louisa of prussia and her times-第49部分

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hall　in　order　to　repair　to　the　Burg；　where　they　were　to　cheer　the
emperor。　Then　they　would　march　through　the　city；　and　finally
conclude　the　festival　with　a　banquet　and　ball；　to　be　held　in　a
public　hall　that　had　been　handsomely　decorated　for　the　occasion。

Not　only　the　people；　however；　but　also　the　educated　and　aristocratic
classes　of　Vienna　wanted　to　participate　in　the　patriotic　festival。
In　the　open　windows　there　were　seen　high…born　ladies；　beautifully
dressed；　and　holding　splendid　bouquets　in　their　hands；　which　were　to
be　showered　down　upon　the　procession　of　the　volunteers；　an　endless
number　of　the　most　splendid　carriages；　surrounded　by　dense　crowds　of
pedestrians；　were　slowly　moving　through　the　streets；　and　in　these
carriages　there　were　seated　the　ladies　and　gentlemen　of　the
aristocracy　and　of　the　wealthiest　financial　circles；　they　witnessed
the　popular　enthusiasm　with　smiles　of　satisfaction　and　delight。

Only　the　carriages　of　the　ministers　were　missing　in　this　gorgeous
procession；　and　it　was　reported　everywhere　that　two　of　these
gentlemen；　Prime　Minister　Baron　von　Thugut　and　Police　Minister　Count
Saurau；　had　been　taken　sick；　and　were　confined　to　their　beds；　while
the　other　ministers　were　with　the　emperor　at　Laxenburg。

Baron　Thugut's　prediction　had　been　verified；　therefore；　the　police
minister　had　really　been　taken　so　sick　that　he　had　to　keep　his　bed；
and　that　he　had　requested　Baron　Thugut　by　letter　to　take　charge　of
his　department　for　a　few　days。

But　the　prime　minister　himself　had　suddenly　become　quite　unwell；　and
was　unable　to　leave　his　room！　Hence　he　had　not　accompanied　the　other
ministers　to　Laxenburg　in　order　to　dine　at　the　emperor's　table。　Nay…
…an　unheard　of　occurrencehe　had　taken　his　meals　all　alone　in　his
study。　His　footman　had　received　stringent　orders　to　admit　no　one；
and　to　reply　to　every　applicant　for　an　interview　with　him；　〃His
excellency　was　confined　to　his　bed　by　a　raging　fever；　and　all
business　matters　had　to　be　deferred　until　tomorrow。〃

The　minister's　condition；　however；　was　not　near　as　bad　as　that。　It
was　true　he　had　the　fever；　but　it　was　merely　the　fever　of
expectation；　impatience；　and　long　suspense。　The　whole　day　had
passed；　and　not　a　single　dissonance　had　disturbed　the　pure　joy　of
the　celebration；　not　a　single　violent　scene　had　interrupted　the
patriotic　jubilee。　The　crowds　on　the　streets　and　public　places
constantly　increased　in　numbers；　but　peace　and　hilarity　reigned
everywhere；　and　the　people　were　singing　and　laughing　everywhere。

This　was　the　reason　why　the　minister's　blood　was　so　feverish；　why　he
could　find　no　rest；　and　why　his　cold　heart　for　once　pulsated　so
rapidly。　He　was　pacing　his　study　with　long　steps；　murmuring　now　and
then　some　incoherent　words；　and　then　uneasily　stepping　to　the　window
in　order　to　survey　the　street　cautiously　from　behind　the　curtain；
and　to　observe　the　surging　crowd　below。

Just　then　the　large　clock　on　the　marble　mantelpiece　commenced
striking。　Thugut　hastily　turned　toward　it。　〃Six　o'clock；　and　nothing
yet；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　shall　put　that　fellow　Wenzel　into　a
subterranean　dungeon　for　life；　and　dismiss　every　agent　of　mine；　if
nothing〃

He　paused　and　listened。　It　had　seemed　to　him　as　though　he　had　heard
a　soft　rap　at　the　hidden　door　leading　to　the　secret　staircase。　Yes；
it　was　no　mistake；　somebody　was　rapping　at　it；　and　seemed　to　be　in
great　haste。

