第1章

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I1809

IITheEmperorFrancisIIITheCourierandtheAmbassadorIVTheEmperorandhisBrothersVThePerformanceof"TheCreation"

VIAndreasHoferVIIAndreasHoferattheTheatreVIIIConsecrationoftheFlags，andFarewellIXTisTime！

XAnthonyWallnerofWindisch—MatreyXITheDeclarationofLoveXIIFarewell！

XIIITheBridegroomXIVTheBridgeofSt。LawrenceXVTheBridgeofLaditchXVIOntheSterzingerMoosXVIITheHay—WagonsXVIIICaptureofInnspruckXIXTheCapitulationofWiltauXXElizaWallner"sReturnXXITheCatastropheXXIIElizaandUlrichXXIIITheTriumphofDeathXXIVTheArchdukeJohnatComornXXVTheEmperorFrancisatWolkersdorfXXVITheReplyoftheKingofPrussiaXXVIITheBattleofWagramXXVIIITheArmisticeofZnaymXXIXHoferandSpeckbacherXXXTheCapuchin"sOathXXXITheFirstBattleXXXIITheFifteenthofAugustatInnspruckXXXIIIAndreasHofer，theEmperor"sLieutenantXXXIVTheFifteenthofAugustatComornXXXVADayoftheEmperor"sLieutenantXXXVITheLoversXXXVIIElza"sReturnXXXVIIITheWeddingXXXIXTheTreatyofPeaceXLDreadfulTidingsXLIBetrayalandSeizureofHoferXLIITheWarningXLIIITheFlightXLIVAndreasHofer"sDeathCHAPTERI。

1809。

Theyear1809hadcome;butthewaragainstFrance，sointenselylongedforbyallAustria，hadnotyetbrokenout，andthepeopleandthearmywerevainlywaitingforthewar—cryoftheirsovereign，theEmperorFrancis。Itistrue，notafewgreatthingsbadbeenaccomplishedinthecourseofthepastyear:Austriahadarmed，organizedthemilitia，strengthenedherfortresses，andfilledhermagazines;buttheemperorstillhesitatedtotakethelastandmostdecisivestepbycrowninghismilitarypreparationswithaformaldeclarationofwar。

Noonelookedforthisdeclarationofwarmoreintenselythantheemperor"ssecondbrother，theArchdukeJohn，ayoungmanofscarcelytwenty—seven。Hehadbeenthesoulofallthepreparationswhich，sincethesummerof1808，hadbeenmadethroughoutAustria;hehadconceivedtheplanoforganizingthemilitiaandthereserves;andhaddrawnuptheproclamationofthe12thofMay，1808，bywhichallable—bodiedAustrianswerecalledupontotakeuparms。Butthisexhaustedhispowers;hecouldorganizethearmy，butcouldnotsaytoit，"Takethefieldagainsttheenemy！"Theemperoralonecouldutterthisword，andhewassilent。

"Andhewillbesilentuntilthefavorablemomenthaspassed，"

sighedtheArchdukeJohn，when，onreturningfromaverylonginterviewwiththeemperor，hewasalonewithhisfriend，GeneralNugent，inhiscabinet。

Hehadcommunicatedtothisconfidantthefulldetailsofhisinterviewwiththeemperor，andconcludedhisreportbysaying，withadeepsigh，"Theemperorwillbesilentuntilthefavorablemomenthaspassed！"

CountNugentgazedwithalookofheart—feltsympathyintothearchduke"smournfulface;hesawthetearsfillingJohn"slargeblueeyes;hesawthathefirmlycompressedhislipsasiftostifleacryofpainorrage，andthatheclinchedhishandsintheagonyofhisdespair。Animatedbytendercompassion，thegeneralapproachedthearchduke，whohadsunkintoachair，andlaidhishandgentlyonhisshoulder。"Courage，courage！"hewhispered;"nothingislostasyet，andyourimperialhighness——"

"Ah，whydoyouaddressmewith`imperialhighness"？"criedthearchduke，almostindignantly。"Doyounotsee，then，thatthisisamiserabletitlebywhichFateseemstomockme，andwhichitthundersconstantly，and，asitwere，sneeringlyintomyears，inordertoremindmeagainandagainofmydeplorablepowerlessness？

