Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/111

 IN THE WAR AGAINST RUSSIA, 81 tria iuteuded to remain faithful to the principles CHAP, M'hicli the four Powers had adopted in concert. '_ Prussia told Baron Jjudber<r that she should have to devise means without liussia for maintaining the equilibrium of Europe. In significant words, the Emperor Francis Joseph told Count Orloif that he should have to he guided by the in- terests and the dignity of his Empire. It is said that, by the tidings which forced him to know that he was alienated from the Austrian Emperor, the Czar was wounded deep. He had conceived a strong affection for Francis Joseph, and wherever he went he carried with him a small statuette which recalled to his mind the features of the youthful Kaiser. It would seem that his affection was of the kind Mhich a loving and yet stern father bears his son, for it was joined with a sense of right to exact a great deference to his will. Nicholas had been strangely slow to believe that Francis Joseph could harbour the thought of opposing him in arms ; and when at last the truth was forced upon him, he desired that the marble should be taken from his sight. But he did not, they say, speak in auger. "When he had spoken, he covered his face with his hands and was wrung with grief. What we are showing just now is the complete nnion of opinion which was existing between England and the two great Courts of Germany on the 31st of January 1854, and in order to this, we have already referred to a variety of diplomatic transactions coming down to the time in question; VCiL. II. V