"A boar who splendidly goaded on the hounds and performed the most astonishing exploits," said Hubschle, enthusiastically. "He received a gunshot wound in the right arm and fainted. I carried him with the assistance of a few friends to a well, and we poured water on him until he recovered his senses and was able again to participate in the general jubilee." "Then it was a jubilee? Mr. Wenzel, tell me all about it."
"It was a very fine affair," said Wenzel, gasping. "We had penetrated into the house and were working to the best of our power in the magnificent rooms. The furniture, the looking-glasses, the chandeliers, the carriages in the courtyard, every thing was destroyed, while we were singing and shouting, 'Long live the emperor! God save the Emperor Francis!'"
"What a splendid Marseillaise that dear, kind-hearted Haydn has composed for us in that hymn," said Thugut, in a low voice, gleefully rubbing his hands. "And the banner? What has become of the banner?"
"The banner we had previously torn to pieces, and with the shreds we had gone to the Schottenplatz and publicly burned them there amidst the jubilant shouts of the people."
"Very good. And what else was done in the embassy building?"
"We rushed from room to room. Nothing withstood our fury, and finally we arrived at the room in which the ambassador and his suite had barricaded themselves as in a fortress. It was the ambassador's study," said Wenzel, slowly and significantly--"the cabinet in which he kept his papers."
Thugut nodded gently, and said nothing but "Proceed!"
"I rushed toward the door and encouraged the others to follow me. We succeeded in bursting the door open. At the same moment the besieged fired at us. Three of us dropped wounded; the others ran away."
"Yes, the miserable rascals always run away as soon as they smell gunpowder," said Thugut, indignantly. "And you, Mr. Wenzel?"
"I was wounded and had fainted. My comrades carried me out of the house."
"And the papers?" asked Thugut. "You did not take them?"
"Your excellency, General Bernadotte and the whole retinue of the embassy were in the room in which the ambassador keeps his papers. I would have penetrated into it with my friends if the bullet had not shattered my arm and stretched me down senseless."
"Yes, indeed, you became entirely senseless," said Thugut, harshly, "for you even forgot that I only promised to release you provided you should bring the papers of the French ambassador."
"Your excellency," shouted Wenzel, in dismay, "I--"
"Silence!" commanded Thugut, in a stern tone; "who has allowed you to speak without being asked?"
At this moment another hasty rap at the door was heard, and Heinle's arm appeared again in the door.
"Another dispatch from the French ambassador?" asked Thugut.
"No, your excellency, a dispatch from his majesty the emperor."
Thugut hastily seized the small sealed note and opened it. It contained nothing but the following words:
"The ambassador has received a salutary lesson, and his banner has been destroyed. Let us stop the riot now, and avoid extreme measures. Several regiments must be called out to restore order."
The minister slowly folded the paper and put it into his pocket. He then rang the bell so violently and loudly, that Heinle and the other servants rushed immediately into the room.
"Open every door--call every footman!" commanded Thugut. "Admit every one who wants to see me. Two mounted messengers shall hold themselves in readiness to forward dispatches. Every one may learn that, in spite of my sickness, I have risen from my couch in order to reestablish tranquillity in the capital."
He stepped to his desk and rapidly wrote a few words, whereupon he handed the paper to Germain, his valet de chambre.