Thereisnothing"imperial"aboutmebuttheyokeunderwhichIamgroaning;andmy`highness"istobecomparedonlywiththecrumbsofLazaruswhichfellfromtherichman"stable。Andyettherearepersons，Nugent，whoenvymethesecrumbs——menwhothinkitabrilliantandgloriouslottobean"imperialhighness，"thebrotherofasovereignemperor！Ah，theydonotknowthatthistitlemeansonlythatIamdoomedtoeverlastingdependenceandsilence，andthattheemperor"svaletdechambreandhisprivatesecretaryaremoreinfluentialmenthantheArchdukeJohn，whocannotdoanythingbutsubmit，besilent，andlookoninidleness。"

"Nowyourimperialhighnessslandersyourself，"exclaimedCountNugent。"Youhavenotbeensilent，youhavenotlookedoninidleness，buthaveworkedincessantlyandcourageouslyforthesalvationofyourpeopleandyourcountry。Whodrewuptheoriginalplanfortheorganizationofthemilitiaandthereserves？Whoelaborateditsmostminutedetailswithadmirablesagacity？ItwastheArchdukeJohn——thearchdukeinwhomallAustriahopes，andwhoisthelastrefugeandcomfortofallpatriots！"

"Ah，howmuchallofyouaretobepitied，myfriend，ifyouhopeinme！"sighedJohn。"WhatamI，then？Apooratomwhichisallowedtomoveintheglareoftheimperialsun，butwhichwouldbeannihilatedsosoonasitshouldpresumetobeanindependentluminary。Pray，Nugent，donotspeakofsuchhopes;for，iftheemperorshouldhearofit，notonlywouldmylibertybeendangered，butalsoyoursandthatofallwhoareofyouropinion。Theemperordoesnotliketoseetheeyesofhissubjectsfixeduponme;everykindwordutteredaboutmesourshimandincreasestheill—willwithwhichheregardsme。"

"Thatisimpossible，yourhighness，"exclaimedthecount。"Howcanourexcellentemperorhelplovinghisbrother，whoissogifted，sohigh—mindedandlearned，andwithalsomodestandkind—hearted？Howcanhehelpbeinghappytoseethatothersloveandappreciatehimtoo？"

"DoestheemperorlovemybrotherCharles，whoismuchmoregiftedandhigh—mindedthanIam？"askedJohn，shrugginghisshoulders。

"Didhenotarresthisvictoriouscareer，andrecallhimfromthearmy，although，orratherBECAUSE，heknewthatthearmyidolizedhim，andthatallAustrialovedhimandhopedinhim？Ah，believeme，theemperorisdistrustfulofallhisbrothers，andallourprotestationsofloveanddevotednessdonottouchhim，butreboundpowerlesslyfromthearmorofjealousywithwhichhehassteeledhisheartagainstus。Yousee，Itellyouallthiswithperfectcomposure，butIconfessitcostmeoncemanytearsandinwardstruggles，anditwaslongbeforemyheartbecamecalmandresigned。

Myheartlongyearnedforlove，confidence，andfriendship。Ihavegotovertheseyearningsnow，andresignedmyselftobelonely，andremainsoallmylifelong。Thatistosay，"addedthearchduke，withagentlesmile，holdingouthishandtothecount，"lonely，withoutasister，withoutabrother——lonelyinmyfamily。However，I

havefoundamostdelightfulcompensationforthisloneliness，forI

callyouandHormayrfriends;Ihavemybooks，whichalwayscomfort，divert，andamuseme;andlast，Ihavemygreatandglorioushopesregardingthefutureofthefatherland。Ah，howcouldIsaythatI

waspoorandlonelywhenIamsorichinhopes，andhavetwonobleandfaithfulfriends？Iamsure，Nugent，youwillneverdesertme，butstandbymetotheend——tothegreatdayofvictory，ortotheendofourhumiliationanddisgrace？"

