238 Ten Years of my Life. 



when on the next day an aide of the Emperor offered him a 

 small amount of money, or an, annuity, he declined, for poor 

 as he was, he felt rather humbled by such an offer. This was, 

 however, certainly not the intention of the Emperor. 



The presence of my husband in Vienna did not remain un- 

 noticed by his creditors in that city, and on February 22 he 

 was arrested. He was released, however, on paying two thou- 

 sand five hundred dollars to the officer, and to prevent a repe- 

 tition of such an occurrence he accepted the offer of a wiser 

 or more speculative creditor to conceal him in his house. Not 

 feeling at ease there either he thought it safer to decamp, and 

 he left Vienna. 



I had requested an audience with Archduchess Sophie, and 

 had to remain. As the Empress was not in Vienna I could 

 not be presented to her, nor to the Emperor either. Maybe 

 he would not have received me, as was the case with Madame 

 de Miramon, though she had an autograph letter from poor 

 Maximilian, recommending her and her tamily to his brother. 

 She remained five weeks in an hotel waiting for an audience, 

 and had to leave Vienna without having been able to see the 

 Emperor. I have explained already the seeming harshness of 

 this kind Prince. The claims made upon him by people who 

 had served his brother became indeed alarming, and if he had 

 once commenced to satisfy them he would not have known 

 where they would stop. When things became more settled, 

 and he was enabled to go into the affairs of his brother, he 

 did not forget Madame IVliramon, and provided for her in a 

 very noble and handsome manner. 



Archduchess Sophie received me on February 27. She was 

 extremely kind, cried a good deal, and thanked me much for 

 what I had done for her beloved son. She said she had been 

 much opposed to his going amongst such barbarians, and I 

 had to tell her all he had said, and how he had looked, «S:c. 

 She was indeed very much affected. 



Her gratitude restricted itself not only to words. Soon 

 afterwards was offered to me on the part of the Emperor an 

 annuity of twelve hundred dollars, wdiich I thankfully accepted, 

 and about a fortnight after this visit she sent me, through 

 Countess von Furstenberg, a splendid bracelet, with the por- 

 trait of the Emperor Maximilian, as a keepsake. 



I left Vienna on February 28, and met my husband waiting 



