ngly.

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."