"Yourimperialhighnessknowsfullwellthatmyheartwillneverturnfromyou;thatIloveandrevereyou;thatyouaretometheembodimentofallthatisnoble，great，andbeautiful;thatIwouldbejoyfullyreadyatanyhourtosufferdeathforyou;andthatneitherprosperitynoradversitycouldinducemetoforsakeyou。Youarethehopeofmyheart，youarethehopeofmycountry——nay，thehopeofallGermany。Weallneedyourassistance，yourheart，yourarm;forweexpectthatyouwillplaceyourselfattheheadofGermany，andleadustogloriousvictories！"

"Godgrantthatthehourwhenweshalltakethefieldmaysooncome！

Then，myfriend，IshallprovethatIamready，likeallofyou，toshedmyheart"sbloodforthefatherland，andconquerordieforthelibertyofAustria，thelibertyofGermany。ForinthepresentstateofaffairsthefateofGermany，too，dependsonthesuccessofourarms。IfwesuccumbandhavetosubmittothesamehumiliationsasPrussia，thewholeofGermanywillbebutaFrenchprovince，andthefreedomandindependenceofourfatherlandwillbedestroyedforlongyearstocome。Iamtooweaktosurvivesuchadisgrace。IfAustriafalls，Ishallfalltoo;ifGermanlibertydies，Ishalldietoo。"[Footnote:TheArchdukeJohn"sownwords。——See"Forty—eightLettersfromArchdukeJohnofAustriatoJohannesvonMuller，"p。

90。]

"Germanlibertywillnotdie！"exclaimedCountNugent，enthusiastically;"itwilltakethefieldonedayagainstallthepowerfulandpettytyrantsofthefatherland。ThenitwillchoosetheArchdukeJohnitsgeneral—in—chief，andhewillleadittovictory！"

"No，no，myfriend，"saidJohn，mournfully;"Faterefusestoletmeplayadecisivepartinthehistoryoftheworld。Myrolewillalwaysbebutasecondaryone;mywillwillalwaysbeimpeded，myarmwillbeparalyzedforever。Youknowit。YouknowthatIamconstantlysurroundedbysecretspiesandeavesdroppers，whowatchmewithlynx—eyedmistrustandmisrepresenteverystepItake。Itwasalwaysso，andwillremainsountilIdieorbecomeadecrepitoldman，whosearmisnolongerabletowieldtheswordoreventhepen。ThatIamyoung，thatIhaveaheartforthesufferingsofmycountry，aheartnotonlyforthehonorofAustria，butforthatofGermany——thatiswhatgivesumbragetothem，whatrendersmesuspiciousintheireyes，andcausesthemtoregardmeasarevolutionist。Ihadtosufferagooddealformyconvictions;agreatmanyobstacleswereraisedagainstallmyplans;andyetI

desiredonlytocontributetothewelfareofthewhole;Idemandednothingformyself，buteverythingforthefatherland。TothefatherlandIwishedtodevotemybloodandmylife;forthefatherlandIwishedtoconquerinthedisastrouscampaignof1805。

However，suchwerenottheplansofmyadversaries;theydidnotwishtocarryonthewarwithsufficientenergyandperseverance;

theywouldnotgivemybrotherCharlesandmeanopportunitytodistinguishourselvesandgainapopularname。WheneverIplannedavigorousattack，Iwasnotpermittedtocarryitintoeffect。

Whenever，withmycorps，Imighthaveexertedadecisiveinfluenceuponthefortunesofthewar，Iwasorderedtoretreatwithmytroopstosomedistantpositionofnoimportancewhatever;andwhenIremonstrated，theychargedmewithrebellingagainsttheemperor"sauthority。Ah，Isufferedagreatdealinthosedays，andthewoundswhichmyheartreceivedatthatjuncturearebleedingyet。Ihadtosuccumb，whenthemenwhohadcommencedthewaratahighlyunfavorabletime，conducteditatanequallyunfavorablemoment，andmadepeace。AndbythatpeaceAustrialosthermostloyalprovince，thebeautifulTyrol，oneoftheoldeststatesoftheHapsburgs;andhermostfertileprovince，theterritoryofVenetiaandDalmatia，forwhichIdidnotgrievesomuch，becauseitalwayswasasourceofpoliticaldissensionsandquarrelsforthehereditaryprovincesofAustria。WhatafflictedmemostsorelywasthelossoftheTyrol，andevennowIcannotthinkofitwithoutthemostprofoundemotion。

