The　jewels　of　the　courtiers　sparkled　as　brilliantly。　Their　eyes　alone　were　not　so　bright；　and　the　happy　smile　had　left　their　lips。　They　were　all　weighed　down　by　a　presentiment　that　danger　was　hovering　around　them。
  CHAPTER　XIII。
  THE　ARCHIVES　AT　DRESDEN。
  Count　Mattzahn's　prophecy　came　true。　The　King　of　Prussia　came　to　Dresden；　and　there；　as　in　every　other　part　of　Saxony；　found　no　resistance。　Fear　and　terror　had　gone　before　him；　disarming　all　opposition。　The　king　and　prince…elector　were　not　accustomed　to　have　a　will　of　their　own；　and　Count　Bruhl；　the　favorite　of　fortune；　showed　himself　weak　and　helpless　in　the　hour　of　adversity。　It　needed　the　queen's　powerful　energy；　and　the　forcible　representations　of　the　French　ambassador；　Count　Broglio；　to　arouse　them　from　their　lethargy；　and　what　Count　Broglio's　representations；　and　the　queen's　prayers　and　tears　commenced；　hatred　finished。　Count　Bruhl's　sinking　courage　rose　at　the　thought　of　the　possibility　of　still　undermining　the　King　of　Prussia；　and　putting　an　end　to　his　victorious　march。　It　was　only　necessary　to　detain　him；　to　prevent　him　from　reaching　the　Bohemian　borders；　until　the　Austrian　army　came　to　their　assistance；　until　the　French　troops　had　entered　and　taken　possession　of　Prussia。　Therefore；　Count　Bruhl　sent　courier　after　courier　to　Saxony's　allies；　to　spread　her　cry　for　help　to　every　friendly　court。　He　then　collected　the　army；　ordered　them　to　camp　at　Pirna；　which　was　very　near　the　boundary　of　Bohemia；　and；　as　it　was　guarded　on　one　side　by　the　Elbe；　and　on　the　other　by　high　rocks；　appeared　perfectly　secure。　When　these　preparations　were　commenced；　the　count's　courage　rose　considerably；　and　he　determined　to　prove　himself　a　hero；　and　to　give　the　Saxon　army　the　inspiring　consciousness　that；　in　the　hour　of　danger；　their　king　would　be　in　their　midst。　The　king　therefore　left　for　the　fortress　of　Konigstein；　accompanied　by　Count　Bruhl；　leaving　the　army；　consisting　of　about　seventeen　thousand　men；　to　follow　under　the　command　of　General　Rutrosky；　and　to　encamp　at　the　foot　of　Konigstein。　Arrived　at　Konigstein；　where　they　thought　themselves　perfectly　secure；　they　gave　themselves　up　to　the　free　and　careless　life　of　former　days。　They　had　only　changed　their　residence；　not　their　character；　their　dreams　were　of　future　victories；　of　the　many　provinces　they　would　take　from　the　King　of　Prussia；　and　with　this　delightful　prospect　the　old　gay；　luxurious；　and　wanton　life　was　continued。　What　difference　did　it　make　to　Count　Bruhl　that　the　army　was　only　provided　with　commissary　stores　for　fourteen　days；　and　that　this　time　was　almost　past；　and　no　way　had　been　found　to　furnish　them　with　additional　supplies。　The　King　of　Prussia　had　garrisoned　every　outlet；　and　only　the　King　of　Saxony's　forage…wagon　was　allowed　to　pass。
  Frederick　knew　better　than　the　Saxon　generals　the　fearful；　invincible　enemy　that　was　marching　to　the　camp　of　Pirna。　What　were　the　barricades；　the　palisades；　and　ambushes；　by　which　the　camp　was　surrounded；　to　this　enemy？　This　foe　was　in　the　camp；　not　outside　of　ithe　had　no　need　to　climb　the　barricadeshe　came　hither　flying　through　the　air；　breathing；　like　a　gloomy　bird　of　death；　his　horrible　cries　of　woe。　This　enemy　was　hungerenervating；　discouraging；　demoralizing　hunger！
  The　fourteen　days　had　expired；　and　in　the　camp　of　Pirna　languished　seventeen　thousand　men！　The　bread　rations　became　smaller　and　smaller；　but　the　third　part　of　the　usual　meat　ration　was　given；　the　horses'　food　also　was　considerably　shortened。　Sorrow　and　starvation　reigned　in　the　camp。　Why　should　this　distress　Count　Bruhl？　He　lived　in　his　usual　luxurious　splendor；　with　the　king。　Looking　out　from　his　handsome　apartments　upon　the　valley　lying　at　his　feet；　he　saw　on　a　little　meadow　by　which　the　Elbe　was　flowing；　herds　of　cows　and　calves；　sheep　and　beeves；　which　were　there　to　die　like　the　Saxon　soldiers；　for　their　king。　These　herds　were　for　the　royal　table；　there　was；　therefore；　no　danger　that　the　enemy　visiting　the　army　should　find　its　way　to　the　fortress。　It　was　also　forbidden；　upon　pain　of　death；　to　force　one　of　these　animals　intended　for　the　royal　table；　from　their　noble　calling；　and　to　satisfy　therewith　the　hungry　soldiers。　Count　Bruhl　could　therefore　wait　patiently　the　arrival　of　the　Austrian　army；　which　was　already　in　motion；　under　the　command　of　General　Brown。
