for a letter +from my brother which I am to deliver to yon." + +"This letter, then, contains highly important information?" + +"Yes, your excellency; my brother says he would let you have it at +so low a rate because he had so long been connected with you, and +because you had always treated him in a munificent manner." + +"Does your brother require me to pay that sum before I have received +the letter?" + +"He said he would leave that entirely to your excellency; only he +thinks it would be more advantageous to you to pay the money before +reading the letter." + +"How so, more advantageous to me?" + +"Because your excellency, after reading it, would doubtless, in your +joy at having received this singular and important information, pay +him a larger sum than he himself had asked." + +"In that case I prefer to read the letter first," said Hardenberg, +smiling, "for I must not allow your brother's generosity to surpass +mine." + +"Well, then, your excellency, here is the letter," said the soldier, +handing a small, folded paper to the chancellor of state. + +Hardenberg took it, and, as if to prevent the soldier from seeing +the expression of his face while he was reading it, he stepped into +the window-niche and turned his back to him. The soldier, however, +fixed his lurking glances on the chancellor. He saw that a sudden +shock made the whole frame of the chancellor tremble, and a +triumphant smile overspread the countenance of the secret observer. + +After a few minutes Hardenberg turned round again, and, carefully +folding up the paper, concealed it in his bosom. "My friend," he +said, "your brother was right. Twenty louis d'ors would be too low a +price for this letter. We must pay more for it." He stepped to his +desk, and, opening one of the drawers, took a roll from it and +counted down a number of gold-pieces on the table. "Here are thirty +louis d'ors," said Hardenberg, "and one for your trouble. See +whether I have counted correctly. Tell your brother to continue +serving me faithfully, and furnishing me with reliable reports. He +may always count on my gratitude!" + +Scarcely had the soldier left the room, when Hardenberg drew the +paper from his bosom and glanced over it again. "At length!" he +exclaimed, joyously. "The decisive moment is at hand! Now I hope to +attain my object!" He rang the bell violently. "Have my carriage +brought to the front door in half an hour," he said to Conrad, as +soon as he entered the room. "But my own horses are tired. Send for +four post-horses. A courier is immediately to set out for Potsdam, +and see to it that relay horses be in readiness for me at Steglitz +and Zehlendorf!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE ATTACK. + + +It was six o'clock in the afternoon. The gloomy January day had +already yielded to a dark, cold night, enshrouding the city and +vicinity of Potsdam. The king was, as usual, to go to Sans-Souci +toward nightfall. There, far from the turmoil of the world, he liked +to spend his mornings and evenings, retiring from intrusive eyes +into the quiet of his simple domestic life. Like his august grand- +uncle, Frederick II., the king laid down his crown and the splendor +of his position at the gates of the small palace of Sans-Souci, and, +at this country-seat, consecrated by so many historical +recollections, he was not a king, but a man, a father, and a friend. +At Sans-Souci his children gathered around him every evening, and, +by their mirth and tender love, endeavored to dispel the clouds from +the careworn brow of their father; at Sans-Souci, Frederick William +received the small circle of his intimate friends--there old General +von Kockeritz, Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, Count Dohna, Chancellor von +Hardenberg, and the few who had remained faithful to him, were +allowed to approach without ceremonial or etiquette. Foreign guests +and court visitors, however, were never received at the country +palace; he saw them only in the city of Potsdam, where he transacted +government affairs. Thither the king repaired punctually at ten +o'clock every morning, where took place the meetings of the cabinet, +the consultations with the high functionaries, the audiences given +to the foreign ambassadors, and the official levees, and there the +king took his dinner in the midst of his family and the officers of +his court. But as soon as the clock struck seven he entered his +carriage without any attendants, and drove out to Sans-Souci. This +had been his invariable habit for many years; and when the +inhabitants of the street leading to his country-seat heard the roll +of a carriage at that hour, they said as positively as though they +heard the clock striking, "It is just seven, for the king is driving +to Sans-Souci." + +The coachman, as was his habit, as soon as the clock struck six, +would harness two horses to the plain carriage which the king always +used, and generally drove up to the small side-gate a few minutes to +seven o'clock. Without giving any orders, or uttering a word, the +king would enter, and noisily closing the door, give thereby the +signal to start. The chime of the neighboring church had just +commenced playing the first part of the old hymn of "Ueb immer Treu +mid Redlichkeit," [Footnote: "Practise always truth and honesty."] +thus indicating that it was half-past six when the carriage appeared +at the side-gate. The wind was howling across the palace square and +through the colonnade in front of the neighboring park, hurling the +snow into the face of the driver, and lifting up the cape of his +cloak around his head, as if to protect him from the cold and stormy +night. Thomas, the king's coachman, had just removed with some +difficulty the large cape from his face, and rubbed the snow from +his eyes, when he heard the side-gate open. A dark figure emerged +from it and entered the carriage, and noisily closed the door. +Thomas had received his accustomed signal, and, although wondering +that the king had come fifteen minutes earlier than usual, he took +the reins, whipped the horses, and the carriage rolled away along +the route to Sans-Souci. The snow-storm drowned the roll of the +wheels, and rendered the vehicle almost invisible; besides, there +was no one to take particular notice of it, for only here and there +some closely-muffled person was to be seen on the street, too busy +with himself--too much engaged in holding fast his fluttering cloak +and protecting himself from the driving snow. + +The square in front of the palace was deserted. The two sentinels +were walking up and down with slow, measured steps in front of the +main portal, now looking up to the brilliantly-lighted windows of +the royal sitting-room, and now contemplating the two dim lanterns +which stood on the iron railing, and whose light, struggling with +the storm, seemed about to be extinguished. The side-gate of the +palace remained dark and lonely, but only for a short time. From the +side of the market-place a carriage slowly approached, and stopped +in front of the palace, precisely on the same spot which the king's +carriage had previously occupied. The coachman sat as rigidly and +stiffly on the box as worthy Thomas, and the storm played with his +cloak, and threw the snow into his face, precisely in the same +manner. A patrol marched across the palace-square, and approached +the sentinels in front of the main portal; the usual words of +command were heard, the guard was relieved, and the sentinels +marched off, surrendering their places to their less fortunate +comrades. When they passed the side of the palace where the carriage +was to be seen, they said to each other: "Ah, we are off guard a few +minutes too early. It cannot be quite seven o'clock, for the king's +carriage is still waiting at the gate." The driver's laugh was +unheard. + +It was really not yet seven--the hour when the king usually left the +palace. He was still in his sitting-room, and his two old friends, +General von Kockeritz and Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, were with him. A +pause in their conversation set in, which seemed to have been of a +very grave character, for the faces of the two old gentlemen looked +serious and careworn, and the king was pacing the room slowly and +with a gloomy air. + +"Kockeritz." he said, after a pause, standing in front of the old +general, who was his most intimate friend, and looking him full in +the face, "you are really in earnest, then? You believe in the +prophecies of the clairvoyante?" + +"I confess, your majesty, that I cannot but believe them," said +Kockeritz, sighing. "Her words, her whole manner, all her gestures, +bear the stamp of truthfulness to such an extent, that I would deem +it a crime against nature to believe her to be an impostor; she has, +moreover, already predicted to me the most wonderful things, and in +her trance read my thoughts. She has looked, as it were, into the +depth of my soul, so that I cannot doubt longer that she really is a +prophetess." + +"And you, field-marshal--do you, too, believe in her?" asked the +king. + +"I do, reluctantly, and in spite of myself, but I cannot help it," +said the old field-marshal, shrugging his shoulders. "This girl +speaks so forcibly, with such eloquence and such fervor of +expression, that one is obliged to believe in her. Your majesty +knows that I have always sided with those who have deemed the +alliance of Prussia with France to be indispensable for the welfare +and salvation of the country, and that I entertain the highest +admiration for the genius, the character, and military talents of +the Emperor Napoleon; I have never concealed my conviction that +Prussia is lost if your majesty renounce Napoleon, and accept the +proffered hand of Russia. Still, this girl has filled me with +misgivings. She cried in so heart-rending a tone, with so impressive +an anxiety, 'Save the king-the king is in danger! Leave Berlin-- +leave Potsdam!--save the king!' that I felt a shudder pervading my +limbs, and it seemed to me as though I saw already the hand which +was raised menacingly against the sacred head of your majesty. I +certainly do not believe that the Emperor Napoleon has any thing to +do with this danger; but some officious man in authority, some +adventurous general, might strike a blow on his own responsibility, +and in the belief that he would gain the favor of his emperor, and +anticipate his most secret wishes." + +"And what do you believe?" asked the king, moodily. "Tell me, +Kockeritz, what sort of danger do you think is menacing me?" + +"I do not know, your majesty," said Kockeritz, almost timidly, "but +I am sure there is danger, and I would beseech your majesty to +remove the seat of government to some place where you would be +safer, and where we would not be exposed to the attacks of prowling, +reckless detachments of soldiers, such as we saw here to our +profound regret but a few days since. Your majesty ought to go to +Breslau!" + +"Ah," exclaimed the king, vehemently, "Hardenberg has succeeded, +then, in gaining you over to his views? You are now suddenly of +opinion that I ought to remove to Breslau?" + +"Your majesty, I swear to you that Chancellor von Hardenberg has not +even tried to gain me over to his views, and that he assuredly would +not have succeeded. I have no political motives whatever in +entreating your majesty now to go to Breslau, but am actuated +exclusively by my fears for your personal safety. These troops of +General Grenier have greatly alarmed me; their strange expedition to +Potsdam was calculated to give rise to the most serious misgivings, +and when I add to this the prophecies of the clairvoyante, a +profound concern for the safety of your majesty fills my heart, and +I feel like imploring you on my knees to leave Potsdam and to go to +Breslau!" + +"Let me join in the request of General Kockeritz, your majesty," +said Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, sighing; "I, who on the battle-field +never knew fear, am afraid of a danger to which I am not even able +to give a name." + +"And, owing to these vague presentiments, I am to take a step that +might endanger the peace of my country and the existence of my +crown!" exclaimed the king, with unusual vehemence, "For, do not +deceive yourself in regard to this point: if I go to Breslau, +Napoleon, who is perpetually distrusting me, and who is well aware +that my alliance with him is highly repugnant to my inclinations and +my personal wishes, would deem it equivalent to an open rupture, and +believe I had gone over to his enemy, the Emperor of Russia. But, +what is still worse, my country, my people, will also believe this +to be the case. Every one will suppose that, although I publicly +branded York's defection as a crime, and removed him from the +command-in-chief, I secretly connived at what ho did, and that my +journey to Breslau is but a continuation of York's plans. Every one +will believe that our policy has undergone a change, and that the +alliance with France is at an end. It was an eyesore to the people; +and if they now believe themselves to be delivered from it, the most +calamitous consequences might ensue. A rising against the French +will take place as soon as I merely seem to give the signal for it." + +"Yes, that is true," exclaimed Kalkreuth; "your majesty is right; it +might, after all, be dangerous if you suddenly leave the city where +you have so long resided. It might be deemed equivalent to a rupture +with France, and we are, unfortunately, too weak to run so great a +risk. France is the natural ally of Prussia; that is what the great +Frederick said, and Napoleon is also of this opinion. By changing +your system of policy, your majesty would only endanger your +position and give the Emperor Napoleon grounds for treating you as +an enemy. To be sure, I know that there are fools who regard France +as prostrated, and utterly unable to rise again, but you will soon +see her with an army of three hundred thousand men, as brilliant as +the former." + +"I am entirely of your opinion," said the king, thoughtfully, "the +resources of France seem inexhaustible, and--" + +At this moment the door of the cabinet was softly opened, and Timm +the chamberlain made his appearance. "His excellency, Chancellor von +Hardenberg," he said, in a loud voice, and at the same moment +Hardenberg appeared on the threshold of the royal room. + +"Pardon me, your majesty," he said, quickly approaching, "for +availing myself of the permission you have given me of entering your +cabinet without being ceremoniously announced; but pressing affairs +will excuse me." + +"Has any thing occurred at Berlin?" asked the king, hastily. + +"No, your majesty; Berlin is, at least for the present, perfectly +quiet," said Hardenberg, laying stress on every word. "But scenes of +the most intense excitement and an open insurrection might have +occurred at Berlin and at Potsdam if I had not fortunately arrived +here in time." + +"What do you mean?" inquired the king. + +"I mean," replied Hardenberg, slowly and solemnly, "I mean that your +majesty is at this very moment in danger of being seized and +abducted by the French." + +The king gave a start, and his face colored for a moment; Kockeritz +and Kalkreuth exchanged glances of terror and dismay. + +"You have also seen the clairvoyante, then?" asked the king, after a +pause, almost indignantly. "You too have allowed yourself to be +frightened by her vaticinations?" + +"No, your majesty, I do not believe in them, but only in what is +true and real. Will your majesty condescend to listen to me for a +moment?" + +"Speak, M. Chancellor of State." + +"I must confess that, imitating the example set us by the French, I +have my spies and agents at the legation of Count, St. Marsan, and +at the residence of Marshal Augereau, governor-general of the +province of Brandenburg, just as well as they have theirs at the +palace of your majesty, at my house, and everywhere else. I pay my +spies liberally, and hence they serve me faithfully. Well, three +hours since I received a message from my first and most reliable +spy, and this message seemed to me so important that I immediately +hastened hither in order to take the necessary steps, and, if +possible, ward off the blow aimed at your majesty." + +"And what blow--what danger is it?" + +"I have told your majesty already that you are in danger of being +carried off by the French. Will your majesty permit me to read to +you what my spy (who, as I stated already, is a very reliable man) +writes me about it?" + +"Read!" exclaimed the king. + +Hardenberg bowed, and, taking a paper from his memorandum-book, read +as follows: "'They intend to seize the king to-night. A courier has +been dispatched to the troops of Grenier's division, which, since +yesterday, is encamped at a short distance from Potsdam; he conveys +to the troops the order to march to the outskirts of the city, and +to wait there at a carefully designated point for the arrival of a +carriage. They are then to surround this carriage, and take it at a +full gallop along the road leading to Brandenburg. The king will be +in this carriage--seized in a very simple manner. It has been +ascertained that the king drives at seven o'clock every evening to +Sans-Souci, and the most minute details of what occurs on this +occasion have been reported. A man will, therefore, conceal himself +shortly after nightfall near the door by which the king leaves the +palace. He will approach the carriage a few minutes before seven, +enter it, and noisily close the door as the king is in the habit of +doing. The coachman will believe this to be the usual signal, and +start. As soon as he has reached the deserted avenue outside the +gate that leads to Sans-Souci, the man sitting in the carriage will +open the front window, throw a cape over the coachman's head, thus +blindfolding and preventing him from uttering any cries. At the same +time two agents, concealed behind the trees, will approach, stop the +horses, seize the coachman, draw him from the box, tie his hands and +feet, and then put him into the carriage. The horses are to be half +unhitched so that neither they nor the coachman will be able to stir +from the spot. In the mean time another carriage will occupy the +place of the former, and wait for the king at the side-gate of the +palace. As soon as his majesty has entered, it will start, take at +first the route of Sans-Souci, but outside of the gate will +immediately turn to the left, and drive for some time at a quick +trot along the narrow road near the garden. At some distance from +the city the chasseurs of Grenier's division will await it, and then +form its escort. The carriage is arranged in such a manner that it +cannot be opened on the inside. As soon as the king has entered it, +he will, therefore, be a prisoner.'" + +"And you believe in the reliability of these statements?" asked the +king, when Hardenberg paused. + +"I am satisfied of it, your majesty. The reports of my spy have +hitherto always proved correct and reliable. It would be impossible +for me to doubt his accuracy." + +The king looked at his watch. "It is already a quarter past seven," +he said. "Then it is not my carriage that is waiting for me at the +palace-gate, but another?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"The clairvoyante was right," muttered General Kockeritz. + +"If I now enter the carriage, you believe, M. Chancellor, I would be +carried off?" + +"That is what my spy reports, and I have additional evidence +confirming his statements. At least it is entirely correct that +Grenier's chasseurs are again in the immediate vicinity of Potsdam. +I confess to your majesty that, owing to this danger, I have already +taken the liberty, without obtaining your consent, to take most +urgent steps, and that I have conferred with the commanders of the +garrison of Potsdam for this purpose. These gentlemen, like myself, +felt the necessity of immediate action. Couriers and spies were sent +out by them in all directions, and have brought the news that the +four thousand men who, two days ago, made an attempt to occupy +Potsdam forcibly, are now again approaching the city in the utmost +haste. Already about fifty chasseurs are stationed behind the high +fence of the last garden on the road, alluded to in the letter of my +spy, and seem to wait there for the carriage. Your majesty will see +all my statements confirmed if you will be gracious enough to +receive the report of the officer who commanded the expedition, and +who has now accompanied me to the palace. The commanders of the +garrison found the proofs of the insidious intentions of the French +to be so startling that they are causing at this moment all their +troops to form in line, and are marching them as noiselessly as +possible to the neighboring park." + +"Without having previously applied to me for orders?" asked the +king, quickly. + +"Your majesty, the pressing danger excuses this rashness. I have +engaged to solicit your majesty's consent to this measure." + +"The troops shall be sent to their quarters," said the king, +energetically, after a moment's reflection. + +"Great Heaven!" exclaimed General Kockeritz, anxiously, "what does +your majesty intend to do? Will you expose yourself to the danger +of--" + +"Hush!" interrupted the king, sternly, seizing the bell and ringing. +The chamberlain entered. "The officer who is waiting in the anteroom +is to come in," ordered the king. A minute afterward the officer +appeared, and remained in a military attitude at the door. + +"Did you reconnoitre to-night?" inquired the king. + +"I did, your majesty. A part of Grenier's division is rapidly +approaching the city; fifty chasseurs are already on the garden road +behind the last board fence." + +"Return to the general commanding," ordered the king. "The troops +are at once to leave the park and go back to their quarters. The +whole affair is to be kept a secret, and all eclat to be avoided. +Go!" + +The officer saluted, and turned toward the door, but on opening it +he looked back and cast an inquiring glance on the face of the +chancellor. Hardenberg nodded almost imperceptibly. The officer went +out and closed the door after him. [Footnote: When the king heard +that the troops had been marched to the park, he ordered them to be +dismissed to their quarters; but the apprehensions of the officers +were so great that they dared to obey the royal orders only +partially. They marched the troops from the park to another place, +where they kept them under arms during the whole night and a part of +the following day.] + +"I do not wish this affair to be made public," said the king, +"otherwise I should have to renounce France immediately and +decidedly; but my circumstances forbid me to do so." + +"But, your majesty, you are now exposing yourself to the danger of +falling into the hands of the French," exclaimed General Kockeritz, +anxiously. "If Grenier's troops enter Potsdam now, they would meet +with no resistance whatever, as your majesty has withdrawn our own +soldiers." + +"The French troops will not enter Potsdam after seeing that their +plan has failed, and that I do not arrive in the coach at the place +where the chasseurs are waiting for me," said the king. + +"Besides," exclaimed Field-Marshal Kalkreuth indignantly, "it +remains to be seen whether the whole intrigue is not a mere fiction. +The chancellor of state himself said that he paid his spies well. +Perhaps some enterprising fellow has got up this story for the sole +purpose of receiving a large reward. He could imagine that the king, +after being warned, would not drive out to Sans-Souci to-night, and +that the affair therefore would be buried in the darkness of this +evening." + +"And does your excellency believe, too, that my spy caused four +thousand men to march upon Potsdam to second his intrigue?" asked +Hardenberg, smiling. "Do you believe that he is able to send +detachments of chasseurs whithersoever he pleases?" + +"I cannot believe in this plan; it would be too audacious!" +exclaimed Field-Marshal Kalkreuth. "I ask a favor of your majesty. +If this report is correct, the carriage in which you are to be +abducted ought now to be at the palace-gate and await your majesty. +Please permit me to go down-stairs and enter it in your place. I +want to see whither they will take me." + +"No," said the king--"no! I wish to avoid any thing like an open +rupture with France. The time for that has not come yet." + +"Oh," whispered Hardenberg to himself, sadly and reproachfully, +"that time will never come! My hopes are blasted." + +The king paced the room silently and musingly, with his hands folded +behind him. Field-Marshal Kalkreuth and General Kockeritz followed +every motion in anxious suspense. Hardenberg cast down his eyes, and +his features were expressive of profound grief. + +"Gentlemen," said the king, "come with me! Let us go down to my +carriage!" + +"Your majesty, I trust, does not intend to enter it?" exclaimed +Kockeritz, in dismay. + +"Come with me!" said the king, almost smilingly. "Come!" + +The firm, determined tone of his majesty admitted of no resistance. +The three left the cabinet with him in silence, crossed the anteroom +and the lighted corridor, until they arrived at the small staircase +leading to the side-gate of the palace. All was silent. Not a +footman met them on the way, and only a single sentinel stood at the +upper end of the passage. The king, who led the way, went quickly +down and across the small hall toward the door, which he opened with +a jerk. The storm swept into the hall and beat into the faces of the +gentlemen. It had already blown out the two lanterns in front of the +door, and an impenetrable darkness reigned outside. + + "Hush, now!" whispered the king. "Step out softly and place +yourselves here at the wall. No one will see you. Wait now!" He +quickly stepped to the carriage, scarcely visible in the darkness, +and, groping for the knob of the coach door, opened it. A moment of +breathless suspense ensued for those who stood at the wall, and +tried to see what was to occur. The king slammed the door, and +jumped back toward the gate. At the same moment the coachman whipped +the horses and the carriage rapidly sped away. + +"Now, let us reenter the palace," said the king, with perfect +composure. "It is a stormy night! Come!" He stepped back into the +hall, and the gentlemen followed. "Well," he said, smiling, and +standing still, "the coachman, in the firm belief that I am in the +carriage, will take the indicated route; the chasseurs will surround +the carriage and capture it. Let those who got up this miserable +intrigue convince themselves to their shame that it has miscarried. +They will not dare complain, and the whole affair will never be +revealed." + +"But suppose it should really have been your majesty's carriage?" +asked Kalkreuth. "The darkness was so great that it could not be +recognized." + +"But the darkness did not prevent me from feeling," said the king, +"and my hands served me this time instead of my eyes. I felt that it +was another carriage than mine. The door-knob was much larger. But +now I should like to have some news about my dear old coachman, +Thomas, and learn what has become of him." + +"If your majesty will permit me, I will try to ascertain if the +carriage is still in the avenue outside the gate," said Kalkreuth, +quickly. + +"I intended to request you to do so, field-marshal," said the king. +"Your coach is in readiness, is it not?" + +"It is, your majesty." + +"Let the servants, then, have it brought up," said the king, +ascending the staircase. On arriving at the anteroom, he himself +ordered the lackey in waiting to have the carriage of the field- +marshal brought to the door. + +"If your majesty will permit me," said General Kockeritz, "I will +accompany the field-marshal." + +"I ask for the same favor," said the chancellor of state, quickly. + +"Accompany the field-marshal, general," said the king, turning to +Kockeritz. "Take no servants with you, except Timm my chamberlain, +who may render assistance to my poor Thomas. My chamberlain is +reticent and faithful. Pray have your carriage stopped at the +entrance of the avenue, and proceed then on foot. If you find every +thing as stated in the spy's report, Timm will drive the carriage to +Sans-Souci, that my good old coachman may go to bed and recover from +his fright. You will tell him, however, that I wish him not to +breathe a word about his adventure. You, gentlemen, will thereupon +return and report to me. And you, M. Chancellor, will follow me into +my cabinet." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE COURIER'S RETURN. + + +On reaching his cabinet, the king slowly paced his room, seemingly +without noticing the presence of the chancellor. Hardenberg, who +waited in silent patience, withdrew softly into a window-niche, and +listened to the noise of the carriage rolling away at this moment. +"The spies the king has sent out are driving to the avenue," said +Hardenberg to himself. "They will, no doubt, find every thing as +stated in the report, and yet all will be in vain. He will not make +up his mind to enter a bold course, and while he is hesitating all +of us and Prussia will perish." + +While he was thus absorbed in his sombre reflections, and sadly +gazing out into the dark night, he had not noticed that the king +stood still at the other end of the room, and, with his arms folded +on his breast, was casting searching glances on the chancellor of +state. Now he crossed the room with slow steps and erect head, and +stood in front of Hardenberg. "M. Chancellor," said Frederick +William, in an unusually mild and gentle tone, "you are sad and +discontented, are you not? You are almost despairing, and it seems +to you that the King of Prussia, whom the French have again so +deeply insulted and humiliated, and whom Napoleon is now threatening +even with seizure, should at length revolt against such treatment, +and submit no longer to it. It seems to you that, cut to the quick +by so many slights, insults, and perfidies, he ought to put an end +to his temporizing policy; to rise and exclaim, 'I will die rather +than bear this disgrace any longer! I will die rather than endure +those humiliations.' You are right; were I, like you, so fortunate +as to be nothing but a man who had to defend only his own honor and +existence, I would be allowed to risk every thing in order to win +every thing. But I am the king, and, moreover, the king of an +unfortunate state. I must forget my own wrongs, and remember only +that I have sacred duties to fulfil toward my people, and that, so +far as my own person is concerned, I am not yet allowed to possess +any other courage than that of resignation. I am not allowed to +stake the existence of my monarchy and the welfare of my people to +obtain personal satisfaction. Until I obtain the incontestable +certainty that such a course would be brought to a successful issue, +I must not throw down the gauntlet to France, for failure in this +case would be not only my ruin, but that of my whole people. I shall +wait, therefore, M. Chancellor, for an opportunity; but I believe +that this course requires on my part more constancy and courage than +if I, as you wish me to do, should now unreservedly forsake France +and render the decision of my fate dependent on the fortune of war. +It is my solemn conviction that I ought not to do this, but advance +only step by step, and with the utmost caution and deliberation, +for--Well, what is it?" asked the king, turning to the chamberlain, +who opened the door and entered the cabinet. + +"Pardon me, your majesty, for disturbing you," said the chamberlain, +respectfully. "But the gentleman who has just entered the anteroom +assured me that he was the bearer of important news, which admitted +of no delay." + +"And who is the gentleman?" + +"Sire, it is Major Natzmer, whom your majesty sent recently as a +courier to Old Prussia." + +"Natzmer?" exclaimed the king, joyously, "admit him at once!--Ah, M. +Chancellor, we shall hear now how affairs are looking in my province +of Prussia, and how my troops have received York's removal from his +command." + +"I hope Major Natzmer will bring your majesty good and joyful news," +said Hardenberg, with perfect outward calmness, while his heart was +throbbing with impatience for Major Natzmer, who now entered; and, +while he saluted the king, Hardenberg fixed his eyes, with an +anxious expression, on the countenance of the new-comer. For a +moment their eyes met. There was an inquiry in those of Hardenberg; +Natzmer replied by a slight motion of his eyelids, and an almost +imperceptible smile. + +"In the first place, report to me briefly and succinctly," said the +king. "Reply to all my questions as pointedly and clearly as +possible. Afterward we will expatiate on the most important points. +Well, then, you saw Murat and Macdonald?" + +"I did, your majesty. I met the King of Naples at Elbing, and had +the honor of delivering your majesty's letter to him. He received me +very kindly, and was delighted at being thus assured of your +friendly feelings toward France. Marshal Macdonald, to whose +headquarters I then repaired, was less kind and polite. He was still +exceedingly indignant at the course of General York, which he openly +stigmatized as traitorous; but he was pacified when I informed him +that I was the bearer of an order depriving York of his command, and +was about to convey it to the camp of the Russians and Prussians." + +"He raised no obstacles, then, but allowed you to pass over without +hinderance to the Russian camp?" + +"Yes, your majesty. While Macdonald continued his march, I rode to +the Russian pickets, and was conducted by an officer, detailed by +General Choplitz for this purpose, to the commander-in-chief, Prince +Wittgenstein, who had established his headquarters at Heilsberg." + +"What business had you at Wittgenstein's headquarters?" + +"I wanted, in accordance with your orders, to ask his permission to +pass through to General York; and, besides, I wished to ascertain +where the Emperor Alexander had established his headquarters, that I +might repair to them." + +"Prince Wittgenstein, of course, gave you immediate permission to +pass through his camp, did he not?" + +"No, your majesty; he refused my request." + +"How so? What reasons could he adduce? Did you tell him what you +intended to do at York's headquarters?" + +"Your majesty ordered me to tell every one what I was to do at +General York's headquarters, and what punishment you intended to +inflict upon him. I was therefore authorized and obliged to inform +General Wittgenstein of the object of my mission." + +"And he dared to resist you?" + +"He did, your majesty. He declared that he would not permit me by +any means to go to York, and that so long as he lived no one should +bring to the general a dispatch by which the most generous, +magnanimous, and valiant general of the Prussian army was to be +deprived of his command." + +"Then he really prevented you from going to York?" + +"Yes, your majesty; he told me I was his prisoner, and did not +permit me to leave him." + +"So that, at this moment, General York has not, as I desire, +transferred his command to General Kleist?" + +"Precisely, your majesty. General York is still in command." + +"And he did not receive the order removing him from his position?" + +"I was unable to deliver it, and your majesty required me to give it +to none but the general himself. I was, however, a prisoner at +General Wittgenstein's. He asked me whether I had received other +commissions; and when he heard that I was to deliver a letter to his +majesty the emperor, he immediately had a sleigh brought to the +door, detailed an officer to escort me, and we set out for the +imperial headquarters." + +"Let us speak of that hereafter," said the king, quickly. "Tell me +first whether you have heard further news about my corps. General +York, then, is still in command?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"But even though he has not received the dispatches, he must have +seen the news in the newspapers. For the Berlin journals contained a +copy of the order superseding him, and he must have noticed it." + +"I was told by General Wittgenstein, on returning from the +headquarters of the Emperor of Russia, that York had been informed +by the newspapers of the severe punishment which your majesty +intended to inflict upon him, and that you disavowed him and the +course he had taken. Accordingly, he requested General Kleist to +take command of the troops. But Kleist refused to do so, alleging +that he had received no direct orders from your majesty, and that +the dispatches of your majesty, addressed to him personally, would +determine his course, and induce him to take command of the troops." + +"General Kleist was right in making this declaration," said the +king. "So long as York had not received the dispatches, he remained +commander-in-chief." + +"He is still at the head of the army," exclaimed Natzmer, "for I +bring back the dispatches addressed to Generals York and Kleist. As +I was unable to deliver them, I return them to your majesty." + +The king took the papers which the major presented to him, +contemplating them for a moment. He turned toward Hardenberg, and +saw that heart-felt joy was beaming from his face. "Are you glad +that my orders have not been carried into effect, M. Chancellor of +State?" asked the king. + +"Yes, your majesty," said Hardenberg, in a voice tremulous with +emotion, "I am glad of it, for now it seems to me as if our night is +drawing to a close, and a new morning is about to dawn upon Prussia. +York took the first step for this purpose, and it will be necessary +for your majesty to pursue the same course. For, as York has not +been deprived of his command, the French will no longer believe that +you disavow the action of your brave general, and your people and +all Germany will take heart, for they will see that the era of +disgrace is past, and that a German king dares at length to resist +the French tyrant." + +"Well, we shall see," said the king. "Now, Major Natzmer, tell me +about your mission to his majesty the Emperor Alexander. I told you +that it was a state secret. Did you keep it?" + +"I did, your majesty." + +"Well, tell me the result." + +"Will your majesty permit me to withdraw?" said the chancellor, +approaching the door. "As you intrusted Major Natzmer with a secret +mission--" + +"Oh, no, your excellency, pray remain; I wish you to hear the +message I sent to the emperor, and what he replied to it.--Answer my +questions now, major. Did you carry out the commission I gave you? +Did you verbally lay before the emperor the message which I dared +not confide to pen and paper? Did you tell the emperor that I would +offer him a defensive and offensive alliance if Alexander would +engage to carry on the war against Napoleon to the best of his +power, and cross the Vistula and the Oder without delay? Did you +make this offer to Alexander in my name?" + +"I did, your majesty." + +The king glanced quickly at Hardenberg, and the surprised face of +his chancellor of state made him smile. + +"And what did the emperor reply?" asked Frederick William, turning +again to the major. + +"The emperor was overjoyed at the offer, and declared his readiness +to grant all which you would stipulate now and hereafter. The +Emperor Alexander imposed only a single condition." + +"What was it?" + +"He demanded that the fortress of Graudenz should be garrisoned by +Russian troops, and insisted most obstinately on this point." + +"Did you not tell him that I had made up my mind in regard to this +point, and would renounce the proposed alliance if Graudenz, the +most remote fortress of my kingdom, should be garrisoned by other +than Prussian troops?" + +"I stated this to the emperor." + +"And then?" + +"The emperor resolved to yield even this point, and to leave +Graudenz to the Prussian troops." + +A sunbeam seemed to light up the grave, calm face of the king, and +the cloud that generally darkened his brow disappeared. "M. +Chancellor," he said, turning to Hardenberg with a mild and kind +smile, "are you now reconciled with your Fabius Cunctator? Will you +forgive me for having hesitated until Natzmer would bring me +Alexander's reply?" + +"Oh, sire," exclaimed Hardenberg, "my soul bows in joyous +admiration, and your greatness and mildness make me blush." + +At this moment the door opened, and Kockeritz and Kalkreuth entered +the cabinet. + +"Ah," exclaimed the king, meeting them, "my two generals whom I sent +out on a reconnoissance! Well, gentlemen, speak! Did you find my +carriage?" + +"We did, your majesty," said Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, sighing. "The +report was but too true. A vile plot had been formed; we have the +proofs, for we really found the carriage of your majesty in the +avenue leading to Sans-Souci; the horses had been partially +unhitched--" + +"And my poor coachman?" asked the king. "Kockeritz, tell me what has +become of my faithful Thomas?" + +"We found him exactly in the condition stated in the spy's report," +said General Kockeritz, hastily. "He lay in the interior of the +carriage; his hands and feet firmly tied; his head covered with a +cape, which had been closely fastened round his neck to prevent him +from crying; it had, moreover, almost choked him when we arrived." + +"But he has recovered from his fright?" asked the king, in a tone of +sympathy. + +"Yes, your majesty," said Kockeritz, "and he would not permit Timm +to accompany him to Sans-Souci. He felt strong enough to return to +Potsdam, and arrived here at the same time as we did." + +"I suppose you have ordered him to say nothing about the whole +affair?" + +"Yes, your majesty, and he swore he would not mention it." + +"And now, gentlemen, give me your opinion. Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, +you have satisfied yourself now that the French really intended to +seize and abduct me to-night?" + +"I have unfortunately satisfied myself that they made such an +attempt," said the field-marshal. + +"And you, Kockeritz, believe so, too?" + +"I do, your majesty; I am fully convinced that such an outrage was +in contemplation." + +"And you, M. Chancellor of State?" + +"I was confident of the existence of this plot before coming hither, +and every thing has confirmed it; yes, such an outrage was surely +intended. The French meant to seize your sacred person." + +"Will your majesty permit me also to reply to this question?" said +Major Natzmer. + +"What do you mean?" asked the king, surprised. "Have you not just +arrived? How can you pass an opinion on what occurred before your +arrival?" + +"Your majesty, it is true I have just now come; but still I knew +what was to occur here, and what an infamous transaction was +planned," said Major Natzmer. "The Emperor Alexander gave me this +information; he had just received from a perfectly reliable source +the news that Marshal Augereau had been instructed to seize the +person of your majesty. The emperor was greatly alarmed, and told me +he would be unable to find any rest until he had heard that you were +safe, and had left Berlin and Potsdam. [Footnote: Droysen's "Life of +York," vol. ii., p. 120.] I myself set out at once in the greatest +consternation, and as I left the emperor on the 13th of January, I +would have arrived here much earlier if I had not heard at Landshut +that Murat had issued an order to all the authorities to have me +arrested and conveyed to the French headquarters, [Footnote: Ibid.] +This compelled me to take a roundabout course, and now I rejoice the +more heartily as I have arrived at the very time to caution your +majesty, in the name of the Emperor Alexander, against the insidious +designs of the French." + +The king made no reply. He paced the room slowly and with his head +bent down; the four gentlemen stood in silence on both sides of the +cabinet. Suddenly standing in the middle of the room, with his +countenance full of determination, he said: "Gentlemen, I will tell +you a state secret. Will you pledge me your word of honor, all four +of you, that you will keep it?" + +"We will!" they all shouted at the same moment. + +"Listen to me, then," added the king. "I shall leave Potsdam and +repair to Breslau, whither the seat of government will be +temporarily transferred. All the necessary preparations must be made +from this hour with the utmost dispatch and prudence. To-morrow +night I shall set out with the crown prince; the rest of the royal +family will follow me on the next day. Troops will be stationed +along the route; the hussars forming my escort, and the lifeguards +following to Breslau. It is my duty to place myself beyond the reach +of insidious attacks, and to render it impossible for the French to +seize me. I will, therefore, go to Breslau!" While uttering these +words, the king glanced successively at the faces of the four +gentlemen. He saw that Field-Marshal Kalkreuth looked gloomy and +abstracted, and opposite him the chancellor of state, with burning +cheeks and radiant eyes. + +"Well, Hardenberg," said the king, mildly, "have you nothing to say +to me?" + +"I am unable to say any thing," whispered Hardenberg, in a tremulous +voice, "but I do what I have not done for many years past--I weep +tears of joy! Our night is at an end; a new morning is dawning upon +Prussia, and the sun of a new era will shed his beams upon all of +us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE MANIFESTO. + + +The people were moving in dense crowds through Berlin. The long and +splendid street "Unter den Linden" was filled with a vast multitude, +whoso greeting cheers resembled the noise of the ocean's billows. + +"The king has safely arrived at Breslau!" cried one of the men to +another, and immediately the enthusiastic cry of "Long live the +king!" burst from all those who heard it, and, like a jubilant echo, +the people along the whole street repeated, "Long live the king!" + +"The king has reappointed General Scharnhorst quartermaster-general, +and General Blucher is with him at Breslau!" exclaimed a stentorian +voice. "Long live Scharnhorst! Long live Blucher!" shouted the +crowd. "Long live our heroes!" "Down with the French!" and thousands +answered in tones of intense hatred, "Down with the French!" + +"They so long trampled us under foot!" cried another citizen. "Now, +let us pay them for it! Come, let us go to the French ambassador and +give him a few groans! We will no longer be silent!" + +"Yes, we are determined to speak!" yelled the multitude, who hurried +toward the gate in front of which the residence of the ambassador +was situated. But suddenly they were stopped by a procession +approaching from the Brandenburg gate. It was headed by three men-- +one of short and feeble frame, his face pale and emaciated, but lit +up by large flashing blue eyes; the second was tall and broad- +shouldered, his eye looking frank and bold, and his hair falling on +his shoulders like a lion's mane; the third was not tall, but of a +firmly-knit frame, and, with his proud head and intrepid air, looked +like the embodiment of chivalry. Behind them was a line of more than +two hundred youths, in light, simple attire, their cheeks glowing +with excitement or exercise, and their eyes flashing with +enthusiasm. + +"Hurrah!" shouted the people. "Here are the Turners! Here is Father +Jahn with his Turners! Long live Jahn!" + +The Turners, at a beck from "Father Jahn," had taken position across +the street, and thus, like a chain, prevented the citizens from +passing on. The three leaders stood in front, and gazed gravely upon +the approaching multitude. + +"Clear the track!" cried the crowd. "We have business to attend to +on the square in front of the gate!" + +"Believe me, it is as I said," whispered the smallest of the three +men to his neighbor. "It is a riot directed against the French +ambassador!" + +"Where are you going?" shouted the man with the lion's mane, pushing +back those at the head of the crowd with his herculean arms. + +"We are going to the French ambassador, to sing him a new German +song, and accompany it with stones for his windows." + +"And why do you wish to do so?" asked the tall man. "What do you +care for the Frenchman on this beautiful and joyous day? Men like +you have something else to do than to break the windows of the +French ambassador. There will be other battles before long. I hope +you have heard or read what great events have occurred; I hope you +know the message which the king has sent to us from Breslau?" + +"No, we know nothing about them!" replied a few voices. "Yes, we +do," said others. "But we would like to hear the news again," cried +another. "Pray, repeat it to us, Father Jahn!" + +"I am not very well able to do so; our gymnastic performances to-day +have exhausted me," replied Jahn. "I went out of the gate with my +pupils at an early hour in the morning. These two gentlemen came to +us and told us the news, and that is the reason why we have come +back. My friend will tell you what he told me, and he knows better +how to speak than I do, for he has an eloquent tongue. This is well +known to all of you, for who among you is not acquainted with +Frederick Schleiermacher, the great preacher?" + +"Schleiermacher! Long live Schleiermacher! Let Schleiermacher repeat +to us what the king said! Let him tell us what is on the large +placards on the street corners. Hearing it read, we understand it +better than on reading it ourselves." + +And many arms were stretched out toward the feeble little man who +stood by the side of Jahn, lifting him up and placing him gently on +the balcony fixed above the door of a neighboring house. + +"That is a good pulpit," shouted the people; "Schleiermacher, +address us from it!" + +The little man with bright eyes and a genial countenance gazed for a +moment in silence upon his auditors, who thronged around him in +suspense and curiosity. He then raised his arms, commanding silence. +The laughter, shouts, and yells, died away; all eyes were fixed upon +Schleiermacher, and the noise of the multitude seemed arrested as by +a magician's wand, as the voice of the preacher resounded through +the street clear and distinct. "You want me to read what has been +addressed to us all," he said, "the manifesto which Minister von +Hardenberg has issued to the people in the king's name. Listen, +then!" He took a large folded paper from his breast-pocket, and, +opening it, read as follows: "'The dangerous position in which the +state has been placed by recent events requires a rapid augmentation +of the troops now in arms, while our finances admit of no lavish +expenditures. In consideration of the patriotism and faithful +attachment to the king which have always animated the people of +Prussia, and manifested themselves most strikingly in times of +danger, there is but an opportunity required to give a definite +direction to these sentiments, and to the desire for activity which +distinguishes so many young men, that they may swell by their +accession to the army the ranks of the older defenders of the +country, whom they would emulate in nobly fulfilling the first of +all duties incumbent upon us. For this reason his majesty has +designed to order the organization of companies of volunteers, to be +embodied with the regiments of infantry and cavalry already in the +service, that an opportunity to enter the army in a manner suitable +to their education, and their position in life, may be given to all +those classes who, under the existing conscription laws, are exempt +from service, and are rich enough to pay for their own outfit and +horse, and that a prospect of distinguishing themselves may be held +out to men who, owing to their education and intellect, might +immediately do good service, and soon be appointed line and field +officers.' [Footnote: Hardenberg issued this manifesto at Breslau, +on the 3d of February; it was published at Berlin on the 5th.] It is +unnecessary for me to read the conclusion of the proclamation," said +Schleiermacher. "You know enough, for you know now that the king +calls his people; that he calls upon all the youths and men of his +kingdom to rally round him, and that he requests, and does not order +them to do so. The country is in danger; and not the king's order, +but your own voluntary action, is to make you soldiers of the +fatherland and put arms into your hands. Remember that your free +will is your most precious and sacred possession, and that he is +twice a hero whom it actuates, and is not forced into duty. No +greater honor can be conferred on you than that your country calls +you, trusts in your strong arm, and hopes in your free will to save +it from destruction. Take that into consideration, and decide then +whether you will stay at home or obey the call." + +The two men who had been by his side at the head of the procession, +Jahn, the brave Turner, and the chivalrous La Motte Fouque, now +ascended the balcony. + +"I do not care to stay at home when my country calls me to her aid!" +exclaimed M. de la Motte Fouque, in a loud, sonorous voice. "I +joyfully offer my services as a soldier. I have a wife and children, +but my country is to me more precious than they are, and I enroll +here my name as the first volunteer who responds to the call of his +king and country." + +"And I enroll my name as the second volunteer!" exclaimed Jahn, the +Turners' father. "I swear here to my country that I will joyously +fight for it. Henceforth, my blood and life belong to the +fatherland.--And where are you, my boys, my Turners? Shall I march +out all alone, or will you accompany me?" + +"We will go with you!" cried a hundred youthful voices, and their +enthusiastic shouts rent the sky. "We will march with you! We will +fight for the fatherland!" And the crowd, carried away by what they +saw and heard--the men with tearful eyes, the youths with flashing +glances--all shouted: "We will march with you! We will fight for the +fatherland!" Neighbor gave his hand to neighbor, and friend embraced +friend; those who had never before seen each other understood the +common feeling, and those who had never exchanged a word conversed +now like old acquaintances. One grand impulse seemed to move the +multitude--one patriotic feeling beamed from all eyes--one vow +burned in all hearts: to be faithful soldiers to their country. It +was no mere transitory enthusiasm, soon to disappear, and to be +succeeded by a corresponding reaction--it was no momentary ardor +kindled by the manifesto issued at Breslau, but the sacred fire of +patriotism burning in the heart of the whole people of Prussia, and +increased from day to day. Every one felt himself a soldier, and +would have considered it a disgrace to remain at home while others +marched to the war of liberation. + +The pupils of the lyceums closed their books, and the teachers did +not prevent them; they only appeared in the school-rooms, to say to +the half-grown youths: "Farewell! The country has called us! Let us +march to the field! Those of you who have reached their seventeenth +year, and are willing to fight, follow us!" And, with shouts of +exultation, the older youths rallied round their teachers, while the +younger ones retired with tearful eyes, as if ashamed of their age. +What occurred in the lyceum was repeated in the offices, the courts, +the counting-houses of the bankers and merchants. No one would stay +at home, or refuse the country his arm and his strength. All selfish +calculations, all distinctions of rank had ceased. Princes and +counts were seen in the ranks of the volunteers by the side of the +humblest youths; and poor men, who had sold every thing they had to +buy arms and a uniform, did not think of their future, or what was +to become of them after their return from the war. The fatherland +had called them, and they voluntarily took up arms in its defence. +Death had lost its terrors, life had lost its value. With exulting +hearts, mothers saw their sons preparing for the struggle. The +affianced bride uncomplainingly clasped her departing lover for the +last time in her arms; without fear for the fate of his wife and +children, the husband and father embraced his dear ones, and his +wife did not attempt to dissuade him. She would have despised him if +he desired to remain, and loved his wife and his children more +devotedly than his country, calling to him in the hour of her peril. + +Four days had not yet elapsed since the publication of the manifesto +of the king, when there stood on the Gendarmes market at Berlin one +hundred and fifty young volunteers, who, within a few days, had +fully armed and equipped themselves, either from their own means, or +with the assistance of friends, and who were now about to march to +Potsdam in order to set out with a company of ninety volunteers, +which had been recruited in that city for the king's headquarters at +Breslau. [Footnote: Nine thousand young men volunteered at Berlin in +the first three days after the manifesto was issued, and active +preparations were made to uniform and equip them at the earliest +moment.] All Berlin wished to participate in the farewell of this +first company of volunteers which were sent to its king. Every one +desired once more to shake hands with the courageous defenders of +the country--to shout a love-greeting, a last wish to them, and +bless the soldiers of the fatherland. The windows of the houses on +the Gendarmes market were therefore filled with ladies and children, +who greeted the departing volunteers with their handkerchiefs, with +wreaths and flowers; the church bells were ringing in their honor, +and the fathers of the city, the burgomasters, and other members of +the municipality, adorned with their golden chains, were assembled +on the market-place to conduct the young soldiers, in the name of +the city, to the gate, and behind them a dense multitude filled the +square. Those remaining looked gloomy, and envied their brethren, +because they were to take the field at so early a day; wishing thorn +joy, they shouted: "Prepare quarters for us; we shall soon follow +you!" + +The church bells were ringing, and amid their solemn peals and the +deafening cheers of the many thousands who nodded to them in the +streets, and from the windows of the houses, the young soldiers left +the Gendarmes market, escorted by the members of the municipality. +They did not, however, march directly to the Potsdam gate. They +would not leave Berlin without receiving the blessing of the Church, +and this was to be given by the man who read to them the manifesto +four days before, and who had exhorted them to comply with the call +of their country. A committee, appointed by the young volunteers, +had therefore waited on Schleiermacher, and requested him to give +the blessing of the Church to their grave undertaking, and he gladly +granted their request. The procession marched to Trinity church. +There were waiting their mothers, sisters, and brides, greeting them +with loving glances, and beckoning them to occupy the reserved +places, embracing and praying hand in hand with them for the last +time. The organ poured forth its solemn concords, and from all lips +burst forth the anthem of "In allen meinen Thaten lass ich den +Hochsten rathen." [Footnote: "In all my deeds. I let the Highest +counsel."] The last notes of the music had not yet died away, when +the noble face of Schleiermacher appeared in the pulpit. His eyes +were beaming as never before; his voice was never so fervent and +powerful, nor had he ever spoken with such irresistible eloquence, +energy, and courage, as on that day. A profound silence reigned in +the vast building; every one listened eagerly to the inspiring words +of the prophet of a new and better era, and inwardly resolved to +remember the stirring exhortations which Schleiermacher now, in +concluding his sermon, addressed to the young men, that they may +remain pure and true in the service of so righteous a cause. The +thoughts of the audience were with God; to Him their hearts had all +turned. But now Schleiermacher's voice grew softer; his eyes, which +had hitherto been raised toward heaven, looked upon the wives and +mothers, who sat in long lines before him. "Rejoice in the Lord, ye +mothers," he said, "blessed are you in having given birth to such +sons! blessed your breasts that nourished such children! God gave +them to you, and you give them to the fatherland! Rejoice in the +Lord, for He will achieve great things through them! Rejoice, and do +not weep!" But now they could restrain no longer their tears and +sobs. The words addressed to them had touched their feelings. They +felt their hearts' wounds, and wept aloud. An electric shock, as it +were, pervaded the whole assembly; not an eye remained dry, not a +heart was unmoved; even Schleiermacher's voice was tremulous when he +uttered his "Amen!" + +They departed from the church to the Potsdam gate, and along the +road leading to Potsdam, continuing their march on the following +day, after being joined by the company which La Motte Fouque had +recruited in that city. The grief of their separation from their +dear ones was forgotten as they hastened toward the future--a future +of battles and victories. + +"Now, no more tears, no more sighs! Let us sing a merry song!" said +the young volunteers. + +"Yes. Where is a poet who can sing us a song such as we need now?" + +"Fouque is here; let him sing! Yes, Fouque is among us! We have +elected him captain! He is a chivalrous soldier, and gained his +spurs in 1794, during the war against the French. He deserves to be +our captain!" + +"But he deserves, too, to be our bard, for by his 'Undine' he has +also won his laurels as a poet." + +"Let us have a song, brave La Motte Fouque!" shouted all the +volunteers. "There is Father Jahn, who will persuade him. Ask Fouque +to sing us a war-song!" + +Jahn galloped up to the poet, who was riding in thoughtful silence +at the head of his company; it is true, he had heard the +solicitations of the young men, but continued his way, smiling and +muttering to himself. "Fouque," shouted Jahn, in his stentorian +voice; "do you not hear the requests of our bold youths? Give some +expression to the enthusiasm burning in their hearts. Let us have a +song, then, my poet!" + +"Well," replied Fouque, quickly raising his head, and smiling on his +friend; "I have just composed a poem. Listen to me, my friends!" He +turned his horse, and in a loud voice commanded the volunteers to +halt. + +"You wish me to sing. I will give you a song just as it has sprung +up in my heart during the march, and I have also composed the air. +When I have finished repeat it with me!" And he began to sing in a +powerful voice: + +"Frisch auf zum frohlichen Jagen, + Es ist schon an der Zeit! + Es fangt schon an zu tagen, + Der Kampf ist nicht mehr weit!" + +"Auf lasst die Faulen liegen, + Gonnt ihnen ihre Ruh; + Wir rucken mit Vergnugen + Dem lieben Konig zu." + +"Der Konig hat gesproehen: + Wo sind meine Jager nun? + Da sind wir aufgebrochen, + Ein wackeres Werk zu thun." + +"Wir woll'n ein Heil erbauen + Fur all das deutsche Land, + Im frohen Gottvertrauen + Mit rustig starker Hand." + +"Schlaft ruhig nun, Ihr Lieben! + Am vaterlichen Heerd, + Derweil mit Feindeshieben + Wir ringen Keck bewehrt." + +"O Wonne die zu schlutzen, + Die uns das Liebste sind! + Hei! Lasst Kanonen hlitzen. + Ein frommer muth gewinnt!" + +"Die mehrsten zieh'n einst wieder + Zuruck in Siegerreih'n; + Dann toen Jubellieder + Dess' wird'ne Freude sein!" + +"Wie gluh'n davon die Herzen + So froh und stark und weich. + Wer fallt, der kann's verschmerzen, + Der hat das Himmelreich!" + +[Footnote: La Motte Fouque composed this poem on the march from +Potsdam to Breslau, whither he conducted the first companies of +volunteers. It was the first song of liberty published in 1813: + +Mount! mount! for sacred freedom fight! + The battle soon must be. + The night is past, and red the light + Streams o'er the dewy lea. + +Up! let the coward idlers sleep! + Who envies them their rest? + We march with joyful hearts to keep + Our honored king's request. + +To us he said: "My brave ones all!-- + My chasseurs! where are they?" + Responsive to his patriot call + We hastened to obey. + +We vowed to strike with mighty hand + As it becomes the free-- + A safeguard for our native land + With Heaven's grace to be. + +Sleep calmly, wives and children dear + To God your sorrows tell. + The hour, alas! of blood is near, + But all your fears dispel. + +Approved we hasten to the field; + What though the strife begins! + 'Tis joy our loved ones thus to shield, + For pious courage wins. + +Returning, all may not be found! + But some, in glory's grave, + Shall never hear the songs resound + Of those they died to save. + +Come, glowing heart! despise the pain + Of death; for, evermore,. + Shall he who falls, a kingdom gain + On heaven's eternal shore!] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +LEONORA PROHASKA. + + +Old Sergeant Prohaska sat sad and musing in his old easy-chair near +the stove; before him lay a copy of the Vossische Zeitung, which he +had just perused. He laid it aside with a sigh; supporting his head +on the leathern cushion, he puffed clouds of smoke from his short +clay pipe. Close to him, at the small table standing in the niche of +the only window which admitted light into the small, dark room, sat +a young girl, busily engaged in drawing threads from a large piece +of linen, and putting them carefully on the pile of lint on the +table. She was scarcely eighteen years old, but her noble, pale +countenance wore an expression of boldness and energy; her forehead +was high, and vigorous thoughts seemed to dwell there. Large black +eyes were flashing under her finely-arched eyebrows, which almost +touched each other above her beautifully-chiselled, slightly-curved +nose. Round her crimson lips was an expression of melancholy, and +her cheeks seemed to have been bleached by grief rather than +sickness. She was tall and well formed, but her whole appearance was +more remarkable for the stern and heroic character it indicated than +for grace and loveliness. While she was thus at work, and engaged in +preparing lint, troubled thoughts seemed to pass from time to time +across her face, and she raised her eyes to heaven with an angry and +reproachful expression. She impulsively cast aside the linen, and +jumped up. "No, father," she exclaimed, drawing a deep breath, "I +cannot bear it any longer!" + +"What is it that you cannot bear any longer, Leonora?" exclaimed her +father, surprised. + +"To sit here and prepare lint while the whole world is astir, while +every heart is swelling with patriotism and warlike enthusiasm! And +I cannot do any thing, I cannot join in the universal exultation--I +can do nothing but prepare lint! Father, it is heart-rending, and I +cannot bear it!" + +"Must not I bear it?" asked her father in a tremulous voice. "Must +not I sit still behind the stove, while all my old comrades are +taking up arms and marching into the field? My right leg was buried +at Jena, and I must limp about now as a miserable cripple; I cannot +even take revenge for the disgrace of Jena; I cannot even pay the +French for my leg by cutting off the heads of some of their accursed +soldiers. I am a cripple, while others are hastening into the field! +When _I_ must bear that, a girl like you ought assuredly not to +complain." + +"Father," said Leonora, with flashing eyes, "do not despise me +because I am a girl! Did you not tell me of the heroic women of +Spain and the Tyrol, and of their glorious deeds? Did you not tell +me that, by their intrepid patriotism, they had set a sublime +example to the men. and that by their influence their country was to +be saved? Was not the heroine of Saragossa a woman? Did not women +and girls fight like heroes in the gorges of the Tyrol?" + +"Yes, that is true," exclaimed her father, smiling, "but then they +were Spanish and Tyrolese girls. They have fire in their veins, and +love their country with an undying patriotism." + +"Ah, one need not be born in the South to have warm blood," +exclaimed Leonora, ardently, "It is not the sun that gives love of +country, and patriotic hearts may throb even under the snow." "Have +you such a heart, Leonora?" asked her father, casting on her a long +and searching look. + +"Father," she said, pressing her hands on her bosom, "there is +something burning here like fire; and at times when I hear how all +are rallying round the flag--and how the warlike enthusiasm is +pervading the whole country, I feel as if the blood would burst from +my heart and head. It is true I am no Spanish girl, but I am a +Prussian girl!" + +"Ah, I would you were a Prussian boy!" sighed her father, shaking +his head. "If you were, I believe you would look well in the ranks +of the volunteers; they would not likely reject the young soldier of +eighteen." + +"I am quite tall and strong, although I am but a girl," exclaimed +Leonora, with flashing eyes; "I have seen among the soldiers who +started yesterday many volunteers who were a great deal shorter and +slighter than I am." + +"But, at all events, they had shorter hair and a stronger voice than +you have," laughed her father. + +"Oh, I can cut off my hair," she said, quickly; "and as for my +voice, Kalbaum, the tailor, who accompanied the volunteers, has a +voice no stronger than mine, and yet he was accepted. And then--" + +"Hush!" interposed her father quickly. "I hear your mother coming. +Do not speak of such things when she is present. It would alarm her. +Bold thoughts must be locked up in our hearts, for, if we speak of +them, it looks like braggadocio; we are only allowed to speak of +bold deeds. Do not forget that, my daughter, and give me a kiss!" +Leonora hastened to her father, and encircling him with her arms, +pressed a glowing kiss on the lips of the old invalid. + +"Father," she whispered, "I believe you understand me, and can read +my thoughts!" + +"God alone is able to read our thoughts," said her father, solemnly, +"and it is only from Him that we must not conceal any thing. But +what is that? Is not your mother weeping outside?" And old Prohaska +jumped up and limped, as quickly as his wooden leg permitted, toward +the door. + +At this moment the door was noisily opened, and a woman appeared on +the threshold. Behind her was a tall, slender, and pale boy, +scarcely fourteen years of age. Both entered the room with tearful +eyes and loud lamentations. + +"Wife, what is the matter--what has happened?" exclaimed Old +Prohaska, anxiously. + +"Why do you weep, my brother?" asked Leonora, hastening to the boy, +and clasping him in her arms. He laid his head on her breast and +wept aloud. + +"What has happened?" wailed his mother. "All our hopes are blasted; +we have been rejected!" + +"Rejected? Where? And by whom?" asked the invalid, in amazement. + +"By the military commission!" cried his wife, drying her tears with +her long apron. + +"What did you want of the military commission? Did you desire to +become a vivandiere, old woman?" + +"No, but Charles wanted to enlist, father! Yes, you must know all +now. We thought we would prepare a joyous surprise for you, but the +good Lord and the military commission would not let us do so. Look, +old man! I perceived very well how painful it was to you, and how it +was gnawing at your heart, that your wooden leg compels you to +remain here at Potsdam, and prevents your marching out with the +soldiers who are hurrying to the headquarters of their king at +Breslau." + +"Yes, it is true, it is very sad! My general, old Blucher, under +whom I fought in 1806, is also at Breslau, and what will he say when +he looks for his old hussars of 1806, and does not find Prohaska! He +will say, 'Prohaska has become a coward--a lazy old good-for- +nothing.'" + +"No, father, he will not say so," exclaimed Leonora, ardently; "if +he knows you, he cannot say so.--But speak, mother, tell us what +makes you weep, and what has so afflicted my dear brother?" + +"Both of us noticed father's secret grief, and comprehended how +painful it was for him to be unable to participate in the war." said +her mother. "I had not mentioned it to any one, and to God alone I +had complained how grievous it is that I have no full-grown son, +who, instead of his father, might serve his king at the present +time. Last night, when all of you were asleep, Charles came to my +bedside. 'Mother,' he said to me, 'mother, I must tell you +something! I will and must enlist! It would be an eternal disgrace +for me to stay at home, particularly as father is disabled, and +cannot fight any more. Mother, the honor of the family is at stake; +I must enlist or die!'" + +"Ah, you are a true brother of mine," exclaimed Leonora, with a +radiant face, drawing the boy closer to her heart. + +"And what did you reply to Charles, mother?" asked the invalid. + +"'You are my only son, and my heart would break if I should lose +you. But you are right; it would be a disgrace for our whole family +if it did not furnish a single soldier to the king and the +fatherland, and if no substitute should enlist in your father's +place, and revenge him on the French for crippling hiin at Jena. I +will go with you to the military commission to-morrow, and we will +pray the gentlemen to accept you, although you are still under age. +We will pray them until they overlook your youth and enroll your +name. But say nothing about it to father until we have been +successful; then, tell him all.'" + +"And you really went with him to the commission?" asked the old man, +hastily. + +His wife responded by nodding and sighing, and burst again into +tears. + +"Yes, father," exclaimed the boy, raising his head from Leonora's +shoulder, and drying his eyes with an angry gesture, "we went to the +military commission. We begged, implored, and wept! It was all in +vain! They said they were not allowed to accept boys of fourteen; I +was too young, and looked too feeble. In our despair we went to +Eylert, the preacher, and begged him to intercede for me. He is +always kind to me, and often praises me for my industry in preparing +for confirmation. I revealed my whole heart to him; I told him I +must consider myself disgraced, if now, that every one who is not a +coward is taking the sword, I am compelled to go to school. I told +him I should not dare to raise my eyes, and should think all the +inhabitants would point with their fingers at me; the children in +the streets would deride me; and the old men would contemptuously +avert their heads when I passed them." + +"Ah, my beloved brother," exclaimed Leonora, enthusiastically, +"hitherto I have loved you as a child, but henceforth I shall love +as a hero!" + +"But it was all in vain," cried Charles, sobbing aloud in his grief +and anger. "Even M. Eylert could not give us any comfort. He said it +was impossible for the commission to accept me, for, though they +overlooked my youth and my somewhat feeble health, they could not +enroll me because I had not yet been confirmed. But as we begged so +very hard, and shed so many tears, M. Eylert had at last pity on me, +and went with us once more to the military commission. But it was of +no avail. I am under age and have no certificate of confirmation, +and M. Eylert's intercession was fruitless. [Footnote: Eylert, +"Frederick William III.," vol. ii., p. 160.] They rejected me! +Father, what am I to do now? I am doomed to remain here at Potsdam, +with my tall figure, which will charge me with cowardice in the eyes +of every one, while my schoolmates, who are much shorter than I am, +are allowed to enlist and fight for their country. Oh, mother, why +am I not your eldest child'? Then I should he preserved from the +disgrace of running about as a coward, or of being obliged to have +my certificate of birth constantly in my pocket!" + +"My brother," said Leonora, laying her strong white hand on her +brother's light hair, "if I could give you the four years by which I +am older than you, I would do so, though it should cost me my life, +for I comprehend your grief. But I am innocent of your affliction, +and I pray you, therefore, not to be angry with me. It was God's +will that I should be older, and have your place. You must take into +consideration that the war may last a long time; six months hence +you will be confirmed, and then it will be time for you to enlist in +the king's army, and fight for liberty. Besides, my dear brother, it +is not even settled yet whether all these warlike preparations are +really intended for France. To be sure, every one is in hope that +such is the case, but as yet no one is sure of it, for the king has +not declared his intentions, and he is still at peace with France." + +"No, the king has declared his intentions," cried Charles, +impetuously. "And that is exactly what causes my distress and my +despair. It is certain now that there will be war with France. You +do not know, then, what has occurred?" + +"No," exclaimed father and daughter at the same time, "we do not--we +have not yet seen any one. Tell us the news, Charles." + +"Well, we heard already at the office of the military commission +that a courier had just arrived from Breslau, and brought a +proclamation, addressed by the king to his people; they said it had +immediately been sent to the printing-office, and was to be posted +on all the street corners. The courier, besides, brought the news +that the Emperor of Russia had arrived at Breslau, and that the +first visit was to Baron von Stein, who secretly lived at Breslau." + +"Hurrah!" shouted old Prohaska. "Prussia is safe now, for Baron von +Stein is back again, and he will know how to expel Napoleon and his +French from the country. Where Minister von Stein is he tolerates no +French, and that is the reason why Bonaparte hates him, and has +always been afraid of him. My boy, this is glorious news! Stein is +back again; now we shall be all right! Have you any other news?" + +"Yes, there is a great deal yet, father, but the tears burst from my +eyes when I think of it, because I am unable to participate in the +struggle." + +"Oh, what is it?" begged Leonora. "What else has happened at +Breslau?" + +"Well," said Charles, in a tremulous and melancholy voice, "the +courier reports that many hundreds of volunteers are arriving every +day, not only from all parts of Prussia, but the whole of Germany, +and that the city is rejoicing as though a festival were to be +celebrated, and not as though we were on the eve of a terrible war. +Above all, there is Major von Lutzow, round whose standard hosts of +young men are rallying, enlisting a corps of volunteer riflemen, to +whom he has given the name of 'The Legion of Vengeance.' They are to +wear a black uniform as sign of the sorrow and disgrace that have +weighed down the fatherland since 1806, and which they intend to +avenge before discarding it." + +"Oh, that is a grand idea," exclaimed Leonora, with flashing eyes. +"To march out in mourning--to rush to the battlefield like angels of +death and shout, 'We are the legion of avengers, sent by Prussia to +atone for her disgrace! Our uniform is black, but we intend to dye +it red in the blood of the French!' And then to fight exultantly in +the thickest of the fray for the fatherland, and for our queen, +whose heart was broken by the national dishonor and wretchedness! +Oh, it must be blissful, indeed, to march with that legion to avenge +the tears of Queen Louisa, and--" + +"But Leonora!" cried her mother, staring in amazement at the young +girl who stood before her with glowing cheeks, panting bosom, and +uplifted right arm, as if she had just drawn the sword--"but, +Leonora! what is the matter with you? What does your impulsiveness +mean? Has Charles infected you with his enthusiasm? Do you want to +increase the excitement and despair of the poor boy? He cannot join +the 'Legion of Venegance;' he cannot be one of Lutzow's riflemen!" + +"No," said Leonora, vehemently and almost triumphantly, "HE cannot +be one of Lutzow's riflemen!" + +"Leonora!" cried her father, in a warning tone, "Leonora, what are +you saying?" + +She started and dropped her arm. "It is true," she muttered to +herself, "we should not betray our thoughts; God alone must know +them." + +Her father limped to her, and, laying his hands on her shoulder, +looked into her excited and glowing face. "Come, my daughter," he +said, "let us go out into the street and read what the king says to +his people. For I believe the king's proclamation must have been +printed by this time. Come, Leonora!" + +"No, it is unnecessary for you to go into the street for that +purpose, father," said Charles, "we have brought a copy of the +proclamation; the man who was to post them gave us one for you, +saying it would no doubt gladden your heart. Where did you leave it, +mother?" + +"I put it into my pocket. Here it is!" said the mother, taking a +large printed sheet from the pocket hanging under her apron. "There, +father, read it." + +The old man took the paper and handed it to Leonora. + +"Read it to us, my child," he said, tenderly. "I like best to hear +from your lips what the king says to his people." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +JOAN OF ORLEANS. + + +Leonora took the paper and read as follows, with crimson cheeks, and +her heart aglow with enthusiasm: + +"To my People!--I need not state the causes of the impending war +either to my faithful people or to the Germans in general. +Unprejudiced Europe is fully aware of them. We succumbed to the +superior strength of France. The peace which wrested from me one- +half of my subjects, did not confer any blessings upon us, but +inflicted deeper wounds upon us than war itself. The enemy was bent +on exhausting the resources of the country; the principal fortresses +remained in his hands; agriculture was paralyzed, and so were the +manufactures of our cities, which had formerly reached so proud an +eminence; trade was everywhere obstructed, and the sources of +prosperity were thus almost entirely ruined. The country was rapidly +impoverished. By the most conscientious fulfilment of the +engagements I had taken upon myself, I hoped to mitigate the onerous +burdens imposed upon my people, and to convince the French emperor +at length that it was to his own advantage to leave Prussia in the +enjoyment of her independence; but my best intentions were foiled by +arrogance and perfidy; and we saw only too plainly that Napoleon's +treaties, even more than his wars, would slowly and surely ruin us. +The moment has come when all deceptions have ceased. +Brandenburgians, Prussians, Silesians, Pomeranians, Lithuanians! you +know what you have suffered for seven years past; you know what your +fate would be if we should not succeed in the struggle about to +begin. Remember the history of the past; remember the noble elector; +the great and victorious Frederick; remember what our ancestors +conquered with their blood--freedom of conscience, honor, +independence, commerce, industry, and science; remember the great +examples of our powerful allies, especially the Spaniards and the +Portuguese. Even smaller nations, for the same blessings, entered +into a desperate struggle with more powerful foes, and achieved a +glorious victory. Remember the heroic Swiss and Dutch. Great +sacrifices will be required of all classes, for our undertaking is a +great one, and the numbers and resources of our enemies are not to +be underrated. You will prefer to make these sacrifices for the +fatherland and your legitimate king rather than for a foreign ruler, +who, as is proved by many examples, would devote your sons and your +last resources to objects entirely foreign to you. Confidence in +God, courage, perseverance, and the assistance of our allies, will +crown our honest exertions with victory. But whatever sacrifices may +be required, they are not equivalent to the sacred objects for which +we make them, and for which we must fight and conquer, if we do not +wish to cease being Prussians and Germans. It is the last, decisive +effort which we make for our existence, our independence, our +prosperity. There is no other issue than an honorable peace or a +glorious overthrow. You would not shrink even from the latter, for +honor's sake. But we may confidently hope for the best. God and our +firm determination will make us victorious, and we shall then obtain +peace and the return of happier times." + +"FREDERICK WILLIAM. BRESLAU, March 17, 1813." + +[Footnote: This proclamation was drawn up by Counsellor von Hippel, +who proposed that the king should apply to his people directly, and +call upon them to rise against the French. He communicated it to the +chancellor of state at one of the conferences held every evening at +Breslau, at Hardenberg's rooms, in presence of Gneisenau, +Scharnhorst, Thile, and a few others. Hardenberg and all the rest +approved it, and so did the king, when it was laid before him on the +following day.--Vide Hippel's work on the "Life of Frederick William +III.," p. 63.] + +A pause ensued when Leonora ceased reading. Her father, who was +standing by her side, and was supporting his hands on his crutch, +heard her with a very grave face. Her mother sank down on one of the +cane chairs, and listened devoutly, her hands clasped, and her eyes +turned toward heaven; while her son, who was sitting by her side, +leaned his arms on the table, and buried his face in his hands. + +"Is that all?" asked the invalid, after a while. "I should really +like to hear more of it, for it sounds as sacred as a church organ. +Did you read it all, Leonora?" + +"No, father, there is still another manifesto. It is printed under +the one I read to you. You yourself must read it, for my heart is +throbbing as if about to burst. In his second manifesto the king +orders a 'landwehr' and a 'landsturm' to be formed. Listen to what +he says at the end of this second manifesto: 'My cause,' he says, +'is the cause of my people, and of all patriots in Europe.'" + +"Yes, he is right," said old Prohaska; "the king's cause is our +cause!" + +"Queen Louisa died for us all," exclaimed Leonora; "we should all +join the Legion of Vengeance--that is, to avenge her death!" + +"And I--I cannot do any thing," wailed Charles, raising his face, +which was bathed in tears, and lifting up his hands as if +supplicating God to help him. "I must wait and suffer here; I am +doomed to remain a boy while my school-fellows have become men." + +"Hush," said his mother, "an idea strikes me; we may, after all, be +somewhat useful to our country, though we are unable to furnish +soldiers for it. There is a great deal to be done besides fighting. +The king's manifesto says expressly: 'Great sacrifices will be +required of all classes.' Well, then, my dear ones, let us make +sacrifices for the fatherland and our king!" + +"What sacrifices do you mean, mother?" asked the invalid. "What have +we, if we cannot furnish any soldiers?" + +"We have our labor," exclaimed his wife, with pride. "When there is +war, and battles are fought, there are wounded soldiers, I suppose?" + +"Of course, and cripples, too," said the invalid, pointing to his +wooden leg. + +"And the wounded are brought home and conveyed to the hospitals, are +they not? Who is to attend to them, to dress their wounds, give them +food, and nurse them? We women will do so! That is our task! I will +nurse the first wounded brought to Potsdam. The first maimed +soldier, however, whom I meet at the hospital, and whose right leg +has been amputated as that of my dear husband, we shall take to our +house. You may nurse him here, old man; console him and show him +that he may live quite happily, though with but one leg, and that +wife and children will love their husband and father no less +ardently, provided he is a true man, and has a courageous heart." + +"You are right, mother," exclaimed Prohaska. "Let us take a wounded +soldier into our house, and I will nurse him as a brother, teaching +him how to use his wooden leg, while you are at the hospital, +attending to the other sufferers. But you have not thought of the +children. What are Leonora and Charles to do while we are thus +engaged?" + +"They can help us," said his wife, quickly. "Leonora will have a +great deal to do. She will prepare lint, make nourishing soups, wash +bandages, and sew shirts and clothing." + +The invalid cast a quick glance on Leonora. She stood, drawn up to +her full height, in the middle of the room; a proud, contemptuous +smile was playing about her lips, which uttered no word in reply to +her mother's plans. + +"But what will Charles do?" asked Prohaska, quickly. "He cannot be +as useful as his sister." + +"Father!" ejaculated Leonora, somewhat reproachfully. + +"Hush!" he said, almost sternly, "mother is right; it behooves you +women to prepare lint, cook soups, nurse the wounded, and sew shirts +for them. But war itself is the task of the men. But, my wife, +before telling me what Charles is to do for our wounded, I must ask +a very sad question. Where shall we find money for the expenses we +shall have to incur? We are unfortunately poor, dependent on the +labor of our hands. This small house and my pension of three dollars +a month constitute our whole fortune, and if you were not the most +skilful hair-dresser in Potsdam--if I could not besides earn a few +dollars by making baskets, and if Leonora were not the best +seamstress in town, I should like to know how we could live and send +Charles to the Lyceum. But if we are to nurse the wounded, and +devote our labor to them alone, we shall unfortunately soon lack the +necessaries of life." + +"I have thought of all that, husband," said his wife, eagerly. "But, +listen to me! Charles wants also to have his share in our +sacrifices, he does not intend to be idle while all are at work to +promote the welfare of the country. As he cannot enlist and fight, +he must use his head. He will, therefore, publish this +advertisement: 'As I have unfortunately been rejected by the +military commission on account of my youth, and because I have not +yet been confirmed, I request generous patriots to allow me to give +private lessons to their children, that I may earn a sufficient sum +to nurse and support a wounded soldier till his complete recovery.'" + +"Yes, I will do that!" exclaimed Charles. "The citizens will learn +then why I have not enlisted, and I shall, moreover, be able to earn +money for the country. I shall certainly get pupils, for my teachers +are pleased with me, and I am already in the first class. I can give +lessons in Latin, Greek, mathematics, and history; I have good +testimonials, and, for the sake of the noble object I have in view, +parents will assuredly intrust their children to me, and pay me well +for my trouble." + +"All of you will have employment, then," said Leonora, "and your +labor will benefit the country. But I also want to render myself +useful to the country." + +"Well, you can assist me," said her mother; "you can prepare food, +wash, and sew shirts." + +"However industrious I might be, mother, I could in that way earn +only as much as my own support would cost," said Leonora, shaking +her head. "I can be of no use to you, I am superfluous; I will go +therefore to another place, where I can render myself useful and +make money." + +"But whither do you intend to go, and what do you wish to do?" asked +her mother in amazement, while her father cast searching glances +upon her. + +"To Berlin, and seek a situation as saleswoman," said Leonora. "What +money I earn I shall send to you, and you will spend it for your +wounded soldier. You know, mother, my godfather, Rudolph +Werkmeister, who is a merchant at Berlin, has often asked me to go +to see him, and take such a situation at his house. I have always +refused, because I did not like to leave you, but thought I would +stay with you and devote my whole life to nursing you; but God has +decreed otherwise. Yesterday my godfather wrote again, stating that +his wife had been taken sick, and that he was greatly embarrassed +because he had no one at his house on whom he could depend. He +offers me a salary of eighty dollars a year. Now, I pray you, dear +parents, let me go! Let me pursue my own paths, and do my duty as I +understand it. Dear mother, I am sure you will not refuse your +consent? You will permit me to go this very day to Berlin, and make +money for our wounded soldiers?" + +"I will, my child," said her mother, her voice trembling with +emotion. "I have no diamonds and golden chains to give my country, +so I give to it the most precious and beautiful jewels I have--my +children. Yes, go, my Leonora; take the situation offered you, and +give the money you earn to the fatherland and its soldiers." + +"Oh, thanks, mother!" exclaimed Leonora, hastening to her and +clasping her in her arms--"thanks, for permitting me to put my mite +on the altar of the country!" She kissed her mother with fervent +tenderness, and then turned toward her father. "And you, father," +she said, in a low and almost timid tone--"you do not say a word-- +you do not give your consent." + +The invalid stood leaning on his crutch, and looked thoughtfully +into the noble face of his daughter. He then slowly raised his right +hand and laid it on Leonora's shoulder. "I repeat what your mother +said. Like her, I have no treasures to give my country except this +jewel, my Leonora! Go, my daughter!