so lovely that your majesty
would find it natural enough were you once to see her.'

'That may you very naturally believe,' answered the king smilingly.
After a pause, shaking his head, he observed, 'I only wish to know what
delight men can find in what is called love?'

'It is indeed the greatest happiness in life, your majesty,' answered
Arwed with enthusiasm.

'It would not be well for me that it should be so, for then should I
have missed the greatest good,' said the king. 'Yet will a place in
history always remain to me, and fame with posterity!' He walked to the
chimney, and, collecting the coals together with his foot, observed, 'I
will cause her father to be written to. I will speak to Goertz myself.
I expect him about this time from Aland.'

'Your majesty!'--stammered the surprised and delighted youth.

'It is very well!' said the king, interrupting him, and at that moment
Siquier entered.

'Your majesty is now about to visit the trenches,' said Arwed,
recollecting Swedenborg's request. 'May I be allowed to accompany you?
I might, perhaps, learn something practically of the duties
appertaining to a siege.'

The king kindly nodded assent. Siquier made a disagreeable face, and
they started.

At the entrance of the trenches they were received by count Schwerin,
who commanded there, captain Posse and adjutant Kolbert; and not
without some embarrassment, came colonel Megret to meet them. The king
now sent away Posse and Kolbert upon some secret errand, and proceeded
with Megret and Siquier into the trench. Arwed followed at some
distance. It was a bitter cold, moonless night, but the stars shone
clear. The Danes fired incessantly from Frederickshall, and their balls
often struck within the walls of the trench; but the king, paying no
attention to it, proceeded quietly forward with his companions. They
now came to a place where the passage in the trench made an angle with
the parallel, and from beyond which the pickaxes and shovels of the
sappers could be heard.

There the king suddenly stopped and leaned upon his long sword. 'No
farther advanced, Megret?' asked he, with evident displeasure.

'The soil is frozen hard, your majesty!' apologized the latter,
somewhat perplexed. 'Were we compelled to open the trenches through
rocks, it would not be much more difficult.'

'There has been time enough!' said Charles. 'I am very much
dissatisfied!'

'I will pledge my head,' said Megret, 'that we have the fort