louisa of prussia and her times-第124节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


obtaining　further　instructions　from　his　sovereign；　signed　it　on　the
15th　of　December。　The　same　day；　in　accordance　with　the　treaty　of
Potsdam；　he　was　to　have　delivered　to　Napoleon　Prussia's　declaration
of　war。　Owing　to　the　conclusion　of　this　alliance；　the　position　of
Austria　became　utterly　untenable；　and　she　was　obliged　to　accept　the
humiliating　terms　of　Napoleon；　and　to　sign；　on　the　26th　of　December；
1805；　the　peace　of　Presburg。　This　treaty　deprived　Austria　of　her
best　provinces；　which　were　annexed　to　France；　Bavaria；　Wurtemberg
and　Baden。　It　is　true；　Prussia　obtained　the　kingdom　of　Hanover　by
virtue　of　the　treaty　with　France；　but　this　was　an　illusory
aggrandizement　which　Prussia　would　have　to　conquer；　sword　in　hand；
from　England。＇　　He　nodded　a　parting　greeting　to　the　confused；　almost
stunned　count；　and　returned　to　his　maps；　thus　depriving　the　Prussian
minister　of　the　possibility　of　entering　into　further　explanations。
The　latter　heaved　a　profound　sigh；　and；　walking　backward；　turned
slowly　to　the　door。

Napoleon　took　no　further　notice　of　him；　he　seemed　wholly　absorbed　in
his　maps　and　plans；　only　when　the　door　closed　slowly　behind　the
count；　he　said；　in　a　low　voice：　〃He　will　sign　the　treaty；　and　then
Austria's　last　hope　is　gone！　Now　I　shall　assume　a　more　decided
attitude　in　Presburg；　and　Austria　will　accept　all　my　conditions；　she
will　be　obliged　to　cede　to　me　the　Netherlands；　Venice；　and　Tuscany；
for　now　she　cannot　count　any　longer　on　Prussia's　armed
intervention。〃




CHAPTER　LIII

JUDITH　AND　HOLOFERNES


Napoleon　was　still　engaged　in　studying　his　maps　and　in　changing　the
positions　of　the　pins　on　it。　From　time　to　time　he　was　interrupted　in
this　occupation　by　couriers　bringing　fresh　dispatches　from　Presburg
or　France；　but　he　constantly　returned　to　his　maps；　and　his　finger
passing　over　them　extinguished　kingdoms　and　boundaries　to　create　new
states　in　their　places。

Evening　was　already　drawing　near；　and　the　emperor　was　still　in　his
cabinet。　The　door　had　already　been　opened　repeatedly　in　a　cautious
manner；　and　Constant；　the　valet　de　chambre；　had　looked　in　with
prying　eyes；　but　seeing　the　emperor　so　busily　engaged；　he　had　always
withdrawn　cautiously　and　inaudibly。　At　length；　however；　he　seemed
tired　of　waiting　any　longer；　and　instead　of　withdrawing；　again　he
entered　and　closed　the　door　noiselessly。

The　noise　caused　the　emperor　to　start　up。

〃Well；　Constant；　what　is　the　matter？〃　he　asked。

〃Sire；〃　whispered　Constant；　in　a　low　voice；　as　though　he　were　afraid
the　walls　might　hear　him；　〃sire；　that　distinguished　lady　has　been
here　for　an　hour；　she　is　waiting　for　the　audience　your　majesty　has
granted　to　her。〃

〃Ah；　the　countess　or　princess；〃　said　Napoleon；　carelessly；　〃the
foolish　person　who　asserts　that　she　hated　me　formerly　but　loves　me
now？〃

〃Sire；　she　speaks　of　your　majesty　in　terms　of　the　most　unbounded
enthusiasm！〃

〃Ah；　bah！　Women　like　to　be　enthusiastic　admirers　of　somebody；　and　to
worship　him　with　the　gushing　transports　of　their　tender　hearts！
Would　so　many　women　go　into　convents　and　call　Christ　their
bridegroom；　if　it　were　not　so？　But　what　is　the　name　of　this　lady　who
has　been　pleased　to　fall　in　love　with　me？〃

