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German　powers　met　with　a　haughty　reserve　instead　of　the　kindness
they　had　hoped　for；　and　with　sarcastic　sneers　in　lieu　of　a　warm
reception。　It　was　in　vain　for　Germany　thus　to　humble　herself　and　to
crouch　in　the　dust。　France　was　too　well　aware　of　her　victories　and
superiority；　and　the　servility　of　the　German　aristocracy　only
excited　contempt　and　scorn；　which　the　French　gentlemen　did　not
refrain　from　hurling　into　the　faces　of　the　humble　solicitors。　The
greater　the　abjectness　of　the　latter；　the　more　overbearing　the
haughty　demeanor　of　the　former；　and　both　gained　the　firm　conviction
that　France　held　the　happiness　and　quiet　of　Germany　in　her　hands；
and　that　France　alone　had　the　power　to　secure　to　the　German　princes
the　possession　of　their　states；　to　enlarge　their　dominions；　or　to
deprive　them　thereof；　just　as　she　pleased；　and　without　paying　any
deference　to　the　wishes　of　the　Germans　themselves。

To…day；　however；　all　these　distinguished　menthe　counts　and　barons
of　the　empire；　the　bishops　and　other　ecclesiastical　dignitarieshad
not　appeared　for　the　purpose　of　conquering　the　favor　of　the　three
French　starsto…day　a　new　constellation　had　arisen　on　the　sky　of
Rastadt；　and　they　wanted　to　stare　at　itthey　wanted　to　admire
Bonaparte　and　Josephine。

But　Bonaparte　took　hardly　any　notice　of　the　crowd　assembled　in　the
anteroom。　His　hands　folded　on　his　back；　he　was　pacing　his　room；　and
listening　with　rapt　attention　to　the　accounts　the　three　French
ambassadors　were　giving　him　concerning　the　policy　they　had　pursued
up　to　the　present　time。

〃We　have　done　every　thing　in　our　power　to　spread　republican　notions
hereabouts；〃　said　Jean　Debry；　at　the　conclusion　of　his　lengthy
remarks。　〃We　have　sent　agents　to　all　of　these　small　German　states
for　the　purpose　of　enlightening　the　people　about　their　dignity；
their　rights；　and　the　disgrace　of　submitting　to　miserable　princes；
instead　of　being　free　and　great　under　the　wholesome　influence　of
republican　institutions。〃

〃We　have；　moreover；　even　here；　excellent　spies　among　the
ambassadors；〃　said　Roberjot；　〃and　through　them　we　have　skilfully
fanned　the　flames　of　that　discord　which　seems　to　be　the　bane　of
Germany。　It　is　true；　they　hold　secret　meetings　every　day　in　order　to
agree　on　a　harmonious　line　of　policy；　but　discord；　jealousy；　and
covetousness　always　accompany　them　to　those　meetings；　and　they　are
therefore　never　able　to　agree　about　any　thing。　Besides；　these　German
noblemen　are　very　talkative；　hence　we　find　out　all　their　secrets；
and　it　is　an　easy　task　for　us　to　foil　every　scheme　of　theirs。　Every
one　of　them　is　anxious　to　enlarge　his　possessions；　we　therefore　give
them　hopes　of　acquiring　new　territory　at　the　expense　of　their
neighbors；　and　thereby　greatly　increase　the　discord　and　confusion
prevailing　among　them。　We　fill　the　ambassadors　of　the　secondary
princes；　and　especially　those　of　the　ecclesiastical　sovereigns；　with
distrust　against　the　more　powerful　German　states；　and　intimate　to
them　that　the　latter　are　trying　to　aggrandize　themselves　at　their
expense；　and　that　they　have　asked　the　consent　of　France　to　do　so。　We
inform　the　first…class　governments　of　the　desire　of　the　smaller
princes　to　enlarge　their　dominions；　and　caution　them　against　placing
implicit　trust　in　their　representations。　Thus　we　sow　the　seeds　of
discord　among　these　princely　hirelings；　and　endeavor　to　undermine
the　thrones　of　Germany。〃

〃Germany　must　throw　off　all　her　princes　like　ripe　ulcers；〃　exclaimed
Bonnier；　scornfully。　〃These　numerous　thrones　beyond　the　Rhine　are
dangerous　and　fatal　to　our　sublime　and　indivisible　French　Republic
bad　examples　spoiling　good　manners。　Every　throne　must　disappear　from
the　face　of　the　earth；　and　freedom　and　equality　must　shine
throughout　the　whole　world　like　the　sun。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Bonaparte；　gravely。　〃It　is　our　duty　to
disseminate　our　principles　among　these　Germans；　who　are　living　in
slavery　as　yet；　and　to　assist　the　poor　serfs　in　obtaining　their
liberty。　Germany　must　become　a　confederate　republic；　and　discord　is
the　best　sword　wherewith　to　attack　these　princely　hirelings。　But
what　does　the　Swedish　ambassadorwhose　name　I　noticed　on　the　list
of　applicants　for　interviews　with　myselfhere　among　the
representatives　of　the　German　princes？〃

〃He　pretends　to　participate　in　the　congress　of　peace　because　Sweden
warranted　the　execution　of　the　treaty　of　Westphalia；〃　exclaimed　Jean
Debry；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

〃Bah！　that　is　a　most　ridiculous　pretext；〃　said　Bonnier；　gloomily。
〃This　M。　Fersen　is　a　royalist。　The　political　part　played　by　this
diplomatist　at　the　court　of　Louis　Capet；　and　afterward　continued　by
him；　is　only　too　well　known。　He　now　tries　to　dazzle　us　by　his
kindness　merely　for　the　purpose　of　laying　a　trap　for　the　French
Republic。〃

