louisa of prussia and her times-第3节
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desires which the senseless reforms of the Emperor Joseph have
stirred up； are still prevalent； and the people only submit with
reluctance and with spiteful feelings to the reforms which your
excellency has inaugurated with a view to the best interests of
Austria。 Abroad； on the other hand； the blood…stained French
Republic incites the malecontents to imitate its own infamies； they
would like to see the victorious banners of General Bonaparte here
in order to have his assistance in establishing a republican
government in Austria。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Thugut； 〃the Austrian empire； at the present
time； is exposed to great dangers from within and without； the reins
must be held very firmly in order to conduct the ship of state
safely through the breakers； and I believe I am the man to do it。
You see； count； I do not underrate my own importance。 I know only
too well that Austria needs me。 Still； the plots and conspiracies
that are merely directed against myself； make me laugh。 For let me
tell you； my dear little count； I really fancy that my person has
nothing to fear either from daggers； or from pistols； or from
poisoned cups。 Do you believe in a Providence； count？ Ah！you look
surprised； and wonder how such a question could fall from infidel
lips like mine。 Yes； yes； I am an infidel； and I honestly confess
that the heaven of Mohammed； where you are smoking your chibouk；
seated on cushions of clouds； while houris； radiant with beauty； are
tickling the soles of your feet with rosy fingers； appears to me by
far more desirable than the Christian heaven where you are to stand
in eternal idleness before the throne of God Almighty； singing
hymns； and praising His greatness。 Ah！ during the happy days of my
sojourn at Constantinople； I have had a slight foretaste of the
heaven of Mohammed； and again； in the tedious days of Maria Theresa；
I have had a foretaste of the heaven of Christianity！〃
〃And which Providence did your excellency refer to？〃 asked Saurau。
〃I pray your excellency to tell me； because your faith is to be the
model of mine。〃
〃I believe in a Providence that never does any thing in vain； and
never creates great men in order to let them be crushed； like flies；
by miserable monkeys。 That is the reason why I am not afraid of any
conspiracy against myself。 Providence has created me to be useful to
Austria； and to be her bulwark against the surging waves of the
revolution； and against the victorious legions of General Bonaparte。
I am an instrument of Providence； and therefore it will protect me
as long as it needs me。 But if； some day； it should need me no
longer； if it intended then that I should fall； all my precautions
would be fruitless； and all your spies； my dear count； would be
unable to stay the hand of the assassin。〃
〃You want me to understand； then； that no steps whatever are to be
taken against the criminals conspiring against your excellency's
life？〃
〃By no means； countindeed； that would be an exaggeration of
fatalism。 I rely greatly on your sagacity and on the vigilance of
your servants； count。 Let them watch the stupid populacesee to it
that faux freres always attend the meetings of my enemies； and
whenever they inform you of conspiracies against myself； why； the
malefactors shall be spirited away without any superfluous noise。
Thank God； we have fortresses and state prisons； with walls too
thick for shrieks or groans to penetrate； and that no one is able to
break through。 The public should learn as little as possible of the
fate of these criminals。 The public punishment of an assassin who
failed to strike me； only instigates ten others to try if they
cannot hit me better。 But the noiseless disappearance of a culprit
fills their cowardly souls with horror and dismay； and the ten men
shrink back from the intended deed； merely because they do not know
in what manner their eleventh accomplice has expiated his crime。 The
disappearance of prisoners； the oubliettes； are just what is needed。
You must quietly remove your enemies and adversariesit must seem
as if some hidden abyss had ingulfed them； everybody； then； will
think this abyss might open one day before his own feet； and he
grows cautious； uneasy； and timid。 Solely by the wisdom of secret
punishments； and through the terror inspired by its mysterious
tribunals； Venice has been able to prolong her existence for so many
centuries。 Because the spies of the Three were believed to be
ubiquitousand because everybody was afraid of the two lions on the
