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with　violent　and　threatening　voices；　and　words　of　military　command
were　heard　outside。

The　men　turned　anxiously　around；　and　beheld　with　dismay　that　the
staircase；　which　only　a　few　minutes　ago　was　crowded　with　people；　was
now　entirely　deserted。

Suddenly；　however；　two　men　appeared　on　the　landing；　who　were　little
calculated　to　allay　the　apprehensions　of　the　rioters；　for　they　wore
the　uniform　of　that　dreaded　and　inexorable　police　who；　under
Thugut's　administration；　had　inaugurated　a　perfect　reign　of　terror
in　Vienna。

The　two　officers　approached　the　door　of　the　anteroom；　where　they
were　met　by　Germain；　the　footman；　who　conversed　with　them　in　a
whisper。　Germain　then　hastened　back　to　the　door　of　the　dining…room
and　walked　in；　scarcely　deigning　to　cast　a　contemptuous　glance　on
the　dismayed　rioters。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　asked　Thugut。

〃Your　excellency；　the　chief　of　police　sends　word　that　his　men　are
posted　at　all　the　doors　of　the　palace；　and　will　prevent　anybody　from
getting　out。　He　has　cleared　the　streets；　besides；　and　dispersed　the
rioters。　The　chief　of　police；　who　is　in　the　hall　below；　where　he　is
engaged　in　taking　down　the　names　of　the　criminals　who　are　yet　in　the
house；　asks　for　your　excellency's　further　orders。〃

〃Ah；　he　does　not　suspect　that　his　own　chief；　the　minister　of　police
is　present；〃　said　Thugut；　turning　with　a　smile　to　Count　Saurau；　who；
being　condemned　to　witness　this　scene　in　the　capacity　of　an　idle　and
passive　spectator；　had　withdrawn　into　a　bay…window；　where　he　had
quietly　listened　to　the　whole　proceedings。

〃My　dear　count；　will　you　permit　the　chief　of　police　to　come　here　and
report　to　yourself？〃　asked　Thugut。

〃I　pray　you　to　give　him　this　permission；〃　replied　the　count；
approaching　his　colleague。

Germain　hastened　back　to　the　policemen　in　the　anteroom。

〃And　what　are　we？〃　asked　Mr。　Wenzel；　timidly。

〃You　will　wait！〃　thundered　the　minister。　〃Withdraw　into　yonder
corner！　may　be　the　chief　of　police　will　not　see　you　there。〃

They　withdrew　tremblingly　into　one　of　the　corners　of　the　ante…room；
and　did　not　even　dare　to　whisper　to　each　other；　but　the　glances　they
exchanged　betrayed　the　anguish　of　their　hearts。

The　two　ministers；　meanwhile；　had　likewise　gone　into　the　ante…room；
and；　while　waiting　for　the　arrival　of　the　chief　of　police；　conversed
in　a　whisper。

In　the　course　of　a　few　minutes；　the　broad…shouldered　and　erect
figure　of　the　chief　of　the　Viennese　police　appeared　in　the　official
uniform　so　well　known　to　the　people　of　the　capital；　who；　for　good
reasons；　were　in　the　utmost　dread　of　the　terrible　functionary。　When
the　rioters　beheld　him；　they　turned　even　paler　than　before；　now　they
thought　that　every　thing　was　lost；　and　gave　way　to　the　most　gloomy
forebodings。

Count　Saurau　beckoned　the　chief　to　enter；　the　latter　had　a　paper　in
his　right　hand。

〃Your　report；〃　said　the　count；　rather　harshly。　〃How　was　it　possible
that　this　riot　could　occur？　Was　nobody　there　to　disperse　the
seditious　scoundrels　before　they　made　the　attack　on　his　excellency's
palace？〃

The　chief　of　police　was　silent；　and　only　glanced　anxiously　at　Baron
Thugut。　The　latter　smiled；　and　turned　to　the　count：

〃I　beg　you；　my　dear　count；　don't　be　angry　with　our　worthy　chief　of
police。　I　am　satisfied　he　has　done　his　whole　duty。〃

〃The　whole　house　is　surrounded；〃　hastily　added　the　chief。　〃Nobody
can　get　out；　and　I　have　taken　down　the　names　of　all　the　criminals。〃

