Joseph II. and His Court | Page 6

a new line of policy, by making her the ally of
France."
Count Colloredo laughed. "The best cure that I know of for fixed ideas
is the madhouse," replied he, "and thither we will send little Kaunitz
if--"
He ceased suddenly, for Kaunitz had slowly raised his eyes from the
table, and they now rested with such an icy gaze upon the smiling face
of Colloredo, that the frightened statesman shivered.
"If he should have heard me!" murmured he. "If he--" but the poor
count had no further time for reflection; for at that moment the
folding-doors leading to the private apartments of the empress were

thrown open, and the lord high steward announced the approach of her
majesty.
The councillors advanced to the table, and in respectful silence awaited
the imperial entrance.
The rustling of silk was heard; and then the quick step of the Countess
Fuchs, whose duty it was to accompany the empress to the threshold of
her council-chamber, and to close the door behind her.
And now appeared the majestic figure of the empress. The lords laid
their hands upon their swords, and inclined their heads in reverence
before the imperial lady, who with light, elastic step advanced to the
table, while the Countess Fuchs noiselessly closed the door and
returned.
The empress smilingly acknowledged the salutation, though her smile
was lost to her respectful subjects, who, in obedience to the strict
Spanish etiquette which prevailed at the Austrian court, remained with
their heads bent until the sovereign had taken her seat upon the throne.
One of these subjects had bent his head with the rest, but he had
ventured to raise it again, and he at least met the glance of royalty. This
bold subject was Kaunitz, the youngest of the councillors.
He gazed at the advancing empress, and for the first time a smile flitted
over his stony features. And well might the sight of his sovereign lady
stir the marble heart of Kaunitz; for Maria Theresa was one of the
loveliest women of her day. Though thirty-six years of age, and the
mother of thirteen children, she was still beautiful, and the Austrians
were proud to excess of her beauty. Her high, thoughtful forehead was
shaded by a profusion of blond hair, which lightly powdered and
gathered up behind in one rich mass, was there confined by a golden
net. Her large, starry eyes were of that peculiar gray which changes
with every emotion of the soul; at one time seeming to be
heavenly-blue, at another the darkest and most flashing brown. Her
bold profile betokened great pride; but every look of haughtiness was
softened away by the enchanting expression of a mouth in whose
exquisite beauty no trace of the so-called "Austrian lip" could be seen.
Her figure, loftier than is usual with women, was of faultless symmetry,
while her graceful bust would have seemed to the eyes of Praxiteles the
waking to life of his own dreams of Juno.
Those who looked upon this beautiful empress could well realize the

emotions which thirteen years before had stirred the hearts of the
Hungarian nobles as she stood before them; and had wrought them up
to that height of enthusiasm which culminated in the well-known shout
of
"MORIAMUR PRO REGE NOSTRO!"
"Our king!" cried the Hungarians, and they were right. For Maria
Theresa, who with her husband, was the tender wife; toward her
children, the loving mother; was in all that related to her empire, her
people, and her sovereignty, a man both in the scope of her
comprehension and the strength of her will. She was capable of
sketching bold lines of policy, and of following them out without
reference to personal predilections or prejudices, both of which she was
fully competent to stifle, wherever they threatened interference with the
good of her realm, or her sense of duty as a sovereign.
The energy and determination of her character were written upon the
lofty brow of Maria Theresa; and now, as she approached her
councillors, these characteristics beamed forth from her countenance
with such power and such beauty, that Kaunitz himself was overawed,
and for one moment a smile lit up his cold features.
No one saw this smile except the imperial lady, who had woke the
Memnon into life; and as she took her seat upon the throne, she slightly
bent her head in return.
Now, with her clear and sonorous voice, she invited her councillors
also to be seated, and at once reached out her hand for the memoranda
which Count Bartenstein had prepared for her examination.
She glanced quickly over the papers, and laid them aside. "My lords of
the Aulic Council," said she, in tones of deep earnestness, "we have
to-day a question of gravest import to discuss. I crave