Part 7 (1/2)
Suddenly cheers resounded in the streets, rattling the window-panes.
Napoleon looked in the direction of the windows. ”What is that?” he asked, turning to the Duke de Ba.s.sano.
”Sire,” said the duke, ”the good people of Dresden are impatient to see their imperial majesties of France, and pay them their respects.”
More deafening shouts were heard. Napoleon smiled, and hastily walking with his consort through the circle of the courtiers stepped to the open window. He frowned as he looked down. An immense crowd had gathered below, but their faces were not turned toward the windows of the royal palace, and their cheers were not intended for the emperor. The mult.i.tude crossed the square, and in their midst drove slowly an open carriage surrounded by the enthusiastic people.
In this carriage sat the King of Prussia, to whom were given the loud greetings mistaken by Napoleon. He understood it at a glance, and, stepping back from the window with the empress, turned to Grand-Marshal Duroc, who was standing by his side. ”See that the populace go home,” he said, hastily, ”and that they no longer disturb the people of the city by indecent and riotous proceedings.
I do not wish to hear any more yelling near the palace!”
Duroc bowed, and withdrew to instruct the police officers not to tolerate any similar conduct on the part of the citizens. The emperor meanwhile turned to Duke Augustus of Gotha, who had just succeeded in penetrating through the ranks of courtiers, with his broad shoulders and colossal form.
”Ah, you are back again, duke?” asked the emperor, kindly. ”Did you attend thoroughly to your government affairs?”
”I did, sire,” said the duke, nearly bowing to the ground, and then seizing the emperor's hand to press it to his lips.
”Well, I must confess that you accomplished your task with great rapidity. Was it not three days since you took leave of us to go to Gotha?”
”Yes, sire, I set out three days ago.”
”And you are back already! You performed the trip and your official business in so short a time! How large is your duchy, then?”
”Sire,” said the Duke of Gotha, quickly, ”it is as large as your majesty commands it to be.” [Footnote: This reply is historical]
Napoleon's smile was reflected in the faces of those seeking his favors.
At this moment the doors of the outer anteroom opened, and on the threshold appeared the grave and dignified form of King Frederick William. The courtiers, with an impatient expression, receded anxiously, as though afraid of contact with this unfortunate man, who had no territories, no riches, no honors to offer them, but had come as a va.s.sal to pacify the wrath of Napoleon, and save at least a remnant of his kingdom. But the king did not come with craven heart; he did not hasten his approach to the emperor with fawning submissiveness, but slowly, with his head proudly erect, and a grave air.
Napoleon received him with a haughty nod. ”Your majesty, you must have had a troublesome drive from your quarters to the royal palace,” he said harshly. ”I noticed that the gaping crowd were thronging about your carriage and annoying you.”
”Pardon me, sire,” said the king, ”the people did not annoy me. They did me the honor of bidding me welcome, and this was the more generous, as I am not one of those who are favored by Fortune. But the German people yield sometimes to generous impulse, and show thereby how little they know of the etiquette and sagacity of courtiers.”
While uttering these words, the king glanced with his clear, calm eyes--in which a slightly sarcastic expression was to be seen--at the mult.i.tude of brilliantly adorned and distinguished gentlemen who tried to get as far as possible from him. Napoleon smiled. He himself despised sycophancy sufficiently to be pleased with this rebuke. But his severe look returned, and he gazed with some indignation upon the tall form of the King of Prussia. He noticed that, while himself appeared in silk stockings and buckled shoes, the king had come in long trousers and boots.
”Your majesty, doubtless, was not informed that there would be a ball after the banquet?” asked Napoleon, pointing to the king's boots.
”I was, sire, but since the death of my consort I have not danced.”
”But etiquette,” exclaimed Napoleon, vehemently, ”etiquette is--”
”Sire,” interrupted the king, in a calm and dignified tone, ”etiquette is intended for parasites and people of the court, and it is very proper for them to adhere to it. But a sovereign king, I should think, has a right to disregard it, and follow the promptings of his own inclinations.”
The door of the anteroom opened again, and the grand marshal appeared to announce dinner. The emperor offered his arm to Maria Louisa, preceded by the high dignitaries and the officers of his household, and followed by the swarm of princes and gentlemen of the courts. The King of Prussia, taking the place to which his rank ent.i.tled him, walked on the other side of the empress, and entered the dining-hall at the same time with Napoleon, amid the notes of the imperial band. Napoleon walked with his consort to his guests, who were waiting for him in the centre of the hall--the Emperor and Empress of Austria, and the King and Queen of Saxony.
The banquet was a distinguished one, and the French cooks of Napoleon's household had displayed all their culinary skill to satisfy the palate of even the most fastidious epicures. Napoleon, as usual, gave his guests but little time to revel in the delicacies prepared for them. Scarcely half an hour had elapsed since the commencement of the dinner, when he rose, and thereby gave the signal that the gala-dinner was at an end.
The Emperor Francis, who was almost always in good humor, could not refrain from frowning, and, after offering his arm to his consort to conduct her to the saloon, where coffee was to be served, he muttered, ”I do not know, but it seems to me that the Emperor Napoleon eats too little.”
”And yet he has so hearty an appet.i.te, that he is able to swallow and digest the territories of sovereigns,” whispered the Empress Ludovica, with a sneer. ”He is now as satisfied as an anaconda after devouring an ox.”
”Yes, but we poor mortals are still hungry,” said Francis, thoughtfully. ”It does not do us any good that his appet.i.te is satisfied.”
”There will be a day when our hunger shall be appeased, and he starve,” said the empress.