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John； who； with touching solicitude； had remained near the sufferer；
would have accompanied him； but a word from the emperor called him
back。
〃Stay a moment； archduke；〃 said Francis； 〃the Archduke Charles only
has his fits； and his servants will take care of him。 I have yet to
speak a few words with you。 This will be a formidable war； brother；
and we must see to it that it breaks out at the same time in all
quarters of our empire； and that the people rise with one accord and
take up arms。 We have made our preparations everywhere； and our
emissaries have done their duty； they have everywhere enlisted
friends of our cause； and established committees which have made all
necessary dispositions for the defence of the country。 You yourself
sent your emissary； Baron von Hormayr； to your beloved Tyrol； if I
am correctly informed； he has already returned to Vienna。〃
〃Your majesty； he arrived here this morning；〃 said John； looking at
his brother with an air of surprise and even terror。
This did not escape the emperor； and a smile of satisfaction lit up
his face。
〃You see； my agents serve me very well； and I am aware of all that
is going on；〃 said Francis； gravely。 〃I know； too； that Baron von
Hormayr has returned to Vienna not alone； but accompanied by some
good friends。 I believe you did not come here to give me your
advice； but to beg permission to receive your Tyrolese friends at
your palace to…night。〃
〃What？〃 asked John； surprised； 〃your majesty is aware of this； too？〃
〃I have told you already that my agents serve me very well。 Let this
be a warning to you not to do or undertake any thing that you would
like to conceal from me。 I know that Andreas Hofer is here； to
concert with you some sort of plan for the insurrection of the
Tyrol。 Under the present circumstances I permit you to do so； for it
is really important that the German and Italian Tyrol should rise；
and as we are going to have war； we will strive to recover our
Tyrol。 But we must proceed cautiously； and the world must not find
out that we instigated the Tyrolese to rise in arms。 That would be
setting a bad example to the other nations of our empire。 We may at
times profit by popular insurrections； but must beware of letting
the world know that we ourselves brought them about。 Hence； I do not
want to know any thing of your Tyrolese； and shall not grant them an
audience。 But I permit you to do so； and you may tell these brave
Tyrolese； too； that I should be glad if they would become again my
dear subjects。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 exclaimed John； joyously； 〃these words of their
emperor will be the signal for them to rise as one man； take their
rifles； and expel the Evil One； that is to say； the Bavarians。〃
〃I shall be glad to see the Tyrolese do so； and； moreover； do it in
time；〃 said the emperor； nodding his head。 〃Repeat my words to
Andreas Hofer； brother John； and pledge him my word that； if we
recover the Tyrol this time； we shall never give it up again。 But
Andreas Hofer must behave with great prudence； and not show himself
to the public here； but keep in the background； that the police may
wink at his presence in Vienna； and act as though they did not see
him and his friends。 And now； brother； farewell； and inquire if the
generalissimo has recovered from his fit。 It would be bad； indeed；
if these fits should befall him once in the midst of a battle。 Well；
let us hope for the best for us all； and especially for the Tyrol。
You have now a great task before you； John； for you will receive a
command； you shall assist the Tyrolese in shaking off the foreign
yoke。〃
〃Oh； my lord and emperor；〃 exclaimed John； with a radiant face and
fiery glance； 〃how kind and gracious you are to…day！ It is the heart
of a brother that speaks out of your mouthof a brother who wishes
to make me happy； and knows how to do so。 Yes； send me with a corps
to the assistance of the Tyrolese； let me bring freedom and
salvation to my beloved mountaineers。 That is a task which fills me
with boundless ecstasy； and for which I shall always be grateful and
devoted to you； brother。〃
〃Be devoted to your emperor； archduke；〃 said Francis； smiling； 〃the
brothers will get along well enough； they have nothing to do with
politics and public affairs。 Farewell； John。 But； remember； we shall
meet again to…day； for I shall summon the ministers and generals to
a consultation； and you will； of course； be present。 Once more；
then； farewell！〃
He nodded repeatedly to the archduke and left the room with unusual
quickness。 The emperor walked hastily and with a gloomy face through
the adjoining room； and entered his cabinet； the door of which he
closed rather noisily。 〃I am to let him bring freedom and salvation
to his beloved mountaineers；〃 murmured Francis to himself〃to HIS
mountaineers！ I believe he would be glad if they really were his；
and if he could become King of the Tyrol。 Well； we shall see。 I have
lulled his suspicion by permitting him to hold intercourse with the
Tyrolese； and concert plans with them。 We shall see how far my
brother will go； and what his gratitude and devotion will amount to。
It is a troublesome burden for me to have such dangerously ambitious
and renowned brothers； against whom I must be constantly on my
guard。 I would I could pick them off as quickly as I remove the
flies from this wall。〃
So saying； he took from the table the fly flap which had always to
lie on it in readiness； and entered upon his favorite amusement； the
pursuit of the flies on the wall and furniture； which his servants
took good care not to drive from the emperor's cabinet； because
Francis would never have pardoned them for spoiling his sport。
Walking along the walls with a rapid step； the emperor commenced
killing the flies。
〃Ha！〃 he exclaimed； striking a fly； 〃ha！ brother Charles； this
stroke is intended for you。 Really； there lies the fly writhing； as
the generalissimo did； on the floor。 But he has a tougher life than
the fly； for the fly will writhe until it is dead； but the
generalissimo always revives； and when he has no fits； he is a very
brave and illustrious man； before whom his emperor must humbly stand
aside。 I cannot take the fly…flap and strike his writhing limbs as I
do this miserable fly； the little Archduke Charles； that is writhing
on the floor there。 So； now you are dead； confounded little brother
Charles； and we will hunt for your brother John。 See； see； there he
sits on the wall； cleaning his wings and making himself tidy and
pretty。 There！ There is an affectionate blow from your imperial
brother； and you are done for。 Now you will never fly to YOUR
mountaineers and BRING them freedom and salvation。 You will； on the
contrary； stick to the wall of your emperor's room； and learn that
your brother is your master。 Why； this is most amusing sport to day！
I shall not stop before killing a dozen Archdukes Charles and John！〃
And Francis hunted eagerly on the walls and the furniture for other
flies； which he pursued and killed with his fly…flap； always
applying the name of Charles to one； and that of John to the next。
In the excitement of this strange sport he had not noticed that；
so