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andreas hofer-第117章

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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 peace。 And I will
decide。 I will humiliate them and compel them to be obedient; these
boastful archdukes; who always preach war and are worsted in every
battle! Oh; they are stirring up rebellion; and stretching out their
hands for my property! But one stroke of my pen will shatter their
crowns; stifle their rebellion; and reduce them to submissiveness。 I
will make peace with Napoleon; and the seditious Tyrol shall be
quieted without being bestowed upon the Archduke John。 I would
rather have it restored to Bavaria than that it should be conferred
on my brother。 That would be a just retribution for the seditious
peasants; they have set a bad example; and should be punished for
it。 I do not want any conspirators among my subjects。 Let Bavaria
see how she will get along with the rebellious Tyrolese! I shall
withdraw my hand from them。 I want peace。 I will remain Emperor of
Austria despite all my brothers!〃




CHAPTER XXXV。

A DAY OF THE EMPEROR'S LIEUTENANT。


The imperial palace at Innspruck was still the residence of
Sandwirth Andreas Hofer; commander…in…chief of the Tyrol; and
lieutenant of the Emperor Francis。 He had lived there since the 15th
of August; but as simply; quietly; and modestly as he had lived when
he was a horse…dealer and innkeeper; so he lived now when he was
ruler of the Tyrol; and the emperor's lieutenant。 Instead of
occupying the large state apartments of the imperial palace; as his
friends had often asked him to do; Andreas had selected the plainest
and humblest rooms for his quarters; and his style of living was as
simple and modest as his dwelling…place。 Vainly his suite tried to
persuade him to hold levees and receive guests at his festive table。
Andreas rejected all such suggestions with proud and withal humble
indignation。

〃Do you think I took this arduous task upon myself to play the
aristocratic gentleman; and revel in luxury?〃 he replied to those
who asked him to adopt such a course。 〃I did not become the
emperor's lieutenant to display vain and empty splendor; but to
serve my dear Tyrol and preserve it to the emperor。 I am only a
simple peasant; and do not want to live like a prince。 I am
accustomed to have bread; butter; and cheese for breakfast; and I do
not know why I should change this now; merely because I am no longer
at home with my dear wife; but here at Innspruck at the emperor's
palace。 I am also accustomed to dine very plainly; and am therefore
opposed to any expensive repasts being got up for me here。 I do not
like the meats prepared by the cooks of the aristocracy; and while I
do not want anything but bread; butter; cheese; and wine; I shall
send to Niederkircher's tavern for my dinner。 But it must never cost
more than half a florin。 I will invite guests; for I like to have
merry people about me; but the guests must not come for the sake of
the repast; but for that of our pleasant conversation。 I shall send
to Niederkircher for the dinner of all my guests; and he must send
enough; lest any of them should remain hungry。 But there must never
be more than six guests; for it would be too bad if I; who intend to
preserve the Tyrol to the emperor; were to cost him a great deal of
money here。 In order to prevent mistake; Niederkircher must send in
his bill every morning for me to examine; the financial secretary
shall pay it every week; and send me the receipt。〃 'Footnote: The
expenses of Hofer and his whole suite; during their six weeks'
sojourn in the city of Innspruck; cost the public exchequer only
five hundred florins。'

Andreas Hofer remained in these days of his splendor as active;
industrious; and simple as he always had been。 The welfare of his
beloved country engrossed all his thoughts; and he was desirous of
devoting his whole strength to it。 He issued a number of useful and
liberal decrees; which; it is true; Ennemoser; Doeninger; Kolb; or
other friends of his had drawn up; but which he had approved and
signed。

Andreas Hofer gave public audiences every morning like a real
prince; and the sentinels placed in front of the imperial palace and
at the door of the commander…in…chief had received stringent orders
not to refuse admittance to the audience…room to any one; but allow
all to come in; how poorly soever they might be dressed。 Andreas
listened to every one with kind patience and cordial sympathy; and
always took care to help console the distressed; make peace; and
conciliate; and every one who needed comfort and assistance hastened
to apply to the always helpful commander…in…chief。

To…day again many persons were in the audience…room; waiting
impatiently for the moment when the door should open; and when
Andreas Hofer should make his appearance on the threshold; greet all
with a pleasant nod of his head; and then beckon to him who was
nearest to the door to enter his cabinet。

But the hour fixed for the audience had struck long ago; and the
commander…in…chief; who was usually so punctual and conscientious;
had not yet opened the door of his audience…room。 He had already
been half an hour in his cabinet; and Doeninger sat at the desk;
ready to write down the names of all applicants for audience; and
add a brief statement of their wishes and petitions。 But Andreas was
still pacing the room; his hands behind his back; and although he
had already laid his hand twice on the door…knob; he had stepped
back as if in terror; and continued striding up and down。

〃Commander…in…chief;〃 said Doeninger; after a long pause; during
which he had watched Hofer's irresolute bearing smilingly; 〃there is
something that disquiets you; is there not?〃

〃Yes; Cajetan;〃 sighed Andreas。 〃As you have found it out; I will no
longer deny that there is something that disquiets me。〃

〃And what is it; commander…in…chief? Will you not communicate it to
your faithful and discreet Cajetan?〃

〃Yes; I will; my dear Cajetan;〃 said Hofer。 〃I am afraid I did
something very stupid yesterday; and I am ashamed of it。〃

〃Ah; you allude to the lawsuit which you decided yesterday;〃
exclaimed Doeninger。

〃You see; no sooner did I say that I did something very stupid; than
you at once knew what I meant; what I did must; therefore; have been
very stupid indeed。 Yes; I alluded to the lawsuit; Cajetan; for I am
afraid I did not decide it; but made it only more complicated。〃

〃On the whole; there was nothing to be decided;〃 said Doeninger;
dryly。 〃The lawsuit was already decided; the supreme court had given
judgment in favor of the plaintiff and awarded to him the sum of one
thousand florins; which was at issue; and sentenced the defendant to
pay that sum and the costs。 But the defendant〃

〃It was no man; Cajetan;〃 interrupted Andreas; 〃it was a woman; and
that was the worst of it。 I cannot bear to see women weep。 They know
so well how to touch my heart by their tears and lamentations; that
I long to help them。 Lord Jesus; how that woman; the defendant in
the lawsuit; wept! And was it the poor woman's fault; Cajetan; that
her deceased husband was head over ears in debt; that he borrowed
one thou
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