But the General's further "friendly observations" were never completed.
His veiled reference to the Archduchess and the displeasure of the
Emperor Francis Joseph, indicating, as it did, that he had received
instructions on the subject, had the most disastrous effect on Count
Seilern, who, in a paroxysm of rage, exclaimed:--
"That is a private matter which concerns only another and myself! Your
Imperial mandate extends to my military duties, which I have always
carried out with precision, and no further."
"Silence!" cried Hoetzendorf, springing to his feet and stretching out
his hand to touch the button of an electric bell on his table. "We will
very soon see about that!"
It was then that the irreparable happened. Count Seilern, either
through interpreting the General's gesture as a menace to his personal
safety, or because he was carried away by anger, brought his hand to
the hilt of his sword, and, at the very moment that an aide-de-camp, in
reply to the summons, appeared in the doorway, partly drew the weapon
from its scabbard.
"I order you to disarm Lieutenant Count Seilern and place him under
arrest," said the General, drawing himself up to his full height as he
instinctively stepped back a few paces. "Call the guard immediately.
Captain ----," turning his head in my direction, "you are a witness of
this inexcusable act of insubordination. I shall require you shortly
to give evidence, so you may as well draw up a report of what you have
heard and seen without delay. Soldiers, remove the prisoner to the
guard-room."
As Count Seilern was led away, proud and defiant, I saw clearly that
the danger of which I had been informed at C---- was still hanging over
his head. Moreover, the conviction suddenly came to me that Conrad
von Hoetzendorf was acting as an agent for those who were attempting
to counter the plans of this over-ambitious man. An inkling of this
was given me by the Count himself during the confrontation, by the
expression of his face and his manner, no less than by the indignant
words, "Your Imperial mandate extends to my military duties--and no
further." I seemed to read therein the Count's recognition that he was
the victim of a cabal, which was drawing a net ever closer and closer
around him.
General von Hoetzendorf might have judged and condemned Count Seilern
there and then, but postponed this disagreeable duty; and I have a very
good idea why. When, an hour later, I handed in my report (the most
obnoxious piece of work I have ever done in my life) I found him in
deep thought. All he said, ere I withdrew, was:--
"Very good, Captain ----, I will read what you have written later. The
affair can stand over for a while, until I call a court-martial."
It was evident (thought I) that the General was considering what the
effects of all this was going to be on himself. He was torn between
his allegiance to his Imperial master and a desire to avoid the enmity
of the powerful families with whom the Seilerns were allied. A soldier
by profession, he had an instinctive hatred of being connected in
the slightest degree with Court intrigues, and especially at such
a time as that, when the whole of his mental power ought to have
been concentrated on the business of war. For these reasons (I was
convinced) he had contented himself with placing Count Seilern, for the
time being, under arrest in a small house--used as a guard-room--in the
village, with two sentinels at the door.
But what were my unfortunate friend's thoughts in this prison? Some
of them I learnt within the next few days; others, which enable me to
complete the picture of Count Seilern's meditations, which few of us
imagined were to lead, within a week, to such a startling complication
of his life drama, came with later knowledge.
He thought at first, but only for a moment, of committing suicide, in
order to avoid a dishonouring sentence. On reflection he came to the
conclusion that there was a chance of the General hesitating to be
too severe on him, through a desire to remain on good terms with all
parties concerned. It was then that certain so-called friends called
on the prisoner and made a most extraordinary proposal to him--that
he should allow himself to be represented at his forthcoming trial
as irresponsible! But he was too well acquainted with the scandalous
chronicles of the Hapsburgs not to know what such a "favour" meant. He
called to mind the fate of the unhappy Louise of Belgium, who spent
seven years in asylums to satisfy the rancour of Philip of Coburg.[12]
How thoroughly in accordance with tradition was this suspicious
proposal--made, he had not the slightest doubt, at the suggestion of
Conrad Von Hoetzendorf! He also thought of the tragic end of Rudolf
of Hapsburg, and the many other crimes committed with the tacit
approbation of the Hofburg.