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their　own　share。

Covetousness　caused　the　German　princes　to　overlook　all　other
interests；　and　to　act　contrary　to　all　correct　principles；
covetousness　caused　them　first　to　shake　the　decaying　ancient　German
empire；　covetousness　caused　them　to　destroy　the　old　political
organization　of　the　country；　and　German　hands　were　the　first　to　tear
down　the　edifice　of　the　imperial　constitution。

The　German　ambassadors　at　Rastadt　forgot；　therefore；　the　original
object　of　their　mission；　they　had　come　thither　to　secure　the
continued　existence　of　the　German　empire；　and　to　protect　Germany
from　the　encroachments　of　France；　and　now　they　were　threatening　the
German　empire　themselves。　They　had　come　thither　to　establish　the
boundaries　of　Germany；　and　now　they　were　attacking　the　boundaries　of
the　single　sections　and　states　of　the　empire　themselves。

No　wonder　that　France　sought　to　profit　by　these　dissensions　of　the
Germans　among　each　other；　no　wonder　that　she　thought　she　might　seize
a　piece　of　Germany；　too；　seeing；　as　she　did；　that　the　German　states
were　quarrelling　among　themselves　about　the　division　of　the　spoils。
France；　therefore；　advanced　her　troops　farther　on　the　right　bank　of
the　Rhine；　and　claimed　the　fortresses　of　Kehl；　Ehrenbreitstein；　and
Castel。

This　fresh　and　unparalleled　exaction　silenced　the　domestic　quarrels
among　the　Germans　for　a　moment；　and　all　voices　united　to　protest
loudly　and　solemnly　against　the　new　demand　of　the　French　Republic。

But　the　French　replied　to　the　solemn　protests　of　the　German
ambassadors　at　Rastadt　by　cold　sneers　and　violent　threats。
Ehrenbreitstein　not　being　surrendered　to　them　after　the　first
summons；　they　blockaded　the　fortress；　levied　contributions　on　the
right　bank　of　the　Rhine；　and　declared　the　possessions　of　the
nobility　to　be　forfeited　to　the　French　Republic。　＇Footnote：　Vide
Hausser's　〃History　of　Germany。〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　201。＇　The　German
ambassadors　at　Rastadt　complaining　of　these　oppressive　proceedings；
the　French　declared；　〃the　magnanimity　of　the　French　had　exceeded　all
expectations。　They　were　able　to　take　every　thing；　and　they　had
contented　themselves　with　very　little。〃

The　congress　had　met　at　Rastadt　in　order　to　conclude　peace；　but　so
far　the　negotiations　had　produced　nothing　but　exasperation　and　a
strong　probability　of　ultimate　war。　The　arrogance　and　scornful
bearing　of　France　became　every　day　more　intolerable；　and　the　desire
of　Austria　became　proportionately　more　evident　to　punish　France　for
her　insolence；　and　to　take　revenge　for　the　numerous　and　galling
insults　she　had　heaped　upon　Germany。　Prussia　hesitated　to　join
Austria；　and　to　declare　in　favor　of　open　hostilities　against　France；
she　deemed　such　a　war　injurious　to　her　particular　interests；　and
desired　to　maintain　peace；　the　secondary　German　states；　however；
allowed　themselves　to　be　intimidated　by　the　threats　of　France　to
devour　all　of　them；　and　they　were　quite　willing　to　expose　Germany　to
further　humiliations；　provided　that　their　own　petty　existence　should
not　be　endangered。

The　work　of　pacification；　therefore；　made　no　progress　whatever；　but
only　became　a　disgrace　to　Germany；　and　the　congress　of　Rastadt　was
nothing　but　a　symptom　of　the　disease　of　which　Germany　was　soon　to
perish。　Germany　seemed　destined　to　die；　like　an　aged　and　decrepit
man；　of　her　own　weakness　and　exhaustion。

This　weakness　was　every　day　on　the　increase。　In　January；　1799；
Ehrenbreitstein　succumbed；　and　the　French　occupied　the　fortress。

Still　the　peace　commissioners　remained　in　session　at　Rastadt；　and
continued　their　negotiations　with　the　French；　who　just　now　had　again
perfidiously　violated　the　treaties；　and　appropriated　German
possessions。

If　the　German　ambassadors；　perhaps；　were　lost　to　all　sense　of　honor
and　of　their　disgraceful　position；　the　representatives　of　France
were　fully　conscious　of　their　dignity。　They　treated　the　ambassadors
of　Germany　in　the　most　scornful　manner；　they　dared　haughtily　and
arrogantly　to　meddle　with　the　domestic　affairs　of　Germany；　they
constantly　trumped　up　new　claims　in　the　most　overbearing　attitude；
and　in　their　habitual　imperious　tone；　and　the　representatives　of　the
German　empire　scarcely　dared　to　refuse　their　exactions　even　in　the
most　timid　manner。

