"What can Italy do?" said the emperor urgently, "do you know anything?"
"It is a little mon métier to know everything," returned Klindworth. "Your majesty must permit me to make a few short remarks. Italy fell under the house of Savoy and the demagogues, because Austria was beaten at Solferino."
"Not by Italy!" cried the emperor.
"Not by Italy, it is true," continued Klindworth; "but it was beaten, and the revolution was all powerful, the defenders of right lost heart, and above all were disunited. Since that time much has occurred, much has been learned from the foe; a strong, invisible bond now unites all those who serve and are willing to fight for the right, and the apostolic blessing rests upon this bond. What the Carbonari did for the revolution, the Carbonari of right will again effect: but as the former were assisted by victory from without, so do the latter wait until the sword of Austria shall have effected the first breach in the fortress of crime and wrong. Let there be one Austrian victory over the troops of this crowned revolution, and Italy will be in flames, and the crusade against Cavour's work will begin--and conquer."
The emperor listened with the greatest excitement: he stepped close up to Klindworth, who maintained his calm demeanour.
"Do you speak from dreams of your own imagination," cried Francis Joseph, "or from facts?"
"From facts, your majesty, which I can prove."
"When? where?" cried the emperor.
"In five minutes; here, in your majesty's cabinet."
"Then bring your proofs."