"Plotting with whom?"
"With Prussia, Austria's mortal enemy. France has promised us not to grant any further aggrandizement to Prussia. I am satisfied that she has secretly made similar promises to Prussia in relation to us, and that she is trying as eagerly, and by means of as many assurances, to obtain the alliance of Prussia, as that of Austria."
"It is, however, of the highest importance for us to know what France may have promised to Prussia, and how far the negotiations between the two powers have gone. To fathom this, either by amicable or violent means, by shrewdness or by compulsion, by bribery or by threats, will be your task, my heavenly demon."
"It is a beautiful task, because it is a difficult one," said Victoria, proudly. "It is a matter of life and death, this duel I am to fight with one of those French bears."
"But my beautiful Victoria shall not lack seconds to furnish her weapons, and to do every thing she wants them to do."
"Who are my seconds?"
"Count Lehrbach and Colonel Barbaczy."
"Ah, Barbaczy, whose acquaintance we made at Giurgewo?"
"The same. A bold, intrepid man, who is not afraid of anybody-- neither of God nor of the devil."
"Lehrbach and Barbaczy, your two bloodhounds," said Victoria, musingly. "If they are to be my seconds, I am afraid the duel will not merely remain a spiritual one, and not merely hearts will be wounded. I am afraid real blood will be shed, and there will be carnal wounds."
"I must have the papers!" exclaimed Thugut, "either by means of cunning or by measures of open violence, do you understand? And as to the wounds and blood, I wish with all my heart to give these impudent republican fellows who are putting on such airs at Rastadt, as though they were masters of Germany, a sound and bloody lesson, and thus give France an unmistakable proof of our opinion."
"Good, my dear Satan, I shall assist you in performing this little infernal comedy. Two weighty questions, however, remain to be asked.
On what pretext shall I ask my imperial mistress to grant me leave of absence?"
"Have you not got a sister, who is married to a rich country gentleman, in the grand-duchy of Baden, and who informed you yesterday that she had been suddenly taken dangerously ill?"
"I have a sister!" exclaimed Victoria, laughing. "I who never knew a paternal roof, or family--I who dropped upon earth like a ripe peach-blossom, and would have been crushed there, if my handsome and generous Charles de Poutet had not accidentally passed by while the wind was driving me along, and if he chivalrously had not picked me up and placed me in his button-hole. I never knew my family--I was an orphan since my earliest childhood. No, my friend, I have no sister."
"Oh, try to recollect, Victoria; it is your sister who has called you to her death-bed, and for whose sake the empress will give you leave of absence."
"Ah, vraiment, I recollect now! Of course, I must go and see my sister. The good, dear sister--how she will long to see me again in order to recover from her sickness! Oh, I must repair to my sister-- nothing must detain me here. The kind-hearted empress will not refuse me leave of absence, for I have to fulfil a sacred duty.
Family ties are more sacred than any other."
"Ah, you are really a most affectionate sister; the empress will readily grant you leave of absence, and you will set out to-morrow evening. I shall provide fresh horses for you at every station, and I shall send you to-morrow morning a comfortable travelling-coach.
Your first question, then, is answered. Now for the second."
"Yes, my friend, I will briefly state my second question. After accomplishing my task, after chivalrously fighting my duel, and conquering the papers, what will be my reward?"
"Your reward will be the only one I dare offer to a beautiful young widow," said Thugut, with a diabolical smile. "A husband who will bestow upon you a distinguished name, who will strengthen your position at court, and who will one day bequeath to you a princely inheritance."
"What!" exclaimed Victoria, joyfully, "you will marry me, my friend?"