Part 68 (1/2)
”And he has refused!” cried Eugene.
”No. He has accepted, but conditionally only. Can you guess his conditions?”
Eugene turned pale and stammered: ”Your highness, I cannot--I hope that I do not--”
”Well, I see that you have guessed. He demands the chief command of the entire army.”
”But if the emperor, as a matter of course, refuses this unreasonable and presumptuous demand?”
”Then he withdraws his troops. Peace--peace! I know that you love the elector: let us not discuss his acts, but consider their bearings upon the welfare of Austria. For months the emperor has been trying to arrange matters, but all in vain. Count Strattmann, the last envoy, who had a long personal interview with Max, says that he will not retreat from his exactions. He a.s.sumes the chief command, or his troops are this day ordered to Bavaria.”
”The emperor will never yield. He ought not to yield.”
”The decision of this difficulty has been left with me. Max is close at hand, in Essek, awaiting my determination. And now, Eugene, what answer shall I send him?”
”There is but one. The Austrian army cannot spare the Duke of Lorraine.”
”But still less can it spare the Bavarian troops. How many men did you say that we counted in all?”
”Fifty thousand, your highness.”
”And of these, how many are from Bavaria?”
”Eight thousand infantry,” said Eugene, with a sigh.
”And four thousand cavalry. In all, twelve thousand; and let us do him justice: the troops of the elector are an admirably disciplined and efficient body of men. Now, if we lose this number, our forces are reduced to thirty-eight thousand. Can we confront a hundred thousand Turks with such a handful?”
Eugene spoke not a word. His face was bent over the chart, but it was easy to see that he was powerfully agitated. After a long silence, the duke pointed with his finger to the spot on the map which the prince had apparently been examining.
”This tear is my answer,” said he. ”We cannot spare the Bavarians.”
”Too true,” murmured Eugene, ”too true.”
”Then the general must sacrifice his ambition to the national welfare; he must retire from his command.”
”Oh, no! Not yet. Let ME go to the elector. We are intimate friends, and I will persuade him to retract his unrighteous exactions.”
”You will not succeed. Moreover, I would not accept the sacrifice.
Could we have done without his troops, I would joyfully have retained my command; but we have no right to ask of Max Emmanuel, who cannot be spared, to yield to me, who can be spared. I repeat it, then: I accept no sacrifice from the elector, nor will I be outdone by any man in magnanimity. The wound smarts, I am not ashamed to confess it; but my duty is too clear before me for hesitation; and in its fulfilment I have great consolation. To you, dear Eugene, this hour will afford a valuable lesson.”
”Ay, indeed,” replied Eugene. ”It will teach me high resolve and holy resignation. If I ever should be tempted to envy the greatness of a rival, I will remember the day on which my friend's mad ambition deprived an army of its great and renowned commander.”
”You are not apt to have rivals, Eugene, for you will surpa.s.s all your contemporaries in military genius. As for me, I retire, but I shall probably find other opportunities of using my sword for Austria. If--as G.o.d grant!--we should be victorious again this year, the King of France will show his teeth, and perhaps the laurels I have lost on the Save I may recover on the Rhine. And now, son of my heart, farewell! G.o.d be with you, now and evermore!”
He embraced Eugene with affection, and, returning to the table, rang for Martin. The old man answered the summons, whereupon the duke began at once to give orders for his departure.
”Say to the surgeon that my head is worse, and that I crave his attendance. Then see the imperial couriers, and send them hither.”
”The surgeon is here,” said that individual, coming forward. ”But what do I see? Your highness has risen?”