Maria Theresa

of the Empress Maria Th

ouncil, awaited the en

to open t

at political question w

be reflected in the fac

red together in the d

ture of dark velvet ta

ous looks of

om stood the Baron von B

owerful statesmen who

nfidence of the empres

nowledged by all, whi

hispered of

face of Bartenstein a

he was at no pains to

ld fluttered a smile of

"

," whispered Bartenst

eaties, and continue t

th such brilliant r

"

turned Uhlfeld. "She

so long as she pursue

ain

hi

rom his eyes such a gl

from the recess of a n

al favorites, were

Se

to the other, "see ho

ws already what the dec

n accordance with his w

s upon h

"

replied Count Collor

e opinions of the lor

e more readily, that I

tion which is to come

t our last sitting that

. I think, therefore t

von Uhlfeld – that i

t Harrach, does not ent

ou

or me," sighed he. "

He will be, as it ever

ho will be heard from

and so be the means o

nder crafty and a

A

ward the massive table

leather armchairs of t

do followed the glance

xpression, rested upo

as seated in one of th

papers that lay before

nd elegant proportion

y with the dark manl

her members of the cou

face; not the shadow o

en the lovely mouth it

and care are wont to

, however, was wanting

ssion. Those delicate

emotion stirred the com

ver the high, marble b

eyes was as calm, cold,

ng man, with Medusa-l

m Maria Theresa had lat

eat in her ca

T

Colloredo were direct

erve them, and went

n of the s

"

whispered Colloredo,

s the absurd hope of a

"

that a few days ago

re affectionate missi

and I know too that yes

t is his fixed idea, a

into a new line of po

of Fr

ou

e best cure that I kno

ed he, "and we will

-

H

Kaunitz had slowly ra

ested with such an ic

that the frightened

"

me!" murmured Collo

urther time for reflect

ing to the private apa

he lord high steward an

maje

T

the table, and in res

erial e

T

eard; and the the quic

s to accompany the empr

r, and to close th

A

ic figure of the empres

, and inclined their he

with light elastic step

noiselessly closed th

T

owledged the salutatio

l subjects, who, in o

ch prevailed at the A

ntil the sovereign had

ro

O

d bent his head with

gain, and he at least

s Kaunitz, the young

H

ng empress, and for

ny features. Maria T

r day. Though thirty-

was still beautiful,

r beauty. Her high, t

of blond hair, which

one rich mass, was the

eyes, were of that pecu

the soul' at one time

darkest and most fl

at pride; but every l

ting expression of a m

e so called Austrian

s usual with women, wa

t would have seemed to

ife of his own

ho

beautiful empress c

n years before had sti

stood before them; and

sm which culminated in

Pro Rege

"

rians and they were ri

was the tender wife; t

ll that related to her

both in the scope of he

She was capable of s

owing them without

ices, both of which she

threatened interferenc

sense of duty

T

n of her character were

; and now she approach

forth from her countena

itz himself was overaw

up his col

N

orous voice she invited

reached out her hand

had prepared for

S

he papers, and laid th

she said in tones of

of gravest importanc

tion and advice. We

ture policy of Austria

eliberations to Austri

to expire. Time, whic

enemies, seems also to

re dying away; and the

xtinguish enmity or re

gland, Holland, and S

ed years France has bee

liance with the forme

atter? Let me have y

W

, Maria Theresa waved

ord chancellor arose

he head, respond

Si

e to speak, I vote wit

ith the maritime powers

owers have been amicab

emity – when Louis XI

his ally, the Turkish

emies threatened Austr

the maritime powers a

he generous King of Pol

brave Sobieski saved

ck, while England an

ce thes days of Philip

revolt. To this allian

ll reigns over those

for Lombary; while Fra

of our territory, but

ion! No, your majest

ongs to Austria, Austr

t. See on the contrary

ded us! It w

rst withstand France a

old tha

y's coffers

onfirmed the prosper

alliance that advocat

It is but just that th

example to the world

integrity of the sover

e integrity o

ou

t, and after him rose t

tenstein, who, in a lo

y to the suppo

T

and Harrach, and the l

animous for a renewal

roud nobles would ha

to the two powerful st

tein and Uhlfeld had

ue with those mariti

pled wealth had flowe

f the lords of the exc

te, it was a fundamen

of inquiry into the a

eneath the dignity of

refore, were responsi

e funds arising from

sid

I

the majority of the Au

hile they argued and vo

them all, sat perfectly

n to the wise deductio

n straightening loose

is finger tips the tin

at. Once, while Bartens

carried his indifferen

was painted a portrait

he hour! The musical r

mpaniment to the dee

while Kaunitz, seemin

is ear and counted it'

