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ambassadors；〃　said　Roberjot；　〃and　through　them　we　have　skilfully
fanned　the　flames　of　that　discord　which　seems　to　be　the　bane　of
Germany。　It　is　true；　they　hold　secret　meetings　every　day　in　order　to
agree　on　a　harmonious　line　of　policy；　but　discord；　jealousy；　and
covetousness　always　accompany　them　to　those　meetings；　and　they　are
therefore　never　able　to　agree　about　any　thing。　Besides；　these　German
noblemen　are　very　talkative；　hence　we　find　out　all　their　secrets；
and　it　is　an　easy　task　for　us　to　foil　every　scheme　of　theirs。　Every
one　of　them　is　anxious　to　enlarge　his　possessions；　we　therefore　give
them　hopes　of　acquiring　new　territory　at　the　expense　of　their
neighbors；　and　thereby　greatly　increase　the　discord　and　confusion
prevailing　among　them。　We　fill　the　ambassadors　of　the　secondary
princes；　and　especially　those　of　the　ecclesiastical　sovereigns；　with
distrust　against　the　more　powerful　German　states；　and　intimate　to
them　that　the　latter　are　trying　to　aggrandize　themselves　at　their
expense；　and　that　they　have　asked　the　consent　of　France　to　do　so。　We
inform　the　first…class　governments　of　the　desire　of　the　smaller
princes　to　enlarge　their　dominions；　and　caution　them　against　placing
implicit　trust　in　their　representations。　Thus　we　sow　the　seeds　of
discord　among　these　princely　hirelings；　and　endeavor　to　undermine
the　thrones　of　Germany。〃

〃Germany　must　throw　off　all　her　princes　like　ripe　ulcers；〃　exclaimed
Bonnier；　scornfully。　〃These　numerous　thrones　beyond　the　Rhine　are
dangerous　and　fatal　to　our　sublime　and　indivisible　French　Republic
bad　examples　spoiling　good　manners。　Every　throne　must　disappear　from
the　face　of　the　earth；　and　freedom　and　equality　must　shine
throughout　the　whole　world　like　the　sun。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Bonaparte；　gravely。　〃It　is　our　duty　to
disseminate　our　principles　among　these　Germans；　who　are　living　in
slavery　as　yet；　and　to　assist　the　poor　serfs　in　obtaining　their
liberty。　Germany　must　become　a　confederate　republic；　and　discord　is
the　best　sword　wherewith　to　attack　these　princely　hirelings。　But
what　does　the　Swedish　ambassadorwhose　name　I　noticed　on　the　list
of　applicants　for　interviews　with　myselfhere　among　the
representatives　of　the　German　princes？〃

〃He　pretends　to　participate　in　the　congress　of　peace　because　Sweden
warranted　the　execution　of　the　treaty　of　Westphalia；〃　exclaimed　Jean
Debry；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

〃Bah！　that　is　a　most　ridiculous　pretext；〃　said　Bonnier；　gloomily。
〃This　M。　Fersen　is　a　royalist。　The　political　part　played　by　this
diplomatist　at　the　court　of　Louis　Capet；　and　afterward　continued　by
him；　is　only　too　well　known。　He　now　tries　to　dazzle　us　by　his
kindness　merely　for　the　purpose　of　laying　a　trap　for　the　French
Republic。〃

〃Ah；　we　shall　show　to　the　gentleman　that　the　Republic　has　got　an
open　eye　and　a　firm　hand；　and　that　it　discovers　and　tears　all　such
meshes　and　traps；〃　said　Bonaparte；　impetuously。　〃But　we　have　done
business　enough　for　to…day；　and　I　will　go　and　receive　the
ambassadors　who　have　been　waiting　here　for　a　long　while　in　the　ante…
room。〃

He　saluted　the　three　gentlemen　with　a　familiar　nod；　and　then
repaired　to　the　reception…room；　the　doors　of　which　were　opened　at
last　to　admit　the　German　ambassadors。

It　was　a　brilliant　crowd　now　entering　in　a　solemn　procession　through
the　opened　folding…doors。　The　ambassadors　of　every　German　sovereign
were　in　attendance；　only　the　representatives　of　Austria　and　Prussia；
whom　Bonaparte　had　received　already　in　a　special　audience；　were
absent。

