this.

I suppose the secret history of the transaction will never be disclosed;
but living as I did, at the time, under the same roof with the royal
family, I inclined to think that their counsels were of a divided
nature; that while the emperor and the younger archdukes gave a
favourable ear to the project, the empress and the Archduke Charles
as steadily opposed it. The gossip of the day spoke of dreadful scenes
between the members of the Imperial House, and some have since asserted
that the breaches of affection that were then made never were reconciled
in after-life.

With these events of state or private history I have no concern. My
position and my nationality of course excluded me from confidential
intercourse with those capable of giving correct information; nor can I
record anything beyond the mere current rumours of the time. This much,
however, I could remark, that all whom conviction, policy, or perhaps
bribery, inclined to the alliance, were taken into court favour, and
replaced in the offices of the household those whose opinions were
adverse. A total change, in fact, took place in the persons of the
royal suite, and the Hungarian nobles, many of whom filled the 'Hautes
Charges,' as they are called, now made way for Bohemian grandees, who
were understood to entertain more favourable sentiments towards France.
Whether in utter despair of the cause for which they had suffered so
long and so much, or that they were willing to accept this alliance with
the oldest dynasty of Europe as a compromise, I am unable to say; but
so was it. Many of the _emigre_ nobility of France, the unflinching,
implacable enemies of Bonaparte, consented to bury their ancient
grudges, and were now seen accepting place and office in the Austrian
household. This was a most artful flattery of the Austrians, and was
peculiarly agreeable to Napoleon, who longed to legalise his position by
a reconciliation with the old followers of the Bourbons, and who dreaded
their schemes and plots far more than he feared all the turbulent
violence of the 'Faubourg.' In one day no fewer than three French
nobles were appointed to places of trust in the household, and a special
courier was sent off to Gratz to convey the appointment of maid of
honour to a young French lady who lived there in exile.

Each of my countrymen, on arriving, came to visit me. They had all known
my father by name, if not personally, and most graciously acknowledged
me as one