nd　disgraced　himself。〃　The　duke　had　to　resign　all　his　honors；　and　died　a　few　years　later；　despised　by　the　whole　nation。＇　and　his　adversary；　the　Duke　de　Richelieu；　to　Paris。　The　French　troops　now　in　Germany；　under　the　command　of　the　Prince　Soubise；　have　no　other　enemy　to　attack　than　Frederick；　the　natural　enemy　of　us　all。　The　King　of　Prussia；　who　stands　alone；　has　no　other　ally。〃
  〃No　ally　but　himself；〃　interrupted　a　loud；　powerful　voice。　The　queen　turned　and　saw　General　von　Fink；　the　Prussian　commander　of　Dresden。　He　had　opened　the　door　noiselessly；　and　had　heard　the　queen's　last　words。　Maria　Josephine　paled　with　anger；　and　stepping　forward　to　meet　him；　with　head　erect；　she　looked　as　if　she　would　trample　him　under　foot。　〃Sir；〃　she　said；　scarcely　able　to　control　her　passion；　and　at　the　same　time　trembling　with　terror；　〃who　gave　you　permission　to　enter　this　room？〃
  〃My　sovereign；　the　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　the　general；　placing　himself　before　her　with　stiff　military　courtesy。　〃I　come　not　from　idle　curiosity；　but　on　important　business；　and　your　majesty　must　pardon　me　if　you　find　it　disagreeable。〃
  He　made　a　sign　toward　the　door；　and　immediately　an　officer　and　four　soldiers　appeared　at　the　threshold。　The　commander　pointed　to　the　chamberlain；　Von　Schonberg；　who；　pale　and　trembling；　endeavored　to　conceal　himself　behind　the　wide　dress　of　the　queen。
  〃Arrest　that　man；　and　take　him　off！〃　said　the　general。
  Schonberg　uttered　a　cry　of　alarm；　and　disappeared　behind　the　satin　robe　of　the　queen。
  〃What；　sir！　you　dare　to　force　yourself　into　my　room；　and　to　arrest　my　servant？〃　cried　the　queen；　angrily。
  The　general　shrugged　his　shoulders。
  〃We　are　living　in　perilous　times；　and　every　man　must　defend　himself　from　his　enemies。　'Tis　true　your　chamberlain　sold　some　good　sheep　to　our　army；　but　it　appears　to　have　been　a　fraudulent　transaction；　for　this　reason；　I　arrest　him；　and　send　him　to　Berlin　for　trial。　There　it　will　be　difficult　for　him　to　carry　on　his　correspondence　with　the　traitorous　chamberlain　of　the　king。〃
  The　general　ceased　speaking；　and　gazing　at　the　pale；　disturbed　group　before　him；　enjoyed　their　horror　and　consternation　for　a　moment。
  The　queen　was　greatly　embarrassed；　and　pressed　her　lips　firmly　together　to　suppress　a　cry　of　terror。　By　her　side　stood　Father　Guarini；　whose　face　had　assumed　a　livid　pallor；　and　whose　dark　eyes　were　fixed　in　bitter　hatred　upon　the　general。　Behind　the　queen　the　terrified　face　of　the　chamberlain　was　seen；　his　insignificant　figure　being　entirely　concealed　by　the　queen's　robes。
  〃Baron　von　Schonberg；〃　said　General　Fink；　〃I　order　you　to　come　forward　and　to　submit　to　your　arrest。　Out　of　respect　to　her　majesty　the　queen；　you　will　be　quiet。　I　should　be　unfortunately　forced　to　act　with　violence　if　you　do　not　yield　without　a　struggle。〃
  The　chamberlain　advanced　with　dignity；　bowing　profoundly　to　the　queen。　He　said；　in　a　trembling　voice：
  〃I　must　beg　your　majesty　graciously　to　dismiss　me　from　your　service。　I　must　obey　this　gentlemen；　who；　as　it　appears；　is　master　in　the　castle。〃
