THE COMING OF THE KAISER
AND now for a time all other matters at Court fell into the background,
and every mind was taken up with the preparations for the coming visit
of the Kaiser.
The character of the young man who at this time had only recently
succeeded to the Imperial throne of Germany was still to some extent
a matter of conjecture. It was known that Providence had endowed him
with a very ample share of confidence in his own abilities, and belief
in his own prerogatives. It was very quickly discovered that these
qualities in the young ruler were not tempered by any great measure
of consideration for either the rights or the abilities of others. In
his domestic relations he would have deserved great praise if he had
been able occasionally to forget the character of the sovereign in
that of the brother or son. As a Crown Prince he had suffered under
the suspicion of having lent himself to an intrigue for the exclusion
of his father from the throne; and such rumours obtained more credence
from a certain vein of extravagance which marked all his public
actions, and had led the irrepressible Von Stahlen to invent for him
the name of “The Barn-door Emperor.”
One of his first acts after his accession had been to dismiss, under
circumstances of some harshness, a great statesman whose services
to his country and to the Imperial family had been such as have
hardly been equalled in modern history. The Kaiser’s assumption of
personal control over his government had not been marked by any great
new departure; but what was wanting in deeds was more than made up
in verbal declarations of the most imposing character. Short of
requiring them to pay him divine honours, there seemed to be no limit
to the claims which their new Emperor made upon the submission of
his astounded subjects. That absolute power over their fortunes and
their lives which the great Frederick earned by his achievements, and
which he used with discreet moderation, was asserted by his untried
descendant in harangues which resounded over Europe. The doctrine of
the Divine right of kings was revived in the nineteenth century, and
the Kaiser might have exclaimed with Louis XIV., “_L’État, c’est moi._”
The foundation on which the Kaiser rested his edifice of despotic
power was the military system. The army over which he wielded the
supreme command was carefully indoctrinated by him with the spirit of
an exclusive society, privileged above the rest of the community on
condition of lending its implicit support to his personal authority.
Regiments gave dinners in the Kaiser’s honour, at which he made
speeches inviting them to look down upon their fellow subjects as
beings of an inferior order. Sentries shot down private citizens in
cold blood, for fancied affronts, and were rewarded by the personal
congratulations of the Emperor. The Kaiser assumed the character of a
military chieftain encamped with his followers upon the German soil,
like an invader in a conquered city.
In territories like those of Franconia and the other states which
preserved a partial independence, it was the theory of the German
constitution that the local monarch retained the control of his army
in time of peace. But the Kaiser was accused of working secretly to
upset this system, and to gather the whole of the military power into
his own hands. Considerable distrust had been aroused by these tactics,
and an almost open breach existed between the King of Wurtemburg and
the Kaiser on this account, at the time of the long-talked-of visit to
Maximilian. Kaisers, like more common persons, are not above killing
two birds with one stone, and it was known in the Chancelleries of the
states concerned that the Kaiser’s journey was prompted quite as much
by his desire to overcome this hostility, as by his curiosity to view
the wonders of Seidlingen.
Thither, to the famous scene of Maximilian’s extraordinary creation,
the whole Franconian Court repaired in state to receive its august
visitor. The King had sent on Bernal in advance, to see that his ideas
had been completely carried out to the last detail; and as soon as a
favourable report was received Maximilian followed with the rest of
the Court, and made his first formal entrance into his new domain.
The railway ended at a distance of eight miles from the Castle itself.
From there the royal party were driven in carriages up the new road
which Maximilian’s engineers had constructed, past the fountains and
waterfalls which had been artfully scattered along the route, and under
the archway, guarded by cannon, which gave access to the hidden valley.
Exclamations of wonder and delight burst from the lips of the courtiers
as they rolled through the rocky gateway, and the full beauty of the
fairyland within burst upon their sight. The gardens, the strange
trees, the flower-beds, the canals and aqueducts, the kiosks and
gondolas, all combined to produce the illusion of a scene upon the
stage, rather than a sober reality of waking life. The season of the
year--it was early June--helped to show off all the natural features
at their best. And the culminating point was reached when the Castle
itself came into view, built of dazzling marble, with every turret and
pinnacle flashing in the sunshine, like a palace of silver built by
genii at the command of the prince in some eastern tale.
Here, in the midst of these splendours, the more serious business of
life seemed out of place for a time, and the whole Court abandoned
itself to enjoyment. The King moved about with a lighter step, proud
of the success of his work; the Princess Hermengarde put on her most
gracious demeanour; and the Count von Sigismark, snatching time
from the cares of office, mingled with the pleasant throng, and
condescended to receive the raillery of Von Stahlen on his supposed
exchange of the post of Chancellor of Franconia for that of Grand
Vizier of Seidlingen. Even the stern Johann forgot his jealousy of the
King’s æsthetic tastes, and yielded for a time to the fascination of
his surroundings.
