按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
partly unbuttoned； and something fell out resembling a package of papers；
on examination it was found to be a large carving knife； with several
folds of gray paper wrapped around it as a sheath； thereupon he was
conducted to General Savary。
This young man was a student； and the son of a Protestant minister of
Naumbourg； he was called Frederic Stabs； and was about eighteen or
nineteen years old； with a pallid face and effeminate features。 He did
not deny for an instant that it was his intention to kill the Emperor；
but on the contrary boasted of it； and expressed his intense regret that
circumstances had prevented the accomplishment of his design。
He had left his father's house on a horse which the want of money had
compelled him to sell on the way； and none of his relatives or friends
had any knowledge of his plan。 The day after his departure he had
written to his father that he need not be anxious about him nor the
horse； that he had long since promised some one to visit Vienna； and his
family would soon hear of him with pride。 He had arrived at Vienna only
two days before； and had occupied himself first in obtaining information
as to the Emperor's habits； and finding that he held a review every
morning in the court of the chateau； had been there once in order to
acquaint himself with the locality。 The next day he had undertaken to
make the attack； and had been arrested。
The Duke of Rovigo； after questioning Stabs； sought the Emperor； who had
returned to his apartments； and acquainted him with the danger he had
just escaped。 The Emperor at first shrugged his shoulders； but having
been shown the knife which had been taken from Stabs； said； 〃Ah； ha！
send for the young man； I should like very much to talk with him。〃 The
duke went out； and returned in a few moments with Stabs。 When the latter
entered； the Emperor made a gesture of pity； and said to the Prince de
Neuchatel； 〃Why； really； he is nothing more than a child！
〃An interpreter was summoned and the interrogation begun。
His Majesty first asked the assassin if he had seen him； anywhere before
this。 〃Yes； I saw you；〃 replied Stabbs； 〃at Erfurt last year。〃〃It
seems that a crime is nothing in your eyes。 Why did you wish to kill
me？〃〃To kill you is not a crime； on the contrary； it is the duty of
every good German。 I wished to kill you because you are the oppressor of
Germany。〃〃It is not I who commenced the war； it is your nation。 Whose
picture is this？〃 （the Emperor held in his hands the picture of a woman
that had been found on Stabs）。 〃It is that of my best friend； my
father's adopted daughter。〃〃 What！ and you are an assassin！ and have
no fear of afflicting and destroying beings who are so dear to you？〃〃I
wished to do my duty； and nothing could have deterred me from it。〃〃But
how would you have succeeded in； striking me？ 〃〃I would first have
asked you if we were soon to have peace； and if you had answered no； I
should have stabbed you。〃〃He is mad！〃 said the Emperor； 〃he is
evidently mad！ And how could you have hoped to escape； after you had
struck me thus in the midst of my soldiers？〃〃I knew well to what I was
exposing myself； and am astonished to be still alive。〃 This boldness
made such a deep impression on the Emperor that he remained silent for
several moments； intently regarding Stabs； who remained entirely unmoved
under this scrutiny。 Then the Emperor continued； 〃The one you love will
be much distressed。〃〃Oh； she will no doubt be distressed because I did
not succeed； for she hates you at least as much as I hate you myself。〃
〃Suppose I pardoned you？〃〃You would be wrong； for I would again try to
kill you。〃 The Emperor summoned M。 Corvisart and said to him； 〃This
young man is either sick or insane； it cannot be otherwise。〃〃I am
neither the one nor the other；〃 replied the assassin quickly。
M。 Corvisart felt Stabs's pulse。 〃This gentleman is well；〃 he said。
〃I have already told you so；〃 replied Stabs with a triumphant air。
〃Well； doctor；〃 said his Majesty； 〃this young man who is in such good
health has traveled a hundred miles to assassinate me。〃
Notwithstanding this declaration of the physician and the avowal of
Stabs； the Emperor； touched by the coolness and assurance of the
unfortunate fellow； again offered him his pardon； upon the sole condition
of expressing some repentance for his crime。； but as Stabs again asserted
that his only regret was that he had not succeeded in his undertaking；
the Emperor reluctantly gave him up to punishment。
After he was conducted to prison； as he still persisted in his
