andreas hofer-第8节

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Paris；　stopping　only　at　Valladolid；　where　he　shut　himself　up　for　two
days　with　Maret；　his　minister　of　foreign　affairs；　and　dispatched
eighty…four　messages　in　different　directions；　with　orders　to
concentrate　his　forces　in　Germany；　and　call　out　the　full　contingents
of　the　Rhenish　Confederacy。　His　own　troops　and　these　German
Contingents　are　to　form　an　arrayto　which　he　intends　to　give　the
name　of　'the　German　Army　of　the　Emperor　Napoleon。'　Although　Count
Metternich　was　aware　of　all　this；　he　hastened　to　attend　the　great
reception　which　took　place　at　the　Tuileries　after　Napoleon's　return；
in　order　to　assure　him　again　of　the　friendly　dispositions　of　the
imperial　court　of　Austria。　But　Napoleon　gave　hire　no　time　for　that。
He　came　to　meet　him　with　a　furious　gesture；　and　shouted　to　him　in　a
thundering　voice：　'Well；　M。　de　Metternich！　here　is　fine　news　from
Vienna。　What　does　all　this　mean？　Have　they　been　stung　by　scorpions？
Who　threatens　you？　What　would　you　be　at？　Do　you　intend　again　to
disturb　the　peace　of　the　world　and　plunge　Europe　into　numberless
calamities？　As　long　as　I　had　my　army　in　Germany；　you　conceived　no
disquietude　for　your　existence；　but　the　moment　it　is　transferred　to
Spain；　you　consider　yourselves　endangered！　What　can　be　the　end　of
these　things？　What；　but　that　I　must　arm　as　you　arm；　for　at　length　I
am　seriously　menaces；　I　am　rightly　for　my　former　caution。'〃
＇Footnote：　Napoleon's　own　words。See　Schlosser；　vol。　vii。；　p。　480。＇

〃What　an　impudent　fellow！〃　murmured　the　Emperor　Francis　to　himself。
〃And　Metternich？　What　did　he　reply？〃

〃Nothing　at　all；　your　majesty。　He　withdrew；　returned　immediately　to
the　legation；　and　I　set　out　that　very　night　to　convey　this
intelligence　to　your　majesty。　Your　majesty；　we　can　no　longer　doubt
that　Napoleon　has　made　up　his　mind　to　wage　war　against　Austria。　His
exasperation　has　risen　to　the　highest　pitch；　and　the　events　in　Spain
have　still　more　inflamed　his　rage　and　vindictiveness。〃　〃Then　he　is
unsuccessful　in　Spain？〃　asked　the　emperor；　whose　eyes　brightened。

〃Spain　is　still　bidding　him　defiance；　and　fighting　with　the
enthusiasm　of　an　heroic　people　who　will　suffer　death　rather　than　be
subjugated　by　a　tyrant。　She　will　never　accept　King　Joseph；　whom
Napoleon　forced　upon　her；　and　as　they　see　themselves　deserted　and
given　up　by　their　royal　family；　the　Spanish　patriots　turn　their　eyes
toward　Austria；　and　are　ready　to　proclaim　one　of　your　majesty's
brothers　king　of　Spain；　if　your　majesty　would　send　him　to　them　with
an　auxiliary　army。〃

〃That　would　be　a　nice　thing！〃　cried　the　emperor；　angrily。　〃Not
another　word　about　it！　If　my　brothers　should　hear　it；　their　heads
would　be　immediately　on　fire；　for　they　are　very　ambitious；　hence；　it
is　much　better　that　they　should　not　learn　anything　of　these　chateaux
en　Espagne。　Tell　me　rather　how　it　looks　in　France。　Are　the　French
still　satisfied　with　their　emperor　by　the　grace　of　the　people！〃

〃They　are　not；　your　majesty。　Let　me　tell　you　that　not　only
Napoleon's　own　officers；　his　marshals　and　ministers；　are
dissatisfied　with　him；　but　the　whole　people；　those　who　possess　money
as　well　as　those　who　own　no　other　property　than　their　lives；　are
murmuring　against　the　emperor。　He　robs　the　moneyed　men　of　their
property　by　heavy　taxes　and　duties；　and　those　who　have　nothing　but
their　lives　he　threatens　with　death　by　forcing　muskets　into　their
hands；　and　compelling　them　to　do　military　service。　Another
conscription　has　been　ordered；　and　as　the　population　of　France　is
decreasing；　youths　from　sixteen　to　eighteen　years　old　have　to　be
enrolled。　France　is　tired　of　these　everlasting　wars；　and　she　curses
Napoleon's　insatiable　bloodthirstiness　no　longer　in　secret　only；　but
loud　enough　to　be　heard　by　the　emperor　from　time　to　time。〃

〃And　the　army？〃

〃The　army　is　a　part　of　France；　and　feels　like　the　rest　of　the　French
people。　The　marshals　are　quarrelling　among　themselves　and　some　of
them　hate　Napoleon；　who　never　gives　them　time　to　repose　on　their
laurels　and　enjoy　the　riches　which　they　have　obtained　during　their
campaigns。　The　army　is　a　perfect　hotbed　of　conspiracies　and　secret
societies；　some　of　which　are　in　favor　of　the　restoration　of　the
republic；　while　others　advocate　the　restoration　of　the　Bourbons。
Napoleon；　who　is　served　well　enough　at　least　by　his　spies；　is　aware
of　all　these　things。　He　is　afraid　of　the　discontent　and　disobedience
of　his　marshals　and　generals；　conspiracies　in　the　army；　the
treachery　of　his　ministers；　and　the　murmurs　of　his　people；　and　he
fears；　besides；　that　the　fanaticism　of　the　Spaniards　may　dim　his
military　glory；　hence；　he　feels　the　necessity　of　arousing　the
enthusiasm　of　his　people　by　fresh　battles；　of　silencing　the
malcontents　by　new　victories；　and　of　reviving　the　heroic　spirit　of
his　army。　He　hopes　to　gain　these　victories　in　a　war　between　his
German　array　and　the　Austrian　forces。　He　is；　therefore；　firmly
resolved　to　wage　war；　and　the　only　question　now　is；　whether　your
majesty　will　anticipate　him；　or　await　a　declaration　of　war　on　his
part。　This　is　about　all　I　have　to　communicate　to　your　majesty；　the
vouchers　and　other　papers　I　shall　have　the　honor　to　deposit　at　the
imperial　chancery。〃

