CHAPTER XIII
A coalition forms against the French.
In the blue shadows of early morning, the Black Hussar's clenched fists pressed against the Schonbrunn balustrade. For all the splendid view of gardens that was laid out before him, he was in no mood to appreciate the panorama pastoral.
"I sense him coming." Count Neipperg snarled with his last eye locked on the southwestern horizon.
The plainly dressed man beside him shook his head. Baron Franz Hager knew his job well enough to not dispute what others said. It did not matter what justified it, only that it was believed.
"Schulmeister, yes?"
Neipperg snapped impatiently, "Him! ... or his agents. He always has agents and they are always on the move." He turned to put his back to the kilometres of ordered greenery and faced the pale yellow walls of the palace. Nobody was within the small gallery there. No spies. "They've likely been here all along."
Baron Hager made a pencilled note. With a lazy shrug, the policeman tried to encourage the Count, "We think we know who their spies are. I have several lists."
"Lists!?" demanded Neipperg, "Have you not arrested them?"
"Well... most are ambassadors with the Congress and besides..." explained the Baron, "...if we watch them we can learn more."
Exasperated, Neipperg wove a hand in tight circles. He took the opportunity to shift the topic of conversation, asking, "When will the Congress be disbanded? Napoleon has made it... irrelevant."
"Well..." answered Hager tentatively, "It is always good to have such ennobled ambassadors here. Vienna is become the world's capital again."
The black Hussar frowned and took the moment. "The Tsar Alexander."
"Hrm?" The president of Police poised pencil over paper.
Neipperg dictated. "On the evening of March 19th, after dinner, his Imperial Majesty Tsar Alexander visited in confidence with the Archduchess Marie Louise. He departed her apartments one hour later. There was no indication of transference of any objects."
The Baron smiled wickedly while he scribed those words. He posited, "Perhaps the Tsar of all the Russias is wanting to ensure that she will not be going to Napoleon any time soon."
"No." responded Neipperg, "It seemed social. Entirely social. Alexander appears to be a very likeable man."
"I won't write that down." answered Hager, but he did write something down and then he made another inquiry. "Has Colonel de Montesquiou put in an appearance?"
Count von Neipperg's unpatched eye peered toward something within the palace. What he saw there perhaps made him pay attention to his costume. He tugged at the shadowy Hussar uniform to tighten it. Almost uninterested, he answered the Baron "No, but I rarely see Madam de Montesquiou so I should see her son less so."
Hager glanced up from his notes to say "Rarely? But you are so vigilant in your attendance to the Arch Duchess."
"They avoid one another, don't they? Besides which, there is no need for the Governess when the mother is present."
"Well..." began Hager "... is the mother often present?"
Neipperg cut the line of questioning short, "She is beyond reproach." The soldier's hard look challenged the civilian to write something. The Baron balked so the soldier reaffirmed matters. "Any time that you spend a thought for doubting the loyalty of the Archduchess, you have wasted your talents. Focus on the enemies."
"Schulmeister, you mean."
"What about him?" asked Neipperg as he threw a casual point into the palace. The bright morning sun shone through the opposite, open doors of the Schonbrunn, throwing a glare about the scene for the pair of watchers. Across the small gallery and loitering in the great gallery, was the silhouette of a man clad in a dark tailcoat.
Hager tried to make out the identity but was unsure. "Who is that?" asked the professional spy of the one-eyed man.
"Admiral Smith." answered the Hussar.
Baron Hager took out his watch, checked the time, and made a diligent notation.
Count von Neipperg rambled. "Admiral Smith is, of course, permitted in the palace. He is a special member of the British delegation. That said..."
"Do you think he has heard us?"
"I think he is too distant yet he does appear to be pointedly idle."
Baron Hager did not excuse himself but immediately began to limp through the palace toward the Englishman. Count Neipperg followed casually after him. "Admiral Smith!" called out the Baron as he neared his prey.
"Sir Admiral Sydney Smith." corrected Sir Admiral Sydney Smith with unabashed arrogance. The Admiral was on the far side of middle aged but his naval uniform still fit snugly and his eyes flashed with energy. Too much of his pate had begun to emerge though he would not be bewigged anytime soon. The Baron compromised, "Sir Admiral, How are you this day?"