  The　queen　was　for　a　moment　speechless；　her　voice　was　lost；　and　her　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　She　said；　after　a　long　pause：
  〃Will　you　rob　me　of　my　faithful　servant？　You　dragged　Baroness　Bruhl　and　Countess　Ogliva　to　Warsaw；　and　now　you　will　deprive　me　of　the　services　of　this　tried　and　constant　friend。〃
  〃I　obey　the　commands　of　my　king；〃　said　the　general；　〃and　I　believe　your　majesty　must　see　the　justice　of　this　arrest。　Had　the　baron　been　captured　in　camp；　he　would　have　been　shot　at　once　as　a　spy。　I　arrest　him　here　and　send　him　to　Berlin；　that　he　may　defend　himself　against　the　charge　of　being　a　traitor。〃
  The　queen　breathed　heavily；　she　had　regained　her　composure；　turning　to　the　chamberlain　she　said；　in　a　voice　softer　and　kinder　than　had　ever　been　heard　from　her　before：
  〃Go；　my　friend；　and　when　your　loyalty　is　called　treason　by　out　enemies；　do　not　forget　that　your　queen　is　thinking　of　you　with　gratitude；　and　praying　for　you　to　our　heavenly　Father。〃
  She　offered　the　chamberlain　her　small；　white　hand；　he　sank　upon　his　knees；　and　covered　it　with　his　tears　and　kisses。
  〃Go；　my　son；〃　said　Father　Guarini；　laying　his　hand　upon　Schonberg's　head〃go；　the　Lord　has　chosen　you　as　a　blessed　martyr　for　our　just　and　holy　cause。　The　Lord　will　be　with　you；　and　the　holy　mother　Church　will　pray　for　you。〃
  〃I　go；　my　fathermay　it　be　granted　me　to　die　for　my　queen！〃
  Turning　to　the　general；　he　delivered　up　his　sword　rather　tragically；　and　declared　himself　ready　to　depart。
  The　commandant　signed　to　the　officer。
  〃Conduct　this　gentleman　to　the　carriage；　and　send　him　with　a　sufficient　guard　to　Berlin。〃
  CHAPTER　XI
  THE　TE　DEUM。
  The　queen　looked　sadly　after　the　chamberlain；　when　he　had　disappeared；　she　turned　to　the　general。
  〃I　now　hope；〃　said　she；　〃that　you　have　fulfilled　your　orders；　and　that　I　will　be　permitted　to　have　my　apartments　to　myself。〃
  〃I　beg　your　majesty's　pardon；〃　said　the　general；　bowing　respectfully；　〃but　as　yet　I　have　fulfilled　but　the　smallest　portion　of　my　master's　commands。〃
  〃How？　is　there　still　some　one　here　whom　you　wish　to　arrest？〃　said　the　queen。
  〃No；　noble　lady；　but　some　one　I　wish　to　warn！〃
  〃You　are；　without　doubt；　speaking　of　me；　general？〃　said　the　priest；　quietly。
  〃Yes；　sir；　of　you。　I　wish　to　warn　you　not　to　occupy　your　pious　thoughts　with　that　very　worldly　thing　called　politics；　and　to　request　you　to　instruct　the　members　of　your　Church　in　religion；　in　Christian　love　and　kindness；　and　not　to　lure　them　to　murder　and　treachery。〃
  The　priest　shrugged　his　shoulders；　a　contemptuous　smile　played　about　his　small；　thin　lips。
  〃The　words　'religion　and　Christian　love'　sound　strangely　in　the　mouth　of　a　Prussian　warrior。　I　decline　receiving　any　advice　from　you。　I　have　no　fear　of　you　or　of　your　superiors！　I　am　subject　only　to　God　and　the　Pope！〃
  〃That　may　be　in　your　own　country；　but　not　in　the　King　of　Prussia's；〃　answered　General　Fink；　quietly。　〃There　every　one　is　subject　to　the　law；　no　title；　no　clerical　gown　protects　the　criminal。　Two　days　ago；　a　spy　was　discovered　in　the　Prussian　camp；　who　was　a　priest；　he　was　hung　like　any　other　spy；　although　at　the　last　moment；　hoping　to　save　his　life；　he　exclaimed　that　he　was　a　friend　of　Father　Guarini；　the　court　confessor。　His　majesty　the　King　of　Prussia　commissioned　me　to　impart　to　you　the　death　of　your　friend。〃