The　emperor　made　no　reply；　but　gazed　into　vacancy；　deeply　absorbed
in　his　reflections。　Hudelist　fixed　his　small　sparkling　eyes　on　the
bent　form　of　the　emperor；　and　as　he　contemplated　his　care…worn；
gloomy　face；　his　flabby　features；　his　protruding　under…lip；　his
narrow　forehead；　and　his　whole　emaciated　and　fragile　form；　an
expression　of　scorn　overspread　the　face　of　the　counsellor；　and　his
large　mouth　and　flashing　eyes　seemed　to　say；　〃You　are　the　emperor；
but　I　do　not　envy　you；　for　I　am　more　than　you　are；　I　am　a　man　who
knows　what　he　wants。〃

At　this　moment　the　clock　commenced　striking　slowly；　and　its　shrill
notes　aroused　the　emperor　from　his　contemplation。

〃Eleven　o'clock；〃　he　said；　rising　from　his　chair；　〃the　hour　when　I
am　to　give　an　audience　to　the　French　ambassador。　Hudelist；　go　to　the
chancery　and　wait　there　until　I　call　you。　You　will　not　return　to
Paris　anyhow；　but　resume　your　former　position　in　the　chancery　of
state。　I　am　glad　that　you　have　returned；　for　I　consider　you　a
faithful；　able；　and　reliable　man；　whom　I　have　good　reason　to　be
content；　and　who；　I　hope；　will　not　betray　my　confidence。　I　know；
Hudelist；　you　are　ambitious；　and　would　like　to　obtain　a
distinguished　position。　Well；　serve　medo　you　hear？serve　none　but
me　honestly　and　faithfully；　watch　everything　and　watch　closely；
never　think　of　obtaining　the　friendship　and　good　graces　of　others；
nor　seeking　for　any　other　protectors；　save　me；　and　I　shall　always　be
favorably　disposed　toward　you；　and　see　to　it　that　the　cravings　of
your　ambition　are　satisfied。　Go　then；　as　I　said　before；　to　the
chancery　of　state；　and　on　hearing　me　re…enter　the　room；　step　in
again。　There　are　many　other　things　which　I　wish　to　tell　you。〃

〃I　see　through　him；〃　said　Hudelist；　looking　with　a　smile　after　the
emperor；　who　closed　the　door　of　the　cabinet　behind　him；　to　repair　to
the　small　reception…room；　〃yes；　I　see　through　the　emperor。　He　is
glad　of　my　return；　for　I　am　a　good　spy　for　him　in　regard　to　the
doings　of　his　brothers；　of　whom　he　is　jealous；　and　whom　he　hates
with　all　his　heart。　If　I　succeed　one　day　in　communicating　to　him
things　capable　of　rendering　the　archdukes　suspicious　to　him；　or　even
convicting　them　of　a　wrong　committed　against　him；　the　emperor　will
reward　and　promote　me；　and；　as　he　says；　satisfy　the　cravings　of　my
ambition。　Well；　well；　we　shall　see。　If　you　watch　a　man　very　closely
and　are　really　intent　on　spying　out　something　suspicious　in　his
conduct；　you　will　in　the　end　surely　find　some　little　hook　or　other
by　which　you　may　hold　him；　and　which　you　may　gradually　hammer　out
and　extend　until　it　becomes　large　enough　to　hang　the　whole　man　on
it。　In　the　first　place；　I　shall　pay　particular　attention　to　the
Archduke　John；　for　his　brother　is　particularly　jealous　of　and　angry
with　him。　Ah；　if　I　could　discovery　such　a　little　hook　by　which　to
hold　him；　the　emperor　would　reward　my　zeal　with　money；　honors；　and
orders；　and　he　would　henceforward　repose　the　most　implicit
confidence　in　my　fidelity。　Well；　I　shall　think　of　it；　the　idea　is　a
good　one；　and　worthy　of　being　matured。　I　shall　form　a　scheme　to　make
the　good　and　munificent　Archduke　John　the　ladder　by　which　I　shall
rise。　I　must　conquer；　and　if　I　can　do　it　only　by　pulling　down
others；　it　is　the　duty　of　self…preservation　for　me　not　to　shrink
from　the　task。　I　will　now　go　to　the　chancery　and　wait　there　for　the
emperor's　return。　Ah；　how　his　old　limbs　trembled　when　he　heard　of
Napoleon's　return。　How　hard　and　unpleasant　it　was　for　him　to　swallow
the　bad　news　which　I　communicated　to　him！　There　is　no　more
interesting　spectacle　than　that　presented　by　a　human　face　passing
through　all　the　various　stages　of　excitement；　and　involuntarily
performing　in　its　features　the　five　acts　of　a　tragedy。　And　all　the
better　when　this　human　face　is　that　of　an　emperor。　During　my　whole
journey　from　Paris　to　Vienna　I　was　enjoying；　by　anticipation；　the
moment　when　I　should　deliver　this　Pandora's　box　to　the　emperor。　He
is　opposed　to　war；　and　must　nevertheless　wage　it；　that　is　the　best
part　of　the