louisa of prussia and her times-第15部分

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digestion；　then　it　will　be　time　for　us　to　stir　up　Austria。　Until
then；　peace　with　Austriapeace！〃

Three　hours　later　the　treaty　between　Austria　and　France　was　signed
at　the　old　castle　of　Campo　Formio。　France；　by　this　treaty；　acquired
Belgium；　the　left　bank　of　the　Rhine；　and　the　fortress　of　Monte。
Austria　acquired　the　Venetian　territory。　But　to　these　acquisitions；
which　were　published；　secret　articles　were　added。　In　these　secret
articles；　France　promised；　in　case　Prussia　should　demand　an
enlargement　of　her　dominions；　like　Austria；　not　to　consent　to　it。

The　Emperor　of　Austria；　on　his　part；　pledged　himself　to　withdraw　his
troops；　even　before　the　conclusion　of　the　treaty　with　the　German
empire；　to　be　agreed　upon　at　Rastadt；　from　all　the　fortresses　on　the
Rhinein　other　words；　to　surrender　the　German　empire　entirely　to
its　French　neighbors。

Austria　had　enlarged　her　territory；　but；　for　this　aggrandizement；
Germany　was　to　pay　with　her　blood；　and　finally　with　her　life。
Austria　had　made　peace　with　France　at　Campo　Formio；　and　it　was
stipulated　in　the　treaty　that　the　German　empire　likewise　should
conclude　peace　with　France。　For　this　purpose；　a　congress　was　to　meet
at　Rastadt；　all　German　princes　were　to　send　their　ambassadors　to
that　fortress；　in　order　to　settle；　jointly；　with　three
representatives　of　the　French　Republic；　the　fate　of　the　empire。




CHAPTER　IX。

QUEEN　LOUISA。


The　most　noble　Countess　von　Voss；　mistress　of　ceremonies　at　the
court　of　Prussia；　was　pacing　the　anteroom　of　Queen　Louisa　in　the
most　excited　manner。　She　wore　the　regular　court　dressa　long　black
robe　and　a　large　cap　of　black　crape。　In　her　white　hands；　half
covered　with　black　silk　gloves；　she　held　a　gorgeous　fan；　which　she
now　impatiently　opened　and　closed；　and　then　again　slowly　moved　up
and　down　like　a　musical　leader's　baton。

If　anybody　had　been　present　to　observe　her；　the　noble　mistress　of
ceremonies　would　not　have　permitted　herself　such　open　manifestations
of　her　impatience。　Fortunately；　however；　she　was　quite　alone；　and
under　these　circumstances　even　a　mistress　of　ceremonies　at　the　royal
court　might　feel　at　liberty　to　violate　the　rules　of　that　etiquette
which　on　all　other　occasions　was　the　noble　lady's　most　sacred
gospel。　Etiquette；　however；　was　just　now　the　motive　of　her　intense
excitement；　and　in　its　interest　she　was　going　to　fight　a　battle　on
that　very　spot　in　Queen　Louisa's　anteroom。

〃Now　or　never！〃　she　murmured。　〃What　I　was　at　liberty　to　overlook　as
long　as　Frederick　William　and　Louisa　were　merely　'their　royal
highnesses；　the　crown　prince　and　crown　princess；'　I　cannot　permit
any　longer　now　that　they　have　ascended　the　royal　throne。　Hence　I　am
determined　to　speak　to　the　young　king　on　this　first　day　of　his　reign
＇Footnote：　footnote：　November　17；　1797。＇　in　as　emphatic　and　sincere
a　manner　as　is　required　by　a　faithful　discharge　of　my　responsible
duties。〃

Just　at　that　moment　the　large　folding　doors　were　opened；　and　a　tall
and　slender　young　man　in　a　dashing　uniform　entered　the　room。　It　was
young　King　Frederick　William　III。；　on　his　return　from　the　interior
palace…yard　where　he　had　received　the　oath　of　allegiance　at　the
hands　of　the　generals　of　the　monarchy。

The　noble　and　youthful　countenance　of　this　king　of　twenty…seven
years　was　grave　and　stern；　but　from　his　large　blue　eyes　the　kindness
and　gentleness　of　his　excellent　heart　was　beaming；　and　his　handsome
and　good…natured　features　breathed　a　wonderful　spirit　of　serenity
and　sympathy。

