"And by God!" cried the emperor, "if the star of day will once more shine favourably upon the House of Austria during this campaign, then shall your king in the full splendour of power and happiness stand next to myself in Germany!" And he held out his hand to the general with a movement of indescribable nobility. The equerry entered. "Count Mensdorff, your imperial majesty, has just returned, and requests an audience." "Ah!" cried the emperor, drawing a deep breath; "at once--at once. I await him with impatience!" And he walked forward to meet Count Mensdorff, who, at a sign from Major von Fejérvári, appeared on the threshold of the royal cabinet. "Has your imperial majesty any further commands for me?" asked General von Knesebeck. "Remain! remain! dear general," cried the emperor. "Count Mensdorff's intelligence will have the greatest interest for you, as well as for me!" The general bowed. "And now, Count Mensdorff," cried the emperor, with a trembling voice, "speak! The fate of Austria hangs on your lips!" Count Mensdorff stood before his monarch looking quite broken down; the fatigues of the journey to headquarters had exhausted his feeble frame, nervous anxiety had drawn deep lines upon his countenance, a sorrowful expression lay around his lips, and only his dark eyes shone with feverish brilliance. "You are exhausted!" cried the emperor; "seat yourselves, gentlemen." And he seated himself before his writing-table. Crenneville, Count Mensdorff, and General Knesebeck placed themselves near the table. "Your majesty," said Count Mensdorff, in his low voice, "the tidings I bring are sad,--very sad, but not hopeless." The emperor folded his hands and looked upwards. "The army has suffered a frightful defeat," said Count Mensdorff, "ending in a wild flight, in which all order was lost. To assemble and re-form the masses will require several days." "But how is this possible?" cried the emperor, "how could Benedek--"