"Sire, if you would give this proof of love to your subjects, if, for their sakes, you would condescend to forget your imperial station, you cannot conceive what enthusiasm of loyalty would be your return for this concession. In mortal anxiety we await your final answer, and await it until to-morrow at this hour."
"Ah!—you are so magnanimous as to grant me a short reprieve!" shouted the infuriated emperor, losing all command of himself. "You—"
Suddenly he ceased, and became very pale. He was sensible that he had burst a blood-vessel, and he felt the warm stream of his life welling upward, until it moistened his pallid lips. With a hasty movement he drew out his handkerchief, held it for a moment before his mouth, and then replaced it quickly in his bosom. Large drops of cold sweat stood out from his brow, and the light faded from his eyes. But these haughty Magyars should not see him fall! They should not enjoy the sight of his sufferings!
With one last desperate effort he collected his expiring energies, and stood erect.
"Go," said he, in firm, distinct tones; "you have stated your grievances, you shall have my answer to-morrow."
"We await your majesty until to-morrow at noon," returned Count Palfy.
"Then we go, never to return."
"Go!" cried the emperor, in a piercing voice; and the exasperated
Magyars mistook this last cry of agony for the culmination of his wrath.
They bowed in sullen silence, and left the room.
The emperor reeled back to his cabinet, and fell into a chair. He reached the bell, and rang it feebly.
"Gunther," said he to his valet, and now his voice was hardly audible, "send a carriage for Quarin. I must see him at once."