andreas hofer-第89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！


peace。　The　good　heart　of　my　distinguished　brother　subjected　me　to
this　unpleasant　necessity；　and　I　shall　one　day　manifest　to　him　my
gratitude　for　it。〃

〃Oh；　your　majesty；〃　said　Hudelist；　in　his　blandest　voice；　〃if　the
archduke　should　have　unwittingly　committed　a　blunder　on　this
occasion；　he　has　made　a　thousand　amends　for　it。　Your　majesty　should
bear　in　mind　all　that　the　noble　Archduke　John　accomplished　in　the
Tyrol。　Your　majesty　owes　it　only　to　the　archduke　that　the　Tyrol　rose
as　one　man；　that　it　fought；　and　is　fighting　still；　with　the　utmost
heroism。　He　arranged　it　all；　he　organized　a　conspiracy　in　the　Tyrol
while　the　country　was　yet　under　the　Bavarian　yokea　vast；　gigantic
conspiracy；　owing　to　his　secret　instigation；　the　revolution　broke
out　simultaneously　in　all　parts　of　the　Tyrol；　and　it　is　the　name　of
the　Archduke　John　which　fills　this　people　of　heroes　with　the　sublime
courage　which　it　displays　in　the　most　murderous　battles。〃

〃It　is　bad　enough　that　it　is　so；〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；　striding
uneasily　up　and　down　the　room。　〃The　Archduke　John　sowed　the　seeds　of
pernicious　weeds；　and　played　a　very　dangerous　game。〃

〃It　is　true；　it　is　dangerous　to　preach　rebellion　to　a　people；　and
teach　it　how　to　rise　in　insurrection；〃　said　Hudelist；　thoughtfully。
〃And　it　cannot　be　denied　that　the　insurrection　of　the　Tyrolese　sets
a　deplorable　example　in　some　respects。　It　is　true；　the　archduke
organized　the　conspiracy　only　for　the　good　of　Austria　and　her
emperor；　but　what　the　Tyrolese　are　doing　to…day　FOR　the　emperor；
they　might　another　time　do　AGAINST　him；　and　if　the　archduke　were　not
so　exceedingly　loyal　and　entirely　above　suspicion；　one　might　think
he　had　stirred　up　the　insurrection　for　his　own　purposes　and　benefit。
At　all　events；　it　only　depends　on　him　to　have　himself　proclaimed
King　of　the　Tyrol；　for　his　influence　is　all…powerful　in　that
province。〃

The　emperor　uttered　a　cry　of　rage。　His　eyes　shot　fire；　his　lips
quivered　and　muttered　incoherent　threats；　his　cheeks　had　turned
livid；　and　be　paced　his　room　in　indescribable　agitation。　Then；　as　if
to　give　vent　to　the　rage　filling　his　breast；　he　took　up　the　fly…flap
and　struck　violently　at　the　flies　seated　here　and　there　on　the　wall。

Hudelist　followed　his　every　motion　with　his　cold；　stealthy　eyes；　and
an　expression　of　scorn　and　malicious　joy　illuminated　his　sombre　face
for　a　moment。

〃It　was　effectual；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃jealousy　and　suspicion
have　struck　roots　in　his　heart；　and　we　shall　succeed　in　neutralizing
the　influence　of　the　archduke；　who　constantly　preaches　war；　and　war
at　any　cost。〃

Suddenly　the　emperor　cast　his　fly…flap　aside；　and　turned　to
Hudelist；　whose　face　had　quickly　resumed　its　quiet；　humble；　and
impenetrable　expression。

〃Hudelist；〃　said　the　emperor；　in　a　low　and　mysterious　tone；　〃always
tell　me　all　you　know　about　the　archduke；　and　do　not　conceal　any
thing　from　me。　I　must　know　all；　and　count　upon　your　sincerity　and
talent　of　observation。〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　cried　Hudelist；　ardently；　〃I　swear　that　I　will
faithfully　carry　out　the　orders　of　my　emperor。　Not　a　word；　not　a
step；　not　a　manifestation　of　public　opinion　shall　be　concealed　from
your　majesty；　for；　as　your　majesty　was　gracious　enough　to　observe；
my　ears；　eyes；　and　tongue；　belong　to　your　majesty。〃

