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model　of　mine。〃

〃I　believe　in　a　Providence　that　never　does　any　thing　in　vain；　and
never　creates　great　men　in　order　to　let　them　be　crushed；　like　flies；
by　miserable　monkeys。　That　is　the　reason　why　I　am　not　afraid　of　any
conspiracy　against　myself。　Providence　has　created　me　to　be　useful　to
Austria；　and　to　be　her　bulwark　against　the　surging　waves　of　the
revolution；　and　against　the　victorious　legions　of　General　Bonaparte。
I　am　an　instrument　of　Providence；　and　therefore　it　will　protect　me
as　long　as　it　needs　me。　But　if；　some　day；　it　should　need　me　no
longer；　if　it　intended　then　that　I　should　fall；　all　my　precautions
would　be　fruitless；　and　all　your　spies；　my　dear　count；　would　be
unable　to　stay　the　hand　of　the　assassin。〃

〃You　want　me　to　understand；　then；　that　no　steps　whatever　are　to　be
taken　against　the　criminals　conspiring　against　your　excellency's
life？〃

〃By　no　means；　countindeed；　that　would　be　an　exaggeration　of
fatalism。　I　rely　greatly　on　your　sagacity　and　on　the　vigilance　of
your　servants；　count。　Let　them　watch　the　stupid　populacesee　to　it
that　faux　freres　always　attend　the　meetings　of　my　enemies；　and
whenever　they　inform　you　of　conspiracies　against　myself；　why；　the
malefactors　shall　be　spirited　away　without　any　superfluous　noise。
Thank　God；　we　have　fortresses　and　state　prisons；　with　walls　too
thick　for　shrieks　or　groans　to　penetrate；　and　that　no　one　is　able　to
break　through。　The　public　should　learn　as　little　as　possible　of　the
fate　of　these　criminals。　The　public　punishment　of　an　assassin　who
failed　to　strike　me；　only　instigates　ten　others　to　try　if　they
cannot　hit　me　better。　But　the　noiseless　disappearance　of　a　culprit
fills　their　cowardly　souls　with　horror　and　dismay；　and　the　ten　men
shrink　back　from　the　intended　deed；　merely　because　they　do　not　know
in　what　manner　their　eleventh　accomplice　has　expiated　his　crime。　The
disappearance　of　prisoners；　the　oubliettes；　are　just　what　is　needed。
You　must　quietly　remove　your　enemies　and　adversariesit　must　seem
as　if　some　hidden　abyss　had　ingulfed　them；　everybody；　then；　will
think　this　abyss　might　open　one　day　before　his　own　feet；　and　he
grows　cautious；　uneasy；　and　timid。　Solely　by　the　wisdom　of　secret
punishments；　and　through　the　terror　inspired　by　its　mysterious
tribunals；　Venice　has　been　able　to　prolong　her　existence　for　so　many
centuries。　Because　the　spies　of　the　Three　were　believed　to　be
ubiquitousand　because　everybody　was　afraid　of　the　two　lions　on　the
Piazzetta；　the　Venetians　obeyed　these　invisible　rulers　whom　they　did
not　know；　and　whose　avenging　hand　was　constantly　hanging　over　them。〃

〃Now；　however；　it　seems　that　a　visible　hand；　a　hand　of　iron；　is
going　to　strike　away　the　invisible　hands　of　the　Three；〃　said　Count
Saurau；　quickly。　〃Bonaparte　seems　to　desire　to　force　Venice；　too；
into　the　pale　of　his　Italian　republics。　The　city　is　full　of　French
emissaries；　who；　by　means　of　the　most　eloquent　and　insidious
appeals；　try　to　bring　about　a　rising　of　the　Venetians　against　their
rulers；　in　orderbut　hark！〃　said　the　count；　suddenly　interrupting
himself。　〃What　is　that？　Don't　you　hear　the　clamor　in　the　street；
right　under　our　window？〃

He　paused；　and；　like　the　minister；　turned　his　eyes　and　ears　toward
the　window。　A　confused　noise；　loud　shouts　and　yells；　resounded
below。

