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。