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hrough 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； commandingly。
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。〃
He fell upon his knees before the queen； humbly supplicating her to repent her decision。
〃I will not give it to you；〃 said she； with a triumphant smile。 〃I do not move from this door； it shall not be opened。〃
General Wylich rose from his lowly position。 He was pale； but there was a resolute expression upon his countenance。 Looking upon it； you could not but see that he was about to do something extremely painful to his feelings。
〃Queen of Poland；〃 said he； in a loud； firm voice； 〃I am commanded by my king to bring to him the state archives。 Below； at the castle gate； wagons are in attendance to receive them； they are accompanied by a detachment of Prussian soldiers。 I have only to open that window； sign to them； and they are here。 In the antechamber are the four officers who came with me； by opening the door； they will be at my side。〃
〃What do you mean by this？〃 said the queen； in a faltering voice； moving slightly from the door。
〃I mean； that at any price； I must enter that room。 If the key is not given to me； I will call upon my soldiers to break down the door； as they have learned to tear down the walls of a fortress； it will be an easy task； that if the Queen of Poland does not value her high position sufficiently to guard herself against any attack； I will be compelled to lay hands upon a royal princess； and lead her by force from that door； which my soldiers must open！ But； once more； I bend my knee； and implore your majesty to preserve me from this crime； and to have mercy on me。〃
And again he fell upon his knees supplicating for pity。
〃Be merciful！ be merciful！〃 cried the queen's confessor and the Countess Ogliva； who both knew that General Wylich would do all that he had said； and had both fallen on their knees； adding their entreaties to his。 〃Your Majesty has done all that human power can do。 It is now time to guard your holy form from insult。 Have mercy on your threatened royalty。〃
〃No； no！〃 murmured the queen； 〃I cannot！ I cannot！ Death would be sweet in comparison to this humiliating defeat。〃
The queen's confessor； Father Guarini； now rose from his knees； and； approaching the queen； he said； in a solemn； commanding voice：
〃My daughter； by virtue of my profession； as a servant of the holy mother church； to whom is due obedience and trust； I command you to deliver up to this man the key of this door。〃
The queen's head fell upon her breast； and hollow； convulsive groans escaped her。 Then； with a hasty movement； she severed the key from her chain。
〃I obey you； my father；〃 said she。 〃There is the key； general； this room can now be entered。〃
General Wylich took the key； kissing reverentially the hand that gave it to him。 He then said to her； in a voice full of emotion：
〃I have but this last favor to ask of your majesty； that you will now leave this room； so that my soldiers may enter it。〃
Without answering； the queen； accompanied by her confessor and maid of honor； left the apartment。
〃And now；〃 said the queen to Countess Ogliva； as she entered her reception…room； 〃send messengers at once to all the foreign ambassadors； and tell them I command their presence。〃
CHAPTER XIV。
SAXONY HUMILIATED。
A half an hour later the ambassadors of France； Austria； Holland； Russia； and Sweden； were assembled in the queen's reception…room。 The queen was there； pale； and trembling with anger。 With the proud pathos of misfortune； and humiliated royalty； she apprised them of the repeated insults she had endured； and commanded them to write at once to their different courts； imploring their rulers to send aid to her sorely threatened kingdom。
〃And if these princes；〃 said she； impetuously； 〃help us to battle against this usurper； in defending us they will be defending their own rights and honor。 For my cause is now the cause of all kings； for if my crown falls； the foundation of their thrones will also give way。 For this little Margrave of Brandenburg； who calls himself King of Prussia； will annihilate us all it we do not ruin him in advance。 I； for my part； swear him a perpetual resistance； a perpetual enmity！ I will perish willingly in this fight if only my insults are revenged and my honor remains untarnished。 Hasten； therefore； to acquaint your courts with all that has occurred here。〃
〃I will be the first to obey your majesty；〃 said the French ambassador； Count Broglio； approaching the queen。 〃I will repeat your words to my exalted master； I will portray to your majesty's lovely daughter； the Dauphine of France； the sufferings her royal mother has endured； and I know she will strain every nerve to send you aid。 With your gracious permission； I will now take my leave； for to…day I start for Paris。〃
〃To Paris！〃 cried the queen； 〃would you leave my court in the hour of misfortune？〃
〃I would be the last to do this； unless forced by necessity；〃 said the count； 〃but the King of Prussia has just dismissed me； and sent me my passport！〃
〃Your passport！ dismissed you！〃 repeated the queen。 〃Have I heard aright？ Do you speak of the King of Prussia？ Has he then made himself King of Saxony？〃
Before anyone had time to answer the queen's painful questions； the door was opened； and the king's ministers entered； beside them was to be seen the pale； terrified countenance of Count