andreas hofer-第101节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


prevailed　during　the　first　days　of　the　imperial　sojourn。　Couriers
came　and　went；　equipages　rolled　up；　and　conveyed　to　the　castle　some
of　the　Austrian　diplomatists；　with　whom　the　emperor　conversed　a　long
while　in　his　cabinet；　whereupon　they　departed　again。　Even　Baron　von
Thugut；　the　all…powerful　ex…minister；　had　been　drawn　from　his
tranquil　retirement；　and　called　to　the　headquarters　of　the　Emperor
Francis　at　Totis。　Francis　had　locked　himself　up　with　him　in　his
cabinet；　and　conversed　with　him　in　so　low　a　tone　that　Hudelist；
although　he　had　applied　his　ear　to　the　keyhole；　had　been　unable　to
hear　a　single　word　of　importance；　and　the　emperor　was　so　reticent　as
to　the　subject　of　his　conversation　with　Thugut；　that　the　Empress
Ludovica；　although；　after　Thugut's　departure；　she　had　sought
frequently　to　fathom　the　meaning　of　his　presence　there　in　her
interviews　with　the　emperor；　did　not　receive　the　slightest
information　from　her　husband。

Great　commotion　reigned　at　Castle　Totis　already　early　in　the　morning
of　the　12th　of　October。　Prince　Lichtenstein　had　arrived　in　the　first
place；　and　Count　Bubna　had　come　soon　afterward。　The　emperor　had　gone
with　the　two　diplomatists　to　his　cabinet；　they　had　left　it　several
hours　afterward；　and　departed　immediately。

Count　Metternich　had　likewise　arrived　at　Totis；　and　repaired　at　once
to　the　emperor's　rooms。　The　count　ordered　the　footman　in　the
anteroom　to　announce　him　to　his　majesty；　but　the　servant　shook　his
head　with　a　polite　smile。

〃It　is　unnecessary　for　me　to　announce　your　excellency；〃　he　said。
〃His　majesty　ordered　me　to　conduct　your　excellency　at　once　to　his
cabinet。　Be　so　gracious；　therefore；　as　to　follow　me；　your
excellency。〃

And　he　hastened；　with　a　noiseless　step；　through　the　apartments：
Count　Metternich　followed　him　quickly；　and　an　imperceptible　sneer
played　over　his　fine　youthful　face　as　he　was　walking　through　these
sumptuous　rooms；　whose　deserted　appearance　was　the　best　proof　of　the
precarious　situation　of　the　emperor。

The　footman　stood　now　before　the　door　of　the　imperial　cabinet；　after
waiting　until　his　excellency　had　come　close　up　to　him；　he　opened
this　door；　and　said；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃His　excellency；　Count
Metternich！〃

When　the　count　entered　the　cabinet；　the　emperor　was　sitting　at　his
writing…table；　and　holding　in　his　hand　a　paper　which　he　had　read；
but　which　he　laid　down　now；　to　rise　and　greet　the　count。　It　did　not
escape　Metternich's　keen；　prying　eyes；　that　the　emperor's　face　was
more　serene　to…day　than　it　had　been　for　along　time　past；　and；　on
bowing　deeply　to　his　majesty；　he　asked　himself　what　might　be　the
cause　of　this　unusual　serenity；　and　who　might　have　brought　the　glad
tidings　which　had　awakened　so　remarkable　a　change。

〃Welcome；　count；　welcome！〃　said　the　emperor；　in　his　sonorous　voice；
and　with　a　graceful　smile。　〃I　sent　for　you　because　I　am　exceedingly
anxious　to　learn　the　progress　of　your　peace…negotiations　at
Altenburg。　Is　there　no　prospect　yet　of　a　speedy　termination　of　this
abominable　war？〃

〃Your　majesty；　I　regret　to　say　that　the　negotiations　are　progressing
very　slowly；〃　said　Count　Metternich；　mournfully。

〃The　Emperor　of　the　French　persists　with　stubborn　petulancy　in　all
his　demands；　and　refuses　firmly　to　abate　them。〃

〃Indeed；　is　Bonaparte　so　stubborn？〃　asked　the　emperor；　kindly。　〃How
far　have　you　advanced　in　your　conferences　with　Minister　Champagny？〃

〃Your　majesty；　we　have　not　advanced　yet　beyond　the　difficult
questions　concerning　the　contributions　in　money　and　the　fortresses。
France　refuses　obstinately　to　take　less　than　two　hundred　and　thirty…
seven　millions　of　francs；　and　insists　on　the　cession　of　the
fortresses　of　Gratz　and　Brunn；　which　her　troops　have　not　even
occupied　up　to　this　time。〃

〃That　is　to　say；　you　have　not　advanced　in　your　peace　negotiations
beyond　what　both　sides　were　willing　to　concede　at　the　outset？〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　majesty。　In　the　beginning　of　the　negotiations　we
were　entirely　ignorant　of　the　demands　of　France；　while　we　are
familiar　with　them　now；　and　know　what　course　to　adopt　in　regard　to
them。　After　learning　the　adversary's　intentions；　one　may　more　easily
devise　ways　and　means　to　frustrate　them。〃

〃But　you　have　been　devising　them　a　long　time　already　without
obtaining　any　results；〃　said　the　emperor；　shrugging　his　shoulders。
〃Well；　what　do　you　think；　my　dear　count；　will　be　the　upshot　of　your
peace　negotiations？〃

〃Will　your　majesty　permit　me　to　tell　you　the　truth？〃　asked　Count
Metternich；　with　his　most　winning　smile。

