here to say this to me?"

"No, not exactly that," answered he, smiling; "but, as you asked me, I
was obliged to answer. I have come here with all speed as courier
from Potsdam. I hope you will at least give me a good trinkgeld. I was
commanded to deliver into your own hands this paper, for which I must
have a receipt." He drew from his breast pocket a large sealed document,
which he handed to Wilhelmine. "Here is the receipt all ready, with the
pencil; you have only to sign your name, and the business is finished."
He stretched himself with an air of the greatest ease upon the cane
chair, near the door.

Wilhelmine colored with anger at the free conduct of the royal footman,
and hastened to sign the receipt to rid herself of the messenger, and to
read the letter.

"What will you give me for trinkgeld, Mamselle Enke?" asked the footman,
as she gave him the receipt.

"Your own rudeness and insult," answered Wilhelmine proudly, as she
turned, without saluting him, to the sitting-room.

Kretzschmar laughed aloud. "She will play the great and proud lady,"
said he. "She will get over that when in prison. The letter is without
doubt an order of arrest, for when the king flashes and thunders as he
did this morning, he usually strikes. I hope it will agree with you." He
slowly left the anteroom, and descended the stairs to mount his horse,
which he had bound to a tree.

Wilhelmine hastened in the mean time to the prince. "Here is the letter
addressed to me," said she, handing him the sealed envelope. "I beg you
to open it; courage fails me, everything trembles and swims before my
eyes. Read it aloud--I will receive my sentence from your lips."

The prince exclaimed, breaking the seal: "It is the handwriting of the
secret cabinet secretary, Menken, and the message comes immediately from
the king's cabinet. Now, Wilhelmine, do not tremble; lean your head upon
me, and let us read."

"'In the name of his majesty, Wilhelmine Enke is commanded, under
penalty of severe punishment, not to leave her room or her dwelling,
until the king shall permit her, and send some one to take her and all
that belongs to her to her place of destination. She shall receive
this order with patience and humility, and consider her apartment as a
prison, which she shall not leave under severe penalty, nor allow any
one to enter it. Whoever may be with her at the time of receiving the
order, who do not belong there, shall speedily absent themselves,