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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 joke。 Aha！ it is a fine sight to behold the gods of this
earth a prey to such human embarrassments！ I felt like bursting into
loud laughter at the woe…begone appearance of the emperor。 But hush；
hush！ I will go to the chancery until he returns。〃
In the meantime the emperor had repaired to the small reception…
room； where Count Andreossi； the French ambassador； was already
waiting for him。
Francis responded to the respectful greeting of the ambassador by a
scarcely perceptible nod； and strode； with head erect； into the
middle of the room。 There he stood still； and casting a stern and
almost defiant glance on the ambassador； he said in a cold；
dignified tone： 〃You requested an audience of me in a very unusual
manner。 I granted it to prove to you my desire to remain at peace
with France。 Now speak； What has the ambassador of the Emperor of
the French to say to the Emperor of Austria？〃
〃Your majesty； I have to present to you； in the first place； the
respects of my master； who has returned from Spain to Paris。〃
Francis nodded his head slowly。 〃What next？〃 he asked。
〃Next； my sovereign has charged me with a very difficult commission；
for the execution of which I must first； and above all things； beg
your majesty's pardon。〃
〃You are your master's servant； and it is your duty to obey him；〃
said the emperor； dryly。 〃Say； therefore； what he ordered you to
tell me。〃
〃Well； then； as your majesty has granted me permission； I will say
that my master； the Emperor of the French； has taken deep umbrage at
the hostile course which Austria has of late pursued toward him。〃
〃And what is it that your emperor complains of？〃 asked the emperor；
with perfect composure。
〃In the first place； the Emperor Napoleon has taken deep umbrage at
Austria's still hesitating to recognize King Joseph as King of
Spain； and to send a minister plenipotentiary to his court。〃
〃I did not know where to send my ambassador； and where he would find
M。 Joseph Bonaparte； King of Spain； for the time beingwhether at
Madrid or at Saragossa； in the camp； on the field of battle； or in
flight。 Hence I did not send an ambassador to his court。 So soon as
the Spanish nation is able to inform me where I may look for the
king it has elected and recognized； I shall immediately dispatch a
minister plenipotentiary to this court。 State that to your monarch。〃
〃Next； his majesty the Emperor Napoleon complains bitterly that
Austria； instead of being intent on maintaining friendly relations
with France； has left nothing undone to reconcile the enemies of
France who were at war with each other； and to restore peace between
them； and that Austria； by her incessant efforts； has really
succeeded now in bringing about a treaty of peace between Turkey and
England。 Now； my master the emperor must look upon this as a hostile
act on the part of Austria； against France； for to reconcile England
with Turkey is equivalent to setting France at variance with Turkey；
or at least neutralizing entirely her influence over the Sublime
Porte。〃
〃Turkey is my immediate neighbor； and it is highly important to
Austria that there should be no war…troubles and disturbances on all
her frontiers。 Every independent state should be at liberty to
pursue its own policy； and while this policy does not assume a
hostile attitude toward other independent states； no one can take
umbrage at it。 Are you through with your grievances？〃
〃No； your majesty；〃 said Andreossi； almost mournfully。 〃The worst
and most unpleasant part remains to be told； but； as your majesty
was gracious enough to say； I must obey the orders of my master； and
it is his will that I shall now communicate to your majesty the
emperor's views in his own words。 It has given great offence to the
Emperor Napoleon that Austria should place herself in a posture of
open hostility against France； when France has given her so many
proofs of her forbearance； and has hitherto always spared Austria；
notwithstanding the numerous acts of duplicity and evident hostility
of the Austrian court。 The Emperor Napoleon informs your majesty
that he is well aware of the ambitious schemes of Austria； but that
lie thinks your majesty is not strong enough to carry them into
effect。 He requests your majesty never to forget the magnanimity
which the Emperor Napoleon manifested toward you after the battle of
Austerlitz。 The Emperor Napoleon has instructed me to remind you of
the fact； well known to you； that you can confide in his generosity；
and that he is firmly resolved to observe the treaties。 Naples；
Prussia； and Spain； would stand erect； yet； if their rulers had
relied on their own sagacity； and not listened to the fatal advice
of their ministers； or even of courtiers； women； and ambitious young
princes。 His majesty beseeches the Emperor of Austria not to listen
to such insidious advice； nor to yield to the wishes of the war…
party； which is intent only on gratifying its passionate ambition；
and whose eyes refuse to see that it is driving Austria toward the
brink of an abyss wher