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.