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〃Your majesty；〃 exclaimed the count； in dismay； 〃it is not the noble
Archduke John who conceived such plans； but the Emperor Napoleon。〃
〃He seems at least to keep up a touching understanding with my
brothers。 I should like to know whether his generosity will not
provide crowns and states for the other arch…dukes too。 And then；
you have not told me yet what he intends to do with me after hurling
me from the throne。 Does he want to keep me confined like the King
of Spain and Pope Pius； or will he permit me to live as a refugee in
foreign lands； like the King of Naples？〃
〃Your majesty； Napoleon only dreamed of the future； and dreams never
are logical and consistent。 I myself listened to his dreams in
silence； and they amused me as the merry fairy…stories of my
childhood didfairy…stories invented only for the purpose of making
us laugh。〃
〃Yes； let us laugh at them；〃 exclaimed the emperor； bursting into
loud laughter； which； however； sounded so unnatural that Count Bubna
did not join in it。 〃And now；〃 said the emperor； whose face suddenly
became very gloomy； 〃having spoken enough about Bonaparte's funny
dreams； let us turn to more serious matters。 What are the terms on
which the Emperor of the French would make peace with me？ What does
he demand？〃
〃Your majesty； his demands are so exorbitant that I scarcely dare to
repeat them。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said the emperor； dryly。 〃If I could listen quietly to
the plan regarding my brothers； I believe I shall be able to bear
the rest。 Speak； therefore。 What are the terms on which Napoleon
would conclude peace？〃
〃He demands the cession of all the provinces actually occupied by
the French armies； the surrender of the fortresses still occupied by
our troops in these provinces； with their magazines； arsenals；
stores； and supplies； the surrender of the fortresses of Gratz and
Brunn； and large contributions in kind； to be collected by M。 Daru；
the French intendant…general。〃
〃He intends to spoliate Austria as mercilessly as he formerly
plundered Hamburg and the whole of Northern Germany；〃 said the
emperor； shrugging his shoulders。 〃And does not Bonaparte demand any
money this time？ Will he content himself with provinces； fortresses；
and contributions in kind？ Will he extort no money from us？〃
〃Your majesty； he demands an enormous sum。 He demands the immediate
payment of two hundred and thirty…seven millions of francs。〃
＇Footnote： See Schlosser's 〃History of the Nineteenth Century；〃 vol。
viii。； p。 115。＇
〃Well； well； he will take less than that；〃 exclaimed the emperor。
〃Then your majesty will graciously negotiate with him on his terms
of peace？〃 asked Count Bubna； joyously。 〃Bearing in mind only the
welfare of your monarchy； you will not reject his rigorous demands
entirely； and not allow the armistice to lead to a resumption of
hostilities； which； under the present circumstances； could not but
involve Austria in utter ruin？〃
〃I shall think of it；〃 said the emperor； 〃at all events； I have
already shown my desire for peace by sending my ministers； Counts
Stadion and Metternich； to Altenburg； to negotiate there with
Bonaparte's minister Champagny。 I shall not recall them； but allow
them to continue the negotiations。 They are skilled diplomatists；
and men of great sagacity。 The labors of diplomatists generally make
slow headway； hence； it will be good for us to lend them a little
secret assistance。 While the plenipotentiaries are negotiating
publicly at Altenburg in Hungary； I will secretly begin to negotiate
with the emperor himself； and you； Count Bubna； shall be my agent
for this purpose。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 exclaimed Count Bubna； in a tone of surprise rather
than joy； 〃your majesty reposes in me so much confidence〃
〃Which； I hope； you will appreciate； and strive to render yourself
worthy of；〃 interrupted the emperor。 〃I count on your skill； your
zeal； and； above all； your discretion。 You will take new proposals
of peace to…morrow； on my part； to the headquarters of the Emperor
Napoleon； at Schoenbrunn。 But no one must learn of your mission；
and； least of all； my two ministers who are negotiating at
Altenburg。〃
〃Sire； I shall keep as silent as the grave。〃
〃A bad comparison； Bubna； for new life is to blossom for Austria
from your secret negotiations。 Well； go now and repose； we will
afterward confer again in regard to this matter； and I will explain
my views to you。 But say； Bubna； do you really think that Bonaparte
was in earnest about his dreams； and that； in case he should defeat
us again； he would seriously think of carrying into effect his plans
regarding the Archdukes Ferdinand and John？〃
〃I am afraid； your majesty； he was in earnest。〃
〃The Emperor Napoleon； then； hates me intensely？〃
〃He believes that your majesty hates him intensely。 He told me once
frankly that only your majesty's personal hatred had brought about
this war； and that he was afraid this hatred would frustrate all
peace negotiations。 I ventured to contradict him； but be shook his
head vehemently and exclaimed； 'The Emperor Francis hates me so
intensely； that I believe he would lose his crown and empire sooner
than ally himself with me in a cordial manner； even though he should
derive the greatest advantages therefrom。 Do you think； for
instance； that the Emperor Francis； if I wished to become his son…
in…law； would give me the hand of his daughter； even though I should
relinquish half the war contribution； and restore to him all the
provinces occupied by my armies？'〃
〃What？ Did Napoleon really say that？〃 asked the emperor； with
unusual； almost joyful vivacity。 〃But；〃 he added； gloomily； 〃this is
nothing but one of Napoleon's dreams。 He has a wife； and the Empress
Josephine is so young and gay yet that she does not think of dying。〃
〃But the Emperor Napoleon； I have been told； thinks a great deal of
getting a divorce from her。〃
〃The pope； whom he keeps imprisoned； will never grant it to him；〃
exclaimed the emperor。
〃I think he will not even apply to him for it； your majesty。 The
Emperor Napoleon never had his union with the Empress Josephine
consecrated by the Church； and the dissolution of a civil marriage
does not require the pope's consent。 The emperor can dissolve it by
virtue of his own authority。〃
〃That is a very convenient arrangement for M。 Bonaparte；〃 said
Francis； smiling。 〃Well； go now； count； and repose。 I am very
content with your services； and I think I shall be so hereafter
also。 Adieu。 I shall send for you again。〃
He nodded kindly to the count； and stood still smilingly at his
writing…table in the middle of the cabinet； until the door of the
anteroom closed behind Count Bubna。 But thereupon his face assumed a
gloomy； bitter expression； and he lifted up his clinched fist with a
menacing gesture。
〃My brothers！〃 he cried； in an angry voice； 〃always my brothers！
They are always eager to push me aside。 I am always to be kept in
the shade； that their light may shine more brightly。 Ah； we shall
see who is Emperor of Austria； and to whom the Tyrol belongs； we
shall see who is the master； and who has to obey。 As yet I am
emperor； as yet I have to decide on war and pea