ItseemedasthoughFatewerebentonblottingoutfromourmemoryallthatmightremindusofourancestors，theirvirtues，theirpatriotism，andtheirperseveranceinthedaysofuniversaladversity;andasthough，inconsequenceofthis，thespirit，oftheHapsburgshadalmostbecomeextinct，andweweretoloseallthattheybadgainedinthedaysoftheirgreatness。[Footnote:John"sownwords。——See"Forty—eightLettersfromArchdukeJohntoJohannesvonMuller，"p。103。]ButnowFateiswillingtogiveusanotheropportunitytorepairourfaultsandshowthatweareworthyofourancestors。Ifweallowthistopasstoo，allislost，notonlythethroneoftheHapsburgs，butalsotheirhonor！"

"Thisopportunitywillnotpass！"exclaimedthecount。"ThethroneoftheHapsburgswillbepreserved，foritisprotectedbytheArchdukesJohnandCharles，abravearmythatiseagerforawarwithFrance，andafaithful，intrepidpeople，whichissincerelydevotedtoitsimperialdynasty，whichneverwillacknowledgeanotherruler，andwhichneverwilldesertitsHapsburgs。"

"Yes，thepeoplewillnotdesertus，"saidJohn，"butworsethingsmayhappen;wemaydesertourselves。Justlookaround，Nugent，andseehowlamewehavesuddenlybecomeagain;howwehaveallatoncestoppedhalfway，unabletodecidewhetheritmightnotbebetterforustolaydownourarmsagainandsurrenderatdiscretiontotheEmperoroftheFrench。"

"Fortunately，itistoolatenowtotakesucharesolution;forAustriahasalreadygonesofarthatahesitatingpolicyatthisjuncturewillnolongersucceedinpacifyingtheEmperoroftheFrench。Anditisowingtotheeffortsofyourimperialhighnessthatitisso;weareindebtedforittoyourzeal，yourenergy，andyourenthusiasmforthegoodcause，whichisnownolongerthecauseofAustria，butthatofGermany。Andthiscausewillnotsuccumb;

Godwillnotallowagreatandnoblepeopletobetrampledunderfootbyaforeigntyrant，whobidsdefiancetothemostsacredtreatiesandthelawofnations，andwhowouldliketooverthrowallthronestoconverttheforeignkingdomsandempiresintoprovincesofhisempire，blotoutthehistoryofthenationsanddynasties，andhaveallengulfedbyhisuniversalmonarchy。"

"Godmaynotdecreethis，butHemayperhapsallowitifthewillofthenationsandtheprincesshouldnotbestrongenoughtosetboundstosuchmischief。Whenthefeelingoflibertyandindependencedoesnotincitethenationstoriseenthusiasticallyanddefendtheirrights，Godsendsthematyrantasascourgetochastisethem。Andsuch，Iamafraid，isourcase。Germanyhaslostfaithinherself，inherhonor;sheliesexhaustedatthefeetofthetyrant，andisreadytobetrampledinthedustbyhim。JustlookaroundinourGermanfatherland。Whatdoyouseethere？Allthesovereignprinceshaverenouncedtheirindependence，andbecomeNapoleon"svassals;theyobeyhiswill，theysubmittohisorders，andsendtheirarmiesnotagainsttheenemyofGermany，butagainsttheenemiesofFrance，nomatterwhetherthoseenemiesaretheirGermanbrethrenornot。TheGermanprinceshaveformedtheConfederationoftheRhine，andtheobjectofthisconfederationisnottopreservethefrontieroftheRhinetoGermany，buttosecuretheRhinetoFrance。TheGermanprincesarebeggingforhonorsandterritoriesatthecourtofNapoleon;theydonotshrinkfrommanifestingtheirfealtytotheirmaster，theEmperoroftheFrench，bybetrayingtheinterestsofGermany;theyareplayinghereatViennathepartofthemeanestspies;theyarewatchingalloursteps，andareshamelessenoughtohavetheEmperorNapoleonrewardtheirinfamybyconferringroyaltitlesonthem，andtoacceptathishandsGermanterritorieswhichhetookfromGermanprinces。

