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panting； he hastily moved back a few steps and approached the door。
〃Stay！〃 ordered the emperor； in a harsh voice。 〃I have yet some
questions to put to you。 You are responsible for this battle of
Raab； and you owe me some explanations concerning it。 How was the
retreat effected？ Where are your forces now？〃
〃The retreat was effected in good order；〃 said John； in a low；
tremulous voice。 〃I marched with four battalions of grenadiers and
two battalions of Gratz militia slowly along the heights to Als；
where we arrived at midnight； and to…day we went back to Comorn。
There our forces are now。〃
〃And Raab？ Have the enemy taken it already？〃
〃No； your majesty； it still holds out： but it will fall； as I told
your majesty two weeks ago； for the generalissimo has sent me
neither ammunition nor re…enforcements； despite my most pressing
requests。〃
〃Is that to be another charge？〃 asked the emperor； sternly。
〃No；〃 said John； mournfully； 〃it is only to be my defence； for
unfortunately it is always necessary for me to defend myself。〃
〃Ah； archduke； you always consider yourself the victim of cabals；〃
exclaimed the emperor； 〃you believe yourself always persecuted and
calumniated； you suspect invariably that you are slighted and placed
in false positions by those who are jealous of your exalted
qualities； and envious of your talents。 You think that your
greatness excites apprehensions； and your genius and learning create
misgivings； and that you are therefore persecuted； that intrigues
are entered upon against you； and that not sufficient elbow…room is
given to your abilities。 But you are mistaken； archduke。 I am not
afraid of you； and although I admire you； and think； like you； that
you are the greatest captain of the age〃
〃Your majesty；〃 interrupted John； in a loud； vehement voice； 〃your
majesty； I〃
〃Well； what is it？〃 cried the emperor； hastily advancing a few steps
toward his brother； and staring at him with defiant eyes。 〃What have
you got to say to me？〃
〃Nothing； your majesty；〃 said John； in a hollow voice； 〃you are the
emperor！ I am silent； and submit。〃
〃And you are very prudent in doing so； for； as you say； I am the
emperor； and I will remain the emperor； despite all my great and
august brothers。 If your imperial highness does not like this； if
you think you are treated unjustly； if you consider yourself a
martyr； why do you not imitate what the generalissimo has done
already three times during the present campaignwhy do you not
offer your resignation？ Why do you not request your emperor to
dismiss you from his service？〃
〃Will your majesty permit me to make a frank and honest reply to
this question？〃 asked John； looking at the emperor firmly and
gravely。
〃I will。〃
〃Well； then； your majesty； I do not offer my resignation because I
am not an invalid； because I am young； strong； and able to work。 I
request the emperor not to dismiss me from the service； because I
serve not only him； but the fatherland； and because I owe to it my
services and strength。 I know well that many would like me to retire
into privacy and withdraw entirely from public affairs； but I cannot
fulfil their wishes； and never shall I withdraw voluntarily from the
service。 No matter what wrongs and slights may be inflicted upon me；
they will be fruitless； for they will never shake my purpose。 All
the disagreeable things that happen to me in my career； I think
proceed from individuals； and not from the fatherland； why should I；
then； avenge myself on the fatherland by resigning and depriving it
of my services when it has done me no wrong？ ＇Footnote： The
archduke's own words。See his 〃Letters to Johannes von Mailer；〃 P。
92。＇ I serve the fatherland in serving your majesty； should I
resign； I should be unfaithful to both my masters； and only then
would your majesty have a right to despise me。〃
〃Listen；〃 said the emperor； 〃the word fatherland is a dangerous and
two…edged one； and I do not think much of it。 The insurgents and
revolutionists have it always in their mouths； and when rising
against their prince and refusing him obedience； they likewise say
that they do so in the service of the fatherland； and devote their
strength and fidelity to it。 The soldier； above all； has nothing to
do with the fatherland； but only with his sovereign； it is to him
alone that he has sworn allegiance； and to him alone he must remain
faithful。 Now； as you are a soldier and wish to remain in the
service； pray bear in mind that you have sworn allegiance to your
emperor； and let me bear no longer any of your subtle distinctions
between your emperor and your fatherland。 And now that you have
reported to me the result of the disastrous battle of Raab； Baron
Steigentesch may come in and report the results of his mission to
Koenigsberg。 Stay； therefore； and listen to him。〃
The emperor rang the bell； and ordered the footman who entered the
room to admit immediately Minister Count Stadion and Colonel Baron
Steigentesch。 A few minutes later the two gentlemen entered the
cabinet。
〃Now； colonel；〃 said the emperor to him； 〃you are to report the
results of your mission to Koenigsberg； and I confess I am quite
anxious to hear them。 But before you commence； I wish to say a few
words to your minister of foreign affairs。 On the same day that I
dispatched Colonel Steigentesch to Koenigsberg； I handed you a
sealed paper and ordered you to preserve it till my ambassador's
return。 Have you done so？〃
〃I have； your majesty。〃
〃And have you brought it with you now？〃
〃Here it is； your majesty；〃 said Count Stadion； drawing a sealed
envelope from his bosom； and presenting it to the emperor； with a
low bow。 Francis took it； and examined the seal with close
attention； then held it to his nose and smelled it。
〃Indeed；〃 he exclaimed joyfully； 〃it has retained its perfume； and
is as fresh and brilliant as though it had been put on only at the
present moment。 And what a beautiful crimson it is！ I have； then； at
length； found the right receipt for good sealing…wax； and this；
which I made myself； may vie with that made at the best Spanish
factories。 Oh； I see； this sealing…wax will drive my black cabinet
to despair； for it will be impossible to open a letter sealed with
it； even the finest knife will be unable to do it。 Do you not think
so too； minister？〃
〃I am no judge of sealing…wax；〃 said Count Stadion； coldly； 〃and I
confess that I did not even look at the seal of this envelope； your
majesty ordered me to keep it and return it to you after Baron
Steigentesch's return。 I complied with your majesty's orders； that
is all。〃
The emperor smiled； and laid the sealed paper with a slight nod on
the table by his side； then he sank into an easy…chair； and beckoned
to the gentlemen to take seats on the chairs on the other side of
the table。
〃Now； Colonel Steigentesch； let me hear the results of your mission。
In the first place； tell me； has King Frederick William sent no
letter to me in reply to mine？〃
〃No； your majesty；〃 replied Colonel Steigentesch； with a significant
smile； 〃I am only the bearer of a verbal reply。 I believe the king
thought a written answer too dangerous； or he