〃Sire；　I　believe；　the　only　condition　she　stipulated　was　that　your
majesty　should　not　ask　for　her　name。〃

The　emperor　frowned。　〃And　you　would　persuade　me　to　receive　this
nameless　woman？　Who　knows　but　she　may　be　a　mere　intriguer　anxious　to
penetrate　to　me　for　some　dark　purpose？〃

〃Sire；　one　of　the　most　faithful　adherents　and　admirers　of　your
majesty；　M。　von　Brandt；　formerly　major　in　the　Austrian　service；
pledges　his　word　of　honor　that　she　is　not；　and？〃

At　this　moment　the　door　was　opened　violently；　and　Grand…marshal
Duroe　entered。

〃Ah；　your　majesty　is　here　still！〃　he　exclaimed；　joyfully。　〃Your
majesty　has　not　yet　received　the　lady？〃

〃Well；　does　that　concern　you？〃　asked　Napoleon；　smiling。　〃You　are
jealous；　perhaps？　This　lady　is　said　to　be　very　beautiful。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Duroc；　solemnly；　〃even　though　she　were　as　beautiful　as
Cleopatra；　your　majesty　ought　not　to　receive　her。〃

〃I　ought　not？〃　asked　Napoleon；　sternly。　〃What　should　prevent　me　from
doing　so？〃

〃Sire；　the　sacred　duty　to　preserve　yourself　to　your　people；　to　your
empire。　This　lady　who　tries　to　penetrate　with　so　much　passionate
violence　to　your　majesty　is　a　dangerous　intriguer；　a　mortal　enemy　of
France　and　your　majesty。〃

Napoleon　cast　a　triumphant　glance　on　Constant；　who；　pale　and
trembling；　was　leaning　against　the　wall。

〃Well；〃　he　asked；　〃will　you　defend　her　still？〃

Without　waiting　for　Constant's　reply；　he　turned　again　to　the　grand…
marshal。

〃Whence　did　you　obtain　this　information？〃

〃Sire；　the　governor　of　Vienna；　M。　de　Vincennes；　has　just　arrived
here　in　the　utmost　haste。　His　horse　fell　half　dead　to　the　ground
when　he　entered　the　courtyard。　He　feared　that　he　might　be　too　late。〃

〃How　too　late？〃

〃Too　late　to　warn　your　majesty　from　this　lady；　who　has　evidently
come　to　carry　out　some　criminal　enterprise。〃

〃Ah；　bah！　she　was；　perhaps；　going　to　assassinate　me？〃

〃Sire；　that　is　what　M。　de　Vincennes　asserts。〃

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Napoleon；　turning　once　more　toward　Constant；　〃did
you　not　tell　me　that　she　was　deeply　enamoured　of　me？　Is　the　governor
here　still？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　he　wants　to　know　whether　he　shall　not　immediately　arrest
the　lady　and　closely　question　her。〃

Napoleon　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　seemed　to　reflect。

〃Constant；〃　he　then　said；　〃tell　M。　de　Vincennes　to　come　hither。　I
myself　want　to　speak　to　him。〃

Constant　went　at　once　into　the　anteroom　and　returned　in　a　minute；　to
introduce　the　governor　of　Vienna；　M。　de　Vincennes。

Napoleon　hastily　went　to　meet　him。　〃You　have　come　to　warn　me；〃　he
said；　sternly。　〃What　are　your　reasons　for　doing　so？〃

〃Sire；　the　intentions　of　this　lady　are　extremely　suspicious。　Since　I
have　been　in　Vienna　she　has　been　incessantly　watched　by　my　agents；
because　she　is　the　intellectual　head　of　all　the　dangerous　and
hostile　elements　of　the　city。　All　the　enemies　of　your　majesty；　all
the　so…called　German　patriots；　meet　at　her　house；　and　by　closely
watching　HER；　we　could　learn　all　our　enemies'　plans　and　actions。
Hence；　it　was　necessary　for　us　to　find　an　agent　in　her　house　who
would　report　to　me　every　day　what　had　been　going　on　there；　and　I　was
so　fortunate　as　to　enlist　the　services　of　her　mistress　of
ceremonies。〃

