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France。 How unwavering were the courage and intrepidity with which
he met the Viceroy of Italy everywhere； and attacked him； even
though he knew beforehand that he would be unable to worst the
superior enemy！ How great was the magnanimity with which he risked
all； and did not shrink from sacrificing the lives of thousands in
attempting to carry out an insignificant coup against the enemy！ And
how sublime was the heroism with which he has often dared to brave
the orders of the commander…in…chief and pursue his own way； on
finding that these orders were dangerous and pernicious to his
army！〃
〃Yes；〃 cried the emperor； bursting into scornful laughter； 〃it was
owing to this disobedience and stubbornness that we lost the battle
of Wagram。 If the Archduke John had been more obedient； and arrived
with his troops in time； we should have gained the battle。 I should
not be in this miserable hole and it would not be necessary for me
to sue Bonaparte so humbly and contritely for generous terms of
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