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In reply to these repeated demands, Thugut sent him his passports, and the legation left Vienna. Vide Hauser, "German History," vol II., p. 180. "Well, why do you dare to laugh, Hubschle?" asked Thugut when he took the pen in order to sign the note. "Your excellency, I am laughing at the many fine words in which this dispatch says: 'Mr. Ambassador, ask for your passports; you may depart."
Thugut smiled. "When you are drunk, Hubschle, you are exceedingly shrewd, and for that reason, I pardon your impertinence. Your rubicund nose has scented the matter correctly. The ambassador has demanded his passports already. But go now. Take this dispatch to the second courier and tell him to carry it immediately to the French embassy.
Wenzel, soiled with blood, his clothes torn and in the wildest disorder, entered with him, supporting himself on Hubschle's arm. "Ah, you bring me there a wounded boar!" said Thugut, morosely. "A boar who splendidly goaded on the hounds and performed the most astonishing exploits," said Hubschle, enthusiastically. "He received a gunshot wound in the right arm and fainted.
"Ah, a regular battle, then, has taken place!" shouted Thugut, in great glee. "A siege in grand style! Wonder why Hubschle has not come back yet? But stop! I hear him already. He raps! I am coming, sir! I am opening the door already!" And Thugut hastened to touch the frame of the painting and to open the door. It was true, Hubschle, the private secretary, was there, but he did not come alone.
Baron Thugut is further informed that he has reason to complain of the conduct of several agents of the police. "What overbearing and insulting language this fellow dares to use!" exclaimed Thugut, when he had finished the letter. "One might almost believe he was our lord and master here, and ah, somebody raps again at the door! Perhaps Hubschle is back already."
"Now, Hubschle, sit down," said Thugut, all the others having left the room by his orders. "Collect your five senses, and write what I am going to dictate to you." Hubschle sat already at the desk, and waited, pen in hand.
The Preiss regiment shall occupy the house of the ambassador and the adjoining streets, and fire at whosoever offers resistance or wants to raise a disturbance. Vienna must be perfectly quiet in the course of an hour. Begone!" Hubschle rushed out, and Thugut remained alone. He slowly and deliberately sat down in an arm-chair, and pondered serenely over the events of the night.
He quickly touched the frame of the painting again, and the door opened. It was really Hubschle, who entered as hastily as before. "Your excellency, I have just reascended the staircase as rapidly as though I were a cat," he gasped. "At the street door I learned some fresh news from one of our men, and I returned at once to tell you all about it." "Quick, you idle gossip, no unnecessary preface!"
Suddenly a violent gust touched the banner, which, up to this time, had loosely hung down, and unfolded it entirely. Now we saw the French tri-color proudly floating over our German heads, and on it we read, in large letters of gold Liberte! Egalite! "What impudence!" muttered Thugut. "You are right, that was the word," exclaimed Hubschle.
To-day, too, he had worked in his cabinet until evening, and he had only just now dismissed his two private secretaries, Heinle and Hubschle. This was the hour at which Thugut was in the habit of repairing either to the emperor or to his gardens in the Wahringer Street. His valet de chambre, therefore, awaited him in the dressing-room, and his carriage was in readiness below in the court- yard.
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