--do what you believe to be your +duty, and may God bless you!" Opening his arms, she threw herself +into them and leaned her head on his breast. + +"And now," said Prohaska, gently disengaging himself from a long and +tearful embrace, "let us be calm. These are the first tears I have +wept since the death of our dear Queen Louisa--the first for your +sake, my Leonora! May the Lord forgive them to a poor father who has +but one daughter! The heart will yield to its emotions, but now I +must again be a soldier, who knows no tears!" + +"But, husband, Leonora will not leave us immediately," said her +mother. "She must remain yet a day with us. Alas! we discover what +treasures we possessed only when we lose them. I believe I have +never loved Leonora so intensely as I do at this hour, and my heart +is unable to part with her so suddenly. I must first accustom myself +to the separation, and engrave her image upon my soul, that I may +never forget her dear features. Let her stay, then, until to- +morrow!" + +The invalid gravely shook his head. "No," he said; "what is to be +done must be done at once; otherwise, our hearts will grow weak, and +our tears soften our resolutions. To-day I can permit Leonora to +leave us; whether I shall be able to do so to-morrow, I do not +know." + +"Father, the stage-coach starts for Berlin in two hours, and I shall +take passage in it!" exclaimed Leonora, quickly. "You are right, +what is to be done must be done now, and when we have taken a +resolution, we must not hesitate to carry it into effect. I will go +to my chamber and pack my trunk." + +"I will go and help you," said her mother, hastening toward the +door, and leaving the room with Leonora. + +"And I will write my advertisement," said Charles. "It must be +published to-morrow, that I am obliged to stay here because my +country will not accept me as a soldier, and that I desire to give +private lessons, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the +support of a wounded soldier." + +"And I--what shall I do?" asked the old invalid, when he was alone. +"I must swallow my tears, and tell no one my thoughts. I shall +quietly accustom myself to the idea that the darling of my heart, my +Leonora, is to leave me, and that my old eyes are to see no more her +dear face, or my ears hear her voice. Ah, when she looked at me, I +felt as though it were spring in my heart, and the sun shining +there; and when I heard her voice I thought it music rejoicing my +soul. Now, how quiet and gloomy all around me will be in the small +house--no more sunshine or music! all will be gone when Leonora is +gone. And will she come back, then?--will not some bullet, some +sword-blade--hush, my thoughts! I must not betray them! Be still, my +heart, and weep! Be still and--" Tears choked his voice, and the +strong man, overwhelmed with grief, sank into his easy-chair and +sobbed aloud. After a long time he raised himself again and dried +his tears. "Fie, Sergeant Prohaska!" he said aloud. "You sit here +and cry like an old woman, and wring your hands in grief, instead of +being glad and thanking the Lord that a substitute has been found +for the invalid sergeant with the wooden leg. Thunder and lightning, +Sergeant Prohaska! I advise you to behave yourself, and not be weak +and foolish, while women are becoming men. Keep your head erect, +turn your eyes on the enemy, and then, 'Charge them!' as old father +Blucher used to say. I will go to work now," he continued, drawing a +deep breath, after repeatedly pacing the small room with measured +steps. "Yes, I will go to work, and that no one may discover that I +have wept, I will sing a beautiful song I learned yesterday from a +volunteer. Yes, I will work and sing!" He hastened to the chamber +adjoining the sitting-room, and brought from it a neat half-finished +basket upon which he had been at work the day before. "It must be +finished to-day; I have promised it," he said, sitting down on his +old easy-chair. He then commenced working assiduously, and sang in a +powerful voice: + +"Nun mit Gott! Es ist beschlossen! + Auf, Ihr wackern Streitgenossen, + Endlich kommt der Ehrentag! + Besser flugs und f rohlich sterben, + Als so langsam bin verderben, + Und versiechen in der Schmach." + +"Endlich darf das Herz sich regen, + Sich die Zunge frei bewegen, + Alle Fesseln sind eutzwei. + Ach, da Alles schier zerstoben, + Kam der Retterarm from oben, + Neugeboren sind wir, fred!" + +"Tag der Freiheit, Tag der Wonne! + Bruder, seht! es tanzt die Sonne, + Wie am ersten Ostertag! + Todte sprengen ihre Grufte, + Und durch Berg und Thai und Klufte + Hallt ein freudig Jauchzen nach!" + +"Auferstanden, auferstanden + Aus der Knechtschaft Todesbanden, + Streiter Gottes, nun zu Hauf! + Unsre Adler! Ha sie wittern + Ihrer Raub--die Feinde zittern, + Unsre Adler fahren auf!" + +"Zu den Waff en, zu den Rossen, + Auf, Ihr wackern Kampfgenossen + Er ist da, Der Ehrentag! + Besser flugs und frohlich sterben, + Als so langsam hin verderben, + Und versiechen in der Schmach!" + +[Footnote: + It is resolved in God's great name! + Up, comrades! to the field of fame! + This day of glory save. + Quickly and merrily to die + Is better than the sick-bed sigh, + And an unhonored grave. + +Our heart at last resumes its life-- + Our tongues now urge to holy strife; + The broken chains we see. + When all seemed lost, a saving hand + From heaven vouchsafes to bless our land, + And make us strong and free. + + +O happy day! The sun new-born + Is dancing as on Easter morn! + See, risen brothers, see! + +"We come from slavery's grave unbound, + And mountains and the vales resound + With songs of jubilee. + +Ascending from Oppression's night, + Behold the dawn of freedom's light! + Soldiers of God, arise! + The enemy will rue this day, + For victory's eagle scents the prey + And onward quickly flies. + +To arms! to horse! my comrades brave! + And let the battle-standard wave, + For now is honor's day. + The dying shout of bloody strife + Is better than the pining life + That sinks by slow decay."] + +"Yes, it is better to die quickly and merrily than slowly pine away +and perish in disgrace," repeated a sonorous voice behind him. It +was Leonora, who had just entered the room, unnoticed by her father, +and had listened to the last verse of his song. "Yes, the song is +right," she said, enthusiastically. "But I, father, have already +been pining away for a long time. The first volunteer I saw was as a +dagger that pierced my soul, and ever since I have been ill and +suffering, and in my heart a voice has been continually singing the +words I once heard at the theatre: 'I wish to be a man!'" + +"And why do you wish to be a man?" asked her father, bowing his +head, and seemingly devoting his whole attention to his work. + +"Because a man is allowed to do freely and boldly what he deems +right and good," replied Leonora; "because, when the fatherland +calls him, he may step forth with a bold front, and reply: 'Here I +am! To thee, my country, belongs my arm--my blood! For thee I am +ready to fight, and if need be to die!' Father, when a man talks +thus, his words are sublime--the women clasp their hands and listen +devoutly to him, and the children fall on their knees and pray for +him. But if a girl talk thus, it would be as mockery; the women +would deride their heroic sister, and the children point at and +shout after her, 'Look at the foolish girl who wants to do what is +solely the task of man! Look at the crazy one, who imagines she can +do men's work!' Her most sacred sentiments, her most patriotic +desires and resolutions, would be mercilessly ridiculed!" + +"That is the reason, my child," said her father, calmly laboring at +his basket, "why she should not betray her sentiments, and confide +her thoughts to God alone. Have you forgotten what Charles read to +us about Joan of Orleans? She left her parents silently and +secretly, and went whither God called her." + +"But her father cursed and disowned her for it," said Leonora, in a +tremulous voice. "Do you think her father was right, merely because +she followed the voice of God, and went out to deliver her king and +country?" + +"No," said Prohaska, laying his basket aside and rising, "I do not; +I was always indignant when that particular passage was read to us." + +"And what would you have said, father?" asked Leonora, in a tone of +profound emotion. "Imagine me to be Joan, the inspired maid of +Orleans, and that I say: 'Father, I cannot remain any longer in this +narrow dwelling. The voice of the king and the fatherland has +penetrated my heart also, and has called me. I must obey it, for I +feel courageous and strong enough, and it would be cowardly to +disobey.' What would you say if I were Joan of Orleans, and should +talk thus to you?" + +"I should say, 'Kneel down, my Leonora, and receive my last +blessing,'" replied Prohaska, straightening himself and approaching +his daughter. + +Leonora knelt down, and, raising her tearful eyes to her father, +whispered: "What blessing would you give me if I were Joan of +Orleans? Oh, think I am she, and give me your blessing!" + +"If you were Joan of Orleans," responded the old man, solemnly, "and +should kneel before me as you do now, and ask my blessing, I should, +as I do now, lay my hands on your head, and say to you: 'God the +Lord, who holds heaven and earth in His hand, and without whose will +not a hair falls from our head, watch over you and protect you! May +He be with you on the battle-field! May He give you a brave heart, a +strong arm, and a steady eye! May He give you courage to brave +death! Yon have chosen men's work, you have pledged your love and +your life to the fatherland; go, then, and be a man; love your +country like a man, fight like a man, and, if need be, die like a +man!' But when your last hour has come, my daughter, think of your +father, and pray to God with your last thoughts that He may soon +deliver me also, and take me away, for I shall feel lonely on earth +when you are no more, and even the victorious shouts of the +returning would no longer gladden my old soldier's heart if I find +you not among the conquerors. But, hush! let no tear desecrate this +secret hour of our last farewell! God has called all strong and +courageous hearts--follow His call! It is incumbent on every one to +love his country more intensely than parents, brothers, and sisters. +Go, then, my daughter; do your duty, and remember that your father's +blessing will be with you in life as well as in death! And now, give +me a last kiss." + +Leonora rose from her knees, and, encircling his neck with her arms, +pressed a glowing kiss on his lips. "Father," she said, looking at +him with a beaming face, "my lips have not yet kissed any man's lips +but yours, and here I swear to you--and may God have mercy on me at +my last hour if I do not keep my oath!--I swear to you that I shall +kiss no man until I am permitted to return to you, my father!" + +"I believe you, dear Leonora," said Prohaska, solemnly. + +"Leonora, my child, it is time now!" exclaimed her mother, hastily +entering the room. "The postilion has already passed our house, and +in a quarter of an hour the stage-coach will stop at our door. I +have myself gone to the postmaster, and he granted it as a favor +that the stage-coach should stop here, and thus save you the trouble +of going to the post-office. This will enable you to remain with us +fifteen minutes yet." + +"But my trunk, mother; we have to take it to the post-office?" asked +Leonora. + +"Oh, it would have been too heavy for us," said Mrs. Prohaska; +"Charles and two of his school-mates are just carrying it to the +post-office. Leonora's trunk is quite heavy, father. Thank God, she +is well provided, and for the first year it will be quite +unnecessary for her to buy any thing." + +"My dear mother would indeed have packed up all her own things and +dresses for me if I had not prevented her," said Leonora, smiling. + +"I should like best to pack up my own heart for you, my dear child," +exclaimed her mother, deeply moved, "but, as I could not do so, I +put my bridal dress into your trunk. It is a nice silk dress, and I +have worn it only three times in my life--on my wedding-day, and on +the days when my two children were baptized; it is as good as new. I +suppose, husband, you will permit me to give it to her?" + +"Of course, but what is she to do with it?" asked Prohaska. + +"Why, what a question!" exclaimed Mrs. Prohaska, "she is to wear it, +and look pretty when she goes to parties on Sundays. Leonora, I +suppose you will know what to do with it?" "Yes, mother, I thank +you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful present, and I +promise you that I shall use it only in a noble and worthy manner," +said Leonora, gravely. "My mother's bridal dress shall not be worn +for frivolous purposes, but it shall serve me to attain the highest +and purest objects." + +"Oh, I know," whispered the mother, who was scarcely able to +restrain her tears, "I know that you are an excellent girl, and a +good daughter, and that you will never do any thing of which your +old parents would have to be ashamed. You have always been my pride +and joy, and never would I consent to part with you unless every one +had now to make the greatest sacrifices for the king and the +fatherland. But still it is very painful, and--" + +"Wife," interposed the old sergeant, "no tears now! When we are +alone we shall have time enough for weeping. As long as Leonora is +here, let us gaze at and rejoice in her.--I have to give you a +commission yet. Go to my general, old Blucher, and tell him he ought +not to be angry with me--that he must not believe me a lazy coward +because I do not go to the war. Tell him that my leg had to be +amputated some time after the battle, and that he ought to excuse my +absence when the roll is called." + +"I will assuredly repeat your words to the general, father." + +"Why!" asked Mrs. Prohaska, wonderingly, "is General Blucher now at +Berlin?" + +"No," said her husband, carelessly, "he is at Breslau, whither all +the volunteers are marching." + +"But how is Leonora, then, to repeat your words to him?" asked his +wife, in amazement. + +"Father means that I shall tell General Blucher when he comes to +Berlin?" said Leonora, quickly. "They say Blucher will come soon to +expel the French from the capital, and father thinks I might then +repeat those words to his old chieftain." + +"Sister, sister, the stage-coach is coming," shouted Charles, +rushing breathlessly into the room. "The postilion has already blown +his bugle for the third time!" + +"Well, then, my child, we must part," said the old sergeant, deeply +moved, and clasping Leonora in his arms. "God bless you, my +daughter! Your father's thoughts will always be with you!" He +disengaged himself from her arms, and pushed her gently toward her +mother. The two women remained a long time locked in each other's +arms. Neither of them said a word, but their tears and their last +looks were more eloquent than words. + +"And you forget me?" asked Charles, reproachfully. "You do not care +to take leave of me?" + +Leonora released herself from her mother's embrace, and encircled +her brother's neck with her arms. "Farewell, darling of my heart!" +she cried. "Be a good son to father and mother, and remember that +you must henceforth love them for both of us. Farewell, brother, and +forgive me for being born earlier than you, and thus preventing your +being in my place. God decreed it thus, putting us in our own +places, and we must both fill them worthily." + +"Yes," said Charles, amid his tears, "certainly we will." + +A carriage was rattling over the pavement, and stopped in front of +the house. A bugle sounded. + +"Father, mother, and brother, farewell!" exclaimed Leonora. Then, +raising her arms to heaven, she added: "God in heaven, watch over +them, and, if such be Thy will, let me return to them!" She hastily +wrapped herself in her cloak, and, without looking at them again, +rushed out of the room, and jumped into the coach. + +"Farewell, farewell!" shouted father, mother, and brother, who had +followed her, and were standing in front of the house. + +She leaned her head out of the coach window. "Farewell," she +exclaimed, "and God--" The bugle drowned her words; the carriage +rolled away. + +The loving relatives gazed after it until it had disappeared around +the next corner, and then returned sighing into the small house. +Charles hastened to his little chamber up-stairs to give vent to his +grief. The parents returned to their sitting-room. "Oh, how still it +is here now, as still as in the grave," sighed Mrs. Prohaska, "for I +miss my child, and will miss her everywhere. Oh, husband, my heart +aches, and I feel as though I had lost my Leonora forever! Ah, why +did we allow her to go? Why did we not keep her here, our child, our +only daughter? Oh! if she should never return, if she should die! O +God, have mercy on a poor mother's heart--protect my dear child!" +She sank down on a chair, and, covering her face with her apron, +sobbed aloud. + +The old sergeant paced the room in silence. He scarcely knew that +the tears, like large pearls, were running down his cheeks into his +gray beard. The loud sobs of his wife aroused him. "Hush, wife; +hush!" he said, standing in front of her. "It is too late now for +weeping. Let us rather be glad, for Leonora is possessed of a brave +heart, and has done her duty toward her country and her old invalid +father. Let us, therefore, be glad, and sing!" And he commenced to +sing in a tremulous voice, while the tears were still rolling from +his eyes: + +"Ihr Deutsche auf in Sud und Nord! + Hinweg gemeiner Neid! + Wir alle reden eine Sprach' + Und stehen air fur eine Sach' + Im ehrenvoilen Streit!" + +"Und wer sich feig entzieht dem Kampf + Fur Freiheit und fur Ehr', + Wer nicht das Schwertergreift zur Stund! + Der leb' und sterb' als schlechter Hund, + Der sei kein Deutscher mehr!" + +[Footnote: + Arise, ye Germans, North and South! + And honor's path pursue. + Since all one common language speak + And all one sacred object seek, + Your jealousies subdue. + +Let him who shirks his country's call, + To freedom and to fame, + Both live and die a cowardly hound, + Despised wherever may be found + A man of German name.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES. + + +Leonora Prohaska reached Berlin at four o'clock in the afternoon. On +the way, closing her eyes, she leaned back on the cushions, so that +her companions paid little attention to her, whom they believed to +be asleep. But Leonora heard every word, and every conversation of +her fellow-travellers strengthened her soul and restored her former +courage. They spoke of the enthusiasm in every city, village, and +house--an enthusiasm spreading far beyond the frontiers of Prussia, +and carrying all away as an irresistible torrent, drawing with it +even the most cautious and timid, and filling the most desponding +and disheartened with joyous hopes. One of the travellers was just +returning from Breslau, and dwelt with impassioned eloquence on the +bustle prevailing there; on the volunteers who were flocking in vast +numbers to that city and parading every day under the king's +windows; and on brave Major von Lutzow, who, with his beautiful +young wife, had come to Breslau, and was endeavoring to live at a +miserable tavern, because no other accommodations were to be had. + +"And in the bar-room," he said, "beautiful Madame von Lutzow +receives the names of the volunteers who wish to enlist in the +Legion of Vengeance. Her husband is busily engaged, from dawn till +late at night, in organizing his corps; in trying to procure arms, +horses, and equipments for his men, and his handsome wife is his +recruiting officer. She is as charming as an angel, the daughter of +a wealthy count, and has, by her marriage with Major von Lutzow, +contrary to her parents' wishes, so much exasperated her proud +father that he gave her no dower, but imposed it as a condition of +his consent that Major von Lutzow should marry without any. But the +count's daughter joyously descended from the proud castle to the +humble dwelling of the Prussian major, whom she loved on account of +his bravery, and the scars which he bore on his forehead, and which +he had received in 1806, in the war against the French." + +"I know the lady," said the second traveller; "she is a daughter of +the Danish Count von Ahlefeldt, a wonder of loveliness, grace, and +refined manners. She hates the French as intensely as her husband, +and it was precisely this common hatred of the French that brought +them together." + +"How so?" asked the other. "Pray tell us all about it." + +"Several years ago, the young countess, attended by her governess, +made a journey to a fashionable German watering-place. Both took +dinner at the table d'hote of the 'Kurhaus,' where a crowd of +persons from all countries were assembled. The neighbor of the young +countess at the table happened to be a French officer, who managed +to involve the young lady in a highly animated and interesting +conversation. He told her in a very attractive manner of his +campaigns and travels, and the young countess listened to him with +pleasure and manifested her sympathy for him. The Frenchman dared to +seize her hand and kiss it. The young countess started; a deep blush +suffused her fair face, and, without reflecting, obeying only her +first impulse, she took a glass of water which stood before her, and +poured it over the hand which the Frenchman had dared to kiss. +Several Prussian officers, seated near her had witnessed the +occurrence, and, on noticing how she removed the stain of the French +kiss from her hand, could not refrain from bursting into a loud +cheer. One of them was Major von Lutzow. After dinner he approached +the countess, was introduced to her by a mutual acquaintance, and +expressed his ardent thanks, in the name of all Germans, for the +bold rebuke she had administered to the Frenchman. That was the +beginning of her acquaintance with Major von Lutzow, and the end of +it was her marriage with him. [Footnote: I am indebted for an +account of this occurrence to the Countess Ahlefeldt (formerly +Madame Major von Lutzow) herself, who related it to me with charming +naivete and grace.--L.] She is now at Breslau, and you have seen +her." + +"Yes, for I went to the major's headquarters with a friend who +wished to enlist in his corps. We met there, however, only herself. +She received my friend's request to enlist under her husband with so +much grace, with such a look of joy--she dwelt in such soul-stirring +words on the great and holy national war about to break out, and in +which every one ought to participate, that I was quite fascinated by +her eloquence, and would have enlisted at once if I had not already +entered a landwehr regiment." + +Not a word of this conversation escaped Leonora, and she said to +herself: "I must make the acquaintance of this lady. I will go to +her, mid she will enlist me for the German fatherland!" + +The travellers continued their conversation, relating that Frederick +William had not believed in the success of the first manifesto, in +which he called for volunteers; and, for this reason, had not signed +the manifesto which Chancellor von Hardenberg had drawn up; that +four days afterward the king, who had just explained with unusual +vehemence to General Scharnhorst the utter uselessness of this call, +was interrupted by a strange noise in the street; and that, anxious +to discover what was the cause, he stepped to the window, and +General Scharnhorst followed him; that a line of at least eighty +wagons had come in sight, and in them none but armed men were +seated, who halted in front of the palace, and an aide-de-camp, who +entered the room at that moment, informed the king that they were +volunteers just arrived from Berlin; that Scharnhorst turned to him, +and exclaimed triumphantly: "Will your majesty be convinced now that +your people are ready to fight for you and the fatherland?" and that +the king made no reply, but a flood of tears rushed from his eyes, +and he smiled amidst his emotion. + +At length Leonora arrived at Berlin. She stood alone beside her +trunk in the court-yard of the royal post-office building. No notice +was taken of her; no one manifested any sympathy for her; but she +did not flinch, and her heart was free from doubt or anxiety. She +sent for a hackney-coach by one of the boys playing in the court- +yard, and then drove away. But she did not order the coachman to +convey her to her godfather, Werkmeister, the merchant on Jager +Street. Driving first to Tauben Street, the carriage stopped in +front of a large, gloomy house. She alighted, and, begging the +coachman to wait for her, slipped into the house. Quickly ascending +three narrow flights of stairs, she reached a silent corridor, on +both sides of which were small doors, and on each a number had been +painted. Knocking at the door of number three, a female voice +inquired, "Who is there?" + +"It is I, Leonora Prohaska!" + +A loud cry of joy resounded; the door was hastily opened, and a +young soldier in full uniform appeared on the threshold. It was now +Leonora who uttered a cry, and blushing drew back. "Pardon me," she +said, timidly; "there must be a mistake. I am looking for my friend, +a young milliner, named Caroline Peters." + +The young soldier laughed, but it was the fresh, ringing laughter of +a girl. "Then you really do not recognize me, Leonora?" he +exclaimed. "You really take me for what I like to be and am not--a +man?" + +"Great Heaven! is it you?" exclaimed Leonora. "You--" + +"Hush!" whispered the other, hastily drawing her into the room, and +carefully locking the door. "For mercy's sake, let no one hear us! +What a scandal it would be, if it should be discovered that +Volunteer Charles Petersen receives the visits of pretty girls at +his room! This hotel is entirely occupied by volunteers, and none of +them suspect that I am a woman, nor shall they ever find it out. But +now welcome, my dear Leonora, and tell me what has brought you to +Berlin. Did you receive my letter?" + +"Yes, Caroline, I did," said Leonora, gravely, "and it gave me pain, +for you called me cowardly and destitute of honor, because I +intended to stay at home when my country was in need of the arms of +all its children, and when every one of any courage was +participating in this holy struggle." + +"And that is the truth, Leonora," exclaimed Caroline; "the +fatherland has called us all, and those who do not listen to this +call are cowards!" + +"But who told you that I did not listen to it?" asked Leonora. + +"What!" ejaculated Caroline, joyously. "Leonora, you, too--" + +"Hush!" interrupted Leonora, "we must talk about all this afterward. +I am in haste now, for there is a hackney-coach waiting for me at +the door, and my trunk is on it. Tell me now quickly, Caroline, can +I stay with you over night?" + +"In female dress, Leonora? That would be hardly prudent." + +"No, in male attire, Caroline." + +"Oh, then you are a thousand times welcome here," exclaimed +Caroline, encircling her with her arms, and drawing her to her +heart. + +"But I have not yet my male attire," said Leonora, smiling, "nor +have I money to buy it. Give me, therefore, quickly, the name of +some one who buys dresses, for I will drive to him immediately with +my trunk, and sell all I have brought with me." + +"Come, Leonora, I will accompany you," said Caroline. "I know at the +Hospital Bridge a very patriotic and kind-hearted old Jew, to whom I +have also sold my wearing apparel, and who paid me a very liberal +price for it, when I told him that I wanted to buy a uniform for my +brother. Let us drive there, but I will remain in the carriage while +you go into the store, for he might recognize me. You will also find +men's clothing, which you may purchase for your brother--that is to +say, for yourself." + +"Come, then, and let us make haste," said Leonora, drawing her +friend with her. + +Fifteen minutes afterward the hackney-coach halted in front of one +of the second-hand clothing-stores near the Hospital Bridge, and +Leonora alighted, holding in her arms a large package of dresses, +shawls, skirts, and aprons, which she had taken from her trunk +during the drive. Mr. Hirsch, the dealer in second-hand clothing, +who was standing in front of his store, received her with a pleasant +greeting, and invited her to enter and tell him what she wanted. + +Leonora put the wearing apparel on the counter, and, drawing a deep +breath, said in a tone of embarrassment, "I should like to sell +these things, sir." + +The Jew put his spectacles slowly on his nose, and then lifted up +the dresses, one after another, contemplating them with scrutinizing +glances. + +"If he should not give me as much money as I need?" Leonora asked +herself, anxiously, "if these things should not amount to so much +that I cannot purchase a uniform?" + +And old Hirsch, as if he heard the anxious question of her heart, +said, shaking his head: "I cannot give very much for these few +calico dresses and aprons. They are all very nice and well +preserved, but of no value whatever." + +"But there is also a silk dress, sir," said Leonora, in a tremulous +voice, "an entirely new silk dress." + +"New?" asked the Jew, shrugging his shoulders, drawing out the +dress, and unfolding it with a sneer. "The dress is not new, for it +is made after such an old fashion that it could be worn only at a +masked ball; and the stuff is not worth any thing, either, for it is +only half silk. It was just made to look at. It appears like heavy +silk, but the oblique threads that make it look so heavy are all +cotton. How much do you want for the whole, my pretty miss?" + +"I do not know," said Leonora, in a low voice, "as much as you can +give me for it." + +"Yes, yes," grumbled the old man, "I am to give a great deal of +money for very poor goods; that is what they all ask me to do. I +will tell you, I cannot give you more than twelve dollars for the +whole lot." + +"Twelve dollars!" ejaculated Leonora, with such an expression of +dismay that the Jew started, raising his green spectacles to his +forehead, and fixing his small, twinkling eyes on Leonora. + +"Twelve dollars!" repeated Leonora, and, no longer able to restrain +her tears, she wrung her hands, and muttered: "It is all in vain, +then! Twelve dollars arc not sufficient to buy a uniform and arms." + +Hirsch heard her words. "What?" he asked, hastily. "You want to sell +the dresses in order to buy a uniform and arms?" + +"Yes, sir," replied Leonora, "my mother and I wanted to sell our +dresses, because we hoped we would get money enough to buy my +brother a complete uniform--a rifle, sword, and shako; for my +brother intends to enlist in Lutzow's corps of riflemen." + +"Your brother intends to enlist in Lutzow's corps of riflemen?" +asked Hirsch, quickly. "Is that no pretext, eh? Do you not tell me +so merely for the purpose of extorting money from me? Can you swear +to me that that is why you wish to sell the dresses?" + +"I can swear it by the great God in heaven, in whom we all believe," +said Leonora, solemnly. "But I can prove it to you, too--" + +"How so? In what way?" + +"By buying a uniform for my brother here at your store. He is of the +same height as I am, and has precisely the same figure: we are +twins." + +"And your brother intends to enlist in Lutzow's corps? Why did he +not himself come to select a uniform?" + +"He is at Potsdam, sir, and does not know that I am here. To-morrow +is his birthday, and we want to surprise him by giving him his +uniform to-morrow." + +"And he shall have it!" exclaimed the Jew; "yes, he shall have it! I +read in your eyes that you have told me the truth, my child, and +that you do not want the money for frivolous purposes, but for the +great cause of the German fatherland. I have also a heart for my +country, and no one shall say that we Israelites do not feel and act +like true Germans--that our hearts did not suffer under the disgrace +which, for long years, has weighed down all Germany, and that we +will not joyfully sacrifice our blood and our life; and, what is +still more, our property, for the sake of the fatherland. Who was +the first man at Berlin to make a voluntary contribution to this +object? It was a Jew! The president of the Jewish congregation, M. +Gumpert, made the first patriotic contribution. He sent three +hundred dollars to the military commission, with the request that +this amount might be spent for buying equipments for poor +volunteers. [Footnote: Historical.] Our Gumpert was the first man +who made a sacrifice for the benefit of the fatherland, and I do not +wish to be the last. I made a mistake in appraising your things; I +will do it over again, and what I can give I will give." He glanced +again at the dresses; then shaking his head, and stroking the silk +dress with his long, lean hand, he said, "How could I make such a +mistake, and believe this stuff to be only half silk? It is all +silk, heavy silk--and two dresses of the now fashionable tight cut +can easily be made out of this splendid one. For this alone I will +give you twenty dollars, and as for the other things, well, I will +give you twenty dollars more." + +"Oh," exclaimed Leonora, radiant with joy, and giving both her hands +to the old Jew--"oh, you are a noble, generous man, a true patriot! +I thank you, and may the delivered land some day reward you!" + +"Ah, poor Hirsch cannot deserve great rewards at the hands of the +fatherland," said the old man, sighing. "I am poor, I have not even +a son whom I might give to the country, and intrust with the task of +avenging me. I had a son, a good, dear boy; but, in 1807, when the +French arrived here, he wished to defend our property against the +soldiers who broke into our house; he grew very angry with the +infamous ruffians, and called them and their emperor murderers and +robbers. Thereupon they mortally stabbed him--they killed him before +my own eyes! He was my only child, my only joy on earth! But, hush! +this is no time for lamentations. I will rejoice--yes, rejoice, for +the hour of vengeance has come, and we will pay the French for what +wrongs they have inflicted on us. If I were not so old and feeble, I +should myself willingly fight, but now I am only able to assist in +equipping soldiers. Your brother shall become a soldier, my child; +we will equip him for the Legion of Vengeance. He shall avenge my +son, my innocent, beloved son, upon Napoleon the tyrant, and the +French rabble, who have trampled us under foot so long and so +disgracefully. Yes, yes, I will give you forty dollars for your +things, but I will not give you the whole amount in cash. Look at +this black uniform; it is quite new, the tailor delivered it only +yesterday. Did not you tell me that your brother is of the same +stature as you are?" + +"Of the same stature and figure, for he is my twin-brother." + +"Well, let us see if this uniform fits you." + +Mr. Hirsch took out his tape-line, and measured Leonora's figure +with the skill of au experienced tailor. He then applied the tape- +line to the trousers and the coat of black cloth. "It fits +splendidly," he exclaimed. "And here is also a nice silk vest that +belongs to it. Now, listen to me! I charge you twelve dollars for +the whole suit; you will, therefore, receive twenty-eight dollars in +money. Now you will, in the first place, buy your brother a fine +rifle, such as Lutzow's riflemen need. You will pay ten dollars for +it; besides a sword and a shako, which will cost together five +dollars. You will have thirteen dollars left. For this amount you +will put a pair of good shirts and a new pair of boots into your +brother's knapsack, and the remainder you will give him for pocket- +money. Is it to be so? Is the bargain struck?" "Yes, the bargain is +struck." + +"Very well. Here is your uniform, and here are the twenty-eight +dollars." He counted the shining dollars on the counter, and then +pushed the money and the clothing toward Leonora. "Here is our +Luztow's rifleman's uniform," he exclaimed. + +"And here are the dresses, sir," said Leonora, handing the wearing +apparel to the old man, but, while doing so, she quickly bent over +it, and pressed a kiss on the silk dress. + +Old Hirsch looked at her with amazement. + +"It is my mother's bridal dress, sir," said Leonora, as if +apologetically. "It was our greatest treasure, and I gave it only a +farewell kiss." + +The Jew looked down musingly. "Listen, my child," he said; "I must +not sell this dress. I shall keep it until the war is over. If your +brother gets safely back, you may bring him here, and, as a greeting +of welcome, I will present your mother's bridal dress to him. But in +return, he must do me a favor." + +"What favor?" + +"Whenever he cuts down a Frenchman, he is to shout, 'Moses Hirsch is +avenged!' Moses was the name of my dear, unfortunate son, and I +think he will sleep more calmly in his grave when he hears that his +father has sent out an avenger of his death. Will you promise me, in +your brother's name, that he will not forget to shout what I tell +you?" + +"I promise it! Whenever my brother cuts down a Frenchman, he will +shout, 'Moses Hirsch is avenged!'" + +"Thank you!" said Hirsch, greatly moved. "My son will hear it, and +he will smile down from heaven on his old, lonely father. And now, +my dear, beautiful child, good-by! Give me the package; I will take +it for you to the carriage!" + +"No, no, give it back to me," exclaimed Leonora, anxiously. But the +old man did not listen to her. He took the package, and hastened +with it out of his store to the hackney-coach. + +Charles Petersen, at this moment, looked impatiently out of the +window, and shouted to her friend to make haste. + +Old Hirsch uttered a cry and stared at Caroline. "Great Heaven!" he +exclaimed, "you in uniform--you a volunteer?" + +"Ah," said Caroline, concealing her confusion by loud laughter, "I +see what astonishes you. You confound me with my sister. I know she +sold her dresses to you to buy a uniform and arms for me. Yes, it is +difficult to distinguish us, for we greatly resemble each other. The +reason is, we are twins." + +"He has a twin-sister as you have a twin-brother," said Hirsch, +turning to Leonora with a strange smile. "Hush! I understand all +now. God protect the courageous twins! Coachman, start!" + +"Whither?" asked the coachman. + +"To M. Werkmeister's house, 23 Jager Street," replied Leonora, +nodding a last greeting to the old Jew. The carriage wheeled away. + +"What do you want at M. Werkmeister's?" asked Caroline. + +"To pay him my last visit as a girl," said Leonora. + +"Returning from his house, I shall divest myself of my female +costume and become your comrade. Let us then go out together and buy +my arms." + +"But would it not be better for me to drive back to our hotel while +you are Werkmeister's?" asked Caroline. "You have had the hackney- +coach already above an hour, and we volunteers must be as economical +as possible, in order to support ourselves as long as we can, and +not become a burden to the state." + +"That is true," said Leonora. "I will alight here, and you will be +so kind as to take my trunk and the package to your quarters." The +hackney-coach halted, and Leonora, wrapping herself in her shawl, +leaped out of the carriage. "Drive back to Tauben Street, now," she +said, "and assist the gentleman in carrying this trunk up to his +room. But previously I will pay you the whole fare. How much do I +owe you?" + +"From the post-office to Tauben Street, four groschen," said the +coachman, composedly. + +"And besides?" + +"Nothing else." + +"How so--nothing else? You waited a good while in Tauben Street; we +then drove hither, where you waited a long while again, and now you +are about to return to Tauben Street." + +"Yes; but in Tauben Street we took in a volunteer," said the +coachman, whipping his horses in a gentle, caressing manner. "We +hackmen never take any money for driving a volunteer. Every one must +do as much for the fatherland as he can. You owe me, therefore, only +four groschen." + +"Here they are," said Leonora, handing the money to the hackman, +"and we are much obliged to you." + +"Oh, you are not obliged to me at all," said the hackman, "for you +see I do not drive girls for nothing--only volunteers." + +"To-morrow he will drive me, too, for nothing," said Leonora, gazing +after the hackney-coach. "To-morrow I will no longer be a girl! For +I am going now to bid a last adieu to my outward maidenhood and my +past!" And she walked with resolute steps across the Gendarmes +Market toward Jager Street. + +"I must tell my dear godfather that I cannot accept his offer," she +said to herself; "for, if I should not, he might perhaps write +another letter to me to Potsdam, and mother: would then learn +prematurely that I told her a falsehood, and am not now at my +godfather's house; but when he knows that I cannot come, he will not +write again, and no one will discover my plans." + +There was an unusual throng to-day in front of the house No. 23 on +Jager Street, where Werkmeister the merchant lived. It was not +without difficulty that Leonora penetrated through the crowd to the +door, where was to be seen a large placard, containing the following +words: "Gold wedding-rings exchanged for iron ones here." Somewhat +astonished at this strange inscription, Leonora entered the house, +and stepped across the hall to the open door of her godfather's +litting-room. + +M. Rudolph Werkmeister, without looking attentively at her, +presented her a small box containing a large number of glittering +rings. "Please select one of these, and drop the gold ring into the +aperture of the locked box," he said. + +Leonora looked at him smilingly. "It is I, godfather," she said, +offering him her hand. + +"Ah, it is you, Leonora Prohaska," exclaimed M. Werkmeister, putting +down the box. "You have received my letter, then, my child? You have +at length made up your mind to comply with my wishes--to come to my +house, and to assist my wife at the store and in the household? +Well, you could not have come at a better hour, and I thank you for +your kindness." + +Leonora fixed her large dark eyes with an affectionate expression on +the good-natured, pleasant face of the merchant, and stepping up to +him laid both her hands on his shoulders. "Godfather, dear +godfather," she said, greatly moved, "do not be angry with me, and +forgive me for coming only to tell you I cannot accept your offer. +Do not ask me why I cannot. I am not allowed to tell you the reason, +but I know that, when you learn it some day, you will certainly +approve what I have done. I really am no ungrateful girl, but I +cannot come to you, dear M. Werkmeister. I have greater and holier +duties to fulfil--duties to which God Himself has called me!" + +"That is to say, my child, you do not wish to leave your poor old +parents?" asked Mr. Werkmeister, in great emotion. "You will stay +with them at their small house and eat the invalid's brown bread +rather than live luxuriously at the beautiful capital of Prussia? +You are right, perhaps, my child. You are the only joy of your +parents, and I was selfish, perhaps, in trying to rob them of you. +But, in doing so, I thought more of yourself, and desired to give a +better and brighter sphere to your youth. But we must all pursue the +paths which God and our conscience have marked out for us." + +"Yes," exclaimed Leonora, enthusiastically, "you are right. Let me, +therefore, pursue my own path, and may Heaven accompany me! You are +not angry with me, then, godfather? You really are not? No? Now give +me your hand, godfather, and let me take leave of you with an +affectionate kiss!" She threw her arms round the old man's neck, and +kissed him tenderly. + +"But you do not intend to leave immediately?" asked M. Werkmeister, +surprised. "You have not even seen my sick wife, and talk already of +taking leave?" + +"Ah, I must go. I have still much to attend to, and must leave +Berlin to-night. But, tell me one thing! What is the meaning of the +inscription at your door, and why is there such a crowd in front of +your house?" + +"They are reading the placard which I have hung out," said M. +Werkmeister--"the request which I addressed to all patriots." + +"And what do you request of them to do, godfather?" + +"I request all families, and especially all wives and affianced +brides, to bring their gold wedding-rings to me and receive iron +ones in return; and in commemoration of these times, I have had ten +thousand iron rings made, and the royal authorities approved my +scheme and intrusted me with the collection of the gold ones. My +request was published in the papers of this morning, and already +more than thirty gold rings have been exchanged. Look, here are the +iron ones. They are very neat, are they not?--the exact shape of +genuine wedding-rings; only in place of the names, the inside +contains the words, 'I gave gold for iron, 1813.' Read!" + +"Oh, that is a very beautiful idea," exclaimed Leonora, +contemplating the ring which he had handed her. "Such a memento will +henceforth be the most precious ornament of all wives, and no gold +will shine so brilliantly and be so valuable as these iron rings +with which our women pledge their love to their native land. Ah, +dear godfather, I would like to ask a favor of you. I am no wife, +nor am I an affianced bride, and I have, therefore, no wedding-ring +to give you. I have nothing but my heart, and in this heart there is +no other love than that of country. Let me, therefore, offer it to +the fatherland instead of gold, and give me for it an iron ring with +the beautiful inscription: 'I gave gold for iron, 1813.'" + +"There is a ring, my child; your heart is pure gold; let it remain +so; then you will well deserve your ring!" He placed it on her +finger, and she thanked him with a blissful smile. + +"And now I go, dear godfather," said Leonora. "Farewell, and do not +forget me! And--" + +At this moment a lady entered the room. Her dress indicated poverty, +and her face was pale and sunken, but her eyes were lit up with a +noble enthusiasm. "The wedding-rings are exchanged here?" she asked. + +"Yes, here." + +She quickly drew two from her finger, and handed them to M. +Werkmeister. "Take them," she cried. "One of these rings belongs to +me, the other I drew from the finger of my dear husband. Ten years +have elapsed since then; I have always worn them, and, although I +have often suffered great privations, I could never part with my +only treasure. But to-day I do so joyously. Give me my iron rings!" +She took those handed her, and placed them on her finger. "Farewell, +sir," she said. "These will be my daughter's heirloom, and I know +she will rejoice over them." She had not yet crossed the threshold +when another lady appeared, and another, and more followed in rapid +succession. The newspapers, containing the request, had been read in +the whole city; all the married women hastened to comply with it, +and to lay down their wedding-rings on the altar of the fatherland. +Leonora stood as if fascinated by the beautiful and soul-stirring +scene. With radiant eyes she gazed at the ladies who came and +received with joyous pride iron rings in exchange for gold ones--at +the young women, who, blushing and with tearful eyes, gave up their +first love-pledge--at the old matrons who came totteringly to +exchange the golden reminiscences of the days of their youth for +iron ornaments. [Footnote: On the first day about two hundred +wedding-rings were exchanged.--Vide Beitzke, vol. i.] Tears of +profound emotion fell from Leonora's eyes. She wished to embrace +these women and thank them for their patriotism. + +"I will also prove to the country how ardently I love it," she said +to herself. "I will also make my sacrifices. I must go, Caroline is +waiting for me. I must buy arms for the soldiers whom I intend to +furnish." She shook hands with her godfather in silence. The crowd +in front of the door receded before her, and allowed her to pass, +filled with reverence for the women who returned from the solemn +sacrifice they had made. She passed on, absorbed in her reflections. +Once she raised her hand, and contemplated the iron ring on her +finger. "I gave gold for iron!" she said, raising her dark eyes +toward heaven. "I am now a bride, too, the bride of my country! Will +it give me only iron for the gold of my love? Only a bullet or a +sword-cut? No matter! I am the bride of the fatherland! I will live +and die for it!" She was aroused from her musings by cheers suddenly +resounding from the side of the Gendarmes Market. An immense crowd +had assembled there, and shouted frantically, their faces beaming +with joy. + +"What is it?" + +And a hundred jubilant voices replied: "General York is coming with +the Prussians! The king has reinstated York! The court-martial has +acquitted him!" [Footnote: York made his entry into Berlin at the +head of the Prussian troops on the 17th of March, 1813, and was +received with boundless enthusiasm.] + +"Long live noble General York!" shouted the crowd. "York was the +first man to take heart, and brave the French!" + +"York is coming to Berlin!" shouted others, hurrying from the +adjoining streets to the market-place. "York, with his Prussians, is +outside the King's Gate, and to-morrow he will make his entry into +Berlin!" + +"Long live the brave general! All Berlin will meet him to-morrow, +and cheer him who first drew his sword against the French! The new +era is dawning on Prussia!" + +"Yes, the new era is dawning on Prussia!" exclaimed Leonora. "We +have long walked in sadness. But morning is breaking--the morning of +freedom. Now we shall boldly raise our heads. The country has called +us, and we all have heard the call, and are ready to conquer or die. +Hail, brave York! The time of thraldom is past! We shall rise from +the dust, and the Germans will now reconquer the sacred right of +being Germans. Oh, my heart, rejoice! I am no longer a girl, I am +one of Lutzow's riflemen, and to-morrow I shall go to Breslau, and +add another soldier to the Legion of Vengeance. Farewell, Leonora +Prohaska, farewell! Now you are a man, and your soul must be manly, +strong, and hopeful. Long live Prussia!" + + + + +WAR AND AN ARMISTICE. + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THEODORE KORNER. + + +Another corps of volunteers leaving Berlin had arrived at Breslau, +and just alighted from their wagons on the large market-place, +called the "Ring," and received their tickets for quarters at the +city hall. Two of these volunteers, emerging from the building, +descended arm in arm the steps of the front staircase. They were two +young men of slight forms and strangely youthful appearance. Not the +faintest down was around their fresh lips, and white and delicate +were their foreheads. But no one was surprised at their tender age, +for people were accustomed nowadays to see lads emulate manhood, +believing that courage did not depend on years. By the side of aged +men, boys who had just been confirmed were seen to enter the ranks +of the volunteers, and handle their muskets with the same strength +and energy as veteran soldiers. No one, therefore, particularly +noticed the youthful age of the two volunteers who came forth from +the city hall, and were now crossing the place arm in arm. + +"Now our lot is cast," said one of them, with a smile. "We are +soldiers!" + +"Yes, we are soldiers," cried the other, "and we shall be brave +ones, Caroline!" + +"Caroline!" echoed the other, in dismay. "How imprudent! Did we not +leave our female names with our wearing apparel at Berlin with the +Jew, Leonora?" + +"Ah, and you call me, too, by my female name," said Leonora, with a +gentle smile. "No matter! it is all right enough so long as no one +hears it. We have no secrets from each other, and we are, therefore, +allowed to call each other by the names received at the baptismal +font." + +"But before the world we call ourselves differently now; I am +Charles Petersen, and you--what is your name now, Leonora?" + +"My name is Charles Renz," said Leonora, smiling. "That was the name +of my dear teacher, to whom I am indebted for what little knowledge +I have acquired, and who originally induced me to take the step I +have ventured upon. He had been a soldier a long time, and loved his +country and the royal family. History was his favorite study, and he +told me of the heroic deeds of ancient nations in their struggles +for liberty. His eyes beamed with transcendent ardor, and the words +flowed from his lips like a stream of poetry. He taught me that, +when the country was in danger, it was the duty of the women to take +up arms in its defence, and that there was no more beautiful death +than that on the field of honor. Joan of Orleans and the Maid of +Saragossa were his favorite heroines, and he always called Queen +Louisa the martyr of German liberty. When she died, three years ago, +the first idea that struck me was, how my old teacher would bear up +under this grief, and that it was incumbent upon me to comfort him. +I hastened to him, and found him sad and disheartened. 'Now my hopes +for Germany are gone,' he said, 'for the genius of German liberty +has left us and fled to heaven. Beautiful and noble Queen Louisa +might, perhaps, have still inspired the Germans to rise in arms +against the tyrant; but she is dead, and liberty has died with her.' +'No,' I cried, 'no! liberty will blossom from her grave. Germany +will rise to avenge the martyrdom of the queen; Germany's wrath will +be kindled anew by the sufferings of this august victim that +Napoleon's tyranny has wrung from us. Yes, the country will rise to +avenge Louisa.' He gazed at me a long while, and his tears ceased to +flow. After a prolonged pause he said: 'If it be as you say, if +Germany take up arms, what will you do, Leonora? Will you stay at +home, knit stockings, and scrape lint, or will you sacrifice your +heart, your blood, your life, and be a heroine?' I exclaimed, +joyously: 'I will sacrifice all to the fatherland, and help to +achieve the victory, or die on the battle-field!' The eyes of my old +teacher were radiant with delight. 'Swear it to me, Leonora,' he +cried, 'swear to me, by all that is sacred--swear by the memory of +our sainted Queen Louisa!' I laid my hand on the Bible, and swore by +the memory of Queen Louisa to fight like a man and a hero. I am now +about to fulfil my oath, and, as my dear old teacher has died, I +have adopted his name as my inheritance, and call myself Charles +Renz. It seems to me it is a doubly sacred duty now to be brave, for +I must do honor to my teacher's name." + +"And you will do so, I am sure," cried Caroline. "And I will do so, +too, Leonora. No teacher has impelled me to love my native land. +This sentiment is spontaneous; perhaps because I have nothing else +to love. I am alone in the world; my dear parents are dead; I have +no brothers or sisters, no lover; and inasmuch as I have nothing to +love, I gave up my heart to hatred. I hate the French, and, above +all, Napoleon, who has brought so much misery on Europe, and for ten +years has spilt rivers of blood. It is hatred that has incited me-- +hatred has forced the sword into my hand, and when we go into +battle, I shall not only call, like you, 'Long live the fatherland!' +but add, 'Death to the tyrant Napoleon, the enemy of the Germans!' +Yes, I hate this Bonaparte more intensely than I love my own life; +and, as I could not stab him with the needle, with which I made caps +and bonnets for the fair ladies of Berlin, I have cast it aside, and +taken up the sword. That is my whole history--the history of the ci- +devant milliner Caroline Peters, the future horseman Charles +Petersen." + +"What!" ejaculated Leonora, in amazement. "You intend to enlist in +the cavalry?" + +"If they will accept me. I am well versed in horsemanship, for when +my father was still living I rode out with him every day. He was a +much-respected farmer in the suburbs of Stralsund, and owned many +horses. During the siege of Stralsund he lost every thing, and we +were reduced to extreme poverty. My father died of grief, and since +that time I have not again mounted a horse. But I think I still know +how to manage one, and am not afraid of doing so." + +"But why will you? Why not remain in the infantry, which would be +much more natural and simple?" + +"Why? Shall I tell you the truth, Leonora? Let me tell you, then, +confidentially; it is because long marches would incommode me. And +you? Would it not be better for you to follow my example?" + +"No," said Leonora, "I shall remain in the infantry, and become one +of Lutzow's riflemen--a member of the Legion of Vengeance.--I +believe we have arrived at the house designated to us. Major von +Lutzow lives here; the numerous volunteers who are going in and out +show that we have reached his headquarters. Now, Caroline, farewell! +and let me greet you, friend Charles Petersen!" + +"Leonora, farewell! and let me greet you, friend Charles Renz!" They +shook hands and looked into each other's glowing faces. + +"Forward now, comrade!" said Caroline, walking toward the house + +"Forward!" echoed Leonora, jubilantly. + +Arm in arm they walked across the gloomy hall to the low, brown +door, entering the room pointed out to them as Major von Lutzow's +recruiting-office. It was a large, low room; long tables, painted +brown, such as are to be found in small taverns or beer-saloons, +stood on both sides of the smoky whitewashed walls; low stools, of +the same description, were beside them, and constituted, with the +tables, the only furniture of this hall, where the citizens and +mechanics had formerly taken their beer, and where now the +volunteers came to take the oath of fidelity to the fatherland and +Major von Lutzow. In the middle of this room stood a young lady of +rare beauty. A plain black dress enveloped her form, reaching to her +neck and veiling her bust. Her face was very white and delicate, a +complexion to be found only among the fair daughters of the North; +her blond hair fell down in heavy ringlets beside her faintly- +flushed cheeks; a fervent light was beaming from her large light- +blue eyes. + +"That is Madame von Lutzow, to whom the travellers in the stage- +coach alluded," said Leonora to herself; "it is the count's noble +daughter, who poured a glass of water over her hand because a +Frenchman had kissed it, and who descended from her father's castle +to marry a poor Prussian officer, whom she loved for the scars on +his forehead." + +The beautiful lady approached the two young volunteers with a sweet, +winning smile. "You wish to see Major von Lutzow, do you not?" she +inquired. "Unfortunately, he is not at home; pressing business +matters prevent him from personally welcoming the young heroes who +wish to join him. He has charged me with doing so in his place, and +you may believe that I bid you welcome with as joyous a heart as my +husband would do." + +"Oh, we are so happy to be received by you," said Leonora, smiling, +"for we were told at Berlin of noble and beautiful Madame von Lutzow +enlisting the Legion of Vengeance, and who is so true a +representative of the great idea of our struggle. For our struggle +is one both of vengeance and love. Since then we have longed to be +enlisted by you, madame, and to take our oath of fidelity." + +"I accept it in the name of Major von Lutzow," said the lady, with a +gentle smile. "Here are your numbers, and now give me your names +that I may enter them in the recruiting book." She approached the +table on which the large open book was lying, and quickly noted down +the names which the two volunteers gave, affixing the numbers +already given. "Now, then," she said, kindly, nodding to them, "you +are enlisted in the sacred service of the fatherland, and I hope you +will do your duty. I hope you--" + +At this moment the door was opened hastily, and a young man rushed +into the room. + +"Theodore Korner!" ejaculated the lady, greeting him cordially. + +"Yes, Madame von Lutzow, it is I," exclaimed the young man, saluting +the two volunteers--"it is I, and I come to you a prey to boundless +despair!" + +Madame von Lutzow hastened to him, and looked with an expression of +heart-felt sympathy into his handsome, pale face. + +"Yes, indeed," she said, "your face looks like a cloud from which +thunder and lightning may be expected at any moment. What is the +matter? What has happened to you, my poet and hero?" + +"Come, let us go," whispered Caroline to her friend. + +"No, let us stay," said Leonora, in a low voice. "If it is a secret, +they will bid us go; but I should like to know what ails the fine- +looking young man whom Madame von Lutzow calls a poet and a hero. +Oh, I have never yet seen a poet, and this one is so handsome!" + +"Let us sit down on this bench," whispered Caroline, "and--" + +"Hush, let us listen!" said Leonora, sitting down. + +"It is not that, then?" exclaimed the lady, who in the mean time had +continued her conversation with the young man. "Your father has not +rebuked his son for the quick resolve he had taken." + +"No, no," said Theodore Korner, hastily, "on the contrary, my father +approves my determination to enlist, and sends me his blessing. I +received a very touching letter from him this morning." + +"It is his affianced bride, then, that has driven our poet to +despair, because he loves her more ardently than the fatherland," +said Madame von Lutzow. "It is true, I cannot blame her for it, for +the woman that loves has but one country--the heart of her lover, +and she is homeless as soon it turns from her. But this is precisely +the grand and beautiful sacrifice--that you give up for the sake of +your country all that we otherwise call the greatest and holiest +blessings of life--your affianced bride; your pleasant, comfortable +existence; a fine, honorable position, and a future full of a poet's +fame and splendor. It is, indeed, a sacrifice, but a sacrifice for +which the fatherland will thank you, and which will incite thousands +to emulate your noble example." + +"Would it were so!" exclaimed Korner, enthusiastically, raising his +large black eyes to heaven; "would that our patriotic ardor struck +all hearts like a thunderbolt, and kindled a conflagration, whose +flames would shed a lustre over the remotest times! I do not deny +that I felt how great was the sacrifice I made, but this very +feeling filled me with enthusiasm. All the stars of my happiness +were shining upon me in mild beauty, but I was not allowed to look +up to them because it was the night of adversity; but now that this +night is about to vanish, and a new morning is dawning, my stars, +too, must fade before the sun of liberty. That was the sacred +conviction which drove me away from Vienna, from my betrothed bride, +and caused me to cast aside all that otherwise imparts value to +life. A great era requires great hearts. I felt strong enough to go +out and bare my breast to the storm. Could I do nothing but sing +songs in honor of my victorious brethren? No one would have then +loved and esteemed me any longer; my parents would have been ashamed +of me, and my affianced bride would have contemptuously turned away +from the cowardly poet. Therefore, I gave up every thing for the +sake of my native land. It is true, my parents and my Emma will weep +for me. May God comfort them! I could not spare them this blow. It +is not much that I risk my life; but that this life is adorned with +love, friendship, and joy, and that I nevertheless risk it, is a +sacrifice that can be compensated only by love of country, more +sacred than any other love, and to it we should devote our life. +[Footnote: His own words.--Vide "Theodore Korner's Works," edited by +Carl Streckfuss p. 54] My noble father feels and knows this, and so +does my betrothed." + +"And yet, agreed though you are with yourself and your dear ones, +why this despair?" asked Madame von Lutzow, with a smile. + +Korner looked down in confusion, and then raised his flaming eyes +with a strange expression. "Ah, madame," he exclaimed, "I divine +your stratagem; it is that of an angel, and, therefore, worthy of +you." + +"What stratagem do yon mean?" she asked, with a semblance of +surprise. + +"The angelic stratagem by which you comforted me in my grief, +without knowing its cause. When I rushed so impolitely into this +room, I told you that I was in despair. And you, instead of urging +me to tell you at once the cause of it, inquired for the great +affairs of my life, and whether my affliction came from my parents +or my affianced bride. You thereby wished to admonish me that these +momentous affairs and relations of my life, not having lost their +harmony, my grief was, perhaps, but a passing dissonance, and that +it really might not be worth while to give way to despair on account +of it. I am sure, madame, I have understood you: was not this the +object of your questions?" + +Madame von Lutzow nodded gently. "You have understood me," she said. +"I think in all our grievances we should, before giving way to +vexation or despair, lay the great questions of life before us, and +inquire whether that which weighs us down touches them, whether it +strikes at our true happiness. Now, if this is not the case, we +should bear the grievance lightly, and not consider it a misfortune. +To feel greatly what is great, and to heed little what is little, is +the true wisdom of life." + +"You are right, as you always are," said Theodore Korner, +reverentially bowing to the beautiful lady, "and let me penitently +confess, then, that I have this time heeded greatly what is little +and have considered what grieved me a great misfortune. But now that +I have confessed my guilt, the guardian angel of the volunteers must +have mercy upon me and come to my assistance. For something very +unpleasant has really befallen me, and no philosophy can dispute +it." + +"Well, confess what it is," exclaimed Madame von Lutzow, smiling. + +"You know, madame, that our Legion of Vengeance is to be solemnly +consecrated at the village of Rochau, at the foot of the Zobtenberg, +on Sunday next?" + +"Of course I do, and I shall accompany Lutzow and the volunteers in +order to witness the ceremony." + +"At the village church we are all to appear for the first time in +our black uniforms, to receive the preacher's blessing, and to be +consecrated as soldiers of the fatherland. I myself have written a +poem, adapted to the air of an anthem, for this solemn occasion, and +all my comrades will sing it. After the sermon the volunteers in the +church will take the oath of war upon the swords of their officers. +I have been ardently yearning for this day, and now I shall probably +be unable to participate in its services, for--do not laugh, madame, +at my insignificant mishap--the tailor refuses to make me a uniform +by that time, and in citizen's clothes, as a fashionable dandy, I +really cannot appear among the brave men who will proudly walk about +in their litefkaes. The tailor says it is impossible for him to make +a uniform at so short a notice; he pretends to be overwhelmed with +work, and does not know where to find hands. Now you, the helping, +advising, and protecting genius of the volunteers, are my last +consolation and resort. If you send for the cruel tailor, and tell +him how important it is for me to participate in that ceremony, your +words will render possible what now he declares impossible. +Therefore, send for the tailor, madame; he fortunately lives close +by, in the court-yard, in the large rear building; order him to make +me a uniform, and he will have to do so, for who could withstand +your words?" + +"Well, I will try," said Madame von Lutzow, smiling. "I will see +whether my words are so impressive as to move a tailor's heart." + +"And if he is unable to comply with your wishes because he lacks +assistants," said Leonora, hastily rising from her seat near the +door, and approaching Korner and Madame von Lutzow, "I offer myself +as an assistant, for I am a tailor." + +"So am I," exclaimed Caroline, vividly. "I know, too, how to ply the +needle, and am ready to assist in sewing a comrade's uniform." + +"Ah, the volunteers whom I have just enlisted, and whose pardon I +have to ask for having forgotten them," cried Madame Von Lutzow, +smiling. + +"We have rather to ask your pardon for staying here," said Leonora. +"But we are indebted to you and to the poet Theodore Korner for the +most soul-stirring sentiments, and it seems to me as though we have +received only now the true consecration for the future that lies +before ns. Now, that I know what great sacrifices one may joyously +make, I feel how incumbent it was upon me to make them too, and I +have no remorse at leaving my parents and my brothers--It is +certainly true, as the poet said: 'A great era requires great +hearts!' And therefore I will try, to the best of my power, to have +a great heart, that I may be worthy of our great era." + +"A great and noble heart is beaming from your eyes, my friend," said +Theodore Korner, offering his hand to Leonora. "I greet you both as +dear comrades of mine, and beg you to treat me as one." + +"Yes, we will do so," exclaimed Caroline, shaking hands with the +poet. "And we will prove it directly by going to that tailor and +offering to assist him in making the uniform of our esteemed +lieutenant." + +"Softly, my friend!" laughed Theodore Korner, "I have not yet risen +so high; I am no lieutenant." + +"But you will be soon," said Caroline, ardently; "for one may easily +read in your face that you are born to command, and not to obey. We +volunteers are to elect our own officers. Well, then, I shall vote +for Theodore Korner." [Footnote: Theodore Korner was elected +lieutenant by his comrades on the 24th of April.] + +"So shall I!" ejaculated Leonora. + +"But while indulging in such dreams as to the future, we forgot the +grim tailor," said Theodore Korner, smiling. "Madame von Lutzow, I +beseech you, pity my distress, and send for him, that your eloquence +may soften his heart." + +"But suppose he does not comply?" asked Madame von Lutzow. "It would +be wrong, too, to occupy his time while so busy. You say the man +lives near?" + +"Scarcely fifty steps from here." + +"Well, then, conduct me to him!" said Madame von Lutzow, "we will +pay a visit to him as Torquato Tasso once went to the Duke di +Ferrara. You, my two young friends, will please accompany us, that +we may present to him two willing assistants. Come!" + +"Yes, madame, and may your eloquence prevail!" exclaimed Korner, +opening the door, and posting himself beside it in order to allow +the lady to pass out. Graceful and smiling, she hastened through the +gloomy room and approached the door, followed by the two volunteers +with their rosy faces and bright eyes. When about to cross the +threshold, she stood and gazed archly at Korner, "Stop," she said, +"I have to impose a condition. If we are to assist a poet, he must +in return pay us a poet's tribute. I shall not cross this threshold +before you recite one of your new war-songs." + +"Yes, a song!" cried the two volunteers. + +"Well, you are silent?" asked Madame von Lutzow, smiling. "Strike +the chords of your lyre, and let us hear a battle-hymn!" + +"No, not a battle-hymn," said Theodore Korner; "that requires the +accompaniment of clashing arms and booming cannon. But to the fair +patroness of the Legion of Vengeance I will communicate, although it +is not completed, my hymn to the guardian angel of German liberty-- +Queen Louisa!" Raising his dark-blue eyes to heaven, he recited the +following lines, addressed "to Queen Louisa:" + +"Du Heilige I hor Deiner Kinder Flehen, + Es dringe machtig anf zo deinern Licht. + Kannst wieder freundlich auf uns niedersehen + Verklarter Engel! Ifinger weine nicht! + Benn Preussens Adler soll zum Kampfe wehen. + Es drangt Dein Volk sich jubelnd zu der Pflicht, + Und Jeder wahlt, und keinen siehst du leben, + Den freien Ted fur ein bezwung nes Leben." + +"Wir lagen noch in feige Nacht gehettet; + Da rief nach Dir Deiu besseres Geschick, + An die unwurd'ge Zeit warst Du gekettet, + Zur Rache mahnte Dein gebroch'ner Blick. + So hast Du uns den deutschen Muth gerettet. + Jetzt sieh auf uns, sieh auf Dein Volk zuruck, + Wie alle Herzen treu und muthig brennen! + Nun woll uns auch die Deinen wieder nennen!" + +"Und wie einst, alle Krafte zu beleben, + Ein Heil'genbild, fur den gerechten Krieg + Dem Heeresbanner schutzend zugegeben, + Als Oriflamme in die Lufte stieg: + So soil Dein Bild auf unsern Fabnen schweben, + Und soil uns leuchten durch die Nacht zum Sieg! + Louise sei der Schutzgeist deutscher Sache! + Louise sei das Losungswort zur Rache!" + +[Footnote: + O sainted one I now let thy children's prayer, + As incense, rise to realms of heavenly light; + Beholding us thou canst' with gladness hear, + And tears no more may dim thy vision bright: + For Prussia's standard in the battle near + Will nerve thy people to their ancient might. + Thy sons in crowded ranks await the strife, + Preferring a free death to slavery's life. + +Enthralled in long and timid gloom we lay; + When Heaven recalled thee, and thy fetters broke + Which bound thee to thy times' unworthy sway, + Thy dying eyes of future vengeance spoke. + Thus didst thou save on that sad final day + The German honor, and our courage woke. + Behold us now, as we all fear resign, + With glowing hearts, and once more call us thine! + +As erst to serried legions in the field, + A sacred symbol, as a golden flame, + Lit up the battle-standard, and revealed + For whom the victory's just though bloody claim: + So let us, 'neath thy bannered image, wield + A valiant sword--our "oriflamme" thy name-- + The pledge of honor and the gathering cry, + To live for Prussia's glory, or to die!] + +"Louisa shall be the guardian angel of the German cause and the +battle-cry of vengeance!" echoed the two volunteers. + +Madame von Lutzow said nothing. She stood, with her white hands +clasped, as if in prayer, and her sweet face turned heavenward. +Tears were glittering in her eyes; and, giving her hand to the poet, +she said in a low voice: "You have paid us a tribute worthy of you. +Thanks! And now come!" She quickly crossed the threshold toward the +court-yard. Korner was by her side; Leonora and Caroline, the two +volunteers, followed her. + +"The four windows on the ground-floor yonder are those of the +tailor's shop," said Korner. + +Madame von Lutzow nodded, and walked across the wide court-yard +toward the house. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE HEROIC TAILOR. + + +The tailor and his hands were very busy. All sorts of colored cloths +and pieces of uniforms were lying about. On the bench, in the middle +of the room, sat four workmen, hard at work. Not a word interrupted +the silence now desecrated by the noise of the opening door. He who +sat on a somewhat raised seat, and was just braiding a magnificent +scarlet hussar-jacket, hastily looked up. His hand, armed with his +needle, had just risen and remained suspended; his eyes, which he +had at first raised carelessly from his work, were fixed on the +door, which framed so unusual and attractive a picture--a young lady +of surpassing beauty, surrounded by three youthful soldiers, who +looked very fine and imposing, too, and whose looks were turned to +him with a kind and inquiring expression. + +"You are M. Martin, the merchant tailor, are you not?" asked the +lady, greeting the tailor with a gentle nod. + +"That is my name," said M. Martin, involuntarily rising from his +seat. + +"Well, then, my dear sir," said the lady, advancing a few steps into +the shop, "I should like to say a word to you." + +"Yes, I imagine what it is," exclaimed the tailor, who fixed his +eyes now upon Theodore Korner, and recognized his tormentor. "The +gentleman has been here twice already about a uniform for Sunday. +But I could not make it, if an angel descended from heaven to +entreat me." + +"Well, I thank you for your compliment," said Madame von Lutzow, +smiling. "But tell me now, sir, why can you not accommodate him?" + +"Because I have more work now than I am able to finish. I was rash +enough to accept so many orders, that I do not know how I shall be +able to fill them; and in the excitement and confusion prevalent in +the city it is impossible to get assistance at present." + +"Well, if that is the only reason, we bring you fresh help. These +two young volunteers are ready to work under your supervision, and +finish the uniform of their comrade." + +The tailor glanced toward the two young volunteers. "Lads, scarcely +sixteen years old!" he said, shrugging his shoulders; "it is +impossible that they can be experienced artists." + +"But both affirm that they are tailors," said Madam von Lutzow, "and +skilled in their trade." + +"Yes, sir, please give us a trial," begged Leonora. + +"We are quick and skilful workmen," protested Caroline. + +"Regular tailors?" asked M, Martin. + +"Yes, regular tailors," replied Leonora. + +"Very well. Finish this collar; the needle is still in it," said M. +Martin, handing the scarlet soldier-jacket to Leonora. + +The young volunteer blushed, and said in a low voice: "To be sure; +sir. I must ask you to show me how to do it, for I have never yet +worked on men's clothes." + +"A ladies' tailor?" exclaimed M. Martin, with an expression of +boundless contempt. "The other one, too?" + +"Yes, I also am a ladies' tailor," said Caroline, smiling. + +"And they are bold enough to offer their assistance to me!" +exclaimed M. Martin, shrugging his shoulders. + +"It is only necessary for you to give them proper directions, sir," +said Madame von Lutzow, entreatingly, "for as they know how to ply +the needle they will easily understand what to do." + +"And if the uniform should not fit well, or be badly made, it will +be laid at my door, and M. Martin will be blamed for it. I assure +you I cannot take the job; I am short of workmen of the necessary +experience. No one wants to work now-adays--all heads are turned-- +all young men are enlisting." + +"No, sir," said the lady, "all heads are turned right again--to one +thing necessary at this time--to the service of the fatherland." + +"Bah! my shop is my fatherland," said the tailor, contemptuously. + +"That is not true," exclaimed Madame von Lutzow, "you do not and +cannot think so. For if you did, you would be no Prussian, no +German, and no one could love and respect you. During the period of +adversity and disgrace, your shop may have been a comfort to you; +but now that the sun of liberty is rising, all hearts must throb +joyously; all must go out and gaze upon the new world; the shop no +longer contains the work worthy of a freeman--it is to be found only +on the battle-field--deliverance of the country!" + +"The lady is right!" exclaimed the tailor's three assistants, who +had hitherto looked up but stealthily from their work, but now cast +it aside with impetuosity. "Yes, the lady is right! It is a shame +for honest men to sit here in this room and ply the needle, while +our friends and brethren are drawing the sword and marching out to +the holy war of liberation. We must also participate in the great +struggle!" + +"Oh, yes," cried the tailor, in grim despair, "now my last workmen +are coaxed away from me! You have taken the money I offered you when +you entered my service, and as honest men you must keep your word. +Resume your work! You know well that we are very busy." + +The men commenced their work again with morose faces, whispering to +each other: "As soon as the week has expired, we shall leave the +shop and enlist." + +"Well, madame, what do you wish?" exclaimed the tailor, furiously. +"You have come to give me a job, and at the same time you disparage +my business, and seduce my workmen to leave me. I shall soon have to +close my shop." + +"But you will not do so, dear M. Martin, before having made a +uniform for this young man," said Madame von Lutzow, in an +entreating tone and with a sweet smile. "I have certainly not come +to disparage your honorable business, for what should we do without +the skilful tailor, who makes the uniforms of our soldiers and fits +them out, as it were, for the service of their country? Oh, I am +sure that you have worked at them with grand reflections, since this +labor is more agreeable to you than if you had to make the most +gorgeous suit for a chamberlain, and it gladdens you to think: 'I am +likewise working hard for the fatherland. I am in my own way a +soldier of the country; for I devote to it my skill and labor.'" + +"That is true," said M. Martin, in confusion, "and that you may not +believe me to be a worse man than I really am, I must tell you that +I do not take pay for these jobs, but that I have offered to make +twelve uniforms for our soldiers free of charge. I have nothing else +to offer; hence, I give all I can!" + +"And there is no nobler gift!" exclaimed Madame von Lutzow. "You are +a good man; pray give me your hand and let me thank you." She +offered her hand to the tailor, and he put his broad, cold hand +timidly into it. + +"Oh, now I fear nothing," said Madame von Lutzow, joyfully; "as you +are so good a patriot, you will fulfil our prayer, and make a +uniform for this young man for next Sunday." + +"But I have told you already that I cannot," replied M. Martin, +almost tearfully--"I cannot finish it." + +"And I reply: Try, sir! I am sure you will finish it. For, take into +consideration, dear M. Martin, that your own reputation is at stake, +and that all the brave volunteers would execrate your name if it +should be your fault that their favorite and celebrated bard could +not attend the Sunday's ceremony." + +"How so? What bard do you allude to, madame?" + +"I allude to the great poet who stands before you--Theodore Korner." + +"Ah, this is Theodore Korner!" exclaimed the tailor, "The poet who +wrote 'Toni,' the splendid comedy that I saw last winter at our +theatre?" + +"The same, my dear sir," said Madame von Lutzow, while Korner nodded +to the tailor with a pleasant smile. "And he has written many other +beautiful plays, and magnificent songs to boot. This is the reason +why, though he is only twenty-one years old, he is famous throughout +Germany, and at Vienna occupied a brilliant position. He is +affianced to a dear, sweet young woman, whom he loves with all his +heart, and to whom he was to be married within a month; but suddenly +the battle-cry of freedom resounded throughout Germany, the King of +Prussia called upon the able-bodied young men to volunteer and +avenge the disgrace of Germany, and see what love of country can +accomplish! The young man casts aside every thing--he gives up all, +his fame, his betrothed, his position, and hastens with enthusiasm +to offer his arm and his services-to exchange his poetical fame and +his earthly happiness for victory or an honorable death on the +battle-field." + +"Oh, that is really glorious," cried the men, striking with their +clinched right hands their knee, as though it were a recruiting- +drum. + +"Yes, it is so," said M. Martin, thoughtfully, to himself. + +"Madame," whispered the poet, smiling, "you make me blush by your +too kind praise." + +"Is it my fault that a plain statement of the facts in the case is +such praise for you?" asked Madame von Lutzow. "For I have told you +the truth, M. Martin, and all happened precisely as I have stated +it. He has given up all to enlist. Vainly do his parents and his +loved one weep for him. He hears nothing--sees nothing--for his +country calls him, and he obeys. He does not desire happiness before +his country is free, and sweeter than the most blissful life seems +to him a glorious death for the fatherland. So he has come; the +volunteers greeted him with shouts of exultation, and they believe +now that Providence will cause their arms and their bravery to be +successful, since an inspired bard will take the field with them, +and endow them with redoubled ardor by his songs. But, before taking +the field, they wish to implore God's blessing at the altar, and on +Sunday next all those who are already uniformed and equipped are to +take the oath of war and be consecrated. Theodore Korner has written +for the occasion a pious hymn, which all the volunteers will sing, +and now how can you be so cruel as to prevent him from singing his +own hymn with them?" + +"I?" cried the tailor, in dismay. + +"Yes, you! For, if you do not accommodate him, he cannot be +present." + +M. Martin heaved a profound sigh, and cast a glance of despair +around his shop. "There are still three hussar-jackets to be +finished," he murmured. "If it were but a hussar-uniform that the +gentleman asks for! But he does not wish to join the hussars?" + +"No, my friend. I enlist in the Legion of Vengeance, and become one +of Major von Lutzow's volunteer riflemen. It will, therefore, be +less troublesome to suit me." + +"But that dress is not near as showy as the other," said the tailor, +morosely. "An entirely black uniform with red trimmings on the +sleeves looks sad, and--cruel." + +"And that is as it ought to be, my dear sir. The black color +signifies our grief, the red signifies blood." + +And suddenly he commenced to sing: + +"Noch trauera wir im schwarzeu Racherkleide + Um den gestorbnen Muth, + Doch fragt man Euch, was dieses Roth bedeute; + Das deutet Frankenblut!" + +"Mit Gott!--Einst geht hoch uber Feindesleichen + Der Stern des Friedens auf; + Dann pflanzen wir ein weisses Siegeszeichen + Am freien Rheinstrom auf." + +[Footnote: + By this black uniform we ever mourn + The public spirit dead! + And why is then this crimson facing worn?-- + With Frenchmen's blood it's red. + +When high above vast heaps of slaughtered foes, + The star of peace shall shine, + The banner white, which victory bestows, + Raise by our own free Rhine.] + +"Then we shall raise a white symbol of our victory on the banks of +the free Rhine!" echoed the volunteers, and the tailor and his +assistants. + +"M. Martin!" cried Madame von Lutzow, laughing, "you have forgotten +yourself; you have joined in the chorus!" + +"Yes, it is true," ho said, "I have sung these few words with them; +they make my heart swell, and--I do not know what has happened to +me--it seems to me the song and all you have said make another man +of me, and--" + +"You will make the uniform for Theodore Korner?" asked Madame von +Lutzow, smiling. + +M. Martin was silent, and quickly raised his head and looked at his +assistants, who were gazing at him inquiringly. + +"You have made up your minds, then?" he asked; "when the week is up, +and your jobs are finished, you intend to leave me, and volunteer?" + +"Yes, we have come to that determination," replied the three, +unanimously, "and nothing shall prevent us from carrying it out," + +"Well, then, I must close my shop, and discontinue the tailoring +business." + +"But what do you intend to do, then, sir?" asked one of the +journeymen, in surprise. + +"I intend to enlist!" replied M. Martin. "This beautiful lady and +the song have enchanted me. Hurrah! I also will enlist!" + +"But my uniform?" asked Korner. + +"Oh, you need not be concerned," exclaimed the tailor, in a proud +tone; "it shall be made! I will work all night, and not lay aside my +needle before it is done. Will you help me, journeymen?" + +"Yes, sir, we will!" + +"And you, too, volunteers? It is true, you are only ladies' tailors, +but you know at least how to line and pad a coat. Will you take the +job?" + +"Yes, M. Martin, we will joyously do so," cried Leonora and +Caroline. + +"Well, then, we can finish two uniforms by Sunday--one for the poet, +the other for myself!" + +"My dear sir, I thank you from the bottom of my heart," said Madame +von Lutzow; and then, turning her radiant face to Korner, she asked, +"Are you now satisfied?" + +"Ah, I knew well that no one could resist you, and that you are our +good angel," whispered the poet, pressing the hand of the lovely +lady to his lips. + +"But listen, M. Korner," said the tailor; "if I am to work for you +so industriously, I must impose a condition, and you must promise to +fulfil it." + +"What is it?" + +"It is that you shall not pay me for my labor." + +"But, sir, it is impossible for me to--" + +Madame von Lutzow laid her hand softly on his shoulder. "I am sure +you do not wish to offend this excellent man?" she whispered. + +"It is impossible for me to take pay for a favor which I do to one +of my future comrades," said M. Martin. "I suppose that is what you +wanted to say, and you are right. But if you insist on indemnifying +me, there is another way for you to do so." + +"Pray tell me." + +"You sang two verses, which sounded so bold and fresh that they +touched my heart. Was that the whole song, or are there any more +verses?" + +"No, sir, they are the two last; three others precede them." + +"Well, comrade," said M. Martin, gayly, "if you insist on my doing +my last tailoring job for you, then sing me the other three." + +Korner glanced inquiringly at Madame Lutzow. "I do not know," he +said, hesitatingly, "if madame will permit it?" + +Madame von Lutzow smiled. "I not only permit, but pray you to sing," +she said. "Give us the whole song, and let us all join in the +refrain. Come, brave soldiers of the future! cast aside your work, +form in line, and sing with us the song of the Black Riflemen!" + +The three journeymen jumped up, and posted themselves beside M. +Martin. The lady again withdrew to the door. On both sides stood the +two young volunteers, with their blooming faces, and between these +two groups stood the tall and noble form of the young poet, whose +fine face beamed with courage and energy, and on whose brow genius +had pressed the kiss of inspiration. + +"Now, listen attentively!" said Theodore Korner, smiling. "My song +is easy to sing, for who is ignorant of the song of the Rhenish +wine? Let us sing it to that melody!" + +And through the tailor's shop, hitherto so peaceful and silent, +resounded the song of the Black Riflemen: + +"In's Feld, in's Feld, die Rachegeister mahnen, + Auf, deutsches Volk, zum Krieg! + In's Feld, in's Feld! Hoch flattern unsere Fahnen, + Sie fuhren uns zum Sieg!" + +"Klein ist die Schaar, doch gross ist das Vertranen + Auf den gerechten Gott! + Wo seine Engel ihre Veste bauen, + Sind Hollenkunste Spott." + +"Gebt kein Pardon! Konet Ihr das Schwert nicht heben, + So wurgt sie ohne Scheu! + Und hoeh verkauft den letzten Tropfen Leben, + Der Tod macht Alle freil" + +[Footnote: + To the field! the spirits of vengeance cry; + Rise, and your country save! + Uplift your eagle banners to the sky-- + For victory they wave! + +In number small, but great our confidence + In a just God's decree; + When His own angels build our sure defence, + Vain is hell's strategy. + +No quarter give, but strike the fatal blow, + Dear let your life-blood be; + Ask not for mercy, and to none bestow, + For death makes all men free. + +This whole scene is based on facts, for which I am indebted to +personal communications from the Countess Ahlefeldt. Theodore Korner +fell in the first year of the war of liberation, before the decisive +battle of Leipsic, on the 26th of August, 1813, in a skirmish which +the corps of Major von Lutzow had with the French near Gadebusch. +Only an hour prior to his death, while lying in ambush, he wrote his +immortal "Song of the Sword" in his note-book. The statement of Mr. +Alison, the historian, that he was killed in the battle of Dresden, +is erroneous. + +Leonora Prohaska fell in an engagement on the Gorde, the 16th of +September, 1813. A bullet pierced her breast. When she felt that she +was dying, she revealed to her comrades that she was a woman, and +that her name was Leonora Prohaska, and not Charles Renz. + +Caroline Peters was more fortunate. She participated in the +campaigns of 1813 and 1814, was decorated with the order of the Iron +Cross on account of her bravery, and honorably discharged at the end +of the war. She was then married to the captain of an English vessel +whom she accompanied on his travels, and with whom she visited her +relatives at Stettin in 1844.