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of　the　ambassador　and　the　adjoining　streets；　and　fire　at　whosoever
offers　resistance　or　wants　to　raise　a　disturbance。'　Vienna　must　be
perfectly　quiet　in　the　course　of　an　hour。　Begone！〃

Hubschle　rushed　out；　and　Thugut　remained　alone。　He　slowly　and
deliberately　sat　down　in　an　arm…chair；　and　pondered　serenely　over
the　events　of　the　night。

〃It　is　true　I　have　not　wholly　accomplished　my　purpose；〃　he　muttered；
〃but　M。　Bernadotte　will　try　no　longer　to　injure　me。　He　shall　have
his　passports　to…morrow　morning。〃




LAST　DAYS　OF　THE　EIGHTEENTH　CENTURY。


CHAPTER　XXVI。

VICTORIA　DE　POUTET。


Nearly　a　year　had　elapsed　since　the　departure　of　the　French
ambassador　from　Vienna；　but　the　rupture　of　the　peace　with　France；　so
ardently　desired　by　Minister　Thugut；　had　not　yet　taken　place。　A
strong　party　in　the　emperor's　cabinet　had　declared　against　Thugut；
and　this　time　obtained　a　victory　over　the　minister　who　had　been
believed　to　be　all…powerful。　This　party　was　headed　by　the　empress
and　Archduke　Charles。　Thugut；　therefore；　was　compelled　to　suppress
his　wrath；　and　defer　his　revenge　to　some　later　time。

But　although　the　dark　clouds　of　the　political　thunderstorm　had　been
removed　for　the　time　being；　they　were　constantly　threatening；　like　a
gloomy　spectre　on　the　horizon；　casting　sinister　shadows　on　every　day
and　on　every　hour。

The　merry　people　of　Vienna；　owing　to　the　incessant　duration　of　these
gloomy　shadows；　had　become　very　grave；　and　loudly　and　softly
denounced　Minister　Thugut　as　the　author　and　instigator　of　all　the
evils　that　were　menacing　Austria。　In　fact；　Baron　Thugut　was　still
the　all…powerful　minister；　and　as　the　emperor　loved　and　feared　him；
the　whole　court；　the　whole　capital；　and　the　whole　empire　bowed　to
him。　But　while　bowing；　every　one　hated　him；　while　obeying；　every　one
cursed　him。

Thugut　knew　it　and　laughed　at　it。　What　did　he　care　for　the　love　and
hatred　of　men？　Let　them　curse　him；　if　they　only　obeyed　him。

And　they　obeyed　him。　The　machine　of　state　willingly　followed　the
pressure　of　his　hand；　and　he　conducted　the　helm　with　a　vigorous　arm。
He　directed　from　his　cabinet　the　destinies　of　Austria；　he　skilfully
and　ingeniously　wove　there　the　nets　with　which；　according　to　his
purposes；　he　wanted　to　surround　friend　or　foe。

To…day；　too；　he　had　worked　in　his　cabinet　until　evening；　and　he　had
only　just　now　dismissed　his　two　private　secretaries；　Heinle　and
Hubschle。　This　was　the　hour　at　which　Thugut　was　in　the　habit　of
repairing　either　to　the　emperor　or　to　his　gardens　in　the　Wahringer
Street。　His　valet　de　chambre；　therefore；　awaited　him　in　the
dressing…room；　and　his　carriage　was　in　readiness　below　in　the　court…
yard。　To…day；　however；　the　minister　apparently　wished　to　deviate
from　his　custom；　and　instead　of　going　to　the　dressing…room；　he
violently　rang　the　bell。

〃Germain；〃　he　said；　to　the　entering　valet　de　chambre；　〃no　uniform
to…day；　no　gala…dress；　but　my　Turkish　garments。　Light　up　the　Turkish
cabinet；　kindle　amber　in　the　lamps；　and　place　flowers　in　the　vases。
In　the　course　of　an　hour　supper　for　two　persons　in　the　Turkish
cabinet。　Arrange　every　thing　in　a　becoming　manner。〃