This　German　peace　delegation；　which　now　entered　the　room　to　do
homage　to　the　French　general；　was　a　very　large　one。　There　were　first
the　ambassadors　of　Bavaria　and　Saxony；　of　Baden　and　Wurtemberg；　of
Hanover　and　Mecklenburg；　then　followed　the　host　of　the　small　princes
and　noblemen；　by　whose　side　the　ecclesiastical　dignitaries；　the
representatives　of　the　electors　and　bishops；　were　walking　in。
＇Footnote：　The　whole　German　peace　delegation　consisted　of　seventy…
nine　persons；　and　all　these　seventy…nine　distinguished　men；　the
ambassadors　of　emperor；　kings；　and　princes；　tried　to　gain　the　favor
of　the　ambassadors　of　France：　and　the　three　gentlemen；　representing
the　great　Republic；　seemed　more　powerful　and　influential　than　all
the　representatives　of　Germany。＇

Bonaparte　stood　proudly　erect　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　his　gloomy
glances　inspecting　the　gentlemen；　who　now　commenced　stationing
themselves　on　both　sides　of　the　apartment。　A　master　of　ceremonies；
who　had　been　previously　selected　for　the　meetings　of　the　peace
congress；　now　walked　solemnly　through　the　ranks　and　announced　in　a
ringing　voice　the　name；　rank；　and　position　of　every　ambassador。

〃His　excellency　Count　Fersen；〃　he　shouted　just　now；　in　a　solemn
manner；　〃ambassador　of　his　majesty　the　King　of　Sweden　and　Duke　of
Pomerania。〃

Count　Fersen　had　not　yet　finished　his　ceremonious　obeisance；　When
Bonaparte　rapidly　approached　him。

〃Just　tell　me；　sir；〃　he　exclaimed；　bluntly；　〃what　is　the　name　of　the
minister　whom　Sweden　has　now　in　Paris？〃

Count　Fersen　looked　in　evident　surprise　and　confusion　at　the　pale
face　of　the　general；　whose　flaming　eyes　were　fixed　upon　him　with　an
angry　expression。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　faltered；　〃I　am　not　quite　sure〃

〃Ah；　sir；　you　know　only　too　well　that　Sweden　has　not　yet　given　a
successor　to　M。　de　Haill；〃　Bonaparte　interrupted　him　violently；　〃and
that　the　only　ambassador　whom　she　was　willing　to　send　had　to　be
rejected　by　the　Directory。　You　were　this　ambassador　whom　the
Directory　would　not　tolerate　in　Paris。　Friendly　ties　have　united
France　and　Sweden　for　a　long　series　of　years；　and　I　believe　Sweden
ought　to　appreciate　and　recognize　their　importance　at　the　present
time　more　than　ever。　How；　then；　is　the　conduct　of　the　court　of
Stockholm　to　be　explained；　that　tries　to　make　it　its　special
business　to　send　everywhere；　either　to　Paris　or　wherever　the
plenipotentiaries　of　France　may　be　seen；　ministers　and　ambassadors
who　must　be　peculiarly　distasteful　to　every　citizen　of　France？〃

〃That　is　certainly　not　the　intention　of　my　court；〃　exclaimed　Count
Fersen；　hastily。

〃That　may　be；〃　said　Bonaparte；　proudly；　〃but　I　should　like　to　know
if　the　King　of　Sweden　would　remain　indifferent　in　case　a　French
ambassador　should　try　to　instigate　an　insurrection　of　the　people　of
Stockholm　against　him！　The　French　Republic　cannot　permit　men；　whose
connection　with　the　old　court　of　France　is　a　matter　of　notoriety；　to
appear　in　official　capacities；　and　thus　to　irritate　and　humble　the
republican　ambassadors；　the　representatives　of　the　first　nation　on
earth；　who；　before　consulting　her　policy；　knows　how　to　maintain　her
dignity。〃

〃I　shall　immediately　set　out　for　Stockholm　in　order　to　communicate
these　views　of　the　conqueror　of　Italy　to　my　court；〃　said　Count
Fersen；　pale　with　shame　and　mortification。

