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Updated: May 22, 2025
The priest turned to Count Esterhazy and asked him if he took the Countess Maragret von Starhemberg for his wedded wife to love, honor, and cherish her until death should them divide. There was a pause, and Margaret looked with a bright smile at the face of her bridegroom. But the eyes of the spectators were fixed upon him in astonishment, and the brow of the empress grew stormy.
"I repeat to you the offer of my hand to the Countess Margaret Starhemberg." The count bowed. "I have done my duty, and, being cleared of all responsibility in the affair, I give my consent. You must now try to win hers." "I would like to see the countess in your presence," said Esterhazy, unmoved.
Count von Starhemberg investigated the matter thoroughly, and, the fact having been proved upon the boys, they were executed. But hunger and disease were fast decreasing the ranks of the besieged.
The Margrave of Baden and Count von Starhemberg remained standing by the green table, while the emperor, who had crossed the room, now stood vacantly staring out of a window, drumming with his fingers on one of the panes.
"No!" said she, harshly; and, opening the door, she disappeared, and the emperor was left alone. Count Starhemberg paced his splendid drawing-room in a state of great excitement. Sometimes he murmured broken sentences, then he sighed heavily, and again he seemed to be a prey to fear.
Before the world I must endure the humiliation of being called your wife; but once over the threshold of my own room, I am Margaret Starhemberg, and you shall never know me as any other Margaret. Now go!" She pointed to the door; and as the count looked into her face, where passion was so condensed that it almost resembled tranquillity, he had not the hardihood to persist.
And he drew out his delicate, embroidered handkerchief to wipe off the big drops of sweat that stood upon his forehead. "Well?" asked Count Starhemberg, opening the door and putting through his head. "Pray come in," said Esterhazy, in a piteous tone. "Ah, my niece has left! Well, I suppose that, as usual, she has conquered, and you release her?"
The rich robe, the costly veil, the golden bracelets, the glittering diamonds, even the myrtle-wreath, the emblem of the humble as well as the high-born bride all were there, awaiting the morrow. The ceremony was to take place at eleven o'clock. The imperial carriage of state was at the door; and behind it stood the gilded coaches of Counts Esterhazy and Starhemberg.
"One thing I hope that your majesty will do me the justice to remember," answered Von Starhemberg, in a tone of vexation. "It is this: the war department, at my suggestion, advised that Buda should not be assaulted, but that the passes lying behind the city should be seized, Stuhlweissemberg besieged, and Buda, by this means, cut off from all intercourse with Turkey.
"I was yesterday at the empress's reception. The emperor was so kind as to do the honors of the court to me. He pointed out the several beauties of Vienna, who were all strangers to me 'But, said he, 'the most beautiful woman in Austria I cannot show you, for she is not here. The Countess Margaret von Starhemberg has the beauty of Juno and Venus united."
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