Part 61 (1/2)

”Indeed, is Bonaparte so stubborn?” asked the emperor, kindly. ”How far have you advanced in your conferences with Minister Champagny?”

”Your majesty, we have not advanced yet beyond the difficult questions concerning the contributions in money and the fortresses.

France refuses obstinately to take less than two hundred and thirty- seven millions of francs, and insists on the cession of the fortresses of Gratz and Brunn, which her troops have not even occupied up to this time.”

”That is to say, you have not advanced in your peace negotiations beyond what both sides were willing to concede at the outset?”

”Pardon me, your majesty. In the beginning of the negotiations we were entirely ignorant of the demands of France, while we are familiar with them now, and know what course to adopt in regard to them. After learning the adversary's intentions, one may more easily devise ways and means to frustrate them.”

”But you have been devising them a long time already without obtaining any results,” said the emperor, shrugging his shoulders.

”Well, what do you think, my dear count, will be the upshot of your peace negotiations?”

”Will your majesty permit me to tell you the truth?” asked Count Metternich, with his most winning smile.

The emperor nodded his head.

”Well then, your majesty, I believe that war will be the upshot of all these peace negotiations. The demands of France are so exorbitant that Austria cannot submit to them. Austria's HONOR will compel us to resume hostilities; for a government may, if need be, acquiesce in the loss of some of its territories, but it must never submit to a violation of its honor.”

”But do you know that a resumption of hostilities will endanger not only some of our territories, but our existence? Our armies are disorganized, disheartened, and without a competent commander-in- chief; and my distinguished brothers, who are at the head of the different corps, are quarreling as though they were old women, and not princes. Besides, money, the best general in war times, is wanting to us.”

”Only declare your determination to resume hostilities, your majesty, and money will not be wanting to you. Your people will gladly sacrifice all their property for this purpose, for your people hate Napoleon and desire vehemently that hostilities should be resumed.”

”See here,” exclaimed the emperor, almost menacingly, ”let me advise you not to allude to my people, if you want me to remain on good terms with you. I have no people; I have subjects, and want only subjects. [Footnote: Schlosser's ”History of the Eighteenth Century.”] If I need money, I shall impose additional taxes on my subjects, and they will be compelled to pay them; but they need not offer me any presents, for I think it would be incompatible with my imperial honor to accept them. An emperor must not accept any thing as a present at the hands of his subjects, not even their love, for it is the duty of the subjects to love their emperor. Bear this in mind, count, and do not repeat again this new-fas.h.i.+oned word 'people;' I cannot bear it, it smells so much of the republic and guillotine. Well, I have told you that, if we resumed hostilities, we should be dest.i.tute of three very essential things, namely, a good army, a great captain, and money. There is no doubt whatever that we should lose the first battle again; and if we were compelled then to sue for peace, Bonaparte would impose still more rigorous terms upon us: we should be obliged to accept them, and should lose both territories and honor. Now you know my views, count, and you shall know also the princ.i.p.al reason why I sent for you. Look at this paper. Do you know what it contains? The treaty of peace!”

”The treaty of peace?” cried Metternich, in dismay. ”Your majesty does not mean to say--”

”I mean to say that I have made peace with the Emperor of the French. Here is the paper; take it. The whole thing is done now.”

”Your majesty,” exclaimed Metternich, looking at the paper which the emperor had handed to him, ”it is really true, then? You have already signed the treaty without being so gracious as to employ your ministers or even inform them of it?”

”Yes, I have, for I thought we needed peace; hence, I signed the treaty, and Prince Lichtenstein and Count Bubna have taken a copy of it to the headquarters of the Emperor Napoleon at Schoenbrunn, and I believe he will sign it also. Well, do not look so dumbfounded, count, and do not wonder any longer that I succeeded in making peace without your a.s.sistance. I allowed you and Stadion to go on with the negotiations, and did not prevent you from displaying your whole diplomatic skill at Altenburg against Bonaparte's minister, Champagny; but all this could not prevent me either from promoting the affair a little here at Totis, after my own fas.h.i.+on, and now all is over. For the rest, my dear count, bear in mind what I now say to you. I appointed you my minister, because you are an able and clear- headed man, and an industrious and reliable functionary. I shall let you act, decide, and govern, and not complain if people say that you are all-powerful in Austria, and that your will alone guides the s.h.i.+p of state. Let people say and think so, but YOU shall not think so, count; you shall know once for all what our mutual position is.

I allow you to govern so long as you govern in accordance with my views; but if I am not satisfied with the course you are pursuing, I shall pursue my own course, and it will only remain for you to follow me, or retire from public affairs. Now decide, my dear count; will you follow me, or--”

”Sire, there is no 'or,'” interrupted Count Metternich. ”It is your majesty's incontestable right to lead the way, and indicate to me the course I am to pursue.”

”That is right; I like to hear that kind of language!” exclaimed the emperor, holding out his hand kindly to the count. ”You may depend upon it now that we two shall remain yet a long while together, and that, since we are going to have peace in the country, we shall rule together in tranquillity and harmony. There, take the paper now to your room, and read it attentively, that you may become thoroughly familiar with it; above all things, do not forget the secret articles, for you know they are always the most important of all.

Pray return to me in an hour from now; we will then work together.”

”Sire, I shall be here punctually,” said Count Metternich, bowing deeply, and walking backward to the door.

”I believe he WILL be here punctually,” said the emperor, smiling, after Metternich had left the room. ”He is afraid, if he should not be promptly at my door, it might never open to him again. I want them all to feel that I am their master and emperor--I alone! Now I am through with Metternich, and it is my brother's turn. I will give him to-day a lesson which he will not forget all his life long.”

The emperor rang the bell. ”Has my brother, the Archduke John, not yet arrived?” he asked the footman who entered the room.

”Your majesty, the archduke has just arrived, and is waiting for your orders.”

”I request my brother to come to me immediately,” said the emperor.

After the footman had glided noiselessly out of the room, Francis walked repeatedly up and down, and his face a.s.sumed a gloomy expression. ”He shall learn now that I am his master,” he murmured; ”I will break his haughty spirit, and humiliate him so deeply that he will never think any more of plotting against me.”