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went　to　meet　the　count　in　the　anteroom；　where　he　welcomed　him　with
the　utmost　kindness　and　courtesy。

The　two　gentlemen　thereupon　reentered　the　room　hand　in　hand；　a
pleasant　smile　playing　on　their　lips；　while　both　were　assuring　each
other　of　their　kind　intentions；　but　at　the　same　time　secretly
entertaining　the　ardent　desire　and　purpose　to　divine　their　mutual
thoughts；　but　to　conceal　their　own　schemes。　The　general；　with　great
politeness；　offered　the　seat　of　honor　on　the　sofa　to　the　count；　and
sat　down　in　an　arm…chair　in　front　of　him。　A　small　round　table　with
writing…materials　and　paper　stood　between　them；　forming　as　it　were
the　frontier　between　Austria　and　France。

〃So　the　ardent　desires　of　Austria　are　fulfilled　now；〃　said　Count
Cobenzl；　with　a　sweet　smile。　〃France　will　no　longer　oppose　us；　she
will　be　our　friend　and　ally。〃

〃France　will　welcome　this　new　friend　and　ally　of　hers；〃　exclaimed
Bonaparte；　feelingly；　〃provided　Austria's　intentions　are　loyal。　Ah；
my　dear　count；　no　protestations　now！　In　politics　words　prove
nothing；　deeds　every　thing。　Let　Austria；　then；　prove　by　her　deeds
that　she　really　desires　to　keep　up　a　good　understanding　with　France；
and　that　she　has　given　up　forever　her　hostile　attitude　toward　the
republic。〃

〃But　has　not　Austria　given　proof　of　her　intentions　toward　France
already？〃　asked　the　count；　in　surprise。　〃Has　not　his　majesty　the
emperor　declared　his　willingness　to　resume　diplomatic　relations　with
France；　and　thereby　formally　and　before　the　whole　world　to　recognize
the　French　Republic？〃

〃Sir；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　〃the　French　Republic　does　not　humbly
solicit　to　be　recognized。　She　compels　hostile　states　to　recognize
her；　for；　like　the　sun；　she　sheds　her　light　over　the　whole　globe；
and　she　would　pierce　the　eyes　of　such　as　would　feign　not　to　see　her；
rendering　them　blind　for　all　time　to　come！　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's
own　words。Vide　Constant；　vol。　i。；　p。　284。＇　Austria　beheld　this
radiant　sun　of　the　republic　at　Lodi；　at　Rivoli；　Arcole；　and　Mantua；
whence；　then；　would　she　derive　courage　enough　to　refuse　recognizing
France？　But　instead　of　words；　prove　to　us　by　your　actions　that　your
friendship　is　honest　and　sincere。〃

〃We　are　ready　to　do　so；〃　said　Count　Cobenzl；　politely。　〃Austria　is
ready　to　give　a　public　and　brilliant　proof　of　her　devotion　to　the
great　general　whose　glory　is　now　filling　the　whole　world　with
astonishment　and　admiration。　His　majesty　the　emperor；　in　the　letter
which　I　had　the　honor　of　delivering　to　you　some　time　ago；　told　you
already　in　eloquent　words　how　greatly　he　admired　the　conqueror　of
Italy；　and　how　gladly　his　majesty；　if　it　were　in　his　power；　would
grant　you　such　favors　as　would　be　agreeable　to　you。　But　at　that　time
you　rejected　all　such　offers；　general；　and　nothing　could　induce　you
to　accept　of　what　we　wished　to　present　to　you。　It　seemed　not　to　have
value　enough　to〃

〃Rather　say；　count；　it　was　all　too　valuable　not　to　be　looked　upon　as
a　bribe；〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte。　〃I　was　negotiating　with　you；　sword　in
hand；　and　it　would　not　have　been　becoming　of　me　to　lay　the　sword
aside　in　order　to　fill　my　hands　with　your　presents。〃

〃But　now；　general；　now　that　we　have　laid　the　sword　aside；　that　we
have　made　peace；　that　we　have　exchanged　the　ratifications　of　the
treatynow　that　you　tender　your　hand　to　Austria　in　friendship　and
peace；　you　might　permit　his　majesty　the　Emperor　of　Austria　to
deposit　something　in　your　friendly　hand；　that　might　prove　to　you　how
sincerely　my　august　master　the　emperor　is　devoted　to　you。〃

