writing…table early every morning。
Thanks to these reports； the emperor knew every morning all that had
occurred in Vienna during the previous day； what the foreign
ambassadors had done； and； above all things； what his brothers； the
Archdukes Charles； Ferdinand； Joseph； and John； had said； done； and
perhaps only thought。 To…day's report had not communicated many
important things to the emperor； it had only informed him that； at
daybreak； a courier from Paris had arrived at the house of the
French ambassador； Count Andreossi； and that there were good reasons
to believe that be had brought highly important news。
It was exactly for the purpose of dispelling the anxiety with which
this unpleasant intelligence had filled him； that。 Francis bad laid
aside the report and recommenced his work on the cup； and by this
occupation he bad succeeded in forgetting the burdensome duties of
his imperial office。
He was just trying very hard to plane one side of his cup； when a
low rap at the small door leading to the narrow corridor； and thence
to the apartments of the empress； interrupted him。 The emperor gave
a start and looked toward the door； listening and hoping； perhaps；
that his ear might have deceived him。 But no； the rapping was heard
once more： there could no longer be a doubt of itsomebody sought
admittance； and intended to disturb the peaceful solitude of the
emperor。
〃What does the empress want？〃 murmured Francis。 〃What does she come
here for？ I am afraid something unpleasant has happened again。〃
He rose with a shrug from his chair； put his miniature cup hastily
into the drawer of his table； and hurried to open the door。
Francis had not been mistaken。 It really was the Empress Ludovica；
the third consort of the emperor； who had married her only a few
months ago。 She wore a handsome dishabille of embroidered white
muslin； closely surrounding her delicate and slender form； and
trimmed with beautiful laces。 The white dress reached up to the
neck； where a rose…colored tie fastened it。 Her beautiful black
hair； which fell down in heavy ringlets on both sides of her face；
was adorned with a costly lace cap； from which wide ribbons of rose…
colored satin flowed down on her shoulders。 But the countenance of
the empress did not correspond to this coquettish and youthful
dress。 She was young and beautiful； but an expression of profound
melancholy overspread her features。 Her cheeks were transparently
white； and a sad； touching smile quivered round her finely…
chiselled； narrow lips； her high； expansive forehead was shaded； as
it were； by a cloud of sadness； and her large black eyes shot； from
time to time； gloomy flashes which seemed to issue from a gulf of
fiery torture。 But whatever passions might animate her delicate；
ethereal form； the empress had learned to cover her heart with a
veil； and her lips never gave utterance to the sufferings of her
soul。 Only her confidantes were allowed to divine them； they alone
knew that； twofold tortures were racking Ludovica's fiery soul；
those of hatred and wounded pride。 Napoleon！ it was he whom the
empress hated with indescribable bitterness； and the neglect with
which her consort； the Emperor Francis； treated her cut her proud
heart to the quick。 Thanks to the intrigues and immense riches of
her mother； Beatrix of Este； Duchess of Modena； she had become the
wife of an emperor； and herself an empress； but she had thereby
obtained only an august position； not a husband and partner。 She was
an empress in name only； but not in reality。 Francis had given her
his hand； but not his heart and his love。 He disdained his
beautiful； lovely wife； he avoided any familiar intercourse with her
with anxious timidity； only in the presence of the court and the
public did he treat the empress as his consort； and tolerate her
near his person。 At first Ludovica had submitted to this strange
conduct on the part of her husband with proud indifference； and not
the slightest murmur； not the mildest reproach； had escaped her
lips。 For it was not from love that she had chosen this husband； but
from ambition and pride。 She had told herself that it would be
better for her to be Empress of Austria than Princess of Modena and
Este； and even the prospect of being the third wife of Francis of
Austria； and the stepmother of the ten children whom his second wife
had borne to him； had not deterred her。 She meant to marry the
emperor； and not the man； she wished to play a prominent part； and
exert a powerful influence on the destinies of the world。 But these
hopes were soon to prove utterly futile。 The emperor granted her
publicly all the privileges of her exalted position by his side； but
in the privacy of her apartments he never made her his confidante；
he refused to let her have any influence over his decisions； he
never consulted her as to the measures of his administration： nay；
he avoided alluding to such topics in her presence。
Such was the grief that was gnawing at the heart of the young
empressthe wound from which her proud and lofty soul was bleeding。