Neipperg made no effort toward courtesy, challenging "You look lost, sir. Where ought you be?"
The Admiral took a step back and gestured disarmingly. "I am waiting to speak to someone." and then he took a more defensive posture, asking, "Am I not entitled now to be in these halls? My errand is harmless, I assure you."
"The English take such pride in being harmless." remarked Neipperg and then he bid Baron Hager onward. "Let us take this conversation, gentlemen, to the piano nobile. It is too nice a day and in such sunlight we could only become better friends."
"I trust that you are still entitled to be here, Sir Admiral." said the policeman, "...but come. Step outside with us and let us all be pleasant." Sydney could not protest this suggestion and so followed to form a trio on the northeastern courtyard balcony. It was a splendidly beautiful morning indeed. T'was early yet though and there was little activity in the palace courtyard. Pairs of Grenadier Guards stood duty at the base of each staircase. In the distance, two pedestrians were crossing the parade grounds from the direction of the city. Baron Hager was ready again with his paper and pencil when he recommenced the interrogation.
"What is your errand this morning?"
Admiral Smith did not smile as he answered pleasantly, "I am come to wish a happy birthday to the Eaglet."
Happy surprise was on the visage of Baron Hager. Nothing of the kind encroached the one-eyed man's expression. The English sailor sought to gain advantage, asking, "You two have already done so? You are such tender wardens."
The warmth of the morning was not melting the mood between the three. Count Von Neipperg was in no mood to be mocked.
"Your master is still at the Congress?" he inquired.
The admiral was appropriately defensive, replying, "The Duke of Wellington is here, yes. He is going to see this coalition formed. He and Castlereagh are determined that the nations will work together to re-establish peace."
Neipperg sneered and Hager took notes "Yes, the British will fight like they always have. He has brought his purse?"
"Hopefully it is heavy enough to save Europe." said Smith, "There are so many open palms."
The Black Hussar's hand fidgeted with the pommel of his sabre. He asked, "When will the English do their share of fighting?"
Sydney Smith noted the idle movements of Neipperg and also the scribbling of Hager but he was undaunted in his venom. "When will Austria cease doing more than its share of defeats?" he asked and then made a slow and deliberate show of casually resting a palm on his own sheathed sword. There was not a single sign of fear or even anxiousness about the sailor.
A tense minute passed.
Another was beginning but it was interrupted by the ascension of Metternich and Count von Urban to the first floor balcony where the scene was being enacted. Prince von Metternich was immaculately dressed and finely, artificially coiffured on this morning. Baron Hager noticed the diplomat's heeled shoes and reflected upon how painful the walk from Hofburg must have been for the man. As usual, his demeanour and visage displayed only calm and attentiveness. There was not a hint of discomfort. Von Urban, on the other hand, seemed a paragon of discomfort. It had much to do with his perpetual sweating but also that his expanded girth was encouraging his noble attire to appear quite common and ill fitted. They were a decidedly mismatched pair and Metternich was not minding that von Urban made him look better.
"It is a fine morning, friends." greeted Metternich. When Neipperg and Hager gave the briefest of bows to the Prince, Sir Sydney Smith offered his own and they were acknowledged. The statesman's gaze flipped from one to the other of the trio. He likely understood the situation immediately for he said, "We have a grave matter to attend to this morning that might require all of our attentions." and he flourished a folded letter. "It is from the Corsican adventurer to our Archduchess."
There was general rhubarb from the gathering while Prince Metternich applied his pince-nez and prepared the missive for reading aloud.
"It is a scrawl," he pronounced by way of explanation for when he began to read it was slow and without flow. He presented, "My advance guard is at Chalon-sur-Saone. I am leaving tonight to join it. The people run to greet me in great crowds; whole regiments have abandoned everything to join me...by the time you receive this letter I shall be in Paris ... Come and join me with my son. I hope to embrace you before the end of the month."
"She has not seen this." stated Neipperg.
"No." answered Metternich. "I trust you to convey what must be conveyed and to keep all else from her."
Count von Neipperg nodded, "Of course." and then he looked to Sir Sydney, saying, "We will all keep the contents of this letter to ourselves."