  While　the　King　of　Poland　was　living　gay　and　joyous　in　the　fortress　of　Konigstein；　the　queen　with　the　princes　of　the　royal　house　had　remained　in　Dresden；　and　though　she　knew　her　husband's　irresolute　character；　and　knew　that　the　King　of　Prussia；　counting　upon　this；　was　corresponding　with　him；　endeavoring　to　persuade　him　to　neutrality；　still　she　had　no　fears　of　her　husband　succumbing　to　his　entreaties。　For　was　not　Count　Bruhl；　the　bitter；　irreconcilable　enemy　of　Prussia；　at　his　side？and　had　not　the　king　said　to　her；　in　a　solemn　manner；　before　leaving：　〃Better　that　every　misfortune　come　upon　us　than　to　take　the　part　of　our　enemies！〃　The　queen；　therefore；　felt　perfectly　safe　upon　this　point。　She　remained　in　Dresden　for　two　reasons：　first；　to　watch　the　King　of　Prussia；　and　then　to　guard　the　archivesthose　archives　which　contained　the　most　precious　treasures　of　Saxon　diplomacythe　most　important　secrets　of　their　allies。　These　papers　were　prized　more　highly　by　the　queen　than　all　the　crown　jewels　now　lying　in　their　silver　casket；　and　though　the　keeping　of　the　latter　was　given　over　to　some　one　else；　no　one　seemed　brave　enough　to　shield　the　former。　No　one　but　herself　should　guard　these　rich　treasures。　The　state　archives　were　placed　in　those　rooms　of　the　palace　which　had　but　one　outlet；　and　that　leading　into　one　of　the　queen's　apartments。　In　this　room　she　remainedshe　took　her　meals；　worked；　and　slept　therethere　she　received　the　princes　and　the　foreign　ambassadorsalways　guarding　the　secret　door；　of　which　she　carried　the　key　fastened　to　a　gold　chain　around　her　neck。　But　still　the　queen　was　continually　in　fear　her　treasure　would　be　torn　from　her；　and　the　King　of　Prussia's　seeming　friendliness　was　not　calculated　to　drive　away　this　anxiety。　It　is　true　the　king　had　sent　her　his　compliments　by　Marshal　Keith；　with　the　most　friendly　assurances　of　his　affection；　but　notwithstanding　this；　the　chancery；　the　college；　and　the　mint　department　had　been　closed；　all　the　artillery　and　ammunition　had　been　taken　from　the　Dresden　arsenal　and　carried　to　Magdeburg；　some　of　the　oldest　and　worthiest　officers　of　the　crown　had　been　dismissed；　and　the　Swiss　guard；　intended　for　service　in　the　palace；　had　been　disarmed。　All　this　agreed　but　badly　with　the　king's　quieting　assurances；　and　was　calculated　to　increase　the　hatred　of　his　proud　enemy。　She　had；　nevertheless；　stifled　her　anger　so　far　as　to　invite　the　King　of　Prussia；　who　was　staying　in　the　palace　of　the　Countess　Morizinska；　not　far　from　his　army；　to　her　table。
  Frederick　had　declined　this　invitation。　He　remained　quietly　in　the　palace；　whose　doors　were　open　to　all；　giving　audience　to　all　who　desired　it；　listening　to　their　prayers；　and　granting　their　wishes。
  The　Queen　of　Poland　heard　this　with　bitter　anger；　and　the　more　gracious　the　King　of　Prussia　showed　himself　to　the　Saxons；　the　more　furious　and　enraged　became　the　heart　of　this　princess。
  〃He　will　turn　our　people　from　their　true　ruler；〃　said　she　to　Countess　Ogliva；　her　first　maid　of　honor；　who　was　sitting　at　her　side　upon　a　divan　placed　before　the　princess's　door。　〃This　hypocritical　affability　will　only　serve　to　gain　the　favor　of　our　subjects；　and　turn　them　from　their　duty。〃
  〃It　has　succeeded　pretty　well；〃　said　the　countess；　sighing。　〃The　Saxon　nobility　are　continually　in　the　antechamber　of　this　heretical　king；　and　yesterday　several　of　the　city　authorities；　accompanied　by　the　foreign　ambassadors；　waited　upon　him；　and　he　received　them。〃
  〃Yes；　he　receives　every　one；　he　gives　gay　balls　every　evening；　at　which　he　laughs　and　jokes　merrily。　He　keeps　open　house；　and　the　poor　people　assemble　there　in　crowds　to　see　him　eat。〃　Maria　Josephine　sighed　deeply。　〃I　hate　this　miserable；　changeable　people！〃　murmured　she。
  〃And　your　majesty　does　well；〃　said　the　countess；　whose　wrinkled；　yellow　countenance　was　now　illuminated　by　a　strange　fire。　〃The　anger　of　God　will　rest　upon　this　heretical　nation　that　has　turned　from　her　salvation；　and　left　the　holy　mother　church　in　haughty　defiance。　The　King　of　Poland　cannot　even　appoint　true　Catholic…Christians　as　his　officersevery　position　of　any　importance　is　occupied　by　heretics。　But　the　deluge　will　surely　come　again　upon　this　sinful　people　and　destroy　them。〃
  The　queen　crossed　herself；　and　prayed　in　a　low　voice。
  The　countess　continued：　〃This　Frederick　stimulates　these　heretical　Saxons　in　their　wicked　unbelief。　He；　who　it　is　well　known；　laughs　and　mocks　at　every　religion；　even　his　ownattended；　yesterday；　the　Protestant　church；　to　show　our　people　that　he　is　a　protector　of　that　church。〃
  〃Woe；　woe　to　him！〃　said　the　queen。
  〃With　listening　ear　he　attended　to　his　so…called　preacher's　sermon；　and　then　loudly　expressed　his　approval　of　it；　well　knowing　that　this　preacher　is　a　favorite　of　heretics　in　Dresden。　This　cunning　king　wished　to　give　them　another　proof　of　his　favor。　Does　your　majesty　wish　to　know　of　the　present　he　made　this；　preacher？〃
  〃What？〃　sai