〃At　last！〃　exclaimed　Thugut；　drawing　a　deep　breath；　and　he
approached　with　hurried　steps　the　large　painting；　covering　the　whole
wall　and　reaching　down　to　the　floor。　He　quickly　touched　one　of　the
artificial　roses　on　the　gilt　frame。　The　painting　turned　round；　and
the　door　became　visible　behind　it　in　the　wall。

The　rapping　was　now　plainly　heard。　Thugut　pushed　the　bolt　back　and
unlocked　the　door。　His　confidential　secretary；　Hubschle；　immediately
rushed　in　with　a　glowing　face　and　in　breathless　haste。

〃Your　excellency；〃　he　gasped〃your　excellency；　the　fun　has　just
commenced！　They　are　now　pursuing　the　deer　like　a　pack　of　infuriated
blood…hounds。　Oh；　oh！　they　will　chase　him　thoroughly；　I　should
think！〃

Thugut　cast　a　glance　of　gloomy　indignation　on　the　versatile　little
man　with　the　bloated　face。　〃You　have　been　drinking　again；　Hubschle；〃
he　said；　〃and　I　have　ordered　you　to　remain　sober　to…day！〃

〃Your　excellency；　I　am　quite　sober；〃　protested　Hubschle。　〃I　assure
you　I　have　not　drunk　any　more　than　what　was　required　by　my　thirst。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　your　thirst　always　requires　large　quantities；〃　exclaimed
Thugut；　laughing。　〃But　speak　now　rapidly；　briefly；　and　plainly。　No
circumlocution；　no　tirades！　Tell　me　the　naked　truth。　What　fun　has
just　commenced？〃

〃The　inauguration　of　the　banner；　your　excellency。〃

〃Then　Bernadotte　has　hung　out　his　banner；　after　all？〃

〃Yes；　he　has　done　so。　We　were　just　going　down　the　streetquite　a
jolly　crowd　it　was；　by　the　by。　Master　Wenzel；　a　splendid　fellow；　had
just　loudly　intoned　the　hymn　of　'God　save　the　Emperor　Francis；'　and
all　the　thousands　and　thousands　of　voices　were　joining　the　choir；　as
if　they　intended　to　serenade　the　French　ambassador；　when；　suddenly；
a　balcony　door　opened；　and　General　Bernadotte；　in　full　uniform　came
out。　He　was　attended　by　his　whole　suite；　and　several　footmen　brought
out　an　immense　banner；　which　they　attached　to　the　balcony。　We　had
paused　right　in　the　middle　of　our　beautiful　hymn；　and　the　people
were　looking　up　to　the　balcony；　from　which　the　gentlemen　had
disappeared　again；　with　glances　full　of　surprise　and　curiosity。　But
the　banner　remained　there！　Suddenly　a　violent　gust　touched　the
banner；　which；　up　to　this　time；　had　loosely　hung　down；　and　unfolded
it　entirely。　Now　we　saw　the　French　tri…color　proudly　floating　over
our　German　heads；　and　on　it　we　read；　in　large　letters　of　gold
Liberte！　Egalite！　Fraternite！〃　＇Footnote：　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme
d'Etat；〃　vol。　V。　p。　494。＇

〃What　impudence！〃　muttered　Thugut。

〃You　are　right；　that　was　the　word；〃　exclaimed　Hubschle。

〃'What　impudence！'　roared　Master　Wenzel；　and　the　whole　crowd
immediately　repeated；　'What　impudence！　Down　with　the　foreign　banner！
We　are　not　so　stupid　as　the　people　of　Milan；　Venice；　and　Rome；　we　do
not　jubilantly　hail　the　French　color；　on　the　contrary；　this　banner
makes　us　angry。　Down　with　it！　It　is　an　insult　offered　to　the
emperor；　that　a　foreign　flag　with　such　an　abominable　inscription　is
floating　here。　Down　with　the　banner！'〃

〃Very　good；　very　good；　indeed；〃　said　Thugut；　smiling。　〃This　man
Wenzel　is　really　a　practical　fellow。　Go　on；　sir。〃

〃The　crowd　constantly　assumed　larger　proportions；　and　the　shouts　of
'Down　with　the　banner！'　became　every　moment　more　impetuous　and
threatening。　Suddenly　a　small　detachment　of　soldiers　emerged　from
the　adjoining　street。　The　officer　in　command　kindly　urged　the　people
to　disperse。　But　it　was　in　vain；　the　tumult　was　constantly　on　the
increase。　The　crowd　commenced　tearing　up　the　pavement　and　throwing
stones　at　the　windows　and　at　the　banner。〃

