louisa of prussia and her times-第51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！


themselves　in　readiness　to　forward　dispatches。　Every　one　may　learn
that；　in　spite　of　my　sickness；　I　have　risen　from　my　couch　in　order
to　reestablish　tranquillity　in　the　capital。〃

He　stepped　to　his　desk　and　rapidly　wrote　a　few　words；　whereupon　he
handed　the　paper　to　Germain；　his　valet　de　chambre。

〃Here；　Germain；　hasten　with　this　note　to　Count　Fersen；　the　director
of　police；　and　take　this　fellow　along。　Two　footmen　may　accompany
you。　You　will　deliver　him　to　the　director　of　the　police　and　tell　him
that　he　is　one　of　the　rioters　whom　my　agents　have　arrested。　Request
the　director　to　have　him　placed　in　a　safe　prison　and　to　admit　none
to　him　but　the　officers　of　the　criminal　court。　He　is　a　very
dangerous　criminal；　this　is　the　second　time　that　he　has　been
arrested　as　a　rioter。　Well；　what　is　the　matter　with　the　fellow？　He
reels　like　a　drunken　man！　He　has　probably　drunk　too　much　brandy　for
the　purpose　of　stimulating　his　courage。〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　excellency；〃　said　Hubschle；　〃the　man　has　fainted。〃

〃Then　carry　him　away；　and　take　him　in　a　carriage　to　the　director　of
the　police；〃　said　Thugut；　indifferently；　and　he　looked　on　coldly　and
unfeelingly；　while　the　footman　hastily　seized　the　pale；　unconscious
man　and　dragged　him　away。

He　returned　to　his　desk　and　rapidly　wrote　a　few　words　on　a　sheet　of
large；　gilt…edged　paper；　which　he　then　enclosed　in　an　envelope；
sealed；　and　directed。

〃A　dispatch　to　the　emperor！〃　he　said；　handing　it　to　Heinle。　〃Let　a
mounted　messenger　take　it　immediately　to　his　majesty。〃

This　dispatch　contained　the　reply　to　the　emperor's　laconic　note；　and
it　was　almost　more　laconic　than　the　latter；　for　it　contained　only
the　following　words：

〃Sire；　within　an　hour　order　will　be　reestablished。〃

〃Now；　Hubschle；　sit　down；〃　said　Thugut；　all　the　others　having　left
the　room　by　his　orders。　〃Collect　your　five　senses；　and　write　what　I
am　going　to　dictate　to　you。〃

Hubschle　sat　already　at　the　desk；　and　waited；　pen　in　hand。　Baron
Thugut；　folding　his　hands　behind　his　back；　slowly　paced　the　room　and
dictated：

〃The　minister　of　foreign　affairs　has　heard　with　regret　of　the
riotous　proceedings　referred　to　in　the　notes　which　the　ambassador　of
the　French　Republic　has　addressed　to　him　this　evening。　The　minister
will　report　the　whole　affair　to　his　imperial　majesty；　and　entertains
no　doubt　that　the　emperor　will　be　very　indignant　at　the　occurrence。
The　ambassador　may　rest　assured　that　nothing　will　be　left　undone　in
order　to　ferret　out　the　perpetrators　of　this　outrage；　and　to　punish
them　with　the　whole　severity　of　the　laws；　and　with　the　sincere
desire　which　the　Austrian　government　has　always　entertained　to
maintain　the　friendship　so　happily　established　between　the　two
countries。〃　＇Footnote：　The　French　ambassador　really　left　Vienna　in
consequence　of　this　riot。　The　emperor　vainly　tried　to　pacify　him。
Bernadotte　persisted　in　his　demands。　He　wanted　the　Austrian
Government　to　restore　the　banner　and　to　have　it　displayed　on　his
balcony　by　a　staff　officer。　In　reply　to　these　repeated　demands；
Thugut　sent　him　his　passports；　and　the　legation　left　Vienna。Vide
Hauser；　〃German　History；〃　vol　II。；　p。　180。　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme
d'Etat；〃　vol。　v。＇

〃Well；　why　do　you　dare　to　laugh；　Hubschle？〃　asked　Thugut　when　he
took　the　pen　in　order　to　sign　the　note。

〃Your　excellency；　I　am　laughing　at　the　many　fine　words　in　which　this
dispatch　says：　'Mr。　Ambassador；　ask　for　your　passports；　you　may
depart。'〃