〃Do　so；　set　out　at　once；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　impetuously；　〃and
tell　your　master；　unless　he　should　conclude　to　pursue　a　different
policy；　I　will　send　him　some　day　a　skilful　diplomatic　Gascon　who
knows　how　to　simplify　the　machine　and　make　it　go　less　rapidly。　King
Gustavus　will　perhaps　find　out；　when　it　is　too　late；　and　at　his　own
expense；　that　the　reins　of　government　must　be　firmly　held　in　one
hand；　and　the　other　skilfully　wield　the　sword；　while　it　is　yet　time。
Go；　sir；　and　inform　your　king　of　what　I　have　told　you！〃

Count　Fersen　made　no　reply；　he　merely　bowed　hastily　and　silently；
and；　beckoning　his　attaches　who　were　standing　behind　him；　he　left
the　room　with　his　suite。　＇Footnote：　This　whole　scene　actually　took
place；　and　contains　only　such　words　as　really　were　exchanged　between
Bonaparte　and　Fersen。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；
p。　64。　Le　Normand；　Memoires；　vol。　i。；　p。　263。＇

Bonaparte's　flashing　eyes　followed　him　until　he　had　disappeared；　and
then　the　general　turned　once　more　to　the　ambassadors。

〃I　could　not　suffer　a　traitor　and　enemy　in　our　assembly；〃　he　said；
in　a　loud　and　firm　voice。　〃We　are　here　in　order　to　make　peace；　while
he　was　secretly　anxious　for　a　renewal　of　war；　and　was　bent　upon
sowing　the　evil　seeds　of　discord　among　us。　Let　us　all　endeavor　to
make　peace；　gentlemen；　to　the　best　of　our　power。　Do　not　compel　me　to
enter　the　lists　against　you；　too；　for　the　struggle　could　not　be
doubtful　between　a　nation　that　has　just　conquered　her　liberty；　and
princes　who　tried　to　deprive　her　of　it　again。　If　you　reject　to…day
the　pacific　overtures　I　shall　make　to　you；　I　shall　impose　other
conditions　to…morrow；　but　woe　unto　him　among　you；　who　should　refuse
my　mediation；　for　in　that　case　I　should　overthrow　the　whole
framework　of　a　false　policy；　and　the　thrones　standing　on　a　weak
foundation　would　soon　break　down。　I　speak　to　you　with　the　frankness
of　a　soldier　and　the　noble　pride　of　a　victorious　general；　I　caution
you　because　I　have　the　welfare　of　the　nations　at　heart；　who　more
than　ever　need　the　blessings　of　peace。　It　is　now　for　you　to　say
whether　we　shall　have　war　or　peace；　and　it　will　solely　depend　upon
your　submissiveness　whether　France　will　be　able　to　conclude　an
honorable　peace　with　her　German　neighbors；　or　whether　you　will
compel　us　to　take　up　arms　once　more。　But　in　that　case　woe　unto　you；
for　we　should　retaliate　in　the　most　terrible　manner　on　those　who
would　dare　to　oppose　us！〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own　words。Vide　Le
Normand；　vol。　i。。　p。　964＇

He　paused　and　rapidly　glanced　at　the　assembled　gentlemen。　They　stood
before　him　with　grave　and　gloomy　faces；　but　none　of　them　were
courageous　enough　to　make　a　dignified　reply　to　the　proud　and
humiliating　words　of　the　French　general。　The　ambassadors　of　Germany
received　the　severe　lecture　of　the　representative　of　France　with
silent　submissiveness。

An　imperceptible　smile　played　on　Bonaparte's　lips。　He　saluted　the
gentlemen　with　a　slight　nod　and　rapidly　returned　to　his　own　rooms。




CHAPTER　XXI。

FRANCE　AND　AUSTRIA。


Bonaparte　had　scarcely　reached　his　room　and　just　closed　the　door；
when　the　opposite　door　opened；　and　the　entering　footman　announced；
〃His　excellency　Count　Louis　Cobenzl。〃　Bonaparte　waved　his　hand　and
went　to　meet　the　count　in　the　anteroom；　where　he　welcomed　him　with
the　utmost　kindness　and　courtesy。

The　two　gentlemen　the