The　emperor　nodded　his　head。

〃Well　then；　your　majesty；　I　believe　that　war　will　be　the　upshot　of
all　these　peace　negotiations。　The　demands　of　France　are　so
exorbitant　that　Austria　cannot　submit　to　them。　Austria's　HONOR　will
compel　us　to　resume　hostilities；　for　a　government　may；　if　need　be；
acquiesce　in　the　loss　of　some　of　its　territories；　but　it　must　never
submit　to　a　violation　of　its　honor。〃

〃But　do　you　know　that　a　resumption　of　hostilities　will　endanger　not
only　some　of　our　territories；　but　our　existence？　Our　armies　are
disorganized；　disheartened；　and　without　a　competent　commander…in…
chief；　and　my　distinguished　brothers；　who　are　at　the　head　of　the
different　corps；　are　quarreling　as　though　they　were　old　women；　and
not　princes。　Besides；　money；　the　best　general　in　war　times；　is
wanting　to　us。〃

〃Only　declare　your　determination　to　resume　hostilities；　your
majesty；　and　money　will　not　be　wanting　to　you。　Your　people　will
gladly　sacrifice　all　their　property　for　this　purpose；　for　your
people　hate　Napoleon　and　desire　vehemently　that　hostilities　should
be　resumed。〃

〃See　here；〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；　almost　menacingly；　〃let　me　advise
you　not　to　allude　to　my　people；　if　you　want　me　to　remain　on　good
terms　with　you。　I　have　no　people；　I　have　subjects；　and　want　only
subjects。　＇Footnote：　Schlosser's　〃History　of　the　Eighteenth
Century。〃＇　If　I　need　money；　I　shall　impose　additional　taxes　on　my
subjects；　and　they　will　be　compelled　to　pay　them；　but　they　need　not
offer　me　any　presents；　for　I　think　it　would　be　incompatible　with　my
imperial　honor　to　accept　them。　An　emperor　must　not　accept　any　thing
as　a　present　at　the　hands　of　his　subjects；　not　even　their　love；　for
it　is　the　duty　of　the　subjects　to　love　their　emperor。　Bear　this　in
mind；　count；　and　do　not　repeat　again　this　new…fashioned　word
'people；'　I　cannot　bear　it；　it　smells　so　much　of　the　republic　and
guillotine。　Well；　I　have　told　you　that；　if　we　resumed　hostilities；
we　should　be　destitute　of　three　very　essential　things；　namely；　a
good　army；　a　great　captain；　and　money。　There　is　no　doubt　whatever
that　we　should　lose　the　first　battle　again；　and　if　we　were　compelled
then　to　sue　for　peace；　Bonaparte　would　impose　still　more　rigorous
terms　upon　us：　we　should　be　obliged　to　accept　them；　and　should　lose
both　territories　and　honor。　Now　you　know　my　views；　count；　and　you
shall　know　also　the　principal　reason　why　I　sent　for　you。　Look　at
this　paper。　Do　you　know　what　it　contains？　The　treaty　of　peace！〃

〃The　treaty　of　peace？〃　cried　Metternich；　in　dismay。　〃Your　majesty
does　not　mean　to　say〃

〃I　mean　to　say　that　I　have　made　peace　with　the　Emperor　of　the
French。　Here　is　the　paper；　take　it。　The　whole　thing　is　done　now。〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　exclaimed　Metternich；　looking　at　the　paper　which　the
emperor　had　handed　to　him；　〃it　is　really　true；　then？　You　have
already　signed　the　treaty　without　being　so　gracious　as　to　employ
your　ministers　or　even　inform　them　of　it？〃

〃Yes；　I　have；　for　I　thought　we　needed　peace；　hence；　I　signed　the
treaty；　and　Prince　Lichtenstein　and　Count　Bubna　have　taken　a　copy　of
it　to　the　headquarters　of　the　Emperor　Napoleon　at　Schoenbrunn；　and　I
believe　he　will　sign　it　also。　Well；　do　not　look　so　dumbfounded；
count；　and　do　not　wonder　any　longer　that　I　succeeded　in　making　peace
without　your　assistance。　I　allowed　you　and　Stadion　to　go　on　with　the
negotiations；　and　did　not　prevent　you　from　displaying　your　whole
diplomatic　skill　at　Altenburg　against　Bonaparte's　minister；
Champagny；　but　all　this　could　not　prevent　me　either　from　promoting
the　affair　a　little　here　at　Totis；　after　my　own　fashion；　and　now　all
is　over。　For　the　rest；　my　dear　count；　bear　in　mind　what　I　now　say　to
you。　I　appointed　you　my　minister；　because　you　are　an　able　and　clear…
headed　man；　and　an　industrious　and　reliable　functionary。　I　shall　let
you　act；　decide；　and　govern；　and　not　complain　if　people　say　that　you
are　all…powerful　in　Austria；　and　that　your　will　alone　guides　the
ship　of　state。　Let　people　say　and　think　so；　but　YOU　shall　not　think
so；　count；　you　shall　know　once　for　all　what　our　mutual　position　is。
I　allow　you　to　govern　so　long　as　you　govern　in　accordance　with　my
views；　but　if　I　am　not　satisfied　with　the　course　you　are　pursuing；　I
shall　pursue　my　own　course；　and　it　will　only　remain　for　you　to
follow　me；　or　retire　from　public　affairs。　Now　decide；　my　dear　count；
will　you　follow　me；　or〃

〃Sire；　there　is　no　'or；'〃　interrupted　Count　Metternich。　〃It　is　your
majesty's　incontestable　right　to　lead　the　way；　and　indicate　to　me
the　course　I　am　to　pursue。〃

〃That　is　right；　I　like　to　hear　that　kind　of　language！〃　exclaimed　the
emperor；　holding　out　his　hand　kindly　to　the　count。　〃You　may　depend
up