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be very industrious there； and manufacture new and beautiful
styles。〃
〃I received to…day a new receipt for making carmine sealing…wax；
perfumed a la rose；〃 said Hudelist； smiling。
〃Ah； that is nice；〃 exclaimed the emperor； 〃give it to melet me
read it。〃
The Aulic councillor drew a paper from his bosom and handed it with
a low bow to the emperor。 Francis took it quickly； and fixed his
eyes smilingly on it。
His features； however； suddenly became very gloomy； and he threw the
paper indignantly on the table。 〃What do you give me this for？〃 he
asked； angrily。 〃In speaking of the receipt； I had forgotten the
abominable political situation for a moment； but you must at once
remind me of it。〃
〃My God！〃 faltered out Hudelist； 〃what did I do； then； to excite
your majesty's indignation？〃
The emperor took the paper from the table and handed it to him。
〃See；〃 he said； already half pacified； 〃is that a receipt for making
sealing…wax？〃
〃Good heavens！〃 groaned Hudelist； in dismay； 〃I made a mistake。 In
place of the receipt； I handed to your majesty the draft of the
proclamation to your subjects； which your majesty ordered me to
write。 Oh； I humbly beg your majesty's pardon for having made so
lamentable a blunder； I〃
〃Well； never mind；〃 interrupted the emperor； 〃there is no harm done。
You handed me one receipt； in place of another； and it is true； the
sealing…wax receipt may remain in your pocket until we arrive at
Totis； but the other receipt is needed immediately； for it is
destined to reduce the people to submissiveness and tranquillity。
Well； read the proclamation you have drawn up。〃
〃Your majesty； I have carried out carefully the orders of your
majesty； and the instructions of your minister； Count Metternich；
and written only what your majesty had agreed upon with the
minister。〃
〃Read it；〃 said the emperor； taking the fly…flap from the table；
and； while he was slowly gliding along the walls； and killing now
and then a fly； Hudelist read as follows：〃
〃To my people and my army！My beloved subjects； and even my enemies
know that； in entering upon the present war； I was induced to take
up arms neither by thirst for conquest nor by mortified personal
feelings。〃
〃Self…preservation and independence； a peace which would be
compatible with the honor of my crown； and which would give security
and tranquillity to my people； were the lofty and only objects which
I strove to attain。〃
〃The fickle fortunes of war have not fulfilled my expectations； the
enemy penetrated into the heart of my states； and exposed them to
the devastations of a war carried on with the most relentless
exasperation and barbarity； but； at the same time； he became
acquainted with the patriotic spirit of my people and the bravery of
my army。〃
〃This experience； which he purchased after fearful bloodshed； and my
unvarying solicitude for the happiness of my subjects； brought about
mutual advances for peace negotiations。 My plenipotentiaries met
with those of the French emperor。〃
〃I am desirous of concluding an honorable peace； the terms of which
offer the possibility and prospect of its duration。 The bravery of
my army； its unwavering courage； its ardent patriotism； its emphatic
wish not to lay down its arms prior to the conclusion of an
honorable peace； prevent me from submitting to terms which would
shake the foundations of the empire； and dishonor us after such
great and generous sacrifices and so much bloodshed。〃
〃The noble spirit animating the army is a sufficient guaranty that；
if the enemy should after all mistake our intentions and strength；
we shall certainly obtain the reward of constancy in the end。〃
＇Footnote： See Hormayr's 〃Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 ii。； p。 440。＇
〃There；〃 cried the emperor at this moment； striking with the fly…
flap at the wall； 〃that will at length put an end to your humming；
with which you have dinned my ears for a quarter of an hour。 Come
here； Hudelist； and look at this bluebottle fly。 The whole time
while you were reading I was chasing it； and have only just got it。
Did you ever see so large a fly？〃
〃It is a very large fly indeed；〃 said Hudelist； with a grin。
〃I do not believe that it is a bluebottle fly；〃 exclaimed the
emperor。 〃It is Bonaparte； who has transformed himself into a
bluebottle fly； as Jove once transformed himself into an ox； and he
came hither to annoy me and din my ears until I am quite sick。 Yes；
yes； Hudelist； believe me； Bonaparte is a huge bluebottle fly； which
drives all Europe mad。 Ah； would I could treat him as I treat this
abominable bluebottle fly now； and crush him under my foot！〃
And the emperor crushed the writhing insect under his heel。
〃Your majesty will surely enjoy one day the pleasure of crushing
Bonaparte； the huge bluebottle fly； under your heel；〃 said Hudelist。
〃Only your majesty must be gracious enough to have patience； and not
now try to attain what you will surely accomplish at a later time。
At this juncture Bonaparte is strong and superior to us； but let us
wait until there is a moment when he is weak； your majesty will
profit by this moment； and crush him。〃
〃See； see how kind you are！〃 exclaimed the emperor； with a sardonic
smile； 〃you are so obliging as to give me advice which I did not ask
for。 I thank you； Mr。 Aulic Councillor； but I believe it will be
better for me to follow my own understanding。 As God Almighty has
placed me at the head of Austria and made me emperor； He must
confide in my ability to discharge the duties of my imperial office。
Well； you need not look so dismayed； I know that your intentions are
good； and I confide in you。〃
〃Your majesty knows that I am ready to die for you； and that I
should shed my blood for you unhesitatingly and joyously；〃 exclaimed
Hudelist； enthusiastically。 〃It was； therefore； only my intense love
and veneration which made me venture to communicate my views freely
and openly to your majesty； but I shall never do so again； for I was
unfortunate enough to displease your majesty thereby。〃
〃On the contrary； you shall always do so； you shall always tell me
your opinion freely and openly；〃 cried the emperor； vehemently。 〃You
shall tell me all that you believe； all that you know； and all that
you hear and learn from others。 Your ears； eyes； and tongue； shall
belong to me。〃
〃And my heart； above all things； belongs to my adored emperor； your
majesty。〃
〃Have you really got a heart？〃 asked the emperor； smiling。 〃I do not
believe it； Hudelist； you are a clever； sagacious man； but you had
better say nothing about your heart； for I think you have used it up
in your countless love…affairs。 Moreover； I do not care for it。 I do
not think a great deal of men who have too much heart； and who
always allow their rash heart to influence their actions。 My
distinguished brother； the Archduke John； for instance； has this
fault and weakness； his heart frequently runs away with his head；
and his legs finally run after it。〃
〃But he is a very brave general；〃 said Hudelist； gently； 〃a
courageous captain； and a most defiant and foolhardy enemy of
France。 How unwavering were the courage and intrepidity with which
he met the Viceroy o