This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ...which I will tell you in the strictest confidence. It had come to my ears, in the first days of my stay at Vienna, that the Empress, that angel of piety, sweetness, and devotion, held even stranger opinions about me than Prince Metternich did about my music. Certain passages out of my Voyage en Italie, somewhat too uncivilised in style, and which, moreover, had been skilfully commented on to Her Majesty by kind friends (one is a prey to friends everywhere, even at the Lbtteb in. THE EMPRESS OP AUSTRIA. 201 Austrian Court), had gained me the reputation of a regular brigand in these high places, neither more nor less. Well, I was not merely flattered--that would be saying too little--but really proud of this eccentric renown which thus fell upon me from the heavens. I said to myself, what you would certainly have said in my place, that a slight aureole of crime is too distinguished a thing, since Byron has made it fashionable, not to be carefully preserved when one has had the good fortune to gain it, even if it be placed upon a forehead altogether unworthy of it. Accordingly I reasoned thus: "If I present myself at Court, the Empress may not impossibly condescend to address a few words to me. I shall necessarily have to answer her to the best of my ability, and, once engaged in conversation, heaven knows where I may be led. Her Majesty may lose her original opinion of my individuality, and only see in me, as in many others, a worshipper of her own grace and goodness. She will find nothing fierce or sinister in my countenance; nothing tigerish in my voice. True, my nose will always be slightly aquiline; but, on the whole, my appearance will not betray my employment, and I shall pass for a plain, honest man, incapable of doing any harm, ...