"Must I buy," he cried at last, "must I buy the position of my house in Germany,--must I buy the rights of my ancestors? And from whom? from this King of Italy, who has banished the princes of my race, who threatens the Church, and is even ready to attack the holy patrimony itself. No! no! Put yourself in my place, Count Mensdorff; you will own I cannot do it."
"Forgive me, your majesty," said the count, "but everything must be bought; every treaty is a purchase, and the more valuable the object obtained, the better the bargain. Austria's Italian position, and earlier policy, the correctness of which is doubtful, were given up with Lombardy. Venice cannot avail us much, and would be a hindrance to a possible alliance with Italy."
"You think of an alliance with Italy as possible?" cried the emperor with astonishment.
"Why not?" said Count Mensdorff, "if Italy has the whole of what is Italian, she has no further enmity with Austria, and would far rather be a close friend to her, than to France, with whom sooner or later she must struggle for the first place amongst the nations of Latin race."
"And the banished archdukes, and his Holiness the Head of the Church?" asked the emperor. "I cannot do it," he continued, gazing before him: "what would my uncle think, who is preparing to make Italy feel the sharpness of the Austrian sword--what would my whole family, what would history?--what would they say of me in Rome? When Italy is overcome," he said, after a moment's thought, "when we have attained our former eminence in Germany, then we can negotiate about Venice; if then, through this sacrifice, the safety of the Holy Father and the patrimony of St. Peter can be guaranteed----"
"If your majesty is victorious in Germany, we shall need no negotiations with Italy," said Count Mensdorff; "but----"
A knock at the door was heard, and the equerry on duty, Prince Liechtenstein, entered.
"A despatch for your imperial majesty from the Field-Marshal;" and he withdrew.
The emperor's eyes sparkled, and his hand trembled slightly as he tore off the cover of the telegram.
"Perhaps an engagement," he murmured.