“No, sire,” said Count Stadion, respectfully, “we come only in the name of Austria.”
“The emperor, our august master,” began Count Giulay—but Napoleon interrupted him quickly.
“I shall listen to you only if you are authorized to speak in the name of the two emperors,” said Napoleon. “I already told you so yesterday, and I do not see what should induce me to-day to change my mind. The state of affairs is precisely the same.”
“Pardon me, sire, it is not,” said Count Giulay, firmly.
The emperor fixed a piercing glance on him, as if he wished to read in the innermost recesses of his heart.
“And why is it not the same?” he asked, while his eye slowly turned toward the foot, under which he concealed the sinister dispatch.
“Your majesty was yesterday pleased to say that Austria, although she might boast of the active support of Russia, could never count on the assistance of Prussia, and that Prussia’s neutrality was as useful to France as Russia’s active support to Austria.”
“Why do you repeat the words I uttered yesterday?” asked the emperor, impetuously.
“Sire, because Prussia is no longer neutral,” said Count Stadion, solemnly.
“Because Prussia is ready to become, like Russia and England, the active ally of Austria,” added Count Giulay.