He　crossed　the　room　with　rapid　and　noiseless　steps；　and；　politely
bowing　to　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　approached　the　opposite　door。
But　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　evidently　anxious　to　prevent　him
from　opening　that　door；　placed　herself　in　front　of　it　and　gravely
said　to　him：

〃Your　majesty；　it　is　impossible。　I　cannot　permit　etiquette　to　be
violated　in　this　manner；　and　I　must　beg　your　majesty　to　inform　me
most　graciously　of　what　you　are　going　to　do　in　these　rooms？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　with　a　pleasant　smile；　〃I　am　going　to　do　to…
day　what　I　am　in　the　habit　of　doing　every　day　at　this　hourI　am
going　to　pay　a　visit　to　my　wife。〃

〃To　your　WIFE！〃　exclaimed　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　in　dismay。
〃But；　your　majesty；　a　king　has　no　WIFE！〃

〃Ah！　in　that　case　a　king　would　be　a　very　wretched　being；〃　said　the
king；　smiling；　〃and；　for　my　part；　I　would　sooner　give　up　my　crown
than　my　beloved　wife。〃

〃Good　Heaven；　your　majesty；　you　may　certainly　have　a　wife；　but　let
me　implore　you　not　to　apply　that　vulgar　name　to　her　majesty　in　the
presence　of　other　people。　It　is　contrary　to　etiquette　and　injurious
to　the　respect　due　to　royalty。〃

〃My　dear　countess；〃　said　the　young　king；　gravely；　〃I　believe；　on　the
contrary；　that　it　will　only　increase　the　respect　which　people　will
feel　for　us；　if　her　majesty　remains　a　woman　in　the　noblest　and
truest　meaning　of　the　word；　and　my　wifeI　beg　your　pardon；　I　was
going　to　say　the　queenis　such　a　woman。　And　now；　my　dear　countess；
permit　me　to　go　to　her。〃

〃No；〃　exclaimed　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　resolutely。　〃Your
majesty　must　first　condescend　to　listen　to　me。　For　an　hour　already　I
have　been　waiting　here　for　your　majesty's　arrival；　and　you　must　now
graciously　permit　me　to　speak　to　you　as　frankly　and　sincerely　as　is
required　by　my　duty　and　official　position。〃

〃Well；　I　will　listen　to　you；　my　dear　countess；〃　said　the　king；　with
an　inaudible　sigh。

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　〃I　consider　it　my
duty　to　beseech　your　majesty　on　this　memorable　day　to　confer　upon　me
the　power　of　enforcing　the　privileges　of　my　office　with　more
severity　and　firmness。〃

〃And　to　submit　myself　to　your　sceptre。　That　is　what　you　want　me　to
do；　I　suppose；　dear　countess？〃　asked　the　king；　smiling。

〃Sire；　at　all　events　it　is　impossible　to　keep　up　the　dignity　and
majesty　of　royalty　if　the　king　and　queen　themselves　openly　defy　the
laws　of　etiquette。〃

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　the　king；　sharply；　〃not　a　word　against　the　queen；　if
you　please；　my　dear　mistress　of　ceremonies！　You　may　accuse　me　just
as　much　as　you　please；　but　pray　let　me　hear　no　more　complaints　about
my　Louisa！　Well；　then；　tell　me　now　what　new　derelictions　I　have　been
guilty　of。〃

〃Sire；〃　said　the　countess；　who　did　not　fail　to　notice　the　almost
imperceptible　smile　playing　on　the　king's　lips〃sire；　I　perceive
that　your　majesty　is　laughing　at　me；　nevertheless；　I　deem　it
incumbent　on　me　to　raise　my　warning　voice。　Etiquette　is　something
sublime　and　holyit　is　the　sacred　wall　separating　the　sovereign
from　his　people。　If　that　ill…starred　queen；　Marie　Antoinette；　had
not　torn　down　this　wall；　she　would　probably　have　met　with　a　less
lamentable　end。〃