--L. M.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE GENERAL-IN-CHIEF OF THE SILESIAN ARMY. + + +General Blucher was more morose and dejected than he had been for a +long time. From the day he heard of the king's arrival at Breslau, +and immediately left his farm of Kunzendorf to repair to that city, +a perpetual sunshine lit up his face, and a new spring bloomed in +his heart. But now the old clouds of Kunzendorf were again lowering +on his brow, and a frost seemed to have blighted all the blossoms of +his hope. + +He sat on the sofa, closely wrapped in his dressing-gown, drumming +with his hand a quickstep on the table in front of him, while he was +blowing clouds of smoke from his long pipe. Very gloomy thoughts +appeared to fill Blucher's soul, for his bushy eyebrows contracted, +the quickstep was more rapid, and the smoke arose in denser masses. +In the violence of his inward trouble, he grimly shook his head +without thinking of the fragile friend in his mouth. Its delicate +form struck against the corner of the table and broke into pieces. + +"So," muttered Blucher to himself, "that was just wanting to my +afflictions. It is the second pipe broken to-day. Well, there will +be a day when Bonaparte shall pay me these pipes that he has already +cost me. That day must come, or there is no justice in Heaven. +Christian! O Christian!" + +The door opened. Christian Hennemann appeared on the threshold, +awaiting the orders of the general. + +"Another wounded pipe, Christian," said Blucher, pointing at the +pieces on the floor. "Pick them up, and see if there is not a short +pipe among them." + +"No, your excellency," said Christian, approaching and carefully +picking up the pieces, "that is no wounded pipe, but a dead one. +Shall I fetch another to your excellency?" + +He was about to turn away, but Blucher seized the lap of his hussar- +jacket. "Show me the broken pipe," he said, anxiously; "let me see +if it really will not do any more." + +"Well, look at it, your excellency," said the pipe-master, in a +dignified tone, holding up the bowl with a very small part of the +tube. "It is impossible for you to use it again. If I should fill +the bowl with tobacco and light it, your excellency, it would +assuredly burn your nose." + +"That is true," said Blucher, mournfully; "I believe you are right. +I might burn my nose, and that would be altogether unnecessary now. +I burn it here at Breslau every day." + +"How did you do it?" asked Christian, in dismay. "Your excellency +has not yet smoked short pipes." + +"Because I am myself like a short pipe," cried Blucher, with a grim +smile, "or because the miserable, sneaking vermin at court--well, +what does it concern you? Why do you stand and stare at me? Go, +Christian, and fetch me a new Pipe." + +"What, a new pipe!" asked a voice by his side. "Why, Blucher, you +are still in your dressing-gown!" + +It was his wife who had just entered the room by the side-door and +approached her husband without being noticed. She was in full +toilet, her head adorned with plumes, her delicate form wrapped in a +heavy dark satin dress, trimmed with costly silver lace. Her neck +and ears were ornamented with jewelry in which large diamonds shone; +in her hand, radiant with valuable rings, she held a huge fan, +inlaid with pearls and precious stones. + +"Yes, Amelia, I am still in my dressing-gown," said Blucher, +gloomily gazing at his wife. "Why, you are splendidly dressed to- +day! What is it for?--and whither do you design to go?" + +"Whither!" exclaimed the lady, in surprise. "But, husband, do you +forget, then, the festival to take place to-night?" + +"Well, what is it?" asked Blucher, slowly drawing his long white +mustache through his fingers. + +"Blucher, to-night the great ball takes place which the city of +Breslau gives at the city hall in honor of the Emperor of Russia, +when both their majesties will appear." + +"Well, what does that concern me?" + +"It concerns you a great deal, for you have solemnly promised the +burgomaster, who came personally to invite us, that you would attend +the ball to-night." + +"And I shall not go to it after all, Amelia," cried Blucher, +striking with his hand on the table. "No, Amelia! I am no dancing- +bear to turn around at a ball, and to be led by the nose." + +"But, Blucher, what has happened to you?" asked his wife, +wonderingly. "You were as merry and high-spirited as a young god of +spring; the violets laughed when they saw you pass by, and the snow- +drops rang their tiny bells in your honor, and now suddenly it is +winter again! Pray, tell me, what has happened to you?" + +"Nothing at all has happened to me--that is just the misfortune," +cried Blucher. "It is more than a month now since I have been +sitting here at Breslau, and nothing has happened. I am still what I +always was--an old pensioned general, who has no command, and +nothing to do but to retire to Kunzendorf and plant cabbage-heads, +while others in the field are cutting off French heads. And it will +be best for me to go back to Kunzendorf. I have nothing to do here; +no one cares for an old fellow like me. I have hoped on from day to +day, but all my hopes are gone now. Amelia, take off your tinsel, +and pack up our traps. The best thing we can do will be to start +this very evening and return to our miserable, accursed village!" + +"Dear me! what a humor you are in!" exclaimed his wife, "Every thing +will be right in the end, my husband; you must not despair; things +are only taking their course a little more deliberately than my +firebrand wishes. But finally all will be precisely as you want it, +for without Blucher they are unable to accomplish any thing, and +will, therefore, at last resort to him." + +"And I tell you they will try to get along without me," cried +Blucher; "I shall be a disgraced man, at whom the very chickens will +laugh, if he has to sneak back to Kunzendorf instead of taking the +field. Pack up. Amelia, wo shall leave this day!" + +"But that is impossible, Blucher! It would look like a cowardly +flight, and your enemies would rejoice over it. No, you must go to +the ball to-night; you--" + +"General Scharnhorst!" announced a footman at this moment, and there +appeared in the open door the general, dressed in his gala-uniform, +and his breast decked with orders. + +"I am glad you have come, general," exclaimed Amelia, hastening to +him, and shaking hands with her friend. "Look at that stubborn old +man, who does not wish to go to the ball! Say yourself, general, +must he not go?" + +"Certainly he must," said Scharnhorst, smiling, "and I come to beg +of you a seat in your carriage, and to let me have the honor of +appearing in the suite of General and Madame von Blucher. You had, +therefore, better dress at once, my dear general. It is high time. +Even their majesties have already set out." + +Blucher gently shook his head, and slowly raised his eyes toward +Scharnhorst, who stood in front of him. "Scharnhorst," he said, +"every thing turns out wrong, and I wish myself dead rather than see +such a state of affairs." + +"What do you mean, general?" inquired Scharnhorst. "What has +happened?" + +Blucher cast a piercing glance on him, and seemed to read in the +depths of his soul. "Is the matter settled?" he asked. "Pray, my +friend, tell me the truth without circumlocution. It is better for +me to know it at once than allow this incertitude longer to gnaw at +my heart. Scharnhorst, I implore you, tell me the truth! Has the +commander of the Silesian army been appointed?" + +"No, general," said Scharnhorst, gravely. + +"And you do not know whom they will appoint? The truth, my friend!" + +"Well, then, the truth is, that I do not know it, and that their +majesties themselves do not know it, although every patriot thinks +they ought not to doubt which of the three gentlemen who stand on +the list should be appointed, for every heart echoes, 'General +Blucher is the man whom we need, and who will lead us to victory.' +The emperor and the king are still vacillating; precious time is +lost--Napoleon is organizing new armies, and strengthening himself +on all sides, while they are hesitating." + +"Three, then, stand on the list," said Blucher. "I have two +competitors. Who are they, general?" + +"One is Field-Marshal Kalkreuth." + +Blucher started, and his eyes flashed with anger. "What!" he cried. +"That childish old man to command an army! He who is constantly +singing hymns of praise to Napoleon and his French--he who, only the +other day, showed again that he deemed a frown of Bonaparte more +terrible than the peril of a German patriot! He command an army to +vanquish Napoleon! I suppose you know what he has done? He betrayed +to the French ambassador, Count St. Marsan, who followed our king to +Breslau in order to watch him, that Minister von Stein, our noblest +friend, had secretly come for the purpose of negotiating with the +king in the name of the Emperor of Russia; that he was living in a +garret, and that conferences of the enemies of Napoleon were held +there every night." [Footnote: Pertz's "Life of Stein," vol. iii., +p. 210.] + +"Yes, that is true," said Scharuhorst, "Field-Marshal Kalkreuth did +so, and it is no fault of his that Baron von Stein, with his +friends, one of whom I happen to be, was not secretly seized and +carried off by the French. Fortunately, dear Count St. Marsan did +not believe the field-marshal who betrayed his German countryman. +The French ambassador allowed himself to be deceived by the +stillness that reigned in the garret, which, according to the +statement Kalkreuth made to him, was inhabited by dangerous Minister +von Stein." [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. i., p. 170.] + +"Well, and this man, the head of the French party, they wish to +appoint general-in-chief of the Silesian army," said Blucher, +mournfully. "Amelia, pack up our traps; let us return to +Kunzendorf." + +"But Field-Marshal Kalkreuth has not yet been appointed," Said +Scharnhorst, smiling; "I believe his two competitors have as good-- +nay, better prospects than he has." + +"It is true, I forgot the second competitor," grumbled Blucher. "Who +is it?" + +"It is Lieutenant-General Count Tauentzien, in whom the Emperor +Alexander takes a great deal of interest." + +"Of course," said Blucher, sarcastically, "he is a count, and he has +such a polish, and courtly manners; he knows how to flatter the +sovereigns, and tell them only what is agreeable. But now, you +yourself must admit, Scharnhorst, that it is best for me to set out +immediately for Kunzendorf, and that I have no prospects--none +whatever! The two sovereigns, the king and emperor, alone will make +the appointment, will they not?" + +"Of course, they alone!" + +"Well, each of them has a candidate of his own. The emperor is in +favor of Count Tauentzien, and the king is for Field-Marshal +Kalkreuth. Who, then, is to think of and speak for me?" + +"Your glory will speak for you, general," said Scharnhorst, +feelingly; "the love which every soldier feels for you will speak, +and you will speak for yourself by your noble appearance--your self- +reliant bearing, your energy and strength, which do not shrink from +truth. Come, let us get ready for the ball, and, my friend, do not +impose any restraint upon yourself there; give the reins to your +discontent; tell every one frankly and bluntly that you are +dissatisfied--that you ardently desire to be appointed general-in- +chief, and that you would consider it a great misfortune if another +man should be preferred to you." + +"But, dear general," exclaimed Madame von Blucher, in dismay, "how +can you give Blucher such advice? You know how hot-headed and rash +he is! He will rave about so, that the king and the emperor +themselves will hear him." + +"Well," said Scharnhorst, smiling, "it is sometimes very well that +there should be a man courageous enough to tell the kings and +emperors the truth, and prove to them that mankind do not always +fawn upon them with polite submissiveness." + +"Scharnhorst is right," exclaimed Blucher, suddenly straightening +himself; "yes, I will go to the ball, and tell them there at least +what sort of men those are whom they wish to appoint, and what we +may expect from them. They shall not afterward excuse themselves by +saying that they were not forewarned, and that no one had called +their attention to Blucher. I will do it myself--yes, thunder and +lightning! I will remind them of Blucher, and they shall hear and +understand me." + +"Well," cried Madame von Blucher, "I beg permission to stay at home, +for Blucher will have a scene, at which I do not wish to be +present." + +"Oh, no, there will be no scene whatever," said Blucher. "I shall +make my obeisance to their majesties and then step aside, but of +course I am not to keep altogether still, and--well, you know my +motto, 'At them!' [Footnote: "Immer drauf:"] Well, then, 'at them!' +Let us go to the bail. You must accompany me, Amelia, there is no +help for it; for it may be necessary for you to bring me back to +reason. You know well that no one but you can do that." + +"I am sure, madame, you will not abandon us at this critical hour?" +begged Scharnhorst. "You do not desire his guardian angel to leave +him?" + +"Yes, I will go with you," she said, smiling, "if for no other +purpose than to restrain my fiery thunderer in proper time." + +"Well, it may not be of any avail," said Blucher, dryly. "By Heaven! +I must unbosom myself a little to-day--I must tell them the truth, +which no one here at Breslau likes to hear.--Well, Amelia, do me the +favor to turn toward the window. I wish to take off my dressing-gown +and pat on my uniform coat--then I am dressed; only my coat is +wanting; it lies on the chair yonder; wait until I have put it on, +and then we shall ride to the ball. I will call John to assist me." + +"Do not call any one," said Scharnhorst, "but permit me to assist +you. Here is the coat." + +"And here I am," cried Blucher, throwing off the dressing-gown and +quickly plunging into the coat which Scharnhorst handed him. + +"But now listen, general," said Scharnhorst, handing Blucher the +sword and belt. "As you arc so very amiable and kind, I will tell +you good news. Gneisenau will be here to-morrow." + +"What? Is he no longer in England?" asked Blucher, joyously. + +"No, he is in Germany, and, as he wrote to me, will arrive to-morrow +at the latest. He landed nearly a week ago from a Swedish ship at +Colberg, where he was received with enthusiasm. The whole city was +illuminated on the evening of his arrival, and the citizens marched +in procession to his lodgings. [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. i., p. 196.] +You see the old hatred and the old love are still alive in the +people; they have not forgotten their oppressors, nor their heroes +either." + +"Then Gneisenau has come, too," exclaimed Blucher; "he is the petrel +that heralds the storm. There will be war now, certainly; and if I +am not permitted to share in it, my heart will burst like an +overcharged gun. Gneisenau come! all men are coming, and Blucher is +to stay at home! Well, if they do not appoint me commanding general, +I will enlist as a private. For I must participate in the war that +is to put an end to Bonaparte's tyranny; and, if I cannot be first +dancer, I shall be one of the musicians.--Christian, have the +carriage brought to the door!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE BALL AT THE CITY HALL OF BRESLAU. + + +The large saloon of the city hall of Breslau presented an +exceedingly festive and brilliant spectacle. The walls were +tastefully decorated with festoons and flags, exhibiting alternately +the Russian and Prussian colors; between them were the Prussian +eagle and the double-headed Russian eagle in richly-gilt medallions, +surrounded by resplendent tapers. On the ceiling were suspended +three enormous chandeliers, each adorned with fifty large wax +candles, which shed a flood of light through the whole hall, and +reflected themselves a hundred times in their balls and pendants of +rock crystal. In the gallery, fixed on the upper half of one of the +walls of the hall, and splendidly decorated with garlands and +Prussian and Russian flags, sat a band of fifty musicians, who +caused soul-stirring greetings to roll down into the hall, where the +brilliant and numerous crowd of guests, whom the municipal +authorities had invited, were moving up and down; the ladies in the +most magnificent toilets, in the gorgeous splendor of diamonds and +other precious stones, of flowers and laces; the gentlemen in their +gold-embroidered uniforms, their breasts ornamented with orders; but +among them were seen also the dark figures of Lutzow's riflemen, the +plain coats of the citizens, and even some of the peasantry in their +becoming rural costumes. All classes were represented at this great +ball, which the municipal authorities of Breslau gave in honor of +the Emperor of Russia, for these representatives of all classes were +to offer to Alexander the homage of the Prussian people, and to +return thanks to the noble ally of the king for the assistance that +he intended to lend to Prussia. + +The emperor and the king, therefore, were received with boundless +enthusiasm when they entered the hall arm in arm, each decorated not +with his own orders, but with those of his ally. Alexander had +acknowledged this flattering reception with the affability and the +smiling grace peculiar to him; Frederick William, with the gravity +and calmness that never left him. After the first presentations and +official addresses were over, Alexander requested the presiding +burgomaster to set aside the embarrassing ceremonial, and to allow +every one to yield without restraint to the enjoyment of the +festival. In order to give an example to the assembled guests, the +emperor suggested to the managers that dancing might begin, and, +offering his arm to the wife of the presiding burgomaster, he opened +the ball with the Polonaise. After the dance he moved about the hall +with the most amiable affability, always endeavoring by his kindness +and politeness to cause all to forget the gulf separating them from +the emperor. The king had, like him, participated in the opening of +the ball; but he retired, grave, silent, and cold as ever, into the +adjoining apartment which was destined for the private audience-room +of the two sovereigns, and which none wore permitted to enter but +those whom the footmen of the king and the emperor expressly +invited. As long as Alexander and Frederick William were in the +large hall, they only desired to be the guests of their kind hosts, +and affable and unassuming members of the party; no sooner, however, +had they crossed the threshold of their audience-room than they were +again the king and the emperor, whom no one was allowed to approach +without being requested. From this audience-room a door, veiled by +heavy velvet curtains, led into another apartment, where a small +table, covered with the choicest cold viands, and the most exquisite +and rare wines, had been set for the two sovereigns, and this small +apartment led to the large supper-room that was again connected by a +small room with the vast saloon. One of the long walls of this +supper-room was occupied with an enormous buffet, loaded with the +most select delicacies in colossal dishes of silver and porcelain, +and beside which were large crystal bowls, filled with smoking punch +or fragrant cardinal. In the remaining space was a number of small +round tables ready for supper, at which those might take seats who +desired to refresh themselves after the exhausting pleasures of the +festival. + +Alexander and Frederick William had retired into the audience-room, +and sent for those persons whom they desired to distinguish +particularly tonight. There were Majors von Lutzow and Petersdorf, +who had been invited to the honor of an audience which had been +conferred even upon some of the volunteers, among them upon Baron la +Motte Fouque and Theodore Korner; and Alexander told them with +charming enthusiasm of his sympathy for the heroic Prussian nation, +and of his admiration of its glorious self-denial. He stated to +Major von Lutzow that, if he did not happen to be emperor, he would +not allow any one to prevent him from volunteering in his Legion of +Vengeance; and to Theodore Korner, in proof of the admiration he +felt for his poems, he recited the first verses of his patriotic +song, "Frisch auf, mein Volk, die Flammenzeichen rauchen." + +Frederick William contented himself with addressing a kind word, a +brief salutation, to each of them, and then again moving toward the +portiere, looked at the motley crowd in the ball-room. Suddenly, +while the two sovereigns were standing side by side, engaged in a +familiar chat, and looking into the hall, an unusual commotion was +noticed. All rushed toward the entrance of the hall, through which +the two burgomasters had just stepped into the outer reception-room. +Undoubtedly some one was expected, and moreover one whom all the +guests were anxious to see and to welcome in the most enthusiastic +manner. + +The large folding-doors opened, and between the two burgomasters +appeared the slender, firmly-knit form of General Blucher. Behind +him was General Scharnhorst, escorting Madame von Blucher. Blucher +advanced, with a winning smile on his fine, good-natured +countenance, greeting the assembled guests by pleasantly nodding to +the right and left. At first his polite salutations were returned in +silence, but gradually there arose murmurs and whispers--the eyes +which were fixed upon the hero's form grew more radiant, and soon +cheers resounded through the whole hall--deafening shouts of "Long +live Blucher!--Long live our hero, brave General Blucher!" + +"A flourish!" shouted other voices to the musicians. The presiding +burgomaster nodded smilingly, and waved his white handkerchief. The +musicians made a loud flourish resound, and more deafening and +jubilant became the shouts of "Long live Blucher!--Long live our +hero!" Blucher bowed, confused and almost ashamed, and with so +charming an expression of surprise and joy that this called forth a +new outburst of tumultuous applause and enthusiasm. + +The two sovereigns stood in the open door of the audience-room, and +witnessed this strange and unexpected scene, Alexander smiling and +apparently well pleased, Frederick William grave and with a slight +shadow on his brow. + +"Ah, sir," said Alexander, in a low and quick voice, "it seems to me +the guests intend to make a little demonstration in honor of your +general, and to give us a gentle hint whom they would like to have +appointed general-in-chief of the Silesian army." + +"Indeed, it seems so," said Frederick William, morosely, "but I do +not like such demonstrations, and they have no effect upon myself." + +"But let us now greet the hero," exclaimed Alexander, smiling; +"people ought to see that we share the general sympathy." He quickly +stepped into the ballroom; the king followed him slowly and +hesitatingly. + +"Welcome, my dear General Blucher," said Alexander, offering his +hand to the general, while the king saluted him merely with a nod. +The hum and noise which hitherto filled the hall like the roar of +the sea, immediately died away. Silence ensued; everyone stood still +as if riveted to his place; all eyes were turned in eager suspense +and with breathless curiosity toward the group that stood in the +middle of the hall; all tried to catch a word, a glance, in order to +draw therefrom their own conclusions. And, amid this general +silence, was heard the melodious voice of Alexander, who said again, +"Welcome, my dear General Blucher! I am really glad to greet you, +and to meet you again after so long an interval. I did not know, +indeed, that you were here in Breslau; otherwise I would have called +upon you." + +"That would have been very gracious, and in accordance with the +character of your majesty," said Blucher, loudly and firmly. "For +your majesty is known never to forget those who are worthy of being +remembered. All patriots have learned, with feelings of gratitude +and enthusiasm, that your majesty, directly after your arrival, +called upon that noble and intrepid German, Minister von Stein, who +was living solitary, sick, and deserted, in his garret, and who, up +to that time only a few faithful friends and a few cowardly enemies +had remembered." [Footnote: Minister von Stein had arrived sick at +Breslau, and lived, as stated above, in a small garret, which Major +von Lutzow had surrendered to him. Only his intimate friends visited +him there, and this was the reason why Count St. Marsan, whom Field- +Marshal Kalkreuth had informed of Stein's arrival at Breslau, did +not believe in the truth of this information. Baron von Stein, +however, received secretly many proofs of love and sympathy. The +king alone took no notice of him, and the members of the court, too, +were prohibited from entering into any relations with Stein. There +was a change for the better, however, as soon as the Emperor of +Russia arrived, and at once called upon Stein. Now all hastened to +visit him, and overwhelmed him with protestations of devotion, which +he rejected frequently with great asperity.] + +These words, uttered in a loud and powerful voice, produced various +effects. The Emperor Alexander smiled and bowed his head quickly and +repeatedly; King Frederick William frowned slightly, and this +authorized the gentlemen of his suite, who stood behind him, Field- +Marshal Kalkreuth and General Knesebeck, to frown too, and cast +angry glances at Blucher. Madame von Blucher, who had modestly kept +somewhat in the background, turned very pale, and leaned tremblingly +upon the arm of General Scharnhorst, who smiled and whispered, +"Blucher is grand! He is a true fire-king among the will-o'-the- +wisps!" The two burgomasters and the host of courtiers smiled when +they glanced at the emperor, and looked grave and gloomy when they +turned their eyes to the clouded brow of the king. Blucher, however, +did not seem to notice the impression produced by his words, and +looked around as composedly as if he had made a mere courtier's +reply to the emperor's gracious salutation. + +"I am happy to be one of Stein's friends," said Alexander, "but I do +not think it requires particular courage to profess friendship for a +magnanimous man whom all Germany reveres and admires." + +"No, your majesty," said Blucher, calmly, "only a short time ago it +required a great deal of courage for a German to profess friendship +for Minister von Stein, for the Emperor Napoleon hates and fears +him, and for this reason three-fourths of the Germans hate and fear +him from humble respect for the Emperor of the French.--Is it not +so?" added Blucher, suddenly turning to Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, who +stood close behind the king. "is it not as I say? Do you not admit +that I am right, Field-Marshal Kalkreuth?" + +This question, which was addressed to a by-stander, with utter +disregard of etiquette, caused the blood of the courtiers to freeze, +and made Field-Marshal Kalkreuth turn purple with anger. The Emperor +Alexander, however, burst into loud laughter, and, turning to the +king, he whispered to him in a hurried, low voice, "You are right, +sire, Blucher is a mad-cap, a genuine hussar, always ready to +charge!" The king nodded, and as Alexander laughed, he forced +himself also to smile a little. Field-Marshal Kalkreuth responded to +Blucher's question only by a quick, angry glance and a gentle bow. +"Well," said Alexander, turning again to Blucher, "I am satisfied, +however, that you did not belong to the three-fourths of the Germans +that hated and loved according to the wishes of the Emperor +Napoleon, general?" + +"No, your majesty," exclaimed Blucher, "I have always belonged to +his most consistent and implacable enemies, though I really owe him +a great deal--nay, almost my life." + +"How your life?" asked Alexander, in amazement. "Did the emperor +ever save you from peril?" + +"Yes, your majesty," said Blucher, casting a quick and fiery glance +around the large circle of his audience, "the Emperor Napoleon did +save me from a danger menacing my life. For, ever since the +disastrous days of Tilsit, I was near dying of grief at the +misfortunes of Prussia; and when our noble and august Queen Louisa +died--our queen, who was so true and patriotic a German lady, and +whose heart had been broken by the calamities that had befallen +Prussia--I really thought a dagger had pierced my heart, and I would +have to bleed to death. But then I comforted myself by remembering +that Napoleon still lived, and that I ought to live, too, in order +to see the day when the tyrant would be brought to judgment, and I +felt strengthened by the conviction that God had destined me to be +the instrument by whom He wanted to destroy Napoleon, and that I was +intended to assist in delivering Germany and avenging Queen Louisa; +and this thought, sire, kept me alive, invigorating and +strengthening me; it rendered me again so young and ardent that I am +yearning for the fray like a war-horse that has heard the bugle- +call." + +A murmur of applause was heard, and only the feeling of awe inspired +by the presence of the two sovereigns seemed to restrain a +tumultuous outburst of general sympathy. Every one looked with proud +and joyful glances now at the aged general, whose noble face was +full of courage and determination, and again at the Emperor +Alexander, who seemed to contemplate the intrepid soldier with a +sort of amazement. A brief pause ensued, when the king approached +Madame von Blucher, standing by the side of Scharnhorst. "Good- +evening, madame," said the king, in a loud and somewhat harsh voice; +"please tell me how old General Blucher is." + +"Your majesty," said Madame von Blucher, making a profound +obeisance, "according to his heart and strength, he is a youth; +according to his certificate of birth, he is seventy-one years old." + +"So old!" said the king; "Blucher so aged a man! But, it is true, +his tongue is that of a stripling." + +"Your majesty," said Blucher, quickly turning, "may it please the +good God and my king to give me an opportunity to refute my +certificate of birth, and to prove that I am a vigorous, courageous +lad, who knows how to use his sword as well as his tongue!" + +"It is not sufficient, however, to know how to use the sword and the +tongue, but one must know, too, how to restrain both," said the +king, quickly turning and beckoning Field-Marshal Kalkreuth to his +side, with whom he commenced chatting. + +The Emperor Alexander laid his hand hastily on Blucher's shoulder, +as if to soften and restrain the impending outburst of the general's +anger, and, looking with a kind smile into his flushed face, he +said: "restraint is not what suits you? Your motto is, 'Always +forward!' And you believe it is time that all Germany, myself, and +my army, should adopt this motto? Well, perhaps you are right, my +dear general. At all events, it will be seen soon who are right, +those who wish to procrastinate, or those who are in favor of +immediate and decisive action." + +He nodded pleasantly to Blucher, and then called General Scharnhorst +to his side, turning, like the king, back to the audience-room. The +guests who had crowded in breathless silence into the middle of the +hall, dispersed again and returned to the adjoining rooms. Blucher +escorted his wife to the gallery occupied by ladies, and then +followed the burgomasters, who had solicited the honor of conducting +him to the supper-room. + +Frederick William's brow was gloomy and clouded, and he was even +graver and more reticent than usual. He retired into the background +of the room, addressing only now and then a few quick words to +Field-Marshal Kalkreuth, who stood by his side. Alexander's +countenance was serene and pleasant, and a smile played round his +lips while he conversed eagerly with General Scharnhorst. + +"You say, then, that Stein is of the same opinion?" asked Alexander, +thoughtfully. "He thinks, too, that General Blucher should be +preferred?" + +"Yes, sire," said Scharnhorst, "this is the opinion of Minister von +Stein, and, I may add, the opinion of every Prussian who has the +happiness and greatness of the fatherland at heart. Sire, those who +are in favor of a timid and vacillating policy, who would like to +negotiate and compromise, who still believe in the possibility of a +reconciliation with France, who still think that the pen should +smoothen the rugged path before us, or unravel the knot of our +difficulties--those cowardly, grovelling hearts are the real enemies +of our cause, and more dangerous than Napoleon with all his armies. +For they are weighing down our courage, paralyzing our arms, and +stifling our enthusiasm. But for them the king, who, in his modesty, +is utterly unaware how fiery a soul, how great a heart he is +possessed of, would have long since concluded an alliance with your +majesty. But the king is unfortunately so modest that he distrusts +himself, and subordinates his own opinion to that of his old and, as +he believes, well-tried and faithful advisers. Now, these advisers +are to blame for all the misfortunes of Prussia; they inveigled us +into the alliance with France; they caused us to adhere to it, and +would even now like to force us back into it. They would stifle the +fire of patriotism because they are afraid lest it annihilate them +and destroy their unworthy efforts. For this reason Blucher, with +his heroic soul, is as much an eyesore to them as Stein, with his +plans of liberation and his energetic action for constitutional +reform. One wishes to create a new Prussia, the other a new state, +and both these ideas are utterly distasteful to some, for they cling +to the rotten old system, and new things fill them with terror." + +Alexander listened to the words of Scharnhorst with the liveliest +attention, and looked down musingly. + +"Listen, general!" he said, in a low and hurried voice, glancing +around the room as if to convince himself that no one could overhear +his words, "reply honestly and sincerely to the following question: +Is the King of Prussia sufficiently strong to cope with France for +any length of time?" + +"No," said Scharnhorst, firmly. "The army the king could place in +the field would not be able to achieve a single victory over +Napoleon. But the Prussian nation is strong, and arming itself for a +struggle in which it will triumph, because no army can resist the +will of a united people, and because God is an ally of the nations +fighting for their liberty and their princes; but he who is +audacious enough to endeavor to stifle the flame of this national +enthusiasm, instead of bearing it aloft like an oriflamme in the van +of the great army of liberation, would render himself guilty of a +fearful sin. Prussia will conquer with her whole people, but she +will succumb if she relies only on her army." + +"It is true," said Alexander, thoughtfully, "the Prussian nation has +manifested of late a wonderful enthusiasm, and has risen as one man. +It has risen for its king and its honor, and--do you not believe +that it will fight equally well for both, whether Tanentzien, +Kalkreuth, or Blucher, be its chieftain?" + +"No, sire," said Scharnhorst, quickly; "I know that it will not. The +people, with their quick and unerring instinct, know those very well +in whom they may confide, and I request your majesty to take +graciously into consideration that it is this time the people that +must render Prussia victorious. It is true, the regiments of +volunteers that have already been organized would not disband, even +though Kalkreuth or Tanentzien should be appointed general-in-chief +of the Prussian or Silesian army, but the regiments that have not +yet been organized and equipped will hesitate and retire, unless +they know that a general will command them who has sworn unending +hatred to the Emperor Napoleon, and who will die a thousand times on +the battle-field rather than conclude peace and a new alliance with +him. Now, such a general is Blucher, the youth of seventy, a modern +knight 'without fear and without reproach.' If he stands at the head +of our army, the Prussian people will rally exultingly round the +standards, and the diminished regiments be replaced by new ones that +will rush into the field, because they know that there is at their +head a hero in whose breast there is room for only two sentiments-- +love of country and hatred of the French; and who serves, without +fear, his God, his king, and his fatherland, impelled by this very +hatred and love, without any secondary motives--nay, perhaps, even +without personal ambition." + +"If Blucher is really such a hero as you depict him," cried +Alexander, "it would be a crime not to place him at the head of the +Silesian army. Had you told the king all you have told me, he would +certainly not have hesitated a moment as to the general who should +be appointed commander-in-chief." + +"Sire, I did tell him all that my heart and my head prompted me, and +to-day at noon I was still convinced that the king would appoint +General Blucher as soon as he should have satisfied himself that he +thereby would not act contrary to the will and wishes of your +majesty. But the little scene at the hall a few minutes ago has +unfortunately shaken my conviction, for the king seemed offended at +the rough and somewhat impetuous bearing of the hussar general." + +"And this very bearing of the hussar general, as you call Blucher, +has impressed me very favorably, for he who relies so firmly on his +own strength must feel sure of victory. I like to see, towering +above the crowd of the fawning courtiers surrounding us, men who do +not bend their backs, nor sink into the dust, before our so-called +'divine rights,' but who stand erect, and fear no one, because they +are true to themselves." + +"If that is the opinion of your majesty, then I am at liberty to +confess that I share it," said a voice behind him; and when the +emperor turned, he met the smiling gaze of the king, who had +approached during the conversation with Scharnhorst, and, as he did +not wish to interrupt it, listened to its conclusion without being +noticed by the two speakers. + +"What!" asked Alexander, offering his hand to the king. "Your +majesty, then, is of my opinion--you like, too, the men who +sometimes allow us to see their brow instead of their reverentially- +bent back, and who tell us the truth instead of those eternal, +perfumed flatteries?" + +"Certainly, sire," said the king, gently bowing his head. "It is +true, the truth is sometimes a somewhat bitter medicine, but it +restores our health, while sweet flatteries spoil our taste and ruin +our stomach." + +"And we must really have a healthy stomach to digest the hard fare +of these times!" exclaimed Alexander, smiling. "Scharnhorst thinks +that Blucher would be a good physician for our stomachs. That is +your opinion, general, is it not?" + +"Sire, he is at least a physician who will not resort to +palliatives," said Scharnhorst, "but will immediately try to +eradicate the evil by a thorough operation." + +"But I have been told that a great many patients have died in +consequence of operations, when they might have lived a long time if +they had borne their ills with patience and resignation," said the +king, growing again gloomy and thoughtful. + +The emperor laid his hand on the shoulder of his royal friend. "But +who would prefer a life on the sick-bed to the quick and glorious +death of a hero on the field of honor?" he said, feelingly. "Not +you, my august friend, I know; and even better than to me it is +known to the angel who is hovering over you, and whose earthly eyes +were closed in grief. But," Alexander interrupted himself, "these +are thoughts that are unsuitable for a festival, and I beg your +majesty's pardon for having ventured to indulge in them." + +"Still, they are the thoughts that always accompany and never leave +me, sire," said the king. "True, I have overcome my grief, but I +will never learn to forget. At the present time I am thinking of my +Louisa with redoubled longing. How her heart would have rejoiced +over the renewal of an alliance which she so fervently desired, and +how the noble spirit of the nation would have delighted and inspired +her!" + +"The noble queen, I believe, was also a warm friend of General +Blucher, was she not?" asked the emperor, after a pause. "I believe +she belonged to those who expected a great deal from him, and +thought him a hero and a powerful enemy of Napoleon? Is it not so, +sire?" + +"Yes," said the king, thoughtfully, "the queen had a great regard +for Blucher, and considered him a brave and faithful patriot." + +"And what did she think of Field-Marshal Kalkreuth?" asked +Alexander, with seeming carelessness. "Did he belong to those, too, +in whom the queen confided, and from whom she expected the salvation +of the fatherland?" + +The king quickly looked up and met for a moment the searching gaze +which the emperor fixed on him. Frederick William smiled, and +inclined his head, as if he well understood the emperor's question. +"No," he said, "Queen Louisa rarely approved of the views of the +field-marshal, and although she felt high esteem for the general who +had already shown himself a brave man under the great Frederick, she +did not agree with the predilection he manifested for the Emperor +Napoleon and his invincible armies." + +"A predilection," exclaimed Alexander, smiling, "which I believe the +field-marshal has not yet got rid of, notwithstanding the experience +which Napoleon gained on the battle-fields of Russia." + +"On the same battle-fields on which your majesty gathered new +laurels," said the king, bowing slightly. + +"And now there will spring up real laurel-woods for your majesty +here in Germany!" exclaimed the emperor. "The only question for us +now is, to find the right sort of gardener who knows how to +cultivate them. But, I repeat, our thoughts are not suitable to this +festival. Come, sire, permit me to offer you my arm as your +cavalier, and to conduct you to the buffet, for how exalted soever +our position may be, we must not forget that we are men, and that +our stomachs sometimes need food." + +He offered his arm to the king, and conducted him to the small +supper-hall adjoining the audience-room. The gentlemen who were +present followed them, and the chamberlains hurried to the sideboard +to have supper served up to the two sovereigns. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE APPOINTMENT. + + +Alexander took a seat by the king's side at the small table, loaded +with a heavy gold service, set for them alone near the door, which +was covered with a heavy portiere, and led into the large supper- +hall. The emperor and the king had just put upon their plates some +of the appetizing pate de foie gras which the master of ceremonies +himself had served up, and were proceeding like other mortals to +consume them with great relish. The cavaliers, improving the +opportune moment of silence, stood about the room and partook of the +viands taken from the sideboard. Suddenly this silence was +interrupted by a voice which was not uttered in the room itself, but +swept through it like the blast of a trumpet: "If this hesitation +and vacillation continue, all is lost; and it would then be better +for us to throw ourselves immediately at the feet of Bonaparte, and +crave quarter, than unnecessarily spill the precious blood of the +people, and at last submit. He who does not advance goes backward +without noticing it, and he who is not courageous enough to attack, +is vanquished even before his adversary has forced him to battle." + +"Why," exclaimed Alexander, smiling, "these are sentences that +remind me of General Blucher." + +"Your majesty is right, it is his voice," said the king; "he will +give vent to his indignation, and, perhaps, at our expense. Let us +not listen to him." + +"On the contrary, I beg your majesty's kind permission to listen," +said Alexander, pleasantly. "There is in the words of the general +something that is as refreshing as a pure wind dispelling unhealthy +vapors. Ah, hear him, sire; his tones are roaring like a hurricane." + +In fact, the voice in the adjoining room had grown more violent, and +the Emperor Alexander was seated in such a manner that he could +distinctly hear every word uttered: + +"What! you really believe it to be possible that they will appoint +Field-Marshal Kalkreuth general-in-chief, and intrust our young and +splendid army to him? Great Heaven! do they not know, then, that +Kalkreuth, however excellent a man and brave a soldier he may be, is +not fit to confront Napoleon? Is it not a matter of notoriety that +the field-marshal loves and admires Bonaparte, and that he considers +a rupture with France a great calamity for Prussia? How could he +ever win a battle who could never look straight forward at the +battle-field, but would squint sideways to see what faces Napoleon +would make, and whether he would not frown at the audacity of the +Prussians, who dare try to defeat the great Napoleon? We need a man +with a direct look--one who fixes both his eyes on the object. We do +not want any schielwippen! They may all go to the mischief, for one +never knows what they are about! I repeat, we need a man with a +straight look!" + +"What is that? schielwippen?" inquired the emperor, smiling. "I +thought I had learned the German language pretty thoroughly from my +mother and my wife, both of whom have the honor of being natives of +Germany, but I have never heard this word from them. Pray, sire, +tell me what it means." + +"I must confess that I do not understand it either," said the king, +shrugging his shoulders. + +"General Scharnhorst!" cried the emperor. "Pray can you tell us what +schielwippen means?" + +"Sire," said Scharnhorst, laughing, "it is a slang term for a man +who squints. General Blucher likes to use the language of the +people." + +"Well, the Prussian people have recently used such grand and +magnificent language," said Alexander, "that we may say with heart- +felt conviction, 'Vox populi vox Dei!' and that it reflects great +credit on Blucher, if it is true that he speaks like the people. +But, hush! what does he say now?" + +"The cowards have brought all our misfortunes upon us!" thundered +Blucher's powerful voice. "The hesitating men who always wish to +patch up and stop the holes, instead of tearing down the old ruin +and building a new house, are our curse, and have always involved +Prussia in untold calamities. When I think of them I would like to +have them here, to treat them as Jahn treated the other day one of +the Turners at Berlin. Do you know the story?" + +"No," shouted several voices, "we unfortunately do not." + +"Well, I will tell it to you. Jahn went with his pupils down the +Linden to the Brandenburg gate to perform the usual gymnastic +exercises on the drill-grounds outside the city. On the way he +happened to cast his eyes on the gate, where the Victoria formerly +stood, and which the French stole and carried off to Paris. Jahn, +like every honest man who looks at the gate, felt his heart swell +with anger. He turned to the boy who was marching by his side and +asked him, 'What stood formerly over the pillars of the gate'?'-- +'The Victoria,' said the boy.--'Where is it now?' inquired Jahn.-- +'It is in Paris, where the French carried it.' Jahn asked again, +'What do you think when looking up to the vacant place on the top of +the gate?'--'Well,' said the boy, with great composure, 'what should +I think? I think it is a pity that the Victoria is no longer there.' +And when he said so, Jahn lifted up his hand and slapped the boy's +face. 'You should think that we will fetch back the Victoria, you +monkey!' he shouted. That is the whole story, but I remember it +whenever I see these dear tame men who merely say, 'It is a pity +that we have been so unfortunate!' and whose hearts feel only a mild +regret instead of the most ardent revenge. And then my hand itches, +and I would like to lift it up, like Jahn, and slap their faces." + +"Your Blucher is a splendid hussar," said Alexander, looking at the +king. "I believe it is dangerous to stand before him when his hand +is itching." + +"Yes, his hand has been itching from the days of Jena," exclaimed +the king, smiling. "He has been anxious to fight ever since. For +this reason I gave him the estate of Kunzendorf, and sent him +thither. I thought he would there quietly cure himself; but it seems +it was in vain; my expectations have been disappointed. I believe +his hand is incurable." + +"Your majesty, therefore, had better yield to him, and allow him to +fight," said Alexander, almost entreatingly. "The opportunity is +excellent at the present time. If you place him at the head of the +Silesian army, he will no longer slap the faces of his friends and +neighbors on the right and left, but will rush forward and stretch +out his itching hand to deal the French terrible blows." + +"I am only afraid he would be too rash in his wild hussar spirit," +said the king, "and spoil every thing by trying to tear down all +barriers." + +"A man should be placed by his side who knows how to check his +boldness," exclaimed Alexander--"a man who does not stifle Blucher's +ardor, but gives it the true direction." + +"But where shall we find such a one?" + +"I believe your majesty may find him close by," said Alexander, +pointing to Scharnhorst, who was leaning against the portiere. + +"Ah, sire," cried the king, almost merrily, "I believe yon are a +magician, and understand my most secret thoughts. Scharnhorst has a +great mind, and I owe him much. If he would take upon himself that +difficult and ungrateful part by the side of Blucher, I believe the +general's impetuosity would be less dangerous." + +"Your majesty, please ask him whether he will or not," said +Alexander. + +The king called Scharnhorst to his side. "You have influence over +General Blucher, have you not?" he asked, hastily. + +"I may say, at least, your majesty, that General Blucher is +convinced of my love and devotion, and that he confides a little in +me." + +"Could you make up your mind to occupy a secondary position by his +side, and, if I should appoint Blucher general-in-chief of the +Silesian army, become his chief of staff?" + +"Your majesty," exclaimed Scharnhorst, "I would deem it a great +honor to serve under the heroic old man, and I am certain that with +him I would enter upon a glorious career, particularly if your +majesty should grant me a request." + +"What is it? Speak!" + +"If your majesty should condescend to place General Gneisenau, who +will arrive to-morrow, as quartermaster-general." + +The king nodded. "You have selected a noble companion," he said, +smiling. + +"It will be a splendid trefoil, it seems to me," cried the emperor. +"Blucher, Scharnhorst, and Gneisenau! They are three well-sounding +names! But listen, sire, Blucher is still thundering. There is a way +to calm this tempest." + +"What is it?" asked the king, smiling. + +"Your majesty ought to be so gracious as to send for General +Blucher, and tell him that you wish to confer upon him the command- +in-chief of the Silesian army." + +"You advise me to do so, sire?" inquired the king. "Your majesty, in +counselling this, gives up no wish?" + +"Yes, I do," said Alexander, smiling. "I should wish to see General +Tanentzien appointed commander-in-chief, just as your majesty +probably would prefer to bestow this position on Field-Marshal +Kalkreuth. Let us both, therefore, sacrifice our wishes to the great +object for which I now believe Blucher to be the proper instrument." + +"So let it be, your majesty," exclaimed the king. "I will send for +Blucher." he beckoned to Scharnhorst to approach again. "Pray go and +fetch your friend, General Blucher," said the king, rising, like the +emperor, from the table. + +"And I beg leave, while the general goes into the hall, to cast a +glance into the next room, to see what Blucher is doing," said the +emperor. "Now draw the portiere back, General Scharnhorst, and stand +there. In this way I am able to survey the whole hall." + +Scharnhorst, in accordance with the emperor's order, opened the +portiere and stood in it; by his side, shaded by the curtain, stood +the emperor and the king. Both gazed into the supper-hall, which +presented a highly animated spectacle. At all the small tables sat +the guests in attractive groups, the ladies in their rich toilets, +the gentlemen in their brilliant uniforms. All were merry and +loquacious; the choice delicacies had put everyone in good spirits; +the fiery wine had loosened all tongues. Even the eyes of the ladies +were sparkling with a higher lustre, and a deeper crimson burned on +their cheeks. But all those merry faces turned frequently toward the +small table on one side of the hall near the portiere. There sat +General Blucher with his wife; several gentlemen were seated near +him. On the table stood one of the crystal bowls that had previously +adorned the handsome sideboard, and from this bowl, filled with an +amber-colored liquid, arose a delightful perfume. Blucher seemed to +inhale the fragrance with pleasure, for an expression of infinite +comfort beamed from his features, and whenever he emptied his glass +he seized the silver ladle that lay in the bowl, and then drew his +white mustache with a smile of gratification through his fingers, +while his eyes surveyed the whole company with a flashing glance. +Then a shadow passed across his brow. "We are highly elated to-day, +because we are at length to take up arms against our foe," he said; +"we are overjoyed because we are to take our revenge. And suppose +every thing should again turn out wrong; suppose the cowards and the +schielwippen should, after all, remain at the helm? Great Heaven! +the very idea maddens me! For I know them! I know that they will +ruin every thing. At the decisive moment they are vacillating, and, +in order to dishearten others, too, they exaggerate the strength of +the enemy a hundred-fold, and belittle our own resources in the same +proportion. Would that Heaven were to decree, 'Blucher shall command +the Prussians!' Good Lord, I pledge Thee my head that I would expel +Bonaparte with all his French from Germany, though I had but thirty +thousand soldiers behind me!" [Footnote: Blucher's words.--Vide +Varnhagen, "Life of Blucher," p. 136.] + +"Now call him in, general," whispered Alexander. Scharnhorst stepped +into the hall. The king and the emperor left the supper-hall and +returned into the audience-room. + +A few minutes afterward Blucher entered, followed by Scharnhorst, +who remained at the door, while Blucher advanced boldly toward the +two sovereigns. + +"Your majesty was so gracious as to send for me," he said, bowing to +the king. + +"Yes," said the king, gravely. "I wish to ask you whether you belong +to the vacillating cowards, or whether you are a whole man?" + +"And I," exclaimed Alexander, pathetically--"I wish to request you +to confess whether you are also a schielwippe?" + +Blucher looked at the two sovereigns with a gloomy, inquiring +glance. But suddenly his face brightened, and a smile played round +his lips. "Ah," he cried, "I understand! Your majesties have +overheard my prattle, and have sent for me to order me to be silent. +But I cannot, your majesties; I cannot! I must give vent to my +wrath, my vexation, and grief! I must be allowed to scold, for if I +did not I would be obliged to weep, and it would be a disgrace for +Blucher to act like an old woman! Let me scold, then, your +majesties; it relieves my heart a little, and my auger teaches me to +forget my grief." + +"You grieve, then, general?" inquired Frederick William, smiling. + +"Yes. my lord and king. I do grieve intensely. I should like to lay +my complaint before your majesty, and I will do so, too. I--" + +"Hush!" interposed the king,--"hush, my firebrand of seventy-one +years! First reply to this question: would you like to be appointed +general-in-chief of the Silesian army?" + +"Would I like to be appointed general-in-chief?" cried Blucher, his +eyes sparkling with joy. "Your majesty, that is just as though you +ask me whether I like to live any longer. For I tell your majesty I +will die at once rather than let any one else have that position." + +"Well, then," said the king, in a grave and dignified tone, "I +appoint you general-in-chief of the Silesian army. Do you accept the +position?" + +Blucher uttered a cry, and his face brightened as if lit up by a +sunbeam. "I accept it," he exclaimed, "and here I swear to your +majesty that I shall not lay down my command before Prussia is again +what she was prior to the battle of Jena, and that I shall not +sheathe my sword before we have driven Napoleon beyond the Rhine, +and have made him so humble that he will never again dare to cross +it. I swear to your majesty, upon my honor, that I will hurl +Bonaparte from his throne--that I will not rest before the crown has +fallen from his head! God has spared me that I may chastise +Napoleon; He has told me every night in my dreams, 'Do not despond, +do not lose heart! Keep up thy courage and thy confidence, for I +shall soon need thee! Thou shalt soon cut Napoleon down from his +power, and throw him into the dust whence he sprang.' And I have +answered, 'I am on hand, and wait only for the struggle to begin.' +Now I say to your majesty what I then said, 'I am on hand, and the +struggle is to begin!' I have sworn every day to chastise Bonaparte, +and while I live I shall thank your majesty for giving me an +opportunity. I am, then, general-in-chief of the Silesian army?" + +"Yes, I appoint you, and his majesty the emperor approves my +selection," said the king. "All necessary directions, instructions, +and orders, you will receive to-morrow in writing. You will +immediately enter upon your office, and place yourself at the head +of the troops. Do you wish to prefer requests and impose +conditions?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I must impose two conditions. In the first +place, General Scharnhorst must be my chief of staff, for Blucher is +only half a man when Scharnhorst is not with him. I have the arm, he +has the head; therefore we must be together." + +"Your request is granted, and Scharnhorst has already accepted the +position," said the king, smiling. + +"Secondly, I must impose the condition that I be allowed to leave +Breslau to-morrow with my Prussians, and advance toward Saxony." + +"What! You intend to start at once?" cried Alexander and Frederick +William, in amazement. + +"Yes, at once," said Blucher, with a joyful air. "The years of +waiting are past, and now comes the day of vengeance. Like a +thunderstorm we must burst upon the French. Before they expect us we +must expel what troops of theirs remain in Germany, dissolve the +Confederation of the Rhine, and by our bold exploits stir up all +Germany that she may rally round our flag, and form an enormous army +before Napoleon has concentrated his newly-organized forces. That is +our task, and, if it pleases God, we will fulfil it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +AFTER THE BATTLE OF BAUTZEN. + + +For two days the battle had been raging, and even now, in the +afternoon of the 22d of May, the struggle was undecided. Blucher, +who, with his Prussians, occupied the heights of Kreckwitz, near +Bautzen, still hoped to achieve a victory. For two days the +Prussians and Russians fought like lions along the extended line of +battle; they engaged the hostile legions with undaunted courage and +joyful enthusiasm, regardless of the scorching heat, hunger, thirst, +and exhaustion. During these days Blucher was constantly in the +midst of his troops. Where the shower of bullets was thickest, where +the danger was most imminent, his voice was heard inciting the +soldiers; where the enemy approached with his most formidable +columns, Blucher stood with his faithful companion Gneisenau at the +head of his Prussians, brandishing his sword, advancing with +exulting cheers upon the enemy, and causing him to retreat. + +The heights of Kreckwitz had to be held till General Barclay de +Tolly, with his Russians, would arrive, and Generals York and +Kleist, with their Prussians, to cover Blucher's left flank, which +was threatened by Marshal Ney. The booming of cannon was incessant. +The Russians stood like a wall, and when the front ranks were swept +down, others took their places; the living stepped over the dying, +undaunted, and remembering only one thing--that they had to take +revenge for the lost battle of Lutzen. [Footnote: Fought May 2, +1813. The French call this battle that of Lutzen; the Germans +generally that of Gross-Gorschen. Both sides claimed a victory. But +the latest German historians, especially Beitzke, admit that the +Germans were defeated.] + +"Boys," shouted Blucher to his soldiers, just as the balls of the +enemy struck down whole ranks, "boys, remember that we have resolved +to sabre the French. They have exhausted the soil of Germany, we +must fertilize it with French corpses. Remember Gross-Gorschen, +where they wounded our General Scharnhorst. We must chastise them +for that, and capture a few French generals. [Footnote: General +Scharnhorst was wounded at the battle of Gross-Gorschen by Blucher's +side. He believed his wound was not dangerous, but he left the +headquarters to be cured. He went at first to Altenburg, and then to +Prague, to attend the peace congress. His wound reopened, and he +died at Prague on the 20th of June, 1813.] We must get at least four +of their marshals in return for General Scharnhorst, for the fellows +are light, and four of them do not weigh as much as one Scharnhorst. +Now, tell me, shall we get those four French marshals?" + +"Yes, Father Blucher, yes!" shouted the Prussians, jubilantly. "Long +live Father Blucher!" + +"Only a little longer, and the day is ours!" cried Gneisenau, in a +ringing voice. "The legions of Marshal Ney are charging again, but +General Barclay, with his Russians, has occupied the Windmill-knoll, +near Gleime, and will repulse him as we shall Napoleon's columns. +The heights of Kreckwitz are the Thermopylae of the Prussians, and +we will fall to a man rather than surrender!" + +"Yes, that we will do!" cried the officers, enthusiastically, and +the soldiers echoed their shouts. + +At this moment a terrific cannonade resounded on the right wing of +the Prussian troops. "There are the French!" exclaimed Blucher. +"Boys, now bring in those marshals!" The cannon roared, the muskets +rattled, and, as though heaven desired to participate in this +struggle of the nations, the thunder rolled, and flashes of +lightning darted into the clouds of battle-smoke. + +But who was galloping up suddenly on a charger covered with foam, +his hair fluttering in the breeze, and his face pale and terrified? +It was a Prussian colonel, and still he does not join in the +exultation of his countrymen. He approached Generals Blucher and +Gneisenau. + +"Halloo! Lieutenant-Colonel von Muffling," shouted Blucher, "are you +back? Do you bring us greetings from Barclay de Tolly? Has he +finished the French? Well, we are just about to recommence our work +here--the last work for to-day." + +"General," cried Muffling, anxiously, "the French will soon have +finished Barclay de Tolly, and defeated us! For he is unable to hold +out. He has only fifty thousand men, and Ney is attacking him with a +much larger force. Barclay sends me for reenforcements, and if we do +not strengthen his line, he cannot maintain himself on the Windmill- +knoll. In a quarter of an hour it will be in Ney's hands." + +"No; in a quarter of an hour Ney will be in our hands," shouted +Blucher, confidently. "Ney is a marshal, and we must have him! +Boys," he cried, drawing himself up in his stirrups, and looking +back toward his troops--"boys, we must have Marshal Ney, must we +not?" + +"Yes, Father Blucher, we must have Marshal Ney!" + +Heaven responded with a loud clap of thunder, the earth was shaken +by the booming of the cannon, the air was rent by the cheers of the +living, and the groans and imprecations of the wounded and dying. +Blucher still stood with his Prussians on the heights of Krockwitz, +his face radiant with enthusiasm, his eye flashing with courage; but +a warning adviser stood by his side. + +"General," whispered Muffling, "we are lost if we remain here +longer. We must retreat." + +"Retreat!" cried Blucher, in an angry voice, and a clap of thunder +burst at that moment. + +Muffling pointed silently down into the plain, and over to the +Windmill-knoll. "Look yonder! Napoleon is advancing directly upon +our front, the Windmill-knoll is evacuated, Barclay has gone, and +the Russians are routed!" + +"But we still stand," cried Blucher, triumphantly, "and we shall +stand in spite of Napoleon and the devil! And, then, we are not +without support. The Russian artillery attached to our corps is +thundering against the enemy, and York and Kleist are covering our +left wing." + +"But, general, listen! The Russian artillery is firing less rapidly; +General Kleist is no longer able to cover our left wing, for the +sovereigns have sent him to Bairuth to cover Barclay's flank; and as +for York, he was unable to prevent the enemy from placing a battery +near Basantwitz. I saw it when I rode hither. We are, therefore, in +a triple cross-fire." And, as though the enemy intended to confirm +these warning words, the cannon flashed from three sides, and hurled +their balls into the ranks of the Prussians. + +The flush of hoped-for victory paled in Blucher's face; Gneisenau +grew grave and gloomy. The staff came nearer to their chieftain, and +tried to read his thoughts in his eyes. The jubilant shouts of the +soldiers were hushed; heaven was still thundering, and in the +distance burning villages, like gigantic torches, lit up the +landscape, and shed a blood-red lustre over the gray sky. Blucher +looked around in silence; his lip quivered, his eyebrows contracted, +and large drops of cold perspiration stood on his forehead. +Gneisenau was by his side, gloomy and taciturn, like his chieftain. +Behind them halted the staff-officers, mournful as their leaders, +for now every one recognized the danger, and knew that, if they +remained at the "Thermopylae of Prussia," they would have to defend +themselves to the last man, or lay down their arms, because, as soon +as the enemy closed up the fourth side, escape would be impossible. +[Footnote: Muffling, "Aus meinem Lebem," p. 42] + +On the other side of Blucher halted Colonel Muffling, who had +brought back such calamitous tidings from his reconnoissance. He +pointed silently to the French columns of Marshal Ney, that just +commenced climbing the heights, and then pulled out his watch. "We +have fifteen minutes left," he said, in a loud, solemn voice, +"fifteen minutes to extricate ourselves from the noose. Afterward we +shall be hemmed in. If we do not improve the time the cowards will +surrender, and the brave die fighting to the last, but unfortunately +without promoting in the least the welfare of the fatherland." +[Footnote: Muffling's words--Ibid., p. 43.] + +Blucher did not reply, gazing down with a sombre eye on the enemy, +coming up in increasing masses. The cannon of the French, firing +from three sides, spoke a disheartening language. The Russian +batteries had ceased firing, for their ammunition was exhausted. + +"Gneisenau," asked Blucher at last, in a hollow voice, and sighing, +as though a stone weighed down his breast, "Gneisenau, what do you +say?" + +"I must admit that Lieutenant-Colonel von Muffling is right," sighed +Gneisenau. "Under the present circumstances all further bloodshed +will be useless, and it is our bounden duty to preserve our men for +a better opportunity. We must hasten to retreat." [Footnote: +Gneisenau's words.--Ibid., p. 43.] A single savage imprecation burst +from Blucher's lips, but only the nearest bystanders heard it, for +it was drowned by the roar of artillery and the thunder of heaven. +With a quick jerk he drew his cap over his forehead, so that his +eyes were shaded--those eyes which had flashed so defiantly, but +which were now dim, who could say whether from the rain that was +pouring down, or the smoke of battle, or from despairing tears? He +slowly turned toward the gentlemen of his staff. "We must descend, +therefore, from the heights," he said, in a harsh voice. "Forward! +March down the turnpike toward Weissenberg. Make the enemy at least +pay dearly for compelling us to retreat. Let the cavalry advance, +covering our retreat, and let not a single man or standard fall into +the hands of the French! Come, gentlemen, listen to what I have +still to say to you." + +The quarter of an hour allowed by Muffling had not yet elapsed when +the Prussians commenced slowly descending the heights of Kreckwitz, +and marching down the turnpike toward Weissenberg. Blucher had +ridden from the position at a brisk trot, with Gneisenau and the +officers of his staff, and galloped a short distance along the level +valley-road; then halting suddenly, and, turning his horse, he +looked up to the heights, from which the Prussians were descending +in perfect order, but in gloomy silence. "This is the second time we +have been obliged to retreat," said Blucher, mournfully, "the second +time that Bonaparte is luckier than we are; the blockheads will now +say again that Bonaparte is invincible, and that they are fools who +resist him, God being on his side, and fortune never forsaking him. +But I say it is false; the good God is not on his side, but the +devil is, and fortune is only lulling him to sleep, to plunge him +the surer and deeper into the abyss. But it is true, nevertheless, +that this is the second battle we have lost, and the second time +that we are obstructed in our advance. But I swear here--and may +Heaven record my oath!--that this shall be the last time that I fall +back; that I will specially pay Bonaparte for my grief and anxiety +for the past month, and that I will bring him as much trouble as one +man can to another. What a fearful account Bonaparte has to settle +with me! how much he has to pay me! But, no matter; my sword is +sharp, and will surely erase one item of his indebtedness after +another. From this day I will begin. Will you lend me your +assistance, gentlemen?" + +"Yes," replied the officers of his staff, "we will!" + +"Well, then it is all right," said Blucher, nodding; "from to-day M. +Napoleon had better beware of me. Hitherto, I have only hated him; +now I abhor him, and the word backward exists no longer for me and +my Prussians!" He quickly galloped up to his troops. "Well, boys," +he cried, "the heights of Kreckwitz are of no use to us, and it is +better for us, therefore, to descend from them, and leave them to +Bonaparte, who may put them into his pocket, if it affords him +pleasure; but henceforth let us reverse matters, and put HIM into +our pocket and keep him warm; otherwise, he might feel cold again, +as he did in Russia. Forward now, boys; forward! And as we are now +moving, I am sure you see that we do not move backward; he who +asserts that we are retreating is a blockhead. Forward!" + +But whatever Blucher said--how plausibly soever he tried to +represent to his troops that they were not retreating, but +advancing--it was unfortunately but too true that the battle of +Bautzen was lost, and that the Prussians and Russians were obliged +to fall back. It is true, they did so in excellent order, but--they +retreated and Napoleon could boast of a new victory on German soil. + +The whole army of the allies commenced retreating about dusk on the +same day, and turned again toward Silesia. The troops marched +sullenly, and sombre too were the faces of the two sovereigns, the +Emperor Alexander and King Frederick William. Full of hope that they +would achieve a victory, they had taken the field with their troops; +but now their hopes were blasted, and they were compelled to return +whence they had set out. + +While the troops were marching down the wide highways, the two +sovereigns, preceding their forces, took a short cut to Reichenbach. +They were alone; only two footmen followed them at some distance; +not a vestige of their earthly greatness surrounded them. They were +both silent; slowly riding along, the king looked grave, while the +emperor frequently turned his eyes, with an expression of mournful +emotion, upon his friend, or raised them heavenward, with an +entreating glance. Silence reigned around; only at a great distance +was heard the dull rumbling of wagons, and here and there on the +horizon still flickered the burning ruins of a village. + +For some time they thus rode side by side, when the king stopped his +horse. "There must be a change!" he exclaimed, in a tone of grief +and despair. "We are moving eastward, but we must advance westward." + +"We must all move eastward," said the emperor, in a deep, fervent +tone; "from the east came our salvation; eastward, therefore, every +good Christian turns his face whenever he prays for assistance and +redemption." + +The king, perhaps, did not hear these words, for he made no reply, +but looked moody and thoughtful. Both did not notice that the sky +had brightened, and that the sun in its splendor was shedding its +setting beams. It was a beautiful evening. The earth, refreshed by +the rain, exhaled sweet odors; the air was fresh and balmy, and the +blooming fields waved as a gentle sea. The sovereigns were too much +concerned with themselves to be attracted by the beauties of outward +nature. Their eyes were turned inward. + +"Oh," resumed the king, after a pause, "what will be the end of all +this? Were not they right who cautioned me against this war, and +pointed to Napoleon's luck in order to prevent me from entering upon +it? Have not my troops done all that can be demanded of human +strength? Have they not braved with heroic resolution all fatigues +and privations, and behaved in battle with unsurpassed valor? Have +not the Russians also manifested the noblest devotion, and the most +intrepid constancy? And still our armies have been defeated in two +pitched battles--and still we are retreating? What have we to hope +for? What new resources have we? May we still hope for the accession +of Austria to our alliance?" + +He uttered these questions in an undertone and thoughtfully, as if +to himself, and forgetful of the presence of another who could hear +him. When the emperor, therefore, replied to him, Frederick William +gave a start, and raised his head almost in surprise. + +"No," said the emperor, gravely--"no, we must not count on Austria; +or, if you please, NOT YET. The mission of Count Stadion ought to +have proved this to us. They sent their diplomatist to treat with us +that, in case of a victory, we might not consider Austria, too, as +our enemy. Now, that we have not been victorious. Count Stadion will +undoubtedly leave our headquarters, repair to those of Napoleon, and +assure him of the most faithful and sincere devotion of Austria. +Austria desires only negotiation--to fight with words, not with the +sword." + +"But, without Austria," cried the king, vehemently, "we are too +weak! Oh, at times it seems to me as though no human strength were +able to accomplish any thing against the surpassing genius of +Napoleon, and as though God alone, who made him so great, and raised +him so high, could humble him! We have done all that men could do, +but it is all in vain! He has conquered!" + +"But we have made him purchase his victories very dearly," said +Alexander, "and if we yielded, it was at least with honor. None of +our battalions were dispersed, and I believe the number of prisoners +is about the same on both sides. On the whole, nothing is lost as +yet, and with God's help we will soon do better." + +"Yes, but only with God's help," cried the king; "we need it above +all; without it we are lost." + +"But God is with us," exclaimed Alexander, enthusiastically, "I know +it; I have gained this firm conviction ever since the great and +terrible days of Moscow and the Beresina. God sent me those days of +trial and terror that I might believe--and now I do believe. Until +then I was a man enthralled by worldly doubts, relying upon my own +strength, and rejoicing, not without vanity, in my earthly +greatness. I thought of God, I loved Him, but He did not fill my +whole soul--I pursued my own path, and diverted myself. But the +conflagration of Moscow illuminated my mind, and the judgment of the +Lord on the ice-fields filled my heart with a fervor of faith which +it had never felt until then. With the flames of the holy city the +hand of God wrote on the reddened sky, 'I am the Lord thy God!' With +the rivers of blood flowing from the grand army of the French, the +finger of the Lord wrote on the snow-fields, 'Thou shalt have no +other gods before me!' Since then there is a wonderful joy, an +indescribable humility, and an immovable faith in my heart--since +then I have become another man. To the deliverance of Europe from +utter ruin I owe my own soul's salvation." [Footnote: The emperor's +words.--Vide Eylert, "Frederick William III.," vol. ii., p. 248.] + +"It is He alone who is able to deliver us," said the king, +profoundly moved; "I bow my head in humility, and confess that we +are nothing without Him. May He send us His support!" + +"He will," exclaimed Alexander, fervently; "God will be with us, for +we are engaged in a just cause!" + +"Yes, it is just," responded Frederick William, with deep emotion, +and, slowly raising his eyes, he whispered, "Pray for us, Louisa, +that we may conquer!" + +Both were silent, and, with pious emotion, they lifted their hearts +to heaven. Suddenly a joyful gleam kindled the face of the king, +and, offering his hand to Alexander, he said in a deeply-moved tone, +"We must not despond, but courageously continue the struggle. If +God, as I hope, bless our united efforts, we will profess before the +whole world that the glory belongs to Him alone." [Footnote: The +king's words.--Vide Eylert, "Frederick William III.," vol. ii., p. +248.] + +"Yes," cried Alexander, putting his right hand into that of his +friend. "Let us not be ashamed to declare that the glory belongs to +God. And now, my friend," exclaimed the emperor, when they halted, +"let us repair to our headquarters, and hold a council of war with +our generals." + +"Very well," replied Frederick William; "let us examine the strength +of our forces, and see what ought to be done. The battle of Bautzen +must not be the end of this war." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +BAD NEWS. + + +A moment of repose had interrupted the great contest. Napoleon had +offered an armistice to the allies prior to the battle of Bautzen; +they rejected it, full of confidence in their strength. After the +battle of Bautzen, the offer was repeated, and accepted. Time was +needed for levying additional troops, organizing new regiments, and +concentrating new corps. But Napoleon, deceived by his victories, +relying on his good luck, and on the mistakes of his enemies, was +fully satisfied that this armistice was but the forerunner of peace; +and that the allies, warned by the two lost battles, would be eager +to accept any peace not altogether dishonorable. The negotiations +were opened at Prague. France, Prussia, and Russia, sent their +plenipotentiaries to that city; and Austria, having taken upon +herself the part of a mediator, instructed her envoy, Minister +Metternich, to participate in the congress. The armistice was from +the 4th of June to the 24th of July--time enough for agreeing on a +peace equally advantageous to both sides--time enough, too, in case +it should not be concluded, to concentrate the armies and bring +reinforcements from France. + +So soon as the armistice was signed, Napoleon returned to Dresden, +to await there the result of the negotiations. At the Marcolini +Palace the emperor again established his headquarters; but no +brilliant festivals were given, as previous to his expedition to +Russia; the kings and princes of Germany did not gather round the +powerful conqueror. The Emperor of Austria remained quietly but +sullenly at Vienna; the King of Prussia was at Reichenbach, and was +now the enemy of Napoleon, and all the princes of the German +Confederation of the Rhine, who, but a year before, were humble +courtiers of Napoleon, kept aloof in morose silence, or refused +obedience to their former master, and raised difficulties when +called upon to furnish new troops and open additional resources. +None of them came to offer homage to him whom they had just feared +as the most powerful ruler in the world. Only the old, feeble King +of Saxony (who, at the commencement of the war had fled with his +millions, and the diamonds of the Green Vault, to Plauen, in the +most remote corner of his territories), [Footnote: Lebensbilder, +"vol. iii., p. 466."] returned at the rather imperious request of +Napoleon to Dresden. The emperor dined with him sometimes, but only +in the most intimate family circle, and without any outward +splendor; at night he went to the French theatre, which had been +ordered to Dresden during the armistice. Sometimes, his favorites, +the ladies Mars and Georges, and the great Talma, were allowed to +sup with the emperor after the performance, and the beautiful Mars, +the impassioned fervor of the gifted Georges, and the conversation +of the no less genial than adroit Talma, succeeded in dispelling the +emperor's discontent. But no sooner was he alone with his thoughts, +his labors, his plans, than his countenance assumed its sombre +expression. Thus days and weeks elapsed, and the congress was still +assembled at Prague; the end of the armistice was drawing nigh, and +the plenipotentiaries had not yet been able to agree on the +conditions of peace. + +It was on the morning of the 28th of June. Napoleon had just +finished his breakfast, and entered his map-room to conceive there +the plans of future campaigns, when the door of the reception-room +opened, and Minister Maret, Duke de Bassano, came in. Maret belonged +to the few men in whom his master placed implicit confidence, and +whose fidelity he never doubted; to those who had at all times free +access to him, and were permitted to enter his apartments without +being announced. Nevertheless, his arrival seemed to surprise +Napoleon. Never before had the duke entered his room at so early an +hour, for he knew well that the emperor, engaged in examining his +maps and devising plans, did not like to be disturbed. It was +undoubtedly something unusual that induced the Duke de Bassano to +come to him at such a time. + +Napoleon cast a quick glance on Maret's face. Standing up beside the +map-table, and leaning his hand upon it, he asked, vehemently, +"Well, Maret, what is it?" + +"Sire, I have come only to deliver to your majesty a few letters +which the courier has just brought from Paris," said the duke, +handing him some sealed packages. + +"Is a letter from the empress among them?" asked Napoleon, hastily. + +"Yes, sire." + +The emperor had already found it, and, throwing the others upon the +table, he hastily opened the one from his wife and read it. His +face, which until then had been so stern and gloomy, gradually +assumed a milder and kindlier expression. + +"Ah, dear Louisa," he said, when he had read it, "how affectionately +she writes, how she is yearning for me, and how well she knows how +to tell me of the King of Rome, who is constantly inquiring for his +father, and every night, when he goes to bed, calls aloud, 'Dear +papa emperor come back soon!'" + +"A call, sire, in which, I am satisfied, all France joins," said +Maret, quickly. + +"Ah!" exclaimed the emperor, contemptuously shrugging his shoulders, +"I know well that France--that even my marshals join in it, not from +any devotion to myself, but because they want peace. The little King +of Rome, however, is longing for me, and the empress, too, is +wishing for my return, without caring much whether there is war or +peace. These two love me! Ah, what a happy family would we three be +if a lasting peace could be established! I am tired of war; like all +of you, I am yearning to return home, and to enjoy a little the +fruits of our numerous victories." + +"Sire," said Maret, in a low, entreating voice, "it is easy for your +majesty to do so, and to restore peace to Europe." + +"Do you wish also to join in the nonsense asserted by the fools?" +asked Napoleon, sharply. "Always the same air--the same strain! You +at least, Maret, ought not to sing it, for you alone are aware of +the proposals and negotiations between me and my enemies, and should +know that it does not depend on me alone to restore peace, but that +I shall, perhaps, only be he who must receive it." + +"Still, sire, a few concessions on the part of your majesty would be +sufficient to bring about peace," Maret ventured to say. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Napoleon, whose voice now assumed an +angry tone. "Do you intend to intimate, by your longing for +concessions, that I should submit to the disgraceful and humiliating +terms on which Austria gives me hopes of her further friendship and +alliance? She dares ask of me the restoration of Illyria and the +territory annexed to the grand-duchy of Warsaw; she demands for +Prussia the evacuation of her fortresses, the restitution of +Dantzic, and the restoration of the whole sea-shore of Northern +Germany. And Austria, in making these proposals to me, in her +equivocal part as mediator, does not do so with the friendliness of +an ally, but she dares to threaten me, to say to me, 'If France does +not accept, Austria will be obliged to side with the enemies of +France, and make common cause with them.' I am ready to make peace, +but I shall die sword in hand rather than sign conditions forced +upon me. I will negotiate, but will not allow them to dictate laws +to me." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide Beitzke, vol. i., p. +560.] + +"Sire, none would dare dictate laws to your majesty. On the +contrary, Austria will be glad if you merely declare that you are +ready to negotiate, and she will not have much to ask. She will be +content if you restore Illyria to her; and I am convinced of it, +never will the Emperor Francis ally himself seriously with the +enemies of his son-in-law." + +"But the Emperor Francis is not his cabinet," exclaimed Napoleon. "I +might, perhaps, repose confidence in the personal attachment of my +father-in-law, but this could not blind me to the policy of his +cabinet. This policy never changes. Treaties of alliance and +marriages may somewhat retard its course, but never deflect it. +Austria never renounces what she was compelled to cede. When she is +weaker than her enemy, she resorts to peace, but this is always only +an armistice for her, and, in signing it, she thinks of a new war. +Such has been her conduct during the long series of years during +which I have been fighting and negotiating with her. When closely +pressed, she always accepted peace, and offered me her hand for the +conclusion of an alliance; but whenever a reverse befell me, she +withdrew her hand and broke the alliance. Now believing that she +sees her own interest, she immediately resumes a hostile attitude +toward me. She will open the passes of Bohemia to the allies, and +thereby permit them to turn the positions of the French army, attack +us in the rear, and cut us off from France. In a word, Austria ia +unable to forget any thing! She will remain our enemy, not only so +long as she has losses to make up, but so long as the power of +France might threaten her with new humiliations. This instinct of +jealousy is more powerful than her attachment; she will always +strive to aggrandize herself and to weaken France, and if I should +grant her Illyria to-day, she would, perhaps, to-morrow claim the +whole of Lombardy, and her former provinces in the Netherlands. +[Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide "The Emperor Francis and +Metternich," p. 80.] Do not deceive yourself about it, Maret, and +do not think that Austria wants peace with us because the Emperor +Francis is my father-in-law. I must dictate peace to them sword in +hand, and then they will hasten to remind me that I am the son-in- +law of the emperor, and in consideration of this relationship they +will ask of me favorable terms." + +"But this, it seems to me, is the very situation in which your +majesty is placed now," exclaimed Maret. "Your majesty has recently +achieved two new victories." + +"But what victories!" said Napoleon, gloomily; "they have cost me as +many soldiers as the enemy, and procured me no advantages. I had +hoped to gain many trophies; but in the battles of Lutzen and +Bautzen not a cannon, not a flag, but a few insignificant prisoners +fell into our hands. After two dreadful massacres, we have obtained +no results whatever--and those men have not left me a single nail to +pick up. [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Constant, vol. v.] They are +no longer the soldiers of Jena, you may be sure of it, Maret; +another spirit animates them and their commanders. The Prussians +fought like lions in those battles, and their commander, General +Blucher, is like a chieftain in the Illiad. He is at the same time a +general and a private soldier, a madcap and a Ulysses. The army +loves him, and the king confides in him. He hates me, and has an +excellent memory for his defeats of Auerstadt and Lubeck, and wants +to take revenge for them." + +"But it is unnecessary for Russia to take revenge," said Maret. + +"Yes," murmured Napoleon, gloomily. "On her snow-fields I lost my +army, and perhaps also my luck. But, no matter; I shall struggle on +to the end, and compel Fortune to become again my friend, that I may +do without other allies. She surely owes me attachment and fidelity, +for have I not again paid her a heavy tribute? was it not necessary +for me to act like Polycrates to keep out of bad luck? He sacrificed +only a ring to the gods, while I sacrificed two friends to Fortune, +and one of them my best friend--Duroc. The victory of Lutzen cost me +Bessieres; that of Bautzen, Duroc. It was a heavy sacrifice, Maret; +my heart is still bleeding in consequence of it, and this wound will +never heal." + +Maret made no reply, but turned his head aside, and his face had a +strange expression of uneasiness and embarrassment. + +Napoleon noticed it, and slightly shrugged his shoulders. "You think +that I grow sentimental, duke," he said, rudely, "and you mean that +my long military experience should have rendered me insensible to +such accidents. You are right; let us refer to them no more. Let us +rather read what the courier has brought." + +He stretched out his hand for the other letters, and took up the +first one without looking at it. When he saw the superscription, his +face brightened, and, fixing a quick, reproachful glance upon Maret, +he said: "Fate is less rigorous than you are, Maret. It reminds me +that faithful friends still remain, and that all the companions of +my youth are not yet dead. There is a letter from Junot! He is one +of my faithful friends!" Opening it, he read hastily, and his face +darkened. "Maret," he cried, in an angry voice, "read--see what +Junot dares write to me!" He handed the letter to Maret. "Read it +aloud," he cried, "otherwise I shall be afraid lest my eyes deceive +me, and I mistake his words. Not the commencement, but the last page +is what I want to hear." + +Maret read in a tremulous voice: "'I, who love your majesty with the +fervor which the savage feels for the sun--I, who belong to you with +body and soul--must tell you the truth; and this is: we must wage an +eternal war for you, BUT _I_ WILL DO SO NO MORE! I want peace! I +want at length to be able to rest my weary head and aching limbs in +my house, in the midst of my family, to enjoy their devotion, and no +longer to be a stranger to them--to enjoy what I have purchased with +a treasure that is more precious than all the riches of India--with +my blood, with the blood of a man of honor, a good Frenchman, a true +patriot. Well, then, I ask--I demand--the repose that I have +purchased by twenty-two years of active service, and by seventeen +wounds, from which my blood has welled, first for my country, and +then for your glory. It is enough!--my country needs repose, and +your glory is as radiant as the sun. I repeat, therefore, I want +peace. I speak in the name of all your marshals and generals, in the +name of your army, in the name of all France: WE DEMAND PEACE; give +it to us, then!--JUNOT, Duke d'Abrantes.'" [Footnote: "Memoirs of +the Duchess d'Abrantes," b. xvi., p. 323.] + +"Well!" inquired Napoleon, when Maret had read the letter, "what do +you think of this impudence?" + +"Sire," said Maret, in a low, tremulous voice, "your majesty knows +well that the Duke d'Abrantes is very dangerously ill, and that he +is said to be subject to frequent fits of insanity." + +"It is true, it is the language of a madman, but one who knows very +well what he says. For he is right; he dares utter what all my +marshals are thinking, and gives utterance to their thoughts, +because he imagines that my friendship for him gives him that right. +The fool! I shall prove to him that I am, first and above all, the +emperor, and that the emperor will, without regard to the person, +punish the man who is so audacious as to threaten him. Oh, I am glad +that it is Junot who has made himself the mouth-piece of my generals +and marshals! I shall punish him with inexorable rigor, and that +will silence the others forever. They will not dare that which not +even Junot was permitted to do with impunity; they will obey when my +first anger has crushed this traitor Junot. For he is a traitor, a-- +" + +"Oh, sire, I implore you, do not proceed!" interposed Maret; "have +mercy upon him who stands already before a higher Judge, to receive +his sentence!" + +"What do you mean?" asked Napoleon. + +"I mean, sire," replied Maret, solemnly, "that I came to bring you a +sad message, and that your majesty, therefore, just now did me +injustice. Sire, when you deplored the death of your lamented +friend, the Duke de Frioul, I was silent and embarrassed, not +because I deemed such regrets unbecoming, but because I was filled +with unbounded grief at the thought that I had come to communicate a +similar affliction. The courier brought me also a letter from M. +Albert de Comminges, Junot's brother-in-law. He requests me therein +to inform your majesty of a melancholy occurrence--the Duke +d'Abrantes is dead! Here is a letter from M. de Comminges to your +majesty." + +The emperor made no reply, but his face, which generally seemed +immovable, commenced quivering, and his lips trembled. He took the +letter in silence, and, opening it with a hasty hand, began to read +it. But suddenly he dropped it, and, pressing both his hands to his +forehead, he groaned aloud. Then he quickly stooped down, picked up +the letter and read it through. "Junot!" he then cried in a tone of +profound woe--"Junot!" He crumpled the letter in his hands, and, +with an expression from the depths of his heart, he repeated, +"Junot! Oh, my God, Junot, too!" + +At this moment his wandering eye fell upon Maret, who was gazing at +him, pale and filled with profound compassion. Napoleon started and +concealed the tears which came to his eyes. Before an observer he +was not accustomed to show himself a man overcome by grief. He +smiled, but with an indescribably mournful expression, and said in a +firm voice, "Another brave soldier gone! The third victim that the +war has required of me, Maret! It takes the very men who were +indispensable to me, because they set so shining an example of +bravery and fidelity to the whole army. That is the only reason why +I complain!" + +"Your majesty has a twofold right to complain," said Maret, in his +calm voice; "Junot loved your majesty with the obedience of a +servant, the submissiveness of a child, the enthusiasm of a pupil, +the ardor of a friend. He would have gone through fire for you, and +he was justified in saying that he loved your majesty with the love +the savage feels for the sun. Your majesty was his sun!" + +"Yes, he loved me," said Napoleon, in a low voice, dropping his head +on his breast, "and I could count upon his fidelity. We had spent +our youth together, had overcome together a thousand dangers, and +courageously braved the vicissitudes of fate. His star had risen +with mine. Will not mine sink with his? Oh, Junot, how could you +leave me now, when you knew that I stood so greatly in need of you? +Junot, this is the first time that you desert me, and forget your +plighted faith. I am on the eve of a great and doubtful war, +surrounded by enemies--and my friends are deserting me and escaping +into the grave!" He paused, bowing his head lower upon his breast, +and wrinkling his forehead in his grief. A sad silence ensued, which +Maret dared not interrupt, by a motion or a word. At length, the +emperor raised his, face again, resuming his usual coldness and +indifference. "Maret," he said, in a firm voice, "I have no one in +Illyria now, since Junot, governor of that province, has died. I +must send another governor. But whom?" + +"Sire," said Maret, in a timid voice, "will you not take the +proposals of Austria into consideration? She demands nothing but +Illyria as the price of her alliance and friendship. Fate itself +seems to give us a sign to grant this demand, for it has removed the +governor of Illyria." + +"Fate!" cried Napoleon, shrugging his shoulders, "you only +acknowledge its hints when it suits your purposes; you deny its +existence when it would seem to be contrary to your wishes. Fate +caused the governor of Illyria to die, because, as you yourself +said, he was subject to fits of insanity; it has thereby given me an +opportunity to place a sensible and prudent man in Junot's stead, a +man who will not dare tell me such impudent things as you read to me +from his letter. Well, then, I will obey the hint of Fate. Write +immediately to Fouche. He is at Naples; tell him to set out at once +and come to Dresden. I intend to appoint him governor of Illyria. +Dispatch a courier with the letter. But wait! I have not yet read +all the dispatches brought from Paris." + +He stepped back to the table, and took one of the letters from it. +"A letter from the Duke de Rovigo," he said, in a contemptuous tone, +"from the police minister of Paris! He will tell me a great many +stories; he will pretend to have seen many evil spirits, and, after +all, not know half of what he ought to know, and what Fouche would +have known if he still held that position. There, read it, Maret, +and communicate the most important passages to me." He threw himself +into the chair that stood in front of his desk, and, taking a +penknife, commenced whittling the wooden side-arm, while Maret +unfolded the dispatch and quickly glanced over its contents. + +"Sire," he said, "this dispatch contains surprising news. It speaks +of a new enemy who might rise against your majesty." + +"Well," said Napoleon, who was just cutting a large splinter from +the chair, "what new enemy is it?" + +"Sire," said Maret, shrugging his shoulders, "it is Louis XVIII." + +Napoleon started, and looked at his minister with a flash of anger. +"What do you mean?" he asked, sternly. "Who is Louis XVIII.? Where +is the country over which he rules?" + +"Sire, I merely intended to designate the brother of the unfortunate +King Louis XVI." + +"My uncle!" said Napoleon, with a proud smile, driving his knife +again into the back of the chair. "Well, what then? Whereby has the +Count de Lille surprised the world with the news of his existence?" + +"Sire, by a proclamation addressed to the French, and in which he +implores them to return to their legitimate lord and king, making +them many promises, which, however, do not contain any thing but +what the French possess already by the grace of your majesty." + +Napoleon shrugged his shoulders. "Savary, then, has at length seen a +copy of the English newspapers which published this proclamation," +he said. "I read it several weeks ago." + +"No, sire, it seems that the proclamation has not only appeared in +the English newspapers, but is circulating throughout France. The +Duke de Rovigo reports that secret agents of the Count de Lille are +actively at work in France. They are scattering every day thousands +of printed copies of the proclamation among the people. They are +circulated at night in the streets, secretly pushed under the doors +into the houses and rooms so that the police agents are unable to +take them away. These copies, it appears, are printed on hand- +presses, for their lines are often irregular and slanting, and +indicate an unpractised hand, but those who receive them try to +decipher them, and deliver them to the police only after having read +them." [Footnote: "Memoires du Duc Kovigo," vol. vi., p. 351.] + +Napoleon said nothing; he was still whittling the back of his chair, +and did not once look up to his minister, who stood before him in +reverential silence. "I thought I had crashed this serpent of +legitimacy under my foot," he murmured at last to himself, "but it +still lives, and tries again to rise against me. Ah, I despise it, +and I have reason to do so. I alone am now the legitimate ruler of +France; the fifty battles in which I have fought and conquered for +France are my ancestors; the will of the French people has made me +emperor, and the voice of all the sovereign princes of Europe has +recognized my throne. The daughter of an emperor is my partner; and +the King of Rome, the future emperor of the French, will be more of +a legitimate ruler than any other prince, for the battles of his +father and the ancestors of the Hapsburgs form his pedigree. Let the +Count de Lille, then, flood France with copies of his proclamation, +I shall in the mean time win battles for France, and with the +bulletins of my victories drive his proclamations from the field. I- +-" + +At this moment the door opened, and Roustan's black face looked in. +"Sire, the Duke de Vicenza requests an audience," he said. + +"Caulaincourt!" exclaimed Napoleon, surprised, rising and throwing +the penknife on the floor. "Caulaincourt! Let him come in!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE TRAITORS. + + +Roustan stepped back, and the imposing form of the Duke de Vicenza +appeared on the threshold. The emperor hastily met him and looked at +him with a keen, piercing glance. "Caulaincourt," he exclaimed, +"whence do you come, and what do you want here?" + +"Sire," said the duke, gravely and solemnly, "I come from Prague, +whither the order of your majesty had sent me, to attend the +congress and to conduct the negotiations in the name of your +majesty." + +"These negotiations are broken off, then, as you have come without +having been recalled?" + +"No, they are not broken off, but I have important news to +communicate to your majesty, and as I think that we are served best +when serving ourselves, I have made myself the bearer of my own +dispatches, to be sure that they reach your majesty in time. I have +travelled post-haste, and shall return to Prague in the same +manner." + +"Well, then, inform me of the contents of your dispatches orally and +quickly." + +"Sire, I inform your majesty that the Count de Metternich is on the +road to this city to convey to you the ultimatum of Austria." + +A flash of anger burst from the emperor's eyes. "He dares meet me! +does he not fear lest I crush him by hurling his duplicity and +treachery into his face? For I know that Austria is playing a double +game, negotiating at the same time with me and my enemies." + +"But it is still in the power of your majesty to attach Austria to +France, and secure a continued alliance with her," exclaimed the +Duke do Vicenza. "This is the reason why I have hastened hither: to +implore your majesty not to reject entirely, in the first outburst +of your anger, the proposals of Austria, however inadmissible they +may appear to be. I left Vienna simultaneously with Count +Metternich, but succeeded in getting somewhat the start of him; he +will be here in an hour, and I have, therefore, time enough to +communicate to your majesty important news which I learned at Prague +yesterday, and which is sufficiently grave to influence perhaps your +resolutions." + +"Speak!" commanded the emperor, throwing himself again into the +chair, and taking, for want of a penknife, a pair of scissors from +his desk, in order to bore the back of the chair with it. "Speak!" + +"In the first place, I have to inform your majesty that the Emperor +of Austria has left Vienna for Castle Gitschin, in Bohemia, and that +an interview of the Emperor Francis with the allied monarchs took +place there on the 20th of June." + +"Ah, the first step to open hostility has been taken, then," cried +Napoleon. + +"This interview, however, led to no results," added Caulaincourt. +"The Emperor Francis, on the contrary, declared emphatically that he +was still merely a mediator, and would consider the alliance with +France as dissolved, if your majesty should reject the ultimatum +with which he should send Metternich to Dresden." + +"That is the equivocal and insidious language which the Austrian +diplomacy has always used," exclaimed the emperor, shrugging his +shoulders. "They want to keep on good terms with all, in order to +succeed in being the friend of him who is victorious. My father-in- +law, it seems, has learned by heart, and recited the lesson which +Metternich taught him. Proceed, Caulaincourt." + +"Next, I have to inform your majesty that a definite treaty was +concluded yesterday between Austria and the allies. It was concluded +at Reichenbach. Austria has solemnly engaged to declare war against +you if you refuse to accept her terms, the last she would send. +Besides, Prussia and Russia concluded a treaty with England, which +engaged to assist both powers with money and materiel, and which, in +return, received the promise that Hanover, England's possession in +Germany, should be considerably enlarged at the end of the war, and +that new territories should be added to it." + +"And the short-sighted monarchs have been foolish enough to grant +this to England!" cried Napoleon, with a sneer. "In their blind +hatred against me they grant more territory in Germany to their most +dangerous enemy, that England may spread still further the vast net +of her egotism, and catch all Germany in it, flood the country with +her manufactured goods, and drive the commerce of the continent into +British hands! Ah, those gentlemen will soon perceive what a mistake +they have committed in yielding to the demands of those greedy +English traders. For if England gives money instead of asking it, +she must have a great many substantial advantages in view, and these +she can obtain only at the expense of the German sovereigns, to whom +she will furnish subsidies now. Are you through with your news, +Caulaincourt?" + +"No, sire, I have still something to add," said the Duke of Vicenza, +in a melancholy voice. + +The emperor looked at him with a piercing glance, which seemed to +fathom the depths of his soul. + +"Speak!" he said, quickly. + +"Your majesty knows that the crown prince of Sweden, Bernadotte, +landed with his army at Stralsund on the 20th of May?" + +"Yes, I do," said Napoleon, shrugging his shoulders. "My former +marshal, who acquired in my service a name and some fame, whom I +permitted to accept the dignity of crown prince of Sweden that was +offered him, a Frenchman, had the meanness to turn his arms against +his country, and ally himself with the enemies of France. But still +it seems that his courage is failing him. A month ago he disembarked +in Germany, and is idle with his troops in Mecklenburg. He allowed +Hamburg to fall; he did nothing to save Brandenburg, and appears +ready to embark again for Sweden. Looking the crime of treason full +in the face, he was unable to bear the thought of it, and will +retreat from it to the steps of the Swedish throne." + +"No, sire," said Caulaiueourt, gravely, "the crown prince of Sweden +has made up his mind, and hesitates no longer. The Emperor Alexander +sent an envoy to Bernadotte, and requested of him an interview with +the monarchs of Prussia and Russia, for the purpose of concerting +with them a joint plan of operations for the campaign. Bernadotte, +thanks to the persuasive eloquence of the Russian envoy, eagerly +accepted this invitation, and the interview is to take place on the +9th of July at Trachenberg, in Silesia. The crown prince is already +on the road with a truly royal suite, and he has been solemnly +assured that the sovereigns will receive him at Trachenberg with all +the honors due his rank as a sovereign and legitimate prince. The +envoy of the Emperor of Russia is accompanying Bernadotte on this +journey, to strengthen the favorable dispositions of the crown +prince, and render him at once an active and energetic member of the +alliance." + +"Who is this envoy whom Alexander has dispatched to Bernadotte?" +asked Napoleon. + +"Sire, it is Count Pozzo di Borgo." + +"Ah, my Corsican countryman, and once an ardent friend," exclaimed +Napoleon. "He has never forgiven me for not having assisted him, the +enthusiastic republican, in becoming King of Corsica, but having +left France in possession of my native country. As he was unable to +become a king, M. Pozzo di Borgo entered the service of the Czar of +Russia to fight against me, his countryman, with the power of his +tongue, as my other countryman with the arms of the Swedes. Well, I +think it will not do the allies much good to unite with traitors and +apostates, and to look for assistance against me from them. I gain +more moral weight by this struggle against traitors than my enemies +by their support. Bernadotte's treason is my ally." + +"Sire, another man has joined the traitor, a Frenchman, who wants to +fight against France, against his emperor and former comrade." + +"Still another! A third traitor! Who is it?" + +"Sire, it is General Moreau." + +"What! has Moreau returned from America?" asked Napoleon, looking up +quickly. + +"Yes, sire; he has left the banks of the Delaware to fight against +his country, as a general of the Emperor of Russia." + +The emperor looked thoughtfully, and suddenly he raised his eves, +while a pleased expression lit up his countenance. + +"My enemies assert that I have a heart of iron," he said, in a +gentle voice; "they charge me with being insensible to human +emotions--to compassion, friendship, and love. Well, then, I could +have had Moreau and Bernadotte both killed; they were in my power, +and deserved death. Moreau had entered into a conspiracy against me +and the existing laws of our country--a conspiracy whose object was +to assassinate me. I believe I would have been justified if I had +made him feel the rigor of my laws, and expiate his murderous intent +by death. Bernadotte disobeyed my orders in two battles; I would +have been justified in having him tried by a court-martial, which +would certainly have passed sentence of death upon him. I permitted +Moreau to emigrate to America, and indulge his republican +predilections there without hinderance; and Bernadotte to go to +Sweden, and gratify the desires of his ambitious heart. I pardoned +both because I loved them. They now reward me by allying themselves +with my enemies. This is all right, however, for I have placed both +under heavy obligations, and nothing is more difficult to forgive +than benefits." + +"Sire, as I have alluded to these traitors, I must mention still +another. General Jomini, adjutant-general of Marshal Ney, has +deserted his post and gone over to the camp of the allies to offer +his services to the sovereigns. He has become a member of the +Emperor Alexander's staff." + +"Well," cried Napoleon, with the semblance of unalloyed mirth, "the +world and posterity will have to pardon me now if I lose a few +battles in this campaign, for those who are fighting against me are +commanded by generals who have learned the art of war from me-- +pupils of mine. I must, therefore, allow them to gain a battle or +two to prove that I am a good teacher. Besides, Jomini is not as +guilty as Moreau and Bernadotte. He is a native of Switzerland, and +his treason is aimed only at myself, and not at his country." + +"It seems such is Jomini's excuse, too," said Caulaincourt, "for I +have been told that he treated General Moreau with surprising +coolness, and when the latter offered him his hand he did not take +it, but withdrew with a chilling salutation. To the Emperor +Alexander, who rebuked him for it, he replied that he would gladly +welcome General Moreau anywhere else than at the camp of the enemies +of Moreau's own country. For if he, Jomini, were a native of France, +he would assuredly at this hour not be at the camp of the Emperor of +Russia." + +"Ah!" exclaimed the emperor, "I am convinced that miserable Jomini +imagines that he acted in a very noble and highly-dignified manner. +A traitor who is ashamed of another traitor, and blushes for him! +Ah, Caulaincourt, what a harrowing spectacle! These acts of +treachery will in the end make me unhappy! [Footnote: Napoleon's +words.--Constant's "Memoires," vol. v., p, 245.] For does not +Austria, too, wish to betray me? Has she not entered into an +alliance with me, and does she not now wish to forsake me merely +because she imagines that it would be more advantageous to her to +side with my enemies? Austria is oscillating, and Metternich thinks +he can preserve her equilibrium by placing Austrian promises as +weights now into this, now into that scale. But the cabinet of +Vienna deceives itself. Count Metternich wants his intrigues to pass +for policy, while the whole object of Austria is to recover what she +has lost." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Fain, "Manuscrit de 1813," +vol. i.] + +At this moment a carriage was heard to roll up to the palace and +stop close under the windows of the cabinet. Maret, who, during the +conversation between Napoleon and Caulaincourt, had retired into a +window-niche, turned and looked out into the street. + +"Sire," he then said, quickly, "Count Metternich has arrived, and +already entered the palace." + +"Ah, he is really coming, then!" exclaimed Napoleon, with an air of +scornful triumph; "he wishes me to tear the mask from his smirking +face! Well, I shall comply with his wishes; I, at least, shall not +dissemble, nor veil my real thoughts! Austria shall learn what I +think of her!" + +The door opened, and Roustan entered again. "Sire," he said. "his +excellency Count Metternich, minister plenipotentiary of his majesty +the Emperor of Austria, requests an audience of your majesty." + +Napoleon turned his head slowly toward the Dukes de Vicenza and +Bassano. "Enter the cabinet of my private secretary, Fain," he said. +"Leave the door ajar; I want you to hear all. Fain, if he pleases, +may take notes of this interview, that he may afterward accurately +testify to it. Go!" + +The two gentlemen bowed in silence and withdrew. The emperor gazed +after them until they disappeared through the door of the cabinet; +then turning toward Roustan, "Let him come in," he said, with a +quick nod. + +A few minutes afterward the slender form, and the handsome, florid, +and smiling face of Count Clement de Metternich appeared on the +threshold of the imperial cabinet. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +NAPOLEON AND METTERNICH. + + +The emperor quickly met the Austrian minister, but, as if +restraining himself, he stood in the middle of the room. Metternich +approached, making a still, solemn bow, and quickly raised his head +again, and turning his fine face, from which the smile did not +vanish for a moment, toward the emperor, he waited in respectful +silence for the latter to address him. Napoleon cast a menacing +glance of hatred upon him; but Metternich did not seem to perceive +his threat. He fixed his large blue eyes with perfect calmness on +the face of the emperor, and awaited the commencement of the +conversation. + +The emperor felt that it was his province to break this silence. +"Well, Metternich," ho said, "yon are here, then! You are welcome! +But answer me, without circumlocution, What do you want?" + +"Sire, Austria wishes me to mediate a peace between the Prussian and +Russian allies and your majesty." + +"Ah, you want peace!" exclaimed Napoleon, sarcastically. "But why so +late? We have lost nearly a month, and your mediation, from its long +inactivity, has become almost hostile. It appears that it no longer +suits your cabinet to guarantee the integrity of the French empire? +Be it so; but why had you not the candor to make me acquainted with +that determination at an earlier period? It might have modified my +plans--perhaps prevented me from continuing the war." + +"But your majesty ought graciously to remember that, for the +present, there is no question of Austria and her wishes," said +Metternich, calmly; "that Austria is merely trying to mediate peace +between your majesty and the sovereigns of Russia and Prussia." + +"Ah, that is what you call mediating," exclaimed Napoleon, +sneeringly. "When you allowed me to exhaust myself by new efforts, +you doubtless little calculated on such rapid events as have ensued. +I have gained, nevertheless, two battles; my enemies, severely +weakened, were beginning to waken from their illusions, when +suddenly you glided among us, and, speaking to me of an armistice +and mediation, you spoke to them of alliance and war. But for your +pernicious intervention, peace would have been at this moment +concluded between the allies and myself. You cannot deny that, since +she has assumed the office of mediator, Austria has not only ceased +to be my ally, but is becoming my enemy. You were about to declare +yourself so when the battle of Lutzen intervened, and, by showing +you the necessity of augmenting your forces, made you desirous of +gaining time. You have improved your opportunity, and now you have +your two hundred thousand men ready, screened by the Bohemian hills; +Schwartzenberg commands them; at this very moment he is +concentrating them in my rear; and it is because you conceive +yourself in a condition to dictate the law, that you pay this +visit." + +"Sire, dictate!" echoed Metternich, in a tone of dismay, but with a +strange smile. + +"Yes, dictate!" repeated Napoleon, in a louder voice. "But why do +you wish to dictate to me alone? Am I, then, no longer the same man +whom you defended yesterday? If you are an honest mediator, why do +you not at least treat both sides alike? Say nothing in reply, for I +see through you, Metternich: your cabinet wishes to profit by my +embarrassments, and augment them as much as possible, in order to +recover a portion of your losses. The only difficulty you have is, +whether you can gain your object without fighting, or throw +yourselves boldly among the combatants; you do not know which to do, +and possibly you come to seek light on the subject. Well, then, let +us see! Let us treat! What do you wish?" + +"Sire," said Metternich, with his smiling calmness, which had not +yielded for an instant to the storm of Napoleon's reproaches, +"Austria has no motives of self-interest. The sole advantage which +the Emperor Francis wishes to derive from the present state of +affairs is the influence which a spirit of moderation, and a respect +for the rights of independent states, cannot fail to acquire from +those who are animated with similar sentiments. Austria wishes not +to conquer, but to preserve." + +"Speak more clearly," interrupted the emperor, impatiently; "but do +not forget that I am a soldier." + +"Your majesty has taught Europe by upward of fifty battles never to +forget that," said Metternich, with a pleasant nod. "Austria wishes +to wound your majesty neither as a soldier nor as an emperor. She +simply desires to establish a state of things which, by a wise +distribution of power, may place the guaranty of peace under the +protection of an association of independent states." + +"Words, words!" cried Napoleon, impatiently. "Words having no other +object than evasion, veiling your own designs! But I mean to go +directly to the object. I only wish Austria to remain neutral, and I +am ready to make sacrifices to her for it. My army is amply +sufficient to bring back the Russians and Prussians to reason. All +that I ask of you is to withdraw from the strife." + +"Ah, sire," said Metternich, eagerly, "why should your majesty enter +singly into the strife? Why should you not double your forces? You +may do so, sire! It depends only on you to add our forces to your +own. Yes, matters have come to that point that we can no longer +remain neutral; we must be either for or against you." + +The emperor bent on him one of those piercing glances which the +eagle bends upon the clouds to which he is soaring, seeking for the +sun behind them. "And which would be more desirable to you," he +asked, "to be for or against me?" + +"Ah, sire, the Emperor Francis wishes for nothing more ardently than +that the state of affairs should enable him to be for France, whose +emperor is his son-in-law." + +"But my father-in-law imposes conditions! Pray, tell me what they +are!" exclaimed Napoleon, striding up and down the apartment, while +Metternich walked by his side, respectfully holding his hat in his +hand. + +"Tell me what these conditions are!" repeated Napoleon. + +"Sire, they are simply these," said Metternich, in a bland tone. +"During the late decade the affairs of Europe have been disturbed in +a somewhat violent manner. Austria only wishes to have the +equilibrium of Europe reestablished, and all the states occupy again +the same position which they held prior to these convulsions. If +your majesty consents to contribute your share to this restoration, +Austria in return offers to France her lasting alliance and, in case +the other powers should pursue a hostile course, her armed +assistance. Austria wishes to make no conquests, to acquire no +provinces, no titles--she is animated with the spirit of moderation. +She demands only order, justice, and equality for all, and, +moreover, only the restoration of such states as have been +recognized for centuries as members of the general confederacy of +European states, the reconstruction of those thrones which have +existed for ages, and whose rulers have a legitimate right to their +sovereignty. I believe your majesty cannot deny that the Bourbons +have a well-founded right to Spain, and that the Spaniards now, by +the blood shed in their heroic struggle, have established their +right to restore the throne to their legitimate rulers. You will +have to admit, further, that no Christian sovereign, how powerful +soever he may be, has a right to overthrow the Holy See of St. +Peter, and to keep the vicegerent of God away from the capital which +all Christendom has so long recognized as his own. You will have to +admit, too, that both Lombardy and Illyria have long been +possessions of Austria, and that Switzerland has been recognized as +a confederation of republics by all the powers of Europe. If your +majesty acknowledges all this, and consents to restore the state of +things in accordance with those well-established rights, it only +remains for us to find compensation for the three powers which have +already allied themselves against you. As for Prussia, I believe a +portion of Saxony would be the most suitable indemnity for her. +Russia, I suppose, would be content if, after the dissolution of the +duchy of Warsaw, Poland should once more fall to her share, and +England demands only the possession of a few fortified places and +safe harbors on the shores of Holland." + +The emperor uttered a cry of anger, and, suddenly halting, cast +glances on Metternich which seemed to borrow their fire from the +lightning. "Are you through with your proposals, sir?" he asked, in +a threatening tone. + +Metternich bowed. "Yes, sire." + +"Well, then," cried the emperor, stepping up to the minister, "to +all this I respond only by the question: How much money has England +given you to play this part?" + +At this question, uttered in a menacing voice, Metternich turned +pale, the smile passed from his lips, his brow darkened, and his +eyes, usually so mild and pleasant, kindled with anger, and allowed +the thoughts, generally concealed in the innermost recesses of the +diplomatist's heart, to burst forth for a moment, and betray hatred. + +"Ah," cried Napoleon, in a triumphant tone, "I have at length torn +the mask from your smiling features, and I see that a serpent is +hidden under them as under roses. It would sting, but I know how to +be on my guard; I will never grant Austria the right to insult, +dictate to, and humiliate me. I will compel her, as I have done so +often, to prostrate herself in the dust before me, and ask mercy and +forbearance. Do you hear what I say? I will humiliate Austria, +trampling her in the dust." The emperor violently raised his +clinched fist, and striking it downward struck Metternich's hat, +which the minister still held in his hand, and caused it to fall to +the ground. + +The emperor paused and looked at Metternich, as if to request him to +pick up the hat. But the latter did not make the slightest movement. +His thoughts and his hatred had already retired into his bosom; his +brow was serene again, and his accustomed smile returned. He looked +first at the hat, and then at the emperor, who followed his glances, +and met them sullenly and defiantly. This little incident, however, +seemed to have dispelled Napoleon's anger, or at least to have +appeased the first stormy waves of the sea. When he spoke again his +tone was milder, and his look less scorching, returning from time to +time, as it were involuntarily, to the hat lying on the floor a few +steps from him. He commenced pacing the apartment again with quick +steps. Metternich followed him, only with somewhat slackened pace, +and thus compelled the emperor to walk a little slower. + +"Now," said Napoleon, loudly, "I know what you want! Not only +Illyria, but the half of Italy, the return of the pope to Rome, +Poland, and the abandonment of Spain, Holland, and Switzerland! This +is what you call the spirit of moderation! You are intent only on +profiting by every chance; you alternately transport your alliance +from one camp to the other, in order to be always a sharer in the +spoil, and you speak to me of your respect for the rights of +independent states! You would have Italy; Russia, Poland; Prussia, +Saxony; and England, Holland and Belgium: in fine, peace is only a +pretext; you are all intent on dismembering the French empire! And +Austria thinks she has only to declare herself, to crown such an +enterprise! You pretend here, with a stroke of the pen, to make the +ramparts of Dantzic, Custrin, Glogau, Magdeburg, Wesel, Mentz, +Antwerp, Alessandria, Mantua, in fine, all the strong places of +Europe, sink before you, of which I did not obtain possession but by +my victorious arms! And I, obedient to your policy, am to evacuate +Europe, of which I still hold the half; recall my legions across the +Rhine, the Alps, and the Pyrenees; subscribe a treaty which would be +nothing but a vast capitulation; and place myself at the mercy of +those of whom I am at this moment the conqueror! It is when my +standards float at the mouths of the Vistula, and on the banks of +the Oder; when my army is at the gates of Berlin, and Breslau; when +I am at the head of three hundred thousand men, that Austria, +without drawing a sword, expects to make me subscribe such +conditions! This is an insult, and it is my father-in-law that has +matured such a project; it is he that sends you on such a mission!" +[Footnote: This whole speech contains only Napoleon's words.--Vide +Fain, "Manuscrit de 1813," vol. i.] + +While thus speaking, the emperor was still walking, and Metternich +by his side. Whenever they passed the hat lying on the floor, +Napoleon cast a quick side-glance on Metternich, who appeared to +take no notice of the hat, and it seemed entirely accidental that he +slightly wheeled aside, and thus succeeded in passing without +touching it. + +"You," cried Napoleon, in a thundering voice, "have taken upon +yourself the mission of insulting me, and you think I will quietly +submit?" + +"Sire," said Metternich, with his imperturbable calmness, "I believe +you have already punished me for it!" + +Now for the first time his eyes turned significantly toward his hat, +and then fixed themselves steadfastly on the emperor. They did not +dare to threaten, but they defied Napoleon. They said: "You have +insulted me by knocking my hat out of my hand. I will not pick it +up, but demand satisfaction." + +Possibly Napoleon understood this language, for a smile, full of +sarcasm and contempt, played around his lips, and he slightly +shrugged his shoulders. + +"I beg you to consider, besides," added Metternich, calmly, "that I +am here only because my sovereign has commissioned and ordered me to +repair to you, and that, as a faithful servant, I have repeated only +what the emperor commanded me." + +"Ah," cried Napoleon, with a harsh laugh, "you wish to make me +believe that you are but the emperor's echo? Well, I will suppose it +to be true. Then go and tell your master that I henceforth decline +his mediation, and that nothing would exasperate me more than the +idea that Austria, in return for her crimes and her breach of faith, +should reap the best fruits and become the pacificator of Europe. +Ask the Emperor Francis in what position he intends to place me in +regard to my son? Tell him he is entirely mistaken if he believes a +disgraced throne can be a refuge in France for his daughter and +grandson. [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide Fain, "Manuscrit de +1813," vol. i.] That is my reply to the Emperor Francis. Go!" + +Metternich bowed; considering the emperor's words equivalent to his +dismissal, he turned and crossed the room. His way led him past his +hat; he took no notice of it, but quietly walked on toward the door. + +"He does not wish to take his hat," thought Napoleon. + +Metternich reached the door, turned again to the emperor, and made +him a last reverential bow. + +"One word more, Count Metternich!" cried Napoleon. "Come, I have +still something to say to you." + +Metternich blandly nodded assent and returned. Napoleon commenced +again pacing the room, with Metternich by his side. The emperor now +directed his steps in such a manner that he himself was near the +hat. "I wish to prove to you, Metternich," said Napoleon, "that I +have seen through you, and that the true reason of your coming is +well known to me. You did not for an instant believe that I could +accept these proposals, which would dishonor and annihilate me; you +know me too well for that; but they were only to be the pretext of +the real wish that brought you hither. To be able to ally yourself +in a seemingly loyal manner with my enemies, you want to get rid of +the alliance which is still connecting Austria with France. In +direct contradiction to all that Austria has hitherto said to me, +you wish to annul the treaty of Paris. Admit that this is the case." + +The emperor, with his eyes fixed steadfastly upon Metternich, +crossed the apartment. Suddenly seeming to find an obstacle in his +way, he turned his eyes toward the floor. It was Metternich's hat, +which his foot had already touched. As if merely to remove the +obstruction, he stooped, took up the hat, and threw it with an +indifferent and careless motion on a chair near the door. He then +quietly passed on and fixed his eyes again upon Metternich. +[Footnote: Vide "Memoires de la Duchesse d'Abrantes," vol. xvi., p. +173. There is another version of this scene, according to which it +was not Metternich's, but the emperor's hat that fell to the floor.- +-Vide Hormayr, "Lebensbilder," vol. iii., p. 480.] "Well, reply to +me--deny it if you can!" + +"Sire," said Metternich, in a bland, insinuating voice, "I had +already the honor of telling you that matters have come to that +point that we can no longer remain neutral, but that we can take up +arms for your majesty, only if you consent to grant us all that I +have laid before you, and--" + +"No," interrupted Napoleon, proudly, "do not repeat the insult! The +interview is ended. I know what you desire, and I do not intend to +disappoint you! I will not be a dead weight upon my friends, nor +raise the slightest objection to the abandonment of the treaty that +allies me with Austria, if such be the wish of the Emperor Francis. +I shall tomorrow repeat this to you in writing and in due form. Now +we are through--farewell!" He turned his back on Count Metternich, +with a quick nod, and continued his way across the room. + +Metternich cast a last smiling glance on him; went with rapid, soft +steps to the chair, took his hat which the emperor had picked up, +hastened across the room, and went out without a word or a bow. + +When Napoleon heard him close the door, "He is gone," he murmured, +"the alliance is broken. I have now no ally but myself!" For a +moment he looked melancholy, and then starting glanced at the small +door leading into the cabinet of Baron Fain, his private secretary. +He remembered that his two dukes were there, and that they could not +only hear but see all. Composing his agitated face, he shouted in a +merry voice, "Caulaincourt and Maret, come in!" + +The door opened immediately; the Dukes de Bassano and Vicenza +appeared on the threshold and reentered the room. "Well, have you +heard every thing?" asked Napoleon. + +"Yes, sire." + +"And Fain? has he taken notes?" + +"Sire, he has written down every thing as far as it was possible, +considering the rapidity of the conversation." [Footnote: Fain, +"Memoires de 1813." Fain gives a full account of this interview, and +I have strictly followed his narrative.] + +"Ah, I shall read it afterward," said the emperor; "it is always +good to know in what manner we shall be recognized by posterity. +Now, gentlemen, since you have heard all, you understand that war is +unavoidable, and that Austria will side with my enemies." + +"Sire, we have heard it, and it has filled our souls with uneasiness +and anxiety," said Maret. + +"Perhaps, nevertheless, a compromise may still be possible," +exclaimed Caulaincourt. "The armistice has not yet expired, and, in +accordance with the orders of your majesty, I have already made the +necessary overtures for prolonging it to the 15th of August." + +"It will be prolonged, you may depend upon it," said Napoleon, "for +the allies need time for completing their preparations. We shall +have an armistice to that time, but then war will break out anew, +and it will be terrible. I shall not indeed wage it as emperor, but +as General Bonaparte." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.] + +"Oh, sire," sighed Maret, "the whole world is longing for peace, and +France, too, entertains no more ardent wish. I have received many +unmistakable intimations in regard to it. Paris is not only hoping +for peace, but expecting it confidently, after the two victories by +which your majesty has humiliated your enemies." + +"Paris is very badly informed if she thinks peace to depend upon +me," replied Napoleon, indignantly. "You see how greedily Austria +augments the demands of my enemies, by placing herself at their +head. We were always obliged to conquer peace. Very well, we will +conquer it again. The armistice will be prolonged to the 15th of +August--time enough to complete, on our side, all necessary +preparations, and decree a new conscription. But then, after the +armistice, war--a decisive, bloody war--a war that will lead to an +honorable peace! Believe me, he who has always dictated peace cannot +submit to it with impunity. Courage, therefore! France wants peace, +and so do I, but my cannon shall dictate the terms, and my sword +write them!" [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide "Memoires du Due de +Rovigo," vol. ii.] + + + + +DELIVERANCE OF GERMANY. + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +ON THE KATZBACH. + + +The armistice expired on the 15th of August, and hostilities were +resumed. The state of affairs, however, was essentially different +from what it was at the commencement of the armistice; for, at that +time, Napoleon had just obtained two victories. During the +armistice, the allies had won an important victory over him; they +had gained Austria over to their side, and now, at the renewal of +hostilities, Austria reenforced the allies with two hundred thousand +men. For nearly fourteen years Napoleon was invariably the more +powerful enemy, not only on account of his military genius, but of +the numerical strength and excellent organization of his forces. + +For the first time the enemy opposed him with superior forces, and +this vast host struggled, moreover, with the utmost enthusiasm for +the deliverance of the fatherland--with the energy of hatred and +wrath against him who had so long enslaved and oppressed it. But +Napoleon still possessed his grand military genius. Soon after the +expiration of the armistice, he gained a new victory over the +allies, that of Dresden; [Footnote: The battle of Dresden lasted two +days, the 26th and 27th of August. Moreau died on the 2d of +September, and the battle of Culm was fought on the 29th and 30th of +August.] and in this battle Moreau, the French general, who was +fighting against his own countrymen, was struck by a French ball, +which caused his death in a few days. But the allies took their +revenge for the defeat of Dresden in the great victory of Culm, +where they, also after a two days' battle, achieved a brilliant +triumph over General Vandamme. + +General Blucher and his Silesian army had not participated in these +battles. At the time when the Russians, the Austrians, and a part of +the Prussians, were fighting and yielding at Dresden, Blucher was at +length to attain his object, and. meet the enemy in a pitched +battle. Since the 20th of August he stood near Jauer with his army, +which was ninety thousand strong, composed of Russians and +Prussians, and awaited nothing more ardently than the approach of +the enemy, in order to fight a general battle. Fortune seemed to +favor his wishes, for Napoleon himself was advancing. On the 21st of +August the scouts reported the approach of the hostile columns, who +had crossed the Bober at Lowenberg. Blucher's eyes lit up with +delight; he stroked his white mustache, and said: "We shall have a +fight! To-morrow we meet the French!" + +But the morning of the 23d of August dawned, and the eyes of the +general were still unable to descry the advancing enemy. Yet his +scouts reported that the French army was advancing, and that only a +detachment had set out for Dresden. "Then Bonaparte has left with +this detachment," grumbled Blucher; "for if he were still with them, +the French would not creep along like snails." + +At length, on the 26th of August, the general's wishes seemed to be +near fulfilment. The French were advancing. They approached the +banks of the Katzbach, to the other side of which the Silesian army +was moving. "We shall have a fight!" shouted General Blucher, +exultingly; "the good God will have mercy on me after all, and treat +me to a good breakfast! I have been hungering for the French so +long, that I really thought I should die of starvation. I shall +furnish the roast; and, that there may be something to drink, the +rain is pouring down from heaven as though all the little angels on +high were weeping for joy because they are to have the pleasure of +seeing old Blucher at work!--Glorious hosts in heaven!" added +Blucher, casting a glance at the leaden sky, "now do me only the +favor to put an end to your weeping, and do not give us too much of +a good thing. Pray remember that you put under water not only the +enemy, but ourselves, your friends. Do not soften the soil too much, +else not only the French will stick in the mud, but ourselves, your +chosen lifeguard!" + +But "the little angels on high" poured down their "tears of joy" in +incessant torrents from early dawn. It was one of those continuous +rains from a dull gray sky, giving little hope of fine weather for +many days. The soil was softened, the mountain-torrents swollen, and +vast masses of water foamed into the Katzbach, so that this peaceful +little stream seemed a furious river. A violent norther was blowing, +and driving the rain into the faces of the soldiers, drenching their +uniforms, penetrating the muskets, and moistening the powder. + +"Well, if the boys cannot shoot to-day, they will have to club their +muskets," said Blucher, cheerfully, when he and his suite rode out +of Bollwitzhof, his headquarters, to reconnoitre the position of the +French. + +But the wind and rain rendered a reconnoissance a matter of +impossibility. The enemy was nowhere to be seen, but still the dull +noise of rumbling cannon and trotting horses was heard at a +distance, and the patrols reported that they had seen the foe +approaching the Katzbach in heavy columns; not, however, on the +other bank, but on this side. At this moment General Gneisenau came +up at a full gallop. He had gone out toward the pickets to +reconnoitre, and came back to report that the French were forming in +line of battle at a short distance on the plateau near Eichholz, and +that they had crossed to the right side of the Katzbach. + +"Right or left," said Blucher, "it is all the same to me, provided +we have them. If they have already crossed the river, well then they +know the road, and will be better able to find their way back. Let +us allow them to cross, until there are enough of them on this +side." Then, turning with noble dignity toward his officers, he +added, in an entirely changed, grave, and measured tone: "Gentlemen, +the battle will commence in a few hours. Promptness and good order +are of vital importance now.--The orderlies!" + +The orderlies hastened to him. "You will ride to General York, who +is occupying the plateau of Eichholz, and tell him to allow as many +French as he thinks he can beat to march up the ascent, and then he +is to charge them!" shouted Blucher to the first orderly, and, while +he sped away at a furious gallop, the general turned to the second. +"You will hasten to General von Sacken and tell him that it is time +for attacking the French!--And we, gentlemen," he added, addressing +his staff, "will place ourselves at the head of our troops. The +soldiers must have their meals cooked by two o'clock; all the +columns will then commence moving. When the enemy falls back, I +expect, above all, the cavalry to do their duty, and to act with +great courage. The foe must find out, that on retreating he cannot +get out of our hands unhurt. And now, forward! The battle begins at +two o'clock!" He spurred his horse, and galloped again toward the +troops. With a serene face and joyful eyes he rode along the front. +"Boys," he shouted, "cook your dinners quickly, do not burn your +mouths, and do not eat your soup too hot; but when you have eaten +it, then it is time for cooking a whipping soup for the French." + +"Yes, Father Blucher, we will cook it for them!" shouted the +soldiers. + +"I am afraid that soup won't agree with the French," said Blucher, +with a humorous wink. "Blue-bean soup is hard to digest. But they +will have to swallow it, whether they like it or not, won't they?" + +"Yes, they will!" laughed the soldiers; and Blucher galloped over to +the other regiments, to fire their hearts by similar greetings. + +It was two o'clock! "Boys, the fun will commence now!" shouted +Blucher's powerful voice. "Now I have French soldiers enough on this +side of the river. Forward!" + +Forward they went, at a double-quick, directly at the French. The +cannon boomed, the musketry rattled; but the rain soon silenced the +latter. + +"Boys," shouted Major von Othegraven to his battalion of the +Brandenburg regiment, "if we cannot shoot them, we can club them!" +And amid loud cheers the soldiers turned their muskets, and struck +their enemies with the butts. A terrible hand-to-hand struggle +ensued--howls of pain, dreadful abuse and imprecations burst from +both sides; but at length they ceased on this part of the field: the +Brandenburg soldiers had killed a whole French battalion with the +stocks of their muskets! [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. ii., p. 204.] + +The battle raged on amid the terrible storm beating on the +combatants. The wind blew violently, and the rain descended in +torrents. The men sank ankle-deep in the softened soil, but +"Forward!" sounded the battle-cry, and the soldiers left their shoes +in the mud, rushing in their socks or bare-footed on the enemy, who +fought with lion-hearted courage, here receding and there advancing. + +"Father Blucher, we are doing well to-day!" shouted the soldiers to +their chieftain, galloping up to the infantry. + +"Yes, we are doing well," cried Blucher; "but wait, boys--we shall +do still better!" + +At this moment the artillery boomed from the other side. Two +officers galloped up to Blucher. One was the orderly he had sent to +General von Sacken. + +"What reply did General von Sacken make?" shouted Blucher. + +"'Reply to the general, "Hurrah!"' [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. ii., p. +201.] was all he said, your excellency." + +"A splendid comrade!" cried Blucher, merrily. + +"General," said the second officer, in an undertone, "I beg leave to +make a communication in private." + +"In private? No communications will be made in private to-day," +replied Blucher, shaking his head; "my staff-officers must hear +every thing." And he beckoned to his aides and officers to come +closer to him. + +"Your excellency then commands me to utter aloud what I have to +say?" + +"Well, speak directly, and, if you like, so loudly that the French +will hear, too!" + +"Well, then, general, I have to tell you that no time is to be lost, +and that we must hasten to advance, for the Emperor Napoleon himself +is coming up at the head of his troops; he is already in the rear of +your excellency," + +"Ah," inquired Blucher, with perfect composure, "is the Emperor +Napoleon in my rear? Well, I am glad of it; then he is able to do me +a great favor." He turned his eyes again toward the battle array +with a defiant smile, as if confident of final victory. + +The victory was not decided, although the murderous struggle had +lasted already an hour. Marshal Macdonald constantly moved up fresh +troops, and Blucher had sufficient reserves to meet them. Here the +Prussians gave way, and there the French. 'From the right wing of +the Prussian army orderlies informed General Blucher that General +York, with his troops, had repulsed the enemy, and was advancing +victoriously; messengers hastened to him from the left wing, and +told him that General Langeron was about to fall back, that the +Prussian cavalry were retreating, and the French cavalry approaching +in dense masses, and that the Prussian batteries were in imminent +danger of falling into the hands of the enemy. + +Blucher uttered an oath--a single savage oath; then he turned his +head aside and shouted, "Hennemann! pipe-master!" + +Christian Hennemann galloped up immediately. He was in full hussar- +uniform, but did not belong to the ranks; he was in the suite of his +general, and had to be constantly near him. On the pommel of his +saddle was a long iron box, and in his mouth a short clay pipe. +"General, here I am!" + +"Give me a short pipe, for now we charge the enemy!" + +Hennemann took the pipe from his mouth, handed it to the general, +and said, with the utmost equanimity: "Here it is! It has been +burning some time already, and I began to think the general had +entirely forgotten the pipe and myself." + +Blucher put the pipe into his mouth. At this moment a Brandenburg +regiment of lancers galloped up, headed by Major von Katzeler, +Blucher's former adjutant. "We are going to assist our men!" shouted +Katzeler, saluting the general with his sword. + +"We are moving to the relief of our comrades!" cried a captain of +hussars, thundering up at the head of his regiment. + +"Very well!" said Blucher. "God bless me. I must go with them! I can +stand it no longer!" Drawing his sword, he galloped with the courage +and ardor of a youth to the head of the column of hussars, who +received him with deafening cheers. The bugles sounded, and forward +sped Blucher at an impetuous gallop. + +Suddenly some one shouted by his side: "General! general!" It was +the pipe-master. Blucher, looking at him with eyes flashing with +anger, said: "Begone! Ride to the rear!" + +"God forbid!" said Hennemann, composedly; "here is my place; did not +the general order me always to remain near him and hold a short pipe +in readiness? Well, I am near, and the pipe is ready." + +"I do not want it now, Christian; we are about to charge the enemy. +To the rear, pipe-master!" + +"I cannot think of it, general; no one is at liberty to desert his +post, as you told me yourself," cried Hennemann. "I am at my post, +and will not allow myself to be driven from it. You will soon enough +need me." + +"Forward!" cried the general. And amid loud cheers the hussars +rushed upon the enemy, Blucher fighting at their head, brandishing +his sword with the utmost delight, forcing back the enemy, and +wresting from him the advantages he had already gained. The French +being driven back, Blucher suddenly commanded a halt. + +"Boys!" he shouted, in a clarion voice, "this is a butchery to-day; +let us stop a moment, take a drink, and fill our pipes.--Pipe- +master, my pipe!" + +"Did I not say that you would soon need me?" asked Hennemann, in a +triumphant voice. "Here is your pipe, general!" + +When the horses had taken breath, and the bold hussars a drink, and +filled their pipes, the general's voice was again heard: "Forward in +God's name!--we shall soon be done with the French!" + +Toward dusk the battle was decided. In wild disorder fled the enemy, +delayed by the softened soil, blinded by the rain, and obstructed by +the Katzbach and the Neisse, with their roaring waters swelling +every moment. In hot pursuit was the exultant victor, thundering +with his cannon, and hurling death into the ranks of the fugitives. +Field-pieces were planted on the banks of those streams, and when +the French approached, they were greeted with fearful volleys. +Turning in dismay, flashing swords and bayonets menaced them. Piles +of dead were lying on the banks of the Katzbach; thousands of +corpses were floating down the foaming waters, showing to Silesia +the bloody trophies of battle, and that Blucher had at length taken +revenge upon his adversary. At seven o'clock in the evening all was +still. On all sides the French had fled. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +BLUCHER AS A WRITER. + + +Darkness came, and the rain continued. The "dear little angels in +heaven," who, as Blucher said in the morning, wept for joy at the +prospect of a fight, were now perhaps shedding tears of grief at the +many thousands lying on the battle-field with gaping wounds, and +whose last sighs were borne away on the stormy wind of the night. + +Blucher rode across the field toward his headquarters; no one was by +his side but his friend, General Gneisenau, and, at some distance +behind them, Christian Hennemann, holding a burning pipe in his +mouth. Absorbed in deep reflections, they were riding along the +dreadful road strewed with dead and wounded soldiers, and through +pools of blood. Even Blucher felt exhausted after the day's work; +his joy was suppressed by the incessant rain that had drenched his +clothes, and by the groans of the dying, which rent his ears and +filled his soul with compassion. But soon overcoming his sadness, he +turned toward Gneisenau. "Well," he said, "this battle we have +gained, and all the world will have to admit it; now let us think +what we may put into our bulletin to tell the people HOW we have +gained it. For ten years past Bonaparte has issued such high- +sounding accounts of his victories that I always felt in my anger as +though my heart were a bombshell ready to burst. Well, this time, +let us also draw up such a bulletin of victory, and show that we +have learned something. Let us proclaim that we have conquered, and +draw up the document as soon as we arrive at Brechtelshof." + +"General, you will have to decide the name of the battle," said +Gneisenau. "How is it to be known in history?" + +"Yes, that is true," said Blucher, thoughtfully, "it must have a +name. Well, propose one, Gneisenau!" + +"We might call it the battle of Brechtelshof, because the +headquarters of our brave chieftain, our Father Blucher, are at that +place," said Gneisenau, in a mild tone. + +"No, do not mix me up with the matter," said Blucher, hastily; "the +good God has vouchsafed us a victory, let us humbly thank Him for +it, and not grow overbearing.--Wait, I have it now! We shall call +it, in honor of General von Sacken, the battle of the Katzbach; for, +by Sacken's vigorous cannonade from Eichholz, on the Katzbach, and +with the assistance of his brave cavalry, that drove the enemy into +the river, we gained the victory, and the battle ought to have that +name. 'The battle of the Katzbach!'--Well, here are our quarters!" + +"Now, general, you must rest," said Gneisenau, with the tenderness +of a son. "You must change your dress, take food, and repose on your +laurels, though there is but a straw mattress for you." + +Blucher shook his head. "My clothes will dry quickest if I keep them +on my body," he said, "and I must do so, for we have still a great +many things to attend to; we must inform the king of our victory, +take care of our wounded, arrange for the pursuit of the enemy; and, +finally, write the bulletins of victory. We may take refreshment, +but I do not care for laurels with it--laurels are bitter. But let +us take a drink, and smoke a pipe.--Pipe-master!" + +Fifteen minutes afterward, General Blucher entered with Gneisenau +the small chamber called his headquarters; all the other rooms were +filled with the wounded prior to the general's arrival at +Brechtelshof. Pains had been taken to render this chamber as cosy +and comfortable as possible, and, when Blucher entered, he was +gratified in seeing a straw mattress near the wall, and on the table +(beside a flickering tallow-candle placed in a bottle) a flask of +wine, with a few glasses, and near it a large inkstand and several +sheets of paper. + +"Well," cried Blucher, cheerfully, "let us divide fraternally, +Gneisenau; I will take the wine, and you the ink. But, first, I will +give you a glass, and in return you will afterward let me have a +drop of ink." Sitting down on one of the wooden stools, he quickly +filled two glasses to the brim. "Gneisenau," he said, solemnly, "let +us drink this in honor of those who are lying on the battle-field, +and who hare died like brave men! May God bid them welcome, and be a +merciful Judge to them! Let us drink also in commemoration of Queen +Louisa and Scharnhorst, who both doubtless looked down upon us from +heaven to-day, and assisted us in achieving a victory. To them I am +indebted for all I am. But for the angelic face of the queen the +calamity of the accursed year 1807 would have driven me to despair +and death: and but for Scharnhorst I should never have been +appointed general-in-chief. Why, they all considered me a bombastic +old dotard of big words and small deeds; but Scharnhorst defended me +before the king and the emperor, and what I am now I am through him, +because he, the noblest of men, believed in me. And I will not give +the lie to his faith, I will still accomplish glorious things--to- +day's work is only a beginning." + +"But what you have done to-day is something glorious, your +excellency," said Gneisenau. "That we have gained the battle, thanks +to your generalship and the enthusiasm of the troops, is not the +greatest advantage. A more important one is, that the Silesian army +has been able to prove what it is, and what a chieftain is at its +head. Now, all those will be silenced who constantly mistrusted and +suspected us; who tried to sow the seeds of discord between the +Silesian army and the headquarters of the allies; and who were +intent on preventing your excellency from entering upon an +independent and energetic course of action." + +"It is true, they call me a mad hussar," said Blucher, shrugging his +shoulders; "and Bonaparte, as I read somewhere the other day, calls +me even a drunken hussar. Well, no matter! let them say what they +please. And, moreover, they are all, to some extent, justified in +making such assertions; for I cannot deny that the years of waiting, +during which I was obliged to swallow my grief, really made me a +little mad, and with sobriety I never intend to meet Bonaparte; but, +for all that, it is unnecessary for me to be drunk with wine. I am +still intoxicated with joy that we have at length been allowed to +attack the French, and God grant that I may never awaken from this +intoxication! Well, Gneisenau, now let us go to work!--you with the +ink, and I with the wine! Draw up the necessary instructions for the +pursuit of the enemy, and, in the mean time, I will consider what I +have to write." + +Gneisenau took the pen, and wrote; Blucher the glass, and drank. +Half an hour passed in silence; Gneisenau then laid down his pen, +for he had finished the instructions; and Blucher pushed the glass +aside, for the bottle was empty. + +"I beg leave now to read the instructions to your excellency," said +Gneisenau. + +"No," said Blucher, "not now! I have myself gathered some thoughts, +and if I defer writing them down, they will fly away like young +swallows. Such ideas, that are to be written down, are not +accustomed to have their nest in my head, and for this reason I will +let them out immediately. I will write to the king and to the city +of Breslau, informing him that we have gained the battle, and the +city of Breslau that it ought to do something for my wounded. Give +me the pen; I shall not be long about it." With extraordinary +rapidity he wrote words of such a size that it would have been easy +even for a short-sighted person to read them at a distance; and, +although they were drawn across the paper very irregularly, the +general always took pains to have broad intervals between the lines, +that there might be no probability of leaving them illegible. A +sheet was soon filled; Blucher fixed his signature, and contemplated +the paper for a moment. Half an hour afterward two other sheets, +filled with strange and uncouth characters, lay before the old +general, and he cast the pen aside with a sigh. "It is abominable +work to write letters," he said; "I cannot comprehend why you, +Gneisenau, who are so good a soldier, at the same time know so well +how to wield the pen. It is not my forte, although I had a notion +once to be a savant, and really become a sort of writer. In those +calamitous days, subsequent to 1807, despair and ennui sought for +some relief to my mind, and made me write a book, and I believe a +good one." + +"A book?" asked Gueisenau, in amazement. "And you had it printed, +your excellency?" + +"Not I; I was no such fool as to do that. The critics and newspaper +editors, who talk about every thing, and know nothing, would have +pounced upon my book, and severely censured it. No, my dear +Gneisenau, one must not cast pearls before swine. I keep my book in +my desk, and show it only to those whom I particularly esteem. When +we return home from the campaign I will let you read it; I know it +will please you, and you will learn something. My work is called +'Observations on the Instruction and Tactics of Cavalry.' A splendid +title, is it not? Well, you may believe me, there is a great deal in +it, and many a one would be glad of having written it. [Footnote: +Blucher was proud of this work, the only one he ever wrote, and +always referred to it in terms of great satisfaction.--Vide +Varnhagen von Ense, "Life of Prince Blucher of Wahlstatt," p. 530.] +Let us say no more about it. Here are my two dispatches; there is +the letter to the king, and here is my letter to the city of +Breslau, and--you must do me a favor, Gneisenau. You must read what +I have written, and if I have made any blunders in orthography or +grammar, be so kind as to correct them." + +"But, your excellency," said Gneisenau, "no one can express himself +so vigorously as you, and no one knows how to put the right word in +the right place as quickly as you do." + +"Yes, as to the words, yon are right. But the grammar! there's the +rub. Men are so foolish as to refuse speaking as they please, but +render life even more burdensome by all sorts of grammatical rules. +I have never in my whole life paid any attention to them, but have +spoken my mind freely and fearlessly. But as people really do +consider him a blockhead who does not talk as they do, let us humor +them, and please correct my mistakes; but, pray, do so in such a +manner that it will not be found out." He handed Gneisenau the pen, +and pushed the two letters toward him. "Correct what I have +written," he said; "in the mean time I will read what you have +written." + +"And pray be so kind as to correct it, too, your excellency," begged +Gneisenau, "for possibly I may have made mistakes weighing heavier +than mere infractions of grammatical rules, and I may not have +succeeded in rendering your instructions in words as concise and +distinct as you gave them to me." + +"Well, we shall see," exclaimed Blucher, smiling, and taking up the +paper. + +"Very good," he said, after reading it through, "every thing is done +just as I wished it, and if all our commanders act in accordance +with these instructions, we shall give the enemy no time for taking +a position anywhere, but completely disperse his forces without +being compelled to fight another battle." + +"And when the city of Breslau reads this noble and affecting plea +for your wounded," said Gneisenau, "they will be nursed in the most +careful manner, and our able-bodied soldiers will receive wagon- +loads of food and refreshments. And when the king reads this +dispatch, announcing our victory in language so modest and +unassuming, his heart will feel satisfaction, and he will rejoice +equally over the victory and the general to whom he is indebted for +it." + +"Have you corrected the grammatical blunders?" + +"I have, your excellency; I have erased them so cautiously that no +one can see that any thing has been corrected." + +"Well, then, be so kind as to dispatch a courier." + +"But, your excellency," said Gneisenau, "shall the courier take only +these two dispatches? Have you forgotten that you promised Madame +von Blucher to write to her after every battle, whether victorious +or not, and that I solemnly pledged her my word to remind your +excellency of it?" + +"Well, it is unnecessary to remind me," cried Blucher, taking up the +letter he had first written. "Here is my letter to Amelia. She is a +faithful wife, and I surely owed it to her to tell her first that +the Lord has been kind and gracious enough toward me to let me gain +the battle. But you need not correct it. My Amelia will not blame me +for my grammatical blunders, and to her I freely speak my mind." + +"Did you inform your wife, too, that you drew your sword yourself, +and rushed into the thickest of the fray?" + +"I shall take good care not to tell her any thing of the kind," +exclaimed Blucher. "As far as that is concerned, I did not speak my +mind to her. It is true I had promised my dear wife to be what she +calls sensible, and only to command and play the distinguished +general who merely looks on while others do the fighting. But it +would not do--you must admit, Gneisenau, it would not do; I could +not stand still like a scarecrow, while my old adjutant, Katzeler, +was charging with the hussars; I had to go with them, if it cost my +life. You will do me the favor, however, not to betray it to +Amelia." + +"Even though I should be silent, your excellency, your wife would +hear of it." + +"You believe Hennemann will tell her?" asked Blucher, almost in +dismay. "Yes, it is true, she has ordered the pipe-master not to +lose sight of me in battle, and always to remain near me with the +pipe. Well, the fellow has kept his word; but he will now also +fulfil what he promised my wife, and tell her every thing. Yes, the +pipe-master will tell her that I was in the charge of the light +cavalry." + +"Yes," exclaimed Gneisenau, smiling, "he will betray to your wife +and to history that Blucher fought and charged at the battle of the +Katzbach like a young man of twenty. But for the pipe-master history +might not know it at all." + +"Gneisenau, you are decidedly too sharp," cried Blucher, stroking +his mustache. "Well, please forward the dispatches, and then let us +try to sleep a little. We must invigorate ourselves, for we shall +have plenty to do to-morrow. 'Forward, always forward!' until +Bonaparte is hurled from his throne; and hurled from it he will be! +Yes, as sure as there is a God in heaven!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE REVOLT OF THE GENERALS. + + +On the morning of the 10th of October, Napoleon took leave of the +King and Queen of Saxony, after delivering at Eilenburg, whither he +had repaired with the royal family of Saxony, a solemn and +enthusiastic address to the corps which his faithful ally, King +Frederick Augustus, had added to his army, and which was to fight +jointly with the French against his enemies. He then entered the +carriage and rode to Duben, followed by his staff, the whole park of +artillery, and all the equipages. Gloomy and taciturn, the emperor, +on his arrival at the palace of Duben, retired into his apartments +and spread out the maps, on which colored pins marked the various +positions of the allies and his own army. "They are three to one +against me," he murmured, bending over the maps and contemplating +the pins. "Were none but determined and energetic generals, like +Blucher, at their head, my defeat would be certain. They would then +hem me in, bring on a decisive battle, and their overwhelming masses +would crush me and my army. Fortunately, there is no real harmony +among the allies; they will scatter their forces, post them here and +there, and in the mean time I shall march to Berlin, take the city, +repose there, and, with renewed strength, attack them one after +another. Ah, I shall succeed in defeating them, I--" + +There was a low knock at the door, and Constant, his valet de +chambre, entered the room. "Sire," he said, "Marshal Marmont and the +gentlemen of the staff are in the reception-room, and request your +majesty graciously to grant them an audience." + +An expression of surprise overspread the emperor's face, and for an +instant he seemed to hesitate; but gently nodding he said, calmly: +"Open the door. I grant them the audience." + +Constant opened the folding-doors, and in the reception-room were +seen the marshals and generals assembled. Their faces were pale and +gloomy, and there was something solemn and constrained in their +whole bearing. When Napoleon appeared on the threshold, the groups +dispersed, and the gentlemen placed themselves in line, silent and +noiseless, along the wall opposite the emperor, seemingly at a loss +whether they or the emperor should utter the first word. Napoleon +advanced a few steps. For the first time his generals, the +companions of so many years and so many battles, seemed unable to +bear the emperor's glance. Napoleon saw this, and a bitter smile +flitted over his face. "Marmont," he exclaimed, in his ringing +voice, "what do you all want? Speak!" + +"Sire," said the marshal, "we wish to take the liberty of addressing +a question and a request to your majesty." + +"First, the question, then!" + +"Sire, we take the liberty of asking whether your majesty really +intends to cross the Elbe with the army, and to resume the struggle +on the right bank?" + +"You ask very abruptly and bluntly," said Napoleon, haughtily. "I +need not listen to you, but I will do so, nevertheless. I will reply +to your question, not because I must, but because I choose to do so. +Yes, gentlemen, I intend to transfer the whole army to the right +bank of the Elbe in order to occupy Brandenburg and Berlin, then +face about to the river, and make Magdeburg the support of my +further operations. [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. ii., p. 491.] This is +my plan, and you, according to your duty, will assist me in carrying +it into execution. I have replied to your question. Now let me hear +your request." + +"Sire," said Marmont, after a brief silence, "now that we have heard +your gracious reply, I dare to give expression to our request, which +is not only ours, but that of all the officers of the army of +France. Sire, we implore you, give up this bold plan of operations; +do not vainly shed the blood of thousands! The odds are too great, +not only in numbers, but in warlike ardor. The enemy is struggling +against us with the fanaticism of hatred, and his threefold +superiority seems to secure victory to him. Our army, on the +contrary, is exhausted and tired of war, and the consciousness of +being engaged in a struggle that apparently holds out no prospects +of ultimate success, is paralyzing both its physical and moral +strength. Sire, we implore you, in the name of France, make peace! +Let us return to the Rhine! Let us at last rest from this prolonged +war! Oh, sire, give us peace!" + +"Oh, sire, give us peace!" echoed the generals, in solemn chorus. + +The emperor's eyes were fixed in succession upon the faces of the +bold men who dared thus to address him, and who, at this hour, +confronted him in a sort of open revolt. An expression of anger +flushed his face for an instant, and his features resumed their +impenetrable, stony look. "You have come to hold a council of war +with me," he said. "To be sure, I have not summoned you, but no +matter. It is your unanimous opinion that we should return to the +Rhine, and thence to France, avoid further battles, and make peace?" + +"Sire, we pray your majesty this time to repress your military +genius under the mantle of your imperial dignity," cried the +marshal. "As soon as the general is silent, the emperor will +perceive that his people and his country need repose and peace. +France has given her wealth, her vigor, and her blood, for twenty +years of victories, and she has joyfully done so; but now her wealth +is exhausted, her strength and her youth are gone, for there are in +France no more young men, only the aged, invalids, and children; the +fighting-men lie on the battle-fields. Boys have been enrolled, and +are forming the young army of your majesty. Sire, it is the last +blood that France has to sacrifice: spare it! The enemy is thrice as +strong as we are, and even the military genius of your majesty will +be unable to achieve victories in so unequal a struggle. Listen, +therefore, to reason, to necessity, and to our prayer; make peace. +Sire, let us return to France!" + +Another flush suffused Napoleon's face, but he controlled his anger. +"You believe, then, that it depends on me only to make peace?" he +asked, in a calm voice. "You think we would find no obstacles in our +way if we endeavored now to return to France?--that the enemy would +leave the roads open to us, and be content with our evacuating +Germany? This is a great mistake, gentlemen. I cannot make peace, +for the allies would not accept it. They know their strength, and +are intent on having war. You say their armies are thrice as strong +as mine, and that is the reason why we could not conquer? I might +reply to you what the great Conde replied to his generals, when he +was about to attack the superior Spanish army, 'Great battles are +gained with small armies.' And on the following day he gained the +battle of Lons. Yes, gentlemen, the victor of Rocroy and Lons was +right; great battles are gained with small armies; only we must make +our dispositions correctly, and scatter the forces of our +adversaries, instead of giving them an opportunity to concentrate +upon one point. It is, therefore, of vital importance for me to hold +the line of the Elbe, for with it I possess all the strong points of +Bohemia; and, besides, the fortresses of Custrin, Stettin, and +Glogau, are close to it. If I have to abandon that river, I abandon +all Germany to the Rhine, with all the fortresses, and the vast +materiel stored there. That would be to weaken us and strengthen the +enemy, now on the left bank. I will, therefore, cross to the right +bank of the Elbe, for thence I am able to deploy my whole army +without hinderance, and connect my line with Davoust at Hamburg, and +St. Cyr at Dresden. We shall easily take Berlin, raise the sieges of +Glogau, Stettin, and Custrin, and become masters of the situation. +Prussia, the hot-bed of this fermentation and revolution, will be +subjugated and crushed. That will discourage the others, and they +will fall back as they have so often, their plans will be +disorganized, and then I shall have gained my cause; for the +strength of the allies consists chiefly in the fact that they are +temporarily in harmony. Let us disorganize their plans, foster their +separate interests, and we gain every thing. When the Prussians see +their country threatened, they will hasten to its assistance; the +Russians, Swedes, and Austrians, will refuse to change and +reorganize their plans of operations for the sake of Prussia, and +discord will prevent them from acting. If Germany had been united, +and acted with one will, I could not have taken from her a single +village or fortress. Fortunately, however, the people do not act +unanimously; wherever ten Germans are assembled, there are also ten +separate interests at war among them, and this fact has delivered +the country into my hands. Let us, therefore, profit by this +national peculiarity; let us stir up their separate interests, and +that will be as advantageous as though we gained a battle. We shall, +then, cross over to the right bank of the Elbe, make Berlin our +centre, support our left on Dresden, our right on Magdeburg, and +face toward the west. At all events, this will bring about an entire +change of position, and it will then be my task to force my plans of +operation upon the allies." [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. ii., p. 492.] +"A task that would be easily accomplished by the genius of your +majesty, which is so superior to that of all the generals of the +allies," said the marshal; "but still this whole plan, how admirable +soever it may be, is altogether too bold. If we pass over to the +right bank of the Elbe, we would give up all connection with France; +the allies, it would be believed, had, by skilful manoeuvres, cut us +off--hurled us into inevitable destruction. Moreover--your majesty +will pardon me for this observation--we can no longer count upon the +assistance of our German auxiliaries. They will abandon us at the +very moment when we need them most. Even Bavaria is no longer a +reliable ally, for, notwithstanding the benefits your majesty has +conferred on her, she is about to ally herself with Austria. Sire, +you said a few minutes ago that you counted upon the discord of the +Germans, but this exists no more, or rather it exists only among the +princes; but we have no longer to fight the latter alone--we have to +struggle against the genius of Germany, which has risen against us, +and for the first time the whole nation is united in hatred and +wrath. Sire, this national spirit is more powerful than all princes +and all armies, for it overcomes the princes, and makes new armies +spring as if from the ground to defend the sacred soil of the +fatherland. Those armies we shall be unable to conquer: for one-half +of ours is composed of soldiers exhausted by continued wars, and +longing for peace; and the other half of young, ignorant conscripts, +who will yield to unwonted privations. Therefore, sire, I dare renew +my prayer, and implore your majesty to give up your plan against +Berlin! Let us not pass over to the right bank of the Elbe, but +march toward the Rhine!" + +"Is that your opinion, too, gentlemen?" asked Napoleon, turning +toward the generals. "Do you, though I have condescended to explain +to you at length my plan, and the motives that have caused me to +adopt it, still persist in your belief that it would be better not +to pass to the right bank of the Elbe, but to return to the Rhine?" + +"Yes," cried the generals, unanimously, "we persist in our opinion." + +Napoleon drew back a step, and a pallor overspread his face; but +apparently he remained as cold and calm as ever. "My plan has been +deeply calculated," he said, after a pause; "I have admitted into +it, as a probable contingency, the defection of Bavaria. I am +convinced that the plan of marching on Berlin is good. A retrograde +movement, in the circumstances in which we are placed, is +disastrous; and those who oppose my projects have undertaken a +serious responsibility. However, I will think of it, and inform you +of my final decision." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide Fain, +"Manuscrit de 1813," vol. i.] He saluted the generals with a +careless nod and retired again into his cabinet. + +The generals looked with anxious faces at one another when the door +closed. "What shall we do now?" they inquired. "Wait, and not +yield!" murmured the most resolute among them, and all agreed to do +so. + +With gloomy glances did Napoleon, after his return to his cabinet, +look at the door that separated him from his mutinous generals. He +felt that now a new power had taken the field against him that might +become more dangerous than all the others, and that was the revolt +of his generals. He heard distinctly their last words. They had not +said, "We persist in our opinion, and would like to return," but, +"We must return to France." His generals, then, dared to have a will +of their own, and opposed to that of their emperor. They knew it, +and it did not deter them! + +"Ah, the wretches," he murmured to himself, "they are blind! They +will not see that we are hastening to destruction. They compel me to +return as Alexander's generals compelled him to return! Woe to us! +We are lost!" He sank down on the sofa; and now, when none could see +him, the veil dropped from his face, the imperial mantle fell from +his cowering form, and he was but a weak, grief-stricken man, who, +with a pale and quivering face, was uncertain what to do. Hour after +hour elapsed. He was still sitting in the corner of the sofa, rigid +and motionless; only the sighs which heaved his breast from time to +time, and the quiver of his eyelids, betrayed the life that was +still animating him. + +The court-marshal entered and announced dinner. The emperor waved +his hand to him that he might withdraw, and his marshals and +generals vainly awaited him. They looked at each other inquiringly +and murmured, "He is reflecting! We can wait, but we cannot yield!" + +At the stated hour in the afternoon, the two topographers of the +emperor, Colonel Bacler d'Alba, and Colonel Duclay, entered the +emperor's cabinet. As usual, they rolled the table, covered with +maps and plans, before the emperor, and then took seats at the other +table standing in the corner, which was also covered in like manner. +They waited for the emperor, as was his habit, to speak and discuss +his movements with them. But he was silent; he took up, however, a +large sheet of white paper, and pen, and began to write. What did he +write? The topographers were unable to see it; they sat pen in hand, +and waited. But Napoleon was still silent. Hour after hour passed; +not a sound of the triumphant, joyous, and proud life which used to +surround the victorious emperor was to be heard in the dreary palace +of Duben. The anterooms were deserted; the generals remained all day +in the audience-room, and gazed with sullen faces upon the door of +the imperial cabinet. But this door did not open. In the cabinet the +emperor was still on his sofa, now leaning back in meditation, and +now bending over the map-table, and writing slowly. Opposite him sat +the two topographers, mournfully waiting for him to speak to them. +[Footnote: Odeleben, "The Campaign in Saxony in 1813."] But Napoleon +wrote, gazed into the air, sank back on the sofa, groaned, raised +himself again, and wrote on. + +This indifference and silence made a strange impression, which +frightened even the generals, when the topographers, whom the +emperor had at length dismissed with a quick wave of the hand, and +an imperious "Go!" entered the audience-room, and told them of this +extraordinary conduct. But Napoleon had written something, and it +was all-important for them to know what. They wished to discover +whether letters or plans had been penned by the emperor, and with +what he had been occupied all day. "Let us speak with Constant," +they whispered to each other. "He alone will enter the cabinet to- +day. He has keen eyes, and will be able to see what the emperor has +written." Constant consented to cast, at a favorable moment, a +passing glance on the emperor's desk. The generals remained in the +audience-room and waited. + +An hour passed, when Constant, pale and sad, entered the room; he +held a large, crumpled sheet of paper in his hand. "The emperor has +retired," he whispered. "He called me, and when I entered the +cabinet, he was still sitting on the sofa at the map-table, and +engaged in writing. Suddenly he threw down the pen and seized the +paper, crumpled it in his hand, and threw it on the floor. I picked +it up, and may communicate it to you, for it contains no secrets." +All the generals stretched out their hands. Constant handed the +paper to Marshal Marmont. The sheet contained nothing but large +capital letters, joined with fanciful flourishes. [Footnote: +Constant, "Memoires," vol. v., p. 269.] The generals gazed at each +other with bewildered eyes. Those capital letters, this work of a +child, was the day's labor which the energetic emperor had +performed! The letters, traced so carefully and elaborately, made an +awful impression on the beholders--a whole history of secret +despair, stifled tears of grief, and bitter imprecations, spoke from +this crumpled sheet of paper. The generals turned pale, as if +imminent danger was hovering over them--as if Fate had sent them its +Runic letters, which they were unable to decipher. They left the +room in silence, but murmured still, "We can wait, but we cannot +yield." + +Night had come. Silence settled on the mournful palace of Duben. The +emperor lay on his field-bed, but he did not sleep; for Constant, +who was in the cabinet adjoining the imperial bedchamber, heard him +often sigh and utter words of anger and grief. In the middle of the +night the valet heard a loud, piercing cry, and ran into the +bedchamber. The emperor was in agony, writhing, and a prey to +violent convulsions. He was ill with colic, which so often visited +him, and the pallor of death overspread his face. + +Constant hastened to bring the usual remedies, but he did not send +for the doctor; for he knew that Napoleon did not like to have any +importance attached to this illness. The pain at length yielded to +the remedies applied. The emperor submitted to Constant's +entreaties, and drank the soothing tea which he always took at these +evil hours, and the efficacy of which in such cases had been +discovered by the Empress Josephine. He put the teacup on the table, +and locked very melancholy. Possibly he remembered how often +Josephine's presence had comforted him during such hours--how her +small hand had wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead--how +his weary head had rested in her lap, and how her tender words had +consoled and strengthened him. Possibly he remembered all this, for +he murmured in a low voice, "Ah, Josephine, why are you not with me? +You are my guardian angel! My star has set with you!" Then his head +sank back on the pillow, and he closed his eyes. Perhaps his grief +made him sleep. + +Early on the following morning a carriage rolled into the court- +yard, and Marshal Augereau requested an audience of the emperor, who +had reentered his map-cabinet. + +"Augereau," said the emperor to his marshal, "you bring me bad +news!" + +"Only news, sire, which your majesty has already foreseen. It is the +defection of Bavaria, and her accession to the alliance." + +The emperor bent his head on his breast. "It must be so. All are +deserting me. I must submit. Augereau," he said, aloud, "Bavaria has +deserted me, but, what is still worse, my generals have done so, +too. They will no longer follow me. They refuse to obey me; my plans +seem too rash and dangerous. They do not wish to go to Berlin--they +want peace! Do you understand, Augereau, peace at a moment when all +are arming--when war is inevitable, and when it is all-important for +me to extricate myself as advantageously as possible from the snare +in which we shall be caught if the allies profit by their +superiority, and draw together the net surrounding ns." + +"Sire, and I believe they have the will to do so," cried Augereau. +"Nothing but the commanding military genius of your majesty is still +able to conquer." + +A painful smile quivered round the pale lips of the emperor. "Ah, +Augereau," he said, "we are no longer the soldiers of Jena and +Austerlitz. I have no longer any generals on whose obedience I may +count. I shall give up my plan, I shall not pass over to the right +bank of the Elbe, but, by taking this resolution, I renounce all +victories and successes, and it only remains for me to succumb with +honor, and to have opened as advantageous a passage as possible +through Germany to France." + +The marshals and generals were again assembled in the audience-room, +and gazed in sullen expectation at the door of the imperial cabinet. +Suddenly the emperor, pale and calm as usual, walked in, followed by +Marshal Augereau. All eyes were fixed upon the emperor, whose lips +were to proclaim the events of the future. + +Advancing into the middle of the room, he raised his head, and +sternly glanced along the line of generals. "Gentlemen," he said, in +a loud voice, "I have changed my plan. We shall not pass over to the +right bank of the Elbe, but turn toward Leipsic to-morrow. May those +who have occasioned this movement never regret it!" [Footnote: +Napoleon's words.--Constant, vol. v., p. 260.] + +A shout of joy burst forth when the emperor paused. The generals +surrounded him, now that they had attained their object, to thank +him for his magnanimity, and then they cheerfully looked at each +other, shook hands, and exclaimed in voices trembling with emotion, +"We shall again embrace our parents, our wives, our children, our +friends!" [Footnote: Ibid.] + +"Ah, Augereau," said the emperor, mournfully, "you see I could not +act otherwise; it was their will! But you, who are of my opinion +that this retrograde movement is a calamity, will be able to testify +in my favor if the future shows that I am right. You will state that +I was compelled to pursue a path which I knew would lead to +destruction!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +THE BATTLE OF LEIPSIC. + + +The struggle had already been going on for two days. On the 15th and +16th of October the Austrians, Russians, Prussians, and Swedes, had +fought a number of engagements with the French between Halle and +Leipsic. The Austrians, or the army of Bohemia, commanded by +Schwartzenberg, the general-in-chief, had been defeated by the +French at Wachau on the 16th of October; but the Prussians and +Russians, under Blucher, had gained a brilliant victory at Mockern +on the 16th of October; and though the Swedes, under Bernadotte, had +not participated in the battle, and had, as usual, managed on that +day to keep away from the carnage, they had at the same time +contrived to participate in the glory of victory. + +The French had not gained a single decisive battle during these two +days, and yet Napoleon himself was at the head of his forces, +directing their movements. Thousands of his soldiers lay on the +blood-stained field of Wachau, and thousands more were mown down at +Mockern. His army was melting away hour by hour, while that of his +enemies constantly increased. Fresh reserves were moved up; the +battle array of the allies grew more imposing and overwhelming, and +the great, decisive battle was drawing nigh. + +It was the evening of the second day, the 16th of October. Napoleon, +who had his headquarters on the preceding day at Reudnitz, four +miles from Leipsic, removed them for the night into the open field, +from which the city could be seen, and behind it the numerous fires +of the allies gleamed through the gathering shades. Beside the +emperor's tent a large camp-fire was kindled, and near it, on a +small field-stool, covered with red morocco, sat Napoleon, his gray +overcoat closely buttoned up, his three-cornered hat drawn over his +forehead, and his arms folded on his breast. His guards, who were +encamping in the plain in wide circles around him, could distinctly +see him, partially illuminated by the camp-fire. That bent, dark +form was their only hope--a hope which did not look up to the stars +shining above them, but which was satisfied with a mortal, who they +believed could guide and protect them. And he indeed could save them +from death by discontinuing the struggle, by accepting peace, though +at the heaviest cost--at the sacrifice of all his possessions +outside of France. + +Two forms approached the camp-fire. It was only when they stood by +the emperor's side, that he perceived them and looked up. He +recognized the grave faces of Marshal Berthier and Count Daru. + +"What do you want?" he asked, in a husky voice. + +"Sire," said Berthier, solemnly, "we come, as envoys of all the +superior officers of the army, to lay our humble requests before +your majesty." + +"Have you any thing to request?" asked Napoleon, sneeringly. "I +thought I had fulfilled at Duben all the wishes of my generals; I +gave up my plan against Berlin and the right bank of the Elbe, and +marched to Leipsic, in order to take the direct road to France. Are +my generals not yet satisfied?" + +"Sire, who could suppose that on this road we would meet all the +corps of the allies?" sighed the Prince of Neufchatel. "Even your +majesty did not know it." + +"I did not," replied Napoleon, "but my star forewarned me, and I +conceived the plan of going to Berlin. You overcame my will; what do +you still want?" + +"Sire," said Berthier, almost timidly, "we want to implore your +majesty to offer an armistice and peace to the allies. Our troops +are dreadfully exhausted by these days of incessant fighting, and +are, besides, discouraged by the continued victories of our enemies. +The generals, too, are disheartened, the more so as we are unable to +continue the struggle two days longer, because our ammunition begins +to fail. We have recently used such a vast amount that scarcely +enough remains for a single day. Sire, if we, however, continue to +fight and are defeated, the road to France is open to our enemies, +and your majesty cannot prevent the allies from marching directly +upon Paris, for France has no soldiers to defend her when our army +is routed. Let your majesty, therefore, have mercy on your country +and your people; discontinue the war, and make proposals of peace!" + +"Yes, sire." said Daru, "become anew the benefactor of your country, +overcome your great heart for the welfare of your people and your +army, whose last columns are assembled around you, and await life or +death from your lips. The terrible, unforeseen event has taken us by +surprise; we were not sufficiently prepared. We have no ambulances, +no hospitals; all the elements of victory are wanting, for when the +soldier knows that, after the battle, if he should be wounded or +taken sick, he will find a good bed, careful treatment, and medical +attendance, he goes with a feeling of some sort of security into +battle; but we are destitute of these necessities. Your majesty +knows full well that this is no fault of mine, but still it is so, +and that we lack almost every thing. Your majesty, therefore, will +be gracious enough to take a resolution which, it is true, is +painful and deplorable, but under the circumstances indispensable." + +Napoleon listened to the two gentlemen with calmness and attention. +When Count Daru was silent, he fixed a sarcastic eye first on him, +then on Berthier. "Have you anything else to say?" he then asked. +The two gentlemen bowed in silence. + +"Well, then," said Napoleon, rising, and, with his arms folded, "I +will reply to both of you. Berthier, you know that I do not attach +to your opinion in such matters as much as a straw's value; you may, +therefore, save yourself the trouble of speaking! As to you, Count +Daru, it is your task to wield the pen, and not the sword; you are +incapable of passing an opinion on this question. As to those who +are of the same way of thinking, and whose envoys you are, tell them +as my determined and final answer simply, 'They shall obey!'" +[Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide "Memoirs of the Duchess +d'Abrantes," vol. xvi., p. 386.] + +He turned his back upon them and entered his tent. Constant and +Roustan had taken pains to give it as comfortable and elegant an +appearance as possible. A beautiful Turkish carpet covered the +floor. On the table in the middle of the tent were placed the +emperor's supper, consisting of some cold viands on silver plates +and dishes. On another table was an inkstand, papers, books, and +maps; and in a nook, formed by curtains and draperies, stood the +emperor's field-bed. The sight of this snug little room, and the +stillness surrounding him, seemed to do him good; the solitude +allowed him to let the mask fall from his face, and to permit the +melancholy and painful thoughts which filled his soul to reflect +themselves in his features. With a sigh resembling a groan he sank +down on the easy-chair. "They want to crush me to earth," he +murmured--"to transform the giant into a pigmy, because they are too +much afraid of his strength. Their fear has at length made brave men +of these allies, and they have resolved to put me on the bed of +Procrustes, and to reduce me to the size of a common man, like +themselves. Will it be necessary to submit to this? Must I allow +them to cut off my limbs, to save my life?" He paused, and became +absorbed deeper in his reflections. + +Suddenly he was interrupted by approaching footsteps. The curtain of +the tent was drawn back, and one of the emperor's adjutants +appeared. "Sire," he said, "the Austrian General Meerfeldt, who was +taken prisoner by your majesty's troops at Wachau, has just arrived +under escort, and awaits your orders." + +The emperor rose more quickly than usual. "Fate responds to my +questions and doubts," he said to himself, hastily pacing his tent +floor. "I endeavored to find an expedient, and a mediator appears +between myself and my enemies. All is not yet lost, then, for Fate +seems still to be my ally." He turned with a quick motion of his +head toward the adjutant. "Admit General Meerfeldt. I will see him." + +A few minutes afterward the Austrian general entered the tent. The +emperor quickly met him, and gazed with a strange, triumphant look +into the embarrassed face of the count. "I believe we are old +acquaintances," said Napoleon, "for, if I am not mistaken, it was +you who, in 1797, solicited the armistice of Leoben, and you +participated, too, in the negotiations which terminated in the +treaty of Campo-Formio." + +"Yes, sire, you are right; I had at that time the good fortune to +become acquainted with General Bonaparte," said Count Meerfeldt, +with a deep bow; "he was just entering a career which has led him +from victory to victory, and adorned his head with well-merited +laurels." + +"Yes, you were one of the signers of the treaty of Campo-Formio," +exclaimed Napoleon. "But that was not all. Was it not you who wished +to present me, in the name of the emperor of Austria, with some +magnificent gifts? What was it you came to offer me then?" + +"Sire," said the count, in confusion, "I had orders to repeat that +which Count Cobenzl had already vainly proposed to General +Bonaparte. I had orders to offer him, in the emperor's name, a +principality in Germany, several millions in ready money, and a team +of six white horses." + +"I declined the principality in Germany because I thought that one +ought either to inherit or conquer sovereignties, but never accept +them as gifts, for he who accepts a gift always remains the moral +vassal of the giver. I rejected the millions because I would not +allow myself to be bribed; but I did accept the six horses, and with +them made my entry into Germany and came to Rastadt." + +"It was the first triumphal procession of your majesty in Germany, +and, like Julius Gassar you could say, 'I came, saw, and +conquered!'" + +"Since then circumstances have greatly changed," said the emperor, +thoughtfully; "General Bonaparte became the Emperor Napoleon, and +the latter did what General Bonaparte refused to do: he accepted at +the hands of the Emperor of Austria a gift more precious than +principalities, for it was a beautiful young wife. Ah, general, you +are my prisoner, and I ought not to release you, but send you to +Paris, that you might have the good fortune of kissing the hand of +the Empress of France, the daughter of my enemy, and of seeing +whether the little fair-haired King of Rome looks like his +grandfather.--But no, I will set you at liberty, I will make you my +negotiator! You were one of those with whom I concluded, in the name +of France, the first peace with Austria; I, therefore, commission +you now to mediate my last peace; for I want to wage no more wars--I +am tired of this unceasing bloodshed; I ask naught but to repose in +peace, and dream of the happiness of France, after having dreamed of +its glory. Go, repeat this to the emperor, your master; tell him +that I desire no more conquests, but repose. Tell him that I long +for nothing more ardently than peace, and that I am ready to +conclude it, even before our swords have crossed." + +"Sire," said Count Meerfeldt, hesitatingly, "if I repeat all this to +the emperor, he will ask me what guaranties your majesty offers him, +and what cessions of territory you propose to make." + +"Cessions of territory!" exclaimed Napoleon. "Yes, that is it! You +want to render me powerless; that is all you are fighting for; that +is why the Russians and Swedes are in Germany; that is why the +Germans accept subsidies at the hands of England!--all to attain a +single object: to deprive me of my power, and narrow the boundaries +of France. But do you think that the Russians, the Swedes, and the +English, will require no indemnities for services rendered, and that +they will very conveniently find them in the territories which you +propose to wrest from me? What will Germany gain thereby? She will +have rendered France, her natural ally, so powerless that she can +never assist her, and, in return, she will have secured a footing in +Germany to her three natural enemies, Russia--that is, barbarism; +England--that is, foreign industry and commerce in colonial goods; +Sweden--that is, navigation on the northern shores. But you will do +all this rather than leave me in possession of my power, though I +tell you that I wish to fight no more, but long for repose. Is it +not so?" + +"Sire," said Count Meerfeldt, in a low voice, "the allied sovereigns +are, perhaps, familiar with the words of Caesar, who said that +laurels, if they were not to wither, should be often bathed in +hostile blood, and fed every year with soil from new fields of +victory. Your majesty being the modern Caesar, the allies may be +afraid lest you should adopt this maxim." + +"Yes," cried Napoleon, "you are afraid of the very sleep of the +lion; you fear that you will never be easy before having pared his +nails and cut his mane. Well, then, after you have placed him in +this predicament, what will be the consequence? Have the allied +sovereigns reflected? You think only of repairing, by a single +stroke, the calamities of twenty years; and, carried away by this +idea, you never perceive the changes which time has made around you, +and that for Austria to gain now, at the expense of France, is to +lose. Tell your sovereign to take that into consideration, Count +Meerfeldt; it is neither Austria, nor France, nor Prussia, singly, +that will be able to arrest on the Vistula the inundation of a half- +nomadic people essentially conquering, and whose dominions extend to +China. I comprehend, however, that in order to make peace, I must +make sacrifices and I am ready to do so. [Footnote: Napoleon's +words.--Fain, "Manuscrit de 1813," vol. i., pp. 412, 414.] For the +very purpose of stating this to the Emperor Francis, I set you at +liberty, provided you give me your parole to serve no longer in this +campaign against France." + +"Sire, to fight against France has been so painful a duty that I +joyfully give my word to serve no longer unless permitted to do so +for France--that is to say, for your majesty." + +"You may go, then, and lay my proposals before the Emperor Francis. +You will tell him this: I offer to evacuate all fortresses in +Germany to the Rhine, and consent to the dissolution of the +Confederation of the Rhine. I am ready to restore Illyria and Spain +to their former sovereigns. I further consent to the independence of +Italy and Holland. If England refuses to grant peace on the seas, we +will try to negotiate it, and Austria is to be the mediator." +[Footnote: Ibid] + +"Sire, these are such satisfactory promises," cried Count Meerfeldt, +"that I am afraid my mere word will be insufficient to convince my +master that you really intend to grant so much." + +"I will give you a letter to the Emperor Francis, in which I shall +make these proposals," said Napoleon, quickly. "Yes, I will write +once more to the emperor. Our political alliance is broken, but +between your master and me there is another bond, which is +indissoluble. That is what I invoke, for I always place confidence +in the regard of my father-in-law." + +He went to his desk, and penned a few lines with a hasty hand, +folded, sealed, and directed the letter. "Here," he said, +approaching the count, "is my letter to my father-in-law. You will +immediately repair to him, and deliver it into his hands. The +emperor will communicate it to the other sovereigns, and they will +take their resolutions accordingly. Tell him that I shall not attack +to-morrow, but discontinue further hostilities until I have received +his answer; and that I shall certainly expect him to return an +answer by to-morrow. Adieu, general! When on my behalf you speak to +the two emperors of an armistice, I doubt not the voice which +strikes their ears will be eloquent indeed in recollections." +[Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide Beitzke, vol. ii., p. 592.] + +"It is my last effort," murmured the emperor to himself, when Count +Meerfeldt had left; "if it fail, nothing but a struggle of life and +death remains to me, and, by Heaven, I will certainly fight it out! +The crisis is at hand, and I cannot evade it. I will meet it with my +eyes open. The laurels of Marengo and Austerlitz are not yet +withered. To-morrow there will be a cessation of hostilities, and on +the day after to-morrow peace, or war to the last!" + +On the 17th of October no hostilities took place. Napoleon awaited +the reply of his father-in-law. But it did not come; it was deemed +unnecessary to observe the forms of courtesy toward him before whom, +only a year ago, they had prostrated themselves so often in the +dust. + +The battle recommenced on the 18th of October. The booming of a +thousand cannon was the answer of the allies. Napoleon, with only +three hundred cannon, replied that he understood this answer to his +peace propositions. Upward of three hundred thousand soldiers of the +allies filled the plains around Leipsic. Napoleon had scarcely one +hundred and twenty thousand to oppose to them, and his men were +exhausted and discouraged. But he appeared on this day along the +whole line, encouraging his troops by his cheerful countenance and +his brief addresses. He seemed to infuse fresh courage and +enthusiasm into the hearts of the French. They arose with the +heroism of former days, and plunged into the thickest of the fight; +the earth trembled beneath the thunder of cannon, the cheers of the +victors, and the imprecations of the vanquished. The French did not +yield an inch; they stood like a wall, broken here and there, but +the gaps filled up again in a moment, and those who had taken the +places of the fallen exhibited the same devoted heroism, for +Napoleon was there. + +And Blucher was also there. He halted opposite the enemy with his +Silesian army (one-half of which he had placed under the crown +prince of Sweden), composed of Russians and Prussians. Blucher, too, +fired the hearts of his men by energetic words, and they fought with +matchless bravery, for they fought before the eyes of their general. +He shared with them every fatigue and danger; he drank with them, +when he was thirsty, from one bottle; lighted his pipe from their +pipes, and spoke to them, not in the condescending tone of a master, +but in their own unreserved and cordial manner. Rushing onward with +shouts of victory, they attacked the enemy with irresistible +impetuosity, forcing the French to fall back, step by step. + +"Every thing is going on right, Gneisenau!" exclaimed Blucher. +"Bonaparte cannot hold out; he must at length retreat. He is +contracting the circle of his troops more and more, and advancing +toward Leipsic. Ah, I understand, M. Bonaparte; you want to march +through Leipsic and keep open the passage across the Saale! But it +won't do--it won't do! For Blucher is here, and his eyes are yet +good.--A courier! Come here! Ride to General York! He is to set out +this very night and occupy the banks of the Saale, and impede as +much as possible the retreat of the enemy, who intends to fall back +across the Saale.--Another courier! Ride to General Langeron! He is +to return to-night to the right bank of the Partha, support General +Sacken, and, as soon as the enemy begins to retreat, pursue him with +the utmost energy." + +"But, general," said Gneisenau, when the courier galloped off, "as +yet Napoleon does not seem to think of retreating. He maintains his +position and offers a bold front." + +"He will not do so to-morrow," said Blucher, laconically. "If we do +to-day what we can. he is annihilated. God grant that our victory +may be followed up, and that they may not grow soft-hearted again at +headquarters! The Emperor of Austria never forgets that Bonaparte is +his son-in-law; nor the crown prince of Sweden that he is a native +of France, and he would like to spare his countrymen further +bloodshed; nor the Emperor of Russia, that at Erfurt he plighted +eternal fidelity to Napoleon, and kissed him as his brother. But our +king, I believe, will always remember that Bonaparte humiliated and +oppressed us, and that Queen Louisa died of grief and despair. He +will not suffer the others to make peace too early, and cause us to +shed our blood and spend our strength for nothing. We must be +indemnified, and it is by no means enough for us merely to gain a +victory over Bonaparte. He must surrender all that he has taken from +us. Germany must have satisfaction, and I must have mine, too; for +the anger I have felt for years has almost killed me. I want to be +even with him, and shall not rest before he is hurled from his +throne.--What is going on there? Why are they cheering yonder? Look, +Gneisenau, one of the enemy's columns is advancing upon us. Do you +hear the music? What does it mean?" + +"It means, general," shouted an orderly, who galloped up, "that the +Saxons are coming over to us. With thirty-two field-pieces, and +drums beating, they have left the lines of the French, and, when +these tried to prevent them, they turned their bayonets against +their former comrades." + +Blucher's eye lit up. "Well," he said, "now they will no longer +extol Bonaparte's extraordinary luck. To-day at least he has none. +The Saxons have felt at last that they are Germans, and wish to +purge themselves of their disgrace. I say, Gneisenau, Bonaparte must +retreat to-morrow." And what Blucher said here to Gneisenau was what +Berthier said to Napoleon: "The battle is lost! We must retreat." + +Night came. It is true, the French remained on the field; they did +not flee, but they had no strength to continue the battle; their +ammunition was exhausted, for they had discharged on this day an +incredible amount of cannon-shot. Napoleon felt that he had +certainly to retreat, and submit to what was inevitable. At the +camp-fire, near the turf-mill, sat the emperor; his generals +surrounded him, and listened in silence to his words, falling from +his lips slowly and sadly. He ordered dispositions to be made for a +retreat, and Berthier repeated the orders to his two adjutants, who +were kneeling on the other side of the camp-fire, and writing them +down. Suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, Napoleon paused, and +his head dropped on his breast. The emperor had fallen asleep! + +His generals, respecting this respite from sorrow and misfortune, +preserved silence. The fire shed a blood-red lustre over the group; +at times the flames flickered up higher, and illuminated the form of +the emperor, who, with his head on his breast, his arms hanging down +on both sides of the camp-stool, his body gently moving to and fro, +was still wrapped in slumber. At times, when the fire blazed up, and +shed a flood of light on the plain, shadows were seen emerging from +the gloom, and a long line moved past. It was a portion of the +imperial army already retreating toward Leipsic. + +A quarter of an hour thus elapsed when Napoleon gave a slight start, +and, raising his head, cast a long look of astonishment on the +persons surrounding him. His sleep had made him for an instant +forget his troubles, but the sombre glances of his generals and the +noise of the troops filing by, reminded him of what had happened. +His eye resumed its calm expression, and, in a firm, sonorous voice +he recommenced giving his orders. Suddenly a whizzing sound was in +the air above him--a grenade fell to the ground close to the +emperor, burrowed into the earth, and scattered the camp-fire. + +"It is a cold night," said the emperor, composedly; "make up the +fire again, and add fresh fuel!" + +The adjutants ran to collect the firebrands, and the generals +themselves hastened to pile on the fuel. But another whizzing sound +rent the air, and another grenade fell into the fire, which had just +blazed up again; it almost extinguished the flames, and remained in +the midst of the coals. + +Napoleon gazed musingly on the ball, and strange thoughts probably +filled his soul at the sight of this messenger at his feet. +[Footnote: Beitzke, vol. ii., p. 615.] "It is enough," he said +calmly; "no more fire may be kindled! My horse! To Leipsic! I will +spend the night there." The horses were brought; attended by +Berthier, Caulaincourt, and a few orderlies, the emperor rode to +Leipsic, and took up his quarters at the Hotel de Prusse. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE NINETEENTH OF OCTOBER. + + +It was eight o'clock on the following morning. A dense fog covered +Leipsic as with an impenetrable veil, and extended far over the +landscape. No one could see as yet, in the darkness of the night, +what had been done by friend or foe. At times the allies heard loud +explosions, and saw flashes on the side of the French; then all was +dark and silent again. Suddenly, however, a bright glare illuminated +the night, for in the French camp large fires blazed, and, like a +flaming serpent, stretched our far into the plain. + +"Ha!" said Blucher; "Gneisenau, I was right after all: Bonaparte is +retreating. Do you know the meaning of those fires? The French have +placed their caissons on both sides of the road, and set them on +fire, that they may serve as beacons to the retreating troops. See! +they reach up to the city of Leipsic. It is as I said; the French +intend to march through that city, and retreat across the Saale. +Well, I think General York will await them there, and Langeron will +finish them. But come, Gneisenau, the fog is clearing. Let us ride +to yonder knoll; we shall be able to see better there." + +With the nimbleness of a lad Blucher mounted his horse, and, no +longer restraining his impatience, he galloped off. Gneisenau rode +by his side, and at some distance behind him trotted the pipe- +master, with the iron box on the pommel of his saddle. + +They reached the crest of the knoll and stopped. The fog had +disappeared, and they could distinctly see a field of horror and +desolation as far as their eyes reached. The immense plain was +covered far and wide with piles of corpses; rivulets of blood +intersected the down-trodden soil; fragments of wagons, cannon, and +vast heaps of horses, lay in wild disorder, and all around the +horizon gleamed the dying fires of upward of twenty villages. + +Blucher cast a mournful look on this harrowing spectacle. +"Gneisenau," he said, "it is almost impossible for one to rejoice +over this victory, for it costs too many tears--too much blood. How +those poor brave men are lying there, dead or dying, and have not +even a grave at which their mothers and wives may weep! May the good +God in heaven have mercy on their souls, and comfort those who are +weeping for them!" He took off his cap, and, shading his face with +it, uttered a short, low prayer for the repose of the dead. With a +quick jerk he then put on his cap again. "Well," he said, "we have +prayed, and we will now try to find that accursed Bonaparte, who is +at the bottom of all this carnage, and--" + +At this moment the pipe-master galloped up to his general. + +"Well, what do you want, Christian?" + +"The morning pipe," said Christian, presenting the short pipe to his +master. + +Blucher stretched out his hand for it, but drew it back and cast a +glance on the piles of dead which covered the battle-field. "No, +pipe-master," he said, solemnly, "it would be unbecoming to smoke +here. We should show our respect for the dead; but hold the pipe in +readiness for me, and when we ride back I will take it. Now, get out +of my way, that I may no longer see the pipe, else--Begone, +Christian!" + +"No, I shall stay," said the pipe-master, coolly; "I have promised +the general's wife always to stay near him, and, besides, you will +soon need me, for you will not stand it long without your pipe. Call +me, your excellency, when you want me." He moved his horse a few +steps back, and was busily occupied in keeping the general's pipe +lit. + +Blucher and Gneisenau in the mean time were keenly looking to the +side of the French camp; but not a vestige of it was to be seen. +There could be no doubt now that Napoleon had commenced retreating; +he had profited by the night to remove the remnants of his army +toward Leipsic, that they might still be able to cross the Saale +without hinderance. Blucher uttered a loud cry of joy. "He is +retreating! Gneisenau, am I right now?" + +"Yes, general, you are. With your sagacity you have divined +Napoleon's plans better than the rest of us, and, thanks to your +wise dispositions, he will find Langeron and Sacken at the gates of +Leipsic, and York on the banks of the Saale." + +"My dear sir, he will find us, too," exclaimed Blucher, in great +glee. "We are not through yet; I know Napoleon thoroughly. You +think, perhaps, that he has merely rested at Leipsic, and will +evacuate the city without fighting? No, sir, then you do not know +much about him. He will not yield an inch unless he must. By a +battle in and around Leipsic, he intends to cover the retreat of his +army, and I tell you, Gneisenau, we shall have hard work yet. +Forward!" + +"Yes, forward!" cried Gneisenau. "We must dispatch couriers to all +the generals, and send them the glad tidings." + +"Now comes the last assault," shouted Blucher. "We must take the +city by storm; and this will blow Bonaparte over the Rhine, and back +to France, like a bundle of rags! Forward! Pipe-master, my pipe! We +will attack them!" + +At ten in the morning the cannon commenced booming again around +Leipsic. The city was attacked on all sides by the armies of the +allies. In the south stood the commander-in-chief, Prince +Schwartzenberg, with the Austrian army; in the east, the Russian +General Benningsen and the crown prince of Sweden; in the north, +Blucher, with the Prussians, and the Russian corps under General +Sacken. + +"Charge!" shouted Blucher to his troops. "General Bulow has attacked +the Halle gate; we must hasten to his assistance, for the French are +stubborn." + +At this moment another volley of grape-shot was discharged from the +pieces which the French had placed inside the city, and hurled death +and destruction into the ranks of the assailants. + +"We must reenforce Bulow," cried Blucher! "General Sacken must +advance his troops! We must hurl light infantry against the gate! +Charge! Forward!" And, brandishing his sword, Blucher galloped to +the side of General Sacken, who was moving with the Russians toward +the point of attack. + +"Forward!" thundered Blucher to the troops. The Russians did not +understand him, but they saw his countenance radiant with impatience +and warlike ardor, his flashing eyes, and uplifted hand pointing the +sword at the gate, and they understood his meaning. + +"Perod!" shouted the Russians, exultingly. "Forward! Perod!" + +The grape-shot of the enemy, and the rattling fire of the French +skirmishers behind the walls, drowned their shouts. But when the +artillery ceased and the smoke disappeared, they saw again the face +of the old general with his young eyes, and the long white mustache, +He halted on his horse in the midst of the shower of bullets fired +by the skirmishers, and uttered again and again his favorite +command. + +"Marshal Perod!" shouted the Russians. "He is a little Suwarrow! +Long live little Suwarrow! Long live Marshal Forward!" and, amid +renewed battle--cries in honor of Blucher, and with resistless +impetuosity, the Russians assaulted the gate. + +While these scenes were passing outside the city, Napoleon remained +within. He had sat up till daylight with Caulaincourt and Bertmer, +receiving reports and issuing orders; toward morning he had slept a +little, and now, at ten o'clock, he dictated his last orders to the +two generals. In the streets were heard the roar of artillery, the +crashing of falling buildings, the wails, shrieks, and shouts of the +terrified inhabitants. The field-pieces rattled past, regiments +trotted along, and disappeared around the corners, constituting a +scene of indescribable terror and destruction; but here, in the +emperor's room, every thing presented a spectacle of peace and +repose. Caulaincourt and Berthier sat at their desks, writing. The +emperor was slowly walking up and down. He did not even listen to +the noise outside; he dictated his orders in a calm, firm voice, and +his face was as immovable as usual. + +"Marshal Macdonald," said the emperor, concluding his instructions, +"is commissioned to defend the city and the suburbs; for this +purpose he will have his own corps, and those of Lauriston, +Poniatowsky, and Keynier. He will hold the city until the corps of +Marmont and Ney have evacuated it, and the rear-guard safely +withdrawn. As soon as these troops have crossed the Pleisse, the +bridge will be blown up." He nodded to his generals, and, striding +across the room, opened the door of the antechamber. "To horse, +gentlemen!" he shouted to the generals assembled there. "We must +start for Erfurt!" He slowly descended the staircase and mounted his +horse, the generals and adjutants following him in silence. + +But the emperor did not turn his horse toward the side where the +troops were marching along in heavy columns; he rode to the market- +place, and halted in front of a large, old-fashioned house in the +middle of the square. The King of Saxony and his consort lived +there. "Wait!" said the emperor to his suite, alighting from his +horse, and walking past the saluting sentinels into the house. + +In the small sitting-room up-stairs were old King Frederick +Augustus, his consort, and the Princess Augusta. The king sat with +his hands folded on his knees, and his lustreless eye fixed on the +windows, trembling incessantly from the roar of artillery and the +rattle of musketry. The queen was near him, and whenever the volleys +resounded, she groaned, and covered her face with her handkerchief, +which was already moist with tears. The Princess Augusta knelt in a +corner of the room, praying, while tears were rolling down her +cheeks. + +"Oh," murmured the queen when another rattle of musketry rent the +air, "why does not a bullet strike my heart!" + +"Father in heaven, and all saints, have mercy on us!" prayed the +princess. + +"Grant victory to the great and noble Emperor Napoleon, my God!" +sighed the king. "I love him as a father, and he has always treated +me with the love of a son. I have remained faithful to him when all +the others betrayed him. Punish not my constancy, therefore, my Lord +and God; grant victory to Napoleon, that happiness may be restored +to me!" + +A cry burst from the lips of the queen, and she started up from her +seat. "The emperor!" she cried, looking toward the door. + +Yes, in the open door that form in the gray, buttoned-up overcoat, +with the small hat, and pale, stony face, was the Emperor +Napoleon's. "I come to bid you farewell," he said, stepping slowly +and calmly to the king. + +"Farewell!" groaned Frederick Augustus, sinking back. "All is lost, +then!" + +"No, not all, sire," said Napoleon, solemnly. "We have lost a +battle, but not our honor. The fortune of battles is fickle. After +twenty years of victory, it has this time declared against me. But +honor remains to me. I have, for four days, held out against an army +three times as large as mine in troops, as well as in artillery, and +they have not overpowered me. I have voluntarily evacuated the +battle-field, not in a wild flight as did the Prussians at Jena, and +the Austrians at Austerlitz. Our honor is intact. With that we must +content ourselves this time." + +"Oh, sire," cried the king, with tearful eyes, "how generous you +are! You speak of our honor! But _I_ have lost my honor, for my +troops have committed treason--they deserted my noble, beloved ally +during the battle! Oh, sire, pardon me! I am innocent of the +defection of my troops!" And, rising, the king made a movement as if +to kneel; but Napoleon held him in his arms, and then gently pressed +him back into the easy-chair. "Sire," he said, "treason is a disease +which, by this time, has become an epidemic in Germany. All those +who are now fighting against me are traitors, for all of them were +my allies, and, while still negotiating with me, they had already +formed a league against me. Your Saxons were infected by the troops +from Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Baden." + +"Alas," sighed the king, "I had a better opinion of my Saxons! They +have turned traitors, and my heart will always remain inconsolable." + +"But this is no time for giving way to grief," said Napoleon. "Your +majesty must leave Leipsic immediately. You must not expose yourself +to the dangers of a capitulation, which, unfortunately, has become +unavoidable. Come, sire, intrust yourself to my protection. By my +side, and in the midst of my troops, you will be safe." + +"No," said the king, resolutely; "I remain! Let them kill me; I am +tired of the dangers of flight! But you, sire, you must make haste! +Leave us!--your precious life must not be endangered! Every minute +renders the peril more imminent! Hasten to preserve yourself to your +people, your consort, and your son!" + +"My son!" said Napoleon, and for the first time something like an +expression of pain flashed over his features. "Poor little King of +Rome, from whose blond ringlets his own grand-father wants to tear +the crown!" He dropped his head on his breast. + +"Sire, make haste!" implored the king.--"Make haste!" echoed the +queen and the princess. + +At this moment there was a terrific roar of artillery. The queen +buried her face in her hands; the princess had knelt again and +prayed; the king leaned his head against the back of the chair, pale +as a corpse, and with his eyes closed. Napoleon alone stood erect; +his face was calm and inscrutable; his glances were turned toward +the windows, and he seemed to listen eagerly to the thunders of war. + +The door was violently opened, and General Caulaincourt appeared, +pale and breathless. + +"Sire," he said, "you must leave! Bernadotte has taken one of the +suburbs by assault, and the forces of Blucher, Benningsen, and +Schwartzenberg, are pouring in on all sides into the city, so that +our troops are compelled to defend themselves from house to house." + +"Sire, have mercy!--save yourself!" cried the king. "I can no longer +help you, no longer support you! I have nothing left to give you-- +nothing but my life, and that is of no value! Save yourself, unless +you want me to die at your feet!" + +"Sire," exclaimed Caulaincourt, "every minute increases the danger. +A quarter of an hour hence your majesty may, perhaps, be unable to +get out of the captured city." Napoleon turned with a haughty +movement toward his general. "Nonsense," he said, "have I not a +sword at my side? But, as you wish me to go, sire--as you are +alarmed, I will leave! Farewell! May we meet in happier +circumstances!" + +"Sire, up there!" said the king, solemnly, pointing toward heaven. +He then quickly rose from his seat, and approaching Napoleon, who +had taken leave of the queen and the princess, took his arm and +conducted him hastily out of the room, through the corridor, and +down the staircase. At the foot he stood, and clasping the emperor +in his arms, whispered, "Farewell, sire; I feel it is forever! I +shall await you in heaven! Not another word now, sire! Make haste!" +He turned, and slowly reascended the staircase. The emperor mounted +his horse, and directed his course toward the gate of Ranstadt. +Behind him rode Berthier, Caulaincourt, and a few generals; a +mounted escort followed them. + +The streets presented a spectacle of desolation and horror, which, +the closer they approached the gate, became more heart-rending. +Field-pieces, caissons, soldiers on foot and on horseback, screaming +women, wounded and dying cows, sheep, and swine, entangled in an +enormous mass, made it impossible to pass that way. Napoleon turned +his horse, and took the road to St. Peter's gate. Slowly, and with +perfect composure, he rode through Cloister and Burg Streets. Not a +muscle of his fane betrayed any uneasiness or embarrassment; it was +grave and inscrutable as usual. + +When he arrived at the inner St. Peter's gate, he found the crowd +and confusion to be nearly as great as at that of Ranstadt; he did +not turn his horse, but said, in a loud voice, "Clear a passage!" +The generals and the mounted escort immediately rode forward, and, +unsheathing their swords and spurring their horses, galloped into +the midst of the crowd, driving back those who could flee, trampling +under foot those who did not fall back quick enough, and removing +the obstacles which obstructed their passage. In five minutes a way +was cleared for the emperor--the wounded lying on both sides, and a +few corpses in the middle of the street, showed how violently the +cortege had penetrated the obstructing mass. The emperor took no +notice of this; he was silent and indifferent, while his escort +attacked the crowd, and rode on as if nothing had occurred. + +At length the city lay behind him; he had passed the bridge across +the Elster, and reached the mill of Lindenau, where he intended to +establish his headquarters. Constant and Roustan had already reached +the place with the emperor's carriages, and prepared a room for him. +Napoleon rapidly stepped into it, and, greeting Constant with a nod, +he said, "Only a little patience! In a week we shall be in Paris, +and there you shall all have plenty of repose! We shall leave our +beautiful France no more! Ah, how the Empress will rejoice, and how +charming it will be for me again to embrace the little King of +Rome!" + +It was touching and mournful, indeed, to hear this man, usually so +cold and reserved, this general who had just lost a great battle, +speak of his return home and his child in so gentle and affectionate +a tone, and to see how his rigid features became animated under the +charm of his recollections, and how the faint glimmer of a mournful +smile stole upon his lips. But it soon disappeared, and, with a +sigh, the emperor drooped his head. + +"Your majesty ought to try to sleep a little," said Constant, in an +imploring voice. + +"Yes, sleep!" exclaimed Napoleon. "To sleep is to forget!" + +It was the first, the only complaint which he allowed to escape his +lips, and he seemed to regret it, for, while he threw himself on the +field-bed, he cast a gloomy glance on Constant, and, as if to prove +how easy it was for him to forget, he fell asleep in a few minutes. + +From the neighboring city resounded the artillery, indicating the +final struggle of the French and the allies. The emperor's slumber +was not disturbed, for the roar of battle was too familiar to him. +Suddenly, however, there was a terrific explosion that shook the +earth; the windows of the room were shattered to pieces, and the bed +on which the emperor was reposing was pushed from the wall as if by +invisible arms. He sprang to his feet and glanced wonderingly +around. "What was that?" he inquired. "It was no discharge of +artillery, it was an explosion!" He quickly left the mill and +stepped out of the front door. There stood the generals, and looked +in evident anxiety toward Leipsic. Here and there bright flames were +bursting from the roofs of the houses; one-half of the city was +wrapped in clouds of smoke, so that it was impossible to distinguish +any thing. + +"An explosion has taken place there," said Napoleon, pointing to +that side. + +At this moment several horsemen galloped rapidly toward the mill; +they were headed by the King of Naples in his uniform, decked with +glittering orders. A few paces from the emperor he stopped his horse +and alighted. + +"Murat," shouted the emperor to him, "what has happened?" + +"Sire," he said, "a terrible calamity has occurred. The bridge +across the Elster, the only remaining passage over the river, has +been blown up!" + +"And our troops?" cried the emperor. + +"Sire, the rear-guard, twenty thousand strong, are still on the +opposite bank, and unable to escape." + +The emperor uttered a cry, half of pain, half of anger. "Ah," he +exclaimed, "this, then, is the way in which my orders are carried +out! My God! twenty thousand brave men are lost--hopelessly lost!" +He struck both his hands against his temples. + +No one dared disturb him; his generals surrounded him, silent and +gloomy. Presently, some horsemen galloped up; at their head was a +general, hatless and in a dripping uniform. + +"Sire, there comes Marshal Macdonald," exclaimed Murat. + +Napoleon hastened forward to meet the marshal, who had just jumped +from his horse. + +"You come out of the water, marshal?" inquired Napoleon, pointing to +his wet uniform. + +"Yes, sire. By swimming my horse across, I have escaped to this side +of the river, and I come to inform your majesty that the troops +intrusted to me have perished through no fault of mine. Sire, they +were twenty thousand strong, and I come back alone. I come to lay my +life at the feet of your majesty." + +"God be praised that you at least have been preserved," said the +emperor, offering his hand to Macdonald. "But you say the troops +have perished? Is, then, that impossible for the soldiers which was +possible for you? Cannot they swim across to this side of the +river?" + +"Sire, my escape was almost miraculous. I owe it to my horse, who +carried me across in the agony of despair; I owe it to God, who, +perhaps, wished to preserve a faithful and devoted servant to your +majesty. But, by my side, no less faithful servants were carried +away, and, standing on the other bank, I saw their corpses drifting +along." + +"Who were they?" asked Napoleon, abruptly, and almost in a, harsh +tone. + +"Sire, General Dumoustier was one; but he is not the victim most to +be lamented of this disastrous day." + +"Who is it?" exclaimed the emperor, and, casting around a hasty, +anxious glance, he seemed to count his attendants to see who was +missing. + +"Sire," said Macdonald, in a trembling voice, "Prince Joseph +Poniatowsky plunged with his horse into the river--" + +"And he perished?" cried Napoleon. + +"Yes, sire, he did not reach the opposite bank!" + +The emperor buried his face in his hands, and groaned. He sat for +some time motionless. At length he removed his hands from his face, +which looked like marble, bloodless and cold. + +"And my soldiers?" he inquired. "Did they endeavor to escape as +Poniatowsky?" + +"Yes, sire! Thousands threw themselves into the river, but only a +few succeeded in escaping, while the others fell into the deep and +muddy channel; and those who were on the opposite bank were made +prisoners by the allies, who are now in possession of the city." + +"Twenty thousand men lost!" sighed Napoleon, and he relapsed into +gloomy thought. Presently he raised his head again and cast a +flaming glance on Macdonald. + +"Marshal," he said, "you will investigate this affair in the most +rigorous manner; you will give me the name of him who has dared to +disobey my orders. He is the murderer of twenty thousand men! He +deserves death, and I shall have no mercy on him!" + +"Sire, he stands already before his Supreme Judge! It was the +corporal charged with applying the match as soon as our troops had +all passed. He thought he saw the enemy advancing upon the bridge, +and fired the train, throwing himself into the Elster. He is +drowned!" + +"It is good for him," said Napoleon. "God will deal more leniently +with him than I should have done. To horse, gentlemen, to horse!" He +walked slowly and with bowed head to his horse, and murmured, +"Another Beresina! It costs me twenty thousand soldiers!" + +The generals followed him, and as they saw him walking with bowed +head, they whispered to one another, "Look at him now, how he is +broken down! That was his very appearance when he returned from +Russia! He has no strength to bear up under misfortune!" + +While the emperor and his suite slowly and mournfully took the road +to Mark Ranstadt, the allies made their entrance into Leipsic. At +the head of the procession rode the Emperor of Russia and the King +of Prussia; behind them followed their brilliant staff, and then +came the victorious troops, with colors flying and drums beating. +The cannon still thundered, but louder were the cheers and exultant +acclamations of the people, who crowded the streets by thousands, to +receive the sovereigns and the victorious army. The windows of the +houses were opened, and at them stood their inmates with joyful +faces, holding white handkerchiefs in their hands, with which they +waved their greetings. The friends--the long-yearned-for friends +were there, and they received them with tears, exultation, and +thanksgiving. Merry chimes rang from every steeple, and proclaimed +the resurrection of Germany. The sovereigns rode to the great +square; they halted in front of the very house of the King of +Saxony, but they turned no glance upward to the windows, behind the +closed blinds of which the unfortunate royal family were assembled. +The victors seemed to have forgotten them. + +The two monarchs alighted, for now came from the other side the +crown prince of Sweden, Bernadotte, at the head of his guards, and +through the other street approached the commander-in-chief of the +allies, Prince Schwartzenberg. The Russian emperor and the Prussian +king advanced into the middle of the square, and Bernadotte and +Schwartzenberg arrived there simultaneously with them. Suddenly, +deafening cheers rent the air; they drew nearer, and amid these +acclamations Blucher, at the head of his staff, rode up. When he +perceived the monarchs, he stopped his horse and vaulted with +youthful agility from the saddle in order to meet them; but the +Emperor Alexander, anticipating him, was by his side. "God bless +you, heroic Blucher!" he exclaimed, affectionately embracing him, +"You have fulfilled your promise made at Breslau. You have become +the liberator of Germany. Your brave sword and your intrepid heart +have conquered. Come, I must conduct you to the King of Prussia!" He +took Blucher's arm, and, advancing with him, he said, "Sire, I bring +you here your hero, Blucher!" + +"You bring me Field-Marshal Blucher!" said the king. "God bless you, +field-marshal!" + +"Sire," exclaimed Blucher, "you apply to me an honorary title--" + +"Which you deserve," interrupted the king. "Do not thank me, for, if +you do, for conferring a title on you, how shall I thank you, who +have given me by far greater honor? I know what I owe you, Blucher; +your energy, courage, determination, and ardor, have gained ns the +most glorious victories!" + +"I have only done my duty, your majesty," said Blucher. "But I think +our work is not half done yet, your majesty; we are to-day in fact +only at the commencement of it. It is not enough for us to drive the +French from Leipsic; we must pursue them, and expel them from +Germany. For this purpose we must make haste. We have no time to +rest on our laurels and sing hymns--the main point is to pursue the +enemy--pursue him incessantly and effectually." + +"Again, the hot-headed madcap, whose fiery spirit believes that +every thing is done too slowly," exclaimed the Emperor Alexander, +smiling. "Now I ask you, as the king asked you at Breslau, 'How old +are you?'--you who never need rest, like other poor mortals--myself, +for instance? I confess that, after all this excitement and these +long fatigues, I am longing for repose, and would not take it amiss +if war and pursuit were no longer thought of. But you are always +intent on going forward!" + +"Sire," exclaimed the king, who in the mean time had conversed with +General Sacken, "I just learned that your troops have anticipated +me, and given Blucher a title that is far better than mine. At the +gate of Halle they cheered, and called him 'Marshal Forward!'" "Ah, +I should like to embrace my soldiers for this excellent word," cried +Alexander. "That is an honorary title, Blucher, which no prince can +confer, and which only your own merit and the gratitude of the +people can bestow. Yes, you are 'Marshal Forward,' and by that name +history will know you; and Germany will love, praise, and bless you. +You have earned this title by your deeds, and the soldiers have +conferred it upon you as a token of their appreciation. Now, the +soldiers are a part of the people, and the voice of the people is +the voice of God. Heaven bless you, 'Marshal Forward!'" + +At this moment a procession was approaching from the other side of +the square, consisting of twenty-four young maidens dressed in +white. All held wreaths in their hands, while the three who headed +the procession carried them on silken cushions. They approached the +emperor, the king, and the crown prince of Sweden, and offered them +the wreaths. [Footnote: The emperor of Austria did not make his +entry with the other monarchs, but came only in the afternoon to +Leipsic, where he remained scarcely an hour. He then returned to +Rotha.--Beitzke, vol. ii.] The emperor took that presented to him, +and pressed it with a quick and graceful movement on Blucher's head. +"I represent the Muse of History," he said, "and crown 'Marshal +Forward' in a becoming manner." + +"And I," said the crown prince of Sweden, handing his laurel-wreath +to Prince Schwartzenberg, "I present this to the commander-in-chief +of all our armies, and wish him joy of having achieved a victory +over which so many nations will rejoice, and which will render his +name illustrious now and forever." + +"Ah," cried Schwartzenberg, "I have unfortunately been unable to do +much. I have only faithfully carried out my orders, and it is to +them, and to the brave troops, that we are indebted for the +victory," [Footnote: Prince Schwartzenberg's words.--Beitzke, ii., +639] + +The king said nothing; holding his wreath, he looked at it gravely +and musingly. The presentations were over, and the princes prepared +to return to their quarters. + +"I hope, sire, we shall all remain together to-day?" remarked +Alexander, turning toward the king. + +"Pray excuse me, sire," said Frederick William, bowing, "I intend to +go to Berlin to-night, but I shall be back in a few days." + +"But you, I suppose, will remain?" asked Alexander, turning toward +Bernadotte. + +"I shall remain, your majesty," said the crown prince of Sweden, +with a polite smile. "My troops are in need of rest." + +"Yes, his troops are always in need of rest," murmured Blucher to +himself; "I believe--" + +Just then the Emperor Alexander turned toward him. "Well, field- +marshal, and you--you will stay, too, will you not? I pray you to be +my guest to-day." + +"Sire, I regret that I cannot accept this gracious invitation," said +Blucher. "I cannot stay, and my troops, thank God! are not in need +of rest. I shall start immediately in pursuit of the enemy. It is +not enough for us to have gained a victory; we must also know how to +profit by it. I shall march this very evening, and take up my +quarters for the night at Skeuditz." + +"Marshal Forward! always Marshal Forward!" exclaimed Alexander, +smiling.--"Come, sire, let us hasten to dinner; otherwise he will +not even permit us to dine, but compel us all to set out +immediately." He took the king's arm, and went with him to the +horses standing near. When he was about to vault into the saddle, he +turned toward one of his adjutants. "Ah," he said, "there is another +little matter which I almost forgot!--General Petrowitch, go up +there." He pointed to the house of the King of Saxony. "Inform the +king, in my name, that he is a prisoner. [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. +ii., p. 652] Have a guard of thirty men placed in front of the +house." + +On the same evening Blucher rode, by the side of Gneisenau and +attended by his staff, out of the gate of Leipsic, following his +troops already on the road to Skeuditz. "Well," said Blucher, +smoking his pipe, "we cannot deny that there has been an abundant +shower of orders and titles to-day, and that we have all been +thoroughly drenched. So I am a field-marshal now; the Emperor of +Austria has conferred on me the order of Maria Theresa; and the +Emperor of Russia has given me a splendid sword, which I will send +as a souvenir to my Amelia. And you, Gneisenau, I hope you have also +received your share?" + +"Why, yes," said Gneisenau, "I have received titles from all the +three monarchs. You are right, there was all day a perfect shower of +them--orders and honors; and not a general, not a dignitary or +diplomatist has been forgotten. Count Metternich, you know, has been +raised by his sovereign to the rank of a prince, in acknowledgment +of his diplomatic services; and Prince Schwartzenberg, already +enjoying the highest Austrian honors, has received permission to add +the escutcheon of the Hapsburgs to his coat-of-arms." + +"These two have been in the shower of honors, but very little in the +shower of balls," remarked Blucher, laconically. "I wonder what +rewards will be conferred on the crown prince of Sweden?" + +"He has already received the highest Prussian, Austrian, and Russian +orders," replied Gneisenau, scornfully. "As stated before, no one +has been forgotten but ONE!" + +"Who is it?" asked Blucher. "Who has been forgotten?" + +"Field-marshal, one deserving the most honor--one that joyfully +sacrificed property, blood, and life, who did not demand any reward, +and did every thing for the sake of honor, and from love of country, +and for the princes." + +"What!" cried Blucher, angrily. "The monarchs have forgotten to +reward such a one?" + +"Yes, field-marshal, they have! This one is the people, the German +people!--the noble, enthusiastic people, who joyously and generously +shed their blood for the deliverance of the fatherland, whose +mothers and wives allowed their sons and husbands exultingly to +march into the field, and made themselves sisters of charity for the +wounded and sick; whose men and youths did not hesitate to leave +their houses, their families, their property, their business, but +readily took up arms to deliver the fatherland; whose aged men +became young, whose children transformed themselves into youths, to +participate in the holy struggle--all these, the great, noble German +people, have received no reward, and not even a promise!" + +"But, Gneisenau, how strange you are!" said Blucher, drawing his +mustache through his fingers. "The monarchs have rewarded those whom +they were able to reward. How can they reward the people? What could +they do?" + +"They could bestow on them more liberty, more independence and +honor," said Gneisenau. "by giving them the constitution which the +King of Prussia promised to his people in his manifesto of the 17th +of March." + +"Yes, that is true," said Blucher, thoughtfully. "Well, Stein is +present, and he will surely remind the king of what he ought to do. +He is a patriot and a true man!" + +"Yes, but he is alone," said Gneisenau, mournfully. "His voice will +die away like that of the preacher in the desert. You will see, +field-marshal, these promises will soon be forgotten!" + +"Well," exclaimed Blucher, "we shall see. For the time being let us +rejoice that we have fought the great battle of the nations, and +that Napoleon's doom is sealed now. It is all-important for us to +finish him quickly and without mercy. You know my battle-cry: 'He +must be dethroned!'--Oh, pipe-master! Another pipe, this one does +not burn." + +As Napoleon and Blucher left Leipsic on the 19th of October, King +Frederick William set out from the city for Berlin to rejoice with +his people, and to thank God for the victory. All Berlin received +the king with exultation, and the 20th of October was a day of +universal joy. Germany was free, and this conviction transported +every heart, and every one wished to greet the king. Thousands +surrounded the royal palace at Berlin all day, and whenever the king +appeared at the windows or on the balcony, they saluted him with +cheers and waving of hats and handkerchiefs. Multitudes thronged +toward the cathedral, to thank God for the glorious victory +vouchsafed to them. In every house were festivities in honor of the +great battle of the nations fought at Leipsic. + +But during this universal exultation the king left Berlin, without +his suite, attended only by his old friend, General Kockeritz, and +rode to Charlottenburg. No notice was taken of the unpretending +equipage, drawn by two horses, destitute of escutcheons and +liveries, which drove out of the Brandenburg gate, and the king +reached Charlottenburg without being recognized. He did not, +however, enter the palace, but ordered Kockeritz to fetch the +castellan, that he might open the vault of the royal tomb; then, +wrapping his cloak closer about him, under which he seemed to +conceal something, he trod the dark path leading to the mausoleum. +He paced the gloomy avenue of cypress and pines with a slow step, +absorbed in deep reflection. Holy peace surrounded him--not a sound +of the people's joy reached him--naught disturbed the silence, save +some gentle breeze that rustled the foliage, and as a spirit-voice +greeted the king's return. The recollections of other days, with all +their troubles, came to him, and revived the painful emotions of the +past. He had suffered so much, and alone! And as he had been alone +in his affliction, he was now alone in his prosperity. No one was +with him at this holy hour to understand his heart, except her whose +spirit he believed to be always near him. Grief for the humiliation +of her country occasioned her death; joy and pride in the victory of +her country would, if possible, have reawakened her from the dead. + +The king slowly walked toward the mausoleum. The door was open, and +he entered softly. He looked around to assure himself that he was +alone, and that no strange eyes desecrated this devout pilgrimage. +He took off his cloak, and that which he had borne under it was no +longer hidden. It was the laurel-wreath presented on the preceding +day at Leipsic. With this crown of victory in his hand he approached +the black sarcophagus in which reposed all that was mortal of +Louisa! Bending over it, he kissed the place beneath which her head +rested, and laid down the wreath. [Footnote: Eylert, "Characterzuge +aus dem Leben Friedrich Wilhelm III." vol. ii., p. 162.] + + "Take it, Louisa," he murmured. "It belongs to you! Your spirit was +with us, and led us to victory. Oh, why did you leave me? Why are +you not with me in the days of prosperity as in the days of +adversity? I have seen your beautiful eyes shed many tears, but now +I cannot see them brighten with joy. I can hear no more your sweet +voice, your merry laughter! I am alone!" He leaned his hands on the +sarcophagus, and, pressing his head on the laurel-wreath, shed +abundant tears. After a long pause, he rose and suppressed his +grief. "Farewell, my Louisa," he said. "I know that you are with me, +and that your love accompanies me! Farewell!" Casting a parting +glance on his wife's tomb, the king left the sacred cell, and walked +slowly toward the palace through the shadowy and silent avenue of +the cypress-trees. + + + + +HANNIBAL ANTE PORTAS + + +CHAPTER XL. + +BLUCHER'S BIRTHDAY. + + +Two months had elapsed since the great battle of Leipsic, during +which, to Blucher's unbounded despair, much had been spoken, much +negotiated, many schemes devised, but nothing done. Owing to the +slowness of the allies, Napoleon had succeeded, aside from some +unfortunate engagements during the retreat, in safely returning with +the remnant of his army to France; and this dilatory system of the +allies seemed to be constantly adopted. The armies advanced slowly, +or not at all. For weeks the headquarters had been at Frankfort-on- +the-Main. There were the Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the +crown prince of Sweden, and Prince Schwartzenberg as representative +of the Emperor of Austria, besides Metternich and Hardenberg, and +the whole army of diplomatists, who deemed it incumbent on them to +put an end with their pens to this war which the swords of the +generals had concluded by a victory. The peace party were +incessantly intent on gaining the allies at headquarters over to +their side, and the crown prince of Sweden and Prince Metternich +stood at their head. Bernadotte cautioned the allies against the +dangers in which an invasion of France would involve them; +Metternich deemed it more advisable for them to conclude an +advantageous peace with the angry lion Napoleon. Blucher kept +murmuringly away from the headquarters, and stayed with his staff at +Hochst, near his troops. + +It was the 16th of December. The field-marshal was alone in his +room, and sat on the sofa, in his comfortable military cloak, +smoking his morning pipe. Before him lay a map of Germany, on which +he fixed his eyes, and across which he eagerly moved his fingers +from time to time, drawing lines here and there, and apparently +conceiving plans of operation. The door opened, and Pipe-Master +Hennemann walked in.--In full gala-uniform, holding both hands +behind him, he stood at the door, hoping that his field-marshal +would see and ask him what he wanted. But Blucher did not look up; +he was absorbed in studying his map. Christian Hennemann, therefore, +ventured to interrupt him. "Field-marshal," he said, in a low and +timid voice, "I--" + +"Well, what do you want, Christian?" asked Blucher, lifting his eyes +from the map. "What is the matter? Why do you wear your gala- +uniform, and look as if you were about to go on parade? Have you +become a Catholic in this Catholic country, Christian, and are you +celebrating a saint's holiday?" + +"Yes, field-marshal," said Christian, resolutely stepping forward, +"I am celebrating the holiday of my saint, and his name is Blucher!" + +"He is a queer saint," cried Blucher, laughing. "But what does it +all mean, Christian?" + +"It means, field-marshal, that this is your birthday, and that you +are seventy-one years old to-day." + +"That is true," said Blucher to himself. "My birthday! I had given +strict orders not to celebrate it, and I had forgotten it myself!" + +"But no one can prevent me from celebrating it, your excellency!" +exclaimed Christian. "That would be very pretty, if I could not +congratulate my 'Marshal Forward' on his birthday. Long live my +field-marshal! And may God spare him many years to us yet, that we +may catch Bonaparte at Paris; for, if 'Marshal Forward' does not do +it, no one will!" + +"Yes, if they would only let me!" cried Blucher, striking with his +hand on the table; "but they will not! I am sitting here like a pug- +dog in a deal box, and Bonaparte stands outside; I can only bark--I +cannot bite him, for they will not let me out." + +"They will have to, your excellency," said Hennemann, quickly, "and +before many pipes are smoked. But I would request your excellency to +be so kind as to smoke this pipe." He drew forth his right hand, +which he had held behind him, and produced a short pipe, neatly +adorned with a rose-colored ribbon terminating in a rosette with two +long ends. "Field-marshal," he said, "in return for all the favors +you have conferred on me, a poor boy, and for having made me, a +stupid peasant-lad, pipe-master of the famous Field-Marshal Blucher, +I take the liberty of presenting you with this short pipe." And +making a polite obeisance, he handed it to the general, who took it +smilingly, and was about to reply, but Christian added, in a louder +voice, "But your excellency must not think that this is a common +pipe. In the first place, it is not made of clay." + +"No," said Blucher, contemplating it; "the small tube is made of +wood, and mounted with silver, sure enough; the bowl is carved out +of wood, too, and there is another bowl inside." + +"But it is no common wood, your excellency," said Christian, +solemnly. "You remember that I requested a furlough immediately +after the battle of Leipsic, and said I would go home, see my dear +Mecklenburg again, and visit my brothers and sisters. Well, that was +not my principal object; there was another reason why I wanted to +go. I have never forgotten what my General Blucher said when I first +came to him, and what he told us of his mutting--that he still loved +her. Well, I thought it would gladden the field-marshal's heart to +have a little souvenir of his mother. And, therefore, I wended my +way to Rastow, where my dear field-marshal's mother is buried. I +went to her grave, said my prayers, and then cut off a branch from +the linden which stands on her grave. Like every other son of +Mecklenburg, you ought to have a souvenir of your mutting. Here it +is. The tube and the bowl of the pipe I carved out of the branch cut +from the linden, and, that you might know what it is, I cut these +letters in the wood. Read, sir." + +"Sure enough, there are letters on it," cried Blucher. "They say +'Souvenir of Mutting!'" + +"Yes, that it is," said Christian; "you know, with us, those who +love their mother call her as you did, and therefore I offer you +this souvenir." + +"Christian," said Blucher, in a tremulous voice, "that was well +done, and I can tell you that you give me great joy, and that I +shall not forget your kindness. This shall be my gala-pipe, and I +will smoke it on gala-days only, that is to say, when we go into +battle. I thank you a thousand times, Christian, my boy, and if my +dear mutting has not forgotten me, she will look down upon her boy +to-day, who is seventy-one years old, and it will gladden her to +know that he has now a memorial of her--and from her grave! You were +on her grave, then, Christian? How does it look?" + +"It was decked with flowers, your excellency, and finches and larks +were chirping in the large linden overshadowing it. The old grave- +digger told me the linden had been planted on the day when Madame +von Blucher was buried, and it was quite a small twig at that time." + +"Yes, that is the course of things," said Blucher, mournfully; "when +I saw my mother last, she was a handsome lady, and I was a boy of +sixteen. I have not felt that so many years have elapsed since then, +and I feel myself still as active as a lad. But they tell me I am +decrepit, and that there is but a step between me and the grave." + +"Well, I should like to see the giant who could cross that step," +cried Christian; "a hundred thousand French corpses and Bonaparte's +overturned throne lie in that step between you and the grave." + +Blucher laughed. "You are a good boy, pipe-master, and in honor of +you I will smoke the new pipe to-day. Fill and light it; I will--who +knocks there?--Open the door, Christian." + +"It is I, your excellency," said General Gneisenau, who entered the +room. "You must not refuse to see me. It is true, you have forbidden +any celebration, serenade, or congratulation; but you must not turn +me from your door; for you know that I love you like a son, and +therefore you must permit me to come and wish myself joy that Field- +Marshal Blucher still lives for the welfare of Germany." + +Blucher kindly shook hands with him. "Would that you were right, +Gneisenau, and that I really lived for the welfare of Germany! But +the gentlemen at headquarters need me no longer. I am once more a +nuisance and a stumbling-block--I am, according to them, the old +madcap again--the rash hussar, just because I shout, 'We must +advance upon Paris!' while the trubsalsspritzen [Footnote: A +favorite expression of Blucher when he alluded to the timid +diplomatists who advised the allies to make peace with Napoleon.] +are croaking all the time, 'We must make peace! If we go to France, +we are lost!' Gneisenau, if this state of affairs goes on for any +length of time, this will be my last birthday, for I shall die of +anger. I know if we make peace, the blood shed has been in vain, and +our victories in vain; and in a few years, when he has recovered +from his losses, Bonaparte will commence the same game, and we shall +have to pass through the same series of disastrous events. But they +are destitute of courage. Bernadotte does not want us to hurt the +French, and the Emperor of Austria desires to spare his dear son-in- +law, and they are besieging our king and the Emperor Alexander in +such a vigorous manner, that they are at a loss what to do." + +"And what should we be here for?" inquired Gneisenau, smiling. "What +would Field-Marshal Blucher be here for, if we do not march forward? +No, the gentlemen who are so desirous of making peace are greatly +mistaken if they believe that they are able to set at naught our +successes, and that it depends on their will only to make peace or +war. The wheel that is to crush Napoleon is in motion, and no human +hand can arrest it. Let the trubsalsspritzen, as your excellency +says, croak: public opinion in Germany and throughout Europe speaks +louder, and it clamors for war, and we shall have it. For this +reason your excellency ought not to despond, nor prevent us from +celebrating your birthday in a worthy manner. Your whole army longs +to present its congratulations to you, and the officers of York's +corps, who intended to give your excellency a ball to-night, and had +so confidently counted upon your consent that they had already made +all arrangements, are in despair because you did not accept their +invitation. General York himself is quite vexed at your refusal, and +thinks you decline because you do not wish to meet him." + +"I do not care if he is vexed, old curmudgeon that he is!" cried +Blucher. "He must always have something to grumble at, and has often +enough said very hard things about me. Let him do so again, for +aught I care! I shall, nevertheless, not go to the ball. What should +I do there? Merry I cannot be, for my indignation almost stifles my +heart, and, instead of smiling on people, I would rather show them +my fist. Ah, Gneisenau, men are mean and contemptible, after all, +and those at headquarters are the most despicable! They want peace! +Do you comprehend that, Gneisenau--peace! now that we are on the +road to Paris, and only need make up our minds to destroy the power +of our enemy! Oh, it is enough to make a fellow swear! To the +gallows with all the trubsalsspritzen!--all the old women who are +wearing uniforms, and who, in place of cocked hats, should rather +put nightcaps on their heads!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Gneisenau, smiling, "should they do so, your +excellency would tear off their nightcaps, and forcibly put their +hats again on their heads. And as for the old women, Blucher, the +young hero, will in the end rout them all, and drive them from the +field." + +"Ah, Gneisenau, if I succeed in doing so, then I should be young +again, and live to see still many a birthday," sighed Blucher. "I +have conceived every thing so clearly and well--the whole plan of +the campaign was already settled in my mind! Come, Gneisenau, let me +show you all on the map, and then you will have to admit that +Napoleon would be annihilated if we could carry this plan into +execution. Come, look at the map!" + +Gneisenau stood by the side of the field-marshal, and bent over the +map lying on the table. + +"See," said Blucher, eagerly, "here is Paris, here is the Rhine, and +here are we; farther below--" + +"But, your excellency," interrupted Gneisenau, surprised, "you have +a very old and poor map; it is impossible to base any strategic +plans on it." + +"How so?" asked Blucher, in amazement. + +"Because this map is certainly incorrect, your excellency; we have +entirely new and very accurate maps now, made from the latest +surveys." + +"Ah, what do I care for your surveys?" cried Blucher, impatiently. +"By your surveys, I suppose, you cannot displace the countries, +cities, and rivers? Paris remains where it is, the Rhine flows where +it has always flowed, and behind the Rhine lies Germany, where it +has always lain?" + +"Yes, but you will not find on this map the towns, villages, +forests, rivers, and hills, which you will meet on your advance, and +which, if not taken into consideration, might prove formidable +obstacles." + +"What do I care for the towns, villages, forests, rivers, and +hills?" replied Blucher: "I advance all the time, and that says +every thing. In the towns and villages I shall cause my troops to +take up their quarters; through the forests we shall cut a road if +there is none; we shall build bridges across the rivers, and run +over the tops of the mountains; if the field-pieces cannot be hauled +over them, we shall take them around the base. The most important +thing is, that we advance, and I am quite able to consider that on +my map here.--Now, then! here is Paris. Put your finger on Paris, +Gneisenau." The general obeyed, and pressed the tip of his +forefinger on the spot indicated. "And here," cried Blucher, +pressing his own finger on the map, "here are we, the Silesian army. +Between us lies the Rhine. Put your other finger on the Rhine, +Gneisenau." Gneisenau put his middle-finger on the black line +marking the Rhine. "Now put your little-finger down here, between +Mannheim and Kehl; there stands the army of Bohemia under Prince +Schwartzenberg; and up here, where I hold my thumb, in Holland, is +Bulow, with his corps. See, on this side, we have therefore +completely hemmed in France; and, on the other side, where the +Atlantic Ocean is--or is it no longer there on your new-fangled +maps?" + +"Yes, your excellency," exclaimed Gneisenau, laughing, "it is still +there." + +"Well, then, England posts her ships there; and in the south, on the +Pyrenees, stand the Spaniards, who have sworn to revenge themselves +on Bonaparte. Now we advance all at the same time into France. +Prince Schwartzenberg penetrates with his army through Switzerland; +Bulow marches through the Netherlands, after conquering them, and +joins my forces; and I cross the Rhine here in three large columns +with the Silesian army--the first column at Mannheim, the second at +Kaub, and the third--well, now I have no finger left to--" + +"Here is mine, your excellency," said Gneisenau, raising the finger +marking the line of the Rhine. + +But Blucher hastily pressed it down. "Do not remove that!" he cried; +"what is to become of my whole plan if that finger should desert its +position? Keep it there, then!--Well, here, where I hold my left +thumb, at Coblentz, the third column will cross the Rhine. On the +other bank we shall all unite, take Sarrebruck, advance by forced +marches upon Metz, and--" + +"Your excellency," shouted the pipe-master, throwing open the door, +"a courier from the King of Prussia, from Frankfort-on-the-Main!" + +"Let him come in!" cried Blucher, hastily throwing off his military +cloak, and putting on his uniform-coat. He had not yet quite done so +when the courier entered the room. + +"What orders do you bring from my king and master?" inquired +Blucher, meeting the officer. + +"Your excellency, his majesty King Frederick William III., and his +majesty the Emperor Alexander, request Field-Marshal Blucher to +repair immediately to Frankfort, where the monarchs have an +important communication to make to the field-marshal. They wish your +excellency to start forth-with, in order to reach Frankfort as soon +as possible." + +"Inform their majesties that I shall be there in two hours.--Well, +Gneisenau, what do you say now?" asked Blucher, when the courier +left the room. + +"I say that the monarchs have at length discovered who alone can +give them efficient assistance and valuable advice, and that they +have, therefore, applied to Field-Marshal Blucher." + +"And I tell you," shouted Blucher, in a thundering voice, "that the +monarchs send for me to inform me that we are to face about and go +home. If it were any thing else, they would have sent me word by an +officer; but, as it is, they are afraid lest I grow furious, and so +they intend to inform me in the mildest possible manner of their +decision, and wish to pat my cheeks tenderly while telling me of it. +But they mistake; I shall tell them the truth, as I would any one +else, and they shall see that it is all the same to me whether they +have a crown on their heads or a forage-cap; the truth must out, and +they shall hear it, as sure as my name is Blucher! But I must dress +for the occasion--it shall be a gala-day for me. With my orders on +my breast, and the emperor's sword of honor at my side, I will +appear before them and tell them the truth." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +PASSAGE OF THE RHINE. + + +The Emperor Alexander and King Frederick William were in the king's +cabinet, awaiting Field-Marshal Blucher, for the courier had just +returned and reported that the field-marshal promised to be at +Frankfort within two hours. + +"The two hours have just elapsed," said Alexander, glancing at the +clock, "and Blucher, who is known to be a very punctual man, will +undoubtedly soon be here. Ah, there is a carriage; it is he, no +doubt!" + +"Yes, it is he," said the king, who had stepped to the window, and +was looking out. "He is alighting with the nimbleness of a youth, in +spite of his seventy-one years. He is really a hero!" + +"And will your majesty be so kind as to enter into my jest? Will you +assist me in it, and confirm my words?" + +"Certainly, sire; but I tell you, beforehand, our jest may render +the old firebrand very grave, and we may happen to get a scolding." + +"That is just what I am longing for," replied the emperor, smiling. +"Old Blucher's scolding is wholesome, and invigorates the heart; it +is a new and vital air which his words breathe upon me. It is +flattering to be scolded for once like a common mortal." + +"Well, if you desire that, sire," said the king, smiling, "Blucher +will certainly afford you this pleasure to-day." + +The door opened; a footman entered and announced Field-Marshal +Blucher. The two monarchs met him. Both shook hands with him, and +bade him welcome with great cordiality. This, however, instead of +gladdening Blucher, filled him with distrust. + +"They pat me, because they want to scratch me," said Blucher to +himself, "but they shall not fool me!" His features assumed a +defiant expression, and a dark cloud covered his brow. + +"To-day is your birthday, field-marshal," said the king; "that is +the reason we have sent for you; we desired to congratulate you in +person. You have passed through a year of heroism, and the new one +cannot bring you nobler laurels than those you have already." + +"Ah, your majesty, I believe it might after all," said Blucher, +quickly. "The laurels growing in France are the noblest of all; that +is why I should like to gather them." + +"Ah! the Emperor Napoleon will not suffer it," said Alexander. "He +values them too highly, and it is not advisable for us to seek them, +for he is not the man to allow us to take what belongs to him." + +"But he was the very man to take a great many things that did not +belong to him," cried Blucher, vehemently. + +"That which did not belong to him we have taken again, and have +satisfied the ends of justice," said the king, gravely. + +"No, we have not satisfied the ends of justice," cried Blucher. "It +is justice if we march to Paris--to take all from him whom your +majesties still call the Emperor Napoleon, but who, in my eyes, is +nothing but an infamous tyrant, presumptuous enough to put a crown +on his head, and ascend a throne to which he has no right whatever, +and who, moreover, has treated us Germans as though we were his +slaves. Ay, it is justice if we take from the robber of kingdoms, +the braggart winner of battles, all that he has appropriated, and +send him back to Corsica. That would be justice, your majesty; and +if it is not administered, it is a morbid generosity that prevents +it, and which is utterly out of place in regard to him." + +The emperor cast a glance full of indescribable satisfaction on the +king, who responded to it with a gentle nod. + +"My dear Blucher," said Alexander, kindly, "you have not yet +permitted me to wish you joy of your birthday. God bless you, my +dear field-marshal, and may this year bring us the peace and repose +which one so much needs after the exposures of campaign life, and +especially when he is seventy-one years old!" + +"I do not know whether I am as old as that," said Blucher, +indignantly; "I know only that I am by no means desirous of repose, +but rather deem it a great misfortune just now." + +The emperor seemed not to have heard him, but continued quietly: +"Yes, certainly, my dear field-marshal, you need retirement; at your +venerable age we should not subject ourselves to such prolonged +fatigues in the field." + +"Besides, I am sure you wish peace, like the rest of us," said the +king, who saw that the veins on Blucher's forehead were swelling, +and who wished to forestall too violent a reply. "We have reflected +a long while how we might give you a pleasant surprise on your +birthday, but it was difficult for us. Yon have already all the +orders and honor we can bestow; you are blessed with riches, and we +have found it difficult to make you a present worthy of the respect +and love we entertain for you." + +"But his majesty the king has resolved to give you something which +will gladden your noble heart. Field-marshal, we give you peace as a +birthday present! We have resolved, to make peace with Napoleon; and +to-day, on your birthday, the conditions, which, you know, have for +a long time past formed the subject of secret negotiations, are to +be signed. The Emperor Napoleon has declared his readiness to accept +them, and, therefore, there are no further obstacles to the +cessation of war." + +"To-morrow our troops will set out for home," said the king. "The +requirements of honor and duty have been satisfied; the welfare and +prosperity of our subjects demand peace. You, my dear field-marshal, +have been selected to direct the retreat of the troops. Conformably +to the wishes of his majesty the Emperor Alexander, and his royal +highness the crown prince of Sweden, I appoint you commander-in- +chief of all the retreating troops. The generals will have strictly +to comply with your orders; and, just as Prince Schwartzenberg was +general-in-chief of the advance, you, field-marshal, are general-in- +chief of the retreat. Confiding in your energy, sagacity, and zeal, +we hope that you will conduct the retreat, satisfactorily, and the +men will reach their homes as soon as possible. You are now, +therefore, commander-in-chief; that is your birthday gift, and we +hope you will be content with it." + +"No," cried Blucher, drawing a deep breath, and unable longer to +restrain his anger, "I am not content with it--not at all; and I +must say that I do not wish this appointment, which seems to me a +disgrace. General-in-chief of the retreating armies! I should like +to ask his majesty the Emperor of Russia why his soldiers have given +me the honorary title of 'Marshal Forward,' if I am now to be +'General-in-chief Backward?' If your majesty has given me the +golden-sheathed sword only for the purpose of wearing it on parade, +I do not want it. Sire, here it is; I lay it down at your feet with +due respect. Your majesty, you desired to give it to the general-in- +chief of the retreating troops, and that I am not, and cannot be!" +He hastily unbuckled his sword, and laid it on the table beside the +emperor. + +"And why can you not?" asked Alexander, composedly. + +"Because I cannot disgrace my honest name by doing dishonest +things," cried Blucher, vehemently. + +"Blucher, you forget yourself," said the king, almost sternly; "your +words are too strong." + +"Yes, your majesty, I know that they are strong," exclaimed Blucher; +"but the truth is strong, too; I must relieve myself of it; I can no +longer keep it back, and, the truth is, that it would be a shame and +a stupidity if we retreat without reconquering, on the left bank of +the Rhine, that which we were obliged to cede to France. Your +majesties have said that the requirements of honor and justice are +satisfied. Permit me to reply that this is not so, and cannot be, if +we retreat; for we show that we are still distrusting our own power, +and, notwithstanding our superior army, deem ourselves too weak to +attack the man who has been attacking us for nearly twenty years, +and to whom nothing was sacred, whether treaties, or rights of +property, or nationality. No, the requirements of justice are not +satisfied if we face about now and consider the frontiers of France +more sacred than the French have ever considered the frontiers of +Germany. Bonaparte has as yet Holland, a piece of Germany, and +Italy, and he says he will not yield a single village which he has +conquered, though the enemy stand on the heights of Paris. It would +but be right for us to march to that city, and compel him to +disgorge, not merely a village, but all that he has taken. And if +this be not done, if the peace-croakers attain their object, a cry +of disappointment and anger will burst forth throughout Europe, and +the nations, lifting their hands to God, will curse the +pussillanimity and weakness of their princes. They would be +justified in doing so; for it was not for this that brave men, at +the first call of their king, left their families; it was not for +this that they sacrificed their property on the altar of the +fatherland. The women did not become nurses and sisters of charity, +nor did their husbands and sons shed their blood, that only one +great battle might be gained over Bonaparte, and that he then might +be allowed leisurely to evacuate Germany. We did not even pursue +him, but marched slowly, while he safely wended his way to the +Rhine, And now he is to remain quietly in France! The world is to +receive no satisfaction, and the tyrant is not to be punished! If +that be right and just, well--no matter! I am an old soldier, and am +not versed in the tricks of diplomatists! Nor do I care to be versed +in them! They know how to manage matters so insidiously that at last +they convert wrong into right--falsehood into truth, and disguise +their cowardice in such a manner that it looks like wisdom. The only +thing I understand is, that I am no more of any use, and I request +your majesty to give me my discharge as a birthday present--be so +kind as to grant it immediately. I am much too young to become +General-in-chief Backward, and it is, therefore, better for me to +stand aside, and let others take the command of the retreating +troops. Your majesties will graciously pardon me if I take the +liberty of withdrawing." He bowed with respect and turned quickly +toward the door. + +"But why in such haste?" asked the king. "Pray stay; I have not yet +granted your discharge." + +"But your majesty, I know, will grant it, and I consider you have +already done so. I beg leave to withdraw." + +"But stay!" exclaimed Alexander. + +"Pardon me, your majesty, I must go!" + +"Why? Tell us honestly the truth, field-marshal." + +"Well," said Blucher, standing at the door, "if your majesty orders +me to tell the truth, I will do so. I must go, because I cannot +endure it here; I must find some place where I may give vent to my +rage, and, by a vast amount of swearing, relieve my heart." + +"What!" cried Alexander, laughing. "Your heart is still oppressed?" + +"Yes, your majesty, what I have said is as nothing," replied +Blucher, in a melancholy tone; "those words were only as a few rain- +drops; the whole violence of my anger, with its thunder, lightning, +hail, and storm, is still in my heart, and may God have mercy on him +on whom it will burst! Your majesties may see that it is high time +for me to withdraw." + +"Otherwise, you think, the thunder-storm might burst here?" inquired +Alexander, smiling. + +"I am afraid so, sire," replied Blucher, gravely. + +"Perhaps it may be allayed, however," said Frederick William, +approaching Blucher. "You have determined, then, not to accept the +position offered you?" + +"I demand at once my discharge, your majesty; my discharge!" + +"You do not wish to be commander-in-chief of the retreating troops?" +asked Alexander. + +"My name is 'Marshal Forward!'" said Blucher, proudly. + +"And it is your firm belief, field-marshal," asked the king, "that +it would be neither just nor honorable for the allies now to make +peace and go home?" + +"Your majesty, it is--it is my earnest conviction, and I shall never +be able to change it." + +"Well, then," said Alexander turning toward the king, "is not your +majesty, too, of the opinion that it would be advantageous for us to +allow ourselves to be directed by the views and convictions of so +brave and experienced a general? Do you not believe that we owe it +to him, in consideration of the distinguished services which he has +performed, to believe him, the brave soldier, rather than the tricky +diplomatists?" + +"I have no doubt of it," said the king, smiling, "and I confess that +all that the field-marshal has told us has greatly modified my +views, and induced me to adopt another course. If Blucher insists +that, in order to satisfy the requirements of honor and justice, we +should not now make peace, I believe him." + +"And if he has insurmountable objections to being called Marshal +Backward," exclaimed the emperor, merrily, "well, then, he must +retain the name my soldiers have given him." + +"But, your majesty," cried Blucher, who listened with amazement, +"what means all this?" + +"It means," said the king, putting his hand on Blucher's shoulder, +"it means that I cannot grant you the discharge which you have +requested, because I need your services more than ever." + +"It means," said the emperor, putting his hand on Blucher's other +shoulder, "that Marshal Forward is the very man we need at this +juncture. For, in spite of all ministers, diplomatists, and peace- +croakers (I thank you for that word), we have determined to carry on +the war to the best of our power." + +Blucher uttered a cry of joy, and lifting up his large eyes, he +exclaimed: "Good Heaven, I thank Thee, with all my heart; for the +day is dawning now, and we shall soon see how the sun shines in +Paris!" + +"You did not wish to be commander-in-chief of the retreating army," +said the king, kindly; "let us appoint you, then, second general-in- +chief of the advancing army." + +"How so? I do not understand that," said Blucher, bewildered. "That +is to say, I remain general-in-chief of my Silesian army?" + +"Yes, but with enlarged power and independence, and with a greater +number of troops. Your corps has suffered a great deal; on your +victorious fields of Mockern and Leipsic you lost many brave +soldiers. Your ranks need filling up, in order that you may act +vigorously and energetically. Therefore, three new corps will be +added to your forces [Footnote: Varnhagen von Ense, "Biography of +Prince Blucher of Wahlstatt," p. 205.]--a Prussian corps under +General Kleist, a Hessian corps under the crown prince of Hesse, and +a mixed corps under the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, the whole amounting to +about fifty thousand fresh soldiers. With these reenforcements, +added to your own eighty-five thousand men, you will be at the head +of an army with which great things may be accomplished, and with +which I believe you may gather your laurels in France." + +"Moreover," said Alexander, kindly, "you will hereafter not be +responsible to any other commander. We shall consider jointly with +you all operations of the war, and the whole plan of the campaign, +and lay before you all general communications. Prince Schwartzenberg +will always keep you well instructed of the movements of the grand +army, and only REQUEST you to inform him of those you deem it best +for the Silesian army to make in cooperation with the former. +[Footnote: Varuhagen von Euse, "Biography of Prince Blucher of +Wahlstatt," p. 205.] You will, therefore, be entirely at liberty to +carry your own plans into execution, and will have only to report to +Schwartzenberg and to us what you are doing. Are you now content, +Blucher?" + +"Do you still demand your discharge as a birthday present?" inquired +the king. + +"You ask me whether I am content, or demand my discharge?" cried +Blucher, cheerfully. "Now that we advance, I would not take my +discharge, and should your majesty give it to me, to punish me for +my unseemly conduct, I would secretly accompany the army and fight +in the ranks; for you ought to know that I do not advocate a +vigorous prosecution of the war on account of the honor it might +reflect on me, but for the rights of all Germany; and for this +reason I am not only content, but I thank Heaven, my king, and the +Emperor Alexander, from the bottom of my heart; and especially for +the great confidence you place in me. This is the most flattering of +all the honors you have lavished upon me, and I shall endeavor with +head and arm to render myself worthy of it. I shall always remember +that my king intrusted me with the sacred mission of blotting out +the disgrace of Jena, and of causing our angel, Queen Louisa, who +shed so many tears for us on earth, to rejoice in heaven over our +deeds--and--" his words choked his utterance, his eyes grew dim; +pressing his hand to them with a quivering movement, he said, in a +stifled voice, "I believe--may God forgive me!--I believe I am +weeping! But my tears are tears of joy; they do my heart good, and +your majesties will forgive them!--Well, now I am all right again," +he added, after a pause. "I request your majesties to give me +instructions, and tell me what is to be done, and when we shall +cross the Rhine." + +Toward nightfall Blucher returned from Frankfort to Hochst. In front +of his door he was met by General Gneisenau, Colonel Muffling, and +several other gentlemen of his staff. Blucher made a very wry face, +receiving them with loud grumbling. "Oh, it is all very well," he +said, alighting from his carriage. "I can now communicate bad news +to you. We shall lie still here, like lazy bears, during the whole +winter; we shall neither advance nor retreat. The diplomatists have +hatched out the idea, and I am sure they will arrange a pretty +treaty of peace for us! Well, I do not care; I will try to suppress +my grief, and lead a happy life. If we are inactive, we shall at +least try to kill time in as pleasant a manner as possible. I shall +commence diverting myself this very day, and, despite the apostles +of peace, show that they have not ruffled my temper. The officers of +York's corps will give a ball at Wiesbaden to-night. I will go, +immediately setting out for Wiesbaden, and conveying the tidings to +old York. Well, gentlemen, prepare to accompany me; and you, General +Gneisenau, be so kind as to go with me to my room for a minute or +two. I wish to tell you something." He saluted the officers, and +stepped quickly into the house. Followed by Gneisenau, he entered +the room, and carefully locked the door. The wrinkles now +disappeared from his forehead, and an expression of happiness beamed +in his face. "Gneisenau," he said, encircling the tall form of his +friend in his arms, "now listen to what I have to say. What I told +you about peace was not true. We are to advance--ay, to advance! and +it seems to me as if I hear Bonaparte's throne giving way!" + +"What, your excellency!" exclaimed Gneisenau, joyfully, "we are +going to advance--to march into France?" + +Blucher hastily pressed his hand on his mouth. "Hush, general!" he +whispered. "At present no one must hear it; it is a secret, and we +must try to conceal our movements as much as possible. We ought to +do our best to mislead the enemy--that is my plan. We must make him +believe that the whole offensive force of the allies is turning +toward Switzerland, and that the Silesian army is to remain on the +Rhine as a mere corps of observation. Napoleon will make his +dispositions accordingly: he will leave but a small force on the +bank of the Rhine opposite us, and on passing over to the other side +we shall meet with little resistance." + +"That is again a plan altogether worthy of my Ulysses," said +Gneisenau, smiling. "It is all-important now for us to let every +one, and above all Napoleon, know as soon as possible that we stay +here." + +"I will swear and rave so loudly that he will certainly hear it in +Paris," said Blucher. "Let us curse the necessity imposed on us, and +secretly make all necessary dispositions, inform the commanders, and +issue the orders, so that we may all cross the Rhine at midnight on +the 31st of December." + +"What! The passage is to take place at midnight on the 31st of +December?" asked Gneisenau. + +"Yes, general. Let us begin the new year with a great deed, that we +may end it with one." + +"But will that be possible, field-marshal? Can all our troops be +prepared at so short a notice?" + +"That is your task, Gneisenau; ideas are your province, execution is +mine. You are my head, I am your arm; and these two, I believe, +ought jointly to enable us to cross the Rhine at midnight on the +31st of December, as the holy army of vengeance, which God Himself +sends to Bonaparte as a New-Year's gift. But come, Gneisenau, let us +ride to the ball. I must dance! Joy is in my legs, and I must allow +it to get out of them. I shall ask old York to dance, and, while we +two are hopping around, I must tell him what is to be done. We are +to advance!" + +Blucher's resolutions were carried into effect. All dispositions +were made in a quiet and efficient manner; and while the field- +marshal scolded vehemently at the inactivity of the winter, General +Gneisenau secretly took steps to prepare for the passage of the +Rhine. Napoleon's spies at Frankfort and on the Rhine heard only the +grumbling of Blucher, but they did not see the preparations of +Gneisenau. + +On the 26th of December orders were dispatched to the commanders of +the different corps of the great Silesian army, communicating the +time and place of crossing the Rhine, and on the 31st every soldier +of that army stood on the bank ready for the passage. This was to be +effected at three different points--Mannheim, Caub, and Coblentz. +The grand, all-important moment had come; midnight was at hand. + +It was a clear and beautiful night; the deep-blue sky was spangled +with stars, and the air cold and bracing. None saw the blank columns +moving toward the Rhine. The French, on the opposite side, were +asleep; they did not perceive Field-Marshal Blucher, who, at Caub, +on the bank of the river, was halting on horse back by the side of +his faithful Gneisenau, apparently listening in breathless suspense. +Suddenly, the stillness was interrupted by the chime of a +neighboring church-clock; another struck, and, like echoes, their +notes resounded down the Rhine, in all cities and villages, +proclaiming that the old year was past, and a new one begun. + +Blucher took off his gray forage-cap, and, holding it before his +face, uttered a low, fervent prayer. "And now, forward!" he said, in +a resolute tone. "Let us in person convey our 'happy New-Year' to +the French!--And Thou, great God, behold Thy German children, who +are shaking off the thraldom of long years, and who have become +again brave men! Heavenly Father, bless our undertaking! Bless the +Rhine, that it may flow to the ocean again as a free German river +for German freeman!--And now, boys, forward! Build your bridges, for +Heaven sends us to France to punish Bonaparte, and sing him a song +of the Rhine! Forward!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +NAPOLEON'S NEW-YEAR'S-DAY. + + +It was early on the morning of the 1st of January. Napoleon was +angrily pacing his cabinet, while the police-minister, Duke de +Rovigo, was standing by the emperor's desk, and waiting, as if +afraid to look at his master, lest his anger burst upon his head. + +"Why did you not tell me so yesterday, Savary?" asked Napoleon, with +his flaming eyes on the police-minister. "Why did you not inform me, +immediately after the close of the meeting of the Chamber of +Deputies, of the seditious and refractory spirit of the speeches +which certain members dared to deliver?" + +"Sire, I had no proofs of their guilt. Speeches, it is true, had +been made, but they vanish, and offer no solid grounds for +convicting men of crime. As I have not the honor of being a member +of the committee which your majesty has appointed to take the +condition of France into consideration, I was unable to hear the +speeches delivered at the meeting. I had to obtain palpable +evidence. I knew, not only that the commission of the Chamber of +Deputies had resolved to have an address to your majesty published, +but that the opposition speaker of the committee, M. Raynouard, +intended to have his speech printed and circulated, in order to +prove to France that the committee of the Chamber had done every +thing to give peace to the nation." + +"As if that were the task of those gentlemen--as if they had to give +me advice, or could influence me!" cried Napoleon, vehemently. "They +have never dared raise their voices against me; but now that we are +surrounded by enemies--now that it is all-important for France to +startle the world by her energy and the unanimity of her will, these +men dare oppose me! You allowed, then, their addresses to be sent to +the printing-office, Savary?" + +"Yes, sire. But I had the printing-office surrounded by my police- +agents, and waited until the composition was completed and the +printing commenced. Then they entered the press-room, seized the +copies already printed, knocked the types into pi, and burned the +manuscripts, [Footnote: "Memoires d'un Homme d'Etat," vol. xii., p. +294.] as well as the proofs, except this one, which I have the honor +of bringing to your majesty." + +The emperor, with an impetuous movement, took up the printed sheet +lying on the table by the side of the duke, and glanced over it. +"Savary," he said, pointing out a passage on the paper, "read this +to me. Read the conclusion of Raynouard's speech. Read it aloud!" He +handed the paper to the duke, and pointed out the passage. + +Savary read as follows: "'Let us attempt no dissimulation--our evils +are at their height; the country is menaced on the frontiers at all +points; commerce is annihilated, agriculture languishes, industry is +expiring; there is no Frenchman who has not, in his family or his +fortune, some cruel wound to heal. The facts are notorious, and can +never be sufficiently enforced. Agriculture, for the last five +years, has gained nothing; it barely exists, and the fruit of its +toil is annually dissipated by the treasury, which unceasingly +devours every thing to satisfy the cravings of ruined and famished +armies. The conscription has become, for all France, a frightful +scourge, because it has always been driven to extremities in its +execution. For the last three years the harvest of death has been +reaped three times a year! A barbarous war, without object, swallows +up the youth torn from their education, from agriculture, commerce, +and the arts. Have the tears of mothers and the blood of whole +generations thus become the patrimony of kings? It is fit that +nations should have a moment's breathing-time; the period has +arrived when they should cease to tear out each other's entrails; it +is time that thrones should be consolidated, and that our enemies be +deprived of the plea that we are forever striving to carry into the +world the torch of revolution. . . . To prevent the country from +becoming the prey of foreigners, it is indispensable to nationalize +the war; and this cannot be done unless the nation and its monarch +bo united by closer bonds. It has become indispensable to give a +satisfactory answer to our enemies' acensations of aggrandizement: +there would be real magnanimity in a formal declaration that the +independence of the French people and the integrity of its territory +are all that we contend for. It is for the government to propose +measures which may promptly repel the euemy, and secure peace on a +durable basis. Those measures would be at once efficacious, if the +French people were persuaded that the government in good faith +aspired only to the glory of peace, and that their blood would no +longer be shed but to defend our country, and secure the protection +of the laws. But these words of 'peace' and 'country' will resound +in vain, if the institutions are not guaranteed which secure those +blessings. It appears, therefore, to the commission, to be +indispensable that, at the same time that the government proposes +the most prompt and efficacious measures for the security of the +country, his majesty should be supplicated to maintain entire the +execution of the laws which guarantee to the French the rights of +liberty and security, and to the nation the free exercise of its +political rights." [Footnote: "Memoires d'un Homme d'Etat," vol. +xii., p. 208.] + +"Well," cried the emperor, impetuously, "what do you think of that? +Does it not sound like the first note of the tocsin by which the +people are to be called upon to rise in rebellion?" + +"Sire, it is the language of treason!" replied Savary. "The conduct +of the members of this committee would justify your majesty to have +them shot as traitors." [Footnote: Ibid., p. 294.] + +The emperor made no reply, but bowed his head on his breast, and, +with his hands folded behind him, paced the room for a few moments. +"Savary," he then said, "it is sufficient for us to be at war with +our foreign enemies; let us not get into difficulty with our +domestic adversaries. This is not the time for doing so. If we +conquer our foreign enemies, the domestic ones will of themselves be +silent; but if we succumb, every thing will be different. Those +gentlemen have acted both foolishly and ungenerously (at a moment +when it is all-important that France should act and think as one +man), to stir up political partisan feeling; and it is ungrateful to +oppose me at a time when, overwhelmed with care and work, I need my +whole energy to maintain my position. Let us leave it to fate to +punish the traitors. They will not have long to wait!" + +"And those haughty members of the Chamber of Deputies do not even +feel that they are deserving of punishment," exclaimed the duke, +indignantly. "The whole committee, and M. Raynouard with them, have +accompanied me to the Tuileries, and repaired to the throne-hall in +order to offer your majesty their congratulations for the new year." + +"Ah, it is true, to-day is New-Year's-day," said Napoleon; "I had +almost forgotten it, for the cares and anxiety of the old year have, +as a most faithful suite, followed me into the new year. But I am +glad you remind me of it! I will go to the throne-hall and receive +the congratulations of my faithful subjects, or those who call +themselves so. Follow me!" + +In the throne-hall were assembled, as on every New-Year's-day, the +dignitaries of France and the most prominent authorities of the +government; but for the first time, since the establishment of the +empire, the representatives of the foreign powers and the +ambassadors of the European princes failed to appear at the +reception in the Tuileries. In former years they had hastened to +present their congratulations; to-day not one of those +representatives was present, not even the ambassador of the Emperor +of Austria, Napoleon's father-in-law--not even the ambassador of the +King of Naples, his brother-in-law! The troops of the Emperor +Francis had invaded France; the troops of King Murat had returned to +Naples, and he had informed his brother-in-law that the welfare of +his own country rendered it necessary for him to forsake France. The +very princes of the Confederation of the Rhine, hitherto the most +sycophantic flatterers of the emperor, had likewise turned away from +him; all the allies, adulators, and friends of his days of +prosperity had left him, as rats desert the sinking ship. No one was +in the throne-hall except the dignitaries and officers of France, +and one-half of these came, perhaps, because the duties of their +offices rendered it incumbent on them--because the events of the +future could not be positively foreseen, and the emperor, thanks to +his lucky star, might finally conquer his enemies. + +The emperor entered with his usual proud and careless indifference. +His quick glance swept past the ranks of the assembly, and rested +for a moment on the place where the ambassadors of the foreign +governments formerly stood beside the throne, and where no one was +to be seen to-day. But not a feature changed; he was still calm and +grave. With a gentle nod he turned toward the ministers who were on +the left, and addressed each of them a few kind words; he then +quickly ascended the steps of the throne. Under the canopy, he +turned his eyes toward the side where were the members of the senate +and the legislature. + +Napoleon's eyes flashed down the silent assembly with an expression +of terrible anger. When he spoke, his voice rolled like thunder +through the hall, and echoed in the trembling hearts of those who +were conscious of their guilt, and who hung their heads under the +outburst of their sovereign's wrath. "Gentlemen of the legislature," +he said, "you come to greet me. I accept your greetings, and will +tell you what you ought to hear. You have it in your power to do +much good, and you have done nothing but mischief. Eleven-twelfths +of you are patriotic, the rest are factious. What do you hope by +putting yourselves in opposition? To gain possession of power? But +what are your means? Are you the representatives of the people? I +am. Four times I have been invoked by the nation, and have had the +votes of four millions of men. I have a title to supreme authority, +which you have not. You are nothing but the representatives of the +departments. Your report is drawn up with an astute and perfidious +spirit, of the effects of which you are well aware. Two battles lost +in Champagne would not have done me so much mischief. I have +sacrificed my passions, my pride, my ambition, to the good of +France. I was in expectation that you would appreciate my motives, +and not urge me to what is inconsistent with the honor of the +nation. Far from that, in your report you mingle irony with +reproach: you tell me that adversity has given me salutary counsels. +How can you reproach me with my misfortunes? I have supported them +with honor, because I have received from nature a sturdy temper; and +if I had not possessed it, I would never have raised myself to the +first throne in the world. Nevertheless, I have need of consolation, +and I expected it from you: so far from receiving it, you have +endeavored to depreciate me; but I am one of those whom you may +kill, but cannot dishonor. Is it by such reproaches that you expect +to restore the lustre of the throne? What is the throne? Four pieces +of gilded wood, covered with a piece of velvet. The real throne has +its seat in the heart of the nation. You cannot separate the two +without mutual injury; for it has more need of me than I have of it. +What could the nation do without a chief? When the question was, how +we could repel the enemy, you demand institutions as if we had them +not! Are you not content with the constitution? If you are not, you +should have told me so four years ago, or postponed your demand to +two years after a general peace. Is this the moment to insist on +such a demand? You wish to imitate the Constituent Assembly, and +commence a revolution? Be it so. You will find I will not imitate +Louis XVI.: I would rather abandon the throne, I would prefer making +part of the sovereign people, to being an enslaved king. I am sprung +from the people; I know the obligations I contracted when I ascended +the throne. You have done much mischief; you would have done me +still more, if I had allowed your report to be printed.--You speak +of abuses, of vexations. I know, as well as you, that such have +existed; they arose from circumstances, and the misfortunes of the +times. But was it necessary to let all Europe into our secrets? Is +it fitting to wash our dirty linen in public? In what you say there +is some truth and some falsehood. What, then, was your obvious duty? +To have confidentially made known your grounds of complaint to me, +by whom they would have been thankfully received. I do not, any more +than yourselves, love those who have oppressed you. In three months +we shall have peace: the enemy will be driven from our territory, or +I shall be dead. We have greater resources than you imagine: our +enemies have never conquered us--never will. They will be pursued +over the frontier more quickly than they crossed it. Go!" [Footnote: +Bucher et Roux, "Histoire Parl. de France," vol. xxxix., pp. 460, +46l.] + +The last words of the speech were still resounding through the hall +when the deputies, with pale faces, bowing timidly and silently +before the throne, turned and walked toward the door. All eyes were +riveted on them, and it was felt that the men whom the emperor +dismissed with such a strain of vehement invective were twenty new +enemies whom Napoleon sent into the provinces, and who would bring a +new hostile army--public opinion--into the field against him. Many +hoped that the emperor, perceiving his blunder, would call back the +deputies by some pleasant word, in order to bring about a +reconciliation between him and those who, whatever the emperor might +say, represented in the throne-hall the opinion of the people. + +But Napoleon did not call them back; standing on his throne, haughty +and defiant, he looked after the disappearing deputies in anger; and +only when the door of the anteroom closed, did he turn his eyes +toward those who surrounded him. As if by a magician's wand his face +resumed its former expression of august calmness. He slowly left the +throne, and, dropping here and there a few condescending words, +crossed the hall. Suddenly he noticed Baron Fontaine, the architect +of the imperial palaces. "Ah," exclaimed Napoleon, quickly advancing +toward him, "you are here, Fontaine? I intended to send for you to- +day. Did you bring your plans with you?" + +"Yes, sire." + +"Well, then, come; and you, ministers, Duke de Rovigo, Duke de +Vicenza, Duke de Bassano, pray follow me into my cabinet." + +The officers and cavaliers who remained in the hall looked after the +emperor with anxious glances. "A cabinet meeting on this holiday! +and at which the imperial architect has to be present!" they +whispered. "What means this? Will the emperor commission M. de +Fontaine to transform the Tuileries into a fortress, and construct +ramparts and ditches? Are we, if all should be lost, to defend +ourselves? Or will the emperor convert Paris into a fortress? Is M. +de Fontaine to erect outworks and fortifications? Or will the +emperor have a new Bastile built for the purpose of confining the +traitorous legislature and several hundreds of these new-fangled +royalists who are now springing up like mushrooms?" + +But the emperor did not think of all this when, followed by the +three ministers and Baron Fontaine, he entered his cabinet. An +expression of affability overspread his features, and round his lips +played the sunny smile which appeared so irresistible to all who had +ever seen it. "Come hither, gentlemen," he said, merrily, "let us +act here as judges. Fontaine brings us plans for a palace for the +King of Rome. It is high time for me to think of building one for +the heir-apparent, and this idea has engrossed my mind for a long +period. If the times had not been so unfavorable, it would already +have been completed. I will begin now, in order to prove to the +foreign powers how great is the confidence felt by France and her +emperor in their ability to withstand the attacks of the allies; +for, while their armies are fighting the enemy, they are +constructing a palace for their future emperor.--Now let me see your +plans, Fontaine; unroll them!" + +Fontaine spread out on the table the papers which he had brought +with him from the anteroom. The emperor bent over them, and asked +the architect to explain to him the different lines and figures. The +three ministers stood beside them, grave and silent, and their +furtive glances seemed to ask whether this really was not a scene +intentionally contrived by the emperor--whether he really could +think of building a palace for the King of Rome at a moment, when +France was hemmed in on all sides, and menaced by enemies, +endangering the existence of the imperial throne! + +But Napoleon really seemed to be quite sincere. With his magic +energy he appeared to have banished all gloomy thoughts, and to be +engrossed only in plans for a serene future. "See here, +Caulaincourt," he said, pointing to one of the plans, "what do you +think of this? It is a sort of castle or fort, and looks well, does +it not?" + +"Very, indeed," replied Caulaincourt. "It reminds me of the palace +at Oranienbaum, which Paul I. built. The towers at the corners, the +bastions, and ditches, are similar; and the interior had not only +many rooms, but secret staircases, doors, and hidden passages." + +"And yet Paul I. was assassinated in that palace!" cried the +emperor, whose face suddenly darkened. "The doors and passages did +not protect him from murderers.--Well, Maret and Savary, what do you +think of it? Do you deem it best that I should build the palace for +the King of Rome in the style of a fortress, like that of +Oranienbaum?" + +"Sire," exclaimed Savary, eagerly, "so precious a head cannot be +sufficiently protected. In building a palace for the king, less +attention should be paid to an attractive appearance than to safety +and convenience." + +"Is that your opinion, too, Maret?" + +The Duke de Bassano was silent for a moment, and closely examined +the plan. "No, sire," he then said, looking at the emperor, with a +polite yet somewhat singular smile--"no, sire. I believe we should +avoid the semblance of a fortress built for the heir-apparent, just +as though he should ever need such a place of refuge against his own +subjects, and in the middle of his capital! People would say your +majesty intended to reconstruct for your successor the old Bastile." + +"Maret is right," exclaimed the emperor. "No fortress! The +confidence, love, and attachment of his people should be the only +safeguard of a monarch. Ramparts did not save Paul I.; the greatest +precautions, locked and guarded doors, did not protect the sultan +from the scimitars of the Janizaries; every one falls when his hour +has struck; it will strike for me, too, and my life will belong to +him who is willing to give up his life for mine! But I shall teach +my son to govern the Parisians without fortresses, and make them +love him. [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide "Memoirs of the Duchess +d'Abrantes."] It is true, however, there will always be malicious +men to frustrate our efforts, and sow the seeds of discord between +me and my people." + +"Sire," said Fontaine, anxious to turn the emperor's thoughts into a +different channel, "here is another plan. The former was in the old +feudal style; this would look more like a villa." + +"That is the very thing I want," exclaimed the emperor, eagerly. "A +villa in the grandest possible style--a palace magnificent enough to +be mentioned after the Louvre, but still with all the peculiarities +of a villa. For the palace of the King of Rome, after all, will be +only a sort of villa in Paris; as a winter residence the Tuileries, +or the Louvre, would be preferred. But, though I want the building +to be large and brilliant, the total cost must not exceed ten +million francs. I do not want a chimera, but something real, +substantial, and practical, for myself and the king, and not a +fanciful structure merely gratifying to the architect. The +completion of the Louvre will give glory enough to the architect. As +to the palace of the King of Rome, he may forget his personal +interest, and think only of rendering the structure as convenient as +possible. It is to become a sort of Sans-Souci, where one is merry, +forgets care, enjoys the sunshine in the apartments, and the shade +in the garden, and may combine the simplicity of rural life with the +comforts of a great city. Imagine you were building a commodious +residence for a rich private citizen, a convalescent who has need of +comfort, repose, and diversion. There must be, therefore, a small +theatre, a small chapel, a concert-hall, a ball-room, a billiard- +room, and a library; fish-ponds, and shady groves in the garden--in +short, a genuine villa." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide +Constant, "Memoires," vol. v., p. 184.] + +"I believe your majesty will find all that you wish for united in +this," said the Duke de Bassano, who had carefully examined the +second plan. "It is a villa in grand style, and surely worthy of a +great prince." + +"Ah," said the emperor, with a profound sigh, "would it were already +finished, and I could live in it with my son! I--" + +At this moment the folding-doors of the cabinet were thrown open, +and the usher's voice shouted, "His majesty the King of Rome!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE KING OF ROME. + + +The emperor, with a joyful exclamation, turned toward the door. On +its threshold stood a boy of remarkable beauty, such as Correggio or +Murillo would have selected as a cherub model. His slender but +vigorous form was clothed in sky-blue velvet, embroidered with +silver, and his fairy-like feet wore shoes of the same color. His +dimpled arms were bare, and a fleece of golden ringlets fell on his +fair neck and shoulders. An ingenuousness, undeformed by bad +training, increased the charm of his natural beauty. There was +nothing affected in his blooming face; and, while a happy temper +played about his lips, there was a light in his large blue eyes, +reminding the beholder of his great father, from whom he also +inherited a forehead which, when the attractions of his childhood +had passed away, would at once assert his manly gravity and thought. + +Behind the boy appeared the dignified form of Madame de Montesquiou, +his governess, who seemed to take pains to keep back the boy, and, +seizing his hand, hastily whispered a few words to him. But he +forcibly disengaged himself, and, without noticing any one but the +emperor, rushed toward him with open arms. "Papa," he cried, in an +imploring tone--"papa, have you not given me permission to come to +you at any time?" + +"Yes, sire," said the emperor, tenderly, lifting him into his arms, +"and the proof of it is that you are here." + +"Well, dear 'Quiou," asked the boy, in a triumphant tone, turning +toward Madame de Montesquiou--"did I not tell you so?--The usher +would not admit me, papa, though I told him I am the King of Rome!" + +"He ran away from me," said the governess, "in the first anteroom, +and so fast that I could not follow him." + +"It was because I wanted to see my dear papa emperor," cried the +child, fixing his eyes with an expression of indescribable +tenderness on his father. + +"But that was the reason, sire," said the governess, "why the usher +would not immediately open the door to you. He did not know whether +he was allowed to do so, and waited, therefore, until I came." + +"But why did he not know that he was allowed to do so?" cried the +little king, impetuously. "Did I not tell him, 'I WILL it, I am the +King of Rome?' Pray tell me, papa emperor, do not the ushers obey +you either when you say, 'I will it?'" + +The emperor laughed as loudly and merrily as he had done in the days +of his prosperity, and the ministers and Baron Fontaine joined +heartily in his mirth; even Madame de Montesquiou could not suppress +a faint smile. The boy saw it, and asked hastily, "Why do you laugh, +'Quiou? Did I say any thing ridiculous?" + +"No, rather something charming," said the emperor, smiling, laying +his hand on the blond head of his child, and pressing it closer to +his breast. With the child still in his arms, he seated himself in +an easy-chair, and, placing the little fair-haired king on his knee, +gazed at him with joyful eyes. His whole countenance was changed, +and beaming with mildness; even his voice assumed another tone, and +seemed incapable of command or threat. + +"Sire," said the emperor, "we were just speaking of you." + +"Ah," cried the child, with an arch smile, "I know what it was! My +papa emperor was thinking of a New-Year's present!" + +"But, sire," exclaimed the governess, sharply, "it is unseemly to +ask for presents." + +A blush suffused the child's face, and seemed reflected on the pale +cheeks of the emperor, who felt almost pained at seeing him so much +ashamed of himself. + +"Madame," he said, turning hastily to the governess, "I have to ask +a favor of you: pray leave the King of Rome here with me for a time. +I myself will take him back to you, and I promise to watch carefully +over his majesty." + +Madame de Montesquiou made a ceremonious obeisance; the little king +kissed his hand to her, and she then left the cabinet. No sooner had +the door closed than the boy, with a smile, encircled the emperor's +neck with his arms, and cried, "Now we are alone, papa emperor!" + +"Oh, no!" said the emperor, smiling, "did you not yet see these +gentlemen?" + +"No," said the child, looking round in surprise, "I saw only you, +papa!" + +Never had the lips of the most beautiful woman uttered words that +gladdened his heart so much as these. But before his ministers he +was almost ashamed of his sensitiveness, and, therefore, he forced +himself to assume a graver air. "Sire," he said, "above all, you +must greet these gentlemen; they are my ministers, and very dear +friends of mine." + +"Ah, then they are friends of mine, too," cried the boy, with that +politeness which comes from the heart. Quickly descending from his +father's knee to the carpet on the floor, the little King of Rome +walked several steps toward the gentlemen, and bowed so deeply to +them that his blond ringlets rolled down over his face. "Pardon me, +gentlemen," he said, "if I did not see and greet you! I came to my +papa emperor because to-day is a holiday, and I desired to wish him +a happy New-Year. I see you now, gentlemen, and, if you will permit +me, I wish you all, too, a happy New-Year." + +The gentlemen bowed, and looked with an expression of gentle +sympathy and emotion on the lovely child, as if imploring the +blessing of Heaven upon him. The emperor probably read this in their +eyes, for he greeted the gentlemen with a pleasant smile, and nodded +to them with the triumphant air of a happy father. + +"Papa emperor," exclaimed the child, turning once more to his +father, "my dear Madame 'Quiou says that France has now need of +prosperity, and that I, therefore, ought to pray the good God to +grant us His favor." + +"Well, and did you do so?" inquired the emperor. + +"Yes," replied the child, "I did, from the bottom of my heart." + +"How did you pray? Let me hear, sire; it can do no harm if you pray +to God once more to grant us His favor. What did you say?" + +The child assumed a grave air, and knelt down. He then raised his +clasped hands, and, leaning back his head, lifted up his large blue +eyes. "Good God," he said aloud, "I pray to Thee for France and for +my father!" + +These words, uttered in so clear and melodious a voice, sounding +like an angel's greeting in the solemn cabinet of the emperor, made +a wonderful impression. The gentlemen averted their heads, to +conceal their emotion from Napoleon. But he paid no attention to +them; his eyes rested on his child with an expression of profound +affection; a veil seemed to overspread them, and as it perhaps +prevented the emperor from seeing his kneeling child distinctly, he +quickly moved his hand across his eyes. The veil disappeared, but +the hand that had drawn it aside was moist. + +The boy jumped up and hastened back to his father, who clasped him +tenderly in his arms, and then, as if to apologize, turned toward +his ministers. "Well, gentlemen," he said, gayly, "do you believe +that the voice of the King of Rome is strong enough to reach to +heaven, and bring prosperity to France and to myself?" + +"Sire, I do," said the Duke de Bassano, in a trembling voice. + +"And I feel convinced of it," said the Duke de Rovigo. "If any +prayer can reach heaven, this must." + +"It will bless France and her august emperor," said the Duke de +Vicenza. "Sire, permit me to ask a favor of you. Give to France as a +New-Year's present of your love, the picture of the King of Rome +praying for France and his father. Your majesty, send for Isabey, +and have him represent the king in this charming attitude. He will +paint such a picture both with his hand and his heart, and within a +month it must be circulated as a copperplate throughout France. +Sire, I venture to assert that this engraving will win all hearts, +and the members of the legislature cannot excite half as much hatred +in the provinces as this picture will produce love." + +"You are right," said the emperor, "that is an excellent idea. +France shall learn that my son prays, first for it, and then for +me.--Maret, see to it that Isabey come to-morrow. The plate must be +ready for distribution in the course of a month. [Footnote: This +copperplate really appeared shortly after; it is a sweet and +beautiful portrait of the little King of Rome.] And now," added the +emperor, putting the child again on his knee, "now tell me what do +you want me to give you as a New-Year's present?" + +"Oh," cried the little king, smiling, "I know something, dear papa +emperor, but I dare not say what it is." + +"Ah, you may," said the emperor. "I pledge you my word that I will +fulfil your wish, if it be possible. Speak, then." + +"Sire," asked little Napoleon, nodding toward the ministers, "sire, +will these gentlemen not betray me to Madame de Montesquieu?" + +"I warrant you they will not," said the emperor, gravely. "Let me +hear what you want." + +"Well, then, papa emperor," said the boy, leaning his head on his +father's breast, and looking up to him, "I feel a great wish that I +could run just once all alone into the street, and play in the mud +and the gutter, as other children do." [Footnote: Bausset, "Memoires +sur Intterieur du Palais Imperial," vol. ii.] + +The emperor burst into loud laughter, in which the others did not +fail to join. "Ah, you see, gentlemen," exclaimed the emperor, "this +is a new rendering of Lafontaine's celebrated 'Toujours perdrix!' +The King of Rome, being able to command all that is beautiful and +agreeable to his heart's content, is longing for the gutter.--Be +patient, sire, I cannot immediately fulfil your wish, but I shall +have a palace for you, and in its court-yard you shall have a +gutter, too. Sire, look at those plans which Baron Fontaine has +drawn up for a palace destined for you alone." + +"What! For me alone?" asked the child, in dismay. "You will not live +with me in the palace?" + +"No, sire. The King of Rome must have a palace of his own where he +will reside with his court." + +"Papa emperor, I thank you for your New-Year's gift," said the boy, +sullenly; "I thank you, but do not accept it. I do not want a palace +of my own. I thank your majesty, but prefer remaining at the +Tuileries." + +"But, sire, just think of it--a splendid palace belonging to you +alone!" + +"I do not want to live alone!" + +"Well, sire, then you will request your beautiful mother, the +empress, to live with you. Will that be sufficient?" + +The boy glanced quickly and anxiously around the room, as if to +satisfy himself that neither the empress nor Madame de Montesquiou +was present; he then threw both his arms round the emperor's neck, +and exclaimed, "I want to be where you are, papa!" + +Napoleon pressed his lips with passionate tenderness on his son's +head. "Well, sire," he said, in a voice tremulous with love, "I +believe your wishes will have to be complied with. As soon as your +palace is completed I shall live with you. Do you accept your palace +on this condition?" + +"Yes, my dear papa emperor," exclaimed the prince, joyously, "now I +accept it, and thank you for it." + +"Well, you hear that, Fontaine," said Napoleon, turning toward his +architect. "You may begin the construction of the palace; the King +of Rome accepts it. I sanction this second plan. Build a magnificent +villa, and it must be completed in two years. In two years--" + +Suddenly the emperor paused, and his face darkened. "Ah," he said, +gloomily, putting his hand on the prince's head, "ah, we purpose +building you a palace, but if they conquer me you will not even +possess a cabin!" [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide "Memoirs of the +Duchess d'Abrantes."] The emperor's head dropped on his breast, and +a pause ensued, which the child, usually so vivacious, did not +venture to interrupt. + +At length Napoleon said: "Go, Fontaine, and take your plans along; I +will confer further about the matter. And you, ministers, come, we +have to settle some questions of importance. But, first, I must take +the king back to his governess." + +The boy clung with almost anxious tenderness to his father. "Ah, +dear, dear papa emperor," he begged, "let me stay here! I will be +quiet--oh, so very quiet! I will only sit on your knee, lean my head +on your breast, and not disturb you at all." + +"Well, you may stay then," said Napoleon. "We shall see whether you +really can be quiet and not disturb us." + +The little child kept his word. Sitting quietly on the emperor's +knee, and leaning his little head on his father's breast, he did not +interrupt in the least the important conference of Napoleon and his +ministers. An hour afterward the conference was over, and the dukes +were dismissed. + +"Now, sire," said Napoleon, turning toward the child, now "let us +play." + +But the little king, who always received these words with +exultation, remained silent, and when the emperor bent over him, he +saw that he had fallen asleep. "Happy king!" murmured Napoleon, +"happy king! who can fall asleep in the midst of state business!" +Softly and cautiously drawing the boy closer to his breast, and +taking pains not to disturb his slumber, he sat still and +motionless, scarcely breathing, although sad thoughts oppressed his +mind. It was an interesting spectacle--this lovely boy leaning his +head in smiling dreams on the breast of his father, who was looking +down on him with grave and tender eyes. + +The emperor sat thus a long time. Strange and wonderful thoughts +stole upon him--thoughts of past happiness, of past love. He thought +of how long he had yearned to possess a son, and how many tears his +first consort shed--how ardently he had been loved by the noble and +beautiful Josephine, whom, in his pride, which demanded an heir- +apparent, he had thrust into solitude. Providence had given +Bonaparte all that his heart had longed for--a beautiful young wife, +who loved him, and who was the daughter of an emperor; and a sweet, +lovely child that was to be the heir of his imperial throne. But +Providence, by giving him all, had taken all from Josephine--the +heart and hand of her husband, her dignity and authority as an +empress and sovereign. She was now nothing but a deserted and +unhappy lady, who had only tears for her past, no joy in the +present, no hopes for the future. + +All this was on account of the child adored by his father, and +hailed by France; and yet, despite all the mischief this little boy +had done her and the fact that he was the child of another woman, +Josephine loved him, and often implored the emperor to let her see +and embrace the little King of Rome. He had always refused to grant +this request, in order not to stir up the jealousy of his young +wife, but, at this quiet hour, when he was alone with his sleeping +child, Napoleon thought of Josephine with melancholy tenderness. +Amid the profound silence which surrounded him, his recollections +spoke to him. They pointed him to Josephine in the imperishable +splendor of her love, her grace, and goodness; he thought he saw her +sweet lips, which had always a smile for him; her brilliant eyes, +which had ever looked tenderly on him, and which had learned to read +his most secret thoughts. + +"Poor Josephine!" he murmured, "poor Josephine! she loved me +ardently, and many things might be different now if she were still +by my side. She was my guardian angel, and with her my success has +departed. She sacrificed her happiness to me and my ambition; and +while formerly all hastened to offer congratulations on this day and +pay homage to the empress, she now sits lonely and deserted at +Malmaison.--No," he then said aloud, "no, she shall not be lonely +and deserted! I surely owe it to her to occasion her a moment of +joy. She shall see my son--I myself will take him to her." He +cautiously lifted up the boy in his arms and rose. The prince awoke +and looked smilingly up to his father, who carried him to the sofa +and laid him with tender care on the cushions. But little Napoleon +jumped up, and said laughingly. "I am no longer tired. The dukes are +gone now, and let us play, papa!" + +"No, sire," said the emperor, "not now, I have business to attend +to. But listen to me: at noon to-day I will take a ride with yon, +all alone--that is to be my New-Year's present." + +The boy uttered a cry of joy. "All alone, papa emperor? Oh, that +will be splendid!" + +"But now go to Madame de Montesquiou, sire," said the emperor.-- +"Constant!" When the valet de chambre entered the room, he ordered +Constant, "Pray conduct his majesty the King of Rome to Madame de +Montesquiou, and tell her I shall call for him in a few hours in +order to take a ride with him alone, without any attendants +whatever.--Adieu, Sire, in a few hours we shall meet again." + +But the boy stood and looked at the emperor with grave and sullen +glances. "Sire," he said, "my dear Madame 'Quiou tells me often a +king ought to keep his word. Now I ask you must an emperor not keep +his word also?" + +"Certainly, sire!" + +"Well, then, your majesty, take me to Madame 'Quiou," cried the boy, +joyously; "you told her you would do so. Come, papa!" + +"Ah," exclaimed the emperor, smiling, "you are right--an emperor +must fulfil his word, though he has pledged it only to a king. Come, +sire, I will conduct you to Madame de Montesquiou. Constant, await +me here!" + +A few minutes afterward, the emperor returned to his cabinet. +"Constant," he said, in a low voice, "I know you loved the Empress +Josephine, and have not forgotten her, I suppose?" + +"Sire, the empress was my benefactress; I owe to her all that I am, +and she was always kind to me." + +"More so than the present empress, you mean to say?" asked the +emperor, casting a searching glance on his valet de chambre; and, as +Constant was silent, Napoleon added, "It is true, the young empress +is less condescending than my first consort. But that is, Constant, +because she was brought up as the daughter of an emperor, and her +feelings were restrained by the narrow limits of etiquette. +Josephine forgot too much that she was an empress, Maria Louisa +forgets it too little; but her heart is good and gentle, and she +would never wish to grieve me. So, Constant, you have not yet +forgotten the Empress Josephine?" + +"Sire, none that ever knew the Empress Josephine could help +remembering her. For my own part, I can never forget her." + +"Ah, what a fripon you are, to give me such a reply! Well, I will +prove to you, M. Fripon, that I have not forgotten Josephine, +either. This is New-Year's-day. Would you not like to offer your +congratulations to the Empress Josephine at Malmaison?" + +"Sire, if so humble and low a servant as I am may dare, I should +certainly be very happy to lay my congratulations at her feet." + +"Go, I permit you to do so, and the empress will surely receive you +very kindly." + +"Particularly, sire, if I had a message from his majesty the emperor +to deliver." + +"Fripon, I believe you take the liberty of guessing my thoughts! +Yes, I will give you a message. Hasten to the Empress Josephine, +take her my greetings, but see that the empress receives you without +witnesses.--Do you hear, Constant--without witnesses? Then tell her +to have her carriage immediately brought to the door, and, on the +pretext of being alone with her mournful New-Year's meditations, to +take a ride without attendants. But when she is at a considerable +distance from Malmaison, she is to order the coachman to drive to +the little castle of La Bagatelle. She must be there precisely at +four o'clock. I shall be there, and tell her majesty I shall not +come alone. Now make haste, Constant! Recommend entire reticence to +the empress. As to yourself, pray do not forget that, if any one +shall hear of this affair, you must be held responsible. Go!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +JOSEPHINE. + + +Just as the clock struck four, the carriage of the Empress Josephine +wheeled into the courtyard of the little castle of La Bagatelle. She +inquired of the castellan, in a tremulous voice, whether any one had +arrived there, and she breathed more freely when he replied in the +negative. She left the carriage with youthful alacrity and entered +the castle, followed by the castellan, who gazed in amazement at +this empress without court or suite, who arrived stealthily and +tremblingly, like a maiden to meet her lover for the first time. She +hurried through the well-known apartments of the castle, and entered +the hall in which, during the days of her happiness, she had so +often received the foreign princes and ambassadors, or the +dignitaries of France. The hall was now empty; no one was there to +receive the deserted empress; but bright, merry fires were burning +in the fireplaces, and every thing was in readiness for the +reception of distinguished guests. + +"You knew, then, that I was to come?" inquired the empress of the +castellan. + +"Your majesty," he replied, in a low and reverential voice, "M. +Constant was here, and gave orders to have the rooms in readiness. +If your majesty wishes refreshments, you will find every thing +served up in the dining-room." + +"No, no, I thank you," cried the empress, hastily. "But tell me is +my dressing-room--my former dressing-room," she corrected herself +falteringly--"is that heated, too?" + +"Your majesty will find all your rooms comfortable, just as though +you still condescended to reside here." + +"Well, then, I will go to that room. If any one comes, I shall +notice it through the opened doors; it is unnecessary for you to +inform me; I will go then at once to the reception-room." + +The castellan withdrew, and Josephine hastened through the adjoining +apartment into the dressing-room. With a long, painful sigh she +glanced around the room which had so often witnessed her happiness +and her triumphs. Here, surrounded by her ladies in front of this +mirror, she had had her hair dressed, and the emperor had almost +always made his appearance at that hour to chat with her, look at +her toilet, and delight her heart by a smile, a glance, that was +more transporting to her than all the homage and flattery paid her +by all her other admirers. Now she was here again, but alone, and +with a mournful sigh she stepped to the mirror which had so often +reflected her charming portrait, radiant with happiness, and +sparkling with diamonds. + +And what did she see now in this mirror? A woman with a pale, grief- +stricken face, features growing old, and a desponding exhaustion +which only a good and pleasant life can disguise when the vigor of +youth has faded. + +"Oh, I have become old!" sighed Josephine; "the years of tears and +solitude count double, for one consumes then in days the strength of +many years. I have grown old because I have wept for HIM, and +because I have felt his misfortunes. Oh, how will he look? Will his +cheeks be even paler and his eyes gloomier than formerly? I have not +seen him since his return from his disastrous campaign; if I read +the history of his sufferings on his face, my grief will kill me. +But no," she encouraged herself, "I will not weep, nor trouble him +with my tears. I will be serene, and suppress my emotions. He will +not come alone; but whom will he bring with him? I hope not the +woman who is my rival--to whom I had to yield my throne!--No, I know +Bonaparte's heart, I know that he would be incapable of such +cruelty. She, young, beautiful, the reigning empress--I, old, +sorrowful, faded, the deserted empress! I--ah, there is a carriage +rolling into the courtyard! He comes!" Her whole form trembled, and, +breathless, her face suffused with deep blushes, she sank into an +easy-chair. "I love him still," she murmured; "my heart does not +forget!" A low knocking at the small side-door leading to the inner +corridor, was heard, and Constant entered. Josephine rose hastily, +and with quivering lips asked, "Constant, is he there?" + +"Yes, your majesty. The emperor requests you to repair to the +reception-room. He will be there in a moment." + +"And who is accompanying him?" + +"His majesty has commissioned me to tell you that it would afford +him great satisfaction to prepare a little surprise for your +majesty, and that he has, therefore, fulfilled a wish which you have +felt for a long time." + +"Constant!" exclaimed Josephine, joyfully, "the emperor brings the +King of Rome to me?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"Ah, her child!" cried the empress, with an emotion of jealousy, +burying her face in her hands. + +"The emperor requests your majesty to be so gracious as not to let +the little king suspect whom he has the honor to approach," +whispered Constant. + +"Ah, she is not to suspect that her child has come to me!" murmured +Josephine, while fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. + +"The emperor, besides, implores your majesty not to frighten the +prince by a sadness which your majesty, in the generosity and +kindness of your heart, has so often overcome." + +"Yes," said the empress, removing her hands from her face, and +hastily drying her tears with her handkerchief, "I will not weep. It +is true, I have often begged that I might see the King of Rome--the +child for whom I have suffered so much, and to read in his face +whether he is worthy of my sacrifice. The emperor is so kind as to +fulfil my wish; tell him that I am profoundly grateful to him, that +I will restrain my emotion and not make the prince suspect who I am. +Tell him that I shall not weep when I see the child of the present +empress. No, do not tell him that, Constant; it would grieve him-- +tell him only that I thank him, and that he shall not be displeased +with me. Go! I am ready, and shall be happy to see the boy. It is +not HER child, but HIS that I am to embrace." And greeting Constant +with that inimitable smile of grace and kindness peculiar to her, +she walked toward the reception-room. "How my heart throbs!" she +murmured; "it is as if my limbs were failing me--as if I should +die." Nearly fainting, she slowly glided through the adjoining +apartment, and entered the reception-room. "Courage, my heart! for +it is HIS child that I am to greet." Sitting down on an easy-chair +near the window, she looked in anxiety and suspense toward the large +folding doors. + +At length the emperor appeared. Josephine had not seen him for +nearly a year, and at first her eyes beheld only him. She read in +his pallid and furrowed face the secret history of his sorrows, +which he had not, perhaps, communicated to any one, but which he +could not conceal from the eye of love. Unutterable sympathy and +tender compassion for him filled her soul. And now she almost +timidly looked upon the child that Napoleon led by the hand. + +How charming was this child! How proud of him was his father! +Josephine felt this, and she said almost exultingly to herself "I +have not, been sacrificed in vain! This child is an ample indemnity +for my tears. I am the boy's real mother, for I have suffered, +sorrowed, and prayed for him!" Rejoicing in this sentiment, which +seemed to restore the beauty of former days, Josephine stretched out +her arms toward the child. + +"Go, my son, and embrace the lady," said Napoleon, dropping the hand +of the prince. He advanced, while his father stood at the table in +the middle of the room, supporting his right hand on the marble +slab. He looked gravely but kindly upon the empress, from whom he +felt separated, by the presence of his child, as by an impassable +gulf. + +The little prince offered his hand to the empress with a smile, and +Josephine drew him into her arms, pressing his head to her bosom. A +sigh, in spite of herself, came from the depths of her heart. She +slowly bent back the boy's head and gazed at him with a mournful but +loving expression. Then her glance fell upon the emperor, and, with +an indescribable look of love and tenderness, she said: "Sire, he is +like you; God bless him for it!" + +There was something so touching and heartfelt in these words--in the +tone of her voice, and the glance of her eyes, that the emperor was +profoundly moved, and responded only by a silent nod, not venturing +to speak lest the tremor of his words should betray his emotion. +Even the little king seemed to understand the excellent heart of +this lady. He clung to her and said in a sweet voice, "I love you, +madame, and want you to love me, too!" + +"I love you, sire," cried Josephine, "and shall pray God every day +to preserve you to your father--to your parents," she corrected +herself with the self-abnegation of a true woman. "You will one day +confer happiness on France and your people, for you undoubtedly wish +to become as good, great, and wise, as your father." + +"Oh, yes, my papa emperor is very good, and I love him dearly!" +exclaimed the boy, looking toward his father. "But, papa, why do you +not come to us? Why do you not shake hands with this dear lady, who +is so good and loves me so well?" + +"The emperor is generous," said Josephine, gently; "he wished me to +have you a moment by yourself, sire; he has you every day, but I +have never had you before." + +"Why did you not come and see me?" asked the child. "You live near +Paris; and, if you loved me, you would often come and see how the +little King of Rome is getting on. The emperor told me you were a +dear and kind-hearted lady, and that every one loved you." + +"Did he tell you so, sire?" exclaimed the empress, drawing the boy +into her arms. "Oh, tell the emperor that I shall always be grateful +to him for it, and that these words will forever silence my grief." +Her eyes glanced in gratitude to the emperor, who softly laid his +finger on his mouth, to admonish her to be silent and calm. + +The little prince had now, with the facility with which children +pass from one subject to another, turned his attention to a large +diamond brooch fastened to Josephine's golden sash. "How beautiful +it is!" he exclaimed--"how it is flashing as though it were a star +fallen from heaven, and fastened to your breast, because it loves +you, madame, and because you are so good! And what fine ornaments +you have on your watch! Ah, look here, papa emperor; see those +pretty things! Come, papa, and look at them!" + +"No, sire," said the emperor, with a strange and mournful smile, +"let me remain here. I can see all those pretty things quite +distinctly." + +"They are very beautiful, are they not?" cried the child. "And if--" + +"Well, sire," asked Josephine, "why do you pause? Pray speak!" + +The boy had suddenly assumed a grave air, and gazed upon the +ornaments of the empress. "I was just thinking--but you will be +angry if I tell you what, madame." + +"Certainly not, sire; tell me what you thought." + +"It occurred to my mind that we met in the forest on our way a poor +man who looked haggard and wretched, and begged us to give him +something. But papa and I could not, for we had already distributed +all our money among the unfortunate persons whom we had previously +met. Why are there so many poor people, madame?--why does my papa +emperor not order all men to be happy and rich?" + +"Because it is impossible for him to do so, sire," said Josephine. + +"And because, in order to be able to make others happy, we must +ourselves be rich!" exclaimed the emperor, smiling. "Now you said +yourself, sire, we could not give the poor man in the forest any +thing, for we had nothing to give him." + +"Yes, and I was very sorry," said the boy, "And now I was thinking +if we sent for the poor man, and you, madame, gave him your watch +and your diamonds, and he sold them, he would have a great deal of +money, and be very rich and happy." + +Josephine pressed the boy tenderly to her heart. "Sire," she said, +"I promise you that I will send for your poor man and give him so +much money that he will never again be wretched." + +"Oh!" exclaimed the prince, encircling the lady's neck with his +arms, "how good you are, madame, and how I love you!" + +Josephine pressed his head to her bosom. "Oh, you may certainly love +me a little," she replied, with a touching smile; "I have really +deserved it of you." + +"Sire," said the emperor, advancing a few steps, "now bid the lady +farewell. We must go." + +"Papa!" cried the boy, joyously--"papa, we must take the dear lady +with us; she is so good, and I love her. Let her live with us in the +Tuileries, and always stay with us. I want her to do so, and you, +too, papa, do you not?" + +Josephine's eyes filled with tears, and she looked at the emperor +with an expression of unutterable woe. He immediately averted his +face, perhaps to prevent Josephine from noticing his emotion. "Come, +sire," he said imperiously, "it is high time; it is growing dark. +Take leave of madame!" + +"Oh, no; I will not take leave of her!" cried the boy, vehemently. +"I say to her rather--Come with us to the Tuileries!" + +"It cannot be, sire," said Josephine, smiling amidst her tears. + +"Why?" cried the boy, impatiently, and throwing back his head. +"Come; you may accompany the emperor, and I want you to do so!" + +Napoleon, painfully moved by this scene, quickly advanced to the +prince, and took his hand. "Come, sire," he said in a tone so grave +that the boy dared no longer resist. Submitting to his father's +will, he stepped back, and, pleasantly bowing, took leave of the +empress. + +"We shall meet again," said Josephine, and, turning her tearful eyes +to Napoleon, she asked, "We shall meet again, sire, shall we not?" + +"Yes," said Napoleon, gravely, "we shall meet again." He then took +leave of her with an affectionate look, which fell as a sunbeam upon +her desolate heart, and, leading the boy by the hand, turned quickly +toward the door. She looked after them in silence and with clasped +hands. As the door opened, the emperor turned again with a parting +but melancholy glance. + +Josephine was again alone. With a groan she fell on her knees, and +lifting her face toward heaven, she cried, "My God, protect-- +preserve him! Whatever I may suffer, oh, let him be happy!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +TALLEYRAND. + + +For a week the emperor had scarcely left his cabinet; bending over +his maps, he anxiously examined the position of his army, and that +of the constantly advancing allies. Every day couriers with news of +fresh disasters arrived at Paris; rumors of invading armies +terrified the citizens, and disturbed the emperor's temper. It was +impossible for the government to conceal the misfortunes which had +befallen France from the beginning of the new year. The people knew +that Blucher had crossed the Rhine, and, victoriously penetrating +France, on the 16th of January had taken up his quarters at Nancy. +It was publicly known that a still larger army of the allies, +commanded by Prince Schwartzenberg, had advanced through +Switzerland, Lorraine, and Alsace, taken the fortresses, overcome +all resistance, and that both generals had sworn to appear in front +of Paris by February, and conquer the capital. All Paris knew this, +and longed for peace as the only way to put an end to the sufferings +of the nation. The strength and the superiority of the allied army +could not be concealed, and it was felt to be impossible to expel +the powerful invaders. + +Napoleon himself at length saw the necessity of peace, and, +conquering his proud heart, he sent the Duke de Vicenza, his +faithful friend Caulaincourt, to the headquarters of the allies, to +request them to send plenipotentiaries to a peace congress. The +allies accepted this proposition, but they declared that, despite +the peace congress, the course of the war could not in the least be +interrupted; that the operations in the field must be vigorously +continued. Napoleon responded to this by decreeing a new +conscription, ordering all able-bodied men in France to be enrolled +in the national armies. The terrors of war were, therefore, +approaching, and yet Paris was in hope that peace would be +concluded; Caulaincourt was still at the headquarters of the allies, +treating with them about the congress. + +Early on the morning of the 23d of January, another dispatch from +Caulaincourt to Maret was received at Paris, and the minister +immediately repaired to the Tuileries, to communicate it to the +emperor. This dispatch confirmed all the disastrous tidings which +had arrived from day to day, and convinced Napoleon and his minister +that the vast superiority of the allied armies rendered it +impossible for the emperor to rid his country of the formidable +invaders. + +"Maret," said Napoleon, gloomily, "come and look at this map. What +do you see here?" + +"Sire, a number of colored pins extending in all directions." + +"And a small number of white pins. Well these are my troops; the +colored pins designate the armies of my enemies. They are allied; +but I--I have no longer a single ally at this hour; I stand alone, +and have to meet eight different armies. See here, Maret: there is, +in the first place, the grand army of the Russians, Austrians, +Bavarians, and Wurtembergers, commanded by Prince Schwartzenberg, +and accompanied by the allied monarchs; next, there is the grand +Prussian army, with the Russian and Saxon corps, under the command +of Blucher, the hussar; here stand the Swedes under Bernadotte, +reenforced by Russian and English corps, and the German troops of +the Confederation of the Rhine; there comes the Anglo-Batavian army; +here, farther to the South, is Wellington's army, composed of +English, Spaniards, and Portuguese; there, in Italy, is an Austrian +corps under Bellegarde; at no great distance from it, the Neapolitan +corps under the King of Naples; and, finally, here at Lyons, is +another Austrian corps under Bubna. The armies of Schwartzenberg, +Blucher, and Bernadotte, are about six hundred thousand strong. And +now see what forces I have--I cannot call them armies! Augereau's +corps is stationed near Lyons; Ney, Marmont, and Mortier, are with +their corps here between the Meuse and the Seine; Sebastiani and +Macdonald are with the remnants of their corps on the frontier of +the Netherlands. Maret, my troops are hardly one hundred thousand; +the allies, therefore, are six to one." + +"Sire," said Maret, "even a military genius like that of your +majesty, will be unable to cope with such odds, and it reflects no +dishonor on the bravest to submit to the decrees of Fate." + +"It is true," murmured Napoleon, throwing himself into his easy- +chair, with his arm leaning on the desk, and his head bent forward-- +"it is true, I have no sufficient force to oppose them; their armies +are six times as strong as mine, and, unless fortune greatly favors +me, I must yield!" + +"But fortune has forsaken us, sire, and we have no strength left. +Yield, therefore, sire; submit to a stern necessity; comply with the +anxious demand of France; restore peace to your people--to the +world! Do not endanger, without prospect of success, your precious +life, which is necessary to France--your throne, threatened by +foreign and domestic foes. All is at stake. Save France, save the +throne! Make peace at any cost!" + +While Maret was speaking, Napoleon slowly raised his head, and sent +a flaming glance on his minister. Now that Maret was silent, the +emperor quickly took up an open book from his desk and handed it to +Maret. "I will not answer you, duke," said Napoleon, "but Marmontel +shall. Read this. Read it aloud." + +Maret read: "'I know of nothing more sublime than the resolution +taken by a monarch living in our times, who would be buried under +the ruins of his throne rather than accept terms to which a king +should not listen; he was possessed of too proud a soul to descend +lower than unavoidable misfortune. He knew full well that courage +may restore strength and lustre to a crown, but that cowardice and +dishonor never can.'" [Footnote: Marmontel, "Grandeur et Decadence +des Romains," ch. v.] + +"That is my reply, Maret," exclaimed Napoleon. "The example of Louis +XIV. shall teach me to perish rather than humiliate myself." + +"Sire," said Maret, solemnly, "Marmontel is wrong; there is +something more sublime than to be buried under the ruins of a +throne--a king sacrificing his own greatness to the welfare of a +state that must perish with him." + +"Never!" exclaimed the emperor, impetuously. "I can die beneath the +ruins of my throne, but I cannot sign my own humiliation! Maret, I +have made up my mind: I will continue this struggle to the last: I +will conquer or die! Tomorrow I set out for the army. Ah, I want to +see whether that drunken general of hussars, Blucher, shall not +yield to me, notwithstanding his crazy cavalry tricks; whether +Schwartzenberg, my faithless pupil, who had learned the art of war +from me, will meet me in a pitched battle; and whether Bernadotte, +my rebellious subject, dare look me in the face. Maret, the decisive +struggle is at hand. I will take the field, save Paris, and conquer +the enemy. I must call upon all the men of France to defend the +sacred soil of our country, and convert every house into a castle, +every village into a fortress, so that my enemies shall have to +wrest every inch of ground from us at a vast sacrifice. Not another +word about peace! Every thing is ready. Troops are hurrying forward +from Spain to fill up my army; in a few days they will be here. +Between the Seine and the Marne all my forces will unite and put a +stop to the advance of the allies upon Paris. We shall occupy a +position by which it will be easy for us to divide, disperse, and +crush the enemy. Here, in the plain between these rivers, I shall +march along the Aube, scatter the allied army, hurl most of my +troops at one of its wings, and, by skilful manoeuvres, compel the +other wing to fall back. The enemy must retreat; I shall profit by +it, and when I have gained a great battle over him, I can impose my +own terms; I have then conquered an HONORABLE peace for France--one +that we can subscribe to without blushing. Ah, I see a brilliant +future! It is time to begin. My eagles are ascending; they are not +ravens or bats--they are soaring to the sun." As the emperor uttered +these words his soul illuminated his face; he was again the +conqueror, confiding in his star. + +Maret looked anxiously, but admiringly, at Napoleon's face, in which +great resolutions were beaming, and he read there an assurance and +determination that nothing could change. "You have made up your +mind, then, sire: the war is to go on, and the peace congress is not +to meet?" + +"On the contrary," exclaimed Napoleon, smiling, "let it meet, if the +allies wish it. While Caulaincourt, Metternich, and Hardenberg, are +dictating terms of peace with their pens, we shall do so with our +swords, and we shall soon see which will make the more progress. But +let us now commence with some movements of peace. We must be on good +terms with Spain and Rome. Let Ferdinand return as King to Spain, +and as such become my ally. I shall also open the doors of Pope +Pius's prison at Fontainebleau; let him return as pope to Rome, and, +as God's vicegerent, be on my side. Maret, here are already two +allies. In order to conquer, but one is wanting; and it is for you, +Maret, to procure it." + +"Sire, what is the name of this ally?" asked the Duke de Bassano, in +amazement. + +"Money! money! and, for the third time, money! Procure me five +millions in cash, and I can add one hundred thousand men to my +army." + +"Ah, sire, our chests are empty!" sighed Maret. + +"But I must have money," replied Napoleon, vehemently. "Without it +no war can be waged--no victory gained. Five millions, Maret; I need +them; I must have them!" + +Maret looked thoughtful. Suddenly his face kindled, and his whole +frame shook with joy. "Sire, your majesty asks for five millions?" + +"Yes, five millions, to begin with." + +"Well, then, sire, I can tell you where to find them, and perhaps +more." + +"Where?" + +"Sire, will you pledge me your imperial word not to betray that it +was I who told you where to find this money?" + +"Certainly, Maret." + +"Listen, sire; but permit me to whisper what I do not wish even the +walls to hear." He bent close to the emperor's ear. + +Napoleon listened with breathless attention, and nodded repeatedly. +"You really believe this to be true, Maret?" he then asked, eagerly. + +"Sire, I affirm it to be true. It is a secret known only to three +persons! It was betrayed to me to gain me over by an act of +treachery--but that is altogether another matter; the fact is +sufficient." + +"And this fact is, that I shall find with my mother the millions +that I need?" said the emperor. "Maret, if that is so, I shall have +them this very day." + +"Your majesty believes so? Madame Letitia--" + +"My mother is avaricious, you wish to say? It is true, her extreme +economy has often vexed me; to-day it gladdens my heart; for, thanks +to her parsimony, I shall find with her what I need for my army. She +will deny these millions to me, to be sure; but you told me where to +look for them, and I pledge you my word I know how to find and take +them! Hush, not another word! I shall have what I want within an +hour. Go now, Maret. You will meet the Prince de Benevento in the +antechamber. Send him to me. I have to address a few parting words +to M. de Talleyrand." + +The emperor stood in the middle of the magnificently furnished +cabinet when the Prince de Benevento slowly opened the door and +entered. The prince bore the emperor's piercing look with a +perfectly composed air. Not a feature of his aristocratic +countenance expressed any anxiety and his smile did not for an +instant vanish from his lips. With a sort of careless bearing he +approached the emperor, who allowed him to come near him, still +watching every expression of his countenance. + +"I wished to see you," he said, "in order to tell you that I shall +set out for the army the day after to-morrow." Talleyrand bowed, but +made no reply. "Do you desire to accompany me?" asked the emperor, +vehemently. + +"Sire, what should I do at the headquarters of the army?" said +Talleyrand, shrugging his shoulders. "Your majesty knows well that I +could be of very little service in the army--that I am able only to +wield the pen." + +"And the tongue!" added Napoleon. "But before leaving Paris I will +give you some wholesome advice; bridle both your tongue and your pen +a little better than you have done of late. I know that you will not +shrink from any treachery, and that you are the first rat that will +desert the sinking ship; but consider what you are doing. The ship +is not yet in danger, and, spreading her sails, she will move +proudly on her way." + +"I hope she will have favorable winds and deep water," said +Talleyrand, bowing carelessly. + +Napoleon looked at him with hatred and rage. These equivocal words-- +the calm, cold tone in which they were uttered, disturbed the +emperor, and his blood boiled. "I believe in the sincerity of your +wish," he said, "although there are many who assert that you are a +traitor. I have given you fair warning; now prove to those who are +accusing you, that they are doing you injustice. No intrigues! You +will be closely watched. Beware!" Talleyrand bowed again, and his +face still retained its indifferent, smiling expression. "Listen now +to what I have to say," added Napoleon. "Prior to my departure I +desire to put an end to the dissensions with Rome and Spain. The +pope will leave Fontainebleau to-morrow and return to Rome. The +Infante of Spain, too, is at liberty to return to his country and +ascend the throne of his ancestors. Go to-morrow to Valencay. It was +you who conveyed Ferdinand thither; you must, therefore, open the +doors of his prison that you locked." + +"Sire, I thank your majesty for the favor which you desire to confer +on me," said Talleyrand, gravely. "But it was not I who arrested the +sacred person of the legitimate King of Spain; it was not I who +dared to deprive him of his rights--nay, his very liberty. I acted +only as the obedient servant of my master, for your majesty's orders +made me the jailer of the Infante of Spain." + +Napoleon approached Talleyrand, and his flaming eyes seemed to +pierce his soul. "What!" he shouted, in a loud voice. "You wish to +give yourself now the semblance of innocence in this affair? What! +You only executed my orders, and I made you the jailer of the +infante! Who was it, then, that urged me to do this? Who was it that +told me it was indispensable for me to crush the head of this +Spanish hydra? Who wished even to persuade me to more energetic +measures than imprisonment, in order to get rid of the royal family +of Spain? Who told me at that time that it would be wiser and better +for the welfare of Europe to cut the Gordian knot instead of untying +it? Do you remember who did all this?" + +Talleyrand made no reply. His countenance still exhibiting the same +indifferent composure, he seemed scarcely to have heard the rebukes +of the emperor. His head slightly bent forward, his eyes half +closed, his lips compressed, he stood leaning with one hand on the +back of a chair, and with the other playing with his lace-frill. +This conduct greatly augmented the emperor's anger. "Will you reply +to me?" thundered Napoleon, stamping the floor, and so near to +Talleyrand's foot that the prince softly drew it back. "Will you +reply to me?" + +Talleyrand looked at the emperor with immovable calmness. "Sire," he +said, slowly, "I do not know what your majesty means." + +"You do not know what I mean?" echoed Napoleon. "If you do not, +listen!" Unable longer to overcome his anger, he advanced toward +Talleyrand, and the prince drew back. As if beside himself, the +emperor raised his