Bavariadidnotdisdaintoaggrandizeherterritoriesatourexpense;WurtembergacceptswithoutblushingtheterritoriesofotherGermanprincesatthebandsofNapoleon，whothusrewardsherfortheincessantwarningsbywhichtheKingofWurtembergurgestheEmperoroftheFrenchtobeonhisguardagainstAustria，andalwaysdistrusttheintentionsoftheEmperorFrancis。[Footnote:

Schlosser，"HistoryoftheEighteenthCentury，"vol。vii。，p。488。]

InthemiddleoftheGermanempireweseeanewFrenchkingdom;

Westphalia，establishedbyNapoleon"sorders;itisformedofthespoilstakenfromPrussiaandHanover;andtheGermanprincessufferit，andtheGermanpeoplebowtheirheads，silentlytothedisgracefulforeignyoke！Ah，Nugent，myheartisfullofgriefandanger，fullofthebitternessofdespair;forIhavelostfaithinGermany，andseeshudderinglythatshewilldecayanddie，asPolanddied，ofherownweakness。Ah，itwouldbedreadful，dreadful，ifwetoo，hadtofall，astheunfortunateKosciuskodid，withthedespairingcryof"FinisGermaniae！""

"No，thatwillneverhappen！"criedNugent。"No，GermanywillneverendurethedisgraceanddebasementofPoland;shewillneversinktoruinandperishlikePoland。Itistrue，amajorityoftheGermanprincesbowtoNapoleon"spower，andwemaychargethemwithinfidelityandtreasonagainstGermany;butwecannotpreferthesamechargeagainsttheGermanpeopleandthesubjectsofthetraitorousGermanprinces。Theyhaveremainedfaithful，andhavenotyetlostfaithintheirfatherland。Theyareindignantlychampingthebitwithwhichtheirdespotshaveshuttheirmouth;and，insilence，harmony，andconfidenceinGod，theyarepreparingforthegreathourwhentheywillrise，forthesacreddaywhentheywillbreaktheirshackleswiththedivinestrengthofaunitedandhigh—

mindedpeople。Everywheretheembersaresmoulderingundertheashes;everywheresecretsocietiesandleagueshavebeenformed;

everywherethereareconspirators，depotsofarms，andpasswords;

everywherethepeopleofGermanyarewaitingonlyforthemomentwhentheyaretostrikethefirstblow，andforthesignaltorise。

AndtheyareinhopesnowthatAustriawillgivethesignal。OurpreparationsforwarhavebeenhailedwithexultationthroughoutGermany:everywherethepeoplearereadytotakeuparmssosoonasAustriadrawsthesword。TheexampleofSpainandPortugalhastaughttheGermanshowthearrogantconquerormustbemet;theexampleofAustriawillfillthemwithboundlessenthusiasm，andleadthemtothemostgloriousvictories！"

"Andwearestilltemporizingandhesitating，"exclaimedJohn，mournfully;"wearenotcourageousenoughtostrikethefirstblow！

Allisready;theemperorhasonlytoutterthedecisiveword，butherefusestodoso！"

"Theenthusiasmofhispeoplewillsooncompelhimandhisadviserstoutterthatword，"saidNugent。"Austriacannolongerretracehersteps;shemustadvance。AustriamustleadGermanyinthesacredstruggleforliberty;shecannolongerretracehersteps。"

"Godgrantthatyourwordsmaybeverified！"criedJohn，liftinghistearfuleyestoheaven;"Godgrantthat——"

Alowrappingatthedoorleadingtothesmallsecretcorridorcausedthearchduketopauseandturnhiseyeswithasearchingexpressiontothisdoor。

Therappingwasrepeated，morerapidlythanbefore。

"ItisHormayr，"exclaimedthearchduke，joyfully;andhehastenedtothesecretdoorandopeneditquickly。

Atallyoungman，intheuniformofanAustriansuperiorofficer，appearedintheopendoor。Thearchdukegraspedbothhishandsanddrewhimhastilyintothecabinet。