isit the least manifest

cilors with open cen

d so exacting of its

gent today; for while K

, his imperial mistres

the fifth orator had s

e, Maria Theresa turne

of anxious and ap

A

all coldness and uncon

yes with the luster of

from his chair, he re

t seemed to crave forb

control over his emot

lf at

"

wal of our worn out al

a clear and determine

astonishment and disap

colleagues. The lord

mptuous shrug and a

and met both shrug and

y and slowly he repeat

as if to give time to

startling language. Th

wen

"

d and Holland has lo

. If, in its earlier d

, dearly have we paid

buy it with fearful sac

moment have these two

en dependent upon thei

he growing power and

and vigorous career li

of our increasing we

eresa's reign – thes

the grave of the past,

of our prosperity, and

tyrannical commercial

well as foes. The clo

aty, and all the other

fty English to damag

acts have been made as

an power. Unmindful of

ve closed their ports

tch the Netherlands o

an spies, seeking to d

st the limits of our o

t to themselves accru

and North Seas

ly upon us, and its w

ix-la-Chapelle I had

knightly and arrogant

he sex and majesty of

erself, not long since

British envoy, who in

though they had been

censed at the tone of

riend

I not ruler in the Ne

right of empire from

Ye

eresa, impetuously,

al traders has provoke

t them to insinuate of

avors from the hand o

f an empress-queen

reate

that these proud alli

their a

I

he effect of these imp

ss. They quaked as th

ricken faces were pall

ged glances of amazeme

droit courtiers, fix

upon Kaunitz, in whom

g the rising luminar

mam

H

ed his head and smile

ceased, and after a

ered equanimity: "Y

testify, in your own s

thern allies. It remai

rdinia, who held Lo

eus put his royal sign

han he turned to his c

him in Vienna): 'Lomba

t up, leaf by leaf, l

y of Sardinia has p

already swallowed se

It is true that this

that in his place rei

, in a burst of enthus

ll commit an act of in

ul of honor; still adde

incredulous smile,

geographers – and the

ir fondness for this v

too loving grasp of h

nds not only close the

r favors so heavily up

s before them. What h

dies? And Austria can n

h, powerful, prospero

dship where it will

freed from her oppres

as youth and vitality

the new path which shal

a moral and intangib

g Englishmen have no c

people of France ar

ends to us her hand, a

perating with France w

r two-edged sword we s

e, and make peace or

ural ally, for she is o

is our ally by the sac

me, who blesses the a

ly upon Austria's lea

we are one, the bless

ance. Religion, there

all for the trea

"

sa, rising quickly fr

iastic fire, "I vot

or alliance with Franc

to hear an Austrian

devotion he casts far

ncement. I tender him

his words

erc

the moment, the empre

y seized it and pre

ou

extraordinary scene

tein, so long the favo

le, and his lips were

ss a burst of rage. H

heads, while they turn

curry favor with

T

the dismayed faces ar

ons and her countenanc

her boundles

eryt

my soul, my life, all

th her beautiful eyes

dded, after a pause,

the Almighty. I have

stion of this day; and

at to do I w

S

ing salutation, and wi

left t

nt

lords of the council

hey looked from one t

nitz alone seemed unemb

much unconcern as if n

his head and

ev

of the Aulic Council d

or had given the signal

iolation of court etiq

n seemed crushed. With

and with eyes cast dow

together they left the

with hearts and be

llo

ed silently to the

their late master

B

r closed, than the tw

ious

Fa

Harrach. "Quenched l

ay are burnt to ashes!

t Bartens

n eleven years I

"

do, laughing, "had

ntertainment was all i

indisposition, and c

Th

y proceeding," said H

feld and Bartenste

"

it. They have th

"

ou think it will

Wi

tz: so take my advice.

ut he has two weaknes

nt, the favorite of La

terhazy an Arabian wh

If I were you, I would

Who knows but what thes

pt you as