Louisa of Prussia and Her Times

t. The people are storming the front door-the hinges are beginning to give way, an

d you to do so? Who ordered you to barricade the house, as if it were a

aghast, and did not

Show the people up-stairs; and you rascals who are standing there with pale faces and trembling knees, op

expressive of the agony he fel

those of the antechamber. The two gentlemen at the table obtaining thereby a full view o

same time, is quite invigorating. Drink, dear count, drink! Ah! just see, my cook has prepared for us to-day a genuine Turkish meal, for there is a turkey boiled with rice and paprica. The chief cook of

nfused voices were now

excellency; I admire your heroic equanimity, but I am unable to imitate it. It is an utter impossibility f

n Thugut, coolly. "And as far as your official position is concerned, I pray you to forget it for half an hour, and remember onl

morsel, he hesitated, and looked steadily through the open doors. Several heads with shaggy hair and flashing eyes emerged above the railing of the staircase; many others followed-now the ent

held, had hushed their voices, and even the intrepid orator, who previously, on the Kohlmarkt, had excited the people to commit acts of violence, and brought them t

breakfast entirely absorbed him, and he devoted his whole attentio

tly at his plate, as he did not want the rioters to rea

r zeal and heroism, like a wet blanket. They had triumphantly penetrated into the palace, shouting vociferously, and quite sure that the minister wou

had ascended the staircase so boisterously and triumphantly, now deemed it prudent to withdraw as quietly as possible. The number of the heads that ha

and of the reward promised to him, overcame his momentary bashfulness and stepped boldl

s plate and glanced at the men who with noisy steps approached through the

want to see me? Ask them likewise whom you wi

vant in his gorgeous livery stepped up to them, and, with a most condes

ut to arm themselves with whatever pluck and boldness they had at their command in

or our names, I am Mr. Wenzel, of the tailors' guild; my neighbor here is Mr. Kahlbaum, also a tailor;

looked timidly aside, a misgiving dawning in their minds that such a loud a

ion, but hastily returned to his master, i

er gentlemen, whatever their names may be, are welcome." said the mi

ning-room. But here a proud and imperious glance

e breakfasted alre

d already," replied Mr.

o let me finish my breakfast first," said Thugut, at

cene began to take hold of their minds. Flashing sword-blades and muskets aimed at their breasts would not have frightened them so much as the aspect of the calm, proud, and forbidding figure of the minister

n why he permitted us to enter, and why he is now so calm and unconcerned; for as soon as we get into the dining-room,

another terrible glance from the minister, wh

fast." said Thugut with perfect coolness. "I am quite ready and a

the tall, herculean figure of the member of the tailors

ld of the dining-room, "it would not become poor men like us to enter your excellency's dining-room. O

hearted and outspoken popular leader, which Mr. Wenzel had assumed in the street, struck terr

s shaggy white eyebrows convulsively contracted up to this moment-the only outward symptom of anger which Thugut, even under the most

r? What can I do for you?" asked Thugut,

r excellency to give us

m?" calmly aske

come to Vienna, and proclaim himself emperor; whereupon he will dismiss our own wise and good ministers, and give us French masters. But we would like to keep our emperor and our excellent ministers, who take care of us so paternally. And that is the only reason why we have come

uted the men, "have mercy w

ther rudely into my house," said the minister, ste

impetuous," said Mr. Wenzel, deprecatingly. "We ask

ld come, and I knew, too, who had bribed you to do it. Yes, yes, I know they have paid you well, Mr. Wenzel, to get up a riot

e; he uttered a shriek and

llency kne

that it would be better to submit voluntarily to the dominion of the French Republic, instead of resisting the demands of the regicides manfully and un

ations, mingled with violent and threatening voice

may that the staircase, which only a few minutes ago

apprehensions of the rioters, for they wore the uniform of that dreaded and inexorable pol

man, who conversed with them in a whisper. Germain then hastened back to the door of the dinin

is it?" as

from getting out. He has cleared the streets, besides, and dispersed the rioters. The chief of police, who is in the hall below, w

th a smile to Count Saurau, who, being condemned to witness this scene in the capacity of an idle and pa

e chief of police to come here and

permission," replied the coun

ack to the policem

e-?" asked Mr.

"Withdraw into yonder corner! may be th

-room, and did not even dare to whisper to each other, but th

to the ante-room, and, while waiting for the arriv

m so well known to the people of the capital, who, for good reasons, were in the utmost dread of the terrible functionary. When the riote

hief to enter; the latter h

that this riot could occur? Was nobody there to disperse the seditio

y glanced anxiously at Baron Thugut. Th

ry with our worthy chief of police. I a

ed the chief. "Nobody can get out, and I hav

hemselves in their corner. "But that is unnecessary, inasmuch as they have given us their names already, and inform

w, I would like to know of his excellency, the m

doors of my palace and admitted them into my presence, and it would be ungenerous not to let them depart again. Do not read the list of the names which the chief holds in

ount, bowing respectfully. "Deliver your list to the prime minist

ioters, and left the room, after saluting the

wise, your excellency?"

on. Mr. Wenzel, you must first recite to me the song whi

y, I only know a si

not leave this room until you have recited it. Never fear, however; for

l, desperately. "I believe

umph! es siegt

enknecht

Donner der g

und nach

otn

mph! the good

ots' min

e just cause Reach

lly sung at that time

e popular classes, but l

acy. It is found in a g

ri

" said Thugut, "and can you tell

a small handbill, and circulated all over the city. A copy was thrown into every hou

circulating this excellen

in dismay. "I have merely sung it, like all the rest of u

whom the people sent with this pacific mission to me. Tell your constituents that I will this time comply mercifully with their wishes, and give them peace, that is, I will let them go, and not send them to the calaboose, as th

ectful bows with which they took leave of him, whereupon they retired with s

breakfast, let us return to my cabinet, for I b