louisa of prussia and her times-第4部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


but　I　voluntarily　opened　the　door　to　admit　them；〃　said　Baron　Thugut；
coolly。　〃And　as　far　as　your　official　position　is　concerned；　I　pray
you　to　forget　it　for　half　an　hour；　and　remember　only　that　I　have　the
honor　of　seeing　youa　rare　guestat　my　table。　Let　me　beg　you　to
take　some　of　that　fowl；　it　is　really　delicious！〃

Count　Saurau；　heaving　a　loud　sigh；　took　a　piece　of　the　fowl　which
Germain　presented　to　him；　and　laid　it　on　the　silver　plate　that　stood
before　him。　But　just　as　he　was　going　to　taste　the　first　morsel；　he
hesitated；　and　looked　steadily　through　the　open　doors。　Several　heads
with　shaggy　hair　and　flashing　eyes　emerged　above　the　railing　of　the
staircase；　many　others　followednow　the　entire　figures　became
visible；　and　in　the　next　moment；　from　twenty　to　thirty　wild…looking
men　reached　the　landing；　behind　whom；　on　the　staircase；　a　dense　mass
of　other　heads　rose　to　the　surface。

But　the　loud　shouts；　the　fierce　swearing　and　yelling；　had　ceased；
the　awe　with　which　the　intruders　were　filled　by　the　aristocratic
appearance　of　every　thing　they　beheld；　had　hushed　their　voices；　and
even　the　intrepid　orator；　who　previously；　on　the　Kohlmarkt；　had
excited　the　people　to　commit　acts　of　violence；　and　brought　them　to
the　minister's　houseeven　he　stood　now　hesitating　and　undecided；　at
the　door　of　the　dining…room；　casting　glances　full　of　savage　hatred
and　rage　into　the　interior。

Thugut　took　apparently　no　notice　whatever　of　what　was　going　on；　his
breakfast　entirely　absorbed　him；　and　he　devoted　his　whole　attention
to　a　large　piece　of　the　turkey；　which　he　seemed　to　relish　greatly。

Count　Saurau　merely　feigned　to　eat；　and　looked　steadfastly　at　his
plate；　as　he　did　not　want　the　rioters　to　read　in　his　eyes　the
furious　wrath　that　filled　his　breast。

The　men　of　the　people　did　not　seem　to　feel　quite　at　ease　on
beholding　this　strange　and　unexpected　scene；　which　all　of　a　sudden
commenced　to　cool　their　zeal　and　heroism；　like　a　wet　blanket。　They
had　triumphantly　penetrated　into　the　palace；　shouting　vociferously；
and　quite　sure　that　the　minister　would　appear　before　them　trembling
and　begging　for　mercy；　and　now；　to　their　utter　amazement；　they
beheld　him　sitting　very　calmly　at　the　breakfast…table！

There　was　something　greatly　embarrassing　for　the　poor　men　in　this
position。　They　suddenly　grew　quite　sober；　and　even　intimidated；　and
many　of　those　who　had　ascended　the　staircase　so　boisterously　and
triumphantly；　now　deemed　it　prudent　to　withdraw　as　quietly　as
possible。　The　number　of　the　heads　that　had　appeared　above　the
balusters　was　constantly　decreasing；　and　only　about　twenty　of　the
most　resolute　and　intrepid　remained　at　the　door　of　the　ante…room。

At　length；　the　speaker　who　had　addressed　them　on　the　Kohlmarkt；
conscious　of　his　pledges　and　of　the　reward　promised　to　him；　overcame
his　momentary　bashfulness　and　stepped　boldly　into　the　ante…room；
where　the　others；　encouraged　by　his　example；　followed　him　at　once。

Baron　Thugut　now　raised　his　eyes　with　an　air　of　great　indifference
from　his　plate　and　glanced　at　the　men　who　with　noisy　steps
approached　through　the　anteroom。　Then　turning　to　the　footman　behind
him；　he　said；　in　a　loud　voice：

〃Germain；　go　and　ask　these　gentlemen　if　they　want　to　see　me？　Ask
them　likewise　whom　you　will　have　the　honor　to　announce　to　your
master？〃

The　men；　overhearing　these　words；　grew　still　more　confused　when　the
servant　in　his　gorgeous　livery　stepped　up　to　them；　and；　with　a　most
condescending　smile；　informed　them　of　the　errand　his　master　had
given　to　him。