As for Dorothea, she was completely carried away by all she saw.
Shaking off the sense of her strange position, with the elastic spirit
of youth, she seemed to regain in the air of Seidlingen the gayety and
lightness of the old days when Maximilian first came seeking her in the
forest lodge. The King gave every moment he could spare to her society,
and when he was elsewhere, she roamed about the gardens under the
protection of her cousin, whose harsh nature softened insensibly under
the influence of the girl’s sweet temper.
Nor was the young Prince Ernest behindhand in offering her his company.
Whether in despair of obtaining the old Chancellor’s support for her
schemes, or actuated by some deeper motive, his mother had all at
once ceased to thrust him into the arms of Gertrude von Sigismark,
and the vain girl again found herself obliged to fall back on the
homage of such lesser lights of the Court as the Von Stahlens and Von
Hardenburgs. Deeply mortified at this second failure to retain a royal
admirer, she set herself to fathom the nature of the intrigue between
her father and the Princess. Aided by the reluctant hints which she
had the art to extract from Herr Moritz, who came to and fro between
Seidlingen and the capital, she was not long in reaching the conviction
that her father was to blame for her present disappointment, and that
it only rested with him to make her the future Queen of Franconia. The
result was just such as Hermengarde had anticipated all along: Gertrude
became her secret ally, and persistently urged the Chancellor to do
everything in his power to conciliate the Princess.
In the mean time nothing was seen outwardly but sports and pleasures.
In the midst of this magnificent picnic the Kaiser arrived to glorify
the festivities with his patronage.
After King Maximilian had received him in state at the entrance of the
demesne, and conducted him to the Castle, the two monarchs with their
Chancellors retired to an inner room to hold a consultation on the
political questions which the Kaiser desired to discuss. As soon as the
affairs of Wurtemburg and other minor matters were disposed of, the
Emperor took Maximilian familiarly by the arm, and asked him to walk
with him round the gardens.
The King assented politely, and the two sovereigns strolled out
together, while Von Sigismark led the Imperial Chancellor, General von
Bernerstauf, into his own apartments.
At first the talk between King and Emperor turned upon the various
objects which they were viewing, but by degrees it drifted round to
more personal matters. The Kaiser inquired as to the truth of the
reports which had reached him of the attempt on Maximilian’s life, and
in response Maximilian related almost exactly what had taken place,
down to the release of Johann Mark by his orders, and his reception as
a familiar guest in the palace.
The Kaiser, who had contrived by some of his measures to incur the
reproach of Socialism, from old-fashioned statesmen, without having
earned the confidence of the Socialists themselves, was not an
unsympathetic listener to Maximilian’s account.
“If I had been in your place I should have knocked the fellow down
first, and talked to him afterwards,” he remarked, with the rough
frankness which he affected. “But all the same, I am interested in your
Herr Mark. Of course, the man ought to be hanged, but I don’t blame you
for listening to what he had to say. I hold that in these days a king
ought to be his own prime minister, and not suffer the dictation of a
set of officials. I don’t think much of that Chancellor of yours. The
man is past his work; why don’t you get rid of him and have a younger
man, who understands modern ideas?”
Maximilian was much pleased at receiving this measure of encouragement
from so influential a quarter.
“I have been considering my position lately,” he answered. “Up to the
present, as I dare say you know, I have not taken much interest in the
practical work of government. But Herr Mark has convinced me that I
ought, as you put it, to be my own prime minister. I do not want to
treat Von Sigismark harshly, but I have certainly found him very much
disposed to thwart me when I ask him to listen to any new views. If
it is not taking a liberty to make the suggestion, you would confer a
great obligation on me by saying a few words to him privately while you
are here, just to show him that my ideas are not so unreasonable as he
seems to suppose.”
“I will,” returned the Kaiser heartily, clapping his brother monarch on
the back. “We reformers must stand by each other. I had just the same
difficulty to fight with myself, when I first came to the throne, but
I soon showed these people that I was not to be trifled with, and now
they either obey me or--go.”
“Mark himself is here in the Castle now. I thought perhaps you might be
willing to see him, and give me the benefit of your judgment on some of
his ideas.”
The Kaiser shook his head vigorously.
“No! I never do. It is a mistake to lower one’s self to the level of
these people. They only despise you for it, and hate you more in the
end than if you had always held them at arm’s length. Look at poor
Alexander II. of Russia; if he had not emancipated the serfs they would
never have assassinated him.”
