louisa of prussia and her times-第16节

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go；　count？〃

〃How　is　that　bear　to　be　kept　here？〃　asked　the　count；　sighing；　and
shrugging　his　shoulders。

At　this　moment　Bonaparte's　powerful　voice　was　heard　in　the　anteroom；
calling　out：

〃An　orderlyquick！〃

〃He　calls　out　of　the　window；〃　whispered　the　marquis。　〃Let　us　hear
what　he　has　got　to　say。〃

The　two　plenipotentiaries　slipped　on　tiptoe　to　the　window；
cautiously　peeping　from　behind　the　curtains。　They　saw　a　French
lancer　galloping　up　below；　and　stopping　and　saluting　under　the
window　of　the　adjoining　room。

Again　they　heard　Bonaparte's　thundering　voice。　〃Ride　over　to　the
headquarters　of　Archduke　Charles；〃　shouted　Bonaparte。　〃Tell　him　on
my　behalf　that　the　armistice　is　at　an　end；　and　that　hostilities　will
recommence　from　the　present　hour。　That　is　all。　Depart！〃

Then　they　heard　him　close　the　window　with　a　crash；　and　walk　with
loud　steps　through　the　anteroom。

The　two　plenipotentiaries　looked　at　each　other　in　dismay。　〃Count；〃
whispered　the　marquis；　〃listen！　he　leaves　and　has　threatened　to
shatter　Austria。　He　is　the　man　to　fulfil　his　threat。　My　God；　must　we
suffer　him　to　depart　in　anger？　Have　you　been　authorized　to　do　that？〃

〃Will　you　try　to　command　the　storm　to　stand　still？〃　asked　Count
Cobenzl。

〃Yes；　I　will　try；　for　we　must　not　break　off　the　negotiations　in　this
way　and　recommence　hostilities。　We　must　conciliate　this　terrible
warrior！〃

He　rushed　out　of　the　room；　and　hastened　through　the　anteroom　and
down…stairs　to　the　front　door。

Bonaparte　had　already　entered　his　carriage；　his　escort　had　formed　in
line；　the　driver　had　seized　the　reins　and　whip　in　order　to　give　the
impatient　horses　the　signal　to　start。

At　this　moment；　the　pale　and　humble　face　of　the　Marquis　de　Gallo
appeared　at　the　carriage　door。　Bonaparte　did　not　seem　to　see　him。
Leaning　back　into　the　cushions；　he　gloomily　looked　up　to　heaven。

〃General；〃　said　the　marquis；　imploringly；　〃I　beseech　you　not　to
depart！〃

〃Marquis；〃　replied　Bonaparte；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃it　does　not
become　me　to　remain　peaceably　among　my　enemies。　War　has　been
declared；　for　you　have　not　accepted　my　ultimatum。〃

〃But；　general；　I　take　the　liberty　to　inform　you　that　the　Austrian
plenipotentiaries　have　resolved　to　accept　your　ultimatum。〃
Bonaparte's　marble　countenance　did　not　betray　the　slightest　emotion
of　surprise　and　joy；　his　large　eyes　only　cast　a　piercing　glance　upon
the　marquis。

〃You　accept　it　without　subterfuge　or　reserve？〃　he　asked；　slowly。

〃Yes；　general；　precisely　as　you　have　stated　it。　We　are　ready　to　sign
the　treaty　of　peace；　and　accept　the　ultimatum。　Just　be　kind　enough
to　alight　once　more；　and　continue　the　conference　with　us。〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃nulla　vestigia　retrorsam！　Being　already
in　my　carriage；　I　shall　not　return　to　you。　Besides；　the　delegates　of
the　Venetian　Republic　are　waiting　for　me　at　Passeriano；　and　I
believe　it　is　time　for　me　to　inform　them　too　of　my　ultimatum。　At　the
end　of　three　hours；　I　ask　you；　marquis；　and　Count　Cobenzl　to　proceed
to　my　headquarters　at　Passeriano。　There　we　will　take　the　various
stipulations　of　the　treaty　into　consideration；　and　agree　upon　the
public　and　secret　articles。〃

〃But　you　forget；　general；　that　your　orderly　is　already　on　the　way　to
the　Austrian　headquarters　in　order　to　announce　the　reopening　of
hostilities。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Napoleon；　quietly。　〃Here；　two　orderlies。　Follow
the　first　orderly；　and　command　him　to　return。　You　see；　marquis；　I
believe　in　the　sincerity　of　your　assurances。　In　three　hours；　then；　I
shall　expect　you　at　Passeriano　for　the　purpose　of　settling　the
details　of　the　treaty。　We　shall　sign　it；　however；　on　neutral　ground。
Do　you　see　that　tall　building　on　the　horizon？〃

〃Yes；　general；　it　is　the　decayed　old　castle　of　Campo　Formio。〃

〃Well；　in　that　castle；　the　treaty　shall　be　signed。　In　three　hours；
then。　Until　then；　farewell。〃

He　nodded　carelessly　to　the　marquis；　who；　as　humble　as　a　vassal；　at
the　feet　of　the　throne；　stood　at　the　carriage　door；　constantly
bowing　deeply；　and　waving　his　plumed　hat。

