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very young conscript who was rejoining his corps。 He stopped him； asked
his name； his age； regiment； and country。 〃Monsieur；〃 said the soldier；
who did not know him； 〃my name is Martin； I am seventeen years old； and
from the Upper Pyrenees。〃〃you are a Frenchman； then？〃〃yes； Monsieur。〃
〃Ah； you are a miserable' Frenchman。 Disarm this man； and hang him！〃
〃Yes； you fool； I am French；〃 repeated the conscript； 〃and Vive
l'Empereur！〃 His Majesty was much amused； the conscript was undeceived；
congratulated； and hastened to rejoin his comrades； with the promise of a
reward；a promise which the Emperor was not slow to perform。
Two or three days before his departure from Schoenbrunn； the Emperor
again came near being assassinated。 This time the attack was to have
been made by a woman。
The Countess at this time was well known； both on account of her
astonishing beauty and the scandal of her liaisons with Lord Paget； the
English ambassador。
It would be hard to find words which would truthfully describe the grace
and charms of this lady； whom the best society of Vienna admitted only
with the greatest repugnance； but who consoled herself for their scorn by
receiving at her own house the most brilliant part of the French army。
An army contractor conceived the idea of procuring this lady for the
Emperor； and； without informing his Majesty； made propositions to the
countess through one of his friends； a cavalry officer attached to the
military police of the town of Vienna。
The cavalry officer thought he was representing his Majesty； and in good
faith said to the countess that his Majesty was exceedingly anxious to
see her at Schoenbrunn。 One morning； accordingly； he made propositions
for that evening； which； appearing somewhat abrupt to the countess； she
did not decide at once； but demanded a day for reflection； adding that
she must have good proof that the Emperor was really sincere in this
matter。 The officer protested his sincerity； promised； moreover； to give
every proof she required； and made an appointment for that evening。
Having given the contractor an account of his negotiation； the latter
gave orders that a carriage； escorted by the cavalry officer； should be
ready for the countess on the evening indicated。 At the appointed hour
the officer returned to the countess； expecting her to accompany him； but
she begged him to return next day； saying that she had not yet decided；
and needed the night for longer reflection。 At the officer's
solicitations she decided； however； and appointed the next day； giving
her word of honor to be ready at the appointed hour。
The carriage was then sent away； and ordered for the next evening at the
same hour。 This time the contractor's envoy found the countess well
disposed； she received him gayly； eagerly even； and told him that she had
given orders in regard to her affairs as if she were going on a journey；
then； regarding him fixedly； said； tutoying him； 〃You may return in an
hour and I will be ready； I will go to him； you may rely upon it。
Yesterday I had business to finish； but to…day I am free。 If you are a
good Austrian； you will prove it to me； you know how much harm he has
done our country！ This evening our country will be avenged！ Come for
me； do not fail！〃
The cavalry officer； frightened at such a confidence as this； was
unwilling to accept the responsibility； and repeated everything at the
chateau； in return for which the Emperor rewarded him generously； urged
him for his own sake not to see the countess again； and expressly forbade
his having anything more to do with the matter。 All these dangers in no
wise…depressed the Emperor； and he had a habit of saying； 〃What have I to
fear？ I cannot be assassinated； I can die only on the field of battle。〃
But even on the field of battle he took no care of himself； and at
Essling； for example； exposed himself like a chief of battalion who wants
to be a colonel； bullets slew those in front； behind； beside him； but he
did not budge。 It was then that a terrified general cried； 〃Sire； if
your Majesty does not retire； it will be necessary for me to have you
carried off by my grenadiers。〃 This anecdote proves took any precautions
in regard to himself。 The signs of exasperation manifested by the
inhabitants of Vienna made him very watchful； however； for the safety of
his troops； and he expressly forbade their leaving their cantonments in
the evening。 His Majesty was afraid for them。
The chateau of Schoenbrunn was the rendezvous of all the illustrious
savants of Germany； and no new work； no curious invention； appeared； but
the Emperor immediately gave orders to have the author presented to him。
It was thus that M。 Maelzel； the famous inventor of metronomy； was
allowed the honor of exhibiting before his Majesty several of his own
inventions。 The Emperor admired the artificial limbs intended to replace
more comfortably and satisfactorily than wooden ones those carried off by
balls； and gave him orders to have a wagon constructed to convey the
wounded from the field of battle。 This wagon was to be of such a kind
that it could be folded up and easily carried behind men on horseback；
who accompanied the army； such as surgeons； aides； servants； etc。 M。
Maelzel had also built an automaton known throughout Europe under the
name of the chess player； which he brought to Schoenbrunn to show to his
Majesty； and set it up in the apartments of the Prince de Neuchatel。 The
Emperor visited the Prince； and I； in company with several other persons；
accompanied him； and found this automaton seated before a table on which
the chessmen were arranged。 His Majesty took a chair； and seating himself
in front of the automaton； said； with a laugh； 〃Come； my comrade； we are
ready。〃 The automaton bowed and made a sign with his hand to the
Emperor； as if to tell him to begin； upon which the game commenced。 The
Emperor made two or three moves； and intentionally made a wrong one。 The
automaton bowed； took the piece； and put it in its proper place。 His
Majesty cheated a second time； the automaton bowed again； and took the
piece。 〃That is right；〃 said the Emperor； and when he cheated a third
time； the automaton； passing his hand over the chess…board； spoiled the
game。
The Emperor complimented the inventor highly。 As we left the room；
accompanied by the Prince de Neuchatel we found in the antechamber two
young girls； who presented to the prince； in the name of their mother； a
basket of beautiful fruit。 As the prince welcomed them with an air of
familiarity； the Emperor； curious to find out who they were； drew near
and questioned them； but they did not understand French： Some one then
told his Majesty that these two pretty girls were daughters of a good
woman； whose life Marshal Berthier had saved in 1805。 On this occasion
he was alone on horseback； the cold was terrible； and the ground covered
with snow； when he perceived； lying at the foot of a tree； a woman who
appeared to be dying； and had been seized with a stupor。 The marshal
took her in his arms； and placed her on his horse with his cloak wrapped
around her； and thus conveyed her to her home； where her daughters were
mourning her absence。 He left without making himself known； but they
recognized him at the capture of Vienna； and every week the two sisters
came to see their benefactor； bringing him flowers or fruit as a token of
their gratitude。
End