The　two　ministers；　without　uttering　a　word；　arose　from　their　arm…
chairs　and　hurried　to　one　of　the　windows；　which　looked　upon　the　wide
street　extending　from　the　Kohlmarkt　to　the　minister's　palace。　A　vast
mass　of　heads；　broad　shoulders；　and　uplifted　arms；　was　visible
there；　and　the　angry　roar　of　the　excited　populace　was　approaching
already　the　immediate　neighborhood　of　the　palace。

〃It　seems；　indeed；　as　if　these　honorable　representatives　of　the
people；　intended　to　pay　me　a　visit；〃　said　Thugut；　with　great
composure。　〃Just　listen　how　the　fellows　are　roaring　my　name；　as　if
it　were　the　refrain　of　some　rollicking　beer…song！〃

〃Why；　it　is　a　regular　riot！〃　exclaimed　the　police　minister；　angrily。
〃Your　excellency　will　permit　me　to　withdraw〃

He　left　the　window　hastily；　and　took　his　hat；　but　Thugut's　vigorous
hand　kept　him　back。

〃Where　are　you　going；　count？〃　said　he；　smiling。

〃To　the　governor　of　Vienna；〃　said　Saurau。　〃I　want　to　ask　him　why　he
permits　this　nonsense；　and　order　him　to　disperse　the　rabble　in　the
most　summary　manner！〃

〃Pray；　stay　here；〃　said　Thugut；　quietly。　〃The　governor　of　Vienna　is
a　man　of　great　sagacity；　who　knows　perfectly　well　how　we　have　to
treat　the　people。　Why；　it　would　be　an　unparalleled　tyranny　if　the
poor　people　were　not　even　allowed　to　give　the　prime　minister　their
good　advice；　and　tell　him　what　they　think　of　the　state　of　affairs。
Just　give　them　this　permission；　and　they　will　believe　they　have
performed　a　most　heroic　deed；　and　it　will　seem　to　them　as　if　they
could　boast　of　great　liberty。　True　political　wisdom；　my　dear　little
count；　commands　us　to　give　the　people　a　semblance　of　liberty；　we
thereby　succeed　in　dazzling　their　eyes　so　well　that　they　do　not
perceive　that　they　have　no　real　liberty　whatever。〃

The　clamor　and　noise　in　the　street　below　had　increased　in　fury。　The
people；　whose　dense　masses　now　entirely　obstructed　the　street；
impetuously　moved　up　to　the　portal　of　the　ministerial　palace；　the
front　door　of　which　had　been　locked　and　barred　already　by　the
cautious　porter。　Vigorous　fists　hammered　violently　against　the　door；
and　as　an　accompaniment　to　this　terrible　music　of　their　leaders；　the
people　howled　and　yelled　their　furious　refrain：　〃We　want　to　see　the
minister！　He　shall　give　us　peace！　peace！　peace！〃

〃Ah！　I　know　what　it　means！〃　exclaimed　Count　Saurau；　gnashing　his
teeth。　〃Your　enemies　have　instigated　these　scoundrels。　The　party
that　would　like　to　overthrow　you　and　me；　that　wants　to　make　peace
with　France　at　any　price；　and　to　keep　Belgium　united　with　Austria
this　party　has　hired　the　villains　below　to　get　up　a　riot。　They　want
to　compel　your　excellency　either　to　resign　or　to　comply　with　the
wishes　of　the　people；　and　make　peace　with　the　French　Republic。〃

Thugut　laughed。　〃Compel　ME！〃　said　he；　laconically。

At　that　moment　the　mob　yelled　louder　than　ever；　and　the　shout
〃Peace！　we　want　peace！〃　shook　the　windows。

Simultaneously　the　furious　blows　against　the　front　door　redoubled　in
violence。

〃Assuredly；　I　cannot　stand　this　any　longer！〃　exclaimed　the　police
minister；　perfectly　beside　himself。　〃I　ought　not　to　listen　quietly
to　this　outrage。〃

〃No；〃　said　Thugut；　very　quietly；　〃we　won't　listen　to　it　any　longer。
This　is　my　breakfast…hour；　and　I　invite　you　to　be　my　guest。　Come；
let　us　go　to　the　dining…room。〃

He　took　the　count's　arm；　and　proceeded　with　him　to　the　adjoining
room。　Breakfast　for　eight　persons　was　served　in　this　room；　for　Baron
Thugut　was　in　the　habit　of　keeping　every　day　open　table　for　seven
uninvited　guests；　and　his　intimate　acquaintances；　as　well　as　his
special　favorites；　never　failed　to　call　on　the　minister　at　least
once　a　week　during　his　well…known　breakfast　and　dinner　hours。