〃Ah！　countess；　you　really　go　too　far；　you　even　threaten　me　with　the
guillotine；〃　exclaimed　the　king；　good…naturedly。　〃Indeed；　I　am
afraid　I　must　have　committed　a　great　crime　against　etiquette。　Tell
me；　therefore；　where　you　wish　to　see　a　change；　and　I　pledge　you　my
word　I　shall　grant　your　request　if　it　be　in　my　power　to　do　so。〃

〃Sire；〃　begged　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　in　a　low　and　impressive
voice；〃　let　me　implore　you　to　be　in　your　palace　less　of　a　father　and
husband；　and　more　of　a　king；　at　least　in　the　presence　of　others。　It
frequently　occurs　that　your　majesty；　before　other　people；　addresses
the　queen　quite　unceremoniously　with　'thou；'　nay；　your　majesty　even
in　speaking　of　her　majesty　to　strangers　or　servants；　often　briefly
calls　the　queen　'my　wife。'　Sire；　all　that　might　be　overlooked　in　the
modest　family　circle　and　house　of　a　crown　prince；　but　it　can…not　be
excused　in　the　palace　of　a　king。〃

〃Then；〃　asked　the　king；　smiling；　〃this　house　of　mine　has　been
transformed　into　a　palace　since　yesterday？〃

〃Assuredly；　sire；　you　do　not　mean　to　say　that　you　will　remain　in
this　humble　house　after　your　accession　to　the　throne？〃　exclaimed　the
mistress　of　ceremonies；　in　dismay。

〃Now　tell　me　sincerely；　my　dear　countess；　cannot　we　remain　in　this
house？〃

〃I　assure　your　majesty　it　is　altogether　out　of　the　question。　How
would　it　be　possible　to　keep　up　the　court　of　a　king　and　queen　in　so
small　a　house　with　becoming　dignity？　The　queen's　household　has　to　be
largely　increased；　hereafter　we　must　have　four　ladies　of　honor；　four
ladies　of　the　bedchamber；　and　other　servants　in　the　same　pro…
portion。　According　to　the　rules　of　etiquette；　Sire；　you　must　like…
wise　enlarge　your　own　household。　A　king　must　have　two　adjutant…
generals；　four　chamberlains；　four　gentlemen　of　the　bedchamber；　and
〃

〃Hold　on；〃　exclaimed　the　king；　smiling；　〃MY　household　fortunately
does　not　belong　to　the　department　of　the　mistress　of　ceremonies；　and
therefore　we　need　not　allude　to　it。　As　to　your　other　propositions
and　wishes；　I　shall　take　them　into　consideration；　for　I　hope　you　are
through　now。〃

〃No；　your　majesty；　I　am　not。　I　have　to　mention　a　good　many　other
things；　and　I　must　do　so　to…daymy　duty　requires　it；〃　said　the
mistress　of　ceremonies；　in　a　dignified　manner。

The　king　cast　a　wistful　glance　toward　the　door。

〃Well；　if　your　duty　requires　it；　you　may　proceed；〃　he　said；　with　a
loud　sigh。

〃I　must　beseech　your　majesty　to　assist　me　in　the　discharge　of　my
onerous　duties。　If　the　king　and　queen　themselves　will　submit　to　the
rigorous　and　just　requirements　of　etiquette；　I　shall　be　able　to
compel　the　whole　court　likewise　strictly　to　adhere　to　those　salutary
rules。　Nowadays；　however；　a　spirit　of　innovation　and　disinclination
to　observe　the　old…established　ceremonies　and　customs；　which　deeply
afflicts　me；　and　which　I　cannot　but　deem　highly　pernicious；　is
gaining　ground　everywhere。　It　has　even　now　infected　the　ladies　and
gentlemen　of　the　court。　And　having　often　heard　your　majesty；　in
conversation　with　her　majesty　the　queen；　contrary　to　etiquette；　use
the　vulgar　German　language　instead　of　the　French　tongue；　which　is
the　language　of　the　courts　throughout　Germany；　they　believe　they
have　a　perfect　right　to　speak　German　whenever　they　please。　Yes；　it
has　become　a　regular　custom　among　them　to　salute　each　other　at
breakfast　with　a　German　'Guten　Morgen！'　＇Footnote：　Vide　Ludwig
Hausser's　〃History　of　Germany；〃　vol；　ii。＇　That　is　an　innovation
which　should　not　be　permitted　to　anybody；　without　first　obtaining
the　consent　of　her