"Hormayr，myfriend，"hesaid，breathlessly，"youhavereturnedfromtheTyrol？YouhavesucceededinfulfillingthemissionwithwhichI

intrustedyou？YouhavecarriedmygreetingstotheTyrolese？Oh，speak，speak，myfriend！Whatdomypoor，desertedTyrolesesay？"

BaronvonHormayrfixedhisflashingdarkeyeswithanexpressionofjoyfultendernessontheexcitedfaceofthearchduke。

"TheTyrolesesendgreetingtotheArchdukeJohn，"hesaid;"theTyrolesehopethattheArchdukeJohnwilldeliverthemfromthehatefulyokeoftheBavarians;theTyrolesebelievethatthehourhasarrived，whentheymayrecovertheirliberty;andtoprovethis—

—"

"Toprovethis？"askedthearchduke，breathlessly，whenHormayrpausedamoment。

"Toprovethis，"saidHormayr，inalowervoice，steppingupclosertotheprince，"someofthemostinfluentialandrespectablecitizensoftheTyrolhaveaccompaniedmetoVienna;theydesiretoassureyourimperialhighnessoftheirloyaldevotedness，andreceiveinstructionsfromyou。"

"IsAndreasHofer，thelandwirth，amongthem？"askedthearchduke，eagerly。

"Heis，andsoareWallnerandSpeckbacher。IbringtoyourimperialhighnesstheleadingmenoftheTyrolesepeasants，andwouldliketoknowwhenImayintroducethemtoyou，andatwhathouryouwillgrantaprivateaudiencetomyTyrolesefriends？"

"Oh，Iwillseethematonce！"exclaimedJohn，impatiently。"Myheartlongstogazeintothefaithful，beautifuleyesoftheTyrolese，andreadintheirhonestfacesiftheyreallyarestilldevotedandattachedtome。Bringthemtome，Hormayr;makehaste——

butno，Iforgotthatitisbroaddaylight，andthatthespieswatchingmehaveeyestosee，earstohear，andtonguestoreporttotheemperorasdreadfulcrimesallthattheyhaveseenandheardhere。Wemustwait，therefore，untilthespieshaveclosedtheireyes，untildarkandreticentnighthasdescendedonearth，and——。

Well，Conrad，whatisit？"thearchdukeinterruptedhimself，lookingathisvaletdechambre，whohadjustenteredhastilybythedooroftheanteroom。

"Pardonme，yourimperialhighness，"saidConrad;"amessengerofhermajestytheempressisintheanteroom。Hermajestyhasorderedhimtodeliverhismessageonlytothearchdukehimself。"

"Lethimcomein，"saidthearchduke。

Conradopenedthedoor，andtheimperialmessengerappearedonthethreshold。

"HermajestytheEmpressLudovicasendsherrespectstothearchduke，"saidthemessenger，approachingthearchdukerespectfully。"Hermajestythanksyourimperialhighnessforthebookwhichyoulenther;andshereturnsitwithsincerethanks。"

AnexpressionofastonishmentoverspreadJohn"sface，butitsoondisappeared，andthearchdukereceivedwithacalmsmilethesmallsealedpackagewhichthemessengerhandedtohim。

"Allright，"hesaid;"tellhermajestytoacceptmythanks。"

Themessengerreturnedtotheanteroom，andConradclosedthedoorbehindhim。

"Placeyourselfbeforethedoor，Nugent，thatnobodymaybeabletolookthroughthekey—hole，"whisperedJohn，"foryouknowthatIdonottrustConrad。Andyou，Hormayr，watchthesecretdoor。"

Thetwogentlemenhastenednoiselesslytoobey。Thearchdukecastasearchingglancearoundthewalls，asifafraidthateventhesilkenhangingsmightcontainsomewhereanopeningfortheeyesofaspy，orserveasacovertoanearofDionysius。

"Somethingofimportancemusthaveoccurred，"whisperedJohn;

"otherwisetheempresswouldnothaveventuredtosendmeadirectmessage。Ididnotlendherabook，andyouknowweagreedwiththeladiesofourpartytocommunicatedirectnewstoeachotheronlyincasesofpressingnecessity。Letusseenowwhatitis。"