Germain　bowed　silently　and　withdrew；　in　order　soon　to　return　with
the　ordered　Turkish　costume。　Thugut　silently　suffered　himself　to　be
clad　in　the　costly　Turkish　dressing…gown；　and　in　the　golden
slippers；　the　wonderful　Cashmere　shawl　to　be　wrapped　around　his
waist；　and　the　Turkish　fez　to　be　placed　on　his　head。　Germain　then
brought　a　Turkish　pipe　with　a　splendidly　carved　amber　tip；　and
handed　it　to　the　minister。

〃Now　open　the　door；〃　said　Thugut；　laconically。　Germain　touched　the
frame　of　the　large　painting　on　the　wall；　and　Thugut　stepped　through
the　small　door　into　the　hall。　With　rapid　steps　he　hastened　down　the
hall；　and　soon　stood　at　its　end　in　front　of　the　narrow　wall　on　which
a　painting　of　the　Virgin；　illuminated　by　a　perpetually　burning　lamp；
was　hanging。　Thugut　again　touched　an　artificial　rose　on　the　frame；
the　painting　turned　around；　and　a　door　became　visible　behind　it。

The　minister　opened　this　door；　and；　crossing　the　threshold；
carefully　closed　it　again。

He　now　was　in　his　Turkish　cabinet；　all　these　beautiful　gold　brocades
on　the　low　sofas；　these　costly　hangings　covering　the　walls；　these
precious　carpets　on　the　floor　and　on　the　tables；　these　silver　lamps
of　strange　forms；　hanging　down　from　the　ceiling；　and　filled　with
amber；　all　these　richly　gilt　vessels　arranged　along　the　walls；　were
delightful　reminiscences　to　Thugutreminiscences　of　the　happiest
period　of　his　life；　for　he　had　brought　all　these　things　from
Constantinople；　where　he　had　lived　for　ten　years　as　Austrian
ambassador。　Thugut；　therefore；　never　entered　this　cabinet　without　a
pleasant　smile　lighting　up　his　hard　features；　and　he　only　went
thither　when　he　wished　to　permit　himself　an　hour　of　happiness　amidst
the　perplexing　occupations　and　cares　of　his　official　position。

On　this　occasion；　too；　as　soon　as　he　had　crossed　the　threshold；　his
face　had　assumed　a　mild　and　gentle　expression；　and　the　harsh；
repulsive　stamp　had　disappeared　from　his　features。　He　walked　across
the　room　with　a　smile；　and　quickly　touched　a　golden　knob；　fixed　in
the　opposite　wall。　After　a　few　minutes　he　repeated　this　four　times。
He　then　raised　his　eyes　to　a　small　silver　bell　hanging　above　him　in
the　most　remote　corner　of　the　wall；　and　looked　at　it　steadfastly。
While　he　was　doing　so；　a　small　side　door　had　opened；　and　Germain；　in
the　rich　costume　of　a　servant　of　the　harem；　had　entered。　Thugut　had
not　once　looked　round　toward　him；　he　had　not　once　glanced　at　the
silver　vases　with　the　most　splendid　flowers；　which　Germain　had
placed　on　the　marble　tables；　his　nose　was　apparently　indifferent　to
the　sweet　perfumes　of　the　amber　which　Germain　had　kindled　in　the
silver　lamps；　and　which　was　filling　the　room　with　fragrant　bluish
clouds。　He　only　looked　at　the　small　bell；　and　seemed　to　expect　a
signal　from　it　in　breathless　suspense。　But　Germain　had　long　since
finished　the　decoration　of　the　room　and　withdrawn　again；　and　yet　the
bell　was　silent。　A　cloud　passed　over　Thugut's　brow；　and　the　smile
disappeared　from　his　lips。