But for a few weeks past she had overcome her silent grief； and the
presence of her mother； the shrewd and intriguing Duchess of Modena；
seemed to have imparted fresh strength to the empress； and confirmed
her in her determination to conquer the heart and confidence of her
husband。 Whereas she had hitherto met his indifference by proud
reticence； and feigned not to notice it； she was kind and even
affectionate toward him； and it often happened that； availing
herself of the privilege of her position； she traversed the private
corridor separating her rooms from those of her husband； and；
without being summoned to him； entered his cabinet to talk politics
with him in spite of his undisguised aversion to doing so。 The
emperor hated these interviews from the bottom of his heart； a
shudder pervaded his soul； and a cloud covered his brow； whenever he
heard the low rap of the empress at his private door。 To…day； too；
the dark cloud covered his forehead even after the empress had
entered his cabinet。 Ludovica noticed it； and a mournful smile
overspread her pale face for a moment。
〃As your majesty did not come to me to bid me good…morning； I have
come to you；〃 she said； in a gentle； kind voice； holding out her
beautiful white hand to the emperor。
Francis took it and pressed it to his lips。 〃It is true；〃 he said；
evidently embarrassed； 〃I did not come this morning to pay my
respects to you； but time was wanting to me。 I had to go at once to
my cabinet and work； I am very busy。〃
〃I see；〃 said Ludovica； 〃your majesty's dress still bears the traces
of your occupation。〃
The emperor hastened to brush away with his hands the small
particles of the peach…stone that had remained on his shirt…bosom
and his sleeve； but while he was doing this his brow darkened still
more； and he cast a gloomy and defiant glance on the empress。
〃Look； empress；〃 he said； 〃perhaps you belong to the secret police；
and have been employed to watch me in order to find out what I am
doing when I am alone in my cabinet。 Why； if I found out that that
was so； I should be obliged to be on my guard and have this door
walled up； so that my esteemed consort might no longer be able to
surprise and watch me。〃
〃Your majesty will assuredly not do that；〃 said Ludovica； whose
voice was tremulous； and whose cheeks had turned even paler than
before。 〃No； your majesty will not make me undergo the humiliation
of making known to the world the deplorable secret with which we
alone have hitherto been acquainted。 Your majesty will not deprive
me of the only privilege which I enjoy in common with your former
consorts； and thereby proclaim to the world that I am in this palace
a stranger who has not even access to the rooms of her husband。〃
〃I do not say that I intend to do it；〃 said Francis； shrugging his
shoulders； 〃I say only that it is highly repugnant to me to have my
steps dogged and watched in any manner。 It is true； my former
consort had also the keys of this private corridor； butpardon me
for this remark； your majestythe empress never used these keys；
but always waited for me to open the door。〃
〃And she did not wait in vain；〃 said the empress； quickly； 〃your
majesty never failed to come； for you loved your consort； and I have
been told you never suffered even a few hours to pass by without
leaving your cabinet and crossing the secret corridor to repair to
the rooms of the empress。〃
〃But the good Empress Theresa；〃 exclaimed the emperor； 〃when I was
with her； never endeavored to talk to me about politics and state
affairs。〃
〃I understand that；〃 said Ludovica； 〃you had both so many mutual
interests to converse about。 You had your mutual love； your
children； to talk about。 I； who am so unhappy as not to be able to
talk with you about such matters； how intensely so…ever my heart
longs for it； must content myself with conversing with my husband on
different subjects； and I desire to share at least his cares when I
cannot share his love。 My husband； I beseech you； do not disdain my
friendship； accept a friend's hand； which I offer to you honestly
and devotedly。〃
〃My God； that is precisely what I long for！〃 exclaimed the emperor
fervently； again pressing to his lips the hand which the empress
held out to him。 〃My fondest wish is fulfilled when your majesty
will give me your friendship； and confide in me as your best； most
devoted； and faithful friend！〃
〃But this confidence must be reciprocated； my dearest friend；〃 said
Ludovica； putting her hand on the emperor's shoulder。 and gazing
long and ardently into his eyes。 〃Your majesty must confide in me
too； and count implicitly on my fidelity。〃
〃That is what I do；〃 said Francis； hastily； 〃never should I dare to
doubt the fidelity of the purest； chastest； and most virtuous
empress and ladythe fidelity of my wife。〃
〃I did not refer to the wife's fidelity；〃 said Ludovica； sighing；
〃but to the fidelity of my friendship； which is joyously ready to
share all your cares and afflictions。〃
〃Well then；〃 said the emperor； nodding to her smilingly； 〃I will
give you a proof of my faith in your friendship。 Yes； you shall
share