Joseph had listened with breathless attention. At first he grew pale, then a flush of triumph suffused his face, and he took the hand of the czarina and drew it to his heart.
"Catharine!" cried he, deeply moved, "from my soul I thank you for this inspiration! Oh, my heart's interpreter, you have read my secret yearnings to be in deed, as well as in word, 'King of Rome!' Yes—I would free Italy from the oppression of the church, and lead her on to greatness that shall rival her glorious past! God is my witness, I would have done as much for Germany; but Germany has rejected me, and I leave her to her fate. For the future I remain Emperor of Austria; and my empire shall be so vast, so prosperous, and so powerful, that Catharine of Russia shall esteem me an ally worthy of the greatest woman of modern times."
"Two faithful allies," exclaimed Catharine—"allies bound by one common policy, whose watchword shall be 'Constantinople and Rome!'"
"Ay," returned Joseph, with a laugh, "though while YOU raise the standard of the cross in Constantinople, I shall overturn it in Rome. As soon as my shackles fall, I shall set to work!"
"I see that you have faith in my plans," cried Catharine, joyfully.
"Such faith that I would aid them from my heart, were they even to require the cooperation of Frederick." [Footnote: Raumer. Contributions, etc., vol. v., p. 444.]
"I shall have no cooperation but yours," was the reply. "Besides, I know that you owe a grudge to Turkey."
"I do; for she has taken Belgrade, and I must retake it. The Danube is my birthright, as the Black Sea is yours. I give up Germany, to concentrate my forces upon Turkey and Italy."
"Let us await the proper time, and when I see it, I shall call upon you to come with me and crush the intrusive Moslem."
"Look upon me as your general, and upon my army as yours," replied Joseph, kissing the hand which the czarina extended. "And now," continued he, "I must say farewell, and I fear it is for a long separation."