ll this day a holiday, but to me it is a day of
terror. To-night a party at the palace--a banquet previous to it,--and I
must be gay, though suffering severe pain! My heart is bleeding, and yet
I am to dance, address pleasant words to every one, and assume an
appearance of happiness. I do not know whither to escape with my grief!
To whom will Prussia belong a year hence? Whither shall we all be
scattered? God have mercy on us!"

"Your majesty views the situation in too gloomy a light," said Madame
von Berg, consolingly. "No further events have occurred that need alarm
you."

"No further events!" exclaimed the queen, vehemently. "You do not know,
then, Caroline, that Count Krusemark arrived from Paris this morning?"

"No," replied Madame von Berg, anxiously; "I do not know any thing about
it. What is the meaning of this unexpected arrival of the ambassador?"

"A new calamity is threatening us. Count Krusemark is the bearer of a
letter from Napoleon to the king. Oh, Caroline, what a letter it is! One
cannot help blushing with shame and anger on reading it, and yet it is
necessary for us to be silent. Napoleon menaces because the war
contributions are not promptly paid: he talks as a superior to his
inferior who neglects his duty; he scolds as a schoolmaster does his
pupil who has not learned his task. And we must bear it, we must stoop
so low as to beg him to be indulgent! Caroline, we must now solicit the
forbearance of the man who has insulted us by every word he addressed to
us, and by every look he cast upon us. For do you really know what he
threatens to do? He writes that if the king does not immediately pay up
the arrears of the war contributions, he will send an army to Prussia,
to collect the money, and punish the king for his breach of faith. He
will send another army to Prussia!--that is to say, the war is to begin
anew, and, as we have become powerless, and cannot defend our frontiers,
he means to crush us. He will take every thing, and Prussia will cease
to exist. And we cannot pay, we have no means to obtain those millions
so unjustly claimed!"

"But the ministers will devise means to pay the contribution, dearest
queen; the minister of finance will be able to suggest a scheme to
fulfil the engagements that have been entered into, and to discharge the
claims which Napoleon has against us."

The queen laughed scornfully. "Baron von Altenstein, the minister of
finance, is not of your opinion," she said.