worse than slaves. He dares to call me 'his little count!' His
little count! Ah, I shall prove to this ship-builder's son one day
that little Count Saurau is, after all, a greater man than our
overbearing and conceited prime minister. But patience, patience! My
day will come. And on that day I shall hurl little Thugut from his
eminent position!"




CHAPTER V.

THE HOUSE IN THE GUMPENDORFER SUBURB.


Vienna was really terribly frightened by the near approach of the
French army, and the conviction of their dangerous position had
excited the people so fearfully that the Viennese, generally noted
for their peaceful and submissive disposition, had committed an open
riot--for the sole purpose, however, of compelling the all-powerful
prime minister to make peace with France. Archduke Charles had been
defeated--the emperor had fled to Hungary.

None of all these disastrous tidings had disturbed the inmates of a
small house on the outskirts of the Gumpendorfer suburb, in close
proximity to the Mariahilf line. This little house was a perfect
image of peace and tranquillity. It stood in the centre of a small
garden which showed the first tender blossoms of returning spring on
its neatly arranged beds. Dense shrubbery covered the white walls of
the house with evergreen verdure. Curtains as white and dazzling as