louisa of prussia and her times-第7部分

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mournfully。

〃All　Italy？　Not　yet；　my　friend。　A　portion　of　it　still　stands　firm。
The　lion　of　St。　Mark　has　not　yet　fallen。〃

〃But　he　will　fall。　His　feet　are　tottering　already。〃

〃Well；　then；　we　must　try　to　make　him　fall　in　a　manner　which　will
entitle　us　to　a　portion　of　the　spoils。　And　now；　my　dear　little
count；　we　have　reached　the　point　which　claims　our　immediate
attention。　The　preliminaries　of　the　peace　have　been　concluded　at
Leoben；　and　until　peace　itself　is　established；　we　should　pursue　such
a　policy　that　the　peace；　instead　of　involving　Austria　in　serious
losses；　will　give　her　a　chance　to　increase　her　strength　and　enlarge
her　territory。　We　must　keep　our　eyes　on　Bavariafor　Bavaria　will
and　must　be　ours　as　soon　as　a　favorable　opportunity　offers。　If
France　should　object　and　refuse　to　let　us　seize　our　prey；　why；　we
will　be　sure　to　revive　the　old　quarrel　about　Belgium；　which　will
render　her　willing　and　tame　enough。〃

〃But　what　shall　we　do　if　Prussia　should　support　the　objections　of
France？　Shall　we　satisfy　her；　too；　by　giving　her　a　piece　of
Germany？〃

〃On　the　contrary；　we　shall　try　to　take　as　much　as　possible　from　her；
we　shall　try　to　humiliate　and　isolate　her；　in　order　to　deprive　her
of　the　power　of　injuring　us。　We　shall　endeavor　so　to　arrange　the
peace　we　are　going　to　conclude　with　France　as　to　benefit　Austria；
and　injure　Prussia　as　much　as　we　can。　In　the　north；　we　shall
increase　our　territory　by　the　acquisition　of　Bavaria；　in　the　south；
by　the　annexation　of　Venice。〃

〃By　the　annexation　of　Venice！〃　ejaculated　Count　Saurau；　greatly
astonished　at　what　he　had　heard。　〃But　did　you　not　just　tell　me　that
Venice　still　stood　firm？〃

〃We　must　bring　about　her　fall；　my　dear　count；　that　is　our　great　task
just　now；　for；　I　repeat；　Venice　is　to　compensate　us　on　our　southern
frontier　for　our　losses　elsewhere。　Of　course；　we　ought　to　receive
some　substantial　equivalent　for　ceding　Belgium　to　France；　and　if　it
cannot　be　Bavaria；　then　let　it　be　Venice。〃

〃Nevertheless；　I　do　not　comprehend〃

〃My　dear　count；　if　my　schemes　were　so　easily　fathomed；　they　could
not　be　very　profound。　Everybody　may　guess　the　game　I　am　playing　now；
but　the　cards　I　have　got　in　my　hand　must　remain　a　secret　until　I
have　played　them　out；　or　I　would　run　the　risk　of　losing　every　thing。
But　this　time　I　will　let　you　peep　into　my　cards；　and　you　shall　help
me　win　the　game。　Venice　is　the　stake　we　are　playing　for；　my　dear
count；　and　we　want　to　annex　her　to　Austria。　How　is　that　to　be
brought　about？〃

〃I　confess；　your　excellency；　that　my　limited　understanding　is　unable
to　answer　that　question；　and　that　I　cannot　conceive　how　a　sovereign
and　independent　state　is　to　become　an　Austrian　province　in　the
absence　of　any　claims　to　its　territory；　except　by　an　act　of　open
violence。〃

〃Not　exactly；　my　dear　count。　Suppose　we　set　a　mouse…trap　for　Venice；
and　catch　her；　like　a　mouse；　in　it？　Listen　to　me！　We　must　encourage
Venice　to　determine　upon　open　resistance　against　the　victor　of　Lodi；
and　make　war　upon　France。〃

〃Ah；　your　excellency；　I　am　afraid　the　timid　signoria　will　not　be
bold　enough　for　that；　after　hearing　of　our　late　defeats；　and　of　the
new　victories　of　the　French。〃

