"By the eternal, you are a great statesman, a sagacious ruler!"
exclaimed Count Saurau, with the gushing enthusiasm of sincere
admiration. "Men grow wise by listening to you, and happy and
powerful by obeying you! I am entirely devoted to you--full of
affection and veneration--and do not want to be any thing but your
attentive and grateful pupil."

"Be my friend," said Thugut. "Let us pursue our career hand in hand-
-let us always keep our common goal in view, and shrink back from no
step in order to reach it."

"Tell me what I am to do. I shall follow you as readily as the blind
man follows his guide."

"Well, if you desire it, my friend, we will consider a little how we
have to steer the ship of state during the next months in order to
get her safely through the breakers that are threatening her on all
sides. During the few days of your absence from the capital, various
events have occurred, materially altering the general state of
affairs. When you departed, I advised the emperor not to make peace
with France under any circumstances. We counted at that time on the
regiments of grenadiers whom we had sent to the seat of war, and
who, under the command of Archduke Charles, were to defend the
defiles of Neumarkt against the advancing columns of the French
army. We knew, besides, that the French troops were worn out,
exhausted, and anxious for peace, or that General Bonaparte would
not have addressed that letter to the Archduke Charles, in which he
requested the latter to induce the Emperor of Austria to conclude
peace with France. In accordance with our advice, the archduke had