〃Except　these　here；〃　said　Thugut；　pointing　at　Mr。　Wenzel　and　his
unfortunate　companions；　who　vainly　tried　to　hide　themselves　in　their
corner。　〃But　that　is　unnecessary；　inasmuch　as　they　have　given　us
their　names　already；　and　informed　us　of　their　wishes　Then；　sir；　the
whole　honorable　meeting　of　the　people　is　caught　in　my　house　as　in　a
mouse…trap？〃

〃Yes；　we　have　got　them　all；〃　said　the　chief。　〃Now；　I　would　like　to
know　of　his　excellency；　the　minister　of　police；　what　is　to　be　done
with　them。〃

〃I　beg　you；　my　dear　count；〃　said　Thugut；　turning　to　Count　Saurau；
〃let　me　have　my　way　in　this　matter；　and　treat　these　men　in　a　spirit
of　hospitality。　I　have　opened　them　the　doors　of　my　palace　and
admitted　them　into　my　presence；　and　it　would　be　ungenerous　not　to
let　them　depart　again。　Do　not　read　the　list　of　the　names　which　the
chief　holds　in　his　hand；　but　permit　him　to　give　it　to　me；　and　order
him　to　withdraw　his　men　from　my　house；　and　let　the　prisoners　retire
without　molestation；　and　with　all　the　honors　of　war。〃

〃Your　will　shall　be　done；　of　course；　your　excellency；〃　said　the
count；　bowing　respectfully。　〃Deliver　your　list　to　the　prime
minister；　and　go　down…stairs　to　carry　out　the　wishes　of　his
excellency。〃

The　chief　delivered　the　list　of　the　captured　rioters；　and　left　the
room；　after　saluting　the　two　dignitaries　in　the　most　respectful
manner。

〃And　we？　may　we　go　likewise；　your　excellency？〃　asked　Mr。　Wenzel；
timidly。

〃Yes；　you　may　go；〃　said　Thugut。　〃But　only　on　one　condition。　Mr。
Wenzel；　you　must　first　recite　to　me　the　song　which　the　honorable
people　were　howling　when　you　came　here。〃

〃Ah；　your　excellency；　I　only　know　a　single　verse　by　heart！〃

〃Well；　then；　let　us　have　that　verse。　Out　with　it！　I　tell　you；　you
will　not　leave　this　room　until　you　have　recited　it。　Never　fear；
however；　for　whatever　it　may　be；　I　pledge　you　my　word　that　no　harm
shall　befall　you。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Mr。　Wenzel；　desperately。　〃I　believe　the　verse
reads　as　follows：〃

　　　　　〃'Triumph！　triumph！　es　siegt　die　gute　Sache！
　　　　　Die　Turkenknechte　flieh'n！
　　　　　Laut　tont　der　Donner　der　gerechten　Sache；
　　　　　Nach　Wien　und　nach　Berlin。'〃

　　　　　＇Footnote：
　　　　　〃Triumph！　triumph！　the　good　cause　conquers
　　　　　The　despots'　minions　flee！
　　　　　The　thunders　of　the　just　cause　Reach　Vienna　and　Berlin！〃
This　hymn　was　universally　sung　at　that　time　（1797）　in　all　the　German
States；　not　merely　by　the　popular　classes；　but　likewise　in　the
exclusive　circles　of　the　aristocracy。　It　is　found　in　a　good　many
memoirs　of　that　period。＇

〃Indeed；　it　is　a　very　fine　song；〃　said　Thugut；　〃and　can　you　tell　me
who　has　taught　you　this　song？〃

〃No；　your　excellency；　I　could　not　do　it。　Nobody　knows　it　besides。　It
was　printed　on　a　small　handbill；　and　circulated　all　over　the　city。　A
copy　was　thrown　into　every　house；　and　the　working…men；　when　setting
out　early　one　morning；　found　it　in　the　streets。〃

〃And　did　you　not　assist　in　circulating　this　excellent　song；　my　dear
Mr。　Wenzel？〃

〃I？　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　forbid！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Wenzel；　in
dismay。　〃I　have　merely　sung　it；　like　all　the　rest　of　us；　and　sung　it
to　the　tune　which　I　heard　from　the　others。〃

