登陆注册
5254900000079

第79章 CHAPTER XXI. FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.(2)

"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 eyes--with 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 of the treaty, and hostilities will be resumed. Now, sir, come to a decision. I am only a soldier, and but a poor diplomatist, for with my sword and with my word I always directly strike at my aim. In short, then, count, will you withdraw your troops from Mentz and from the other fortresses on the Rhine, and surrender Mentz to our army? Yes, or no?"

"Yes, yes," exclaimed Count Cobenzl, with a sigh, "we will fulfil your wishes--we will withdraw our troops from Mentz and surrender the fortress to the French."

"When will the surrender take place? As speedily as possible, if you please."

"On the ninth of December, general."

"Very well, on the ninth of December. The matter is settled, then."

"But let there be no solemn ceremonies at the surrender," said the count, imploringly. "Let our troops withdraw quietly--let your forces occupy the place in the same manner, so that when the delegates of the German empire, assembled in congress in this city, and to whom the Emperor of Germany has solemnly guaranteed the entire integrity and inviolability of the empire, hear the news of the transaction, the latter may be already an accomplished fact, to which every one must submit."

"Be it so, if that be Austria's desire," said Bonaparte, smiling.

"And now we will consider the other secret articles. The Austrian troops retire from the German empire up to the line of the Inn and Lech, occupying hereafter only Austrian territory."

同类推荐
  • 佛说恒水经

    佛说恒水经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 抚安东夷记

    抚安东夷记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 郡务稍简因得整比旧

    郡务稍简因得整比旧

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The School For Scandal

    The School For Scandal

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 法华经持验记

    法华经持验记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 观念成就财富

    观念成就财富

    “贫富之分,最大的关键在于个人的观念。”的确,观念成就财富,观念改变命运,观念决定人生。本书精选了非常有代表性的20位世界富豪,他们有着超前的观念、敏锐的商业嗅觉,他们的创富过程都是白手起家的奋斗史。要成为一名未来的富豪,最简单的捷径就是学习富豪们的创业精神、致富观念。如此,才能借鉴他们的经验,博采众长,为我所用,在追求财富的路上实现自己的梦想。
  • 王者荣耀之幻龙天罗

    王者荣耀之幻龙天罗

    王者菜鸡赵坤咒骂系统不公,结果却被王者荣耀系统强行穿越到了王者大陆上,玩了一把真人王者荣耀。但是,穿越成哪个英雄不好,非得穿越成个鲲!庄周:站住那条鲲别瞎跑,被你害的战斗力都减半了!韩信:这回鲲不是我偷的,这个锅我不背!鲁班七号(女):不管是鲲还是锅,只要有实力就能做我男人!赵坤:这王者大陆没鲲权哪!
  • 自然养生法

    自然养生法

    治病不如防病。对于中老年人自身来说,在晚年患上的疾病基本上都是会留下后遗症的,它会使原本美好的夕阳蒙上一层阴影。所以预防疾病的发生,是对中老年人十分重要的事情。
  • 不世故的人

    不世故的人

    总是想以一种方式来祭奠过往的生活,来怀念身边不可抹去的人和事。每每这样的感觉滑上心头,涌起的不仅仅是那种难以言说的苦楚。也是因为很久以来找不到这样一种方式而苦苦逡巡,也是因为找到了这样一种方式而不够勇敢。终于,在某一天晚上,鼓起的勇气涂满了电脑的屏幕。用滴泪的手、真挚的情画出文禾的模样。
  • 商战情斗

    商战情斗

    楚州市有家装潢公司,名称叫“超郅室内装潢”,公司经理秦超郅今年刚满三十岁。因为得天时地利,加之秦超郅本人也精明强干,公司的生意做得很好。老婆竺桃花和秦超郅是大学同学,比他小两岁。竺桃花人如其名,腰肢生得纤细婀娜,貌若桃花,人见人爱。秦超郅在外忙装潢业务,竺桃花在公司附近的一所中学任教。虽说公司办公室是租借来的,但他们这个两口之家却住着一百八十平方米的商品房。为了公司的进一步发展壮大,他们结婚五年了,还没有来得及要孩子。就在竺桃花准备为秦超郅怀上小宝宝时,谁也不晓得秦超郅中了哪门子邪,有天回到家中竟然向她提出:“我们两个人还是离婚吧。
  • 余音暖暖皆为你

    余音暖暖皆为你

    【甜宠1v1】【元气唱见VS电竞大神】她是声音甜美的元气唱见,他是超人气电竞大神。三岁那年,小封兮就被大灰狼江之卿给拐回了家当小媳妇。长大以后,拉她小手就算了,竟然还天天亲亲抱抱举高高!当本仙女是你的宠物啊摔!“怎么会是宠物呢?你分明是一只小蠢猪。”“......江之卿你大爷的!”
  • 教育如此迷人:好学校是如何成长的

    教育如此迷人:好学校是如何成长的

    本书围绕“办一所有美好童年记忆的小学”的教育理念,从实践层面探讨了“如何让学校和教室变成孩子的美好记忆”等一系列主题,并从学校的文化与细节切入,鲜活指出何谓学校的精神和行动,给我们提供了好学校的管理范式。
  • 杯具大叔玩网游

    杯具大叔玩网游

    杯具的70后大叔阿拉德图,被迫到《复活》游戏中淘金,却发现本该虚拟的游戏,现实的成为又一生存环境,还可以修仙……更意外发现自己血脉遭受诅咒,活不过五十……他不要杯具的死去,而是逆天求生!实现梦想,抓住幸福!
  • 换骨

    换骨

    接到命令时,陈加西对上级任命他担任新成立的“第四纵队”司令兼政委一职,从心理上一下子还没接受得了。前一阵子听说要成立一个新编成的第四纵队,但陈加西没有想到上级提拔他任“新四纵”的司令兼政委。他感到太突然了,上级事先没有对他透露过一点这方面的消息,连提拔前考察摸底的一贯程序都免了,突然任命他为司令兼政委。
  • 恶毒女配要洗白:毒女不好当

    恶毒女配要洗白:毒女不好当

    穿越了!竟然还穿到一本穿越文里跟穿越女主抢男主无脑+恶毒的女配。这玩笑开的有点大了!为了本人能够安度晚年,平平安安,一帆风顺。本人决定,防水防火防男主!PS.珍爱生命,远离男主!穿越女配VS穿越女主的较量!