THE ARRIVAL AT VERSAILLES.
The French court was at Versailles, it having been decided by the king
and queen that there they would receive the emperor's visit. A
magnificent suite of apartments had been fitted up for his occupation,
and distinguished courtiers appointed as his attendants. He was
anxiously expected; for already many an anecdote of his affability and
generosity had reached Paris.
A courier had arrived too say that the emperor had reached the last
station, and would shortly be in Versailles. The queen received this
intelligence with tears of joy, and gathered all her ladies around her
in the room where she expected to meet her brother. The king merely
nodded, and a shade of dissatisfaction passed over his face. He turned
to his confidential adviser, Count Maurepas, who was alone with him in
his cabinet.
"Tell me frankly, what do you think of this visit?"
The old count raised his shoulders a la Francaise. "Sire, the queen has
so often invited the emperor, that I presume he has come to gratify her
longings."
"Ah, bah!" said Louis, impatiently. "He is not so soft-hearted as to
shape his actions to suit the longings of his family. Speak more
candidly."
"Your majesty commands me to be perfectly sincere?"
"I entreat you, be truthful and tell me what you think."
"Then I confess that the emperor's visit has been a subject of much
mystery to your majesty's ministers. You are right in saying that he is
not the man to trouble himself about the state of his relatives'
affections. He comes to Paris for something nearer to his heart than any
royal sister. Perhaps his hope is that he may succeed in removing me,
and procuring the appointment of De Choiseul in my stead."
"Never! Austria cannot indulge such vain hopes, for her watchful spies
must ere this have convinced the Hapsburgs that my dislike toward this
duke, so precious in the eyes of Maria Theresa, is unconquerable. My
father's shade banished him to Chanteloup, and I will follow this shade
whithersoever it leads. If my father had lived (and perchance Choiseul
had a hand in his death) there would have been no alliance of France
with Austria. I am forced to maintain it, since my wife is the daughter
of Maria Theresa; so that neither the Austrian nor the anti-Austrian
party can ever hope to rule in France. Marie Antoinette is the wife of
my heart, and no human being shall ever dislodge her thence. But my love
for her can never influence my policy, which is steadfast to the
principles of my father. If Joseph has come hither for political
purposes, he might have spared his pains."
"He may have other views besides those we have alluded to. He may come
to gain your majesty's sanction to his ambitious plans of territorial
aggrandizement. The emperor is inordinately ambitious, and is true to
the policy of his house."
"Which, nevertheless, was obliged to yield Silesia," said Louis,
derisively.
That is the open wound for which Austria seeks balsam from Turkey. If
your majesty does not stop him, the emperor will light the torch of war
and kindle a conflagration that may embrace all Europe. "
"If I can prevent war, it is my duty to do so; for peace is the sacred
right of my people, and nothing but imperative necessity would drive me
to invade that right."
"But the emperor is not of your majesty's mind. He hopes for war, in
expectation of winning glory."
"And I for peace, with the same expectation. I, too, would win
glory--the glory of reigning over a happy and prosperous people. The
fame of the conqueror is the scourge of mankind; that of the legislator,
its blessing. The last shall be my portion--I have no object in view but
the welfare of the French nation."
"The emperor may endeavor to cajole your majesty through your very love
for France. He may propose to you an extension of French territory to
reconcile you to his acquisitions in Turkey. He may suggest the
Netherlands as an equivalent for Bosnia and Servia."
"I will not accept the bribe," cried Louis hastily. "France needs no
aggrandizement. If her boundaries were extended, she would lose in
strength what she gained in size; so that Joseph will waste his time if
he seeks to awaken in me a lust of dominion. I thirst for conquest, it
is true--the conquest of my people's hearts. May my father's blessing,
and my own sincere efforts enable me to accomplish the one purpose of my
life!"
"You have accomplished it, sire," replied De Maurepas, with enthusiasm.
"You are the absolute master of your subjects' hearts and affections."
"If so, I desire to divide my domains with the queen." said Louis, with
a searching look at De Maurepas. The minister cast down his eyes. The
king went on: "You have something against her majesty--what is it?"
"The queen has something against me, sire. I am an eyesore to her
majesty. She thinks I am in the way of De Choiseul, and will try every
means to have me removed."
"You know that she would try in vain. I have already told you so. As a
husband, I forget that Marie Antoinette is an Archduchess of Austria,
but as my father's son--never! It is the same with her brother. I may
find him agreeable as a relative; but as Emperor of Austria, he will
know me as King of France alone. Be his virtues what they may, he never
can wring the smallest concession from me. But hark!--I hear the sound
of wheels. You know my sentiments-communicate them to the other
ministers. I go to welcome my kinsman."
When the king entered the queen's reception-room, she was standing in
the midst of her ladies. Her cheeks were pale, but her large, expressive
eyes were fixed with a loving gaze upon the door through which her
brother was to enter. When she saw the king, she started forward, and
laying both her hands in his, smiled affectionately.