  〃From　my　heart　I　thank　you　for　so　doing；〃　said　the　priest。　〃I　shall　have　masses　read　for　my　friend；　of　whom　you　have　made　a　martyr。〃
  The　queen　gazed　at　him　with　sparkling　eyes。　〃Oh；　my　father；〃　said　she；　〃I　thank　you　for　your　noble　example；　it　shall　enable　me；　in　spite　of　threats　and　insults；　not　to　deny　the　holy　cause　and　the　friends　who　have　suffered　for　it。　And　now；　general；　I　hope　your　commissions　are　fulfilled；　and　that　you　will　take　your　leave。〃
  〃I　hope　your　majesty　will　believe　that　I　would　not　venture　to　remain；　were　I　not　compelled　by　the　commands　of　my　king。　I　have　to　request　your　majesty　to　listen　while　I　read　aloud　some　letters；　some　historical　documents；　which　may　possibly　interest　your　highness。〃
  〃You　can　read；〃　said　the　queen。　〃As　my　ears　do　not　belong　to　the　King　of　Prussia；　it　lies　with　me　to　listen　or　not；　as　I　please。〃　She　sank　gently　upon　the　divan；　signing　to　the　priest　to　remain　beside　her。
  〃I　flatter　myself　that　I　will　have　your　majesty's　attention；〃　said　the　general；　withdrawing　to　the　nearest　window　and　opening　a　package　of　letters。　〃The　first　relates　to　an　extremely　amusing　occurrence；　which　my　master；　knowing　that　France　was　your　ally；　imagined　would　interest　you。　Your　highness　is　aware　that　Prince　Soubise　is　a　brave　soldier。　This　is　Madame　Pompadour's　opinion；　it　must；　therefore；　be　true。　About　a　week　ago　this　brave　prince　determined　to　rest　for　a　while　from　his　heroic　deeds；　and　gave　the　same　privilege　to　a　large　portion　of　his　army。　The　general；　accompanied　by　his　staff　and　eight　thousand　soldiers；　then　entered　that　lovely　little　spot；　called　Gotha；　to　visit　the　talented　and　princely　duke　and　duchess。　He　and　his　staff　were　received　by　them　with　great　honor；　magnificent　preparations　were　forthwith　made　for　a　splendid　dinner　to　welcome　the　prince　who；　happily；　was　not　only　fond　of　laurels；　but　also　of　good　eating。　Dinner　was　served；　the　French　generals　had　finished　their　toilets；　Prince　Soubise　had　given　the　duchess　his　arm　to　lead　her　to　her　seat；　when　a　loud　cry　of　terror　was　heard　from　without；　'The　Prussians　are　at　the　gates！'　Prince　Soubise　dropped　the　arm　of　the　duchess；　through　the　Paris　rouge；　so　artistically　put　on；　the　paleness；　which　now　covered　his　face；　could　rot　be　seen。　The　doors　leading　to　the　dining…saloon　were　thrown　open；　making　visible　the　sparkling　glass；　the　smoking　dishes；　the　rare　service　of　gold　and　silver；　the　generals　of　the　prince　now　hastened　forward　and　confirmed　the　wild　rumor。　Yes；　and　rumor；　for　once；　was　true。　General　Seidlitz　was　there　with　fifteen　hundred　brave　cavalrymen。　The　French　are　noted　for　their　politeness；　and　it　did　not　fail　them　upon　this　occasion。　Without　a　word；　Prince　Soubise　and　his　eight　thousand　men　made　room　for　General　Seidlitz　and　his　fifteen　hundred；　and　hastened　from　the　ducal　palace。　Before　the　rich　dishes　had　time　to　cool；　Gen