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about Bonaparte。〃
〃But； your majesty； the archduke added something to it；〃 said Count
Stadion； quickly； 〃he said Austria ought to adopt more decisive
measures。〃
〃Ah； and now you hope that the archduke will say to me what you have
already said so often； and that he will make the same proposals in
regard to more decisive measures as you did； minister？〃
〃Yes； I do hope it； your majesty。〃
〃Well； let us see；〃 exclaimed the emperor； with great vivacity。
〃Tell me； therefore； archduke； what more decisive measures you
referred to。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 replied John； quickly； 〃I meant that we should
strive to get rid of our isolated position； and look around for
allies who will aid us not only with money； as England does； but
also with troops。〃
〃And what allies would be most desirable for Austria； according to
your opinion； archduke？〃
The archduke cast a rapid； searching glance on the face of the
minister； who responded to it by a scarcely perceptible nod of his
head。
〃Your majesty；〃 said Archduke John； quickly； 〃Prussia would be the
most desirable ally for Austria。〃
The emperor started back； and then turned almost angrily to Stadion。
〃In truth；〃 he said； 〃it is just as I thought； the archduke repeats
your own proposals。 It seems； then； that the formerly so courageous
war…party at my court suddenly droops its wings； and thinks no
longer that we are able to cope single…handed with Bonaparte。 Hence；
its members have agreed to urge me to conclude an alliance with
Prussia； and now come the besieging forces which are to overcome my
repugnance。 The minister himself was the first to break the subject
to me； now he calls the Archduke John to his assistance； and takes
pains to be present at the very hour when the archduke arrives here
to second his efforts in attacking me。 Half an hour later； and the
empress will make her appearance to assist you； and convince me that
we ought to secure； above all things； the alliance of Prussia。〃
〃Pardon me； your majesty；〃 said Count Stadion； earnestly； 〃I have；
unfortunately； not the honor of being one of the archduke's
confidants； and I pledge you my word of honor that I did not know at
all that his royal highness was coming hither。〃
〃And I pledge your majesty my word of honor that neither the empress
nor Count Stadion ever intimated to me； directly or indirectly； that
they share my views； and have advocated them already before your
majesty。〃
〃Then you have come quite independently； and of your own accord； to
the conclusion that we ought to form an alliance with Prussia？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； I believe that this has now become a necessity
for us。〃
〃But Prussia is a humiliated and exhausted state； which exists only
by Bonaparte's grace and the intercession of the Emperor of Russia。〃
〃Your majesty speaks of Prussia as it was in 1807；〃 said Count
Stadion； 〃after the defeats of Jena； Eylau； and Friedland。 But since
then two years have elapsed； and Prussia has risen again from her
prostration； she has armed secretly； rendered her resources
available； and found sagacious and energetic men； who are at work
silently； but with unflagging zeal； upon the reorganization of the
army； and preparing every thing for the day of vengeance。〃
〃Let us ally ourselves with regenerated Prussia； which is longing
for vengeance！〃 cried John； ardently； 〃let us unite with her in the
struggle against our common foe。 Prussia and Austria should be
harmonious； and jointly protect Germany。〃
〃No；〃 said the emperor； almost angrily； 〃Prussia and Austria are
natural enemies； they have been enemies ever since Prussia existed；
for Prussia； instead of contenting herself with her inferior
position； dared to be Austria's rival； and； moreover； Austria can
never forgive her the rapacious conquest of Silesia。〃
〃Oh； your majesty；〃 exclaimed John； impetuously； 〃let us forget the
past； and fix our eyes on the present and future France is the
common enemy of all Europe； all Europe ought to unite in subduing
her； and we will not even solicit the cooperation of our neighbor！
But an alliance between Austria and Prussia will render all Germany
united； and Germany will then be； as it were； a threatening rock；
and France will shrink from her impregnable bulwarks； and retire
within her natural borders。〃
〃Words； words！〃 said the emperor； shrugging his shoulders。 〃You
enthusiasts always talk of a united Germany； but in reality it has
never existed yet。〃
〃But it will exist when Prussia and Austria are allied； only this
alliance must be concluded soon； for we have no time to lose。 and
every delay is fraught with great danger。 France is intent on
establishing a universal monarchy； Napoleon does not conceal it any
longer。 If France really succeeds in keeping the German powers at
variance and enmity； and uniting with Russia against them； our last
hour will strike； for these two powers； if united； will easily come
to an understanding as to the division of Europe； and even though
Russia did not entertain such an intention； France would communicate
it to her。 ＇Footnote： The archduke's own words。See 〃Letters from
the Archduke John to Johannes von Mueller；〃 p。 81。＇ Hence； Russia。
should likewise be gained； and its alliance； by Russia's
intercession； be secured； so that Germany； in days of adversity；
might count upon her。〃
〃You believe then； archduke； that days of adversity are yet in store
for us？〃 asked the emperor。
〃Your majesty； I am afraid they are； if we stand alone。 All is at
stake now； and all must be risked。 We are no longer fighting for
provinces； but for our future existence。 We shall fight well； but
even the best strength is exhausted in the long run； and he who
holds out longest remains victorious。 Which side has better chances？
Austria； so long as she opposes France single…handed； has not； but
Austria and Prussia； if united； assuredly have。 If Austria falls
now； the best adversary of France falls； and with her falls Prussia；
and Germany is lost。〃
〃And what would you do； archduke； if Austria； as you say； were
lost？〃
〃Your majesty； if Austria should sink into ruin； I should know how
to die！〃
〃You would； like Brutus of old； throw yourself upon your sword；
would you not？ Well； I hope we shall not fare so badly as that； for
you have pointed out to me a way of saving the country。 You have
proved to me that Austria can be saved by an alliance with Prussia。
Fortunately； I have sometimes ideas of my own； and even a head of my
own。 I had this morning a long interview with the Prince of Orange；
who has just arrived from Koenigsberg； where he saw the King of
Prussia。 He laid before me a detailed report of what he had seen
there； and I made up my mind before I had heard your advice。Count
Stadion； be so kind as to take the paper lying on the desk。 Do you
know the handwriting？〃
〃I believe it is your majesty's handwriting；〃 said Count Stadion；
who； in accordance with the emperor's order； had taken the paper
from the desk。
〃Yes； it is my handwriting； for； though not as learned as my brother
John； I am at least able； if need be； to write a letter。 Be so kind；
minister； as to read my letter aloud。〃
Count Stadion bowed