The Admiral did not acknowledge the slight. Baron Hager underlined something on his paper. He folded it over to make room for more words and commenced to fill it.
Count von Urban, Grand Chamberlain for the Emperor of Austria, wrinkled his round nose and commented, "He does not write well... at all."
"He was trained as an artillery officer," explained von Neipperg as though it mattered. Hager contributed the name of the French Emperor's school at Brienne but he could not make it seem to matter.
"How..." queried the President of Police, "Did you get this?" with emphasis on the 'you'. Nonplussed by any implied accusation, Prince von Metternich told how soldiers at the border had intercepted a French courier at Malborghetto. It was therefore a military matter and not a police concern though they certainly had a role to play in continued security. He spent a small bit of time flattering Hager.
Finally, Sir Sydney Smith spoke up with a question, "Do we think he took Paris?" There was divided opinion.
"What about King Louis' army? Surely they are laying a trap for him at Paris." came from the Chancellor.
"One does not lay traps for M de Bounaparte." said Metternich by way of praising and insulting Napoleon in one breath.
"I do." The Englishman scoffed boldly, "The man is wholly predictable and ordinary."
Neipperg challenged him "You have a scheme to prevent a kidnapping?"
The older Sir Sydney smiled broadly at the one-eyed man and first altered the language. "Kidnap? Rescue?" and then began to unfold a plan.
Metternich interrupted the foreigner quickly to say, "The Emperor, My Master, has a plan. Firstly, obviously, we will double the guards."
Baron Hager queried this asking, " We have already doubled the guards, no? You wish to ring the palace with soldiers?"
"We must be vigilant. Guards much watch day and night, inside and outside...under young Napoleon's windows and outside his doors. There must be a continuous and invisible interrogation." Metternich gave a nod to Baron Hager and then went further to explain, "It is absolutely critical that the Archduchess and her child do not go to Paris. They are the difference between an armed thug seizing power and an Emperor with his Empress and heir. They would legitimize him."
Neipperg was not pulled into the Statesman's net. "Guards will not stop Schulmeister. He will revel in them, use them, and laugh at them."
Count von Urban was tucking away a sweat dabbed kerchief when he casually remarked that, "Schulmeister was seen at Elsberg three days ago." A violent glare was thrown at the plump Count from Baron von Hager for the admission.
There was a sense of tension that fell over the scene but Metternich would have none of it. "Spies and sabotage are the other issue. The French staff of the Archduchess and her child will all be dismissed and dispatched back to France."
Sydney Smith took the opportunity to question this one. "Is that truly necessary? Must she be all alone?"
"Her family is here, Admiral. The only family that matters now."
The one-eyed man stood a little taller and said, "I assure you, Sir, that the Archduchess will not be disappointed to see the back of them. They conspire and entreat, always seeking petty favours for trivial undertakings."
Hager, seemingly running out of paper, pointed out that, "Well... Frenchwomen on staff had reproached Madam de Montesquiou for not taking Napoleon away at first opportunity."
"Which of them..." the black Hussar mused "...is an agent of Schulmeister? Perhaps each and every."
"Madam the Comtesse de Montesquiou?" offered Count Urban but both Neipperg and the President of Police shook their heads.
Prince von Metternich inhaled deeply and looked past the other gentlemen to consider the view of the courtyard and palace. It was all still very quiet and it was still a warm morning. Still, he was conveying impatience to those watching him and as his fine profile swung slow about with decided distraction, they fell to silence and awaited the Prince's next words.
The words were, "Descriptions of the Archduchess' child will be distributed throughout Vienna and to nearby towns and villages. If he is somehow stolen he will not be taken far."
Baron Hager asked, "Am I doing that?"
"You are." was the reply.
"That all sounds quite thorough to maintain your hostage." commented Sydney Smith who had crossed his arms across his uniformed breast.
Neipperg was prepared to respond but Metternich was faster and likely more to the point, saying, "Not a hostage. A principle. Principles need defending."