〃By　what　means　did　you　bribe　her？〃　asked　Napoleon。　〃By　means　of　love
or　money？〃

〃Sire；　thank　God；　money　alone　was　sufficient　for　the　purpose。〃

The　emperor　smiled。　〃The　woman　is　old　and　ugly；　then？〃

〃Very　ugly；　sire。〃

〃And　she　hates　her　mistress　because　she　is　beautiful。　For；　I
suppose；　she　is　very　beautiful？〃

〃Extremely　so；　sire；　a　most　fascinating　woman；　and　consequently　the
more　dangerous　as　an　intriguer。〃

Napoleon　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Proceed　with　your　report。　You　had
bribed　her　mistress　of　ceremonies；　then？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　she　kept　an　accurate　diary；　containing　a　statement　of
what　her　mistress　had　been　doing　every　hour；　and　brought　it　to　me
every　evening。　For　the　last　few　days　the　conduct　of　her　mistress　has
seemed　to　her　particularly　suspicious；　hence　she　watched　her　more
closely；　and　my　other　agents　dogged　her　steps　in　disguise　whenever
she　left　her　mansion。　All　symptoms　appeared　suspicious　enough；　and
pointed　to　the　conclusion　that　she　was　meditating　an　attack　upon
some　distinguished　person。　But　I　did　not　guess　as　yet　whom　she　was
aiming　at。　All　at　once；　two　hours　ago；　her　mistress　of　ceremonies
came　to　bring　me　her　diary；　and　to　report　to　me　that　her　mistress
had　just　left　her　mansion　with　Major　von　Brandt；　and　that　her　last
words　had　indicated　that　she　had　gone　to　see　your　majesty　at
Schonbrunn。　While　I　was　still　considering　what　ought　to　be　done；
another　agent　of　mine　made　his　appearance；　I　had　commissioned　him
specially　to　watch　M。　von　Brandt；　for；　although　he　seems　to　be
extremely　devoted　to　us；　I　do　not　trust　him。〃

〃And　you　are　perfectly　right；〃　said　Napoleon；　sternly。　〃Traitors
ought　never　to　be　trusted；　and　this　M。　von　Brandt　is　a　traitor；
inasmuch　as　he　adheres　to　us；　the　enemies　of　his　country。　What　was
the　information　brought　to　you　by　your　agent？〃

〃Sire；　my　agent　caused　one　of　his　men；　who　is　a　very　skilful
pickpocket；　to　steal　the　major's　memorandum…book　just　at　the　moment
when　he　was　entering　the　lady's　house。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　Napoleon；　laughing。　〃Your　agents　are　clever　fellows。
What　did　you　find　in　the　memorandum…book？　Love　letters　and　unpaid
bills；　I　suppose？〃

〃No；　sire；　I　found　in　it　an　important　document；　an　agreement；　by
virtue　of　which　the　lady　is　to　pay　the　major；　in　case　he　should
obtain　for　her　an　interview　with　your　majesty；　a　gold…piece　for
every　minute　of　its　duration。〃

Napoleon　laughed。　〃The　lady　is　as　rich　as　Croesus；　then？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　sire；　the　princess　is　said　to？〃

〃Princess！　What　princess？〃

〃Sire；　the　lady　to　whom　your　majesty　has　granted　an　audience　is　the
Princess　von　Eibenberg。〃

〃The　Princess　von　Eibenberg；〃　replied　Napoleon；　musingly。　〃Did　I　not
hear　that　name　on　some　former　occasion？　Yes；　yes；　I　remember；〃　he
said；　in　a　low　voice；　after　a　short　pause；　as　if　speaking