louisa of prussia and her times-第14部分

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count。　〃Drink　it　out　of　this　cup；　general；　and　if　it　were　only　in
order　to　increase　its　value　in　my　eyes。　The　Empress　Catharine　gave
it　to　me；　and　drank　from　it；　and　if　you　now　use　this　cup　likewise；　I
might　boast　of　possessing　a　cup　from　which　the　greatest　man　and　the
greatest　woman　of　this　century　have　drunk！〃

〃I　shall　not　drink；　count！〃　replied　Bonaparte；　bluntly。　〃I　will　have
nothing　in　common　with　this　imperial　Messalina；　who；　by　her
dissolute　life；　equally　disgraced　the　dignity　of　the　crown　and　of
womanhood。　You　see　I　am　a　strong…headed　republican；　who　only
understands　to　talk　of　business。　Let　us；　therefore；　attend　to　that
at　once。〃

Without　waiting　for　an　invitation；　he　sat　down　on　the　divan　close　to
the　breakfast…table；　and；　with　a　rapid　gesture；　motioned　the　two
gentlemen　to　take　seats　at　his　side。

〃I　informed　you　of　my　ultimatum　the　day　before　yesterday；〃　said
Bonaparte；　coldly；　〃have　you　taken　it　into　consideration；　and　are
you　going　to　accept　it？〃

This　blunt　and　hasty　question；　so　directly　at　the　point；
disconcerted　the　two　diplomatists。

〃We　will　weigh　and　consider　with　you　what　can　be　done；〃　said　Count
Cobenzl；　timidly。　〃France　asks　too　much　and　offers　too　little。
Austria　is　ready　to　cede　Belgium　to　France；　and　give　up　Lombardy；
but　in　return　she　demands　the　whole　territory　of　Venice；　Mantua
included。〃

〃Mantua　must　remain　with　the　new　Cisalpine　Republic！〃　exclaimed
Bonaparte；　vehemently。　〃That　is　one　of　the　stipulations　of　my
ultimatum；　and　you　seem　to　have　forgotten　it；　count。　And　you　say
nothing　about　the　frontier　of　the　Rhine；　and　of　the　fortress　of
Mentz；　both　of　which　I　have　claimed　for　France。〃

〃But；　general；　the　Rhine　does　not　belong　to　Austria；　and　Mentz　is
garrisoned　by　German　troops。　We　cannot　give　away　what　does　not
belong　to　us。〃

〃Do　not　I　give　Venice　to　you？〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte〃Venice；　which；
even　at　the　present　hour；　is　a　sovereign　state；　and　whose　delegates
are　at　my　headquarters；　waiting　for　my　reply！　The　Emperor　of　Germany
has　certainly　the　right　to　give　away　a　German　fortress　if　he
choose。〃

〃Well；　Austria　is　not　indisposed　to　cede　the　frontier　of　the　Rhine
to　France；〃　remarked　the　Marquis　de　Gallo。　〃Austria　is　quite　willing
and　ready　to　form　a　close　alliance　with　France；　in　order　to　resist
the　ambitious　schemes　of　Prussia。〃

〃If　Austria　should　acquire　new　territory　in　consequence　of　an
understanding　with　France；　she　must　be　sure　that　no　such　right　of
aggrandizement　should　be　granted　to　Prussia；〃　said　Count　Cobenzl；
hastily。

〃France　and　Austria　might　pledge　themselves　in　a　secret　treaty　not
to　permit　any　further　aggrandizement　of　Prussia；　but　to　give　back　to
her　simply　her　former　possessions　on　the　Rhine；〃　said　De　Gallo。

〃No　digressions；　if　you　please！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　impatiently。
〃Let　us　speak　of　my　ultimatum。　In　the　name　of　France；　I　have　offered
you　peace；　provided　the　territories　on　the　left　bank　of　the　Rhine
with　their　stipulated　boundaries；　including　Mentz；　be　ceded　to
France；　and　provided；　further；　that　the　Adige　form　the　boundary…line
between　Austria　and　the　Cisalpine　Republic；　Mantua　to　belong　to　the
latter。　You　cede　Belgium　to　France；　but；　in　return；　we　give　you　the
continental　possessions　of　Venice；　only　Corfu　and　the　Ionian　Islands
are　to　fall　to　the　share　of　France；　and　the　Adige　is　to　form　the
frontier　of　Venetian　Austria。〃