At　this　moment　the　door　of　the　anteroom　opened；　and　a　footman
announced　Count　Bubna。

〃Let　him　come　in；〃　said　the　emperor；　and　he　dismissed；　with　a　quick
wave　of　his　hand；　Hudelist；　who；　bowing　respectfully；　and　walking
backward；　left　the　emperor's　cabinet　at　the　same　moment　that　Count
Bubna　appeared　on　the　threshold　of　the　opposite　door。

The　emperor　hastened　to　meet　him。　〃Now　speak；　count！〃　he　exclaimed；
eagerly；　〃did　you　see　Bonaparte？　Did　he　admit　you？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；〃　said　Count　Bubna；　with　gloomy　gravity；　〃the
Emperor　Napoleon　did　admit　me。　I　had　a　long　interview　with　him。〃

The　emperor　nodded　his　head。　〃Did　he　offer　you　terms　of　peace？〃

〃He　did；　but　I　cannot　conceal　from　your　majesty　that　the　Emperor
Napoleon　will　impose　very　harsh　and　oppressive　conditions。　He　is
exceedingly　irritated；　and　the　heroic　resistance　which　our　army
offered　to　him；　our　brilliant　victory　at　Aspern；　and　the　fact　that
his　victory　at　Wagram　was　after　all　little　better　than　a　drawn
battle；　seem　to　have　exasperated　him　in　the　extreme。　For　this　reason
he　is　resolved　to　impose　rigorous　terms　of　peace　on　us；　because；　if
Austria　should　submit　to　them；　she　would　thereby　admit　that　the
Emperor　of　the　French　gained　a　great　victory　at　Wagram。〃

〃Well；　I　am　glad　that　he　is　irritated；〃　said　the　emperor；　shrugging
his　shoulders；　〃so　am　I；　and　I　shall　not　accept　any　peace　which
would　impose　humiliating　terms　on　Austria。　That　is　what　I　have
promised　this　very　day　to　my　people　in　the　proclamation　lying　on　the
table　yonder；　and　I　owe　it；　moreover；　to　myself。　Either　an　honorable
peace；　or　a　decision　by　the　fortune　of　war。　If　need　be；　I　will　call
upon　my　whole　people　to　take　up　arms；　I　will　place　myself　at　the
head　of　this　grand　army；　and　either　defeat　Bonaparte；　or　succumb
honorably。〃

〃Ah；　if　your　people　could　see　your　majesty　in　your　generous
excitement；　with　how　much　enthusiasm　they　would　follow　their　emperor
and　expel　the　enemy！〃　exclaimed　Count　Bubna。　〃And　yet　even　the　most
intense　enthusiasm　might　fail；　for　circumstances　are　more　powerful
than　your　majesty's　heroism。　The　Emperor　Napoleon　is　determined　to
follow　up　his　success　to　its　most　extreme　consequences；　and　we　are
at　this　juncture　unable　to　cope　with　him　in　the　long　run。　All　the
gaps　in　his　army　have　been　filled　up；　and　his　soldiers　are　flushed
with　victory；　and　eager　to　meet　our　own　forces。　Our　army　is　greatly
weakened；　disorganized；　and　disheartened；　and；　moreover；　it　has　no
commander…in…chief；　inasmuch　as　your　majesty　has　accepted　the
resignation　of　the　generalissimo。　To　continue　the　war　would　be
equivalent　to　endangering　the　existence　of　Austria　and　the　imperial
dynasty　itself。〃

〃Ah；　you　mean　that　Bonaparte　would　be　pleased　to　say　of　my　dynasty
what　he　said　of　Naples　and　Spain：　'The　Bourbons　have　ceased　to
reign'？〃