〃Precisely。　It　is　of　the　highest　importance；　therefore；　that　the
signoria　should　hear　nothing　of　it；　but　believe　exactly　the　reverse；
viz。；　that　our　troops　are　victorious；　and　this　task；　my　friend；　de…
devolves　upon　you。　Pray　dispatch；　at　once；　some　reliable　agents　to
Venice；　and　to　other　parts　of　the　Venetian　territory。　Inform　the
signoria　that　the　French　have　been　defeated　in　the　Tyrol　and　in
Styria；　and　was　now　in　the　most　precarious　position。　Through　some
other　confidential　messenger　send　word　to　Count　Adam　Neipperg；　who；
with　some　of　our　regiments　occupies　the　southern　Tyrol　in　close
proximity　to　the　Venetian　frontier；　that　Venetia　is　ready　to　rise
and　needs　his　assistance；　and　order　him　to　advance　as　far　as　Verona。
The　Venetians　will　look　upon　this　advance　as　a　confirmation　of　the
news　of　our　victories。　The　wise　little　mice　will　only　smell　the
bait；　and；　in　their　joy；　not　see　the　trap　we　have　set　for　them。　They
will　rush　into　it；　and　we　shall　catch　them。　For　a　rising　in　Venice
will　be　called　nowadays　a　rebellion　against　France；　and　France　will
hasten　to　punish　so　terrible　a　crime。　The　Venetian　Republic　will　he
destroyed　by　the　French　Republic；　and　then　we　shall　ask　France　to
cede　us　Venice　as　a　compensation　for　the　loss　of　Belgium。〃

〃By　the　Eternal！　it　is　a　splendida　grand　scheme！〃　exclaimed　Count
Saurau〃a　scheme　worthy　of　being　planned　by　some　great　statesman。
In　this　manner　we　shall　conquer　a　new　province　without　firing　a　gun；
or　spilling　a　drop　of　blood。〃

〃No。　Some　blood　will　be　shed；〃　said　Thugut；　quietly。　〃But　it　will
not　be　Austrian　bloodit　will　be　the　blood　of　the　Venetian
insurgents　whom　we　instigate　to　rise　in　arms。　This　bloodshed　will
glue　them　firmly　to　us；　for　no　cement　is　more　tenacious　than　blood。
And　now；　my　dear　count；　as　you　know　and　approve　of　my　plans；　I　pray
you　to　carry　them　out　as　rapidly　as　possible。　Dispatch　your　agents
without　delay　to　Venice　and　to　the　Tyrol。　We　have　no　time　to　lose；
for　the　preliminaries　of　Leoben　only　extend　to　the　eighteenth　of
April；　and　until　then　Venice　must　have　become　a　ripe　fruit；　which；
in　the　absence　of　hands　to　pluck　it；　will　spontaneously　fall　to　the
ground。〃

〃In　the　course　of　an　hour；　your　excellency；　I　shall　have　executed
your　orders；　and　my　most　skilful　spies　and　agents　will　be　on　their
road。〃

〃Whom　are　you　going　to　send　to　the　Venetian　signoria？　〃

〃The　best　confidential　agent　I　haveAnthony　Schulmeister。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　him；　he　has　often　served　me；　and　is　very　adroit；　indeed。
But　do　not　forget　to　pay　him　well　in　order　to　be　sure　of　his
fidelity；　for　fortunately　he　has　a　failing　which　renders　it　easy　for
us　to　control　him。　He　is　exceedingly　covetous；　and　has　a　pretty　wife
who　spends　a　great　deal　of　money。　Pay　him　well；　therefore；　and　he
will　do　us　good　service。　And　now；　farewell；　my　dear　count。　I　believe
we　understand　each　other　perfectly；　and　know　what　we　have　to　do。〃

〃I　have　found　out　once　more　that　the　Austrian　ship　of　state　is　in
the　hands　of　a　man　who　knows　how　to　steer　and　guide　her；　as　no　other
ruler　does；〃　said　Count　Saurau；　who　rose　and　took　his　hat。

〃I　have　inherited　this　talent；　perhaps；　my　dear　count。　My　father；
the　ship…builder；　taught　me　all　about　the　management　of　ships。
Addio；　caro　amico　mio。〃