To…day；　however；　the　minister's　rapid　and　inquisitive　glances　did
not　discover　a　single　guest。　Nobody　was　in　the　room　except　the　eight
foot…men　who　stood　behind　the　chairs。　Well　aware　of　their　master's
stern　and　indomitable　spirit；　they　occupied　their　usual　places；　but
their　faces　were　very　pale；　and　their　eyes　turned　with　an　expression
of　extreme　anxiety　toward　the　windows　which；　just　then；　trembled
again　under　the　heavy；　thundering　blows　levelled　at　the　front　door。

〃Cowards！〃　muttered　Thugut；　while　walking　to　his　chair　at　the　upper
end　of　the　table　and　beckoning　Count　Saurau　to　take　a　seat　at　his
side。

At　this　moment；　however；　the　door　was　hastily　opened；　and　the
steward；　pale　and　with　distorted　features；　rushed　into　the　room。




CHAPTER　III。

THE　INTERVIEW。


〃Excuse　me；　your　excellency；〃　said　he；　〃but　this　time　they　are
assuredly　in　earnest。　The　people　are　storming　the　front　doorthe
hinges　are　beginning　to　give　way；　and　in　fifteen　minutes；　at　the
latest；　the　scoundrels　will　have　forced　an　entrance！〃

〃You　had　no　business　to　close　the　door；〃　said　the　minister。　〃Who
ordered　you　to　do　so？　Who　ordered　you　to　barricade　the　house；　as　if
it　were　a　fortressas　if　we　had　a　bad　conscience　and　were　afraid　of
the　people？〃

The　steward　looked　aghast；　and　did　not　know　what　to　reply。

〃Go　down…stairs　at　once；〃　continued　the　minister；　〃order　the　porter
to　open　the　door；　and　admit　everybody。　Show　the　people　up…stairs；
and　you　rascals　who　are　standing　there　with　pale　faces　and　trembling
knees；　open　the　two　folding…doors　so　that　they　can　get　in　without
hurting　each　other。　Now　do　what　I　have　told　you。〃

The　steward　bowed　with　a　sigh　expressive　of　the　agony　he　felt；　and
hurriedly　left　the　room。

The　footmen；　meanwhile；　hastened　to　open　the　folding…doors　of　the
dining…room；　as　well　as　those　of　the　antechamber。　The　two　gentlemen
at　the　table　obtaining　thereby　a　full　view　of　the　landing　of　the
large　staircase；　directly　in　front　of　the　open　door　of　the　first
room。

〃And　now；　Germain；〃　said　Thugut　to　the　footman　behind　his　chair；
〃now　let　us　have　our　breakfast。　Be　wise；　my　dear　count；　and　follow
my　example；　take　some　of　this　sherbet。　It　cools　the　blood；　and；　at
the　same　time；　is　quite　invigorating。　Drink；　dear　count；　drink！　Ah！
just　see；　my　cook　has　prepared　for　us　to…day　a　genuine　Turkish　meal；
for　there　is　a　turkey　boiled　with　rice　and　paprica。　The　chief　cook
of　the　grand　vizier　himself　furnished　me　the　receipt　for　this
exquisite　dish；　and　I　may　venture　to　assert　that　you　might　look　for
it　everywhere　in　Vienna　without　finding　it　so　well　prepared　as　at　my
table。〃

Heavy　footsteps　and　confused　voices　were　now　heard　on　the　staircase。

〃They　are　comingthey　really　dare　to　enter　here！〃　said　Count
Saurau；　trembling　with　anger。　〃Pardon　me；　your　excellency；　I　admire
your　heroic　equanimity；　but　I　am　unable　to　imitate　it。　It　is　an
utter　impossibility　for　me　to　sit　here　calmly　and　passively；　while　a
gang　of　criminals　is　bold　enough　to　break　into　your　house！〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　count；　these　people　did　not　break　into　my　house；
but　I　voluntarily　opened　the　door　to　admit　them；〃　said　Baron　Thugut；
coolly。　〃And　as　far　as　your　official　position　is　concerned；　I　pray