Never was a word of honour more reluctantly forthcoming than that of the prospective Emperor of the Slavs.
The Hungarian Nero—The Episode of the Mouse
Emperor of the Slavs, King of Rome, Avenging Angel of the Schism and its Grand Lord Destroyer—Pope even—though he had misgivings as to the propriety of the latter title—what prospects for the son of the degenerate Karl Ludwig—and the War Lord footing the bill! A Protestant, true enough, but his friends, the Jesuits, held that the purpose sanctifies means, whatever their character.
But his word as an officer! Pshaw! The War Lord calling himself "all-wise," "all-seeing," etc., had been fooled for once by the simple-minded Bohemian, for Franz’s left hand was on his back when _parole d’honneur_ was demanded, and he lost no time gripping his thumb with the other fingers and pressing it hard.
Mental reservation! That little matter was settled, and in most approved style. _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
A while later Franz asked to be confessed.
"Not while your soul is in the state of disgrace," pronounced Father Bauer with impressive solemnity.
Franz’s bold front melted away like butter before a blast furnace. "Pray confess me, your reverence!" he cried, terror all over his face.
"After due reflection," was Bauer’s niggardly consent. "Your Highness will retire to the oratory now."
And like a schoolboy ordered to bare his skin for a birching, the Emperor of the Slavs—so proud, so adamant, so haughty before the War-Lord—went into his bedroom, where his _prie-Dieu_ stood in front of the miniature travelling altar that accompanied His Highness wherever he went.
In respect to absolute submission to the clergy, Franz rivalled Charles and Ferdinand of Spain; he retained, too, the utmost respect for the persons of the reverend gentlemen who dominated him by virtue of their priestly office.
On his part, Franz came from the oratory a much chastened Prince. Bauer was waiting to hear Franz’s report of his interview with the War Lord—or as much of it as the heir thought well to divulge at the time being, for the breach of faith he had been absolved beforehand. After all, while Bauer had full charge of Franz’s personal conscience, so to speak, the real powers behind the proposed Slav throne was the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, the Papal Legate and the Czech black aristocracy.