en the first silver-tone is yet to be drawn from this untried 'harp
of a thousand strings;' O, how happy,' cried the youth, 'will be that
artist who shall one day succeed in awakening its thrilling music!'

Faith suddenly exclaimed, 'Good night, captain!' The farewell bow
released the yet imprisoned finger, and the delightful vision
disappeared.

CHAPTER III.

When Dorn opened his eyes the next morning, a corporal and six
halbardiers were standing before his bed.

'Dress yourself quickly,' commanded the corporal. 'I am ordered to
bring you before the duke.'

Having soon become satisfied that no opposition was, in this case, to
be thought of, Dorn obeyed. As he and his guards were passing through
the streets, he saw many things which went to prove the arbitrary power
of the man before whom his own emperor and all Europe were then
trembling. Notwithstanding the misery and suffering produced by the
war, he saw whole rows of houses which had been repaired, newly
painted, and splendidly furnished, that the city in which the
Friedlander dwelt and governed might present an agreeable appearance to
the eye. The beautiful flocks and herds of the city, driven by weeping
burghers, were making their way toward the gates, having been expelled
because their continuance in the city was inconsistent with the dignity
of a capital. The work of demolition was yet going on in the vicinity
of the palace, and more than fifty houses were lying in ruins. To all
of Dorn's questions, however, the corporal had but one answer:--'the
duke wills it.' They had now reached the castle. The corporal conducted
Dorn through the crowd of halbardiers, footmen and pages, to the
ante-chamber of the audience-room, where fifty of the body guards were
on duty. Two Silesian noblemen, ambassadors to the duke from Leignitz
and Oels-Bernstadt, were here waiting in patient humility to learn if
the dictator would please to grant them an audience.

At length one of the duke's counsellors came out of the audience-room,
and with insolent hauteur beckoned the Leignitz ambassador, who
reverentially approached the proud knight.

'What you have delivered to my lord in behalf of your province,' said
the counsellor, with contemptuous disrespect, 'he will take into
consideration and communicate his pleasure to your duke at the next
assembly of the princes. Your complaints against the troops are not
deserving of consideration. The sol