"Sire," said he, in his soft, melodious voice, whose tones went straight to the emperor's heart, "allow me to consider myself as your subject, and to render you homage according to the usages of your majesty's court. It is my misfortune to have been educated in France, and thereby to have lost twenty years of my life."
"Why lost?" inquired Leopold. "What was wanting in France to make you happy?"
"Every thing, sire!" cried Eugene, warmly. "And the only thing I did not want was thrust upon me."
"What was that?"
"The tonsure, sire. I begged the King of France for an insignificant commission in his army; I was scornfully repulsed. And now that I have shaken the dust of his dominions from my feet, I never wish to return thither unless—"
"Well," said the emperor, as Eugene paused. "Finish your sentence.
'Unless'—"
Eugene raised his magnificent eyes until they met those of the emperor. Then, in a calm voice, he continued:
"Unless I could do so as his majesty's victorious enemy." [Footnote:
Eugene's own words.—See Rene, "Mazarin's Nieces.">[
"Your majesty sees that he is the stuff of which heroes are made," observed Louis of Baden.
"You do not love France?" said Leopold.