〃Forward！〃　shouted　Bonaparte；　and　the　carriage；　followed　by　a
brilliant　suite；　rolled　away。　Bonaparte；　carelessly　leaning　into　the
corner；　muttered；　with　a　stealthy　smile：　〃It　was　a　coup　de　theatre；
and　it　had　evidently　great　success。　They　had　to　accept　peace　at　my
hands　as　a　favor。　Ah；　if　they　had　guessed　how　much　I　needed　it
myself！　But　these　men　are　obtuse；　they　cannot　see　any　thing。　They
have　no　aim；　they　only　live　from　minute　to　minute；　and　whenever　they
find　a　precipice　on　their　route；　they　stumble　over　it；　and　are　lost
beyond　redemption。　My　God；　how　scarce　real　men　are！　There　are
eighteen　millions　in　Italy；　and　I　have　scarcely　found　two　men　among
them。　I　want　to　save　these　two　men；　but　the　rest　may　fulfil　their
destiny。　The　Republic　of　Venice　shall　disappear　from　the　earththis
cruel　and　bloodthirsty　government　shall　be　annihilated。　We　shall
throw　it　as　a　prey　to　hungry　Austria；　but　when　the　latter　has
devoured　her；　and　stretched　herself　in　the　lazy　languor　of
digestion；　then　it　will　be　time　for　us　to　stir　up　Austria。　Until
then；　peace　with　Austriapeace！〃

Three　hours　later　the　treaty　between　Austria　and　France　was　signed
at　the　old　castle　of　Campo　Formio。　France；　by　this　treaty；　acquired
Belgium；　the　left　bank　of　the　Rhine；　and　the　fortress　of　Monte。
Austria　acquired　the　Venetian　territory。　But　to　these　acquisitions；
which　were　published；　secret　articles　were　added。　In　these　secret
articles；　France　promised；　in　case　Prussia　should　demand　an
enlargement　of　her　dominions；　like　Austria；　not　to　consent　to　it。

The　Emperor　of　Austria；　on　his　part；　pledged　himself　to　withdraw　his
troops；　even　before　the　conclusion　of　the　treaty　with　the　German
empire；　to　be　agreed　upon　at　Rastadt；　from　all　the　fortresses　on　the
Rhinein　other　words；　to　surrender　the　German　empire　entirely　to
its　French　neighbors。

Austria　had　enlarged　her　territory；　but；　for　this　aggrandizement；
Germany　was　to　pay　with　her　blood；　and　finally　with　her　life。
Austria　had　made　peace　with　France　at　Campo　Formio；　and　it　was
stipulated　in　the　treaty　that　the　German　empire　likewise　should
conclude　peace　with　France。　For　this　purpose；　a　congress　was　to　meet
at　Rastadt；　all　German　princes　were　to　send　their　ambassadors　to
that　fortress；　in　order　to　settle；　jointly；　with　three
representatives　of　the　French　Republic；　the　fate　of　the　empire。




CHAPTER　IX。

QUEEN　LOUISA。


The　most　noble　Countess　von　Voss；　mistress　of　ceremonies　at　the
court　of　Prussia；　was　pacing　the　anteroom　of　Queen　Louisa　in　the
most　excited　manner。　She　wore　the　regular　court　dressa　long　black
robe　and　a　large　cap　of　black　crape。　In　her　white　hands；　half
covered　with　black　silk　gloves；　she　held　a　gorgeous　fan；　which　she
now　impatiently　opened　and　closed；　and　then　again　slowly　moved　up
and　down　like　a　musical　leader's　baton。

If　anybody　had　been　present　to　observe　her；　the　noble　mistress　of
ceremonies　would　not　have　permitted　herself　such　open　manifestations
of　her　impatience。　Fortunately；　however；　she　was　quite　alone；　and
under　these　circumstances　even　a　mistress　of　ceremonies　at　the　royal
court　might　feel　at　liberty　to　violate　the　rules　of　that　etiquette
which　on　all　other　occasions　was　the　noble　lady's　most　sacred
gospel。　Etiquette；　however；　was　just　now　the　motive　of　her　intense
excitement；　and　in　its　interest　she　was　going　to　fight　a　battle　on
that　very　spot　in　Queen　Louisa's　anteroom。

〃Now　or　never！〃　she　murmured。　〃What　I　was　at　liberty　to　overlook　as
long　as　Frederick　William　and　Louisa　were　merely　'their　royal
highnesses；　the　crown　prince　and　crown　princess；'　I　cannot　permit
any　longer　now　that　they　have　ascended　the　royal　throne。　Hence　I　am
determined　to　speak　to　the　young　king　on　this　first　day　of　his　reign
＇Footnote：　footnote：　November　17；　1797。＇　in　as　emphatic　and　sincere
a　manner　as　is　required　by　a　faithful　discharge　of　my　responsible
duties。〃

Just　at　that　moment　the　large　folding　doors　were　opened；　and　a　tall
and　slender　young　man　in　a　dashing　uniform　entered　the　room。　It　was
young　King　Frederick　William　III。；　on　his　return　from　the　interior
palace…yard　where　he　had　received　the　oath　of　allegiance　at　the
hands　of　the　generals　of　the　monarchy。

The　noble　and　youthful　countenance　of　this　king　of　twenty…seven
years　was　grave　and　stern；　but　from　his　large　blue　eyes　the　kindness
and　gentleness　of　his　excellent　heart　was　beaming；　and　his　handsome
and　good…natured　features　breathed　a　wonderful　spirit　of　serenity
and　sympathy。

He　crossed　the　room　with　rapid　and　noiseless　steps；　and；　politely
bowing　to　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　approached　the　opposite　door。
But　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　evidently　anxious　to　prevent　him
from　opening　that　door；　placed　herself　in　front　of　it　and　gravely
said　to　him：

〃Your　majesty；　it　is　impossible。　I　cannot　permit　etiquette　to　be
violated　in　this　manner；　and　I　must　beg　your　majesty　to　inform　me
most　graciously　of　what　you　are　going　to　do　in　these　rooms？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　with　a　pleasant　smile；　〃I　am　going　to　do　to…
day　what　I　am　in　the　habit　of　doing　every　day　at　this　hourI　am
going　to　pay　a　visit　to　my　wife。〃

〃To　your　WIFE！〃　exclaimed　the　mistress　of　cere