按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
minister； as to read my letter aloud。〃
Count Stadion bowed； and read as follows：
〃To his majesty； King Frederick William of Prussia： 〃Headquarters；
Wolkersdorf； June 8； 1809。
〃SIR； MY BROTHER： The Prince of Orange； who has arrived at my
headquarters here； has told me unreservedly； and with full
confidence； of the repeated conversations he had with your majesty
during his recent sojourn at Koenigsberg。 You left no doubt in his
mind as to your firm conviction that the existence of our two
monarchies can be protected from the rapacious system of the Emperor
Napoleon only by an active and cordial alliance。 For a long time
past； aware of the opinions and wisdom of your majesty； I could
foresee that your majesty would not refuse to take a step； justified
not less by the logic of events than the loyalty of the nations
which Providence has confided to our care。〃
〃The bearer； Colonel Baron Steigentesch； a distinguished staff…
officer of my army； will confer with your majesty's government as to
the questions which may arise in regard to an alliance between the
two countries： he is authorized to regulate the proportions of the
forces to be employed on both sides； and the other arrangements not
less salutary than indispensable for the security of the two states。
For the same reasons I shall speedily send instructions to my
ambassador at Berlin in conformity with the overtures made by Count
von der Goltz。〃
〃Your majesty will permit me to assure you that I remain as ever；
Your most obedient； FRANCIS； Emperor of Austria。〃 ＇Footnote：
〃Lebensbilder；〃 vol； iii。； p。 266。＇
While Count Stadion was reading the letter； the emperor closely
watched the effect it produced upon the archduke。 He saw that John
was at first surprised； that his eyes gradually brightened； that his
face crimsoned with joy； and that a smile played round his lips。
When Count Stadion was through； the archduke stepped up to the
emperor with an expression of profound emotion and intense
gratitude。
〃Your Majesty；〃 he cried； 〃you have filled me both with shame and
ecstasy。 Oh； give me your hand； let me press it to my lips； let me
thank you for this gracious punishment！ I am grateful； too； for the
gracious confidence with which you initiate me into your plans。〃
〃That is unnecessary；〃 said the emperor； without giving him his
hand； 〃you need not thank me。 Nor was it my intention to give you a
special proof of my confidence。 I did not cause the letter to be
read to you in order to have you participate in my plans； but only
to prove to you that I can make up my mind without your advice； and
to request you not to molest me henceforth with any such
suggestions。 Now； brother； we have nothing further to say to each
other。 Return to Comorn； and carry out the generalissimo's order； as
behooves a good officer； promptly； carefully； and without grumbling。
Fortify and hold Raab； defend Presburg； take Altenburg by a coup de
main； in short； do all that the generalissimo wants you to do。 If I
should need your advice and wisdom； I shall send for you； and when
Baron Steigentesch returns from his mission to Prussia； you shall be
informed of the results。 Farewell； brother； and let me soon hear of
new victories！〃
CHAPTER XXVI。
THE REPLY OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA。
Two weeks after this interview between the Archduke John and the
emperor； the archduke； at the request of the emperor； repaired again
to the imperial headquarters at Wolkersdorf； and sent in his name to
his brother。
〃You come just in time； brother；〃 said the emperor； when John
entered his cabinet。〃 I knew that Baron Steigentesch would arrive
here to…day； hence I sent for you； for I promised to let you hear
the reply of the King of Prussia to my proposal。 The colonel did
arrive a few minutes ago； and waits in the anteroom for an
audience。〃
〃Before admitting him； your majesty； pray listen to me；〃 said John；
in a grave； tremulous voice。
〃I hope you do not intend to reveal a secret to me？〃 asked the
emperor。
〃No； your majesty； unfortunately that which I have to say to you
will soon be known to everybody； and our enemies will take care to
let their triumphant bulletins circulate the news throughout
Europe。〃
〃It is a defeat； then； that you have to announce to me？〃 asked the
emperor； gloomily。
〃Yes； your majesty； a defeat。 I met the enemy yesterday at Raab
＇June 14； 1809＇。 Our men fought bravely； some performed the most
heroic exploits； but the odds of the enemy were too overwhelming。
The Viceroy of Italy attacked us with his well…disciplined veteran
troops； thirty…nine thousand strong。 In the outset； we； that is； the
Archduke Palatine and I； were about as strong； including the
Hungarian volunteers。 But the very first attack of the enemy； the
first volleys of musketry； caused the volunteers to fall back； they
fled panic…struck； abandoned the hill where I had posted them； and
rushed in wild disorder from the field of battle。 The enemy then
occupied the hill； and this decided the fate of the day against us；
shortly after the commencement of the battle。 However； we might have
held out and gained a victory； if all had carried out my orders
promptly and carefully； and if； as usually during this campaign； no
obstacles had been placed in my way。〃
〃Ah； archduke； to avoid charges being preferred against yourself；
you intend to prefer charges against others！〃 exclaimed the emperor；
shrugging his shoulders。
〃Yes your majesty； I charge Ignatius Giulay； Ban of Croatia； with
violation of my orders； disobedience； and intentional delays in
making the movements I had prescribed。 I had ordered the Ban in time
to join me at Comorn on the 13th of June； and he had positively
assured me； by letter and verbally； that he would promptly be on
hand on the stated day。 I counted upon his arrival； and made my
dispositions accordingly。 The generalissimo had instructed me to
keep open my communications with the main army on the right bank of
the Danube by way of Raab； and I； therefore； started on the morning
of the 13th from Comorn； firmly convinced that Giulay's troops would
join me in time and follow me。 But I waited for him in vain； he
failed me at the critical moment； despite my orders and his
promises； and this was the principal reason why we lost the battle。〃
＇Footnote： See Schlosser's 〃History of the Eighteenth Century；〃 vol。
vii。； p。 540。＇
〃You prefer a grave charge against a man whom I have always found to
be faithful； brave； and honorable；〃 said the emperor； with cutting
coldness。
〃Your majesty； I beg you to be so gracious as to call the Ban of
Croatia to a strict account；〃 exclaimed John； vehemently。 〃I beg you
to be so gracious as to send for the orders which I gave him； and
ask him why he did not obey them。〃
〃I shall do so；〃 replied the emperor； 〃and it is my conviction that
he will be able to justify himself completely。〃
The Archduke John gave a start； a deathly pallor overspread his
cheeks； his eyes shot fire； his lips opened to utter an impetuous
word； but he restrained it forcibly； compressing his lips； pale and
panting； he hastily moved back a few steps and approached the door。
〃Stay！〃 ordered the