〃I　told　you　already；　general；〃　said　Count　Cobenzl；　with　his　most
winning　smile；　〃we　cannot　accept　the　last　condition。　We　must　have
Mantua；　likewise；　in　return；　we　give　you　Mentz；　and　not　the　Adige；
but　the　Adda；　must　be　our　frontier。〃

〃Ah！　I　seenew　difficulties；　new　subterfuges！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；
and　his　eyes　darted　a　flash　of　anger　at　the　diplomatist。

This　angry　glance；　however；　was　parried　by　the　polite　smile　of　the
count。　〃I　took　the　liberty　of　informing　you　likewise　of　OUR
ultimatum；　general；〃　he　said；　gently；　〃and　I　am　sorry　to　be
compelled　to　declare　that　I　shall　have　to　leave　this　place　unless
our　terms　be　acceded　to。　But　in　that　case；　I　shall　hold　YOU
responsible　for　the　blood　of　the　thousands　which　may　be　shed　in
consequence。〃

Bonaparte　jumped　up；　with　flaming　eyes；　and　lips　quivering　with
rage。

〃You　dare　to　threaten　me！〃　he　shouted；　angrily。　〃You　resort　to
subterfuge　after　subterfuge。　Then　you　are　determined　to　have　war？
Very　well；　you　shall　have　it。〃

He　extended　his　arm　hastily　and　seized　the　precious　cup　which　the
Empress　Catharine　had　given　to　Count　Cobenzl；　and；　with　an　impetuous
motion；　hurled　it　to　the　ground；　where　it　broke　to　pieces　with　a
loud　crash。

〃See　there！〃　he　shouted　in　a　thundering　voice。　〃Your　Austrian
monarchy　shall　be　shattered　like　this　cup　within　less　than　three
months。　I　promise　you　that。〃

Without　deigning　to　cast　another　glance　upon　the　two　gentlemen；　he
hurried　with　rapid　steps　to　the　door；　and　left　the　room。

Pale　with　anger　and　dismay；　Count　Cobenzl　stared　at　the　debris　of
the　precious　cup；　which　so　long　had　been　the　pride　and　joy　of　his
heart。

〃He　is　leaving；〃　muttered　the　Marquis　de　Gallo。　〃Shall　we　let　him
go；　count？〃

〃How　is　that　bear　to　be　kept　here？〃　asked　the　count；　sighing；　and
shrugging　his　shoulders。

At　this　moment　Bonaparte's　powerful　voice　was　heard　in　the　anteroom；
calling　out：

〃An　orderlyquick！〃

〃He　calls　out　of　the　window；〃　whispered　the　marquis。　〃Let　us　hear
what　he　has　got　to　say。〃

The　two　plenipotentiaries　slipped　on　tiptoe　to　the　window；
cautiously　peeping　from　behind　the　curtains。　They　saw　a　French
lancer　galloping　up　below；　and　stopping　and　saluting　under　the
window　of　the　adjoining　room。

Again　they　heard　Bonaparte's　thundering　voice。　〃Ride　over　to　the
headquarters　of　Archduke　Charles；〃　shouted　Bonaparte。　〃Tell　him　on
my　behalf　that　the　armistice　is　at　an　end；　and　that　hostilities　will
recommence　from　the　present　hour。　That　is　all。　Depart！〃

Then　they　heard　him　close　the　window　with　a　crash；　and　walk　with
loud　steps　through　the　anteroom。

The　two　plenipotentiaries　looked　at　each　other　in　dismay。　〃Count；〃
whispered　the　marquis；　〃listen！　he　leaves　and　has　threatened　to
shatter　Austria。　He　is　the　man　to　fulfil　his　threat。　My　God；　must　we
suffer　him　to　depart　in　anger？　Have　you　been　authorized　to　do　that？〃

〃Will　you　try　to　command　the　storm　to　stand　still？〃　asked　Count
Cobenzl。

〃Yes；　I　will　try；　for　we　must　not　break　off　the　negotiations　in　this
way　and　recommence　hostilities。　We　must　conciliate　this　terrible
warrior！〃

He　rushed　out　of　the　room；　and　hastened　through　the　anteroom　and
down…stairs　to　the　front　door。

Bonaparte　had　already　entered　his　carriage；　his　escort　had　formed　in
line；　the　driver　had　seized　the　reins　and　whip　in　order　to　give　the
impatient　horses　the　signal　to　start。