But　now　it　was　out　of　the　question　to　withdraw；　as　there　was　nothing
left　to　them　but　to　arm　themselves　with　whatever　pluck　and　boldness
they　had　at　their　command　in　order　to　carry　out　the　role　they　had
undertaken　to　play　in　the　most　becoming　manner。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　speaker　of　the　Kohlmarkt；　loudly　and　resolutely；　〃we
want　to　see　the　minister；　and　as　for　our　names；　I　am　Mr。　Wenzel；　of
the　tailors'　guild；　my　neighbor　here　is　Mr。　Kahlbaum；　also　a　tailor；
and　others　may　mention　their　own　names；　so　that　this　polite
gentleman　may　answer　them　to　his　excellency。〃

But　none　of　the　other　men　complied　with　this　request；　on　the
contrary；　all　looked　timidly　aside；　a　misgiving　dawning　in　their
minds　that　such　a　loud　announcement　of　their　names　might　not　be
altogether　without　danger　for　them。

Germain　did　not　wait　for　the　final　conclusion；　but　hastily　returned
to　his　master；　in　order　to　inform　him　of　what　he　had　heard。

〃Mr。　Wenzel；　of　the　tailors'　guild；　Mr。　Tailor　Kahlbaum；　and　the
other　gentlemen；　whatever　their　names　may　be；　are　welcome。〃　said　the
minister；　aloud；　but　without　interrupting　his　meal　for　a　single
moment。

The　men　thereupon　advanced　to　the　door　of　the　dining…room。　But　here
a　proud　and　imperious　glance　from　the　minister　caused　them　suddenly
to　halt。

〃I　believe　you　have　breakfasted　already？〃　asked　Thugut。

〃Yes；　we　have　breakfasted　already；〃　replied　Mr。　Wenzel；　in　a　surly
voice。

〃Well；　unluckily；　I　have　not；　and　so　I　request　you　to　let　me　finish
my　breakfast　first；〃　said　Thugut；　attacking　once　more　the　wing　of
the　turkey　on　his　plate。

A　long　pause　ensued。　The　men　stood　in　the　most　painful　embarrassment
at　the　door；　where　the　minister's　stern　glance　had　arrested　them；
and　a　most　unpleasant　apprehension　of　what　might　be　the　result　of
this　scene　began　to　take　hold　of　their　minds。　Flashing　sword…blades
and　muskets　aimed　at　their　breasts　would　not　have　frightened　them　so
much　as　the　aspect　of　the　calm；　proud；　and　forbidding　figure　of　the
minister；　and　the　utter　indifference；　the　feeling　of　perfect
security　with　which　he　took　his　breakfast　in　full　view　of　a
seditious　mob　filled　the　rioters　with　serious　apprehensions　for　the
safety　of　their　own　persons。

〃I　am　sure　a　good　many　soldiers　and　policemen　are　hidden　about　the
palace；〃　thought　Mr。　Wenzel；　〃and　that　is　the　reason　why　he
permitted　us　to　enter；　and　why　he　is　now　so　calm　and　unconcerned；
for　as　soon　as　we　get　into　the　dining…room；　those　fine…looking
footmen　will　lock　the　door　behind；　and　the　soldiers　will　rush　out　of
that　other　door　and　arrest　us。〃

These　pleasant　reflections　were　interrupted　by　another　terrible
glance　from　the　minister；　which　caused　poor　Mr。　Wenzel　to　tremble
violently。

〃Now；　gentlemen；　if　you　please；　come　in；　I　have　finished　my
breakfast。〃　said　Thugut　with　perfect　coolness。　〃I　am　quite　ready　and
anxious　to　hear　what　you　wish　to　say　to　me。　So；　come　in；　come　in！〃

The　men　who　stood　behind　Mr。　Wenzel　moved　forward；　but　the　tall；
herculean　figure　of　the　member　of　the　tailors'　guild　resisted　them
and　compelled　them　to　stand　still。

〃No；　I　beg　your　excellency's　pardon；〃　said　Mr。　Wenzel；　fully
determined　not　to　cross　the　fatal　threshold　of　the　dining…room；　〃it
would　not　become　poor　men　like　us　to　enter　your　excellency's　dining…
room。　Our　place　is　in　the　anteroomthere　we　will　wait　until　your
excellency　will　condescend　to　listen　to　us。〃