〃Ah；　we　shall　show　to　the　gentleman　that　the　Republic　has　got　an
open　eye　and　a　firm　hand；　and　that　it　discovers　and　tears　all　such
meshes　and　traps；〃　said　Bonaparte；　impetuously。　〃But　we　have　done
business　enough　for　to…day；　and　I　will　go　and　receive　the
ambassadors　who　have　been　waiting　here　for　a　long　while　in　the　ante…
room。〃

He　saluted　the　three　gentlemen　with　a　familiar　nod；　and　then
repaired　to　the　reception…room；　the　doors　of　which　were　opened　at
last　to　admit　the　German　ambassadors。

It　was　a　brilliant　crowd　now　entering　in　a　solemn　procession　through
the　opened　folding…doors。　The　ambassadors　of　every　German　sovereign
were　in　attendance；　only　the　representatives　of　Austria　and　Prussia；
whom　Bonaparte　had　received　already　in　a　special　audience；　were
absent。

This　German　peace　delegation；　which　now　entered　the　room　to　do
homage　to　the　French　general；　was　a　very　large　one。　There　were　first
the　ambassadors　of　Bavaria　and　Saxony；　of　Baden　and　Wurtemberg；　of
Hanover　and　Mecklenburg；　then　followed　the　host　of　the　small　princes
and　noblemen；　by　whose　side　the　ecclesiastical　dignitaries；　the
representatives　of　the　electors　and　bishops；　were　walking　in。
＇Footnote：　The　whole　German　peace　delegation　consisted　of　seventy…
nine　persons；　and　all　these　seventy…nine　distinguished　men；　the
ambassadors　of　emperor；　kings；　and　princes；　tried　to　gain　the　favor
of　the　ambassadors　of　France：　and　the　three　gentlemen；　representing
the　great　Republic；　seemed　more　powerful　and　influential　than　all
the　representatives　of　Germany。＇

Bonaparte　stood　proudly　erect　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　his　gloomy
glances　inspecting　the　gentlemen；　who　now　commenced　stationing
themselves　on　both　sides　of　the　apartment。　A　master　of　ceremonies；
who　had　been　previously　selected　for　the　meetings　of　the　peace
congress；　now　walked　solemnly　through　the　ranks　and　announced　in　a
ringing　voice　the　name；　rank；　and　position　of　every　ambassador。

〃His　excellency　Count　Fersen；〃　he　shouted　just　now；　in　a　solemn
manner；　〃ambassador　of　his　majesty　the　King　of　Sweden　and　Duke　of
Pomerania。〃

Count　Fersen　had　not　yet　finished　his　ceremonious　obeisance；　When
Bonaparte　rapidly　approached　him。

〃Just　tell　me；　sir；〃　he　exclaimed；　bluntly；　〃what　is　the　name　of　the
minister　whom　Sweden　has　now　in　Paris？〃

Count　Fersen　looked　in　evident　surprise　and　confusion　at　the　pale
face　of　the　general；　whose　flaming　eyes　were　fixed　upon　him　with　an
angry　expression。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　faltered；　〃I　am　not　quite　sure〃

〃Ah；　sir；　you　know　only　too　well　that　Sweden　has　not　yet　given　a
successor　to　M。　de　Haill；〃　Bonaparte　interrupted　him　violently；　〃and
that　the　only　ambassador　whom　she　was　willing　to　send　had　to　be
rejected　by　the　Directory。　You　were　this　ambassador　whom　the
Directory　would　not　tolerate　in　Paris。　Friendly　ties　have　united
France　and　Sweden　for　a　long　series　of　years；　and　I　believe　Sweden
ought　to　appreciate　and　recognize　their　importance　at　the　present
time　more　than　ever。　How；　then；　is　the　conduct　of　the　court　of
Stockholm　to　be　explained；　that　tries　to　make　it　its　special
business　to　send　everywhere；　either　to　Paris　or　wherever　the
plenipotentiaries　of　France　may　be　seen；　ministers　and　ambassadors
who　must　be　peculiarly　distasteful　to　every　citizen　of　France？〃

〃That　is　certainly　not　the　intention　of　my　court；〃　exclaimed　Count
Fersen；　hastily。

〃That　may　be；〃　said　Bonaparte；　proudly；　〃but　I　should　like　to　know
if　the　King　of　Sweden　would　remain　indifferent　in　case　a　French
ambassador　should　try　to　instigate　an　insurrection　of　the　people　of
Stockholm　against　him！　The　French　Republic　cannot　permit　men；　whose
connection　with　the　old　court　of　France　is　a　matter　of　notoriety；　to
appear　in　official　capacities；　and　thus　to　irritate　and　humble　the
republican　ambassadors；　the　representatives　of　the　first　nation　on
earth；　who；　before　consulting　her　policy；　knows　how　to　maintain　her
dignity。〃

〃I　shall　immediately　set　out　for　Stockholm　in　order　to　communicate
these　views　of　the　conqueror　of　Italy　to　my　court；〃　said　Count
Fersen；　pale　with　shame　and　mortification。

〃Do　so；　set　out　at　once；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　impetuously；　〃and
tell　your　master；　unless　he　should　conclude　to　pursue　a　different
policy；　I　will　send　him　some　day　a　skilful　diplomatic　Gascon　who
knows　how　to　simplify　the　machine　and　make　it　go　less　rapidly。　King
Gustavus　will　perhaps　find　out；　when　it　is　too　late；　and　at　his