No ally but himself," interrupted a loud, powerful voice. The queen
turned and saw General von Fink, the Prussian commander of Dresden. He
had opened the door noiselessly, and had heard the queen's last words.
Maria Josephine paled with anger, and stepping forward to meet him, with
head erect, she looked as if she would trample him under foot. "Sir,"
she said, scarcely able to control her passion, and at the same time
trembling with terror, "who gave you permission to enter this room?"

"My sovereign, the King of Prussia," said the general, placing
himself before her with stiff military courtesy. "I come not from idle
curiosity, but on important business, and your majesty must pardon me if
you find it disagreeable."

He made a sign toward the door, and immediately an officer and four
soldiers appeared at the threshold. The commander pointed to the
chamberlain, Von Schonberg, who, pale and trembling, endeavored to
conceal himself behind the wide dress of the queen.

"Arrest that man, and take him off!" said the general.

Schonberg uttered a cry of alarm, and disappeared behind the satin robe
of the queen.

"What, sir! you dare to force yourself into my room, and to arrest my
servant?" cried the queen, angrily.

The general shrugged his shoulders.

"We are living in perilous times, and every man must defend himself
from his enemies. 'Tis true your chamberlain sold some good sheep to
our army, but it appears to have been a fraudulent transaction; for this
reason, I arrest him, and send him to Berlin for trial. There it will
be difficult for him to carry on his correspondence with the traitorous
chamberlain of the king."

The general ceased speaking, and gazing at the pale, disturbed group
before him, enjoyed their horror and consternation for a moment.

The queen was greatly embarrassed, and pressed her lips firmly together
to suppress a cry of terror. By her side stood Father Guarini, whose
face had assumed a livid pallor, and whose dark eyes were fixed in
bitter hatred upon the general. Behind the queen the terrified face
of the chamberlain was seen, his insignificant figure being entirely
concealed by the queen's robes.

"Baron von Schonberg," said General Fink, "I order you to come forward
and to submit to your arrest. Out of respect to her majesty the queen,
you will be quiet. I should be unfortunately forced to act with violence
if you do not yield without a struggle."

The chamberlain advanced with dign