king.

"With your majesty's permission, I will now add a few words," said he.

"Speak!" said the king, laconically.

"His majesty, my royal master," continued Count Mattzahn, in a loud
voice, "has commissioned me to give your majesty the most quieting
assurances, and to convince you that his march through Saxony has
no purpose inimical to you, but that he only uses it as a passway to
Bohemia."

The king's countenance now became dark and stern, even the queen lost
some of her haughty indifference.

"How?" said the king; "Frederick of Prussia does us the honor to pass
through our land without permission? He intends coming to Saxony?"

"Sire," said Mattzahn, with a slight smile, "his majesty is already
there! Yesterday his army, divided into three columns, passed the Saxon
borders!"

The king rose hastily from his seat. The queen was deadly pale, her lips
trembled, but she remained silent, and cast a look of bitter hatred upon
the ambassador of her enemy.

Count Bruhl was leaning against his chair, trembling with terror, when
the king turned to him.

"I ask my prime minister if he knows how far the King of Prussia has
advanced into Saxony?"

"Sire, I was in perfect ignorance of this unheard-of event. The King
of Prussia wishes to surprise us in a manner worthy of the most skilful
magician. Perhaps it is one of those April jests which Frederick II is
so fond of practising."

"Your excellency can judge for yourself," said Count Mattzahn,
earnestly, "whether the taking of towns and fortresses is to be
considered a jest. For, if I am rightly informed, you have this day
received two dispatches, informing you of my royal master's line of
march."

"How?" said the king, hastily; "you were aware of this, count, and I was
not informed? You received important dispatches, and I was not notified
of it?"

"It is true," said the count, much embarrassed. "I received two
couriers. The dispatches of the first were handed to me the same moment
your majesties entered my house; I received the other just as Count
Mattzahn arrived. I have, therefore, read neither."

"With your majesty's permission," said Count Mattzahn, "I will inform
you of their contents."

"You will be doing me a great service," said the king, earnestly.

"The first dispatch, sire, contained the news that his majesty the King
of Prussia had taken without resistance the fortresses of Torgau and
Wittenberg!"

A hollow groan escaped the king as he sank in