y; "if he does not come to-day, all is lost--all!"

Loud voices in the antechamber interrupted her; she listened in
breathless expectation. "It is he," she murmured, "it is Schonberg;
the officer on guard forbids his entrance. What insults I endure! I am
treated as a prisoner in my own castle; I am even denied the right of
seeing my own servants."

She ceased, and listened again; the voices became louder and more
violent. "He is, apparently, speaking so loudly to attract my
attention," she said; "I will go to his relief." She crossed the chamber
hastily, and opened the door leading into the anteroom. "What means
this noise?" she said, angrily; "how dare you be guilty of such unseemly
conduct?"

Silence followed this question. The two gentlemen, who had just
exchanged such angry words, were dumb, approached the queen, and bowed
profoundly.

"I beg your majesty's forgiveness," said the Prussian officer, "my
commander ordered me this morning to admit no one until he had seen your
highness himself."

"I wished to announce to your majesty," said Schonberg, "that I had
returned from my estate, and desired the favor of being again received
into your service; this gentleman refused to allow me to enter."

The queen turned upon the officer with an expression of contempt. "Am I
a prisoner, sir, allowed to see no one but my jailer?"

"Your majesty favors me with a question I am unable to answer," said the
officer; "I am a soldier; and must obey the command of those above me. I
know not whether your majesty is a prisoner."

The queen reddened; she felt that, in the excitement of passion, she had
forgotten her rank and dignity.

"It is true," she said, "it is not for you to answer this question.
I must demand a reply from your king. You are but a machine, moved by
foreign power. I think you will not dare to keep my servants from me;"
and, without allowing the confused officer time to answer, she turned
to the chamberlain, Baron von Schonberg. "I am delighted to receive
you again; you shall resume your service immediately, as you desire it;
follow me to my room, I have an important letter to dictate to you."

She stepped over the sill of the door, and gave the chamberlain a sign
to follow her; as he approached the door, however, the officer stepped
before him.

"Forgive me," he said, in a pleading tone; "I have strict orders to
admit only those who usually surround the queen; do you understand, sir,
to admit no one to h