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Andreas Hofer
An HISTORICAL NOVEL
by Lousia Muhlbach
CONTENTS。
CHAPTER
I 1809
II The Emperor Francis
III The Courier and the Ambassador
IV The Emperor and his Brothers
V The Performance of 〃The Creation〃
VI Andreas Hofer
VII Andreas Hofer at the Theatre
VIII Consecration of the Flags； and Farewell
IX Tis Time！
X Anthony Wallner of Windisch…Matrey
XI The Declaration of Love
XII Farewell！
XIII The Bridegroom
XIV The Bridge of St。 Lawrence
XV The Bridge of Laditch
XVI On the Sterzinger Moos
XVII The Hay…Wagons
XVIII Capture of Innspruck
XIX The Capitulation of Wiltau
XX Eliza Wallner's Return
XXI The Catastrophe
XXII Eliza and Ulrich
XXIII The Triumph of Death
XXIV The Archduke John at Comorn
XXV The Emperor Francis at Wolkersdorf
XXVI The Reply of the King of Prussia
XXVII The Battle of Wagram
XXVIII The Armistice of Znaym
XXIX Hofer and Speckbacher
XXX The Capuchin's Oath
XXXI The First Battle
XXXII The Fifteenth of August at Innspruck
XXXIII Andreas Hofer； the Emperor's Lieutenant
XXXIV The Fifteenth of August at Comorn
XXXV A Day of the Emperor's Lieutenant
XXXVI The Lovers
XXXVII Elza's Return
XXXVIII The Wedding
XXXIX The Treaty of Peace
XL Dreadful Tidings
XLI Betrayal and Seizure of Hofer
XLII The Warning
XLIII The Flight
XLIV Andreas Hofer's Death
CHAPTER I。
1809。
The year 1809 had come； but the war against France； so intensely
longed for by all Austria； had not yet broken out； and the people
and the army were vainly waiting for the war…cry of their sovereign；
the Emperor Francis。 It is true； not a few great things bad been
accomplished in the course of the past year： Austria had armed；
organized the militia； strengthened her fortresses； and filled her
magazines； but the emperor still hesitated to take the last and most
decisive step by crowning his military preparations with a formal
declaration of war。
No one looked for this declaration of war more intensely than the
emperor's second brother； the Archduke John； a young man of scarcely
twenty…seven。 He had been the soul of all the preparations which；
since the summer of 1808； had been made throughout Austria； he had
conceived the plan of organizing the militia and the reserves； and
had drawn up the proclamation of the 12th of May； 1808； by which all
able…bodied Austrians were called upon to take up arms。 But this
exhausted his powers； he could organize the army； but could not say
to it； 〃Take the field against the enemy！〃 The emperor alone could
utter this word； and he was silent。
〃And he will be silent until the favorable moment has passed；〃
sighed the Archduke John； when； on returning from a very long
interview with the emperor； he was alone with his friend； General
Nugent； in his cabinet。
He had communicated to this confidant the full details of his
interview with the emperor； and concluded his report by saying； with
a deep sigh； 〃The emperor will be silent until the favorable moment
has passed！〃
Count Nugent gazed with a look of heart…felt sympathy into the
archduke's mournful face； he saw the tears filling John's large blue
eyes； he saw that he firmly compressed his lips as if to stifle a
cry of pain or rage； and that he clinched his hands in the agony of
his despair。 Animated by tender compassion； the general approached
the archduke； who had sunk into a chair； and laid his hand gently on
his shoulder。 〃Courage； courage！〃 he whispered； 〃nothing is lost as
yet； and your imperial highness〃
〃Ah； why do you address me with ‘imperial highness'？〃 cried the
archduke； almost indignantly。 〃Do you not see； then； that this is a
miserable title by which Fate seems to mock me； and which it
thunders constantly； and； as it were； sneeringly into my ears； in
order to remind me again and again of my deplorable powerlessness？
There is nothing 'imperial' about me but the yoke under which I am
groaning； and my ‘highness' is to be compared only with the crumbs
of Lazarus which fell from the rich man's table。 And yet there are
persons； Nugent； who envy me these crumbsmen who think it a
brilliant and glorious lot to be an 'imperial highness；' the brother
of a sovereign emperor！ Ah； they do not know that this title means
only that I am doomed to everlasting dependence and silence； and
that the emperor's valet de chambre and his private secretary are
more influential men than the Archduke John； who cannot do anything
but submit； be silent； and look on in idleness。〃
〃Now your imperial highness slanders yourself；〃 exclaimed Count
Nugent。 〃You have not been silent； you have not looked on in
idleness； but have worked incessantly and courageously for the
salvation of your people and your country。 Who drew up the original
plan for the organization of the militia and the reserves？ Who
elaborated its most minute details with admirable sagacity？ It was
the Archduke Johnthe archduke in whom all Austria hopes； and who
is the last refuge and comfort of all patriots！〃
〃Ah； how much all of you are to be pitied； my friend； if you hope in
me！〃 sighed John。 〃What am I； then？ A poor atom which is allowed to
move in the glare of the imperial sun； but which would be
annihilated so soon as it should presume to be an independent
luminary。 Pray； Nugent； do not speak of such hopes； for； if the
emperor should hear of it； not only would my liberty be endangered；
but also yours and that of all who are of your opinion。 The emperor
does not like to see the eyes of his subjects fixed upon me； every
kind word uttered about me sours him and increases the ill…will with
which he regards me。〃
〃That is impossible； your highness；〃 exclaimed the count。 〃How can
our excellent emperor help loving his brother； who is so gifted； so
high…minded and learned； and withal so modest and kind…hearted？ How
can he help being happy to see that others love and appreciate him
too？〃
〃Does the emperor love my brother Charles； who is much more gifted
and high…minded than I am？〃 asked John； shrugging his shoulders。
〃Did he not arrest his victorious career； and recall him from the
army； although； or rather BECAUSE； he knew that the army idolized
him； and that all Austria loved him and hoped in him？ Ah； believe
me； the emperor is distrustful of all his brothers； and all our
protestations of love and devotedness do not touch him； but rebound
powerlessly from the armor of jealousy with which he has steeled his
heart against us。 You see； I tell you all this with perfect
composure； but I confess it cost me once many tears and inward
struggles； and it was long before my heart became calm and resigned。
My heart long yearned for love； confidence； and friendship。 I have
got over these yearnings now； and resigned myself to be lonely； and
remain so all my life long。 That is to say；〃 added the archduke；
with a gentle smile； holding out his hand to the count； 〃lonely；
without a sister； without a brotherlonely in my family。 However；