Conspiracy

The failure of the strike movement had shaken the prestige of Veris, the bourgeois leader. Many people doubted whether he could lead them in forcing the government to make concessions.

By contrast, the Bourgeois Revolutionary Party had become active again. Some capitalists had changed sides and secretly cozied up to the revolutionaries, hoping to overthrow the Vienna Government and establish a bourgeois regime.

Of course, wishing for it was one thing. Asking them to raise the banner of rebellion was quite another. Even if there was to be a revolution, someone else would have to take the lead. They were all wealthy men, and their lives were far too precious to risk.

They were all clever people. The weakness of the Austrian Empire had yet to be exposed, and starting a rebellion now would make them martyrs in no time.

Most of the capitalists had little faith in the revolutionaries. They still hoped to force the government to make concessions through nonviolent struggle.

A banquet was being held at an estate outside Vienna, where the host, Mr. Veris, was delivering a passionate speech.

That's right—it was the Banquet Campaign, which had come over from France. But in Austria, it seemed not to have taken root. Aside from the capitalists, only a handful of scholars who had been led astray by liberalism had joined in.

"Gentlemen, we must unite. We failed last time because we didn't stand together and advance or retreat as one. That allowed the enemy to pick us off one by one!

"If we unite and fight back, we will eventually defeat the enemy. Victory will be ours in the end.

"We don't need a revolution or bloodshed. We can defeat the enemy using the methods we know best, in the fields where we excel. It won't be difficult!

"If only..."

Not everyone was pleased with Veris's speech. At the very least, the revolutionaries who had come to the banquet were deeply dissatisfied.

"Mr. Veris, can this so-called bloodless struggle really make the enemy back down? Wake up! The rotten Vienna Government will never listen to the people's cries. True freedom can only be achieved through revolution—"

Before he could finish, Veris roared furiously, "Who let him in? Get this bastard out of here! He's trying to get us all killed!"

Damn it, shouting about revolution so loudly—did he really think the Vienna Government's secret police were there for decoration?

Veris wasn't the only one who was furious. Many of the capitalists at the banquet were, too. Even if they wanted a revolution, they should discuss it in private! They could secretly support the revolutionaries, but what were they supposed to do when he blurted it out so loudly?

Support the revolution? They'd probably be thrown in jail before long. There were so many people at the banquet—who knew if there was a traitor among them?

They had to oppose it—absolutely. When their own safety was at stake, the capitalists were very cautious. They all denounced the revolutionaries, as if they were models of loyalty and patriotism.

Vienna wasn't Paris. The people here weren't nearly as eager for revolution, and the Vienna Government wasn't as universally despised as the July Monarchy. Not everyone wanted to rebel.

After the revolutionaries had disrupted things, the speech naturally ended in a hurry. The gathering then turned into a secret meeting.

The Labor Protection Act had a powerful impact. Even the servants hosting the banquet were among those who benefited from it. One of them might get carried away and sell them out, so everyone was being very careful.

"Mr. Veris, will driving up prices really force the government to make concessions? The nobles have plenty of influence, too. If they move against us, we might end up losing more than we bargained for!" asked the great capitalist Ham skeptically.

The two were commercial rivals. They had come together because their interests aligned, but their personal differences could not be erased.

Veris explained, "It's because of the nobles that we'll ultimately win. Don't forget that our dear prime minister supports abolishing serfdom. If the nobles don't find a way to bring him down, aren't they afraid he'll use legislation to force it through, just as he did this time?"

The moderate capitalist Field spoke up in agreement. "Mr. Veris is right. That old bastard Metternich has made plenty of enemies over the years. There are more than enough people who want him out.

"Once that old fox is gone, the new prime minister won't have his prestige. If he doesn't compromise with us, he can forget about keeping the situation stable!"

Field and Veris had similar political views. They both opposed violent revolution and advocated pursuing their rights through bloodless means.

Their stance was dictated by their interests. As two of Austria's leading capitalists, they owned vast amounts of property.

If a revolution broke out, it would mean another reshuffling of interests. If they happened to lose, they would be ruined.

Veris spoke again. "Mr. Ham, the nobles aren't saints, either. We can drive up prices and get them involved as well, so that everyone makes money. For the sake of their own interests, they won't move against us.

"We don't need many. If just one-fifth of the nobles take our side, Metternich will be powerless. This time, our slogan is: 'Metternich must go!'

"We can put abolishing the Labor Protection Act, establishing a constitutional government, and holding universal elections on hold for now. We can bring them up under the next government."

It was clear that, having failed once, Veris had become more cautious.

The Labor Protection Act had been introduced by conservative nobles to strike at the bourgeoisie. They clearly wouldn't give way easily.

And as for constitutional government and universal elections, there was even less to say. The moment they raised those slogans, the entire noble bloc would move against them.

By contrast, focusing only on Prime Minister Metternich made success more attainable, since plenty of nobles opposed him as well.

Ham thought it over, then said, "Then I'll trust you one more time. But what do you think we should do about the revolutionaries who showed up today? We're all sensible people here. No need to hide anything!"

Field sneered. "What do you think? Of course we draw a clear line between us. You know what happened during the French Revolution. Who wants to go through that?"

Ham said scornfully, "Mr. Field, let's spare ourselves that high-minded talk!

"I know you're all in contact with them in private. What I'm asking is whether you've considered increasing your support. We don't need them to succeed. They only have to tie up some of the government's attention."

Veris hurriedly said, "Mr. Ham, let's drop that joke right now. I've never known any revolutionaries!"

Unlike the audacious Ham, Veris was already old, and with such a large family and business to protect, he no longer wanted to take risks. Secretly giving the revolutionaries money for their activities was already the limit of what he was willing to do.