Piazzetta； the Venetians obeyed these invisible rulers whom they did
not know； and whose avenging hand was constantly hanging over them。〃
〃Now； however； it seems that a visible hand； a hand of iron； is
going to strike away the invisible hands of the Three；〃 said Count
Saurau； quickly。 〃Bonaparte seems to desire to force Venice； too；
into the pale of his Italian republics。 The city is full of French
emissaries； who； by means of the most eloquent and insidious
appeals； try to bring about a rising of the Venetians against their
rulers； in orderbut hark！〃 said the count； suddenly interrupting
himself。 〃What is that？ Don't you hear the clamor in the street；
right under our window？〃
He paused； and； like the minister； turned his eyes and ears toward
the window。 A confused noise； loud shouts and yells； resounded
below。
The two ministers； without uttering a word； arose from their arm…
chairs and hurried to one of the windows； which looked upon the wide
street extending from the Kohlmarkt to the minister's palace。 A vast
mass of heads； broad shoulders； and uplifted arms； was visible
there； and the angry roar of the excited populace was approaching
already the immediate neighborhood of the palace。
〃It seems； indeed； as if these honorable representatives of the
people； intended to pay me a visit；〃 said Thugut； with great
composure。 〃Just listen how the fellows are roaring my name； as if
it were the refrain of some rollicking beer…song！〃
〃Why； it is a regular riot！〃 exclaimed the police minister； angrily。
〃Your excellency will permit me to withdraw〃
He left the window hastily； and took his hat； but Thugut's vigorous
hand kept him back。
〃Where are you going； count？〃 said he； smiling。
〃To the governor of Vienna；〃 said Saurau。 〃I want to ask him why he
permits this nonsense； and order him to disperse the rabble in the
most summary manner！〃
〃Pray； stay here；〃 said Thugut； quietly。 〃The governor of Vienna is
a man of great sagacity； who knows perfectly well how we have to
treat the people。 Why； it would be an unparalleled tyranny if the
poor people were not even allowed to give the prime minister their
good advice； and tell him what they think of the state of affairs。
Just give them this permission； and they will believe they have
performed a most heroic deed； and it will seem to them as if they
could boast of great liberty。 True political wisdom； my dear little
count； commands us to give the people a semblance of liberty； we
thereby succeed in dazzling their eyes so well that they do not
perceive that they have no real liberty whatever。〃
The clamor and noise in the street below had increased in fury。 The
people； whose dense masses now entirely obstructed the street；
impetuously moved up to the portal of the ministerial palace； the
front door of which had been locked and barred already by the
cautious porter。 Vigorous fists hammered violently against the door；
and as an accompaniment to this terrible music of their leaders； the
people howled and yelled their furious refrain： 〃We want to see the
minister！ He shall give us peace！ peace！ peace！〃
〃Ah！ I know what it means！〃 exclaimed Count Saurau； gnashing his
teeth。 〃Your enemies have instigated these scoundrels。 The party
that would like to overthrow you and me； that wants to make peace
with France at any price； and to keep Belgium united with Austria
this party has hired the villains below to get up a riot。 They want
to compel your excellency either to resign or to comply with the
wishes of the people； and make peace with the French Republic。〃
Thugut laughed。 〃Compel ME！〃 said he； laconically。
At that moment the mob yelled louder than ever； and the shout
〃Peace！ we want peace！〃 shook the windows。
Simultaneously the furious blows against the front door redoubled in
violence。
〃Assuredly； I cannot stand this any longer！〃 exclaimed the police
minister； perfectly beside himself。 〃I ought not to listen quietly
to this outrage。〃
〃No；〃 said Thugut； very quietly； 〃we won't listen to it any longer。
This is my breakfast…hour； and I invite you to be my guest。 Come；
let us go to the dining…room。〃
He took the count's arm； and proceeded with him to the adjoining
room。 Breakfast for eight persons was served in this room； for Baron
Thugut was in the habit of keeping every day open table for seven
uninvited guests； and his intimate acquaintances； as well as his
special favorites； never failed to call on the minister at least
once a week during his well…known breakfast and dinner hours。
To…day； however； the minister's rapid and inquisitive glances did
not discover a single guest。 Nobody was in the room except the eight
foot…men who sto