This　humble　language；　this　tremulous　voice；　that　did　not　tally　at
all　with　the　air　of　a　lion…hearted　and　outspoken　popular　leader；
which　Mr。　Wenzel　had　assumed　in　the　street；　struck　terror　and
consternation　into　the　souls　of　the　men　who　had　so　rashly　followed
him　into　the　palace。

The　minister　rose；　his　broad…shouldered　figure　loomed　up　proudly；　a
sarcastic　smile　played　on　his　angular　and　well…marked　features；　his
shaggy　white　eyebrows　convulsively　contracted　up　to　this　momentthe
only　outward　symptom　of　anger　which　Thugut；　even　under　the　most
provoking　circumstances；　ever　exhibitedrelaxed　and　became　calm　and
serene　again；　as　he　approached　the　men　with　slow　and　measured　steps。

〃Well；　tell　me　now　what　you　have　come　for？　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
asked　Thugut；　in　the　full　consciousness　of　his　power。

〃We　want　to　implore　your　excellency　to　give　us　peace。　The　poor
people〃

〃Peace　with　whom？〃　calmly　asked　the　minister。

〃Peace　with　France；　your　excellencypeace　with　General　Bonaparte；
who　is　said　to　be　a　magician；　bewitching　everybody；　and　capable　of
conquering　all　countries　by　a　glance；　by　a　motion　of　his　hands；
whenever　he　wishes　to　do　so。　If　we　do　not　make　peace；　he　will
conquer　Austria　too；　come　to　Vienna；　and　proclaim　himself　emperor；
whereupon　he　will　dismiss　our　own　wise　and　good　ministers；　and　give
us　French　masters。　But　we　would　like　to　keep　our　emperor　and　our
excellent　ministers；　who　take　care　of　us　so　paternally。　And　that　is
the　only　reason　why　we　have　come　herejust　to　implore　your
excellency　to　have　mercy　with　the　poor　people　and　make　peace；　so
that　the　emperor　may　return　to　Vienna；　and　bring　his　state　treasury
back　to　the　capital。　Yes；　men；　that　is　all　we　wanted；　is　it　not？　We
just　wanted　to　pray　your　excellency　to　give　us　peace！〃

〃Yes；　your　excellency；〃　shouted　the　men；　〃have　mercy　with　us；　and
give　us　peace！〃

〃Well；　for　angels　of　peace；　you　have　penetrated　rather　rudely　into
my　house；〃　said　the　minister；　sternly。　〃You　got　up　a　riot　in　order
to　obtain　peace。〃

〃It　was　merely　our　anxiety　that　made　us　so　hasty　and　impetuous；〃
said　Mr。　Wenzel；　deprecatingly。　〃We　ask　your　excellency's　pardon　if
we　have　frightened　you。〃

〃Frightened　me！〃　echoed　Thugut；　in　a　tone　of　unmeasured　contempt。
〃As　if　you　were　the　men　to　frighten　ME！　I　knew　that　you　would　come；
and　I　knew；　too；　who　had　bribed　you　to　do　it。　Yes；　yes；　I　know　they
have　paid　you　well；　Mr。　Wenzel；　to　get　up　a　riotthey　have　given
you　shining　ducats　for　leading　a　mob　into　my　house。　But　will　their
ducats　be　able　to　get　you　out　of　it　again？〃

Mr。　Wenzel　turned　very　pale；　he　uttered　a　shriek　and　staggered　back
a　few　paces。

〃Your　excellency　knew〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　I　knew；〃　continued　Thugut；　sternly；　〃that　men　who　have　no
regard　for　the　honor　and　dignity　of　their　countrymen　who　are
stupid　enough　to　believe　that　it　would　be　better　to　submit
voluntarily　to　the　dominion　of　the　French　Republic；　instead　of
resisting　the　demands　of　the　regicides　manfully　and　unyieldingly
that　these　men　have　hired　you　to　open　your　big　mouth；　and　howl　about
things　which　you　do　not　understand；　and　which　do　not　concern　you　at
all。〃

At　this　moment；　shrieks　of　terror　and　loud　supplications；　mingled
with　violent　and　threatening　voices；　and　words　of　military　command
were　heard　outsi