按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and whose eyes refuse to see that it is driving Austria toward the
brink of an abyss where she must perish； as did Prussia； Naples； and
Spain。〃 ＇Footnote： Hormayr； 〃Allgemeine Geschichte；〃 vol。 iii。； p。
205。＇
〃It is very kind in his majesty the Emperor Napoleon to give me such
friendly advice；〃 sail the Emperor Francis； smiling。 〃But I beg his
majesty to believe that； in accordance with his wishes； I rely only
on my own individual sagacity； that I am influenced by no party； no
person； but am accustomed to direct myself the affairs of my country
and the administration of my empire； and not to listen to any
insinuations； from whatever quarter they may come。 I request you to
repeat these words to his majesty the Emperor Napoleon with the same
accuracy with which you communicated his message to me。 And now；
Count Andreossi； I believe you have communicated to me all that your
master instructed you to say to me。〃
〃Pardon me； your majesty； I am instructed last to demand in the
emperor's name an explanation as to the meaning of the formidable
armaments of Austria； the organization of the militia； and the
arming of the fortresses on the frontiers； and to inquire against
whom these measures are directed。 The emperor implores your majesty
to put a stop to these useless and hurtful demonstrations； and
orders me expressly to state that； if Austria does not stop her
armaments and adopt measures of an opposite character； war will be
inevitable。〃 ＇Footnote： Napoleon's own words。See 〃Lebensbilder；〃
vol。 ii。； and Hormayr； 〃Allgemeine Geschichte；〃 vol。 iii。＇
〃In that case； Mr。 Ambassador of the Emperor Napoleon； war is
inevitable；〃 cried Francis； who now dropped the mask of cold
indifference； and allowed his face to betray the agitation and rage
filling his bosom； by his quivering features； flashing eyes； and
clouded brow。 〃I have calmly listened to you；〃 he added； raising his
voice； 〃I have received with silent composure all the arrogant
phrases which you have ventured to utter here in the name of your
emperor。 I look on them as one of the famous proud bulletins for
which your emperor is noted； and to whose overbearing and
grandiloquent language all Europe is accustomed。 But it is well
known too that these bulletins are not exactly models of veracity；
but sometimes the very reverse of it。 An instance of the latter is
your emperor's assertion that he observes the treaties； and that he
gave me proofs of his magnanimity after the battle of Austerlitz。
No； the emperor did no such thing； he made me； on the contrary； feel
the full weight of his momentary superiority。 He was my enemy； and
treated me as an enemy； without magnanimity； which； for the rest； I
did not claim at the time。 But he has proved to me； too； that he
does not observe the most sacred treaties。 He violated every section
of the peace of Presburg； he did not respect the frontiers as
stipulated in that treaty； he forced me； in direct violation of the
treaties； to allow him the permanent use of certain military roads
within the boundaries of my empire； he hurled from their thrones
dynasties which were related to me； and whose existence I had
guaranteed； he deprived； in violation of the law of nations； the
beloved and universally respected head of Christendom of his throne；
and subjected him to a most disgraceful imprisonment； he exerted on
all seas the most arbitrary pressure on the Austrian flag。 And now；
after all this has happened； after Austria has endured all these
wrongs so long and silently； the Emperor Napoleon undertakes even to
meddle with the internal administration of my empire； and forbids me
what he； ever since his accession； has incessantly done； to wit： to
mobilize my army； levy conscripts for the troops of the line and the
reserves； and arm the fortresses。 He asks me to put a stop to my
armaments； else； he says； war will be inevitable。 Well； Mr。
Ambassador； I do not care if the Emperor Napoleon looks at the
matter in that light； and I shall not endeavor to prevent him from
so doing； for I shall not stop； but continue my preparations。 I
called out the militia； just as the Emperor of the French constantly
calls new levies of conscripts into immediate activity； and if war
should be inevitable in consequence thereof； I shall bear what is
inevitable with firmness and composure。〃
〃Your majesty； is this your irrevocable resolution？〃 asked
Andreossi。 〃Is this the answer that I am to send to my master； the
Emperor Napoleon？〃
〃I think it will be better for you to convey this answer in person
to your emperor；〃 said Francis； calmly。 〃As no one has witnessed our
interview； only you yourself can repeat my words with perfect
accuracy； and it is therefore best for you to set out this very day
for Paris。〃
〃That is to say； your majesty gives me my passports； and war will
immediately break out between France and Austria！〃 sighed Andreossi。
〃Your majesty should graciously consider〃
〃I have considered every thing；〃 interrupted Francis； vehemently；
〃and I request you not to speak to me again in the style of your
French bulletins。 I will hear the bulletins of the Emperor Napoleon
on the field of battle rather than in my cabinet。 Set out；
therefore； for Paris； Mr。 Ambassador； and repeat to the emperor what
I have said to you。〃
〃I will comply with your majesty's orders；〃 said Andreossi； with a
sigh； 〃I will set out； but I shall leave the members of my legation
here as yet； for I do not yet give up the hope that it may be
possible for the two courts to avoid a declaration of war； and to
spare such a calamity to two countries that have such good reasons
to love each other。〃
〃Let us quietly await the course of events；〃 replied the emperor。
〃Farewell； Count Andreossi。 If you will accept my advice； you will
set out this very day； for so soon as my dear Viennese learn that
war is to break out in earnest； they will probably give vent to
their enthusiasm in the most tumultuous and rapturous
demonstrations； and I suppose it would be disagreeable to you to
witness them。 Farewell； sir！〃
He waved his hand toward tile ambassador； bent his head slowly and
haughtily； and left the reception…room without vouchsafing another
glance to Count Andreossi。
〃Now my brothers will be in ecstasies；〃 said the emperor to himself；
slowly walking up and down； his hands folded on his back； in the
sitting…room adjoining the reception…room。 〃They will be angry；
though； because I did not consult them； and decided the whole affair
without listening to their wisdom。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 said a footman； who entered the room at this moment；
〃their imperial highnesses； the Archdukes Charles and John； request
an audience of your majesty。〃
〃They are welcome；〃 said the emperor； whose features were lit up by
a faint smile。 〃Show my brothers in。〃
CHAPTER IV。
THE EMPEROR AND HIS BROTHERS。
A few minutes afterward the two archdukes entered the room of the
emperor； who slowly went some steps to meet them； and greeted them
with a grave； cold glance。
〃Why； this is a rare spectacle；〃 said Francis； sneeringly； 〃to see
my brothers side by side in such beautiful harmony。 In truth； it was
only wanting t