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the emperor as dreadful crimes all that they have seen and heard
here。 We must wait； therefore； until the spies have closed their
eyes； until dark and reticent night has descended on earth； and。
Well； Conrad； what is it？〃 the archduke interrupted himself； looking
at his valet de chambre； who had just entered hastily by the door of
the anteroom。
〃Pardon me； your imperial highness；〃 said Conrad； 〃a messenger of
her majesty the empress is in the anteroom。 Her majesty has ordered
him to deliver his message only to the archduke himself。〃
〃Let him come in；〃 said the archduke。
Conrad opened the door； and the imperial messenger appeared on the
threshold。
〃Her majesty the Empress Ludovica sends her respects to the
archduke；〃 said the messenger； approaching the archduke
respectfully。 〃Her majesty thanks your imperial highness for the
book which you lent her； and she returns it with sincere thanks。〃
An expression of astonishment overspread John's face； but it soon
disappeared； and the archduke received with a calm smile the small
sealed package which the messenger handed to him。
〃All right；〃 he said； 〃tell her majesty to accept my thanks。〃
The messenger returned to the anteroom； and Conrad closed the door
behind him。
〃Place yourself before the door； Nugent； that nobody may be able to
look through the key…hole；〃 whispered John； 〃for you know that I do
not trust Conrad。 And you； Hormayr； watch the secret door。〃
The two gentlemen hastened noiselessly to obey。 The archduke cast a
searching glance around the walls； as if afraid that even the silken
hangings might contain somewhere an opening for the eyes of a spy；
or serve as a cover to an ear of Dionysius。
〃Something of importance must have occurred；〃 whispered John；
〃otherwise the empress would not have ventured to send me a direct
message。 I did not lend her a book； and you know we agreed with the
ladies of our party to communicate direct news to each other only in
cases of pressing necessity。 Let us see now what it is。〃
He hastily tore open the sealed package and drew from it a small
prayer…book bound in black velvet。 While he was turning over the
leaves with a smile； a small piece of paper fluttered from between
the gilt…edged leaves and dropped to the floor。
〃That is it；〃 said John； smiling； picking up the paper； and fixing
his eyes on it。 〃There is nothing on it；〃 he then exclaimed；
contemplating both sides of the paper。 〃There is not a word on it。
It is only a book…mark； that is all。 But； perhaps； something is
written in the book； or there may be another paper。〃
〃No； your imperial highness；〃 whispered Nugent； stepping back a few
paces from the door。 〃The Princess Lichtenstein whispered to me
yesterday； at the court concert； that she had obtained an excellent
way of sending a written message to her friends and allies； and
that； if we received a piece of white paper from the ladies of our
party； we had better preserve it and read it afterward near the
fireplace。〃
〃Ah； sympathetic ink；〃 exclaimed John； 〃well； we will see。〃
He hastily approached the fireplace； where a bright fire was
burning； and held the piece of paper close to the flames。
Immediately a number of black dots and lines appeared on the paper；
these dots and lines assumed gradually the shape of finely…written
words。
The archduke followed with rapt attention every line； every letter
that appeared on the white paper； and now he read as follows：
〃The French ambassador has requested the emperor to grant him an
audience at eleven o'clock this morning。 A courier from Metternich
in Paris has arrived； and； I believe； brought important news。 The
decisive hour is at hand。 Hasten to the emperor； leave nothing
undone to prevail on him to take a bold stand。 Send somebody to the
Archduke Charles； request him to repair likewise to the emperor and
influence him in the same direction。 I have paved the way for you。 I
hope the French ambassador will； in spite of himself； be our ally；
and by his defiant and arrogant bearing； attain for us the object
which we have hitherto been unable to accomplish by our persuasion
and our arguments。 Make haste！ Burn this paper。〃
The archduke signed to his two confidants to come to him； and
pointed to the paper。 When they had hastily read the lines； he threw
the paper into the flames； and turned to the two gentlemen who stood
behind him。
〃Well； what do you think of it？〃 he inquired。 〃Shall I do what these
mysterious lines ask of me？ Shall I go to the emperor without being
summoned to him？〃
〃The empress requests you to do so； and she is as prudent as she is
energetic；〃 said Count Nugent。
〃I say； like the empress； the decisive hour is at hand；〃 exclaimed
Baron von Hormayr。 〃Hasten to the emperor； try once more to force
the sword into his hand； and to wrest at length the much…wished…for
words； 'War against France！' from his lips。 The Tyrolese are only
waiting for these words； to rise for their emperor and become again
his loving and devoted subjects。 All Austria； nay； all Germany； is
longing for these words； which will be the signal of the deliverance
of the fatherland from the French yoke。 Oh； my lord and prince；
hasten to the emperor； speak to him with the impassioned eloquence
of the cherubim； break the fatal charm that holds Austria and the
Tyrol enthralled！〃
At this moment the large clock standing on the mantelpiece commenced
striking。
〃Eleven o'clock；〃 said the archduke〃the hour when the emperor is
to give an audience to the French ambassador。 It is high time；
therefore。 Nugent； hasten to my brother； implore him to repair
forthwith to the emperor； and to act this time at least in unison
with me。 Tell him that everything is at stake； and that we must risk
all to win all。 But you； Hormayr； go to my dear Tyrolese； tell them
that I will receive them here at twelve o'clock to…night； and
conduct them to me at that hour； my friend。 We will hold a council
of war at midnight。〃
〃And your imperial highness does not forget that you promised to go
to the concert to…night？〃 asked Nugent。 〃Your highness is aware that
our friends not only intend to…night to give an ovation to the
veteran master of German art； Joseph Haydn； but wish also to profit
by the German music to make a political demonstration； and they long
for the presence of the imperial court； that the emperor and his
brothers may witness the patriotic enthusiasm of Vienna。〃
〃I shall certainly be present；〃 said the archduke； earnestly； 〃and I
hope the empress will succeed in prevailing on the emperor to go to
the concert。Well； then； my friends； let us go to work； and nay God
grant success to our efforts！〃
CHAPTER II。
THE EMPEROR FRANCIS。
The Emperor Francis had to…day entered his study at an earlier hour
than usual； and was industriously engaged there in finishing a
miniature cup which he had commenced cutting from a peach…stone
yesterday。 On the table before him lay the drawing of the model
after which he was shaping the cup； and Francis lifted his eves only
from time to time to fix them on the drawing； and compare it with
his own work。 These comparisons； however； apparently did not lead