st; "how could my courage fail, when it is Prussia's hero king that
leads to battle? How can I be otherwise than joyous and confident
of victory, when Frederick calls us to fight against his wicked and
arrogant enemies? No! I have no fears; God and the true cause is on our
side."

Prince Henry approached nearer to the king, and looking at him proudly,
he said:

"Sire, you asked General Winterfeldt if he shared the Prince of
Prussia's fears. He says no; but I will beg your majesty to remember,
that I share entirely the sentiments of my dear and noble brother."

As he finished, he threw an angry look at General Winterfeldt. The
latter commenced a fierce rejoinder, but was stopped by the king. "Be
still, Winterfeldt," he said; "war has as yet not been declared,
and till then, let there at least be peace in my own house." Then
approaching Prince Henry, and laying his hand on his shoulder, he said
kindly: "We will not exasperate each other, my brother. You have a
noble, generous soul, and no one would dare to doubt your courage. It
grieves me that you do not share my views as to the necessity of this
war, but I know that you will be a firm, helpful friend, and share with
me my dangers, my burdens, and if God wills it, also my victory."

"Not I alone will do this," cried Prince Henry, "but also my brother,
Augustus William, the Prince of Prussia, whose heart is not less brave,
whose courage--"

"Hush, Henry! I pray you," said the Prince of Prussia, sadly; "speak not
of my courage. By defending it, it would seem that it had been doubted,
and that is a humiliation which I would stand from no one"

The king appeared not to have heard these words. He took some papers
from the table by which he was standing, and said:

"All that remains to be told you now, is that I agree with Marshal
Schwerin. We will commence the attack in Saxony. To Saxony, then,
gentlemen! But, until the day before the attack, let us keep even the
question of war a secret."

Then, with the paper under his arm, he passed through the saloon and
entered his library.

There was a long pause after he left. The Prince of Prussia, exhausted
by the storm which had swept over his soul, had withdrawn to one of the
windows, where he was hid from view by the heavy satin damask curtains.

Prince Henry, standing alone in the middle of the room, gazed after his
brother, and a deep sigh escaped him. Then turning to Retzow, he said:

"You would not, then, fulfil m