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But for a few weeks past she had overcome her silent grief； and the
presence of her mother； the shrewd and intriguing Duchess of Modena；
seemed to have imparted fresh strength to the empress； and confirmed
her in her determination to conquer the heart and confidence of her
husband。 Whereas she had hitherto met his indifference by proud
reticence； and feigned not to notice it； she was kind and even
affectionate toward him； and it often happened that； availing
herself of the privilege of her position； she traversed the private
corridor separating her rooms from those of her husband； and；
without being summoned to him； entered his cabinet to talk politics
with him in spite of his undisguised aversion to doing so。 The
emperor hated these interviews from the bottom of his heart； a
shudder pervaded his soul； and a cloud covered his brow； whenever he
heard the low rap of the empress at his private door。 To…day； too；
the dark cloud covered his forehead even after the empress had
entered his cabinet。 Ludovica noticed it； and a mournful smile
overspread her pale face for a moment。
〃As your majesty did not come to me to bid me good…morning； I have
come to you；〃 she said； in a gentle； kind voice； holding out her
beautiful white hand to the emperor。
Francis took it and pressed it to his lips。 〃It is true；〃 he said；
evidently embarrassed； 〃I did not come this morning to pay my
respects to you； but time was wanting to me。 I had to go at once to
my cabinet and work； I am very busy。〃
〃I see；〃 said Ludovica； 〃your majesty's dress still bears the traces
of your occupation。〃
The emperor hastened to brush away with his hands the small
particles of the peach…stone that had remained on his shirt…bosom
and his sleeve； but while he was doing this his brow darkened still
more； and he cast a gloomy and defiant glance on the empress。
〃Look； empress；〃 he said； 〃perhaps you belong to the secret police；
and have been employed to watch me in order to find out what I am
doing when I am alone in my cabinet。 Why； if I found out that that
was so； I should be obliged to be on my guard and have this door
walled up； so that my esteemed consort might no longer be able to
surprise and watch me。〃
〃Your majesty will assuredly not do that；〃 said Ludovica； whose
voice was tremulous； and whose cheeks had turned even paler than
before。 〃No； your majesty will not make me undergo the humiliation
of making known to the world the deplorable secret with which we
alone have hitherto been acquainted。 Your majesty will not deprive
me of the only privilege which I enjoy in common with your former
consorts； and thereby proclaim to the world that I am in this palace
a stranger who has not even access to the rooms of her husband。〃
〃I do not say that I intend to do it；〃 said Francis； shrugging his
shoulders； 〃I say only that it is highly repugnant to me to have my
steps dogged and watched in any manner。 It is true； my former
consort had also the keys of this private corridor； butpardon me
for this remark； your majestythe empress never used these keys；
but always waited for me to open the door。〃
〃And she did not wait in vain；〃 said the empress； quickly； 〃your
majesty never failed to come； for you loved your consort； and I have
been told you never suffered even a few hours to pass by without
leaving your cabinet and crossing the secret corridor to repair to
the rooms of the empress。〃
〃But the good Empress Theresa；〃 exclaimed the emperor； 〃when I was
with her； never endeavored to talk to me about politics and state
affairs。〃
〃I understand that；〃 said Ludovica； 〃you had both so many mutual
interests to converse about。 You had your mutual love； your
children； to talk about。 I； who am so unhappy as not to be able to
talk with you about such matters； how intensely so…ever my heart
longs for it； must content myself with conversing with my husband on
different subjects； and I desire to share at least his cares when I
cannot share his love。 My husband； I beseech you； do not disdain my
friendship； accept a friend's hand； which I offer to you honestly
and devotedly。〃
〃My God； that is precisely what I long for！〃 exclaimed the emperor
fervently； again pressing to his lips the hand which the empress
held out to him。 〃My fondest wish is fulfilled when your majesty
will give me your friendship； and confide in me as your best； most
devoted； and faithful friend！〃
〃But this confidence must be reciprocated； my dearest friend；〃 said
Ludovica； putting her hand on the emperor's shoulder。 and gazing
long and ardently into his eyes。 〃Your majesty must confide in me
too； and count implicitly on my fidelity。〃
〃That is what I do；〃 said Francis； hastily； 〃never should I dare to
doubt the fidelity of the purest； chastest； and most virtuous
empress and ladythe fidelity of my wife。〃
〃I did not refer to the wife's fidelity；〃 said Ludovica； sighing；
〃but to the fidelity of my friendship； which is joyously ready to
share all your cares and afflictions。〃
〃Well then；〃 said the emperor； nodding to her smilingly； 〃I will
give you a proof of my faith in your friendship。 Yes； you shall
share my cares and afflictions。〃
〃Oh； my husband； how happy you make me by these words！〃 exclaimed
Ludovica； and a faint blush beautified her noble face。
〃I will let you participate in my work to…day； and you shall give me
your advice；〃 said the emperor； nodding to the empress； and stepping
to the writing…table； from whose drawer he took the little cup。
〃Look； my dear friend；〃 added the emperor； handing the cup to his
consort； 〃I wished to make a little cup from this peach…stone and
give it to Maria Louisa； who delights in such things； but when I had
nearly finished it； I discovered suddenly that the peach…stone was
crooked and not equally round on both sides。 Now give me your
advice； my fair friend； tell me what I am to do in order to
straighten the cup。 Look at it； and tell me how to fix it。 It would
be an everlasting disgrace for an emperor to be unable to straighten
a thing which he himself made crooked。〃
The empress had turned pale again； her dark eyes shot fire for a
moment； and she compressed her lips as if to stifle a cry of
indignation。 But she overcame her agitation quickly； and hastily
took the little cup which the emperor still held out to her。
〃Your majesty is right；〃 she said； the 〃cup is really crooked； and
will not stand erect when you put it on the table。 As your majesty
has asked me what ought to be done about it； I advise you to get rid
of the thing； declare war against the little cup； and remove it
forever by touching it in this manner with your little finger。〃
She upset the miniature cup with her slender little finger； so that
it rolled to the other end of the table。
〃That is very energetic advice； indeed；〃 said Francis； smiling； 〃but
I do not like it。 To upset a thing that is not well done is no way
of improving it。〃
〃Yes； your majesty； to destroy what is not well done is paving the
way for something better；〃 exclaimed Ludovica。
〃You yourself said just now it would be an everlasting disgrace for
an emperor to be unable to straighten anything which lie himself
made cro