frederick the great and his family-第38章

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The　chamberlain　returned；　but　his　countenance　was　now　white　with　terror。

〃Well！〃　said　the　queen；　〃what　is　this　message？〃

〃Ah；　your　majesty；〃　stammered　the　trembling　courtier；　〃my　lips　would　not　dare　to　repeat　it；　and　I　could　never　find　the　courage　to　tell　you　what　he　demands。〃

〃What　he　demands！〃　repeated　the　queen；　〃has　it　come　to　that；　that　a　foreign　prince　commands　in　our　land？　Go；　countess；　and　in　my　name；　fully　empowered　by　me；　receive　this　King　of　Prussia's　message；　then　return；　and　dare　not　keep　the　truth　from　me。〃

Countess　Ogliva　and　the　chamberlain　left　the　royal　apartment；　and　Maria　Josephine　was　alone。　And　now；　there　was　no　necessity　of　guarding　this　mask　of　proud　quietude　and　security。　Alone；　with　her　own　heart；　the　queen's　woman　nature　conquered。　She　did　not　now　force　back　the　tears　which　streamed　from　her　eyes；　nor　did　she　repress　the　sighs　that　oppressed　her　heart。　She　wept；　and　groaned；　and　trembled。　But　hearing　a　step　in　the　antechamber；　she　dried　her　eyes；　and　again　put　on　the　proud　mask　of　her　royalty。　It　was　the　countess　returning。　Slowly　and　silently　she　passed　through　the　apartment。　Upon　her　colorless　countenance　there　was　a　dark；　angry　expression；　and　a　scoffing　smile　played　about　her　thin；　pale　lips。

〃The　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　she；　in　a　low；　whispering　voice；　as　she　reached　the　queen；　〃demands　that　the　key　to　the　state　archives　be　delivered　at　once　to　his　messenger；　Major　von　Vangenheim。〃

The　queen　raised　herself　proudly　from　her　seat。

〃Say　to　this　Major　von　Vangenheim　that　he　will　never　receive　this　key！〃　said　she；　commandingly。

The　countess　bowed；　and　left　the　room。

〃He　has　left；〃　said　she；　when　she　returned　to　the　queen；　〃though　he　said　that　he　or　another　would　return。〃

〃Let　us　now　consult　as　to　what　is　to　be　done；〃　said　the　queen。　〃Send　for　Father　Guarini；　so　that　we　may　receive　his　advice。〃

Thanks　to　the　queen's　consultation　with　her　confessor　and　her　maid　of　honor；　the　King　of　Prussia's　messenger；　when　he　returned；　was　not　denied　an　audience。　This　time；　it　was　not　Major　von　Vangenheim；　but　General　von　Wylich；　the　Prussian　commandant　at　Dresden；　whom　Frederick　sent。

Maria　Josephine　received　him　in　the　room　next　to　the　archives；　sitting　upon　a　divan；　near　to　the　momentous　door。　She　listened　with　a　careless　indifference；　as　he　again　demanded；　in　the　king's　name；　the　key　to　the　state　archives。

The　queen　turned　to　her　maid　of　honor。

〃How　is　it　that　you　are　so　negligent；　countess？〃　said　she；　〃did　I　not　tell　you　to　answer　to　the　messenger　of　the　king；　that　I　would　give　this　key；　which　is　the　property　of　the　Prince…Elector　of　Saxony；　and　which　he　intrusted　to　me；　to　no　one　but　my　husband？〃

〃I　had　the　honor　to　fulfil　your　majesty's　command；〃　said　the　countess；　respectfully。

〃How　is　it；　then；〃　said　she；　turning　to　General　von　Wylich；　〃that　you　dare　to　come　again　with　this　request；　which　I　have　already　answered？〃

〃Oh；　may　your　majesty　graciously　pardon　me；〃　cried　the　general；　deeply　moved；　〃but　his　majesty；　my　king　and　master；　has　given　me　the　sternest　commands　to　get　the　key；　and　bring　him　the　papers。　I　am　therefore　under　the　sad　necessity　to　beseech　your　majesty　to　agree　to　my　master's　will。〃

〃Never！〃　said　the　queen；　proudly。　〃That　door　shall　never　be　opened；　you　shall　never　enter　it。〃

〃Be　merciful。　I　dare　not　leave　here　without　fulfilling　my　master's　commands。　Have　pity　on　my　despair；　your　majesty；　and　give　me　the　key　to　that　door。〃

〃Listen！　I　shall　not　give　you　the　key；〃　said　the　queen；　white　and　trembling　with　anger；　〃and　if　you　open　the　door　by　force；　I　will　cover　it　with　my　body；　and　now；　sir；　if　you　wish　to　murder　the　Queen　of　Poland；　open　the　door。〃　And　raising　her　proud；　imposing　form；　the　queen　placed　herself　before　the　door。

