CHAPTER XXIX The Archduke Francis Ferdinand—An invalid who delayed to marry—Report of his betrothal to the Archduchess Gabrielle—Announcement of his betrothal to Countess Sophie Chotek—Anecdotes of the courtship—Indignation of the Archduchess Gabrielle’s mother—Attitude of Francis Joseph—He permits the marriage on condition that it shall be morganatic—Francis Ferdinand compelled to swear a solemn oath that he is marrying beneath him, and that his children will be unworthy to succeed him—Reason for doubting whether he will eventually be bound by his oath 301 CHAPTER XXX The “terrible year” of the Habsburg annals—Proceedings of Princess Louisa of Tuscany—The taint inherited from the Bourbons of Parma—Princess Louisa’s suitors—Her marriage to Prince Frederick August of Saxony—She bicycles with the dentist—She runs away to Switzerland with her brother, the Archduke Leopold, and her children’s tutor—Attitude of the Courts towards her escapade—Official notice on the subject in the _Wiener Zeitung_ 315 CHAPTER XXXI The romantic Quadruple Alliance—The jarring notes—Princess Louisa’s objections to her brother’s companion Fräulein Adamovics—The sentimental life of the Archduke Leopold—He becomes “Herr Wulfling,” and marries Fräulein Adamovics—Herr and Frau Wulfling run wild in woods—Herr Wulfling divorces his wife and marries again—His confidences to Signor Toselli—Princess Louisa’s conception of the Simple Life—Her manners shock the Swiss—She dismisses M. Giron—Her marriage to Signor Toselli 326 CHAPTER XXXII The summing up—The probable future of Austria—The probable future of the House of Habsburg—Questions both personal and political which will be raised when Francis Joseph dies—The extent to which he has been “in the movement”—The faithful companion of his old age 341 INDEX 353 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH (from a recent portrait by Bieber) _Frontispiece_ THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH AT THE TIME OF HIS ACCESSION IN 1848 _To face page_ 52 THE EMPRESS ELIZABETH OF AUSTRIA 82 THE COUNTESS MARIE LARISCH AT THE TIME OF HER MARRIAGE 96 THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH IN 1866 138 MAXIMILIAN, EMPEROR OF MEXICO 166 CHARLOTTE, WIFE OF MAXIMILIAN, EMPEROR OF MEXICO 180 KING LUDWIG II. OF BAVARIA 190 THE CROWN PRINCE RUDOLPH 196 THE HOFBURG, VIENNA 204 THE CROWN PRINCESS STÉPHANIE 210 THE BARONESS MARY VETSERA 224