assertions； he was immediately brought before a military commission；
which condemned him to death。 He did not undergo his punishment till the
17th； and after the 13th； the day on which he was arrested； took no food；
saying that he would have strength enough to go to his death。 The
Emperor had ordered that the execution should be delayed as long as
possible； in the hope that sooner or later Stabs would repent； but he
remained unshaken。 As he was being conducted to the place where he was
to be shot； some one having told him that peace had just been concluded；
he cried in a loud voice； 〃Long live liberty！ Long live Germany！ 〃
These were his last words。
CHAPTER XVII。
During his stay at Schoenbrunn the Emperor was constantly engaged in
gallant adventures。 He was one day promenading on the Prater in Vienna；
with a very numerous suite （the Prater is a handsome promenade situated
in the Faubourg Leopold）； when a young German； widow of a rich merchant；
saw him； and exclaimed involuntarily to the ladies promenading with her；
〃It is he！〃 This exclamation was overheard by his Majesty； who stopped
short； and bowed to the ladies with a smile； while the one who had spoken
blushed crimson； the Emperor comprehended this unequivocal sign； looked
at her steadfastly； and then continued his walk。
For sovereigns there are neither long attacks nor great difficulties； and
this new conquest of his Majesty was not less rapid than the others。 In
order not to be separated from her illustrious lover； Madame B
followed the army to Bavaria； and afterwards came to him at Paris； where
she died in 1812。
His Majesty's attention was attracted by a charming young person one
morning in the suburbs of Schoenbrunn； and some one was ordered to see
this young lady； and arrange for a rendezvous at the chateau the
following evening。 Fortune favored his Majesty on this occasion。 The
eclat of so illustrious a name； and the renown of his victories； had
produced a deep impression on the mind of the young girl； and had
disposed her to listen favorably to the propositions made to her。 She
therefore eagerly consented to meet him at the chateau； and at the
appointed hour the person of whom I have spoken came for her； and I
received her on her arrival； and introduced her to his Majesty。 She did
not speak French； but she knew Italian well； and it was consequently easy
for the Emperor to converse with her； and he soon learned with
astonishment that this charming young lady belonged to a very honorable
family of Vienna； and that in coming to him that evening she was inspired
alone by a desire to express to him her sincere admiration。 The Emperor
respected the innocence of the young girl； had her reconducted to her
parents' residence； and gave orders that a marriage should be arranged
for her； and that it should be rendered more advantageous by means of a
considerable dowry。
At Schoenbrunn； as at Paris； his Majesty dined habitually at six o'clock；
but since he worked sometimes very far into the night； care was taken to
prepare every evening a light supper； which was placed in a little locked
basket covered with oil…cloth。 There were two keys to this basket； one
of which the steward kept； and I the other。 The care of this basket
belonged to me alone； and as his Majesty was extremely busy； he hardly
ever asked for supper。 One evening Roustan； who had been busily occupied
all day in his master's service； was in a little room next to the
Emperor's； and meeting me just after I had assisted in putting his
Majesty to bed； said to me in his bad French； looking at the basket with
an envious eye； 〃I could eat a chicken wing myself； I am very hungry。〃
I refused at first； but finally； as I knew that the Emperor had gone to
bed； and had no idea he would take a fancy to ask me for supper that
evening； I let Roustan have it。 He； much delighted； began with a leg；
and next took a wing； and I do not know if any of the chicken would have
been left had I not suddenly heard the bell ring sharply。 I entered the
room； and was shocked to hear the Emperor say to me； 〃Constant； my
chicken。〃 My embarrassment may be imagined。 I had no other chicken； and
by what means； at such an hour； could I procure one！ At last I decided
what to do。 It was best to cut up the fowl； as thus I would be able to
conceal the absence of the two limbs Roustan had eaten； so I entered
proudly with the chicken replaced on the dish Roustan following me； for I
was very willing； if there were any reproaches； to share them with him。
I picked up the remaining wing； and presented it to the Emperor； but h