〃Mercy！　mercy！　queen；〃　cried　the　general；　〃do　not　force　me　to　do　something　terrible；　do　not　make　me　guilty　of　a　crime　against　your　sacred　royalty。　I　dare　not　return　to　my　king　without　these　papers。　I　therefore　implore　your　majesty　humbly；　upon　my　knees；　to　deliver　this　key　to　me。〃

He　fell　upon　his　knees　before　the　queen；　humbly　supplicating　her　to　repent　her　decision。

〃I　will　not　give　it　to　you；〃　said　she；　with　a　triumphant　smile。　〃I　do　not　move　from　this　door；　it　shall　not　be　opened。〃

General　Wylich　rose　from　his　lowly　position。　He　was　pale；　but　there　was　a　resolute　expression　upon　his　countenance。　Looking　upon　it；　you　could　not　but　see　that　he　was　about　to　do　something　extremely　painful　to　his　feelings。

〃Queen　of　Poland；〃　said　he；　in　a　loud；　firm　voice；　〃I　am　commanded　by　my　king　to　bring　to　him　the　state　archives。　Below；　at　the　castle　gate；　wagons　are　in　attendance　to　receive　them；　they　are　accompanied　by　a　detachment　of　Prussian　soldiers。　I　have　only　to　open　that　window；　sign　to　them；　and　they　are　here。　In　the　antechamber　are　the　four　officers　who　came　with　me；　by　opening　the　door；　they　will　be　at　my　side。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　this？〃　said　the　queen；　in　a　faltering　voice；　moving　slightly　from　the　door。

〃I　mean；　that　at　any　price；　I　must　enter　that　room。　If　the　key　is　not　given　to　me；　I　will　call　upon　my　soldiers　to　break　down　the　door；　as　they　have　learned　to　tear　down　the　walls　of　a　fortress；　it　will　be　an　easy　task；　that　if　the　Queen　of　Poland　does　not　value　her　high　position　sufficiently　to　guard　herself　against　any　attack；　I　will　be　compelled　to　lay　hands　upon　a　royal　princess；　and　lead　her　by　force　from　that　door；　which　my　soldiers　must　open！　But；　once　more；　I　bend　my　knee；　and　implore　your　majesty　to　preserve　me　from　this　crime；　and　to　have　mercy　on　me。〃

And　again　he　fell　upon　his　knees　supplicating　for　pity。

〃Be　merciful！　be　merciful！〃　cried　the　queen's　confessor　and　the　Countess　Ogliva；　who　both　knew　that　General　Wylich　would　do　all　that　he　had　said；　and　had　both　fallen　on　their　knees；　adding　their　entreaties　to　his。　〃Your　Majesty　has　done　all　that　human　power　can　do。　It　is　now　time　to　guard　your　holy　form　from　insult。　Have　mercy　on　your　threatened　royalty。〃

〃No；　no！〃　murmured　the　queen；　〃I　cannot！　I　cannot！　Death　would　be　sweet　in　comparison　to　this　humiliating　defeat。〃

The　queen's　confessor；　Father　Guarini；　now　rose　from　his　knees；　and；　approaching　the　queen；　he　said；　in　a　solemn；　commanding　voice：

〃My　daughter；　by　virtue　of　my　profession；　as　a　servant　of　the　holy　mother　church；　to　whom　is　due　obedience　and　trust；　I　command　you　to　deliver　up　to　this　man　the　key　of　this　door。〃

The　queen's　head　fell　upon　her　breast；　and　hollow；　convulsive　groans　escaped　her。　Then；　with　a　hasty　movement；　she　severed　the　key　from　her　chain。

〃I　obey　you；　my　father；〃　said　she。　〃There　is　the　key；　general；　this　room　can　now　be　entered。〃

General　Wylich　took　the　key；　kissing　reverentially　the　hand　that　gave　it　to　him。　He　then　said　to　her；　in　a　voice　full　of　emotion：

〃I　have　but　this　last　favor　to　ask　of　your　majesty；　that　you　will　now　leave　this　room；　so　that　my　soldiers　may　enter　it。〃

Without　answering；　the　queen；　accompanied　by　her　confessor　and　maid　of　honor；　left　the　apartment。

〃And　now；〃　said　the　queen　to　Countess　Ogliva；　as　she　entered　her　reception…room；　〃send　messengers　at　once　to　all　the　foreign　ambassadors；　and　tell　them　I　command　their　presence。〃




CHAPTER　XIV。

SAXONY　HUMILIATED。


A　half　an　hour　later　the　ambassadors　of　France；　Austria；　Holland；　Russia；　and　Sweden；　were　assembled　in　the　queen's　reception…room。　The　queen　was　there；　pale；　and　trembling　with　anger。　With　the　proud　pathos　of　misfortune；　and　humiliated　royalty；　she　apprised　them　of　the　repeated　insults　she　had　endured；　and　commanded　them　to　write　at　once　to　their　different　courts；　imploring　their　rulers　to　send　aid　to　her　sorely　threatened　kingdom。