Hehastilytoreopenthesealedpackageanddrewfromitasmallprayer—bookboundinblackvelvet。Whilehewasturningovertheleaveswithasmile，asmallpieceofpaperflutteredfrombetweenthegilt—edgedleavesanddroppedtothefloor。

"Thatisit，"saidJohn，smiling，pickingupthepaper，andfixinghiseyesonit。"Thereisnothingonit，"hethenexclaimed，contemplatingbothsidesofthepaper。"Thereisnotawordonit。

Itisonlyabook—mark，thatisall。But，perhaps，somethingiswritteninthebook，ortheremaybeanotherpaper。"

"No，yourimperialhighness，"whisperedNugent，steppingbackafewpacesfromthedoor。"ThePrincessLichtensteinwhisperedtomeyesterday，atthecourtconcert，thatshehadobtainedanexcellentwayofsendingawrittenmessagetoherfriendsandallies，andthat，ifwereceivedapieceofwhitepaperfromtheladiesofourparty，wehadbetterpreserveitandreaditafterwardnearthefireplace。"

"Ah，sympatheticink，"exclaimedJohn;"well，wewillsee。"

Hehastilyapproachedthefireplace，whereabrightfirewasburning，andheldthepieceofpaperclosetotheflames。

Immediatelyanumberofblackdotsandlinesappearedonthepaper;

thesedotsandlinesassumedgraduallytheshapeoffinely—writtenwords。

Thearchdukefollowedwithraptattentioneveryline，everyletterthatappearedonthewhitepaper，andnowhereadasfollows:

"TheFrenchambassadorhasrequestedtheemperortogranthimanaudienceateleveno"clockthismorning。AcourierfromMetternichinParishasarrived，and，Ibelieve，broughtimportantnews。Thedecisivehourisathand。Hastentotheemperor;leavenothingundonetoprevailonhimtotakeaboldstand。SendsomebodytotheArchdukeCharles;requesthimtorepairlikewisetotheemperorandinfluencehiminthesamedirection。Ihavepavedthewayforyou。I

hopetheFrenchambassadorwill，inspiteofhimself，beourally，andbyhisdefiantandarrogantbearing，attainforustheobjectwhichwehavehithertobeenunabletoaccomplishbyourpersuasionandourarguments。Makehaste！Burnthispaper。"

Thearchdukesignedtohistwoconfidantstocometohim，andpointedtothepaper。Whentheyhadhastilyreadthelines，hethrewthepaperintotheflames，andturnedtothetwogentlemenwhostoodbehindhim。

"Well，whatdoyouthinkofit？"heinquired。"ShallIdowhatthesemysteriouslinesaskofme？ShallIgototheemperorwithoutbeingsummonedtohim？"

"Theempressrequestsyoutodoso，andsheisasprudentassheisenergetic，"saidCountNugent。

"Isay，liketheempress，thedecisivehourisathand，"exclaimedBaronvonHormayr。"Hastentotheemperor;tryoncemoretoforcetheswordintohishand，andtowrestatlengththemuch—wished—forwords，"WaragainstFrance！"fromhislips。TheTyroleseareonlywaitingforthesewords，torisefortheiremperorandbecomeagainhislovinganddevotedsubjects。AllAustria，nay，allGermany，islongingforthesewords，whichwillbethesignalofthedeliveranceofthefatherlandfromtheFrenchyoke。Oh，mylordandprince，hastentotheemperor;speaktohimwiththeimpassionedeloquenceofthecherubim，breakthefatalcharmthatholdsAustriaandtheTyrolenthralled！"

Atthismomentthelargeclockstandingonthemantelpiececommencedstriking。

"Eleveno"clock，"saidthearchduke——"thehourwhentheemperoristogiveanaudiencetotheFrenchambassador。Itishightime，therefore。Nugent，hastentomybrother;implorehimtorepairforthwithtotheemperor，andtoactthistimeatleastinunisonwithme。Tellhimthateverythingisatstake，andthatwemustriskalltowinall。Butyou，Hormayr，gotomydearTyrolese;tellthemthatIwillreceivethemhereattwelveo"clockto—night，andconductthemtomeatthathour，myfriend。Wewillholdacouncilofwaratmidnight。"