Thugut　smiled。　〃When　you　are　drunk；　Hubschle；　you　are　exceedingly
shrewd；　and　for　that　reason；　I　pardon　your　impertinence。　Your
rubicund　nose　has　scented　the　matter　correctly。　The　ambassador　has
demanded　his　passports　already。　But　go　now。　Take　this　dispatch　to
the　second　courier　and　tell　him　to　carry　it　immediately　to　the
French　embassy。　As　for　yourself；　you　must　hasten　to　the　commander　of
Vienna；　and　take　this　paper　to　him。　You　may　say　to　him；　'The　gates
are　to　be　closed　in　order　to　prevent　the　populace　of　the　suburbs
from　reaching　the　city。　The　Preiss　regiment　shall　occupy　the　house
of　the　ambassador　and　the　adjoining　streets；　and　fire　at　whosoever
offers　resistance　or　wants　to　raise　a　disturbance。'　Vienna　must　be
perfectly　quiet　in　the　course　of　an　hour。　Begone！〃

Hubschle　rushed　out；　and　Thugut　remained　alone。　He　slowly　and
deliberately　sat　down　in　an　arm…chair；　and　pondered　serenely　over
the　events　of　the　night。

〃It　is　true　I　have　not　wholly　accomplished　my　purpose；〃　he　muttered；
〃but　M。　Bernadotte　will　try　no　longer　to　injure　me。　He　shall　have
his　passports　to…morrow　morning。〃




LAST　DAYS　OF　THE　EIGHTEENTH　CENTURY。


CHAPTER　XXVI。

VICTORIA　DE　POUTET。


Nearly　a　year　had　elapsed　since　the　departure　of　the　French
ambassador　from　Vienna；　but　the　rupture　of　the　peace　with　France；　so
ardently　desired　by　Minister　Thugut；　had　not　yet　taken　place。　A
strong　party　in　the　emperor's　cabinet　had　declared　against　Thugut；
and　this　time　obtained　a　victory　over　the　minister　who　had　been
believed　to　be　all…powerful。　This　party　was　headed　by　the　empress
and　Archduke　Charles。　Thugut；　therefore；　was　compelled　to　suppress
his　wrath；　and　defer　his　revenge　to　some　later　time。

But　although　the　dark　clouds　of　the　political　thunderstorm　had　been
removed　for　the　time　being；　they　were　constantly　threatening；　like　a
gloomy　spectre　on　the　horizon；　casting　sinister　shadows　on　every　day
and　on　every　hour。

The　merry　people　of　Vienna；　owing　to　the　incessant　duration　of　these
gloomy　shadows；　had　become　very　grave；　and　loudly　and　softly
denounced　Minister　Thugut　as　the　author　and　instigator　of　all　the
evils　that　were　menacing　Austria。　In　fact；　Baron　Thugut　was　still
the　all…powerful　minister；　and　as　the　emperor　loved　and　feared　him；
the　whole　court；　the　whole　capital；　and　the　whole　empire　bowed　to
him。　But　while　bowing；　every　one　hated　him；　while　obeying；　every　one
cursed　him。

Thugut　knew　it　and　laughed　at　it。　What　did　he　care　for　the　love　and
hatred　of　men？　Let　them　curse　him；　if　they　only　obeyed　him。

And　they　obeyed　him。　The　machine　of　state　willingly　followed　the
pressure　of　his　hand；　and　he　conducted　the　helm　with　a　vigorous　arm。
He　directed　from　his　cabinet　the　destinies　of　Austria；　he　skilfully
and　ingeniously　wove　there　the　nets　with　which；　according　to　his
purposes；　he　wanted　to　surround　friend　or　foe。

To…day；　too；　he　had　worked　in　his　cabinet　until　evening；　and　he　had
only　just　now　dismissed　his　two　private　secretaries；　Heinle　and
Hubschle。　This　was　the　hour　at　which　Thugut　was　in　the　habit　of
repairing　either　to　the　emperor　or　to　his　gardens　in　the　Wahringer
Street。　His　valet　de　chambre；　therefore；　awaited　him　in　the
dressing…room；　and　his　carriage　was　in　readiness　below　in　the　court…
yard。　To…day；　however；　the　minister　apparently　wished　to　deviate
from　his　custom；　and　instead　of　going　to　the　dressing…room；　he
violently　rang　the　bell。