〃Well；　well；　you　did　right；　for　the　melody　is　really　pleasing。　Such
songs　generally　have　the　peculiarity　that　not　a　single　word　of　them
is　true；　people　call　that　poetry。　Now；　you　may　go；　my　poetical　Mr。
Wenzel；　and　you　others；　whom　the　people　sent　with　this　pacific
mission　to　me。　Tell　your　constituents　that　I　will　this　time　comply
mercifully　with　their　wishes；　and　give　them　peace；　that　is；　I　will
let　them　go；　and　not　send　them　to　the　calaboose；　as　they　have
abundantly　deserved。　But　if　you　try　this　game　again；　and　get　up
another　riot；　and　sing　that　fine　song　once　more；　you　may　rest
assured　that　you　will　be　taken　to　jail　and　taught　there　a　most
unpleasant　lesson。　Begone　now！〃

He　turned　his　back　on　the　trembling　citizens；　and　took　no　notice　of
the　respectful　bows　with　which　they　took　leave　of　him；　whereupon
they　retired　with　soft　but　hasty　steps；　like　mice　escaping　from　the
presence　of　the　dreaded　lion。

〃And　now；　my　dear　count；　as　we　have　finished　our　breakfast；　let　us
return　to　my　cabinet；　for　I　believe　we　have　to　settle　some
additional　matters。〃




CHAPTER　IV。

THE　TWO　MINISTERS。


Baron　Thugut　took　the　count's　arm　and　led　him　back　to　his　cabinet。

〃I　read　a　question　in　your　eyes；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃may　I　know　what
it　is？〃

〃Why；　yes；　your　excellency；〃　replied　Count　Saurau。

〃Let　me　ask　you；　then；　what　all　this　means？　Why　did　you　excuse　the
chief　of　police；　who　evidently　had　not　done　his　duty　and　been　guilty
of　a　lack　of　vigilance？　And　why　did　you　let　these　rascals　go；
instead　of　having　them　whipped　to　death？〃

〃You　were　away　from　Vienna；　count？　You　were　absent　from　the　capital
because　you　accompanied　their　majesties　on　their　trip　to　Presburg；
and　have　returned　only　an　hour　ago。　Am　I　right？〃

〃Perfectly　right；　your　excellency。〃

〃Then　you　could　not　be　aware　of　what　has　happened　meanwhile　here　in
Vienna；　and　the　chief　of　police　could　not　have　informed　you　of　the
particulars。　Well；　then；　he　came　to　me　and　told　me　that　an
insurrection　had　been　planned　against　the　two　emperors（I　believe
you　know　that　the　people　does　us　the　honor　of　calling　us　the　two
emperors　of　Vienna）；　and　that　the　faction　hostile　to　us　was　going　to
make　an　attempt　to　overthrow　us。　A　great　deal　of　money　had　been
distributed　among　the　populace。　Prince　Carl　von　Schwarzenburg
himself　had　dropped　some　indiscreet　remarks。　In　short；　the　faction
which　hates　me　because　I　do　not　deem　seditious　Belgium　a　priceless
jewel　of　the　crown　of　Austria；　and　do　not　advise　the　emperor　to　keep
that　remote　province　at　any　pricethe　faction　which　detests　both　of
us　because　we　do　not　join　its　enthusiastic　hymns　in　honor　of　the
French　Republic　and　the　republican　General　Bonapartethis　faction
has　hired　the　miserable　rabble　to　represent　the　people；　to　break　my
windows；　and　frighten　me　sufficiently　to　make　me　ready　and　willing
to　adopt　its　insane　policy。　The　chief　of　police　came　to　see　me
yesterday。　He　gave　me　an　account　of　the　whole　affair；　and　declared
himself　fully　prepared　to　protect　my　palace；　and　to　nip　the　riot　in
the　bud。　I　begged　him　not　to　do　any　thing　of　the　kind；　but　to　look
on　passively　and　attentively；　and　only　come　to　my　palace　after　the
mob　had　entered　it。　I　was　very　anxious　for　once　to　find　out
something　definite　about　the　strength；　courage；　and　importance　of
the　opposing　faction。　It　is　always　desirable　to　know　one's
adversaries；　and　to　learn　as　accurately　as　possible　what　they　are
capable　of。　Besides；　it　was　a　splendid　opportunity　for　the　police　to
discover　the　sneaking　demagogues　and　ringleaders　of　the　mob；　and　to
take　down　their　names　for　the　purpose　of　punishing　them　by　and