clinched fists, and held them toward the prince's +face, moving through the large room, while Talleyrand, looking the +emperor full in the face, retreated, taking care to get nearer the +door. + +"I will tell you that you are a traitor," cried Napoleon, rushing +forward--"a traitor who would like to deny to-day what he did +yesterday, because he believes that another era is dawning, and that +he must betray his master before the cock crows for the first time. +You wish to deny that it was you who urged me to imprison the +Spanish prince? You are impudent enough to tell me that to my face?" +So saying, the emperor's clinched fists almost touched the cheek of +the prince, who was still receding, and now noticed with a feeling +of relief that he had reached the end of his dangerous promenade. + +"Do you really dare deny your past in so barefaced a manner?" cried +Napoleon, still holding his fist so close to Talleyrand's cheek that +he almost felt it. + +The prince softly put his hand behind his back, and fortunately +succeeded in seizing the door-knob. He opened the door with a hasty +jerk so wide that the gentlemen assembled in the anteroom enjoyed +the spectacle of Napoleon with uplifted fists threatening his +minister. + +"Sire," said Talleyrand, in a calm voice, "I shall not dare say any +thing; for I know of no reply to what your majesty has said." The +prince pointed with a sarcastic smile to the clinched fists of the +emperor, and, without complying with the requirements of usual +ceremony, he hastened, more rapidly than his lame foot generally +permitted him to do, through the antechamber, saluting the gentlemen +as he passed with a wave of his hand and a smile. On stepping into +the outer room he accelerated his pace, gliding down-stairs as +softly as a cat, and hurrying across the hall to his carriage. + +"Home," he said aloud, "at a gallop!" When the horses started, +Talleyrand leaned back, and said to himself, "This was our last +adieu! I shall take good care not to meet Napoleon again, provided +he is stupid enough to give me time for making my dispositions." + +The emperor in the mean time, half ashamed of himself, reentered the +cabinet, and locked the door. Angry as a lion in his cage, he paced +to and fro with quick steps, when suddenly a gentle voice behind him +said, "Sire, pray be so gracious as to listen to me!" + +The emperor turned with an angry gesture, and saw the Duke do Rovigo +standing near the open door of the antechamber. "Well, Savary, what +do yo want?" he asked in a faint voice. "Shut the door, and come +here. Speak! What do you want?" + +"Sire, to implore you to be on your guard," said the duke. "Your +majesty has just had a violent scene with the Prince de Benevento." + +"Who told you so?" + +"Sire, we could distinctly hear your majesty's voice in the +antechamber; and, when the prince opened the door, the rest, like +myself, saw your threatening attitude. In an hour all Paris will +know it." + +"Well?" + +"Sire, the Prince de Benevento is not the man to forgot an insult, +and it will mortify him doubly that the world will hear of it." + +"Let it mortify him!" cried Napoleon. "All of you have insinuated to +me that Talleyrand is a traitor, deserving punishment. I have +chastised him; that is all." + +"Sire, the chastisement was either too severe, or not severe +enough," said Savary, gravely. "Had it been too severe, the generous +heart of your majesty would think of offering him some satisfaction; +but I know Talleyrand, and am firmly convinced of the truth of my +statement--I pronounce him a plotter of dangerous intrigues. Your +majesty therefore cannot chastise him too severely; and, having gone +so far, you must now go still farther." + +"How so? What do you mean?" + +"Sire, I mean that your majesty, instead of allowing the Prince de +Benevento to return home, ought to send him to Vincennes, and +recommend him to the special care of your friend General Daumesnil." + +"Ah, I ought to have him arrested!" cried Napoleon, shrugging his +shoulders. "I ought to make a martyr out of a traitor!" + +"No, sire, punish a traitor, neither more nor less! I know that +Talleyrand is one. He is in secret communication with the +legitimists, corresponding with the Bourbons, through other hands; +at his house, meetings of malcontents and secret royalists are held +every day; there the fires are kindled that will soon burst into +devouring energy, unless your majesty extinguish them in time. You +have disdained to regain Talleyrand by promises or honors. You have +insulted him, and he will revenge himself, if the power of doing so +be left him. Sire, I venture to remind your majesty of Machiavel, +'One ought never to make half an enemy.'" + +"It is true," murmured Napoleon to himself, thoughtfully, "nothing +is more dangerous than such half enmities. Under the mask of +friendship they betray us the more surely." + +"Hence, sire, pray tear this mask from Talleyrand's treacherous +face. Meet him as an open enemy. Then either his enmity will be +destroyed by terror, or he will betray his intentions." + +"I lack proof to convict him," said Napoleon, in a hesitating and +wavering tone. + +"Well, yes," exclaimed Savary, "you have no proof, but there cannot +be the least doubt as to the intrigues which he is bold enough to +plot. The opportunity is too favorable that he should not endeavor +to embrace it. Sire, I should like to urge the example of the great +police-minister of Louis XV. Whenever M. de Sartines was on the eve +of a festival, or any great public ceremony, he sent for all +suspicious persons to whom his attention was particularly directed, +and said to them, 'I have no charge against you at present, but to- +morrow it may be different. Habit you know has power over you, and +you are unlikely to resist temptation. It would be incumbent upon me +to treat you with extreme rigor. For your sake, as well as mine, be +kind enough therefore to repair for a few days to a prison, the +choice of which I leave to yourselves.' The suspected persons +willingly complied with his request, and no arrests were made." + +"You may be right; M. de Sartines was undoubtedly a sagacious +police-minister," said the emperor, musingly. "His precaution is +good for those who are afraid; but I am not! If I conquer my +enemies, I thereby trample in the dust this vile serpent, too, that +would sting me, and then would crawl as a worm at my feet. If I +yield to my enemies, let the structure which I have built fall upon +me. It will not matter then whether Talleyrand's hand, too, broke +off a piece of the wall or not; it would have fallen without him. +Not another word about it, Savary! My carriage--I will ride to my +mother!" + +On the evening of the same day, the Prince de Benevento left his +palace, entered a hackney-coach, and was driven to one of the remote +streets of the Faubourg St. Germain. He stopped in front of a small, +mean-looking house; and, when the coach had gone, the prince knocked +three times in a peculiar manner at the street door. It opened, and +he cautiously entered. No one was to be seen in the lighted hall; +but Talleyrand seemed perfectly familiar with the locality; and +crossing, without hesitation, a long passage, he ascended the +thickly-carpeted staircase. Here was another locked door, beside +which was a bell, which the prince rang three times. The door was +opened, and he walked through a long corridor. The passage widened, +and the prince was now in a brilliant hall, decorated with paintings +and gildings. The entrance through the small house was plainly but a +circuitous road to one of the palaces of the Faubourg St. Germain +where the royalists were plotting mischief. At the end of this hall +was a portiere, in front of which was a richly-liveried footman. +Talleyrand whispered a few words; the servant bowed and opened the +door. The prince now entered a saloon, furnished in the most +magnificent and tasteful style, where another liveried attendant was +waiting. "The Countess du Cayla?" asked the Prince de Benevento. + +"She is in her cabinet. Shall I announce your highness?" + +"It is unnecessary." + +He quickly approached and knocked softly at the door of the cabinet. +A sweet voice bade him come in. Before him stood a young lady who +welcomed him with a charming smile, but with an air of ill-concealed +amazement. "Oh, the Prince de Benevento!" she exclaimed, merrily. +"You come to me to-day; but yesterday, when I went to you to bring +you greetings from our august master, King Louis XVIII., you feigned +not to understand whom I wished to speak of, and imposed silence." + +"To-day I come to make amends for what I did yesterday, countess," +said Talleyrand, with his graceful kindness. "Be good enough to +inform his majesty King Louis XVIII. that he may henceforth count +upon my services and my zealous devotedness. I shall assist him in +opening the road to Paris, and do all I can that his majesty may +soon be able to make his entrance into the capital of his kingdom." + +"Then you have forsaken Napoleon openly and unreservedly!" exclaimed +the Countess du Cayla, the zealous agent of the Count de Lille, whom +at that time none but the royalists secretly called King Louis +XVIII. "You are, then, one of us, now and forever?" + +"Yes, I consider myself a member of your party," said Talleyrand, +"and at heart I was always one of the most faithful and zealous +servants of the king. I can prove it, for it was I who led Napoleon, +step by step, frequently even in spite of his reluctance, to the +brink of ruin, on which he is standing now, and I am ready to give +him a last thrust to plunge him into the abyss. The emperor has been +guilty of great folly to-day. He ought to have had me arrested, but +he failed to do so. For this mistake I shall punish him by profiting +by my liberty in the service of his majesty the king. Let us +consider, therefore, countess, what we ought to do for the speedy +return of King Louis XVIII. to Paris." + +"Yes, let us consider that," exclaimed the countess; "and if you +have no objection, prince, we shall allow the faithful friends of +his majesty to participate in the consultation. Upward of one +hundred friends are already assembled in the large saloon, and they +are doubtless astonished at my prolonged absence. Come, prince! You +will meet an old friend among your new friends." + +"Who is it, countess?" + +"The Duke d'Otranto!" + +"What? Is he here? Has he dared to return?" + +"He has, with the emperor's sister, the Princess Eliza Bacciochi; +and he is believed to be with her in the south of France, in order +to await the course of events. But he has secretly and in disguise +come to Paris, in order, like you, to offer his services to King +Louis. Late events seem to have converted him into a very zealous +royalist, and he openly admits his conversion. He boasts of having +said to the Princess Eliza: 'Madame, there is but one way of +salvation: the emperor must be killed on the spot.'" [Footnote: +"Memoires du Duo de Rovigo," vol. vi., p. 352.] + +"In truth, he is right," said Talleyrand, smiling; "that would +speedily put an end to all embarrassments. Well, the emperor intends +to join the army; perhaps, a hostile bullet may become our ally, and +save us further trouble. If not, we shall speak of the matter +hereafter. Permit me, countess, to conduct you to the saloon." + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +MADAME LETITIA. + + +Profound silence reigned in the palace of "Madame Mere." It was +noonday, and the male and female servants, as well as the ladies of +honor of the emperor's mother, had left the palace to take elsewhere +the dinner which Madame Letitia refused to give them, and for which +she paid them every month a ridiculously small sum; only the two +cooks, whom madame, notwithstanding her objections, had to keep, in +compliance with the express orders of the emperor, were in the +kitchen, but under the vigilant supervision of old Cordelia, the +faithful servant who had accompanied madame from Corsica to France, +and who, since then, notwithstanding all vicissitudes, had remained +her companion. Cordelia not only watched the cooks and gave them +what was needed for preparing the meals, but, as soon as the dishes +were handed to the servant who was to carry them to the table, she +hastened after him in order to prevent him from putting anything +aside. When Cordelia went with the servant, she opened, with an air +of self-importance, a cupboard fixed in the wall of the corridor, +near the dining-room, of which she alone possessed the key, and, as +soon as the servant returned with the fragments of the dinner, she +locked them in this cupboard with the wine and bread; only on +Sundays did the dinner-table of Madame Mere provide any thing for +the servants. + +To-day, however, was not Sunday, and hence Madame Cordelia herself +had placed a bottle, half filled with wine remaining from +yesterday's dinner, on the table, at which no one but Madame Letitia +was to seat herself, one of the ladies of honor, who always dined +with her, having been excused on account of indisposition. Madame +Letitia was therefore alone to-day; it was unnecessary for her to +submit to the restraint of etiquette, and she yielded with genuine +relief to an unwonted freedom. She was in her sitting-room, busily +engaged in taking from a large basket, the plebeian appearance of +which contrasted strangely with the magnificent Turkish carpet on +which it stood, the folded clothes which the washerwoman had just +delivered. The appearance of Madame Mere herself was also in some +contrast with the gorgeous surroundings amid which she moved. + +The room was furnished with princely magnificence, the walls being +hung with heavy satin, and curtains of the same description, adorned +with gold embroideries, suspended on both sides of the high windows; +the richly-carved chairs and sofas were covered with purple velvet, +and the tables had marble slabs of Florentine workmanship. A +chandelier of rock-crystal hung in solid gold chains from the +ceiling; masterly paintings in broad, rich frames were on the silken +walls; Japan vases stood on gilded consoles, and numerous costly +ornaments added to the splendor of the aristocratic apartment. + +Madame Letitia, standing beside the wash-basket, presented a marked +contrast with all this. Her tall figure was wrapped in a light white +muslin dress trimmed below with rosettes, and from which protruded a +rather large foot, covered with a cotton stocking, and encased in a +coarse, worn-out shoe. A sash of rose-colored silk, with faded +embroidery, encircled her waist; a lace shawl, crossed over her +bosom, and tied in a careless knot on her back, enveloped her neck +and full shoulders. Her hair, falling down in heavy gray ringlets, +was surmounted by a sort of turban, and a large bouquet of +artificial roses, fastened above her forehead, was her only +ornament. + +There was nothing therefore imposing in the appearance of the +emperor's mother; but still there was something noble about her, and +that was her face. It was of imperishable beauty; its outlines were +classic and of great dignity, and her eyes, which were of the deep, +incomparable color which she had bequeathed to her son the emperor, +possessed still the lustre of youth; her lips were fresh, and her +teeth faultless; not a single wrinkle furrowed her forehead, and her +finely-curved nose added to the imperious expression of her +features. The whole bearing of Madame Letitia indicated a lofty and +yet a gentle spirit. He who beheld only this form, with its strange +dress, could not refrain from smiling; but a glance at the beautiful +and dignified face filled the beholder with feelings of reverence +and admiration. + +Madame Letitia, as we have said, was engaged in unpacking the +clothes just returned by the laundress. This was an occupation which +she never intrusted to any of her attendants, but in which she could +generally engage only secretly and at night, after she had dismissed +them; for the emperor made it incumbent on his mother's ladies of +honor to observe the strictest etiquette, and forbade her to occupy +herself with affairs improper for the mother of an emperor. Hence, +Madame Letitia was obliged, for the most part, to lead the life of +an aristocratic lady, embroider a little, ride out, have her +companions read to her, receive visitors, and pass the day in ennui. +Only at night, when the ladies left the palace--when etiquette +permitted Madame Letitia to retire with her maid Cordelia into her +bedroom--only then commenced her active life. At that time madame +conversed with her confidantes about her household affairs; she +decided what dishes should be prepared for the following day. and, +when all were asleep and she was sure of being watched by no one, +she proceeded with her faithful Cordelia to the cupboard of the +corridor to examine the remnants saved from dinner, and to decide +whether they might not be served up again. + +On this day she was free from the restraints of etiquette. The lady +on service had been taken ill; and her second lady of honor, not +anticipating such an event, had obtained leave to take a trip to +Versailles. Madame Letitia, therefore, was at liberty to dispose of +her time as she pleased; she could fearlessly indulge in occupations +entirely contrary to etiquette, and she embraced this rare +opportunity in the course of the forenoon of examining the clothes, +which otherwise would have had this honor only after nightfall. But +the consequence was, that the usually serene forehead of Madame +Letitia grew dark, because she was by no means satisfied with the +performance of her laundress. Just as her busy hands took up another +piece from the basket and unfolded it, the door behind her opened. +She heard it, but did not turn, knowing very well that it was +Cordelia who entered her room, for no one else had the right of +taking such a liberty without being duly and formally announced. + +"Cordelia," she exclaimed, "Cordelia, come and look at these towels +of the cook; all of them are already threadbare, and it is but a +year since I bought them. You ought to tell the cook very +emphatically that she should be more careful and not ruin my towels. +Do you hear, Cordelia?" + +"Cordelia is not here," said a grave, angry voice behind her. Madame +Letitia started, and a deep blush suffused her cheeks. Close behind +her stood the emperor, fixing his stern eyes on his mother. + +"The emperor!" she murmured, yielding to the first movement of +terror, and sinking back on her chair. + +"Yes, the emperor!" said Napoleon, approaching and casting angry +glances on the clothes spread out on the table. "The emperor pays a +visit to his mother, and finds to his amazement that little respect +is felt here for his orders, and that it is deemed unnecessary to +comply with his wishes. Ah, madame, how can the emperor expect the +people to obey him everywhere and unconditionally, when his own +family set an example of disobedience, and openly show that the +emperor's orders are indifferent to them?" + +"When have I shown indifference to them?" asked Madame Letitia, +casting a despairing glance on the basket. + +"You show it at this very hour," said the emperor, sternly, "and +every thing proves that you are in the habit of disobeying my +wishes. I met with no footmen in the outer antechamber; I did not +see the chamberlain of your imperial highness in the adjoining +room." + +"It is noonday, and they have gone to dinner." + +"Ah, it is true, your imperial highness directs your court to take +their meals at other houses," exclaimed the emperor, with a +sarcastic smile. "You are paying board-money to the chamberlain, the +valet de chambre, and the footman, so that it is unnecessary for you +to feed them. But where is your waiting-lady, madame? Did I not +issue orders that etiquette should be observed at my mother's +palace, and that your imperial highness should always have your lady +of honor with you?" + +"The Duchess d'Abrantes was suddenly taken sick this morning, and +had to return to her house." + +"In that case the second lady of honor ought to have taken her +place." + +"Yesterday I gave permission to the Countess de Castries to go to a +family-festival to be celebrated at Versailles, and she went early +this morning." + +"Every thing, then, is here just as it ought to be!" cried the +emperor, indignantly, thrusting the basket with his foot. "It is in +strict accordance with my wishes that your house is empty, that you +are so occupied, that you are alone, and that there was no one to +announce my visit?" + +"But Cordelia certainly was there, and quite ready to attend to +this." + +"Yes, she was," cried the emperor, "and it is true she wished to do +me that honor. But I would not allow her, and preferred coming to +you without being announced. In truth, it would be too ludicrous if +the old Sibyl had served the emperor as mistress of ceremonies." + +"She formerly did him far greater and more difficult service," said +Madame Letitia, in a firm and calm voice, for she had fully +recovered her presence of mind, and, rising from her easy-chair, +proudly bridled herself up and turned toward the emperor her face, +which now had resumed its expression of noble dignity and composure. + +"When I first saw your countenance," she said, calmly, "I was +frightened, and greeted you in my terror as the emperor. Pardon me +for it! I ought to have remembered that when the emperor crosses the +threshold of this house, he ceases to be emperor, and is simply +Napoleon Bonaparte, who, as it behooves a son, comes to pay his +respects to his mother. Hence, I ought to have greeted you at once +as my son, and if I did not, it was because I was frightened, for I +am not accustomed to see anyone enter here without being announced. +Now, I have overcome my terror, I bid you welcome with all my heart, +my dear son!" She offered her hand to Napoleon so proudly that the +emperor, scarcely aware of what he did, pressed the small white hand +of his mother to his lips. + +A gentle smile lit up the beautiful face of Madame Letitia. "I +forgive you also your vehement words, my son," she said; "and how +could I be angry with you for forgetting for a moment that you are +here only my son, when I myself remembered only that you are the +emperor? Let us, therefore, make peace again. Napoleon, my son, I +bid you welcome once more with all my heart." + +"Even, my mother, if I should come to ask my dinner of you?" +inquired the emperor, smiling. + +Madame Letitia was silent for a moment. "Even then!" she said, after +a pause. "My son will be content with what I am able to give, and he +will pardon an old woman, who attaches little value to the pleasures +of the table, if she has, on account of her health, but a very plain +dinner." + +"That is to say, we shall have the national dish of Corsica--rice +dumplings baked in oil!" exclaimed the emperor, laughing. + +"So it is," said madame, merrily. "Ah, I see my son has not +forgotten his native Corsica; then he will also have a kind look for +poor old Cordelia, who, both in good and evil days, has been the +most faithful and honest servant of our house, who frequently +carried Napoleon Bonaparte for whole days in her arms, and when he +was sick sat at his bedside and nursed him with the tenderness of a +mother. I will tell Cordelia to take this basket away, and inform +the cook that we have a guest." She rang the bell; the door of the +adjoining room opened immediately, and old Cordelia entered. She +stood still at the door, and cast mournful glances, now on Madame +Letitia, now on the emperor. + +"Well, Cordelia, do you not greet my son?" asked madame. "He is not +the emperor to-day, but comes incognito as my son to ask dinner of +me." + +"And listen, dear Delia," said the emperor, speaking to her in the +voice of a child--"listen, dear old Cordelia; afterward let us go +and play, and gather shells on the sea-shore. Shall we do so, 'Lia?" + +An air of unutterable happiness illuminated the face of old Cordelia +when Napoleon repeated to her, in the voice of his childhood, the +words which he had so often addressed to her. She rushed toward him, +and, sinking down before him, seized both his hands and pressed them +to her lips. "Now do with me what you like, Napoleon," she cried, in +the language of her native country, while the tears were rolling +down her cheeks, "I belong to you again, with every drop of my +heart's blood. Trample me under foot, strike me, kick me, as you +often did during your childhood--I shall never murmur. I am as a +faithful dog, who allows himself to be beaten, and yet loves his +master to the last!" + +"Yes, she is as constant as the sea that washes the shores of our +native country," said madame, with a tear in her eye. "You may count +on both of us, Napoleon, and if there is power in our prayers you +will always be victorious." + +The emperor's face--darkened. He had forgotten every thing for a +moment; but he soon recollected himself. In order to be victorious +and prosperous he needed not only soldiers but money, and he had +come for the purpose of obtaining this from his mother. He +disengaged his hands from those of old Cordelia, and motioned her to +rise. She obeyed in silence, quietly took up the clothes, and +carried them off in the basket. + +"See that we soon have dinner," said madame to her. Cordelia turned +and looked inquiringly at her mistress, who nodded to her; Cordelia +nodded, too, and went out smiling. + +A quarter of an hour afterward, the emperor conducted his loving +mother to the dining-table, at which none other than themselves were +to be seated. When they entered, the emperor's eyes glided with a +strange, searching look along the paintings hanging on the walls, +and rested for a moment on the landscape which, in a broad gilded +frame, was directly opposite; then a faint smile flitted over his +features, and he turned toward his mother to address a few pleasant +words to her. + +The dinner commenced, as the emperor anticipated, with Corsican rice +dumplings baked in oil. He partook of them with great relish, and +this favorite dish of his childhood seemed to have restored his good +humor. "I believe." he said, gayly, "I am still able to read as well +in your face, mother, as I could when I was a boy, and took pains to +discover whether or not I had deserved punishment for some naughty +prank. I believe I have understood your mute dialogue with Cordelia. +Will you confess the truth to me if I tell you what Cordelia's +glances and your nod signified?" + +"Yes, if you guess it." + +"Well, then, mother, did not Cordelia inquire by her glances whether +she was to send to the baker for bread, and whether the remnant of +yesterday's dinner should not be served again in honor of my +presence? And did not your nod reply, 'Yes?' Was not that the +meaning of it? Do I guess right?" + +"Yes, my son," said madame, smiling; "I see that my haughty +daughters Pauline and Eliza have made you familiar with the habits +of my household." + +"They have," exclaimed Napoleon. "They told me Madame Mere had every +day only three loaves of white bread brought from the baker for +herself and Cordelia." + +"They told you the truth; all my officers and servants receive their +board-money, and three loaves are sufficient for us two. Ah, my son, +how happy would you have often been, when still a lieutenant, had +you had only one of the three loaves every day!" + +"Eliza told me still other things," said Napoleon, casting a glance +toward the large oil painting. "She told me you had, like all honest +bourgeoises, your water-carrier, who furnished every day six buckets +of water." + +"Eliza told you the truth again. It is still the same water-carrier +whom we employed when we lived in the Faubourg St. Honore; he is a +faithful and honest man; why, then should I withdraw this little +patronage from him?" + +"But you pay him no more for his water, now that you are the +emperor's mother, than you did when you were a poor widow with nine +children." + +"God makes the water flow, and it is the same now as then. Why +should I, then, pay more for it?" + +"Eliza told me, also," added the emperor, dwelling with singular +perseverance on the same subject, "that, instead of collecting a +library, and buying the books you read, you have subscribed to the +bookseller Renard's circulating library." + +"There are very few books that deserve the honor of being bought," +said madame, in a dignified tone. + +"And is it true, too," asked the emperor, "that you have the books +brought by the bookseller's clerk to you every week the year round, +and that you have the same exchanged by your servants during only +New-Year's week, in order thereby to avoid giving a New-Year's +present to the clerk?" + +"It is true," said madame, calmly. "This clerk is not poor, nor the +father of a family; I avoid, therefore, giving him the money which I +prefer giving to poor men." + +"But, madame," cried Napoleon, angrily, "you really surpass +Harpagon, and Moliere has cause to complain that he did not know +you." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide Le Normand, vol. ii., p. +451.] + +"Moliere has assuredly cause to deplore that he did not live at the +present time," said madame, quietly, "for if he lived now, he would +have seen on the throne of France a prince who is even greater and +more illustrious than his own Louis XIV. And he would have certainly +been glad to make my acquaintance, as I am the mother of this great +man." + +"The mother of an emperor, and yet living so parsimoniously that one +might believe your son suffered you to starve! And still, if I am +not mistaken, you receive a million francs a year for defraying the +expenses of your court. Am I right, mother?" + +"Yes, my son; I receive a million francs a year." + +"Ah, madame," cried the emperor, "then you must, considering your +economy, lay by riches every year?" + +Madame Letitia's face was serious; the emperor had touched a chord +unpleasant to her ear. + +"No," she said, abruptly, "I lay by no riches, for my expenses are +heavy." + +"But your income is larger," exclaimed Napoleon. "I am satisfied +that you spend far less than you receive. Whom do you economize for, +madame?" + +"Whom?" asked madame, in an angry voice. "I might say for myself, +for my future, for that is uncertain, and one is never able to know +what may happen. But, in addition to myself, I have to take care of +your brother Lucien, for your majesty knows well that he is poor," + +"Because he would not accept the kingdom which I offered to him." + +"Because, as a king, he would not be a dependent vassal, the mere +lieutenant of his brother. What, sire! Would you accept a kingdom +offered to you on condition that you should never have a will of +your own, but always obey that of another?" + +"I would not," said the emperor, smiling; "but I am the emperor." + +"You are Lucien's brother, and he is no less proud than the emperor. +Let us say no more about it. He is poor; that was all I wished to +say. He is unable to endow his daughters, and I have, therefore, +taken this upon myself. You know now, my son, what my savings are +for." + +"But I am just as well your son as Lucien," said the emperor, in a +bland voice; "you may very well have laid by money for both of your +sons. I am in the same predicament as my brother. I am poor, and +need money. Hence I come to you, to my mother, and pray you, let me +have some of your savings. I know you have money; I need it, and you +would place me under the greatest obligations if you would lend me a +large sum." + +Madame Letitia gravely shook her head. "You are mistaken, sire," she +said; "I have only as much as I need." + +The emperor's forehead darkened more and more. "Madame," he cried, +in a tone of irritation, "I repeat to you, it is a great favor which +I ask of you!" + +"And I repeat that I have no money to spare; I had some, but sent it +recently to Lucien, who needs it." + +"Well, then, let us say no more about it," replied the emperor, +rising, and, as if to overcome his vexation, turning toward the +paintings, and closely inspecting one after another. "You have very +fine paintings, madame," he said, after a pause. + +"Yes, the work of great masters," replied madame, composedly. "You +reproach me with being very parsimonious, sire; I have, however, +paid very large sums to artists." + +"I am especially delighted with this landscape," said the emperor, +standing in front of the Swiss landscape, on which he had repeatedly +cast furtive glances. + +"Well, it is very fine and costly," said madame. + +The emperor was silent, and looked up again attentively to the +painting. He then turned toward his mother, who stood near him. +"Mother," he exclaimed, "I asked money of you, and you refused it. +Will you refuse my request, too, if I ask you to present me with +this fine landscape?" + +"On the contrary," said madame, "I am glad to be able to fulfil your +majesty's wish. I shall have the painting conveyed to the Tuileries +this very day." + +"No," exclaimed the emperor, smiling, "it will be better to take it +at once with me in my carriage. You are so economical, mother, you +might repent of having given me so costly a present, and might want +to keep it." + +"Sire," said madame, solemnly, "the emperor's mother pledges you her +word that you shall receive the painting this very day." + +"Madame," replied her proud son, no less solemnly, "the emperor's +mother also pledged me her word that she has no money to lend me, +and yet I venture to believe that she has laid by a great deal. +Pardon me, therefore, if I persist in taking the painting with me,-- +Delia, Delia!" The door of the corridor opened, and old Cordelia +looked in. "Run, Cordelia, and tell my two valets de chambre, +Constant and Roustan, to come hither at once." + +Cordelia disappeared, and Napoleon now turned his head slowly toward +his mother. Madame Letitia became pale; large drops stood on her +forehead; her eyes were flashing with angry excitement, and her lips +were quivering. But overcoming her agitation she forced herself to +smile, and offered her hand to the emperor. "Come, my son, let us go +into my cabinet and take coffee. It is unnecessary for us to be +present with the servants. Come, sire." + +The emperor did not take her hand, but, slightly bowing, drew back. +"Permit me to stay, madame, till my servants have taken the painting +from the wall." + +Madame could not suppress a sigh, and clutched a chair, as if she +needed a support. + +The door opened, and the two imperial valets de chambre, Constant +and Roustan, entered. "Come here," cried the emperor, "take this +down and carry it into my carriage." The valets hastened to take the +painting carefully from the wall. The emperor's glance passed over +the spot which it had covered. He saw that part of the silk hangings +looked somewhat fresher and darker than the rest. "One would think +the wall here were wet, and had moistened the hangings," he said, +laying his hand on the dark spot. "No," he then exclaimed, "the wall +is hollow here! Let us see what it means." + +Madame uttered a cry, and, sinking into a chair, closed her eyes. + +The emperor now hastily tore off the dark piece covering the wall, +and behind it was a deep square hole, in which stood a rather large- +sized iron box. "Ah! do you see, madame," cried the emperor, smiling +gayly, "I discover here a secret which you yourself were ignorant +of. It is evidently a box which the former proprietors of this +palace concealed here during the revolution from the rapacious hands +of the Jacobins." + +Madame made no reply; her eyes were still closed, and she sat pale +and motionless. + +"The box is heavy!" added the emperor, trying to lift it up. +"Constant, fetch the footmen to assist you in carrying it into my +carriage.--I will take it with me, madame," he said, turning toward +his mother, "I will personally examine its contents." At this moment +Constant returned with four footmen, and the six men succeeded at +length in lifting the iron box. "Now carry it immediately into my +carriage," commanded the emperor. + +Panting under their heavy load, the men left the room. The emperor +looked after them until the door closed. He then turned again toward +his mother, who sat motionless and with her eyes closed. "Farewell, +mother," he said; "I am anxious to examine the contents of the box +which I was lucky enough to find. But I must not dare now to deprive +you of your beautiful painting. This hole in the wall must be +covered, and your imperial highness might not at once have another +picture worthy of replacing this landscape. I thank you, therefore, +for your present, and take the will for the deed. Farewell, madame!" +He bowed and walked slowly toward the door. [Footnote: Le Normand, +"Memoires," vol. ii., p. 448.] + +Madame Letitia said nothing, and made no movement to return the +emperor's salutation. As he departed, she groaned and wept. "Five +millions!" she murmured, after a pause--"the savings of long years +has my son taken from me. Five millions!--the dower that I had laid +by for Lucien's daughters--that I had economized for the time when +these days of prosperity will end." She buried her face in her hands +and sobbed aloud. At length her grief seemed somewhat calmed, and +she raised her head again. "Well," she said, aloud, "I formerly +supported my family of nine children on an income of less than a +hundred louis d'ors a year; if need be, I can do so again, and I +hope I shall have at least so much left that Lucien and his +daughters will not starve. I must be even more parsimonious." +[Footnote: Lucien, the ablest and noblest of Napoleon's brothers, +lived in constant dissension with him, for he would not submit to +his will. He declined the throne of Naples because the emperor +imposed the condition that he should govern in precise accordance +with the orders given him. He married a distinguished and beautiful +Roman lady, and when Napoleon afterward offered him the throne of +Tuscany on condition that he should get a divorce from his wife, +Lucien refused, and preferred to live in obscurity outside of +France, and to dispense with the splendor surrounding his family.] + +Two days afterward, on the 25th of January, the emperor left Paris +for his army, and entered upon the last struggle. He was fully aware +of the dangers threatening him. Hence, prior to leaving Paris, he +put his house in order. The regency by letters-patent was conferred +on the Empress Maria Louisa, but with her was conjoined his brother +Joseph, under the title of lieutenant-general of the empire; and +Cambaceres, the arch-chancellor, was placed at the head of the +council of state. The emperor then received the officers of the +National Guard of Paris in the apartments of the Tuileries. The +empress preceded him on entering the apartments, carrying the King +of Rome in her arms. Greeting the officers, the emperor said: +"Gentlemen of the National Guard of Paris, I am glad to see you +assembled here. I am about to set out for the army. I intrust to you +what I hold dearest in the world--my wife and my son. Let there be +no political divisions; let the respect for property, the +maintenance of order, and, above all, the love of France, animate +every heart. I do not disguise that, in the course of the military +operations to ensue, the enemy may approach in force to Paris; it +will be an affair of only a few days: before they are passed I will +be on the flanks and rear, and annihilate those who have dared to +invade our country. Efforts will be made to cause you to waver in +your allegiance and the fulfilment of your duty; but I firmly rely +on your resisting such perfidious temptations. Farewell, and God +bless us all!" [Footnote: Constant, "Memoires," vol. vl., p. 7.] +Then, taking his son in his arms, he went through the ranks of the +officers, and, presenting him to them as their future sovereign, he +exclaimed, in a voice tremulous with emotion: "I intrust him to you; +I intrust him to the love of my loyal city of Paris!" + +The National Guard responded by protestations of fidelity and +devotedness. Cries of enthusiasm rent the apartments; tears were +shed, and a sense of the solemnity of the moment penetrated every +mind. All shouted, "Long live the emperor! Long live the empress!" +Maria Louisa, pale with emotion, her face bathed in tears, leaned +her head on the emperor's shoulder; and, holding his son in his left +arm, he placed his right around the trembling form of his consort. +At the sight of this touching group the enthusiasm of the National +Guard knew no bounds. They wept, cheered, and swore they would die +to a man rather than forsake the emperor--that they would allow +Paris to be laid in ruins by the artillery of the enemy rather than +surrender the empress and the King of Rome. + +But this enthusiasm of the National Guard met with no response +beyond the Tuileries. Paris maintained an ominous silence, and, when +the emperor rode through the city at night, the streets were +deserted; no one had awaited him to pay homage on his departure. +Paris was asleep--its sleep that of exhaustion--and the people were +dreaming, perhaps, that adversity was hastening upon them. + + + + +FALL OF PARIS. + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +THE BATTLE OF LA ROTHIERE. + + +The morning of the 1st of February dawned cold and gloomy; heavy +gusts, driving the snow across the plain, gave to the landscape a +sad and dreary aspect. Silence reigned in the camps of the hostile +armies. In that of Napoleon at Brienne, and farther down the valley +at the village of La Rothiere, on this side of the Aube, the camp- +fires of the night were flickering in the gray morning, and far away +on the horizon were seen the dark outlines of the castle of Brienne. +There Napoleon had passed the last night of January, and in the +vicinity encamped his troops, scarcely thirty thousand strong, the +remnant of that "grand army" which the emperor had so often led to +victory. + +In the camp of the Silesian army, too, all was quiet. It encamped +beyond the Aube, on the heights of Trannes and Felance, in the +vineyards and the forests of Beaulieu; it was enjoying repose after +a prolonged exposure and privation. But its commander-in-chief, +Field-Marshal Blucher, seemed to have no need of rest. Scarcely had +daylight dawned when he was already on horseback, and rode to the +crest of the mountain, by the side of his faithful adviser and +friend General Gneisenau, and followed by his pipe-master. From the +crest he was able to survey the whole valley of La Rothiers and +Brienne, lying at a distance of scarcely four miles. + +Blucher raised his right arm toward the city and heaved a deep sigh. +"Gneisenau," he said, "I am deeply mortified at the defeat which +Bonaparte inflicted on us two days ago. I cannot get over it, and +can imagine what a hue-and-cry the distinguished gentlemen at +headquarters have raised, and how the trubsalsspritzen are croaking +again: Blucher is a crazy hussar who always wants to drive his head +through a wall, and yet cannot get through it, and only causes us +all a vast deal of trouble.' I can imagine how the peace apostles +are raising their voices again, crying that war ought to cease, and +we should run home because we did not gain the battle of Brienne. It +is indispensable, therefore, for us, Gneisenau, to strike a good +blow and get even with Napoleon. Yonder the fellow stands, with his +few thousand men, showing his teeth, as if he were still the lion +that needed only to shake his mane to frighten us off as flies. I +will show him that I am no fly, but a man who is able at any time to +cope with him and such as are with him. Gneisenau, we cannot help +it; we must attack him this very day. We must silence the +trubsalsspritzen, in order to accelerate our operations against +Paris." + +"You are right, field-marshal," said Gneisenau; "we must strike a +decisive blow, and compel the gentlemen at headquarters to +discontinue their present system of procrastination. We must show +Napoleon that we have also passed through a military school, though +not at Brienne." + +"It makes me feel angry, Gneisenau, that we were unable to show him +that at the very city of Brienne. I had thought how well it would be +for me to prove to him, at the place where he passed his examination +and received his first commission, that I had also passed my +examination and learned something. Well, it is no use crying about +it now; we must, try to get over it, and only think of the best +manner in which we may be even with him. General Wrede must join us +with his troops at noon to-day, when we shall be--stronger than +Bonaparte, Marment, and all his marshals together." + +"See!" cried Gneisenou, whose eyes were directed to the camp of the +enemy, "the troops yonder have put themselves in motion; I see it +quite distinctly now that the view is clearer. But they are not +advancing." + +"No," cried Blucher, "they are retreating; they intend to escape us; +Bonaparte wishes to avoid a battle. But that will not do; I must +have my battle here! How am I to get to Paris if I do not rout his +forces? how am I to pull him down if the present state of affairs +goes on as heretofore? A blow must be struck now; we must take +revenge for Brienne today!" + +"Wrede will be here with his troops at noon," said Gneisenau, +thoughtfully; "let us, therefore, attack the enemy at twelve +o'clock, and make all necessary dispositions for it. Above all, +couriers should be sent to headquarters." + +"Yes, Gneisenau, it is your province to attend to all that, for you +know well that you are the head and I am the arm. Consider all that +is necessary; I know only that Bonaparte contemplates a retreat, and +that I must compel him to accept battle. I have felt sad enough for +the past three days; for, say yourself, Gneisenau, is it not sheer +arrogance for Bonaparte to remain here so long quietly in front of +us, as though he intended to give us time for uniting our forces, +and thought we were after all, too cowardly to defeat him?" + +"It is, perhaps, not arrogance, but disgust and weariness," said +Gneisenau, thoughtfully. "The prince of battles seems to be +exhausted, and to have lost confidence." + +"A pretty fellow he is whom misfortunes at once exhaust," grumbled +Blucher, "and who is courageous only as long as he is successful! +But I do not object to this disposition of Bonaparte, for every +thing turns out now highly advantageous to us. The Austrians, the +Wurtembergers, and the Bavarians, have come up, and will cooperate +with us. Gneisenau, dispatch your couriers to headquarters, that the +monarchs may come. Take out your note-book; I will dictate to you +what occurs to me, and what are my plans in regard to the battle.-- +Halloo, Christian! give me a pipe! I can think much better when +smoking!" + +Christian galloped up, and with a grave air handed the short pipe to +his master. "Pipe-master," said Blucher, "hold a good many pipes in +readiness to-day, for there will be a fight, and you know that our +gunners fire more steadily when my pipe is burning well.--Well, +write now, Gneisenau: 'Precisely at twelve the troops will be put in +motion, and descend from Trannes into the plain. In the centre, +Sacken's infantry will advance upon La Rothiere in two columns. The +Austrians form the left, and will march on the town of Dionville. +The hereditary Prince of Wurtemberg's corps, composing the right +wing, will penetrate through the forest of Beaulieu, and take the +village of La Gibrin. Olsuwiew's infantry and Wassilchikow's +cavalry, Sacken's reserves, will follow the two columns of the +centre. Two divisions of Russian cuirassiers and Rajewski's corps of +grenadiers will remain in reserve on the heights of Trannes. The +Bavarian corps, under Wrede, will be stationed on the extreme right +wing.' [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. iii., p. 118] Well, that is enough; +close your note-book," said Blucher, blowing a large cloud of smoke +from his mouth. "Every thing else will come of itself after the +fight has begun. I have said what I had to say, and now commences +your work, Gneisenau. Dispatch couriers quickly to the headquarters +of the sovereigns, and may they arrive here in time, and not again, +by their hesitation and timidity, spoil our game, coming too late +from fear of coming too early! Let me tell you that I am not afraid +of Bonaparte, with his young guard and his army of conscripts. We +are twice as strong, for we have eighty thousand men, and his +forces, I believe, are not forty thousand. Besides, we have allies +whom Bonaparte cannot have--the good God and His angel, Queen +Louisa. He has sent us to put an end to the tyranny of the robber of +crowns, and Queen Louisa is looking down and praying for us and +Prussia's honor. The enemy, however, whom I am afraid of is, in our +own flesh and blood; he is creeping around the headquarters of the +monarchs, and singing peace-hymns, and raising a hue-and-cry about +the greatness of Bonaparte, representing him as Invincible, and +ourselves as insignificant. In that way are all our arms paralyzed! +Gneisenau, should they hesitate to act in an energetic manner, and +fail to be on hand in time, it would be dreadful, and I believe my +rage would kill me!" + +But Blucher's apprehensions were not to be verified. All the corps +on which he had counted in drawing up his plan of operations arrived +at the stated hour, and precisely at noon appeared the Emperor of +Russia, the King of Prussia, and Prince Schwartzenberg, with their +numerous and brilliant suites. The monarchs surveyed the position of +the two armies from the heights of Trannes, and had Blucher explain +his plan to them in his brief and energetic manner. + +The Emperor Alexander then turned with a gentle smile toward Prince +Schwartzenberg, commander-in-chief of the allied forces. "And what +do you think of this plan of the brave field-marshal?" + +"It is as well conceived as it is bold," said Schwartzenberg, "and I +beg leave to intrust the command of the whole army to Field-Marshal +Blucher. I renounce the privilege of directing the operations of to- +day, and leave every thing to the discretion of the field-marshal." + +Blucher's eyes sparkled with delight, and a glow suffused his +cheeks. "Prince," he exclaimed, offering his hand to Schwartzenberg, +"this is an honor for which I shall always be grateful to you. You +have a generous heart, and know that I must take revenge for the +disastrous affair of Brienne. I thank you, prince, for giving me an +opportunity. Now I shall prove to their majesties that Bonaparte is +not invincible, or, if I cannot prove it to them, I shall die! +Hurrah! Let us begin!" He galloped with the impatience and ardor of +a youth to the front of the troops, which put themselves rapidly in +motion, and rushed like a torrent down the heights of Trannes. + +Soon the artillery commenced to boom, and transmitted Blucher's +battle-cry to Napoleon. The emperor, who had intended to retreat +with his small army, in order to avoid a fight, now halted his +troops, and formed them into line. As the allies were advancing with +great impetuosity, a further retreat would have been equivalent to +flight. Napoleon, therefore, accepted the battle, and his cannon +soon responded. The engagement raged with murderous energy; the +balls hissed in every direction; the allies rushed forward in strong +columns, but the French did not fall back before them. In the midst +of the fearful carnage they stood like heroes, sometimes repulsing +the superior enemy with sublime valor; and when they gave way, they +rallied and advanced to reconquer their positions. It was easy to +see that it was Napoleon's presence that inspired the French with +irresistible courage. Hour after hour vast numbers were slain on +both sides, and while the earth was trembling beneath the strife, +the snow fell to such a depth as to shroud the dead from view. + +The contest was most furious in and around the village of La +Rothiere. The French held it with the utmost obstinacy, and vainly +did Sacken's corps, which had been repeatedly repulsed, return to +the charge; the French stood like a wall, and their cannon hurled +death into the ranks of their adversaries. + +Blucher witnessed this doubtful struggle for some time with growing +impatience; his loud "Forward!" encouraged the troops to charge, but +their assaults were in vain. "Gneisenau," he cried, "we must take +the village, for La Rothiere is the key of the position.--Halloo, +pipe-master!" Hennomann was by his master's side. "There," said +Blucher, taking the pipe from his mouth, and handing it to +Christian, "take this pipe, and stay, do you hear, on this spot! I +shall soon be back, and you will see to it that I then get a lighted +pipe. I have to say a word or two to the French." + +"You may depend on it, field-marshal, I shall stay here," said +Christian, gravely; "you will find me and the pipe here." + +"Very well; and now come, Gneiseuau," said Blucher, galloping to the +head of the assaulting columns. Turning his face, full of warlike +ardor, toward his soldiers, he shouted: "You call me Marshal +Forward! Now I will show you what that means!" He turned his horse, +and, brandishing his sword, rushed toward the village. The soldiers +followed him with deafening cheers. + +Christian Hennemann looked composedly after them, and, putting the +field-marshal's pipe into his mouth, he murmured, "Well, I wonder if +this will burn until the field-marshal returns, or if I shall have +to light another!" At this moment a bullet whizzed through the air, +carrying away the pipe from his mouth, and slightly wounding him. +"Well," he murmured, calmly, "the first one is gone, and a piece of +my head to boot! Let us immediately dress the wound, and then light +another pipe; for if he should return, and it is not ready for him-- +thunder and lightning!" After giving vent to his feelings, the pipe- +master took oat his little dressing-pouch, stanched the blood, +applied a plaster to the wound, and wrapped a linen handkerchief +around his head. "Now I am all right again, and will do my duty," +said Christian, closing the pouch, and opening the box, which was +fastened to the pommel of his saddle. + +The fight was still raging. Night came, accompanied by a violent +snow-storm, so as to render the muskets useless. As on the Katzbach, +Blucher's soldiers had to attack the enemy with their swords and +bayonets. At length the allies were successful; the French were +overpowered and driven back. The soldiers, headed by Blucher, rushed +exultingly into the village of La Rothiere. "Forward!" shouted the +field-marshal. "Forward!" repeated the soldiers. They halted in the +middle of the village. The French still occupied the houses on both +sides of the principal street, and, converting every building into a +fortress, they fought like lions against the impetuous enemy. +Blucher was in the midst of the flying bullets, but he did not +notice them. The position had to be taken, and he knew that his +presence inspired his soldiers to heroic efforts. The village was +soon on fire, for the wind carried the flames from house to house, +and the snowy plain reflected the red glare far and wide. The French +rushed from the houses in hurried flight, hotly pursued by Blucher's +soldiers. The battle was gained! The enemy evacuated La Rothiere, +and retreated in disorder to Brienne and across the Aube. + +Blucher could now return to his headquarters and inform the monarchs +of a victory. He rode back, thoughtfully; and Gneisenau, who was by +his side, was also grave and silent. + +"Gneisenau," he exclaimed, "I believe we have done very well to- +day!" + +"Your excellency must not say we, but _I_ have done very well to- +day," said Gneisenau, smiling. "You alone conceived the plan of +battle, and directed it;--for La Rothiere was the key of the whole +position, and it was Marshal Forward who took it. This time your +deeds must give the name to the battle, and it must be called 'the +battle of La Rothiere.'" + +"Well, I do not care," said Blucher. "We have gained today, then, +the battle of La Rothiere, and, what is still better, we have shown +the French in their own country that Napoleon's invincibility is a +myth, and that he can be beaten as well as any other general.--But +what is that? See there, Gneisenau! what sentinel is posted on the +road yonder?" + +In fact, a dark form on horseback halted by the roadside; the flames +of the burning village rose higher, and shed a light on the +stranger. It was a man dressed in the uniform of a hussar; a white, +blood-stained handkerchief was wrapped around his head and half his +face; his right arm was also bandaged, and in his mouth was a clay +pipe. + +"It is the pipe-master!" cried Blucher, quickly galloping up. + +"Yes, it is I--who should it be?" grumbled Christian. + +"But, Christian," exclaimed Blucher, "how in Heaven's name do you +look! And what are you doing here?" + +"I am waiting for Field-Marshal Blucher. Did you not tell me that I +was to wait for you here, and keep the pipe in order? Well, I did +wait for you, field-marshal. And you ask, too, how I look? Just like +one around whom the blue beans have been whizzing for hours past, +and whose head and arm have been scratched a great deal. You kept me +waiting a long time, field-marshal--more than four hours! The French +have shot pipe after pipe from my mouth, and this is the last I +have. If you had not come soon, it would have been smashed, too." + +"No," said Blucher, smiling, "the French will not break another pipe +of mine to-day, Christian, for they have taken to their heels. It is +true, however, I have kept you waiting a long time. But that was the +fault of the French; they resisted with the greatest obstinacy, For +the rest, Christian, you had a pipe of tobacco at least during the +whole time that you were waiting, and did not fare so badly after +all; as for your wounds, I shall have them well attended to, my boy. +You have behaved as a brave man, and stood fire as a genuine soldier +ought to do. When we get home I will relate it to your old father, +and he will rejoice over it. Now, give me the pipe; it will be the +last that you will fill for me for some time to come, for you are +disabled; your right arm is shattered, and you must be cured." + +"Well," exclaimed Christian, "with my left hand I can fill your +pipes. I am and must be Field-Marshal Blucher's pipe-master, and, if +they do not shoot off my head, I will not give up my position!" + +On the following day Blucher received at the castle of Brienne the +congratulations and thanks of the allied monarchs. The Emperor +Alexander embraced him, and his eyes were filled with tears of +joyful emotion. "Field-marshal," he said, "you have crowned all your +former efforts by this glorious triumph. I do not know how we are to +reward you for this. But I know we must admire and love you." + +King Frederick William shook hands with Blucher, and a smile +illuminated his features. "Blucher," he said, mildly, "you have kept +your word; you have fulfilled all that you promised us at Frankfort, +when I informed you of your appointment to the command-in-chief. To- +day you have blotted out the disgrace of Jena. Have you any wish +which I am able to fulfil? Pray let me know it, for I should like to +prove to you my gratitude and love." + +"I have a wish, and before it is gratified, I shall neither sleep +well by night nor be calm by day. Now your majesties are quite able +to grant this wish of mine, and therefore I urgently pray both of +you to do so." + +"Tell us what it is!" exclaimed the emperor; "I am anxious to grant +it as far as I am concerned, for an heroic head like yours must not +lie uneasy at night, and a childlike heart like yours must be +content. Speak, then!" + +"Ah, sire," said the king, smiling, and fixing a searching look on +Blucher's bold face, "sire, beware of promising, for then he will +leave us no rest; he will not even let us sleep at night until he +has driven us to Paris.--That is your wish, Blucher, is it not?" + +"It is!" exclaimed Blucher, ardently. "That is my wish; and, as your +majesty has called upon me to tell you something that you could +grant, and as his majesty the emperor tells me, too, that he would +like to gratify me--I say, let us now set out by forced marches for +Paris. Let us advance with all our armies on the capital, for then +the war will soon be over. I implore your majesties, let us proceed +quickly. Let us give Bonaparte no time for heading us off; but let +us outstrip him moving on Paris, and, if need be, take the city by +storm. When Paris falls all France is ours, and the war is over!" + +"Well, what says your majesty?" asked Alexander, turning toward the +king. "Shall we comply with the wish of our young madcap?" + +"Sire, as far as I am concerned, I have pledged him my word," said +Frederick William; "hence, I must keep it." + +"And I assent with the greatest pleasure, sire," exclaimed +Alexander; "let us march on Paris, then; but we should agree as to +the best way of doing so." + +"Well, we have invited our generals to hold a council of war, and I +believe they are waiting for us now," said the king. "Come, +therefore, sire; and you, Blucher, pray accompany us. One thing is +settled: we shall march on Paris in accordance with your wish--only +we have to select the routes which the various columns of the army +are to take, for they are too large to move by the same road; they +could not find the necessary supplies in the same section of +country. We must divide them, and that is the question which we +shall now discuss with our generals." + +"I do not care about that," replied Blucher, merrily; "if the chief +point is settled, all the rest is indifferent to me; I shall obey +the orders of my king, and be content with the route selected for me +and my corps. The point is--we must profit by our victory and +outstrip Bonaparte! We must take Paris!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +THE DISEASED EYES. + + +Upward of a month had elapsed since the victory of La Rothiere, and +Blucher's ardent wish had not yet been fulfilled; the allies were +not in Paris. The system of procrastination had again obtained the +upper hand at the headquarters of the allies. Austria hesitated to +use her power in a decisive manner against Napoleon, the emperor's +son-in-law; the crown prince of Sweden wished to spare France, and +was still in hope that the congress, which had been in session at +Chatillon since the 4th of February, would conclude a treaty of +peace. Among the very attendants of the Emperor of Russia and the +King of Prussia this peace party had its active supporters, who +opposed an energetic policy, and wished the congress of Chatillon, +and not the army, to put an end to the war. + +Blucher once had dared openly to oppose these "peace apostles," and +disregarded the instructions received from the allied monarchs to +move farther back from Paris, and, instead of crossing the Seine, +retreat with his army to Chaumont and Langres. This order filled the +field-marshal with anger, and his generals and staff-officers shared +it. Great as he was in all his actions, Blucher took the bold +resolution to pay no attention to the retrograde movements of +Schwartzenberg and the crown prince of Sweden, but to continue his +march, even at the risk of appearing in front of Paris without +support. + +But it was not as a rebel that he had wished to take so daring a +step; on the contrary, before moving, he wrote to King Frederick +William, and implored him to fulfil his wish, and allow him to +advance. He did not wait, however, for the king's answer, but, +though he knew that the commander-in-chief, Prince Schwartzenberg, +had already commenced retreating, continued to march with his +Silesian army alone upon the capital of France. + +The monarchs themselves were of Blucher's opinion, and gave him full +power, having his army reenforced by the corps of Bulow and +Winzingerode. With his forces thus increased to twice their original +strength, he was able to confront Napoleon, and attack Paris even +without Schwartzenberg's assistance. But the fortune of war is +fickle, and he did not continue his march without experiencing this. +On the 7th of March he fought a bloody battle with Napoleon and his +marshals between Soissons and Craonne, and, to his profound regret, +was defeated, and forced to retreat. + +He took revenge at Laon, where he and his brave Silesian army gained +a victory on the 9th of March. This was followed by still another. +He at length silenced the "trubsalsspritzen" and "peace apostles," +who had up to this time raised their influential voices at +headquarters. All felt that a retreat, after this great victory, was +entirely out of the question, and even Schwartzenberg and Bernadotte +joined in Blucher's "Forward!" and marched their armies to Paris. + +But the brave field-marshal himself was at this time unable to join +in the movement. Since the battle of Laon he had been affected with +a violent inflammation of the eyes, aggravated by a fever. Confined +to his dark room, he was obliged to remain ten days at Laon, +suffering not only physical but mental pain. For how could he redeem +his pledge--how achieve a final victory over Napoleon--if, half- +blind and doomed to the captivity of a sick-room, he could not march +with his troops, and lead them in person into battle? Regardless of +the warnings of his physicians, he tried to brave his sufferings, +and, putting himself at the head of his troops, again advanced with +them. Finally, on the 24th of March, by way of Rheims, he arrived at +Chalons. But the inflammation of his eyes had grown worse on the +road, and gave him intolerable pain; the fever sent his blood like +fire through his veins, and what neither age, nor defeat, nor +disappointed hope, had been able to accomplish, was accomplished by +sickness. He grew faint-hearted--his disease destroyed his +enthusiasm. Longing for tranquillity, he remembered how beautiful +and peaceful his dear Kunzendorf was, how kind and mild the sweet +face of his Amelia, and with what soft hands she would wash his +inflamed eyes, and apply the remedies. + +During the last march from Rheims to Chalons he constantly thought +of this. At length he made up his mind, and no sooner had he arrived +at Chalons than he sent for Hennemann, and locked himself in his +room with him. + +"Christian," said Blucher, in a subdued voice, "I am going to see +whether you are really a faithful fellow, and whether I may confide +something to you." + +"Very well, field-marshal, put me to the test." + +"Not so loud!" cried Biucher, anxiously. "Let us first discover +whether any one can hear us here." He opened the door, and looked +into the antechamber. No one was there. He then examined the dark +alcove adjoining the sitting-room, which was empty, too. "We are +alone; no one can overhear us," said Blucher, returning from his +reconnoissance to the sitting-room. "Now, pipe-master, listen to me. +First, however, look at my eyes, do you hear; look closely at them. +Well, how do they look?" + +"Very sore," said Christian, mournfully. + +"And they have not grown better, though Voelzke, the surgeon-general +has been doctoring them every day; and, by his salves, mixtures, +leeches, and blisters, causing me almost as much pain as the eyes +themselves. Nay, they grow rather worse from day to day, and if I +remain here longer, and allow the physicians to torment me, I shall +finally lose my eyesight altogether, and when I am blind, I shall be +of no account--unable to use my sword and fight Bonaparte. I am +afraid the good God will not permit me to pull down Bonaparte from +his throne. He knows I should then be too happy, and therefore says, +'Gotthold Leberecht Blucher, I have permitted thee to bring +Bonaparte to the brink of ruin; now thine armies are close to Paris, +and will, without thee, get into the city. Go, therefore, old boy, +and have thine eyes cured!' Well, I will comply with God's will, and +go to some place and have myself healed, where they know better how +to do it than our doctors here. I have been told that there are +excellent oculists at Brussels, and Brussels is not very far from +here. I will, therefore, go there." + +"The field-marshal intends to retreat, then?" said Christian, +laconically. + +"Retreat!" cried Blucher, angrily. "Who takes the liberty of saying +that Field-Marshal Blucher intends to retreat?" + +"I take that liberty," said Christian. "The field-marshal intends to +retreat from the inflammation of his eyes." + +"Why, yes; that is an enemy from which it is no disgrace to +retreat." + +"A retreat is always a retreat," said Christian, with a shrug, "and +if you carry out your intention you will no longer be called Marshal +Forward!" + +"I do not care to be called so now!" exclaimed Blucher. "The +inflammation of my eyes has made me desperate; I shall lose my sight +if I stay here, and then they will lead me by the nose like a blind +bear. There is no use in talking any more about it; I will and must +go. If you do not wish to accompany me say so, and you may stay +here." + +"If you go, then I will too," said Christian, with his usual +calmness, "for where the field-marshal is the pipe-master must be; +that is a matter of course. I have pledged my word to my father, to +Madame von Blucher, and to the good God, that I would never leave my +general, and it makes no difference if he is field-marshal now. If +they do not shoot me, I shall stay with my field-marshal." + +"Christian," said Blucher, offering him his hand, "you are a dear +boy; your heart is in the right place, and it is always the best +thing in a man. When we get back to Kunzendorf you shall lead a very +pleasant life, for I can never forget what a faithful and excellent +young fellow you have been. Then you will go with me?" + +"Yes, to the end of the world, general!" + +"Well, we shall not go so far as that--only to Brussels, where there +are good oculists; and when they have cured me, I will see whether +they still need me here, and whether every thing has then been done +to my liking." + +"Oh, I believe it will be then as it is now," said Christian, in a +contemptuous tone. "When Marshal Forward is no longer here, things +will go backward, that is sure. But we need not care, for we shall +go forward to Brussels." + +"Yes, to Brussels," said Blucher; "we set out to-night; but no one +must know it; I will leave as quietly as possible. I cannot stand +bidding them all farewell, and listening to their fine speeches; I +will leave, therefore, so that no one shall discover it before I am +gone." + +"A secret flight!" said Christian, laconically. + +"Secret flight? how stupid!" grumbled Blucher. "It is strange what +ridiculous words the boy uses! How a flight? I believe I am no +prisoner." + +"No, but you are field-marshal." + +Blucher's red eyes cast an angry glance on the bold pipe-master. +"You talk as you understand it," he cried; "when I am a poor blind +fellow, swallowing powders and using salves all day I am no longer a +field-marshal and had better resign, not waiting to be deposed by a +few polite phrases. That is the reason why I am going to leave." + +"And I leave, too," said Christian; "but as the field-marshal does +not wish me to say any thing about it, of course I shall not. But +how are we to get away, if no one is to be informed?" + +"Well, listen! I will tell you. I have already devised the whole +plan of operations, and--but, hark! something seems moving in the +alcove, as if a door opened." + +"There is no door in the alcove," said Christian; "it was, perhaps, +a mouse, and it tells no tales. Inform me, field-marshal, what I +have to do." + +"Well, listen, Christian!" And the field-marshal began to explain to +him, in his vivacious manner, the whole plan of his departure. +Christian comprehended it, and entered very seriously into the +duties of quartermaster-general to his field-marshal. + +"Do you remember it all now?" asked Blucher, at the conclusion of +their conference. "Do you know all that you have to do?" + +"I know all," said Christian. "In the first place, I am to go to +General Gneisenau and inform him that the field-marshal is sick and +confined to his bed to-day, and refuses to see any one. General +Gneisenau will mention it, of course, to Surgeon-General Dr. +Voelzke, who will come to see the field-marshal. I am to tell him +that he is in so much pain from his inflamed eyes that he had +ordered me to admit no one--that he is trying to sleep. Then I am to +come back to you, and your excellency will give me the farewell +letters to General Gneisenau, whereupon I am to pack up your things +and lock the bags. When it grows dark, I am to carry them secretly +into our carriage. Then it will suddenly occur to your excellency to +take an airing, the sun having set, and therefore unable to hurt +your eyes. I am to accompany you, and we shall not come back." + +"No, we shall not come back," said Blucher, thoughtfully. "Well, +every thing is settled now; run, and attend to what I told you. We +shall set out at seven o'clock to-night." + +Christian hastened away. Blucher looked after him with a mournful +glance and a deep sigh. "The die is cast," he murmured to himself; +"now I am indeed a poor old invalid, no longer of any use. God has +refused to fulfil my dearest wish; He would not let me hurl +Bonaparte from his stolen throne. I must face about at the gates of +Paris, and creep back into obscurity. Well, let God's will be done! +I have labored as long as there was daylight; now comes the night, +when I can work no more. Ah, my poor sore eyes! I--but there is, +after all, some one in the alcove," cried Blucher, springing to his +feet. Again he heard a noise as of footsteps, and an opening door. +He bounded into the alcove, but all was still; no one was there, and +no door to be seen. "I was mistaken," he said. "A bad conscience is +a very queer thing. Because I am about to do something secret, I am +thinking that eavesdroppers are watching me and trying to forestall +me." + +It was seven in the evening; the sun had set. Field-Marshal Blucher, +who was very sick all day, now intended to take an airing. The pipe- +master had, therefore, ordered the coachman; and the field-marshal's +carriage, drawn by four black horses, had just come to the door. +Blucher was still in his room, but all his preparations were +completed. On the table lay two letters--one addressed to the king, +the other to General Gneisenau; the carpet-bags had already been +conveyed into the carriage, together with his pipe-box. The invalid +had only to wrap himself in his military cloak, leave the room, and +enter the carriage; but he still hesitated. An anxiety, such as he +had never known before, had crept over him; and, what had never +before happened to him, his heart beat with fear. "That was just +wanting to me," he murmured. "I have become a white-livered coward, +whose legs are trembling, and whose heart is throbbing! What am I +afraid of, then? Is that wrong which I am about to do? My heart has +never acted thus even in the storm of battle. What does it mean? +Bah! it is folly; no attention should be paid to it. I hope, +however, that no one will meet me when I go down-stairs, or at the +carriage when I enter it. Let me see if there is any one in the +street." He quickly stepped to the window and looked out; there was +no one in the street, or near his carriage. "I will go now," said +Blucher, turning again toward the room. "I--" He paused, and a blush +suffused his cheeks. There, in the middle of the room, stood General +Gneisenau, and gazed at him with a strange, mournful air. +"Gneisenau, is it you?" asked Blucher, in a faltering voice. "How +did you get in?" + +"Simply by the door, your excellency," said Gneisenau, smiling. +"Your pipe-master kept the door closed all day, and turned me away +by informing me the field-marshal had ordered him to admit no one, +because he wished to sleep; but my desire to see you brought me back +again and again, and so I have come, fortunately at the opportune +hour, when the Cerberus is no longer at the door, but is standing +below at the carriage, waiting for the field-marshal, who intends to +take an airing." + +"Yes, I do," said Blucher, casting an anxious glance on the two +letters lying on the table. "I do intend to take an airing; good-by, +then, Gneisenau!" He turned toward the door, but Gneisenau kept him +back. "Your excellency must not ride out to-night," he said; "I +implore you not to do so. There is a cold wind, and you must not +expose your inflamed eyes to it. You are not careful enough of your +health; Surgeon-General Voelzke complains of the little attention +you pay to his proscriptions, and that your eyes, instead of getting +better, are growing worse and worse." + +"Yes, that is true," grumbled Blucher, "they are burning like fire. +I will go out, therefore; the night-wind will cool them." + +He turned again toward the door, but at this moment it was thrust +open, and Surgeon-General Voelzke entered the room. "I am told your +excellency intends to take an airing," said the physician, almost +indignantly. "But I declare that I cannot permit it. You have +intrusted yourself to my treatment; I am responsible to God, to the +king, to the whole world--nay, to history, if I allow you to rush so +recklessly to destruction; I will not suffer it; your excellency +must not ride out!" + +"I should like to see who is to prevent me!" cried Blucher, striding +toward the door. + +"The physician will prevent you," said Voelzke, standing in the +doorway with his large, tall form. "The physician has the right of +giving orders to kings and emperors, and Marshal Forward has to +submit to his commands, too." + +"I do not think of it," said Blucher; "I do not permit any one to +give me orders." + +"Not even your disease--your inflamed eyes?" asked Voelzke, +solemnly. "Did you not obey when your fever and inflamed eyes +commanded you to remain idle at Laon for ten days, although you were +in a towering passion, and were bent on advancing with the army? +Well, your excellency, I tell you, if you do not now obey me. and +consent to desist from taking an airing--if you are determined to +ride out in the cold night-air, one more powerful than I am will +compel you to obey; and that one is your disease. You may ride out +today, but to-morrow it will command you to keep your bed, the +inflammation of your eyes will make you a prisoner, and you will be +unable to flee from it, notwithstanding your imperious will, or your +four-horsed carriage." + +"Well, well," said Blucher, "you put on such solemn airs as almost +to frighten me. It is true, my disease is very powerful, and this +soreness of my eyes has already rendered me so desperate that--" + +"That your excellency has written letters," interposed Gneisenau, +pointing to the table. "But, what do I see? There is one addressed +to me!" + +"No, give it to me," cried Blucher, embarrassed; "now that you are +here, I can tell you every thing verbally, and it is unnecessary for +you to read what I have written." + +He was about to seize the letter, but Gneisenau drew hack a step, +and, bowing deeply said, "Your excellency has done me the honor of +writing to me. Permit me, therefore, to read." He stepped quickly +into the window-niche, and opened the letter. + +"Well, stand back there, doctor," cried Blucher, "let me out! Do not +make me angry; leave the door!" + +"I do not care if you are angry, your excellency," said the surgeon- +general, folding his arms, "but in order to get me out of this +doorway you will have to kill me." + +At this moment, Gneisenau uttered a cry of terror, and hastened +toward Blucher. "What! your excellency," he exclaimed, "you intend +to leave us? To set out secretly?" + +"What do you say?" thundered the physician. "What did my patient +intend to do?" + +"He intends to forsake us--his army that worships him, his friends +who idolize him, his king who hopes in him--he intends to leave us +all!" said Gneisenau, mournfully. "It is written here, doctor; I may +mention it to you, for you are one of our most devoted friends." + +"And he intends also to leave his physician; he will go, and get +blind!" exclaimed Voelzke, reproachfully. + +"Well, it is precisely because I do not wish to get blind that I +must move from here," said Blucher, who had now recovered his +firmness, and felt relieved, since his secret had been disclosed. +"What am I, a poor blind old man, to do longer in the field? I am +fit for nothing. In the end I shall perhaps fare like old Kutusoff, +whom they dragged along with the army. Thus would they drag me when +I am no longer myself." [Footnote: Blucher's words.--Vide Varnhagun, +"Prince Blucher of Wahlstatt," p. 373] + +"But," said the physician, "your excellency is not blind; you will +be well in two weeks if you only resolve to comply with my +prescriptions, use the remedies I give you, and punctually obey my +instructions. You intend to go to Brussels, where you will certainly +find celebrated physicians; but they do not know you; they will only +doctor your eyes, not suspecting that the seat of your disease is in +your nerves, and that your eyes are unhealthy because your mind is +suffering. And it will suffer still more when you have deserted your +army, your friends--nay, I may say, your duty. The strange +surroundings, the want of care, the unknown physicians, your anxiety +at being ignorant of what the army is doing--all this will torture +your soul, and aggravate the disease of your eyes." + +"It is true, I shall be very lonely in a foreign city," said +Blucher, thoughtfully; "but it is, after all, better than to stay +here as a useless, blind old man. I can never again command an army +or direct a battle." + +"If you cannot command an army in person, you can by your words," +exclaimed Gneisenau; "and if you cannot direct the battle with your +arms, you can do so with your spirit; for that fires our hearts as +long as you are with us, and bids defiance to the adversaries and +hesitating diplomatists. If your person leaves us, your spirit does +also, and with Marshal Forward we lose all prospect of marching +forward. Consider this, your excellency; consider that you endanger +not only the welfare of your army, but the success of the war; for +when you are not present, all will go wrong." + +"Well, you will be here, Gneisenau," said Blucher; "you are half +myself; you know my thoughts just as well as I do--nay, you often +know them much better! You will, therefore, carry on all just as +though I were still here." + +"But shall I have the power to do so?" asked Gneisenau. "Your +excellency did not take into the account that when you leave the +army, and give up your position as commander-in-chief, another +general must be appointed in your stead. Who will receive this +nomination? The senior general is Langeron, and do you consider him +qualified to replace you?" + +"Well, that would be a pretty thing, if HE should become commander- +in-chief!" cried Blucher. "The confusion and wrangling that would +ensue would baffle description; for York and Bulow would be even +more disobedient to him than they are to me." + +"But he would have to take command of the army until orders from +headquarters arrived appointing another general-in-chief. We might +have to wait a long time; for we are distant from the allied +monarchs now, and they, moreover, will not hasten to make that +appointment. Until this is done, Langeron will command the army, and +thereby I, the quartermaster-general, as well as Colonels Muffling +and Grolman, will be completely paralyzed in the discharge of our +duties, or even lose our positions, which your excellency has always +said we filled to your satisfaction, and in a manner conducive to +the welfare of the army. If you go now, you thereby deprive three +men of their places, although they feel strong enough yet to serve +their country." + +"It is true, I have not thought of that," said Blucher, embarrassed. +"It did not occur to me that I should have a successor here, and +that he might be so stupid as to be unable to appreciate my +Gneisenau, and the brave Colonels Muffling and Grolman. No, no, that +will not do; Langeron must not become commander-in-chief." + +"If you leave us, he will surely have that position, and our brave +Silesian army will then be headed by a Russian. No, field-marshal, +you must not go. You have no right to quit the army so arbitrarily, +and without the king's permission!" + +"Well, I should like to see who would prevent me!" cried Blucher, +defiantly. + +"Your noble soul, your devotion to duty, and your love of country, +will prevent you," said Gneisenau. "You will refuse to abandon your +work before it is completed. You will not incur the disgrace of +confessing to all the world that you are unable to fulfil your word- +-not to rest before having overthrown Napoleon, and made your +entrance into Paris. Nor will you tarnish your glory on account of +your eyes. You will not become a faithless father and friend to your +soldiers, whom you have so often greeted as your children, and who +have always confided in you; nor will you break our courage and +paralyze our souls by deserting us in this manner." + +"It is true, I did not think sufficiently on this matter," murmured +Blucher to himself--"Voelzke," he then cried aloud, "you pledge me +your word of honor that you can cure me?" + +"I swear it to your excellency by all that is sacred that, if you +take care of yourself, and comply with my prescriptions, you will be +cured in the course of two weeks." + +"Well," said Blucher, after a short reflection, "in that case I will +yield, and stay." + +"Heaven be praised, your excellency!" cried Gneisenau, tenderly +embracing Blucher, "you are still my noble field-marshal, who will +not desert his army, his fatherland, and his friends, for the sake +of his individual comfort." + +"Yes, I will stay," said Blucher; "but as I have to obey the grim +doctor there, and submit to his treatment thoroughly, as a matter of +course I cannot work and make the necessary dispositions, but leave +this to my head--to Gneisenau alone. I lend you my name for two +weeks, and know that you will make good use of it. But if at the end +of that time, doctor, I am not yet well, then, beware! May the Lord +have mercy on your soul! for you will certainly get yourself into +trouble." + +"Your excellency," cried a loud voice outside, at this moment--"your +excellency, are you not coming at all?" The door of the anteroom was +violently thrust open, and the pipe-master appeared on the +threshold. "It is past eight o'clock," he exclaimed, "and--" He +paused on perceiving the two gentlemen, and was about to retire very +quickly. + +"Come here, pipe-master," exclaimed Blucher, "come here and look at +me. Now tell me, pipe-master, have you been a chatterbox, after all, +and told these two gentlemen what was the object of our airing?" + +"No, your excellency; I have not uttered a word about it to any +one," replied the pipe-master, solemnly. "I have been as dumb as a +fish; only in secret have I complained of my distress; and, when +that did not relieve me, and I still felt as though my heart would +burst, I did what I have learned to do from the field-marshal: I +went to my room, closed the door, and swore in the most fearful +manner! That relieved my heart, and I proceeded to do all your +excellency charged me with." + +"First, therefore, you had to swear?" asked Blucher, drawing his +long mustache through his fingers. "You were, then, greatly +dissatisfied with my departure?" + +"I did not conceal it from your excellency. I told you honestly that +you would no longer be called Marshal Forward if you retreated." + +"Yes, retreat--that is just what he said," exclaimed Blucher, +laughing, and turning again toward the two gentlemen; "and when I +told him I would leave the army and set out for Brussels he remarked +that it was a secret flight." + +"The pipe-master is an honest man, who loves his master," said +Gneisenau, kindly smiling on him. "I have often and urgently begged +him to-day to announce me to the field-marshal; but he persisted in +replying that he was not allowed to do so, and that he was ordered +to admit no one." + +"And I would have given my little-finger, if I could have admitted +General Gneisenau, and Dr. Voelzke, too; for I knew that, as soon as +they would be with the field-marshal, his departure would not be +very soon. As they are here now--though I do not know how they got +here so unexpectedly--I suppose, field-marshal, we shall not set +out, and I may send the horses back to the stable?" + +"Yes, you may," said Blucher. "But wait, Christian, do not go yet; I +have first to say a few words to these gentlemen, and you may +listen. I will stay here, then, but on one condition. Will you +fulfil it?" + +"Yes, your excellency," cried Gneisenau and Voelzke at the same +time. + +"Well, tell me, then, how did you discover that I intended to start +to-day, the pipe-master having said nothing about it to you? For I +shall never believe that both of you could happen to come to me at +so unusual an hour, and without any reason. Reply--who told you that +I was about to leave?" + +"You yourself, your excellency," said Surgeon-General Voelzke. + +"What, I! What nonsense is this!" cried Blucher, laughing. + +"Yes, I heard it from yourself. Do you not remember that you heard a +mouse rustle in your alcove?" + +"To be sure, I did; I heard it twice." + +"Well, then, the mouse was myself! I discovered a small secret side- +door in your room, and desired to know whither it led. I therefore +thrust it open, and was in your alcove; just as I entered I heard +your voice, saying, 'It is settled, then, Christian, I shall set out +for Brussels to-night, but no one must know a word about it!' Your +excellency, I confess my crime: I stood and listened; only when the +pipe-master left your room did I softly creep away, too, and hasten +to General Gneisenau to inform him of what I had heard." + +"Let us examine the alcove more carefully, pipe-master," said +Blucher, "and see whether there is not somewhere else a secret door. +Well, you may go now, Hennemann, and send the horses back to the +stable." + +"Heaven be praised!" exclaimed Christian, hastening out of the room. +But scarcely had he closed the door, when he thrust it open again. +"Field-marshal," he said, "General von Pietrowitch, adjutant of the +Emperor of Russia, wishes to see your excellency immediately." + +"Come in, general," exclaimed Blucher; and offering his hand to the +officer, he asked hastily, "tell me, in the first place, general, +whether you bring good or bad news?" + +"I believe I bring what Marshal Forward would call good news," said +the general, smiling. "I come as a messenger from the emperor my +master, and the king your master, and am commissioned to inform you +of the determination taken at headquarters, and to obtain your +consent and cooperation." + +"Is it a secret mission?" asked Gneisenau. + +"On the contrary, the whole army will have to hear it tonight," said +the general. "My first news, then, is, that the congress of +Chatillou was dissolved on the 19th of March." + +"Without leading to any results?" asked Blucher, breathlessly. +"Without agreeing on a treaty of peace, or an armistice?" + +"Nothing of the kind, your excellency. The congress has had an +entirely opposite result--the speedy and energetic prosecution of +the war. All the diplomatists, and the Emperor Francis with them, +after the dissolution of the congress, retired southward to Dijon." + +"And Schwartzenberg?" cried Blucher. + +"Prince Schwartzenberg remained, and held a council of war with the +monarchs yesterday near Vitry. The result of this I am commissioned +to communicate to you. The resumption of the offensive against Paris +has been decided upon. Prince Schwartzenberg agrees with the +sovereigns that Paris is the decisive point, and that it is all- +important for us to cut off Napoleon from the capital, and take the +city before he is able to reach it. Prince Schwartzenberg, +therefore, sends word to your excellency that from this day all his +standards are turned toward Paris, and that the army of Bohemia is +marching in three columns. To-night they encamp at Fere Champeuoise, +where the headquarters of the allies are to be. Now, Prince +Schwartzenberg invites you to participate with the Silesian army in +this advance, starting at once, and advancing by the road of +Montmirail and La Ferte-sous-Jonarre, and then form a connection +with the army of Bohemia." [Footnote: Beitzke, vol. iii., p. 431.] + +"Yes, I shall certainly do so," joyfully cried Blucher. "Hurrah! +This is good news; now the word is not only with us, but everywhere, +'Forward!' Tell their majesties, and, above all, Prince +Schwartzenberg, that they have made me very happy, and have +performed a truly miraculous cure. I was sick and desponding; now, +since you have come, I am again well and in good spirits. I feel no +longer any pain, and my eyes will be all right again, now that they +know that they are to see the city of Paris. I thought that it would +come to this--that my brave brother Schwartzenberg would at length +agree with me. We shall soon now put an end to the war. Bonaparte +must be dethroned, and that speedily." [Footnote: Blucher's own +words.