They　cordially　shook　hands；　and　Count　Saurau；　with　a　face　radiant
with　admiration　and　affection；　withdrew　from　the　cabinet　of　the
prime　minister。　A　smile　still　played　on　his　features　when　the
footman　in　the　anteroom　assisted　him　in　putting　on　his　cloak；
whereupon　he　rapidly　descended　the　magnificent　marble　staircase
which　an　hour　ago　had　been　desecrated　by　the　broad　and　clumsy　feet
of　the　populace。　But　when　the　door　of　his　carriage　had　closed　behind
him；　and　no　prying　eyes；　no　listening　ears　were　watching　him　any
longer；　his　smile　disappeared　as　if　by　magic；　and　savage
imprecations　burst　from　his　lips。

〃Intolerable　arrogance！　Revolting　insolence！〃　said　he；　angrily。　〃He
thinks　he　can　play　the　despot；　and　treat　all　of　useven　myself
worse　than　slaves。　He　dares　to　call　me　'his　little　count！'　His
little　count！　Ah；　I　shall　prove　to　this　ship…builder's　son　one　day
that　little　Count　Saurau　is；　after　all；　a　greater　man　than　our
overbearing　and　conceited　prime　minister。　But　patience；　patience！　My
day　will　come。　And　on　that　day　I　shall　hurl　little　Thugut　from　his
eminent　position！〃




CHAPTER　V。

THE　HOUSE　IN　THE　GUMPENDORFER　SUBURB。


Vienna　was　really　terribly　frightened　by　the　near　approach　of　the
French　army；　and　the　conviction　of　their　dangerous　position　had
excited　the　people　so　fearfully　that　the　Viennese；　generally　noted
for　their　peaceful　and　submissive　disposition；　had　committed　an　open
riotfor　the　sole　purpose；　however；　of　compelling　the　all…powerful
prime　minister　to　make　peace　with　France。　Archduke　Charles　had　been
defeatedthe　emperor　had　fled　to　Hungary。

None　of　all　these　disastrous　tidings　had　disturbed　the　inmates　of　a
small　house　on　the　outskirts　of　the　Gumpendorfer　suburb；　in　close
proximity　to　the　Mariahilf　line。　This　little　house　was　a　perfect
image　of　peace　and　tranquillity。　It　stood　in　the　centre　of　a　small
garden　which　showed　the　first　tender　blossoms　of　returning　spring　on
its　neatly　arranged　beds。　Dense　shrubbery　covered　the　white　walls　of
the　house　with　evergreen　verdure。　Curtains　as　white　and　dazzling　as
fresh　snow；　and；　between　them；　flower…pots　filled　with　luxuriant
plants；　might　be　seen　behind　the　glittering　window…panes。　Although
there　was　nothing　very　peculiar　about　the　house；　which　had　but　two
stories；　yet　nobody　passed　by　without　looking　up　to　the　windows　with
a　reverential　and　inquisitive　air；　and　he　who　only　thought　he　could
discover　behind　the　panes　the　fugitive　shadow　of　a　human　being；　made
at　once　a　deep　and　respectful　bow；　and　a　proud　and　happy　smile
overspread　his　features。

And　still；　we　repeat；　there　was　nothing　very　peculiar　about　the
house。　Its　outside　was　plain　and　modest；　and　the　inside　was　equally
so。　The　most　profound　silence　prevailed　in　the　small　hall；　the　floor
of　which　had　been　sprinkled　with　fresh　white　sand。　A　large　spotted
cattruly　beautiful　animallay　not　far　from　the　front　door　on　a
soft；　white　cushion；　and　played　gracefully　and　gently　with　the　ball
of　white　yarn　that　had　just　fallen　from　the　woman　sitting　at　the
window　while　she　was　eagerly　engaged　in　knitting。　This　woman；　in　her
plain　and　unassuming　dress；　seemed　to　be　a　servant　of　the　house；　but
at　all　events　a　servant　in　whom　entire　confidence　was　reposed；　as
was　indicated　by　the　large　bunch　of　keys；　such　as　the　lady　of　the
house　or　a　trusted　housekeeper　will　carry；　which　hung　at　her　side。
An　expression　of　serene　calmness　rendered　her　venerable　features
quite　attractive；　and　a　graceful　smile　played　on　her　thin　and
bloodless　lips　as　she　now　dropped　her　knitting　upon　her　lap；　and；
with　her　body　bent　forward；　commenced　watching　the　merry　play　of　the
cat　on　the　cushion。　Suddenly　the　silence　was　interrupted　by　a　loud
and　shrill　scream；　and　a　very　strange…sounding　voice　uttered　a　fe