〃And　the　soldiers？〃

〃They　quietly　stood　aside。　Butsomebody　is　rapping　at　the　opposite
door！　Shall　I　open　it；　your　excellency？〃

〃One　moment！　I　first　want　to　turn　back　the　painting。　So！　Now　open
the　door；　Hubschle！〃

The　private　secretary　hastened　with　tottering　steps　to　the　door　and
unlocked　it。　Thugut's　second　private　secretary　entered。　He　held　a
sealed　letter　in　his　band。

〃Well；　Heinle；　what's　the　matter？〃　asked　Thugut；　quietly。

〃Your　excellency；　the　French　ambassador；　General　Bernadotte；　has
sent　this　letter　to　your　excellency。〃

〃And　what　did　you　reply　to　the　messenger？〃

〃That　your　excellency　had　a　raging　fever；　that　the　doctor　had
forbidden　us　to　disturb　you；　but　that　I　would　deliver　it　to　the
minister　as　soon　as　he　felt　a　little　better。〃

〃That　was　right。　Now　go　back　to　your　post　and　guard　the　door　well　in
order　that　no　one　may　penetrate　into　my　room。　And　you；　Hubschle；
hasten　back　to　the　Kohlmarkt　and　see　what　is　going　on　there；　and
what　is　occurring　at　the　French　embassy。　But　do　not　drink　any　more
liquor！　As　soon　as　this　affair　is　over；　I　shall　give　you　three　days'
leave　of　absence；　when　you　may　drink　as　much　as　you　please。　Go；　now；
and　return　soon　to　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

〃And　now；〃　said　Thugut；　when　he　was　alone；　〃I　will　see　what　the
French　ambassador　has　written　to　me。〃

He　opened　the　letter；　and；　as　if　the　mere　perusal　with　the　eyes　were
not　sufficient　for　him；　he　read　in　a　half…loud　voice　as　follows：
〃The　ambassador　of　the　French　Republic　informs　Baron　Thugut　that　at
the　moment　he　is　penning　these　lines；　a　fanatical　crowd　has　been　so
impudent　as　to　commit　a　riot　in　front　of　his　dwelling。　The　motives
that　have　produced　this　violent　scene　cannot　be　doubtful；　inasmuch
as　several　stones　already　were　thrown　at　the　windows　of　the　house
occupied　by　the　ambassador。　Profoundly　offended　at　so　much
impudence；　he　requests　Baron　Thugut　immediately　to　order　an
investigation；　so　that　the　instigators　of　the　riot　may　be　punished；
and　that　their　punishment　may　teach　the　others　a　much…needed　lesson。
The　ambassador　of　the　French　Republic　has　no　doubt　that　his
reclamations　will　meet　with　the　attention　which　they　ought　to
excite；　and　that　the　police；　moreover；　will　be　vigilant　enough　to
prevent　similar　scenes；　which　could　not　be　renewed　without　producing
the　most　serious　consequences；　the　ambassador　being　firmly
determined　to　repel　with　the　utmost　energy　even　the　slightest
insults；　and　accordingly　much　more　so；　such　scandalous　attacks。
Baron　Thugut　is　further　informed　that　he　has　reason　to　complain　of
the　conduct　of　several　agents　of　the　police。　Some　of　them　were
requested　to　disperse　the　rioters；　but；　instead　of　fulfilling　the
ambassador's　orders；　they　remained　cold　and　idle　spectators　of　the
revolting　scene。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。；
p。　495。＇

〃What　overbearing　and　insulting　language　this　fellow　dares　to　use！〃
exclaimed　Thugut；　when　he　had　finished　the　letter。　〃One　might　almost
believe　he　was　our　lord　and　master　here；　andah；　somebody　raps
again　at　the　door！　Perhaps　Hubschle　is　back　already。〃

He　quickly　touched　the　frame　of　the　painting　again；　and　the　door
opened。　It　was　really　Hubschle；　who　entered　as　hastily　as　before。

〃Your　excellency；　I　have　just　reascend