Only　one　of　the　three　French　ambassadors；　for　the　last　few　weeks；
had　been　less　supercilious　than　his　colleagues；　he　had　participated
less　than　formerly　in　the　affairs　of　the　German　congress；　and　while
Roberjot　and　Jean　Debry　were　raising　their　arrogant　and　haughty
voices　in　every　session　of　congress；　Bonnier　kept　aloof。　He　even
held　no　further　intercourse　with　his　own　countrymen；　and　his　tall
and　imposing　figure；　with　the　proud　and　gloomy　countenance；　was　seen
no　longer　every　night　as　heretofore　in　the　drawing…rooms　of　the
wives　of　Roberjot　and　Debry。　He　kept　aloof　from　society　as　he　kept
aloof　from　the　congress；　and　the　French　ladies　smilingly　whispered
to　each　other　that　something　strange；　something　unheard　of；　had
happened　to　the　austere　republican。　To　the　man　who　heretofore　had
proudly　resisted　the　blandishments　of　beautiful　women；　they　said　he
had　fallen　in　love　with　that　wondrously　lovely　and　strange　lady　who
had　been　at　Rastadt　for　the　last　few　weeks；　but　who　was　living　in
such　seclusion　that　the　public　had　only　occasionally　got　a　sight　of
her。　No　one　knew　who　this　strange　lady　was。　and　what　she　wanted　at
Rastadt；　she　had　paid　visits　to　no　one；　and　left　her　card　nowhere。
She　had　arrived　only　attended　by　a　footman　and　a　lady's　maid；　but　in
advance；　a　brilliant　suite　of　rooms　and　a　box　at　the　theatre　had
been　retained　for　her。　In　this　box　every　night　the　beautiful　strange
lady　was　seen　closely　veiled；　and　the　gloomy　pale　face　of　Bonnier
had　been　repeatedly　beheld　by　her　side。

Victoria　de　Poutet；　therefore；　had　accomplished　her　purpose；　she　had
tamed　one　of　the　French　bears；　and　surrounded　him　with　the　magic
nets　of　her　beauty。　She　was　the　mysterious　strange　lady　whose
appearance　had　created　so　great　a　sensation　in　the　drawing…rooms　of
Rastadt　for　the　last　few　weeks；　she　was　the　lady　whom　Bonnier　was
following　as　though　he　were　her　shadow。

She　had　come　to　him　as　a　refugee；　as　a　persecuted　woman；　with　tears
in　her　eyes。　She　had　told　him　a　tragic　story　of　Thugut's　tyranny　and
wanton　lust。　Because　she　had　refused　to　submit　to　the　voluptuous
desires　of　the　Austrian　minister；　he　had　sworn　to　ruin　her；　and　his
love　had　turned　into　furious　hatred。　She　further　stated　the　minister
had　threatened　her　with　the　confiscation　of　her　property；　with
imprisonment；　death；　and　disgrace；　and　she　had　only　succeeded　by　her
courage　and　cunning　in　saving　herself　and　in　escaping　from　Austria。
Now　she　came　to　Bonnier　to　invoke　the　protection　and　assistance　of
generous　France；　and　to　flee　from　the　rude　violence　of　a　German
minister　to　the　chivalrous　aegis　of　the　French　Republic。

How　beautiful　she　was　in　her　tears；　with　the　mournful　smile　on　her
swelling　lips！　But　how　much　more　beautiful　when　a　deep　blush　mantled
her　cheeks；　and　when　her　large　dark　eyes　were　sparkling　in　the　glow
of　revenge　and　anger！

For　Victoria　de　Poutet　did　not　only　want　protectionshe　also　sought
revengerevenge　on　that　tyrant　Thugut；　who　had　dared　to　threaten
her　innocence　and　virtue；　and　to　assail　her　honor　and　happiness。　She
was　not　only　persecutedshe　was　also　insulted；　and　she　wished　to
chastise　the　Austrian　minister　for　these　insults。　Bonnier　was　to
lend　her　his　assistance　for　this　purpose。　He　was　to　procure　means
for　her　to　overthrow　Thugut。

How　eloquently　and　enthusiastically　did　she　speak　to　Bonnier　about
her　misfortunes；　her　anger；　and　her　thirst　of　revenge！　How　much
truthfulness　there　was　depicted　in　her　facewhat　a　demoniacal　ardor
in　her　eyes；　how　much　energy　in　her　whole　bearing；　so　indicative　of
bold　determination　and　of　an　indomitable　spirit！

Bonnier　gazed　at　her　in　wondering　delight；　in　timid　awe。　He　who　had
hated　women　because　they　were　so　weak；　so　peevish；　and
insignificant；　now　saw　before　him　a　woman　with　the　energy　of　a
hatred　such　as　he　had　scarcely　known　himself；　with　the　enthusiasm　of
a　revengefulness　that　shrank　back　from　no　dangers　and　no　obstacles。
Under　this　delicate；　ethereal　female　form　there　was　concealed　the
spirit　and　firm　will　of　a　man；　bold　thoughts　were　written　on　her
forehead；　and　an　enchanting　smile　was　playing　on　her　full　lips。
While　Bonnier　was　listening　to　the　dithyrambics　of　her　hatred　and
revenge；　love　glided　into　his　own　heart；　she　had　fascinated　him　by
her　revengeful　hymns　as　others　fascinate　by　their　love…songs。

Victoria　was　conscious　of　her　triumph；　her　eagle　eye　had　watched
every　motion；　every　step　of　this　innocent　lamb　she　was　going　to
strangle；　she　had　seen　him　fall　into　the　glittering　nets　she　had
spread　out　for　him；　she　knew　that　he　was　a　captive　in　her　meshes
without　being　aware　of　it　himself。

Her　bearing　now　underwent　a　change；　she　was　no　longer　merely　a　woman
thirsting　for　revenge；　but　also　a　tender；　loving　woman；　she　was　no
longer　merely　filled　with　hatred；　but　she　also　seemed　susceptible　of
gentler　emotions；　she　lowered　her　eyes　before　Bonnier's　ardent
glances　and　blushed。　To　his　timid　and　faltering　protestations　of
love　she　replied　by　subd