"You..." continued Metternich while pointing a long, gloved finger that very nearly touched the chin of the Briton, "...will appreciate that even that would not be enough. Surely, it would not be enough if indeed one as resourceful as you were seeking to steal away our principles. No, a devious foreigner would find some means still if he sought to offend our Sovereign and upset the peace of Europe. They are to be separated. The mother shall remain here at Schonbrunn while the child will be under the closer and surer protection of his grandfather at the Hofburg."
None of this was news to the Chamberlain but Hager was quite astonished. Even Neipperg was thunderstruck but he recovered quickly and nodded to Metternich.
Sir Sydney Smith spoke under his breath knowing full well that the whole of the gathering could hear him clearly, "Marie Louise won't like that."
Count von Urban supported the official position saying, "It is the Sovereign's wish."
Neipperg also took the Emperor's side. "She will do what is the Sovereign's wish and she will take great pleasure in doing so. She is devoted to her father."
The Admiral is silenced. Surely it was not his affair in any case.
Doing a demi-pirouette, Metternich pointed himself toward the Grand Gallery and took strides to enter. Baron Hager acknowledged each of the gentlemen on the balcony with nods, apologies, and half bows and then followed after the Prince
Taking fresh stock of the residual group dynamic, Count von Neipperg turned with neither excuse nor apology and made for another part of the vast and splendid residence.
The last Count and the English Admiral remained on the balcony for a time in silence. Were they challenging to see who would leave first? Likely not. Urban made an overzealous shrug, smiled, and then followed after the pack.
**************
When Madam Montesquiou and her infant charge entered the sitting room of the young Napoleon she was quite startled to see Count von Urban seated and picking at the edges of the Imperial heir's breakfast. Certainly he abandoned the distraction the moment that he was aware of the arrivals. The Deputy Governess, Mme Marchand was standing quietly behind. She simply shrugged her brows. Rising to his feet (he had such relatively tiny ankles) the Grand Chamberlain gave a perfunctory nod and an earnest, "Good morning, Madam Governess."
In her turn, the Comtesse curtsied curtly. Switching her attention to the young boy she told him that, "Grandfather's Minister is here to wish you a Happy Birthday. We must give him greatest politeness." The wee child first beamed and then put on as sober a face as he could and he threw his soldier's shoulders back.
Count Urban appeared to have been reminded of something. He tossed up a smile and approached the boy in a bit of a crouch. He asked, "And how old are you today... young man?"
The boy upheld both hands to display four fingers proudly. This elicited a smile from the Grand Chamberlain and a furrowed brow from the Governess.
"I was at Big Prayers. Now I am to have a special breakfast." announced the Prince of Parma.
Madam de Montesquiou corrected her pupil tenderly, "You will have your breakfast after your guest has departed."
"Actually..." began the guest in a suddenly solemn tone, "I should like to speak with you in private."
Though startled, the Governess gave no sign of it and reacted quickly. She gestured with one hand for Mme Marchand to assume responsibilities and received a nod so the other hand indicated the door that the Chamberlain and her would exit through, which they soon enough did.
Once cloistered in the bedroom of the boy the Governess skipped immediately to the point.
"What do you wish to say to me, Monsieur?"
The Grand Chamberlain was looking terribly uneasy and uncomfortable. He took the time to mop his brow and collect his tongue before saying "The Emperor, my master, has asked me to inform you that political circumstances force him to make certain changes in his grandson's education. He thanks you for the services you have rendered him and begs you to leave immediately for Paris."
Madam Montesquiou was utterly dumbfounded. Her heart raced. Her head spun. Discharged? Separated from the Prince Napoleon?
"No!" she said. "No!" but she knew it to be futile.
"It is his Sovereign's wish." emphasized Urban while neatly deflected guilt from himself.
Tears welled in the woman's eyelids. "But who has made him wish it?"
"Madam... I am but the messenger."
"Who has made him wish it? Neipperg! Neipperg has done this vile thing!" she charged distraught.
"Madam... I am but the messenger." repeated the Minister but his tone softened to suggest, "Perhaps you should take your case directly to His Majesty, the Emperor of Austria?"
"I cannot." she wept.
Count von Urban did not step forward to console the former Governess. Instead he took the awkward opportunity to exit. "Allow me then to speak to him on your behalf. I will convey your distress." he mentioned and then made his way elsewhere.