"If Austria should acquire new territory in consequence of an
understanding with France, she must be sure that no such right of
aggrandizement should be granted to Prussia," said Count Cobenzl,
hastily.

"France and Austria might pledge themselves in a secret treaty not
to permit any further aggrandizement of Prussia, but to give back to
her simply her former possessions on the Rhine," said De Gallo.

"No digressions, if you please!" exclaimed Bonaparte, impatiently.
"Let us speak of my ultimatum. In the name of France, I have offered
you peace, provided the territories on the left bank of the Rhine
with their stipulated boundaries, including Mentz, be ceded to
France, and provided, further, that the Adige form the boundary-line
between Austria and the Cisalpine Republic, Mantua to belong to the
latter. You cede Belgium to France, but, in return, we give you the
continental possessions of Venice; only Corfu and the Ionian Islands
are to fall to the share of France, and the Adige is to form the
frontier of Venetian Austria."

"I told you already, general," said Count Cobenzl, with his most
winning smile, "we cannot accept the last condition. We must have
Mantua, likewise; in return, we give you Mentz; and not the Adige,
but the Adda, must be our frontier."

"Ah! I see--new difficulties, new subterfuges!" exclaimed Bonaparte,
and his eyes darted a flash of anger at the diplomatist.

This angry glance, however, was parried by the polite smile of the