"Andyourimperialhighnessdoesnotforgetthatyoupromisedtogototheconcertto—night？"askedNugent。"Yourhighnessisawarethatourfriendsnotonlyintendto—nighttogiveanovationtotheveteranmasterofGermanart，JosephHaydn，butwishalsotoprofitbytheGermanmusictomakeapoliticaldemonstration;andtheylongforthepresenceoftheimperialcourt，thattheemperorandhisbrothersmaywitnessthepatrioticenthusiasmofVienna。"

"Ishallcertainlybepresent，"saidthearchduke，earnestly，"andI

hopetheempresswillsucceedinprevailingontheemperortogototheconcert。——Well，then，myfriends，letusgotowork，andnayGodgrantsuccesstoourefforts！"

CHAPTERII。

THEEMPERORFRANCIS。

TheEmperorFrancishadto—dayenteredhisstudyatanearlierhourthanusual，andwasindustriouslyengagedthereinfinishingaminiaturecupwhichhehadcommencedcuttingfromapeach—stoneyesterday。Onthetablebeforehimlaythedrawingofthemodelafterwhichhewasshapingthecup;andFrancisliftedhisevesonlyfromtimetotimetofixthemonthedrawing，andcompareitwithhisownwork。Thesecomparisons，however，apparentlydidnotleadtoacheeringresult，fortheemperorfrownedandputthecupratherimpetuouslyclosetothedrawingonthetable。

"Ibelieve，forsooth，thecupisnotstraight，"murmuredtheemperortohimself，contemplatingfromallsidesthediminutiveobjectwhichhadcosthimsomuchlabor。"Sureenough，itisnotstraight，ithasahumpononeside。Yes，yes，nothingisstraight，nowadays;andevenGodinheavencreatesHisthingsnolongerstraight，anddoesnotshrinkfromlettingthepeach—stonesgrowcrooked。Butnomatter——whatGoddoesiswelldone，"addedtheemperor，crossinghimselfdevoutly;"evenanemperormustnotcensureit，andmustnotgrumblewhenhiscupisnotstraightbecauseGodgavethepeach—

stoneahump。Well，perhaps，Imaychangeityet，andmakethecupstraight。"

Heagaintookupthelittlecup，andcommencedindustriouslyworkingatitwithhissharpfiles，pointedknives，andgimlets。Itwashardwork;largedropsofsweatstoodontheemperor"sforehead;hisarmsached，andhisfingersbecamesoreunderthepressureoftheknivesandfiles;buttheemperordidnotmindit，onlyfromtimetotimewipingthesweatfromhisbrow，andthencontinuinghislaborwithrenewedzeal。

Closetothesmalltablecontainingthetoolsstoodtheemperor"slargewriting—table。Largepilesofdocumentsandpaperslayonthistable，andamongthemwerescatteredalsomanylettersanddispatcheswithbroadofficialseals。Buttheemperorhadnotyetthoughtofopeningthesedispatchesorunsealingtheseletters。Thepeach—stonehadengrossedhisattentionthismorning，andhehadunsealedonlyoneofthepapers;theemperorhadreadonlythereportofthesecretpoliceontheeventsofthepreviousday。ThesereportsofthesecretpoliceandtheChiffre—CabinetwerethefavoritereadingmatteroftheEmperorFrancis，andhewouldhaveflownintoatoweringpassionifhehadnotfoundthemonhiswriting—tableearlyeverymorning。

Thankstothesereports，theemperorkneweverymorningallthathadoccurredinViennaduringthepreviousday;whattheforeignambassadorshaddone，and，aboveallthings，whathisbrothers，theArchdukesCharles，Ferdinand，Joseph，andJohn，hadsaid，done，andperhapsonlythought。To—day"sreporthadnotcommunicatedmanyimportantthingstotheemperor;ithadonlyinformedhimthat，atdaybreak，acourierfromParishadarrivedatthehouseoftheFrenchambassador，CountAndreossi，andthatthereweregoodreasonstobelievethatbehadbroughthighlyimportantnews。