God's help we will soon be able to bring this war to a close, and crush
this unbelieving horde."

"Still, I pray you still, my father," murmured the queen; "my whole soul
shudders at this frightful suggestion; let us not speak of this again,
let us forget it."

"Let us not speak of it, but let us not forget it," murmured the priest,
with a malicious smile. The queen said hastily: "Father, such fearful
weapons are not necessary for the destruction of our enemies. Frederick
of Prussia can never rally--he stands alone, has not a single ally in
Germany. This is the important news brought me by the baron, which I now
communicate to you. We have succeeded in a great enterprise; a mighty
work has been completed by us and our allies in the cloister of Zeven.
This has been achieved by our ambassador, the pious Duke of Lynar, and
we will triumph in a glittering and bloodless victory. Every German
prince who has heretofore stood by the traitor and heretic, Frederick of
Prussia, has, at the command and menace of the emperor, fallen off from
him, and dare no longer lend him help or influence. The men of Hesse, of
Brunswick, of Gotha, who were allied to Prussia, and who were just from
fighting with the Hanoverians against Soubise and Richelieu, have laid
down their arms and returned home. They have solemnly bound themselves
in the convention of the cloister of Zeven never again to bear arms for
the heretical and rebellious King of Prussia, who is excommunicated by
the German emperor and the holy Pope at Rome. The contest between the
Hanoverians and our French ally is ended, and a cessation of hostilities
determined upon. Unconditional peace is indeed indefinitely declared.
The Hanoverians remain inactive on the Elbe; the Duke of Cumberland,
leader of the English troops, has returned to Loudon, [Footnote: When
the Duke of Cumberland returned to Loudon, after the convention at the
cloister of Zeven, his father, whose favorite he had been up to
this time, received him with great coldness, and said before all his
ministers: "Here is my son who has ruined me and disgraced himself." The
duke had to resign all his honors, and died a few years later, despised
by the whole nation.] and his adversary, the Duke de Richelieu, to
Paris. The French troops now in Germany, under the command of the Prince
Soubise, have no other enemy to attack than Frederick, the natural enemy
of us all. The King of Prussia, who stands alone, has no other ally."

"