ur good
emperor."

"But they will hear the voice of his cannon," cried the queen,
impetuously; "the thunder of our artillery and the anger of God will
annihilate them, and they will fall to the ground as if struck by
lightning before the swords blessed by our holy priests."

The door of the antechamber was at this moment opened violently, and the
queen's chamberlain appeared upon its threshold.

"Your majesty, a messenger from the King of Prussia requests an
audience," said he.

The queen's brow became clouded, and she blushed with anger. "Tell this
messenger that I am not in a condition to receive his visit, and that he
must therefore impart to you his message."

"It is, no doubt, another of his hypocritical, friendly assurances,"
said the queen, as the chamberlain left. "He has, no doubt, some evil
design, and wishes to soothe us before he strikes."

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, commandi