At　this　moment；　the　pale　and　humble　face　of　the　Marquis　de　Gallo
appeared　at　the　carriage　door。　Bonaparte　did　not　seem　to　see　him。
Leaning　back　into　the　cushions；　he　gloomily　looked　up　to　heaven。

〃General；〃　said　the　marquis；　imploringly；　〃I　beseech　you　not　to
depart！〃

〃Marquis；〃　replied　Bonaparte；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃it　does　not
become　me　to　remain　peaceably　among　my　enemies。　War　has　been
declared；　for　you　have　not　accepted　my　ultimatum。〃

〃But；　general；　I　take　the　liberty　to　inform　you　that　the　Austrian
plenipotentiaries　have　resolved　to　accept　your　ultimatum。〃
Bonaparte's　marble　countenance　did　not　betray　the　slightest　emotion
of　surprise　and　joy；　his　large　eyes　only　cast　a　piercing　glance　upon
the　marquis。

〃You　accept　it　without　subterfuge　or　reserve？〃　he　asked；　slowly。

〃Yes；　general；　precisely　as　you　have　stated　it。　We　are　ready　to　sign
the　treaty　of　peace；　and　accept　the　ultimatum。　Just　be　kind　enough
to　alight　once　more；　and　continue　the　conference　with　us。〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　Bonaparte；　〃nulla　vestigia　retrorsam！　Being　already
in　my　carriage；　I　shall　not　return　to　you。　Besides；　the　delegates　of
the　Venetian　Republic　are　waiting　for　me　at　Passeriano；　and　I
believe　it　is　time　for　me　to　inform　them　too　of　my　ultimatum。　At　the
end　of　three　hours；　I　ask　you；　marquis；　and　Count　Cobenzl　to　proceed
to　my　headquarters　at　Passeriano。　There　we　will　take　the　various
stipulations　of　the　treaty　into　consideration；　and　agree　upon　the
public　and　secret　articles。〃

〃But　you　forget；　general；　that　your　orderly　is　already　on　the　way　to
the　Austrian　headquarters　in　order　to　announce　the　reopening　of
hostilities。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Napoleon；　quietly。　〃Here；　two　orderlies。　Follow
the　first　orderly；　and　command　him　to　return。　You　see；　marquis；　I
believe　in　the　sincerity　of　your　assurances。　In　three　hours；　then；　I
shall　expect　you　at　Passeriano　for　the　purpose　of　settling　the
details　of　the　treaty。　We　shall　sign　it；　however；　on　neutral　ground。
Do　you　see　that　tall　building　on　the　horizon？〃

〃Yes；　general；　it　is　the　decayed　old　castle　of　Campo　Formio。〃

〃Well；　in　that　castle；　the　treaty　shall　be　signed。　In　three　hours；
then。　Until　then；　farewell。〃

He　nodded　carelessly　to　the　marquis；　who；　as　humble　as　a　vassal；　at
the　feet　of　the　throne；　stood　at　the　carriage　door；　constantly
bowing　deeply；　and　waving　his　plumed　hat。

〃Forward！〃　shouted　Bonaparte；　and　the　carriage；　followed　by　a
brilliant　suite；　rolled　away。　Bonaparte；　carelessly　leaning　into　the
corner；　muttered；　with　a　stealthy　smile：　〃It　was　a　coup　de　theatre；
and　it　had　evidently　great　success。　They　had　to　accept　peace　at　my
hands　as　a　favor。　Ah；　if　they　had　guessed　how　much　I　needed　it
myself！　But　these　men　are　obtuse；　they　cannot　see　any　thing。　They
have　no　aim；　they　only　live　from　minute　to　minute；　and　whenever　they
find　a　precipice　on　their　route；　they　stumble　over　it；　and　are　lost
beyond　redemption。　My　God；　how　scarce　real　men　are！　There　are
eighteen　millions　in　Italy；　and　I　have　scarcely　found　two　men　among
them。　I　want　to　save　these　two　men；　but　the　rest　may　fulfil　their
destiny。　The　Republic　of　Venice　shall　disappear　from　the　earththis
cruel　and　bloodthirsty　government　shall　be　annihilated。　We　shall
throw　it　as　a　prey　to　hungry　Austria；　but　when　the　latter　has
devoured　her；　and　stretched　herself　in　the　lazy　languor　of
digestion；　then　it　will　be　time　for　us　to　stir　up　Austria。　Until
then；　peace　with　Austriapeace！〃

Three　hours　la