Then, with a hasty movement, she severed the key from her
chain.

"I obey you, my father," said she. "There is the key, general; this room
can now be entered."

General Wylich took the key, kissing reverentially the hand that gave it
to him. He then said to her, in a voice full of emotion:

"I have but this last favor to ask of your majesty, that you will now
leave this room, so that my soldiers may enter it."

Without answering, the queen, accompanied by her confessor and maid of
honor, left the apartment.

"And now," said the queen to Countess Ogliva, as she entered her
reception-room, "send messengers at once to all the foreign ambassadors,
and tell them I command their presence."

CHAPTER XIV. SAXONY HUMILIATED.

A half an hour later the ambassadors of France, Austria, Holland,
Russia, and Sweden, were assembled in the queen's reception-room. The
queen was there, pale, and trembling with anger. With the proud pathos
of misfortune, and humiliated royalty, she apprised them of the repeated
insults she had endured, and commanded them to write at once to their
different courts, imploring their rulers to send aid to her sorely
threatened kingdom.

"And if these princes," said she, impetuously, "help us to battle
against this usurper, in defending us they will be defending their own
rights and honor. For my cause is now the cause of all kings; for if
my crown falls, the foundation of their thrones will also give way. For
this little Margrave of Brandenburg, who calls himself King of Prussia,
will annihilate us all it we do not ruin him in advance. I, for my part,
swear him a perpetual resistance, a perpetual enmity! I will perish
willingly in this fight if only my insults are revenged and my honor
remains untarnished. Hasten, therefore, to acquaint your courts with all
that has occurred here."

"I will be the first to obey your majesty," said the French ambassador,
Count Broglio, approaching the queen. "I will repeat your words to my
exalted master; I will portray to your majesty's lovely daughter, the
Dauphine of France, the sufferings her royal mother has endured, and
I know she will strain every nerve to send you aid. With your gracious
permission, I will now take my leave, for to-day I start for Paris."

"To Paris!" cried the queen; "would you leave my court in the hour of
misfortune?"

"I would be the last to do this, unless forced by necessity," said the
count; "but the King of Prussia has jus