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.