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In the excitement of this strange sport he had not noticed that；
soon after he entered the cabinet； the door had opened； and
Counsellor von Hudelist had come in。 Francis did not remember at
that moment that he had given express orders to Hudelist to re…enter
the cabinet as soon as he heard the emperor return to it； he had
fixed his thoughts exclusively on the cruel pleasure of killing the
flies Charles and John； and Hudelist took good care not to disturb
him in this pleasant pastime。 He stood leaning against the wall
close to the door； his small； flashing eyes followed every motion of
the emperor with rapt attention； and whenever Francis； on killing a
fly； pronounced the name of either of his brothers in a triumphant
tone； a malicious smile overspread the pale and ugly face of the
counsellor。
Now； however； Francis； in hunting for flies； had arrived at the
extreme end of the room。 Until then； his back had been turned to
Hudelist。 If he should turn now and continue his sport on the other
side of the room； he would discover him； and be disagreeably
surprised at his presence。 Therefore； before the emperor turned；
Hudelist opened once more the door near which he was standing； and
closed it rather noisily。
The emperor turned and asked gayly： 〃Well； what is it； Mr。
Counsellor？〃
〃Your Majesty ordered me to return to the cabinet as soon as you
should be back。〃
〃But I returned some time ago；〃 said Francis； casting a distrustful；
searching glance on Hudelist。
〃Pardon me； your majesty； I believed I heard you only just now close
the door； and had until then vainly waited for some sound in the
cabinet；〃 replied Hudelist； with a perfectly innocent expression of
countenance。 〃The second door separating the conference…room from
your majesty's cabinet is so heavily lined with cushions as to
render it almost impervious to sound； and I beg your pardon again
for not having heard despite the most eager attention。〃
The emperor's face had again entirely cleared up。 〃Never mind；〃 he
said； 〃I am glad that those in the adjoining room cannot hear what
is going on here。 I like to have ears for all； but do not like
anybody to have ears for me。 Now let me hear what you have brought
for me from Paris。〃
〃Above all things； your majesty； I succeeded in obtaining for a
considerable sum of money； the receipt for making Spanish sealing…
wax； from a Spanish refugee； who was formerly employed at the royal
sealing…wax factory of Madrid； and was perfectly familiar with the
formula for making it。 Your majesty knows that this receipt is a
secret； and that the officers and workmen employed at the factory
must even swear an oath not to divulge it。〃
〃And you obtained the receipt nevertheless； and brought it with
you？〃 inquired the emperor。
〃Here it is； your majesty。〃
Francis hastily seized the paper which Hudelist handed to him with a
respectful bow。
〃See； see； this is a very kind service which you have rendered me；
and I shall be grateful for it！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You shall test the
receipt with me alone； we will try it right away。 But hold on； I
must first tell you some grave news。 We shall declare war。 I have
already told the French ambassador to leave Vienna to…day； and
Metternich can come home too。 I will hold a council of the ministers
and generals to…day。 Tell the functionaries at the chancery to
inform the ministers； archdukes； and generals that I wish to see
them in the conference…room at four。 Make haste； and then come to my
laboratory。 We will try the Spanish receipt。〃
CHAPTER V。
THE PERFORMANCE OF 〃THE CREATION。〃
A brilliant festival was to take place to…night in the large aula of
the Vienna University。 All the composers； musicians； dilettanti； and
amateurs of Vienna； had joyously consented to participate in it。 The
most distinguished names of the aristocracy and the artistic circles
of Vienna were at the head of the committee of arrangements。 Among
those names were those of the Princes Lichnowsky and Lichtenstein；
the Countesses Kaunitz and Spielmann； of Beethoven and Salieri；
Kreutzer and Clementi； and finally； those of the poets Collin and
Carpani。
Every one wished to participate in this festival； which was to
render homage to the veteran German composer； the great Joseph
Haydn； on the occasion of the twenty…fifth performance of the
maestro's great work； 〃The Creation。〃 Ten years had elapsed since
the first performance of 〃The Creation〃 at Vienna； and already the
sublime composition had made the tour of Europe； and had been
performed amid the most enthusiastic applause in London and Paris；
in Amsterdam and St。 Petersburg； in Berlin； and all the large and
small cities of Germany。 Everywhere it had excited transports of
admiration； everywhere delighted audiences had greeted with
rapturous enthusiasm this beautiful music； so full of holy ardor and
childlike piety； this great work of the German composer； Joseph
Haydn。
To…day the twenty…fifth performance of 〃The Creation〃 was to take
place at Vienna； and Joseph Haydn himself was to be present at the
concert。 The committee of arrangements had invited him； and he had
accepted the invitation。 Although his seventy…seven years were
resting heavily on his head； and had paralyzed his strength； be
could not withstand the honorable request of his friends and
admirers； and he had replied with a touching smile to the committee
of arrangements； whose delegates had conveyed the invitation to him
〃I shall come to take leave of the world with my 'Creation；' and bid
a last farewell to my dear Viennese。 YOU will often yet sing my
'Creation；' but I shall hear it for the last time！〃
〃For the last time！〃 These were the words which had thrilled all the
friends and admirers of the maestro； and filled them with the ardent
desire to greet him once more； and render him homage for the last
time。 For all felt and knew that Haydn had spoken the truth； and
that his end was drawing near。 All； therefore； longed to take part
in this last triumph of the composer of 〃The Creation；〃 whom death
had already touched with its inexorable finger。
Hence； there was a perfect jam in front of the university building；
the equipages of the high nobility formed two immense lines down the
long street； like a black； surging stream； rising from moment to
moment； the part of the audience arriving on foot moved along the
houses and between the double line of carriages toward the entrance
of the building。 Thousands had vainly applied for admission at the
ticket…office； there was room only for fifteen hundred persons in
the aula and the adjoining rooms； and perhaps as many thousands had
come to hear the concert。 As they could not be admitted into the
hall； they remained in the street in front of the building； as they
could not hear Haydn's music； they wished at least to see his face
and cheer him on his arrival at the door。
But there was a surging crowd also in the festively…decorated
university hall。 All had come in their holiday attire； and joy and
profound emotion beamed from all faces。 Friends shook hands and
greeted each other with radiant eyes； and even those who did not
know each other exchanged kindly