--Vide Varnhagen von Ense, "Blucher," p. 375.] + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +ON TO PARIS! + + +Napoleon's courage was not yet paralyzed; he had not yet given up +the struggle. His indomitable heart was still wrestling with +adversity, and hoping that he would be able to overcome it. It is +true, the disastrous battle of Bar-sur-Aube, where the army of +Bohemia had gained a victory on the 20th of March, had greatly +weighed him down; but a few days sufficed to restore his +determination and energy. On the 26th, when he arrived with his army +at St. Dizier, he had already devised new plans, and was again +resolved to give battle to the allies. "We are still strong," he +said to Caulaincourt, who had just joined him at St. Dizier. "We +have upward of fifty thousand men here. I have issued orders to +Marshals Marmont and Victor, as well as to all reinforcements that +are on the road from Paris, to join our army. When they arrive, my +forces will be eighty thousand, and the allies will not dare march +on Paris, where they will find me. If I can now induce them to +hesitate, and retard their operations a short time, by drawing +reinforcements from the neighboring fortresses of the Meuse and the +Moselle, I shall increase my army to upward of one hundred thousand, +and it will then be easy for me to delay the progress of the enemy +by constantly renewed attacks, and thus prolong the war." + +"But I am afraid, sire, you labor under a delusion as to one point: +that it is still possible for you to delay the progress of the +allies by any means whatever," sighed Caulaincourt. "I have examined +every thing on my trip to your majesty's headquarters; I have +conversed with every prisoner fallen into the hands of our troops, +and I do not believe that the army of Bohemia is in the rear of your +majesty, but that it has outstripped you, and is already on the road +to Paris." + +Napoleon shrugged his shoulders and stepped to the door, which he +opened, shouting, "The mayor of St. Dizier!" The corpulent form of +the mayor, who greeted the emperor with awkward obeisances, appeared +immediately. "Pray repeat your statements," said the emperor, "The +enemy's troops were here yesterday, were they not?" + +"They were, sire; all St. Dizier was occupied by them. It was +General Winzingerode, with the soldiers of the allies. They stated +that they were the vanguard of the principal army. General +Winzingerode inspected all the large houses in the city, and +reserved the best, adding that the Emperor of Russia and the King of +Prussia would arrive here tomorrow, and take up their quarters at +those houses; [Footnote: This was a stratagem, resorted to by +Winzingerode, in order to mislead Napoleon as to the march of the +allies.] but when the approach of your majesty was reported, the +enemy quickly left the city." + +"Very well; you may go," said Napoleon, motioning to the mayor to +leave the room.--"Well, Caulaincourt, have you satisfied yourself +now? Do you see now that the allies are not in our front, but still +in our rear?" + +"Sire, suppose it were a delusion, after all?" sighed Caulaincourt: +"Suppose the allies had devised this stratagem, to mislead your +majesty?--if none but Winzingerode's corps follow us, while the +principal army is hastening toward Paris by different routes? Oh, I +implore your majesty, do not suffer your keen eyes to be blinded by +false hopes! Look around and examine the evidences that confirm my +views, All the prisoners report that the armies of Bohemia and +Silesia have united, and are now marching on Paris. Besides, on our +way from Bar-sur-Aube to this place, we have nowhere met with large +columns of troops, and nothing whatever indicates the approach of +the enemy in force." + +"Well," cried Napoleon, vehemently, "if we have not met with the +enemy's forces, it may be because they are in full retreat toward +Lorraine, and that they are at last tired of carrying on a fruitless +struggle with me." [Footnote: Fain, "Manuscrit de 18l4," p. 142.] + +"Ah, your majesty still thinks that you are opposed only by the +timid and desponding enemies of former times!" said Caulaincourt, +sighing; "but this is a mistake, which will prove disastrous." + +"Ah!" cried Napoleon, vehemently, "you dare tell me that?" + +"Sire," said Caulaincourt, calmly, "it is my duty to tell you the +truth, and you are in duty bound to listen to it. [Footnote: +Caulaincourt's words,--"Memoires d'un Homme d'Etat," vol. xii., p. +292] Now, the truth is, that the allies are firmly determined to +carry on the war to the last extremity, and that, at the best, they +will leave to your majesty the frontiers of France as they were +under the Bourbons. I venture, therefore, once more to implore your +majesty to make peace; sire, peace at any cost! Perhaps it may be +time yet. Send me once more to the allied monarchs! Tell them that +you will now accept the ultimatum offered us at the congress of +Chatillon, and that you will content yourself with the frontiers of +France, as they were previous to the rise of the empire. Send me +with this declaration to the Emperor Alexander of Russia, who, at +the bottom of his heart, is still your friend!" + +"And whose devoted friend you are!" cried Napoleon. "Yes, you are +Alexander's servant, and not mine! You are a thorough Russian!" + +"No, sire, I am a Frenchman!" said Caulaincourt, proudly, looking +the emperor full in the face, "and I believe I prove it by imploring +your majesty to give peace to France and save your crown." + +"Ah, save my crown!" exclaimed Napoleon. "Who dares, then, threaten +my crown?" + +"Sire, the allies and the Bourbons. The former have issued a +proclamation, stating that they come to this country to make war on +the Emperor Napoleon, and not on France; and the Bourbons, who are +now in France, at the headquarters of the allies, have issued +another proclamation, calling upon the nation to return to its duty +and to the allegiance due to its legitimate king." + +"I am neither afraid of the allies nor of the Bourbons," said +Napoleon. "The French nation knows no Bourbons; it knows none but +ME, its emperor, and we two shall not break the faith we have +plighted to each other. We shall conquer together. Dare no longer +ask me to accept the ignominious terms of the congress of Chatillon. +It is better to die beneath the ruins of my throne than be at the +mercy of my enemies. The allies are in my rear, and the arrival of +reinforcements will soon enable me to give them battle; I shall win, +and it will be for me to dictate terms. Under the walls of Paris the +grave of the Russians will be dug. My dispositions have been made, +and I shall not fail." [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--Vide Constant, +"Memoires," vol. vi., p. 48.] + +Caulaincourt sighed, and gazed with an air of painful astonishment +on the serene face of the emperor. "Sire," he said, solemnly, "I +call Heaven to witness that I have tried my best to incline your +majesty to my prayers! You have refused to listen to me." + +"Because I am not at liberty to do so, Caulaincourt; and, besides, I +do not believe in your apprehensions. Suppose that Alexander and +Frederick William should determine to continue the war, there is a +third sovereign who will decide the matter--the Emperor Francis, my +father-in-law, and grand-father of the King of Rome. You see, +therefore, that, though the present prospects were unfavorable to +me, I should at least have nothing to fear from the Bourbons; for +the emperor will not permit his daughter to be robbed of her crown, +nor his grandson of his rightful inheritance." + +"Sire," said Caulaincourt, in a low voice, "do not rely too much on +the attachment of the Emperor Francis. I know that, though he is +your father-in-law, he has never forgotten the day when, after the +battle of Austerlitz, he met you as an humble supplicant at your +camp-fire, and begged you to spare him and make peace with him. I +know that that recollection has greater power over him than any +bonds of relationship. I know that Metternich, who is still devoted +to your majesty, vainly tried a few days ago to prevail upon the +Emperor Francis to intercede energetically with the other monarchs +for his son-in-law and daughter, and that he unsuccessfully urged +him to take into consideration the future of his grandson, the King +of Rome." + +"And what did the emperor reply?" asked Napoleon, quickly. + +"Sire, the emperor replied, in his strong Austrian dialect, 'Do not +always talk to me about the child! I have at home many children of +whom I ought to think first.'" [Footnote: The Emperor Francis said: +"Rodt's mier nit alleweil von dem Kind; bei mier z' Haus hab' ich +gar vielle Kinder, an die ich z'erst denken muess."--Hormayr, +"Lebensbllder," vol. i., p. 98.] + +"That is not true; he did not say so!" cried Napoleon. + +"Sire, he did; Prince Metternich told me so." + +Napoleon paused a moment. A low knocking at the door interrupted his +meditation. One of the adjutants entered, and reported that the +emperor's equerry, Count Saint-Aignan, whom the emperor had +intrusted with a mission, had returned, and requested an audience of +his majesty. The emperor himself hastened to the door, and eagerly +motioned to the count to approach. "Well, Saint-Aignan," he asked, +"what did you find? How is the disposition of the people in the +south of France?" + +"Sire," said the count, mournfully, "I bring no news that will +gladden your majesty's heart. Southern France is discontented; the +people are complaining of the duration of the war; they desire peace +at any price, and are disposed to resort to extreme measures in +order to reestablish it." + +"What does that mean?" asked the emperor. "I do not understand you; +express yourself more distinctly." + +"Well, then, sire, the people there have read the proclamation of +the Bourbons, and think of reinstating them, for the purpose of +putting an end to the war." + +"They will not dare to do that," cried Napoleon, casting an angry +glance on Saint-Aignan. + +"They have already, sire," said the count. "The city of Bordeaux has +declared for the Bourbons, and the Count d'Artois, as well as the +Duke and Duchess d'Angouleme, have made their entrance into the +city, and--" + +"And have been received with enthusiasm by the population!" cried +Napoleon. "Pray, finish your sentence, and tell me so. Add that the +inhabitants of Bordeaux have returned to their duty, and that you, +too, have discovered what your duty is, and that you intend to +return to the legitimate rulers of France! Go! I permit you; I +relieve you of the duties of your office! Go to the Bourbons!" + +Count Saint-Aignan did not stir; pallor overspread his cheeks; his +eyes, fixed on the emperor with an indescribable expression of +grief, filled with tears, and his quivering lips were unable to +speak. + +"Sire," said the Duke de Vicenza, "your majesty does injustice to +the count. You commanded him to give a reliable report of his +mission; he was not at liberty, therefore, to conceal any thing, but +was obliged to tell you the whole truth." + +"The truth!" cried Napoleon, violently stamping, "that which you +fear or desire you call the truth! You all see through the colored +spectacles of your anxiety, and would compel me to do so, too; but I +will not; my eyes are open, and see things as they are. Go, Count +Saint-Aignan; your report is finished!" The count, with a sigh, +approached the door, and, slowly walking backward, left the room. +"The Bourbons!" murmured Napoleon to himself; "they shall not dare +to threaten me with this spectre! There are no Bourbons! I am the +Emperor of France, and it is to me alone that the French nation owes +allegiance!" He looked thoughtfully, with a dark and wrinkled +forehead, but, presently lifting his head--"Oh, Caulaincourt," he +exclaimed, "I will personally satisfy myself whether the army of the +allies is really in our rear, or whether your fears are well +grounded. Let us set out for Vitry!" + +"Heaven be praised!" replied the Duke de Vicenza, joyfully. "All is +not yet lost; for Vitry is on the road to Paris." + +On the following morning the emperor moved with his forces toward +Vitry, and took up his quarters at Marolles, a short distance from +the little fortress. Here at length he was to find out the true +state of affairs. He was met by inhabitants of Fere Champenoise, who +had fled to Marolles, and informed him that Marshals Marmont and +Mortier had suffered decisive defeats at the hands of the allies; +that the divisions of General Pacthod and Aurey had been +annihilated, and that the united armies of Bohemia and Silesia were +in rapid march on Paris. + +An expression of terror passed over the face of Napoleon, and his +equanimity seemed to be shaken; but he soon overcame the effect of +this news, calmly remarking, "Well, if the allies are marching on +Paris, we must march too." + +"Yes, on to Paris!" cried the marshals. "That is the most important +point in present circumstances, and it can be defended, if the +emperor hasten with his army." + +"On to Paris, then!" exclaimed Napoleon. "But we must move with the +speed of the wind!" He appeared to have regained his whole energy; +his eyes beamed again, his face resumed its old determination, and +he issued his orders in a firm and cheerful voice. + +It was all-important to defend the emperor's throne at Paris, and to +protect the inheritance of the King of Rome from the allies and the +Bourbons. Forward, then, by forced marches! Napoleon's headquarters +were soon at Montier-en-Der--much nearer the capital. On the 28th of +March he reached Doulerant, when a horseman, covered with dust, pale +and breathless, coming from the direction of the capital, galloped +up to the head of the column. "Where is the emperor?" he cried. +Having been conducted to him, "Sire," he whispered, "I am sent by +the postmaster-general, your faithful Count La Valette, to deliver +this paper." + +The emperor unfolded the paper and read. A slight tremor pervaded +his frame, and his eyes grew gloomier. He cast another glance on the +paper, and then, seizing it with his teeth, he tore it to pieces. +None but himself was to learn the contents of that paper, which +read: "The adherents of the invaders, encouraged by the defection of +Bordeaux, are raising their heads; secret intrigues are helping +them. The emperor's presence is necessary, if he wishes to prevent +his capital from being delivered into the hands of the enemy. We +must march immediately. Not a moment is to be lost." [Footnote: +Fain, "Manuscrit de 1814."] + +"Forward!" shouted the emperor. "We must hasten to Paris, and be +there to-morrow!" The emperor, with the cavalry of his guard, headed +the column. His countenance was still calm and impenetrable; but at +times a gleam lit up his sombre eyes, as he moved on in a violent +thunderstorm. + +Another courier galloped up and asked for the emperor. "Announce me +to him. The lieutenant-general of the empire, King Joseph, the +emperor's brother, sends me." + +He was conducted to Napoleon, who received him with the words, "News +from my brother in Paris? Give me your dispatch!" + +"Sire, I have no dispatch to deliver; dispatches may be lost, or +revealed if their bearer should be arrested; but memory betrays +nothing. I have ridden from Paris in fourteen hours. Here are my +credentials, King Joseph's signet-ring." + +"I recognize it. Speak!" By a wave of his hand Napoleon ordered the +marshals to retire, and, bending his head toward his brother's +messenger, he repeated calmly, "Speak!" + +"Sire," whispered the messenger, "the king informs your majesty that +the allies are near Paris; that Marshals Marmont and Mortier, though +determined to defend the capital, have no hope of holding their +positions. The king implores your majesty most urgently to leave +nothing undone to hasten to the assistance of your capital." +[Footnote: Fain, "Manuscrit de 1814."] + +Having heard this message, the emperor's face was unveiled; it was +quivering with anguish, and his eyes turned to heaven in despair. +"Oh, if I had wings!" he cried, in an outburst of grief; "if I could +be in Paris at this hour!" Then he became silent, and his head sank +on his breast. His generals surrounded him, when he lifted his head +again with drops of sweat on his forehead, but his face resumed its +wonted calmness. "General Dejean," he cried, in a powerful voice, +"ride to Paris as fast as you can. Inform my brother that I am +making a forced march to the capital. Hasten then to Marmont and +Mortier; tell them to resist to the last, and leave nothing untried +in order to hold out but for two days. In that time I shall be in +front of Paris, and it is safe! Marmont is to dispatch a courier to +Prince Schwartzenberg, and inform him that I have sent an envoy to +the Emperor Francis with propositions leading to peace. +Schwartzenberg will hesitate, and we shall gain time. Haste, Dejean, +and remember that the fate of my capital rests with you!" + +When General Dejean rode off, Napoleon sought his faithful friend, +the Duke de Vicenza. He was by his side before the emperor had +uttered his name. "Caulaincourt," he said, in a gentle voice, "you +were right. I have lost two days. I might now be in Paris. Fate is +behind me, intent on crushing me, and death itself refuses to take +me! At the battle of Bar-sur-Aube I did all I could to die while +defending my country. I plunged into the thickest of the fight; the +balls tore my clothes, and yet not one of them injured me. I am a +man doomed to live [Footnote: Napoleon's words.--"Vide Bausset's +Memoires," vol. ii., p. 246.]--a man that, for the welfare of his +people, is to subscribe his own humiliation and disgrace! +Caulaincourt, go to the Emperor Francis of Austria. Tell him I +accept the ultimatum which the allies offered me at Chatillon. I +sign the death-warrant of my glory! Hasten! And now, forward! In two +days we must reach Paris!" + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +DEPARTURE OF MARIA LOUISA. + + +On the same day, and nearly at the same hour of the 29th of March, +while the emperor was moving with his troops toward Paris, a scene +of an entirely different description took place at the rooms of the +empress, his consort, in the Tuileries. Napoleon, in his despair, +wished for wings to fly to Paris; Maria Louisa, in her anguish, +wished for wings to fly away from Paris; for the enemy was at its +gates, and it was plain that the city must either capitulate or run +the risk of an assault. + +As yet Maria Louisa called the allies threatening the throne of her +husband, and the inheritance of her son, her enemies, although her +own father was among them. She deemed herself in duty bound to stand +by her husband, to brave the vicissitudes of fortune jointly with +him, and obey his will. The emperor desired that his consort and his +son should not remain in the city if any danger should menace them. +When the news reached the Tuileries that the allies had arrived at +the walls of Paris, and it became obvious that the corps of Marmont +and Mortier were not strong enough to withstand the armies of the +enemy, King Joseph, the lieutenant of the emperor, summoned the +regent, Maria Louisa, and the council of state, to deliberate on the +grave question whether or not the empress and the King of Rome +should remain, or be withdrawn to a place of safety beyond the +Loire. + +The decision was left with Maria Louisa; but the regent had declared +it was not for her to settle this question; it was for the very +purpose of advising her and guiding her steps that the emperor had +associated the council of state with her. King Joseph produced a +letter from Napoleon of a nature to indicate his wishes. It was +dated Rheims, 15th of March, and read: + + "In accordance with the verbal instructions which I have + given, and with the spirit of all my letters, you are in no + event to permit the empress and the King of Rome to fall into + the hands of the enemy. I am about to manoeuvre in such a + manner that you may possibly be several days without hearing + from me. Should the enemy advance upon Paris with such + forces as to render all resistance impossible, send off in the + direction of the Loire the empress, the King of Rome, the + great dignitaries, the ministers, the officers of the senate, + the president of the council of state, the great officers of + the crown, and the treasure. Never quit my son; and keep in + mind that I would rather see him in the Seine than in the + hands of the enemies of France! The fate of Astyanax, a + prisoner in the hands of the Greeks, has always appeared to + me the most deplorable in history." + + "Your brother, NAPOLEON." + +[Footnote: Baron de Meneval, "Marie Louise et Napoleon," vol. ii., +p. 230.] + +This, of course, put an end to all debate. The emperor's precise and +final order, providing for the very case which had occurred, could +not be disregarded, and Maria Louisa accordingly determined to leave +with her son and her suite for Rambouillet. The morning of the 29th +of March was fixed for the departure. The travelling-carriages, +loaded with baggage, stood in the court-yard of the Tuileries; but +Maria Louisa still hesitated. Her travelling-toilet was completed; +her ladies were with her in the reception-room, filled with persons +forming the cortege of the empress. All entered in mournful silence, +and to their bows the empress responded only with a nod. Her eyes, +red with weeping, were fixed on the door; she awaited in suspense +the return of King Joseph, who had left the Tuileries at daybreak, +and had gone to the gates of Paris to reconnoitre the enemy's +position. At first the departure was to have taken place at eight in +the morning; now it was past nine, and King Joseph had not yet +returned. + +This unexpected delay increased the anxiety. None dared interrupt +the breathless silence reigning in the apartment; only here and +there some one whispered, and, whenever a door opened, all started +and turned anxiously toward it, as if expecting a bearer of sad +tidings. The face of the empress was pale and agitated; her form +trembled; at times she turned toward her ladies, who stood behind +her, and addressed to them some almost inaudible question, not +waiting for a reply, but looking again toward the door, or inclining +her head on her bosom. + +Suddenly the door was opened, and on the threshold appeared the +little King of Rome, followed by his governess, Madame de +Montesquieu. The boy's face did not exhibit today its air of +childlike mirth, which usually beamed like sunshine from his +beautiful features. No smile was on his fresh lips, and his lustrous +eyes were dimmed. With a sullen face and without looking at any one, +the child, so intelligent for his years, stepped through the room +directly toward his mother. "Mamma empress," he said, in his silvery +voice, "my 'Quiou says that we are about to leave Paris, and shall +no longer live at the Tuileries. Is that true, mamma?" + +"Yes, my son, we must leave," said the empress, in a low voice, "but +we shall return." + +"We MUST leave?" inquired the little king. "But my papa once said to +me, the word 'must' is not for me, and I do not want it either, and +I pray my dear mamma not to leave Paris with me." + +"But the emperor himself wishes us to leave, Napoleon," said the +empress, sighing, and with some displeasure. "Your papa has ordered +us to depart if the enemy should come." + +"The enemy!" cried the boy; "I am not afraid of the enemy. If he, +comes, we do as my papa emperor always does--we beat the enemy, and +then he runs away." + +But these words of the brave child, which would have delighted his +father's heart, seemed to make a disagreeable impression upon his +mother. She murmured a few inaudible words, and slightly shrugged +her shoulders. + +Madame de Montesquiou took the child by the hand, "Come, sire," she +said, in a low voice, "do not disturb her majesty. Come!" + +"No, no," cried the boy, violently disengaging himself, "I am sure +you want to carry me down to the carriage, and I tell you I will not +go! Let me stay here with my mother, dear 'Quiou; I do not disturb +her, for you see she is not busy, and she does not want to be alone +either, for there are a great many persons with her. Therefore, I +may stay here, too, may I not, dear mamma empress!" + +"Yes, my son, stay here," said the empress, abstractedly, looking +again at the door. + +"I am not afraid of the enemy," cried the little king, proudly +throwing back his head. "My papa will soon come and drive him away. +But tell me, mamma, what is the name of the enemy who wants to rob +us of our beautiful palace? What is his name?" + +"Hush, Napoleon!" said the empress, almost indignantly; "what good +would it do you to hear what you do not understand?" + +"Oh, dear mamma," cried the child, with a triumphant air, "I can +understand very well, for my papa has often played war on the floor +with me, and we have built fortresses. And not long ago, papa +emperor told me, too, that he was going to the army, and he spoke of +his enemies. I remember them very well; they are the Emperor of +Russia--who once kissed my papa's hand, and thanked God that papa +emperor consented to be his friend; the King of Prussia, from whom +my papa could have taken all his states; the crown prince of Sweden, +who learned the art of war from my papa, and is a faithless servant; +and last, the Emperor of Austria. But tell me, mamma, is not he your +father? And did you not tell me that I ought to pray every night for +my grandfather, the Emperor of Austria?" + +"I did tell you so, Napoleon," whispered the empress, whose eyes +filled with tears. + +The boy looked down for a moment musingly; and then, lifting his +large blue eyes to his mother, "Mamma," he said, "henceforth I shall +never again pray for the Emperor of Austria, for he is now my papa's +enemy, and, therefore, no longer my grandfather. No, no, I shall not +pray for him, but only as my papa likes me to do." And the boy knelt +down, lifting up his hands, and exclaiming in a loud voice, "Good +God, I pray to Thee for France and for my father!" + +Expressions of deep emotion were heard in the room. The empress +covered her face with her handkerchief, and wept bitterly. The +little king was still on his knees, with his eyes raised toward +heaven. Suddenly the door at which the empress had looked so long +and anxiously, opened. It was not King Joseph who entered, but the +adjutant of General Clarke, the regent's minister of war. +Approaching the empress, he begged leave to communicate a message +from the minister. + +"Speak," said Maria Louisa, hastily, "and loud enough for every one +to hear the news." + +"His excellency, the minister of war, has commissioned me to implore +your majesty in his name to leave without a moment's delay. He +believes that every minute increases the danger, and that an hour +hence it might be impossible for you to get away, because your +majesty would then run the risk of falling into the hands of roving +bands of Cossacks. The Russian corps are already near, and we shall +soon hear their cannon thunder at the very gates of Paris." +[Footnote: Meneval, "Marie Louise," vol. II., p. 266.] + +"Well, then," said Maria Louisa, with quivering lips, "be it so! Let +us set out." + +All felt that the decisive hour was at hand. The empress quickly +advanced a few steps. "Come!" she exclaimed, in feverish agitation. +"Let us set out for Rambouillet!" + +Suddenly her son grasped her hand and endeavored to draw her back. +"Dear mamma," he cried, anxiously, "do not go! Rambouillet is an +ugly old castle. Let us not go, but stay here!" [Footnote: The +little king's words. Ibid.] + +"It cannot be, my son; we must go!" + +But little Napoleon pushed back her hand with a gesture of +indignation. "Well, then, mamma," he said, "go! I will not go. I +will not leave my house! As papa is not here, I am the master! and I +say I WILL not go!" [Footnote: Meneval, "Marie Louise."] + +The empress motioned to the equerry on service. "M. de Comisy," she +ordered, "take the prince in your arms and carry him to the +carriage." + +"The prince! I am no prince, I am the King of Rome," cried the boy, +in the most violent anger. "I will not go! I will not leave my +house; I do not want you to betray my dear papa!" [Footnote: The +king's words.--Vide "Memoires du Due de Rovigo," vol. vii., p. 5.] +The empress took no longer any notice of him; M. de Comisy lifted +the crying, struggling boy into his arms. "'Quiou, dear 'Quiou!" +cried the child, "oh, come to my assistance! I will not leave my +house!" + +"Sire," said Madame de Montesquieu, weeping, "we must leave: the +emperor has ordered us to do so!" + +"It is false!" cried the prince, bursting into a flood of tears, and +still trying to disengage himself. "My papa never ordered any such +thing, for he says that one ought never to flee from the enemy. I +will not go, I will not flee!" + +"Come, sire; come!" exclaimed M. de Comisy. + +"I will not go!" said the boy, and clung to the door. But Madame de +Montesqnion, vainly trying to comfort the prince by gentle words, +disengaged his tiny hands, and M. de Comisy hurried on. The whole +court, the whole travelling cortege thronged, forward, following the +empress and the King of Rome. + +Soon the brilliant apartment was empty; but the deserted rooms +echoed the distant cries of the little King of Rome. All his +struggles were in vain. M. de Comisy was not allowed to have pity on +him; the will of the empress had to be fulfilled. + +At length the preparations were completed, and all had taken their +seats. The large clock on the tower of the Tuileries struck eleven +as the empress's carriage rolled slowly across the spacious court- +yard. The crying of the little king, who sat by the side of his +mother, was still heard. With them were also the mistress of +ceremonies, the Duchess de Montebello, and the governess. Nine other +carriages followed, decorated with the imperial coat-of-arms, and +numerous baggage-wagons, and the whole train of a brilliant court. +The procession filled the whole length of the court-yard of the +Tuilories. + +When the carriage of the empress drove through the large iron +enclosure, a small crowd of spectators stood near, and gazed in +mournful silence. Not a hand was raised to salute the fugitives; not +a voice shouted farewell. The sad train passed along, while the +people looked after it, as if the funeral procession of the empire. +The imperial party disappeared among the trees of the Champs +Elysees, and left Paris by the "Gate of Victory." + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE CAPITULATION OF PARIS. + + +The roar of cannon, which continued all the day long of the 30th of +March, began now to cease; but the great battle which the allies +fought under the walls of Paris with the corps of Marmont and +Mortier, was not finished. Before resorting to a bombardment, and an +assault on the city, conciliation was once more to be tried. +Delegates of the monarchs, therefore, repaired to the marshals, and +requested them to consent to an honorable capitulation. + +"This is another instance of our foolish generosity!" growled +Blucher, leaning back in his carriage. "The whole rats'-nest ought +to be demolished; Bonaparte and the French would then have to +submit. But I see already how it will be. The peace will be +unsatisfactory, and our demands will be as modest as possible, lest +we incur the displeasure of the dear French.--Pipe-master, hand me a +short pipe! I must smoke, to stifle my anger." + +"Your excellency," said Christian, riding up to the carriage, "you +have promised the surgeon general not to smoke much, and least of +all a short pipe, because the hot smoke is injurious to the eyes. +Your excellency has smoked six pipes to-day!" + +"And it seems to me that is very little! What are six pipes for a +general-in-chief, who has to reflect so much as I have to-day? Give +me a pipe, Christian; it is bad enough that I have to sit in such a +monkey-box of a carriage, instead of riding on horseback at the head +of my troops." + +"Nevertheless, every thing passed off very well," said Christian, +calmly. "You shouted your orders out of the carriage like a madman, +and the generals and adjutants heard and executed all as if you had +been on horseback among them. In fact, it would have been only +necessary for you to order, 'Forward!' It would have been just as +well, for your hussars were intent on nothing else; and, like their +field-marshal, they wished only to reach Paris." + +"And now we have to wait here without firing a gun," replied +Blucher. "Moreover, my eyes ache as if they were burning. The sun +has been blazing all day, as though curious to see whether or not we +should take Paris; he has poured his rays on me since daybreak, and +I had no protection for my old eyes. On looking out of the carriage +early this morning I lost my shade; the wind carried it off as +though it were a kite. I have lost it, and, what is worse, I cannot +even enter Paris, for we shall of course sign a capitulation." + +"Here is the pipe, your excellency," said Christian, "and now, good- +by, field-marshal; I have to attend to a little private matter." + +He galloped off, and Blucher looked after him. "Happy fellow!" he +said, sighing; "he can gallop as light as a bird, while I must sit +here as a poor old prisoner!" At this moment his adjutant, Major von +Nostiz, rode up to the field-marshal's carriage. "Well, Nostiz, tell +me how things look in the outer world. What is the news?" + +"Bad and good, your excellency," said Nostiz. "A murderous battle +has taken place to-day, and we have sustained heavy losses. About +eight thousand men were killed on our side, but in return we have +gained a large number of trophies, field-pieces, caissons, and +stands of colors." + +"We ought to have taken all their colors!" cried Blucher, eagerly. +"What say the monarchs now, Nostiz? Will they still leave the +Parisians the choice to suffer a bombardment or not?" + +"The negotiations are still pending." + +"Are the monarchs themselves taking part in them? Do they condescend +to negotiate in person?" + +"No, your excellency. The monarchs have returned to their quarters; +the King of Prussia has gone to the village of Pantin, the Emperor +of Russia to Bondy, and their representatives have repaired to the +suburb of La Chapelle, where they are treating with Marshals Mortier +and Marmont and their two adjutants in regard to the capitulation of +Paris." + +"Would that their negotiations were unsuccessful--that we might have +the pleasure of bombarding this infamous city which, for twenty +years past, has brought so much misery on Europe!" + +"There is some prospect of it," said Nostiz, smiling. "The allies +have demanded that the French corps should surrender as prisoners of +war. To this the marshals refused to accede, declaring that they +would perish first in the streets, so the allies agreed to abandon +this article. A discussion next rose as to the route by which the +corps of Marmont and Mortier should retire, so as to be prevented +from joining the approaching forces of the emperor, the allies +insisting for that of Brittany, the French for any that they might +choose. The marshals refused positively to agree to these demands." + +"They did!" cried Blucher, in an angry voice. "Well, I am glad of +it, for I see now that we shall have a bombardment. Let us +immediately make all necessary dispositions for it, in order that +when the fun commences we may be ready. Bring me my horse!" With the +activity of a youth Blucher opened his carriage and vaulted on the +horse, which the groom led close to the carriage. For a moment he +reeled in the saddle; for he felt as if red-hot daggers were +piercing his eyes, but he overcame his faintness and pain. "Where +are the members of my staff, Nostiz?" he asked, eagerly. + +"They are near, your excellency, at La Villette." + +"Let us ride, then, to La Villette, and thence up the Montmartre. +Nostiz, you will have immediately eighty or ninety pieces planted on +the Montmartre, that, when the bombardment commences early in the +morning, there may be no delay. [Footnote: Varnhagen von Esse, "Life +of Blucher," p. 380.] Make haste, Nostiz! There must be at least +eighty pieces! We shall startle the Parisians out of their slumber," +growled Blucher, riding along the road to La Villette, attended by +his orderlies; "let them see that another state of affairs exists, +and that they are no longer the masters of the world, and able to +trample others in the dust!" + +At La Villette, Blucher met the members of his staff, and, with +Gneisenau and Muffling by his side, and followed by the other +officers, rode up the heights of Moutmartre. The sun had set, but +his last beams still lingered in the evening clouds. The silence +reigning around them after the uproar of the day, made upon their +minds a solemn impression. At first the party engaged in an animated +conversation, but it gradually ceased. Peaceful nature in this +spring eventide contrasted the noise and bloodshed of the day with +her own indifference, so that even Blucher himself was deeply moved. + +They reached the crest of the Montmartre. Paris--the long-feared, +but now vanquished Paris, which for centuries had not seen a +conquering enemy near its walls--lay at their feet. The steeples of +Notre-Dame, of St. Genevieve, the large cupola of the Hotel des +Invalides, the countless spires proudly looming up, the vast pile of +the Tuileries, the Louvre, the Palais-Royal, where for twenty years +Napoleon had given laws to trembling Europe, were plainly discerned. +And this great city, with its temples and palaces, was in the hands +of the enemy. They were Prussian generals who looked down from the +heights of the Montmartre, and who for seven years had borne the +disgrace of their country with sad yet courageous hearts; but this +moment was a sufficient indemnity for the long years of +wretchedness. + +"This, then, is Paris," said Blucher, after a long pause, and his +voice was gentle and tremulous. "This is Paris, for which I have +longed during seven years--the city which I knew my eyes would see, +that I might die in peace! Good God," he cried, lifting his blue +eyes toward heaven, and taking off his cap, "I thank Thee for having +permitted us to be here, for lending us Thy assistance in attaining +our object, and hurling from the throne the man who has so long been +a terror to humanity. I thank Thee for having called us, the men who +saw the disastrous day of Jena, to participate in the day of +liberation! Blessed spirit of our Queen Louisa! if thou, with thine +heavenly eyes that wept so much on earth, now lookest down upon us, +behold our hearts full of gratitude toward God, and of love for thee +as when thou wast among us! Thou hast assisted us in gaining the +victory; assist us now, too, in profiting by it in a manner worthy +ourselves, and for the welfare of the fatherland!" he paused, and, +shading his face with his cap, prayed in a low voice. The generals +followed his example; removing their hats, they offered silent +prayers of gratitude to God. "Now," cried Blucher, putting on his +cap again, "we have paid homage to Heaven, let us think a little of +ourselves. I am still in hope that there will be a bombardment, and +that we shall send our balls to the Parisians for breakfast to- +morrow. I will, therefore, remain on the Montmartre, and establish +here my quarters for the night." + +"Field-marshal!" shouted a voice at a distance. "Field-Marshal +Blucher, where are you?" + +"Here I am!" shouted Blucher. + +"And here I am!" cried Hennemann, galloping up. + +"Pipe-master, is it you?" asked Blucher, in amazement. "Well, what +do you want, and where have you been so long?" + +"I have just brought an eye-shade for you, and here it is," said +Christian, handing with profound gravity a lady's bonnet of green +silk, with a broad green brim. + +"A bonnet!" exclaimed Blucher, laughing. "What am I to do with it?" + +"Put it on," said Christian, composedly. "We can cut off the crown, +then it will be a good shade; your excellency will put it on, and +wear your general's hat over it." + +"That will do," said Blucher. "But tell me, my boy, where did you +get it?" + +"I saw this afternoon a lady with a green bonnet at a villa near +which I passed, and when you told me you ought to have an eye-shade, +I thought immediately of the bonnet. Well, I rode to the house, and +knocked so long at the door that they opened it. There were none but +women at the house, and they cried and wailed dreadfully on seeing +me. Well, I told them at once that I would not hurt them, but was +only desirous of getting the green bonnet. While the women were +raising such a hue-and-cry, another door opened, and the lady who +owned the house came in, with the bonnet on. Well, I went directly +to her, made her an obeisance, and said, 'Madame, be so kind as to +give me your green bonnet for my field-marshal, who has sore eyes.'" + +"Well, and did she understand your good Mecklenburg German?" +inquired Blucher, smiling. + +"No, she did not understand me apparently, but I made myself +understood, your excellency." + +"Well, what did you do?" + +"Oh, your excellency, I simply stepped near her, took hold of the +large knot by which her bonnet was tied under her chin, loosened it, +seized the bonnet by the brim, and took it very gently from her +head. She cried a little, and fainted away--but that will not hurt a +woman; I know she will soon be better. I secured my prize, and here +I am, and here is your excellency's eye-shade." + +"And a good one it is. I thank you, my boy; I will wear it in honor +of you, for my eyes are aching dreadfully, and I have need of a +shade. I will raise this standard when we make our entrance into +Paris, and I believe, pipe-master, the fair Parisians will rejoice +at seeing me dressed in the latest Parisian fashion. But now, +milliner, cut off the crown, else I cannot use it." + +"I will do so at once," said Christian, taking a pair of scissors +from his dressing-pouch, and transforming a lady's bonnet into an +eye-shade. + +A few hours afterward, all was quiet on the Montmartre, and on all +the other heights around Paris. After the battle the armies needed +sleep, and it was undisturbed, for there was no longer an enemy to +dispute their possession of the French capital. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +NIGHT AND MORNING NEAR PARIS. + + +So the allied armies encamped and rested round the bivouac-fires, +while, at a house in the suburbs of La Chapelle, the +plenipotentiaries of the sovereigns were still negotiating with the +French marshals the terms on which the city was to be surrendered. +But he who now rode along the road to Paris at a gallop in an open +carriage knew no peace or rest. His quivering features were +expressive of alarm; ruin sat enthroned on his forehead, covered +with perspiration. By his side sat Caulaincourt; behind him, +Berthier and Flahault. The carriage thundered along at the utmost +speed. "Caulaincourt, I shall arrive at Paris in time," murmured the +emperor; "we are already at Fromenteau; in an hour we shall be +there. The watch-fires of the enemy are seen on the opposite bank of +the Seine. Ah, I shall extinguish them; to-morrow night the enemy +will not be so near.--But what is that? Do you hear nothing? Have +the carriage stopped!" + +Berthier shouted to the driver--the carriage stopped. They all heard +a sort of hollow noise. + +"It is a squad of cavalry riding along this road," whispered +Caulaincourt. + +"It is artillery," murmured Napoleon. "Forward! They can only be our +own men. But why are they retreating from Paris? Forward!" + +The carriage rolled on. And from the other side of the road a dark +mass, with a rumbling noise, moved toward them. Napoleon was not +mistaken, nor was Caulaincourt mistaken. + +"Who is there?" shouted the emperor to the horsemen at the head of +the column. "Halt!" + +"It is the emperor!" cried a voice, in amazement, and a horseman +dismounting in a moment approached the carriage. + +"It is General Belliard," exclaimed the emperor, and alighted +hastily from his carriage. "General, whither are you moving? What +about Paris?" + +"Sire, all is lost!" said Belliard, after a mournful pause. + +"How so?" cried Napoleon, vehemently. "You see I am coming! I shall +be in Paris in an hour. I will call out the National Guard, and put +myself at the head of the troops." + +"Sire, we are too weak; the enemy is five times stronger." + +"But I am there, and my name will increase the strength of my army +fivefold." + +"Sire, it is too late." + +"Too late! What do you mean?" + +"Marmont and Mortier have capitulated; we are taking advantage of +the night to evacuate Paris, while the marshals are still +negotiating the terms of capitulation." + +A single cry of anger burst from Napoleon's lips; then, as if +crushed by the blow, his head dropped on his breast. Recovering +himself in a moment, he said, imperiously: "General Belliard! return +with your troops; I shall be there before you reach the city. +Resuming hostilities, I will call upon all Paris to take up arms; +the people love me, they will remain faithful; the majority of the +working-men are composed of old soldiers. They know how to fight, +and I will lead them. We shall fight as the Spaniards fought against +us at Saragossa, defending with our blood the streets of our +capital; detaining the enemy at least for a day, my army will +arrive, and we shall be strong enough to give battle. I must go to +Paris; when I am not there, they do nothing but blunder! My brother +Joseph is a pusillanimous and easily-disheartened man, and Minister +Clarke is a blockhead. Marmont and Mortier are traitors deserving +death, for they violated my express instructions. I asked them to +hold out only two days, and the traitors capitulated before they had +elapsed! Oh, I shall hold them responsible for it: I know how to +punish traitors and poltroons!" He hurried on in a rapid step, +General Belliard walking by his side, and Caulaincourt, Berthier, +and Flahault following him. "I must go to Paris," cried the emperor, +after a momentary pause. "Order my carriage!" + +"Sire," said Belliard, solemnly, "it is no longer possible for your +majesty to reach Paris. You would run the risk of falling into the +hands of the vanguard of the allies. If your majesty were at Paris, +it would be of no avail. The enemy is in possession of all the +heights, and they can bombard the city without being interfered with +by the exhausted troops of Mortier and Marmont. Sire, all is lost; +there is no prospect which would justify us to hope for a favorable +change." + +"To Paris!" cried the emperor. "You say I can no longer enter the +city. Well, then, I shall put myself at the head of the troops of +Marshals Mortier and Marmont, and, while the allies are making their +entrance into the city, resume the struggle." + +"Sire," said Belliard, mournfully, "it is too late, the marshals +have agreed to surrender Paris; it was only on this condition that +our troops were allowed to move out. The capitulation cannot be +broken." + +"What do I care for the capitulation of traitorous marshals?" said +the emperor, stamping; "my will alone reigns here, and my will is, +that the troops face about and follow me.--Say, Hulin," said the +emperor, turning toward the commander of Paris, who had just +approached him, "are you not of my opinion? The troops should return +to Paris?" + +"No, sire," said General Hulin, sighing, "the capitulation has +already been concluded, and it does not permit the soldiers to +return on any pretext." + +"Are you of the same opinion?" asked Napoleon, turning toward +General Curial, who had just come up with a corps of infantry, and +saluted the emperor. + +"I am, sire," said Curial. "The capitulation has been concluded, and +we are happy to have received permission for our troops, who are +exhausted, to evacuate the city. We are already on the march in the +direction of Fontainebleau. We have no hope of conquering, and we +could only be involved in a last dreadful but useless carnage. Your +majesty cannot desire that. Have pity on poor France, bleeding from +a thousand wounds; you do not wish the enemy to bombard the heart of +our country." + +"And you?" asked Napoleon, turning his eyes, with an expression of +agony, toward his attendants. "Caulaincourt, do you, too, share the +views of these gentlemen?" + +"Yes, sire," said Caulaincourt, with tears in his eyes. "It is too +late to conquer; it only remains for us to save what we can." + +"And you, Berthier and Flahault?" + +"Sire, that is our opinion! It is too late; all is lost!" + +Napoleon's sigh sounded like a death-rattle. "Well, then," he said, +in a faint, hollow voice, "I will return to Fontainebleau." + +Napoleon reentered his carriage. When his three attendants had taken +seats, he rose and called out in a commanding voice, "General +Belliard!" The general approached the carriage hesitatingly; he was +still afraid lest the emperor should change his mind. + +"Belliard," said Napoleon, "dispatch immediately an orderly to +Marshals Marmont and Mortier, and communicate to them that they +march their troops to Essonne, ten leagues south of Paris; there +they are to take a position, and await further orders.--To +Fontainebleau!" + +The carriage passed again along the road by which it had arrived, +bearing away a wearied and despairing man, who a moment before was +full of hope and energy. The clock of the village of Jurissy struck +twelve, when he halted in front of the "Cour de France," and had the +horses changed. "Caulaincourt," he said, hurriedly, "alight, take +post-horses, and hasten to Paris! Penetrate to the headquarters of +the Emperor Alexander! Prevent the capitulation--do so in my name; +you have full powers! Negotiate, consent to any treaty that +recognizes me as sovereign of France!" [Footnote: Beitzke vol. iii., +p. 496.] + +It was past midnight, and with a new day began a new era. The rising +sun shone upon the brilliant array of the allies. The terms of the +capitulation had been adjusted at two in the morning. It was +stipulated that the marshals should evacuate Paris at seven on the +same day; that the public arsenals and magazines be surrendered in +the same state in which they were when the capitulation was +concluded; that the National Guard, according to the pleasure of the +allies, be either disbanded, or employed under their direction in +the service of the city; that the wounded and stragglers, found +after ten in the morning, be considered prisoners of war; and that +Paris be recommended to the generosity of the sovereigns. [Footnote: +"Memoires du Duc de Rovigo," vol. iii.] + +It was now eight in the morning, and the corps of the allied troops +that were to make their entrance into the city were in readiness. A +staff, composed of hundreds of Austrian, Russian, Prussian, +Wurtemberg, Bavarian, and Swedish generals, awaited the arrival of +the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia, when the triumphal +march into Paris would take place. + +Overcoming his pain, and keeping erect by a violent effort, Field- +Marshal Blucher had himself dressed by his servants. The toilet was +finished, and, attired in his uniform, covered with glittering +orders, he stepped from his bedroom, and sent for Christian. "Pipe- +master," he said, "I am ready now, and believe I look quite +imposing; but you must adjust the last ornament of my toilet. You +captured it, and ought to add it to my uniform." + +"What ornament, your excellency?" + +"Well, the eye-shade, Christian. Come and adorn me!" He handed the +crownless bonnet to Christian, and sat down on a chair. The article +was carefully placed on the head of the field-marshal, so that his +bald scalp protruded from the aperture of the shade like a full moon +surrounded by a green halo. He then carefully put on it the field- +marshal's hat, with its waving plumes and gold-lace. [Footnote: +Varnhagen, "Life of Blucher," p. 382] + +"Now I am ready," said Blucher, rising. + +At this moment the door opened, and General Gneisenau, accompanied +by Surgeon-General Voelzke, entered the room. + +"What!" exclaimed Gneisenau, in amazement. "An hour ago I found you +in bed, a prey to a raging fever, complaining of your eyes; and now +you have not only risen, but are in full feather, and ready for the +march into the city!" + +"Why, yes, of course, I am," said Blucher, sullenly. "I must make my +entry, I must keep my word, and get into Paris after aiding in +getting HIM out of it." + +"That is to say," cried Dr. Voelzke, "you intend to break your +pledge, and prove faithless to your oath?" + +"What oath?" asked Blucher, greatly surprised. + +"Did you not solemnly pledge me your word four days ago, your +excellency, to submit to my treatment for two weeks, and adhere to +my instructions?" + +"Yes, and I think I have kept my word. I have swallowed your +medicines, pills, and powders, rubbed in your salves, and applied +your plasters, in accordance with your directions, although I must +say that all this did not help me any." + +"But your eyes have not grown any worse, and they will soon improve, +if you continue my treatment." + +"Well, what do you want me to do, then?" + +"You must stay here. You must not be six or eight hours on +horseback; you must not expose yourself so long to the dust and +sun." + +"What! I am not to participate in the entrance of the monarchs into +Paris?" cried Blucher, indignantly. + +"I implore your excellency not to do so," said the physician, in an +impressive tone. "Give yourself a few days' rest and recreation, and +your eyes will get well; but if you expose yourself to-day I shall +never again cross your threshold, for I do not care to be disgraced +by the report that Field-Marshal Blucher lost his eyesight while +under my care; and I tell you, you will be blind, and then I can do +nothing for you." + +"Stay here, your excellency," begged Gneisenau; "do not trifle with +your dear eyes, destined to see still many beautiful things, and +gladden the world by their heroic glances! What can a triumph of a +few hours' duration be to you to whom every day will be a triumph, +and whom delivered Germany awaits to greet with manifestations of +love and gratitude?" + +"Ah, it is not for the sake of the triumph that I wish to go," cried +Blucher, morosely. "But I have sworn, for seven years, and it has +been my only consolation, that, in spite of Bonaparte, I would make +my triumphal entrance into Paris, as Bonaparte did into Berlin, and +now you insist on my not fulfilling my oath!" + +"You will nevertheless make your entrance into Paris," exclaimed +Gneisenau; "though your person be absent, your name will float as +our banner of victory over the monarchs, and all know full well that +Blucher is THE conqueror." + +"Stay!" begged Voelzke; "think of the pain which you have already +suffered, and of that you will suffer, and of which I give you +sufficient warning." + +"Yes, field-marshal," begged Hennemann, with tearful eyes, "pray do +what the doctor says; do not hazard your sight; for, let me say, +field-marshal, a blind man is like a pipe that will not draw; both +of them will go out." + +"Well, I do not care," cried Blucher, "I will stay. It will not hurt +me. My task is performed, and it makes no difference to me how I +enter Paris. I have my share of the victory, and no one can take it +from me. HE has been cast down, and none will deny that I assisted." + +"Well, I think I have also assisted a little in it," said Christian, +solemnly; "for had I not always kept the pipes in so good a state, +the field-marshal would not have had such successful ideas, nor +could he have so well said, 'Forward!'" + +"You are right, pipe-master," said Blucher, pleasantly. "The pipe-- +but what is that? Was not that a gun, and there another? Have the +negotiations miscarried, after all, and the bombardment commenced in +earnest?" + +"No, your excellency," said Gneisenau, smiling, "you must give up +that hope! These are the guns which give the troops the signal that +the monarchs have arrived, and that the march into the city is to +commence." + +"Well, good-by, then; make haste and leave!" cried Blucher, pushing +Gneisenau and Voelzke toward the door. + +They left, and the field-marshal was again alone with Christian +Hennemann. + +"Well," he said, "give me a pipe: while the others are making their +entrance into Paris, I want you to afford me a little pleasure, too. +Come here, therefore, and sing to me the Low-German song which you +sang to me on the day when you arrived at Kunzendorf." + +The reports of the artillery continued; the monarchs were entering +Paris. The field-marshal in the mean time sat with the green bonnet +on his head, puffing his pipe. No one was with him but Christian +Hennemann, who sang in a loud voice, "Spinn doch, spinn doch, mihn +lutt lewes Dochting!" + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +NAPOLEON AT FONTAINEBLEAU. + + +Napoleon passed seven days of indescribable mental anguish at +Fontainebleau. Adversity had befallen him, but he bore it with the +semblance of calmness, uttering no complaint. His was still the +cold, inscrutable face of the emperor, such as it had been on his +triumphal entrance into Berlin and Madrid, after the victories of +Austerlitz and Jena, in the days of Erfurt and Tilsit, at the +conflagration of Moscow, at the Beresina, and at Leipsic. He gave no +expression to his soul's agony. It was only in the dead of night +that his faithful servants heard him sometimes sigh, pacing his +room, restless and melancholy. He did not yet feel wholly +discouraged; he still hoped. His bravest marshals were still with +him; his Old Guard had not yet gone, and at Paris there were many +devoted friends, because they owed to him honor and riches. + +He was hopeful that Marmont's troops would arrive at Fontainebleau, +when, concentrating all his corps, he would march with them and +reconquer his capital. Engrossed with this idea, he was alone in his +cabinet; bent over his maps, he examined the various positions of +his troops, and considered when they might all reach him. But while +he was thinking of war, his marshals were thinking of peace. They +had withdrawn into one of the remote apartments of Fontainebleau for +the purpose of holding a secret consultation. There were his old +comrades Ney, Prince de la Moskwa; Macdonald, Duke de Tarento; +Lefebvre, Duke de Dantzic; Oudinot, Duke de Reggio--all of them +owing their glory to Napoleon: it was, therefore, pardonable if he +confided in their gratitude--but gratitude to the fallen, who had +nothing more to give, and whose misfortunes resembled an infectious +disease, repelling even his dearest friends. + +"He is lost," said Oudinot, in an undertone; "he is on the edge of +the precipice, and those who abide by him will fall with him." + +"We must, therefore, leave him," whispered Lefebvre. "We are unable +to keep him back; prudence commands us to keep aloof." + +"We have suffered and bled for him for years," said Macdonald; "it +is time now for him to suffer and bleed for us. His death would be a +relief." + +"Yes," murmured Ney, "his death would give us a new life. But he +will not die; his heart is made of bronze, and will not break." + +"No, he will not die voluntarily," said Oudinot. + +The marshals paused and looked at each other with dark and +significant glances. All seemed to read each other's souls, and to +divine the sinister thoughts that began to find utterance. + +"No, he will not die voluntarily," repeated Macdonald. "But the +millions of soldiers that have fallen on the battlefields have not +died voluntarily, either: Napoleon drove them into the jaws of +death. Now he is no longer any thing but a mere soldier; could we be +blamed, if, in order to save France, we should drive him into the +grave?" + +"But how could we do it?" asked Lefebvre. "He has with him +Caulaincourt, Berthier, and Maret, who would certainly be capable of +showing, like Anthony, the blood-stained cloak of Caesar to the +people, and of bringing upon us a destiny such as befell Brutus and +Cassius. I am not desirous of seeing my house set on fire, and of +being compelled to flee." + +"We ought not to imitate Caesar's generals," said Ney, gloomily. "He +has lived like a demi-god, and must die like a demi-god. Not a +vestige of him must remain; he must, like Romulus, ascend to the +gods." + +"Let us consider what ought to be done," said Macdonald. + +They whispered in low tones, so that they themselves scarcely heard +each other. After a prolonged secret consultation, they seemed +agreed as to what should be done, and as if there were now no longer +any doubt or objection. + +"Caulaincourt, Bertrand, and Maret, are alone to be feared," said +Oudinot, loudly. "If they refuse to be silent, they must be +silenced! And Berthier? what are we to do with Berthier?" + +"We shall tell him all when it is over," responded Macdonald, with a +shrug. "Berthier is not formidable; he has a heart of cotton, and a +head of wind." + +All laughed; Oudinot then said, in a grave and menacing voice: "It +is time for us to come to a decision. We are already in April, and +nothing decided; the Emperor of Russia is impatient, and the future +King of France will never forgive us if we delay his return to +Paris. Come, gentlemen, let us for the last time try the way of +kindness and persuasion. Let us openly and honestly advise Napoleon +to abdicate; he must make up his mind to do so, or--" + +"Or we shall compel him," said Macdonald. "He has often enough +compelled us to do what was repugnant to us. Come, gentlemen, let us +go to the emperor." [Footnote: "Memoirs of the Duchess d'Abrantes."] + +The emperor was sill bending over his maps when the four marshals +entered his cabinet. With a quick glance he read in their pale, +sullen faces that they came to him, not as friends and servants, but +as adversaries. "I am glad," he said calmly, "that you anticipate my +request, and come to me when I intended to send for you. We must +hold a council of war, marshals. I have determined to make a general +assault upon the allies to-morrow, and I wished to assemble you here +to lay the details of my plan before you. One of you may go and call +Berthier, who should participate in our deliberations." + +"Sire," said Ney, in a harsh tone, "before entering into +deliberations on the war, we should first consider whether it is +still desirable." Napoleon cast on him a glance which once would +have frozen the marshal's blood, but which now made no impression on +him. "I believe," added Ney, "that France can no longer bear the +burden of war. She is exhausted, bleeding from many wounds, and +would sink to certain ruin if she continue a useless struggle. Her +finances cannot be restored, for the people are destitute. Our +fields are uncultivated, our industry is paralyzed; our workshops +and stores are closed, our commerce is prostrated, for France is +destitute of money, credit, and laborers. What means has your +majesty to shield her from the most terrible misfortunes?" + +"I have but one--to attack the allies to-morrow, expelling those who +have caused all the misfortunes of France." + +"Sire, our country is tired of war," cried Ney; "she wants peace." + +"Is that your opinion, marshals?" asked the emperor, hastily. + +"Yes, sire, it is." + +"Well, then," said Napoleon, after a moment's reflection, "do you +know of any way of restoring peace?" + +The marshals were silent. Their lips seemed to shrink from uttering +the thoughts of their souls; but the Prince de la Moskwa, Marshal +Ney, overcame his timidity. "Sire," he remarked, "the allies say in +their proclamation that it is not France against which they wage +war." + +"Not France, but myself!" cried Napoleon. "Ah, you come to propose +an abdication to me?" + +"We come to implore your majesty to make a last great sacrifice." + +"Sire," exclaimed Oudinot, "let your heroic soul conquer itself, and +restore peace to France." + +"She will forever bless you," said Lefebvre. + +"Restore to France the peace for which she has been vainly longing +for twenty-five years!" cried Macdonald. + +Now that they had all spoken, there was an anxious, breathless +pause. Suddenly Napoleon passed over to his desk. He cast a last +glance, full of pride, contempt, and anger, on his four marshals; +then, seating himself, he took up a pen with a firm hand, and wrote. +The marshals stood in silence, and looked at him in an embarrassed +manner. Laying aside the pen, and rising, he held up the paper on +which he had written, and motioned to Marshal Ney. "Here, Prince de +la Moskwa," said Napoleon, "read to the marshals what I have +written." + +Ney read in a tremulous voice: "'The allied powers, having +proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the sole obstacle to the +reestablishment of peace in Europe, the Emperor Napoleon, faithful +to his oath, declares that he is ready to descend from the throne, +to quit France, and even life itself, for the good of the country, +inseparable from the rights of his son, of the regency of the +empress, and of the maintenance of the laws of the empire.'" +[Footnote: Fain, "Manuscrit de 1814," p. 221.] + +"You have willed it so," said Napoleon, when Ney had finished. +"Macdonald and Ney, with Caulaincourt, will immediately repair with +this document to Paris. On the way they will meet Mortier, and +request him to accompany them. The four dukes will present my +conditional abdication to the Emperor Alexander, and treat with him +in regard to the future of my son and the regency of my consort." + +On the 7th of April the Duke de Vicenza entered the emperor's +cabinet, pale and with a mournful air. + +"Caulaincourt," cried Napoleon, "you have delivered my abdication to +Alexander?" + +"Yes, sire," said Caulaincourt, sadly. "Ah, sire, I bring bad news, +which my lips almost refuse to utter!" + +"Speak, I am courageous enough to hear all; be, then, courageous +enough to tell me all. I wish no concealment whatever--I desire to +know the whole truth." + +"Well, sire, all is lost. The Emperor Alexander has issued to-day a +manifesto, which has been placarded over every part of Paris, to the +effect that 'he would no longer treat with Bonaparte, nor with any +member of his family.'" + +"Ah, the perfidious wretch!" murmured Napoleon, "he plighted me once +eternal friendship and fidelity.--Proceed, Caulaincourt! What says +the so-called provisional government presided over by M. Talleyrand, +the renegade priest, whom I made a man of distinction, whom I raised +to the dignity of a prince, on whom I lavished honors, and who has +now become the leader of the royalists? What say M. Talleyrand, and +the provisional government, and the senate, who swore allegiance to +me?" + +"Sire, the senate solemnly declared yesterday, the 6th of April, +that the Emperor Napoleon has forfeited his throne, because, by +abusing the powers conferred on him, by despotism, by trampling +under foot the liberty of the press, by undertaking wars in +violation of right, and by his openly manifested contempt of man and +human law, he has rendered himself unworthy of the sovereignty of +the nation. The senate, besides, have called back the Bourbons to +the throne of France. In consequence of this declaration, the +provisional government has proclaimed to-day that, till the arrival +of King Louis XVIII., the administration is exclusively in their +hands." + +"Ah, the traitors!" cried Napoleon. "They have dared to proclaim +such sentiments! to carry their impudence so far! See what venal +creatures those men are! As long as fortune was faithful to me, +they, who now call themselves the provisional government and senate, +in the name of France, were my most sycophantic servants. A sign +from me was an order for the senate, who always did more than was +desired of them, and not a whisper was heard against the abuses of +power. Ah, they charge me with despising them--tell me, +Caulaincourt, will not the world see now whether or not I had +reasons for my opinion?" [Footnote: Fain, "Manuscrit de 1814," p. +225.] + +"Sire, it is true, your majesty has met with many ingrates during +your career, and will still meet with them," said Caulaincourt, +sighing. "Perfidy seems to have become an epidemic." + +"Ah, I see you have not yet told me every thing. Speak! In the first +place, what was the result of your negotiations with the Emperor +Alexander?" + +"Sire, if your majesty agrees to renounce, for yourself and your +heirs, the throne of France, the allied sovereigns offer Corsica or +Elba as a sovereign principality, and France will pay your majesty +an annual pension of two million francs." + +"I am to renounce the throne, too, for my son--my dear little King +of Rome?" cried Napoleon, mournfully. "No, never! I cannot deprive +my son of his inheritance. This is too much. I will put myself at +the head of my army and run the risk of any calamities, rather than +submit to a humiliation worse than them all!" + +"Your majesty has no army. Treason has infected your marshals." + +"What do you mean? Ah. it is true, you come alone! Where are the +marshals? Where is Ney? Where is Macdonald?" + +"Sire, they have remained in Paris." + +"Ah, I understand," exclaimed Napoleon, with a scornful laugh; "they +are waiting there for King Louis XVIII., in order to offer him their +services. But where is Marmont? You know well that I am greatly +attached to Marmont, and I long to see him. Why does he not come?" + +"Sire, Marshal Marmont has passed over to the allies with a corps of +ten thousand men." + +"Marmont!" cried Napoleon, almost with a scream--"Marmont a traitor! +That is false--that is impossible! Marmont cannot have betrayed me!" + +"Sire, he did betray you. He marched the troops, notwithstanding +their undisguised reluctance, to Versailles, in order there to join +the allies, after receiving from them the solemn promise that the +French soldiers should be treated as friends." + +"Marmont has betrayed me!" murmured Napoleon. "Marment, whom I loved +as a son--who owes me all--who--" His voice faltered; his heart was +rent, and, sinking on a chair, he buried his quivering face in his +hands. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +A SOUL IN PURGATORY. + + +It was the 11th of April. Napoleon, at Fontaineblean, sat at his +desk and stared at the paper before him. It contained an absolute +resignation of his throne for himself and his family. After signing +this document, he was no more Emperor of France, nor his son King of +Rome, nor his consort empress--perhaps, no longer even his wife. By +signing this paper, he accepted all the conditions imposed on him by +the allies; that is to say, he descended from the sovereignty of all +his states and went to the little island of Elba, to live there a +pensioner of Europe; his consort wore no longer, like him, the +imperial title, but became Duchess of Parma; and the King of Rome +became not the heir of his father, the Emperor of Elba, but the heir +of his mother, the Duchess of Parma, and the title of "Duke de +Reichstadt" was to be given him. He renounced not only France, but +his wife and his son! + +Napoleon was fondly and sincerely attached to Maria Louisa, and he +loved the King of Rome with passionate tenderness. Before +consenting, therefore, to affix his signature to this act of +abdication, he wished to know whether Maria Louisa agreed to it, and +whether she would not at least ask the allies, one of whom was her +own father, to permit her to reside with her son and her husband on +the island of Elba, sharing the emperor's exile. For some time he +had not heard from his consort; he wrote to her every day, but for +six days past no answers came. He did not, however, distrust her; he +knew that Maria Louisa loved him. His heart longed for her and his +child. He had sent Berthier to Orleans the day before with a letter +for Maria Louisa. He was to tell him what his consort was thinking +and wishing. If she was courageous enough to claim her rights, and +desired to do so, Berthier was to convey her to the emperor, and, at +Fontainebleau, Maria Louisa was to declare to her father that she +insisted on her sacred right of staying with her husband. Napoleon +expected this, and he was nervous and anxious, waiting for the +return of his general, and in hope that Maria Louisa would accompany +him. + +He contemplated the paper, and, while reading the words of despair, +he thought of the past--of the days when Europe had been at his +feet, and when he himself showed no mercy. The door of the cabinet +was softly opened, and the Duke de Bassano entered. "Maret," he +exclaimed, "you come to inform me that Berthier has returned, do you +not?" + +"Yes, sire." + +"And he--he is alone?" + +"Yes, sire, he is alone." + +Napoleon sighed. "Admit Berthier," he said, "but stay here." + +Maret stepped to the door and opened it. The Prince of Neufchatel +entered, mournful and silent. A single glance told Napoleon that his +mission had failed. + +"Well, Berthier, you have seen the empress?" + +"I have, sire. I met the empress leaving Orleans." + +"Ah, then, she is coming!" exclaimed Napoleon. + +"No, sire. Prince Metternich had paid her a visit on the preceding +day, and delivered to her autograph letters from her father the +Emperor of Austria. He had asked his daughter to repair to +Rambouillet, where he would meet her." + +"And Louisa consented?" + +"She did, sire. Her majesty told me with tears in her eyes that +nothing remained for her but to submit to the will of her father, +because only his intercession could secure her own future and that +of her son. She deplored that she was not at liberty to come to +Fontainebleau, but stated she had solemnly pledged her word to +Prince Metternich, who, in the emperor's name, had required a pledge +neither to see nor to correspond with your majesty." + +"And she did not indignantly reject this base demand?" cried the +emperor. "She did not remember that she is my wife, and that she +plighted her faith to me?" + +"Sire, the empress said that, for her son's sake, she was allowed +now only to consider herself a princess of Austria, and the Austrian +princesses were all educated in unconditional and unmurmuring +obedience to the orders of the emperor their father. [Footnote: +Meneval, "Memoires," etc., vol. ii., p. 80.] Hence, she obeyed her +father now, in order to enjoy at a later time the happiness of +belonging to your majesty. For, as soon as her future was secured, +as soon as the duchy of Parma was settled upon her, and her son +declared its heir, nothing would prevent her from rejoining her +beloved husband; and if your majesty agreed to accept the island of +Elba, the empress would certainly soon repair thither. She proposed +that, prohibited from directly corresponding with your majesty, you +might have intercourse through your private secretaries; your +majesty might have Baron Fain write to her all you wished her to +know, and she would do the same through Baron de Meneval." + +"A genuine woman's stratagem," murmured Napoleon, gloomily, to +himself. "She is destitute of courage, and does not love me enough +to brave her father.--Berthier," he then asked aloud, "did you see +my son?" + +"No, sire, they would not let me see the prince; they feared lest it +would excite him too much, and remind him of the past. For the King +of Rome is constantly longing for his father." + +"And his father cannot see him--cannot call him to his side! Oh, +Berthier, this is painful, very painful!" + +"But your majesty will soon be reunited with him," said Maret, +feelingly. "Sign the act of abdication; go to Elba, sire, and no one +can prevent the empress from coming to you with her son. She wishes +and has a right to do so." + +"Well, then, be it so," said the emperor, drawing a deep breath. "I +will sign every thing. I will abdicate; I will sign this second +treaty, which makes me Emperor of Elba! My wife and my son must be +restored to me!" He quickly stepped to the desk, and signed the two +papers with a steady hand. + +"Well," he said, flinging the pen into a corner of the room, "now I +am no longer Emperor of France, but at the same time no longer a +prisoner at Fontainebleau. At Elba I shall be free, at least; I +shall be surrounded by the brave soldiers of my Old Guard; I shall +see again my wife and my son. That is to say," he gloomily murmured +to himself, "if her father permits them to rejoin me; for without +his permission she will not come. Louisa is a princess of Austria, +and has, therefore, been brought up in obedience. Oh, how I longed +for the consolation of her presence! She ought not to have left me +alone in these days!" His lips murmured softly, "Josephine would not +have done so! She would have gone with me into exile!" He sat a long +time absorbed in his reflections, which whispered to him of the +past, and of Josephine. He felt that they moved him too deeply, and, +with an impetuous gesture, he jumped up, and, proudly throwing back +his head, exclaimed: "Well, then, I have submitted to my fate, and +shall bear it manfully. We shall go to Elba, then! You will +accompany me, my friends, and I shall not be alone? Maret and +Berthier, you will not leave me, I hope?" + +"Sire, I would follow your majesty to the end of the world!" said +Maret, tenderly. + +"I know of no more glorious destiny than to remain your majesty's +faithful servant," exclaimed Berthier, emphatically. "I thank you +for permitting me to go with you to Elba, and I joyfully accept this +permission; but as I have to make some necessary preparatious, I +request two days' leave of absence of your majesty." + +While Berthier was speaking, the emperor contemplated him with +painful astonishment; now he quickly came near him, and, laying his +hand on his shoulder, he fixed his keen eyes on him, as if he wished +to read his most secret thoughts. "Berthier," he said, in a gentle, +imploring voice, "you see how much I have need of consultation; how +necessary it is for me to have true friends about me. You will, +therefore, return to-morrow, will you not?" + +"Sire, certainly," faltered Berthier. + +Napoleon's eyes still rested on the pale, confused face of the +prince. "Berthier," he said, after a pause, "if you wish to leave +me, tell me so frankly and sincerely." + +"I leave you!" exclaimed Berthier. "Your majesty knows well that I +am devoted to you with immovable fidelity--that my heart can never +forget you, and that I shall always be your obedient servant." + +"Words, words!" said Napoleon, shaking his head. "Well, then, it is +your will: go, therefore, to Paris. Attend to the affairs which you +have more at heart than my wishes. Go, and--if you can, come back +soon!" + +Berthier wished to grasp the emperor's hand and press it to his +lips, but he hastily withdrew it, and, lifting it up, pointed with +an imperious glance at the door. Berthier bowed, and, walking +backward, approached the door with bent head, and departed. The +emperor looked after him long and gloomily; then he slowly turned +his head toward the Duke de Bassano. "Maret," he said, slowly, +"Berthier will not come back." + +"What, sire!" exclaimed Maret, in dismay. "Your majesty believes--" + +"I know it," said Napoleon, slowly, "Berthier will not come back!" +He threw himself into an easy-chair, at times heaving a sigh, but +without uttering a single complaint; and thus he sat all day. From +time to time the few faithful men who had remained with him dared to +speak, but the emperor, starting from his meditations, only stared +at them, and then slowly dropped his head again on his breast. At +dinner-time Maret endeavored to induce him to go to the table; but +he only responded by indignantly shaking his head, and waving him +toward the door. + +Evening had come, and the emperor still sat alone in his cabinet, +motionless and sad. He did not hear the door behind him softly open; +he did not see a dark, veiled female form that had slowly entered, +and now, as if overwhelmed by grief, leaned against the wall. Her +veil prevented her, perhaps, from seeing Napoleon; she threw it +back, and now Josephine's pale, quivering face was seen. She fixed +her eyes on him with an expression of boundless tenderness, and then +lifted them to heaven with an imploring air, softly raising her +arms, and her lips moving in inaudible prayer. + +The emperor did not yet notice her. Josephine stepped noiselessly +across the carpet, and laid her hand gently on his head. "Napoleon," +she whispered, "Napoleon!" + +He uttered a cry and jumped up. "Josephine," he exclaimed, "my +Josephine! Oh, now I am no longer alone!" He clasped her with +impassioned tenderness in his arms; he kissed her quivering lips, +and held her streaming face between his hands, gazing at it with the +tender expression of a lover. Encircling her with his arms, and no +longer able to restrain his heart, he laid his head on her shoulder, +and wept bitterly. Recovering, his face resumed its inscrutable +expression. "Josephine," he said, "I have wrung many tears from you, +but Fate has avenged you; I have wept, too; and what is worse than +tears is that which is gnawing at my heart. I thank you, Josephine, +for coming to me. All have deserted me!" + +"I know it, Napoleon," whispered Josephine, smiling amid tears, "and +that is why I am here. You will not go all alone to Elba; I shall go +with you. No, Bonaparte, no! do not shake your head; do not reject +me! I have a right to accompany you; for, whatever men may say, I +was your wife, and am your wife, and what God has joined together no +man can sunder. My soul is one with yours. I love you to-day as +tenderly as I did on the day when I stood with you before the altar +and plighted my fidelity to you; I love you now even more intensely, +for you are unfortunate, and have need of my love. Bid me, +therefore, not go any more. SHE is not here, and her place by your +side, which she has deserted, belongs to me!" + +"No," said Napoleon, gravely, "let her absence remind her of her +duty. I will not give my son's mother a pretext for staying away +from me; she shall not say that she cannot rejoin me because I have +yielded to another woman the place that belongs to her. No, +Josephine, she must not be able to reproach me. I thank you for +coming, but you have come to take leave of me. I have seen you--your +faithful love has been a balm to my heart. Now, farewell!" + +"Then, you bid me go already?" cried Josephine, reproachfully; "oh, +Bonaparte, let me stay here at least till your departure. No one +will betray to HER that I am here." + +"It would remain no secret, Josephine, and it would be used to +excuse her, and to accuse me. Go, then, and take with you the +consciousness that you have afforded me the last joy of my life." + +"Oh, Bonaparte, you break my heart!" murmured Josephine, leaning her +head on his shoulder. "I cannot leave you, I cannot bear to see you +go alone into exile." + +"Fate has decreed it, and so has the evil star that arose upon my +path when I left you, Josephine! Let this be my farewell. Now, go!" + +"No, Bonaparte," she cried, passionately; "tell me not to go if you +do not wish me to die! Your misfortunes have pierced my heart. My +only hope of life is by your side, for sorrow at the remembrance of +your misfortunes will kill me." + +A strange smile played around the emperor's lips. "I do not pity +those who die," he said; "death is a kind friend, and pray God that +He may soon send this friend to me!" He kissed her forehead and +conducted her gently to the door. "Go, my Josephine," he said; "this +is the last sacrifice which I shall ask of you!" + +"I go!" she sighed. "Farewell, Bonaparte, farewell!" She fixed on +him a look full of love and grief. "We shall never meet again!" + +"Yes," he said, slowly and solemnly, lifting his hand toward heaven, +"we shall meet again!" + +"I shall await you there!" she said, with an expression of intense +love and sorrow. + +The door closed; Napoleon was again alone; he stood in the middle of +the room, as if still beholding her pale, smiling face, and hearing +her sweet voice. "She will await me there!" he murmured. "But why +should she await me? Why should she die, and I live? And why must I +live?" he asked, in a loud, and almost joyful tone. "Why shall I +suffer these mean, cowardly creatures, who formerly lay in the dust +before me, now to enjoy their triumph? Why must I live?" He sank +into his chair, thinking of the disgrace soon to be brought upon +him, remembering that each of the allied sovereigns would send an +envoy to Fontainebleau, and that he was to be transported to Elba-- +escorted, like a caged lion, by Russian, Prussian, and Austrian +commissioners! His heart for a moment grew strong in his anguish. He +jumped up, rushed to his desk, pulled out the drawers, and opened a +secret compartment. There lay a small black silken bag. Taking it +out, he cut it open, and drew a package from it. "Ha!" he exclaimed, +joyfully, "now I have the kind friend that will deliver me! They +want to drag me through the country as a prisoner! But thou, blessed +poison, wilt release me!" + +In the night of the 13th of April, Constant, Napoleon's valet de +chambre, was awakened by an extraordinary groaning proceeding from +Napoleon's bedroom, whither Constant hastened. Yes, it was the +emperor who was suffering. His face was deadly pale; his limbs were +quivering; a paper lay on the floor in front of him; on the table by +his side stood a glass, in which were still seen some drops of a +whitish color. Constant rushed toward him. He gazed at his servant +with fixed looks, and murmured, "I suffer dreadfully! Fire is +consuming my bowels; but it does not kill me!" + +Uttering a cry, and hastening from the room, Constant went for the +domestic surgeon, Dr. Ivan, Maret, and Caulaincourt. They appeared +in the utmost consternation, and surrounded the easy-chair on which +the emperor still sat. Dr. Ivan felt his forehead, which was covered +with clammy perspiration; and his pulse was feeble and sluggish, but +still throbbing. He recognized his physician, and his livid lips +murmured almost inaudibly, "Ivan, I have taken poison, that which +you gave me one day in Russia; but it has lost its efficacy! It does +not kill, while it causes me excruciating pain." + +Ivan went weeping out of the room to prepare a remedy. + +Napoleon turned his eyes with an expression of agony toward Maret +and Caulaincourt, who were kneeling before him. "My friends," he +said, "I sought death! But you see God did not will it! He commands +me to live and suffer." [Footnote: Constant's "Memoires," vol. vi., +p. 88. Fain, "Manuscrit."] + +On the morning after this night of terror, the emperor rose from his +couch, and his face, which for the last few days had been so gloomy, +assumed now a serene expression. "Providence has spared me for other +purposes," he murmured to himself. "Well, then, I shall live! To the +living belongs the future!"! [Footnote: Bausset's "Memoires," vol. +ii., p. 244.] + +A week afterward, on the 20th of April, Napoleon left Fontainebleau +for Elba. In the court-yard of the palace the Old Guard was drawn up +in the splendor of their arms, with their eagles and banners. Near +the ranks of the soldiers, in front of the main portal, stood +Bonaparte's travelling-carriage, and beside it the foreign +commissioners. Before setting out, he wished to take leave of his +faithful soldiers. Advancing into the midst of the Old Guard, he +addressed them in a firm voice: "Soldiers of my Old Guard, I bid you +adieu! During twenty years I have ever found you in the path of +honor. In the last days, as in those of our prosperity, you have +never ceased to be models of bravery and fidelity. With such men as +you our cause could never have been lost; but the war would never +end; it would have become a civil war, and France must daily have +been more unhappy. I have, therefore, sacrificed all our interests +to those of our country: I depart; but you remain to serve France. +Her happiness was my only thought; it will always be the object of +my fervent wishes. Lament not my destiny: if I have consented to +survive myself, it was because I might contribute to your glory. +Adieu, my children! I would I could press you all to my heart; but I +will, at least, press your eagle!" At these words, General Petit +advanced with the eagle; Napoleon received the general in his arms, +and, kissing the standard, he added: "I cannot embrace you all, but +I do so in the person of your general! Adieu, once again, my old +companions!" + +The veteran soldiers had no reply but tears and sobs, and, +stretching out their hands toward Napoleon, they implored him to +stay. But the carriage rolled rapidly across the court-yard, bearing +into exile, or at best to the sovereignty of an insignificant +island, a man who, in aiming at the empire of the world, had subdued +almost all the kingdoms of Europe. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of Napoleon And Blucher, by Louise Muhlbach + diff --git a/3801.zip b/3801.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a537ae --- /dev/null +++ b/3801.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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