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friend the tears which rolled slowly down his cheeks； and fell upon the packet of letters lying before him。
The king kissed the packet reverentially； and examined with a deep sigh the trembling characters traced by the hand of his beloved mother。
〃For my sonthe king。〃
Frederick read the address softly。 〃Alas！ my dear mother； how poor you have made me。 I am now no longer a sononly a king！〃
He bowed his head over the packet； and pressed his mother's writing to his lips； then laid the letters at the foot of the vase and remained standing thoughtfully before it。
A long pause ensued。 Frederick stood with folded arms before the vase； and the marquis leaned against the door behind him。 Suddenly the king turned to him。
〃I beg a favor of you； marquis。 Hasten to Berlin； and tell Benda he must perform the Te Deum of my dear Graun here in the castle chapel to…morrow morning at nine o'clock。 I know the singers of the chapel can execute itthey gave it once after the battle of Leignitz。 Tell Benda to make no difficulties； for it is my express wish to hear the music to…morrow morning。 I trust to you； marquis； to see my wish fulfilled； to make the impossible possible； if you find it necessary。 Call me capricious if you will； for desiring to hear this music to…morrow。 I have so long been controlled by stern realities； that I will allow myself now to yield to a caprice。〃
He gave his hand to the marquis； who pressed it to his lips。
〃Sire； to…morrow morning at nine o'clock the Te Deum shall be performed in the chapel； should I even be compelled to pass the night in arousing the musicians from their beds。〃
The marquis kept his word； he surmounted all difficulties； removed all objections。 In vain Benda declared the organ in the chapel was out of tune； the performance impossible； the marquis hastened to the organist and obliged him to put it in order that night。 In vain the singers protested against singing this difficult music before the king without preparation； D'Argens commanded them in the name of the king to have a rehearsal during the night。 Thanks to his nervous energy and zeal； the singers assembled； and Benda stood before his desk to direct this midnight concert。
When the clock struck nine the next morning every difficulty had been set aside； and every preparation completed。 The organist was in his place； the organ in order； the musicians tuned their instruments； the singers were prepared； and the chapel…master； Benda； was in their midst； baton in hand。
All eyes were directed toward the door opposite the choir； through which the court must enter； all hearts were beating with joyful expectationall were anxious to see the king once more in the midst of his friends； in his family circle。 Every one sympathized in the queen's happiness at being accompanied once more by her husband； laying aside her loneliness and widowhood； and appearing in public by his side。
All eyes； as we have said； were impatiently directed toward the door； waiting for the appearance of their majesties and the court。
Suddenly the door opened。 Yes； there was the king。 He stepped forward very quietly； his head a little bowed down； in the midst of the solemn stillness of the chapel his step resounded loudly。
Yes； it was Frederick the Great； he was alone； accompanied by no royal state； surrounded by no glittering crowdbut it was the king； in the glory of his majesty； his endurance； and his valor； radiant in the splendor of his heroic deeds and his great victories。
Frederick seated himself slowly； gave one quick glance at the choir； and waved his hand to them。 Benda raised his baton and gave the sign to commence。 And now a stream of rich harmony floated through the chapel。 The organ； with its powerful； majestic tones； the trumpets； with their joyous greeting； the drums； with their thunder； and the soft； melting tones of the violin and flute； mingled together in sweet accord。
The king； with head erect and eager countenance； listened to the beautiful and melodious introduction。 He seemed to be all ear； to have no other thought； no other passion than this music； which was wholly unknown to him。 And now； with a powerful accord； the sweetly attuned human voices joined in； and the choir sang in melting unison the Te Deum Laudamus； which resounded solemnly； grandly through the aisles。 The king turned pale； and as the hymn of praise became more full and rich； his head sank back and his eyes were fixed upon the floor。
Louder and fuller rose the solemn tones； suddenly； from the midst of the choir； a soft； melting tenor sang in a sweet； touching voice； Tuba mirum spargeus sonum。 Frederick's head sank still lower upon his breast； and at last； no longer able to restrain his tears； he covered his face with his hands。
The lofty strains of this solemn hymn resounded through the empty church； which until now had been wrapped in gray clouds； but in a moment the sun burst from behind the clouds； darted its rays through the windows； and lighted up the church with golden glory。 The king who； until now； had been in the shadow of the cloud； was as if by magic bathed in a sea of light。 All eyes were fixed upon his bowed head； his face partially covered with his hands； and the tears gushing from his eyes。
No one could withstand the silent power of this scene； the eyes of the singers filled with tears； and they could only continue their chant in soft； broken； sobbing tones； but Benda was not angry； he dared not look at them； lest they might see that his own stern eyes were veiled in tears。
Frederick seemed more and more absorbed in himselflost in painful memories。 But the loud hosannas resounded and awakened him from his slumber； he dared no longer give himself up to brooding。 He arose slowly from his seat； and silent and alone； even as he had entered； he left the church。
CHAPTER II。
PRINCE HENRY。
Seven years had passed since Prince Henry had left his wife； to fight with his brother against his enemies。 During these long years of strife and contest； neither the king nor the prince had returned to Berlin。 Like the king； he also had won for himself fame and glory upon the battle…field。 Much more fortunate than his brother； he had won many victories； and had not sustained a single defeat with his army corps。 More successful in all his undertakings than Frederick； perhaps also more deliberate and careful； he had always chosen the right hour to attack the enemy； and was always prepared for any movement。 His thoughtfulness and energy had more than once released the king from some disagreeable or dangerous position。 To the masterly manner in which Prince Henry managed to unite his forces with those of his brother after the battle of Kunersdorf； the king owed his escape from the enemies which then surrounded him。 And to the great and glorious victory gained by Prince Henry over the troops of the empire and of Austria at Freiberg； the present happy peace was to be attributed。 This battle had subdued the courage of the Austrians； and had filled the generals of the troops of the empire with such terror； that they declared at once their unwillingness to continue the war； and their determination to return with their forces to their different countries。
The battle of Freiberg was the last battle of the Seven Years' War。 It brought to Prince Henry such laurels as the king had gained at Leignitz and Torgau； it placed him at his brother's side as an equal。 Frederick saw it without envy or bitterness； and rejoiced in the fulness of his great soul； in his brother's fame。 When he found himself； for the first time after the Seven Years' War； surrounded at Berlin by the princes and generals； he advanced with a cordial smile to his brother； and laying his hand gently on his shoulder； said aloud：
〃You see here； sirs； the only one amongst us all who did not commit a single mistake during the war！〃
Seven years had passed since Prince Henry had seen his young wife； Princess Wilhelmina。 He could at last return to herto his beloved Rheinsberg； and find rest after his many years of wandering。 He had written to the princess； and requested her not to meet him in Berlin； but to find some pretext for remaining at Rheinsberg。 His proud soul could not endure the