"Oh, sire," said she, "the emperor has arrived, and my heart flutters
so, that I can scarcely wait for him here. It seems to me so cold that
we do not go to meet him. Oh, come, dear husband, let us hasten to
embrace our brother. Good Heaven! It is not forbidden a queen to have a
heart, is it?"
"On the contrary, it is a grace that well becomes her royalty," said
Louis, with a smile. "But your brother does not wish us to go forward to
meet him. That would be an acknowledgment of his imperial station, and
you know that he visits us as Count of Falkenstein."
"Oh, etiquette, forever etiquette!" whispered the queen, while she
opened her huge fan and began to fan herself. "There is no escape from
its fangs. We are rid of Madame de Noailles, but Madame Etiquette has
stayed behind to watch our every look, to forbid us every joy--"
Just then the door opened, and a tall, manly form was seen upon the
threshold. His large blue eyes sought the queen, and recognizing her,
his face brightened with a bewitching smile. Marie Antoinette, heedless
of etiquette, uttered a cry of joy and flew into his arms. "Brother,
beloved brother!" murmured she, in accents of heartfelt tenderness.
"My sister, my own dear Antoinette!" was the loving reply, and Joseph
drew her head upon his breast and kissed her again and again. The queen,
overcome by joy, burst into tears, and in broken accents, welcomed the
emperor to France.
The bystanders were deeply affected, all except the king--he alone was
unmoved by the touching scene. He alone had remarked with displeasure
that Marie Antoinette had greeted her brother in their native tongue,
and that Joseph had responded. It was a German emperor and a German
archduchess who were locked in each other's arms--and near them stood
the King of France, for the moment forgotten. The position was
embarrassing, and Louis had not tact enough to extricate himself
gracefully. With ruffled brow and downcast eyes he stood, until, no
longer able to restrain his chagrin, he turned on his heel to leave the
room.
At this moment a light hand was laid upon his arm, and the clear,
sonorous voice of the queen was heard.
"My dear husband, whither are you going?"
"I am here too soon," replied he, sharply. "I had been told that the
Count of Falkenstein had arrived, and I came to greet him. It appears
that it was a mistake, and I retire until he presents himself."
"The Count of Falkenstein is here, sire, and asks a thousand pardons for
having allowed his foolish heart to get the better of his courtesy,"
said Joseph, with the superiority of better breeding. "Forgive me for
taking such selfish possession of my sister's heart.. It was a momentary
concession from the Queen of France to the memories of her childhood;
but I lay it at your majesty's feet, and entreat you to accept it as
your well-won trophy."
He looked at the king with such an expression of cordiality, that Louis
could not withstand him. A smile which he could not control, rippled the
gloomy surface of the king's face; and he came forward, offering both
hands.
"I welcome you with my whole heart, my brother," said he in reply. "Your
presence in Versailles is a source of happiness both to the queen and to
myself. Let me accompany you to your apartments that you may take
possession at once, and refresh yourself from the fatigues of
travelling."
"Sire," replied Joseph, "I will follow your majesty wheresoever you
please; but I cannot allow you to be inconvenienced by my visit. I and a
soldier, unaccustomed to magnificence, and not worthy of such royal
accommodation as you offer."
"How!" cried the queen." You will not be our guest?"
"I will gladly be your guest at table if you allow it," replied the
emperor, "but I can dine with you without lodging at Versailles. When I
travel, I do not go to castles but to inns."
The king looked astounded. "To inns?" repeated he with emphasis.
"Count Falkenstein means hotels, your majesty," cried the queen,
laughing. "My brother is not quite accustomed to our French terms, and
we will have to teach him the difference between a hotel and an inn. But
to do this, dear brother, you must remain with us. Your apartments are
as retired as you could possibly desire them."
"I know that Versailles is as vast as it is magnificent," said Joseph,
"but I have already sent my valet to take rooms for me in Paris. Let us,
then, say no more on the subject. [Footnote: "Memoires de Madame de
Campan," vol. i., p. 172.] I am very grateful to you for your
hospitality, but I have come to France to hear, to see, and to learn. I
must be out early and late, and that would not suit the royal etiquette
of Versailles."
"I thought you had come to Paris to visit the king and myself," said
Marie Antoinette, looking disappointed.
"You were right, dear sister, but I am not so agreeable that you should
wish to have me constantly at your side. I wish to become acquainted
with your beautiful Paris. It is so full of treasures of art and wonders
of industry, that a man has only to use his eyes, and he grows
accomplished. I am much in need of such advantages, sire, for you will
find me a barbarian for whose lapses you will have to be indulgent."
"I must crave then a reciprocity of indulgence," replied Louis. "But,
come, count--give your arm to the queen, and let her show you the way to
dinner. To-day we dine en famille, and my brothers and sisters are
impatient to welcome Count Falkenstein to Versailles."