〃Your　majesty；　although　the　Emperor　Napoleon　did　not　dare　to　use
such　unmeasured　language；　he　did　not　fail　to　hint　at　such　an　event。
Having　admitted　me　after　repeated　refusals　and　hearing　my　first
words；　'My　august　master；　the　Emperor　of　Austria；'　the　Emperor
Napoleon　interrupted　me；　and　cried　vehemently；　'There　is　no　longer
an　Emperor　of　Austria；　but　only　a　Prince　of　Lorraine！'〃

〃Ah；　indeed；　he　permits　me　at　least　to　retain　the　title　of　a　Prince
of　Lorraine！　And　what　else　did　he　say？　Do　not　conceal　any　thing　from
me；　Count　Bubna；　but　bear　in　mind　that　I　must　know　all；　in　order　to
take　my　resolutions　accordingly。〃

〃Your　majesty；　if　I　did　not　bear　this　in　mind；　I　should　never
venture　to　repeat　what　the　Emperor　Napoleon　permitted　himself　to　say
to　me。　He　seemed　to　speak　quite　unreservedly　in　my　presence；　lying
on　the　floor　by　the　side　of　his　maps；　or　sitting　on　the　table　and
placing　his　feet　on　a　chair；　or　standing　before　me　with　folded　arms；
he　spoke　to　me　with　a　frankness　which　almost　frightened　me；　and
which　at　times　seemed　to　me　quite　involuntary。〃

〃There　you　were　mistaken；　at　all　events；〃　said　Francis；　shrugging
his　shoulders。　〃Bonaparte　never　does　any　thing　unintentionally；　and
not　a　word　escapes　him　but　what　he　wants　to　utter。　I　know　him　better
than　you　all；　though　I　have　seen　him　only　once　in　my　life；　and　God
knows　that；　after　my　interview　with　him　subsequent　to　the　battle　of
Austerlitz；　my　heart　was　filled　with　intense　hatred　against　him。
Now；　my　heart　is　more　constant　in　hatred　than　in　love；　and　if　it　is
said　that　love　makes　us　blind；　hatred；　on　the　other　hand；　renders　us
keen…sighted；　and　that　is　the　reason　why　I　am　able　to　see　through
Bonaparte　and　know　him　better　than　you　all。　Tell　me；　therefore；　what
he　said　so　frankly　to　you；　and　I　shall　know　what　to　think　of　his
statements　which　seem　to　you　unintentional　expressions　of　his　real
sentiments。　What　does　he　think　of　the　armistice？　Is　he　really　intent
on　drawing　the　sword　once　more；　or　is　he　inclined　to　conclude
peace？〃

〃Inclined；　your　majesty；　is　not　the　right　word。　He　intends　to　GRANT
peace　to　your　majesty　in　return　for　heavy　sacrifices。　Your　majesty
will　have　to　sacrifice　much　territory；　many　fortresses；　and　finally
a　great　deal　of　money；　in　order　to　obtain　peace。〃

〃And　what　if　I　should　not　do　so？〃　cried　Francis；　impetuously。　〃What
if　I　should　prefer　to　resume　hostilities　and　die　honorably　on　the
ruins　of　my　empire　rather　than　purchase　a　dishonorable　peace？　What
would　he　say　then？〃

〃Then　he　would　resume　hostilities　with　his　strong　and　enthusiastic
army；　he　would；　as　he　told　me　more　than　once　in　his　thundering
voice；　be　inexorable；　and　no　considerations　of　generosity　would
prevent　him　from　wreaking　vengeance　on　his　personal　enemy；　for　as
such　he　would　regard　your　majesty　in　that　event。〃

〃But　the　people　of　Nuremberg　do　not　hang　any　one　before　they　have
got　him；〃　said　the　emperor；　calmly。　〃Bonaparte　has　not　got　me　yet；
and　I　think　he　will　not　catch　me　soon。　Despite　all　his　braggadocio；
he　will　be　obliged　to　allow　the　continued　existence　of　the　Austria