^xuaience luith Emperor of Austria. 2o7 



Next day a nephew of my husband, Prince Alfred, dined 

 with us. He was then an otHcer in the Austrian army. 

 Another of the sons of my husband's brother was an officer in 

 Prussia. I said before that the sympathies of the old Catholic 

 nobility of Westphalia were always divided between Austria 

 and Prussia, and that it was usual for some of their members 

 to serve in the Austrian, others in the Prussian army. 



As soon as our arrival became known in Vienna we received 

 many visits, especially from old acquaintances in Mexico. Dr. 

 Basch called, and also Col. v. Kodolitsch and Admiral 

 Tegethoff. 



On the 1 8th my husband had an audience with the 

 Emperor of Austria, from which he returned rather dissatisfied 

 for he might have expected a more gracious reception. The 

 reserve of the Emperor may, however, be easily explained. 

 After the catastrophe of Mexico a great many persons arrived 

 in Vienna v.^ho all had served Maximilian, and expected to be 

 rewarded for their services extravagantly by his brother. The 

 Emperor was indeed annoyed very much, and in self-defense 

 had to look somewhat coolly on the numerous claimants. 

 This may explain the unsatisfactory reception of my husband, 

 though his exceptional position with Maximilian might per- 

 haps have justified a slight exception on the part of his brother. 

 Decorations are very cheap at Courts, and often bestowed 

 much out of place, and they were so without doubt on the 

 breast of Baron Lago, about whom Maximilian had expressed 

 himself so explicitly. Kind and yielding as he was, however, 

 he had given to this impotent diplomatist a written testimony 

 of his good behaviour, which the Baron took good care to 

 present as soon as possible in Vienna, and in consequence of 

 which he obtained a decoration, on which he, however, ought 

 never to look without blushing. From this noble Baron the 

 Emperor probably received information in reference to my 

 husband, for a letter which Maximilian sfave the minister to 

 show m Vienna, in order to inform the Emperor of the inti- 

 mate connection existing between the poor prince and my 

 husband. Baron Lago had destroyed, afraid that it might be 

 found upon him and endanger his precious neck. Thus it 

 happened that the friend of jNIaximilian did not receive from 

 his brother even such a token of his satisfaction as was granted 

 to a Baron Lago ! He felt much grieved and mortified, and 



