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neighborhood； and by this means the poor fellow was discovered entirely
naked； as I have said； cowering behind a tree； in a frightful condition；
his body torn by thorns。 He was brought back； and having become
perfectly quiet； was thought to be well； and resumed his duties； but a
short time after our return to Paris he had a new attack。 The character
of his malady was exceedingly obscene； and he presented himself before
the Empress Josephine in such a state of disorder； and with such indecent
gestures； that it was necessary to take precautions in regard to him。
He was confided to the care of the wise Doctor Esquirol； who； in spite of
his great skill； could not effect a cure。 I went to see him often。 He
had no more violent attacks； but his brain was diseased； and though he
heard and understood perfectly； his replies were those of a real madman。
He never lost his devotion to the Emperor； spoke of him incessantly； and
imagined himself on duty near him。 One day he told me with a most
mysterious air that he wished to confide to me a terrible secret； the
plot of a conspiracy against his Majesty's life； handing me at the same
time a note for his Majesty； with a package of about twenty scraps of
paper； which he had scribbled off himself； and thought were the details
of the plot。 Another time he handed me； for the Emperor； a handful of
little stones； which he called diamonds of great value。 〃There is more
than a million in what I hand you；〃 said he。 The Emperor； whom I told of
my visits； was exceedingly touched by the continued monomania of this
poor unfortunate； whose every thought； every act； related to his old
master； and who died without regaining his reason。
On the 10th of May； at nine o'clock in the morning； the first line of
defense of the Austrian capital was attacked and taken by Marshal Oudinot
the faubourgs surrendering at discretion。 The Duke of Montebello then
advanced on the esplanade at the head of his division； but the gates
having been closed； the garrison poured a frightful discharge from the
top of the ramparts； which fortunately however killed only a very small
number。 The Duke of Montebello summoned the garrison to surrender the
town； but the response of the Archduke Maximilian was that he would
defend Vienna with his last breath； which reply was conveyed to the
Emperor。
After taking counsel with his generals； his Majesty charged Colonel
Lagrange to bear a new demand to the archduke； but the poor colonel had
hardly entered the town than he was attacked by the infuriated populace。
General O'Reilly saved his life by having him carried away by his
soldiers； but the Archduke Maximilian； in order to defy the Emperor still
further； paraded in triumph in the midst of the national guard the
individual who has struck the first blow at the bearer of the French
summons。 This attempt； which had excited the indignation of many of the
Viennese themselves； did not change his Majesty's intentions； as he
wished to carry his moderation and kindness as far as possible； and he
wrote to the archduke by the Prince of Neuchatel the following letter； a
copy of which accidentally fell into my hands：
〃The Prince de Neuchatel to his Highness the Archduke Maximilian；
commanding the town of Vienna；
〃His Majesty the Emperor and King desires to spare this large and
worthy population the calamities with which it is threatened； and
charges me to represent to your Highness； that if he continues the
attempt to defend this place； it will cause the destruction of one
of the finest cities of Europe。 In every country where he has waged
war； my sovereign has manifested his anxiety to avoid the disasters
which armies bring on the population。 Your Highness must be
persuaded that his Majesty is much grieved to see this town； which
he has the glory of having already saved； on the point of being
destroyed。 Nevertheless； contrary to the established usage of
fortresses； your Highness has fired your cannon from the city walls；
and these cannon may kill； not an enemy of your sovereign； but the
wives or children of his most devoted servants。 If your Highness
prolongs the attempt to defend the place； his Majesty will be
compelled to begin his preparations for attack； and the ruin of this
immense capital will be consummated in thirty…six hours； by the
shells and bombs from our batteries； as the outskirts of the town
will be destroyed by the effect of yours。 His Majesty does not
doubt that these considerations will influence your Highness to
renounce a determination which will only delay for a short while the
capture of the place。 If； however； your Highness has decided not to
pursue a course which will save the town from destruction； its
population plunged by your fault into such terrible misfortunes will
become； instead of faithful subjects； the enemies of your house。〃
This letter did not deter the grand duke from persisting in his defense；
and this obstinacy exasperated the Emperor to such a degree that he at
last gave orders to place two batteries in position； and within an hour
cannonballs and shells rained upon the town。 The inhabitants； with true
German indifference； assembled on the hillsides to watch the effect of
the fires of attack and defense； and appeared much interested in the
sight。 A few cannonballs had already fallen in the court of the Imperial
palace when a flag of truce came out of the town to announce that the
Archduchess Marie Louise had been unable to accompany her father； and was
ill in the palace； and consequently exposed to danger from the artillery；
and the Emperor immediately gave orders to change the direction of the
firing so that the bombs and balls would pass over the palace。 The
archduke did not long hold out against such a sharp and energetic attack；
but fled； abandoning Vienna to the conquerors。
On the 12th of May the Emperor made his entrance into Vienna； one month
after the occupation of Munich by the Austrians。 This circumstance made
a deep impression； and did much to foster the superstitious ideas which
many of the troops held in regard to the person of their chief。 〃See；〃
said one； 〃he needed only the time necessary for the journey。 That man
must be a god。〃〃He is a devil rather；〃 said the Austrians； whose
stupefaction was indescribable。 They had reached a point when many
allowed the arms to be taken out of their hands without making the least
resistance； or without even attempting to fly； so deep was their
conviction that the Emperor and his guard were not men； and that sooner
or later they must fall into the power of these supernatural enemies。
CHAPTER XV。
The Emperor did not remain in Vienna； but established his headquarters at
the chateau of Schoenbrunn； an imperial residence situated about half a
league from the town； and the ground in front of the chateau was arranged
for the encampment of the guard。 The chateau of Schoenbrunn； erected by
the Empress Maria Theresa in 1754； and situated in a commanding position；
is built in a very irregular； and defective； but at the same time
majestic； style of architecture。 In order to reach it； there has been
thrown over the little river； la Vienne； a broad and well…constructed
bridge； ornamented with four stone sphinxes； and in front of the bridge
is a large iron gate； opening on an immense court； in which seven or
eight thousand men could be drilled。 This court is square； surrounded by
covered galleries； and ornamented with two large basins with marble
statues； and on each side of the gateway are two large obelisks in rose…
colored stone； surmounted by eagles of gilded lead。
'Schoenbrunn'； in German； signifies beautiful fountain； and this name
comes from a clear and limpid spring； which rises in a grove in the park；
on a slight elevation； around which has been built a little pavilion；
carved on the inside to imitate stalactites。 In this pavilion lies a
sleeping Naiad； holding in her hand a shell； from which the water gushes
and falls into a marble basin。 This is a delicious retreat in summer。
We can speak only in terms of admiration regarding the interior of the
palace； the furniture of which was handsome and of an original and
elegant style。 The Emperor's sleeping…room； the only part of the
building in which there was a fireplace； was ornamented with wainscoting
in Chinese lacquer work； then very old； though the painting and gilding
were still fresh； and the cabinet was decorated like the bedroom； and all
the apartments； except this； were warmed in winter by immense stoves；
which greatly injured the effect of the interior architecture。 Between
the study and the Emperor's room was a very curious machine； called the
flying chariot； a kind of mechanical contrivance； which had been made for
the Empress Maria Theresa； and was used in conveying her from one story
to the other； so that she might not be obliged to ascend and descend
staircases like the rest of the world。 This machine was operated by
means of cords； pulleys； and weights； like those at the theater。
The beautiful grove which