〃And　if　these　princes；〃　said　she；　impetuously；　〃help　us　to　battle　against　this　usurper；　in　defending　us　they　will　be　defending　their　own　rights　and　honor。　For　my　cause　is　now　the　cause　of　all　kings；　for　if　my　crown　falls；　the　foundation　of　their　thrones　will　also　give　way。　For　this　little　Margrave　of　Brandenburg；　who　calls　himself　King　of　Prussia；　will　annihilate　us　all　it　we　do　not　ruin　him　in　advance。　I；　for　my　part；　swear　him　a　perpetual　resistance；　a　perpetual　enmity！　I　will　perish　willingly　in　this　fight　if　only　my　insults　are　revenged　and　my　honor　remains　untarnished。　Hasten；　therefore；　to　acquaint　your　courts　with　all　that　has　occurred　here。〃

〃I　will　be　the　first　to　obey　your　majesty；〃　said　the　French　ambassador；　Count　Broglio；　approaching　the　queen。　〃I　will　repeat　your　words　to　my　exalted　master；　I　will　portray　to　your　majesty's　lovely　daughter；　the　Dauphine　of　France；　the　sufferings　her　royal　mother　has　endured；　and　I　know　she　will　strain　every　nerve　to　send　you　aid。　With　your　gracious　permission；　I　will　now　take　my　leave；　for　to…day　I　start　for　Paris。〃

〃To　Paris！〃　cried　the　queen；　〃would　you　leave　my　court　in　the　hour　of　misfortune？〃

〃I　would　be　the　last　to　do　this；　unless　forced　by　necessity；〃　said　the　count；　〃but　the　King　of　Prussia　has　just　dismissed　me；　and　sent　me　my　passport！〃

〃Your　passport！　dismissed　you！〃　repeated　the　queen。　〃Have　I　heard　aright？　Do　you　speak　of　the　King　of　Prussia？　Has　he　then　made　himself　King　of　Saxony？〃

Before　anyone　had　time　to　answer　the　queen's　painful　questions；　the　door　was　opened；　and　the　king's　ministers　entered；　beside　them　was　to　be　seen　the　pale；　terrified　countenance　of　Count　Leuke；　the　king's　chamberlain。

Slowly　and　silently　these　gentlemen　passed　through　the　room　and　approached　the　queen。

〃We　have　come；〃　said　Count　Hoymb；　bowing　lowly；　〃to　take　leave　of　your　majesty。〃

The　queen　fell　slightly　back；　and　gazed　in　terror　at　the　four　ministers　standing　before　her　with　bowed　heads。

〃Has　the　king；　my　husband；　sent　for　you？　Are　you　come　to　take　leave　of　me　before　starting　to　Konigstein？〃

〃No；　your　majesty；　we　come　because　we　have　been　dismissed　from　our　offices　by　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

The　queen　did　not　answer；　but　gazed　wildly　at　the　sad　countenances　about　her；　and　now　she　fixed　a　searching　glance　upon　the　royal　chamberlain。

〃Well；　and　you？〃　said　she。　〃Have　you　a　message　for　me　from　my　husband？　Are　you　from　Konigstein？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　I　come　from　Konigstein。　But　I　am　not　a　bearer　of　pleasant　news。　I　am　sent　to　Dresden　by　the　King　of　Poland　to　request　of　the　King　of　Prussia　passports　for　himself　and　Count　Bruhl。　The　king　wishes　to　visit　Warsaw；　and　is　therefore　desirous　of　obtaining　these　passports。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　queen；　sighing；　〃to　think　that　my　husband　requires　permission　to　travel　in　his　own　kingdom；　and　that　he　must　receive　it　from　our　enemy！　Well；　have　you　obeyed　the　king's　command；　Count　Leuke？　Have　you　been　to　the　King　of　Prussia　and　received　the　passports？〃

〃I　was　with　the　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　the　count；　in　a　faltering　voice。

〃Well；　what　more？〃

〃He　refused　me！　He　does　not　give　his　consent　to　this　visit。〃

〃Listen；　listen！〃　said　the　queen；　wildly；　〃hear　the　fresh　insult　thrown　at　our　crown！　Can　God　hear　this　and　not　send　His　lightning　to　destroy　this　heretical　tyrant？　Ah；　I　will　raise　my　voice；　it　shall　be　a　cry　of　woe　and　lamentation；　and　shall　resound　throughout　all　Europe；　it　shall　reach　every　throne；　and　every　one　shall　hear　my　voice　calling　out：　'Woe！　woe！　woe　to　us　all；　our　thrones　are　tottering；　they　will　surely　fall　if　we　do　not　ruin　this　evi