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"But Poland shall be free!" cried the empress, with enthusiasm. "With the cooperation of France, the voice of Austria will be so loud that Russia will hear, and withdraw her unjust claims. We will strike off the fetters of Poland, while we forge a gentle chain for the Countess Wielopolska: a chain that falls so lightly upon woman, that its burden is sweeter than freedom."
"Perhaps he will throw some light upon this darkness, and the just God will do the rest!" The Countess Wielopolska was alone in her room. She walked to and fro; sometimes stopping before a large pier-glass to survey her own person, sometimes hastening to the window, at the sound of a carriage passing by; then retiring disappointed as the vehicle went on. "He comes late," thought she.
"A set of beastly peasants, no better than their own cattle, or a band of genteel robbers, who have made it unsafe to live anywhere on Polish soil, even in Warsaw." "You are right," sighed the Countess Wielopolska, "let us drop politics and speak of other things." "A la bonne heure. Let us have a little chronique scandaleuse.
While the empress spoke, her eyes were fixed upon the portrait of the Emperor Francis, which still hung between the windows in the place of the mirror, which had been removed from its frame. The Countess Wielopolska had been admitted to the gay sitting-room.
He thought of that face whose pallid splendor reminded him of the glories of waning day; and he listened through the long, dim aisles of memory, to the sound of that enchanting voice, whose melody had won his heart long ago on that first, happy evening at Neustadt. The Countess Wielopolska was leaving Vienna forever, and yet there was no message for him.
"I have not been in Vienna," answered she, in a voice scarcely audible. "I had gone to bury my sorrow in solitude." "But her love for Poland brought her hither," said the empress, putting her arm affectionately around the countess's waist. "I believe you," returned Joseph, bitterly. "The fate of Poland is the only thing worthy of touching the Countess Wielopolska.
The company were aghast at the audacity of the rejoinder, but the empress replied with great mildness: "You are right; for the temptation would indeed be great, and it is noble of you to speak the truth. I respect your candor." She was about to pass on, but paused as if she had forgotten something. "Is the Countess Wielopolska in Vienna?" asked she. "She arrived yesterday, your majesty."
She is not a woman, she is a Pole nothing more." One low wail struggled from the depths of her breaking heart, but she spoke not a word. The emperor went on: "The Countess Wielopolska is not a woman. She is a monad, representing patriotism; and he who cannot think as she does, is a criminal unworthy of her regard." "You are cruel, my son," said the empress, deprecatingly.
"A king, nevertheless, and a very handsome man; and she was inconsolable when he ceased to love her." "Ah! she was abandoned, then, was she?" cried the Countess Wielopolska. "Oh no, dear Anna! Your sister-in-law was not guilty of the belise of playing Queen Dido. As she felt quite sure that the king would leave her soon or late, she anticipated the day, and left him. Was it not excellent?
"The Countess Wielopolska is not to be interred in Austria, your majesty," said he. "Count Kannienski will accompany the body to Poland. Near Cracow there is a mound wherein it is said that Wanda, the first Queen of Poland, was buried. Anna Wielopolska will share her tomb. Her heroic spirit could rest nowhere save in Poland.
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