〃She　was　not　there；　perhaps；　and　consequently　did　not　hear　my
signal；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　will　ring　the　bell　once　more。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hand　toward　the　golden　knob　in　the　wall；　when
suddenly　a　clear；　pure　sound　was　heard。　It　was　the　small　bell　that
had　been　rung。

Thugut's　countenance　lighted　up　in　the　sunshine　of　happiness；　and　he
looked　up　to　the　bell　again　in　silent　suspense。　For　a　few　minutes　it
hung　motionless　again；　but　then　it　resounded　quickly　three　times　in
succession。　〃In　thirty　minutes　she　will　be　here；〃　whispered　Thugut；
with　a　happy　smile。　〃Let　us　await　her；　then。〃

He　approached　the　small　table　on　which　he　had　laid　his　pipe；　and
near　which　Germain　had　placed　a　small　silver　vessel　with　burning
amber。　With　the　bearing　and　calmness　of　a　genuine　Turk　he　lighted
his　pipe　and　then　sat　down　on　the　low　square　sofa。　Crossing　his
legs；　supporting　his　right　elbow　on　the　cushions　of　gold　brocade；　in
a　half…reclining　attitude；　Thugut　now　abandoned　himself　to　his
dreams　and　to　the　sweet　enjoyment　of　smoking。　He　was　soon　surrounded
by　a　blue　cloud　from　which　his　black　eyes　were　glistening　and
glancing　up　to　the　large　clock　on　the　mantelpiece。

On　seeing　now　that　the　thirty　minutes　had　elapsed；　Thugut　rose　with
youthful　vivacity；　and　laid　his　pipe　aside。　He　then　approached　the
large　and　strangely　formed　arm…chair；　standing　immediately　under　the
silver　bell。　When　he　had　vigorously　pushed　back　the　arm…chair；　a
small　door　became　visible　behind　it。　Thugut　opened　it　and　placed
himself　by　it　in　a　listening　position。

Suddenly　it　seemed　to　him　as　though　he　heard　a　slight　noise　in　the
distance。　It　came　nearer；　and　now　there　appeared　in　the　aperture　of
the　door　a　lady　of　wonderful　loveliness　and　surpassing　beauty。　The
eye　could　behold　nothing　more　charming　than　this　head　with　its
light…brown　ringlets；　surrounding　the　face　as　if　by　a　ring　of　glory；
and　contrasting　so　strangely　with　the　large　black　eyes；　which　were
sparkling　in　the　fire　of　youth　and　passion。　Her　enchanting　lips　were
of　the　deepest　red；　and　a　delicate　blush；　like　the　beautiful　tint　of
the　large　purple　shell；　mantled　the　cheeks。　Her　nose；　of　the　purest
Roman　style；　was　slightly　curved；　and　her　expansive　forehead
imparted　a　noble　and　serious　air　to　the　charming　youthful　face。　The
beholder　saw　in　these　eyes；　ardor　and　passion；　on　this　forehead；
thought　and　energetic　resolutions；　and　on　this　swelling　mouth；
archness；　overflowing　spirits；　and　wit。　And　the　figure　of　this
lovely　woman　was　in　full　harmony　with　her　ravishing　head。　She　was
petite；　delicate；　and　ethereal；　like　a　sylph；　and　yet　her　form　was
well　developed　and　beautiful；　if　she　had　been　somewhat　taller；　she
might　have　been　compared　with　Juno。

She　remained　standing　in　the　door；　and　with　her　flaming　eyes　glanced
over　the　room；　then　she　fixed　them　on　Thugut；　and　burst　into　a　loud
and　merry　laugh。

〃Ah；　ah；　that　is　the　song　of　my　bulbul；　the　ringing　voice　of　my
oriental　nightingale；〃　exclaimed　Thugut；　drawing　the　laughing　lady
with　gentle　force　into　the　room　and　pushing　the