〃Germain；〃　he　said；　to　the　entering　valet　de　chambre；　〃no　uniform
to…day；　no　gala…dress；　but　my　Turkish　garments。　Light　up　the　Turkish
cabinet；　kindle　amber　in　the　lamps；　and　place　flowers　in　the　vases。
In　the　course　of　an　hour　supper　for　two　persons　in　the　Turkish
cabinet。　Arrange　every　thing　in　a　becoming　manner。〃

Germain　bowed　silently　and　withdrew；　in　order　soon　to　return　with
the　ordered　Turkish　costume。　Thugut　silently　suffered　himself　to　be
clad　in　the　costly　Turkish　dressing…gown；　and　in　the　golden
slippers；　the　wonderful　Cashmere　shawl　to　be　wrapped　around　his
waist；　and　the　Turkish　fez　to　be　placed　on　his　head。　Germain　then
brought　a　Turkish　pipe　with　a　splendidly　carved　amber　tip；　and
handed　it　to　the　minister。

〃Now　open　the　door；〃　said　Thugut；　laconically。　Germain　touched　the
frame　of　the　large　painting　on　the　wall；　and　Thugut　stepped　through
the　small　door　into　the　hall。　With　rapid　steps　he　hastened　down　the
hall；　and　soon　stood　at　its　end　in　front　of　the　narrow　wall　on　which
a　painting　of　the　Virgin；　illuminated　by　a　perpetually　burning　lamp；
was　hanging。　Thugut　again　touched　an　artificial　rose　on　the　frame；
the　painting　turned　around；　and　a　door　became　visible　behind　it。

The　minister　opened　this　door；　and；　crossing　the　threshold；
carefully　closed　it　again。

He　now　was　in　his　Turkish　cabinet；　all　these　beautiful　gold　brocades
on　the　low　sofas；　these　costly　hangings　covering　the　walls；　these
precious　carpets　on　the　floor　and　on　the　tables；　these　silver　lamps
of　strange　forms；　hanging　down　from　the　ceiling；　and　filled　with
amber；　all　these　richly　gilt　vessels　arranged　along　the　walls；　were
delightful　reminiscences　to　Thugutreminiscences　of　the　happiest
period　of　his　life；　for　he　had　brought　all　these　things　from
Constantinople；　where　he　had　lived　for　ten　years　as　Austrian
ambassador。　Thugut；　therefore；　never　entered　this　cabinet　without　a
pleasant　smile　lighting　up　his　hard　features；　and　he　only　went
thither　when　he　wished　to　permit　himself　an　hour　of　happiness　amidst
the　perplexing　occupations　and　cares　of　his　official　position。

On　this　occasion；　too；　as　soon　as　he　had　crossed　the　threshold；　his
face　had　assumed　a　mild　and　gentle　expression；　and　the　harsh；
repulsive　stamp　had　disappeared　from　his　features。　He　walked　across
the　room　with　a　smile；　and　quickly　touched　a　golden　knob；　fixed　in
the　opposite　wall。　After　a　few　minutes　he　repeated　this　four　times。
He　then　raised　his　eyes　to　a　small　silver　bell　hanging　above　him　in
the　most　remote　corner　of　the　wall；　and　looked　at　it　steadfastly。
While　he　was　doing　so；　a　small　side　door　had　opened；　and　Germain；　in
the　rich　costume　of　a　servant　of　the　harem；　had　entered。　Thugut　had
not　once　looked　round　toward　him；　he　had　not　once　glanced　at　the
silver　vases　with　the　most　splendid　flowers；　which　Germain　had
placed　on　the　marble　tables；　his　nose　was　apparently　indifferent　to
the　sweet　perfumes　of　the　amber　which　Germain　had　kindled　in　the
silver　lamps；　and　which　was　filling　the　room　with　fragrant　bluish
clouds。　He　only　looked　at　the　small　bell；　and　seemed　to　expect　a
signal　from　it　in　breathless　suspense。　But　Germain　had　long　since
finished　the　decoration　of　the　room　and　withdrawn　again；　and　yet　the
bell　was　silent。　A　cloud　passed　over　Thugut's　brow；　and　the　smile
disappeared　from　his　lips。

〃She　was　not　there；　perhaps；