with France. Prime Minister Thugut shall give us peace with France!"

"You had better go and inform the proud minister himself of what you
want," said the speaker with a sneer. "First compel him to do what
the emperor and even our brave Archduke Charles wanted to be done--
compel the omnipotent minister to make peace."

"We will go and ask him to give us peace," said several voices in
the crowd.

"Yes, yes, we will do that!" shouted others. "Come, come; let us all
go to the minister's house and ask him to give us back the emperor
and the state treasure, and to make peace with Bonaparte."

The speaker now descended hurriedly from the lamp-post. His tall,
herculean figure, however, towered above the crowd even after his
feet had touched the pavement.

"Come," said he to the bystanders in a loud and decided tone, "I
will take you to the minister's house, for I know where he lives,
and we will shout and raise such a storm there until the proud
gentleman condescends to comply with our wishes."

He led the way rapidly, and the crowd, always easily guided and
pliable, followed its improvised leader with loud acclamations. Only
one idea, only one wish, animated all these men: they wanted peace
with France, lest Bonaparte might come to Vienna and lay their
beautiful capital in ashes in the same manner in which he had
treated so many Italian cities.