〃And　what　does　the　emperor　desire　to　deposit　in　my　hand？〃　asked
Bonaparte；　with　a　quiet　smile。

Count　Cobenzl　hesitated　a　little　before　making　a　reply。　〃General；〃
he　then　said；　〃when　I　see　you　thus　before　me　in　your　marble　beauty；
I　am　involuntarily　reminded　of　the　heroes　of　Rome　and　Greece；　who
have　immortalized　the　glory　of　their　countries；　but　whom　the
admiration　of　posterity　had　to　compensate　for　the　ingratitude　of
their　contemporaries。　General；　republics　never　were　grateful　to
their　great　men；　and　only　too　often　have　they　stigmatized　their　most
glorious　deeds；　for　the　republics　deprecated　the　greatness　of　their
heroes；　because　he　who　distinguished　himself；　thereby　annulled　the
equality　and　fraternity　of　all　the　citizens。　Pericles　was　banished
from　Athens；　and　Julius　Caesar　was　assassinated！　General；　will
modern　republics　be　more　grateful　than　those　of　antiquity？　For　my
part；　I　dare　say；　it　is　rather　doubtful；　and　the　French　being
descendants　of　the　Romans；　I　am　afraid　they　will　not　prove　any　more
grateful　than　the　latter。　The　emperor；　my　august　master；　shares　my
fears；　and　as　he　loves　and　venerates　you；　he　would　like　to　exalt　you
so　high　as　to　prevent　the　hands　of　the　political　factions　from
reaching　up　to　you。　His　majesty　therefore　proposes　to　create　a
principality　for　you　in　Germany；　and　to　make　you　the　sovereign　ruler
of　two　hundred　thousand　people；　appointing　you　at　the　same　time　a
prince　of　the　German　empire；　and　giving　you　a　seat　and　vote　at　the
imperial　diet。　＇Footnote：　Historical。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme
d'Etat；〃　vol。　V。；　p。　67。＇　General；　do　you　accept　my　emperor's
offer？〃

〃To　become　the　emperor's　vassal？〃　asked　Bonaparte；　with　an
imperceptible　smile。　〃A　small　prince　of　the　German　empire　who　on
solemn　occasions　might　be　deemed　worthy　to　present　the　wash…basin　to
the　emperor；　or　to　be　his　train　bearer；　while　every　king　and　elector
would　outrank　me。　No；　my　dear　count；　I　do　not　accept　the　offer。　I
sincerely　thank　the　emperor　for　the　interest　he　takes　in　my　welfare；
but　I　must　accept　no　gifts　or　favors　not　coming　directly　from　the
French　nation；　and　I　shall　always　be　satisfied　with　the　income
bestowed　upon　me　by　the　latter；〃　＇Footnote：　Bonaparte's　own　reply。
Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　V。；　p。　51。＇

〃You　reject　the　emperor's　offer？〃　asked　Cobenzl；　mournfully〃you
disdain　wearing　a　crown？〃

〃If　the　crown　should　crush　the　few　laurels　with　which　my　victories
have　adorned　me；　yes；　in　that　case　I　should　prefer　to　decline　the
crown　in　favor　of　my　laurels。　And；　my　dear　count；　if　I　had　been　so
anxious　for　a　crown；　I　might　have　picked　up　one　of　those　crowns　that
fell　down　at　my　feet　in　Italy。　But　I　preferred　to　crush　them　under
my　heels；　just　as　St。　George　crushed　the　dragon；　and　the　gold　of　the
crushed　crowns；　as　it　behooved　a　good　and　dutiful　son；　I　laid　down
on　the　altar　of　the　great　French　Republic。　So　you　see　I　am　not
longing　for　crowns。　If　I　might　follow　my　own　inclinations；　I　should
return　to　the　silence　and　obscurity　of　my　former　life；　and　I　should
lay　my　sword　aside　in　order　to　live　only　as　a　peaceable　citizen。〃

〃Oh；　general；　if　you　should　do　so；〃　exclaimed　Cobenzl；　〃there　would
soon　be　men　to　pick　up　your　sword　in　order　to　fight　with　it　against
the　Republic　and　to　recall　the　Bourbons　to　the　throne　of　the
lilies。〃

