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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 j