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what he said of Naples and Spain： 'The Bourbons have ceased to
reign'？〃
〃Your majesty； although the Emperor Napoleon did not dare to use
such unmeasured language； he did not fail to hint at such an event。
Having admitted me after repeated refusals and hearing my first
words； 'My august master； the Emperor of Austria；' the Emperor
Napoleon interrupted me； and cried vehemently； 'There is no longer
an Emperor of Austria； but only a Prince of Lorraine！'〃
〃Ah； indeed； he permits me at least to retain the title of a Prince
of Lorraine！ And what else did he say？ Do not conceal any thing from
me； Count Bubna； but bear in mind that I must know all； in order to
take my resolutions accordingly。〃
〃Your majesty； if I did not bear this in mind； I should never
venture to repeat what the Emperor Napoleon permitted himself to say
to me。 He seemed to speak quite unreservedly in my presence； lying
on the floor by the side of his maps； or sitting on the table and
placing his feet on a chair； or standing before me with folded arms；
he spoke to me with a frankness which almost frightened me； and
which at times seemed to me quite involuntary。〃
〃There you were mistaken； at all events；〃 said Francis； shrugging
his shoulders。 〃Bonaparte never does any thing unintentionally； and
not a word escapes him but what he wants to utter。 I know him better
than you all； though I have seen him only once in my life； and God
knows that； after my interview with him subsequent to the battle of
Austerlitz； my heart was filled with intense hatred against him。
Now； my heart is more constant in hatred than in love； and if it is
said that love makes us blind； hatred； on the other hand； renders us
keen…sighted； and that is the reason why I am able to see through
Bonaparte and know him better than you all。 Tell me； therefore； what
he said so frankly to you； and I shall know what to think of his
statements which seem to you unintentional expressions of his real
sentiments。 What does he think of the armistice？ Is he really intent
on drawing the sword once more； or is he inclined to conclude
peace？〃
〃Inclined； your majesty； is not the right word。 He intends to GRANT
peace to your majesty in return for heavy sacrifices。 Your majesty
will have to sacrifice much territory； many fortresses； and finally
a great deal of money； in order to obtain peace。〃
〃And what if I should not do so？〃 cried Francis； impetuously。 〃What
if I should prefer to resume hostilities and die honorably on the
ruins of my empire rather than purchase a dishonorable peace？ What
would he say then？〃
〃Then he would resume hostilities with his strong and enthusiastic
army； he would； as he told me more than once in his thundering
voice； be inexorable； and no considerations of generosity would
prevent him from wreaking vengeance on his personal enemy； for as
such he would regard your majesty in that event。〃
〃But the people of Nuremberg do not hang any one before they have
got him；〃 said the emperor； calmly。 〃Bonaparte has not got me yet；
and I think he will not catch me soon。 Despite all his braggadocio；
he will be obliged to allow the continued existence of the Austrian
Empire； for all Europe would rise against him； even Russia herself
would become his enemy； and draw the sword against him； if he should
be daring enough to appropriate the Austrian Empire and swallow it
as he swallowed Italy。〃
〃Your majesty； I also do not believe that he would menace Austria in
case he should be driven again to hostilities； he threatens only the
Emperor of Austria。〃
〃What do you mean； Bubna？〃 asked the emperor； vehemently。
〃Your majesty；〃 said Count Bubna； in a low； timid voice； 〃the
Emperor Napoleon thinks you are his personal and inexorable enemy；
and he believes if a monarch more favorable to him were seated on
the throne of Austria； he would not only soon conclude peace with
Austria； but also have a faithful ally in her hereafter。 If
hostilities should be resumed； and if the fortune of war should
decide in favor of the Emperor Napoleon〃
〃Proceed； proceed；〃 cried the emperor； impatiently； when Count Bubna
hesitated； 〃I must know all； and am not so cowardly as to be
frightened by mere words。〃
〃But I； your majesty； am afraid of uttering words whose meaning
fills me with loathing and horrorwords which； thank God； will
never become deeds！〃
〃No preamble； count； but speak out；〃 cried the emperor； impatiently。
〃What would Bonaparte do in case he should defeat us again？〃
〃Your majesty； he would place another emperor on the Austrian
throne。〃
〃Ah； always the same old strain；〃 exclaimed the emperor；
contemptuously。 〃One of his brothers or brothers…in…law is to become
Emperor of Austria； I suppose？ 'The Hapsburg dynasty has ceased to
reign'that is it； is it not？〃
〃No； another prince of the Hapsburg dynasty is to be placed on the
throne； one of the brothers of the Emperor Francis。〃
〃Ah； ah！ he thinks of my brothers；〃 murmured the emperor； whose
cheeks turned very pale。 〃Well； which of my brothers did he
designate as future Emperor of Austria？〃
〃He thought it would be best for France if the throne were ceded to
the Grand…duke of Wurtzburg； the Archduke Ferdinand。 He said he had
had confidence in the grand…duke ever since he had been in Tuscany；
and he believed that the grand…duke was likewise friendly to him。 He
would make him Emperor of Austria； and add the grand duchy of
Wurtzburg to the kingdom of Bavaria。〃
〃And the Tyrol？〃 asked the Emperor Francis。 〃Will Bonaparte； in his
liberality； give that also to Bavaria； or will he leave it to my
brother Ferdinand； the future Emperor of Austria？〃
〃No； your majesty。 The Emperor Napoleon seems to have entirely new
and rather singular plans in regard to the Tyrol。 According to these
plans。 Bavaria is not to keep it； for Napoleon said angrily that
Bavaria had not at all known how to deal with the simple and honest
Tyrolese。 He added that profound tranquillity should reign in the
mountains； hence； he could not restore the Tyrol to Bavaria； against
which the Tyrolese were animated by intense hatred。 As the Tyrolese
had manifested their attachment and fidelity to Austria in so
admirable a manner； it would be best to make the Tyrol an
independent principality； and give it also to one of the arch…dukes；
the brothers of the emperor。〃 ＇Footnote： Napoleon's own words。See
〃Lebensbilder；〃 vol。 v。； p。 217。＇
〃By the Eternal！ my brothers seem to be the special favorites of the
Emperor Napoleon；〃 exclaimed the emperor。 〃Which of the archdukes is
to receive the new principality of the Tyrol at Bonaparte's hands？〃
〃Your majesty； he said the Tyrol should be given to that archduke
for whom the Tyrolese had always manifested the greatest love and
enthusiasm； the Archduke John。〃
〃John！〃 cried the emperor； giving a start； 〃John is to become
sovereign of the Tyrol？ Ah； my sagacious and learned brother has
speculated correctly； then！ He first stirred up a rebellion in the
Tyrol in the shrewdest manner； and he will now quiet the beloved
Tyrol； by becoming its sovereign and ruler。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 exclaimed the count； in dismay； 〃it is not the noble
Archduke John who