For Sceptre and Crown Volume I Part 32

"It is a little _mon metier_ 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 a.s.sisted 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."

"I must then beg your majesty to admit a person, who, foreseeing to what the present conversation would lead, I took the liberty of bringing with me, and who waits below."

The emperor looked amazed.

"Who is this person?" he asked.

"The Count di Rivero, your majesty."

The emperor seemed to search through his memory for the name.

"Who is he?" said he, after a pause; "ah! I remember: was not a Roman Count Rivero introduced at court, some years ago, by the Nuncio?"

"You are right, your majesty," said Klindworth, "he is a Roman, and the Nuncio was his sponsor. But with the Count Rivero, known in the brilliant salons of the court, I have nothing to do. My Count Rivero is an unwearied champion of Right and of the Church, preparing in quiet obscurity the great insurrection which will destroy the work of Wrong--a mighty leader of all those elements, which, bound together by unseen threads, are preparing for the common struggle."

"How does he prove his ident.i.ty?" asked the emperor, in a voice in which curiosity struggled with distrust. Klindworth drew from his pocket a sealed letter, and handed it to the emperor:

"In case your majesty should incline to see him, he has entrusted me with this."

The emperor seized the letter.

"From the Farnese Palace, from my sister-in-law," he cried, breaking open the seal, and reading the short contents.

"Bring the count in at once," he then said.

Bowing deeply Klindworth withdrew.

"How fortunate that I sent for this man! what new views he opens out to me!" cried the emperor. "Is it possible that the former greatness of my house will again arise on every side?"

He walked thoughtfully to the window, and looked up at the sky, slowly following with his eyes the movements of the clouds.

After a short time Herr Klindworth was announced, and at a sign from the emperor, again admitted. He was followed by Count Rivero, whose manner was as perfect and as calm as when he entered Madame Balzer's boudoir, and as when he stood opposite Herr von Stielow's pistol.

His dress was black, of faultless simplicity and perfect cut. With the firm light step, and complete self-possession, which proved him acquainted with courts, he advanced towards the emperor, and, bowing deeply, waited, with his eyes calmly fixed on the monarch, for him to speak.

The emperor looked searchingly at him, and said:

"I remember you, count, at court in former years."

"It is very gracious of your majesty to recollect me," said the count, in his soft, melodious voice.

"You come from Rome?"

"From the Farnese Palace, your majesty."

"And what brings you here?"

"The wish to offer your majesty my services in the great struggle now before Austria."

"My sister-in-law of Naples commends you to me as a man worthy of my fullest confidence."

"I believe I have deserved her confidence, and I hope to earn that of your majesty," returned the count, bowing quietly, and speaking without any presumption.

"And how do you think you can be of use to me?" asked the emperor.

The count returned his scrutinizing gaze openly and proudly, saying:

"I offer your majesty the support of a great and invisible power, the Holy League of Right and of Religion!"

"Explain to me what this League is, and what it can do."

"I will tell your majesty how it arose; you will then understand what it is, and what it can do. After those great battles in which the Austrian armies in Italy were crushed, the flood of revolution, urged on by the ambitious house of Savoy, spread all over Italy, placing firmly on the head of Victor Emanuel the crown created by red republicanism; whilst all who had in their hearts a love of right and religion, and a desire to fight for Holy Church, were surprised and dispersed--incapable of united and energetic resistance. The work of wickedness was accomplished in hot haste, and even the Emperor Napoleon, who had thought out a very different Italy, could not check the evil spirits he had himself unchained. After fever came exhaustion.

Even in the Vatican there was no safety. But exhaustion was followed by reaction. In Rome, in the palace of King Francis, that single-minded but in his simplicity truly great and royal hero (who, with the cannon of Gaeta, had made his protest against sinful Wrong resound through Europe), the men first a.s.sembled, who said, 'Wrong conquered because a few wicked men willed it so, and worked together with united strength; why then should Right not again arise, for G.o.d is on our side, if men of courage and decision combine in the common work, a.s.sembling weaker spirits and filling them with zeal and activity?' This proposal was followed by decision, and decision by action. King Francis drew up the plan and the way to carry it out; and your majesty's heroic royal sister-in-law fanned the pure flame of good and n.o.ble resolutions into a bright blaze of burning enthusiasm. Throughout Italy committees were formed, and men and women of well-known opinions joined the League, whose numbers could soon be counted by thousands. Men devoted to the king work at all the European courts; the talented, accomplished, and prudent Canofari remains in Paris, Count Citto travels through Europe; we are well informed of all that takes place; Golotti organizes Naples and Sicily. The influence which the members of the League have over the ma.s.ses is great; arms and ammunition lie in places of safety, and we stand at the head of a power, to which we have but to apply the electric spark, and Italy will be in flames, from the Alps to the further point of Sicily. Does your majesty desire further information upon the extent, the organization, and the power of the League?"

"Not at this moment," said the emperor, with some excitement; "at a future time I shall beg for these particulars, as they interest me greatly. In what relation does the Holy See stand to your cause?" he then asked.

"The Holy Father, your imperial majesty, is the high priest of the church," replied Count Rivero. "His weapons are spiritual, and he can take no direct part in a work carried on by secular means; but this work can only be well-pleasing to him, and the apostolic blessing must rest on those who labour to restore both spiritual and temporal right.

All faithful priests support the League in every way permitted by their holy office."

"And how does this League intend to act; what does it hope to obtain?"

asked the emperor.

"Your majesty," returned the count, "we await the breaking out of the great war for the re-establishment of Austria's former power and greatness. Whatever may be the result on the northern side, success is certain for Austria in Italy. We can undertake nothing alone, for we are unable to oppose well-organized armies. As soon as these armies are engaged, and held fast by the Austrian forces, we shall give the signal; and behind the crumbling armies of Victor Emanuel, Italy will arise; the free troops of Right and of the Church will appear everywhere, to cast out the Sardinian rule, and to bring back to their inheritance their lawful princes. Your majesty only desires to rule Lombardy, and that will again belong to you."

"And Napoleon?" asked the emperor.

"I have reason to think he will not dislike to see the Sardinian government overthrown by Italy; he trembles at his own work--besides his intervention will come too late."

"And you believe," said the emperor, "that Italy herself will restore Lombardy to my house?"

"Yes, your majesty," replied the count, "under conditions."