A　rapid　flash　from　Bonaparte's　eyes　struck　the　count's　face　and　met
his　sharp；　searching　glance。

〃Count　Cobenzl；〃　he　said；　quietly　and　coldly；　〃the　lilies　of　France
have　dropped　from　their　stems；　and；　being　drowned　in　the　blood　of
the　guillotine；　they　could　not　be　made　to　bloom　again。　He　would　be　a
poor；　short…sighted　gardener　who　would　try　to　draw　flowers　from
seeds　dead　and　devoid　of　germs。　And　believe　me；　we　are　no　such　poor；
short…sighted　gardeners　in　France。　You　alluded　just　now　to　the
ingratitude　of　republics；　and　you　apprehended　lest　I　might　likewise
suffer　thereby。　Let　me　assure　you；　however；　that　even　my　country's
ingratitude　would　be　dearer　to　me　than　the　gratitude　of　a　foreign
power；　and　that　the　crown　of　thorns；　which　France　may　press　upon　my
head；　would　seem　to　me　more　honorable　than　the　coronet　with　which　an
enemy　of　France　might　adorn　my　brow。　And　now；　count；　a　truce　to　such
trifling　matters！　Let　us　speak　about　business　affairs。　We　have
signed　the　ratifications　of　peace；　which　are　to　be　laid　before　the
congress；　it　only　remains　for　us　to　sign　the　secret　articles　which
shall　be　known　by　none　but　France　and　Austria。　The　main　point　is　the
evacuation　of　Mentz　by　your　troops；　so　that　our　army　may　ocupy　the
fortress。〃

〃I　am　afraid；　general；　this　very　point　will　be　a　stumbling…block　for
the　members　of　the　congress。　They　will　raise　a　terrible　hue　and　cry
as　soon　as　they　learn　that　we　have　surrendered　Mentz。〃

〃Let　these　gentlemen　say　what　they　please；〃　said　Bonaparte；
contemptuously；　〃we　have　called　them　hither　that　they　may　talk；　and
while　they　are　talking；　we　shall　act！〃

〃They　will　say　that　Austria　has　sacrificed　the　welfare　and　greatness
of　Germany　to　her　own　private　interests；〃　exclaimed　Count　Cobenzl；
anxiously。

〃Fools　are　they　who　care　for　what　people　will　say！〃　replied
Bonaparte；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃A　prudent　man　will　pursue　his
path　directly　toward　his　aim；　and　the　hum　of　babblers　never　disturbs
him。　Hear；　then；　my　last　words：　in　case　the　Austrian　troops　do　not
leave　Mentz　within　one　week；　and　surrender　the　fortress　to　the
French　forces；　the　French　army　will　remain　in　Venice；　and　I　would
sooner　send　the　latter　city　to　the　bottom　of　the　sea　than　to　let
Austria　have　a　single　stone　of　hers。　Mentz　must　be　ours；　or　I　tear
the　treaty；　and　hostilities　will　recommence！〃

And　Bonaparte；　with　a　furious　gesture；　seized　the　papers　lying　on
the　table　and　was　about　to　tear　them；　when　Count　Cobenzl　suddenly
jumped　up　and　grasped　his　hands。

〃General；〃　he　said；　imploringly；　〃what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃What　am　I　going　to　do？〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　in　a　thundering　voice；
〃I　am　going　to　tear　a　treaty　of　peace；　which　you　merely　wanted　to
sign　with　words；　but　not　with　deeds！　Oh；　that　was　the　nice　little
trick　of　your　diplomacy；　then！　With　your　prince's　coronet　you　wanted
to　dazzle　my　eyeswith　the　two　hundred　thousand　subjects　you
offered　me　just　now；　you　wanted　me　to　corrupt　my　soul；　and　induce　me
to　barter　away　the　honor　and　greatness　of　France　for　the　miserable
people　of　a　petty　German　prince！　No；　sir。　I　shall　not　sell　my　honor
at　so　low　a　price。　I　stand　here　in　the　name　of　the　French　Republic
and　ask　you；　the　representative　of　Austria；　to　fulfil　what　we　have
agreed　upon　at　Campo　Formic。　Mentz　must　be　ours　even　before　our
troops　leave　Venice。　If　you　refuse　that；　it　is　a　plain　infringement