Maximilian was much struck by these observations. He began to perceive
that this young monarch, of whose headstrong folly the whole world was
talking, hid some real capacity beneath his extravagant demeanour. They
were of much the same age, the Kaiser had reigned fewer years than
himself, and yet how much more had he learned of the art of governing
men!
While the two rulers were thus exchanging confidences, their Ministers
were conversing with apparently equal cordiality, though with far less
real sincerity.
The German Chancellor, like his master, was keenly curious about
the recent events at Neustadt, but the account he elicited from Von
Sigismark was much more guarded than that given by Maximilian to
the Kaiser. The old Count would not admit that there had been any
definite attempt on the King’s life; on the other hand, he spoke with
unconcealed aversion of Johann and his influence over the King’s mind.
“The man is a blatant demagogue of the most extreme type,” he said,
vindictively. “He aims at universal confiscation, and the abolition
of monarchy and aristocracy--the whole French Revolution over again,
in short. Since he has obtained the King’s ear I am in a state of
perpetual apprehension as to what may happen next. Imagine the
consequences, not merely to Franconia but to the whole Empire, if such
a man is allowed to have his way!”
“What you say is indeed very serious,” was the cautious response. The
Imperial Minister stood in far too much awe of his master to commit
himself to any very definite expression of opinion without having the
royal instructions.
Von Sigismark was restrained by no such consideration. He had come, in
fact, to a point at which boldness was the most prudent policy.
“It would be an immense relief to me,” he observed, “to know that I had
the Kaiser’s approval in the stand which I have felt it necessary to
make against this man’s interference in the affairs of the government.
My own master, of course, has never been a politician, and I am sure
he would pay great attention to anything which fell from his Imperial
Majesty.”
“I will take care that the Kaiser is informed of the situation,”
replied Von Bernerstauf. “I know that he has the highest regard both
for King Maximilian and for yourself.”
“The fact is that there is another reason for my desiring to be put
in possession of the Kaiser’s wishes,” went on the Count, lowering
his voice, “a reason of so delicate a nature that I hardly deem
it consistent with my duty to mention it to any other ear but his
Majesty’s own. You will pardon my reserve, General?”
The General nodded gravely, with the air of one who understands more
than is expressed.
“Your caution does you honour, my dear Count. I wish to be informed of
nothing which the Emperor does not himself desire me to know. I will,
if that is your meaning, endeavour to obtain for you a private audience
of the Kaiser.”
“Thank you, that is what I desire,” answered Von Sigismark.
And the two Ministers passed on to topics of a lighter nature.
Later in the day the Kaiser and his Chancellor were closeted together,
and the latter repeated the purport of his conversation with the
Franconian Minister.
The Kaiser was at first disinclined to grant the audience requested.
“I do not think I ought to encourage this person to come to me behind
his master’s back,” said he, with some haughtiness. “Anything which he
has to say may be quite well said through you.”
“As you please, Sire.” The Kaiser’s Ministers were trained not to
criticise but to acquiesce.
“I know perfectly well that the King and his Chancellor do not quite
hit it,” went on the Kaiser, familiarly. “I have heard all about
it from the King himself. It is all about this Socialist who has
undertaken to teach them how to conduct the government. But it seems
to me that the more they quarrel among themselves, the better for my
authority. What do you say, Von Bernerstauf?”
“I agree entirely with your view, Sire, if I may say so respectfully.
No doubt the alarm of Count von Sigismark is very much exaggerated.
Of course, there will be always time for your Majesty to step in if
anything like a revolution should become imminent.”
“I should like to see a revolution!” exclaimed the Kaiser, with warmth.
“Do you know what I should do? March into Franconia with an army of a
hundred thousand men, declare the dynasty suspended, and mediatise the
kingdom. It would simply mean another Hanover added to my dominions.”
Von Bernerstauf assumed an expression of the most profound admiration.
“You foresee everything, Sire!” he cried, with an imitation of his
master’s own bluffness.
But the Kaiser quickly recalled himself from these visions of
aggrandisement.
“Have you any idea, General, what the reason was which the Count was
afraid to mention to you?”
“I have my suspicions, Sire. I have had the opportunity of conversing
with other members of the Court, and from various circumstances I am
led to think that possibly the Count has some fears for the King’s
sanity.”
“Ah!”
The Kaiser remained for the next few minutes plunged in profound
thought. At last he raised his eyes to Von Bernerstauf’s.
“In that case I will receive the Count. Go and bring him here
immediately.”